PART THREE

 

And you shall say to them, "Thus says YAHveh, . . .

'Why then has this people . . . Turned away in continual apostasy?

They hold fast to deceit, They refuse to return.

I have listened and heard, They have spoken what is not right;

No man repented of his wickedness, Saying, "What have I done?" . . .'

But My people do not know The ordinance [requirements] of YAHveh.

'How can you say, "We are wise, And the law of YAHveh is with us"?'

But behold, the lying pen of the scribes Has made it into a lie. . . .

Behold, they have rejected the word of YAHveh,

And what kind of wisdom do they have? . . .

Because from the least even to the greatest Everyone is greedy for gain;

From the prophet even to the priest Everyone practices deceit.

'And they heal the brokenness of the daughter of My people [Israel] superficially,

Saying, "Peace, peace" . . .

'Were they ashamed because of the abomination they had done?' . . . "

(Jer 8:4‑12)

 

Who is the wise man that may understand this?

And who is he to whom the mouth of YAHveh has spoken, that he may declare it? . . .

they have forsaken My law [the full counsel of Scripture,

including the divine mandate to bless the Jews] which I set before them,

and have not obeyed My voice nor walked according to it,

but have walked after the stubbornness of their heart . . .

(Jer 9:12-14)

 

"See, I will send venomous snakes among you,

vipers that cannot be charmed,

and they will bite you."

(Jer 8:17 niv)

 

                                                                    Chapter 10

                             Prologue to the Ancient Serpent’s Trail

 

Paul was well aware of intrinsic pride and jealousy against the Jewish people.  He also perceived the looming potential for ancient anti‑Jewish attitudes to grow back as a foreskin over the hearts of the newly spiritually-circumcised Gentiles.

In Ephesians 2-3 and Romans 9-11, Paul delivers a powerful admonition to these early Messianic Gentiles, warning them against the resurgence of an anti‑Semitic mind set.  Unfortunately, as previously mentioned, these are the very Scriptures that the Enemy has strategically obscured or obliterated from the mentality of corporate Christianity.

Today in Jerusalem, as plans for the reconstruction of the Almighty's earthly temple are underway, so too is YAHshua working to build His spiritual temple for His near return and the establishment of His eternal kingdom.  Time is of the essence; the Master Architect is going to remove all hindrances and stumbling blocks from among His people.  He is going to build His holy house, His spiritual temple, according to His soverign blueprints.

Those who call Him "Savior" must know and do His perfect will.  YAHveh's holy decrees and His plumb line of truth often differ from man's doctrines and religious traditions.  We will either yield as living stones in the hands of the Master Builder, or we will become stumbling blocks to His divine and sovereign purposes.  The Almighty says, "Build up, build up, prepare the way, Remove every obstacle out of the way of My people"  (Isa 57:14).