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HOLY TO YAHVEH WORKBOOK INTRODUCTION & LESSON 1
Dedication
Dedicated to YAHveh, the Almighty,
Whose sovereign desire is to have a holy priesthood,
who will bring Him
“offerings in righteousness as in days of old.”
And to YAHshua Messiah, who poured out His atoning blood
to redeem and consecrate a remnant
to be Holy to YAHveh.
Holy to YAHveh and this companion workbook
are dedicated to you,
the called out and chosen remnant.
The Spirit of Truth has blessed you
with a hunger and a thirst,
drawing you to YAHveh’s banqueting table,
where you are invited to partake of the riches
of His glory.
The secret things belong unto YAHveh our Elohim:
but those things which are revealed belong unto us and to our children forever...
Deuteronomy 29:29 KJV
Whoever is wise, let him understand these things;
Whoever is discerning, let him know them.
For the ways of YAHveh are right,
And the righteous will walk in them,
But transgressors will stumble in them.
Hosea 14:9
Blessings, Welcome, and Shalom, my precious brothers and sisters.
You are embarking on a very special spiritual journey on the ancient paths of uncompromised biblical truth. Many vital aspects of the holy Hebrew roots of the Scripture that have been hidden and obscured will be unsealed, opened, and magnified to your understanding. YAHshua, the Messiah, desires to lead you onto His Highway of Holiness (Isaiah 35:8), spiritually transforming your life through a deeper intimacy with Him and YAHveh, His Father, the Mighty One of Israel.
Messiah has always desired true disciples who would count the cost. He is asking you, are you willing to leave the familiar worldly and religious arenas to follow Him on a narrow, holy, and glorious path? He is calling you to leave the banks of the river and to enter into His river of life, where His very presence will envelop you in His life-changing glory.
As you initially begin this study and enter this river of life, the waters will be ankle high. As you continue on in the lessons, the teachings will become deeper and deeper. You will go from knee high to waist high, until the waters are so deep that you will want to release all worldly and religious baggage to completely immerse yourself in this glorious river flowing from YAHveh’s throne room (Ezekiel 47:3-5; Revelation 22:1).
Come on in, the water is divine!
In YAHshua’s name and infinite love,
Terrye Goldblum Seedman
How to Use the Holy to YAHveh Companion Workbook-
A Manual for True Disciples and a Holy Priesthood
This Bible study is a manual for the consecrating of holy disciples and a holy priesthood. Messiah told us that anyone who wants to be His true disciple must first count the cost, lest he begin the building process and not be able to complete it. This study, like the book Holy to YAHveh, is designed for the wholehearted seeker of YAHveh, the Most High, and His uncompromised biblical truths. The leader should have read Holy to YAHveh at least one time and be convinced that these biblical precepts are vital to the building up of a holy priesthood for our soon coming righteous King. The Holy Spirit is truly the leader of each group but requires a willing and obedient vessel that desires to co-labor with Him in establishing a remnant on the pure and holy Hebrew foundation.
To ensure that your group consists of fervent participants, it is recommended that the first meeting be one of discussion and prayer. The leader should make it clear that only those who are willing to make a daily and weekly commitment to this study are going to receive the maximum blessings and be a blessing to the group at large. There should be a time of prayer, in which each person searches his or her heart as to whether he/she wants to fully count the cost and commit to this study and group.
This workbook has been designed to help clarify the biblical principles developed in Holy to YAHveh and to encourage personal application of these truths. It is also a very valuable tool in the establishing of group studies where His Holy Spirit will unite the members more closely to Him and with one another. The original disciples gathered together in YAHshua’s name. The group studies will be a regathering in YAHshua’s name on pure, scriptural truths as in days of old. The size of your group is not important, for YAHshua said, “...where two or three are gathered together in my name, there I am in the midst of them” (Matthew 18:20 KJV).
Whether you are studying on your own or in a group, you will need your own copy of this workbook, a copy of the book Holy to YAHveh, your Bible, a binder, and extra paper for additional insights. You may also want to use your binder paper to record your thoughts, prayers, and notes from the group discussion as you journey through this study.
If you are using this in a group setting, each member should complete the week’s lesson, including the group discussion questions, prior to the weekly gathering. Having your questions already prepared will ensure that you will contribute sound input for the edification of the entire group. The leader is to guide the session using the group discussion questions and keep the discussion on track.
Although it is hoped that you will be going through this study with at least one other person, it is not a prerequisite. In either case, you will receive the fullest measure of blessing by completing the group discussion questions as part of your weekly commitment.
A Preliminary Explanation
The Use of the Holy Names YAHveh and YAHshua
Traditional biblical scholarship acknowledges that YAHveh (YHVH) is the memorial-name of the almighty Creator. There are differing opinions regarding the spelling and pronunciation of the Father’s and Son’s divine names. Through much prayer, study and research, it appears that YAHveh and YAHshua are as close to the original as can be ascertained at this time.
The title LORD, used in most translations of the Bible, is the accepted substitute for the original Old Testament name, pronounced “YAHveh.” In the New Testament, the name YAHveh has been substituted with the titles Lord and God. These are translated from the Greek words kurios, meaning “Lord,” and theos, meaning “God.”
With permission from the Lockman Foundation, the author has restored the memorial-name, YAHveh, to its original place within passages quoted in this workbook from the Old Testament, the New American Standard Bible (NASB). In the New Testament verses where YAHveh’s name replaces the title God or the Lord, this is the author’s best approximation. This issue has been obscured due to the Greek translations neglecting the importance and use of the divine names.
All New Testament quotes will have the original true and holy name of the Savior, which is YAHshua, placed in its rightful position instead of the Greek rendered name Jesus. The more accurate term Messiah will replace the Greek title Christ.
It is the author’s humble intent to reveal, exalt, and restore the original and sacred names of YAHveh and YAHshua to their rightful place of preeminence within the Holy Scriptures and the hearts of a holy remnant.
It is hoped that the vital issue regarding the use of the divine names will be clarified throughout Holy to YAHveh and its accompanying workbook.
LESSON 1
The Significance of YAHveh’s Memorial-Name
(Study Guide for Chapters 1-3 of Holy to YAHveh)
1. During the days in which the events of the Bible took place and the holy Scriptures were written, the meaning of a name carried far greater significance than it does today. In today’s culture, a baby’s name is often chosen simply because it’s cute or popular. The greatest significance a name might have would be when it is a traditional family name or the name of a dear friend or relative.
In contrast, names in Scripture often carry profound cultural or spiritual meanings. A person’s name might indicate his or her position or profession. It might tell something of the circumstances of his or her birth. It might also express the hopes of the child’s parents-or even the prophetic call of the Creator upon that child’s life.
In addition, in Bible times the name of a person and that person’s character were often considered inseparable. According to The New International Dictionary of the Bible, “In the Scriptures there is the closest possible relationship between a person and his name, the two being practically equivalent, so that to remove the name was to extinguish the person”1 .
Just as the names of people in the Bible are significant, so is the name of the Most High. Numerous passages and examples throughout Scripture continually emphasize the importance of the Creator’s name and the understanding of the inextricable link between His name and His character.
The following Scripture passages deal with the sacred memorial-name of the Almighty from His immutable perspective. Look up each passage in your Bible and write down your impressions regarding the name of God and its significance. (Note: Before answering these questions read the previous page of this workbook. Write His holy memorial-name YAHveh in place of the LORD in your answers.)
a. Exodus 3:13-15
b. Exodus 34:14
c. Isaiah 42:8
d. Exodus 20:24
e. Joel 2:32
f. Ezekiel 39:7
2. Proverbs 30:4 asks a critical question that is foundational to this study of YAHveh’s holy name. Look up this verse and write out the questions it asks. Underline the part of the verse that is relevant to this study.
3. Read chapter 1 of Holy to YAHveh.
a. As you read, write below any truths from this chapter that are especially meaningful to you at this time.
b. What was the Almighty’s purpose in showing Zechariah the unusually large scroll?
c. Write out Isaiah 35:8.
d. YAHshua magnifies this issue of the Highway of Holiness in Matthew 7:13-14.
1. Write out verse 13.
2. What similar theme do these two scriptures share?
4. Now read chapters 2 and 3. Use the space below to record what the text teaches about each of these names or titles. Whenever possible, make note of the origin of the name, what it means, why and by whom it was used, and what makes it acceptable/unacceptable when referring to the Almighty.
a. god or God
b. LORD
c. lord or Lord (Tie your answer with what you have learned regarding Baal, meaning Lord or owner.)
d. Elohim
(This Hebrew title for the Mighty One of Israel is seen throughout the Scripture. It has commonly been replaced with the generic title God, coming from the Greek word theos.) Please note that you will find an additional blessing as you begin to use the original title Elohim in place of God. But as stated, the emphasis and greater issue of Holy to YAHveh is to magnify and exalt the memorial-names of YAHveh the Father and YAHshua the Son.
e. YHVH or YHWH (the Tetragrammaton)
f. YAHveh or YAHweh
g. Adonai or Kurios
h. Jehovah
(Incorporate what you have learned regarding the letter J.)
i. I AM or HaYAH
j. HalleluYAH
Let’s end question 4 by writing and proclaiming a praise using HalleluYAH, remembering it is the highest form of praise.
5. Approximately how many times has LORD replaced the original memorial-name of YAHveh in the Old Testament?
6. What have you learned regarding the use of Lord in quotes when the New Testament translators are quoting Old Testament verses?
7. When you read chapter 2, you also learned about various names for YAHveh’s Son. Take a moment to review the portion of chapter 2 that deals with this subject. Then record below the pertinent facts about each of His names.
a. Jesus or Iesous (pronounced e a zeus)
b. YAHshua (pronounced Yah’shoo-a)
8. Given that the letter J did not exist until shortly before the printing of the King James Version of Scripture, let’s return to the foundational question put forth in Proverbs 30:4: “Who has ascended into heaven and descended?... Who has established all the ends of the earth? What is His name or His son’s name? Surely you know!” Based on your study thus far, what is His proper name-the name He ordained for Himself long ago? What is His Son’s name? Write these names below.
9. As clarified in the text in Chapter 2: “The name of the Mighty One of Israel has been buried in obscurity by tradition.” Summarize the origins of this tradition from:
a. Ancient Jewish leaders
b. Gentile church leaders and Bible translators
10. From this point forward in this study, we will be using the Almighty’s memorial-name, YAHveh, and His son’s correct Hebrew name, YAHshua, in place of the more familiar “LORD” and “Jesus.” This may seem awkward to you at first. However, as you have seen in chapter 3, YAHveh desires a closeness and an intimacy with you that surpasses the “acquaintance level” of relationship. Would you call your spouse, your best friend, your brother, or your sister “Madam,” “Mister,” “Sir,” “Lord,” or “Master”? Probably not! These titles would create a distance between you and that loved one. So it is between you and YAHveh when you fail to address Him by His chosen name. He longs to draw you so close that even His heartbeat is audible to you.
Before continuing in study, take a moment to practice hallowing or worshipping the name of YAHveh. Because the psalmists were always excellent at this, first read Psalm 113 aloud and substitute the name “YAHveh” for “the LORD.” After you’ve done this for practice, use the space below to write your own brief psalm of praise to YAHveh. Be sure to use His most intimate and personal name!
11. Chapter 3 of Holy to YAHveh begins with an important question: How much intimacy do you desire to have with your Creator? Take a moment to honestly evaluate this question and then write out your answer below.
12. Summarize what you have learned about the significance of the prophet Elijah, his name, and his prophesied influence at the end of the age.
13. There are two similar important admonitions from the Almighty to us, His people. Write out and take to heart Deuteronomy 12:32 and Proverbs 30:6.
14. In Jeremiah 23:26-27, what was the source of YAHveh’s grievous complaint against His people?
15. Acts 17:30 appears several times in this book. Write it out as you listen to the voice of our Elohim (God) speaking.
16. Read Ezekiel 47:1-12. Briefly summarize what it means and how it applies to you as you are being called into a deeper walk and greater intimacy with YAHveh your God and YAHshua your Savior. As helpful hints, note these key points:
a. The waters from this river of life are coming out from under the threshold of the temple, from the throne of YAHveh and the Lamb. (See also Revelation 22:1.)
b. Notice that everything was either facing or flowing eastward, which is symbolic of Zion and YAHveh’s sovereign purposes for Israel.
c. As this river of life flowed into the eastern region, it caused the waters to become fresh-filled with renewing power, the power to bring true revival. Swarms of living creatures-fish of many kinds-will live wherever the river flows. Fish are symbolic of people from every nation. This river of life, when flowing through our hearts, imbibed with YAHveh’s full counsel and purposes for Israel, will bring life to everyone it touches.
d. The swamps and marshlands are symbolic of empty forms of religion that deny the power of the holy Hebrew root and are devoid of YAHveh’s glorious presence. Wherever His river of life is blocked, stagnate waters inevitably develop. No one can abundantly thrive in such spiritual swamplands.
17. Throughout chapter 3, the text emphasizes that although the memorial-name of YAHveh has been neglected and unused for many generations, the time has come for His people to return to the pure worship of YAHveh and the use of His original and sacred memorial-name. Psalm 102:12-22 is printed for you. Please read this passage carefully. As you read, underline the word “name” wherever it appears. Draw a box around the words “time” and “appointed time.” Circle the words “generation(s),” “people,” and “men.” Then answer the questions that follow.
But Thou, O YAHveh, dost abide forever; And Thy name to all generations. Thou wilt arise and have compassion on Zion; For it is time to be gracious to her, For the appointed time has come. Surely Thy servants find pleasure in her stones, And feel pity for her dust. So the nations will fear the name of YAHveh, And all the kings of the earth Thy glory. For YAHveh has built up Zion; He has appeared in His glory. He has regarded the prayer of the destitute, And has not despised their prayer. This will be written for the generation to come; That a people yet to be created may praise YAHveh. For He looked down from His holy height; From heaven YAHveh gazed upon the earth, To hear the groaning of the prisoner; To set free those who were doomed to death; That men may tell of the name of YAHveh in Zion, And His praise in Jerusalem; When the peoples are gathered together, And the kingdoms, to serve YAHveh.
a. What does this passage teach you about the name of YAHveh?
b. What do you learn about the “appointed time” referred to in these verses?
c. As the text states in chapter 3, now may very well be the “appointed time” spoken of in this passage since even now the Jewish people from the four corners of the earth are being gathered back to their homeland, Israel (referred to as “Zion” in Psalm 102 and other Bible passages). If indeed “the appointed time has come,” then who is the “generation” that is mentioned in this psalm? Write your answer below. If you’re unsure of your answer, reread the section of chapter 3 that deals with this subject.
d. Now read Psalm 102:12-22 again. What do you learn about this generation? What are we to be doing?
18. As you have seen in the first three chapters of Holy to YAHveh and in the Scriptures you have studied, those who desire deeper intimacy with the Most High have the great responsibility and privilege to obey Him with regard to the use of His holy memorial-name. Go over this brief list and read the accompanying scriptures:
We are to love His name Psalm 5:11, Psalm 69:36
We are to know His name Psalm 9:10, Isaiah 52:6
We are to remember His name. Exodus 3:15, Psalm 119:55
We are to honor His name. Isaiah 26:13, Malachi 2:2
We are to call on His name. Psalm 105:1, Isaiah 12:4
We are to exalt His name. Psalm 34:3, Isaiah 12:4
We are to tell of His name. Psalm 22:22
We are to glorify His name Psalm 29:2, Psalm 86:12,
We are to trust in His name. Psalm 33:21
We are to sing praises to His name. Psalm 18:49, Psal
We are to refrain from profaning His name.
Leviticus 21:6,
Leviticus 22:32
19. Now that you know His name, how can you be obedient to the
other admonitions regarding the name of YAHveh in the following areas of your life? Be specific in your answers.
a. in your prayer life?
b. in your family?
c. in your church?
d. in your personal sphere of influence?
20. Whether or not you choose personally to exalt the name of YAHveh, Scripture teaches that His name will be reverenced and honored throughout the earth! Look up the following prophetic passages and write out what will one day happen with regard to His holy name. (When you read from your own Bible, don’t forget what you learned in chapter 2-that the Scripture translators substituted YAHveh’s memorial-name with the more common title “LORD.”)
a. Malachi 1:11
b. Zephaniah 3:9
c. Zechariah 14:9
Questions for Group Discussion
1. Discuss the similarity between Isaiah 35:8 and YAHshua’s words in Matthew 7:13-14.
2. Of the many “so-called” names of God described in Holy to YAHveh, which is the true memorial-name of the Most High?
3. Based on what you’ve read and studied thus far, how sig-
nificant is the name of YAHveh? How important to YAHveh is the proper use of His name? What Scriptures emphasized this point?
4. Discuss the difference between calling a person by a title and calling him or her by a given name (for example, you might address a man as “Doctor” or by his first name, “John”). How does addressing the Almighty by a title such as “Lord” or “Master” differ from addressing Him by His proper name, YAHveh?
5. Also discuss the difference between calling Him by a generic term such as “God” rather than His personal name, YAHveh. Which is preferable? For what reasons?
6. Through the years, the name YAHveh has become obscured so that today it is rarely used by anyone, Jewish or Christian. According to the text, how did the following contribute to the loss of YAHveh’s memorial-name?
a. the commandment not to take the name of the Almighty in vain
b. Scribal errors
c. Jewish tradition and legalism
d. Gentile Bible translators
7. Read aloud Exodus 3:13-15, substituting the name “YAHveh” for “the LORD.” Based on this passage, for what period of time was His memorial-name to have been used by His people? Did He intend for His name to be forgotten or obscured?
8. Are we part of a heritage of believers who have continually from generation to generation remembered His name? The Psalmist says “If we have forgotten the name of our God, ...Shall not Elohim search this out? for He knoweth the secrets of the heart.” (Psalm 44:20-21 KJV)
9. Note YAHveh’s name was to be remembered not only by the Jews but it was to be proclaimed to the Gentile foreigners that they might love and honor YAHveh and His memorial-name. Have someone read 1Kings 8:41-43
10. How important is intimacy with the Almighty in your own life? Would you describe the place YAHveh holds in your life as a religion or a relationship?
11. According to the text in chapter 3, “The EliYAH spirit is beckoning a holy remnant to wholeheartedly embrace YAHveh and stop wavering between religion and righteousness.” What impact does this truth have on your spiritual life?
12. Based on your study of Psalm 102, what is the “appointed time” and why might it be the time in which we’re living now?
13. According to Psalm 102, what is the generation of people living at the “appointed time” to be doing?
14. What admonitions regarding the use of the memorial-name YAHveh have you seen thus far? In what Scriptures have you seen them?
15. Discuss some practical ways in which you can obey these admonitions and experience the blessings of YAHveh described in Exodus 20:24b “... in every place where I cause My name to be remembered, I will come to you and bless you.” Be specific in your discussion.
In your closing prayer, ask YAHveh to remove the familiar tradition and any confusion regarding His name. Thank Him for revealing His name and petition Him to write it on the walls of your heart, that it would begin to flow naturally by His Spirit through your purified lips.
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