Yahveh - Excerpts from Holy to Yahveh

YAHveh’s Plan for a Holy People

(Study Guide for Chapters 4-5 of Holy to YAHveh)

1. To a good builder, there is probably no more valuable a tool than a plumb line-a simple cord with a stone or a metal weight attached to one end. By dangling his plumb line next to the frame of a wall, a door, or a window, the builder can determine whether the surface is straight-perpendicular to the foundation and floor. Without the use of a plumb line, the builder’s work is likely to be crooked and faulty. That’s why a good carpenter always keeps his plumb line close at hand.

Why all this talk of plumb lines in a study concerning how to be Holy to YAHveh? Because the inspired and chosen writers of the Scriptures frequently employed the image of a plumb line to illustrate YAHveh’s means of testing the righteousness and obedience of His people. (See Isaiah 28:17 NIV and Amos 7:7-9 for examples of this.) YAHveh’s plumb line is His Word of truth-the Bible. He measures our actions and intents by comparing them with His instructions as contained in Scripture. If our lives are “plumb” with His Word, then YAHveh is pleased. But if our lives and our doctrines have veered away from the Bible’s holy standard-even ever so slightly-then we are in error and in need of correction.

a. The Scriptures you studied in last week’s lesson already served as a plumb line by revealing the way in which people throughout the centuries have strayed from the Almighty’s commands with regard to His name. In the space below, write the name that He ordained for Himself long ago, as well as His Son’s true name.

b. By way of review, briefly describe what has happened to these names throughout Jewish and Christian history.

c. How has YAHveh’s Word worked as a plumb line in your own life regarding this truth? How have the Scriptures you’ve studied thus far served to challenge and correct your thinking with regard to His most holy name?

d. Do you desire to be part of a remnant who “will be glad when they see the plumb line” as revealed and magnified through YAHveh’s Word?

2. Now read chapter 4 of Holy to YAHveh. Use the space below to record any truths from the chapter that you find especially meaningful. Take note of Psalm 127:1 and Zechariah 4:6.

3. The holy Scripture is full of vivid descriptions of various building programs that were instituted by YAHveh.

Have you ever noticed that the people of YAHveh always seemed to be building something, whether it was a tabernacle in the wilderness, a temple in Jerusalem, or the New Testament church-YAHveh’s eternal “temple” made of “living stones”?

A Timeline of YAHveh’s Building Programs

Old Testament History New Testament History

1445 B.C. 965 B.C. 587 B.C. 536-516 B.C. 20-19 B.C. ? 70 A.D.

Wilderness tabernacle Solomon’s Temple is Temple rebuilt by Temple renovation “Herod’s temple” YAHveh’s

is built (Exod. 35-40) temple is destroyed by returning exiles under under Herod the is destroyed spiritual temple

built (1 Kings 6- Babylon Zerubbabel’s leadership Great is begun by the Roman (the church) is

9; 2 Chron. 3-7) (2 Kings 25) (Ezra, Hag., Zech.) Army built (Eph. 2)

4. When YAHveh institutes a building program, He requires:

a. That the building be constructed exactly according to His plans and instructions.

b. That those carrying out His plans be careful to do all that He commands and to observe all His decrees.

c. That the execution of His building agenda take priority over every other personal or religious agenda.

In chapter 4 of Holy to YAHveh, it is the latter-day temple-the church, with which the text is primarily concerned. It states:

The Master Architect has a divine blueprint for His eternal temple. An unfathomable high price was paid to procure the building materials. His death and atoning blood purchased stones, living stones-Jews and Gentiles-built on the foundation of the Hebrew apostles and prophets with the Jewish Messiah Himself, as the Chief Cornerstone “...in whom the whole building, being fitted together is growing into a holy temple in YAHveh...into a dwelling of YAHveh in the Spirit” (Ephesians 2:21-22).

5. To better understand YAHveh’s plans and purposes in building His eternal temple in the hearts of Jewish and Gentile believers, let us examine the reconstruction of the temple under the leadership of Zerubbabel.

After 70 long years, a remnant of YAHveh’s people was permitted to return to the land and rebuild the beloved temple. Although the returning exiles began rebuilding the temple with great zeal, they soon grew weary and discouraged. Eventually they neglected the task completely, giving attention instead to building their own homes and attending to their personal affairs.

a. At this time, the prophet Haggai brought the word of YAHveh to the people of Judah. Study Haggai 1:1-11. Record below what the Almighty said concerning the level of priority the remnant had placed on rebuilding His house. How did YAHveh rebuke them?

b. What general principal can you learn from this passage regarding the priority YAHveh demands we place on the building of His holy temple? What consequences result for those who fail to give proper attention to His plans and purposes?

6. As you learned in chapter 4, YAHveh is undertaking a building program in our generation, and it requires the full participation of His people. This time the building is not a temple or tabernacle made with human hands, but something radically different. Read Ephesians 2:19-22 and 1 Peter 2:4-5. Then answer the following questions concerning YAHveh’s current building agenda:

a. Of what/of whom is this building to be composed?

b. What/who is its cornerstone?

c. Whose dwelling is it to be?

d. To what type of building is it compared?

7. As the text teaches, the Almighty desires to have a temple composed of redeemed “living stones” (1 Peter 2:5)-Jews and Gentiles-built together on His correct foundation with straight walls. It will be a holy and sound spiritual structure that will endure the coming storms.

As you have also read, the Spirit of YAHveh is now inspecting all that has been built in the name of religion. With His plumb line of truth, He is detecting crooked, bulging walls that are not in line with His standards as expressed in Scripture. As you continue this study, the plumb line of YAHveh’s truth may reveal many “crooked places” in which your life, your doctrine, and the doctrines of those around you have deviated from YAHveh’s holy standards.

Chapter 4 of Holy to YAHveh concludes with these questions: “Which foundation do you want to be built on–the traditions of man OR YAHveh’s immutable truth? Which house do you want to live in–the house built by men OR the eternal house built by YAHshua, the Master Carpenter?” Write your answers below.

8. In addition to the image of the plumb line, Scripture uses the concept of circumcision to illustrate YAHveh’s means of consecrating a people unto Himself. Read chapter 5 of Holy to YAHveh. As you read, use the space below to record at least six important points you learn about circumcision (both physical and spiritual).

9. The purpose of this 17-lesson study is to circumcise the hearts of YAHveh’s people, so that they indeed will be holy to YAHveh. The text states:

How far modern Judaism and organizational Christianity have strayed from YAHveh’s original intentions. So few are truly circumcised in heart! Churches, synagogues, and other meeting places are filled and pews are warmed by untold numbers of lukewarm, professing believers who love their lives, this world, and their traditions far more than they know and love God. A dedicated remnant, circumcised in heart and consecrated to His service, will joyfully renounce fleshly desires and flee this corrupt world system, including divisive, erroneous doctrines and unholy traditions.

Circumcision is a painful but necessary process. Take a moment to prayerfully consider your willingness to become circumcised in heart unto YAHveh. Then write out a prayer of submission below, sharing your heart with YAHveh your Elohim.

Questions for Group Discussion

1. What is a plumb line and why is it important to a builder?

2. In Scripture, how is the image of a plumb line used? Who is measuring what and by what standards?

3. Review the major points of last week’s lesson concerning YAHveh’s memorial-name. As you studied the Scriptures last week, how did they serve as a plumb line to reveal errors or faulty thinking in your life regarding His name?

4. This week you studied YAHveh’s building program in our generation. According to 1 Peter 2:4-5, what is YAHveh in the process of building? What is it made of? For what purpose is it being built?

5. Read aloud Ephesians 2:19-22. What new information do you learn about YAHveh’s building program?

6a. According to your study, what was YAHveh’s building program as described in the book of Haggai? Who was involved in this project?

b. What was the attitude of the builders at first? Then what happened?

c. What did the prophet Haggai pronounce to the people at that time? (See Haggai 1:1-11.) What lessons can we apply today?

7. Haggai warned YAHveh’s people that failure to build His temple would bring a drought. In that day, the drought was physical; in our day, there is a growing spiritual drought. How have you seen or experienced this drought in your own life? In your own congregations or synagogues?

8. In chapter 4, the text states:

The Spirit of Truth is speaking to our generation, saying that while we have labored to build our churches, synagogues, religious programs, homes, and personal wealth, we have neglected His holy house. YAHveh’s plumb line, which He uses to evaluate the faulty foundations we have built, is revealing crooked places.

If YAHveh were to examine your life, your ministry, or your church or synagogue, what “faulty foundations” might He find? How have you and other believers neglected His (spiritual) holy house?

9. According to Ezekiel 13:14-15, what will happen to spiritual buildings with faulty foundations and spiritual houses with flimsy walls that are covered with whitewash? How does this truth impact your life?

10. The “flint knife of circumcision” is another of YAHveh’s tools to bring forth the obedience and consecration of His people. According to the text, in the Old Testament what did physical circumcision signify?

11. Circumcision of the flesh was given as a symbolic foreshadowing of a more vital circumcision: circumcision of the heart. Read Deuteronomy 30:6 aloud. Explain circumcision of the heart and why it is vitally important. A natural consequence of circumcision of the heart is explained in Deuteronomy 30:8. Is this your heart’s desire?

12. In light of the Exodus 4:24-26 account of Moses and Zipporah, how critical was physical circumcision, (the foreshadowing of the more important spiritual circumcision) to YAHveh?

13. According to the text in chapter 5:

Today many congregations are filled with spiritual offspring who sit under leaders who have neglected to circumcise the hearts of the people. Many religious leaders have been preoccupied with fulfilling their divine call. They have been like Moses who neglected to circumcise and consecrate his offspring to the Holy One of Israel. They have not uncompromisingly brought the full counsel of the Word of God. (Emphasis added.)

In the various churches and denominations active today, have you seen this to be true? How?

14. YAHshua will enter into eternal fellowship only with those who are circumcised in heart. Spiritual circumcision-a cutting away of that which is worldly, religious or compromised-is a painful procedure. Yet Abraham, his family, and the people of Israel were willing to submit to the flint knife. Are you? Discuss your thoughts.

End in prayer, incorporating and personalizing that which has been revealed and discussed.