A Set-Apart People

What does it mean to be "Set-Apart"? It is commonly translated as "holy" from the word "qodesh" which is Hebrew.

Qodesh= Hebrew

abstract translation= Holy

concrete translation= Set-Apart

There are many opinions about the definition of the word "holy". It all depends on who you ask. Here is one definition.

Holiness, or sanctity, is in general the state of being holy (perceived by religious individuals as associated with the divine) or sacred (considered worthy of spiritual respect or devotion; or inspiring awe or reverence among believers in a given set of spiritual ideas). In other contexts, objects are often considered 'holy' or 'sacred' if used for spiritual purposes, such as the worship or service of gods. These terms can also be used in a non-spiritual or semi-spiritual context ("sacred truths" in a constitution). It is often ascribed to people ("a holy man" of religious occupation, "holy prophet" who is venerated by his followers), objects ("sacred artifact" that is venerated and blessed ), times ("holy days" of spiritual introspection, such as during winter holidays), or places ("sacred ground", "holy place").

Could this be the definition the scriptures are talking about? Or is there a concrete definition that is clear to understand? Or is it important to take into account everyone's opinion about what this word could mean? If that were the case we would never know the meaning behind any of the words written in The Scriptures.

As always I take my definitions from The Scriptures themselves and not from man's interpretations.

1 Pet 2:9 Now you are a chosen tribe that serves as a cohen(priest) for the kingdom, a set apart people, a redeemed congregation, that you might declare the praises of Him who called you from darkness to His precious light.
10. You who from before were considered not a people, but now are the people of Eloah, also there were no kindnesses upon you, but now kindnesses are poured out upon you.
11. My brothers I entreat you as strangers and sojourners, abstain from all the lusts of the body, those that wage war against the nefesh(spirit).

First of all the above IS NOT religion. It is a mark upon a people who call themselves by The Name of YHWH.

To look further at the above portion of Scripture.

1. a chosen tribe that serves as a cohen(priest) for the kingdom. 

With the children of Yisrael there was only one tribe; Levi who served as the priesthood. But they were not originally intended to be the priesthood.

Ex 19:6 and you shall be unto me a kingdom of cohanim, and a set apart nation. These are the words which you shall speak unto the children of Yisrael.

It was not until after the golden calf incident in Exodus 32 that "Levi" was chosen as a priesthood.

These same words are used we see in the letter from Peter.

1 Pet 2:5 and you also, as living stones, are built up and become spiritual temples and set apart cohenim to offer spiritual sacrifices that are acceptable before Eloah through Yeshua the Messiah.

2. Now these people who are set apart and redeemed may declare the praises of YHWH.

 1Co 3:16  Do you not know that you are a Dwelling Place of Elohim and that the Spirit of Elohim dwells in you?
1Co 3:17  If anyone destroys the Dwelling Place of Elohim, Elohim shall destroy him. For the Dwelling Place of Elohim is set-apart, which you are.



Eph 1:4  even as He chose us in Him before the foundation of the world, that we should be set-apart and blameless before Him in love.

Eph 2:20  having been built upon the foundation of the emissaries and prophets, יהושע Messiah Himself being chief corner-stone,
Eph 2:21  in whom all the building, being joined together, grows into a set-apart Dwelling Place in יהוה,
Eph 2:22  in whom you also are being built together into a dwelling of Elohim in the Spirit.

Eph 5:25  Husbands, love your wives, as Messiah also did love the assembly and gave Himself for it,
Eph 5:26  in order to set it apart and cleanse it with the washing of water by the Word, 
Eph 5:27  in order to present it to Himself a splendid assembly, not having spot or wrinkle or any of this sort, but that it might be set-apart and blameless.

Col 1:22  in the body of His flesh through death, to present you set-apart, and blameless, and unreprovable before Him,

Col 3:12  Therefore, as chosen ones of Elohim, set-apart and beloved, put on compassion, kindness, humbleness of mind, meekness, patience,

1Pe 1:15  instead, as the One who called you is set-apart, so you also should become set-apart in all behaviour,
1Pe 1:16  because it has been written, “Be set-apart, for I am set-apart.”

Lev 11:44  ‘For I am יהוה your Elohim, and you shall set yourselves apart. And you shall be set-apart, for I am set-apart. And do not defile yourselves with any creeping creature that creeps on the earth.

2Pe 3:11  Seeing all these are to be destroyed in this way, what kind of people ought you to be in set-apart behaviour and reverence,

Finally I'll end with this verse, it is not a general description of people this is talking about, it is a SET APART people.

Rev 1:5  and from יהושע Messiah, the faithful witness, the first-born from the dead, and the ruler of the sovereigns of the earth.  Him who loved us and washed us from our sins in His own blood,
Rev 1:6  and has made us sovereigns and priests to His Eloah even His Father, to Him be esteem and rule forever and ever. Amĕn.
Rev 1:7  See, He is coming with the clouds, and every eye shall see Him, even they who pierced Him. And all the tribes of the earth shall mourn because of Him. Yes, Amĕn.



To sum up "set apart" it is an action not a belief or mantle placed upon our shoulders. We are to be set apart as our Messiah is set apart. It is an obvious work to be done. As Col 3:12 describes "compassion, kindness, humbleness of mind, meekness, patience," are all actions. They are the actions that define a people who are "set apart" unto YHWH.

Shalom, Chris

Baruch YHWH

Bm        Em        F#              Bm      Em  F#                    Bm

Baruch YHWH Elohai Yisrael YHWH, Blessed is YHWH

Bm        Em        F#              Bm      Em  F#                    Bm

Baruch YHWH Elohai Yisrael YHWH, Blessed is YHWH

D               Em     G      A        D            Em                           Bm

Min Ha-olam V’ad olam praise His name forever and again

D               Em     G      A        Bm            Em                      F#       G  A

Min Ha-olam V’ad olam Blessed is YHWH The El of Yisrael….||..

Bm             G           D             A              Bm       G             D   A

So let the nations sing and praise Him and Yisrael will say Amein

Bm                   G       D           A     Em       Bm         A        Bm

Sing all you nations HalleluYah and Yisrael will say amein

Bm             G           D             A              Bm       G             D   A

So let the nations sing and praise Him and Yisrael will say Amein

Bm                   G       D           A     Em       Bm         A        Bm

Sing all you nations HalleluYah and Yisrael will say Amein

Em          Bm         A         F#

And Yisrael will say…….

He Is My Defense

He is My Defense

By Marty Goetz

Em                        A    Am            Em

My Soul Wait Thou Only Only Upon Yah

Em         G             A       Am  Em
For From Him Is My Expectation

Em                        A    Am             Em
My Soul Wait Thou Only Only Upon Yah

Em          G             A      Am Em        C-D
For From Him Is My Expectation

Em    A       Em    A        C    D   G    D

He Is My Defense I Shall Not Be Mo-ved
Em    A        Em   A        C    D   Em
He Is My Defense I Shall Not Be Moved
Em    A       Em    A        C    D   G    D
 He Is My Defense I Shall Not Be Mo-ved
Em    A        Em   A        C    D   Em            C    D     Em
He Is My Defense I Shall Not Be Moved;      not be moved

Em             A           Am           Em

My Messiah Only He Only Is My Rock
Em         G          A       Am Em
And The Horn Of My Salvation
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Yes My Yeshua Only He Only Is My Rock
Em        G          A        Am Em            C-D
And The Horn Of My Salvation

Em     A           Am        Em    G    A     Am   Em

Sh’ma Yisrael YHWH Elohenu YHWH YHWH Echad
Em      A           Am        Em G     A     Am       Em
Baruch Shem K’vod Malchuto L’olam L’olam Va’ed

Wholehearted? part 2

In the post I wrote regarding being "wholehearted" I never really got around to the "whole" part of the word. Now I know why. Wholehearted does not appear in the english as far as I can find. Neither could I find a word in the Hebrew that had a picture of being "wholehearted". Of course it may be there and you might know what it is. So if you do i would appreciate a little help.

The first post I looked at the word "lev(heart)". In the ancient Hebrew we can see that "lev" is the picture of "the authority within".

In the next post we looked at David and a man after YHWH' own heart.

So back to The Scriptures. I began to search out the word "lev(heart)" and I found something interesting. One particular word appeared along with it many times. The word is "return". So I was off to the races after that. The strongs concordance said that this word appeared only "263 times in 239 verses". So I read most of them. Then I went to the Hebrew to find the word "shuv", it means "to turn back to where you came from".
In the ancient Hebrew I'm still not sure but the letters are (shin-teeth, vav-nail or peg, vet-house or family). The only picture I could see that was in context is to grab something with your teeth to secure yourself to the family. I'm not sure that is right so don't take my word for it. Anyway as I was looking through the definitions I noticed that the numbers didn't add up. The word "shuv' it said appears 1066 times? I know I'm not a mathematician but this one doesn't add up. Here's why.

Shuv appears 1066 times as
return 391, again 248, turn 123, back 65, away 56, restore 39, bring 34, render 19, answer 18, recompense 8, recover 6, deliver 5, put 5, withdraw 5, requite 4,
misc 40 times as (in any case, at all, averse, call to mind, cease, certainly, consider, continually, convert, deny, fro, go out, hinder, let, see more, needs, be past, pay, pervert, recall, refresh, relieve, rescue, retrieve, reverse, reward, say nay, still, surely, turn.

To me it looks as if someone was confused. Rather than look at The Scriptures for what they say men decide to interpret them and some if not all of the meaning is lost. Or can it be possible that our Elohim wants to confuse us? So what, do we need someone to teach us the meaning of individual scriptures? Sometimes entire doctrines are written with just a part of a verse. I don't believe our Elohim wants to confuse us, for the scriptures tell us.

1Jn 2:26  I have written this to you concerning those who lead you astray.
1Jn 2:27  But the anointing which you have received from Him stays in you, and you have no need that anyone should teach you. But as the same anointing does teach you concerning all, and is true, and is no falsehood, and even as it has taught you, you stay in Him.

This verse does not mean that we are all that smart and therefore do not have a need to be taught, rather that YHWH has given us His word and His Ruach HaKodesh to see for ourselves THE TRUTH.

So anyway back to the subject at hand.

1. Lev (heart) the authority within,             who is the authority within us?
2. A man after YHWH' own heart,            how do we get there?


Deu 30:1  “And it shall be, when all these words come upon you, the blessing and the curse which I have set before you, and you shall bring them back to your heart among all the gentiles where יהוה your Elohim drives you,
Deu 30:2  and shall turn back to יהוה your Elohim and obey His voice, according to all that I command you today, with all your heart and with all your being, you and your children,
Deu 30:8  “And you shall turn back and obey the voice of יהוה and do all His commands which I command you today.
1Sa 7:3  And Shemu’ĕl spoke to all the house of Yisra’ĕl, saying, “If you return to יהוה with all your hearts, then put away the foreign mighty ones and Ashtaroth from among you, and prepare your hearts for יהוה, and serve Him only, so that He delivers you from the hand of the Philistines.”
1Ki 8:48  and they shall turn back to You with all their heart and with all their being in the land of their enemies who led them away captive, and shall pray to You toward their land which You gave to their fathers, the city which You have chosen and the House which I have built for Your Name,
2Ch 6:24  “And if Your people Yisra’ĕl are smitten before an enemy because they have sinned against You, and they shall turn back and confess Your Name, and pray and make supplication before You in this House,
2Ch 6:38  and when they return to You with all their heart and with all their being in the land of their captivity, where they have taken them captive, and they shall pray toward their land which You gave to their fathers, and the city which You have chosen, and toward the House which I have built for Your Name,
2Ch 30:6  And the runners went to all Yisra’ĕl and Yehuḏah with the letters from the sovereign and his leaders, and spoke according to the command of the sovereign, “Children of Yisra’ĕl, turn back to יהוה Elohim of Aḇraham, Yitsḥaq, and Yisra’ĕl, so that He returns to the remnant of you who have escaped from the hand of the sovereigns of Ashshur.
2Ch 30:9  “For if you turn back to יהוה, your brothers and your children shall be shown compassion by their captors, even to return to this land. For יהוה your Elohim shows favour and compassion, and does not turn His face from you if you turn back to Him.”
Job 22:23  If you return to the Almighty, you are built up. If you remove unrighteousness far from your tents,
Job 36:10  And He opens their ear for discipline, and commands that they turn back from wickedness.
Psa 90:3  You turn man back to dust, And say, “Return, O children of men.”
Isa 6:10  “Make the heart of this people fat, and their ears heavy, and shut their eyes; lest they see with their eyes, and hear with their ears, and understand with their heart, and shall turn and be healed.”
Isa 10:21  A remnant shall return, the remnant of Yaʽaqoḇ, to the Mighty Ěl.
Isa 10:22  For though your people, O Yisra’ĕl, be as the sand of the sea, yet a remnant of them shall return – a decisive end, overflowing with righteousness.
Isa 19:22  And יהוה shall smite Mitsrayim, smite it and heal it. And they shall turn to יהוה, and He shall hear them and heal them.
Isa 35:10  And the ransomed of יהוה shall return and enter Tsiyon with singing, with everlasting joy on their heads. They shall obtain joy and gladness, and sorrow and sighing shall flee away.
Isa 44:22  “I shall wipe out your transgressions like a cloud, and your sins like a mist. Return to Me, for I shall redeem you.”
Isa 45:23  “I have sworn by Myself, a word has gone out of My mouth in righteousness, and shall not return, so that to Me every knee shall bow, every tongue swear.
Isa 51:11  And let the ransomed of יהוה return. And they shall come to Tsiyon with singing, with everlasting joy on their heads. Let them attain joy and gladness; sorrow and sighing shall flee away.
Isa 55:7  Let the wrong forsake his way, and the unrighteous man his thoughts. Let him return to יהוה, who has compassion on him, and to our Elohim, for He pardons much.
Jer 3:1  Elohim said, “If a man puts away his wife, and she goes from him and becomes another man’s, does he return to her again? Would not that land be made greatly unclean? But you have committed whoring with many lovers. And would you return to Me?” declares יהוה.
Jer 3:12  “Go and proclaim these words toward the north, and say, ‘Return, O backsliding Yisra’ĕl,’ declares יהוה, ‘I shall not look on you in displeasure, for I am kind,’ declares יהוה, ‘and I do not bear a grudge forever.
Jer 3:13  ‘Only, acknowledge your crookedness, because you have transgressed against יהוה your Elohim, and have scattered your ways to strangers under every green tree, and you have not obeyed My voice,’ declares יהוה.
Jer 3:14  “Return, O backsliding children,” declares יהוה, “for I shall rule over you, and shall take you, one from a city and two from a clan1, and shall bring you to Tsiyon. Jer 4:1  “If you do return, O Yisra’ĕl,” declares יהוה, “return to Me. And if you remove your abominations from My presence, and cease straying,
Jer 5:3  O יהוה, are Your eyes not on truth? You have smitten them, but they have not grieved. You have consumed them, but they have refused to receive instruction. They made their faces harder than rock, they refused to turn back.
Jer 8:5  “Why then has this people, Yerushalayim, turned away in a continual backsliding? They cling to deceit, they refuse to turn back.
Jer 12:15  “And it shall be, after My plucking them out, I shall return, and have compassion on them and bring them back, everyone to his inheritance and everyone to his land.
Jer 15:19  Therefore thus said יהוה, “If you turn back, then I shall bring you back. Before Me you shall stand. And if you take out the precious from the worthless, you shall become as My mouth. Let them return to you, but do not return to them.
Jer 18:11  “And now, speak to the men of Yehuḏah and to the inhabitants of Yerushalayim, saying, ‘Thus said יהוה, “See, I am forming evil and devising a plan against you. Return now every one from his evil way, and make your ways and your deeds good.” ’ ”
Jer 23:3  “Therefore I shall gather the remnant of My flock out of all the lands where I have driven them, and shall bring them back to their fold. And they shall bear and increase.
Jer 23:14  “And among the prophets of Yerushalayim I have seen a horrible matter: committing adultery and walking in falsehood. And they strengthen the hands of evil ones, so that no one turns back from his evil. All of them are like Seḏom to Me, and her inhabitants like Amorah.

As I see it in the Scriptures a man who has YHWH as "the authority within" is a man after YHWH' own heart and he remains there as David did because YHWH is a loving and compassionate Father. His kindness is so great towards me I can't possibly measure or fathom it. It shames me for all the times I have found something else more important than Him. But He will not tarry forever. As always I write specifically to the men. Where are the men? In the last week there were 4 men that i spoke with. All claim to be christians in some way shape or form. One doesn't want to take another breath, He has no will to live. The other three didn't want to talk after I brought up scripture. What else can we possibly have time for? I hear the Ruach HaKodesh whispering "repent, wash yourself, make yourself clean, as a bride pure and spotless. I don't want to be outside the city, I want to touch His face. Right where they ripped out His beard. He allowed them to do it for YOU and me. I can't even imagine what seeing THE MESSIAH will be like. But I want to be there.

I pray that all those who love YHWH with all their heart, soul and might be strengthened for the times ahead; that YHWH create in us a clean heart and renew a right spirit within us; that we be discerning of the spirits and only listen to the voice of YHWH our Elohim. And that we may see and love all as YHWH sees and loves. Shalom blessings to you in the name of Yahashua HaMashiach.


2Ch 16:9  “For the eyes of יהוה diligently search throughout all the earth, to show Himself strong on behalf of those whose heart is perfect to Him. You have acted foolishly in this, so from now on you shall have battles.”
Jer 23:20  The displeasure of יהוה shall not turn back until He has done and established the purposes of His heart. In the latter days you shall understand it perfectly.
Jer 24:7  ‘And I shall give them a heart to know Me, that I am יהוה. And they shall be My people and I shall be their Elohim, for they shall turn back to Me with all their heart.

YHWH has sought Him a man after His own heart

The above title bears the words that were spoken of the future king of Yisrael. In my opinion also the greatest psalmist in scripture. In the previous post we looked at the definition of the Hebrew word "lev" which has been translated to heart in the english language. We see that the Hebrew definition of the word "lev" means "The Authority within". We looked at pharoah as an example of a wicked heart. But now we will at David, my favorite character in scripture after the Messiah. When people talk of David some people have a hard time. For great was the sin he committed with Bethsheva. Even unto the murder of Uriyah the hittite. Yet when confronted by Natan the prophet David has already been forgiven.

2Sa 12:13  And Daviḏ said to Nathan, “I have sinned against יהוה.” And Nathan said to Dawiḏ, “Also, יהוה has put away your sin, you shall not die.

Wait a minute, for in The Torah David should be put to death for just one of these sins. In fact those were David's own words.

2Sa 12:5  And the wrath of Daviḏ burned greatly against the man, and he said to Nathan, “As יהוה lives, the man who has done this is a son of death!

What is so special about David that YHWH as in verse 13 has already put away David's sin. When Sha'ul the previous king transgressed the first time it was told him the kingdom would be taken from him.

1Sa 13:13  And Shemu’ĕl said to Sha’ul, “You have been foolish. You have not guarded the command of יהוה your Elohim, which He commanded you. For now יהוה would have established your reign over Yisra’ĕl forever.
1Sa 13:14  “But now, your reign is not going to stand. יהוה shall seek for Himself a man after His own heart1, and יהוה shall command him to be leader over His people, because you have not guarded what יהוה commanded you.

The above verse also has the entrance of David for the first time in The Scriptures. The above verse is also the one the Ruach HaKodesh has put upon my "lev"(heart).

The prophet Shemu'el is instructed to go to Yishai in 1 Sam 16:1. As always the father parades the oldest and strongest first all the way to the end of his sons. But none of them is YHWH'S anointed, until. The one who was keeping the sheep is brought in.

1Sa 16:7  But יהוה said to Shemu’ĕl, “Do not look at his appearance or at the height of his stature, because I have refused him, for not as man sees, for man looks at the eyes, but יהוה looks at the heart.”


1Sa 16:11  And Shemu’ĕl said to Yishai, “Are these all the young men?” And he said, “There remains yet the youngest, and see, he is tending the sheep.” And Shemu’ĕl said to Yishai, “Send and bring him, for we do not turn round till he comes here.”
1Sa 16:12  And he sent and brought him in. And he was ruddy, withal of beautiful eyes, and goodly to look upon. And יהוה said, “Arise, anoint him, for this is the one!”


Contrary to many beliefs David was not a little boy either, he was a young man.

1Sa 16:18  And one of the servants answered and said, “Look, I have seen a son of Yishai the Bĕyth Leḥemite, that is skillful in playing, and a mighty man of valour, and a man of war, and skilled in words, and a handsome man. And יהוה is with him.”

Why was YHWH with David? Was it because he was a handsome man? 1 Sam 16:7 tells us YHWH looks on the heart, so no. Was it because he was a man of war. For surely he was skilled in combat. He killed Goliath, a man who made all of the men of Y'israel tremble. Surely it was not for this.
We may not ever know why YHWH forgave David his sin and allowed him to live but perhaps this is why.

Psa 3:2  Many are saying of me, “There is no deliverance for him in Elohim.” Selah.
Psa 3:3  But You, O יהוה, are a shield for me, My esteem, and the One lifting up my head.
Psa 3:4  I cried to יהוה with my voice, And He heard me from His set-apart mountain. Selah.
Psa 3:5  I, I laid down and slept; I awoke, for יהוה sustained me.

Psa 4:7  You have put more gladness in my heart, Than in the season that their grain and wine increased.
Psa 4:8  I lie down in peace altogether, and sleep; For You alone, O יהוה, make me dwell in safety.

Psa 5:11  But let all who take refuge in You rejoice; Let them ever shout for joy, because You shelter them; And let those who love Your Name exult in You.
Psa 5:12  For You bless the righteous, O יהוה; You surround him with favour as with a shield.

Psa 18:1  I love You, O יהוה, My strength.
Psa 18:2  יהוה is my rock and my stronghold and my deliverer; My Ěl is my rock, I take refuge in Him; My shield and the horn of my deliverance, my high tower.
Psa 18:3  I call upon יהוה, the One to be praised, And I am saved from my enemies.

Probably the most well known psalm.

Psa 23:1  יהוה is my shepherd; I do not lack.
Psa 23:2  He makes me to lie down in green pastures; He leads me beside still waters.
Psa 23:3  He turns back my being; He leads me in paths of righteousness For His Name’s sake.
Psa 23:4  When I walk through the valley of the shadow of death, I fear no evil. For You are with me; Your rod and Your staff, they comfort me.
Psa 23:5  You spread before me a table in the face of my enemies; You have anointed my head with oil; My cup runs over.
Psa 23:6  Only goodness and kindness follow me All the days of my life; And I shall dwell in the House of יהוה, To the length of days!

The point:

David was whole-heartedly devoted to YHWH. There was definately a deep personal relationship between them. But I do not believe that was all. In The Scriptures we have many examples of men and women who loved YHWH with all their heart, mind and strength. But I believe they were poured out so to speak. They were poured out as examples for those who would come after them. There is always a pattern (cycle) in The Scriptures.

Heb 11:13  In belief all these died, not having received the promises, but seeing them from a distance, welcomed and embraced them, and confessed that they were aliens and strangers on the earth.
Heb 11:16  and behold they decide that which is more excellent and set-apart and heavenly is this Elohim.  Therefore Elohim is not ashamed to be called their Elohim, for He has prepared a city for them.
Heb 11:24  By belief, Mosheh, having become great, refused to be called the son of the daughter of Pharaoh,
Heb 11:25  choosing rather to be afflicted with the people of Elohim than to enjoy the pleasures of sin for a time,
Heb 11:26  deeming the reproach of Messiah greater riches than the treasures in Mitsrayim, for he was looking to the reward.
Heb 11:32  And what more shall I say? For the time would fail me to relate of Gidʽon and Baraq and Shimshon and Yiphtaḥ, also of Dawiḏ and Shemu’ĕl and the prophets,
Heb 11:33  who through belief, overcame reigns, worked righteousness, obtained promises, stopped the mouths of lions,
Heb 11:34  quenched the power of fire, escaped the edge of the sword, out of weakness were made strong, became mighty in battle, put foreign armies to flight.
Heb 11:35  Women received back their dead by resurrection. And others were tortured, not accepting release, to obtain a better resurrection.
Heb 11:36  And others had trial of mockings and floggings and more, of chains and imprisonment.
Heb 11:37  They were stoned, they were tried, they were sawn in two, they were slain with the sword. They went about in sheepskins, in goatskins, being in need, afflicted, mistreated,
Heb 11:38  of whom the world was not worthy – wandering in deserts and mountains and caves and holes of the earth.
Heb 11:39  And having obtained witness through the belief, all these did not receive the promise,
Heb 11:40  Elohim having provided what is better for us, that they should not be made perfect apart from us.
.

I believe ours is a battle like theirs, one fought till our knees are bloody. The world has dimmed our sight and made us to follow after her. But all those who are truly born of Mashiach and desire after Him, will not be ashamed. The world puts us up as a mockery any who will "dance in the streets" praising YHWH our Elohim. All of the "men and women of "emunah (faith)" the world has tried to strip from our memory. So let us remember The Mashiach Yeshua and the example he has made. For surely there was never a truer or purer heart than His!

No more will we trust in the ways of this world. But rather we will walk with our heart after our Elohim. Only then will we be able to be offered up as a burnt offering that is pleasing to YHWH. It is not about us and our needs anymore but rather a generation of children who don't follow after "gods who are not gods". Instead we will have children who because they have their hearts on YHWH Elohim, will have their steps ordered by Him.

I have seen a wonderful blog that my wife has "joined" to.  http://messianickah.ning.com/, the title is Messianic keepers at home.
Women who are seeking to walk with YHWH in the home and training their children to walk with YHWH.
It is time for men to be Messianic messengers to the world in our workplaces and everywhere we go.
                                         
                                                            Shalom in Messiah Yeshua

Definition of heart (Wholehearted)

              The word heart. We know it's an organ that pumps blood. Yet this word appears over 800 times in The Scriptures. I haven't searched out every one of those, but I haven't been able to find even 1 that fits the definition above. If you were to look up the definition you might get any number of things. Here are the Strong's concordance definitions.

1) inner man, mind, will, heart, understanding

a) inner part, midst

1) midst (of things)

2) heart (of man)

3) soul, heart (of man)

4) mind, knowledge, thinking, reflection, memory

5) inclination, resolution, determination (of will)

6) conscience

7) heart (of moral character)

8) as seat of appetites

9) as seat of emotions and passions

10) as seat of courage

Wow, so many different things. So how are we to know which one applies? I guess it would be up to interpretation.

In Hebrew the word is so much more simple in the picture it shows. There are only 2 letters, the lamed and the bet. Here is what they look like in paleo-Hebrew.

                                                
                                                                                       
From right to left, the lamed is the picture of a shepards staff and represents authority.
The second letter is the picture of a house and represents the idea of being inside as the family resides within the tent. When combined they mean "the authority within". 

So now we will look at it in the context of scripture. First looking at an evil or wicked heart.

Gen 6:5  And יהוה saw that the wickedness of man was great in the earth, and that every inclination of the thoughts of his heart was only evil continually.
Jer 17:9  “The heart is crooked above all, and desperately sick – who shall know it?
Jer 17:10  “I, יהוה, search the heart, I try the kidneys, and give every man according to his ways, according to the fruit of his deeds.
Jer 7:24  “But they did not obey or incline their ear, but walked in the counsels, in the stubbornness of their evil heart, and went backward and not forward.
Jer 16:12  ‘And you have done more evil than your fathers, for look, each one walks according to the stubbornness of his own evil heart, without listening to Me.
Jer 18:12  But they shall say, “It is no use! For we walk according to our own plans, and we do each one the stubbornness of his evil heart.
Jer 23:17  “They keep on saying to those who despise Me, ‘יהוה has said you shall have peace.’ And to all who walk according to the stubbornness of their own heart they say, ‘No evil comes upon you.’ ”

The Strongs definitions to me don't really work here. But i believe the Ancient Hebrew does. These people who are described here refuse to recognize YHWH as the "authority within"

In this study there is one person who I am going to focus on here, and that is Pharoah.

Exo 4:21  And יהוה said to Mosheh, “As you go back to Mitsrayim, see that you do all those wonders before Pharaoh which I have put in your hand. But I am going to harden his heart, so that he does not let the people go.
Exo 7:13  And Pharaoh’s heart was hardened, and he did not listen to them, as יהוה had said.



In regards to this story the word "leb(heart) appears 21 times from Ex 4:21 to Ex 14:8. Anyone who has read these passages over and over in the Torah portions should know that YHWH was judging the "gods who are not gods" of Egypt. Pharaoh wanted instead to be worshiped as the authority that he believed came from himself. I wanted to get this part out of the way to go on to the beautiful pictures that YHWH has put in His Word for those who desire to be "wholehearted" unto Him. To love Him with all their heart (leb), soul and might. So for next time "a man after YHWH'S own heart".  Shalom

Wholehearted

                  This post will be fairly short. It has been 5 months since I have written a post. I had promised to write a followup to "Messiah is our pesach", but I could not. I originally wrote it in response to an ugly exchange between some people in regards to what should be done on this feast day. I am zealous for the things of YHWH and wanted to put the scriptures up for those who used so many of their own words. But my definition of zealous and YHWH'S definition are two different things. The Ruach Hakodesh would not let me write anymore. For He has shown me there is a fine line between being zealous and being judgemental.

Jas 2:13  For the judgment is without chesed(kindness) to the one who has shown no chesed. And chesed boasts over judgment.


Furthermore YHWH has impressed upon my heart the need  to be "WHOLEHEARTED" unto Him. As I have found, I have not been as wholehearted as I thought I was. Once upon a time I was wholehearted to Him.

The first day that I recognized Him and came to Him on my knees; I was filthy and broken, not really sure if He would take me. For surely I was the worst to ever come to Him. He embraced me on that day and cleansed me from within. Instead of condemning me as the trash I was, He embraced me. I felt something extremely heavy lift off my shoulders and for the first time I truly could breathe. Simply put He loved me and I loved Him. He has proven Himself time and again to me. He truly is faithful and yet I am not. If we forget that first moment do we lose something? , As I read the Scriptures I felt I had. I praise YHWH that He has shown kindness towards me and gives me the opportunity to return to my first love, Him. For this I believe is the whole of the Scriptures
"To return to YHWH and LOVE Him".


Today in this world we live in many people will say that there are many ways to come to YHWH. They will also say that their way is the best way. I know that my example has not been the "best way". There is only one way to The Father and that is through The Messiah. His way is the best and only way to The Father. He has given us the desire to be pure and wholehearted unto Him. But will we be swayed and play the harlot with other gods who are not gods at all? I do not want to be sidetracked anymore. The time is short, The Ruach Hakodesh is calling for a people to be set apart unto YHWH, the enemy wants to weaken our resolve and keep us from being wholehearted and pure. I speak mainly to the men. It is time fall down on our faces, we are the leaders of our families! Let us look unto YHWH our Yasha(saviour) and be a people that are wholehearted to the end of our days. I will be going into The Scriptures on future posts on this subject as YHWH leads.
                                                                           Shalom and chesed to you, Chris