10.23.24
Good morning!
We have arrived at the final day of Sukkot, the day where Yeshua stood up after the water libation ceremony and hushed the crowd with a bold declaration...'Is any thirsty?' Let him come to me and drink...' (Jn. 7:37-39). Each day of the week, this ceremony took place and every day the people would read from Isaiah 12 about drawing water from the 'wells of salvation/Yeshua (Isa. 12:3). Daily the people would anticipate the coming of their Messiah and daily He would not make Himself known...until the final day!
Here in Florida, we've made some attempts to answer the question: 'Who do you say that I am' (Matt. 16:15)? It's a question that we all have opinions on, but for now, we can only know in part (1 Cor. 13:9)...at least for now (1 Cor. 13:12 :-).
Commercial: Last night's celebration: Who do you say that I am? The One Who forgives even before you need it so that we can dwell together in unity (Psa. 133:1-3; Jn. 13).
Earlier this week, in one of our Q&A discussions, we briefly reviewed a story that many of us are familiar with the story that Adam and his wife, Eve, just recently named by Adam (Gen. 3:20), were exiled from the garden after the ‘trivia pursuit’ of their own desire (Gen. 3:22-24). There were Cherubs/keruvim, at the East entrance of the garden to guard/shamar, the way to the Tree of life (Gen. 3:24).
The tree of knowledge of good and evil has its own questions that need answering, namely, ‘how could God call this created tree both good and evil? I can understand the ‘good’ part...(Gen. 1:29,30; Gen. 2:9; Isa. 45:7), but why would He put it in the garden if it had evil? We know that the woman places a value on the tree that God doesn’t. She follows her desire of what is good, rather than God’s (Gen. 3:6; Jer. 4:22). The questions appear to be answered that God wants to use this ‘good’ tree to help remind mankind to listen to His voice and not their own.
Though there are many trees in the garden, all completely available for delicious and healthy eating (Gen. 2:16), with the exile from the garden, only the Tree of Life is mentioned as the way being guarded. Isn’t that strange? Was the tree of knowledge of good and evil guarded? Were all the other trees guarded? Or could Adam and Eve sashay back into the garden and make a delicious ‘Organic, non-GMO farmer's market’ fruit salad anytime they wanted?
I’m going to suggest to you that the purpose of the Cherubim/keruvim, are to guard the way to the Tree of Life, not keep mankind from it. Let me do like 'Ricky Ricardo' on the 'I Love Lucy' show...'let me splain’.
If we jump to the end of the story, in the book of Revelation, we find that access will be granted to the Tree of life to those who return to their first love and overcome’ (Rev. 2:7) and those who keep His commandments (Rev. 22:12-15). The purpose of this tree is to bring healing to the nations (Rev. 22:2).
We don’t know, for certain, how many Cherubim there were that guarded/shamar, the way to the Tree of Life, we can estimate at least two that had ‘flaming sword’, lahat cherev (Gen. 3:24).
Ironically, the next time we see Cherubim in Scripture they do not have a ‘flaming sword’. In fact, they are much more inviting. These ‘guardians of the Tree’ are found on the Mercy Seat (Ex. 25:18-20; compare John 20:12), each curtain of the Tabernacle structure (Ex. 26:1, 31) and the fine-twined linen of the Tabernacle ceiling (Ex. 36:8); the place where God said He would meet with His people when they approached Him on His terms (Ex. 25:22; 29:42,43).
Just a quick side note: In Hebrew literature and commentaries, the three curtains of the Tabernacle Structure, that have the Cherubim guarding the way to Holy of Holies, (where the ‘bread from heaven,’ ‘the resurrected rod of Aaron,’ and ‘the Words of Life’; The Torah, are kept) are known as ‘the Way, the Truth, and the Life’ (John 14:6).
Let’s revisit the garden again J. What does Scripture mean that the Cherubim were to keep/guard ‘the way/HaDerek, to the Tree of Life? This phrase throughout Scripture refers to a pathway to walk in order to get to a destination (e.g. Gen. 18:19; 24:48; Ex. 18:20, etc,)
When God is speaking of Abraham,
'For I have known him, in order that he may command his children and his household after him, that they keep the way/haderek of the LORD, to do righteousness and justice, that the LORD may bring to Abraham what He has spoken to him (Gen. 18:19; Jn. 8:39)
And I bowed my head and worshiped the LORD, and blessed the LORD God of my master Abraham, who had led me in the way of truth to take the daughter of my master's brother for his son (Gen. 24:48)
And you shall teach them the statutes and the laws, and show them the way in which they must walk and the work they must do. (Ex. 18:20)
Could it be that the Cherubim are there with flaming swords, the Word of God (Heb. 4:12), to make sure that anyone who comes to the Tree of Life goes along a specific path; maybe a straight and narrow path (Matt. 7:13; Lk. 13:24)? If the Tree of Life provides life for ever (Gen. 3:22), is there a specific path to this Tree?
Throughout Scripture the Tree of Life is experienced by many followers of the One True God, Creator of heaven and earth, the God of Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob. The Tree of Life is referred to as something we can internalize/ingest (Prov. 3:1-18). Righteous individuals are likened to trees in Scripture (e.g. Psa. 92:12) and the fruit of the righteous is a Tree of Life (Prov. 11:30). Hope deferred makes the heart sick, but when it is realized (the promises of keeping His commandments), it is a Tree of Life (Prov. 13:12,13). There is life and death in the power of a tongue and a wholesome tongue, is a Tree of Life (Prov. 15:4).
Scripture reveals that Adam was exiled from the garden of paradise along with free access to the Tree of Life. The second Adam, Jesus/Yeshua, was betrayed in a garden in order to provide access to the garden of Paradise for mankind where the Tree of Life can be enjoyed fully once again.
I believe we have access to the Tree of Life today. It’s not a literal ‘fruit tree’, as it was in the Garden of Eden, but I believe those who walk in the way of His commandments they, as Scripture teaches, will be granted access once again to the literal Tree of Life that is in the midst of the Paradise of God, that will bring healing to the nations. On this 8th great day of the Feast/shemini atzeret, enjoy a good leafy, fruit salad...it's waiting for your health.
Shalom!
Here in Florida, we've made some attempts to answer the question: 'Who do you say that I am' (Matt. 16:15)? It's a question that we all have opinions on, but for now, we can only know in part (1 Cor. 13:9)...at least for now (1 Cor. 13:12 :-).
Commercial: Last night's celebration: Who do you say that I am? The One Who forgives even before you need it so that we can dwell together in unity (Psa. 133:1-3; Jn. 13).
Earlier this week, in one of our Q&A discussions, we briefly reviewed a story that many of us are familiar with the story that Adam and his wife, Eve, just recently named by Adam (Gen. 3:20), were exiled from the garden after the ‘trivia pursuit’ of their own desire (Gen. 3:22-24). There were Cherubs/keruvim, at the East entrance of the garden to guard/shamar, the way to the Tree of life (Gen. 3:24).
The tree of knowledge of good and evil has its own questions that need answering, namely, ‘how could God call this created tree both good and evil? I can understand the ‘good’ part...(Gen. 1:29,30; Gen. 2:9; Isa. 45:7), but why would He put it in the garden if it had evil? We know that the woman places a value on the tree that God doesn’t. She follows her desire of what is good, rather than God’s (Gen. 3:6; Jer. 4:22). The questions appear to be answered that God wants to use this ‘good’ tree to help remind mankind to listen to His voice and not their own.
Though there are many trees in the garden, all completely available for delicious and healthy eating (Gen. 2:16), with the exile from the garden, only the Tree of Life is mentioned as the way being guarded. Isn’t that strange? Was the tree of knowledge of good and evil guarded? Were all the other trees guarded? Or could Adam and Eve sashay back into the garden and make a delicious ‘Organic, non-GMO farmer's market’ fruit salad anytime they wanted?
I’m going to suggest to you that the purpose of the Cherubim/keruvim, are to guard the way to the Tree of Life, not keep mankind from it. Let me do like 'Ricky Ricardo' on the 'I Love Lucy' show...'let me splain’.
If we jump to the end of the story, in the book of Revelation, we find that access will be granted to the Tree of life to those who return to their first love and overcome’ (Rev. 2:7) and those who keep His commandments (Rev. 22:12-15). The purpose of this tree is to bring healing to the nations (Rev. 22:2).
We don’t know, for certain, how many Cherubim there were that guarded/shamar, the way to the Tree of Life, we can estimate at least two that had ‘flaming sword’, lahat cherev (Gen. 3:24).
Ironically, the next time we see Cherubim in Scripture they do not have a ‘flaming sword’. In fact, they are much more inviting. These ‘guardians of the Tree’ are found on the Mercy Seat (Ex. 25:18-20; compare John 20:12), each curtain of the Tabernacle structure (Ex. 26:1, 31) and the fine-twined linen of the Tabernacle ceiling (Ex. 36:8); the place where God said He would meet with His people when they approached Him on His terms (Ex. 25:22; 29:42,43).
Just a quick side note: In Hebrew literature and commentaries, the three curtains of the Tabernacle Structure, that have the Cherubim guarding the way to Holy of Holies, (where the ‘bread from heaven,’ ‘the resurrected rod of Aaron,’ and ‘the Words of Life’; The Torah, are kept) are known as ‘the Way, the Truth, and the Life’ (John 14:6).
Let’s revisit the garden again J. What does Scripture mean that the Cherubim were to keep/guard ‘the way/HaDerek, to the Tree of Life? This phrase throughout Scripture refers to a pathway to walk in order to get to a destination (e.g. Gen. 18:19; 24:48; Ex. 18:20, etc,)
When God is speaking of Abraham,
'For I have known him, in order that he may command his children and his household after him, that they keep the way/haderek of the LORD, to do righteousness and justice, that the LORD may bring to Abraham what He has spoken to him (Gen. 18:19; Jn. 8:39)
And I bowed my head and worshiped the LORD, and blessed the LORD God of my master Abraham, who had led me in the way of truth to take the daughter of my master's brother for his son (Gen. 24:48)
And you shall teach them the statutes and the laws, and show them the way in which they must walk and the work they must do. (Ex. 18:20)
Could it be that the Cherubim are there with flaming swords, the Word of God (Heb. 4:12), to make sure that anyone who comes to the Tree of Life goes along a specific path; maybe a straight and narrow path (Matt. 7:13; Lk. 13:24)? If the Tree of Life provides life for ever (Gen. 3:22), is there a specific path to this Tree?
Throughout Scripture the Tree of Life is experienced by many followers of the One True God, Creator of heaven and earth, the God of Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob. The Tree of Life is referred to as something we can internalize/ingest (Prov. 3:1-18). Righteous individuals are likened to trees in Scripture (e.g. Psa. 92:12) and the fruit of the righteous is a Tree of Life (Prov. 11:30). Hope deferred makes the heart sick, but when it is realized (the promises of keeping His commandments), it is a Tree of Life (Prov. 13:12,13). There is life and death in the power of a tongue and a wholesome tongue, is a Tree of Life (Prov. 15:4).
Scripture reveals that Adam was exiled from the garden of paradise along with free access to the Tree of Life. The second Adam, Jesus/Yeshua, was betrayed in a garden in order to provide access to the garden of Paradise for mankind where the Tree of Life can be enjoyed fully once again.
I believe we have access to the Tree of Life today. It’s not a literal ‘fruit tree’, as it was in the Garden of Eden, but I believe those who walk in the way of His commandments they, as Scripture teaches, will be granted access once again to the literal Tree of Life that is in the midst of the Paradise of God, that will bring healing to the nations. On this 8th great day of the Feast/shemini atzeret, enjoy a good leafy, fruit salad...it's waiting for your health.
Shalom!
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