I don’t think I need to reiterate and write a long sob story about just how much 2020 was a seriously flawed year. We all know it, and we’ve all suffered in one way or another from it. I would like to believe that we’ve all grown in one way or another from the hardships of 2020. I hope that most of us saw this past year as an opportunity to grow in the ways of Yahweh our Elohim. If not, there’s no better time than now. There’s no better time than the present to bow your head and repent of your sins, to turn away from your own selfish ways, and to learn His way of doing things.
Now is the time to learn the ways of Yah, as in the time of Nehemiah when he had completed the rebuilding of the walls of Jerusalem. “And the wall was completed on the 25th of the month of Elul (which is around August-September) in 52 days.” Nehemiah 6:15 The Scriptures
When the wall was complete, Nehemiah appointed certain positions, “And it came to be, when the wall was rebuilt, that I set up the doors, and the gatekeepers, and the singers, and the Lewites were appointed.” N. 7:1
Once the wall was rebuilt and certain people were appointed to important positions, Nehemiah called upon the scribe, Ezra, to read the Torah (the Law of Yah, the first five books of His Word) to the people:
“And when the seventh new moon came, the children of Yisra’el were in their cities. And all the people gathered together as one man in the open space that was in front of the Water Gate. And they spoke to Ezra the scribe to bring the Book of the Torah of Mosheh, which Yah (the shortened version of the name of God) had commanded Yisra’el. And Ezra the priest brought the Torah before the assembly of both men and women and all who could hear with understanding, on the first day of the seventh new moon. And he read from it in the open space in front of the Water Gate from morning until midday, before the men and women and those who could understand. And the ears of all the people listened to the Book of the Torah. And Ezra the scribe stood on a platform of wood which they had made for the purpose.” N. 8:1-4
Verse 6 “And Ezra blessed Yah, the great Elohim. Then all the people answered, ‘Amen! Amen!’ (so be it) while lifting up their hands. And they bowed their heads and worshipped Yah with faces to the ground.
Verse 8-12 “And they read in the Book of the Torah of Elohim, translating to give the sense, and caused them to understand the reading. And Nehemyah, who was the governor, and Ezra the priest, the scribe, and the Lewites who taught the people said to all the people, ‘This day is set-apart (holy) to Yah your Elohim. Do not mourn or weep.’ For all the people wept when they heard the words of the Torah. Then he said to them, ‘Go, eat the fat, drink the sweet, and send portions to those for whom none is prepared. For this day is set-apart to our Yah. Do not be sad, for the joy of Yah is your strength.’ And the Lewites were silencing all the people, saying, ‘Hush, for the day is set-apart, do not be sad.’ And all the people went to eat and to drink, and to send portions and make a great rejoicing, because they understood the words that were made known to them.”
The joy of Yah comes to us when we understand the words of His Torah. We often use this well-known verse out of context when trying to reconcile personal troubles. We say, “Yes, this situation is troublesome, but, the joy of the lord is my strength.” That sounds nice, but, in full context, that joy comes from knowing and understanding His Torah. They made great rejoicing because they understood the words that were made known to them.
If you want to get into a place of great rejoicing, even in the midst of chaos which is the world right now, then you need to get into His Word. Learn to do things His way, not your way. Read what He has to say about, well, everything! It’s His owner’s manual to you. What a precious gift from our Creator.
In His Service,
Rebecca Hamilton, Founder/ Executive Director