Shavuot in Jerusalem 2013…I will be your Elohim and you shall be My people

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Shavuot_2013-7Shavuot in Jerusalem…Thinking of this time brings back fond memories, memories of friendship, fellowship but more importantly a reminder of our commitment to YHVH. On this day, we went up to Jerusalem, to the city of David, with friends from many different countries and renewed our commitment to be obedient to our Heavenly Father. We proclaimed, “All that YHVH has spoken we will do, and we will be obedient.”

Before we share more about this day, let us give you some background.

The previous year, we were led to proclaim repentance of our sins and the sins of our fathers. You can read more about it in the article “Trip report – Shavuot – our proclamation We are to continue to do this, as repentance is not just a once-off thing to do. We are to continue to call out to YHVH, repenting of our sins and the sins of our fathers.

However, this year we also re-affirmed our commitment to be obedient to YHVH. Repenting and making this commitment to be obedient is part of the restoration process and only possible through Y’shua and His Spirit indwelling us.

We gathered together in the City of David and some of the people who joined us the previous year were there, without us organizing it. They felt led to be there at that time, a Divine appointment! We started off by blowing the shofars and by sharing our understanding of this day with each other. It was so amazing how every person contributed and how it all fitted together. How we are to be joyful on this day for it is commanded (Deut 16:11) and how it is about restoration and a future return to the land. Furthermore, how the renewed covenant fits into all this- allow me to explain.

Shavuot is a special appointed time. It is very likely that the Sinai covenant was made on this day as it is stated in Scripture that it was in the third month. We have explained this in a previous article, if you want to learn more you can read All that YHVH has spoken we will do, and we will be obedient. The Ruach ha Qodesh (Holy Spirit) was also given on this day (Acts 2). These two events set the stage for and enabled future fulfillment of prophecy.

It is written in the book of Jeremiah that YHVH will write His commandments on our hearts and cause us to be obedient to Him. This is what YHVH said:

Jeremiah 31:33
33 “But this is the covenant which I will make with the house of Israel after those days,” declares YHVH, “I will put My law within them and on their heart I will write it; and I will be their Elohim, and they shall be My people.

When this Covenant is made, YHVH will be our Elohim and we shall be His people. This passage in Jeremiah 31 is opened with these words as well…

Jeremiah 31:1
1 “At that time,” declares YHVH, “I will be the Elohim of all the families of Israel, and they shall be My people.”

This is awesome! We are living in this time of restoration. The renewed covenant was initiated when Y’shua redeemed us through His death and ressurection. The indwelling of the Ruach ha Qodesh (Holy Spirit) enables us to walk in His ways.

Let us read through the part in between these two verses to see what else was prophesied.

Our future

Jeremiah 31:2-25
2 Thus says YHVH, “The people who survived the sword Found grace in the wilderness – Israel, when it went to find its rest.” 3 YHVH appeared to him from afar, saying,I have loved you with an everlasting love; Therefore I have drawn you with lovingkindness. 4 “Again I will build you and you will be rebuilt, O virgin of Israel! Again you will take up your tambourines, And go forth to the dances of the merrymakers. 5 “Again you will plant vineyards On the hills of Samaria; The planters will plant And will enjoy them. 6 “For there will be a day when watchmen On the hills of Ephraim call out, ‘Arise, and let us go up to Zion, To YHVH our Elohim.’ ” 7 For thus says YHVH, “Sing aloud with gladness for Jacob, And shout among the chief of the nations; Proclaim, give praise and say, ‘O YHVH, save Your people, The remnant of Israel.’ 8 “Behold, I am bringing them from the north country, And I will gather them from the remote parts of the earth, Among them the blind and the lame, The woman with child and she who is in labor with child, together; A great company, they will return here. 9 “With weeping they will come, And by supplication I will lead them; I will make them walk by streams of waters, On a straight path in which they will not stumble; For I am a father to Israel, And Ephraim is My firstborn.” 10 Hear the word of YHVH, O nations, And declare in the coastlands afar off, And say, “He who scattered Israel will gather him And keep him as a shepherd keeps his flock.” 11 For YHVH has ransomed Jacob And redeemed him from the hand of him who was stronger than he. 12 “They will come and shout for joy on the height of Zion, And they will be radiant over the bounty of YHVH –  Over the grain and the new wine and the oil, And over the young of the flock and the herd; And their life will be like a watered garden, And they will never languish again. 13 “Then the virgin will rejoice in the dance, And the young men and the old, together, For I will turn their mourning into joy And will comfort them and give them joy for their sorrow. 14 “I will fill the soul of the priests with abundance, And My people will be satisfied with My goodness,” declares YHVH. 15 Thus says YHVH, “A voice is heard in Ramah, Lamentation and bitter weeping. Rachel is weeping for her children; She refuses to be comforted for her children, Because they are no more.”16 Thus says YHVH, “Restrain your voice from weeping And your eyes from tears; For your work will be rewarded,” declares YHVH, “And they will return from the land of the enemy. 17There is hope for your future,” declares YHVH, “And your children will return to their own territory. 18 “I have surely heard Ephraim grieving, ‘You have chastised me, and I was chastised, Like an untrained calf; Bring me back that I may be restored, For You are YHVH my Elohim. 19For after I turned back, I repented; And after I was instructed, I smote on my thigh; I was ashamed and also humiliated Because I bore the reproach of my youth.” 20Is Ephraim My dear son? Is he a delightful child? Indeed, as often as I have spoken against him, I certainly still remember him; Therefore My heart yearns for him; I will surely have mercy on him,” declares YHVH. 21 “Set up for yourself roadmarks, Place for yourself guideposts; Direct your mind to the highway, The way by which you went. Return, O virgin of Israel, Return to these your cities. 22 “How long will you go here and there, O faithless daughter? For YHVH has created a new thing in the earth – A woman will encompass a man.” 23 Thus says YHVH of hosts, the Elohim of Israel, “Once again they will speak this word in the land of Judah and in its cities when I restore their fortunes, YHVH bless you, O abode of righteousness, O holy hill!” 24 “Judah and all its cities will dwell together in it, the farmer and they who go about with flocks. 25 “For I satisfy the weary ones and refresh everyone who languishes.”

What do we learn from this passage?Shavuot_2013-5

For better understanding of this passage, we need to know that we are Israel, YHVH’s chosen people. Every person who believes in Him and obeys Him is part of Israel. Take note, we have not replaced Israel; we are a part of Israel. For this reason, we can read this passage to be about us also.

First off, we learn that YHVH loves us with an everlasting love and draws us with loving kindness. He will furthermore build us up, after returning the remnant to the land. He will gather us and bring us back; He will lead us.

We are to declare that He who scattered Israel will gather Israel and return us to the land. YHVH will provide; our life would be as a watered garden, and we will not languish again. Mourning will be turned to joy! YHVH will give us hope for our future; our children would return to their own territory!

Ephraim is grieving; we have been chastised, but we are crying out to YHVH in repentance. He will hear us and restore us. We have turned back; we are repenting; we are smiting on our thigh. We are ashamed and humiliated, because of the reproach of our youth, but YHVH has mercy on us. We are returning to Him and we will again speak these words in the land of Judah “YHVH bless you, O abode of righteousness, O holy hill!” and we will be restored to Him and to the land.

Is this not absolutely amazing?

Our proclamation

We continued by reading through Exodus 20 – 24 and proclaiming like Israel did “All that YHVH has spoken we will do, and we will be obedient.” We were filled with joy in our realization that He draws us to Him through His loving-kindness and causes us to be obedient to Him. He has written His law on our hearts and we choose to follow Him this day and every day. YHVH is our Elohim and we are His people! He hears us and will return us to His land.

What now?

Now that this glorious day is behind us; we are entering a period of bearing fruit. The fruit of repentance and re-commitment to YHVH. We are to examine our lives and prayerfully consider our ways. Are we walking according to YHVH’s instructions or are there areas of compromise or sin. The people cleansed themselves from all idolatry after they made a covenant with YHVH in the time of King Josiah. We are to do the same. We are to cleanse ourselves from every defilement, any spiritual uncleanness and walk in His ways without compromise.

Even more importantly, are we to focus on Y’shua, our first love and do what the disciples did when they just received the Ruach. They boldly proclaimed Y’shua! Read through the book of Acts and imitate what they did. We have the same Spirit within us! This is the prayer they prayed, read through this and let it become your prayer also, especially the last part…

Acts 4:24-30
24 And when they heard this, they lifted their voices to Elohim with one accord and said, “O YHVH, it is You who made the heaven and the earth and the sea, and all that is in them, 25 who by the Holy Spirit, through the mouth of our father David Your servant, said, ‘Why did the Gentiles rage, And the peoples devise futile things? 26 ‘The kings of the earth took their stand, And the rulers were gathered together Against YHVH and against His Messiah.’ 27 “For truly in this city there were gathered together against Your holy servant Y’shua, whom You anointed, both Herod and Pontius Pilate, along with the Gentiles and the peoples of Israel, 28 to do whatever Your hand and Your purpose predestined to occur. 29 “And now, YHVH take note of their threats, and grant that Your bond-servants may speak Your word with all confidence, 30 while You extend Your hand to heal, and signs and wonders take place through the name of Your holy servant Y’shua.”

Please share your Shavuot experience with us, we would love to hear from you!


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