“Deborah’s Drash”
“Sitting at the feet of
Yeshua”
A Daily Devotional/Bible Study
based on the Hebraic/Jewish Roots of Christianity
Today’s Date: March 30
This Months
Theme – The Spring Feasts of Messiah – Passover/Pesach, Unleavened Bread, First
Fruits, ` Pentecost/Shavuot
Click
below for Blank Devotional Journal to use with your Studies
Weekly Torah Portion[1]
for the week- New Torah Cycle Begins!
Click
Here For Current Torah Reading Schedule
Daily Bible Reading
Schedule:
Tenach/Old Testament
Reading:
1 Kings 19:1-21
Tehillim/Psalms
Reading:
Psalm 136:1-16
Mishlei/Proverbs
Reading:
Proverbs 17:14-15
Brit Hadasha/New
Covenant:
Acts 12:1-23
Hebrew Daily
Word/Phrases:
Uva l’Tziyon A Redeemer shall come to Tzion
Meditation
Verse
Ephesians
2:5 Complete Jewish Bible
4 But God is so rich in mercy and loves us
with such intense love 5 that, even when we were dead because of our
acts of disobedience, he brought us to life along with the Messiah—it is by
grace that you have been delivered. 6 That is, God raised us up with
the Messiah Yeshua and seated us with him in heaven, 7 in order to
exhibit in the ages to come how infinitely rich is his grace, how great is his
kindness toward us who are united with the Messiah Yeshua[2]
Quote Of The Day:
Christ In The Passover – Moshe Rosen
“The New Testament refers to Jesus the
Messiah more then thirty times as the Lamb of God. Faith and trust in the sacrifice of God’s Lamb make a person or a
nation belong to God.
Deborah’s Drash Commentary:
He Is Risen
He is Risen Indeed
Halleluyah!!
The Festival of First Fruits[3]
(Bikkurim)
By Eddie Chumney
Hebraic Roots Ministry
The
fifteenth of Nisan begins Hag HaMatzah (the Feast of Unleavened
Bread), which is a high sabbath, a shabbaton. It is a seven day feast
to the L-rd. The day following the sabbath during Passover is called the Feast
of First Fruits (Leviticus [Vayikra] 23:10-11).
The
Feast of First Fruits can be found in Leviticus (Vayikra) 23:9-14, as
it is written:
Then
the Lord spoke to Moses, saying, "Speak to the sons of Israel and say to
them, 'When you enter the land which I am going to give to you and reap its
harvest, then you shall bring in the sheaf of the firstfruits of your harvest
to the priest. And he shall wave the sheaf before the Lord for you to be
accepted; on the day after the sabbath the priest shall wave it. Now on the day
when you wave the sheaf you shall offer a male lamb one year old without defect
for a burnt offering to the Lord. Its grain offering shall then be two tenths
of an ephah of fine flour mixed with oil an offering by fire to the Lord for a
soothing aroma, with its libation, a fourth of a hin of wine. Until this same
day, until you have brought in the offering of your God, you shall eat neither
bread nor roasted grain nor new growth. It is to be a perpetual statute
throughout your generations in all your dwelling places' " (Leviticus
[Vayikra] 23:9-14 NAS).
Understanding the Festival Ceremony
The
observance was carried out in this manner, when the standing ripe harvest of
barley and wheat was ready to be reaped. The celebrant would take one sheaf
from the standing harvest and bring it to the priest. The lone sheaf was called
"the sheaf of the first fruits." The priest was then to take this one
sheaf and wave it before the L-rd in His house. This was to be done "the
day after the sabbath." Prescribed offerings were also to be presented
along with the sheaf.
The Sheaf of First Fruits in the Bible
G-d
commanded the people to bring a sheaf of the harvest (Leviticus [Vayikra]
23:10). The Hebrew word for "sheaf" is omer. An omer
is defined as "a measure of dry things, containing a tenth part of an
ephah." The definition of an omer being a tenth part of an ephah
is found in Exodus (Shemot) 16:36. An ephah contains 10 omers
of grain. Remember, three times a year G-d commanded the people to come to
Jerusalem (Yerushalayim) to celebrate the festivals of Passover (Pesach),
Pentecost (Shavuot), and Tabernacles (Sukkot). All three of
these festivals are agricultural harvest festivals. Passover (Pesach)
is the barley harvest. Pentecost (Shavuot) is the wheat harvest. Both
of these festivals are first fruits harvests before the final harvest that was
to come at the end of the year during the festival of Tabernacles (Sukkot),
which is the fruit harvest.
The
harvest represents all who would put their faith, trust, and confidence (emunah)
in the Messiah Yeshua (Matthew [Mattityahu] 13:39; Mark 4:26-29;
Luke 10:1-12; Revelation 14:14-16). So, the sheaf is the first of the first
fruits. Since a sheaf in the Bible is used to typify a person or persons
(Genesis [Bereishit] 37:5-11), a sheaf spiritually represents people
who accept the Messiah into their hearts.
The
nation of Israel was familiar with the concept of first fruits or the
firstborn. The first fruits were always the choicest, the foremost, the first,
the best, the preeminent of all that was to follow. They were holy to the L-rd.
The concept of first fruits or firstborn is a major theme in the Bible. This
can be seen by the following Scriptures: Exodus (Shemot) 23:16,19:
34:26; Leviticus (Vayikra) 2:12,14; 23:20; Numbers (Bamidbar)
18:12-15,26; Deuteronomy (Devarim) 18:1-5; 26:2-4,10; 2 Chronicles
31:5; Nehemiah 10:35-39; Proverbs (Mishlai) 3:9; Jeremiah (Yermiyahu)
2:3; Ezekiel (Yechezekel) 44:30; 48:14; Malachi 3:8-14; Hebrews 6:20;
7:1-8.
Everything
on the earth, both man and beast, was to be presented before the L-rd as first
fruits to Him.
- The firstborn of both man and beast were sanctified (made holy)
and presented to the L-rd
(Exodus [Shemot] 13:2; 22:29).
- The first fruits of all the earth were presented to the L-rd at
His altar in praise and thanksgiving (Deuteronomy [Devarim] 26:1-11).
The Seventeenth of Nisan -- Resurrection and Salvation
The
theme of the festival of First Fruits is resurrection and salvation. There are
several important events that happened on this day in the Bible.
- Noah's (Noach) ark rests on Mount Ararat (Genesis 8:4).
- Israel crosses the Red Sea (Exodus [Shemot] 3:18; 5:3, 14).
- Israel eats the first fruits of the Promised Land (Joshua 5:10-12). The manna that G-d gave
from Heaven during the days in the wilderness ceased the sixteenth day of
Nisan after the people ate of the old corn of the land. The day following
was the seventeenth of Nisan, the day when the children of Israel ate the
first fruits of the Promised Land.
- Haman is defeated
(Esther 3:1-6). In the Book of Esther, Haman plotted to kill all the Jews
in Persia and Media. Haman had ten sons (Esther 9:12). By this, we can see
that Haman is a type of the false Messiah (antichrist). A decree was sent
out on the thirteenth of Nisan that all the Jews would be killed (Esther
3:12). Upon hearing this news, Esther proclaims a three-day fast, which
would be Nisan 14-16 (Esther 4:16). On the sixteenth of Nisan, Esther
risked her life when she came to King Ahasuerus. The king asked her, in
effect, "Tell me, what do you want?" Esther said, "If it
please the king, may the king and Haman come this day to the banquet that
I have prepared for him" (Esther 5:4 NAS). This was the sixteenth day
of Nisan. At the banquet, the king again asked Esther what she wanted, and
she asked the king to come to another banquet to be held the next day, the
seventeenth of Nisan. On this day, Haman (a type of the false Messiah or
antichrist, as well as of satan [Ha satan]) is hanged.
- The resurrection of Yeshua, the Messiah (John 12:24; 1 Corinthians 15:16-20). Yeshua
celebrated the festival of First Fruits by offering Himself as the first
fruits to all future generations (Matthew [Mattityahu] 27:52-53).
Yeshua Is the First Fruits of the Barley Harvest
- Yeshua is the firstborn of Miryam (Mary) (Matthew 1:23-25).
- Yeshua is the first-begotten of G-d the Father (Hebrews 1:6).
- Yeshua is the firstborn of every creature (Colossians 1:15).
- Yeshua is the first-begotten from the dead (Revelation 1:5).
- Yeshua is the firstborn of many brethren (Romans 8:29).
- Yeshua is the first fruits of the resurrected ones (1 Corinthians 15:20,23).
- Yeshua is the beginning of the creation of G-d (Revelation 3:14).
- Yeshua is the preeminent One (Colossians 1:18).
Yeshua
is indeed the Most Holy One of G-d and is sanctified by the Father. Yeshua
is the first, the choicest, the preeminent One. He is both the firstborn of G-d
and the first fruits unto G-d. Yeshua is the sheaf of the first
fruits.
First Fruits Is Prophetic
of the Resurrection of the Messiah
The
festival of the sheaf of the first fruits is prophetic of the resurrection of Yeshua.
Yeshua prophesied that He would rise three days and nights after He
was slain on the tree (Matthew [Mattityahu 12:38-40; 16:21; Luke
24:44-46). This was foreshadowed to happen in the Tanach (Old Testament)
by type and shadow (Genesis [Bereishit] 22:1-6; Exodus [Shemot]
3:18; 5:3; 8:27; Esther 4:15-17; Jonah 1:7; 2:1-2).
Since
Yeshua was slain on the tree on the day of Passover (Pesach),
the fourteenth of Nisan, and He arose from the grave three days and nights
after He was slain, Yeshua arose from the grave on the seventeenth of
Nisan, the day of the festival of First Fruits. In fact, Yeshua is
called the first fruits of those who rise from the dead.
But
now Christ has been raised from the dead, the first fruits of those who are
asleep. For since by a man came death, by a man also came the resurrection of
the dead. For as in Adam all die, so also in Christ all shall be made alive.
But each in his own order: Christ the firstfruits, after that those who are
Christs' at His coming (1 Corinthians 15:20-23 NAS).
It
was prophesied that Yeshua, the Messiah, would be buried in the tomb
of the rich (Isaiah [Yeshayahu] 53:9; Matthew [Mattityahu]
27:57; Luke 23:51). Why was Yeshua placed in the tomb of Joseph of
Arimathea? Arimathea was another name for Ramah, where Samuel dwelt. It is five
miles north of Jerusalem (Yerushalayim). In fact, this place is still
called Ramah today. In ancient times, it was customary for Jews to be buried in
Jerusalem (Yerushalayim). In fact, this practice is still done today
because it is a traditional belief in Judaism that the resurrection of the dead
will take place in Jerusalem (Yerushalayim) first.
In
the Book of Genesis (Bereishit), Joseph (Yosef) the son of
Jacob (Ya'akov), made the children of Israel take a vow that when they
went to the Promised Land, they would carry his bones with them (Genesis [Bereishit]
50:24-26). Ramah was a term that represented idolatry. Two countries were
called the seat of idolatry in the ancient world: Babylon and Egypt. Joseph (Yosef),
the son of Jacob (Ya'akov), was also known as Joseph of Ramah. Moses (Moshe)
took the bones of Joseph (Yosef) with him when he and the children of
Israel journeyed to Succoth (Exodus [Shemot] 13:19-20). Therefore,
Joseph's (Yosef) tomb in Egypt was empty. The empty tomb of Joseph (Yosef)
of Arimathea (Ramah), which stood for wickedness, was a fulfillment of Isaiah (Yeshayahu)
53:9.
Joseph
(Yosef) was a type of the role of Yeshua during His first
coming when He came to fulfill the role of the suffering Messiah known as Messiah
ben Joseph. The bones of Joseph (Yosef) were carried to Succoth.
Succoth is a type of the Messianic age also known as the Millennium. This is
also a picture of Yeshua being both Messiah ben Joseph and Messiah
ben David -- as Yeshua who suffered during His first coming to
earth will be King during His second coming to earth.
The Spiritual Understanding of First Fruits
Spiritual
Application (Halacha). A sheaf in the Bible is used to typify a person
or persons (Genesis [Bereishit] 37:5-11). Yeshua will return
to earth (Zechariah 14:4) during His second coming as King over all
the earth. He also will bring the sheaves (the believers in Yeshua as
the Messiah) with Him (Psalm (Tehillim) 126; Jeremiah (Yermiyahu)
31:9-14; Joel 3:11-13; Zechariah 14:3-5; Matthew [Mattityahu]
13:37-39; Mark 4:26-29; Hebrews 12:1; Jude 14; Revelation 1:7).
The
144,000 Jewish witnesses who witness of Yeshua during the Chevlai
shel Mashiach, the birthpangs of the Messiah (also known as the
tribulation) are first fruits to G-d during the tribulation (Revelation
14:1-4).
Let's
look at some Scriptures in the Bible concerning first fruits.
- The natural is before the spiritual (1 Corinthians 15:46).
- Israel was G-d's firstborn (Exodus [Shemot] 4:22). But, the first will be last and
the last will be first (Mark 10:31). Therefore, the Gentiles (the goyim)
became the first to receive the Messiah (as a corporate people; there are
many non-Jews who do not) (Isaiah [Yeshayahu] 60:1-3; 62:1-3;
Acts 15:14-16). At the end of this present age, the Jews as a corporate
people will accept Yeshua as Messiah as well.
- The gospel (basar) was preached to the Jew first and
then to the non-Jews (Romans
1:16; 2:9-10; Matthew [Mattityahu] 10:5-6; 15:21-28; Acts 1:8).
- We are called to seek first the Kingdom of G-d (Matthew [Mattityahu] 6:33).
- Yeshua was the first to rise from the dead (Acts 26:23).
- The early believers were a kind of first fruits (James [Ya'akov] 1:17-18).
- Those who arose from the dead with Yeshua during His
resurrection became the first fruits of all those who would rise from the
dead (Matthew [Mattityahu]
27:52-53; Ephesians 4:8; 1 Thessalonians 4:13-18).
- Yeshua first loved us, and He is to be our first
love (1 John [Yochanan]
4:9; Revelation 2:4).
- Yeshua is the first (Aleph) and the last (Tav) (Revelation 1:8,11,17; 22:13; Isaiah [Yeshayahu]
41:4; 44:6; 48:12).
.
Bonus: Prayers of The Bible – Prayers in The
Wilderness
Numbers 16:16-24
Torah Nuggets:[i]
Click
link for
Torah Portion Teaching:
Messianic
Israel Ministries Torah Study
Halacha – The Way One Walks or Goes- Derived from
the Hebrew word “Halakh” which means “To Walk”. The Way to follow the Torah/Word of God.
In this weeks Torah Portion, what is God
saying to me today about my walk with Him?
How can I apply this Torah Portion with
my walk with Yeshua this week?
Bible Study Nuggets From Daily Bible Reading:
Golden Nuggets From Gods Word: (Write the
Revelations and Insights you have received from Him today)
Word to Hide in my Heart:
(Write memory Verse of your choosing)
Word from the Lord (Write out verse,
quote or anything that was spoken to you by the Ruach HaKodesh/The Holy Spirit.
Today I
will…. (write down how you will apply what the Lord has spoken to your heart
through His Holy Word to your daily walk with Him in your Journal.)
Daily Prayer Guide For Your Prayer/Tefillah
Journal
Worship Time - Psalm
100:4 “I will adore you Adonai” Put in your favorite Worship CD or Tape and Praise
Adonai-See Amidah #1-4 Below and Shema
Waiting Time - Psalm
62:5 – I will wait in Your presence and surrender my thoughts to you! Clear
your mind of the clutter and focus on Ha Shem.
Confession
& Repentance /Tishuvah Time -1 John 1:9 – I will ask and receive forgiveness for my
sins –Write down what you need forgiveness or deliverance from so you may walk
in Holiness. –See Amidah #5-6 Below
See below for Personal Word Confessions to build up your Faith and
Spirit and to plant the Word in Your Heart
Intercession Time –Ezekial
22:30-31 I will stand in the Gap for
the world and for others as Yeshua is doing for us as our High Priest at the
right hand of The Father
31 Day Cycle of Prayer for the World…(Use a
World Atlas to help you pray for the World)
Today’s Countries to Pray for are:
Click Here For Map of World and Countries
Israel – Pray for the Peace of Jerusalem Daily
*Daily Prayer Reminders: See
Amidah #11-12, 14-17 Below
1 Timothy 2:1 1 First
of all, then, I counsel that petitions, prayers, intercessions and
thanksgivings be made for all human beings, 2 Including kings and
all in positions of prominence; so that we may lead quiet and peaceful lives,
being godly and upright in everything. 3 This is what God, our
deliverer, regards as good; this is what meets his approval.[4]
President,
Government Leaders, Family, Friends, Church, Ministers, Spouse, Children,
Ministries, Schools, Salvation, Missions, World Revival – See 40 Day Prayer
Focus Below
Petition Time – My Abba
Father hears me when I pray and answers when I pray in faith/trust and
according to His Word. Write down personal petitions for today. See Amidah #7-8 Below
Watching
Time – Colossians 4:2a – I will
keep watch in the spirit and be alert to what & who I need to pray
for. See
Amdiah #13
Prayer Alert: Today Adonai
has specifically laid these people upon my heart to pray for: Write it down in
your Prayer Journal
Listening Time: Psalm
85:8 Write down what Ruach HaKodesh/The Holy Spirit has revealed to you today
in Prayer.
List 5 Things your are
thankful to G-d for today in your Prayer Journal (You can print one out below)
In
Tefillah/Prayer: Always Pray the Word and Pray in the Ruach and Pray
Always with ALL Prayer…..
Praise, Waiting, Confession, Singing,
Watching, Intercession, Petition, Thanksgiving, Devotions, Meditation,
Listening and Praise
Suggested Prayer
Books: Prayer’s That Avail Much Volumes
1,2 and 3 by Germain Copeland[ii] and The Artscroll Seder Series[iii].
The Prayers of
a Righteous Person are Powerful and Effective –James 5:16
Click on
the Links for Daily Prayer and Bible Study helps
Torah/Bible
Study Helps
Lots and Lots of Study Helps, Concordances,
Commentaries, Various Translations Etc.
First
Century Judaism/Christianity
Eddie Chumney’s Hebrew Roots Website
The Sabbath and
Biblical Festivals
Learn about the Sabbath and Feasts of YHWH
Eddie Chumney’s Hebrew Roots Website
Learn about the Tabernacle
Eddie Chumney’s Hebrew Roots Website
Recommended Reading For Further Study
Messiah Volume 1, 2 and 3 Avi Ben Mordachi
http://www.millennium7000.com/
Restoring the Two Houses of Israel- Eddie Chumney
The Feasts of Messiah – Eddie Chumney
Who is The Bride of Christ-Eddie Chumney
Who is Israel – Angus and Batya Wooten
Restoring Israels Kingdom – Angus and Batya Wooten
First Fruits of Zion – Torah Club Volume 1,2,3, 4
and 5
Prayer Helps
Shemoneh
Esreh-Amidah and Ha Adonai Tefillah/The Lords Prayer
Traditional
Jewish Prayers and Blessings
(Jewish
Website by D’vorah, Click here for more insights into Jewish Prayer)
(Daily
Petitions to Yahweh)
(to
build up your faith)
Who I am In Messiah
Scriptures
(What Yeshua
did for you)
Click Here
to Return to Index Page
Lots more to See and Read !
Baruch HaShem Adonai –
Shalom B’Shem Yeshua Ha Mashiach
Deborah
All Rights Reserved ã2003-2004/5764-5765 Deborah’s Messianic
Ministries/Debra E. Brandt