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Written On Our Hearts

Over the past three years , I have discovered a great love for the Torah. I hope thru these teaching articles to share that and to spark in you a desire for God’s magnificent word.

The problem that arises when speaking about this subject is the misconceptions built into believers regarding the Torah. It is a most formidable obstacle. We are sitting at the end of 1800 years of twisted doctrine, that has resulted in half truths and error. The consequences have been devastating . However, God in these last days is speaking to those with an “ear to hear”. Touching the hearts of believers everywhere, calling His people back to the fullness of His Word.

Before proceeding too much further, let me introduce to you a concept unheard of in most pulpits. The Bible is NOT two books containing two covenants. In fact, the Word of God is ONE book, that reveals ONE God, ONE Messiah , ONE family of faith and ONE everlasting covenant. The Tanakh known as the old testament in the church, is the foundation of teaching and instruction. It was given by God to the redeemed community. The B’rit Hadasha or new testament, is the greatest commentary to the Tanakh, that has ever been written. In fact , a more accurate translation of the Hebrew would render it the "refreshed covenant". All of the teachings of Messiah are grounded in the Tanakh. In fact, He reveled the fullness of the word of God, like no one else ever had, because He was and is the Word of God.

God is NOT suffering from a split personality as most preachers would have us believe. Saying one thing in this half of the book, while saying the opposite in the other half. No dear friends. The Bible is a complete whole. It should be treated as such. When we approach the Word as if it is divided, seeing the old testament as a portion that has passed away and is no longer relevant, then we are kept in blindness, unable to see as God intended us to.

You will find as you study the Torah, that grace existed before the crucifixion. You will find that HaShem has always required the just to live by faith. You will discover that Torah was given to a redeemed group of people so that they would learn how to live as the redeemed. It was not given in order to cause their redemption. Most of all , you will see as you study Torah, that the Son always did as He saw the Father do. His words were indeed the words of the Father. Throughout the Torah you will see Yeshua.

How will this effect you? How will study of the Torah change your walk? In what way will it deepen your relationship with the Lord? Let’s examine a portion of scripture that I believe illustrates the answer to these questions.

A DISCOVERY THAT BROUGHT REVIVAL

In II Kings chapter 22, we are told about an event that occurred in approximately 632 B.C. The high priest Hilkiah was watching over the work being done on the temple. Somewhere in the ruins , Hilkiah discovered a scroll. Now this was no ordinary scroll. In fact it was the Torah. Knowing the importance of what he had uncovered, Hilkiah sent the scroll to King Josiah.

“And Shaphan the scribe shewed the king, saying, Hilkiah the priest hath delivered me a book. And Shaphan read it before the King. And it came to pass, when the King had heard the words of the book of the law, that he rent his clothes”. II Kings 22:10-11

Josiah’s response was intense. When he heard the Torah being read he was touched deeply. Realizing that the people were not walking as the Lord had instructed, he called for Hilkiah and some other servants to seek God for him. It is clear, that through the worship of idols the community of faith had forsaken their Lord. But watch the word that HaShem delivered to the King

“But, the King of Judah which sent you to enquire of the Lord, thus shall you say to him, Thus saith the Lord God of Israel, As touching the words which thou hast heard; Because thine heart was tender, AND THOU HAST HUMBLED THYSELF BEFORE THE LORD... and hast rent thy clothes, and wept before me; I also have heard thee, saith the LORD”. II Kings 22:18-19

Immediately, Josiah ordered that the idols be removed and destroyed. The words of the Torah were read before the people and they consecrated themselves unto the Lord.

WHAT DID THE TORAH PRODUCE

This account in the word of God is a picture of what will happen when the believers experience t’shuvah (repentance) and turn to embrace the word with all their hearts.

While the Torah was hidden in the ruins of the temple, the people fell into idolatry. Without the instruction of God, their path grew darker as they walked further and further away from the light. However, the discovery of the Torah brought cleansing and holiness as the redeemed saw again the way to walk as HaShem’s children.

This is exactly what God’s family is experiencing today. We are the temple of the living God. Look what it says in Hebrews concerning the refreshed covenant.

"Behold, the days cometh, saith the Lord, when I will make a new covenant with the house of Israel and the house of Judah: not according to the covenant that I made with their fathers in the day when I took them by the hand to lead them out of the land of Egypt: because they continued not in my covenant, and I regarded then not, saith the Lord. For this is the covenant that I will make with the house of Israel after those days, saith the Lord; I WILL PUT MY LAWS INTO THEIR MINDS, AND WRITE THEM ON THEIR HEARTS: and I will be to them a God, and they shall be to me a people". Heb 8:8-10

So, the new or refreshed covenant in Messiah relocates the Torah from stone to the heart. It does not destroy Torah. It is so important that we realize that. Torah for the believer in Yeshua is written in our hearts. Our response to HaShem's word is one of love not obligation. Observance of Torah is not in order to obtain deliverance. Observance of Torah is the lifestyle of those already delivered.

GET READY Just as Hilkiah's uncovering of the Torah scroll brought spiritual awakening, the uncovering of the Torah on our hearts will do the same. As we respond to the voice of the Ruach HaKodesh (Holy Spirit)to open our lives up to the truth of the Torah and it's rightful place in our lives, we will begin to experience a new depth in our walk with Yeshua.

I hope that the articles that will follow in this series will be helpful in your "awakening" to Torah. If you have already begun this adventure, then I encourage you, push onward. If you are not sure about the Torah and it's impotance to a believer, if you have been taught that it is a book for another people at another time, if you have heard repeatedly that it has passed away, then I ask you this ..... if God is the same, yesterday , today and forever , how is it possible that His "living" word could become obsolete? Please, give this careful consideration. Perhaps you have been misled. Perhaps all of God's word is for you.