Trusting, Faith, calling and Ascribing to Jehovah #3 Voice of God #2 Instructions and Laws

Trust, Faith and Prayer

Trusting, Faith, Calling and Ascribing to Jehovah #3 voice of God

Instructions and Laws brought by the Voice

7 And He said to me, “Son of man, this is the place of My throne and the place of the soles of My feet, when I dwell in the midst of the children of Yisra’ĕl forever, and the house of Yisra’ĕl shall no longer defile My set-apart Name, they nor their sovereigns, by their whoring and by the corpses of their sovereigns on their high places. 8 “When they placed their threshold by My threshold, and their doorpost by My doorpost, with a wall between them and Me, they defiled My set-apart Name by the abominations which they have done. So I consumed them in My displeasure. 9 “Now let them put their whoring and the corpses of their sovereigns far away from Me, and I shall dwell in their midst forever.
10 “Son of man, explain the House to the house of Yisra’ĕl, and when they are ashamed of their crookednesses, they shall measure the measurements. 11 “And since they shall be ashamed of all that they did, make known to them the design of the House and its structure, and its exits and its entrances, its entire design and all its laws, and all its forms and all its Torot. And write it down before their eyes, so that they observe its entire design and all its laws, and shall do them. 12 “This is the Torah of the House: Upon the mountaintop, all the boundary of it, all around, is most set-apart. See, this is the Torah of the House. (Ezekiel 43:7-12 The Scriptures 1998+)

Moses with the tablets of the Ten Commandments, painting by Rembrandt (1659) (Photo credit: Wikipedia)

And He said to me, “Son of man, thus said the Master יהוה {Jehovah}, ‘These are the laws for the altar on the day when it is made, for offering burnt offerings on it, and for sprinkling blood on it. (Ezekiel 43:18 The Scriptures 1998+)

The instructions which the Voice of God gave were followed up by Abraham and his people. It came from the air of from the bushes (Exodus 6:4) and made itself know as the voice of the One who is, was and ever shall be, the “I am”, the “Ehyeh Asher Ehyeh,” “I am that which I am” (I am/will be what I am/will be) God of Moses his father, the God of Abraham, the God of Isaac, and the God of Jacob. Jehovah, whose Name is forever, from generation to generation, surely saw the affliction of His people which He heard crying and for He knew their sorrows. (Exodus 3:6-7, 14-16) More than once Jehovah replied to those crying people that he was surely be with them. He also sent signs to them so that they could know that He, the Elohim was with them. But He also asked them to come up to Jehovah and worship Him as their Only One God. (Exodus 3:12; 24:1) He made a decree and a law for them and when people would listen to the Mighty Voice they would be healed and safeguarded. (Exodus 15:25) And Moses came and told the people all the words of Jehovah, and all the judgments. “And all the people answered with one voice and said, all the words which Jehovah has said, we will do.” And Moses wrote all the words of Jehovah, and built an altar for God (Exodus 24:3-4). It was unto Moses that God gave the Commandments we should keep. In those early times God spoke all these words, saying that He is Jehovah our God, who has brought His people out of the land of Egypt, out of the house of bondage. We shall have no other gods before Him and we should not make to ourselves any graven image, or any likeness of anything that is in the heavens above, or that is in the earth beneath, or that is in the water under the earth. (Exodus 20:1-5)[1]

1 And Elohim spoke all these Words, saying, 2  “I am יהוה {Jehovah} your Elohim, who brought you out of the land of Mitsrayim, out of the house of slavery.
3 “You have no other mighty ones against My face.
4 “You do not make for yourself a carved image, or any likeness of that which is in the heavens above, or which is in the earth beneath, or which is in the waters under the earth, 5  you do not bow down to them nor serve them. For I, יהוה {Jehovah} your Elohim am a jealous Ěl, visiting the crookedness of the fathers on the children to the third and fourth generations of those who hate Me, 6  but showing kindness to thousands, to those who love Me and guard My commands.
7 “You do not bring^{1} the Name of יהוה {Jehovah} your Elohim to naught, for יהוה {Jehovah} does not leave the one unpunished who brings His Name to naught. {Footnote: ¹Or lift up, or take.} (Exodus 20:1-4 The Scriptures 1998+)

A leading and caring Voice to be heard

God’s voice led people through deserts, waters and mountains, in easy, but more often in difficult times. It was like He carried them, as a man carries his son. But often people did not believe the Voice of God and made Him angry, because they did not trust Him, the Adonai, who gave His Word. (Deuteronomy 1:34-37) Though they should know when we will do that which is right in His sight, and will give ear to His commandments, and keep all His laws, God would be with them that listen to His voice and help them, because all the words which Jehovah has said, He we will do, as Jehovah our God is, in all our calling on him. (Exodus 24:3; Deuteronomy 4:7)

When David‘s life was endangered at the rebellion of Absalom, and when the Kingdom of Israel was under great strain, David remembered his ancestors and who guided them. He wanted to build a House for God and did love it already before it was build. He sought to dwell in the house of God. When he was in trouble he also repented for what he done wrong and remembered all the good things God had done for him. He also as others returned to Jehovah his and our God and was obedient to His voice. (Psalms 27:4-7; Deuteronomy 4:30)

David like some other biblical writers dared to speak to the One who’s Voice they heard. They were also convinced that the One whom they heard speaking to them was also listening to them. David also believed that God would conceal him in his shelter on the day of evil and that the Listener God would place him on a high rock. David wanted to sacrifice in his tent with shouts of joy; singing and making melodies to the Most High Elohim. He called upon God and asked him to hear his voice. His mind recalled the voice of God who said several times to His people to seek His face. When David asked God to show His face, he was convinced that God had been his help. When he asked God not to abandon or forsake him, he was convinced that the God of his salvation would gather him up, teach him the way of God and lead him on a level path. He believed that he would see goodness of Jehovah in the land of the living.

4 One matter I asked of יהוה {Jehovah} – this I seek: To dwell in the House of יהוה {Jehovah} All the days of my life, To see the pleasantness of יהוה {Jehovah}, And to inquire in His Hĕk’al. 5 For in the day of evil He hides me in His booth; In the covering of His Tent He hides me; On a rock He raises me up. 6 And now my head is lifted up above my enemies all around me; And I offer in His Tent with shouts of joy; I sing, yea, I sing praises to יהוה {Jehovah}. 7 Hear, O יהוה {Jehovah}, when I cry with my voice! And show me favour, and answer me. 8 To my heart You have said, “Seek My face.” Your face, יהוה {Jehovah}, I seek. 9 Do not hide Your face from me; Do not turn Your servant away in displeasure; You have been my help; Do not leave me nor forsake me, O Elohim of my deliverance. 10 When my father and my mother have forsaken me, Then יהוה {Jehovah}does take me in. 11 Teach me Your way, O יהוה {Jehovah}, And lead me in a smooth path, because of my enemies. 12 Do not give me over To the desire of my adversaries; For false witnesses have risen against me, And they breathe out cruelty to me. 13 What if I had not believed To see the goodness of יהוה {Jehovah} In the land of the living! 14 Wait on יהוה {Jehovah}, be strong, And let Him strengthen your heart! Wait, I say, on יהוה {Jehovah}!  (Psalms 27:4-14 The Scriptures 1998+)

In 1 Chronicles 17:1-8 we have the request of David that he might build God a house. The reply of God was “haven’t I always been with you anyway?” The comment on this in Acts 7:46-49 is “the Most High does not dwell in temples made with hands”.

44 “The Tent of Witness was with our fathers in the wilderness, as He appointed, instructing Mosheh to make it according to the pattern that he had seen, 45 which our fathers, having received it in turn, also brought with Yehoshua { Joshua} into the land possessed by the gentiles, whom Elohim drove out before the face of our fathers until the days of Dawiḏ, 46 who found favour before Elohim and asked to find a dwelling for the Elohim of Ya’aqoḇ, 47 but Shelomoh built Him a house. 48 “However, the Most High does not dwell in dwellings made with hands,^{1} as the prophet says: {Footnote: ¹See 17:24}. 49 ‘The heaven is My throne, and earth is My footstool. What house shall you build for Me? says יהוה {Jehovah}, or what is the place of My rest? {(Isaiah 66:1)} 50 ‘Has My hand not made all these?’ (Acts 7:44-50 The Scriptures 1998+)

We, like David, can forget that God’s concern is not with material things, but with spiritual. God’s dwelling place is in heavenly places, and not in earthly. So how had David dwelt with God? Every time David was in trouble, he put his trust in God. His faith and hope was in God. David’s salvation was in God, and none other. His trust was in heavenly things and not earthly. David lived in faith. He lived in faith in God.

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[1] So you can wonder why those who take Jesus to be God, go against this command and do make images of Jesus and pray before portraits depicting Jesus and saints and worship crosses and other statues.

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Preceding: Trusting, Faith, calling and Ascribing to Jehovah #3 Voice of God #1 Creator and His Prophets

Continues: Trusting, Faith, calling and Ascribing to Jehovah #3 Voice of God #3 A voice to be taken Seriously

Dutch version: Vertrouwen, Geloof, Roepen en Toeschrijving aan Jehovah #3 Stem van God #2 Instructies en Wetten

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Read also:

1. Trusting, Faith, calling and Ascribing to Jehovah #2 Calling upon the Name of God
2. God about His name “יהוה“
3. I am that I am Ehyeh-Asher-Ehyeh אהיה אשר אהיה
4. Only one God
5. God is one
6. Video – Commandments of God
7. Some one or something to fear #6 Faith in the Most High
8. Trust God
9. Certainty in a troubled world
10. A Living Faith #9 Our Manner of Life
11. Trusting, Faith, calling and Ascribing to Jehovah #1 Kings Faith
12. Set free from any form of mental torment or self-condemnation
13. Were allowed to willfully break the Law of Moses
14. Observing the commandments and becoming doers of the Word
15. God loving people justified
16. The Law of Christ: Law of Love
17. When we love we do not need laws
18. Our political systems and juggling with human laws
19. If we view the whole world through a lens that is bright
20. No man is free who is not master of himself

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Other interesting posts to read:

1. You Blind Guides! You Strain Out a Gnat But Swallow a Camel
   one could possibly keep the commandment about not committing murder, but who among us has not looked across our neighbor’s fence and not thought the grass greener on his side?
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   Even the law against idols was practiced not because the people enjoyed a personal relationship with God (for one thing they were forbidden to approach God directly without Moses’ intercession), but because they feared the wrath of God!
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   The Law might be perfect, but those who attempt to carry it out are abominable.
2. Wanna be prosperous? :: Strong and Steadfast
   Be steadfast in observing what God has commanded you to do, without weakening under the pressures of a world that is in enmity with God
3. Born Identity
   We have a choice or free will to be obedient.  It is a daily decision we must make.  I know that as we obey God he will show us what it really means to have joy in abundance
4. Love – Bond for Perfection
   To God, we must love Him fervently, with all our heart, mind and soul. We should devote our lives to Him and Him only. For God commanded us that we should have no other Gods before Him. While we are willing to sacrifice our time and energy on things we desire,
5. Fr Junjun Amaya from Barrio Catolohan Dalaguete, is an ordained Catholic priest who looks for a personal journey with Jesus…as his priest…  According to him too much familiarity breeds contempt. He agrees Jesus has identified himself as the content, the fulfilment of the prophecies of the prophets, but he can not accept that Jesus would be a real man of flesh and blood. Though he sees that as a prophet, “Jesus was just being true to himself and to his mission. So no matter what other people say or think of him, he went on.” he says.  As a prophet, he not only sees and observes his surroundings, he also speaks out what he has seen and has witnessed. He is a true prophet indeed even if his own folks wouldn’t recognize him. And that is the big problem his church and other Christian believers still have to face. Jesus, the writer agrees, proclaims God or tell God’s message to his people, he also reveals the beauty of our God to us, creatures. This is why it is so important for us to have faith in Christ, because only He is our way to God, the truth of God and the life for us. Apart from him, we can do nothing.
   It is interesting to read how he reviews  three  important aspects of our being a son or a daughter of God. > Getting to know Jesus in faith and in love
6. From the same tub is being looked at human beings conceived in the womb who always grow up to be the kind of seed they are—Adam and Eve seed.  The Seed Bears Fruit According to its Kind–Sexagesima Sermon (edited) (2013) tells us that the world we live in is full of quiet witnesses to the wisdom, power, and goodness of God.  He is able to concentrate abundant life into the tiniest of containers, as He does with seeds.  And He does it all the time.  But the world doesn’t tell us that God who is able to make life will restore life to humankind.  It tells us that each new human seed that grows up in the world dies just like the one before it.
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   Because we know the Father and are His children, He hears us.  Because the Holy Spirit teaches us through the Word of Christ, we not only are changed into the image of Christ, but we learn to pray according to God’s will.  We learn what God has promised and what He has commanded, and we pray for the things He has promised.
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   The writer Rev. Karl Hess rightly questions: Do you find that you don’t have time to give much attention to God’s Word, or that many times there are other things you would rather do?  Do you often live as if the Word of God is fine as long as it is kept in its proper place and not allowed to spill out into other areas of life?
7. Jesus was not trying to teach the disciples behavior modification techniques.  He was not trying to teach them if you do this God will do that.  He was not teaching them how to manipulate the Heavenly Father.  Jesus did not put the cart before the horse nor did he dangle a carrot before the mule to lead him.  Everyone that dared to follow, he warned to count the cost.  When his following got huge, it seemed like a natural reaction to teach the deeper things that would scare a majority away.  Because the true people of God follow Jesus because he is the Christ and not a miracle worker. > Cart Before the Horse

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