The Lilies of the Valley Prayer Group

13/09/2024

Shalom Shalom Family 🌿

Our Heavenly Father and great I Am,
We come before You with a hearts full of gratitude and restored hope as a new day been given to us. We thank You for the gift of life, for the breath that fills our lungs, for the countless blessings You bestow upon us each day.
Our Eloheinu we ask for Your presence to fill our hearts every day with happiness and the joys that only brings You honor. Let Your peace reign in our minds and spirit, guiding us through every moment with calmness , reassuring us of Your love, grace and Mercy. May Your harmony embrace our relationships and interactions, fostering great understanding and love in all that we do. Help us to have caring hearts and attitudes to al that is part of our life. Please lead us to aim at good relationships with everyone, blotting all that is not from You out our minds. We give thanks for the many areas of our life, our health, home, work, and every opportunity. We are grateful for the support and care of our family and friends, and for those who work tirelessly to save lives and make the world a better place. In Your mercy, I lift up Yerushalayim, asking for Your protection, peace, and prosperity for this sacred city and all Your people. Thank You, for Your unwavering goodness and grace. May Your light shine brightly on our path and leaf us always. We await the coming of Your Kingdom to come and Your will to be done on earth as in heaven. Amein

Be blessed and stay blessed 🌿

08/10/2023

27/09/2023

Shalom Shalom Family 🌷

Words from our mouths can sometimes not express the feelings of our hearts.

Our Heavenly Father and great I Am as we come before You this day with every need, every desire and prayer. We ask that You hear in the the silent and unspoken words from our heat. Please flood our innermost spirit with
Your Glory. Please let our hearts long to overcome the enemy by Your presence in us. Help us to become more aware of Your abilities, power and strength through our faith in You.
We pray to receive Your Holy Spirit and welcome the peace Your love gives. Please calm the painful thoughts and suffering of every person experiencing inner hurt. Please remove feelings of isolation, insecurity and anxieties. We pray for each one that is lonely to see Your compassion. Please surround us with Your greatness and keep us joyful in all hours of being testested. Allow us to be Your testimony of worthiness. Forgive us our sins and trespasses against Thee others. Please help us to stand strong and focused on Your promises and Covenant that brings us to salvation. Let Thy Kingdom come and will be done on earth as in heaven. We surrender all.

Be blessed and stay blessed 🌷

23/02/2023

Shalom Shalom family 🌷

Let us be grateful to the wonderful people who is part of making us happy; uplifting us and brighten our day with love and a warm smile. They are the charming gardeners who make our souls blossom!🌸

Something to think about.
"For every minute you are sad, you lose sixty seconds of happiness."

Our Heavenly Father and great I Am. We come before You in humbleness and complete surrender giving You all of us so that You can complete Your will in us. As the sun rises with all the beautiful rings around the clouds, may new hope rise up in us. As the birds sing, let Your love be like a melody flowing from our hearts. As the light floods into this new day, may Your joy shine through us and pass unto others. We come before You, with Thanksgiving for every moment we have to existence Your surrendering peace. Thank You for renewed hope, love, joy and strength in our spirit and hearts. Thank You for Your Grace, Love, Mercy and giving us Assurance that Your hand will guide us, sustain, provide and keep us. We continue this day trusting in Your unfailing love and promises. Thank You for Your word that equips and empowers us to live each day. Thank You for taking away our fears and worries, the what-ifs, and reminding us that all things are possible to those who trust in You and love You. Please bless our spouses, children, our family members, friends and enemies with Your Shalom and Spirit. We pray for prosperity and gladness to pave the path to Your righteousness. Forgive us all our trespasses and sins against Thee and others. Thank You for our daily bread, blessings and provisions. Let Thy Kingdom come and will be done on earth as in heaven. Amein

Be blessed and stay blessed 🌷

30/09/2022

Shalom Shalom family!🌷

Psalm 18
I love You, YHVH, my strength. YHVH is my rock, my fortress and my deliverer; my Elohim is my rock, in whom I take refuge, my shield and the horn of my salvation, my stronghold.

John 15:13-17
Greater love has no one than this, than to lay down one’s life for his friends. You are My friends if you do whatever I command you. No longer do I call you servants, for a servant does not know what his master is doing; but I have called you friends, for all things that I heard from My Father, I have made known to you. You did not choose Me, but I chose you
and appointed you that you should go and bear fruit, and that your fruit should remain, that whatever you ask the Father in My name He may give you. These things I command you,
that you love one another.

Our loving Heavenly Father, great and Sovereign I Am. We give thanks this day for awakening us in body, Spirit and truth. We pray that our lifes will bring glory to You, that we will shine Your light before others as an example of Your grace and Your love in our life. As we are perfectly created in Your will, we give thanks for the sacrifice and righteousness of YeshuaHaMashiach. Thank You for our eternal home with You. In You we are safe and secure. Thank You that we can share all our concerns, our thankfulness and rejoice with You over all that is good. Thank You for the beautiful relationship we have with You as our Father. That we can talk to You anytime and I know that You hear our every word and thoughts. Thank You for blessing our day and filling it with Your fragrance and presence. We give thanks for every saving Grace and Mercy. Thank You for the joy we have in You and the privilege we have to celebrate this day with gladness. Let Thy Kingdom come and will be done on earth as in heaven. Thank you for our daily bread and the forgiveness of all our sins. Fill us with Your word and let us love others as You have loved us. Amein

Be blessed and stay blessed 🌷

29/09/2022

Shalom Shalom Family.

Reading Psalm 6-9 we get a understanding of Distress due to Sin and the Relief of Repentance.

David describes his depression as being caused by sin. There is a sinking feeling, a low feeling, and a guilty feeling from a conscience involved in sin.

Many times we make the wrong changes. Sometimes the reason we are unhappy is because of sin.

We think we need to change our jobs, change our location, change friends, and other such physical solutions. But often what is eating at us is the need to change ourselves. David also describes great fatigue that he is experiencing both spiritually and physically. David says that he is weary from his groaning. His eyes are weak with sorrow and grief and these things continue to pound upon him. How worn out we can feel after battling sin. How worn out we can be after fighting the battles and enduring the consequences.

Ephesians 2:4 tells us that YHVH is rich in mercy and has great love for us. YHVH will be merciful to His children.

Let us thank YHVH for His mercy and take to heart that we need and can request His mercy at any time.

Death is the greatest enemy. David is making an interesting point to YHVH that we must notice, David says, “in the grave who will give You thanks?” David is telling YHVH that he is going to serve Him, but that will not be possible if he is destroyed for his sins.

Yeshua HaMashiach came to rescue us and showed us how to follow. In the distress of sin we must seek after YHVH and ask for reconciliation. Amazingly, when we return to YHVH, He is always there to welcome us back.

Our Heavenly Father and great I Am, we praise and thank You for Your loving-kindness and great mercy which is new every morning and remains steadfast and sure throughout the day to strengthen and hold us. Thank You for the glory of the cross. Thank You for Your abundant, abounding grace. Thank You for even the smallest drop of a mighty river that flows freely for us today. Our Elohim Your compassion never fail. Thank You For Every Good and Perfect Gift. Thank You for being present in our lives, giving us the strength to endure, the hope that anchor our faith and the hunger for righteousnes. You have given us joy unspeakable and allowing us to mature in You! Elohim, Your mighty power is at work in us, transforming us, renewing our minds and preparing us for Your Kingdom to come. Thank You for our chastening, and building our characters, refining us in godliness to be a mirrored by the reflection of Your Son Yeshua HaMashiach. Thank You that we can come before You and being our councilor and Father. Thank You for the Holy Spirit and the truth that set us free. We are thankful for everything and in You in You we find victory and the courage to go on. To You YHVH our Elohim all the Glory and Praise. Let Your Kingdom come and will be done on earth as in heaven for ever and ever. Amein

Be blessed and stay blessed 🌷

24/09/2022

NITZAVIM - YOU ARE STANDING

We were created personally by YHVH for His purpose and reasons. We will give an account of how we fulfilled His purpose for us on earth' namely, to trust Him, love Him, obey Him and display His excellency and majesty in the world. Therefore we will give an individual account to YHVH in our standing before the white and glorious throne.

May we be cleansed, purified in every way and found blameless in His sight. May this season have a change for all the good reasons.

1 Peter 5:7-9
Cast all your anxiety on him because He cares for you. Be alert and of sober mind. Your enemy the devil prowls around like a roaring lion looking for someone to devour. Resist him, standing firm in the faith, because you know that the family of believers throughout the world is undergoing the same kind of sufferings.

While looking at our daily life, it is not always possible for us to control the influences that has affect on our lives,.

However we have a choices to consider what is right and what is wrong. How we accept or reject is how we will react to our actions.

James 4:7
Submit yourselves, then, to YHVH. Resist the devil, and he will flee from you.

Stand firm In your faith by relying on YHVH's strength, Not Yours. Be on your guard, and put your hope In YHVH. Stand firm in your faith by leaning into YHVH's Grace and find your righteousness in Him. We are righteous, not because of what we do, but because of what Yeshua HaMashiach did for us.

Right through the Old testament and new the message in the Scriptures prove that both Jews and Gentiles (pagan believers) are guilty before YHVH and in need for salvation. Righteousness is right standing, or good standing with YHVH.

The only way to have good standing with YHVH is by accepting His gift.

Romans 5:17
For the sin of this one man, Adam, caused death to rule over many. But even greater is YHVH's wonderful grace and His gift of righteousness, for all who receive it will live in triumph over sin and death through this one man, Yeshua HaMashiach.

Many have lost their focus and their faith, because they are so distracted by all the things that can never really give strength and hope. YHVH alone can offer the confident peace that can never be found in this life without Him.

The word “righteousness” literally means to be in "right standing.” and beyond justified means acquitted, (to pay off, discharge, to set free from the charge.” Our greatest enemy is death that is "sin'". It is "sin" that enslave people.

Ephesians 2:1-5
Once you were dead because of your disobedience and your many sins. You used to live in sin, just like the rest of the world, obeying the devil the commander of the powers in the unseen world. He is the spirit at work in the hearts of those who refuse to obey YHVH. All of us used to live that way, following the passionate desires and inclinations of our sinful nature. By our very nature we were subject to YHVH’s anger, just like everyone else. But YHVH is so rich in mercy, and He loved us so much, that even though we were dead because of our sins, He gave us life when He raised Yeshua from the dead.

It is only by YHVH’s grace that we are saved!

Ephesians 6:16
In all circumstances take up the shield of faith, with which you can extinguish all the flaming darts of the evil one;

Romans 12:2
Do not be conformed to this world, but be transformed by the renewal of your mind, that by testing you may discern what is the will of YHVH, what is good and acceptable and perfect.

The only way to find our way is to remain on the straight and narrow road. When you deviate from it you will find yourself on a wide road leading to distruction. The way back is to return to it. For some people who are struggling "shedar in Hebrew" to make their return to YHVH the only way start is by true repentance. The Hebrew word for repentance, t’shuvah, comes from the root shuv, meaning return.

Joel 2:12
“Even now,” declares YHVH, “return to me with all your heart, with fasting and weeping and mourning.”

2 Chronicles 30:9
For YHVH your Elohim is gracious and compassionate. He will not turn His face from you if you return to Him.

Deuteronomy 30:2–3
“When you and your children return to YHVH your Elohim and obey Him with all your heart and with all your soul according to everything I command you today, then YHVH your Elohim will restore your fortunes and have compassion on you and gather you again from all the nations where He scattered you.”

Deuteronomy 30:19-20
“This day I call the heavens and the earth as witnesses against you that I have set before you life and death, blessings and curses. Now choose life, so that you and your children may live and that you may love YHVH your Elohim, listen to His voice, and hold fast to Him. For YHVH is your life, and He will give you many years in the land He swore to give to your fathers, Abraham, Isaac and Jacob.”

Deuteronomy 30:11–14
“Now what I am commanding you today is not too difficult for you or beyond your reach.... The word is very near you; it is in your mouth and in your heart so you may obey it.”

The world is filled with war and disasters and while we know the time is drawing near for each person to stand before the Throne of Judgement, so many are still ignorant to their own self righteousness and judgemental behavior.

Some are behave in their own right of unforgiveness because they will never accept their own faults, failures or mistakes, believing they are at all times right.

Righteousness and repentance goes hand in hand. Romans 14 states whether we treat each other lovingly when we disagree about what to eat or drink or what days to celebrate.

Those are the surface issues.

Why do you pass judgment on your brother? Or you, why do you despise your brother? For we will all stand before the judgment seat of YHVH; for it is written,
“As I live, says YHVH, every knee shall bow to me, and every tongue shall confess to YHVH ”
So then each of us will give an account of himself to YHVH. Therefore let us not pass judgment on one another any longer, but rather decide never to put a stumbling block or hindrance in the way of a brother.

Romans 14:5
“One person esteems one day as better than another, while another esteems all days alike. Each one should be fully convinced in his own mind.”

Paul’s burden, at one level, is that we not judge and despise each other because of disagreements. Paul has elevated the whole matter immensely by introducing the most weighty truths about YHVH and our salvation through Yeshua.

The question is: what is our standing with YHVH. Love is not expressed by quarreling about things not reference or inline with the Scriptures. Understanding the contents of the message of Salvation in Romans 14 is that “It is before his own master that he stands or falls"

The Scriptures reveals of the final judgment with the ominous words of "standing or falling" and how we through our faith accept YHVH's persevering grace.

Whether man feels weak or lack in their belief YHVH still in the end is the Judge . “And He will be upheld, for YHVH is able to make him stand.” “If we live, we live to YHVH, and if we die, we die to YHVH. So then, whether we live or whether we die, we are YHVH's”

While one is ready to make peace it is not worth to quarrel with a person who is not ready to receive you. It is better to dust your feet and leave in peace.

Romans 14 speaks about the food people eat, but it is deeper than what people only take in by their consumption.

It is rather what is gained by righteousness and steadfastness we have through Salvation.

People play fast and loose with each other’s conscience so that it cause others to act against their conscience and take lightly whether they act with assurance of conviction.

One is stimulated by solid foods and others remain on milk while it does not calm their hunger pains as a adult.

As we consider the poor, we comfort them in their needs. We must be careful not to drive people away, but always help them to remain in the presence of YHVH.

With our wrong approach we may lead someone to become spiritually calloused and to forsake the faith and perish.

It is the same concern Paul has in 1 Timothy 1:19 where he urges Timothy to go on “holding faith and a good conscience.” And then he adds with utter seriousness, “By rejecting this, some have made shipwreck of their faith.”

How we love each other in regard to non-essential differences is an essential issue. While we agree to feed what is required and essential, we always consider that love keeps us standing together.

We all know from the Scripture we must differentiate about good and bad and right and wrong and helpful and unhelpful wise and foolish and kindness and cruelty. But there is a way to do this that is not judgmental.

The Negative Command: Do Not Judge or Despise Your Brother. The issue is judging and despising because of disagreements on non-essential things.

Don’t treat your brother scornfully and without brotherly affection. And don’t give the impression they are not “believers.”

“Why do you pass judgment on your brother? Or you, why do you despise your brother?”

YHVH speaks to us in obvious ways and it is important that we understand the essence and importance of forgiveness. If we are unable to forgive, how can our Heavenly Father forgive us.

That is exactly what Yeshua meant when he said, “First take the log out of your own eye, and then you will see clearly to take the speck out of your brother’s eye.”

Often people will quarrel about matters and reasons beyond the actual point. This will cause harm to the relationship between them. One might come in peace and a humble approach, while the other stands ready in armor of war and will not put the weapon down until the victory is proclaimed.

Paul said, “Brothers, if anyone is caught in any transgression, you who are spiritual should restore him in a spirit of gentleness. Keep watch on yourself, lest you too be tempted.” You will stand before the judgment seat (bëmati) of YHVH. Just as Paul stood before the “judgment seat” (bëma) of Galio in Corinth, and just as he stood before the “judgment seat” (bëmatos) of Festus in Caesarea, so you and I will stand before the judgment seat of the Creator of the universe.

Luke 9:27
But I tell you of a truth, there be some standing here, which shall not taste of death, till they see the kingdom of YHVH.

May YHVH bless and keep you always, May YHVH strengthen you from day to day, and May YHVH fill you with Peace.

Be blessed and stay blessed 🌷

24/09/2022

Real Situations Reveals Purpose to Change.

Real situations in life sometimes brings us closer to what YHVH would like to bring our attention to.

Righ throughout the Scriptures YHVH uses different people from different backgrounds to reveal to us His purpose. Regardless if they seem to think they are not worthy or have a impairment.

YHVH used Moses with a speech impairment. Someone that grew up in a pagan background and did not have the full knowledge until YHVH gave him the staff and showed him, that he is worthy.

At times we have to realize that thin layers of different personalities is still usable for YHVH. Even if we find ourselves on the opposite of a agreement with a friend, a family member or our enemy, YHVH will show us reasons to see He is the Power to bring all together.

In real life we have many people who can not see eye to eye and living in constant battle with others.

The word misunderstanding is in fact a understatement of what it reality is and self judgement again a overstatement if it is in the conclusion of a wrong judge.

There were times in each of our lives that we find ourselves in that opposite of agreement and regardless of how much effort you put in to show the positive, you will find the the the other person agrees to remain negative and nothing seem to register.

But in the end our differences should not escalate to a reason to end relationships in a bitter way or manner. Pray for YHVH to intervene and take the situation into His hands.

It is easy for two people to not agree but should never end in a blindness of not admitting our wrongs and ask forgiveness.

Both good times and bad times are ordained and purposeful, so people should accept good when accessible and face adversity when it becomes reality.

When we understand the loss of a person you love, the mourning in your heart takes time to heal. Mourning on the Scriptures are also mentioned as a time and a season. As we all need time it is YHVH that comes through to motivate us not to give up.

Evil people find enjoyment to hurt others to proof their victory, in the end they will always feel the emptiness inside.

Ecclesiastes. 7:2-4
It is better to go to a house of mourning than to go to a house of feasting, because that is the end of every man, and the living takes it to heart. Sorrow is better than laughter, for when a face is sad a heart may be happy. The mind of the wise is in the house of mourning, while the mind of fools is in the house of pleasure.

Yeshua HaMashiach needs sinners to realize they need a Saviour and someone to help them find their way to eternal life. Real peace can only come unto us if we really cease and observe. When we believe we can be set free from anything that keeps us in bo***ge.

Proverbs 9:10
Fear of YHVH is the foundation of wisdom. Knowledge of the Holy One results in good judgment.

It is never to late to turn and repent. It is available when we are ready to admit we become perfect in the Perfection of YHVH. Therefore we need to act with wisdom from YHVH and not lean on our own understanding.

Whenever there were war a white flag raised showed the request for peace. When a group of soldiers is outpowered in combat, they can wave a white flag to signal that they surrender, and by this attempt to save their lives. But that white flag hoisted also indicates a request for a truce in order to communicate with the opposition.

When we see more to the moment, than the flags of surrender, we will wave our flags of love to YHVH. When YHVH told His people to “ love YHVH your Elohim ” (Deuteronomy 6:5), it is in the context of His urging our surrender and lives to Him. To do His will rather than our will

From YHVH's point of view, life with Him is far more than just trying to be good or being perfect. It is always about relationship in which surrender is the way we express our gratefulness and love to Him and others.

Even when life takes it bumpy rides or we face turbulence, we have no need to be afraid. As a pilot is in the seat to steer the aircraft, the pilot needs to be more equipped by knowledge how to take off, keep the aircraft to plane and to land. When we face the dark clouds the fear takes over and we encounter feelings of being lost. Consider more is the engine's that should never fail and the Amazing wonder of YHVH still in control. Yeshua as our Pilot we know we are steered in the right direction.

When we surrender and give all in the hands of YHVH. Our will to live is YHVH's will to embrace us as our Heavenly Father.

Suffering injustice and being accused is the work of the evil one. YHVH is a God of purpose and has a great plan for our purpose. Keeping YHVH's principles is rewarding.

Psalm 19:7-14
The law of YHVH is perfect, converting the soul: the testimony of YHVH is sure, making wise the simple.

The statutes of YHVH are right, rejoicing the heart: the commandment of YHVH is pure, enlightening the eyes.

The fear of YHVH is clean, enduring for ever: the judgments of YHVH are true and righteous altogether.

More to be desired are they than gold, yes, than much fine gold: sweeter also than honey and the honeycomb.

Moreover by them is Thy servant warned: and in keeping of them there is great reward.

Who can understand his errors? You cleanse me from secret faults.

Keep back Thy servant also from presumptuous sins; let them not have dominion over me: then shall I be upright, and I shall be innocent from the great transgression.

Let the words of my mouth, and the meditation of my heart, be acceptable in Thy sight, O YHVH, my strength, and my redeemer.

In amazing love for us, Yeshua surrendered Himself on the cross to rescue us from our helpless bo***ge to sin and set us on a journey to all that is good and glorious.
We don’t have enough words to express to YHVH how much we love Him! So, let’s show Him our love by surrendering our hearts and lives to follow Him.

Let us keep the peace and harmony in our relationships and live according to His will and not press down our will on others. Forgive others, forgive yourself and find the peace in the forgiveness from YHVH.

Be blessed and stay blessed 🌷

22/09/2022

Shalom Shalom family 🌷

Let us rise and shine😄. Let us love with no regrets and spread the light of our Elohim.

Our heavenly Father, our great I Am' Sovereign and Holy in all Yor ways. Father we thank and praise You for Your perfect love. Thank You for Your saving Grace and the gift of the everlasting life in Yeshua HaMashiach who was sacrificed for us so that our sins can be forgiven. Thank You for preparing us in our repentance. We pray that by Your mighty power all works of the evil will be destroyed. May every power that raises itself against Thee, and form conspiracy against against Thy holy Word be nullified and voided. We come to You or Heavenly Father confessing the need of You in our midst. We pray that You will remove every self prided and restore all to humbleness . We pray that Your grace and mercy would lead, guide and take control. Please comfort every hurting soul with Your love and peace. Please fill the emptiness and pain that is tearing so many lives asunder.
YHVH our Elohim, help us to replace all negative thoughts and words with affirmation and confirmation of Your great and wonderful power. Our Father please help us not to be judgmental and to see the good in all of Your creations. Please give us strength, faith and hope. As time draw near we pray for Your guidance in each step or decision we need to make every day. We let go and give you control.
Thank You for the confidence we have in our Salvation and Redemption before You on the day of judgment. Please take away all fear, and give us joyful and thankful hearts. Please bless our Homes, workplaces, family members and friends. Please fill us with Your Holy Spirit and renew our strength to endure to the end.Let Thy Kingdom come and will be done. Amein

Be blessed and stay blessed 🌷

17/09/2022

Ki Tavo (“When You Come”)

The description of the covenant in our Torah portion begins, “See I am placing before you today a blessing and a curse.

The blessing (you will receive) if you follow the commandments of YHVH that I am commanding you TODAY, and the curse if you do not observe the commandments of YHVH and turn astray from the path that I Am commanding you TODAY

The word Ki Tavo "when you come" describing the ceremony of the first fruit. We may choose the good path, cleaving to YHVH and following in His ways, leading to a rich, fruitful life. Alternatively, we can embrace evil and negativity, which leads to an empty and barren life

Noticing the striking similarities between the covenant enacted on Mount Sinai and that enacted on Mounts Gerizim and Ebal. First and foremost, Mount Sinai has the identical structure of one description of the awe inspiring event as in (Exodus 19-20), followed by detailed commandments.

Moses commanded the people, once in the Land, to assemble on Mt. Ebal and Mt. Gerizim. Mount Gerizim and Mount Ebal stand opposite each other, in what would have been the heart of Israel at the time of the Israelites’ entry.

The ancient city of Shechem lies in the valley between the two. These are the laws whose observance or violation will lead to the blessings or curses promised on Mounts Gerizim and Ebal. Upon entering the Holy Land as a nation for the first time, the people gathered atop these two mountains to declare their loyalty to YHVH.

These two mountains represented Good and Evil, curses for disobedience and blessings for obedience. Mount Gerizim was lush and fertile while Mount Ebal was rocky and barren.

When you cross the Jordan, the following shall stand upon Mount Gerizim "to bless" the people. The following tribes gathered on Mount Gerizim. Simeon, Levi, Judah, Issachar, Joseph, and Benjamin.

And the following shall stand upon Mount Ebal "for the curse": Reuben, Gad, Asher, Zebulun, Dan, and Naftali. The Levites shall speak up, saying to every individual of Israel, in a loud voice: "Cursed be the man who makes any graven or molten image...”

The focus at Gerizim and Ebal is no longer on the laws themselves as it is at Mount Sinai.

Instead, the emphasis has shifted to the consequences violating the commandments of YHVH. Keeping the commandments comes with a blessing, violation follows with a curse.

Half the people stood facing Mt Gerizim across the valley, and half stood facing the summit of Mt Ebal, as commanded by Moses (Deuteronomy 11:29): “You are to announce the blessings from Mt Gerizim and the curses from Mt Ebal”
(Deuteronomy 27:12 - 28:68)

What is significant is at Mounts Gerizim and Ebal, the people stand at the very tops of the mountains, and verse after verse repeatedly informs us that the entire nation declares, “Amein,” after each and every announcement.

Deuteronomy 27:11-24 The Levites shall declare to all the men of Israel in a loud voice:

“‘Cursed be the man who makes a carved or cast metal image, an abomination to YHVH, a thing made by the hands of a craftsman, and sets it up in secret.’ And all the people shall answer and say, ‘Amein.’ “

‘Cursed be anyone who dishonors his father or his mother, anyone who moves his neighbor’s landmark, anyone who misleads a blind man on the road, anyone who perverts the justice due to the sojourner, the fatherless, and the widow.’ And all the people shall say, ‘Amein.’

“‘Cursed be anyone who lies with his father’s wife, because he has uncovered his father’s nakedness, anyone who lies with any kind of animal, with his sister, whether the daughter of his father or the daughter of his mother, with his mother-in-law.’ And all the people shall say, ‘Amein.’

“‘Cursed be anyone who strikes down his neighbor in secret, anyone who takes a bribe to shed innocent blood… Cursed be anyone who does not confirm the words of this law by doing them.’ And all the people shall say, ‘Amein.’

Our relationship with YHVH is individually and communally, dynamic and personal, and ever-evolving. In recognition that YHVH is Elohim we declare His Sovereignty by sounding the shofar from the top of the mountains.

Joshua 8:30-35 Joshua builds an altar on the slopes of Mt Ebal (above the Vale of Shechem, to the north of Ai).
This location had a great religious significance to the descendants of Jacob (the people of ‘Israel’) when they began to conquer the land of Canaan.

It was here at Shechem (near modern-day Nablus), over four hundred years earlier, that Abram had built an altar by the sacred tree of Moreh commemorate his meeting with YHVH (Genesis 12:6.)

Abraham's grandson Jacob (‘Israel’) set up an altar to El Elohe Israel (‘Elohim, the God of Israel’) (Genesis 33:18-20) and made a commitment to the one true God (Genesis 35:4).

Following the conquest of Ai, Joshua assembled the Israelites on the slopes of Mt Ebal to read aloud the Law of Moses (Joshua 8:30-35).

Archaeologists revealed what they’ve found. A small inscription on lead, thought to be 3,200 years old, appears to have the oldest script so far verifying Scriptural events. Not only was it on Mount Ebal near what is thought to be the altar of Joshua. Not only have they discovered words relating to the event that took place on the mountain but have found the earliest written example of God’s Name "YHVH"

The inscription found reads, “Cursed, cursed, cursed – cursed by the God YHVH. You will die cursed. Cursed you will surely die. Cursed by YHVH, cursed, cursed, cursed.”

The word "Ai" means.“The Ruin”, it used to be an ancient Canaanite town destroyed by the Israelites under their leader Joshua (Joshua 7–8). The name Ai refers to a “heap of ruins” (Joshua 8:28).

Ai is first mentioned in the Scriptures in Genesis 12:8 as a place where Abram camped during his journey toward the land YHVH promised in Genesis 12:1: “Go from your country, your people and your father’s household to the land I will show you.” When Abram reached Ai, he built an altar and “called upon the Name of YHVH.” The ruins of the city now lie beneath the modern archaeological site of Et-Tell on a slope leading from the Jordan Valley to Bethel.
It was the scene of Joshua’s defeat, and afterwards of his victory.

Joshua 7:6-11
Then Joshua tore his clothes and fell to the ground on his face before the ark of YHVH until the evening, both he and the elders of Israel; and they put dust on their heads. And Joshua said, “Oh, YHVH Elohim! Why did You ever bring this people across the Jordan, only to hand us over to the Amorites, to eliminate us? …O YHVH, what can I say since Israel has turned their back before their enemies? For the Canaanites and all the inhabitants of the land will hear about it, and they will surround us and eliminate our name from the earth. And what will You do for Your great name?”

So YHVH said to Joshua, “Stand up! Why is it that you have fallen on your face? Israel has sinned, and they have also violated My covenant which I commanded them. And they have even taken some of the things designated for destruction, and have both stolen and kept it a secret. …”

Ai was the second Canaanite city taken by Israel (Joshua 7:2-5; 8:1-29), the first being Jericho. Ai was later rebuilt and inhabited by the Benjamites (Ezra 2:28; Nehemiah 7:32; 11:31).

Valley's and mountains always defined places of interest or sacredness in the Scriptures. Temples were build on high mountains and therefore Kings always claimed mountains to established their kingdoms.

Joseph’s body was brought from Egypt and laid to rest at Shechem (Joshua 24:32). The Samaritan temple on Mt Gerizim rivalled the Jewish temple in Jerusalem until it was destroyed in c.128 BC. This is the ‘temple’ referred to by the Samaritan woman whom Yeshua met at Jacob’s well (John 4:20).

YHVH took Abram to the promised land. YHVH took the nation of Israel from Egypt and brought them back to the land YHVH promised. When YHVH called upon them YHVH gave instructions on "when you come" into the land, followed by commandments.

Deuteronomy 12:11-14
And it will be that the site where YHVH your Elohim will choose to make His Name dwell, there you must bring everything that I command you, your burnt offerings and other sacrifices… Take care not to sacrifice your burnt offerings in any place you like, but only in the place that YHVH will choose in one of your tribal territories. There you shall sacrifice your burnt offerings and there you shall observe all that I enjoin upon you.

When the Israelites entered the Promised land the first conquered place Jericho took place in the order for the seven Highpriest to sound the Trumpets of rams horn in front of the Ark of the Covenant. On the seventh day, they got up at daybreak and marched around the city seven times in the same manner.
Except that on that day they circled the city seven times.The seventh time around, when the priests sounded the trumpet blast, Joshua commanded the people, "Shout! For YHVH has given you the city!

As we await for the YHVH to conquer the Holy Mountains in the Kingdom to Come, we too will hear the sound of Trumpets. Everything repeated in sevens.

The seven trumpets are sounded by seven angels. The seven trumpets are the “contents” of the seventh seal judgment, in that the seventh seal summons the angels who sound the trumpets (Revelation 8:1–5).

Each time we blow the shofar on Rosh HaShanah, we feel that inner sense of excitement. Rosh HaShanah is merely a rehearse of the day of our Kings coming. While we eagerly looking forward to hear the shofar blast that will herald the day of Awe, the rehearsal trumpets are already resounding in our midst as a reminder to ready ourselves for the great day.

The seventh trumpet (and the third woe) sounds, and immediately there are loud voices in heaven saying,
“The kingdom of the world has become the Kingdom of YHVH and of His Messiah,and He will reign for ever and ever” (Revelation 11:15).

Lesson continue!

Be blessed and stay blessed 🌷