by Ptr. Art Calaguas<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Shalom.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
At least 12 Druze children and youth were killed in a Hezbollah rocket attack while playing in a soccer field in Majdal Shams, in the Golan Heights below the southern foothills of Mount Hermon last Saturday, July 27. The AllIsrael News agency says that at least 40 people were killed or wounded in total. From our previous pilgrimages to Israel, we have come into contact with the Druze in the Galilee and near Tell Dan. The Druze are non-Muslim Arabs who have their own religion incorporating ideas from Judaism, Christianity and Islam. As a community, they have the highest rate of enlistment in the IDF and are known for their \u201cvalor and excellence in their service defending Israel.\u201d Analysts fear this attack would be the tipping point for the expected escalation into full-scale hostilities between Israel and the Hezbollah in Lebanon.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Meanwhile, negotiations for a temporary ceasefire deal are on-going even as bodies of dead hostages were recovered in Khan Younis in southern Gaza. More than 100 hostages (alive and dead) are still held somewhere in Rafah or elsewhere in Gaza. The hostages have been in captivity for over 9 months since the attack, massacre and hostage-taking done by Hamas on Israel last October 7, 2023.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Let us continue to pray for the immediate and unconditional release of all hostages and for a just end to the wars against the Jewish nation. Let us continue to stand with Israel and pray for the peace of Jerusalem (Psalm 122:6-9). <\/p>\n\n\n\n
The Books of Genesis showed the first references about the LORD\u2019s promises to the descendants of Abraham including the land promised. This is termed as the Abrahamic Covenant (see Genesis 12, 15, 17, 22) and these were further amplified and detailed in the Book of Exodus as the Israelites were finally freed from their bondage in Egypt and led to Sinai where another covenant, the Mosaic or Sinai Covenant was drawn up. Most Christians would quickly identify this as the Ten Commandments and its assorted laws, regulations, ordinances, statutes, decrees and commands. It was also in Exodus that the instructions for the Aaronic priesthood, the building the portable worship center, its accessories and were given via Moses. This Tabernacle was finally built at the end of the book.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Now, in the next book of the Torah\/Pentateuch, in Leviticus, the more specific laws and regulations for proper worship in the Tabernacle, including the rules for spiritual and ceremonial holiness, cleanness; and appointed festival times for all seasons and days for special observance are given. Such is the focus of Leviticus. But in this book, the reiterations of the original Abrahamic covenant promises including the land to be given to the Israelites are also found. Some just mention the land in passing, but other passages bear significant importance.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
The first mention of the land promised in Leviticus is found in chapter 14, verse 34 within the discussion of cleaning houses with leper (Israelite) occupants and how the people and their houses and the land must be kept clean. Here, the point of view is already when the Israelites have gone into and possessed the land and must keep it \u201cpure\u201d and \u201choly.\u201d The Hebrew verse of Leviticus 14:34 is given below (read right to left, top down) specifying the name of the land and its designation as Israel\u2019s inheritance (highlighted):<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u05db\u05b4\u05bc\u05a4\u05d9 \u05ea\u05b8\u05d1\u05b9\u0599\u05d0\u05d5\u05bc\u0599 \u05d0\u05b6\u05dc\u05be\u05d0\u05b6\u05a3\u05e8\u05b6\u05e5 \u05db\u05b0\u05bc\u05e0\u05b7\u0594\u05e2\u05b7\u05df \u05d0\u05b2\u05e9\u05b6\u05c1\u05a5\u05e8 \u05d0\u05b2\u05e0\u05b4\u059b\u05d9 \u05e0\u05b9\u05ea\u05b5\u05a5\u05df \u05dc\u05b8\u05db\u05b6\u0596\u05dd \u05dc\u05b7\u05d0\u05b2\u05d7\u05bb\u05d6\u05b8\u05bc\u0591\u05d4<\/mark> \u05d5\u05b0\u05e0\u05b8\u05ea\u05b7\u05ea\u05b4\u05bc\u05d9\u0599 \u05e0\u05b6\u05a3\u05d2\u05b7\u05e2 \u05e6\u05b8\u05e8\u05b7\u0594\u05e2\u05b7\u05ea<\/mark> \u05d1\u05b0\u05bc\u05d1\u05b5\u0596\u05d9\u05ea \u05d0\u05b6\u05a5\u05e8\u05b6\u05e5 \u05d0\u05b2\u05d7\u05bb\u05d6\u05b7\u05bc\u05ea\u05b0\u05db\u05b6\u05bd\u05dd<\/mark>\u05c3<\/p>\n\n\n\n The New American Standard Version (NASB) translation for this verse is given below:<\/p>\n\n\n\n 34<\/sup><\/strong>\u201cWhen you enter the land of Canaan, which I give you for a possession<\/mark>, and I put a mark of leprosy<\/mark> on a house in the land of your possession<\/mark>,<\/em><\/p>\n\n\n\n Note that the land is specified: Canaan. It is to be the possession of the Israelites and it is given to them by the LORD. The word \u05e6\u05b8\u05e8\u05b7\u0594\u05e2\u05b7\u05ea<\/mark> (\u201ctsaraath\u201d) translated as leprosy is a generic term for many skin diseases. The ESV Global Study Bible <\/em>comments that true leprosy, called today as \u201cHansen\u2019s disease\u201d was unknown in the ancient Near East at the time of Leviticus.<\/p>\n\n\n\n The next occurrence of the land promised puts an added dimension and even gives a stark warning for the Israelites when they possess the land. The LORD warns the people not to commit the \u201cabominable customs\u201d (specified throughout chapter 18) the current occupants of Canaan did lest they also suffer the same fate: expulsion from the land! The Hebrew verses of Leviticus 18:24-28 are given below (read right to left, top down) specifying the requirement to the people of keeping the land undefiled and free from abominable acts:<\/p>\n\n\n\n \u05d0\u05b7\u05dc\u05be\u05ea\u05b4\u05bc\u05bd\u05d8\u05b7\u05bc\u05de\u05b0\u05bc\u05d0\u0596\u05d5\u05bc<\/mark> \u05d1\u05b0\u05bc\u05db\u05b8\u05dc\u05be\u05d0\u05b5\u0591\u05dc\u05b6\u05bc\u05d4 \u05db\u05b4\u05bc\u05a4\u05d9 \u05d1\u05b0\u05db\u05b8\u05dc\u05be\u05d0\u05b5\u0599\u05dc\u05b6\u05bc\u05d4\u0599 \u05e0\u05b4\u05d8\u05b0\u05de\u05b0\u05d0\u05a3\u05d5\u05bc<\/mark> \u05d4\u05b7\u05d2\u05b9\u05bc\u05d5\u05d9\u05b4\u0594\u05dd \u05d0\u05b2\u05e9\u05b6\u05c1\u05e8\u05be\u05d0\u05b2\u05e0\u05b4\u05a5\u05d9 \u05de\u05b0\u05e9\u05b7\u05c1\u05dc\u05b5\u05bc\u0596\u05d7\u05b7 \u05de\u05b4\u05e4\u05b0\u05bc\u05e0\u05b5\u05d9\u05db\u05b6\u05bd\u05dd\u05c3<\/p>\n\n\n\n \u05d5\u05b7\u05ea\u05b4\u05bc\u05d8\u05b0\u05de\u05b8\u05a3\u05d0<\/mark> \u05d4\u05b8\u05d0\u05b8\u0594\u05e8\u05b6\u05e5<\/mark> \u05d5\u05b8\u05d0\u05b6\u05e4\u05b0\u05e7\u05b9\u05a5\u05d3 \u05e2\u05b2\u05d5\u05b9\u05e0\u05b8\u0596\u05d4\u05bc \u05e2\u05b8\u05dc\u05b6\u0591\u05d9\u05d4\u05b8 \u05d5\u05b7\u05ea\u05b8\u05bc\u05e7\u05b4\u05a5\u05d0<\/mark> \u05d4\u05b8\u05d0\u05b8\u0596\u05e8\u05b6\u05e5<\/mark> \u05d0\u05b6\u05ea\u05be\u05d9\u05b9\u05e9\u05b0\u05c1\u05d1\u05b6\u05bd\u05d9\u05d4\u05b8\u05c3<\/p>\n\n\n\n \u05d5\u05bc\u05e9\u05b0\u05c1\u05de\u05b7\u05e8\u05b0\u05ea\u05b6\u05bc\u05a3\u05dd \u05d0\u05b7\u05ea\u05b6\u05bc\u0597\u05dd \u05d0\u05b6\u05ea\u05be\u05d7\u05bb\u05e7\u05b9\u05bc\u05ea\u05b7\u05d9\u0599 \u05d5\u05b0\u05d0\u05b6\u05ea\u05be\u05de\u05b4\u05e9\u05b0\u05c1\u05e4\u05b8\u05bc\u05d8\u05b7\u0594\u05d9 \u05d5\u05b0\u05dc\u05b9\u05a3\u05d0 \u05ea\u05b7\u05e2\u05b2\u05e9\u05c2\u0594\u05d5\u05bc \u05de\u05b4\u05db\u05b9\u05bc\u05a5\u05dc \u05d4\u05b7\u05ea\u05b9\u05bc\u05d5\u05e2\u05b5\u05d1\u05b9\u0596\u05ea \u05d4\u05b8\u05d0\u05b5\u0591\u05dc\u05b6\u05bc\u05d4 \u05d4\u05b8\u05bd\u05d0\u05b6\u05d6\u05b0\u05e8\u05b8\u0594\u05d7 \u05d5\u05b0\u05d4\u05b7\u05d2\u05b5\u05bc\u0596\u05e8 \u05d4\u05b7\u05d2\u05b8\u05bc\u05a5\u05e8 \u05d1\u05b0\u05bc\u05ea\u05b9\u05d5\u05db\u05b0\u05db\u05b6\u05bd\u05dd\u05c3<\/p>\n\n\n\n \u05db\u05b4\u05bc\u059a\u05d9 \u05d0\u05b6\u05ea\u05be\u05db\u05b8\u05bc\u05dc\u05be\u05d4\u05b7\u05ea\u05b9\u05bc\u05d5\u05e2\u05b5\u05d1\u05b9\u05a3\u05ea \u05d4\u05b8\u05d0\u05b5\u0594\u05dc \u05e2\u05b8\u05e9\u05c2\u05a5\u05d5\u05bc \u05d0\u05b7\u05e0\u05b0\u05e9\u05b5\u05bd\u05c1\u05d9\u05be\u05d4\u05b8\u05d0\u05b8\u0596\u05e8\u05b6\u05e5<\/mark> \u05d0\u05b2\u05e9\u05b6\u05c1\u05a3\u05e8 \u05dc\u05b4\u05e4\u05b0\u05e0\u05b5\u05d9\u05db\u05b6\u0591\u05dd \u05d5\u05b7\u05ea\u05b4\u05bc\u05d8\u05b0\u05de\u05b8\u0596\u05d0<\/mark> \u05d4\u05b8\u05d0\u05b8\u05bd\u05e8\u05b6\u05e5<\/mark>\u05c3<\/p>\n\n\n\n \u05d5\u05b0\u05dc\u05b9\u05bd\u05d0\u05be\u05ea\u05b8\u05e7\u05b4\u05a4\u05d9\u05d0<\/mark> \u05d4\u05b8\u05d0\u05b8\u0599\u05e8\u05b6\u05e5\u0599<\/mark> \u05d0\u05b6\u05ea\u05b0\u05db\u05b6\u0594\u05dd \u05d1\u05b0\u05bc\u05d8\u05b7\u05bd\u05de\u05b7\u05bc\u05d0\u05b2\u05db\u05b6\u0596\u05dd<\/mark> \u05d0\u05b9\u05ea\u05b8\u0591\u05d4\u05bc \u05db\u05b7\u05bc\u05d0\u05b2\u05e9\u05b6\u05c1\u05a5\u05e8 \u05e7\u05b8\u05d0\u05b8\u059b\u05d4<\/mark> \u05d0\u05b6\u05ea\u05be\u05d4\u05b7\u05d2\u05b9\u05bc\u0596\u05d5\u05d9 \u05d0\u05b2\u05e9\u05b6\u05c1\u05a5\u05e8 \u05dc\u05b4\u05e4\u05b0\u05e0\u05b5\u05d9\u05db\u05b6\u05bd\u05dd\u05c3<\/p>\n\n\n\n The New American Standard Version (NASB) translation for these verses are given below:<\/p>\n\n\n\n 24<\/sup><\/strong>\u2018Do not defile<\/mark> yourselves by any of these things; for by all these the nations which I am casting out before you have become defiled.<\/em><\/p>\n\n\n\n 25<\/sup><\/strong>For <\/em>the land<\/em> has become <\/em>defiled<\/em>, therefore I have brought its punishment upon it, so <\/em>the land<\/em> has <\/em>vomited out<\/em> its inhabitants.<\/em><\/p>\n\n\n\n 26<\/sup><\/strong>But as for you, you are to keep My statutes and My judgments, and you shall not do any of these abominations, neither the native, nor the stranger who resides among you<\/em><\/p>\n\n\n\n 27<\/sup><\/strong>(for the men of the land<\/mark> who have been before you have done all these abominations, and the land<\/mark> has become defiled<\/mark>);<\/em><\/p>\n\n\n\n 28<\/sup><\/strong>so that the land<\/mark> will not spew you out<\/mark>, should you defile<\/mark> it, as it has spewed out<\/mark> the nation which has been before you.<\/em><\/p>\n\n\n\n In verses 25 and 28, the translated words \u201cvomited out\u201d and \u201cspew you out\u201d and \u201cspewed out\u201d actually use the same Hebrew verb \u05e7\u05d5\u05b9\u05d0 (\u201cqo\u201d) in different inflected forms. The passage states that the land itself vomits\/spews out its inhabitants who have defiled the land by committing acts which are abominable to the LORD. This is precisely why God has driven these nations out. Thus the warning is given to the Israelites who will be the new occupants and inheritors of the land promised.<\/p>\n\n\n\n We will continue next time.<\/p>\n\n\n\n God bless us all.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":" by Ptr. Art Calaguas Shalom. At least 12 Druze children and youth were killed in a Hezbollah rocket attack while playing in a soccer field in Majdal Shams, in the Golan Heights below the southern foothills of Mount Hermon last Saturday, July 27. The AllIsrael News agency says that at least 40 people were killed…<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":1,"featured_media":0,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[15],"tags":[6,7,9,8,5],"class_list":["post-442","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","hentry","category-ptr-art-calaguas","tag-church-of-the-risen-lord","tag-crl","tag-spiritual-refreshment-of-the-day","tag-upcemi","tag-upcrl"],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/upcrl.org\/refreshment\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/442","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/upcrl.org\/refreshment\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/upcrl.org\/refreshment\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/upcrl.org\/refreshment\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/1"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/upcrl.org\/refreshment\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=442"}],"version-history":[{"count":1,"href":"https:\/\/upcrl.org\/refreshment\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/442\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":443,"href":"https:\/\/upcrl.org\/refreshment\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/442\/revisions\/443"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/upcrl.org\/refreshment\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=442"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/upcrl.org\/refreshment\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=442"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/upcrl.org\/refreshment\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=442"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}