Just Another Messianic Weekly Dose of Encouragement entitled: How to pray only 10 WORDS a Day!

September 16, 2016

By Rabbi John Wesley A. II  

The scripture passage for this morning's devotional is another very familiar one: Exodus 34:1-2 KJV “And the LORD said unto Moses, Hew thee two tables of stone like unto the first: and I will write upon these tables THE WORDS that were in the first tables, which thou brokest. 2 AND BE READY IN THE MORNING, and come up in the morning unto mount Sinai, AND PRESENT THYSELF THERE TO ME in the top of the mount.” Although this event seems like an isolated random event, (in order to teach Moses how to intercede for the nation (Exodus 33:4,5,12-17 in the KJV) it truly is not. This was and is for us today the pattern within which to commune with Yah rather than the exception. We say we have a relationship with Yah but I had been convicted pertaining to whose terms? If our relationship is not based on his instructions (His terms) as to HOW, WHEN, & WHY then we have missed the whole essence of the word relationship in the first place.

HOW- The word “Barukh” is very familiar to most christian and messianic circles. It means to bless someone or some thing. But we also know that it means to bless them in a certain way; kneeling. Regardless of what we may have been told or even think about the positioning of prayer this is what has always been common practice (Daniel 6:10 KJV- “But when Daniel learned that the law had been signed, he went home AND KNELT DOWN AS USUAL in his upstairs room, with its windows open toward Jerusalem. He prayed three times a day, just as he had always done, giving thanks to his God.”) So Daniel’s position of prayer was kneeling … but can’t Yah hear me when I am standing, sitting or even prostrate before Him.  Of course the answer is yes.  Don’t misunderstand me, if you are bedridden or have other handicaps there are always exceptions, but we are discuss Yah’s preferred method of prayer.  How about Yahushua/Yeshua’ position? Luke 22:40-41 KJV- “And he was withdrawn from them about a stone's cast, AND KNEELED DOWN, and prayed” another gospel says it this way; Matthew 26:39 KJV- “And he went a little further, AND FELL ON HIS FACE, and prayed, saying, O my Father, if it be possible, let this cup pass from me: nevertheless not as I will, but as thou wilt.” In the case where kneeling is a type of surrender, I don’t think anyone would argue the point that laying prostrate before Yah is not.

WHEN- early in the morning just before the sun rises in the eastern sky (Psalms 63:1 KJV “A Psalm of David, when he was in the wilderness of Judah. O God, thou art my God; early will I seek thee: my soul thirsteth for thee, my flesh longeth for thee in a dry and thirsty land, where no water is;”) Yes I am aware that the biblical day starts in the evening (at sunset Genesis 1:4-5 KJV) and we will discuss that as well. But it is important to know that there are focused prayers based upon Yah’s time clock that He has mandated. This pattern that was taught Moses in Exodus 34: is one such prayer. This is the one I have felt led of Yah to primarily focus on during this devotional. Exodus 34:4 KJV “And he hewed two tables of stone like unto the first; and MOSES ROSE UP EARLY IN THE MORNING, and went up unto mount Sinai, as the LORD had commanded him, and took in his hand the two tables of stone.”

WHY-because this is what the creator of the universe  intended; so then you and I should do it His way Right!?! Understand if your desire to follow his ways is not settled in your heart and mind, then only a significant emotional event will become your sole motivator in order to change your point of view. This road is hard and most times fataL (Proverbs 13:15 KJV “Good understanding giveth favour: but THE WAY OF TRANSGRESSORS IS HARD..”).  If you or I want the favor of Yah, it is best to do it His way. Now let’s begin analysing our attitude in prayer. This is most definitely a large part of our “WHY.”  Without the right amount of the reason why you want to see a thing through to the end, you may never finish the race. The writer of Galatians (Paul of Tarsus) said it this way: Gal. 6:9 KJV “And let us not be weary in well doing: for in due season we shall reap, IF WE FAINT NOT”. A pastor friend of mine told me a story that really touched me. I was feeling a little down pertaining to something and this is what he said to me. He said Rabbi I want to share with you an illustration that I think just might help you on your christian journey.  Of course I was all ears … as they say.  He started by saying; I once know a friend of mine who had a beach house. He would take long walks on the beach to relieve the mounting stress of each day. One such time things in his life were really escalating beyond human tolerance. To make matters worse there was a horrific storm the night before which had done sizable damage to his home. As he began to walk along the beach to relieve the stress of the situation, he noticed millions upon millions of starfish who had washed ashore. The starfish were of course needing the ocean to live but had no way of getting back in the water on their own. It was at first glance an impossible situation for the starfish. Once my friend saw this terrible sight, he sprang into action picking up one after one of these starfish and throwing them into the sea. As he was frantically throwing one after one into the ocean … a thought came to him: Call some of your friends to come and help. So he did. When they rushed to the beach they all were totally paralyzed by the horrendous sight. They looked at each other then at their friend with sheer hopelessness and despair, with their hands in the air and said “what is the point of doing this!?! There are literally millions upon millions of starfish on this beach, and they are all going to die! At hearing this my friend walked up to them and with an extreme surge of confidence reached down in front of them and picked up a starfish  and threw it in the ocean and said at the top of his lungs “NOT FOR THAT ONE!  And he did it again and said “NOT FOR THAT ONE! And he continued to repeat the same actions with the words “NOT FOR THAT ONE! Until slowly at first each one of his friends began to reach down beside themselves and pick up a starfish and throw them in the ocean while saying “NOT FOR THAT ONE!

I am not even finished with this topic but I thought it best to stop here and ask were you one of the starfish that Yeshua stopped and throw you into the ocean of the kingdom of His Father. If so, is it worth it to you to see this thing throw for others if not for yourself.. If you are having a hard time are truly struggling in this life; why not call one of your friends and see if you can take the focus off your long enough to aid in solving  and your problems to help someone else with theirs. I promise you it won’t be much contribution but at least it will make a difference FOR THAT ONE! LIKE IT DID FOR YOU! FATHER I PRAY THAT YOU SEND US A STARFISH AND EVEN MORE I PRAY THAT WE LOOK PAST OUR PROBLEMS AND HELP WHERE WHEN AND HOW WE CAN.

Here is a semi famous quote that goes like this “What is the worst thing that could happen?” I would like to change you and myself by saying what is the best thing that can happen by doing it exactly the way Yah intends?  

Okay let's get down to the meat of this subject. What is the relevance of the “10” words that were spoken by Yah to Moses on Mount Sinai? Again as stated in many of my midrash (Sermons) our desire is not to know for knowledge sake (or academia), but rather to know so that we can truly apply it in our life. One of the Hebrew Blessings that is found in the Shemoneh Esrei or Amidah (standing prayer- which is blessing number four) is called the Daat Blessing. Although in English it is often translated knowledge, it should be noted that in Hebrew, a more accurate translation would be knowledge that produces an understanding of how to apply it. Okay so with this said what is this great mystical concept that God is trying to get us to aspire to be? In a word "demuth” which is of course a hebrew word. Demuth is defined as Likeness or similar to of the original. In Genesis 1:26 in the King James version the plurality of God made a mandate of his creation with the determination of proclaiming that creation to be in the image and the likeness "demuth" of his plurality. I believe all of us are aware that the image portion of this prophetic utterance happens immediately at birth. But it is this Hebrew word "demuth" which demands a life dedicated to the pursuit of godly obedience in order to resonate the same spiritual sound as our creator.

Because the Hebrew word “demuth” is in fact: Wait for it! Wait for it! A Hebrew word; the true definition of the word from a pictographic concept in Paleo Hebrew (as well as the meaning pertaining of the letters themselves) define the meaning of the Hebrew word for us. The Hebrew letters which spell the word “demuth” are דְּמוּת. And as most of you know, we have to look at each letter from right to left as opposed to left to right in the way that we read and spell in English.  The spelling then in english from right to let would be the following: Dalet, Mem, Vav, and Tav.  Now let's begin to break down each letter within the word so that we can then begin to derive (by the Spirit of God) the true definition and application of this word “demuth”  in our life.  

The first Hebrew letter of the word is "Dalet," which is defined as Door, More, Hang, and Entrance. The next letter is “Mem” which is defined as Water, Mighty, Chaos, and Blood.  The last letter just so happens to be the very last (no pun intended here) letter of the Hebrew Alphabet “Tav.” This Hebrew letter has as its definition Cross Sticks, Mark, Sign, Signal, and Monument.   

Okay this is where I'm going to go ahead and stop the devotional for today.  Most of you are probably thinking this is quite an unfair tactic to get you to stay tuned and in suspense until tomorrow.  But I have a better alternative motive and that is, that you spend time with the Holy Spirit (yourself) trying to ascertain the cumulative meaning of these words. Then you can compare what you heard from the Holy Spirit with what I have heard from the same Holy Spirit.