The Shofar Newsletter
THE SHOFAR Newsletter of Bet Yeshurun Messianic Assembly
Good News for the Assembly of Bet Yeshurun
No. 1611 / February 17, 2025
2025 Gatherings (doors open at time shown; services start at 3:00 pm)
2/22 Praise & Worship Services 1:30 pm
3/1 Praise & Worship Services 1:30 pm
3/8 Praise & Worship Services 1:30 pm
3/15 Praise & Worship Services 1:30 pm
3/18 Yom Peguim (Leap Day services for the spring season) 1:00 pm
3/20 Rosh ha’Shanah (Start of the New Year on the Divine Calendar) * 2:30 pm
3/22 Praise & Worship Services 1:30 pm
3/23 Praise & Worship Services 2:30 pm
* A Holy Day like Sabbaths (a day for no work)
2025 Schedule for Reading the Bible in One-Year
Brit Cha’Dasha; Qorin’tiyim 1 (Satiated) Paul’s First Letter to Corinthians
2/11 - Chapters 1 – 4 2/12 - Chapters 5 – 8 2/13 - Chapters 9 – 11
2/14 - Chapters 12 – 14 2/15 - Chapters 15 – 16
Brit Cha’Dasha; Qorin’tiyim 2 (Satiated) Paul’s Second Letter to Corinthians
2/16 - Chapters 1 – 4 2/17 - Chapters 5 – 9 2/18 - Chapters 10 – 13
Brit Cha’Dasha; Romiyim (Strength) Paul’s Letter to Romans
2/19 - Chapters 1 – 3 2/20 - Chapters 4 – 7 2/21 - Chapters 8 – 10
2/22 - Chapters 11 – 13 2/23 - Chapters 14 – 16
Brit Cha’Dasha Pileymon (One who Kisses) Philemon Qolasim (Colossal) Colossians
2/24 - Chapter 1 2/24 - Chapters 1 – 4
Eph’siyim (Permitted) Ephesians Pilipiyim (Lover of Horses) Philippians
2/25 - Chapters 1 – 3 2/26 - Chapters 4 – 6 2/27 - Chapters 1 – 4
Timotiyus 1 (Honoring Elohim) Timothy – 1 Titos (Nurse) Paul’s Letter to Titus
2/28 - Chapters 1 – 6 3/1 - Chapters 1 – 3
Timotiyus 2 (Honoring Elohim) Timothy - 2
3/2 - Chapters 1 – 4
Brit Cha’Dasha; Ivrim (Those from Beyond) Paul’s Letter to Hebrews
3/3 - Chapters 1 – 6 3/4 - Chapters 7 – 10 3/5 - Chapters 11 – 13
Ya’aqov(Supplanter)James to Scattered Israel Kepha-1(Rock)1-Peter to Scattered Israel
3/6 - Chapters 1 – 5 3/7 - Chapters 1 – 5
Kepha-2 (Rock) 2-Peter to Elohim’s Believers Yochanan 1 (Yah has Favoured) John-1
3/8 - Chapters 1 – 3 3/9 - Chapters 1 – 5
Yochanan 2-3 (Yah has Favoured) John 2-3 Yahudah (Yah is Praised) Letter of Jude
3/10 - Chapters 1 3/11 - Chapter 1
Brit Cha’Dasha; Chazon (Vision) Revelation of John
3/12 - Chapters 1 – 3 3/13 - Chapters 4 – 8 3/14 - Chapters 9 – 12
Tabernacle Invitation
Interested in joining Bet Yeshurun Assembly? Please contact Pastor ObadiYah by email, telephone, mail, or in person at a gathering of Yahushuah’s Body.
On Stealing
(Exodus 20:15 KJV) “Thou shalt not steal!”
Our Bet Yeshurun (BYA) series on the Ten Commandments resumes with that command on stealing. Most at BYA know it like the back of their hand, so this article will review that commandment by reading several other Scripture verses about stealing. First, let’s reflect on how Moses reiterates YAHUAH’s Covenant on that subject before the Israelites entered their Promised Land: (Deuteronomy 5:19) “Neither shalt thou steal!”
We’ll start by confirming how Strong’s Concordancedefines steal. It’s translated from the Hebrew verb gānaḇ (H1589, gaw-nab’), which means “to thieve; deceive; carry away, get by stealth.” (2 Samuel 15:6) On this manner did Absalom to all Israel that came to the king for judgment: so, Absalom stole (gānaḇ) the hearts of the men of Israel.
Stealing can be thought of as the carrying away or taking someone’s personal goods without their consent, but that last verse reveals a deceiver (thief) can also steal people’s hearts to support sinful objectives. Absalom via imperceptible, gradual means won Israelites over to his way of life. By gaining their allegiance, he was able to revolt against king “David” (“Yah’s Beloved”). The apostle Paul also warns this can happen in our spiritual realm: (1 Corinthians 6:9-10) Know ye not that the unrighteous shall not inherit the Kingdom of Elohim? Be not deceived: neither fornicators, nor idolaters, nor adulterers, nor effeminate, nor abusers of themselves with mankind, nor thieves, nor covetous, nor drunkards, nor revilers, nor extortioners, shall inherit the Kingdom of Elohim.
That underlined wordis from the Greek kleptēs (G2812; klep'-tace). It describes “a stealer, literally, or figuratively.” (Strong’s) Kleptomaniac is derived from that NT Bible word, and modern-day mental health experts use it to describe those with an urge to steal things, whether needed or not. The Word teaches Disciples how to protect themselves from those sinners! (Matthew 6:19-21) “Lay not up for yourselves treasure on earth, where moth and rust doth corrupt, where thieves (kleptēs) break through and steal. But lay up for yourself treasure in heaven, where moth nor rust corrupts, where kleptēs do not break through nor steal. For where your treasure is, there will your heart be.”
Thayer’s Greek Lexicon has another interesting explanation of kleptēs. It means “embezzler, pilferer." “The name is transferred to false teachers, who don’t care to instruct men, but abuse their confidence for their own gain.” That sounds like Absalom! Indeed, the Messiah warns us of spiritual thieves, too. (John 10:7-11) “Verily, verily, I say unto you, I am the door of the sheep. All that ever came before me are thieves and robbers: but the sheep did not hear them. I am the door: by me if any man enters in, he shall be saved, and shall go in and out, and find pasture. The thief comes not, but to steal, kill and destroy: I am come that they might have life, and that they might have it more abundantly. I am the good shepherd: the good shepherd giveth his life for the sheep.”
Now reflect on how that lesson opens:(John 10:1) “Verily, verily, I say, He who enters not by the door in the sheepfold but climbs up some other way, the same is a thief and a robber.”
Like Paul’s admonition, Yahushuah sternly warns spiritual thieves may try to enter, but won’t inherit the Kingdom of Heaven. The Word is clear! Those seeking eternal Life must obey Elohim’s commandments, including the one on stealing: (Matt 19:17-21) “If you want to enter into Life, keep the commandments.” He said to Him, "Which ones?" Yahushuah said, “You shall not murder, you shall not commit adultery, you shall not steal.” (G2813; kleptō) “You shall not bear false witness, honor your father and mother and you shall love your neighbor as yourself.” The young man said, "All these I have kept from my youth. What do I still lack?" Yahushuah said, "If you want to be perfect, go, sell what you have and give to the poor, and you will have treasure in heaven; and come, follow Me."
Sadly, the young man, who heard Yah’s words couldn’t part with his earthly treasures: (Matt 19:22-23)But when the young man heard that saying, he went away sorrowful: for he had great possessions. Then said Yahushuah to His Disciples, “Verily I say to you, that a rich man shall hardly enter into the Kingdom of Heaven.”
So, be prepared the Messiah expects even more than obedience from His Followers. Indeed, Elohim may supply the needs of the poor from those He’s blessed with abundance. Might that be why Believers aren’t to be contemptuous toward a hungered thief that steals food? (Proverb 6:30-31) Do not despise a thief, if he steal (gānaḇ) to satisfy his soul (life) when he is hungry. But if he be found, he shall restore seven-fold; he shall give all the substance of his house.
On the other hand, if a thief feels a need to steal food, what does that say of their trust in Elohim to provide all of their essential needs? Might that be why a thief caught in the act “shall restore” what was stolen. Note restitution (restoration) is required of thieves as Yah’s Way is one of fairness;ofmaking amends; of compensating owners for loss. If the stolen goods cannot be returned, the Word even specifies how it’s to be restored. (Exodus 22:1) If a man shall steal (gānaḇ) an ox, or a sheep, and kill it, or sell it; he shall restore five oxen for an ox, and four sheep for a sheep. (Exodus 22:12) If it be gānaḇgānaḇ from him, he shall make restitution unto the owner thereof. (Exodus 22;7-8) If a man shall deliver unto his neighbor money or stuff to keep and it be gānaḇ out of the man's house; if the thief be found, let him pay double. If the thief be not found, then the master of the house shall be brought unto the judges, to see whether he have put his hand unto his neighbor's goods.
That last passage should get BYA members to pause before agreeing to watch over someone’s property for them. While those are examples from ancient times, it can still guide us today as most goods have measurable value. America’s justice system rarely requires compensation for harmed owners from felons via “restitution.”Yet, the restoring of an owner’s loss by a factor of x-fold, is a good sign a thief has repented. Another sign of repentance is following this encouragement from apostle Paul: (Ephesians 4:28) Let him who stole steal no longer, but rather let him labor, working with his hands what is good, that he may have something to give him who has need.
There’s a spiritual component to restitution for the sin of stealing. It pictures the “restoration of that more perfect state of (even physical) things, which existed before the fall.” (Thayer’s Lexicon) Note well! The time of restitution for sins, including stealing, is coming! (Acts 3:19-21) Repent ye therefore and be converted, that your sins may be blotted out, when the times of refreshing shall come from the presence of YAHUAH. He shall send the Messiah Yahushuah, which was preached to you before: Whom the Heaven must receive until the times of restitution of all things, which Elohim spoke by the mouth of His holy prophets since the world began.
Indeed, obedience to the Ten Commandments demonstrates our love for Elohim and for our neighbors: (Romans 13:8-11) Owe no one anything except to love one another for he who loves another has fulfilled the law. For the commandments, you shall not commit adultery, you shall not murder, you shall not steal, you shall not bear false witness, you shall not covet, and if any other commandment, are summed up in this saying, namely, "You shall love your neighbor as yourself." Love does no harm to a neighbor; therefore, love is the fulfillment of the law. And this, knowing the time, that now it is high time to awake out of sleep; for now, our salvation is nearer than when we first believed.
BYA, do not get complacent and think we have YAH’s commandments covered, or worse, that they no longer apply to humanity as some falsely claim. This apostle disagrees and exhorts us to keep the commands, like the one on stealing. Spend some time reflecting upon these from a spiritual view. Selah!(1 Peter 4:15) Let none of you suffer as a murderer, or as a thief (kleptēs), or as an evildoer, or as a busybody in other men's matters.
Obedience to Yahushuah’s Covenant shows our love for the Son, our love for the Father and our love for Neighbors. For that, His Word promises to keep us in the Love of Elohim: (John 14:15) “If ye love me, keep My Commandments.” (John 15:10) "If you keep My Commandments, you will abide in My love, just as I have kept My Father's Commandments and abide in His love. (Mark 12:30-31) You shall love YAHUAH Elohim with all thy heart, all thy soul, all thy mind, and all thy strength. This is the first commandment. The second is this, you shalt love thy neighbor as thyself. Shalom, Elder Curt
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Thoughts for Meditation
“Begin with the end in mind.” Steven Covey
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