The Shofar Newsletter
THE SHOFAR Newsletter of Bet Yeshurun Messianic Assembly
Good News for the Assembly of Bet Yeshurun
No. 1507 / September 21, 2023
2023 Schedule of Gatherings:
(doors open at time shown; services start at 3:00 pm)
9/21 Praise & Worship Services 1:00 pm
9/23 Praise & Worship Services 1:30 pm
9/27 Yom Kippur (Day of Atonement) * 2:30 pm
9/28 Praise & Worship Services 1:00 pm
9/30 Praise & Worship Services 1:30 pm
10/2 Chag Sukkoth * (Day 1 of the Festival of Tabernacles) ** 1:30 pm
10/3 Chag Sukkoth (Day 2 of the Festival of Tabernacles) ** 1:30 pm
10/4 Chag Sukkoth (Day 3 of the Festival of Tabernacles) ** 1:30 pm
10/5 Chag Sukkoth (Day 4 of the Festival of Tabernacles) ** 1:30 pm
10/6 Chag Sukkoth (Day 5 of the Festival of Tabernacles) ** 1:30 pm
10/7 Chag Sukkoth (Day 6 of the Festival of Tabernacles) ** 1:30 pm
10/8 Chag Sukkoth (Day 7 of the Festival of Tabernacles) ** 1:30 pm
10/9 Shemeni Atzaret * (The Last Great Day Feast) ** 1:30 pm
10/12 Praise & Worship Services 1:00 pm
10/14 Praise & Worship Services 1:30 pm
10/18 Chodesh (Celebrating the 8th month of the Divine Year) * 2:30 pm
* High Holy Day (Like Sabbaths, a day of no work)
** See the Announcements for more information on these gatherings
2023 Schedule for Reading the Bible in One-Year
Ketuvim; Shir ha’Shirim (Songs of Solomon) Ketuvim; Ruth (Friend) Teachings
9/20 - Chapters 1 – 8 9/21 - Chapters 1 – 4
Ketuvim; Eykah (How) Lamentations
9/22 - Chapters 1 – 2 9/23 - Chapters 3 – 5
Ketuvim; Qoheleth (Convener) Ecclesiastes
9/24 - Chapters 1 – 4 9/25 - Chapters 5 – 8 9/26 - Chapters 9 – 12
Ketuvim; Hadassah (Myrtle Tree) Teachings of Esther
9/27 - Chapters 1 – 5 9/28 - Chapters 6 – 10
Ketuvim; Ezra (Help) Writings of Ezra
9/29 - Chapters 1 – 3 9/30 - Chapters 4 – 7 10/1 - Chapters 8 – 10
Ketuvim; Nechemiah (Consolation of Yah) Writings of Nehemiah
10/2 - Chapters 1 – 4 10/3 - Chapters 5 – 8 10/4 – Chapters 9 – 11
10/5 – Chapters 12 – 13
Ketuvim; Divrey ha’Yamim 1 (The Annals of Time) First Book of Chronicles
10/6 - Chapters 1 – 3 10/7 - Chapters 4 – 6 10/8 - Chapters 7 – 10
10/9 - Chapters 11 – 14 10/10 - Chapters 15 – 18 10/11 - Chapters 19 – 22
10/12 - Chapters 23 – 26 10/13 - Chapters 27 – 29
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.
Behold The River and Tree of Life!
(Revelation 22:1-9) “He showed me a pure river of water of life, clear as crystal, proceeding from the throne of Elohim and of the Lamb. In the middle of its street, and on either side of the river, the tree of life, which bore twelve fruits, each yielding its fruit every month. The leaves of the tree for the healing of the nations. There shall be no more curse, but the throne of Elohim and of the Lamb shall be in it, and His servants shall serve Him. They shall see His face, and His name on their foreheads. There shall be no night there: They need no lamp nor light of the sun, for YAHUAH Elohim gives them light. They shall reign forever and ever. Then he said to me, "These words faithful and true."YAHUAH Elohim of the holy prophets sent His angel to show His servants the things which must shortly take place. "Behold! I am coming quickly! Blessed he who keeps the words of the prophecy of this book." Now I, John, saw and heard these things. When I heard and saw, I fell down to worship before the feet of the angel who showed me these things. Then saith he to me, See thou do it not: for I am thy fellow servant, and of thy brethren the prophets, and of them which keep the sayings of this book: worship Elohim.”
Behold! That word sure caught John's attention (his Hebrew name Yᵊhôḥānān means “YAHUAH's grace”). It also helped put him on the ground in worship. It is also meant to catch eyes and ears of Disciples at Bet Yeshurun Assembly (BYA). Get ready! Our Messiah's returning! Interestingly, Yahushuah also spoke that word earlier in a warning to Disciples: (Matthew 10:16) “Behold I send you out as sheep in the midst of wolves. Therefore be wise as serpents and harmless as doves.”
This article focuses on “behold” as that word appears in several Bible verses. For example, the KJV translates it 181 times from the Greek word “idou” (G2400). (Strong's Concordance) Its Hebrew equivalent “hinnê' (H2009) appears 17 times in the Old Testament (OT) as “behold, lo, or see”. Whenever the Father or Son speak that word, look closely for an important lesson or command. Pay attention to it and ask yourself: As a Disciple, am Ibeholding the Word of YAHUAH? Do I really hear Yah's teachings, sayings and commands? Do my works merit Elohim's blessing? (Rev. 22:12-14) "'Behold, I am coming quickly and My reward with Me, to give to every one according to his work. I am the Alpha and the Omega, Beginning and End, the First and the Last.' "Blessed are those who do His commandments that they may have the right to the Tree of Life and enter through the gates into the city."
For those who indeed hear and obey the commands of Elohim, everlasting Life awaits. But who are those that don't keep His commands? That answer is shown in a lesson from Yahushuah about the earth's four types of soil. He begins with a word that's compelling! (Matthew 13:3) He spake many things unto them in parables, saying, Behold, a sower went forth to sow.”
Worthy of much meditation is His entire parable. (Matthew 13:1-9) Also note a great multitude of people hear it, but only His Disciples will learn to understand it (Matthew 13:16-23). That teaching begs the question. Which soil are we? Type-1 which has the Word (Seed) snatched away from it. Or, Type-2 which bears the Seed until trials or persecution come. Or, Type-3 which germinates the Seed, but its plant dies due to worldly distractions and riches. Or, Type-4 which supports the Seed on good ground to produce much “spiritual fruit” (Galatians 5:22-23).
May BYA be among those blessed with spiritual fruit to see Elohim's Kingdom: (Luke 17:20-24) “The Kingdom of Elohim does not come with observation; nor will they say 'See here!' or 'See there!' For indeed the Kingdom of Elohim is within you." Then He said to the Disciples, "The days will come when you desire to see one of the days of the Son of Man and you will not see it. And they will say to you 'Look here!' or 'Look there!' Do not go after them, or follow. For as the lightning that flashes out of one part under heaven shines to the other part under heaven, so also the Son of Man will be in His Day.”
And let's not be lulled into a false sense of security. The Messiah's return is closer than many choose to believe: (John 4:34-36) Yahushuah saith to them, “My meat is to do the Will of Him that sent me, and to finish His work. Say not ye, 'There are yet four months, and then cometh harvest?' Behold, I say to you, Lift up your eyes, and look on the fields; for they are white already to harvest. And he that reapeth receiveth wages, and gathereth fruit unto life eternal: that both he that soweth and he that reapeth may rejoice together.”
As BYA prepares to celebrate its 2023 fall harvest Festival of Tabernacles (see announcement), it's a timely season to reflect upon Yahushuah's return: (Matthew 28:20-25) "Teaching them to observe all things whatsoever I have commanded you: and, lo, I am with you alway, [even] unto the end of the world. Amen." For then shall be great tribulation, such as was not since the beginning of the world to this time, no, nor ever shall be. And except those days should be shortened, there should no flesh be saved: but for the elect's sake those days shall be shortened. Then if any man shall say unto you, Lo, here is Messiah, or there; believe it not. For there shall arise false Messiahs, and false prophets, and shall shew great signs and wonders; insomuch that, if it were possible, they shall deceive the very elect. Behold, I have told you before."
BYA is also in the midst of the 10 days of awe before its 2023 fast for the Day of Atonement (see announcement). These represent times of introspection and for meditating on lessons, like this: (Matthew 7:4) “How wilt thou say to thy brother, 'Let me pull out the mote out of thine eye!' And behold, a beam is in thine own eye? Thou hypocrite, first cast out the beam out of thine own eye; and then shalt thou see clearly to cast out the mote out of thy brother's eye.”
Yahushuah wants BYA to see (no pun intended) that we aren't to counsel others on issues until we resolve our own issues. While it's easy to observe and judge the idiosyncrasies and mannerisms of others, it's difficult to catch our own faults and correct these shortcomings. His command is about not being quick to judge others faults, especially if we have the same unfixed problem. Counseling another is a great responsibility. Follow Yahushuah, our role model judge, who serves impartially, honestly, moderated with love and without harshness. And keep reading your Bible! The Shofar's back page lists the Way to get a helping of daily Bread: (Psalm 1) "Blessed is the man that walketh not in the counsel of the ungodly, nor standeth in the way of sinners, nor sitteth in the seat of the scornful. But his delight is in the law (Torah) of YAHUAH; and in His Torah doth he meditate day and night. And he shall be like a tree planted by the rivers of water, that bringeth forth his fruit in his season; his leaf also shall not wither; and whatsoever he doeth shall prosper. The ungodly are not so: but are like the chaff which the wind driveth away. Therefore the ungodly shall not stand in the judgment, nor sinners in the congregation of the righteous. For YAHUAH knoweth the Way of the righteous: but the way of the ungodly shall perish."
How about beholding one more Gospel witness of the Messiah's rapidly approaching return? (Mark 13:19-23) “For in those days shall be affliction, such as was not from the beginning of the creation which Elohim created unto this time, neither shall be. And except that the Adonai had shortened those days, no flesh should be saved: but for the elect's sake, whom He hath chosen, He hath shortened the days. Then if any man shall say to you, 'Lo, here is Messiah!' or, 'Lo, He is there!' Believe not! For false Messiahs and false prophets shall rise, and shall shew signs and wonders, to seduce if possible, even the elect. But take ye heed! Behold, I have foretold you all things.”
For the curious souls seeking to behold the River and Tree of Life with leaves for “healing of the nations,” behold and reflect upon this prophetic vision of an end-time reward. That time draws near! Selah! (Ezekiel 47:1-12) Then he brought me back to the door of the temple; there was water, flowing from under the threshold of the temple toward the east, for the front of the temple faced east; the water was flowing from under the right side of the temple, south of the altar. He brought me out by way of the north gate and led me around on the outside to the outer gateway that faces east; there was water, running out on the right side. When the man went out to the east with the line in his hand, he measured one thousand cubits, and he brought me through the waters; the water came up to my ankles. Again, he measured one thousand and brought me through the waters; the water came up to my knees. Again, he measured one thousand and brought me through; the water came up to my waist. Again he measured one thousand, and it was a river that I could not cross; for the water was too deep, water in which one must swim, a river that could not be crossed. He said to me, 'Son of man, have you seen this?" Then he brought me and returned me to the bank of the river. When I returned, there along the bank of the river, were very many trees on one side and the other. Then he said to me: "This water flows toward the eastern region, goes down into the valley, and enters the sea. When it reaches the sea, its waters are healed. It shall be that every living thing that moves, wherever the rivers go, will live. There will be a very great multitude of fish because these waters go there; for they will be healed and everything will live wherever the river goes. It shall be that fishermen will stand by it from En Gedi to En Eglaim; they will be places for spreading their nets. Their fish will be of the same kinds as the fish of the Great Sea, exceedingly many. But its swamps and marshes will not be healed; they will be given over to salt. Along the bank of the river, on this side and that, will grow all kinds of trees used for food; their leaves will not wither, and their fruit will not fail. They will bear fruit every month, because their water flows from the sanctuary. Their fruit will be for food and their leaves for medicine."
I close with king David (Yah's Beloved) singing about BYA (our Hebrew name means “House of the Upright”). Indeed, our Father beholds His upright ones! (Psalm 11:7) “For YAHUAH is righteous, He loves righteousness; His countenance beholds the upright.” -Shalom, Elder Curt
Announcements
Yom Kippur (Day of Atonement) Celebrate Yom Kippur 2023 as BYA refrains from water and food starting 9/26 (sunset) and ending 9/27 (after services). If you cannot fast, please spiritually join us in humble obedience to Elohim by watching our services on You-Tube Live: (Jeremiah 36:6-7) “Go and read in the roll, which you have written from my mouth, the Word of YAHUAH in the ears of the people in YAHUAH’s House on the fasting day. You shall read them in the ears of all Judah (Praisers of Yah) who come out of their cities. It may be they will present their supplication before YAHUAH and will return every one from his evil way.”
Chag Sukkoth (Festival of Tabernacles)Celebrate Tabernacles 2023 (YAH's annual family reunion of Sukkoth) as BYA dwells in tents as a community from 10/1 to 10/10. For camp directions call 248.850.3480. Join us to pray, sing P&W, sound shofars, hear Yah's Word and fellowship by a campfire amid Elohim's presence. Or, choose to participate by watching services on our You-Tube Live platform. (Leviticus 23:34-35) “The fifteenth day of this seventh month shall be the Feast of Tabernacles for seven days unto YAHUAH. On the first day shall be a holy convocation. You shall do no servile work therein.”
Thoughts for Meditation
“You cannot escape the responsibility of tomorrow by evading it today.” Abraham Lincoln