Wake up, you are in a dark forest surrounded by wolves
The 22nd letter of the Hebrew alphabet is Tav. Numeric value is 400. The picture is of a mark or seal. This is the last letter of the Hebrew alphabet. Jesus said He is the first and the last, the alpha and the Tav. 400 can be 40x10 which would be the full manifestation of testing. Michael Jordan winning the NBA championship would be the full manifestation of his testing, the US olympic hockey team winning the gold medal in Lake Placid would be the full manifestation of their testing. 40 is also 5 x 8, or the grace of God mingled with the resurrection life. This is what testing is, it tests the grace of God in our life and the resurrection life in us. When that hockey team won they called it a miracle, it was like the resurrection life. 400 can also be 8x50. 50 is the number of the jubilee when the prisoners are set free and 8 is a new birth, a new life. We should look at the Hebrew alphabet like this. It is the grace of God and the resurrection life being worked into us letter by letter, it is working to give us a new birth and a release from slavery. The word reveals the full manifestation of testing. We don't like it when we are going through testing, but consider this, aren't you glad that Jesus resurrection life has been fully tested? Aren't you glad that the the apostle's ministry has been fully tested? Israel was enslaved in Egypt for 400 years. Do you think that is a coincidence? You may think they didn't have the full gospel, but they did have the full alphabet. The word for Tav means a mark. In Ezekiel those who sigh and groan over all the abominations which are being committed were given a mark on their forehead and God said to not touch any man on whom is the mark. The Jews were commanded to put the word of God in a little box on their forehead, ultimately this word becomes a mark on us that marks us out as belonging to God. A mark can also be a seal, a pledge, a promise. The Hebrew word for seal is a play on words, sin is finished, fear is finished, now blameless, innocent.
Psalm 119:169 Let my cry come near before thee, O Lord: give me understanding according to thy word.
The story of the miracle on ice is very interesting. The coach had picked out his players before the tryouts, according to some of the advisors he didn't even pick the best players, but his response was he didn't want the best, he wanted the right ones? Then it seemed he was sadistic in his training to get these kids into some kind of super shape, it was so over the top that even his assistant coaches didn't understand. Finally he was teaching them a whole new way to play the game that was completely confusing to them. This all starts with a cry, a desire to do the impossible. The idea that the US team could beat the Russians seemed like an absurd fantasy. He told them right up front, he couldn't guarantee they would beat the Russians, but he could guarantee they would be the most fit team on the ice. He knew that one advantage the Russians had over the other teams was that they were in better shape. He was going to take that away from them. Second, they would shock the Russians by playing their game, something no one else dared to do.
170 Let my supplication come before thee: deliver me according to thy word.
This was bold, this was daring, and you see him putting his entire faith in God based on the revelation in God's word. You see this with everyone who walks by faith.
171 My lips shall utter praise, when thou hast taught me thy statutes.
The same thing with Michael Jordan, he came into the NBA as a superstar. He became the rookie of the year. However, he still had a lot to learn. He realized he would never get to the championship level if he didn't also become a great defender, and soon he was the defensive player of the year for seven years as well as scoring champion. But even so they still couldn't get past the Detroit Pistons. Finally he realized they needed to be stronger than the pistons, not just him but the whole team. He became a leader. Finally, he realized he would have to pass the ball and he learned to play with the "triangle" offense.
172 My tongue shall speak of thy word: for all thy commandments are righteousness.
The word helps you whoever you are. You can see the same thing in the story of the "Big Short". These investors learned to tune out the lies and misdirection, trust what they had learned in the word, and then when the market refused to do what they expected and had begun to act crooked they held onto what they believed despite maximum pressure to get them to relent.
173 Let thine hand help me; for I have chosen thy precepts.
I had this experience when I was in high school. I was following the Lord's precepts when I vowed that everything I did in school the teachers would see. However, there were a couple of times when I desperately needed His help. The first time I had an exam I realized I needed to be able to study for exams but did not have any time that I could give the Lord to do that. I thought it was impossible, but He gave me a way to do that. A second time I was completely desperate, I knew I would not get a paper done on time, I had no way to get it done on time and this would be the first time I would be late with an assignment. However, a teacher was absent and sent us all to the library and so I was able to finish the assignment on time. I considered that to be divine intervention. If we are doing what the Lord says and following His leading it is not unreasonable to ask Him to let His hand help us.
174 I have longed for thy salvation, O Lord; and thy law is my delight.
This is what Ezekiel talks about concerning those who have the mark on their heard. They longed for salvation and the word of God is their delight.
175 Let my soul live, and it shall praise thee; and let thy judgments help me.
Many people pray "Lord if you save me in this I'll follow you". That is not what he is saying. He is praising the Lord, if the Lord will let him live he will continue to praise the Lord. He is not asking for a handout, he is saying that the word of God is his guide and based on that word He needs God to step in with His judgements. I had this experience. I sent a letter to the leading elders of the churches in Texas with a very strong rebuke. I knew when they got this they would excommunicate me. However, I also knew that this was the Lord's judgement and that if I were to be faithful to Him I had to send that letter. The day they received that letter they also learned that the leading elder, the one most responsible for the rebuke was diagnosed with terminal cancer. That was God's judgement and as a result they were unable to excommunicate me and so the Lord "let my soul live".
176 I have gone astray like a lost sheep; seek thy servant; for I do not forget thy commandments.
Can you imagine that this is the last, concluding verse? It is so true. Over my life I can think of several times I have gone astray like a lost sheep. When you go astray like a lost sheep it is like waking up in a very dark forest and realizing there are wolves in this forest and you are about to become dinner. In every case I didn't forget the words God had already spoken to me and I got saved. I was reminded of that verse There hath no temptation taken you but such as is common to man: but God is faithful, who will not suffer you to be tempted above that ye are able; but will with the temptation also make a way to escape, that ye may be able to bear it. (1Corinthians 10:13). This chapter ends with a promise of "escape" to those who do not forget the commandments. What a fitting conclusion to the church age, the escape of the church as we wake up in a dark forest realizing we are surrounded by wolves.
The 22nd letter of the Hebrew alphabet is Tav. Numeric value is 400. The picture is of a mark or seal. This is the last letter of the Hebrew alphabet. Jesus said He is the first and the last, the alpha and the Tav. 400 can be 40x10 which would be the full manifestation of testing. Michael Jordan winning the NBA championship would be the full manifestation of his testing, the US olympic hockey team winning the gold medal in Lake Placid would be the full manifestation of their testing. 40 is also 5 x 8, or the grace of God mingled with the resurrection life. This is what testing is, it tests the grace of God in our life and the resurrection life in us. When that hockey team won they called it a miracle, it was like the resurrection life. 400 can also be 8x50. 50 is the number of the jubilee when the prisoners are set free and 8 is a new birth, a new life. We should look at the Hebrew alphabet like this. It is the grace of God and the resurrection life being worked into us letter by letter, it is working to give us a new birth and a release from slavery. The word reveals the full manifestation of testing. We don't like it when we are going through testing, but consider this, aren't you glad that Jesus resurrection life has been fully tested? Aren't you glad that the the apostle's ministry has been fully tested? Israel was enslaved in Egypt for 400 years. Do you think that is a coincidence? You may think they didn't have the full gospel, but they did have the full alphabet. The word for Tav means a mark. In Ezekiel those who sigh and groan over all the abominations which are being committed were given a mark on their forehead and God said to not touch any man on whom is the mark. The Jews were commanded to put the word of God in a little box on their forehead, ultimately this word becomes a mark on us that marks us out as belonging to God. A mark can also be a seal, a pledge, a promise. The Hebrew word for seal is a play on words, sin is finished, fear is finished, now blameless, innocent.
Psalm 119:169 Let my cry come near before thee, O Lord: give me understanding according to thy word.
The story of the miracle on ice is very interesting. The coach had picked out his players before the tryouts, according to some of the advisors he didn't even pick the best players, but his response was he didn't want the best, he wanted the right ones? Then it seemed he was sadistic in his training to get these kids into some kind of super shape, it was so over the top that even his assistant coaches didn't understand. Finally he was teaching them a whole new way to play the game that was completely confusing to them. This all starts with a cry, a desire to do the impossible. The idea that the US team could beat the Russians seemed like an absurd fantasy. He told them right up front, he couldn't guarantee they would beat the Russians, but he could guarantee they would be the most fit team on the ice. He knew that one advantage the Russians had over the other teams was that they were in better shape. He was going to take that away from them. Second, they would shock the Russians by playing their game, something no one else dared to do.
170 Let my supplication come before thee: deliver me according to thy word.
This was bold, this was daring, and you see him putting his entire faith in God based on the revelation in God's word. You see this with everyone who walks by faith.
171 My lips shall utter praise, when thou hast taught me thy statutes.
The same thing with Michael Jordan, he came into the NBA as a superstar. He became the rookie of the year. However, he still had a lot to learn. He realized he would never get to the championship level if he didn't also become a great defender, and soon he was the defensive player of the year for seven years as well as scoring champion. But even so they still couldn't get past the Detroit Pistons. Finally he realized they needed to be stronger than the pistons, not just him but the whole team. He became a leader. Finally, he realized he would have to pass the ball and he learned to play with the "triangle" offense.
172 My tongue shall speak of thy word: for all thy commandments are righteousness.
The word helps you whoever you are. You can see the same thing in the story of the "Big Short". These investors learned to tune out the lies and misdirection, trust what they had learned in the word, and then when the market refused to do what they expected and had begun to act crooked they held onto what they believed despite maximum pressure to get them to relent.
173 Let thine hand help me; for I have chosen thy precepts.
I had this experience when I was in high school. I was following the Lord's precepts when I vowed that everything I did in school the teachers would see. However, there were a couple of times when I desperately needed His help. The first time I had an exam I realized I needed to be able to study for exams but did not have any time that I could give the Lord to do that. I thought it was impossible, but He gave me a way to do that. A second time I was completely desperate, I knew I would not get a paper done on time, I had no way to get it done on time and this would be the first time I would be late with an assignment. However, a teacher was absent and sent us all to the library and so I was able to finish the assignment on time. I considered that to be divine intervention. If we are doing what the Lord says and following His leading it is not unreasonable to ask Him to let His hand help us.
174 I have longed for thy salvation, O Lord; and thy law is my delight.
This is what Ezekiel talks about concerning those who have the mark on their heard. They longed for salvation and the word of God is their delight.
175 Let my soul live, and it shall praise thee; and let thy judgments help me.
Many people pray "Lord if you save me in this I'll follow you". That is not what he is saying. He is praising the Lord, if the Lord will let him live he will continue to praise the Lord. He is not asking for a handout, he is saying that the word of God is his guide and based on that word He needs God to step in with His judgements. I had this experience. I sent a letter to the leading elders of the churches in Texas with a very strong rebuke. I knew when they got this they would excommunicate me. However, I also knew that this was the Lord's judgement and that if I were to be faithful to Him I had to send that letter. The day they received that letter they also learned that the leading elder, the one most responsible for the rebuke was diagnosed with terminal cancer. That was God's judgement and as a result they were unable to excommunicate me and so the Lord "let my soul live".
176 I have gone astray like a lost sheep; seek thy servant; for I do not forget thy commandments.
Can you imagine that this is the last, concluding verse? It is so true. Over my life I can think of several times I have gone astray like a lost sheep. When you go astray like a lost sheep it is like waking up in a very dark forest and realizing there are wolves in this forest and you are about to become dinner. In every case I didn't forget the words God had already spoken to me and I got saved. I was reminded of that verse There hath no temptation taken you but such as is common to man: but God is faithful, who will not suffer you to be tempted above that ye are able; but will with the temptation also make a way to escape, that ye may be able to bear it. (1Corinthians 10:13). This chapter ends with a promise of "escape" to those who do not forget the commandments. What a fitting conclusion to the church age, the escape of the church as we wake up in a dark forest realizing we are surrounded by wolves.