-Please Read this FIRST- On this site we prefer to use the
actual Name of our loving Heavenly Father as it was written in the Word, and
thus you will note that we will use the Four Letter “Memorial
Name” of 
- YHVH,
which is pronounced as YaHVaH or YaHWaH. In addition we will also
use our Heavenly Father’s attribute/title, which is Elohim rather
than “God,” which sadly is the name of a pagan god. In addition we
also love to use the actual and real Name of our beloved Messiah which
is 
- Yahushua or Yahshua in short, for
this is our Saviours original Hebrew Name as given to Him at birth in
Zephaniah and His Treasure
By Ministry
Associate Teacher:
Introduction:
What
would you desire above all the things contained in all the earth? Many would
ask for wealth and treasure to satisfy all their needs. Others would not even
be satisfied with this and will extend their list further to encompass power,
prestige, and great honour. With all this comes; pride and a desire to lord it
over other people.
Whereas
the treasure of
The
Good News is that it is a treasure that is infinite in its abundance, it is
more precious than the finest gold, grandeur than the largest buildings, ocean
liners, air or spacecraft and monuments ever built by men, for it is totally
self-satisfying, and yet the hardest thing to hold on to for so many.
Secondly
seeking out this treasure has the greatest rewards to all who humble themselves
and strive to understand the Heavenly Father and apply His Decalogue (10
commandments) to themselves first, rather than to just follow their fellow
human beings on the principle; “Do as I do, no matter what. If it feels
good, it must be OK.”
Part One:
Before
we go on let us look at the first Chapter and verse of Tzefanyah – Zephaniah.
“The
Word of
YHVH
which came unto Tzefanyah - Zephaniah the
son of Cushi, the
son of Gedaliah, the
son of Amariah, the
son of Hezekiah, in
the days of Josiah the son of Amon, king of
Judah.”
Tzefanyah - Zephaniah 1:1. … (1.
Italics are added words for clarification for English and other translations,
but they are not in the original Hebrew, nor required – 2. Bold names are
listed below but using their Hebrew Names).
Did you notice that the very first Word that is used
in the Hebrew of Tzefanyah - Zephaniah is “Davar,” which means “Word”
and it is joined to the next word, being the Name - YaHVaH. We need to
understand that it is this sequence of these two words that provides one of the
most powerful commands given in any context, for no one can alter it or take it
away. That decisive – “The Word of YHVH” statement
proclaims the beginning and end, prophecy, warning, Messiah and Salvation with
judgments to come!
It is also very interesting for us to understand the
meaning of all the names given in this book - Below I have used the Hebrew
spellings;
Tzefanyah = “YaHVaH has treasured.”
Kushi = “their
blackness”
Amaryah = “YaHVaH speaks.”
Yoshiyahu = “whom YaHVaH heals”
Amon = “skilled
workman” or “master workman.”
Yehudah = “praised.”
I have found that there is very
specific reasons for names in the Scripture, as you have seen when all of the
meanings of the names are placed in a sentence for when we are reading this now
in our languages; sadly we have lost the real meaning that lays hidden beneath
the blessed Words of YaHVaH Elohim.
Here is the interpretation;
“YaHVaH speaks” to us
of His treasure even unto the furthest corners of the earth touching even the
darkest things hidden in man’s souls, “He is Great.” When He
speaks you have His “strength,” and you are “healed,”
when you dwell as master over your own body and by repentance, when you
“praise Him” with all your heart and soul and might. Only then, can
you become “His treasure.”
“I will utterly consume all things from off the
land, declares YHVH.” Tzefanyah - Zephaniah 1:2.
YaHVaH
wipes all things from the face of the earth. You may well ask the question,
why?
“I
will consume man and beast; I will consume the fowls of the heaven, and the
fishes of the sea, and the stumbling blocks with the wicked; and I will cut off
man from off the land, declares YHVH.” Tzefanyah - Zephaniah
1:3.
The
Almighty is indeed angry at humanity’s defiance to Him, for as it was
then, as it is now. When He consumes He will gather first all that is of the
same species, then He links them together by two, as a witness of the evil of
men and what men rely upon. The Hebrew word for “beast” is
“behemah” and it means cattle as owned and used by man. Next he consumes the fowls of the air and fish of the sea
again by two, the second witness of what men rely upon for food.
Then
He names the sin the stumbling blocks with the wicked; again He has linked these
words together the third witness.
The
path of life is sustained by a food chain summarized above. Did Yahushua not
say that “man does not live by bread alone but by every word that comes
out of the mouth of Elohim”? Are we not to search our life and to subdue
first ourselves, and then we will be rewarded with life. But to deny our
Creator the one Who gives us life, He will deny us life and withdraw all life
sustained by His Word to man and to the soil of the earth. He then cuts off man
the last act by destroying natures food chain. He now turns His hand to the
land, and even the land turns against man.
“I
will also stretch out mine hand upon
Part Two:
The
first part of this chapter deals with all of humanity at large spread over the
entire earth. The second part now refocuses on
Elohim’s supremacy over
Baal is constantly affirmed. However man’s preoccupation from then until
this day is rather with power, sex and technology, than with devotion to the
almighty Elohim of history, Who is also the covenant Elohim.
“And them that worship the host
of heaven upon the housetops; and them that worship and that swear by YHVH, and
that swear by Malcham - Molech. And them that are turned back from YHVH; and
those that have not sought the YHVH, nor enquired for Him.” Tzefanyah -
Zephaniah 1:5-6.
So
begins the descent into depravity, worshipping everything under the Heavens and
above the heavens and I do mean NASA and those who believe in reading the stars
for their future, etc, even those who say they are following YaHVaH, but
secretly never knew Him and they who worship false gods; and to those who once
knew Him but turned their backs on Him; and those who never sought or enquired
of Him filling themselves with the riches of this world be it for money, sex, drugs,
embracing evolution, anything and everything but HE Who IS the source of LIFE
and Yahushua the Messiah Who is our Salvation!
Thus,
dear reader, may I ask - where do you stand with YaHVaH and the Messiah? There
is always a choice the one who offers Life or He that offers the road to death!
Let us
look at Tzefanyah - Zephaniah 1:6:
“Those who have turned back from
following YHVH, and have not sought YHVH, nor inquired of Him.” Verse
6.
There
are two very interesting words contained in this verse “sought”
and “enquired”,
thus let us delve further and deeply into these two words!
The root word used for
“sought” or “seek” in Hebrew is “baqash,” which means a person who is earnestly
seeking or looking into something or someone that exists or is thought to
exist. The objective is to come to a result and for what you are looking for to
be found or acquired. “Baqash” is rooted in the concept
expressed in Davarim - Deuteronomy.
“But from
there you will seek YHVH your Elohim and you will find Him if you search for
Him with all your heart and all your soul.” Davarim - Deuteronomy 4:29.
This
“seeking” ultimately finds its goal in
“Seek
YHVH, all you humble of the earth who have carried out His ordinances; Seek
righteousness, seek humility. Perhaps you will be hidden in the day of the
YHVH’s anger.” Tzefanyah - Zephaniah 2:3.
Since
false prophets direct “seekers” away from the Almighty depriving
them from the wonderful life they could have, they are marked for capital
punishment.
“When
anguish comes, they will seek peace, but there will be none.” Yechehel
– Ezekiel 7:25.
His
counsel and His word, was in vain since His people at that time did not seek Him
with pure hand and a clean heart. As we are to emulate His ways, thus when
you “seek,” you are to desire it above everything else,
something you wish above all material things. Therefore the energy you have
spent to seek out your desires in the flesh should be the same, if not a
greater desire, energy and will power to seek out your desires in the Spirit.
If
you do not seek out
“Disaster
will come upon disaster and rumour will be added to rumour; then they will seek
a vision from a prophet, but the Law will be lost from the priest and counsel
from the elders. The king will mourn, the prince will be clothed with horror,
and the hands of the people of the land will tremble. According to their
conduct I will deal with them, and by their judgments I will judge them. And
they will know that I am YHVH.” Yechehel - Ezekiel 7:26-27.
The root word used for the second word in Tzefanyah - Zephaniah 1:6 is “enquired” or “seek”
in Hebrew is “darash,” which means seek,
to resort to, seek with idea of demanding, require with lost sheep. Inquire,
investigate, to inquire about; ask for, require, demand, exact, with idea of
avenging. Seek with application, study, follow, practice.. Seek with care, care
for.. Let oneself be inquired of, consulted, only of YaHVaH be sought out, be
required of blood
“Seek
good and not evil, that you may live; and thus may the YHVH Elohim of hosts be
with you, just as you have said!” Amnos - Amos 5:14
The
word “darash” “inquire” differs to
“baqash” “sought” in these ways.
Darash is the end result of obtaining the outcome outside of oneself from
YaHVaH. These can be divided into these categories. All Bold letters in English
comes from the Hebrew word Darash set below:
1…
Firstly you have to let oneself be consulted,
understanding that whatever the outcome maybe from YaHVaH you will have to do it. This is the
deciding step whether you will be obedient or not. The next step from here is
to place His words into action, from what you have learnt, which is another
Hebrew word and that we have covered elsewhere in other studies.
2… To seek a word from YaHVaH.
“Moreover,
To
be able to ask for assistance from a reputable person who can inquire on behalf
of yourself to
3-a… To study and interpret.
Here
we see that darash means study but the underlying meaning is to study
with enquiring that your knowledge is not based on oneself, but on
Elohim’s understanding transmitted to you, then for you to place it into
practice, to teach what you have learnt and to pass it on to others. The full
Hebrew word for study or exposition is called “midrash.”
3-b… To read repeatedly, study; beat (a path), discuss, practise in.
“The
wicked, in the haughtiness of his countenance, does not seek
Him. All his thoughts are, "There is no Elohim." Tehillim - Psalm
10:4.
Further
to the above by reading and studying His words, going over and over in our
minds until a path is formed. Hopefully a path that the Almighty desires us to
be on where we can practise and discuss with others those blessed things we
have been taught.
But
not so for those whose thoughts remain and say that … “There is no
God (Elohim).” Tragically the wicked will
emulate the verse above and repeat the lies they have learned, for they
have fleshly minds, meaning that the path they have chosen is the path of
destruction for it does not bring any, or lead others to our heavenly Father,
only lost souls unto destruction if they are foolish enough to heed to them!
4…
Finally, our root darash is used of divine vengeance on those who take a
life. Elohim will diligently seek restitution “a life for a life.”
In at least one instance this stipulation is evoked and divinely executed.
“So
(king) Shaul -
For He who requires
blood remembers them; He does not forget the cry of the afflicted.”
Tehillim - Psalm 9:12.
To
fail in declaring Elohim’s work puts a “shepherd” (a
minister/pastor) under this divine sentence.
'But if the
watchman sees the sword coming and does not blow the trumpet and the people are
not warned, and a sword comes and takes a person from them, he is taken away in
his iniquity; but his blood I will require from the watchman's
hand.” Yechehel
- Ezekiel 33:6.
Ultimately,
Elohim requires justice, loving kindness, and a humble walk
He has told
you, O man, what is good; and what does the YHVH require of you but to
do justice, to love kindness, and to walk humbly with your Elohim.” Micha – Micah
6:8.
Therefore what then is the treasure of Tzefanyah
– Zephaniah? … It is found in Zephaniah 3:14-20.
Instead
of Sorrow, there is a Shout of Joy; Instead of Mourning and Lamenting,
there is Rejoicing and Exultation; Instead of His Judgments, there is Redemption;
Instead of Enemies- there are Friends, such as the King of kings and YaHVaH
Elohim will live in your temple (body; Instead of Fear and Disaster, there
will be Peace and Tranquillity; Instead of Emptiness “YHVH your
Elohim is in your midst”; Instead of Defeat, you are a Victorious
Warrior; Instead of Hate, you are filled with His Love; Instead of
Shame, there is Praise and Renown in all the earth; Instead of
Scattering, Elohim Gathers His Children together; Instead of Curse and
Abhorrence, you will be of “Renown and Praise among all the peoples of
the earth, when I restore your fortunes before your eyes,” Says
the YaHVaH.
Therefore
I pray that you, beloved reader are able to seek out YaHVaH Elohim and our
beloved Saviour Yahushua THE Messiah and that your conduct is free from your
own judgements of stubbornness, pride and the lack of humility.
We
should be able to learn from our own mistakes otherwise we will relive and
repeat the past until that day comes and it will and His judgements will fall
upon ALL who have not returned unto Him in Spirit and in Truth, and have
repented and have been washed clean of their sins, all because Yahushua was
… “our Passover, who was sacrificed for us.” 1
Corinthians 5:7.
Remember
His words in Davarim - Deuteronomy;
“And you
shall love YHVH your Elohim with all your heart, and with all your soul, and
with all your might.” Davarim - Deuteronomy 6:5
In
this Scripture, through Moshe –
“Great is your REWARD in HEAVEN!”
Mattityahu -
“Teach me Your way, O YHVH. I will walk in Your truth.
UNITE MY HEART TO FEAR YOUR NAME!”
May YHVH Elohim bless and keep you in the palm of
His hand always, in Messiah Yahushua’s loving Name!
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