"Mishpatim" by Ariel Ehrmantrout

Instructions 4 Life!

This weeks Torah Portion is “Mishpatim: Judgments”
Exodus 21:1-24:17
“Ascent or Decent: There Is No Standing Still”

Today’s Reading is Exodus 24:3-18

3 When Moses went and told the people all YHWH’s words and laws, they responded with one voice, "Everything YHWH has said we will do." 4 Moses then wrote down everything YHWH had said. He got up early the next morning and built an altar at the foot of the mountain and set up twelve stone pillars representing the twelve tribes of Israel. 5 Then he sent young Israelite men, and they offered burnt offerings and sacrificed young bulls as fellowship offerings to YHWH. 6 Moses took half of the blood and put it in bowls, and the other half he sprinkled on the altar. 7 Then he took the Book of the Covenant and read it to the people. They responded, "We will do everything YHWH has said; we will obey." 8 Moses then took the blood, sprinkled it on the people and said, "This is the blood of the covenant that YHWH has made with you in accordance with all these words." 9 Moses and Aaron, Nadab and Abihu, and the seventy elders of Israel went up 10 and saw the Elohim of Israel. Under his feet was something like a pavement made of sapphire, clear as the sky itself. 11 But Elohim did not raise his hand against these leaders of the Israelites; they saw Elohim, and they ate and drank. 12 YHWH said to Moses, "Come up to me on the mountain and stay here, and I will give you the tablets of stone, with the law and commands I have written for their instruction." 13 Then Moses set out with Joshua his aide, and Moses went up on the mountain of Elohim. 14 He said to the elders, "Wait here for us until we come back to you. Aaron and Hur are with you, and anyone involved in a dispute can go to them." 15 When Moses went up on the mountain, the cloud covered it, 16 and the glory of YHWH settled on Mount Sinai. For six days the cloud covered the mountain, and on the seventh day YHWH called to Moses from within the cloud. 17 To the Israelites the glory of YHWH looked like a consuming fire on top of the mountain. 18 Then Moses entered the cloud as he went on up the mountain. And he stayed on the mountain forty days and forty nights.”

1. In this Torah portion we see the Mishpatim or the “Judgments” of YHWH as they enter the Torah on the heels of the Great One speaking down the Mountain at Sinai to His people—our ancestors. In this portion we see this introduction of “rules” that seem to regulate our lives amidst one another. After giving us the life giving words of the 10 Devarim—the 10 instructions for life, or the 10 signs of His pleasure in our lives—now we are seeing the emergence of Social Laws that are based in our interaction with one another. YHWH is in each person that has any air in the chest and life in their bodies—so it is important for us to understand His plan for how we are to handle disputes that occur within the family of YHWH. This is a continuation of the 10 Devarim—the first 5 of which deal with our relationship with the Abba and the last 5 deal with social law; think of them as two anchors—or the two tree’s of the Torah Scroll with the Mishpatim—the laws of social and civil justice wrapped around them that when they are acted upon by trusting loyalty--together make up the Torah Scroll that is Messiah Yeshua. You see our lives are far more than blind obedience to dry commands—but our lives in Messiah Yeshua make up a complex inner working that will lead to success in all area’s of our life. Following the Torah in absolute obedience will bring about success in our walk before the Father—AND our walk before our brothers and sisters in the faith of Israel. Once we conquer our WALK then we move to the place where the blessings of Abraham can begin to be seen in our lives.

Deuteronomy 5:33 says "Walk in all the way that the Lord your God has commanded you, so that you may live and prosper and prolong your days in the land that you will possess."

Psalm 86:11 says " Teach me your way, O Lord, and I will walk in your truth; give me an undivided heart, that I may fear your name."



Jeremiah 7:23 says " but I gave them this command: Obey me, and I will be your God and you will be my people. Walk in all the ways I command you, that it may go well with you."

2. In this Torah portion we see that Moses is commanded to “Come up to YHWH and stay there.” This is teaching us the importance of our need to ASCEND to the lofty position where YHWH is in the Torah—this means we need to be shedding our “Yetzer hara” or the inclination of our animal souls that wages war within us that seeks to drive us away from the Torah and pressing hard in our attempt to not only ASCEND to the heights of the Torah’s righteous commands, but—to also stay there. It was Moses complete obedience—just like Messiah’s that allowed them to attain to this lofty goal and become vessels of light for all the world to see that reflected the fiery light of the living Torah.

Ephesians 6:10-18 says “10Finally, be strong in YHWH and in his mighty power. 11Put on the full armor of Elohim so that you can take your stand against the devil's schemes. 12For our struggle is not against flesh and blood, but against the rulers, against the authorities, against the powers of this dark world and against the spiritual forces of evil in the heavenly realms. 13Therefore put on the full armor of Elohim, so that when the day of evil comes, you may be able to stand your ground, and after you have done everything, to stand. 14Stand firm then, with the belt of truth buckled around your waist, with the breastplate of righteousness in place, 15and with your feet fitted with the readiness that comes from the gospel of peace. 16In addition to all this, take up the shield of faith, with which you can extinguish all the flaming arrows of the evil one. 17Take the helmet of salvation and the sword of the Spirit, which is the Torah of Elohim. 18And pray in the Spirit on all occasions with all kinds of prayers and requests. With this in mind, be alert and always keep on praying for all the saints.”

Philippians 1:27-30 says “27Whatever happens, conduct yourselves in a manner worthy of the good news of Messiah. Then, whether I come and see you or only hear about you in my absence, I will know that you stand firm in one spirit, contending as one man for the faith of the gospel 28without being frightened in any way by those who oppose you. This is a sign to them that they will be destroyed, but that you will be saved—and that by Elohim. 29For it has been granted to you on behalf of Messiah not only to believe on him, but also to suffer for him, 30since you are going through the same struggle you saw I had, and now hear that I still have.”

3. We are commanded to portray YHWH’s justice and be the display of YHWH’s righteous interactions to the entire world. Our obedience to the social laws of the Torah in our dealings with one another-- brings about the desired spiritual reaction that YHWH always desired from the first Adam. We cannot do this in our animal soul—what Torah refers to as our “flesh.” It is only by “entering the cloud” as Moshe did when He ascended up to YHWH –that we will attain the desired walk in our lives. The Mishpatim are many rulings that are based on the idea of restitution when there has been a breakdown of our life behavior towards our neighbors. We cannot be right with YHWH and abiding under his fiery glory cloud-- if we are taking advantage of our neighbors. It is this idea of care and concern for the end result of our fellow Israelite that is driving this continuation of the 10 Devarim!

Romans 14:8-14 says “8Let no debt remain outstanding, except the continuing debt to love one another, for he who loves his fellowman has fulfilled the law. 9The commandments, "Do not commit adultery," "Do not murder," "Do not steal," "Do not covet,"and whatever other commandment there may be, are summed up in this one rule: "Love your neighbor as yourself."10Love does no harm to its neighbor. Therefore love is the fulfillment of the law. 11And do this, understanding the present time. The hour has come for you to wake up from your slumber, because our salvation is nearer now than when we first believed. 12The night is nearly over; the day is almost here. So let us put aside the deeds of darkness and put on the armor of light. 13Let us behave decently, as in the daytime, not in orgies and drunkenness, not in sexual immorality and debauchery, not in dissension and jealousy. 14Rather, clothe yourselves with the Lord Jesus Christ, and do not think about how to gratify the desires of the sinful nature

4. By Yeshua coming the first time as the suffering servant and providing a bridge for us to return to the ways of Israel and come out of the pagan identity that had been passed down from our fathers before us, we are now able to complete the second part of “Teshuvah” which is illustrated in this weeks portion. The second aspect of “Teshuvah” is restitution. Restitution comes from the Hebrew Word "שלם" SHALAM: Strong's H7999 meaning to "Make Peace--or to "Be in Covenant of Peace" with whomever has been wronged. YHWH placed us here to bring restitution--TO MAKE PEACE COVENANTS in the life of each person we come into contact with. Until now—all of our friends have been from the “nations” or were Goyim—Gentiles. But now through the body of Messiah Yeshua—the two that were separated have become one flesh—just as the two trees of the Torah Scroll come together when wrapped in the Mishpatim—so too does Ephraim return to Judah. There has been 2100 years of atrocity done to Judah on behalf of Catholicised Christianity --and it will take a great effort on our part to live out the restitution--the SHALAM: Making the Peace of Torah before our Brothers in Judah --before they see us as anything less than a threat. But the beauty of restitution is that it brings about peaceful repair. YHWH has called our generation to be the generation that repairs the relationship and integrates into the Hebrew people. Our relationship with Yeshua will not make us LESS like a Jewish follower of YHWH—but your restored relationship with Messiah Yeshua will bring about the repairing of the rift between the tribes of the North and the Jews of the South--it will make you MORE LIKE your Jewish Brothers and Sisters. In this weeks Haftorah portion in 1 Samuel, we find the divide of Jonathan and David. These two loved one another, but they were torn apart by Sha’ul’s hatred of David. But David did not harden his heart toward King Sha’ul’s household—or to the princely line of Jonathan—quite to the contrary. As we know David searches high and low for Mephiboshet, Jonathans crippled son—the grandson of David’s sworn enemy—and when David finds him—King David—who is a type and shadow of Messiah and you and I—allows Mephiboshet to eat from His table all the days of His life—JUST LIKE the King’s Sons! He gets to live like the Firstborn Prince in the Royal court because of the covenant relationship his father had with the great king in this mighty story of loving your neighbor as yourself.

Ezekiel 37:20-28 says “20 Hold before their eyes the sticks you have written on 21 and say to them, 'This is what the Sovereign YHWH says: I will take the Israelites out of the nations where they have gone. I will gather them from all around and bring them back into their own land. 22 I will make them one nation in the land, on the mountains of Israel. There will be one king over all of them and they will never again be two nations or be divided into two kingdoms. 23 They will no longer defile themselves with their idols and vile images or with any of their offenses, for I will save them from all their sinful backsliding, and I will cleanse them. They will be my people, and I will be their God. 24 " 'My servant David will be king over them, and they will all have one shepherd. They will follow my laws and be careful to keep my decrees. 25 They will live in the land I gave to my servant Jacob, the land where your fathers lived. They and their children and their children's children will live there forever, and David my servant will be their prince forever. 26 I will make a covenant of peace with them; it will be an everlasting covenant. I will establish them and increase their numbers, and I will put my sanctuary among them forever. 27 My dwelling place will be with them; I will be their Elohim, and they will be my people. 28 Then the nations will know that I YHWH make Israel holy, when my sanctuary is among them forever.' "

Isaiah 61:5-9 says “Aliens will shepherd your flocks; foreigners will work your fields and vineyards. 6 And you will be called priests of YHWH, you will be named ministers of our Elohim. You will feed on the wealth of nations, and in their riches you will boast. 7 Instead of their shame my people will receive a double portion, and instead of disgrace they will rejoice in their inheritance; and so they will inherit a double portion in their land, and everlasting joy will be theirs. 8 "For I, YHWH, love justice; I hate robbery and iniquity. In my faithfulness I will reward them and make an everlasting covenant with them. 9 Their descendants will be known among the nations and their offspring among the peoples. All who see them will acknowledge that they are a people YHWH has blessed."

6. As followers of Yeshua Messiah it is incumbent upon us to be servants to our brothers and sisters in the Jewish community. David sought out Mephiboshet and we are to seek out those who are in the spiritual "Judah"--those who praise YHWH and come with not only the 10 Devarim in our lives—but it is imperative that we return to the social order that YHWH has established. This integration of the followers of Messiah—away from Christian Paganistic life –and towards the orderly life of the social Torah of the Mishpatim will establish the credibility that Yeshua is indeed the Messiah of a UNITED ISRAEL. You are never standing still in your walk in Torah—you are either ascending to the holiness of YHWH or you are descending to the place “outside” the glory cloud. YHWH is looking for a generation that will sell out for Him—that will love in not only word—but in deed—a group that is not afraid to admit that we made mistakes following after the pagan idolatry of Christianity—and a group that is willing to take on the yoke of Israel and walk in not only the anchoring principles of the 10 Devarim—but who are willing to follow the complete Torah—to give up our identity as people of the nations and take on the identity that Ruth took on so long ago when she said to her Jewish Mother in Law—“Don't urge me to leave you or to turn back from you. Where you go I will go, and where you stay I will stay. Your people will be my people and your Elohim my Elohim. Where you die I will die, and there I will be buried. May YHWH deal with me, be it ever so severely, if anything but death separates you and me!!” It was after this proclamation of accepting the Torah’s Devarim (words of instruction) and the Mishpatim (or the social codes of living in the community called Israel) that we will move from the unscriptural place of the “Messy-anic movement” and we will begin to do what Yeshua called us to do—we will begin through our repairing the character flaws that each of us have—we will begin to repair the entire world. YHWH is returning for a glorious Bride and not a broken down bunch of sick and beaten individuals. This portion lays out the social responsibilities of Israel and it challenges us to answer the question of whether we will be like our forefather Moses—so long ago--and not only say “"Na'aseh ve'nishma” - We will fulfill and learn the Torah," but we will also—be willing to ascend into the glory cloud with the Messiah Yeshua YHWH and bring the fire of YHWH back to our brothers in Judah once again by being the type of servant that Moses and Yeshua were to the people of Israel!

Romans 15:5-13 says “5May the Elohim who gives endurance and encouragement give you a spirit of unity among yourselves as you follow Messiah Yeshua, 6so that with one heart and mouth you may glorify the Elohim and Father of our Lord Yeshua Messiah. 7Accept one another, then, just as Messiah accepted you, in order to bring praise to Elohim. 8For I tell you that Messiah has become a servant of the Jews on behalf of YHWH's truth, to confirm the promises made to the patriarchs 9so that the Gentiles may glorify God for his mercy, as it is written:
"Therefore I will praise you among the Gentiles;
I will sing hymns to your name."10Again, it says,
"Rejoice, O Gentiles, with his people."11And again,
"Praise YHWH, all you Gentiles,
and sing praises to him, all you peoples."12And again, Isaiah says,
"The Root of Jesse will spring up,
one who will arise to rule over the nations;
the Gentiles will hope in him."

13May the Elohim of hope fill you with all joy and peace as you trust in him, so that you may overflow with hope by the power of the Holy Spirit.

Reflection Questions:

If you could only teach your children one thing about your beliefs--would you choose "Faith" or "Loyalty to YHWH's Commands?"

What are the principles that really anchor my life?

Do I think about pleasing YHWH during my working week?

What does it say about YHWH that he swears to do away with "night and day" before the Jewish People?

Shavuatov!!

Ariel Ehrmantrout

Ariel Ehrmantrout Ariel Ehrmantrout Ariel Ehrmantrout Ariel Ehrmantrout Ari Ariel Ehrmantrout Ariel Ehrmantrout Ariel Ehrmantrout Ariel Ehrmantrout Ari
Ariel Ehrmantrout Ariel Ehrmantrout Ariel Ehrmantrout Ariel Ehrmantrout Ari
Ariel Ehrmantrout Ariel Ehrmantrout Ariel Ehrmantrout Ariel Ehrmantrout Ari
Ariel Ehrmantrout Ariel Ehrmantrout Ariel Ehrmantrout Ariel Ehrmantrout Ari
Ariel Ehrmantrout Ariel Ehrmantrout Ariel Ehrmantrout Ariel Ehrmantrout Ari
Ariel Ehrmantrout Ariel Ehrmantrout Ariel Ehrmantrout Ariel Ehrmantrout Ari
Ariel Ehrmantrout Ariel Ehrmantrout Ariel Ehrmantrout Ariel Ehrmantrout Ari
Ariel Ehrmantrout Ariel Ehrmantrout Ariel Ehrmantrout Ariel Ehrmantrout Ari
Ariel Ehrmantrout Ariel Ehrmantrout Ariel Ehrmantrout Ariel Ehrmantrout Ari
Ariel Ehrmantrout Ariel Ehrmantrout Ariel Ehrmantrout Ariel Ehrmantrout Ari
Ariel Ehrmantrout Ariel Ehrmantrout Ariel Ehrmantrout Ariel Ehrmantrout Ari
Ariel Ehrmantrout Ariel Ehrmantrout Ariel Ehrmantrout Ariel Ehrmantrout Ari
Ariel Ehrmantrout Ariel Ehrmantrout Ariel Ehrmantrout Ariel Ehrmantrout Ari
Ariel Ehrmantrout Ariel Ehrmantrout Ariel Ehrmantrout Ariel Ehrmantrout Ari
Ariel Ehrmantrout Ariel Ehrmantrout Ariel Ehrmantrout Ariel Ehrmantrout Ari
Ariel Ehrmantrout Ariel Ehrmantrout Ariel Ehrmantrout Ariel Ehrmantrout Ari
Ariel Ehrmantrout Ariel Ehrmantrout Ariel Ehrmantrout Ariel Ehrmantrout Ari
Ariel Ehrmantrout Ariel Ehrmantrout Ariel Ehrmantrout Ariel Ehrmantrout Ari
Ariel Ehrmantrout Ariel Ehrmantrout Ariel Ehrmantrout Ariel Ehrmantrout Ari
Ariel Ehrmantrout Ariel Ehrmantrout Ariel Ehrmantrout Ariel Ehrmantrout Ari
Ariel Ehrmantrout Ariel Ehrmantrout Ariel Ehrmantrout Ariel Ehrmantrout Ari
Ariel Ehrmantrout Ariel Ehrmantrout Ariel Ehrmantrout Ariel Ehrmantrout Ari
Ariel Ehrmantrout Ariel Ehrmantrout Ariel Ehrmantrout Ariel Ehrmantrout Ari
Ariel Ehrmantrout Ariel Ehrmantrout Ariel Ehrmantrout Ariel Ehrmantrout Ari
Ariel Ehrmantrout Ariel Ehrmantrout Ariel Ehrmantrout Ariel Ehrmantrout Ari
Ariel Ehrmantrout Ariel Ehrmantrout Ariel Ehrmantrout Ariel Ehrmantrout Ari
Ariel Ehrmantrout Ariel Ehrmantrout Ariel Ehrmantrout Ariel Ehrmantrout Ari
Ariel Ehrmantrout Ariel Ehrmantrout Ariel Ehrmantrout Ariel Ehrmantrout Ari
Ariel Ehrmantrout Ariel Ehrmantrout Ariel Ehrmantrout Ariel Ehrmantrout Ari
Ariel Ehrmantrout Ariel Ehrmantrout Ariel Ehrmantrout Ariel Ehrmantrout Ari
Ariel Ehrmantrout Ariel Ehrmantrout Ariel Ehrmantrout Ariel Ehrmantrout Ari
Ariel Ehrmantrout Ariel Ehrmantrout Ariel Ehrmantrout Ariel Ehrmantrout Ari
Ariel Ehrmantrout Ariel Ehrmantrout Ariel Ehrmantrout Ariel Ehrmantrout Ari
Ariel Ehrmantrout Ariel Ehrmantrout Ariel Ehrmantrout Ariel Ehrmantrout Ari
Ariel Ehrmantrout Ariel Ehrmantrout Ariel Ehrmantrout Ariel Ehrmantrout Ari
Ariel Ehrmantrout Ariel Ehrmantrout Ariel Ehrmantrout Ariel Ehrmantrout Ari
Ariel Ehrmantrout Ariel Ehrmantrout Ariel Ehrmantrout Ariel Ehrmantrout Ari
Ariel Ehrmantrout Ariel Ehrmantrout Ariel Ehrmantrout Ariel Ehrmantrout Ari
Ariel Ehrmantrout Ariel Ehrmantrout Ariel Ehrmantrout Ariel Ehrmantrout Ari