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From: Eddie Chumney
To: heb_roots_chr@hebroots.org
Subject: Chapter 12: Ephraim and Judah Become One House
CHAPTER
12
EPHRAIM AND JUDAH
BECOME ONE HOUSE
from
the book by Eddie Chumney
"RESTORING
THE TWO HOUSES OF ISRAEL"
Copies can be purchased for individual or
group study by
writing to me (Eddie Chumney) at: (chumney@hebroots.org)
++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++
CHAPTER
12
EPHRAIM AND JUDAH
BECOME ONE HOUSE
(Part
4 of 6)
THE NORTHERN
KINGDOM WAS TAKEN
CAPTIVE
INTO ASSYRIA
Because they broke their marriage contract (obedience to the
Torah) through their "golden calf" system of worship, the G-d of
Israel's judgment came upon the Northern Kingdom of Israel, Ephraim,
the house of Joseph. In II Kings (Melachim) 17:7-23 it is written:
"For so it was, that the children of Israel had sinned
against
the Lord their God, which had brought them up out of the
land of
Egypt, from under the hand of Pharaoh king of Egypt, and
had
feared other gods, And walked in the statutes of the
heathen,
whom the Lord cast out from before the children of Israel,
and
of the kings of Israel, which they had made. And the
children of
Israel did secretly those things that were not right
against the
Lord their God, and they built them high places in all
their
cities, from the tower of the watchmen to the fenced city.
And
they set them up images and groves in every high hill, and
under
every green tree: And there they burnt incense in all the
high
places, as did the heathen whom the Lord carried away
before
them; and wrought wicked things to provoke the Lord to
anger:
For they served idols, whereof the Lord had said unto them,
You
shall not do this thing. Yet the Lord testified against
Israel,
and against Judah, by all the prophets and by all the
seers,
saying, Turn you from your evil ways, and keep my
commandments
and my statutes, according to all the law [Torah] which I
commanded your fathers, and which I sent to you by my
servants
the prophets. Notwithstanding they would not hear, but
hardened
their necks, like to the neck of their fathers, that did
not
believe in the Lord their God. And they rejected his
statutes,
and his covenant that he made with their fathers, and his
testimonies which he testified against them; and they
followed
vanity, and became vain and went after the heathen that
were
round about them, concerning whom the Lord had charged
them,
that they should not do like them. And they left all the
commandments of the Lord their God, and made them molten
images,
even two calves, and made a grove, and worshiped all the
host of
heaven, and served Baal. And they caused their sons and
their
daughters to pass through the fire, and used divination and
enchantments, and sold themselves to do evil in the sight
of the
Lord, to provoke him to anger. Therefore the Lord was very
angry
with Israel, and removed them out of his sight: there was
none
left but the tribe of Judah only. Also Judah kept not the
commandments of the Lord their God, but walked in the
statutes
of Israel which they made. And the Lord rejected all the
seed of
Israel, and afflicted them, and delivered them into the
hand of
spoilers, until he had cast them out of his sight. For he
rent
Israel from the house of David; and they made Jeroboam the
son
of Nebat king: and Jeroboam drove Israel from following the
Lord, and made them sin a great sin. For the children of
Israel
walked in all the sins of Jeroboam which he did; they
departed
not from them; Until the Lord removed Israel out of his
sight,
as he had said by all his servants the prophets. So was
Israel
carried away out of their own land to Assyria unto this
day."
THE
SOUTHERN KINGDOM IS TAKEN
CAPTIVE
INTO BABYLON
The Southern Kingdom also departed from the marriage contract
(obedience to the Torah) of the G-d of Israel. Therefore, the
Southern Kingdom, the house of Judah, was taken captive into Babylon.
The rejection of following the Torah of the G-d of Israel is given in
II Kings (Melachim) 17:19-20 as it is written:
"And Judah kept not the commandments of the Lord their
God, but
walked in the statutes of Israel which they made. And the
Lord
rejected all the seed of Israel, and afflicted them, and
delivered them into the hand of spoilers, until he had cast
them
out of his sight."
The G-d of Israel's anger upon the Southern Kingdom, the house of
Judah, for forsaking the Torah of the G-d of Israel can be found in
Jeremiah (Yermiyahu) 44:2-6, 10, 22-23 as it is written:
"Thus says the Lord of hosts, the God of Israel; You
have seen
all the evil that I have brought upon Jerusalem, and upon
all
the cities of Judah; and, behold, this day they are a
desolation, and no man dwelleth therein, Because of their
wickedness which they have committed to provoke me to
anger, in
that they went to burn incense, and to serve other gods,
whom
they knew not, neither they, ye, nor your fathers. Howbeit
I
sent unto you all my servants the prophets, rising early
and
sending them, saying, Oh, do not this abominable thing that
I
hate. But they hearkened not, nor inclined their ear to
turn
from their wickedness, to burn no incense unto other gods.
Wherefore my fury and mine anger was poured forth, and was
kindled in the cities of Judah and in the streets of
Jerusalem;
and they are wasted and desolate, as at this day . They are
not
humbled even unto this day, neither have they feared, nor
walked
in my law [TORAH], nor in my statutes, that I set before
you and
before your fathers . So that the Lord could no longer
bear,
because of the evil of your doings, and because of the
abominations which ye have committed; therefore is your
land a
desolation, and an astonishment, and a curse, without an
inhabitant, as at this day. Because you have burned
incense, and
because you have sinned against the Lord, and have not
obeyed
the voice of the Lord, nor walked in his law [TORAH], nor
in his
statutes, nor in his testimonies; therefore this evil is
happened unto you, as at this day."
Because the Southern Kingdom, the house of Judah, broke their
marriage contract (obedience to the Torah), they were taken captive
to Babylon. In Jeremiah (Yermiyahu) 25:2-10 it is written:
"The which Jeremiah the prophet spake unto all the
people of
Judah, and to all the inhabitants of Jerusalem, saying ...
the
word of the Lord has come unto me, and I have spoken unto
you,
rising early and speaking; but you have not hearkened. And
the
Lord has sent unto you all his servants the prophets,
rising
early and sending them; but you have not hearkened, nor
inclined
your ears to hear. They said, Turn you again now everyone
from
his evil ways, and from the evil of your doings, and dwell
in
the land that the Lord has given unto you and to your
fathers
forever and ever: And go not after other gods to serve
them, and
to worship them, and provoke me not to anger with the works
of
your hands; and I will do you no hurt. Yet you have not
hearkened unto me, says the Lord; that you might provoke me
to
anger with the works of your hands to your own hurt.
Therefore
thus says the Lord of hosts; Because you have not heard my
words, Behold, I will send and take all the families of the
north, saith the Lord, and Nebuchadnezzar the king of
Babylon,
my servant, and will bring them against this land, and
against
the inhabitants thereof, and against all these nations
round
about, and will utterly destroy them, and make them an
astonishment, and a hissing, and perpetual desolations.
Moreover
I will take from them the voice of mirth, and the voice of
gladness, the voice of the bridegroom, and the voice of the
bride, the sound of the millstones, and the light of the
candle."
Therefore, we can see that the G-d of Israel judged both the
Northern Kingdom and the Southern Kingdom because they did NOT follow
His Torah and the covenant that He made with Abraham.
G-D'S
JUDGMENT UPON
THE
NORTHERN KINGDOM OF ISRAEL
The book of Hosea was written to prophesy of the judgment of the
Northern Kingdom for breaking their marriage contract (obedience to
the Torah) and mixing paganism with the worship of the G-d of Israel.
The Northern Kingdom of Israel desired to assimilate with the nations
around them. At mount Sinai, the G-d of Israel instructed the seed of
Abraham (Avraham) in their marriage contract that they were to be a
holy people (separate from the nations around them). They were not to
assimilate themselves with other nations and follow after their ways.
Because the Northern Kingdom of Israel desired to assimilate with the
other nations, their judgment for breaking their marriage contract
(to not assimilate) was assimilation into the nations of the world.
In other words, what they sowed, they reaped.
In order to prophesy of this judgment of assimilation, the G-d of
Israel instructed Hosea to marry a whore named Gomer. The children
born in the marriage between Hosea and Gomer were prophetic of what
would happen to the Northern Kingdom because they committed spiritual
whoredom with the nations around them and followed after their gods
and their ways. Whoredom in the Bible is symbolic of spiritual
idolatry and forsaking the Torah and the true worship of the G-d of
Israel. In Deuteronomy (Devarim) 31:16 it is written:
"And the Lord said unto Moses, Behold, thou shall
sleep with thy
fathers; and this people will rise up, and go a whoring
after
the gods of the strangers of the land, whither they go to
be
among them, and will forsake me, and break my covenant
which I
have made with them."
In Judges (Shoftim) 2:17 it is written:
"And yet they would not hearken unto their judges, but
they went
a whoring after other gods, and bowed themselves unto them:
they
turned quickly out of the way which their fathers walked
in,
obeying the commandments of the Lord; but they did not
so."
Therefore, in order to symbolize this spiritual whoredom
committed by the Northern Kingdom of Israel for forsaking the Torah
and breaking their marriage contract, the G-d of Israel told Hosea to
marry a whore. From this marriage, three children were conceived. In
Hosea (Hoshea) 1:2-9 it is written:
"The beginning of the word of the Lord by Hosea. And
the Lord
said to Hosea, Go, take unto thee a wife of whoredoms and
children of whoredoms: for the land has committed great
whoredom, departing from the Lord. So he went and took
Gomer the
daughter of Diblaim; which conceived, and bare him a son.
And
the Lord said unto him, Call his name Jezreel; for yet a
little
while, and I will avenge the blood of Jezreel upon the
house of
Jehu, and will cause to cease the kingdom of the house of
Israel. And it shall come to pass at that day, that I will
break
the bow of Israel in the valley of Jezreel. And she
conceived
again, and bare a daughter. And God said unto him, Call her
name
Lo-ruhamah: for I will no more have mercy upon the house of
Israel; but I will utterly take them away. But I will have
mercy
upon the house of Judah, and will save them by the Lord
their
God, and will not save them by bow, nor by sword, nor by
battle,
by horses, nor by horsemen. Now when she had weaned
Lo-ruhamah,
she conceived, and bare a son. Then said God, Call his name
Lo-ammi: for ye are not my people, and I will not be your
God."
The three children that Hosea had by Gomer in Hosea chapter
1
were the following:
1. Jezreel, which means
"G-d will sow or scatter."
2. Lo-ruhamah, which means
"no mercy."
3. Lo-ammi, which means
"not my people."
When the G-d of Israel speaks to the Northern Kingdom saying to
them that He will have "no mercy" and they are "not my people", this
is the Biblical way of saying that the G-d of Israel will cut off his
covenant relationship with them and divorce the Northern Kingdom of
Israel. In Jeremiah (Yermiyahu) 3:8 it is written:
"And I saw, when for all the causes whereby
backsliding Israel
[Northern Kingdom] committed adultery I had put her away,
and
given her a bill of divorce ."
G-D
PROMISES TO FULFILL
HIS
COVENANT WITH ABRAHAM
Even though the G-d of Israel divorced the Northern Kingdom
(house of Israel), He also promised that when this judgment is
complete that He would fulfill His covenant with Abraham (Avraham)
through this judgment. Furthermore, even though the G-d of Israel
told the Northern Kingdom (house of Israel) that they were "not His
people" (Hosea [Hoshea] 1:9) and He would show them "no mercy" (Hosea
[Hoshea] 1:6), He also prophesied that the future descendents of the
Northern Kingdom (house of Israel) would later be called "my people"
after the G-d of Israel showed "mercy" toward them through the
Jewish Messiah (Mashiach) Yeshua/Jesus. In Hosea (Hoshea) 1:10 it is
written:
"Yet the number of the children of Israel shall be as
the sand
of the sea, which cannot be measured nor numbered; and it
shall
come to pass, that in the place where it was said unto
them, You
are not my people, there it shall be said unto them, You
are the
sons of the living God."
WOW! After declaring to the Northern Kingdom that they were
"not
his people" (Hosea [Hoshea] 1:9) and they would be showed "no mercy"
(Hosea [Hoshea] 1:6) because they broke their marriage contract and
forsook His Torah, the G-d of Israel prophesied that He will fulfill
His covenant that He made with Abraham (Avraham) through this
judgment (Hosea [Hoshea] 1:10) !!!
THE
NORTHERN KINGDOM
IS
PROPHETIC OF CHRISTIANITY
In the book of Hosea, the G-d of Israel's judgment upon the
Northern Kingdom for breaking their marriage contract and forsaking
the Torah was divorce and cutting them off from His covenant. In
doing so, the G-d of Israel would show them "no mercy" and they would
be "not my people." These are the EXACT words used to describe the
non-Jews who have accepted Yeshua/Jesus as the Jewish Messiah
(Mashiach). In I Peter (Kefa) 2:5, 9-10 it is written:
"You also, as lively stones, are built up a spiritual
house, a
holy priesthood, to offer up spiritual sacrifices,
acceptable to
God by Jesus Christ [Yeshua HaMashiach] ... But you are a
chosen
generation, a royal priesthood, a holy nation, a peculiar
people; that you should show forth the praises of him who
has
called you out of darkness into his marvelous light: Which
is
time past were not a people [Hosea 1:9] but are now the
people
of God [Hosea 1:10]; which had not obtained mercy, [Hosea
1:6],
but now have obtained mercy [Hosea 2:23]"
THE
ROLE OF THE KINSMAN REDEEMER
TO
SAVE G-D'S PEOPLE
The G-d of Israel made a provision in the Torah that a near
kinsman could redeem his brother's possession if it was sold away.
When the Northern Kingdom (house of Israel) was at mount Sinai and
entered into a marriage contract with the G-d of Israel, they were
entitled to an inheritance by being a member of the family of the G-d
of Israel. When the G-d of Israel divorced the Northern Kingdom
(house of Israel), their inheritance was lost because they "sold it
away" when they committed idolatry against the G-d of Israel.
However, in Leviticus (Vayikra) 25:25, it is written:
"If thy brother be waxen poor, and has sold away some
of his
possession, and if any of his kin come to redeem it, then
shall
he redeem that which his brother sold."
Therefore, the G-d of Israel made provision in the Torah that one
of his brothers (a member of the Southern Kingdom, the house of
Judah, the Jewish people) could redeem those from the Northern
Kingdom (house of Israel) who "sold away" their inheritance. For this
reason, the Jewish Messiah (Mashiach) Yeshua/Jesus was born from the
tribe of Judah to be a kinsman redeemer (go'el) to the descendents of
the Northern Kingdom (house of Israel) as well as all those who would
repent (teshuvah) of their sins and accept Yeshua/Jesus as their
personal Messiah (Mashiach).
In order for the descendents of the Northern Kingdom (house of
Israel) to become members again of the family of the G-d of Israel,
they needed to be grafted into the olive tree of the G-d of Israel.
In doing this, the G-d of Israel would (renew) the original covenant
(marriage contract) at mount Sinai because the original covenant
(marriage contract) was broken. This (renewed) covenant would be the
original covenant written upon the hearts of all those who would
accept the Jewish Messiah (Mashiach) Yeshua/Jesus through the
indwelling Holy Spirit (Ruach HaKodesh). The role of the indwelling
Holy Spirit (Ruach HaKodesh) is to write the Torah of the G-d of
Israel upon the hearts of His people so that they could worship the
G-d of Israel in Spirit and in truth. (Jeremiah [Yermiyahu] 31:31-33,
John (Yochanan) 4:24, 16:13, Hebrews 10:15-16).
In Jeremiah (Yermiyahu) 31:31, the Hebrew word translated into
English as "new" can mean RENEW. In Jeremiah (Yermiyahu) 31:31-33 it
is written:
"Behold, the days come, saith the Lord, that I will
make a new
[renewed] covenant with the house of Israel and with the
house
of Judah: Not according to the covenant that I made with
their
fathers in the day that I took them by the hand to bring
them
out of the land of Egypt; which my covenant they broke,
although
I was a husband unto them, saith the Lord: But this shall
be the
covenant that I will make with the house of Israel; After
those
days, says the Lord, I will put my law [TORAH] in their
inward
parts, and write it in their hearts; and will be their God,
and
they shall be my people."
The Jewish Messiah (Mashiach) Yeshua/Jesus is to be a kinsman
redeemer (go'el) to His people. By being a kinsman redeemer, He would
bring restoration to both houses of Israel. He would do this by being
a suffering Messiah known as Messiah ben Yosef/Joseph at His first
coming and by being the Kingly Messiah known as Messiah ben David at
His second coming. By the Jewish Messiah (Mashiach) Yeshua/Jesus
being a kinsman redeemer (go'el) to His people, the G-d of Israel
could fulfill the covenant that He made with Abraham (Avraham).
In His role as the Kingly Messiah (Mashiach) known as Messiah ben
David through the outpouring of the Holy Spirit (Ruach HaKodesh), the
G-d of Israel would redeem and restore both houses of Israel and
gather them from all the nations and bring them back to the land of
Israel in the end of days at the advent of the Messianic Age (Athid
Lavo). (Isaiah [Yeshayahu] 49:5-6, Ezekiel (Yechezekel) 36:24-28,
37:15-28, Acts 1:6-8).
THE ROLE OF THE MESSIAH TO FULFILL G-D'S COVENANT
WITH
ABRAHAM
The Jewish Messiah (Mashiach) Yeshua/Jesus came from the tribe of
Judah to play the role of the kinsman redeemer (go'el) in order to
fulfill G-d's promise to Abraham (Avraham) through His mercy to David
and his seed (Romans 1:3, Hebrews 7:14, Revelation 5:5).
The Jewish Messiah (Mashiach) Yeshua/Jesus came to reign over the
house of Jacob forever. The house of Jacob refers to a united
Northern Kingdom (the house of Israel, Ephraim, the house of
Joseph/Christianity) AND the Southern Kingdom (the house of
Judah/Judaism). In Luke 1:31-33 it is written:
"And, behold, thou shalt conceive in thy womb, and
bring forth a
son, and shalt call his name JESUS [YESHUA]. He shall be
great,
and shall be called the Son of the Highest: and the Lord
God
shall give unto him the throne of his father David: And he
shall
reign over the house of Jacob forever: and of his kingdom
there
shall be no end."
In Luke 1:67-73, Zacharias prophesied by the Holy Spirit (Ruach
HaKodesh) that the G-d of Israel would redeem His people by bringing
a deliverer (go'el) from the house of David to fulfill His covenant
with Abraham (Avraham) as it is written:
"And his father Zacharias, was filled with the Holy
Spirit, and
prophesied, saying, Blessed be the Lord God of Israel; for
he
hath visited and redeemed his people, And hath raised up a
horn
of salvation for us in the house of his servant David; As
he
spake by the mouth of his holy prophets, which have been
since
the world began: That we should be saved from our enemies,
and
from the hand of all that hate us; To perform the mercy
promised
to our fathers, and to remember his holy covenant; The oath
which he swore to our father Abraham."
Through the words given to him by the Holy Spirit (Ruach
HaKodesh), Zacharias is relating how the redemptive plan of the G-d
of Israel would be accomplished by the Jewish Messiah (Mashiach)
Yeshua/Jesus being a kinsman redeemer (go'el) to His people through
the mercy that He promised David to fulfill the covenant that He made
with Abraham (Avraham). When this redemption is complete, the Jewish
Messiah (Mashiach) Yeshua/Jesus will rule over a united Israel, the
house of Jacob, forever (Luke 1:31-33).
THE
ROLE OF THE MESSIAH
AS
MESSIAH BEN DAVID
The Jewish Messiah (Mashiach) Yeshua/Jesus is likened unto David.
One of the titles of the Jewish Messiah (Mashiach) is Messiah ben
David. How is the Jewish Messiah (Mashiach) Yeshua/Jesus associated
with David? Let us examine how this is so.
1. David was from Bethlehem
in the land of Judah (I Samuel
[Sh'muel] 17:12).
a)
Bethlehem is called the city of David (Luke 2:4).
b)
Yeshua was born in Bethlehem (Matthew 2:1).
2. G-d called David,
"His Son" (II Samuel 7:14).
a)
Yeshua is called G-d's son (Matthew 3:16-17).
3. Yeshua is called the
"Son of David" (Luke 18:38-39).
4. G-d promised David that
his throne would be forever
(Psalm [Tehillim] 89:3-4).
a)
Yeshua/Jesus came to sit on the throne of David
(Luke
1:31-32).
5. David desired to build a
house for the name of G-d (I
Chronicles 28:2).
a)
Yeshua/Jesus was faithful to build the house of G-d
(Hebrews
3:4-6).
6. G-d made a covenant of
mercy with David (Psalm
(Tehillim) 89:1-3, 31-34).
a)
Yeshua/Jesus extends mercy upon all those who
believe
on His name (Luke 18:38-39).
7. David went from being a
shepherd to a king (II Samuel
[Sh'muel] 7:8).
a)
Yeshua/Jesus came at His first coming as a shepherd
(John
[Yochanan] 10:11)
b)
Yeshua/Jesus will come during His second coming as
a
King (Zechariah [Zecharyah] 14:4, 9)
8. a) Yeshua has the key of
David (Revelation 3:7).
b)
Yeshua is the root and offspring of David
(Revelation
22:16).
THE
FULLNESS OF G-D'S COVENANT
WITH
ABRAHAM
The fullness of the covenant that the G-d of Israel made with
Abraham (Avraham) has not yet been fulfilled. Let's reexamine several
scriptures again so that we can understand the fullness of the
covenant that the G-d of Israel made with Abraham (Avraham). In
Genesis (Bereishit) 17:7-8 it is written:
"And I will establish my covenant between me and thee
and thy
seed after thee in their generations for an everlasting
covenant, to be a God unto thee, and to thy seed after
thee. And
I will give unto thee, and to thy seed after thee, the land
wherein you are a stranger, ALL the land of Canaan, for an
everlasting possession; and I will be their God."
While the covenant is unconditional and everlasting, the
fulfillment of the covenant is conditional upon the family of the G-d
of Israel being obedient to His Torah, commandments and statutes.
In Leviticus (Vayikra) 26:3, 11-12 it is written:
"IF you walk in my statutes, and keep my commandments,
and do
them ... And I will set my tabernacle among you: and my
soul
shall not abhor you. And I will walk among you, and will be
your
God, and you shall be my people."
The fullness of the G-d of Israel's covenant with Abraham
(Avraham) consists of the following:
1. The family of the G-d of
Israel keeping His Torah
(because it is written upon
their heart).
2. The family of the G-d of
Israel living in the land of
Israel (after being scattered
in the nations of the earth).
3. The G-d of Israel setting
up His tabernacle and dwelling
with His people (through the
Jewish Messiah (Mashiach)
during the Messianic Age).
THE
ROLE OF THE MESSIAH
TO
UNITE BOTH HOUSES OF ISRAEL
Two primary functions of the Jewish Messiah (Mashiach) is to
bring salvation to the Gentiles (non-Jews who would be grafted into
the olive tree of the G-d of Israel) and to gather both houses of
Israel, the Northern Kingdom (house of Israel / Christianity) and the
Southern Kingdom (house of Judah/Judaism) back to the land of Israel
in the end of days. These two things can be seen in Isaiah
(Yeshayahu) 49:5-6 as it is written:
"And now, saith the Lord that formed me from the womb
to be his
servant, to bring Jacob [all twelve tribes] again to him,
Though
Israel be not gathered, yet shall I be glorious in the eyes
of
the Lord, and my God shall be my strength. And he said, It
is a
light thing that thou shouldest be my servant to raise up
the
tribes of Jacob, and to restore the preserved of Israel: I
will
also give thee for a light to the Gentiles, that thou
mayest be
my salvation unto the end of the earth."
During the first coming of the Jewish Messiah (Mashiach) Yeshua /
Jesus as the suffering Messiah known as Messiah ben Yosef/Joseph, He
brought salvation to the Gentiles (non-Jews who would be grafted into
the olive tree of the G-d of Israel). During the second coming of the
Jewish Messiah (Mashiach) Yeshua/Jesus as the Kingly Messiah known as
Messiah ben David, He will restore the preserved (remnant) from both
houses of Israel and bring them back to the land of Israel through the
outpouring of the G-d of Israel's Holy Spirit (Ruach HaKodesh).
(End
Part 4 of 6)
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