The Sea of Galilee from NW |
And leaving Nazareth, he came and dwelt in Capernaum, which is upon the sea coast, in the borders of Zabulon and Nephthalim:That it might be fulfilled which was spoken by Esaias the prophet, saying, The land of Zabulon, and the land of Nephthalim, [by] the way of the sea, beyond Jordan, Galilee of the Gentiles; The people which sat in darkness saw great light; and to them which sat in the region and shadow of death light is sprung up. From that time Jesus began to preach, and to say, Repent: for the kingdom of heaven is at hand. (Matit'yah - ha'Levi 4:13-17) [Matthew]
What is it that Yeshua has hidden in this text for us to search out?[It is] the glory of God to conceal a thing: but the honour of kings [is] to search out a matter.(Mashali 25:2) [Prov.] Another parable spake he unto them; The kingdom of heaven is like unto leaven, which a woman took, and hid in three measures of meal, till the whole was leavened. (Matit'yah - ha'Levi 13:33) [Matthew]
(And leaving Nazareth) In the text we see Yeshua leaving Nazareth; the word Nazareth (Strong's#G3478) means "The Guarded One".
(he came and dwelt in Capernaum)....the word Capernaum (Strong's #G2584)means "village of comfort"or consolation.
(which is upon the sea coast)....in the Scriptures symbols are often used to convey meaning. The meaning of a symbol would be explained in another part of the Bible. In (Yesha'yah 57:20;60:5;) [Isa.] and in (Yirmi'yah 51:42) [Jeremiah]. Also in (Y'chizki'el26:3)[Ezekiel] we find that sea symbolizes: people, nations, multitudes.
(in the borders of Zabulon and Nephthalim:) ....the name Zabulon (Strong's # G2194) means "a habitation" dwelling. the name Nephthalim (Strong's # G3508) means "wrestling"
Now we come to an interesting prophecy of (Yesha'yah 9:1,2)[Isa.] which speaks of this same region (Zabulon & Nephthalim) along with other cities in the surrounding areas being afflicted by the military forces of Assyria. This Elohim (God) foretold will come upon His people if they persisted in disobedience.
But if ye will not hearken unto me, and will not do all these commandments ; And if ye shall despise my statutes, or if your soul abhor my judgments , so that ye will not do all my commandments , [but] that ye break my covenant : And I will set my face against you, and ye shall be slain before your enemies : they that hate you shall reign over you....(V'yakra 26:14,15,17)[Leviticus]
The prophecy of (Yesha'yah 9:1,2) [Isa.] depicts spiritual darkness with the words ("...the dimness....) in verse 1. This dimness is also temporal in the sense that they would become subjects of a foreign power.
But the prophecy compares and contrast the former two afflicts of this region with a prophecy of enlightenment coming to them that "walked in darkness". The prophecy speaks Zabulon and Nephthalim "...by the way of the sea, beyond Jordan" Jordan (Strongs #G2446) means The Descender. Who was it that descended from above? The same that ascended above. "The Lord himself shall descend from heaven..." (Thess. 4:16) " I ascend unto my Father..." (Yochanan 20:17) Yeshua is The Descender.
"From that time Jesus began to preach..." Much can be said of "that time" when Yeshua began to preach." I think we will leave that for another time . However this much can be said; "To every [thing there is] a season, and a time to every purpose under the heaven:" (Kehilat 3:1)[Eccl.]
"Repent: for the kingdom of heaven is at hand." This message was the heart and soul of Yeshua's ministry. Repentance full and complete to the chief of sinners. "If any man thirst, let him come unto me, and drink." (Yochanan 7:37) [John] Yeshua's heart of infinite love is being poured out to us in the commencement of His public ministry.
Wisdom hath builded her house, she hath hewn out her seven pillars.( Mashali 9:1) [Prov.]
Now, the house (in this case the teaching) has been builded.....do you see her seven (symbol of completion) pillars.Do you perceive her depths of understanding?
In the story Yehsua leaves Nazareth...but we know that Nazareth means The Guarded One. The Guarded One is none other than our Heavenly Father. Here are the three witnesses:
O LORD of hosts, God of Israel, that dwellest [between] the cherubims, (Yesha'yah 37:16)[Isa.]
"....thou that dwellest [between] the cherubims (T'hilim 80:1) [Ps.]
We see the same picture in the Sanctuary of Elohim in the Tanuach; in the Holy of Hollies. The mercy seat of the Ark of His Testimony had two graven angels with their wings spread on high with the Glory of YHWH manifested in the midst.(Shemot 25:18-22)[Exodus] The Two Cherubims are YHWH'S personal guards.
Yeshua (The Descender) leaves the Father's guarded presence and dwells in the "village of comfort". What is this village of comfort?
To be continued......
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Hi Yuri -
ReplyDeleteThank you
This piece educated me. And I agree, repentance is a core message from our Lord.
Indeed, I was feeling the rhythm of those scriptures cited throughout your piece. Yes, they ministered...
Note: Interesting that today the Lord had us both to post topics which ended with "to be continued."