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Kabbalah simply means "to receive", but many generally think of Kabbalah as a form of religion, or as Eastern mysticism. It is helpful to have a basic understanding of Kabbalah based on Torah, to have a more complete understanding of the Word of YHWH. But what is Kabbalah? Whose Kabbalah? There is Kabbalah that is received from YHWH and some is from the imaginations of men. Kabbalah is not a single system where all involved utilize the same basic principles, those who promote Kabbalist ideologies can be extremely duplicitous and deceptive. So hence some of the caution against studying Kabbalah. On the other hand, those who insist all Kabbalah is bad are generally very ignorant and threatened by something they have no knowledge of. Anyone who communicates anything "spiritual" or who believes they have "received" insight from "the Spirit" are essentially teaching or revealing their own form of "Kabbalah". There are some mainstream ideas from Kabbalah that everyone should know about and be able to discuss, whether they agree or disagree with each other. For instance, read the words listed below and quickly define them, and think about where you learnt the definitions that you gave them?
Each of these words represents a meaning that each of us has a "relationship" with, there are infinite amounts of "connections" to each word, each word has many levels of meaning and understanding. One of my favorite set of names in Torah is the Toledot Adam (the line, or genealogy of Adam). The "given" names of Adams descendants to Noah are very straightforward, they are "normal" Biblical names until we look a bit deeper. There is something far greater going on here, far beyond the individual names, which are themselves a whole universe of thought, but there is also a hidden code released to the mind and soul, which speaks of Mashiyach.
Toledot Adam Bereshit 5 (Geneology of Adam from Genesis 5)
MAN [is] APPOINTED MORTAL SORROW, [but a] BLESSED ELOHIM SHALL COME DOWN TEACHING [that] HIS DEATH SHALL BRING [the] DESPAIRING COMFORT
AMAZING! YHWH ordained that the Hebrew Names in the Toledot Adam tell the story of Yeshua coming to earth to bring Comfort, indeed SALVATION to His people! But trying to understand Kabbalah or trying to connect with YHWH and His Mashiyach without Torah is to venture off into darkness.
Kabbalah is meant to establish the Word of YHWH in our Neshama (spirit), and strengthen and confirm our relationship with the Master YHWH.
There are many levels to receiving wisdom, knowledge and understanding from YHWH, the adversary twists that which is good and distort it for evil. If we focus on Kabbalah that is revealed inside the Tanak and Ketuvim Netzarim, we see magnificent revelation about YHWH, His Mashiyach and the Life He has given us. If we examine the Mishkan (Tabernacle), we discover the image of Mashiyach revealed, consider the Ark of the Covenant and the Mercy Seat in the Holy of Holies as the Head, the Holy Place as the chest. In your mind stand the Mishkan on it's end with the Holy of Holies at the top. Picture the Table of Shewbread to the right side of the body, the Menorah to the left side, the alter of incense in the center right below the head, and the laver below that, and the alter below that and the door of entrance below that. YHWH revealed the Perfect Mashiyach according to the way the Mishkan was arranged, you and I can see inside our own souls to know who we are, in haMashiyach as we study Torah. We can understand how there can only be One Elohim who knows about us and who communicates to His Creation, sure there are many imposters but only One authentic and original Master of the Universe.
In the days of Yeshua, the writings of the prophets of YHWH were known as "The Kabbalah". Today it is common for Christians to talk about "hearing from the L-RD", this is the hope and desire of all Believers, that YHWH would communicate and reveal His will in the lives of each one who seeks Him. We are each unique souls made in the "image of Elohim" and must have this confidence that we are being true to YHWH and His Word. Each one of us has received some "Kabbalah" in our souls, this is our personal experience with YHWH and His Mashiyach. On a personal and private level the Kabbalah is all about intimacy with YHWH and seeking to do His will, but for others it is also about learning how to manipulate spiritual and material worlds to attain wealth or power, but this of course is also known as witchcraft.
Rav Shaul (Apostle Paul) was one of the most studied souls, when it came to understanding and revealing "Kabbalah". Ephesians 6 Paul teaches how to put on the whole armor against the enemy, he exposes the tactics of the adversary. Some very simple "Kabbalah" if incorporated into humanity could make a remarkable improvement in this world. But unfortunately the pagan Hellenized culture of the world is held back by religion, from understanding the deeper things of the Malchut Elohim.
The homes we live in are places of shelter, provision, love etc, we nurture a shalom biyet , a house of peace in our dwellings. The Tanak and all Kabbalah remind us that every word which comes out of our mouth has "spiritual" consequences. What would happen if each soul respected their dwellings as jurisdiction of a holy sanctuary and no unkind or angry words were allowed to be spoken within the family home. If a husband, wife or child are angry and felt they needed to express anger, imagine what would happen, if before one were to explode, they would consider all the consequences of the words that might proceed from their mouth, and the consequences of it, in the spiritual world? If what comes out of the mouth breaks peace and joy in the home, simply go outside of the home and resolve it there, leave the negative emotions and conflicts on the outside, go for a walk, resolve it together, knowing that in your home the Ruach Elohim is not only welcome but abides. This is a very simple, yet profound concept that is derived from Torah Kabbalah principles. Imagine what this would do for many homes and families around the world, the home as a sanctuary of peace would judge anything that would break the peace and harmony within, many things thought to be acceptable would be judged unworthy of the environment where Joy and Peace is maintained and nurtured. Imagine what it would to do the bulk of TV programming? It would not be allowed in the home, because evil things would not be set before those who nurture perfect peace in their homes.
The table where we eat is holy, we are reminded of the goodness of YHWH each day, His bountiful provisions, the family, friends, and many good things He created for us to enjoy each day, all provided by His outstretched Hand. The marriage bed is holy, set apart unto YHWH. What if everyone on the communities where we lived "received" an understanding about maintaining Joy, Peace and Justice for their families and community, and took it to heart? What impact would happen if every couple and every child having a hard time in Babylon, knew that when they went home they would be safe, their soul would be respected, nurtured, honoured and loved? What if you knew that your whole neighborhood, community and city were also working towards homes of peace and prosperity? How would the world be changed? It's very obvious isn't it. This is not idealism, this is the Will of YHWH given in Torah and in Mashiyach. The problem is, not only is this not being taught, many don't even think it's possible so they don't "receive" it, the carnal flesh rises up against peace and says... there is no peace. Understanding functional Kabbalah helps us all to "raise the bar", because we can all receive a holy thought that can translate into a holy action. Clearly there are evil forces in the world who have put fear into people's minds about Kabbalah, there are false prophets who do witchcraft and make superstitions about everything including the values of Kabbalah... but the Mashiyach said...
"The truth will set you free..." ...ever wonder what He meant by that?
HaMashiyach Yeshua demonstrated these attributes:
"And there shall come forth a rod out of the stem of Jesse, and a Netzer (Sprout) shall grow out of his roots:" Isaiah 11:1
Yeshua Mashiyach is the Netzer (Sprout) which grew out of the Root of Ye'shai (Jesse), these 7 Attributes signify the Character and Calling of HaMashiyach. Each of these "attributes" are very unique, they are the "SEVEN Spirits of YHWH" Revelations 5:6. The Scriptures reveal that the FEAR of YHWH is the beginning of WISDOM, this is Kabbalah, it is the Seventh mentioned attribute and is mentioned many times throughout Scripture. Five times the Scriptures states that the FEAR of YHWH brings Wisdom, in an additional two more verses FEAR and WISDOM are mentioned in the same verse, bringing a total of SEVEN references in Scripture that connects the Fear of YHWH with Wisdom. But christo-paganism for instance, outright rejects the FEAR of YHWH. Christo-paganism teaches a theology that the FEAR of YHWH is not really FEAR, but REVERENCE, however the word fear is YIRAH, which is "fear", albeit a very unique and special "fear" that is commanded expressly unto YHWH, and it is mentioned 45 times in Scripture.
Notice the last verse states Gadol Yirah Yareh, the Fear of YHWH "YIRAH" is linked with "Yareh", which means fear, afraid, terror etc. So what christo-paganism has done, is to use theology to make an image of it's own god, and in fact their "fear" is taught by the theology of men.
Christo-pagan theology depicts their god, as being essentially a nice god of love, and their god forgives all willful and perpetual sins according to Jezeus, their own man made image of god. Certainly there can be no doubt that YHWH *is* love, according to 1 John 4:8 "Because Elohim is love; and whoever does not love, does not know Elohim." However, the teaching that the Fear of YHWH is not FEAR, but REVERENCE, has it's roots in Marcion, the same fellow who coined the words "Old and New Testament". We should also note that most Christian Bible translations, translate the word REVERENCE from the Hebrew Yareh and Shachah.
The word shachah is most commonly translated as worship, bow down, make obeisance etc, therefore the christo-pagan church has completely and utterly removed the original and true FEAR of YHWH teaching right out of their churches, unfortunately this has opened the door to all manner of counterfeit teachings! The FEAR of YHWH is an extremely important revelation for the Body of Mashiyach! So what then is the FEAR of YHWH? He is a SPIRIT, an intimate FEAR (as in terror) but don't compare it to the fear of man, or the kind of fear as when a person is trying to torment or cause fear. The FEAR of YHWH must be received, it is not a theology but a LIVING SPIRIT which YHWH directs in His people to help keep them from falling away into carnal living and sin against His Name. The FEAR of YHWH is meant to become a "spiritual instinct", a quality of discernment that allows you to see the boundaries of YHWH's Word. The word KADOSH (SET-APART) also depicts the boundaries or set-apart Nature of YHWH and all that pertains to Him, including His people, this is something that must be "received" of the Ruach HaKodesh. Personal KABBALAH is vital, it has extensive ramifications when it comes to our perception of YHWH and Yeshua, speaking of RAMifications, let's consider Avraham and Yitzhak...
When Avraham was about to sacrifice his son Yitzhak, YHWH spoke through him, "Abraham said, My son, Elohim (G-d) will provide himself a SEH (LAMB) for a burnt offering:" Genesis 22:8 Five verses later we read, "And Abraham lifted up his eyes, and looked, and behold behind him a 'AYIL (RAM) caught in a thicket by his horns:" Genesis 22:13.
The SEH (Lamb) that YHWH promised to Avraham is ultimately Yeshua the Word of YHWH. Avraham "received" this from YHWH. It was Mashiyach who spoke with Avraham, Yitzhak and Ya'akov, the WORD OF YHWH said He would provide HIMSELF A LAMB and the WORD of YHWH is entirely Faithful. So it was that mankind chose to torture and put to death the Perfect Lamb of Elohim, who by His suffering not only took away the sin of those who Trust in Him, but He empowers His people to live free of sin.
There is NO other acceptable "sacrifice" available today, when we speak of sacrifice we speak of an exchange of debt for sin. If we can "receive" this truth, then we must realize that when we hurt someone else, even unintentionally, we feel indebted to them to make restitution and be restored to them. The single most important reality in our existence, is that we enjoy so many wonderful things in this LIFE because it has all been paid for us. One quick glance at the heavens on a starry night reveals a UNIVERSE, design and ARCHITECTURE that is beyond mankind's ability to Create, we are having a very difficult time even measuring it, never mind creating it! Therefore because of the beauty we enjoy in this life, we are indebted to the one who gives us LIFE, and it wasn't mommy and daddy!
The majority of people on earth believe in the concept of Mashiyach, about one in three people on earth believe that Yeshua is Mashiyach. The very idea that a person would even come to BELIEVE in something metaphysical or spiritual is Kabbalah. Kabbalah is spiritual revelation, regardless of whether a person believes or does not believe in "spirits" the fact of the matter is that WE exist, we are made up of body, soul and SPIRIT so it's not even a matter of whether a person accepts or rejects Kabbalah. It's a matter of which Kabbalah we will choose. I choose to learn of the Kabbalah of YHWH and His Mashiyach Yeshua, not the Kabbalah of man, or man's cult religions. The WAY to learn Kabbalah from the Ruach HaKodesh is to open the Word of YHWH and inquire of Him, meditate on His Word, do what YHWH says, rejoice before Him, it is YHWH who gave us Life and who sustains the Living and the Dead.
"Then said his wife unto him, Do you still retain your integrity? curse Elohim, and die. But he said unto her, you speak as one of the foolish women speaks. What? shall we QABAL (receive) good at the hand of Elohim, and shall we not QABAL (receive) evil? In all this Job did not sin with his lips." Job 2:9,10
"Hear counsel, and QABAL (receive) instruction, that thou may be wise in thy latter end." Proverbs 19:20
Shalom U'Vrachot, Baruch Ben Daniel
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