Here are a few thoughts from my personal investigations into The Torah this week:
Let’s break this down…
Building upon the idea of ‘immersion’ and its ties to the Sefer Vayikra (Book of Leviticus)-
1 Peter 3:21 ‘IMMERSION SAVES YOU (not because it removes what’s dirty on the outside) but (because of the) UPRIGHT CONSCIENCE (that clean/pure/naked-and-unashamed interior that was developed by an) EARNEST CRAVING/INTENSE DESIRE (as in ‘to demand & accost one with an enquiry’) TOWARD GOD BY MEANS OF THE RESURRECTION OF YESHUA, THE ANOINTED ONE.’
Do you see ‘drash’ here? Do you see ‘craving’ here (Hebrews 11:6)? Are you seeing such a CLOSENESS to Yeshua that HE keeps tripping over us? I was thinking along these lines as I was going from room to room housewifing (is that a word?) and tripping over Bella…who follows me EVERYWHERE. The following video might give you a little insight as to what I’m talking about…
Some English translations of 1 Peter 3:21 says ‘pledge to KEEP a good conscience’. That is an incredible thought. We’ve seen the Hebrew words KEEP, GUARD, or OBSERVE before.
It carries the idea of something being heavily guarded.
So, rabbit trailing again, my mind strolls: Heavily guarded: Guard Shabbat, Guard Conscience
‘Children, My Torah, do not forget, My Mitzvah keep in your heart…A Tree of Life She is to those who are strengthened by Her, and blessed are those who take hold of Her’ ~ Proverbs 3:1, 19 (my translation)
How do we guard/keep a good conscience? First, we must possess a good conscience. That means we must deal swiftly with the sin and chametz (James 5:16) that has made us impure to begin with. Then removing all traces of chametz (that which has become puffed up causing us to miss the mark), we must cast out the source of the leaven, the corrupting influence…the seor that we chose to ‘mix in’ with our life.
We are PREPARING for Pesach! Are you ready to live ‘naked and unashamed’, pure, undefiled, possessing and protecting a good conscience because of The Resurrection of Yeshua that saves you?
In my drash this week, I find at least four BIGGIES we are to SHAMAR, that is HEAVILY GUARD or keep with your life (simply because it brings life):
Shabbat (Exodus 31:13)
Brother/Sister (Genesis 4:9)
Faith (1 Timothy 1:19)
Good Conscience (1 Peter 3:16)
I would encourage you to do a little investigation into ‘pure conscience‘.
We, Ezer Kenegdo, are GUARDIANS (of the galaxy! Ha!!) We are, as Titus 2:5 puts it so clearly IN THE ORIGINAL LANGUAGE: Oikouros (guardians of home)
Titus 2:5 – oikouros – from two words ‘oikos’ meaning ‘home’ and ‘ouros’ meaning ‘to guard, keep, protect, preserve, watch’.
Do yourself a favor and also do some digging into Two WORD studies to see more clearly:
Guard and Conscience
In short, seeing the Holy Beautiful Red Thread of Sefer Vayikra, immersion, Resurrection, Pesach, removal of chametz, and receiving of LIFE (walking in The Ruach):
When we don’t GUARD what brings LIFE, we welcome death!
When we don’t GUARD SHABBAT, that is, we don’t cease from striving/work and REST (body, mind and spirit) thus ENJOYING His Presence, we welcome death.
When we don’t GUARD our good CONSCIENCE, then we can see how we welcome death.
ALL LIFE is to be GUARDED and PROTECTED. Anything that is LIFE is to be GUARDED in order to continue bringing LIFE. Otherwise, the Guardian who grows lax while on duty WELCOMES DEATH. (Daaaaaang!)
Exodus 31:13 – NAS – “But as for you, speak to the children of Israel, saying, ‘You shall surely SHAMAR My sabbaths; for this is a sign between Me and you throughout your generations, that you may know that I am the LORD who sanctifies you. Exodus 31:13 – BHS – וְאַתָּ֞ה דַּבֵּ֨ר אֶל־בְּנֵ֤י יִשְׂרָאֵל֙ לֵאמֹ֔ר אַ֥ךְ אֶת־שַׁבְּתֹתַ֖י תִּשְׁמֹ֑רוּ כִּי֩ אֹ֨ות הִ֜וא בֵּינִ֤י וּבֵֽינֵיכֶם֙ לְדֹרֹ֣תֵיכֶ֔ם לָדַ֕עַת כִּ֛י אֲנִ֥י יְהוָ֖ה מְקַדִּשְׁכֶֽם׃
SHAMAR – to GUARD, KEEP, PROTECT, PRESERVE the SHABBAT, my Sister/brother, Faith…and a GOOD CONSCIENCE!
The purpose of this order is to promote love from a clean heart, from a good conscience and from sincere trust. ~ 1 Timothy 1:5
‘It is what it [really] is’…living life FREE is living life from the inside out.
‘they were naked (exposed) and unashamed’
Ezer Kenegdo is called out to walk ‘naked and unashamed’, filled with the Ruach HaKodesh and fulfilling her mission in life, FOR LIFE.