\u00a0efei<\/p>\n
\u00a0Since there is more we can learn about mashyach<\/em>, let\u2019s explore some additional references in the Tanakh. And I\u2019d like to begin this second phase of our search in the most unlikely place, with a reference to an egotistical pagan, because it demonstrates that individuals both good and bad can be set-apart to serve Yahowah\u2019s interests.<\/p>\n \u201cThus says Yahowah to His chosen implement<\/strong> (mashyach<\/em> \u2013 His set-apart servant), to Cyrus<\/strong> (Kowresh<\/em> \u2013 the Persian king who conquered Babylon and allowed the Yisra\u2019elites to return to Yaruwshalaim), whom I have grasped by the right hand to subdue in the presence of his nation. And the loins of the kings I have bared, to open the door to his presence, and the gates shall not be shut.\u201d<\/strong> (Yasha\u2019yahuw \/ Salvation is from Yah \/ Isaiah 45:1) Cyrus was no \u201cMessiah.\u201d But he served a purpose. He was used to humble and defeat Babylon \u2013 the most ruthless religious, political, and militaristic nation on earth.<\/p>\n So in this case, mashyach<\/em> remains an adjective, denoting the fact that Yahowah called this man out by name to serve His purpose. Once again, it is not ha Mashyach<\/em>, or the Messiah, but instead denotes a \u201cchosen implement, set-apart to serve.\u201d And there is also no chance that Yahowah anointed Cyrus with oil, thus continuing to disassociate mashyach<\/em> from this connotation.<\/p>\n But then in the first of many references to mashyach<\/em> in Shamow\u2019el, we find another direct connection between mashyach<\/em> and Ma\u2019aseyah \u2013 the Work of Yah. \u201cYahowah discourages, dismays, and destroys those who oppose, taunt, and insult Him. In heaven Yahowah with a resounding and thunderous shout, executes judgment to the ends of the earth. And He gives strength and power to His royal ruler and to the exalted flashing rays of brilliant light of His Set-Apart Servant<\/strong> (mashyach<\/em> \u2013 chosen implement).\u201d<\/strong> (Shamow\u2019el \/ Listen to God \/ 1 Samuel 2:10)<\/p>\n In the same chapter, Yahowah reestablishes the association between the mediators and being mashyach<\/em>, this time also explaining their symbolism. \u201cAnd I will take a stand and establish for Myself an intermediary who is as trustworthy and reliable, as truthful and loyal, as My heart and My soul. He will engage and I will build a home and family for Him which is reliably nurtured and dependably enduring. And My Set-Apart Servant<\/strong> (mashyach<\/em> \u2013 My chosen implement) will walk toward My presence every day.\u201d<\/strong> (Shamow\u2019el \/ Listen to God \/ 1 Samuel 2:35)<\/p>\n And yet as clear a picture as these passages paint, there are a host of others which refer to the Benjamite king, Sha\u2019uwl \/ Saul, being Yahowah\u2019s anointed, even though the people, not God, chose him. It was Yah\u2019s plan to have the Lowy serve His children as administrators of the Towrah, which in effect, made Yahowah head of the family and thus their leader. But the people wanted a king, like those who ruled other nations. And that led to this interesting exchange which begins in 1 Shamow\u2019el 8:4 and runs through 8:21\u2026<\/p>\n \u201cAnd all of the elders of Yisra\u2019el assembled together and they came to Shamow\u2019el<\/strong> (Shamow\u2019el<\/em> \u2013 He Listens to God (the man Yahowah chose to serve Him and His people)) at Ramah<\/strong> (ramah<\/em> \u2013 to beguile, deceive, and mislead). And they said to him, \u2018Look, you are old, and your sons, they do not walk in your ways. So now then, appoint for us a king to act as our judge and govern like all the Gentile nations. So this was a distressing statement in the eyes of Shamow\u2019el. So he asked Yahowah to intervene.<\/strong><\/p>\n And Yahowah said to Shamow\u2019el, listen to the voice of the people as to everything they say to you, because indeed, they are not rejecting you, but it is Me that they have rejected and spurned from reigning as a king over them. Just as was the case with everything they have done from the day I withdrew them from the Crucible of Egypt, and up to this day, they have abandoned and forsaken, rejected and deserted Me. And they have served other gods. So they are acting the same way toward you also.\u201d \u201cSo, solemnly warn them, and explain to them the custom and claims of the king who shall reign over them.\u201d<\/strong><\/p>\n \u201cNevertheless, the people refused to listen to Shamow\u2019el. No, now there shall be a king to rule over us and go out before us and fight our battles.\u201d \u201cSo Shamow\u2019el rejected them while Yahowah was listening.\u201d<\/strong><\/p>\n We are told that \u201cSaul was handsome,\u201d like most successful politicians, and that \u201cfrom his shoulders and up he was taller than any of the people,\u201d suggesting that he had a big head. (1 Shamow\u2019el 9:2) These are not the traits Yahowah finds appealing.<\/p>\n As is the case with the Covenant, with salvation and eternal life, God sees to it that we all get what we have sought and deserve. The people, instead of relying on Yah, wanted a physical specimen to fight their battles, so Yahowah complied. This part of the discussion begins with 1 Shamow\u2019el 9:15 and concludes with 9:16\u2026 \u201cNow Yahowah revealed through the ears of Shamow\u2019el a day before the presence of Sha\u2019uwl\u2019s<\/strong> (Sha\u2019uwl<\/em> \u2013 To Ask For and To Question) arrival, saying, \u2018At this time tomorrow I will send to you a man from the land of Benjamin<\/strong> (Binyamyn<\/em>), and you should choose him as the implement<\/strong> (mashach<\/em> \u2013 you should select and anoint him) as leader<\/strong> (nagyd<\/em>) over My people, Yisra\u2019el. And he shall deliver My people from the Philistines<\/strong> (Palishty<\/em> \u2013 immigrants who roll around in the dust) for I have seen the distressing wailing cries of My people toward Me.\u2019\u201d <\/strong>When we spurn Yah, we often get what we covet. But in this reading we find, mashach<\/em>, the verbal form of the adjective, mashyach<\/em>, and while it would be a bit awkward to translate it as \u201cbeing set-apart and serving,\u201d the translation \u201cyou should choose him as the implement,\u201d works fairly well.<\/p>\n It is then that the application of oil in conjunction with mashach<\/em> is used for the first time. \u201cAnd Shamow\u2019el grasped hold of the flask of olive oil<\/strong> (pak<\/em> shemen<\/em> \u2013 small container of oil extracted from the olive) and he poured it out<\/strong> (yatsaq<\/em> \u2013 he cast and tossed it) on his head and kissed him. He said to him, \u2018Has not<\/strong> (ha lo\u2019<\/em>) by contrast<\/strong> (ky<\/em>) Yahowah anointed you<\/strong> (mashach<\/em> \u2013 chosen you as an implement to serve) over<\/strong> (\u2018al<\/em>) His inheritance<\/strong> (nachalah<\/em>), as leader<\/strong> (nagyd<\/em>)?\u201d<\/strong> (1 Shamow\u2019el 10:1) While this associates pouring olive oil with mashach<\/em>, the verbal root of mashyach<\/em>, this ceremony was as distressing for Shamow\u2019el as it was for Yahowah. This was not their choice, but instead occurred because the people had rejected them. And that is why I chose to present the preamble and to translate the parting comment in our usual way, so that you would see the question Shamow\u2019el was posing.<\/p>\n Christians apologists equate \u201canointing\u201d with the \u201cHoly Spirit,\u201d and claim that \u201cit was being poured out on Saul, equipping him for the job of governing Israel.\u201d But Saul was a disaster. Worse, he became the enemy of the man Yah loved most, Dowd. So unless Yah\u2019s Spirit is schizophrenic, the Ruwach Qodesh<\/em> could not have inspired both Sha\u2019uwl and Dowd. And since Dowd wrote a huge swath of Scripture and Sha\u2019uwl nothing, it is not hard to figure out which one Yahowah inspired. Moreover, Cyrus was a pagan. He most certainly wasn\u2019t anointed in the Spirit. And even in the case of the Lowy who served as mediators, while they were chosen and set-apart to serve as God\u2019s implements, far too many were corrupt for them to have been \u201canointed spiritually.\u201d<\/p>\n That is not to say that there isn\u2019t an affinity between the pouring out of oil and anointing, and between olive oil and the Set-Apart Spirit. Olive oil is one of Scripture\u2019s most commonly used symbols for the Spirit, because it served as a source of light, it was part of a nourishing diet, and its application helped heal wounds.<\/p>\n For example, Yahowah spoke to Moseh about using \u201cshemen<\/em> \u2013 olive oil\u201d in concert with other ingredients to make a \u201c<\/strong>mishchah qodesh<\/em> \u2013 set-apart and purifying anointment.\u201d<\/strong> Yahowah went on to instruct Moseh, saying:<\/p>\n \u201cAnd <\/strong>(wa<\/em>) you shall anoint<\/strong> (mashach<\/em> \u2013 set-apart for service) with it<\/strong> (ba<\/em>) in association with<\/strong> (\u2018eth<\/em>) the Tent<\/strong> (\u2018ohel<\/em> \u2013 home, household, and tabernacle) of the Appointed Meeting Times<\/strong> (mow\u2019ed<\/em>),<\/strong> and also in association with<\/strong> (wa \u2018eth<\/em>) the Ark<\/strong> (\u2018arown<\/em> \u2013 enlightened freewill) of the Restoring Testimony<\/strong> (\u2018eduwth<\/em> \u2013 eternal witness and enduring evidence): and in association with<\/strong> (wa \u2018eth<\/em>) the Liberating Table <\/strong>(shulchan<\/em> \u2013 the counter extended to dismiss and dispatch),<\/strong> and in association with<\/strong> (wa \u2018eth<\/em>) all of<\/strong> (kol<\/em>) its Vessels <\/strong>(kaly<\/em> \u2013 the articles deployed to facilitate and complete the mission),<\/strong> and in association with<\/strong> (wa \u2018eth<\/em>) the Lamp Stand <\/strong>(ha manowrah <\/em>\u2013 the six plus one luminary),<\/strong> and in association with<\/strong> (wa \u2018eth<\/em>) the Implements <\/strong>(kaly<\/em> \u2013 the utensils required to accomplish and finish the task), and in association with<\/strong> (wa \u2018eth<\/em>) the Fragrant Smoke Altar <\/strong>(ha qatoreth mizbeach<\/em> \u2013 the platform for sacrifices associated with smoke offerings which unify and rise), and in association with<\/strong> (wa \u2018eth<\/em>) the Burnt Offering Altar <\/strong>(ha \u2018olah mizbeach <\/em>\u2013 the place to make offerings which symbolically make us acceptable and rise up as a result of fire), and in association with<\/strong> (wa \u2018eth<\/em>) all of<\/strong> (kol<\/em>) its Implements <\/strong>(kaly<\/em> \u2013 the vessels used to enable that goal), and in association with<\/strong> (wa \u2018eth<\/em>) the Basin for Purifying <\/strong>(kyowr<\/em> \u2013 the caldron and pan associated with a smelting furnace), and in association with<\/strong> (wa \u2018eth<\/em>) the Basin\u2019s Stand <\/strong>(ken <\/em>\u2013 the framework which establishes the right, truthful, and just means to purification).\u201d <\/strong>(Shemowth<\/em> \/ Names \/ Exodus 30:25-28)<\/p>\n The rendering of mashach<\/em> as \u201cset-apart for service\u201d is a perfect fit for the items in Yah\u2019s laundry list, which is why their purpose has been explained. And this very notion is something God reinforces with the initial verb of His next statement: \u201cqadash<\/em> \u2013 to set apart and dedicated to service.\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cAnd<\/strong> (wa<\/em>) you should choose to be completely set-apart, dedicated to service<\/strong> (qadash<\/em> \u2013 you should of your own volition become totally separated from that which is common and profane, consecrating yourself to serve (consecutive mood conveys choice, the perfect conjugation denotes something which is total and complete, and the piel stem reveals that by becoming set-apart and by being devoted to service we enable the purpose of everything in God\u2019s list by serving)) with them<\/strong> (\u2018eth<\/em>).<\/strong><\/p>\n And they shall always and literally be<\/strong> (wa hayah<\/em> \u2013 and they were, are, and will be, and they eternally exist as (qal perfect consecutive)) the Most Set-Apart<\/strong> (qodesh qodesh<\/em> \u2013 completely removed from the common and profane realm of man and totally separated unto God, devoted and dedicated without reservation or exception to Him).<\/strong><\/p>\n All <\/strong>(kol<\/em>) who make contact with them<\/strong> (ha naga\u2019 ba<\/em> \u2013 who touch them) literally, genuinely, relationally, and eternally become set-apart and dedicated to serve<\/strong> (qadash<\/em> \u2013 actually separated forever unto God and devoted to service (qal stem designating a relationship which is actual and genuine and the imperfect conjugation which speaks of that which is continually unfolding and ongoing)).\u201d <\/strong>(Shemowth<\/em> \/ Names \/ Exodus 30:29)<\/p>\n Should we have had any lingering questions regarding mashach<\/em>, they have been answered by Yahowah. The mashyach<\/em> are \u201cset-apart to serve.\u201d And that is the purpose of \u201cYahowsha\u2019<\/em> \u2013 Yah Saves\u201d and meaning of \u201cMa\u2019aseyah<\/em> \u2013 the Work of Yah.\u201d But as we can see, Yahowah uses more than one implement to achieve His goal \u2013 which is to establish a Covenant relationship with humankind. Everything in this list, from the Tabernacle of the Restoring Testimony and Enduring Witness to the Ark of the Covenant, from the Manowrah to Moseh, Himself, served as an implement engaged in the work of God. They were all set-apart to serve. And each leads to the same place, to Yahowah: responding to His enduring witness as scribed by Moseh, choosing to engage in the Covenant, being nourished by the bread of life which is set upon God\u2019s table, being enlightened by the Manowrah, and even by appreciating the symbolism of every implement, offering, and sacrifice.<\/p>\n While we have found what we were looking for, let\u2019s do ourselves the favor of listening to Yahowah complete this instruction. Still speaking to Moseh, the Towrah\u2019s conduit and scribe, God revealed:<\/p>\n \u201cAnd with<\/strong> (wa \u2018eth<\/em>) Aharown<\/strong> (\u2018Aharown<\/em> \u2013 Enlightened Freewill),<\/strong> and with his children<\/strong> (wa \u2018eth beny<\/em>), you shall actually and completely set them apart so as to devote them to ongoing service<\/strong> (mashach wa qadash \u2018eth<\/em> \u2013 you shall genuinely and continuously anoint and totally separate them, selecting and dedicating them as purified implements (qal imperfect and piel perfect) intermediating as priests<\/strong> (la kahan<\/em> \u2013 to intervene acting as reconciling ministers) for Me<\/strong> (la<\/em>).\u201d <\/strong>(Shemowth<\/em> \/ Names \/ Exodus 30:30)<\/p>\n If mashach<\/em> were translated \u201canoint\u201d here, it would imply that Aharown and his descendants, the Lowy, were to be doused with Yahowah\u2019s special blend of fragrant oil, which means that it would be in conflict with God\u2019s directions two verses hence. So, in context we have yet another affirmation that mashach<\/em> is being used to tell us that as mediators, those who minister on behalf of Yahowah\u2019s Towrah instructions, are set-apart from the profane, chosen and devoted to serving God.<\/p>\n \u201cAnd on behalf of<\/strong> (wa \u2018el<\/em>) the Children of Yisra\u2019el<\/strong> (beny Yisra\u2019el<\/em> \u2013 children who engage and endure with God), you should consistently communicate the word<\/strong> (dabar<\/em>) to affirm<\/strong> (la \u2018amar<\/em>),<\/strong> \u2018The devoted and dedicated set-apart service of olive oil anointment<\/strong> (shemen mashchah qodesh<\/em> \u2013 oil form olives as the medium for anointing so as to be set-apart and purifying (a succession of three consecutive nouns with mashchah<\/em> serving as the noun form of the verb mashach<\/em>)) shall continually exist to approach Me<\/strong> (hayah zeh la<\/em>) for every generation<\/strong> (la kol dowr<\/em> \u2013 for all time and every place).\u201d <\/strong>(Shemowth<\/em> \/ Names \/ Exodus 30:31)<\/p>\n Therefore, there is a direct connection between being set-apart to serve, between olive oil in concert Yahowah\u2019s specific instructions, between the Tabernacle, the Covenant, and Moseh, with approaching God. These are all signs along the Way.<\/p>\n \u201cUpon<\/strong> (\u2018al<\/em>) the flesh<\/strong> (basar<\/em> \u2013 the body) of humankind<\/strong> (\u2018adam<\/em>), it shall not be applied<\/strong> (lo\u2019 cuwk<\/em> \u2013 it shall not be poured to anoint). And with this formula<\/strong> (wa ba mathkoneth<\/em> \u2013 and in these proportions, with this mixture and recipe), you shall not act to make him<\/strong> (lo\u2019 \u2018asah<\/em> \u2013 you shall not engage to make the flesh of mankind) akin to<\/strong> (ka<\/em> \u2013 something similar to) that which is set-apart<\/strong> (qodesh<\/em>). This<\/strong> (huw\u2019<\/em>) shall always be<\/strong> (hayah<\/em>) set-apart and devoted to service<\/strong> (qodesh<\/em>) for you<\/strong> (la<\/em> \u2013 on your behalf).\u201d <\/strong>(Shemowth<\/em> \/ Names \/ Exodus 30:32)<\/p>\n Since mashach<\/em> was used in the 30th<\/sup> verse in association with Aharown and his sons, when juxtaposed with this instruction, we are compelled to define mashach<\/em> as \u201cset-apart to serve,\u201d and not \u201canointed in the sense of applying oil,\u201d because lo\u2019 cuwk<\/em> means that the oil \u201cshould not be applied\u201d to \u201c\u2018adam basar<\/em> \u2013 human flesh.\u201d The reason for this may be that it is our souls, not our bodies, which benefit from Yahowah\u2019s laundry list of implements. This instruction could be designed to tell us that ordinary men who claim to be anointed by, even to be chosen by, and devoted to, God, should never be viewed as a conduit to God. Through this statement, Yahowah could be encouraging us to think, making a distinction between our corruptible and common human nature and the long list of set-apart implements which, when embraced, bring us into God\u2019s presence. I say this because in the 29th<\/sup> verse Yah said that \u201call who make contact with them will become relationally and eternally set-apart.\u201d And in this case \u201cthem\u201d included Moseh, which means the Towrah, the Tent of the Restoring Testimony and Enduring Witness, which means God\u2019s Word and Home, and the Ark of the Covenant, replete with its terms for participation and its Mercy Seat. God might even be suggesting that there is no easy, simplistic, or thoughtless way to approach Him, as is implied with the Christian notion of \u201csalvation through faith in the Gospel of Grace.\u201d Simply being doused with oil \u2013 or being born again as a result of an ignorant prayer to an errantly named deity \u2013 isn\u2019t going to save anyone. There are no shortcuts to heaven. If you want to be set-apart from the world unto Yahowah, you need to know and understand, and then accept and rely upon, the specific means God has provided to achieve this result. Or as I suspect, Yah could be saying all of these things in addition to providing guidance well beyond my feeble mind\u2019s ability to grasp.<\/p>\n But this we know for sure, a person who does not know Yahowah cannot approach God because of what someone else does for them. And those who claim to have saved others through some evangelical or doctrinal formula, are themselves estranged from God. This is not my opinion, but instead Yahowah\u2019s teaching on the matter\u2026<\/p>\n \u201cAn individual <\/strong>(\u2018iysh<\/em> \u2013 a person) who mixes such herbs and spices in oil<\/strong> (\u2018asher raqach<\/em> \u2013 who beneficially prepares such compounds) like this<\/strong> (ka<\/em>),<\/strong> and who from this places it upon<\/strong> (