Shabbat, 12 Nissan 5784 / April 20, 2024

Day 476 Readings

METZORA (Infected One)

Leviticus 14:1-15:33; Malachi 3:4-24; Matthew 8:1-4, 11:2-6; John 1:19-34

Torah: Parshat Metzora, 7th Portion Vayikra (Leviticus) 15:29-33

Leviticus 15:29-33

English Standard Version

29 And on the eighth day she shall take two turtledoves or two pigeons and bring them to the priest, to the entrance of the tent of meeting. 30 And the priest shall use one for a sin offering and the other for a burnt offering. And the priest shall make atonement for her before the Lord for her unclean discharge.

31 “Thus you shall keep the people of Israel separate from their uncleanness, lest they die in their uncleanness by defiling my tabernacle that is in their midst.”

32 This is the law for him who has a discharge and for him who has an emission of semen, becoming unclean thereby; 33 also for her who is unwell with her menstrual impurity, that is, for anyone, male or female, who has a discharge, and for the man who lies with a woman who is unclean.

Haftarah M’tzora: M’lakhim Bet (2 Kings) 7:3–20

Malachi 3:4-24

Complete Jewish Bible

4 Then the offering of Y’hudah and Yerushalayimwill be pleasing to Adonai,as it was in the days of old,as in years gone by.5 “Then I will approach you for judgment;and I will be quick to witnessagainst sorcerers, adulterers and perjurers;against those who take advantageof wage-earners, widows and orphans;against those who rob the foreigner of his rightsand don’t fear me,”says Adonai-Tzva’ot.

6 “But because I, Adonai, do not change,you sons of Ya‘akov will not be destroyed.7 Since the days of your forefathersyou have turned from my laws and have not kept them.Return to me, and I will return to you,”says Adonai-Tzva’ot.“But you ask, ‘In respect to whatare we supposed to return?’8 Can a person rob God?Yet you rob me.But you ask, ‘How have we robbed you?’In tenths and voluntary contributions.9 A curse is on you, on your whole nation,because you rob me.10 Bring the whole tenth into the storehouse,so that there will be food in my house,and put me to the test,”says Adonai-Tzva’ot.“See if I won’t open for youthe floodgates of heavenand pour out for you a blessingfar beyond your needs.11 For your sakes I will forbid the devourerto destroy the yield from your soil;and your vine will not lose its fruitbefore harvest-time,”says Adonai-Tzva’ot.12 “All nations will call you happy,for you will be a land of delights,”says Adonai-Tzva’ot.

13 “You have spoken strongly against me,” says Adonai.“Yet you say, ‘How have we spoken against you?’14 By saying, ‘There is no point in serving God.What good is it to obey his ordersor to walk about as mournersbefore Adonai-Tzva’ot?15 We consider the arrogant happy;also evildoers prosper;they put God to the test;nevertheless, they escape.’”16 Then those who feared Adonai spoke together;and Adonai listened and heard.A record book was written in his presencefor those who feared Adonaiand had respect for his name.17 “They will be mine,” says Adonai-Tzva’ot,“on the day when I compose my own special treasure.I will spare them as a man spareshis own son who serves him.18 Then once again you will see the differencebetween the righteous and the wicked,between the person who serves Godand one that doesn’t serve him.19 (4:1) For the day is coming, burning like a furnace,when all the proud and evildoers will be stubble;the day that is coming will set them ablaze,”says Adonai-Tzva’ot,“and leave them neither root nor branch. 20 (4:2) But to you who fear my name, the sun of righteousness will rise with healing in its wings; and you will break out leaping, like calves released from the stall. 21 (4:3) You will trample the wicked, they will be ashes under the soles of your feet on the day when I take action,” says Adonai-Tzva’ot. 22 (4:4) “Remember the Torah of Moshe my servant, which I enjoined on him at Horev, laws and rulings for all Isra’el. 23 (4:5) Look, I will send to you Eliyahu the prophet before the coming of the great and terrible Day of Adonai.24 (4:6) He will turn the hearts of the fathers to the children and the hearts of the children to their fathers; otherwise I will come and strike the land with complete destruction.”

[Look, I will send to you Eliyahu the prophet before the coming of the great and terrible Day of Adonai.]

B’rit Hadashah suggested readings for Parashah M’tzora: Mattityahu 8:1-4, Matthew 9:20–26; Mark 5:24b–34; Luke 8:42b– 48; Messianic Jews (Hebrews) 13:4

Matthew 8:1-4

English Standard Version

Jesus Cleanses a Leper

8 When he came down from the mountain, great crowds followed him. 2 And behold, a leper[a] came to him and knelt before him, saying, “Lord, if you will, you can make me clean.” 3 And Jesus[b] stretched out his hand and touched him, saying, “I will; be clean.” And immediately his leprosy was cleansed. 4 And Jesus said to him, “See that you say nothing to anyone, but go, show yourself to the priest and offer the gift that Moses commanded, for a proof to them.”

Matthew 9:20-26

English Standard Version

20 And behold, a woman who had suffered from a discharge of blood for twelve years came up behind him and touched the fringe of his garment, 21 for she said to herself, “If I only touch his garment, I will be made well.” 22 Jesus turned, and seeing her he said, “Take heart, daughter; your faith has made you well.” And instantly[a] the woman was made well. 23 And when Jesus came to the ruler's house and saw the flute players and the crowd making a commotion, 24 he said, “Go away, for the girl is not dead but sleeping.” And they laughed at him. 25 But when the crowd had been put outside, he went in and took her by the hand, and the girl arose. 26 And the report of this went through all that district.

Hebrews 13:4

English Standard Version

4 Let marriage be held in honor among all, and let the marriage bed be undefiled, for God will judge the sexually immoral and adulterous.

BIBLE Study Together

2 Kings 15:23-29

2 Chronicles 26:11-23

English Standard Version

11 Moreover, Uzziah had an army of soldiers, fit for war, in divisions according to the numbers in the muster made by Jeiel the secretary and Maaseiah the officer, under the direction of Hananiah, one of the king's commanders. 12 The whole number of the heads of fathers' houses of mighty men of valor was 2,600. 13 Under their command was an army of 307,500, who could make war with mighty power, to help the king against the enemy. 14 And Uzziah prepared for all the army shields, spears, helmets, coats of mail, bows, and stones for slinging. 15 In Jerusalem he made machines, invented by skillful men, to be on the towers and the corners, to shoot arrows and great stones. And his fame spread far, for he was marvelously helped, till he was strong.

Uzziah's Pride and Punishment

16 But when he was strong, he grew proud, to his destruction. For he was unfaithful to the Lord his God and entered the temple of the Lord to burn incense on the altar of incense. 17 But Azariah the priest went in after him, with eighty priests of the Lord who were men of valor, 18 and they withstood King Uzziah and said to him, “It is not for you, Uzziah, to burn incense to the Lord, but for the priests, the sons of Aaron, who are consecrated to burn incense. Go out of the sanctuary, for you have done wrong, and it will bring you no honor from the Lord God.” 19 Then Uzziah was angry. Now he had a censer in his hand to burn incense, and when he became angry with the priests, leprosy[a] broke out on his forehead in the presence of the priests in the house of the Lord, by the altar of incense. 20 And Azariah the chief priest and all the priests looked at him, and behold, he was leprous in his forehead! And they rushed him out quickly, and he himself hurried to go out, because the Lord had struck him. 21 And King Uzziah was a leper to the day of his death, and being a leper lived in a separate house, for he was excluded from the house of the Lord. And Jotham his son was over the king's household, governing the people of the land.

22 Now the rest of the acts of Uzziah, from first to last, Isaiah the prophet the son of Amoz wrote. 23 And Uzziah slept with his fathers, and they buried him with his fathers in the burial field that belonged to the kings, for they said, “He is a leper.” And Jotham his son reigned in his place.

Isaiah 6

English Standard Version

Isaiah's Vision of the Lord

1 In the year that King Uzziah died I saw the Lord sitting upon a throne, high and lifted up; and the train[a] of his robe filled the temple. 2 Above him stood the seraphim. Each had six wings: with two he covered his face, and with two he covered his feet, and with two he flew. 3 And one called to another and said:

“Holy, holy, holy is the Lord of hosts;the whole earth is full of his glory!”[b]

4 And the foundations of the thresholds shook at the voice of him who called, and the house was filled with smoke. 5 And I said: “Woe is me! For I am lost; for I am a man of unclean lips, and I dwell in the midst of a people of unclean lips; for my eyes have seen the King, the Lord of hosts!”

6 Then one of the seraphim flew to me, having in his hand a burning coal that he had taken with tongs from the altar. 7 And he touched my mouth and said: “Behold, this has touched your lips; your guilt is taken away, and your sin atoned for.”

Isaiah's Commission from the Lord

8 And I heard the voice of the Lord saying, “Whom shall I send, and who will go for us?” Then I said, “Here I am! Send me.” 9 And he said, “Go, and say to this people:

“‘Keep on hearing,[c] but do not understand; keep on seeing,[d] but do not perceive.’10 Make the heart of this people dull,[e]    and their ears heavy,    and blind their eyes; lest they see with their eyes,    and hear with their ears, and understand with their hearts,    and turn and be healed.”11 Then I said, “How long, O Lord?” And he said:“ Until cities lie waste without inhabitant, and houses without people,    and the land is a desolate waste,12 and the Lord removes people far away,    and the forsaken places are many in the midst of the land.13 And though a tenth remain in it,    it will be burned[f] again, like a terebinth or an oak, whose stump remains  when it is felled.” The holy seed[g] is its stump.

2 Kings 15:6-7

1 Peter 1:13-2:3

English Standard Version

Called to Be Holy

13 Therefore, preparing your minds for action,[a] and being sober-minded, set your hope fully on the grace that will be brought to you at the revelation of Jesus Christ. 14 As obedient children, do not be conformed to the passions of your former ignorance, 15 but as he who called you is holy, you also be holy in all your conduct, 16 since it is written, “You shall be holy, for I am holy.” 17 And if you call on him as Father who judges impartially according to each one's deeds, conduct yourselves with fear throughout the time of your exile, 18 knowing that you were ransomed from the futile ways inherited from your forefathers, not with perishable things such as silver or gold, 19 but with the precious blood of Christ, like that of a lamb without blemish or spot. 20 He was foreknown before the foundation of the world but was made manifest in the last times for the sake of you 21 who through him are believers in God, who raised him from the dead and gave him glory, so that your faith and hope are in God.

22 Having purified your souls by your obedience to the truth for a sincere brotherly love, love one another earnestly from a pure heart, 23 since you have been born again, not of perishable seed but of imperishable, through the living and abiding word of God; 24 for

“All flesh is like grass    and all its glory like the flower of grass. The grass withers,    and the flower falls, 25 but the word of the Lord remains forever.”

And this word is the good news that was preached to you.

A Living Stone and a Holy People

2 So put away all malice and all deceit and hypocrisy and envy and all slander. 2 Like newborn infants, long for the pure spiritual milk, that by it you may grow up into salvation— 3 if indeed you have tasted that the Lord is good.

ESV Readings

Scripture

Psalm 110

English Standard Version

Sit at My Right Hand

A Psalm of David.

1 The Lord says to my Lord: “Sit at my right hand, until I make your enemies your footstool.”

2 The Lord sends forth from Zion your mighty scepter.    Rule in the midst of your enemies! 3 Your people will offer themselves freely on the day of your power,[a]  in holy garments;[b]from the womb of the morning, the dew of your youth will be yours.[c] 4 The Lord has sworn    and will not change his mind, “You are a priest forever    after the order of Melchizedek.”

5 The Lord is at your right hand;    he will shatter kings on the day of his wrath. 6 He will execute judgment among the nations, filling them with corpses; he will shatter chiefs[d]    over the wide earth. 7 He will drink from the brook by the way; therefore he will lift up his head.

Leviticus 16

Isaiah 21

Galatians 1:11-24

English Standard Version

Paul Called by God

1 For I would have you know, brothers, that the gospel that was preached by me is not man's gospel.[a] 12 For I did not receive it from any man, nor was I taught it, but I received it through a revelation of Jesus Christ. 13 For you have heard of my former life in Judaism, how I persecuted the church of God violently and tried to destroy it. 14 And I was advancing in Judaism beyond many of my own age among my people, so extremely zealous was I for the traditions of my fathers. 15 But when he who had set me apart before I was born,[b] and who called me by his grace, 16 was pleased to reveal his Son to[c] me, in order that I might preach him among the Gentiles, I did not immediately consult with anyone;[d] 17 nor did I go up to Jerusalem to those who were apostles before me, but I went away into Arabia, and returned again to Damascus.

18 Then after three years I went up to Jerusalem to visit Cephas and remained with him fifteen days. 19 But I saw none of the other apostles except James the Lord's brother. 20 (In what I am writing to you, before God, I do not lie!) 21 Then I went into the regions of Syria and Cilicia. 22 And I was still unknown in person to the churches of Judea that are in Christ. 23 They only were hearing it said, “He who used to persecute us is now preaching the faith he once tried to destroy.” 24 And they glorified God because of me.

Prayers since 4AM

Dear Avi, I wake up feeling the pain of being unloved and though I convince myself why Stephen is not the best for me still it does not erase the pain of rejection. But with every closed door you open a grander door so I am trusting YOU tonight and thanking YOU for this pain knowing YOU will redeem me one day because I am YOUR beloved and YOU are mine. No man could ever love me like YOU do but I am still thanking YOU for the best man who can love me and BF YOU are sending to us soon. In JESUS NAME AMEN

And while Stephen is still in my mind this morning I pray that YOU will touch his heart to follow YOU bec YOU are calling him. Thank YOU that YOU are healing me and BF continue to fill us with YOUR love O GOD because YOUR love is unfailing and only YOUR love satisfies us. LORD he is still on my mind I pray that Stephen will surrender to YOUR will. That Stephen will receive YOU as LORD and Savior and serve YOU with all his being bec YOU are calling him. Have YOUR way in Stephen in JESUS NAME AMEN

Thank YOU JESUS that Stephen rejects me because the more I talk to him the more I am not myself and its such a struggle to connect to him. Thank YOU thay YOU are chosing someone better. I just feel in pain right now bec its all because of YOUR revelations to me thats why Im hurting today. But I am trusting that all this pain will be used someday. Because YOU are a good GOD

Dear AVI, I wake up early to pray for Stephen and I wanted to go back to sleep but I had to attend to the helpers because the new one is having attitude problems and I have to always deal with people who are like that... LORD, I wish Jane didn't have to go home because I really like the unity of the helpers in our house but her bad husband had taken away her children from her mom and she is in pain right now, please LORD, do something to help her family, cause her husband to bow to YOU and return those kids home to Jane, give her comfort LORD, why does she suffer while she serves us???? Do not allow it LORD, I am also in trouble if we have to hire new helpers training new people costs me time and effort. Please JESUS have mercy on Jane and her children but bring those children back to her Mother and heal her mother from sickness. Daghan kaau problema LORD please don't turn away from us, please help us, please do something for Jane and heal her mother JESUS please GOD cause a defender to rise and protect her family. I feel her burden and pain O GOD. Please do not allow anyone new to stay and work with us if they are not humble like Jane and the rest of our helpers. Please GOD take care of us... and all that concerns me. Please GOD help me to give away the dogs that Cobe bore, I am so sorry that they still don't have homes because we are not willing to surrender them. Please GOD forgive me help me and the rest of the family to release them because I feel so sorry for them not being able to enter our home. Please JESUS I know that YOU love me, please help me with all my burdens, I bring them all to YOU. In JESUS name, Amen!

Dear AVI, O GOD Almighty, I pray O LORD that YOU will unburden me from all my work troubles, from all my worries and cares in this life. Forgive me O GOD that I am worrying about too many things, I pray O GOD that YOU will heal me and restore me, revive me because I feel like I am dying from all the problems and weight that is on my shoulder. Please O GOD help me to live and not be worried, Please O GOD, I feel so much burden, please GOD help me to give it to YOU, to unload everything because YOU care for me and YOU are the Answer to all my problems, YOU can do anything! YOU are GOD who loves me but I feel sometimes that nobody cares, I feel so alone please O GOD comfort me with YOUR grace and love, comfort me... Do not leave me alone to die, please take away any negative feelings in my heart and cause me to live in the freedom that YOU have died for. IN JESUS Name, Amen