The Valiant Warrior, Lesson 6, Proverbs 31:15

She Rises also while it is still night, and gives food to her household.          Proverbs 31:15

If ever a passage has been mistranslated, Proverbs 31:15 would be on the list. May I say, translation work is difficult and subject to the opinion of uneducated people like myself. Still, I am fairly shocked when I see what the passage means instead of how it was translated.

This Week

1. The Hebrew letter of the week; Vav (or Waw)
2. Hebrew word of the week; WaTaaQUWM
3. Review of lesson 5
4. She takes a stand against darkness
5. Conclusion

Hebrew letter Vav The Vav that Moses wrote was a pictograph of a tent peg. Like our letter of the week, tent pegs are used to keep wind filled shelters from taking off by attaching them firmly to the ground. Years later the Hebrew letter Vav came to resemble a simple hook-pin used to connect panels in the tabernacle.

Vav is the sixth letter. Six represents man who was created on the sixth day. According to Alan Horvath, the basic meaning of Vav is "pitching your tent with Elohim" That sounds about as good as any other teaching I have read.
Here is my Vav lesson if you want a little bit more.

Hebrew word of the week QUWM Did you know that Strong's lists 627 uses of this word? It is usually translated "arise" or "rise up". At first glance it seems to just mean, stop sitting down, but look a little closer.

The vav connects QUWM with the word that comes just before QUWM (pronounced koom) and the tav tells us that the person who is making the stand is a woman.... "and she..." The phrase could easily be, "And she stands" but I do not think that phrase gives a clear picture of what is being communicated. While I did not hit all 625 uses of the word in the Hebrew Scriptures, I looked at a lot of them. I am very comfortable saying that the word means, "take a stand." The word 'AMEN means to "stand firm" meaning that when you have taken a stand do not wimp out or give up on your stand. QUWM is the  word used to take that stand in the first place.

Review of Lesson 5 She is like merchant ships; she brings her food from afar. The Warrior of YHVH is not someone who shops the import section of the grocery store. Being like a merchant ship simply means that the wind of the Spirit powers her movement. The food from afar is the bread of life, which Y'shua (Jesus) said that he was. For a full review of lesson 5 click on the underlined phrase "Review of Lesson 5

She stands against the darkness. 

As a woman, I want to say that I have nothing against anyone, man or woman, getting up early to fix breakfast for the household. However I do not believe that this is what the Warrior is called to do.

Vav, And. The first letter of the verse is Vav which connects this verse to the verse that came before. Verse 15 is going to have something to do with being filled with the Ruwach, the Spirit of the Almighty and the Bread of life (the food from afar).

The next letter, Tav, tells us that it is a woman who accomplishes the verb we are going to look at.

The verb that "she" is doing is QUWM. "And she takes a stand" Getting up early is an option, not a requirement. The Warrior is not getting up while it is still dark, she is taking a stand against the darkness! Often that involves getting up while it is still dark out.

What does it mean to "take a stand against the darkness? Very simply, it is to oppose something. Cain opposed Abel (Genesis 4:8 and the first use of the verb) Baalam "took a stand" when he chose to saddle his ass and go with the princes of Moab (Numbers 22:21). Phinehas (the grandson of Aaron the first Priest) took a stand when he made a decision to pick up his javelin and drive it through the Israelite man and the Midianite woman instead of sitting at the door of his tent weeping about that horrid sin. Each of these uses of the Hebrew word QUWM has been translated "arise" or "rise up" but they mean so much more then no longer sitting down. In point of fact, understanding the meaning of QUEM to be more then merely standing up helps to clarify why the Almighty was so unhappy with Baalam after Numbers 22:20. The Almighty did not tell Baalam to stand up and go with the princes of Moab, but to Make a Stand for Israel and the Almighty. God dd not change his mind, cash changed Baalam's determination.

When the Almighty chose Noah and his three sons to save out of the world, He "took a stand" against the darkness of men. Genesis 6:18 reads, He established a covenant, but the word is QUWM, take a stand,and  has been translated "Establish" I'm pretty sure that the Almighty asked men to enter into covenant with Him if they were his. That covenant is how we "take our stand" for the Almighty.

The Apostle John made the concept of light and darkness easy to understand. In John 3:19 he said, "...the Light has come into the world, and men loved the darkness rather than the Light, for their deeds were evil.

 and again,

John 12:46 "I have come as Light into the world, so that everyone who believes in Me will not remain in darkness

How do we "take a stand" as a warrior? First we must be born again, then we must live for Y'shua -Jesus. And the bread that we feed our household? Y'shua said that HE is the bread of life. Read John 6:27-35. Y'shua said that the bread of heaven gives life to the world, and that HE is that bread. The Valiant Warrior Takes her stand on the Word of God, being born again and living according to the Word of God. And providing bread for her household? I suspect it has something to do with Proverbs 14:12

There is a way that seems right to a man, but its end is the way of death.

Conclusion: Years ago, in a school chapel, a guest speaker, Pastor Grady Kringen, was trying to explain to an assembly of children from Kindergarten to high school, what it means to take our stand on the Word of the Almighty. He may not have put it quite that way, but it is what he was teaching.

He told us about a woman who had come to him after her husband did some very stupid things. What did he think she should do?

Pastor told her that if she was asking him, he thought that her brothers and pastor should take the man to the wood shed and slap some sense into her fool of a husband. There was a long pause before he said, but that is just what I would do, let's look at the Word of God and find out what the Almighty would want us to do. The wisdom of a believer in one simple paragraph. We want our revenge, but what would the Almighty do?

"But I say to you who hear, love your enemies, do good to those who hate you,   

bless those who curse you, pray for those who mistreat you.   

Whoever hits you on the cheek, offer him the other also; 

and whoever takes away your coat, do not withhold your shirt from him either. 

 Give to everyone who asks of you, and whoever takes away what is yours, do not demand it back.   

Treat others the same way you want them to treat you.   

If you love those who love you, what credit is that to you? For even sinners love those who love them. 

If you do good to those who do good to you, what credit is that to you? For even sinners do the same.   

If you lend to those from whom you expect to receive, what credit is that to you? Even sinners lend to sinners in order to receive back the same amount.   

But love your enemies, and do good, and lend, expecting nothing in return; and your reward will be great, and you will be sons of the Most High; for He Himself is kind to ungrateful and evil men.   

Be merciful, just as your Father is merciful.  

Do not judge, and you will not be judged; and do not condemn, and you will not be condemned; pardon, and you will be pardoned.   

Give, and it will be given to you. They will pour into your lap a good measure--pressed down, shaken together, and running over. For by your standard of measure it will be measured to you in return."
Luke 6:27-38

Love your enemies, love them as if they are your own precious child instead of someone you  are looking to exact revenge from. A mother loves her child by holding him to a higher standard then other children are held to, AND by knowing his heart and showing mercy even in the midst of discipline. That is how we are to love our enemies! THAT is the stand we are to take against the darkness; That is the bread of life that we are to prepare for those who are with us.

Take a stand against the darkness beloved, and stand firm!
Mrs. Hagerty, October 20,2014
Updated by MsH December 23, 2015

The Hebrew letter Vav

The Hebrew letter vav is a pictograph of a tent peg. It kept the sometimes wind filled tent firmly attached to the earth. A firm attachment, often between heavenly concepts and earthly living, is still the idea of vav. In Hebrew, spirit and wind are the same word, "ruwach" (roo-akh'). Both are difficult to tie down to the earth. A tent peg firmly planted into the earth usually keeps a wind filled tent from flying off in the breeze.

The classic block print associated with Hebrew scripture, apparently looks like a "hook" used to connect the panels of the Tabernacle.

Vav is still considered a strong connector. When it is used as a prefix it is translated "and" before the word it is prefixed to. As a prefix it is (and I quote) "non-past tense (apparently not the same as present tense).

As a suffix it makes the noun it is added to "3rd person, masculine" For instance, if the noun is "hand" it would become "his hand" Verbs become masculine plural. Stand becomes "they stand" since there is no masculine plural in English. (Jeff A. Bennar).

From "Ten Lost Tribes" web page.

Vav represents the number six which is the number of man. He has been given six days to labor, Man was created on the sixth day. Interestingly, the serpent was also created on the sixth day. The sixth commandment is, "Do not kill" and the sixth clause of the Lord's Prayer is, "...forgive us our sins"

Vav is used to connect whatever came before to the word that comes after. In Psalm 119 the Vav section is immediately tied to the hey section by the vav the prefix on the first word of Psalm 119:41. The last word of verse 40 is CHAYAH (khaw-yaw) meaning "to live" (translated "revive" in NAS and "quicken" in KJ) is "hooked" or connected to the first word (in Hebrew) of verse 41, He has been given six days to labor BOW (bo) meaning "to enter" Bow is written with the letters bet-aleph picturing "house of the father" Our life is connected to the Almighty's house. This is clear in Hebrew because of the vav prefix. It is not very clear in English because of the poetic licence of the translators. I hold them no ill-will, I imagine translation is an incredibly difficult job that in our day seems to involve lawyers.

This week we are looking at Proverbs 31:15, the VAV verse of the Valiant Warrior passage, The word chosen for us is QUWM (koom) meaning "arise" or "take a stand".  We are going to see how that stand is intimately connected to being filled with the Ruwach and the bread of life for her household and "Taking a stand against the darkness."
Mrs. Hagerty, December 20, 2015
Originally taught as part of the Valiant Warrior series (Proverbs 31 Woman) on October 20, 2014

Morning Devotions: Joshua 4:19 - 5:12

Joshua 4:19-5:12 nasu Monday, October 26

^Joshua 4:19 Now the people came up from the Jordan on the tenth[1] of the first[2] month and camped at Gilgal on the eastern edge of Jericho. 20 Those twelve[3] stones[4] which they had taken from the Jordan, Joshua set up at Gilgal. 21 He said to the sons of Israel, "When your children ask their fathers in time to come, saying, 'What are these stones?' 22 then you shall inform your children, saying, 'Israel crossed this Jordan on dry ground.' 23 "For YHVH your God dried up the waters of the Jordan before you until you had crossed, just as YHVH your God had done to the Red Sea, which He dried up before us until we had crossed; 24 that all the peoples of the earth may know that the hand of YHVH is mighty, so that you may fear YHVH your God forever."

^Joshua 5:1 Now it came about when all the kings of the Amorites who were beyond the Jordan to the west, and all the kings of the Canaanites who were by the sea, heard how YHVH had dried up the waters of the Jordan before the sons of Israel until they had crossed, that their hearts melted, and there was no spirit in them any longer because of the sons of Israel.

^Joshua 5:2 At that time[5] YHVH said to Joshua, "Make for yourself flint knives and circumcise again the sons of Israel[6] the second[7] time." 3 So Joshua made himself flint knives and circumcised the sons of Israel at Gibeath-haaraloth[8]. 4 This is the reason why Joshua circumcised them[9]: all the people who came out of Egypt who were males, all the men of war, died in the wilderness along The Way after they came out of Egypt. 5 For all the people who came out were circumcised, but all the people who were born in the wilderness along the way as they came out of Egypt had not been circumcised. 6 For the sons of Israel walked forty[10] years in the wilderness, until all the nation, that is, the men of war who came out of Egypt, perished because they did not listen to YHVH, to whom YHVH had sworn that He would not let them see the land which YHVH had sworn to their fathers to give us, a land flowing with milk and honey. 7 Their children whom He raised up in their place, Joshua circumcised; for they were uncircumcised, because they had not circumcised them along The Way.

^Joshua 5:8 Now when they had finished circumcising all the nation, they remained in their places in the camp until they were healed[11]. 9 Then YHVH said to Joshua, "Today I have rolled away the reproach of Egypt from you." So the name of that place is called Gilgal to this day.

The morning Devotion connected with this passage can be found
here Morning Devotions: Joshua 4:19 - 5:12

^Joshua 5:10 While the sons of Israel camped at Gilgal they observed the Passover[12] on the evening of the fourteenth day of the month on the desert plains of Jericho. 11 On the day after the Passover, on that very day, they ate some of the produce of the land, unleavened cakes and parched grain.  12 The manna ceased on the day after they had eaten some of the produce of the land, so that the sons of Israel no longer had manna, but they ate some of the yield of the land of Canaan during that year.

---

[1] Ten or tenth is one of the perfect numbers, and signifies the perfection of Divine order, commencing, as it does, an altogether new series of numbers. It pictures completion.

[2] One or first As a cardinal number it denotes unity; as an ordinal it denotes primacy. Unity being indivisible, and not made up of other numbers, is therefore independent of all others, and is the source of all others. So with the Deity. The great First Cause is independent of all. All stand in need of Him, and He needs no assistance from any. (Bullinger)

[3] Twelve is the number of perfection in government.

[4] Stones /ta ‘eben the word for stone is a compound word from ‘av (or abba) which is Hebrew for Father; and  ben which is Hebrew for son. ‘Av is the house of the mighty God. Ben is the house of the righteous seed. What they have in common is the letter bet picturing a house. The stone is the house of The Almighty’s righteous Son.  1Peter 2:4-8

[5] Magnificent Grace had been shown to Israel (the Jordan dry). It was after that awesome event that Israel was asked to do something difficult. Circumcision.

[6] The Almighty first demonstrated  his power is supernatural, then he asked the nation to enter the covenant of Torah via circumcision. Our faith is in the Almighty

[7] The second time The number 2 communicates “a difference” (there is no difference with one or first) 2^nd , though different in character, yet one as to testimony and friendship. The Second that comes in may be for help and deliverance. But, alas! where man is concerned, this number testifies of his fall, for it more often denotes that difference which implies opposition, enmity, and oppression (bullinger)

[8] Means “the hill of foreskins”

[9] Obedience to Torah commanded by YHVH Josh 1:7-9 "Only be strong and very courageous; be careful to do according to all the Torah which Moses My servant commanded you; do not turn from it to the right or to the left, so that you may have success wherever you go. This book of Torah shall not depart from your mouth, but you shall meditate on it day and night, so that you may be careful to do according to all that is written in it; for then you will make your way prosperous, and then you will have success. Have I not commanded you? Be strong and courageous! Do not tremble or be dismayed, for YHVH your God is with you wherever you go."

[10] Fourty …association with a period of probation, trial, and chastisement— (not judgment, like the number 9, which stands in connection with the punishment of enemies, but the chastisement of sons, and of a covenant people). (bullinger)

[11] There was no fear of attack because of the fear of the Canaanites and Amorites who heard that Israel cross on dry land.

[12] Without circumcision they could not have kept the Passover.

The Stone

Psalm 118:22-23

The Stone 

which the builders rejected has become the chief corner Stone.  

This is YHVH's doing; it is marvelous in our eyes. 

Matthew 21:42-46  Y'shua said to them,

 "Did you never read in the Scriptures, 

'THE STONE WHICH THE BUILDERS REJECTED,
THIS BECAME THE CHIEF CORNER Stone;
THIS CAME ABOUT FROM THE LORD,
AND IT IS MARVELOUS IN OUR EYES'?

"Therefore I say to you, the kingdom of the Almighty will be taken away from you and given to a people, producing the fruit of it.  And he who falls on this stone will be broken to pieces; but on whomever it falls, it will scatter him like dust."

When the chief priests and the Pharisees heard His parables, they understood that He was speaking about them. When they sought to seize Him, they feared the people, because they considered Him to be the prophet.

Isaiah 28:15-17 For we have made falsehood our refuge and we have concealed ourselves with deception."
Therefore thus says the Lord YHVH, "Behold, I am laying in Zion a Stone, a tested Stone, A costly cornerstone for the foundation, firmly placed. He who believes in it will not be disturbed. "I will make justice the measuring line  and righteousness the level; Then hail will sweep away the refuge of lies  and the waters will overflow the secret place. 

Zechariah 3:8-10 'Now listen, Joshua the high priest, you and your friends who are sitting in front of you--indeed they are men who are a symbol, for behold, I am going to bring in My servant the Branch. 'For behold, the Stone that I have set before Joshua; on one Stone are seven eyes. Behold, I will engrave an inscription on it,' declares YHVH of hosts, 'and I will remove the iniquity of that land in one day. 'In that day,' declares YHVH of hosts, 'every one of you will invite his neighbor to sit under his  vine and under his fig tree.'"

Acts 4:10-12 let it be known to all of you and to all the people of Israel, that by the name of Y'shua ha Mashiach (Jesus who is the Christ) the Branch (Nazarene), whom you crucified, whom the Almighty raised from the dead-- by this name this man stands here before you in good health. "He is the STONE WHICH WAS REJECTED by you, THE BUILDERS, but WHICH BECAME THE CHIEF CORNER Stone.  "And there is Salvation in no one else; for there is no other name under heaven that has been given among men by which we must be saved." 

1 Peter 2:7-8 This precious value, then, is for you who believe; but for those who disbelieve,

"THE STONE WHICH THE BUILDERS REJECTED,
THIS BECAME THE VERY CORNER Stone,"
 and,
" A STONE OF STUMBLING AND A ROCK OF OFFENSE";
 for they stumble because they are disobedient to the word, and to this doom they were also appointed.

Courage

Be strong and of good courage...

Joshua 1:9 and 2:11

Chazak v'amats!

Believers in The Way do not need to commit violence and scream that our God is greater. YHVH does not ask that of us. Instead, he asks us to be strong, Chazak, which means we are to cling to him, to stand firm on His Word.

Finally, my brethren, be strong in the Lord and in the power of His might. Put on the whole armor of God, that you may be able to stand against the Wiles of the devil. For we do not wrestle against flesh and blood, but against principalities, against powers, against the rulers of the darkness of this age, against spiritual hosts of wickedness in the heavenly places. Therefore take up the whole armor of God, that you may be able to withstand in the evil day, and having done all, to stand.
Ephesians 6:10-13 nkj

To be strong Chazak, is to cling to YHVH through Y'shua. He is our strength, not our physical body. To have courage, 'amats is to stand our ground when the ground we stand on is the Word of God. Stand firm! That is the meaning of Amen. But be ye steadfast, that is the war cry of the believer,
Mrs. Hagerty's devotions class, October 5, 2015

Jericho

Joshua 2:1 Then Joshua the son of Nun sent two men as spies secretly from Shittim, saying, "Go, view the land, especially Jericho." So they went and came into the house of a harlot whose name was Rahab, and lodged there. nasu

In Hebrew, Jericho means "fragrant"

2 Corinthians 2:14-17

But thanks be to God, who always leads us in triumph in Christ, and manifests through us the sweet aroma of the knowledge of Him in every place.  For we are a fragrance of Christ to God among those who are being saved and among those who are perishing;  to the one an aroma from death to death, to the other an aroma from life to life. And who is adequate for these things? 

Ephesians 5:1-2

Therefore be imitators of God, as beloved children;  and walk in love, just as Christ also loved you and gave Himself up for us, an offering and a sacrifice to God as a fragrant aroma. 

Philippians 4:18

But I have received everything in full and have an abundance; I am amply supplied, having received from Epaphroditus what you have sent, a fragrant aroma, an acceptable sacrifice, well-pleasing to God. 

Mrs. Hagerty's devotions class, October 5, 2015