July 16th, 2017
Mark Call of Shabbat Shalom Mesa takes another two-part look at parsha “Pinchas” this week (Numbers 25:10 through 30:1).
The Erev Shabbat overview teaching begins with the end of the story of Pinchas (aka “Phineas” in some English Bibles), the now-legendary zealot who stayed the plague against the children of Israel by running a pair of coupling pagans through with a spear, and continues through the ‘second head count’, as the mixed multitude prepare to enter the land, to a summary of the daily and <em>moedim </em>offerings.
SSM Pinchas 2017
This week the Sabbath Day teaching is about The Zealot, but with the caveat that Pinchas was “in the camp” whereas we today are in exile; arguably, the “opposite part of the cycle.” As Mark also notes, it should perhaps be no surprise that the haftorah portion this week, from the story of Eliyahu (Elijah) the prophet, I Kings 18 into 19, is also a man who self-describes as “zealous for YHVH”. And there’s a whole lot to be learned from that comparison!
Pinchas – and how ‘zealous’ are WE today?”
Tags: Elijah, Eliyahu, idolatry, Pinchas, torah, zealot, zealotry
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July 9th, 2017
Mark Call of Shabbat Shalom Mesa takes another two-part look at parsha “Balak” this week (Numbers 22:2 through 25:9).
Yes, this is the story that includes Balaam’s famous talking ass, and that certainly makes a humorous and enduring point, but it’s only a part of the entire lesson in this one.
During the Erev Shabbat overview teaching, Mark reviews the “whole story,” including elements that simply must be “spiritualized” to be understood.
SSM Balak 2017
The Sabbath teaching, however, is perhaps even more poignant and relevant than usual — as well as more “politically incorrect”. And THAT is because it hits directly on the very war that is still being waged on a people who no longer know what is “self-evident”, as opposed to what is really “whoring”.
Balak: Spiritual war, ‘Whoring’ vs prostitution, or dinner and a movie”
Tags: Balaam, Balak, Bilaam, hostile witness, idolatry, Mark Call, prostitution, torah, tzanah, whoring, zanah
Posted in Idolatry, prophecy, torah | No Comments »
July 4th, 2017
Mark Call of Shabbat Shalom Mesa takes a two-part look at parsha “Chukat” (Numbers chapters 19 through 21). Among other things, the confusing “chuk” of the Red Heifer.
During the Erev Shabbat overview teaching, Mark reviews the “whole story,” including the dual themes that really DO form the whole backbone: Death, and why “Because I said so!” means exactly that.
SSM “Chukat” 2017
The Sabbath teaching centers on one of the most confusing, perplexing, and thus often just plain ignored, “chukat” or “statues” in the Book. Mark uses the occasion to “wax nerdy,” but perhaps that’s a good reason not to miss this one. And don’t let the title fool you, all the dots will connect!
“Super Symmetry, Convolution Integrals, the Red Heifer, and Other Stuff We Don’t Understand”
Tags: because I said so, choose life!, Chukat, chuq, convolution integral, Mark Call, Moses, Moshe, red heifer, torah, wax nerdy
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June 25th, 2017
Mark Call of Shabbat Shalom Mesa takes a two-part look at parsha “Korach” (Numbers chapters 16 through 18)…and in particular, the issue of “rebellion”.
During the Erev Shabbat overview teaching, the story describes one of the most famous rebellions in history, that of Korach, and also Dathan and Abiram, and their 250 followers. And their ends, too. But there’s more, albeit still part of the same lesson.
SSM “Korach” 2017
The Sabbath day teaching will no doubt offend some who have what might be called a “subtle contempt for law”. His Instruction, anyway. But if we fail to recognize what happens when “lawlessness abounds” – well, look around…
Do we “tremble at His [s]Word”?
Tags: antinomianism, Isaiah 66, Korach, Korah, Mark Call, Plagues, rebellion, torah, tremble at HiSWord
Posted in Law, prophecy, Sabbath, torah | No Comments »
June 25th, 2017
Mark Call of Shabbat Shalom Mesa takes another two-part look at parsha “Shalach Lekha” (Numbers chapters 13 through 15).
During the Erev Shabbat overview teaching, we see the story of the ‘spies’, and their ‘evil report’, but that is only the beginning of the story and the lesson.
The bigger story has to do with obedience to His Instruction. Will we allow a ‘majority vote’ to over-ride Him? When it comes to a series of events that truly make the point about His commandments, and how important they REMAIN, this parsha is impossible to deny.
SSM “Shalach Lekha” 2017
The Sabbath day teaching looks at the lesson here that is SO clear if we do as the spies were TOLD to do — have “eyes to see,” and LOOK at the whole picture!
Let’s Crack the Code!
Tags: crack the code, demonocracy, evil report, Mark Call, Marriage, Numbers 13, Shalach Lekha, spies, torah, unintentional sin
Posted in Sabbath, torah | No Comments »
June 11th, 2017
Mark Call of Shabbat Shalom Mesa takes another two-part look at parsha “B’ha’alotecha” (Numbers chapters 8 through 12). Again, it looks like another “potpourri” of perhaps disparate topics, in spite of the fact that it ALSO clearly contains another major “turning point” in the Story.
During the Erev Shabbat overview teaching, Mark outlines several of the themes, and why they remain “timeless”.
SSM Beha’alotecha 2017
But it’s during the Sabbath Day teaching, where it’s time for some spiritualizin‘ — and even a bit of speculation.” If we see a ‘turning point’ in this story of Whining in the Desert, isn’t it about time we became “teachable” ourselves? (Moses certainly was, as we shall see.)
“Food – Control – Trust – and Vulnerability:
…Time for a Turning Point”
Tags: Beha'alotecha, Food, Mark Call, trust, two houses, vulnerability, whining, YHVH
Posted in Come out of her...., prophecy, torah | No Comments »
June 5th, 2017
Mark Call of Shabbat Shalom Mesa takes another two-part look at parsha “Naso” (Num. 4:21 through the end of chapter 7) — which MIGHT look like a veritable potpourri of disconnected topics, until you take a deeper look at it.
During the Erev Shabbat overview teaching, Mark attempts to do just that. There’s a reason why most mainstream Christian denominations tend to ignore these, too…and it’s very much related.
SSM “Naso” 2017
During the Sabbath Day teaching, Mark takes an in-depth look at one specific aspect of the portion that is sometimes called the “remedy for the jealous husband,” or the “law of the sotah”. But it’s in fact a theme that is SO fundamental to the entire history of the “sons of Israel,” the two houses that have both been “sent out” for cause, and our continuing exile, that it’s no wonder ‘the church’ would prefer to ignore the entire issue. (And, yes, it’ll be clear why Mark freely uses the term ‘whore church’ — since that’s what Scripture makes clear.)
“Naso – Shalom – and ‘The Cup’ in History and Prophecy”
Tags: Mark Call, Marriage, Naso, nazerite vow, Numbers 5, remedy for jealous husband, sota, sotah, The Cup, two houses, whore church
Posted in Appointed Times of YHVH, Come out of her...., Law, Marriage, prophecy, torah, Yahushua HaMashiach | No Comments »
June 5th, 2017
This is the special Shavuot (aka ‘pentecost’) teaching from Mark Call and Shabbat Shalom Mesa.
“Pentecost and Shavuot:
Two Houses, Two Stories, Two Blind Spots,
One Remedy, and One Truth”
Tags: appointed times, Boaz, Halleluyah, Jeremiah 31, kinsman-redeemer, Levirate law, Mark Call, Pentecost, Ruach, Ruth, Shavuot, two houses, Yahushua, yibum
Posted in Appointed Times of YHVH, Come out of her...., Sabbath, torah | Comments Off on Special Shavuot teaching from Shabbat Shalom Mesa
May 28th, 2017
Mark Call of Shabbat Shalom Mesa takes a two-part look at the first parsha in a new Book – Number, or “Bemidbar” in Hebrew. (Num. 1:1 – 4:21)
Yes, there are a lot of ‘numbers’ (starting with a head count) but perhaps what happens “in the wilderness” really IS more important, in a number of ways.
During the Erev Shabbat overview teaching, Mark outlines the ‘why’ of all that.
SSM Bemidbar 2017
The Sabbath Day teaching this week is ultimately about the fact that it is impossible NOT to recognize the spiritual significance of being “in the wilderness”. In the process, Mark examines a number of themes, from the lessons of the ‘head count’ and the order of encampment to what any of that has to do with the haftorah selection, in Hosea chapter 2. If we can understand how a prophet, and then even his Creator, can love an unfaithful whore, maybe we can see how He can still love us, and plan for our return to Him.
“Bemidbar – Sound of Silence: The Still Small Voice In the Wilderness”
Tags: Bemidbar, census, Hosea, Hosea 2, In the wilderness, Israel, Mark Call, sound of silence, still small voice, torah, YHVH
Posted in Appointed Times of YHVH, Come out of her...., prophecy, Sabbath, torah, Yahushua HaMashiach | No Comments »
May 21st, 2017
Mark Call of Shabbat Shalom Mesa takes an in-depth look at the double portion Behar/Bechukotai, which rounds out the Book of Leviticus (Vayikra) – chapters 25 through the end.
And yet AGAIN, we find another segment in Scripture that we have probably been told is boring, obsolete, irrelevant, and – especially – “done away with,” and perhaps this time there is a bit of truth in that Big Lie. We are NOT “in the land” any more (as we were warned, it turns out) and the ‘Jubilee’ doesn’t apply, regardless of what the words on the Liberty Bell once said.
During the Erev Shabbat overview teaching, Mark outline the ‘why’ of all that.
SSM Behar/Bechukotai 2017
The Sabbath Day teaching this week ties a whole LOT of things that we’re told “no longer matter” together, because evidently they really do after all! Scripture warns about consequences that get seven times worse, and again seven times more, and continue, until, well, they look a look like what we see developing now. But there’s “good news,” too. We don’t have to go all the way there before turning around!
“We DON’T have to wait for the Reset!”
Tags: 7 times, Bechukotai, Behar, idolatry, jubilee, Mark Call, reset, slavery, yovel
Posted in Economics, Idolatry, prophecy, Sabbath, Slavery, torah | Comments Off on “Behar/Bechukotai”– teaching from Shabbat Shalom Mesa