Mezuzah

Deuteronomy 6:9 RSB  And thou shalt write them upon the posts of thy house, and on thy gates.

A Mezuzah is a decorative case containing Scriptures, placed alongside an outside doorframe two-thirds the way up. A Mezuzah is a witness and a statement of commitment to the God of Israel, Biblical values, and a Holy lifestyle. Often, the Mezuzah displays the Hebrew letter shin on the outside, which stands for Shaddai, a name of God often translated as Almighty. The three Hebrew letters that make up the name Shaddai – shin (SH), dalet (D), and yud (Y) – is often interpreted as an acronym standing for Shomer Daltot Yisrael – Keeper of the Doors of Israel. The presence of a mezuzah on the doorposts of a house testifies that this dwelling place honors the God of the Hebrews and signifies dedication to His service. Joshua boldly declared the following in leading the children of Israel into the Promised Land.

Yehoshua (Joshua) 24:15 RSB, And if it seems evil unto you to serve Yahweh, choose you this day whom ye will serve; whether the mighty ones which your fathers served that were on the other side of the flood or the mighty ones of the Amorites, in whose land ye dwell: but as for me and my house, we will serve Yahweh.

The Mezuzah gives witness to the world and adversaries that this home serves the true Creator of our universe. The Mezuzah is a visible dedication to YHWH to sanctify the dwelling place with the Word of God. When placing the Mezuzah, it is held to the spot where it will be affixed, and the following blessing is recited:

‘Barukh atah Eloheinu melekh ha‘olam, asher kideshanu bemitzvotav vetzivanu likboa‘mezuzah.’

‘Blessed are You, Yahweh our Elohim, King of the Universe, Who sanctified us with His mitzvot and commanded us to affix a mezuzah.’

Psalm 121:8 RSB, Yahweh shall preserve thy going out and thy coming in from this time forth, and even for evermore.

The custom of one entering the doorway and touching the Mezuzah, then touching your lips, is a kiss that honors the Word of Yahweh.

Yahushua and the Mezuzah

When Yahushua (Jesus) was asked by a Jewish leader which commandment He considered the most important, He replied with the passage found inside the mezuzah.

Mark 12:28-29 RSB, Messiah quotes Deuteronomy 6:4-5                                                                               
And one of the scribes came, and having heard them reasoning together, and perceiving that he had answered them well, asked him, “Which is the first commandment of all? And Yahshua answered him, the first of all the commandments is, Hear, O Israel; Yahweh our Elohim is one Yahweh.”
 

Messiah proclaims the Shema, the Biblical cornerstone of the Jewish faith!  There is no specific reference to the mezuzah in the Brit Chadashah (New Testament) however, observing this custom can impact every follower of Messiah, Jew and non-Jew alike. Jewish history is rich in writing God’s Word on the doorposts of our homes and gates. Archaeological digs at Qumran (where the Dead Sea Scrolls were found) have discovered various kinds of mezuzot (plural of mezuzah).

What is inside the traditional Mezuzah?

Inside each mezuzah is a piece of parchment called a klaf, which is made from a specially prepared skin of a Biblically clean (kosher) animal. The klaf is scribed with Hebrew lettering from key Scriptures found in the Holy Word of God: Deuteronomy 6:4-9 and Deuteronomy 11:13-21. The scroll is then rolled up with the Scripture facing inward.

Yahweh reveals The Father – The Redeemer – The Holy Spirit – Three Yahweh

Isaiah 48:16-17 RSB, Come ye near unto me, hear ye this; I have not spoken in secret from the beginning; from the time that it was, there am I: and now my Sovereign Yahweh, and his Spirit, hath sent me. Thus saith Yahweh, thy Redeemer, the Holy One of Israel; I am Yahweh thy Elohim which teaches thee to profit, which leadeth thee by the way that thou shouldest go.

These two scriptures make it very clear! Sovereign Yahweh is Father, and the Ruach HaKodesh, His Holy Spirit, ‘hath sent me.’ Who is the Redeemer?  Yahweh identifies Himself as the Messiah and the Holy One of Israel!  Hear, O Israel: Yahweh our Elohim is one Yahweh! Yahweh is the Redeemer!

Genesis 1:26 RSB, And Elohim said, Let us make man in our image, after our likeness.

Notice Elohim is a plural word. Yahweh declares that humankind is created in His image. He did not say ‘likenesses,’ as in three distinct Gods.

Proverbs 30:4, Who hath ascended up into heaven, or descended? Who hath gathered the wind in his fists? Who hath bound the waters in a garment? Who hath established all the ends of the earth? What is his name, and what is his son’s name, if thou canst tell?

Scripture interprets Scripture.

John 3:13 RSB, And no man hath ascended up to heaven, but he came down from heaven, even the Son of man who is in heaven. Answer: Yahushua – Yahweh’s Salvation!

Mark 4:37-39 RSB, And a great storm of wind arose, and the waves beat into the ship so that it was now full. And he was in the hinder part of the ship, asleep on a pillow: and they awake him, and say unto him, Master, carest thou not that we perish? And he arose and rebuked the wind, and said unto the sea, Peace, be still. And the wind ceased, and there was a great calm.

Who gathered the wind in His fist? Answer: Yahushua!

Hebrews 1:1-3 RSB  Elohim, who at sundry times and in divers manners spake in time past unto the fathers by the prophets, Hath in these last days spoken unto us by his Son, whom he hath appointed heir of all things, by whom also he made the worlds; Who being the brightness of his glory, and the express image of his person, and upholding all things by the word of his power, when he had by himself purged our sins, sat down on the right hand of the Majesty on high;

Elohim spoke to our forefathers (saints who followed His Laws/Torah) through His prophets and has now sent His Son to speak on His behalf. The scriptures declare Yahushua made the Earth and the Heavens. The Son personifies the expressed image of the Father. He now sits as King alongside the right hand of the Majesty on high. Yahweh is a Spirit, not a person or persons! Humans are persons. Our Creator is one Spirit who manifested Himself in the flesh, a great mystery! A useless debate among mortals to truly explain.