Good Morning Yamon Ki Yesepar;
Luke 10:5-6,8-9: “And whatever house you enter; first say ‘Peace be to this house. ’And if a man of peace is there your peace will rest upon him; but if not, it will return to you. And stay in that house, eating and drinking what they give you; for the laborer is worthy of his wages. Do not keep moving from house to house. And whatever city you enter, and they receive you, eat what is set before you; and heal those in it who are sick, and say to them ‘The kingdom of God has come near to you.”
Jesus appointed 70 believers to go out among the cities that Jesus was going to visit. Sort of like an advance team. They were to enter a home and if received, stay in that home preparing those in this home and community for the coming of Jesus. They were empowered by Jesus with the following gifts:
1. Speak peace (shalom) into the home. Shalom means more than restfulness or freedom from stress, it also means protection, healing, financial security. By speaking the word Shalom, protection, healing and financial security would enter the home.
2. Eat whatever is set before them. These were Jews going out and it is believed that what Jesus was referring to was that what would be offered to them might not be kosher, but they were permitted to eat it anyways.
3. Heal those who were sick. They would have the ability to bring the healing power of God to those in the household.
4. Say: “The kingdom of God has come near to you.”
Once again we are convicted in our hearts that Jesus is coming. Yet, other than item 2, I do not see this fourfold ministry taking place today. I will admit it might seem a little weird to walk into a home of a recently unemployed head of house and say: “Peace be unto you, now let me camp out here until Jesus comes as I eat your food, heal your sick and tell you the kingdom of God is near.” Maybe it was just as crazy in that day as well, perhaps not. But what I am suggesting is that we may be approaching a time when the Yamon Ki Yesepar will be like the 70 member advance team sent out by Jesus and will be given the same empowerment to enter a home and speak peace to that home, heal the sick and say “The kingdom of God has come near.”
I remember as a child when Billy Graham was planning a crusade in Chicago. Two members of the advance team stayed in our home for a few weeks. They lived in our basement, eat with us and share the Word of God with us while they worked to make the necessary preparations for the crusade. They indeed were peaceful men who brought the joy of the Lord into our home, they ate with us but they did not bring healing. Maybe because no one in the house was sick. I don’t think that is what was taking place here in Luke, however.
I discussed the “peace” thing in an earlier devotional. The eating part is something most of us pretty well have down pat, and you probably know more about this healing business than I do. It is the words: “The kingdom of God has come near to you” that intrigues me.
Most commentators would say that this is a reference to the fact that they were announcing that Jesus was coming to their neighbor for a visit and they were making the preparations for his crusade. Perhaps, but this phrase has two important Hebrew idioms. The one are the words “The kingdom of God.” This phrase can have a lot of different meanings, but one important one to keep in mind is that this was often a phrase used in substitution of the word “Jehovah.” Since Jews refused to speak that name they had a variety of substitutions, one of which was the “kingdom of God.” I believe that is the idiom that is used here. They were to say: “Jehovah has come near to you.”
Those words “near to you” is also a Hebrew idiom. If we use the standard reading of the Greek word “engiken” we are in trouble as it means “about to appear.” However, if we translate it back into Hebrew we have the verb “karav” which means “to be with.” In Deuteronomy 22:13-14 we read: “…when I came near (karav) her I did not find her a virgin.” Obviously, he came a little closer than “near” to make this discovery. Yet, the Septuagint uses the Greek word “engiken” here.
In other words that last phrase is most likely an idiomatic expression meaning: “Jehovah is right here.” So if indeed God calls a Yamon Ki Yesepar to this last day ministry as an advance team member for His second coming, that person will be empowered to enter a home and say: “God Jehovah Himself is present in this home, you will be financial secure, and will not be homeless, hungry or sick.”
May we all be prepared to receive that empowerment, if such a day should come in our lifetime.
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