The Month of Ziv
THIS MONTH'S SIGN: SHOR/BULL
In the Sacred Scriptures, the Hebrew month of Iyar is called the month of "Ziv" (radiance). It is the second of the twelve months of the Biblical Calendar.
The formation of the Commonwealth of Israel started on the eve of the Exodus in the first month of the year, Aviv, and culminated with the giving of the Torah at Sinai in the third month, Sivan.
This nation-building process is symbolized in the progression of the first three astrological symbols: Aries, the lamb, symbolizes the unity of the group. In a flock the lamb feels itself identical to its neighbour. Also, just as sheep follow a shepherd, the Israelite People accepted the leadership of Moses.
Our month, the month of Ziv, is symbolized by the Shor, the bull, which desires to dwell in isolation. Iyar is therefore a time of introspection and self-development, a time of preparation for receiving the Torah in Sivan whose astronomical sign is “teomim” – the twins which symbolize the two identical "tablets of the covenant". However, there were times when the Israelite People did not act as sheep but exhibited the rebellious qualities of the bull and 'bucked' the leadership of Moses and A’aron when they rebelled in the desert during this month.
The month of Ziv is the month that man rectifies his bullish soul, refines his innate character traits (each day of Counting the Omer) as he prepares to receive the Torah in Sivan. In Hebrew, the root "shor" also means to look or observe. Ziv is the month of introspection for the sake of self improvement.
This process of individual growth is connected to the counting of the Omer, which takes place mostly in Ziv. But be careful, when the individual is over-emphasized this can lead to disunity.
The Tribe of Ziv – Isaachar
The Tribe of Isaachar is the scholarly tribe of Israel. The Sanhedren was mostly composed from the Tribe of Isaachar. In particular, Isaachar was the master of the "secret" of the Sacred Calendar, as is said of this Tribe: "The men of Issachar, who understood the times and knew what Israel should do.( 1 Chronicles 12:32)" His basic nature is contemplative and he serves as the "advisor" to his brethren, the Tribes of Israel (in particular to the King, Judah).
The Time of Blossoms
Ziv is also known as Chodesh Nitzan, the month of blossoms as we see in the Song of Songs 2:12:
“The blossoms appear (on) the earth; (the) time of song is come, the voice (of) the dove is heard in our land.”
When we see the term “Iyar” we are reminded of the acronym an acronym for "Ani Yahweh Rofecha--I am Yahweh your Healer." This is the time of year when Yahweh brings healing to the land in the form of lovely flower blossoms. Which reminds us that when it came time for the Children of Israel to leave the Land of Oppression, they who had known nothing but slavery for over two hundred years many of whom had numerous physical blemishes and injuries to show for the "pleasure" of that experience, an eye put out, an ear missing or deaf, maybe broken or bent limbs, were restored miraculously "to their splendor," by the Healer of the World, prior to their meeting at Sinai with Express Image of Yahweh to receive the Torah.
Under the leadership of Moses, they first crossed the Red Sea where they all were "immersed into Moses in the cloud and in the sea" (1 Corinthians 10). For the first time in their history, the twelve tribes of Israel were united into one nation, "…you shall be to Me a kingdom of priests and a holy nation." (Exodus 19:6) After three days they came to springs of bitter water at Marah. The people complained to Moses. Moses cried out to Yahweh, and Yahweh showed Moses a tree, which when cast into the springs, made the waters sweet. It was at the time that Yahweh said to His people, "If you diligently heed the voice of Yahweh your Elohim and do what is right in His sight, give ear to His commandments and keep all His statutes, I will put none of the diseases on you which I have brought on the Egyptians. For I am Yahweh Rofecha (who heals you)." (Exodus 15:26)
This promise from Yahweh was to prove key to the Children of Israel in the wilderness for forty years that Yahweh would take amazing care for them--and keep His special hand of healing love upon them--down through their subsequent history.
Anyone who has read the Torah knows that for 40 years Yahweh provided amazing totally nourishing, all-purpose, fully-nutritious daily food called "manna" (Exodus 16).
After the forty years in the Sinai had ended Moses reminded the Children of Israel "Yahweh has led you forty years in the wilderness. Your clothes have not worn out on you, and your sandals have not worn out on your feet." (Deuteronomy 29:5)
Yahweh Rofecha, the One who heals us, from the verb “rophe” meaning to heal. Which means Yahweh heals us physically, spiritually and emotionally (Jeremiah 30:17, 3:22; Isaiah 61:1). By this we can believe, if we keep Covenant with Yahweh and do what pleases Him because we love him, he will heal us, body soul and spirit--all levels of our being.
The Month of Second Chances
Numbers 9:9-13
The 14th of Ziv is known as the Pesach Sheni "Second Passover" because it was on that date that Israel had a "second chance" at fulfilling the Passover, if they'd been unable to do so on the 14th of Aviv, because of ritual uncleanness or because they had been far away from home at that time.
I am so glad I serve an Elohim of second chances. The second chance theme runs all through Scripture. Take Kepha for instance. He is one of the best known of Yahshua’s disciples, and he served as a kind of unofficial spokesman for the group. Although Kepha was outspoken, he was intensely loyal to the Messiah. He proved his loyalty by charging the Temple Police at risk of his own life going so far as to cut a policeman’s ear off. Yet, on that fateful day of the Crucifixion, Kepha became a tragic example of betrayal.
If you had been there and heard Kepha utter a stream of profanity to deny his Messiah and King, would you have written him off? If a friend did that to you, would you forgive them?
That was a low point in Kepha’s life. He had been so sure of what he would do. Yet, when the time of testing came, he failed. He didn’t even know himself anymore. As realization flooded in he broke down and wept bitterly. I imagine, Kepha wondered if there was any hope left for him.
Amazingly, after his resurrection, Messiah Yahshua went looking for Kepha. He wanted to explain to Kepha and everyone else that needed a second chance, that He had died for just that reason, to restore. King Messiah Yahshua restored Kepha and set him free from that nagging hopelessness of guilt.
By Shavuot (Pentecost) Kepha knew Yahweh had accepted Messiah Yahshua’s offering of sacrifice testified to by the descending Holy Spirit which immersed all the disciples. Flooded with boldness Kepha rose up and preached a dynamically . That teaching was about the forgiveness of sin. Out of his defeat, Kepha learned something. He learned that Yahweh is the Elohim of a second chance.
The Eternal city
In 1948, the eternal city was once again united under Jewish rule. The Hebrew date was May the 14th or the 28th of Ziv. It just so happens that the 28th of Ziv is also important in Israelite history for another reason: On the 28th of Ziv, Samuel the prophet passed away. What do the two have in common?
At the beginning of the reign of King David, Jerusalem was not in Israelite hands. When King David re-conquered the Land of Israel, Jerusalem was in the hands of the Jebusites. The exact location of Mount Moriah, the place of the “Even Shesia,” was no longer known.
Before David could plan the building of the Holy Temple he had to know exactly where Mount Moriah was. It was the prophet Samuel, together with King David, who, through prophetic insight, established which of the hills in Jebusite Jerusalem was in fact the correct location.
So it was through Samuel the prophet that we know today the location of the Temple in Jerusalem. Maybe it was for this reason that Jerusalem was 're-discovered' on the exact date of his passing from this world.
But there's more. In 1 Samuel 15:29, the following prophecy is written:
"However (the) 'netzach Israel' (will) not lie, nor regret, for (He is) not a man (that) He (should) regret"
That phrase “Netzach Yisrael” can be understood in two ways. It can mean the “The Eternal of Israel” - Yahweh - Who will not lie, Who will never desert His people through the long night of exile.
Or “Netzach Yisrael” can also mean “the eternity of Israel will not lie.” The survival of Israel, through both persecution and the softly stifling embrace of assimilation, will not lie. It will stand as an everlasting proof that Israel is what the Torah says it is: An eternal nation with a Yahweh-given mission, to be a Kingdom of Priest for all nations.
It was Samuel the prophet who said 'the eternity of Israel will not lie' nearly 3,000 years ago. How could he have known that Israel would still be around today, some 3,000 years after he spoke that prophecy? And not only are we around, but Judah has re-captured the city he had helped to re-identify on the exact day that he passed on to the world of truth. (I Kings 17:2; I Samuel 15:29)
That’s why we end the Disciples prayer with “For thine is the kingdom, and the power, and the glory, for ever. Amien. (Matthew 6:13)” Victory is Jerusalem. Eternity is Jerusalem.
"This is what Yahweh says: 'You say about this place, "It is a desolate waste, without men or animals." Yet in the towns of Judah and the streets of Jerusalem that are deserted, inhabited by neither men nor animals, there will be heard once more the sounds of joy and gladness, the voices of bride and bridegroom, and the voices of those who bring thank offerings to the House of Yahweh, saying, ‘Give thanks to Yahweh Almighty, for Yahweh is good; His love endures forever.’ For I will restore the fortunes of the land as they were before,' says Yahweh. (Jeremiah 33:10, 11)”
Then the Lost Tribes of Israel will return from the lands of the holocaust of the soul and the oppressed from beyond the straits of persecution.
Then Yahweh “will fulfill the gracious promise I made to the House of Israel and to the House of Judah. In those days and at that time I will make a righteous Branch sprout from David's line; He will do what is just and right in the land. In those days Judah will be saved and Jerusalem will live in safety. This is the name by which it will be called: Yahweh Tzeddiknue (Our Righteousness).' (Jeremiah 33:14-16)”
Then Messiah will build His Temple in the midst of his people as King Solomon did: “In the four hundred eightieth year after the Israelites came out of the land of Egypt, in the fourth year of Solomon's reign over Israel, in the month of Ziv, which is the second month, he began to build the House of Yahweh. (1 Kings 6:1)”
Used with Kind permission from Rabbi Rob Miller
