I’m a Gentile Believer, a devoted mother of five wonderful children, and the wife of an amazing husband. Nature, gardening, and dance bring joy and inspiration to my life. In my spare time, I play the piano, care for my garden, or study the Bible in Hebrew. And I’ll drop just about anything for a game of cards.
My unwavering quest for a genuine relationship with the God of the Bible has driven me to delve deeply into His Word, which guides my journey and shapes my life's path. This exploration, combined with dedication to living out my faith, is at the heart of my writing. I seek to share my insights and discoveries with readers, encouraging them to embark on their own spiritual journeys.
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Studying the Bible can teach us so much about life, but perhaps the most important thing we can learn from the Bible is about God’s character. When we study, we see what God can do and how He interacts with His people. As His character is revealed, so are His attributes, and we can get to know who He is!
Click here for a free printable PDF Names of God Chart to use in your studies!
If you’re new to the Hebrew language, starting with my posts on the Hebrew Alphabet and the Hebrew Vowels may be helpful.
Yahweh – יהוה
This name is the most common one of God used in the Bible. יהוה is used 6,823 times and found in all but three books of the Old Testament (Ecclesiastes, Esther, and Song of Songs). It’s called the Tetragrammaton, Greek for “made of four letters.” In English translations, it appears as “LORD” in all capital letters to distinguish it from other Hebrew words for God.
Since no vowels accompany these four consonants in the oldest texts, there’s some speculation on the pronunciation of this name. Many agree that it’s pronounced “Yahweh,” with the vowels appearing as יַהְוֶה, yet others propose that the vowels are as such instead יְהֹוָה. This second pronunciation would render another familiar name for God – “Yehovah” or the common translation of “Jehovah.”
Most Hebrew words are derived from a 3-consonant root word, and the words derived from that root have similar meanings. יהוה comes from the Hebrew root word meaning “to be.” This translation would make sense as God referred to Himself as “I AM,” a form of the verb “to be.”
יהוה is used as God’s name mostly in situations where He’s interacting with His people. One example is when He appeared to Moses in the burning bush (Ex. 3:2) or breathed life into Adam (Gen. 2:7).
A shortened form of Yahweh, Yah (יָהּ), is used in many places. When Moses and the people of Israel sing, “The LORD is my strength and song” (Ex. 15:2), Yah is the name used for “LORD.”
As the name of God is holy, many don’t speak it out of reverence and respect. Instead, it’s often replaced by “HaShem,” meaning “the name,” or “Adonai,” meaning “my Lord,” as well as other terms of honor.
Many Christians are interested in returning to more literal interpretations of scripture, including the name of God. The Scriptures Bible from the Institute for Scripture Research has restored יהוה as the name for God throughout the text, rather than replacing it with other words.
יהוה is combined with other words to show us His character even more precisely. Below are examples of this. Each of them reveals yet another aspect of God’s awesome character.
Yahweh Elohim יהוה אֱלֹהִים
This name can be translated as “LORD God,” but it emphasizes God’s creative nature as in Genesis 2:4. One variation on this is יְהוָֽה אֱלֹהָי, Yahweh Elohai, which means “the LORD my God” instead. Another variation is when God addresses His people: “I am the LORD your God.” This is Yahweh Elohechem, יְהוָה אֱלֹהֵיכֶֽם.
Yahweh El Elyon יהוה אֵל עֶלְיֹון
This term means “LORD God most high,” found in Genesis 14 when Melchizedek blesses Abram just before God promises him a son and countless descendants. It’s also found in Psalms in the form of praise to God.
Yahweh Elohei David יהוה אֱלֹהֵי דָּוִד
Isaiah prophecies to Hezekiah on his supposed deathbed that the “God of his father, David,” would add fifteen years to his life. We can see that God was indeed the God of King David as we get to know many aspects of God through David in Psalms and otherwise.
Yahweh Roie יהוה רֹעִי
Most Christians are very familiar with this aspect of God. This name means “God my shepherd” and is found in the first verse of Psalm 23. It’s translated as “The LORD is my shepherd…”.
Here’s another name given to God by King David in the Psalms. From Psalm 19:14, God is called David’s “rock and Redeemer” after giving glory to God for His Laws, judgments, and commands.
Yahweh Sali יהוה סַלְעִי
This name, also given by King David, means “God my hiding place.” This phrase is similar to “God, my rock and redeemer” above, but here, the word “rock” can also mean “cliff” or “boulder.” It can also be translated as “refuge.”
Yahweh Avienu יהוה אָבִינוּ
“God, our Father” is what this Hebrew name for God means. It’s found in the book of Isaiah, chapters 63 and 64, where Isaiah pleads for mercy for the people of Israel, as well as David’s prayer in 1 Chronicles 29:10-20.
“The LORD is peace” is what Gideon named the altar he built in Judges 6:24. This was just after an angel appeared to him and told him that God would help him defeat the Midianites, which he later did.
But wait, didn’t God bring war and not peace in this case? Why say that God is peace if He promised the Israelites a war victory?
The peace was brought to God’s people through the defeat of the Midianites because Midian had greatly oppressed the Israelites. Defeating them with God’s help brought freedom and peace.
Yahweh Rof’ekah יהוה רֹפְאֶךָ
Also, Yahweh Rafa (רָפָא) is a name God gave to Himself in Exodus 15:26. He said that he would spare the Hebrew people from the plagues he put on the Egyptians if they were obedient. This name means “healer,” and He has control over our bodies as our Creator. He can heal and protect.
Yahweh Yir’eh יהוה יִרְאֶה
This name comes from Genesis 22:14 when Abraham is about to sacrifice Isaac out of obedience to God. It means “God provides” or “God who sees”.
Although this name is commonly translated as “Jehovah Jireh,” there’s no “j” sound in Hebrew as there is in English, so a more accurate pronunciation of this name would be “Yuh-hoe-vah yeer-eh”.
For us today, throughout the Bible, even in situations of great persecution like what Paul experienced, God sees our circumstances and knows exactly what’s needed to fulfill His plan for His people. We can be sure that He’s faithful and will always provide!
Yahweh Elohai Yisrael יהוה אֱלֹהֵי יִשְׂרָאֵֽל
This one is used many times throughout the Old Testament to emphasize that our God is the one being referred to and to distinguish Him from the gods of the people in the surrounding areas.
Yahweh Nissie יהוה נִסִּי
Used only once in the Bible, Exodus 17:15, this is the name Moses gave the altar he built after the Israelites defeated the Amalekites. It means “God, my banner.” The word “banner” could also be “exaltation” or “refuge” as well. Whichever of those he meant, Moses was attributing their victory to God in naming the altar.
Yahweh Maqadashem יהוה מְקַדִּשְׁכֶֽם
This is a name God gives Himself, mostly while He’s giving His Law to His people. It means “LORD, your sanctifier.” We don’t have the power to sanctify ourselves or anything, for that matter. Only our holy God can declare something holy.
Yahweh Oseinu יהוה עֹשֵׂנוּ
This name refers to God’s creative abilities and means “God, our Maker.” It’s found in Psalm 95, which implores us to worship Him and recognize that we’re His people. God is our Creator! He made us, and we are His! Isn’t that amazing?!
Yahweh Shamah יהוה שָׁמָּה
“God is there” is what this name means. From Ezekiel 48:35, this is a prophecy stating the name of the city God will inhabit in the Millennial Kingdom. The city’s name clarifies that God will be physically present there. How amazing! I wonder what it will be like!
Tsidqenu (pronounced tseed-qay-noo) means righteousness, so this name means “God, our righteousness.” It’s used twice in Jeremiah, chapters 23 and 33, to predict the Messiah. We’re not righteous. But through Jesus, we can appear righteous before God!
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Many Christians are taught that Jesus came to move God’s people away from the Law. Yet when we read the Gospels carefully, an unexpected pattern emerges: Jesus repeatedly affirms God’s commandments, assumes their ongoing validity, and calls His followers to obedience rooted in love.
This article gathers Jesus’ own words, across all four Gospels, where He speaks in support of God’s Law, righteousness, and commandments, not as a means of earning salvation, but as the faithful expression of life in God’s kingdom.
Obedience and Eternal Life
(Matthew 19:16–17)
A man approaches Jesus with the most important question anyone can ask:
“Teacher, what good thing shall I do to obtain eternal life?”
Jesus’ response is direct and striking:
“If you want to enter life, keep the commandments.” – Matthew 19:17
Jesus does not dismiss the question, nor does He say the commandments no longer matter. Instead, He affirms them as relevant to life with God. He then proceeds to quote specific commandments from the Torah, treating them as authoritative.
In the Sermon on the Mount, Jesus addresses the Law explicitly:
“Do not think that I came to abolish the Law or the Prophets; I did not come to abolish but to fulfill.” – Matthew 5:17
He immediately adds:
“Until heaven and earth pass away, not the smallest letter or stroke shall pass from the Law.”
Rather than minimizing obedience, Jesus warns against relaxing even the least commandment and ties faithfulness to status within the kingdom:
“Whoever does them and teaches them will be called great in the kingdom of heaven.” (Matt. 5:19)
Jesus then deepens the Law, moving from outward actions to heart-level obedience, demonstrating that fulfillment means living it fully, not setting it aside.
Righteousness as Kingdom Living
(Matthew 5:6, 10, 20)
Jesus repeatedly blesses righteousness:
“Blessed are those who hunger and thirst for righteousness.” – Matthew 5:6
“Blessed are those who are persecuted for the sake of righteousness.” – Matthew 5:10
He even warns that entry into the kingdom requires a righteousness that surpasses mere external observance (Matt. 5:20) – not less obedience, but truer obedience.
In Scripture, righteousness is inseparable from living according to God’s instruction.
Lawlessness and Final Judgment
(Matthew 7:21–23)
Jesus offers one of His most sobering warnings:
“Not everyone who says to Me, ‘Lord, Lord,’ will enter the kingdom of heaven, but the one who does the will of My Father.”
He concludes:
“Depart from Me, you who practice lawlessness.” – Matthew 7:23
Notably, those rejected are religiously active and verbally devoted. Their failure is not belief, but lawlessness – living without regard for God’s will.
In the Gospel of John, Jesus repeatedly defines love in covenantal terms:
“If you love Me, you will keep My commandments.” – John 14:15
“He who has My commandments and keeps them is the one who loves Me.” – John 14:21
“If you keep My commandments, you will abide in My love, just as I have kept My Father’s commandments.” – John 15:10
Jesus presents obedience not as legalism, but as the natural expression of love—modeled after His own obedience to the Father.
The Greatest Commandments Come from the Torah
(Matthew 22:37–40)
When asked which commandment is greatest, Jesus quotes directly from the Law:
“You shall love the Lord your God…” – Deuteronomy 6:4–5
“You shall love your neighbor as yourself.” – Leviticus 19:18
Jesus then concludes:
“On these two commandments depend all the Law and the Prophets.” – Matthew 22:40
Love is not presented as a replacement for the Law, but as its summary and foundation. “Love God and love people” are not commands given to replace the Law but as a summary of God’s Laws, fully dependent on and not functioning outside of the Laws as they were originally given.
Mercy, Justice, and the Weightier Matters of the Law
(Matthew 23:23)
When rebuking the Pharisees, Jesus does not criticize obedience itself, but imbalance:
“You have neglected the weightier matters of the Law: justice, mercy, and faithfulness. These you ought to have done, without neglecting the others.” – Matthew 23:23
This is one of Jesus’ clearest affirmations of the Law. He explicitly says the commandments should be practiced – rightly, not hypocritically.
Jesus Lived in Obedience to the Law
Jesus consistently presents Himself as obedient to the Father:
“I always do the things that are pleasing to Him.” – John 8:29
“I have kept My Father’s commandments.” – John 15:10
He celebrates the Passover (Mark 14:12), attends synagogue regularly (Luke 4:16), and teaches from the Law as authoritative Scripture.
What if the Sabbath is more than a command… but a gift?
The Sabbath is one of the most talked about—and often misunderstood—parts of Scripture. Some see it as outdated. Others as essential. But what does the Bible actually say?
The Blessing of the Seventh Day invites you to explore the Sabbath through the lens of all of Scripture—from creation to covenant, from the words of the prophets to the life and teachings of Jesus. Rather than relying on tradition or assumption, this study guides you back to the Word of God to discover His heart for this set-apart day.
Through eight weeks of Scripture-based discovery, you will:
Trace the Sabbath from Genesis to the New Testament
Explore its role as a sign of God’s covenant
Examine what Jesus taught about the Sabbath
Consider what it means to be “grafted in” to God’s promises
Whether you are new to this topic or revisiting it with fresh eyes, this study is designed to help you engage deeply with Scripture and respond in faith.
This is not about legalism or earning salvation. It’s about rediscovering a rhythm God created for your good.
Come and see the Sabbath not as a burden— but as a blessing.
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Shavuot is one of the seven Biblical feasts listed in Leviticus 23. While many Christians don’t yet celebrate these important days, they’re so meaningful to our faith because all of them in some way point to Jesus as our Messiah!
Many Christians know Shavuot as Pentecost. The apostles were celebrating Shavuot when the Holy Spirit was given to them. As they praised God for giving His Law, He gave them the Holy Spirit, which enabled the Law to be written on hearts—theirs and ours!
The command to celebrate Shavuot includes bringing offerings to the Temple, which is not currently standing. Because of this, we can’t keep that command as stated in the Bible. But we can keep the tradition in order and focus on the themes of the celebration – God’s provision of both His Law and the Holy Spirit.
Since most of us aren’t yet experts at celebrating Shavuot, it’s helpful to have some ideas of how to observe it. Here are 10 great ways we can celebrate Shavuot as Christians.
1. Pray
As this is a celebration of the giving of the Holy Spirit, communicate with the Spirit in prayer. Ask for more of the Spirit’s influence in your life. Make sure to keep your heart open to what He has to teach you and convict you of.
To help you focus your prayers, the Holy Spirit’s roles include guiding, convicting, teaching, being the source of God’s power and wisdom in us, giving spiritual gifts, sealing our salvation, interceding for us, sanctifying us, and giving knowledge.
Shavuot is also known as the Feast of Proclamation so use this time to give praise to God. Proclaim that He’s your God and that you belong to Him. Proclaim His provision, salvation, and His commands given to set us apart.
2. Read the Stories
The themes of Shavuot include the giving of the Law, the giving of the Holy Spirit, and God’s provision, both for our spiritual and physical needs. A Jewish Shavuot tradition is to pull an all-nighter, studying the Bible around the clock! However you choose to study, here are some Bible selections to read to focus your mind and heart on the themes of Shavuot.
The Law: Exodus 19; Psalm 1:2, 19:7-11, 29:18, 112:1-6, 119, 128; Proverbs 4:2, 6:20-23; Matthew 5:17-20; Romans 3:31; James 1:25
Slavery in and rescue from Egypt: Exodus 3-15 (Summary here)
Slavery to sin: John 8:31-35, Romans 6, 8:1-25; Titus 3:1-10
Holy Spirit: Jeremiah 31:31-34; Joel 2:28-29; John 14:16-31; Acts 2; Romans 8:26-27
Since the command for Shavuot says that it should be a Sabbath, make rest a priority. This Sabbath differs from others in that food preparation is just fine, but it’s otherwise a time of rest. Be deliberate about choosing activities that promote togetherness and focus on God. Find some ideas in my post, “What DO we do on the Sabbath?”. Don’t let Shavuot go by without intentionally stopping and focusing on the God that provides!
4. Teach the Children
It’s so important Biblically that we pass our faith on to the next generation! If you don’t have children of your own, consider teaching your grandchildren or those at your church or synagogue about Shavuot and the amazing truths of God that it highlights. Here are some resources for children on the subject of Shavuot.
I use the Bible Pathway Adventures Activity Books for my own children and recommend them highly! This one covers the Feast of Shavuot and the other Spring Feasts—Passover, Unleavened Bread, and First Fruits. It also includes lessons on Jesus’s crucifixion and resurrection!
PJ Library has provided our family with so many helpful resources for teaching our children about Biblical and Jewish holidays and traditions. This page has both crafts and recipes for kids that are relevant to the themes surrounding Shavuot.
5. Provide for the Less Fortunate
Within the command for Shavuot, God specifies that, when harvesting their fields, the Israelites were to leave the corners of the fields and not pick up the harvested grain that fell to the ground during the harvesting process. This was a provision for the poor, the widowed and otherwise, who were without the ability to produce their own food.
Today, provision for the poor looks very different, but we can still demonstrate this care for those who have similar needs in our culture and communities. Your church may have a food pantry that offers supplies to the needy in your community. Even small cities have food banks that are always grateful for donations. Crisis pregnancy centers provide necessities to mothers without the means to get what they need for their little ones. With so many ways to help available, it’s simple for us to reach out and see where we can help those less fortunate.
6. Celebrate Milk and Honey
One Shavuot tradition is to prepare dishes that are sweet and dairy-based. This is to remember God’s provision as milk and honey often symbolize in the Bible. God promised that He would bring the Hebrew people into the “land of milk and honey,” which meant the Promised Land. Of course, He kept His promise as He always does, and they did (eventually) get there!
He provided for them in their land, on the way, and He still provides for all of His people’s needs and will continue! Here are some recipes for dishes to serve during Shavuot to remind you and your family of God’s perfect provision.
This recipe is so versatile! You can top it with any fruit you like, ice cream, or chocolate shavings. The crust can be vanilla wafers, as called for in the recipe, or you can use an Oreo or Graham Cracker crust.
Kugel is a traditional Jewish recipe commonly served at Rosh Hashanah. This delicious kugel recipe is very similar to cheesecake, making it a fitting dish for Shavuot as well. My family likes this recipe, but it’s also the one I used when I won the kugel contest at our synagogue! Since this was only the second kugel I’d made in my life, winning surprised me more than anyone else there!
While many serve two loaves of Challah bread on Shabbat (the Sabbath) weekly to celebrate God’s provision, Shavuot is another opportunity to celebrate it as well. Serving two loaves shows that God has given us plenty but also reminds us of the two loaves required as an offering in the Shavuot command in Leviticus 23.
Here is the Challah Bread recipe I use. It will make two medium-sized loaves or three small ones.
Another part of the command in Leviticus, a holy convocation, is a get-together, not just for fellowship but to focus on God. During Shavuot, we focus on His blessings, His Laws, and His Spirit. This would be a great time to find a Messianic synagogue near you and visit if you don’t already have one. The UMJC has a directory if you need help finding one in your area. You could also have a Shavuot get-together with people from your church or Bible study. The focus here should be on worshipping and studying as a community of believers.
9. Get Baptized
If you’ve considered being baptized as an outward expression of your faith, and haven’t yet, Shavuot is a great time to do it! The significance of celebrating the indwelling of the Holy Spirit on the day of your baptism would be very special!
10. Make a Pilgrimage
Shavuot is one of three “pilgrimage festivals” in the Bible. The command for this says that all males should present themselves before the God of Israel and offer a sacrifice three times a year, on Passover, Shavuot, and Sukkot. Due to the Temple’s absence, we don’t offer sacrifices there on these days but any one of them would be a great time to plan a trip to the city of Jerusalem!
The things we celebrate at Shavuot – God’s provision, His Laws, and the Holy Spirit are so central to our faith as Christians! Check out my calendar for the dates of Shavuot for this year and make some plans to observe it, even if you never have. I bet you’ll find it deeply spiritual and be blessed by setting this time aside to focus on what God has given.
If Shavuot and its significance to our faith is a new concept for you, here’s some further reading on the subject. Written by David Brickner from Jews for Jesus, Christ in the Feast of Pentecost will give you a greater understanding of Shavuot and the countdown to it, as well as how they relate to our Savior.
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Shavuot is the celebration of God’s provision – His Law, His Spirit, and His son as our Savior. Since milk and honey represent provision and plenty in the Bible, food served at Shavuot is often dairy-based and sweet. Here are some recipes for your Shavuot celebration.
Try these for a delicious gourmet Shavuot breakfast. A rich cheese filling in a thin egg wrap, and a fruity topping make this the perfect addition to your celebration!
I’ll just be honest here and say that this danish requires a lot of self control from me. I could eat the whole thing! It tastes great but is relatively simple to make.
A unique Jewish tradition, kugel can be made many different ways. This recipe is very much like cheesecake, making it fitting for your Shavuot table. This is the kugel my family likes best and it’s wonderful for Rosh Hashanah/Yom Teruah as well!
Here’s a simple appetizer that’s both satisfying and attractive. Dress it up with fun appetizer toothpicks to make them more festive and serve on a pretty platter.
This rich and filling Middle Eastern dessert is just heavenly! The heartiness of the nuts balances the sweetness of the honey, all encrusted in buttery, flaky phyllo dough.
Serve them tea style, on a tiered or decorative platter and remove the crusts for a delicate touch. You can make it spicy if you’d like but it’s also just wonderful without the heat.
I can think of many ways this recipe can be served during Shavuot. It would make a great salad topping, as well as a tasty addition to a tossed salad or to accompany fruits, nuts, and meats on a charcuterie platter.
This is the only way my family eats mashed potatoes. I have some potato haters but they (and the rest of us) like this rich and creamy recipe. It’s great with or without gravy!
You can make changes to this recipe to tailor it to your liking. Change the fruit on top, garnish with chocolate shavings, or serve with ice cream! The crust could be changed to an Oreo or Graham Cracker crust if that’s what you prefer.
While this recipe isn’t dairy or sweet, challah bread is often served during Shavuot. Two loaves are served to celebrate God’s lavish provision. This recipe will make two medium-sized loaves.
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One of the seven God-ordained Feasts in Leviticus 23, Shavuot, is also called the Feast of Weeks. It’s a harvest festival, specifically the wheat harvest, a type of Biblical Thanksgiving. It celebrates God’s provision for our physical and spiritual needs. Jews mainly observe Shavuot, but Pentecost, Shavuot’s English name derived from the Greek, is celebrated in the Catholic and some Protestant churches today.
The most apparent reason for celebrating Shavuot is that God commanded it. However, we can’t keep it exactly as it was commanded since there’s no Temple. It’s one of seven Feasts God told the Israelites to keep in Leviticus and one of the three in Deuteronomy (Deut. 16:16). It was to be observed 50 days (seven Sabbaths and one day) after the Day of First Fruits during the Feast of Unleavened Bread.
You shall also count for yourselves from the day after the sabbath, from the day when you brought in the sheaf of the wave offering; there shall be seven complete sabbaths. You shall count fifty days to the day after the seventh sabbath; then you shall present a new grain offering to the LORD” Lev. 23:15-16 (NASB)
When the Egyptians enslaved the Hebrew people, God brought ten plagues upon their captors. The last of these was the plague of the firstborn, in which the firstborn in each household died, except that of the Israelites. Out of obedience to God’s instructions, they painted the blood of a lamb on their doorposts and were then passed over by the final plague. The death of the firstborn finally caused the Pharaoh to let the Israelites go. After they left Egypt, they crossed the Red Sea and headed out into the desert.
It was 50 days after the Passover in Egypt when the Hebrew people were camped at the foot of Mount Sinai, that God gave the Hebrew people the gift of the Torah. Having been freed from slavery, they were free to serve God, and He chose this time to finalize His covenant with them by giving them His Law.
Likewise, 50 days after Passover, Shavuot is to be celebrated. The Day of First Fruits, or Yom HaBikkurim, during the Feast of Unleavened Bread, is when the counting of the omer began. On this day, the priest would wave a sheaf of green barley, an omer, to start the count. A male lamb would also be sacrificed, and God’s people would count up to Shavuot. Today, some Believers celebrate not only the First Fruits but the next 49 days also as days of spiritual introspection. Since these days lead up to the day God’s Law (the Torah) was given on Shavuot, these days are preparation to receive the word of God.
“But this is the covenant which I will make with the house of Israel after those days,” declares the Lord, “I will put My law within them and on their heart I will write it; and I will be their God, and they shall be My people.” Jere. 31:33 (NASB)
Jeremiah prophesied that God would make a new covenant with His people, in which the Law would be on their hearts.
Jesus also prophesied the gift of the Holy Spirit in Acts 1.
“Gathering them together, He commanded them not to leave Jerusalem, but to wait for what the Father had promised, “Which,” He said, “you heard of from Me; for John baptized with water, but you will be baptized with the Holy Spirit not many days from now.” Acts 1:4-5 (NASB)
In the New Testament, the apostles of the early church observe Shavuot, which is then called Pentecost, which is derived from the Greek word meaning “fiftieth.” While gathered for Shavuot, in celebration of God giving His law to them, God chose this time to give the gift of His Spirit to His people.
“When the day of Pentecost had come, they were all together in one place. And suddenly there came from heaven a noise like a violent rushing wind, and it filled the whole house where they were sitting. And there appeared to them tongues as of fire distributing themselves, and they rested on each one of them. And they were all filled with the Holy Spirit and began to speak with other tongues, as the Spirit was giving them utterance” Acts 2:1-4(NASB)
None of this is a coincidence. The apostles knew what and why they were celebrating on Shavuot, and the timing of God giving His Spirit wasn’t lost on them. Having been newly freed from the slavery of their sin, it had come time for God to finalize the New Covenant with His people. Jesus had been crucified 50 days before to atone for our sins, ushering in a way for sinful, imperfect people to commune with a Holy God. God then solidified this New Covenant by giving us His Spirit and writing His Word on our hearts, just as He promised 1,200 years prior!
So, while Jews have gathered for Shavuot from the time of Moses to the early church in Acts and still celebrate it even today, it has meaning for Gentile Believers also. As the grafted-in or adopted people of God, the promise of the New Covenant is for us and the people of Israel. When we recognize Jesus as Messiah, we enter a Covenant with God and have not only His Torah but also His Law written on our hearts through His gift of the Holy Spirit.
Sounds like a reason to celebrate, right!?
If you’d like to explore Shavuot and Pentecost more deeply, I recommend Christ in the Feast of Pentecost by the Senior Researcher and Executive Director of Jews for Jesus. It’s a quick read but very informative.
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There’s a rhythm woven into Scripture that many of us have overlooked for years. It’s a rhythm of work and rest, of preparation and peace, of setting aside time that belongs wholly to God. That rhythm includes the Sabbath.
For a long time, I knew the Sabbath was in the Bible. I knew it was one of the Ten Commandments. But I didn’t really know what it looked like to live it out in my home, especially with a busy family, young children, and a full schedule. It felt beautiful in theory, but overwhelming in practice.
This little book was born out of real life. Not perfection, but a desire to honor God in a way that is both Biblical and doable for families.
What This Book Is (and Isn’t)
This isn’t a formal or complicated prayer book.
It’s a simple, structured guide to help you bring in Shabbat around your own table, with warmth, meaning, and participation for the whole family.
Inside, you’ll find:
Candle lighting and blessings
Blessings over your children
The Aaronic Blessing
Eshet Chayil (a beautiful blessing over women)
Vayechulu and V’shamru
Kiddush (blessing over the wine)
HaMotzi (blessing over the bread)
Words of Yeshua about the Sabbath
Hebrew, English, and transliteration throughout
A reader format so everyone can participate
It’s designed to be used, not performed.
Why Shabbat Matters
The Sabbath isn’t just about stopping work.
It’s about remembering.
Remembering who God is. Remembering who we are to Him. Remembering that we are not sustained by striving, but by His faithfulness.
Scripture tells us both to remember the Sabbath (Exodus 20:8) and to keep it (Deuteronomy 5:12). These two ideas, zachor and shamor, capture something beautiful. We don’t just think about the Sabbath. We step into it.
We prepare ahead of time. We slow down. We make space for what matters most. And in doing so, we begin to experience the Sabbath not as a restriction, but as a gift.
A Messianic Perspective
This guide is rooted in Scripture and centered on Yeshua.
When Yeshua said, “The Sabbath was made for man,” He reminded us that this day was created for our good, for rest, for healing, and for joy.
Shabbat also points forward. Each week becomes a small rehearsal of the greater rest to come, the restoration God is bringing through Messiah.
Looking for a place to give that truly aligns with your faith?
There are many ministries doing meaningful work around the world, but every so often, you come across one that stands out not only in what they do, but in what they believe.
Messianic Jewish Africa Support is serving communities in Zambia with a mission that is both deeply Biblical and firmly rooted in faith. What makes this ministry unique is its commitment to a Messianic Jewish expression of faith, proclaiming Yeshua while honoring the foundation of Scripture in its fullness.
For those who care about walking out a faith that reflects the whole counsel of God’s Word, this matters.
MJAS is not only sharing truth—they’re living it out in tangible, life-changing ways.
Through their work, they:
Care for orphans and vulnerable children
Support widows and families in need
Establish and disciple Messianic congregations
Provide medical care, education, and outreach to remote communities
At the heart of this ministry is their day school in Lusaka, where hundreds of children—many of them orphaned or at risk—are being equipped for a different future.
These students receive:
A quality education
Daily meals
Spiritual discipleship
A safe and stable environment
But more than that, they are being raised up to stand on their own! They become leaders, contributors, and people of faith within their own communities.
This is not about creating dependency. It is about cultivating independence, responsibility, and purpose.
And right now, there is a simple, powerful way to be part of that work.
The greatest need is for student sponsorships.
For just $45 per month, you can directly impact a child’s life, providing the education, nourishment, and spiritual foundation they need to move forward with strength and hope.
Don’t just give—give where your beliefs are lived out.
I personally know Rabbi Alex and his wife, Fay, who passionately lead this ministry, and I can confidently say they are faithful, trustworthy, and deeply committed to the calling God has placed on their lives. I also personally know the MJAS board members, committed servants of Yeshua, working hard to put God’s word into action and serve the orphans and bring hope to their lives – both practically and spiritually!
If you’ve been looking for a place to give where your beliefs and your giving truly walk together—this is an opportunity to step into something meaningful.
Consider becoming a sponsor today and help raise up the next generation to stand strong in faith and walk in purpose.
