bow down?

[Shmanu YAH]

shalom l'kulam, baruk h'shem YHWH - weh baruka ha'bo beh shem YHWH , "blessed is your coming in the name YHWH" ... @ Yahushua,

                                                I pray all is well with you and yours or will be soon.

In this message I'd like to give the "heads up" and deal with a unchecked behavior that has snuck upon us for a long time, a stronghold that has NOT yet been cast down, .......the stronghold of mis-directed "bowing down" - especially to music. It's almost hot weather time so stores and vehicles will be up and down the streets serving the "GOD of this world" by blasting their speakers and saturating the air with his musical messages - after all, he is the Prince of the Power of the AIR. It may seem innocent to many (but lets not deceive ourselves, the majority of people are too empty-headed to know guilt from innocence anyway) but bowing down is and has always been a form of submission. As always for clarity I like to look at the terms so we can have a understanding based from whats intended in YHWH's word. The word for "bow" in hebrew used most often is: shchah - shaw-khaw', meaning: to to down, depress, i.e. prostrate, crouch, fall down (flat), humbly beseech, do (make) obeisance, do reverence, make to stoop, ......- this is a simple definifintion we all can understand.

Lets first go back in torah and read the first mention of bowing down as Ytzchq / Isaac spoke to Yaacob / Jacob while blessing him with the birthright, in b'reshyth 27:29 it states: "...Let people serve thee, and nations BOW down to thee: be master over thy brethren, and let thy mother’s sons BOW down to thee: cursed be every one that curseth thee, and blessed be he that blesseth thee". ......- this scripturally makes the point of bowing down is a willing act of submission, Now lets read later what was given to the true children of Yisrael, Moshe was told in Exodus / shmote chapter 11 that YHWH will smack Egypt with another devastating plague that will force the Egyptians to come bow down and submit, And all these thy servants shall come down unto me, and bow down themselves unto me, saying, Get thee out, and all the people that follow thee: and after that I will go out". ......- and YHWH told Moshe these heathens would be "servants" unto him. We see there is a voluntary way to submit and a forced way but there will be some submitting taking place.

Soon after that YHWH gave the true children of Yisreal laws, commands and statues (not suggestions) to abide by, one of the most serious instructions was NOT to bow down to false dieties that are NOT of him. We read in shmote 20:2-5, and 23:24, I am YHWH thy ELOHYM, which have brought thee out of the land of Egypt, out of the house of bondage. 3 Thou shalt have no other gods before me. 4 Thou shalt not make unto thee any graven image, or any likeness of any thing that is in heaven above, or that is in the earth beneath, or that is in the water under the earth: 5 Thou shalt not bow down thyself to them, nor serve them: for I YHWH thy ELOHYM am a jealous EL, visiting the iniquity of the fathers upon the children unto the third and fourth generation of them that hate me;" ......- warning warning! This was and is and always will be a problem for the rebellious hearted. We see this same command re-iterated in w'yqra / leviticus 26:1, "Ye shall make you no idols nor graven image, neither rear you up a standing image, neither shall ye set up any image of stone in your land, to BOW down unto it: for I am YHWH your ELOHYM". ......- and debarym 5:8-9, "....Thou shalt not make thee any graven image, or any likeness of any thing that is in heaven above, or that is in the earth beneath, or that is in the waters beneath the earth: 9 Thou shalt not bow down thyself unto them, nor serve them: for I YHWH thy ELOHYM am a jealous EL, visiting the iniquity of the fathers upon the children unto the third and fourth generation of them that hate me", ......- again here is more re-iteration of NOT bowing down to that which he does not indicate.

By now we should fully understand the intent, importance and simplicity of this command, but our ancestors seemed to have some major diffi-CULT-y with it which caused much much tribulation to our people in the forms of captivity, bondage, etc. But later we have also read as a righteous example where some even after the captivitiy for serving other "gods" still refused to "shchah" or bow down and disobey the most high as exampled by the 3 hebrew youth we learned about from reading Daniel first chapter. In Daniel chpt. 1:3-7 we read: .....and the king spake unto Ashpenaz the master of his eunuchs, that he should bring certain of the children of Israel, and of the king’s seed, and of the princes; 4 Children in whom was no blemish, but well favoured, and skilful in all wisdom, and cunning in knowledge, and understanding science, and such as had ability in them to stand in the king’s palace, and whom they might teach the learning and the tongue of the Chaldeans. 5 And the king appointed them a daily provision of the king’s meat, and of the wine which he drank: so nourishing them three years, that at the end thereof they might stand before the king. 6 Now among these were of the children of Judah, Daniel, HananiYah, Mishael, and AzariYah: 7 Unto whom the prince of the eunuchs gave names: for he gave unto Daniel the name of Belteshazzar; and to Hananiah, of Shadrach; and to Mishael, of Meshach; and to Azariah, of Abed-nego. ......- STOP!!! , just because the prince of the eunuchs from Babylon (confusion) changed their names don't mean I have to go along with that lunacy! To me their names was and always will be: DaniEl - "Elohym is my judge", HananiYah - "YHWH favors me", MishaEl - "who belongs to Elohym", and AzariYah - YHWH helps & supports me". The main reason I wanted to point to these anointed sons of Judah is not just because of what they didn't do but when they didn't do it., fasten your seat belts, .........here we go!

We read in this same chapter of Daniel 3:1-2, Nebuchadnezzar the king made an image of gold, whose height was threescore cubits, and the breadth thereof six cubits: he set it up in the plain of Dura, in the province of Babylon. 2 Then Nebuchadnezzar the king sent to gather together the princes, the governors, and the captains, the judges, the treasurers, the counsellors, the sheriffs, and all the rulers of the provinces, to come to the dedication of the image which Nebuchadnezzar the king had set up. ......- OK, we know we like the translators want to keep the scripture G-rated for all audiences but for those on meat and no longer milk it's time we grow up and realize this sick twisted ruler never set up a image of his head or his body but if you read the text and then research you will find out that this image was 10 times as high as it was wide, meaning it was NOT his entire body but instead a golden obelisk / phallic symbol of himself he had pointing to the heavens that he wanted to be seen from great distances and wanted ALL people to bow down to ( a type of behaviour of the insecure ). I cant speak for everybody, but I myself have to question the so-called men that were willing to bow down to a exaggerated 90 foot male genitalia ! Anyway why this example is so perfect for this message is the when they were supposed to bow to it. We read in this 3rd chapter verses 4-7, Then an herald cried aloud, To you it is commanded, O people, nations, and languages, 5 That at what time ye hear the sound of the cornet, flute, harp, sackbut, psaltery, dulcimer, and all kinds of musick, ye fall down and worship the golden image that Nebuchadnezzar the king hath set up: 6 And whoso falleth not down and worshippeth shall the same hour be cast into the midst of a burning fiery furnace. 7 Therefore at that time, when all the people heard the sound of the cornet, flute, harp, sackbut, psaltery, and all kinds of musick, all the people, the nations, and the languages, fell down and worshipped the golden image that Nebuchadnezzar the king had set up. .......- I could really care less about this demented ruler's image but I want to look at the command to bow down when the music starts. This prideful man decreed ALL bow to his golden image at the sound of the music, a conduit he used to initiate this pagan worship (could this be the same mindset of some today?).

We in this day and time really need to examine ourselves and evaluate what paganism are we bowing down to. There are some simple and obvious ones like those pagan name athletic shoes some still keep bowing down to tie-up or strap-down just because our friends or the celebrity sport stars tell us to, you know those greek gods like Nike and Addidas many have no problem with bowing down to daily.... and some even sport them pagan names from head-to-toe - hats to shoes! It's a shame how many bow down to strap them on their feet tightly so their "gods" will be with them every step of the way,... everywhere they go!. Not to mention the anger that is invoked and following drama that insues when anyone accidentally steps on their pagan god shoes. And we all need to watch out for that bowing down we do daily (unawares) as submitted by the Entertainment industry - that hidden bowing down know as "head bobbing" to the music. We all have at one time or another fallen in love with a song or rythmic beat that causes us to??? ......... you got it - bow that head! If we use the wisdom that YHWH has given us we will know that the adversary will slip one in on us - with the quickness! Since that fool knows that the most high forbids worshiping directed towards any other than himself, h'shatan has found other ways to trick you to bow. Remember what shalych / apostle Paul told the believers using instruments as a metaphor in Romans 6:13-16, "......neither yield ye your members as instruments of unrighteousness unto sin: but yield yourselves unto ELOHYM, as those that are alive from the dead, and your members as instruments of righteousness unto ELOHYM. 14 For sin shall not have dominion over you: for ye are not under the law, but under grace. 15 What then? shall we sin, because we are not under the law, but under grace? ELOHYM forbid. 16 Know ye not, that to whom ye yield yourselves servants to obey, his servants ye are to whom ye obey; whether of sin unto death, or of obedience unto righteousness?" ......- WOW, Paul hit the nail on the head in so many ways, this is widespead wisdom! - but here he actually used musical instruments as an example of what NOT to do with our bodies, selah. I really noted the part when he states: "Know ye not, that to whom ye yield yourselves servants to obey, his servants ye are to whom ye obey;" .......- so this brings much clarity to why h'shatan uses music, his past glory ->>> IsaiYah 14:11, "....Thy pomp is brought down to the grave, and the noise of thy VIOLS: the worm is spread under thee, and the worms cover thee". - and also in the prophet Ezekiel 28:13, " thou hast been in Eden the garden of ; every precious stone was thy covering, the sardius, topaz, and the diamond, the beryl, the onyx, and the jasper, the sapphire, the emerald, and the carbuncle, and gold: the workmanship of thy TABRETS and of thy PIPES was prepared in thee in the day that thou wast created".......- being a master musician, who would know better how to manipulate sound to glorify ones self better that him?...... pay attention Yisrael!

In NO way is IsaYah, Ezekiel, apostle Paul or myself condemning songs or melodies or tunes, but I am merely pointing out how something that pleasurable and enjoyable can be smoothly perverted to something underhanded and conniving as we see in common "head bobbing" to the beat. Some songs just seem to make you bounce along from their very enjoyable rhythm but other songs demand you headnod / bowdown to that beat and if you listen to some of the lyrics of what you are nodding to is pure spiritual defilement, and it has a stronghold on our youth.

Melek Dawid / King David was also a masterful musician as we have read in some of the psalms but notice the effects of his offerings. We have read one of the main purposes of song for mankind in 1st Samuel chpt. 16:14-17 as King Saul was troubled, But the Spirit of YHWH departed from Saul, and an evil spirit from YHWH troubled him. 15 And Saul’s servants said unto him, "Behold now, an evil spirit from ELOHYM troubleth thee. 16 Let our master now command thy servants, which are before thee, to seek out a man, who is a cunning player on an harp: and it shall come to pass, when the evil spirit from ELOHYM is upon thee, that he shall play with his hand, and thou shalt be well". 17 And Saul said unto his servants, "Provide me now a man that can play well, and bring him to me". and also we read in vs. 22-23, And Saul sent to Jesse, saying, "Let David, I pray thee, stand before me; for he hath found favour in my sight". 23 And it came to pass, when the evil spirit from ELOHYM was upon Saul, that David took an harp, and played with his hand: so Saul was refreshed, and was well, and the evil spirit departed from him. .......- I guess not only does it soothe the savage beast but hard-headed Kings as well. I'm sure in days of old there were many people that enjoyed the talents of musicians and celebrated by clapping their hands and patting their feet and singing and dancing to lift up their spirits and some probably even nodded their heads but as long as is was directed to something good and righteous that is not a problem. The issue for the masses today is the vile and wicked offereings that we will still bow to instead of reject because we can't seem to put off the carnal mind. Have we really died to self?, In Colossians 3:5-7 Paul told them / us: "Mortify therefore your members which are upon the earth; fornication, uncleanness, inordinate affection, evil concupiscence, and covetousness, which is idolatry: 6 For which things’ sake the wrath of ELOHYM cometh on the children of disobedience: 7 In the which ye also walked some time, when ye lived in them" .......- this was not only instruction but a explanation of why YHWH's wrath must come and to who, not to mention his calling to their rememberance of what they did at one time, .....how about us? I find it humbling and embarrassing when the most high often referred to our ancestors as a "stiff-necked" people, they just won't bow dow continually to the only true and living Elohym but will bow down in a second to paganism and be dedicated to it, .....same deal today!

Here is a question to ask yourself daily: do I spend as much time head bowing to the most high YHWH as I spend head bowing to the beat?.... I said >>> BE HONEST! This whether you choose to realize it or not is a sign of submssion and we must understand this and teach it to the masses, irregardless of how much mockery you have to endure or how hostile they will become when you try to re-direct them to the only 0NE worthy of that submission. Again today's popular music demands that you bow to it BUT who other that h'shatan told you that you have to yield to that demand?

Maybe it's me but I noticed a consequence of what may be a result of bowing down to that other than YHWH, all throughout the world man has lossened his spine and bowed down to everything they shouldn't have and this same humanity the world over have been plagued by spinal problems. If we are honest enough to look at the main structure YHWH created to hold us up, it is the same structure that has broken down in so many, ...WOW! From the cervical to the thoracic to the lumbar to the sacrum down to the coccyx these series of vertabrae that were created to work in unison ( just as man is supposed to) to support our bodies and keep us upright, but man had continually bowed this marvelous construction down to his own detriment and judgement, >>> damaged support, .....selah. again re-read exodus 2:5,

5 "Thou shalt not bow down thyself to them, nor serve them: for I YHWH thy ELOHYM am a jealous EL, visiting the iniquity of the fathers upon the children unto the third and fourth generation of them that hate me;" . Even after the transgression in the garden of Eden when mortality was brought into play we never really saw much spoken about bad backs but we really don't need in writing what we experience the world over no matter who you claim you descend from. We have seen but not perceived: one way for YHWH to message mankind from bowing down to wickedness is to physically disable us from doing so, .....but that seems to be ignored whether he deals with our backs or our knees or any part of our skeletal system, what a shame. As I wrote years ago in a blog "from Jacob to Israel" >>> http://yahushuaspeaks.ning.com/profiles/blogs/from-jacob-to-yisarel

I had to point out that YHWH had to send a malak to "break" Jacob so he would stop trying to fight but instead bow down and hold on, a message waaaaay too many didn't understand.

To those that seek a clear vision and seek a dedication to the most high YHWH unlike the masses, lets NOT forget that the father watches us at all times so there is NO excuse to continue to bow and submit to that which h'shatan has set before us whether it be a golden image like Nebuchadnezzar's or music from a modern day million selling gold record. Re-read 2nd Corintians 10:3-5, " .....For though we walk in the flesh, we do not war after the flesh: 4 (For the weapons of our warfare are not carnal, but mighty through ELOHYM to the pulling down of strong holds;) 5 Casting down imaginations, and every high thing that exalteth itself against the knowledge of ELOHYM, and bringing into captivity every thought to the obedience of h'mashiach"; .......- this is a spiritual war we must fight against a sneaky adversary that wants to be bowed down to, so if you bow your head when you pray to YHWH - no problem, BUT if you bow your head to traditional or contemporary wickedness - BIG problem! ..... learn the difference and act accordingly,

selah and shalommmmmm