Gang related

[Shmanu YAH]

shalom mishpacha, ALL praises, honor and glory to the most high YHWH, baruk h'shem! and "baruka habo b'shem YHWH", - "blessed is your coming in the name YHWH" @ ->>> Yahushua.

                                      I pray all is well and getting even better - each and every one.

In this brief message I'd like to look in the past for the purpose of bringing understanding to the present about much of the youth today's source of guidance...... their foolish friends! We are "plagued" from one end of this country to another by youth that forsake the instruction of their parents or guardians to adhere to the counsel and peer pressure of their worldy friends, - this plague is worse for us than those brought on Pharoh in Egypt!

We know the earliest account of gang mentality itself was recorded in the book of Enoch chapter 6:1- 6, ( in some versions but chapter 7 in others ), 1 And it came to pass when the children of men had multiplied that in those days were born unto 2 them beautiful and comely daughters. And the angels, the children of the heaven, saw and LUSTED after them, and said to one another: "Come, let us choose us wives from among the children of men 3 and beget us children." And Semjaza, who was their leader, said unto them: "I fear ye will not 4 indeed agree to do this deed, and I alone shall have to pay the penalty of a great SIN." And they all answered him and said: "Let us all swear an oath, and all bind ourselves by mutual imprecations 5 not to abandon this plan but to do this thing." Then sware they all together and bound themselves 6 by mutual imprecations upon it. And they were in all two hundred; who descended in the days of Jared on the summit of Mount Hermon, and they called it Mount Hermon, because they had sworn. ......- the leader of this gang made sure all 200 of the lustful participants vowed to go "all in" like most gang members have to be before "wilding out", - these were supposed to be spiritual beings BUT they turned out to be carnal minded!

So this event helps verify the reality that it's not only the young that give in to peer pressure and have a gang mentality, its the older ones they habitualy learn it from. Another much later well renown reference of this reality ( before we get to the main point ) we saw in Luke chapters 14 and 15 pertaining to the lynch-mob mentality coming to confront Yahushua, in Luke 14:43, 43 And immediately, while he yet spake, cometh Judas, one of the twelve, and with him a great multitude with swords and staves, from the chief priest and the scribes and the elders. .......- this was "gang banging" on a spiritual level!, - now lets check out Yahushua's response: 48 And Yahushua answered and said unto them, "Are ye come out, as against a thief, with swords and with staves to take me?" .......- we all know that when people have a gang or mob mentality, they can't think logically or peacefully. Continuing on to chapter 15:1 & 12-14, 1 And straightway in the morning the chief priests held a consultation with the elders and scribes and the whole council, and bound Yahshua, and carried him away, and delivered him to Pilate. ~ 12 And Pilate answered and said again unto them, What will ye then that I shall do unto him whom ye call the King of the Jews? 13 And they cried out again, Crucify him. 14 Then Pilate said unto them, Why, what evil hath he done? And they cried out the more exceedingly, Crucify him!. .......- This "leadership" gang was un-relentless as are most.  ( You can also revisit Acts chapter 7 verses. 51-58 to see more "lynch-mob" or gang mentality ).

I'd like to quickly relate that behavior back then and whats going on today through the wisdom we got from Ecclesiasties 1:9-10, 9 The thing that hath been, it is that which shall be; and that which is done is that which shall be done: and there is no new thing under the sun. 10 Is there any thing whereof it may be said, See, this is new? it hath been already of old time, which was before us.......- so the things that exist today are really -> NOTHING NEW, I'd like to now look further back at that example of youthful foolishness of melek Shelomo's son: Rehoboam.

Now lets revisit 1st Kings chapter 11 before we re-read chapter 12 and remind ourselves how his father, the great and wise King Solomon got "turned out", ~ it was solely by ignoring the greatest instruction and wisdom given to man, >>> torah. Melek Shelomo completely ignored debarym / deuteronomy 17:16-17, 16 But he shall NOT multiply horses to himself, nor cause the people to return to Egypt ( bondage / constriction ) , to the end that he should multiply horses: forasmuch as YHWH hath said unto you, "Ye shall henceforth return no more that way". 17 NEITHER shall he multiply wives to himself, that his heart turn not away: neither shall he greatly multiply to himself silver and gold. .......- I have heard many BIGmouths say Shelomo married these women for political reasons or strategic reasons, BUT where in torah is there in there a allowance any leaders machinations?

Anyway we read in 1st Kings 11:1-6, 1 But king Solomon loved many strange women, together with the daughter of Pharaoh, women of the Moabites, Ammonites, Edomites, Zidonians, and Hittites; 2 Of the nations concerning which YHWH said unto the children of Israel, Ye shall not go in to them, neither shall they come in unto you: for surely they will turn away your heart after their gods: Solomon clave unto these in love. 3 And he had seven hundred wives, princesses, and three hundred concubines: and his wives turned away his heart. 4 For it came to pass, when Solomon was old, that his wives turned away his heart after other gods: and his heart was not perfect with YHWH his Elohym, as was the heart of David his father. 5 For Solomon went after Ashtoreth the goddess of the Zidonians, and after Milcom the abomination of the Ammonites. 6 And Solomon did evil in the sight of YHWH, and went not fully after YHWH, as did David his father. .......- one thing we need to realize here is: "IF" Shelomo would have fully obeyed torah continually when he was young - HE WOULDN'T HAVE GOT TURNED OUT WHEN HE WAS OLD! .....hint hint. If we continue reading the rest of chapter 11 we would see the prophecy pertaining to the kingdom being taken out of the hands of Shelomo's son and given to his servant as a result of NOT staying the course of obedience and wisdom.

We then later read after the time of Melek Shelomo in 1st Kings chapter 12:1-24 (also 2nd Chronicles chapter 10),
1 And Rehoboam went to Shechem: for all Israel were come to Shechem to make him king. 2 And it came to pass, when Jeroboam the son of Nebat, who was yet in Egypt, heard of it, (for he was fled from the presence of king Solomon, and Jeroboam dwelt in Egypt;) 3 That they sent and called him. And Jeroboam and all the congregation of Israel came, and spake unto Rehoboam, saying, 4 Thy father made our yoke grievous: now therefore make thou the grievous service of thy father, and his heavy yoke which he put upon us, lighter, and we will serve thee. 5 And he said unto them, Depart yet for three days, then come again to me. And the people departed. .......- translation: let me consult with my homeboys for some "street law"

6 And king Rehoboam consulted with the old men, that stood before Solomon his father while he yet lived, and said, How do ye advise that I may answer this people? 7 And they spake unto him, saying, If thou wilt be a servant unto this people this day, and wilt serve them, and answer them, and speak good words to them, then they will be thy servants for ever. 8 But he forsook the counsel of the old men, which they had given him, and CONSULTED with the young men that were grown up with him, and which stood before him: 9 And he said unto them, What counsel give ye that we may answer this people, who have spoken to me, saying, Make the yoke which thy father did put upon us lighter? 10 And the young men that were grown up with him spake unto him, saying, Thus shalt thou speak unto this people that spake unto thee, saying, Thy father made our yoke heavy, but make thou it lighter unto us; thus shalt thou say unto them, My little finger shall be thicker than my father’s loins. 11 And now whereas my father did lade you with a heavy yoke, I will add to your yoke: my father hath chastised you with whips, but I will chastise you with scorpions. .......- translation: tell them fools we about to get gangster!

12 So Jeroboam and all the people came to Rehoboam the third day, as the king had appointed, saying, Come to me again the third day. 13 And the king answered the people roughly, and forsook the old men's counsel that they gave him; 14 And spake to them after the counsel of the young men, saying, My father made your yoke heavy, and I will add to your yoke: my father also chastised you with whips, but I will chastise you with scorpions. 15 Wherefore the king hearkened not unto the people; for the cause was from YHWH, that he might perform his saying, which the YHWH spake by Ahiyah the Shilonite unto Jeroboam the son of Nebat. .......- translation: me and my homeboys gonna bring da pain!

note: he was too immature to act like a wise ruler, but instead he was acting like Pharoh, ....making them build bricks without straw!

16 So when all Israel saw that the king hearkened not unto them, the people answered the king, saying, What portion have we in David? neither have we inheritance in the son of Jesse: to your tents, O Israel: now see to thine own house, David. So Israel departed unto their tents. 17 But as for the children of Israel which dwelt in the cities of Judah, Rehoboam reigned over them. 18 Then king Rehoboam sent Adoram, who was over the tribute; and all Israel stoned him with stones, that he died. Therefore king Rehoboam made speed to get him up to his chariot, to flee to Jerusalem. 19 So Israel rebelled against the house of David unto this day. 20 And it came to pass, when all Israel heard that Jeroboam was come again, that they sent and called him unto the congregation, and made him king over all Israel: there was none that followed the house of David, but the tribe of Judah only. .......- we can see the prophecy in 1st Kings chapter 11 from YHWH was being fulfilled, - he strategically brought it though the mentality of the young fools, who obviously hearkened not to the wisdom of their fathers .....hint hint.

.......- there is soooooo much to deal with in this historical account BUT want I want to address is why we cant see even in these days: after consulting with the elders, - a person would ignore wisdom to embrace the folly of their "gang mentality" homeboys, ( and look how that turned out! ). Rehoboam's father got turned out by women - and he himself got turned out by his "friends" ....sound familiar in this hour people? ( just look at the young men in your areas )

Remember the prophecy that came through IsaiYah we read in chapter 52:19-20, 19 These two things are come unto thee; who shall be sorry for thee? desolation, and destruction, and the famine, and the sword: by whom shall I comfort thee? 20 Thy sons have fainted, they lie at the head of all the streets, as a wild bull in a net: they are full of the fury of YHWH, the rebuke of thy Elohym. .......- check out the statement: "who shall be sorry for you", with all that destruction appointed - still NO sympathy?, and really we can relate to seeing our males hanging out on the street corners ( gang territory ) acting "bull-ish" ( and he didn't mean Merril-Lynch ) and full of fury! .......sound close to home?

Maybe Rehoboam didn't fully comprehend the entirety of Eccesiasties 11:9, 9 Rejoice, O young man, in thy youth; and let thy heart cheer thee in the days of thy youth, and walk in the ways of thine heart, and in the sight of thine eyes: but know thou, that for all these things Elohym will bring thee into judgment!. .......- this wisdom properly taught would would bring the right mindset and attitude towards society from our youth to enjoy their youth and be cheerful instead of angry or "gangster" most of their time.... and the wisdom from this passage will also help curtail the popular carnal and criminal behavior of some of today's youth by driving home the reality that: YOU will be judged for your behavior! - and no "I was young back then" or "boys will be boys" or "it was peer pressure" type excuses will be tolerated!

Too bad many today don't get properly taught the instruction they should get from what was articulated in 1st Peter 5:5, 5 Likewise, ye younger, submit yourselves unto the elder. Yea, all of you be subject one to another, and be clothed with humility: for Elohym resisteth the proud, and giveth grace to the humble .......- nuff said!

Lets also revisit a quick tragic and disturbing event that doesn't often get talked about from the church pulpits or televangelist, etc... because of society's love for the youths, - over and above the words and wisdom from the creator YHWH's and his prophets. We read the account of Elisha the prophet after he received a double portion of the ruach of EliYahu after watching him get taken up. It shows us in 2nd King's 2:23-25, 23 And he went up from thence unto Bethel: and as he was going up by the way, there came forth little children out of the city, and mocked him, and said unto him, Go up, thou bald head; go up, thou bald head. 24 And he turned back, and looked on them, and cursed them in the name of YHWH. And there came forth two she bears out of the wood, and tare forty and two children of them. 25 And he went from thence to mount Carmel, and from thence he returned to Samaria .......- YES this is truly tragic, gang mentality youths out of control getting ripped up - BUT it did happen and was recorded for reasons we need to take seriously and teach from, such as:

(1) touch NOT YHWH's anointed and do his prophets NO harm ( kiddies not excluded )
(2) control your young ones at all times ( especially around their homies )
(3) mocking bald heads is for the foolish, because the true servants of YHWH have a better covering than just hair!
(4) make the youth know to RESPECT their elders ( those that show themselves to be elders )

The damage done and long term ramifications from the lack of wisdom to hear the knowledgeable elders by Rehoboam in the writings are a admonition to us in this day and time no matter what age we may be, so if the only people you chose to refer to for counsel or advice is your self selected "homies" - your own "yes men", mainly because you can't take correction from those you can't control, ....then maybe you don't have what it takes to be a real leader in the first place!

selah and shalom