03/29/2002 Sabbath Meeting Transcript

Tonight, I would like to share a few scriptures on the meaning of and examples of "Longsuffering".

Before I begin, I would like to say that this is an area of my own life that I can see a continual need for improvement as Yahweh reveals more and more

Let's first examine the basic usage and definition of the word in the Hebrew, and then we will look at the examples of this word in scripture

The word "Longsuffering" is actually a translation of two Hebrew words, "Arek appayim".

According to Brown-Driver-Briggs:

0750 %rea' 'arek {aw-rake'}

Meaning: 1) long (pinions) 2) patient, slow to anger Origin: from 0748; TWOT - 162b; adj

Usage: AV - slow 9, longsuffering + 0639 4, longwinged + 083 1, patient 1; 15

0639 @a; 'aph {af}

Meaning: 1) nostril, nose, face 2) anger Origin: from 0599; TWOT - 133a; n m

Usage: AV - anger 172, wrath 42, face 22, nostrils 13, nose 12, angry 4, longsuffering + 0750 4, before 2, countenance 1, forbearing 1, forehead 1, snout 1, worthy 1; 276

So the term "Longsuffering" in each of the scriptures we will examine actually comes from two words. The first word carries a basic meaning of "Long, slow". The second word means "Anger, wrath".

Thus, a fuller meaning would be "Slow to anger"

In the KJV, it is translated "Slow to anger" in Psalm 103:8 and Nehemiah 9:17. Other translations have "patient" or "slow to anger" in each place where "Arek apayim" is used.

Exodus 34:1 - And YAHWEH said unto Moses, Hew thee two tables of stone like unto the first: and I will write upon these tables the words that were in the first tables, which thou brakest.

Exodus 34:2 - And be ready in the morning, and come up in the morning unto mount Sinai, and present thyself there to me in the top of the mount.

Exodus 34:3 - And no man shall come up with thee, neither let any man be seen throughout all the mount; neither let the flocks nor herds feed before that mount.

Exodus 34:4 - And he hewed two tables of stone like unto the first; and Moses rose up early in the morning, and went up unto mount Sinai, as YAHWEH had commanded him, and took in his hand the two tables of stone.

Exodus 34:5 - And YAHWEH descended in the cloud, and stood with him there, and proclaimed the name of YAHWEH.

Exodus 34:6 - And YAHWEH passed by before him, and proclaimed, YAHWEH,

Exodus 34:7 - Keeping mercy for thousands, forgiving iniquity and transgression and sin, and that will by no means clear the guilty; visiting the iniquity of the fathers upon the children, and upon the children's children, unto the third and to the fourth generation.

This is a very interesting passage. Yahweh's longsuffering/slow to anger is a part of who He is. It is a distinct part of His character.

We know that in spite of repeated demonstration of rebellion by the children of Israel, Yahweh still forgave again and again. It was not until the children of Israel started to appoint a captain to bring them back to Egypt, that He decided to not take them into the land.

When Yahweh threatened to destroy them all, Moshe interceded for Israel and claimed the promise and character of Yahweh in his intercession.

In context, the spies just returned and brought and evil report of the land:

Numbers 14:1 - And all the congregation lifted up their voice, and cried; and the people wept that night.

Numbers 14:2 - And all the children of Israel murmured against Moses and against Aaron: and the whole congregation said unto them, Would Elohim that we had died in the land of Egypt! or would Elohim we had died in this wilderness!

Numbers 14:3 - And wherefore hath YAHWEH brought us unto this land, to fall by the sword, that our wives and our children should be a prey? were it not better for us to return into Egypt?

Numbers 14:4 - And they said one to another, Let us make a captain, and let us return into Egypt.

Numbers 14:5 - Then Moses and Aaron fell on their faces before all the assembly of the congregation of the children of Israel.

Numbers 14:6 - And Joshua the son of Nun, and Caleb the son of Jephunneh, which were of them that searched the land, rent their clothes:

Numbers 14:7 - And they spake unto all the company of the children of Israel, saying, The land, which we passed through to search it, is an exceeding good land.

Numbers 14:8 - If YAHWEH delight in us, then he will bring us into this land, and give it us; a land which floweth with milk and honey.

Numbers 14:9 - Only rebel not ye against YAHWEH, neither fear ye the people of the land; for they are bread for us: their defence is departed from them, and YAHWEH is with us: fear them not.

Numbers 14:10 - But all the congregation bade stone them with stones. And the glory of YAHWEH appeared in the tabernacle of the congregation before all the children of Israel.

Numbers 14:11 - And YAHWEH said unto Moses, How long will this people provoke me? and how long will it be ere they believe me, for all the signs which I have shewed among them?

Numbers 14:12 - I will smite them with the pestilence, and disinherit them, and will make of thee a greater nation and mightier than they.

Numbers 14:13 - And Moses said unto YAHWEH, Then the Egyptians shall hear it, (for thou broughtest up this people in thy might from among them;)

Numbers 14:14 - And they will tell it to the inhabitants of this land: for they have heard that thou YAHWEH art among this people, that thou YAHWEH art seen face to face, and that thy cloud standeth over them, and that thou goest before them, by day time in a pillar of a cloud, and in a pillar of fire by night.

Numbers 14:15 - Now if thou shalt kill all this people as one man, then the nations which have heard the fame of thee will speak, saying,

Numbers 14:16 - Because YAHWEH was not able to bring this people into the land which he sware unto them, therefore he hath slain them in the wilderness.

Numbers 14:17 - And now, I beseech thee, let the power of YAHWEH be great, according as thou hast spoken, saying,

Numbers 14:18 - YAHWEH is longsuffering, and of great mercy, forgiving iniquity and transgression, and by no means clearing the guilty, visiting the iniquity of the fathers upon the children unto the third and fourth generation.

Numbers 14:19 - Pardon, I beseech thee, the iniquity of this people according unto the greatness of thy mercy, and as thou hast forgiven this people, from Egypt even until now.

Numbers 14:20 - And YAHWEH said, I have pardoned according to thy word:

Numbers 14:21 - But as truly as I live, all the earth shall be filled with the glory of YAHWEH.

Numbers 14:22 - Because all those men which have seen my glory, and my miracles, which I did in Egypt and in the wilderness, and have tempted me now these ten times, and have not hearkened to my voice;

Numbers 14:23 - Surely they shall not see the land which I sware unto their fathers, neither shall any of them that provoked me see it:

Numbers 14:24 - But my servant Caleb, because he had another spirit with him, and hath followed me fully, him will I bring into the land whereinto he went; and his seed shall possess it.

Psalms 86:17 - Shew me a token for good; that they which hate me may see it, and be ashamed: because thou, YAHWEH, hast holpen me, and comforted me.

Psalms 86:18 -

Psalms 86:14 - O Elohim, the proud are risen against me, and the assemblies of violent men have sought after my soul; and have not set thee before them.

Psalms 86:15 - But thou, O YAHWEH, art an El full of compassion, and gracious, longsuffering, and plenteous in mercy and truth.

Psalms 86:16 - O turn unto me, and have mercy upon me; give thy strength unto thy servant, and save the son of thine handmaid.

Jeremiah 15:15 - O YAHWEH, thou knowest: remember me, and visit me, and revenge me of my persecutors; take me not away in thy longsuffering: know that for thy sake I have suffered rebuke.

Jeremiah 15:16 - Thy words were found, and I did eat them; and thy word was unto me the joy and rejoicing of mine heart: for I am called by thy name, O YAHWEH Elohim of hosts.

He declared that it was for Yahweh's sake that he was rebuked. Sometimes we will also be rebuked wrongly for doing the things that Yahweh desires of us.

Romans 2:1 - Therefore thou art inexcusable, O man, whosoever thou art that judgest: for wherein thou judgest another, thou condemnest thyself; for thou that judgest doest the same things.

Romans 2:2 - But we are sure that the judgment of YAHWEH is according to truth against them which commit such things.

Romans 2:3 - And thinkest thou this, O man, that judgest them which do such things, and doest the same, that thou shalt escape the judgment of YAHWEH?

Romans 2:4 - Or despisest thou the riches of his goodness and forbearance and longsuffering; not knowing that the goodness of YAHWEH leadeth thee to repentance?

Romans 2:5 - But after thy hardness and impenitent heart treasurest up unto thyself wrath against the day of wrath and revelation of the righteous judgment of YAHWEH;

Romans 2:6 - Who will render to every man according to his deeds:

Romans 2:7 - To them who by patient continuance in well doing seek for glory and honour and immortality, eternal life:

Romans 2:8 - But unto them that are contentious, and do not obey the truth, but obey unrighteousness, indignation and wrath,

Romans 2:9 - Tribulation and anguish, upon every soul of man that doeth evil, of the Jew first, and also of the Gentile;

In this example of hypocrisy, I think there are a couple of things we ought to consider:

When we see our brother commiting a certain sin, there is sometimes a greater temptation to come down hard on them for doing it if we are also guilty of it. Yahushua noted this:

Matthew 7:1 - Judge not, that ye be not judged.

Matthew 7:2 - For with what judgment ye judge, ye shall be judged: and with what measure ye mete, it shall be measured to you again.

Matthew 7:3 - And why beholdest thou the mote that is in thy brother's eye, but considerest not the beam that is in thine own eye?

Matthew 7:4 - Or how wilt thou say to thy brother, Let me pull out the mote out of thine eye; and, behold, a beam is in thine own eye?

Matthew 7:5 - Thou hypocrite, first cast out the beam out of thine own eye; and then shalt thou see clearly to cast out the mote out of thy brother's eye.

It's almost as if Yahweh is saying, "He's that evil, huh? Let's see how you do in the same situation!"

Galatians 6:1 - Brethren, if a man is overtaken in any trespass, you who are spiritual restore such a one in a spirit of gentleness, considering yourself lest you also be tempted.

If we see our brother in any manner of sin, we should remember the longsuffering Yahweh has with us and know also that Yahweh is longsuffering with them. Therefore, we also should be longsuffering with them.

2Timothy 4:1 - I charge thee therefore before YAHWEH, and the Master Yahushua ha Mashiach, who shall judge the quick and the dead at his appearing and his kingdom;

2Timothy 4:2 - Preach the word; be instant in season, out of season; reprove, rebuke, exhort with all longsuffering and doctrine.

Galatians 5:19 - Now the works of the flesh are evident, which are: adultery, fornication, uncleanness, lewdness,

Galatians 5:20 - idolatry, sorcery, hatred, contentions, jealousies, outbursts of wrath, selfish ambitions, dissensions, heresies,

Galatians 5:21 - envy, murders, drunkenness, revelries, and the like; of which I tell you beforehand, just as I also told you in time past, that those who practice such things will not inherit the kingdom of YAHWEH.

Galatians 5:22 - But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, longsuffering, kindness, goodness, faithfulness,

Galatians 5:23 - gentleness, self-control. Against such there is no law.

Galatians 5:24 - And those who are the Messiah's have impaled the flesh with its passions and desires.

Our longsuffering is evidence of His Spirit in us.

If we are not longsuffering, the works of the flesh manifest themselves. Hatred, strife and arguments are ever present where longsuffering is lacking.

So yes, we are called to have longsuffering, but this does not mean it is easy. Consider the proverb:

Proverbs 16:32 - He that is slow to anger is better than the mighty; and he that ruleth his spirit than he that taketh a city.

The Hebrew word for "Mighty" in this verse is used to describe the giants of Genesis 10, the mighty men of Joshua's army, David's mighty men and David himself. What a comparison this is!

Having longsuffering toward others requires a lot of strength. Strength that Yahweh can give. If we can rule our spirit, it is better than one that takes a city. But if not:

Proverbs 25:28 - He that hath no rule over his own spirit is like a city that is broken down, and without walls.

Proverbs 25:28 - He that hath no rule over his own spirit is like a city that is broken down, and without walls.

Ephesians 4:1 - I, therefore, the prisoner of Yahushua, beseech you to walk worthy of the calling with which you were called,

Ephesians 4:2 - with all lowliness and gentleness, with longsuffering, bearing with one another in love,

Ephesians 4:3 - endeavoring to keep the unity of the Spirit in the bond of peace.

It's all a part of walking worthy of our calling. We see this same theme again in the following scripture:

Colossians 1:9 - For this cause we also, since the day we heard it, do not cease to pray for you, and to desire that ye might be filled with the knowledge of his will in all wisdom and spiritual understanding;

Colossians 1:10 - That ye might walk worthy of the Master unto all pleasing, being fruitful in every good work, and increasing in the knowledge of Elohim;

Colossians 1:11 - Strengthened with all might, according to his glorious power, unto all patience and longsuffering with joyfulness;

Colossians 1:12 - Giving thanks unto the Father, which hath made us meet to be partakers of the inheritance of the saints in light:

Having longsuffering is a characteristic of Yahweh's Elect:

Colossians 3:12 - Put on therefore, as the elect of YAHWEH, holy and beloved, bowels of mercies, kindness, humbleness of mind, meekness, longsuffering;

Colossians 3:13 - Forbearing one another, and forgiving one another, if any man have a quarrel against any: even as the Messiah forgave you, so also do ye.

Colossians 3:14 - And above all these things put on charity, which is the bond of perfectness.

Colossians 3:15 - And let the peace of Elohim rule in your hearts, to the which also ye are called in one body; and be ye thankful.

Colossians 3:16 - Let the word of the Messiah dwell in you richly in all wisdom; teaching and admonishing one another in psalms and hymns and spiritual songs, singing with favor in your hearts to the Master.

Colossians 3:17 - And whatsoever ye do in word or deed, do all in the name of the Master Yahushua, giving thanks to YAHWEH the Father by him.

1Timothy 1:15 - This is a faithful saying, and worthy of all acceptation, that the Messiah Yahushua came into the world to save sinners; of whom I am chief.

1Timothy 1:16 - Howbeit for this cause I obtained mercy, that in me first Yahushua the Messiah might shew forth all longsuffering, for a pattern to them which should hereafter believe on him to life everlasting.

1Timothy 1:17 - Now unto the King eternal, immortal, invisible, the only wise Elohim, be honour and glory for ever and ever.

Therefore, we should be sure to have longsuffering with others.. even the greater sinners

Yahushua had great longsuffering with others and were it not for the longsuffering of Yahweh in us, we would be nothing at all.

2Peter 3:13 - Nevertheless we, according to His promise, look for new heavens and a new earth in which righteousness dwells.

2Peter 3:14 - Therefore, beloved, looking forward to these things, be diligent to be found by Him in peace, without spot and blameless;

2Peter 3:15 - and consider that the longsuffering of our Master is salvation--as also our beloved brother Paul, according to the wisdom given to him, has written to you,

2Peter 3:16 - as also in all his epistles, speaking in them of these things, in which are some things hard to understand, which untaught and unstable people twist to their own destruction, as they do also the rest of the Scriptures.

Should we not also see His example and be longsuffering toward one another?

It becomes much easier to have longsuffering and mercy when we think about the kind of longsuffering and mercy we have AND will continue to need from Yahweh

Yes, it is true that some will take advantage of the longsuffering of Yahweh and the longsuffering of others.

Isaiah 26:10 - Let favour be shewed to the wicked, yet will he not learn righteousness: in the land of uprightness will he deal unjustly, and will not behold the majesty of YAHWEH.

Some may teach that since Yahweh has longsuffering, we don't need to be concerned about our sins

But we must seek and learn righteousness. We must seek His ways continually and make every effort to walk before Him blamelessly.

Having longsuffering toward others and trusting in His longsuffering for salvation is all a part of that.

erefore:

Therefore:

James 1:19 - So then, my beloved brethren, let every man be swift to hear, slow to speak, slow to wrath;

James 1:20 - for the wrath of man does not produce the righteousness of YAHWEH.

James 1:21 - Therefore lay aside all filthiness and overflow of wickedness, and receive with meekness the implanted word, which is able to save your souls.

James 1:22 - But be doers of the word, and not hearers only, deceiving yourselves.

James 1:23 - For if anyone is a hearer of the word and not a doer, he is like a man observing his natural face in a mirror;

James 1:24 - for he observes himself, goes away, and immediately forgets what kind of man he was.

James 1:25 - But he who looks into the perfect law of liberty and continues in it, and is not a forgetful hearer but a doer of the work, this one will be blessed in what he does.