Copyright 2014 Theresa Harvard Johnson
In the Voices of Christ, we often talk about a beautiful ceremony called “Siyum” in Hebrew. The word itself means “completion or to complete” and is used specifically to describe the completion of sacred writings, and in this instance the Torah. For those who’ve taken our classes, we talk about the grueling but honorable training scribes endured in the times of old. We discuss the rituals they had to undergo and the amount of time they dedicated – spiritually and naturally – in the preparation for and task of writing Torah.
While we do not practice the Siyum ceremony per se, we can draw from the wisdom, the example and the obedient heart that many of them worked from in the midst of their journey. When they completed copying the Torah, it was a tradition to host a celebration to HONOR GOD in its completion. This included praise, worship, prayers, conversation and even a covenant meal with those who honored the Word, honored God and honored the servants who – without complaint – completed the task. THOUSANDS of people would participate in these ceremonies. They were excited about the continued PRESERVATION of the Word and the legacy it represented. Just thinking about this stirs the prophetic scribe in me with the fire to honor God with my obedience to write and publish what He gives me.
Unfortunately, because we do not know who we are in Christ – we find many scribes following the pattern of Babylon in celebrating their literary accomplishments. Most aren’t even aware of this ancient custom concerning literary accomplishments in our rich heritage. Instead of our book completions being sacred and set apart for worship, they become parties, opportunities for self exhortation and book sales. Wow! In the apostolic-prophetic scribe school, students are challenged to allow what God has given them to remain “sacred, set apart and holy.” They are urged to seek God’s plan concerning how to celebrate the completion of their project.
It might not be a Siyum ceremony, but it can be holy unto God.
This morning as I considered my own obedience in finishing my book projects this year, I heard the Lord say this to me: “Stop walking in false humility prophet! Rise up and celebrate the completion of what I have given you! Celebrate the beauty of completing what was ordained for you to complete! Honor me as I have directed your journey, as I have honored you.”
Scribes, in my heart I know without a shadow of a doubt that this word is for some who are reading this as well. The Lord said to me, “I am smiling down on you today prophet. Now, I want you to smile on yourself.” Come on scribes, SMILE ON YOUR SELF TODAY!
I realized something about ME today. I spend more time minimizing the completion of my assignments moreso than I do celebrating the completion. What am I saying? Well, we can become so pre-occupied about not looking so pious that we end up walking in false humility!
WE CAN CELEBRATE AND BOAST IN WHAT GOD HAS DONE FOR US AND THROUGH US! We know that it isn’t in our own strength! We know that we can do nothing except God does it through us by His Spirit. But in the case of these scribal projects, it is necessary that we celebrate the victory!
No one BUT YOU AND GOD are aware of the oil, the sacrifice, the warfare, the walk, the tears, the struggle… that many of us had to push through just to HEAR HIM and then OBEY HIM to get it done. For those still in the battle and looking at you from the center of the battlefield – THEY SEE VICTORY!
YOU have become that glimmer of hope that they can complete their literary race!
Listen, God sent me to Job 1:8 CJB: “Then the LORD said to Satan, Have you considered my servant Job? There is no one on earth like him; he is blameless and upright, a man who fears God and shuns evil.”
The Lord said this to me: “Beloved, I glorify myself through your obedience and faithfulness. I sit in heaven and smile down on the joy you have in me when YOU SEE the fruit of what I’ve given you in your hands.”
This blessed me. I pray that it blesses you.
You see, we do not boast in the vain glory that pleases the flesh. But we boast in the favor of God upon us: That he TRUSTED US to complete what only He placed in our hands. He wants us to be joyfully about our completion, excited and full concerning what those assignments will go forth and do in the hearts of men.
I thank God for you.
I pray that you celebrate your victory in our Father for overcoming the evil of procrastination, delay, distractions, fear – and all the other enemies of scribal ministry! Tell Father thank you… for trusting you this year.
2 Thessalonians 1:3-4 CJB,“We have to keep thanking God for you always, brothers, as is appropriate; because your trust continues to grow greater, and the love you each have for one another continues to increase. Therefore, we boast about you in the congregations of God because of your perseverance and trust in all the persecutions and troubles you are going through.
People of God, surround yourself with people who are DOING in this area of ministry in 2014 – not those still talking about it. Walk in your joyful humility, and celebrate the goodness of God in this testimony of completing! He is pleased.
