Wednesday, March 25, 2020

Torah portion Vayikra 2020


Torah portion Vayikra, and he called, Leviticus 1:1 – 6:7

Be aware of our actions

It could also be said, beware of our actions. We can at times be engaged in actions that seem to be right, but if we are to stop and consider what we are doing, we could well recognize that they are not in accordance with Father’s will or His plans for us.
We see an example of this recognition in our portion this week.

If all the assembly (aydot) of Israel shall err, and the thing has been hidden from the eyes of the assembly, and they do that which is not to be done to any of all the commands of Yehovah, and are guilty; when the sin shall be known, that which they have sinned against it, then the congregation (kahal) shall bring near a bull, a son of the herd, for a sin offering. And they shall bring it in front of the tabernacle of the congregation. And the elders of the congregation (aydot) shall lay their hands on the head of the bull before the face of Yehovah. And they shall slaughter the bull before the face of Yehovah. (Lev 4:13-15)

If All the assembly shall err

“If all the assembly (aydot),” basically all the people, or at least the majority, “shall err,” in other words, they have been doing something wrong in Elohim’s eyes, but they were unaware. When they become aware of their sin, transgression, or iniquity, they are to stop doing it, turn from their violation, and offer sacrifice.
We learn that it is both conceivable and prophesied in this that the entire assembly, each person, could be in violation. When it becomes known, it is the responsibility of the congregation, kahal, translated into the Greek in the Apostolic Writings as church to bring the sacrifice, and the elders, the representatives, of the people, aydot are to sacrifice the bull.

How could all the assembly err?

Why were the people allowed to get into the situation where they as a whole were engaged in a violation of the instructions?
One possible answer is they thought they were doing it right and nobody bothered to check back with the written instructions. Another answer may be that they were led astray, either by one of their own group, or by strangers who came into Israel with a “better” idea. The reason we are shown in the Apostolic Writings is that the leadership was afraid Rome would come and take their places and the nation; they were afraid of the government.

Return to the TaNaKh

Regardless of the reason, our responsibility is to return to the Torah and TaNaKh and find out what Elohim says we are to do, and not do, and change what we are doing to comply with His instructions. In Yeshua’s day, we see a fulfillment of this prophetic instruction given in our portion. Caiaphas the high priest recently said,

‘“You know nothing at all, Nor consider that it is expedient for us, that one man should die for the people, and that the whole nation perish not. And this spoke he not of himself: but being high priest that year, he prophesied that Yeshua should die for that nation;(Joh 11:49-51)

Then, in violation of the Torah, Caiaphas tears his garment, and the elders proceed prophetically to carry out the Torah instructions for a sin sacrifice for the people.

Then the high priest tore his garments, saying, He blasphemed! Why do we have any more need of witnesses? Behold, now you have heard His blasphemy. What does it seem to you? And answering, they said, He is liable to death. Then they spat in His face, and beat Him with the fist, and some slapped Him, saying, Prophesy to us, Christ. Who is the one striking You? (Mat 26:65-68)

Insurance against error

If even the elders in Yeshua’s day and in the congregation in the wilderness can go astray and lead the people astray, even so it can happen in our day.

We should be mindful to return often to the Scriptures and reflect on our actions and philosophies to see they align with Father’s instructions. In this way, in our day and culture we may be blessed to be, “The voice of one crying in the wilderness, Prepare ye the way of Yahweh, make his paths straight.(Mat 3:3)

Draw near

That is why we study the Torah portion every week, to become conversant with Father’s actual instructions and to draw near to Him. As recorded in James, “Draw near to God, and He will draw near to you. (Jas 4:8)

Have a blessed and healthy week. Shalom.

Wednesday, March 18, 2020

Torah Portion Vayak'hel 2020


A short side note to begin

Even as our nation, and the world is in the throes of this Coronavirus scare, we do ourselves an injustice by not recognizing Elohim.

There is much talk about what businesses, governments, and healthcare systems can do to stem the pandemic. But what about turning to Elohim? True we had a national day of prayer, but what about a national month of prayer?

Is it so far fetched that we should take more than a single day to appeal to the only one who truly has an answer to the dilemma and panic? May we continue to lift up our world, our nation, our families, and ourselves to our Father, plead for forgiveness for excluding Him from our nation, that this will pass soon, and we will be able to resume normal life with a renewed sense of Yehovah’s hand in the world.

This, as all science and tribulation should cause us to turn to Elohim. May this do so.

Torah portion Vayak’hel

Our portion deals with a time when Israel is in the wilderness. They have no means of increase since they move at a moment’s notice and never know how long they will dwell in any one place. I will deal with one aspect of the building of the tabernacle.

Moshe has come down from the mountain for the second time. His face shines with the close personal encounter he had with Yehovah. His first order of business was to share with the people the commandments he was given in the mount. The second is building the tabernacle. He tells the people,

Take from among you an offering unto Yehovah: whosoever is of a willing heart, let him bring it, an offering of Yehovah; gold, and silver, and brass,(Exo 35:5)

What did the Children of Israel take from Mitzrayim? All the things that would later be needed to build the tabernacle. Gold, silver, and brass, scarlet, purple, and blue cloth. It’s almost as if Elohim had this in mind when he told the people to ask of their neighbors certain items.

A willing heart

Just as Elohim commanded Moshe, he took offerings from all those with a willing heart, any other offering, either by constraint or persuasion would be unacceptable. Even as it is unacceptable today for someone to come to Elohim because they are forced, or feel they need to to please someone else. It is only the willing who come to Him for no other reason than that they want to come to Him. Often that desire is preceded by an external event, such as addiction, introspection, or need, but the decision still needs to be the result of the person being willing to come to Elohim. As David phrased it,

O Adonai, open my lips; and my mouth shall shew forth your praise. For you don’t desire sacrifice; else would I give it: you delight not in burnt offering. The sacrifices of God are a broken spirit: a broken and a contrite heart, O God, you will not despise.(Psa 51:15-17)

Forced conversion isn’t really conversion

That is one reason the idea of forced conversion is anathema to biblical teaching. It was practiced during times past, and is still practiced today to some extent. Forced conversion is a major tenet of Mohammedan theology, “convert or die.” It is one more evidence that their theology is deeply flawed. Far from a God of love, their god is one of force and violence at the core.

Father’s key to calm

Be alert to the blessings and instruction Elohim is sharing with us, and to the deceptions rampant in the world. Stay close to His word in the Bible and close to Him in prayer, obedience, and meditations. In this way we will divide truth from error and be able to follow Him through whatever awaits us.

“If you love me, keep my commandments.” (Jn 14:15)

There is no fear in love; but perfect love casts out fear: because fear has torment. (1Jn 4:18)

Wednesday, March 11, 2020

Torah portion Ki Tisa


Messiah Yeshua and the brass laver

This week’s Torah portion includes the instructions for the brass laver for the priests to wash in prior to serving in the tent of meeting, or offering sacrifices. It is instructive where this is placed in the list of instructions as well as when and what the priests were to wash.

“And Yehovah spoke to Moses, saying, ‘And you shall make a bronze laver for washing, and its base bronze. And you shall put it between the tabernacle of the congregation and the altar; and you shall put water there. And Aaron and his sons (the kohanim) shall wash from it, their hands and their feet; as they go into the tabernacle of the congregation they shall wash with water, and shall not die; or as they draw near to the altar to minister, to burn a fire offering to Yehovah. And they shall wash their hands and their feet, and shall not die. And it shall be a never ending statute to them, to him and to his seed for their generations.’” (Exo 30:17-21)

When Yeshua’s final hours approached, he sat with the disciples at the Passover. Notice that it says “Before the feast of the Passover.” If they are eating the Passover, why does it say “before”?

Feast of Passover/Feast of Unleavened Bread

In Yeshua’s day, as it continues even today, the terms Feast of Unleavened Bread and Feast of Passover are at times used interchangeably. It is likely the writer is actually recording that this meal, the Passover is before the Feast of Unleavened Bread, which begins the next day, the 15th of Aviv. That aside, look what happens.

Now before the feast of the Passover, when Yeshua knew that his hour was come that he should depart out of this world to the Father, having loved his own which were in the world, he loved them unto the end… He rose from supper, and laid aside his garments; and took a towel, and girded himself. After he poured water into a basin, and began to wash the disciples' feet, and to wipe them with the towel wherewith he was girded. Then he came to Simon Peter: and Peter said unto him, Lord, do you wash my feet? Yeshua answered and said, What I do you know not now; but you shall know hereafter. Peter said to him, ‘You shalt never wash my feet. Yeshua answered him, If I don’t wash you, you have no part with me. Simon Peter said to him, Lord, not my feet only, but also my hands and my head. Yeshua said to him, He that is washed only needs to wash his feet, but is clean every whit: and you are clean, but not all.’… So after he had washed their feet, and had taken his garments, and was set down again, he said to them, ‘Do you know what I have done to you? You call me Master and Lord: and you say well; for so I am. If I then, your Lord and Master, have washed your feet; you also ought to wash one another's feet. For I have given you an example, that you should do as I have done to you. Verily, verily, I say unto you, The servant is not greater than his lord; neither he that is sent greater than he that sent him. If ye know these things, happy are ye if ye do them.’” (Joh 13:1-17)

He that is washed

Note that Yeshua says, “He that is washed…” The disciples would have washed their hands in preparation for the meal as required by both sanitation and tradition. Now Yeshua washes their feet. Both washings are required of the priests before a sacrifice or entering the Tabernacle.

Yeshua has named them a kingdom of priests. He is about to go to His own sacrifice, and the curtain of the temple will be rent showing that the way is open into the Holy Place for all  priests, not just the descendants of Aharon.

They didn’t understand yet, but we do

That is why Yeshua said to them, “What I do you know not now; but you shall know hereafter.” They didn’t yet understand that through His death, Yeshua would open the way into the Holy Place for all who covenant with Father so they may “Come boldly before the throne of grace.”

We are blessed to live in a time that we do understand. May we often take the opportunity to come before our Father, and never take the privilege for granted.

Wednesday, March 4, 2020

Torah portion Tetzaveh Exodus 27:20-30:10


The order of things matters!

Have you ever become so familiar with something that you forget its order? For so long the picture of the completed Tabernacle has been in my mind that I forgot the order in which it takes place. This year it hit me, the order of the building of the Tabernacle is significant. It was this week’s portion Tetzaveh that illuminated the thought.

The ordering of building the Tabernacle

Here are the steps up to this week’s portion in order. I have not included all of the details for brevity sake.
1.      The ark of the covenant/testimony
2.      The table of the bread of the presence
3.      The menorah
4.      The mishkan/tabernacle
5.      The bronze altar of sacrifice
6.      The court of the Tabernacle/the fence around it
7.      Oil for the menorah
8.      The priest’s garments
a.       Aharon’s and the future High Priest’s
b.      His sons and descendants
9.      Consecration of the priests
10.  The altar of incense

Burning incense is a form of worship

I find it curious how far down the list the altar of incense is. Many times Israel is chastised because they burnt incense to other gods, the hosts of heaven, and the queen of heaven. In the Book of Revelation we read:

“And when He opened the seventh seal, a silence occurred in Heaven, about a half hour. And I saw the seven angels who stood before God, and seven trumpets were given to them. And another angel came and stood on the altar, having a golden censer. And many incenses were given to him, that he should give them with the prayers of all the saints on the golden altar before the throne. And the smoke of the incenses went up with the prayers of the saints out of the hand of the angel before God. And the angel has taken the censer, and has filled it from the fire of the altar, and cast it into the earth; and sounds and thunders and lightnings and earthquakes occurred.” (Rev 8:1-5)

Incense seems to be an important part of our communion with our Father in Heaven and is mentioned as going up with the prayers of the saints. So why is the construction of the altar of incense listed as the last part of the Tabernacle?

Prerequisites to prayer

Perhaps it is because prayers, and the incense that accompanies them, require more preparation and are more weighty than we often give them credit for. Consider this, the ark, the showbread, the menorah, and the mishkan all represent Elohim.

The altar of sacrifice represents us, and the earthly mission of Yeshua.

Then we have the court of the mishkan, the fence around it, and it represents the separation of the holy from the general population and strangers.

Next is the oil for the menorah, the Ruach ha Kodesh given to us to lead us into all truth and be a comforter.

Then comes the garments and consecrations of the Kohen ha Gadol, the High Priest and the priests. We know from the apostolic writings that Yeshua is our High Priest, our Mediator with the Father as was Aharon.

Finally comes the altar of incense. The shadow shows me that in order for our prayers to reach our Father in Heaven, the whole system had to be put into place. We needed a mediator, sacrifice, the light to see Him, His presence, and a kadosh/holy/separated place to meet with Him.

Prayer time is separate time

I have seen a plaque that says “Time spent fishing is not deducted from a man’s life.” Maybe, but prayer time might better qualify for the exemption. With the construction of the Tabernacle in this order we see that prayer time is separate from the world, it comes after all the construction and furnishing. What follows in next week’s portion is the “tax” but literally the kopher neshama l’Yehovah, covering of soul to Yehovah.

The incense from the golden altar appears to do for Israel what the High Priest’s censer does for him when he enters the Holy of Holies. It covers our souls so we don’t perish.

May we ever be consistent in offering up our prayers before our Father that they may be a pleasing aroma to Him and remind Him that we are here and we are faithful.

Shavuah Tov