Assembled

The Tabernacle of Meeting, assembled after the departure from Egypt, and the two temples that were later built in Jerusalem, one built by Solomon and the other started later by Nehemiah, continue to mean a great deal to the Jewish people. The concept of the tabernacle/temple has such spiritual importance, that according to the Jewish sages, reading about, discussing or meditating upon the prophesied third temple of Ezekiel (Ezek. 40-46) carries the same weight as if one is physically worshipping and offering at the temple in Jerusalem. They describe the importance of the tabernacle/temple in this way: everything connected to the tabernacle, the structure, the furnishings, the offerings and ministry activities, accomplish God's unity and the rectification of each individual soul, and the world. This is called "tikkum", a Hebrew word that also means "warfare". We may argue that the LORD is already One. Even the Jews declare His Oneness in the Shema that is said: "Hear, O Israel, the LORD our God is one LORD" from Deut. 6:4. However, to the Jewish sages, the tabernacle was and is instrumental in the unifying of the LORD's name. They point to the last chapter of Zechariah, as the LORD overcomes the world, and will cause all nations to come to Jerusalem to observe the Feast of Tabernacles (Zech. 14:16). Here are some verses from earlier in Zech. 14: "Then the LORD will go forth and fight against those nations, as He fights in the day of battle. And in that day, His feet will stand upon the Mount of Olives, which faces Jerusalem on the east...Thus the LORD my God will come, and all the saints with You...And in that day it shall be that living waters shall flow from Jerusalem...And the LORD shall be King over all the earth. In that day it shall be - "The LORD is one", and His name is one." Jesus prayed to His Father in John 17 for this Oneness between Himself and His Father, and also for the inclusion of His believers in that Oneness. We see in His prayer, that the Oneness is not achieved just within the Godhead, but must include the called out assembly of God's people as well. As was God's purpose from the beginning, there is no Oneness without man: "I do not pray for these alone, but also for those who will believe in Me through their word; that they all may be one, as You, Father, are in Me, and I in You; that they also may be one in Us, that the world may believe that You sent Me." (Jn. 17:20-21). The Oneness achieved between the Father, the Son, and His believers also affects the world in Jesus' intercessory prayer, as the Jewish sages had said. This week's Sabbath Torah reading begins in Ex. 35 and continues through Ex. 40. As we have seen in previous portions that dealt with the tabernacle (see Ex. 31:12-17), Moses again reminds the people about the importance of keeping the Sabbath: "These are the words which the LORD has commanded you to do: Work shall be done for six days, but the seventh day shall be a holy day for you, a Sabbath of rest to the LORD. Whoever does any work on it shall be put to death. You shall kindle no fire throughout your dwellings on the Sabbath day." (Ex. 35:2-3). Unfortunately, the Sabbath commanded repeatedly by God does not always play a large role in our Christian walk, but it is evident that it plays a very important role in God's relationship with His people. It is so important, that failure to join the LORD in the Sabbath can bring death. The Sabbath is not for the LORD's benefit, but for man's, as Jesus clarified: "The Sabbath was made for man, and not man for the Sabbath. Therefore, the Son of Man is also Lord of the Sabbath." (Mk. 2:27-28). The Sabbath, in previous mentions in scripture, is called by the LORD "a sign" (Ex. 31:17). He also calls it a perpetual (Hebrew word olam, which is a word for eternity) covenant (Ex. 31:16). The Lordship of Jesus is embodied in the Sabbath, as Jesus said, because it is a benefit to man. The Sabbath is not limited to this dimension, but extends into eternity (olam). By keeping the Sabbath, we are entering into a rest that includes works that were finished from the foundation of the world (Heb. 4:3, Rev. 13:8). We become partakers of that finished work as we enter into His rest (Heb. 4:9-11). It is not legalism to observe the Sabbath, it is both a prophetic signpost and witness, and an eternal place that represents us, the completed and perfected work of God through His Son. The name of this Sabbath's reading portion is Va-yakheil - P'kudei, which are two terms that are translated ""And he assembled" and "Accountings of". In the Torah portions, Ex. 35-40, and the haftarah portions (1 Kings 7-9), the furnishings, implements, and coverings of the tabernacle/temple were assembled and accounted for. Every woven thread, every peg, every hook, every pillar, every carrying pole, all of the rings and the hangings, all of the sockets for the door: "This is the inventory of the tabernacle, the tabernacle of the testimony, which was counted according to the commandment of Moses." (Ex. 38:21). The description and accounting for the most minute details of the tabernacle were checked. The people were assembled and counted: 603,550 men over twenty years of age (Ex. 38:26). "According to all that the LORD had commanded Moses...just so they had done it. And Moses blessed them." (Ex. 39:42-43). The same assembling and accounting for took place when Solomon built the temple in Jerusalem centuries later (haftarah portion 1 Kings 7-9). In both instances, the glory of the LORD filled the tabernacle/temple when the work was completed and assembled. In both cases, neither the priests, nor Moses, nor the priests assembled later by Solomon could stand in the presence of the glory of God as it filled the tabernacle/temple (Ex. 40:34-35, 1 Kings 8:10-11). They had to leave the building. This glory of the LORD, before which not even Moses could stand, is the same glory that Jesus has already given to us: "And the glory which You (Father) gave Me I have given them, that they may be one just as We are one." (Jn. 17:22). Here is the oneness again of which the Jewish sages spoke, accomplished now in us by being filled with the same glory, because we are the carefully detailed and assembled, having each minute part meticulously accounted for, living temples of God: "Do you not know that you are the temple of God, and that the Spirit of God dwells in you?" (1 Cor. 3:16, see also 1 Cor. 6:17, 19-20). We were prophetically assembled and accounted for all of those centuries ago, as Moses faithfully and obediently followed the pattern for the Tabernacle of the Testimony. Not only can we stand in the presence of the glory of God, unlike Moses and the old covenant priests, but we contain that glory given by Jesus. May we understand our Oneness with Jesus and the Father, and our importance as the holy tabernacles of God, filled with His glory, and His Holy Spirit. Our Father has completed His work and unified His Name in us, His living tabernacles. If you would like to enter into a life as the tabernacle of God, you can pray: "Dear Father, You have made me to be a sanctuary, a tabernacle of the testimony of Jesus Christ, filled with the glory of Jesus, and with Your Holy Spirit. I believe that I have been saved from sin and consecrated by the sacrifice of your Son, Jesus, who also rose from the dead for me. Fill me with your Holy Spirit so I can be a sanctified temple, because I have been bought with a price. I ask these things in the name and promise of Your Son, Jesus. Amen."