PriestlyCalling

      The title of this week's Sabbath reading portion is Va-yikra, which means "And he called". Va-yikra is also the name of the third book of the Torah, which we call "Leviticus", which is about the priesthood and the sacrificial offerings of the tabernacle. The title Va-yikra comes from the first and second verses of Leviticus Ch.1: "Now the LORD called (qara - call, cried, proclaim, named, preach, bidden, invited, utter a loud sound, call and commission, call and endow, appoint, weeping, to encounter, to meet) to Moses, and spoke to him from the tabernacle of meeting, saying, 'Speak to the children of Israel, and say to them: 'When any one of you brings an offering to the LORD, you shall bring your (*aleph-tav/Alpha and Omega) offering of the livestock - of the herd (baqar - young, cattle, ox, to seek, enquire, consider, search, look for, reflect, admire, care for, discern, associated with ploughing stripes in the ground) and of the flock (son - sheep, goats, lamb, shepherd, sheepfold, multitude, wool-producing, flock)." 

     These first few chapters of Leviticus, or Va-yikra, deal with the various offerings and the specific purposes given to these offerings that were to be made before the LORD. We see from the Hebrew meaning of the words "herd" and "flock" in the above verses that the person of Jesus and His flock are within. The children of Israel were to seek out, discern, consider, search for their Shepherd, to care for Him even before He physically manifested to them later in time. He was prophetically pictured for them as an offering for atonement (kapar - atonement, purge, reconciliation, forgive, pacify, to be covered, be merciful, cover over with pitch, make propitiation, obtain forgiveness) of sin (Lev. 1:4). These (*aleph-tav/Alpha and Omega) offerings to be brought to the LORD were to be burnt offerings, the Hebrew word ola/ala, which means "ascent, stairs of ascending, going up in smoke/ go up, climb, rise, excel, be exalted, be taken away, fetch up." We know that Jesus rose from the dead to ascend to His Father when He asked Mary Magdelene, "Whom are you seeking?" (Jn. 20:14-18) and later ascended into heaven, received by a cloud, before the eyes of His disciples. (Acts 1:6-11). Jesus ascended like the smoke of the burnt offering.

     The fact that this reading portion comes at the time when Passover and Resurrection Sunday are approaching is important for our understanding. In these first verses of Leviticus, the LORD was establishing a calling - commissioning and endowing the prophetic system of offerings administered by the priesthood. These burnt offerings for sin, trespass and peace were considered to be "most holy" by the LORD, and were to be ministered by the priests as atonement to prevent the people from suffering the curses caused by sin: "And he (the anointed priest) shall do with the bull as he did with the bull as a sin offering; thus he shall do with it. So the priest shall make atonement for them, and it shall be forgiven them." (Lev. 4:20). This is also the purpose of Jesus Messiah/Christ as our atonement for sin by His blood of sacrifice. (Isa. 53:5-7, Rom. 3:23-25, 1 Jn. 4:9-10). Not only is He our burnt offering, but He is also our High Priest who presented the burnt offering of Himself before the Father on our behalf. (Heb. 4:14-16, Heb. 5:1). After His death and resurrection, Jesus said to one of His followers: "Do not cling (haptomai/hapto - fasten one's self to, touch, cling to/to fasten fire to a thing, set on fire, light a fire to) to Me. for I have not yet ascended to My Father; but go to My brethren and say to them, 'I am ascending to My Father and your Father, and to My God and your God." (Jn. 20:17). It is also the case that by the command of the LORD, the lamb sacrificed on Passover must be "roasted in fire." If any of the lamb is left until morning, it is to be burned with fire. (see Ex. 12:8-10). Paul called Jesus "our Passover". (1 Cor. 5:7-8).

     Reading these Sabbath verses above, I also consider the following things: 1) We are entering the Passover/Resurrection season. 2) Jesus is expressed in the burnt offerings and became our eternal burnt offering. 3) We also have been commissioned and endowed by God as Priests (see 1 Pet. 2:9-10, Rev. 1:5-6, Rev. 5:9-10). Not only are we called to be priests, but royal priests according to the scriptures, ministering The Atonement, which is Jesus Messiah/Christ, that restores the relationship between God and His people and wipes out the curse of sin. We are the people of The Sacrifice, partakers of the altar (see 1 Cor. 10:18) as priests. The Burnt Offering which we minister not only overcomes sin, but death, Hell and the grave also. This Burnt Offering, who was Jesus, was meant not only for a select few but for the whole world. (Jn. 3:16-17). 

     One way that we administer both the Passover and the Atonement of Christ is through the Table of the Lord, also called Communion (koinonia/koinonos/syn - intercourse, fellowship, intimacy, association, joint participation/companion, of the altar in Jerusalem on which the sacrifices are offered, be one's partner in shedding the blood/denoting union, resemblance, completeness). Paul warns that we are to discern the Lord's body in this administration and receiving: "But let a man examine himself, and so let him eat of the bread and drink of the cup. For he who eats and drinks in an unworthy manner eats and drinks judgment to himself, not discerning the Lord's body. For this reason many are weak and sick among you, and many sleep." (1 Cor. 11:28-30).

     The Communion which we observe was taken directly by the Lord Jesus from the Passover meal that He celebrated with His disciples before He suffered and was crucified. (see Lk. 22:7-8, 14-20). Of the Passover cup from which Jesus gave to His disciples to drink, He said: "This is My blood of the new covenant, which is shed for many (polys - multitude, numerous, great, abundant, plenteous, the harvest to be gathered, a large part of mankind, the rest of mankind)." (Mk. 14:24). The blood of the Passover Lamb, who is Jesus, has expanded from applying to a household to "the harvest to be gathered, the rest of mankind."

     As Paul wrote of the revelation regarding Communion that he had received from the Lord, he said in conclusion: "For as often as you eat this bread and drink this cup, you proclaim (katangello - preach, show, declare, teach, speak of, announce, to make widely known, to put a law or decree into effect by official proclamation, proclaim publicly/from the root word kata: motion or diffusion or direction from the higher to the lower + root word angelos: to bring tidings, a messenger: especially an angel, one who is sent to execute God's purpose) the Lord's death till He comes." (1 Cor. 11:26).

     As part of Passover, the story of the deliverance of God's people from slavery was to be told to the children of the household (Ex. 12:24-27). The Passover Communion of the Lord Jesus Christ is, according to Paul's revelation above, to be made widely known, beyond the individual and household, to "the world", as ones sent in order to execute God's purpose in it. We are to make known His death, Paul wrote, as what we now know to be a covering atonement burnt offering to God for the sins of man. Passover was the prophecy given by the command of the LORD God to His people, and the Table of the Lord, or Communion, is the execution of that prophetic proclamation or decree by His messengers - us. 

     We often view Communion as an intimate and personal joining to the Lord, which it is, but it also accomplishes widely and much more in the Spirit as we can see.

     How are we ministering as priests this powerful gift that we have been given by Messiah/Christ for our joining with Him in His atonement sacrifice? Has it become just a ritual to us, not discerning the depth of purpose in it? Every stripe on the Lord's broken body and every drop of His blood unites the participant/partaker to Himself, and testifies farther beyond to the world. Paul wrote: "The cup of blessing which we bless, is it not the communion (see meaning above) of the blood of Christ? The bread which we break, is it not the communion of the body of Christ? For we, though many, are one bread and one body; for we all partake of that one bread...Are not those who eat of the sacrifices partakers (koinonos -see above) of the altar?" (1 Cor. 10:16-18). 

     Paul wrote that we were to examine ourselves as we partake of the Burnt Offering Sacrifice which is the Savior, Jesus. As His priests, are we handling the Body and Blood of Jesus with holy hands and a reverent heart? This week's Sabbath reading portion also asks God's people, Israel, to examine themselves.

     In Isaiah 43, we read of how the LORD feels towards His people as He pleads with them to examine themselves, especially in how they think of Him: "But now, thus says the LORD, who created you, O Jacob, and He who formed you, O Israel: 'Fear not, for I have redeemed you; I have called (qara - see above) you by your name; You are Mine...Since you were precious in My sight, you have been honored, and I have loved you; therefore I will give men for you, and people for your life. Fear not, for I am with you...Everyone who is called (bara - to create, shape, form, choose, of transformations, of birth, of miracles, of something new, of heaven and earth) by My name, whom I have created for My glory; I have formed him, yes, I have made him." (Isa. 43:1-7, excerpt). This is how God thinks of His people. 

     However, the LORD also spoke in this same reading portion from Isaiah of how His people thought of Him: "But you have not called (qara - see above) upon Me, O Jacob; and you have been weary of Me, O Israel. You have not brought Me the sheep for your burnt offerings, nor have you honored Me with your sacrifices....But you have burdened Me with your sins, you have wearied Me with your iniquities...Therefore I will profane (halal/hala - pollute, wounded, sorrow, make common, violate the honor of/be weak, be diseased, wounded, grieved, infirmity, pain) the princes of the sanctuary; I will give Jacob to the curse, and Israel to reproaches."  (v. 22-28, excerpt). The condition of the princes of the sanctuary became as Paul warned in 1 Cor. 11 above, when he cautioned us to examine ourselves as we think to become partakers of the Body and Blood of the Lord Jesus.

     From another reading portion of this "called" Sabbath, Solomon warned: "Walk prudently when you go to the house of God; and draw near to hear rather than to give the sacrifice of fools, for they do not know that they do evil. Do not be rash with your mouth, and let not your heart utter anything hastily before God. For God is in heaven, and you on earth; therefore let your words be few...Do not let (*aleph-tav/Alpha and Omega) your mouth cause (*aleph-tav/Alpha and Omega) your flesh to sin, nor say before the messenger of God that it was an error..." (Eccl. 5:1-6, excerpt). It is true that we go into the house of God to talk, and sometimes rashly, rather than to hear His voice. We value our own words very highly, but sometimes our words would be better left not spoken, especially before God. As priests, our ears should be attuned to the voice of the LORD rather than to our own voice. Do we enter the House of God expecting to hear His voice?

     We have read above of how the people of The Sacrifice, the partakers of the altar, should reverence the LORD. Isaiah 33 brings us the Word of the LORD regarding our integrity towards others: "He who walks righteously and speaks uprightly, he who despises the gain of oppressions, who gestures with his hands, refusing bribes, who stops his ears from hearing of bloodshed, and shuts his eyes from seeing evil: He will dwell on high; his place of defense will be the fortress of rocks; Bread will be given him, his water (mayim - waters, washing, watering, watersprings, wells, purification, streams, living water, rest and peace) will be sure. Your eyes will see the King in His beauty; they will see the land that is very far off." (Isa. 33:15-17).

     As priests, we are privileged not only to partake of the atoning sacrifice of Christ ourselves, but to minister it on behalf of others. The Passover lamb was to cover not only the individual but the whole household. The Passover Lamb, Jesus, was sent to cover not only the individual but the whole world, as He is received as our sacrifice. Are we ministering this covering atonement burnt offering for sin, transgressions and peace? If we who are called don't do it, who will? If we who are called don't treat the covering atonement burnt offering with the reverence its holiness deserves, then who will? The LORD said of the burnt offering: "...it is most holy." (Lev. 6:25). The inhabitants of the world need to hear from the royal priests of the Lord.

     If you would like to learn more about the power of God in the priestly ministering of His burnt offerings, including, His Son, Jesus, you can pray with me: "Dear Lord Jesus, You became my Burnt Offering, my Atonement covering my sin, my Passover Lamb who delivers from death. As You did this, You called me to be a royal priest in ministry before God on behalf of the people. You have allowed me to handle the sacrifice of Your body and Your blood in Communion, and to be a partaker of the altar of God. Fill me with the Holy Spirit so that I can "show/proclaim" Your death as a sacrifice for my sin and the sins of the world until You come. I ask this in Your holy name, Jesus. AMEN."

*NOTE: aleph-tav written in Hebrew as אֶת, are the first and last letters of the Hebrew alphabet. The meaning of the two pictographic Hebrew letters can also be interpreted "Adonai (Lord) of the Cross/Covenant". In the New Testament, these letters are translated as Alpha and Omega written as ΑΩ , the first and last letters of the Greek alphabet. These letters are those by which Jesus Christ identifies Himself in the Book of Revelation: see Rev. 1:8, Rev. 21:6, Rev. 22:13.

Clouds&Glory

      This week's Sabbath reading portion is titled P'kudei, meaning "Amounts of or Accounting of". The reading portion begins in Ex. 39, where we read: "Thus all the work (aboda/abad - work, service, serve, bondservant/serve, servant, work, worshippers, serve as a subject, work for another, make oneself a servant) of the tabernacle of the tent of meeting was finished. And the children of Israel did according to all that the LORD had commanded (*aleph-tav/Alpha and Omega) Moses; so they did." (Ex. 39:32).

     All of the items that had been crafted with which to assemble and furnish the tabernacle were brought to Moses: "Then Moses looked over (*aleph-tav/Alpha and Omega) all the work, and indeed they had done it; as the LORD had commanded, just so they had done it. And Moses blessed them." (Ex. 39:43).

     When considering the title of this Sabbath portion, what does the LORD want us to take an accounting of? As we see in the first verse above, the aboda/abad work of the tabernacle was accomplished by servants, even bondservants to God, according to the Hebrew meaning of the word. The offerings of required materials for the building of the tabernacle, as we read two weeks ago, were free will offerings from the heart of all of those who felt the desire to give. The fashioning of the materials into the actual furnishings and walls and coverings of the tabernacle was done as a bond service before the LORD which is a form of worship according to the Hebrew meaning of the word. Moses is described in several verses as being a servant ('ebed - servant, bondman, bondage, slave, worshipper) of God (Deut. 34:5, Num. 12:7-8, Josh. 1:1-2). 

     Moses' service, or making himself a bond servant of God, had farther reaching impact as well: "And Moses was faithful in all His (God's) house as a servant (therapon - a menial attendant, servant), for a testimony of these things which would be spoken afterward..." (Heb. 3:5). The purpose of Moses' bond service or worship to God was not just in accomplishing the vision of God for His tabernacle in the wilderness. Moses' bond service also had a prophetic importance pointing to things that would be revealed in the future, according to Heb. 3:5, above. 

     The apostle Paul also referred to his position as a bondservant or slave in service to God and Christ. However, not only did he commit himself as a bond servant, but Paul's calling and purpose were connected to his bond service (see Rom. 1:1-4, Titus 1:1-3). Paul begged all of us as believers in Christ to offer ourselves in the same manner as living sacrifices to God "which is your reasonable service/spiritual worship." (Rom. 12:1). Paul then warns us not to think more highly of ourselves than we ought to think (v. 3). Our elevation doesn't come from how high our own thoughts are about ourselves, but rather it comes from how low we can bow as bond servants before the LORD. To truly walk in the purpose, gifting and calling of God, it requires us to make ourselves bond servants to Him (1 Cor. 7:22, 1 Pet. 2:15-16). Slavery in bitter service to another person has an ugly meaning to us and we resist it and reject it, but slavery to God elevates us, completes us, sets us free and prophetically impacts future events, as Moses' bond service to God did. We become a living prophecy.

     Keeping the above information in mind, in Ex. 40, also part of this week's Sabbath reading, the LORD gives Moses this command: "On the first day of the first month you shall set up the (*aleph-tav/Alpha and Omega) tabernacle of the tent of meeting....And it came to pass in the first month of the second year, on the first day of the month, that the tabernacle was raised up. So Moses raised up (qum - rise up, arise, raise, establish, to stand, to be fulfilled, cause to arise) the tabernacle..."" (v. 1-2, 17-18). The first month of the year is also the month of Passover.

     The surprising fact in this 40th chapter of Exodus is that Moses assembled and activated the tabernacle himself. All of the verses use "he" as indicating Moses as the one who set up the tabernacle. For example: "He put the lampstand in the tabernacle of meeting, across from the table,...and he lit the lamps before the LORD, as the LORD had commanded Moses. He put the gold altar in the tabernacle of meeting in front of the veil; and he burned incense on it, as the LORD had commanded Moses." (Ex. 40:24-27). As far as we can tell from the language used here, Moses did all that was required to place and activate the elements that had been fashioned for the tabernacle. Moses was even to bring Aaron and his sons to the door of the tabernacle, and wash and dress them in their priestly garments himself. (v. 12-15). Generations later, during the same first month, at the time of Passover, Jesus would wash the feet of His disciples and dry them with the towel that He had wrapped around His waist. (Jn. 13:1-9).

      Why was it necessary for Moses to assemble the tabernacle himself, rather than the priests or the children of Israel? The verse from Hebrews above tells us that Moses, as the bond servant of the LORD, did what he did in service as a prophetic action of what was to come later. Moses was a prophet, and his obedient actions were prophetic. In the same manner as the tabernacle was raised up (qum - see above), Jesus would say many generations later around the time of the Passover, that the temple (meaning His body) if destroyed would be raised up in three days. In this case referring to His future death and resurrection (Jn. 2:18-22).

     So the prophetic bond servant of God, Moses (see Deut. 34:10-12, Acts 3:22-23), with every action that he personally took concerning the establishment of the tabernacle, was also prophesying future events. This was his office or calling as a prophet.

     The tabernacle was then completed: "And he (Moses) raised up (qum - see above) the (*aleph-tav/Alpha and Omega) court (haser/hasar - enclosure, court/to sound or blow a trumpet, to sound with clarions) all around the tabernacle and the altar, and hung up the (*aleph-tav/Alpha and Omega) screen of the court gate. So Moses finished (&aleph-tav/Alpha and Omega) the work." (Ex. 40:33).

     When the bond servant, Moses, finished the work of assembling the tabernacle: "Then the cloud (anan - cloud-mass of theophanic cloud, a cloud as covering or veiling over the heaven, to veil over, a large army, a barrier, a cloud of incense, to make appear, to observe times) covered the (*aleph-tav/Alpha and Omega) tent (ohel/ahal - tabernacle, dwelling/to be clear, shine, bright) of meeting, and the glory (kabod/kabad - glory, honor, abundance, riches, splendor, reverence/heaviness, grievous, glorious) of the LORD filled the (*aleph-tav/Alpha and Omega) tabernacle. And Moses was not able to enter the tabernacle of meeting because the cloud rested above it, and the glory of the LORD filled the (*aleph-tav/Alpha and Omega) tabernacle...For the cloud of the LORD was above the tabernacle by day, and the fire was over it by night, in the sight of all the house of Israel, throughout all of their journeys (massa/nasa - pulling up stakes, setting out, point of departure, a station on a journey/set forward, depart, remove a camp, to take away, cause to go, to cut out stones from a quarry)." (ex. 40:34-35, 38).

     In another reading portion from this Sabbath, we read again of how the temple of the LORD was filled with His cloud and His glory upon its completion: "And it came to pass, when the priests came out of the holy place, that the cloud filled (*aleph-tav/Alpha and Omega) the house (bayit/bana - house, home, temple, habitation, family, families, a house as containing a family of descendants, descendants as an organized body/build, builder, establish, repair, built up of children even of the barren wife, obtain children) of the LORD, so that the priests could not continue ministering (sarat - serve, servant, minister to, attend as a menial or worshipper, wait on) because of the cloud; for the glory of the LORD filled (*aleph-tav/Alpha and Omega) the house of the LORD. Then Solomon spoke: 'The LORD said He would dwell in the dark cloud. I have surely built You an exalted house, and a place for You to dwell in forever." (1 Kings 8:10-13).

     As the dwelling place of God went from being a tabernacle to a temple, we can see above from the word bayit/bana meaning temple, the house of the LORD now includes the dwelling place of His family, His children, His descendants. Now, the understanding goes from "the children of Israel" to "the sons (and daughters)" of God through the Messiah/Christ: "But as many as received Him (Jesus), to them He gave the right/power/authority to become sons (children) of God, to those who believe in His name: who were born, not of blood, nor of the will of the flesh, nor of the will of man, but of God." (Jn. 1:12-13, see also Rom. 8:14-17, Gal. 4:4-7).

     However, both the tabernacle completed by Moses and the temple completed under King Solomon's (selomo/salom/salam - David's son [the King of] Peace/peace, completeness, safety, prosperity, health/recompense, reward, good, restitution, finished) reign, became filled with the cloud and the glory of God, as we see above.

     The manifestation of the cloud and the glory connected to the completion of both of these dwellings of the LORD also has prophetic significance as we also discovered concerning Moses' completion of the work on the tabernacle. We have these scriptures to consider. Jesus said speaking of His return: "Then the sign of the Son of Man will appear in heaven, and then all the tribes of the earth will mourn (see Zech. 12:10-11), and they will see the Son of Man coming on the clouds of heaven with power and great glory. And He will send His angels with a great sound of a trumpet (see the meaning of "court"/haser/hasar, above), and they will gather together His elect from the four winds, from one end of heaven to the other." (Mt. 24:30-31, see also Mk. 13:24-27, Rev. 1:5-7, 1 Thess. 4:16-17). The prophet Daniel also prophesied: "I was watching in the night visions, and behold, One like the Son of Man, coming with the clouds of heaven! He came to the Ancients of Days, and they brought Him near before Him. Then to Him was given dominion and glory and a kingdom, that all peoples, nations, and languages should serve Him. His dominion is an everlasting dominion, which shall not pass away, and His kingdom the one which shall not be destroyed." (Dan. 7:13-14).

     As we also saw above from Ex. 40, the cloud and the glory of the tabernacle were connected to the "journeys" (see massa/nasa above) or departures of the Israelites. The cloud and glory that Jesus spoke about above, and as Paul wrote of in the New Testament, are also connected to a departure point or removal within our spiritual journey. This removal or pulling up tent stakes in our journey is referred to as "the Rapture", which comes from a Latin word meaning "a carrying off, a snatching away". In the Greek of the New Testament the word used is harpazo which means "caught up, caught away, snatch out or away". This is when the dead in Christ and those still living who believe in Him are changed in substance and caught up to Christ in the clouds. We depart to be with Him forever. It is a defining moment in our journey in Christ.

     The work of Moses in Ex. 40 as the bond servant and prophet of God was not confined to the completion of a physical tabernacle but was also a prophecy of the living tabernacle associated with the Messiah/Christ and the point of departure in the spiritual journey of God's people to come.

     If you would like to know more about the meaning of this prophetic work of God's bond servant Moses, you can pray with me: "Father in heaven, You appointed a great work for Moses to accomplish, not only on behalf of the children of Israel, but on behalf of all of Your future sons and daughters through Jesus Christ. I can see Jesus in the cloud and glory that covered and entered Your tabernacle and, later, Your temple. Who could have imagined all of the things that You have planned for us on our spiritual journey with You?! You have hidden those plans in Your Word for us to search out and be enriched by. Lord, lead me in the way of being Your bond servant so that I may accomplish through my life all of the things that You have given me to do and become. Teach me Your Word and fill me with Your Spirit to change me and prepare me for the wonders ahead. I ask these things in the name of Jesus. AMEN."

*NOTE: aleph-tav written in Hebrew as אֶת, are the first and last letters of the Hebrew alphabet. The meaning of the two pictographic Hebrew letters can also be interpreted "Adonai (Lord) of the Cross/Covenant". In the New Testament, these letters are translated as Alpha and Omega written as ΑΩ , the first and last letters of the Greek alphabet. These letters are those by which Jesus Christ identifies Himself in the Book of Revelation: see Rev. 1:8, Rev. 21:6, Rev. 22:13.

SabbathMystery

      The title of this week's Sabbath reading is Va-yakheil, which means "And he assembled". This comes from the first verse of this week's reading portion in Ex. 35: "Then Moses gathered (*aleph-tav/Alpha and Omega) all the congregation of the children of Israel together, and said to them, '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 (sabat - produce of the Sabbath year, to cease, to rest, exterminate, destroy, remove, cause to fail, desist from exertion, be completed, day of rest of heart as in the propitiation of the Deity [meaning to appease and gain the favor and good will of God as by the atonement sacrifice of Jesus Christ], intermission) of rest (sabaton - Sabbath observance, Day of Atonement, Feast of Trumpets, Great Sabbath, solemn Sabbath) to the LORD. Whoever does (asa - execute, work, maker, accomplish, bring about, appoint, institute, bruise, provide, prepare to build) any work on it shall be put to death (mut - slay, dead, kill, die prematurely by neglect of wise moral conduct, perish, be destroyed). You shall kindle (ba'ar - burn, brutish, fierce, barbarous, burn up, consume by fire, God's wrath, be stupid, dull-hearted, unreceptive, to feed upon, eat up, de-pasture a field or a vineyard, remove, exterminate) no fire (es - fire, burning, fiery, flaming hot, God's anger, the fire of God, any destruction, conflagration destroying or endangering crops) throughout your dwellings on the Sabbath day." (v. 1-3).

     This is the fourteenth and last mention of the LORD's law dealing with the Sabbath day in the Book of Exodus only. The Sabbath, to me, is a mystery that is not satisfied with the religious rules of men that have surrounded it, obscured it and smothered it. The heavy emphasis that the LORD places on the Sabbath throughout all of the scriptures, and especially in the Book of Exodus, tells me that there is more here concerning the meaning of the Sabbath than meets the eye, and I seek here to have my understanding of that meaning deepened.

     I can start with the verses above. First, I can see that the repetition of the LORD's command regarding the Sabbath is for ALL of the people who are identified with Messiah/Christ, both Jew and Gentile, as indicated by the presence of the Aleph-tav/Alpha and Omega identity of Christ (see note below). This is borne out by Jesus when He taught that the Son of Man, speaking of Himself, is LORD of the Sabbath, because the Sabbath was created by God for the benefit of man, and not man for the benefit of the Sabbath. (see Mk. 2:27-28). We also see the identity of the Messiah/Christ in the fact that the Hebrew meaning of Sabbath includes the rested state of the heart/soul because atoning propitiation has been made (By Jesus Christ) to appease the wrath of God and turn it into His favor towards us instead. With this favor through the propitiation blood atonement also comes the right to be called sons/children of God because they have been born anew by the will of God (Jn. 1:10-13) and to receive eternal life as promised in scripture (Jn. 3:14-17). We can then also understand why death comes to those who do not receive the Sabbath and its holiness in the eyes of God, who gave His beloved Son for this atonement purpose. 

     We see this again in the Book of Hebrews, chapters 3 and 4, where the belief in the Son of God allows the believer to enter into God's rest, His Sabbath, while God had previously told His people that they could not enter His rest because of their unbelief. (Heb. 3:16-19, Heb. 4:1-3, Ps. 95:6-11).

     The Apostle John revealed this: "He who believes in Him (the Son of God) is not condemned; but he who does not believe is condemned (krino - pronounce judgment, to be judged, summoned to trial, examined and to have judgment passed, to separate, put asunder, to contend at law) already, because he has not believed in the name of the only begotten Son of God. And this is the condemnation, that the light has come into the world, and men loved the darkness rather than light, because their deeds were evil." (Jn. 3:18-19). Here is the death that God referred to in the verses above from Ex. 35. It is the death that comes from the condemnation of unbelief. The rest of the soul has not been entered because of the rejection of the atoning blood of the Messiah/Christ Jesus in rebellion against God.

     Next in our journey of understanding the Sabbath, we can see from the Hebrew meaning of the word Sabbath its connection to "produce", specifically the produce provided not by man but by God during the Sabbath. In fact, man's work to "produce" is strictly forbidden. Not only is there an appointed physical produce represented by this definition, but also a spiritual produce, which the LORD creates in His Sabbath.

     The Sabbath provision of "produce" by the LORD is ample, even a double portion, and we will see this ample provision that comes after Moses declared the law of the Sabbath for this fourteenth (7 X 2) time in Ex. 35:1-3 above. This reminder of the importance of the Sabbath comes just before the people of God begin to bring their offerings forth for the building of the tabernacle. They brought forth so much that the master builders who had been given (*aleph-tav/Alpha and Omega) all of the offerings had to come to Moses and asked him to command the people to stop bringing the offerings: "So Moses gave a commandment, and they caused it to be proclaimed throughout the camp, saying, 'Let neither man nor woman do any more work for the offering of the sanctuary.' And the people were restrained (kala - restrict, restrain, withhold, shut up, keep back, forbid) from bringing, for the material they had was sufficient for all the work to be done - indeed too much." (Ex. 36:2-7, excerpt). The Word of God also says that the LORD is able to do exceedingly abundantly above all that we ask or think, according to the power that works in us..." (Eph. 3:20).

    In God's command to Moses in Ex. 35 to give to the people of Israel, God includes a new thought into the observance of the Sabbath as we see above: "You shall kindle no fire throughout your dwellings (mosab/yasab - habitation, dwelling, seat, assembly, situation, location, territory, habitable places of the land/dwell, abide, inhabit, sit, to marry, seated on thrones of judges and kings, seated at the King's right hand) on the Sabbath day." (Ex. 35:3).

     The Sabbath rest of God produces more than enough for what is needed. Do we understand the real meaning of the Sabbath? Or do we think that it is just a particular day of the week? The Sabbath is not fulfilled with religious rules created by men, but the Sabbath reflects the character, heart and purpose of God.

     We see above that one's "dwelling" can extend from far beyond the personal dwelling and into the wider territory beyond. One's "dwelling" also includes the concept of being seated at the right hand of the King, and having the authority of a king or a judge seated on a throne. There are many references in scripture to the fact that the resurrected Jesus is seated at the right hand of God the Father (Ps. 110:1-2, Heb. 1:3-4, Acts 2:33, Acts 7:54-56, Rev. 3:21, Mt. 22:41-46, 1 Pet. 3:21-22). Not only does Jesus occupy the right hand of God, but we do also as we are in Him. (Col. 3:1-3, Rev. 3:21).

     The idea of kindling a fire within a dwelling may, or course, be taken literally, as many do, but if we look at the meaning of the words in Hebrew, we will discover a very important principle of the Sabbath. The word "kindle" in Hebrew is ba'ar, which means "burn, brutish, fierce, barbarous, burn up, consume by fire, God's wrath, be stupid, dull-hearted, unreceptive, to feed upon, eat up, de-pasture a field or a vineyard, remove, exterminate". Who would have thought that these extremely destructive thoughts and behaviors would be associated with this word?! God's Sabbath includes the blessing of produce, however, thus kindling consumes those pastures and fields of produce by fire.

     Included in the meaning of "fire", which is the Hebrew word es, is "fire, burning, fiery, flaming hot, God's anger, the fire of God, any destruction, conflagration, destroying or endangering crops". We can see how this kindling of fire would be everything opposite of what is intended by the Sabbath of God.

     One way that we kindle this kind of fire is with the words that we speak. The Apostle James wrote: "Even so the tongue is a little member and boasts great things. See how great a forest a little fire kindles! And the tongue is a fire, a world of iniquity. The tongue is so set among our members that it defiles the whole body, and sets on fire the course of nature; and it is set on fire by hell....no man can tame the tongue. It is an unruly evil, full of deadly poison. With it we bless our God and Father, and with it we curse men, who have been made in the similitude of God." (James 3:5-9). How awful and pervasive is the absence of the Sabbath in our mouths!

     Even the great prophet, Isaiah, when gazing prophetically upon the glory of (*aleph-tav/Alpha and Omega) the Lord, the Messiah/Christ in His (*aleph-tav/Alpha and Omega) temple, cried out, "Woe is me, for I am undone (dama - cut off, cease, perish, destroy, cut down, ruined, made silent in death)! Because I am a man of unclean lips, and I dwell in the midst of a people of unclean lips; For my eyes have seen (*aleph-tav/Alpha and Omega) the King, The LORD of hosts." (Isa. 6:1, 5). Here also is the "death". Then one of the angels came to him with a coal from the altar and touched the lips of the prophet to cleanse them. (v. 6-7).

     When Jesus was rejected by a Samaritan town because He intended to head to Jerusalem, His disciples asked Him in pride of their spiritual authority if they should command fire to come down from heaven and consume them. Jesus rebuked them saying: "You do not know what manner of spirit you are of. For the Son of Man did not come to destroy men's lives but to save them." (Lk. 9:51-56). We carelessly kindle fires of destruction with our words thinking that we are doing God a favor, but the Lord of the Sabbath rebukes us as being of another spirit.

     Isaiah wrote the Word of the LORD concerning His Sabbath: "If you turn away your foot from the Sabbath, from doing your pleasure on My holy day, and call the Sabbath a delight, the holy day of the LORD honorable, and shall honor Him, not doing your own ways, nor finding your own pleasure, nor speaking your own words, then you shall delight yourself in the LORD; And I will cause you to ride on the high hills of the earth, and feed you with the heritage of Jacob your father. The mouth of the LORD has spoken." (Isa. 58:13-14).

     This is one of the mysteries of the Sabbath revealed by the LORD in order to deepen our knowledge in Him. If you would like to learn more about the depths of the Sabbath, you can pray with me: "Our Father, You sent Your Son to be Lord of the Sabbath for us, and You called us to walk after Him and to be seated with Him in heavenly places. By Your Holy Spirit, help me to understand the depths and blessings of Your Sabbath which You have commanded us to keep holy. By that same Spirit, help me to guard the words of my mouth, not kindling the consuming fires of destruction, but bringing forth instead the fire of Your Spirit, with which I was baptized in the name of Jesus. Let the Lord of the Sabbath be pleased with the words of my mouth, and His Spirit within me. Let the words of my mouth lead others into the rest of God. I ask this in the name of Jesus. AMEN."

*NOTE: aleph-tav written in Hebrew as אֶת, are the first and last letters of the Hebrew alphabet. The meaning of the two pictographic Hebrew letters can also be interpreted "Adonai (Lord) of the Cross/Covenant". In the New Testament, these letters are translated as Alpha and Omega written as ΑΩ , the first and last letters of the Greek alphabet. These letters are those by which Jesus Christ identifies Himself in the Book of Revelation: see Rev. 1:8, Rev. 21:6, Rev. 22:13.

Workmanship

       This week's Sabbath reading portion not only gave me more information about the construction of the tabernacle in the wilderness, but for me it also reflected the building of each believer in Christ, and the building of the spiritual entity known as "the Church". The title of this week's Sabbath reading portion is Ki Tissa, which means "When you take". This title comes from Ex. 30:11-12: "Then the LORD spoke to Moses, saying: 'When you take the (*Aleph-tav/Alpha and Omega) census/sum of the children of Israel for their number, then every man shall give a ransom (koper/kapar - redemption price, price of a life, as a covering [of asphalt or pitch], henna plant used for a dye, ransom/atonement, purge, reconciliation, forgive, merciful, cleansed, pardon, cover over) for himself/for his soul to the LORD, when you number them, that there may be no plague among them when you number them." 

     This instruction is given in the middle of the commandments for the furnishings of the tabernacle. This gives me the thought that the redeemed people of God are included in the concept of the furnishing of the tabernacle. The "ransom" is directly related to redemption and atonement covering. The including of the henna plant in the meaning of "ransom" is very meaningful to believers in Messiah/Christ because the leaves of the henna plant/tree, when crushed to powder are used to produce a bright red pigment called lawsone. When the lawsone pigment/dye ages it darkens to a brownish red color just as blood darkens as it oxidizes. The dye from pure, natural henna adheres to a living surface, like skin or hair, because of a reaction to proteins found there. This bright red to reddish brown dye reminds us of the blood of Jesus covering over our sins in atonement.

     The New Testament tells us that the spiritual house/temple of God is built of living stones or people, both Jew and Gentile. (1 Pet. 2:4-5, Eph. 2:19-22). We can be built into this spiritual house/tabernacle/temple because Christ paid our redemption price for us: "In Him we have redemption through His blood, the forgiveness of sins, according to the riches of His grace which He made to abound toward us in all wisdom and prudence." (Eph. 1:7-8). Also: "Christ has redeemed us from the curse of the law, having become a curse for us (for it is written, 'Cursed is everyone who hangs on a tree'), that the blessing of Abraham might come upon the Gentiles in Christ Jesus, that we might receive the promise of the Spirit through faith." (Gal. 3:13-14). Psalm 107:2-3 says: "Let the redeemed of the LORD say so, whom He has redeemed from the hand of the enemy, and gathered out of the lands, from the east and from the west, from the north and from the south."

     We can again see a parallel between the construction of the tabernacle and the building of the Church of believers as the LORD appoints a master builder: "Then the LORD spoke to Moses, saying: "See (ra'a - perceive, see by revelation, foresee), I have called by name Bezalel ("in the shadow/protection of God", protection from the sun in the shadow of branches, shaded,  to sink down into, to be hidden, to perish, buried) the son of Uri (fiery, flame, light of fire, revelations, to give light, break of day, to become light, shine, glorious) the son of Hur (white cloth, fine linen [see Rev. 19:7-8, assoc. with the Bride/Church], be splendid, noble), of the tribe of Judah (Praise, give thanks, confession, confess the name of God, to cast down). And I have filled him with the Spirit of God, in wisdom, in understanding, in knowledge, and in all manner of workmanship (melaka/malak - occupation, work, deputyship, ministry, messenger, angel, prophet, priest, teacher, ambassador, king), to design artistic works. to work in gold, in silver, in bronze, in cutting jewels for setting, in carving wood, and to work in all manner of workmanship." (Ex. 31:1-5).

     When we look at the meaning of Bezalel's name above, we see the idea of sinking down into, even being hidden within or perishing. We are told in the New Testament to "put on Christ". (see Rom. 13:14, Gal. 3:27). "Put on" is the Greek word endyo, meaning to sink into. We are to immerse ourselves into Christ, even as we have died with Him and have been buried with Him, even as we have been raised with Him (Gal. 2:20, Rom. 6:4, Col. 2:12).

     The Hebrew meanings associated with "workmanship" above are even more powerful as they relate to the Church. Paul wrote: "For we are His workmanship, created in Christ Jesus for good works, which God prepared beforehand that we should walk in them." (Eph. 2:10). The meaning of "workmanship" is rooted in the terms of "ministry, messenger, angel, prophet, priest, teacher, ambassador, king". These terms are also connected with the offices gifted to the Church by God as Paul mentioned in Eph. 4:11-13, not for the purpose of building a physical building but a spiritual one in the measure and image of Jesus Christ. (see also Eph. 2:19-22). Jesus addressed the heads of the churches in Revelation chapters 2 and 3 as "angels" or messengers. We have already seen in previous studies that the fifteen elements used to construct the tabernacle depicted an image of Jesus Messiah/Christ. The master builders assemble these elements into the (spiritual) tabernacle and its furnishings.

   Paul wrote that he was called to be an apostle, which from the Greek word apostolos means: a delegate, messenger, ambassador, eminent teacher of the Gospel. Paul wrote to the Church at Corinth as an ambassador for Christ (2 Cor. 5:20-21). He also refers to himself as "a master builder" concerning the Church, as Belzalel would have been considered in connection with the tabernacle, writing: "For we are God's fellow workers; you are God's field, you are God's building. According to the grace of God which was given to me as a wise master builder I have laid the foundation, and another builds on it...For no other foundation can anyone lay than that which is laid, which is Jesus Christ. Now if anyone builds on this foundation with gold, silver, precious stones, wood, hay, straw, each one's work will become clear...Do you not know that you are the temple of God and that the Spirit of God dwells in you?" (1 Cor. 3:9-13, 16).

     Bezalel from Ex. 31 was gifted by God with His Holy Spirit to be able to take the hasab design of God for the tabernacle and turn it into mahasaba artistic works. This is also the definition of faith as taught to the Church: "Now faith is the substance of things hoped for, the evidence of things not seen. For by it the elders obtained a good report. By faith we understand that the worlds were framed by the word of God, so that the things which are seen were not made of things which are visible." (Heb. 11:1-3). Our whole walk as believers in Christ, and the living temple that we are becoming, is built upon this understanding of prophetic faith. If we step away from this, we step away from Christ and our own resurrection in Him. (Col. 2:6-7, 2 Cor. 5:6-8).

     Bezalel was not appointed by Moses, but by God. Paul wrote the same of his apostolic calling: "Paul, an apostle (not from men nor through man, but through Jesus Christ and God the Father who raised Him from the dead), and all the brethren who are with me..." (Gal. 1:1).

     Above, Paul also mentions that he is including the brethren with him in addressing his letter to the Galatians. Paul is not alone. Bezalel was not alone either. Named specifically by God to work with Bezalel in the construction of the tabernacle was Aholiab: "And I, indeed I, have appointed with him (meaning Bezalel) Aholiab ("Father's tent/tabernacle/dwelling/covering/to be clear, to shine, to be bright) the son of Ahisamach (brother or kindred of support, uphold, establish), of the tribe of Dan (judge, plead a cause, contend, execute/strong, firm, Lord, to rule); and I have put wisdom in the hearts of all the gifted artisans, that they make all that I have commanded you..." (Ex. 31:6). The LORD emphasized that Aholiab was being appointed by Him, and his name is synonymous with the tabernacle of God and shining brightly, as we are also called and appointed to be and to do.

     As we can see, there is a magnificent spiritual edifice being built which is called The Church, the Body of Christ, with master builders having been appointed by God to bring forth this spiritual structure. "Brethren of support" have also been appointed to help establish this structure. I think that the case has also been established here that the pattern or design of this structure as well as its construction has been established by God and is patterned after the construction of the tabernacle in the wilderness.

     While the master builders have the vision that they are appointed to bring into manifestation, often, as the Book of Hebrews says, they are hindered by the members of the Body who do not understand this pattern, or the expected end result: "For though by this time you ought to be teachers, you need someone to teach you again the first principles of the oracles of God; and you have come to need milk and not solid food...a babe...Therefore, leaving the discussion of the elementary principles of Christ, let us go on to perfection (teleiotes/telios/telos - moral and spiritual perfection, completeness, more intelligent/lacking nothing necessary to completeness, full age, mature/finish, end, purpose), not laying again the foundation of repentance from dead works..." (Heb. 5:12-6:1, excerpt). 

     The spiritual edifice being constructed is not to our glory, but, like the tabernacle, it is the dwelling place of Jesus within us and of His salvation, redemption, and atoning work to the glory of God, the Father. Let us move on to the vision of the completed workmanship and accomplish it!

     If you would like to walk in this workmanship of God, you can pray with me: "Father, You have given the vision for Your spiritual temple and the manifestation of Your Holy City.  This vision is of a living temple that conforms to the likeness and Person of Your Son, Jesus Messiah/Christ. Fill us with the Holy Spirit and wisdom, helping us to fulfill Your purpose in us individually and as a body together. I ask this in the name of Jesus. AMEN."

*NOTE: aleph-tav written in Hebrew as אֶת, are the first and last letters of the Hebrew alphabet. The meaning of the two pictographic Hebrew letters can also be interpreted "Adonai (Lord) of the Cross/Covenant". In the New Testament, these letters are translated as Alpha and Omega written as ΑΩ , the first and last letters of the Greek alphabet. These letters are those by which Jesus Christ identifies Himself in the Book of Revelation: see Rev. 1:8, Rev. 21:6, Rev. 22:13.

Little

      The title of this week's Sabbath reading portion is T'tzavveh, meaning "You shall command". This title comes from Exodus 27:20, the first part of the reading portion: "And you shall command (tsa-vaw - command, appoint, charge, order, commission, set up) the (*aleph-tav/Alpha and Omega) children of Israel that they bring you pure (zak/zakak/zaka - clean, clear, pure, righteous, the pure one/to be pure, bright, clean, shining splendor of nobles, make clean, pure in God's sight, to cleanse, to wash/clean, pure, justified, keep clean, keep pure, to be translucent, be innocent) oil of pressed (katit/katat - beaten out regarding pure oil, pounded fine, costly/beat down, destroyed, break in pieces, smite, crushed, bruise, violently strike) olives for the light, to cause the lamp to burn continually."

     This command from God is for the aleph-tav/Alpha and Omega people of God (see *notation below). That includes all believers in Messiah/Christ both Jewish and Gentile. The hidden mystery of God from the beginning was to bring forth the Messiah/Christ, Jesus, from among the children of Israel for the whole world. (Col. 1:26-27). The very olive oil used to light the lamp of the tabernacle referred to above is a reflection of the righteousness and suffering of Jesus to produce us justified, clean and pure, so that we also may shine as He shines. He is the Light of the world, and commands us also to be the light of the world. There is a parable told by Jesus of the foolish virgins who had no oil for their lamps. When He, the Bridegroom came suddenly, they were unprepared to go with Him. When they tried to enter into His presence later, Jesus told them, "Assuredly, I say to you, I do not know you." (Mt. 25:1-12). The prepared pressed/beaten/crushed/bruised pure oil, which identified Him, was not present in them.

     We also saw in last week's Sabbath reading portion blog titled "HeaveOffering", that all of the fifteen free-will offerings used to construct the tabernacle reflected the image and pattern of Jesus Christ.

     The Sabbath reading portions from Exodus chapters 27 through 30 deal with the furnishings of the holy chamber in the tabernacle that was before the holiest place. It also deals with the holy garments that Aaron was to wear as the high priest. Moses was to wash and dress Aaron himself in the presence of Aaron's sons: "And you shall make holy garments for Aaron your brother, for glory and for beauty...to consecrate him, that he may minister to Me (the LORD) as priest." (Ex. 28:1-3, Ex. 29:4-9).

     The tabernacle was meant to be a holy place where the LORD would dwell with His beloved people as the LORD told Moses: "...at the door of the tabernacle of meeting before the LORD, where I will meet you to speak with you. And there I will meet with the children of Israel, and the tabernacle shall be sanctified by My glory. So I will consecrate the (*aleph-tav/Alpha and Omega) tabernacle of meeting and the altar...I will dwell among the children of Israel and will be their God. And they shall know that I am the LORD their God, who brought them up out of the land of Egypt, that I may dwell among them. I am the LORD their God." (Ex. 29:42-46).

     How beautiful is the desire of God to dwell among His people! How did this miraculous and awesome purpose become empty religious ritual to some? The LORD said: "Inasmuch as these people draw near with their mouths and honor Me with their lips, but have removed their hearts far from Me, and their fear toward Me is taught by the commandment of men..." (Isa. 29:13, see also Mt. 15:7-9). However, God will never give up on His greatest desire to dwell among men. He sent Jesus, His Son, to walk and tabernacle or dwell among us and even in us. (Jn. 1:14). God will also bring His heavenly tabernacle to descend to the earth in order to dwell with men. (Rev. 21:1-6).

     In another reading portion from this T'tzavveh Sabbath portion, the LORD revealed to His prophet, Ezekiel, the message that the glory and beauty of His tabernacle/temple should bring to men: "And the glory of the LORD came into the temple by way of the gate which faces toward the east. The Spirit lifted me up and brought me into the inner court; and behold, the glory of the LORD filled the temple....Son of man, this (the tabernacle/temple of the vision) is the (*aleph-tav/Alpha and Omega) place of My throne and the place of the soles of My feet, where I will dwell in the midst of the children of Israel forever....Son of man, describe the temple to the (*aleph-tav/Alpha and Omega) house of Israel, that they may be ashamed of their iniquities; and let them measure the (*aleph-tav/Alpha and Omega) pattern (taknit - pattern, measurement, consummation, perfect form)...Write it down in their sight, so that they may keep its (*aleph-tav/Alpha and Omega) whole design (sura/sur - a form as if pressed out, a rock/rock, block of stone) and all its ordinances, and perform them. This is the law of the temple: The whole area surrounding the mountaintop is most holy. Behold, this is the law of the temple." (Ezek. 43:4-12, excerpt).

     In this case, the vision of the tabernacle/temple has the purpose of showing His people how holy He is, and how holy they are not. Sometimes, we cannot see the spots and stains upon ourselves, yet it is necessary if we are to allow God to bring us closer to Himself in His dwelling place with us. This amazing vision of the temple of God was to achieve that - that the people of God would see their own iniquities in contrast to the glory of God. It is interesting here though that not only is the holiness of the LORD on display but also His glory. His holiness is His glory. When the prophet Isaiah experienced the LORD's holiness and resulting glory, he realized his own iniquity. (see Isa. 6:3-5). In the same way, the LORD commands Ezekiel to show the pattern and design of the temple to His people.

     The LORD wants His people to know the temple's pattern and to keep its design. Both of these things are based upon the aleph-tav/Alpha and Omega (see above), which is the identity of the Messiah/Christ, Jesus. Paul wrote about believers in Christ coming to "the unity of the faith and of the knowledge of the Son of God, to a perfect man, to the measure of the stature of the fulness of Christ." (Eph. 4:13). This is also the story that the tabernacle/temple has to tell God's people according to the written Hebrew of the verses from Ezekiel above. This is the place where we come to have our sins washed away by the atonement sacrifice (Jesus Messiah/Christ) and to walk in the presence and the glory of God, which Jesus gave to us that we may be one with each other as the Father and Son are One, as well as we being made perfect in one. The glory is unifying. (Jn. 17:22-23).

     The purpose of the vision of the tabernacle/temple of God given to Ezekiel was to call God's people out of the low place of men's doctrines and ways, and into the high, glorious place of the holiness of God through the pattern and design that represents the Messiah/Christ.

     The last piece of our puzzle from this Sabbath's reading portion is the theme of Zachor. Zachor means "Remember and don't forget." Zachor is observed on this Sabbath as the Jewish people are entering into the period of time before Purim, the deliverance of God's people from an evil man's plan for their destruction, and Passover, when the lamb was sacrificed and its blood applied to the doorposts and lintels of the houses of the Israelite slaves in Egypt. The blood of the lamb would protect their houses from the plague of the death of the first born that would lead to their deliverance from Egypt and its slavery. For believers in Christ, this is also the time before the crucifixion and Resurrection of Jesus the Messiah/Christ and our Passover Lamb.  Zachor observed during this time, like the tabernacle/temple, has a pattern, similar to the pattern of Ezekiel's vision of the temple, as we will see, that we are to remember and observe.

     The Zachor reading that is part of this Sabbath comes from 1 Sam.15. King Saul was given a command from the LORD through His prophet Samuel. Samuel was also the judge of Israel. Saul was given the command to totally destroy that Amalekites: "Now go and attack Amalek, and utterly destroy all that they have, and do not spare them. But kill both man and woman, infant and nursing child, ox and sheep, camel and donkey." (1 Sa. 15:2). Amalek was one of the nations that ambushed and attacked Israel when the LORD was bringing Israel up out of Egypt. The Amalekites were also involved in sorcery and other occultic practices to a very dark and dangerous degree. Their involvement with dark magic went so deep that it manifested not only in each person, but also in all of their animals. Rabbinical writings suggest that the Amalekites, through black magic, were shape-shifters, able to take on the form of animals. The Amalekites were descendants of Esau, the brother of Jacob, and the grandson of Abraham. Therefore they would have at some point had the knowledge from their forefathers of the God of the Hebrew people, the God of Abraham, Isaac and Jacob. They had fallen away from the light of God, and sought the darkness of the occult instead.

     However, Saul was not obedient to the command of God spared the Amalekite king, Agag, and the best of the Amalekite animals. Not waiting for Samuel, Saul even sacrificed these bewitched animals to God in order to please the people. (v. 9). 

     Afterwards, Samuel heard this from the LORD: "I greatly regret that I have set up Saul as king, for he has turned back from following Me, and has not performed My commandments." (v. 10). Samuel also found out that Saul had set up a monument for himself at Carmel. As Samuel confronted Saul, Saul insisted that he had performed the command of the LORD given to him, but then blamed the desire of the people with him who had wanted to spare the best of the animals. Samuel delivered the judgment of the LORD upon King Saul: "When you were little (qatan - young, small, insignificant, unimportant, little) in your own eyes, were you not head of the tribes of Israel? And did not the LORD anoint you king over Israel?...Why did you swoop down (it - scream, shriek, fly, swoop down upon, to dart greedily) on the spoil, and do evil in the sight of the LORD?" (v. 17-19).

     Samuel told King Saul that obedience to God's voice was better than sacrifice, and rebellion against the LORD was equal to the sin of witchcraft (which was what the Amalekites practiced). Saul was no better than the Amalekites in the eyes of the LORD. Saul pleaded with Samuel to pardon his sin and return with him, so that Saul could worship the LORD. Samuel said to Saul: "I will not return with you, for you have rejected (*aleph-tav/Alpha and Omega) the word of the LORD, and the LORD has rejected you from being king over Israel...The LORD has torn (*aleph-tav/Alpha and Omega) the kingdom of Israel from you today, and has given it to a neighbor of yours who is better than you. And the Strength of Israel (referring to the LORD) will not lie nor relent. For He is not a man, that He should relent." (v. 22-29, excerpt). Samuel, however, did relent and return with Saul so that Saul would not be dishonored in front of the elders of Israel, which had been Saul's concern. (v. 30). Again, Saul's concern was his own honor in the eyes of others, and not in respecting the Word of the LORD. We know that Samuel would soon anoint young David to be the next king of Israel.

     Samuel, himself, carried out the word of the LORD and killed Agag, the king of the Amalekites whom Saul had disobediently spared. (v. 32-33).

     Samuel pointed out to King Saul that his fall from the LORD didn't begin with his disobedience to the LORD's command. It began when Saul stopped seeing himself as "little" before the beauty, glory and holiness of the LORD. To me, this is the lesson that we are to zachor remember and never forget. It is the same lesson that the LORD wanted Ezekial to show the people as the prophet revealed the pattern and design of the temple of the prophet's vision.

     We all begin to go astray when we forget that we are little before the LORD, even when He has kindly elevated us by the grace of His Son, our Savior, Jesus. Paul wrote to the church: "For I say, through the grace given to me, for everyone who is among you, not to think of himself more highly than he ought to think, but to think soberly, as God has dealt to each one a measure of faith." (Rom. 13:3). 

     Jesus gave us this powerful insight: "Let the little children come to Me, and do not forbid them; for of such is the kingdom of God. Assuredly, I say to you, whoever does not receive the kingdom of God as a little child will by no means enter it." (Lk. 18:16-27). 

     Many have fallen because they forgot to be "little". God's elect are disgraced before the heathen because they forget to be "little".  Zachor remember and don't forget, especially as we come into this powerful season of the deliverance of the LORD.

     If you would like to know more about remaining "little" in the sight of the LORD, you can pray with me: "Father, when I look into Your holiness and the pattern and design of Your House, based upon the sacrifice ow Your own precious and beloved Son, Jesus, I want to remember and never to forget to be little before You. If I catch myself thinking more highly of myself, or if I desire to be honored and respected before men more than God, let me remember to be little. Jesus told us that the Kingdom is composed of little children. Remind me, LORD, to be a little child before You. Show me the pattern and design of Your glorious House when I forget to be little. I ask this in the name of Jesus. AMEN."

*NOTE: aleph-tav written in Hebrew as אֶת, are the first and last letters of the Hebrew alphabet. The meaning of the two pictographic Hebrew letters can also be interpreted "Adonai (Lord) of the Cross/Covenant". In the New Testament, these letters are translated as Alpha and Omega written as ΑΩ , the first and last letters of the Greek alphabet. These letters are those by which Jesus Christ identifies Himself in the Book of Revelation: see Rev. 1:8, Rev. 21:6, Rev. 22:13.

     

HeaveOffering

      This week's Sabbath reading portion is titled T'rumah, which means "Offering". The title comes from the first two verses of the reading portion which begins in Ex. 25: "Then the LORD spoke to Moses, saying: 'Speak to the children of Israel, that they bring Me an offering (teruma/rum - contribution, heave offering in sacrifice, offering for sacred uses, an oblation/lifted up, exalt, high, heave, extol, to rise, rise up, be set on high, be raised). From everyone who gives it willingly (nadab - willingly offered, offered freely, to volunteer) with his heart you shall take (*aleph-tav/Alpha and Omega) My offering."

     The offering that Moses has been told to receive from the Israelites has two characteristics: it is a heave offering, meaning lifted up, and it is voluntary, to be given from the heart. This special heave offering of specific items will go to the building of the tabernacle of God's presence, containing the ark of the covenant of God's Word, providing His atonement for sins, as His house of light and bread, and as His house of prayer. All of the reading portions assigned to this Sabbath pertain to the building of the tabernacle of the wilderness, or later in time, the temple built by King Solomon in Jerusalem.

     The two characteristics of the offerings to be brought are also reflective of Jesus Christ, who is the chief cornerstone of the spiritual house or temple of God (Eph. 2:19-22), of which we are the living building stones (1 Pet. 2:4-5). First, the heave offering is displayed to us as Jesus said: "Now is the judgment of this world; now the ruler of this world will be cast out. And I, if I am lifted up (hypsoo/hypsos/hyper - to lift up on high, to raise, to elevate, to exalt/high, exalted, elevation/for the sake of, on behalf of, instead of, on the part of, above, exceedingly abundantly) from the earth, will draw all (peoples) to Myself.' This He said, signifying by what death He would die." (Jn. 12:31-33). Jesus identified Himself as a heave offering as we compare the meaning in the Greek to the similar meaning in the Hebrew above. The sacrifice of Messiah/Christ was also completed by His resurrection, when, again, He was "raised up". (see 1 Cor. 15:16-17).

     The second characteristic of this offering from the Israelites is that it must be voluntarily given out of love. We often think that Jesus' was killed by men, but it was not possible for men to take Jesus' life unless He allowed it. Jesus had at His beck and call legions of angels if He so desired to escape. (see Mt. 26:50-54). Of His death as a voluntary T'rumah heave offering, Jesus clearly stated: "I am the good shepherd. The good shepherd gives His life for the sheep...As the Father knows Me, even so I know the Father; and I lay down My life for the sheep...Therefore My Father loves Me, because I lay down My life that I may take it again. No one takes it from Me, but I lay it down of Myself. I have the power to lay it down, and I have the power to take it again. This command I have received from My Father." (Jn. 10:11-18, excerpt).

     Like the heave offerings that built the tabernacle of God, Jesus' heave offering of Himself was voluntary and given from His heart - His heart for His Father in heaven, and His heart for His sheep.

     The voluntary T'rumah heave offerings to be brought for the building of the tabernacle, according to the instructions that the LORD gave to Moses, included fifteen specific items that ranged from precious metals and gems to various colored threads. (Ex. 25:3-7). All of these items according to their Hebrew meanings create an image of the characteristics and sacrifice of Jesus. Some of the translated meanings of the fifteen types of items to be offered include: to shine, shimmer, brilliance, white fine linen, alabaster, sacrificial victim, prevail, strong, doorposts and lintels (a reminder of the blood of the Passover Lamb, who is also Jesus), leader of a flock, noble leader, laid bare, made naked, fasten to wooden timbers or planks, carpenter, scourging thorns, to pierce, to whip, anointing, fruitfulness, light, glorious, consecrated, anointed, sweet smell or fragrance, sweet smoke of sacrifice, precious stone, build a house, temple, altar, foundation or family, Father/Son.

     The LORD continued His instructions to Moses: "And let them make Me a sanctuary (miqdas/qadas - sacred place, holy place, consecrated place/prepare, sanctuary, dedicate, holy, appointed, treated as sacred: set apart), that I may dwell among them (see also Jn. 1:14, Rev. 21:3). According to all that I show you, that is, the (*aleph-tav/Alpha and Omega) pattern of the tabernacle and the pattern of all its furnishings, just so you shall make it." (Ex. 25:8-9). Moses could not construct a tabernacle from his own ideas, but there was a specific pattern (tabnit - plan, resemblance, figure, form, likeness, similitude, image or likeness of a thing) that must be created for the tabernacle. This "pattern" is modified by an untranslated aleph-tav in the written Hebrew (or Alpha and Omega in Greek: see notation below), which, to those who have read the Book of Revelation, is how Jesus described Himself.

     Why is the LORD asking His people to voluntarily bring these fifteen specific items as a T'rumah heave offering? The meaning of the number fifteen to us might represent 3 (the Trinity) X 5 (the number of Grace), or perhaps 10 (the number of Completion) + 5 (the number of Grace).

     However, Jewish rabbis also teach about the meaning of the number fifteen that is not contradictory to the deepest and most powerful concepts of the New Testament as we will see. According to the rabbis, "fifteen" represents the rest achieved after the deliverance represented by the number "fourteen". It also signifies a new direction as well as the bond between husband and wife (see also Eph. 5:25, 30-33). The number fifteen also equals the number of the Psalms of Ascent (Ps. 120-134), which are equivalent to the fifteen steps of the temple, those steps achieving the elevation of the individual from the physical to the spiritual state as well as the joining together of heaven, represented by the number 7, and earth, represented by the number 8 together totaling 15. The rabbis write that there are also fifteen signs of the closeness of the appearing (or return by our belief) of the Messiah/Christ. These fifteen signs indicate that the Messiah/Christ is so close to appearing that "you can hear His footsteps". These fifteen signs are also very similar to Paul's teaching in Rom. 1:28-31 and 2 Tim. 3:1-5.

     The number fifteen is also represented by the two Hebrew letters yod and heh, letters which mean "Behold the Hand (of God)", and are the first two letters in the name of God: YHWH. So "fifteen" also represents the powerful work of the hand of God.

     What the rabbis write about the meaning of the number fifteen as shown above is revealed in the New Testament in what it means to be in Jesus Messiah/Christ as believers. In us, as we are in Messiah/Christ, heaven and earth are to be reconciled to God through His Son (2 Cor. 5:18-21) and joined together. Jesus taught His disciples the prayer, which states in part: "Our Father in heaven, hallowed be Your name. Your Kingdom come. Your will be done on earth as it is in heaven..." (Mt. 6:9-10).

     Also, as we ascend into the presence of God through Christ, we are to be changed into new creatures (2 Cor. 5:17). We change from the physical state to the spiritual state, from corruption of the flesh to the incorruption of the Spirit (1 Cor. 15:50-54). A change takes place as we were crucified with Christ and as we offer ourselves as a living (heave) offering sacrifice to God (see Rom. 12:1-2, Gal. 2:20). Scripture says that we ascended into the heavenly places as we are in Christ (see Eph. 2:4-10), not conformed to the things of this world, but we are transformed into the image and likeness (see "tabnit - pattern" above) of the fulness of Jesus Messiah/Christ through His Word. (see also Eph. 4:11-15). 

     As we can see, the New Testament reflects what the rabbis teach regarding the number "15".

     These are not just words that we read but they are the expectation of God for us now as we remain in His Son, Jesus Messiah/Christ. These are not just promises for a "sweet by and by" after we have died but are to manifest in us now as the apostles wrote it. Do we have the faith to believe in the complete meaning of the accomplished work of Jesus as a T'rumah heave offering on the cross, and as the Resurrection and the Life for the now time in our lives? The rabbis foresaw God's miraculous and transforming purpose for us, but we New Testament believers have a difficult time "believing" it. We are very much caught up in the events and conditions of this world, focusing our eyes on the dirt beneath our feet, not wanting to let go of it long enough to reach out for the vision and things of heaven. We are to speak and believe in a transforming reconciliation of the two through Jesus Christ and His voluntary T'rumah heave offering.

     Eventually, the transformative change will be so extensive that it will result in new heavens and a new earth, with the holy city of heaven and the tabernacle of God descending to the earth as the Lord declares : "Behold, I make all things new...It is done! I am the Alpha and Omega, the Beginning and the End..." (Rev. 21:1-6). Peter also wrote that we are to look (prosdokao - look for in expectation, denotes mental direction) for these things in order to hasten (speudo/pous - desire earnestly, to await eagerly, to study, to urge on/sit at the feet of a teacher, put one's foot on the vanquished in victory) them. (2 Peter 3:10-14). We are to have an active role in this transformation process promised by God since Genesis, not passively sitting on the sidelines.

     The house, tabernacle, or temple of God is built from T'rumah heave offerings given from the heart that are in the pattern of the Messiah/Christ.

     If you would like to know more about the pattern of the Messiah/Christ in the building of the house of God, you can pray with me: "Heavenly Father, after the pattern of Your Son, Jesus, I offer myself as a living heave offering for the building of Your living temple here on the earth, as it is in heaven. The purpose of this living temple is so You can dwell among Your people in the holy sanctuary created in me through Jesus. I earnestly desire to see Your will, Father, done on earth as it is in heaven. Transform my mind to walk in the ascended places by Your Holy Spirit and the Word of God. Teach me how to bring reconciliation between heaven and earth until new heavens and a new earth are manifested according to Your prophetic promise.  I ask these things in the name of Your Son, Jesus. AMEN."

*NOTE: aleph-tav written in Hebrew as אֶת, are the first and last letters of the Hebrew alphabet. The meaning of the two pictographic Hebrew letters can also be interpreted "Adonai (Lord) of the Cross/Covenant". In the New Testament, these letters are translated as Alpha and Omega written as ΑΩ , the first and last letters of the Greek alphabet. These letters are those by which Jesus Christ identifies Himself in the Book of Revelation: see Rev. 1:8, Rev. 21:6, Rev. 22:13.

     

MishpatimJudgments

      The title of this Sabbath's reading portion is Mishpatim, which means "Judgments, ordinances". That reference comes from the first verse that we read in this Sabbath portion in which the LORD says to Moses: "Now these are the judgments (mispat/sapat - judgment, manner, right, ordinance, law, lawful, order, fashion, custom, measure, procedure, justice, rectitude, verdict/to judge, a judge, plead, avenged, execute, defend, deliver, punish, to rule, govern, judge) which you shall set before them." (Ex. 21:1). Often when we think of the judgment of God, it carries a negative interpretation. However, the judgment of God is not only to punish the guilty, but to defend us and avenge the innocent or the victim of evil, as we can see by the Hebrew meaning of the word above. As the LORD gave Moses the details of His law in the chapters of Exodus related to this Sabbath, we see that the LORD is most concerned about justice for the most vulnerable members of the Hebrews: Hebrew servants and slaves, the poor, the victims of crime and attack, and women. Even the Sabbath is mentioned as a benefit for the less powerful, including the animals who labor: "Six days you shall do your work, and on the seventh day you shall rest, that your ox and your donkey may rest, and the son of your female servant and the stranger may be refreshed (Ex. 23:12)...Six years you shall sow (*aleph-tav/Alpha and Omega) your land and gather in (*aleph-tav/Alpha and Omega) its produce, but the seventh year you shall let it rest and lie fallow, that the poor of your people may eat; and what they leave, the beasts of the field may eat. In like manner you shall do with your vineyard and your olive grove. (v. 10-11). Jesus also taught the Sabbath, not as a religious burden or obligation, but as an opportunity for God to minister to those who are suffering, and to be a blessing to His people in general. (see Lk. 13:10-17, Mk. 2:24, 27-28). If God's law shows concern for the just treatment, comfort and well-being of animals, how much more does He concern Himself with the same for His people? Jesus said the same: "Look at the birds of the air, for they neither sow nor reap nor gather into barns; yet your heavenly Father feeds them. Are you not of more value than they?" (Mt. 6:26). Are not all people of more value? We also know that Jesus advocated for the most vulnerable in society, the children. (see Mk. 10:13-16).

     The Lord's care for the vulnerable in His law is seen in another reading portion from this Sabbath. The enemy, the king of Babylon and his army was at the gates of Jerusalem. The king of Judah, Zedekiah, initiated a(n) (*aleph-tav/Alpha and Omega) covenant to proclaim liberty to the Hebrew slaves. The (*aleph-tav/Alpha and Omega) people who entered into this covenant let their (*aleph-tav/Alpha and Omega) slaves go but then changed their minds and brought them back into slavery again. This action prompted the prophetic word and mishpatim judgment of the LORD through His prophet Jeremiah: "...you recently turned and did what was (*aleph-tav/Alpha and Omega) right in My sight - every man proclaiming liberty to his neighbor; and you made a covenant before Me in the house which is called by My name. Then you turned around and profaned (*aleph-tav/Alpha and Omega) My name, and every one of you brought back his (*aleph-tav/Alpha and Omega) male and (*aleph-tav/Alpha and Omega) female slaves, whom you had set at liberty, at their pleasure, and brought them back into subjection, to be your male and female slaves. Therefore thus says the LORD: '...Behold, I proclaim liberty to you...to the sword, to pestilence, and to famine! And I will deliver you to trouble among all the kingdoms of the earth...I will give them into the hand of their enemies, and into the hand of those who seek their life...I will make the cities of Judah a desolation without inhabitant." (Jer. 34:8-22, excerpt). We see here how the LORD carried out the full meaning of mishpatim above. He enforces justice and right, especially for those who are vulnerable. This is not about the world abusing His people, but about His people abusing their vulnerable brethren, and thereby profaning the (*aleph-tav/Alpha and Omega) name of the LORD.

     The LORD's prophet to the northern kingdom of Israel, Amos, also spoke of the Mishpatim judgments and ordinances of the LORD against those who harm the vulnerable: "...they abhor the one who speaks uprightly...you tread down the poor...afflicting the just and taking bribes; diverting the poor from justice at the gate....Seek good and not evil, that you may live...Establish justice at the gate. It may be that the LORD God of hosts will be gracious to the remnant of Joseph." (Amos 5:10-15, excerpt).

     The Mishpatim Sabbath reading selection which covers Ex. 21 through Ex. 24 follows the giving of the Ten Commandments in Ex. 20. All of the specific ordinances that follow stem from those Ten Commandments, and those Ten Commandments and all of the Law and the prophets stem from two commandments. When Jesus' knowledge of the Law was tested by a lawyer among the Sadducees and the Pharisees who asked Him what the greatest commandment was: "Jesus said to him, 'You shall love the LORD your God with all your heart, with all your soul, and with all your mind. This is the first and great commandment. And the second is like it: You shall love your neighbor as yourself. On these two commandments hang all the Law and the Prophets." (Mt. 22:34-40, also Deut. 6:5, Lev. 19:18). All of the law encompasses these two truths.

     While the readings for this Mishpatim Sabbath involve specifics of the Law (of Moses), this Sabbath is also significant because it is the Sabbath of the new moon, Rosh Chodesh, signifying the beginning of a new month. This coming new month will include the observance of Purim, when the plan to destroy the Jews of Persia was exposed and destroyed (see the justice, avenging and deliverance meaning of the word Mishpatim above) as told in the Book of Esther. This special Sabbath also includes some supernatural events and prophecies as part of the assigned reading that takes the precepts of the Law to the next level.

     Isaiah 66 from this Mishpatim Sabbath portion is read for this Rosh Chodesh, the new moon of the new month. While specific days are set aside for observance, like the Sabbath and each Rosh Chodesh , the LORD promises to use those days to expand the knowledge of Him throughout all of the earth, including the creation of new heavens and a new earth: "For as the new heavens and the new earth which I shall make shall remain before Me,' says the LORD, 'So shall your descendants and your name remain. And it shall come to pass that from one New Moon to another, and from one Sabbath to another, all flesh shall come to worship before Me,' says the LORD." (Isa. 66:22-23). The Sabbath is the first day of the new week, and the appearance of the new moon occurs on the first day of the new month. Both the Sabbath and the new moon are "new beginnings" that the LORD will expand and extend to their ultimate creative meaning: new heavens, new earth, new but perpetually continuing worship by all flesh. How have such powerfully meaningful occasions to both God and man been reduced to empty religious practices?

     Isaiah also wrote the word of the LORD regarding the empty observances and sinful ways of God's people: "Bring no more futile sacrifices; incense is an abomination to Me. The New Moons, the Sabbaths, and the calling of assemblies - I cannot endure iniquity and the sacred meeting. Your New Moons and your appointed feasts My soul hates; They are trouble to Me, I am weary of bearing them...Wash yourselves, make yourselves clean; put away the evil of your doings from before My eyes. Cease to do evil, learn to do good; Seek justice, rebuke the oppressor; defend the fatherless, plead for the widow." (Isa. 1:13-17, excerpt). Thye LORD wasn't looking for empty rituals from empty hearts, but He was looking for what they truly represent: mishpatim judgments.

     Those who observe the Sabbaths and the Feasts must understand and enter into the eternal, the creative, power and presence of the LORD in them. If we choose to ignore their true meanings, then the LORD says to us as He said to His people in Isaiah above, "Don't bother!" And their true meanings, according to Isaiah, above, are wrapped up in Mishpatim judgments - the kind of Mishpatim judgments and ordinances exhibited by Jesus as He inhabited the Feasts, and fulfilled the Feasts, including the Sabbath. He is the substance of them. (Col. 2:16-17). If scripture tells us that we dwell together with and within Messiah/Christ (Col. 2:6-7, 9-10), and He revealed that He is Lord of the Sabbath (see Mt. 12:7-8, Mk. 2:27-28, Lk. 6:5), then we must understand the measurement of eternity and the Kingdom of God that the Sabbath and the new moon represent as Isaiah revealed above. Jesus also said: "For indeed, the Kingdom of God is within you." (Lk. 17:20-21).

     Paul wrote the following to the church expounding upon the mishpatim judgments and ordinances of God: "Therefore, as the elect of God, holy and beloved, put on tender mercies, kindness, humility, meekness, longsuffering; bearing with one another, and forgiving one another, if anyone has a complaint against another; even as Christ forgave you, so you also must do. But above all these things put on love, which is the bond of perfection. And let the peace of God rule in your hearts, to which also you were called in one body; and be thankful...Masters, give your bondservants what is just and fair, knowing also that you have a Master in heaven." (Col. 3:12-15). Paul also said: "I have shown you in every way, by laboring like this, that you must support the weak..." (Acts 20:35). 

     Paul, a master Torah scholar, knew that the mishpatim judgments and ordinances of God and Christ must also be reflected in the Church of believers.

     If you would like to learn more about the judgments of God, you can pray with me: "LORD of all, help me to understand and live the mishpatim judgments and ordinances of Your Word, which Jesus taught and fulfilled. Help me to understand the wonders and power built into Your Sabbath and new moons, and Your appointed Feasts. Forgive me when I limited their true meaning to a day of the week, or a custom or tradition. Forgive me when I created my own judgments and neglected to follow the Spirit and depth of Your judgments. I ask this in the name of Your Son, Jesus, Messiah/Christ. AMEN."

 *NOTE: aleph-tav written in Hebrew as אֶת, are the first and last letters of the Hebrew alphabet. The meaning of the two pictographic Hebrew letters can also be interpreted "Adonai (Lord) of the Cross/Covenant". In the New Testament, these letters are translated as Alpha and Omega written as ΑΩ , the first and last letters of the Greek alphabet. These letters are those by which Jesus Christ identifies Himself in the Book of Revelation: see Rev. 1:8, Rev. 21:6, Rev. 22:13.