Consecrated

      The title of this week's Sabbath reading portion is Sh'mini, which means "the eighth day." This title comes from Leviticus 9:1, which says: "It came to pass on the eighth (semini/samen/saman - eight/plenteous, fat, robust, rich/to shine with oil, to cover with fat-oil) day (yom - time, day, daily, year, ever, continually, full, always, whole, day as opposed to night) that Moses called Aaron and his sons and the elders of Israel." At this point, Aaron and his sons had spent seven days in the tabernacle until their consecration had ended. (see Lev. 8:31-36). They spent those seven days of consecration (millu'/mala' - installation of priests, setting stones/gems, dedicatory sacrifice, sacrifice of inauguration/fill, fulfill, full, complete, consecrate, accomplish, replenish, overflow, gather) eating ('akal - eat, devour, consume, destroy, slay, burn up) the burnt offering of consecration (Lev. 8:28) and the bread from the basket of consecration offerings (see Lev. 8:31). 

     The "basket" mentioned above that contained the bread of the consecration offerings, is the Hebrew word and root sal/salal, which means: a slender rod of which baskets are woven, a basket woven from reeds/raise up, lift up, exalt, extol, esteem highly, to gather, to make a way level by casting up stones, make plain. The basket is made of slender rods or reeds that can be woven. The Messiah/Christ, the Elect One in whom the LORD delights, is prophetically connected to a bruised reed by Isaiah: "A bruised reed He will not break, and smoking flax (linen or cotton used for a wick) He will not quench. He will bring forth justice for truth." (Isa. 42:3). The reed of Egypt and Palestine grows to a great height, and it is jointed in its stem like bamboo. It has a magnificent blossom at the top of the reed. It is so slender and tender that a gust of wind can flatten it, but then it will immediately be raised up to its upright position. Jesus was laid down in death but rose back up again like the reed. The Gospel of Matthew references this prophecy from Isaiah, and Jesus' fulfilment of it. (see Mt. 12:15-21). When the soldiers mocked Jesus' Kingship before His crucifixion, they struck Him with the reed that they had placed in His hand. (Mt. 27:27-31). Jesus is both the Bread (Jn. 6:35, 48-51) and the (reed) Basket that contains the consecrating Bread, which is His Body raised from the dead. Just as Aaron and his sons were told to eat the bread from the basket of consecration offerings, Jesus took bread and broke it and told us to eat it, saying, "Take, eat; this is My body." (Mt. 26:26). The Bread that is His sacrificed body not only feeds us Life but consecrates us as it follows the pattern above. During this time of Passover and the Resurrection, partaking in the elements of Communion with the Lord is especially meaningful.

     Now, on the eighth day, the ministry of Aaron and his sons as priests of the atonement would begin: "And Moses said to Aaron, 'Go to the altar, offer (*aleph-tav/Alpha and Omega)-your-sin-offering-and-your-burnt-offering and make atonement (kapar - atonement, purge, reconciliation, forgive, merciful, cleansed, appease, pardon, pitch covering) for yourself and for the people. Offer (*aleph-tav/Alpha and Omega)-the-offering of the people, and make atonement for them, as the LORD commanded." (Lev. 9:7).

     The purpose of the seven days of consecration was in order to minister the atoning sacrifice for themselves as priests and for the people. Jesus, as indicated by the Hebrew written *aleph-tav above is our offering for the atonement for sin. 

     As the followers of Messiah/Christ, He also consecrated us with His own body. It is not a consecration for the purpose of religious oppression and hypocrisy, for which Jesus condemned the Pharisees and scribes, but it is a consecration in Messiah/Christ and His atonement blood of mercy and forgiveness, and it was always meant to be so as the prophetic pattern revealed. This consecration requires serious consideration on our parts. Paul wrote that we are called to holiness, called to come out from among the worldly, the profane and the unclean things (as Aaron and sons were commanded to remain in the tabernacle for seven days). (see 1 Thess. 4:7, 2 Cor. 6:17-18)). The Book of Hebrews calls it a heavenly calling. (Heb. 3:1).

     The Lord Jesus told us to take and eat of His body. His body and blood were the one-time and forever offering for the sins of the world, forming a new covenant between God and the people: "But Christ came as High Priest of the good things to come, with the greater and more perfect tabernacle not made with hands, that is, not of this creation. Not with the blood of goats and calves, but with His own blood He entered the Holy Place once for all, having obtained (for us) eternal redemption." (Heb. 9:11-12). God made Messiah/Christ "who knew no sin to be sin for us, that we might become the righteousness of God in Him." (2 Cor. 5:21). Jesus fulfilled the will of God to be a sin offering for the world, not out of a religious obligation, but out of the love of the Father for the world, and the love of the Son for the Father and for us. We can understand why the apostle Peter wrote to us that love covers a multitude of sins. (1 Pet. 4:7-8). Our greatest and life-changing gift from God was planned and provided to us out of love through His beloved Son, Jesus.

     Part of the prophetic pattern established by the priesthood under Moses was that they must eat (*aleph-tav/Alpha and Omega)-the sin-offering which God said was most holy (see Lev. 6:17) in the same way that Christ told us to eat of Him. We eat of Him not for ourselves only, but, if we can see the prophetic pattern of the priesthood which we will read below, we are to eat of Christ, the most holy sin offering, to minister priestly atonement for the sins of the world, for which sins Messiah/Christ substituted Himself and died. 

       Here is that interesting image of the pattern of the priesthood. On one occasion, the two living sons of Aaron had burned up the offering completely but had not eaten any of it, nor applied the blood as it was commanded be done. Moses asked them: "Why have you not eaten ('akal - to eat, devour, consume, destruction of the flesh) (*aleph-tav/Alpha and Omega)-the-sin-offering in a holy place, since it is most holy, and God has given it to you to bear the guilt of the congregation, to make atonement for them before the LORD?...indeed, you should have eaten it in a holy (place), as I commanded." (Lev. 10:16-18). Aaron answered that because of the recent deaths of his two other sons by the fire of the LORD, which devastated Aaron (see Lev. 10:1-3), Aaron feared that the LORD might not have found (*aleph-tav/Alpha and Omega)-the-sin-offering acceptable had he eaten it. Aaron and his remaining two sons might have born the judgment of the LORD because of it. Moses accepted this reason from Aaron. (v. 19-20). The eating of the sin offering by the priest was to make atonement for the sin guilt of the people, which had been placed upon (*aleph-tav/Alpha and Omega)-the-offering.

     Paul wrote of a warning when eating and drinking of the body/bread and blood/wine of Messiah/Christ in Communion. Paul wrote: "Therefore whoever eats this bread or drinks this cup of the Lord in an unworthy manner will be guilty of the body and blood of the Lord. 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. For if we would judge ourselves, we would not be judged." (1 Cor. 11:27-31). This is very much like what Aaron told Moses. We cannot correctly understand what Paul was warning us if we do not understand the prophetic pattern of the priesthood established by God with Moses as we read it above. We have received a royal priesthood from God through Messiah/Christ Jesus. It is the priesthood of the light and mercy of the Kingdom of God through Christ, ministered to others as we also have received it ourselves. (see 1 Pet. 2:9-10). It is a Sh'mini "eighth day" (see the meanings at the top of the page) priesthood. While it is a glorious priesthood, it is a priesthood that requires humility, discernment and self-examination. 

     From another reading portion of this Sh'mini "Eighth Day" Sabbath, when David received the prophetic promise of Messiah/Christ, who would come from David's own line, David was moved with great humility, asking the LORD: "Who am I, O LORD God? And what is my house, that you have brought me this far?...What more can David say to You for the honor of Your servant?..." (see 1 Chron. 17:11-20). We have received more than a prophetic promise. We have received all of the "Eighth Day" rich and shining-with-oil fulfilment of that promise in Messiah/Christ Jesus. Let us receive Him with the same humility as David did, and let us receive Him in the holy place.

     If you would like to learn more about our consecration and priesthood in Jesus Christ, you can join my prayer: "Heavenly Father, You have offered Your own Son, Jesus, who was without sin but became my sin, as my most holy eternal sin offering. Help me, LORD, to minister Your Son as the atonement for sin, not only for myself, but for all of the people. LORD, You consecrated Your priesthood in order to begin their ministry of atonement in Your name. As I remember the Lord's death and resurrection this week, and the Table of the Lord that holds the elements of His most holy sacrifice for the sins of the world, let me approach in consecration, please Lord, and with soul-bearing humility and gratitude, on behalf of all of the people, as I proclaim His death until He comes. 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. 

GreatSabbath

      The title of this week's Sabbath reading portion is Tzav, meaning "Command." This is also a special Sabbath called HaGadol, or Great Sabbath, in this case because it is the Sabbath before Passover. The title, Tzav, comes from Leviticus 6:8-9: "Then the LORD spoke to Moses, saying 'Command (*aleph-tav/Alpha and Omega)-Aaron ('aharon - "light bringer", mountainous) (*vaw-aleph/tav)-and-his-sons, saying, 'This is the law of the burnt offering...". The word "command” is the Hebrew word sav meaning: command, charge, appoint, order, ordain of divine act, to set up.

     What is being ordained by the LORD to the priest is the atonement (kapar - atonement, purge, reconciliation, forgive, merciful, cleansed, pardon) for a person's trespasses against the LORD regarding a (*aleph-tav/Alpha and Omega)-neighbor. These trespasses are described in earlier verses 1-6 KJV in the chapter. The trespasses are against the LORD for the acts done against the (*aleph-tav/Alpha and Omega)-neighbor. Now a "neighbor" is specifically used here instead a "person". The Hebrew word for neighbor is 'amit meaning: neighbor, another, an associate, fellow, kindred, companion. This is not a stranger, but one who is known to the person committing the trespass. This neighbor is also identified with Messiah/Christ because it is preceded by the written *aleph-tav. The Messiah/Christ would be born from among them, be kindred to them, would live among them and with whom they would become acquainted.

     It is appropriate that this reading is connected to the Sabbath before the Passover, a Great Sabbath, when the Passover lamb, who had been brought into the household, was killed and its blood was used to cover the doors of the houses of the Israelites in Egypt in order to protect those households from the last plague of Egypt - the death of all first born. Jesus is identified as our Passover Lamb who takes away the sins of the world by three apostles in the New Testament: Paul in 1 Cor. 5:7-8, John in John 1:29 and Rev. 5:6, and Peter in 1 Pet. 1:18-19.  We will see that the trespasses committed against the *aleph-tav/Alpha and Omega "neighbor" deeply resemble the suffering, crucifixion, burial, descent into Hell, and resurrection of Jesus Messiah/Christ. It is a timely Sabbath reading because, not only is Passover approaching, but also Resurrection Sunday. We will also see that the LORD commanded the provision of Atonement that would cover and pardon the trespasser.

     The portrait of the suffering and death of the Messiah/Christ (Jesus) is found in the very particular language used to describe the trespasses against the LORD by the abuse of the *aleph-tav- "neighbor". Therefore, I will look at the Hebrew word meanings found in these uniquely worded phrases from Lev. 6:4-11 from the King James version.

     From verse 4, there are four phrases which describe the trespass against the neighbor which the trespasser must restore to him:

1.  ...(*aleph-tav/Alpha and Omega)-that-thing which he took violently away: (gazal - rob, consume, force, torn, seize, take away by force, flay, strip, tear, strip off skin from flesh). Jesus was seized forcibly in His arrest, and His skin was flayed from His body with the Roman scourge/whip.

2.  ...(*aleph-tav/Alpha and Omega)-the-thing deceitfully gotten: ('oseq/'asaq - injury, cruelly, oppression/oppress, violate, be crushed, injustice, roughness, do violence, wrongly). Jesus, who was innocent of the contrived allegations against Him, as even Pontius Pilate attested (see Lk. 23:14), was nevertheless wrongfully violated, cruelly mocked and violently injured.

3.  ...(*aleph-tav/Alpha and Omega)-that-thing which was delivered to him [the trespasser] to keep: (paqad - attend to, care for, pay attention to, observe, to seek, to be visited, to be appointed, to be watched over, be caused to miss, trust). Jesus was the *aleph-tav/Alpha and Omega "thing" that was given by God into the care and keeping of man. Jesus told the people to follow Him, to seek Him, to receive His visitation, but, as was God's plan from the beginning, Jesus was instead delivered up violently (see Acts 2:22-23) by the sins of all (both Jew and Gentile because all have sinned) to be executed. (see Isa. 53:3, Mt. 27:24-25, Acts 2:23, Rom. 4:24-25, Rom. 8:31-32).

4.  ...(*aleph-tav/Alpha and Omega)-the-lost-thing which he (the trespasser) found: ('abeda/'abad - lost thing, place of destruction, Hades, abyss/perish, broken, destroy utterly, vanish, kill, exterminate, to blot out, no escape, cut-off, lost and wandering sheep, houses laid waste) and (found/masa' - encounter, detect, recognize, discovered). Jesus was treated as lost and consigned to extermination and Hades/Hell (see 'abeda/'abad above) even though He had told them, and us, that they should detect and recognize (see masa' above) Him as being part of His Father in heaven for His works' sake, if for no other reason. (Jn. 14:10-11). Jesus overcame death, Hell and the grave as He entered into them. (Rev. 1:18, Acts 2:24-28).

     Let's look at verse 6 from this chapter of Leviticus for our next depiction of Messiah/Christ: "And he (the trespasser) shall bring (*aleph-tav/Alpha and Omega)-his-trespass-offering ('asam - sin, trespass, guiltiness, to do wrong, do injury, desolate, perish) unto the LORD, a ram ('ayil/'ul - ram, door post, door jambs, mighty tree, lintel, ram as a sacrifice, as yielding wool, door surround, leaping, skipping [as the pascal lamb]/noble leading man) without blemish (tamim/tamam - without blemish, perfect, upright, complete, full, innocent, what is complete or entirely in accord with truth and fact/end, finished, spent, done, accomplish, perfect, to be completely crossed over, make whole, be upright) out of the flock...for a trespass offering, unto the priest."

     In the meaning of the Hebrew words noted above, there is a connection of "the ram" to the blood smeared doorposts and lintels of the Passover deliverance (Jesus is our Passover - see above) and protection from the plague of death. As we look at the meaning of "without blemish" above, we can understand the words of Jesus on the cross when He said, "It is finished." He was and is perfect in His innocence and in full accord with truth. (see Jn. 1:14).

     This same image is to continue in us, the believers in Messiah/Christ. Paul wrote that the end goal of God for the Church was to the "perfect man, unto the measure of the stature of the fulness of Christ." (Eph. 4:13). In another place, Paul wrote that Christ wanted to present us to Himself "a glorious church, not having spot, or wrinkle, or any such thing; but that it should be holy and without blemish." (Eph. 5:26-27). We are also to have the same quality as Messiah/Christ as the *aleph-tav-the-burnt-offering for trespass: tamim - without blemish. If it is the purpose and will of God that we are to be built into this perfect man and fulness of Christ, then we should understand the image into which we are being conformed. It includes the image of the *aleph-tav-burnt-offering. (see Heb. 13:13-14). We will see this again later.

     In this Lev. 6 chapter, the LORD commanded (*aleph-tav/Alpha and Omega)-Aaron-and-his-sons to take the trespass burnt offering and burn it upon the altar, whose fire is to be kept burning continually. After (*aleph-tav/Alpha and Omega)-the-burnt-offering has been consumed, the priest shall take off his priestly garments, put on other garments, "and carry forth (*aleph-tav/Alpha and Omega)-the-ashes without the camp unto a clean place (taor/taher - shine, uncontaminated, to be bright, empty)." (v. 9-11).

     After Jesus Messiah/Christ had been consumed on the cross as our trespass offering (see Isa. 53:5, 8, 10), His body was taken and placed in the clean, unused tomb carved out of the rock, owned by Joseph of Arimathea (from rama/rum - birthplace of Samuel, high place/to raise, rise, rise up, exalt, set on high, lift up, raise, heave offering), "...where no one had ever lain before. That day was the Preparation, and the Sabbath drew near." (see Lk. 23:50-54). The tomb was located in a garden, "in the place where He was crucified." (Jn. 19:41-42). This meant that the tomb was located outside of the city just as the *aleph-tav ashes of the *aleph-tav burnt offering were to be placed outside the camp. (see Heb. 13:10-14, Jn. 19:17-20). Being a new, never occupied tomb meant that it was "a clean place", undefiled previously by a corpse. The "clean place" mentioned in Leviticus for the deposit of the ashes of the offering is also a place that means "bright, shining" (see taor/taher above). Paul wrote that Jesus was raised by the glory of the Father, as we are also (see Rom. 6:4-5), and the tomb was left "empty" (see again taor/taher above).

     Before we leave Lev. 6, there is another interesting point to make, which will also take us into another reading portion from this Tsav Sabbath. In Lev. 6:12-13, the fire of the altar must always be kept burning: "...The fire shall ever be burning upon the altar; it shall never go out." What is this fire that shall always be burning and never quenched? Is it the fire of God's wrath? Is it the fire of Hell? The word "ever" used in the above verse is the Hebrew word tamid. Notice that this Hebrew word is very similar to the Hebrew word that means "without blemish", that is tamim/tamam, referring to the *aleph-tav-burnt-offering for trespasses. 

     Related to this, from another Tzav "Command" Sabbath reading from this Ha-Gadol or Great Sabbath before Passover, we also read of the Refining Fire that is the LORD: "Who can endure (*aleph-tav/Alpha and Omega)-the-day of His coming? And who can stand when He appears? For He is like a refiner's fire...He will purify (*aleph-tav/Alpha and Omega)-the-sons-of-Levi, and purge them as gold and silver, that they may offer the LORD an offering in righteousness." (Mal. 3:2-3). This refining fire then has the effect of leaving the sons of Levi "without blemish", purged of all unrighteousness. This same ever-burning tamid refining fire of the altar is continually available to purge us as well.

     The baptism of the Holy Spirit upon and within the believer in Messiah/Christ Jesus is a baptism of spiritual fire. (see Mt. 3:11-12). The manifestation of this promise indeed appeared as "tongues of fire" upon each believer waiting upon the Lord in Jerusalem on the Feast of Pentecost/Weeks. (see Acts 2:1-4).

     The LORD spoke directly clarifying that the animal sacrifices that were commanded to the Israelites and the Levitical priesthood were not for the pleasing of God by shedding animal blood for the Atonement of sins and trespasses but as a prophetic shadow of better and perfect things to come. These animal sacrifices were pointing instead to obtaining the true knowledge of the will of God and what He has prepared for man, namely an eternal and holy Atonement through the blood of His Son, Jesus. (see Ps. 40:6-8, Isa. 1:11, Jer. 7:21-23, Hos. 6:6, Heb. 10:1-4).  Jesus' identity is "hidden in plain sight" in the Hebrew language of the Torah as noted above, and in confirming New Testament scriptures. It is into this same identity and image, the *aleph-tav/Alpha and Omega-burnt-offering, that we also are being transformed. (see Rom. 12:1-2).

     It you would like to know more about the burnt offering that is the Son of God into which image we are also being transformed as believers, you can join my prayer: "Heavenly Father, You have sent Your Son to be our burnt offering sacrifice for sin. You established the prophetic pattern which You fulfilled with the perfect, innocent and upright sacrifice beyond the greatest imaginations of men. You told Your prophets that we were to look for this knowledge of You even beyond the proscribed sacrifices of the Law. Lord Jesus, not only were You gracious to become my sacrifice, but You have also called Your followers to be conformed into this same image. By Your Word and Holy Spirit, give me the understanding needed to offer myself, conformed to the fulness of the stature of Christ, as a living sacrifice proving the good, acceptable and perfect will of God before all creation. Let this Passover/Resurrection season witness to the world the wonder, love and forgiveness found in Your Atonement provision for all, Your Son, Jesus. I ask this in the name of Jesus, Son of God, Savior and Lord. 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. 

Calling

      This week's Sabbath reading portion is titled Va-yikra which means "And He called." Va-yikra is also the Hebrew name for the third Book of the Bible that we call "Leviticus." This Book is about the calling of the priests into the service of the LORD in His tabernacle, and the offerings to the LORD that the priests are supposed to minister. This sabbath portion's name comes from the first verse of Chapter 1: "Now the LORD called (qara - to call out, cry out, proclaim, utter a loud sound, to summon, invite, appoint, call and endow, give name to) to Moses, and spoke to him from the tabernacle of meeting..." This is the same Hebrew word, qara, as God used in calling and naming His creation (see Gen. 1:5, 1:8, 1:10 ) and by which Adam "called" all of the beasts of the creation in order to name them. (see Gen. 2:19-20). It is an authoritative "calling" that establishes an identity and purpose.

     As the Book of Leviticus begins, it begins with a blood sacrifice. God called Moses to speak to the children of Israel about the kind of blood sacrifice (*aleph-tav/Alpha and Omega)-offering to bring to the tabernacle that would be accepted for each man's atonement (kapar - atonement, purge, reconciliation, forgive, pacify, merciful, cleansed, pardon, cover over, atone for sin, propitiate [see Rom. 3:23-26, 1 Jn. 2:1-2]).

     After the Israelite brings his (*aleph-tav/Alpha and Omega)-offering to the tabernacle, he will kill it there. Then the priests take over. They will take (*aleph-tav/Alpha and Omega)-the-blood and sprinkle (*aleph-tav/Alpha and Omega)-the-blood around the altar. (v. 5). Then the man shall flay/skin (pasat - strip, flay, strip off, spread out, deploy in a hostile array, to unclothe-plunder-flay, invade, stretch out, to rush upon, to attack) the (*aleph-tav/Alpha and Omega)-burnt-offering. I think that we can see the connection here in the word "flay/skin" to the whipping of Jesus, our (*aleph-tav/Alpha and Omega)-burnt-offering not only for our atonement, but for the atonement for the whole world as scripture tells us. Part of being the atonement (see kapar above) is also that Jesus reconciles all creation to the Father, which same ministry of reconciliation has been given to us. (see 2 Cor. 5:18-19).

     So the priesthood was to have a direct role in receiving and applying the (*aleph-tav/Alpha and Omega)-burnt offerings of the children of Israel. As we believers in Messiah/Christ are called to a spiritual royal priesthood (see 1 Pet. 2:9-10, Rev. 1:5-6, Rev. 5:8-10, Rev. 20:6), we also have this ministry before the Father of the receiving and applying of His Son's atoning blood on behalf, not only of ourselves, but for the people. Revelation 20:6 noted above ties this priesthood of God and Christ with those of the first resurrection who will also reign with Messiah/Christ for one thousand years. They are called blessed and holy. Jesus made clear the "calling" authority that He has given to us by saying, "Peace to you! As (kathos - according as, just as, in the degree that, in proportion as, in that manner, like) the Father has sent Me, I also send you.' And when He had said this, He breathed on them, and said to them, 'Receive the Holy Spirit. If you forgive the sins of any, they are forgiven them; if you retain the sins of any, they are retained." (Jn. 20:21-23). What are we doing with this qara calling from Messiah/Christ who is sending us in the same manner in which He was sent by His Father? Jesus, who also taught us to pray saying in part, "And forgive us our debts/trespasses, as we forgive our debtors/those who trespass against us," adding "For if you forgive men their trespasses, your heavenly Father will also forgive you. But if you do not forgive men their trespasses, neither will your Father forgive your trespasses." (Mt. 6:9-15). This also is part of our priestly qara calling. The forgiveness is not predicated upon what we or others "deserve" to receive. It is based upon the words of Jesus, saying: "As the Father sent Me...".

     From another Sabbath reading portion in Isaiah 43, the LORD mourns that His people haven't qara called upon Him. They have neglected the atonement burnt offerings which call out to Him, in the same manner that the atonement blood of His own Son, Jesus calls out to Him - not for vengeance, but for forgiveness. (Heb. 12:22-24). The blood cries out eternally. The LORD, in Isa. 43, faults their teachers/mediators (lus - ambassador, intercede, teacher, interpreter, mocker, scorn, derision, boast, talk arrogantly), and the LORD said that the "princes of the sanctuary", the royal priests, would become profaned, and the people accursed. Teachers/interpretors/mediators/ambassadors of God became mockers and scorners as they failed to teach the people the truth.

     The people had not been properly taught that it is the LORD "who blots out your transgressions for My own sake; and I will not remember your sins." (Isa. 43:22-28). The apostle Paul took his “ambassadorship” (see the meaning of lus above) very seriously as he begged us to be reconciled (see the meaning of kapar atonement above) to God through the atonement of Messiah/Christ. (see 2 Cor. 5:20-21). The whole point of the "ambassadorship", both in Isaiah 43 and 2 Corinthians 5, is to minister to men to the kapar atonement reconciliation blood of our burnt offering, Jesus.

      The priests of Leviticus ministered the atonement blood of the offerings for hundreds of thousands of the children of Israel. In so ministering, the hands of the priests were continually handling the blood of atonement. Would the presence of the atonement blood be evident on our hands as the royal priests of Jesus Messiah/Christ? Have we neglected to minister it on behalf of the people as the LORD mentioned in Isaiah 43? If so, have we left the blood of Atonement in Messiah/Christ behind a closed Door (Jesus is the Door of the sheep)? Who knows if our opening of the Door of Atonement, who Christ is and which Christ provided, will not also open the Door for the entrance of the Spirit of Grace and repentance? (PLEASE NOTE: A SUBMITTED COMMENT FROM A READER CONTAINING IMPORTANT THOUGHTS HAS BEEN ADDED TO THE BOTTOM OF THIS BLOG ENTRY.)

     God must surely bless those who, in quiet times of intercession (see lus above) with the LORD, minister the precious atonement blood of His Son that cries out to the Father on behalf of all creation, including man.

     This is how the apostle Paul described the qara calling of the LORD for His purpose towards us who believe in the Son, Jesus: "And those whom He thus foreordained, He also called; and those whom He called, He also justified [acquitted, made righteous, putting them into right standing with Himself]. And those whom He justified, He also glorified [raising them to a heavenly dignity and condition or state of being]." (Rom. 8:30 AMPC - Amplified Version). God has called us to a high and heavenly calling in Jesus Messiah/Christ, including that of a royal priesthood.

     If you would like to learn more about the priestly ministry of the Atonement blood of Jesus, you can join my prayer: "Heavenly Father, the blood of Your Son, Jesus, cries out to You from the Mercy Seat for forgiveness and purging of our sins. Lord, the blood of our Atonement, Jesus, is meant to be spread out beyond ourselves. The blood of Jesus cries out for the whole world. This is why You sent Your Son, Father, and He completed the work that You ordained for Him. The blood of the Atonement is priceless and most precious, yet it was freely poured out to make the way for the reconciliation of all creation. Father, I pray for the reconciliation of all man to You, which is the desire of Your heart. I say to all men: "Be reconciled to God, your Father and Creator, by the blood of Jesus." 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. 

SPECIAL NOTE: THE FOLLOWING VALUABLE COMMENT WAS SUBMITTED BY A READER:

"The priests of Leviticus ministered the atonement blood of the offerings for hundreds of thousands of the children of Israel. In so ministering, the hands of the priests were continually handling the blood of atonement. Would the presence of the atonement blood be evident on our hands as the royal priests of Jesus Messiah/Christ?"

There is a mystery connected to this question. 

In the Old Testament, when the word "consecrate/consecrated" occasionally appears (referencing the priests/priesthood), there is a hidden phrase in the Hebrew. 

"Fill the Aleph-Tav hand(s)."

Some examples of where this appears is Exodus 28:41, 29:29, 29:33, Leviticus 8:33, 16:32, and 21:10.

When reading "consecrate(d)" in Hebrew, it reads "fill his/their (Aleph-Tav) hands".

You can search this yourself by putting [H4390+H853+H3027] in the search bar of your online concordance (I use Blue Letter Bible) or by looking up the references I provided and viewing the interlinear translation that shows the Hebrew.

At the crucifixion, Jesus' (Aleph-Tav) hands were pierced and bloodied.

His HANDS WERE FILLED, but not with an animal sacrifice.

They were filled with HIS OWN BLOOD, the true offering.

Jesus is our true High Priest.

"Having therefore, brethren, boldness to enter into the holiest by the blood of Jesus, By a new and living way, which HE HATH CONSECRATED for us, through the veil, that is to say, his flesh; And having an HIGH PRIEST over the house of God; Let us draw near with a true heart in full assurance of faith, having our hearts sprinkled from an evil conscience, and our bodies washed with pure water." ~~Hebrews 10:19-22

At the cross, Jesus stretched out His Aleph-Tav hands, and they were filled-- not with the blood of animals, but with His own atoning life, CONSECRATING the new and living way into the heavenly sanctuary. 

As His royal priesthood, our calling is to bear the evidence of that same atonement in OUR OWN HANDS, living as those marked by His sacrifice and entrusted with His ministry.

~~The Berean

TempleGlory

     "...on this rock I will build My church (ekklesia/kaleo + ek - an assembly of Israelites, an assembly of Christians gathered for worship, the whole body of Christians/to call aloud, to call by name, to call forth + out of, away from, separation from a point of origin of place or time), and the gates of Hades shall not prevail against it. And I will give you the keys of the kingdom of heaven, and whatever you bind on earth will be bound in heaven, and whatever you loose on earth will be loosed in heaven." (Jesus speaking in Mt. 16:18-19).

and

     "...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; for the Day will declare it, because it will be revealed by fire...Do you not know that you are the temple of God and that the Spirit of God dwells in you?" (Paul writing in 1 Cor. 3:9-16, excerpt).

     The title of this week's assigned Sabbath reading portion is a double title: Va-yakheil and P'kudei. Va-yakheil means "And he assembled", and P'kudei means "Amounts of/Accounting of".  The first title is from Exodus 35:1, which says: "Then Moses gathered (qahal - gather together, assemble, to summon an assembly, to call, to call together) (*aleph-tav/Alpha and Omega)-the-congregation of the children of Israel together...". Both titles have to do with the building of the tabernacle in the wilderness and the building of Solomon's temple in Jerusalem. Both the tabernacle and the temple began as a vision of a pattern given from heaven and commanded by God to Moses (see Ex. 25:8-9, Heb. 8:5) and then in a later generation the plan given to King David by the Spirit of God (see 1 Chron. 28:11-13) whose son, Solomon, built the temple according to the vision of his father, David. We also see in the verse at the top of the page that the "church" (see ekklesia meaning above) is also built upon a revelation from heaven as Jesus declared, the revelation being Jesus as the Messiah/Christ. (see Mt. 16:15-17).

     The pattern of both the tabernacle and the temple and all of their furnishings were not random, but very specific in detail and the materials to be used. Pages and pages of scripture describe all of the exact details of the items that needed to be constructed to be placed in the tabernacle or temple. Each piece contained individual parts, and each piece was to be set in specific places in the structure. All parts, pieces, components of pieces, priestly garments, materials to be used and their placement were described in intimate detail down to the rings that held the curtains. All pieces and materials used to create the pieces were accounted for and assembled. Nothing was created by the ideas or choices of men. The tabernacle and later the temple were constructed to the exactitude of God.

     As the tabernacle was completed, Moses anointed the tabernacle with oil as the LORD commanded him to do: "And you shall take the anointing (masha/masah - anointing, anointed, consecrate by anointing/smear, anoint, spread a liquid, consecrate, to stroke or spread over, to measure: to spread out and to expand) (*aleph-tav/Alpha and Omega)-oil, and anoint (see masah above) (*aleph-tav/Alpha and Omega)-the-tabernacle-and-all-that-is-in-it; and you shall hallow it and all its (*aleph-tav/Alpha and Omega)-utensils/vessels (keli/kala - vessel, weapon, jewel, furniture, object/finish, end, accomplish, done, fulfil, determined, complete, bring to pass), and it shall be holy." (Ex. 40:9).

     As we can see, everything connected to the tabernacle was identified with the Messiah/Christ Jesus by the use of the written *aleph-tav (see *note below). Everything connected to the tabernacle was anointed with *aleph-tav-oil. The Hebrew words used for anointing/anoint (see above) are the root words for "Messiah" in Hebrew ("Christ" in Greek), which means "the anointed One".

     The Hebrew meanings shown above in the verse from Ex. 40:9 parallel the language used in Eph. 4:12-13 and 16 as being the spiritual identity of the ekklesia church determined by the will of God, as He appointed offices of spiritual leadership in the ekklesia church, which is the Body of Christ in heaven and on the earth, to include apostles, prophets, evangelists, pastors and teachers: "...for the equipping of the saints for the work of the ministry, for the edifying/perfecting (katartismos/katartizo - complete furnishing/put in order, arrange, perfectly join together, complete thoroughly, fit, frame, make - see meaning of "utensils/vessels" above)) of the body of Christ, until we all come to the unity of the faith and the knowledge of the Son of God, to a perfect (telios/telos - brought to an end, finished, complete/end, that by which a thing is finished, definite point or goal - see meaning of "utensils/vessels" above) man, to the measure (metron - a vessel used to determine a quantity of dry or liquid, a determined extent - see meaning of "anointing" above) of the stature of the fullness (pleroo - to fulfill, to bring to pass, accomplish promises and prophecies, bring to realization, made complete in every particular, to carry through to the end, to fulfill or to cause God's will and promises, to receive fulfilment - see meaning of "utensils/vessels" above) of Christ....from whom the whole body, joined and knit together (see the meaning of katartizo above) by what every joint supplies...by which every part does its share, causes growth of the body for the edifying of itself in love"

     Moses, personally arranged or set in order (see katartizo above) the tabernacle and its furnishings according to the pattern that he was shown on the mountain. (Ex. 40:17-33). "So Moses finished the work."

     Moses had also assigned earlier, by specific command of the LORD, two master craftsmen, full of the Spirit of God, to supervise the construction of all of the items of the tabernacle. (Ex. 35:30-35). When Solomon built the temple in Jerusalem, he also appointed a master craftsman, Huram, who was filled with wisdom, understanding and skill, sent to him by King Hiram of Tyre to supervise the making of all of the extensive bronze work items that would be used in the temple. (see 1 Kings 7:13-14). In the verses at the top of the page from 1 Cor. 3:9-16, Paul also called himself "a wise master builder" for the purpose of building the spiritual house of God and laying the foundation of Jesus Christ. Although the church leadership at the time did not recognize Paul's apostleship, God did, and Paul was miraculously called (see ekklesia above) in an encounter with Jesus Christ while he was on the road to Damascus. Paul proved his appointment to apostleship every day of his life and still does to this day. His words are still fruitful in the manifestation of the true ekklesia church. Apostles are still appointed to the ekklesia church for the same purpose since God has not changed His Word.

     When both the tabernacle and later the temple were completed, "Then the cloud covered (*aleph-tav/Alpha and Omega)-the-tabernacle of meeting, and the glory of God filled (*aleph-tav/Alpha and Omega)-the-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 (*aleph-tav/Alpha and Omega)-the-tabernacle." (Ex. 40:34-35).  After Solomon's temple was completed there was a similar occurrence: "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 of the LORD, so that the priests could not continue ministering because of the cloud; for the glory of the LORD filled (*aleph-tav/Alpha and Omega)-the-house of the LORD." (1 Kings 8:10-11). The glory covered and filled the tabernacle and temple identified with the Messiah/Christ as the *aleph-tav/Alpha and Omega (see *note below). Jesus prayed to the Father that He had given His believers His own glory so that they/we would be made perfect (teleioo/teleios - see meaning above and also the meaning of "utensils/vessels" above). (see Jn. 17:22-23). Doesn't this follow the pattern established from heaven for the tabernacle/temple?

     At the top of the page, the words written by Paul in 1 Cor. 3:16 state that, as a believer, each of us individually is the temple of God with the indwelling of the Holy Spirit. In 1 Cor. 6:19, Paul again wrote: "Or do you not know that your body is the temple of the Holy Spirit who is in you, whom you have from God, and you are not your own?" This spiritual temple created within each believer is based upon the foundation of Jesus Christ (see 1 Cor. 3 above). The apostle Peter wrote that each believer is also a part of a larger spiritual temple: "...you also as living stones, are being built up a spiritual house, a holy priesthood, to offer up spiritual sacrifices acceptable to God through Jesus Christ." (1 Pet. 2:5). Jesus said that it is HE who builds His church in Matthew 16 (see the top of the page). Again the apostles wrote that this spiritual tabernacle/temple is directly related to the Messiah/Christ Jesus in agreement with the pattern given many generations earlier by God: the true ekklesia (see meaning above) church of both Jew and Gentile is built of the same heavenly pattern as the tabernacle, the pattern of which was given to Moses by God on Mount Sinai, and the temple of Solomon, built upon the plans given to his father, King David, by the inspiration of the Holy Spirit. Both "houses" were directly identified with Messiah/Christ based upon the presence of the written Hebrew *aleph-tav throughout the detailed descriptions given regarding both of the Houses of God.

     The true ekklesia church that is being built into a spiritual House of God was established by God with a foundation identity based only on His Son, the Messiah/Christ Jesus, and led by His Holy Spirit. It is a heavenly pattern that, when completed, becomes a tabernacle/temple filled with the glory of God. The ekklesia church has no other foundation than Jesus, the Author and Finisher of our living faith (see Heb. 12:2). The ekklesia church is not randomness, confusion and division but the completion, perfection and fulfilment of Jesus Christ. (see Eph. 4:13). This is the divine building plan or the blueprint of the ekklesia church.

     The LORD's intricate and exacting heavenly pattern for His tabernacle/temple produces a spiritual, living, resurrection temple made up of Sovereignly purposed and called believers in Jesus Messiah/Christ, both Jew and Gentile. It is a living temple filled with the Holy Spirit and the glory of Jesus Christ and the Father, which glory has been given to us by Christ. It is the same glory that came with the presence of the LORD and filled the tabernacle and later the temple and before which no flesh could stand - not the priests and not even Moses, yet we stand in it and of it. It is the same glory that shone upon the shepherds of the field at Bethlehem when the Messiah/Christ Jesus arrived into the world as a baby. (see Lk. 2:8-14). It is the same glory brightness that destroys the Lord's enemies at His coming/appearing, even the lawless one who is called antichrist. (see 2 Thess. 2:8). This same glory has a voice that is continually declaring the message of Messiah/Christ's return to the world through our testimony: "Surely I am coming quickly (tachy - speedily, without delay, soon, suddenly)," as we respond saying, "Amen. Even so, come, Lord Jesus!" (Rev. 22:20). There is a beautiful and powerful song that begins with the declaration: Mine eyes have seen the glory of the coming of the Lord!”.  The pattern of the House of the LORD's glory and habitation is not and cannot be built by human hands or ideas. (Acts 17:24, 2 Cor. 5:1-2, Heb. 9:11).

     If you would like to learn more about being the building of the living temple of God, you can pray with me: "Heavenly Father, You have given Your Son Jesus, and called me in Him, to be built into Your living temple, the place of Your holy and glorious habitation. Lord, let me abide in the true and only foundation of Jesus Christ. This living temple is a house of prayer for all nations, with every kindred, tribe, race, and tongue offering spiritual sacrifices to You, always offering prayers of intercession according to Your will accomplished on earth as it is in heaven. Help me, Lord, to be led by Your Holy Spirit, and not my own will, plans or ideas because I am not my own, but I have been bought with the price of the blood of Jesus Messiah/Christ, the Anointed One. Let that same anointing oil cover my life and purpose in Your holy living temple, the anointing oil of the Messiah/Christ that causes me to shine with Your glory and holiness. Even so, come, Lord Jesus! I ask these things in Jesus' name. 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. 

ForgivingtheUnforgivable

     

     

     "Then Jesus said to him, 'Away with you (hypago - bring under, lead under, sink out of sight, drive back), Satan (satanas - adversary of God and Christ, one who opposes, inciter of sin and apostacy towards God, prince of evil spirits, controls idol worshippers, the accuser, the devil, Satan)! For it is written, 'You shall worship the Lord your God, and Him only you shall serve. Then the devil left (aphiemi - send away, forsake) Him, and behold, angels came (proserchomai - draw near to, worship, visit, assent to) and ministered (diakoneo - to serve, to wait upon, the servant of a king) to Him." (Mt. 4:10-11). 

     The title of this week's Sabbath reading portion is Ki Tissa, meaning, "When you take/lift up/carry out", and the title is from Exodus 30:11-12. These verses say: "Then the LORD spoke to Moses, saying: 'When you take (nasa - bear up, lift up, take up, carry, forgive, exalt, rise up, support, endure, to cause one to bear, hold up, raise up, be high) (*aleph-tav/Alpha and Omega)-the-census (ro's - sum, head, top, beginning, captain, highest, supreme, prince, height, chief) of the children of Israel for their number (paqad - number, visit upon, punish, appoint, judgment, reckon, lay upon as a charge), then every man shall give a ransom (koper/kapar - ransom, satisfaction, price of a life, henna plant [red-brown dye], atonement ordered by the LORD/atonement, purge, reconciliation, mercy, pardon, forgive) for himself to the LORD, when you number (paqad - see above) them, that there may be no plague (negeb/nagab - blow, striking, plague, infliction, stumbling, fatal blow/smite, slain, struck, beaten, plague, hurt) among them when you number (paqad - see above) them." 

     In the verses above, we see an atonement "ransom" commanded by the LORD to provide pardon and forgiveness for His people, Israel. This atonement "ransom" from the fatal blows of plague is connected to the lifting up/raising of a Prince who is the highest supreme, the Beginning. In the Hebrew word meanings above, I see a prophetic picture of the Messiah/Christ Jesus as this Prince who was lifted up on a cross, and then lifted or raised up from the dead. It is the atonement mercy and forgiveness commanded and provided by God by the blood (reddish-brown coloring - see henna above) of Jesus so that we do not have to suffer the fatal blow of plague which He suffered for us.

     This provides a powerful foundation to events that we read in this week's Sabbath portion, Ki Tissa. We will see God forgive the unforgivable.

     

     In Chapter 20 of Exodus, the LORD verbally gives The Ten Commandments to Moses to tell to the children of Israel, including the commands that they shall have no other gods before Him, and that they shall not make for themselves a carved image, nor bow down before them, nor serve them. "For I, the LORD your God, am a jealous God..." (v. 3-5). Later, the LORD will repeat this to Moses to tell the people: "...Thus you shall say to the children of Israel: 'You have seen that I have talked with you from heaven. You shall not make anything to be with Me - gods of silver or gods of gold you shall not make for yourselves." (v. 22-23).

     Later, Moses wrote all of the (*aleph-tav/Alpha and Omega) words of the LORD in the Book of the Covenant and read them to the people. The people said to Moses: "All that the LORD has said we will do, and be obedient." (Ex. 24:4-7). 

     Again, the LORD spoke to Moses on Mount Sinai and "He gave Moses two tablets of the Testimony, tablets of stone, written with the finger of God." (Ex. 31:18). Now these same *aleph-tav/Alpha and Omega words of the LORD would be written again, this time in stone, and by the hand of the LORD Himself. This brings us to Exodus 32. 

     While Moses was still on the Mountain with the LORD: "...when the people saw that Moses delayed coming down from the mountain, the people gathered together to Aaron, and said to him, 'Come, make us gods the shall go before us; for as for this Moses...we do not know what has become of him." (Ex. 32:1).  Aaron then collected all of the gold earrings that the people were wearing in their ears, "...and he fashioned it with an engraving tool, and made a molded calf. Then they said, 'This is your god, O Israel, that brought you out of the land of Egypt!' So when Aaron saw it, he built an altar before it...Then they rose early on the next day, offered burnt offerings, and brought peace offerings; and the people sat down to eat and drink, and rose up to play." (v. 2-6).

     How can God forgive the unforgivable that we see taking place above? He sent an intercessor.

     The LORD said to Moses: "Go, get down! For your people whom you brought out of the land of Egypt have corrupted (sahat - destroy, corrupt, ruin, mar, be rotted, injured, pervert, decay, perish, act wickedly) themselves. They have turned aside quickly out of the way which I commanded them....Now, therefore, let Me alone, that My wrath may burn hot against them and I may consume them. And I will make of you a great nation. Then Moses pleaded with the LORD his God...'Turn from your fierce wrath, and relent from this harm to Your people. Remember Abraham, Isaac, and Israel (meaning Jacob), Your servants to whom You swore...'. So the LORD relented from the harm which He said He would do to His people." Ex. 32:7-14, excerpt). The LORD had seen the people as rotting corpses because of their destroying sinful act, according to the meaning of the Hebrew noted above.

     As Moses' anger broke out upon the Israelites for what they had done, he broke the tablets of stone upon which the LORD had written His word, and burned (*aleph-tav/Alpha and Omega)-the-calf of gold that had been made and made the (*aleph-tav/Alpha and Omega)-children-of-Israel drink it. Three thousand lost their lives that day to the swords of the sons of Levi, the tribe of priests. Why is the calf identified with *aleph-tav/Alpha and Omega, or the Messiah/Christ (see *note below)? Perhaps because they made the golden calf idol their substitute man-made savior, their deliverer, their Messiah in their eyes. It still happens today, even with believers in Christ, that gold, money, the work of our hands, our families, our government, our military power, science, the visible things of the world rather than the invisible things of the Spirit, become our answer, our dependence, and the receivers of our faith instead of the One who truly died for us. Paul rebuked the church for turning away from the Gospel truth of Jesus Christ that they had learned and for believing a falsehood instead. (see Gal. 1:6-7). Jesus, through His revelation to John, rebukes a worldly rich church that doesn't even realize that it is really "wretched, miserable, poor, blind, and naked", and urging the church to buy from Him "gold refined in the fire, that...the shame of your nakedness may not be revealed." (Rev. 3:17-18). Satan, the opponent of God and Christ (see above), is always dangling this deception in front of our eyes in order to turn faith away from God.

     Viewing the people, Moses had seen them as "unrestrained/naked," ((para' - uncover, bare, naked, perish, expose). Telling the people that perhaps he could make atonement (see kapar above) for them with the LORD, Moses returned to the presence of the LORD on the Mountain and said: "Oh, these people have committed a great sin, and have made for themselves a god of gold! Yet now, if You will forgive their sin - but if not, I pray, blot me out of Your book which You have written." (v. 31-32). Seeing that the people had been uncovered or made spiritually naked before their enemies because of their sin, Moses sought God's kapar atonement covering for the people, even offering the removal of himself from God's book. The apostle Paul also said that he would have offered his own salvation if he could on behalf of the salvation of his Jewish brethren who did not believe Messiah/Christ Jesus. (see Rom. 9:1-5).

      I offer the following as food for thought only regarding nakedness and the atonement covering, and not as any kind of doctrine. This is the connection that I am seeing in my spirit. There is another instance of "nakedness" in scripture. It is from the Book of Genesis, when Adam and his wife, Eve, after their choice to rely upon themselves rather than the LORD, having believed the lies of the serpent (see Gen. 3:1-6), discovered that they were naked ('erom/'aram - nakedness, naked and helpless/to make bare, make naked, to be subtle, shrewd, crafty, cunning, smooth, impudent, spiteful as manifesting one's malevolent mind) (see Gen. 3:7). The Hebrew root meaning of "naked" above, 'aram, leads us directly to the serpent who is described as being subtle or cunning in Gen. 3:1. The Hebrew word and root word for "serpent" are 'arum and 'aram. We see the connection between the serpent and the nakedness of man through the Hebrew language here. We can see then that it is Satan's strategy for man to remove his kapar atonement covering, leaving him naked and helpless. How could Adam have had the atonement covering many generations before Jesus Messiah/Christ was slain on the cross? Scripture describes Jesus as the Lamb slain before the foundation of the earth. In Isaiah 53, the prophet saw the Servant of God already beaten and slain for the iniquity of us all because the prophet writes of this in the past tense even though Jesus wouldn't be born until 750 years after Isaiah wrote his prophecy. David saw and prophesied of the crucifixion as if it was occurring to him in his present time even though he lived 1,000 years before the birth of Christ and never suffered crucifixion himself (see Ps. 22:1-18). This is the nature of prophecy and the things of the Spirit, as well as the nature of God and His Son: He is past, present and future all at the same time. (see Jn. 1:1-2, Rev. 1:8, Rev. 4:8). It is also interesting that the name "Adam", which is usually translated as meaning "man", has a deeper meaning of "dyed red, be red, to show red, to look red". A related Hebrew word dam means "blood, bloody, wine". Perhaps we can say that Adam's name could mean "a man of the blood". Paul called Jesus the "last Adam" and the "second man" in scripture. (see 1 Cor. 15:45-49).  In Rom. 5:14, Paul wrote that Adam was "a type of Him (meaning Christ) who was to come." When the LORD created "Adam" and his wife, they were naked then also, but scripture says that they were not "ashamed" (bus - ashamed, confounded, troubled, disconcerted, disappointed or delayed, to fail in hope and expectation). If they were not ashamed, then they were in hope and expectation - hope and expectation of what or Whom? Jesus Messiah/Christ is our hope and expectation, our assurance. (see Ps. 62:5-7, Prov. 23:18, Ps. 5:7, Mt. 24:30-31, Rom. 15:12-13). Adam "wore" the atonement covering of the Lord through faith, and he was not ashamed - until he rejected the faith in the atoning blood covering. They then attempted to cover themselves with 'ale/'ala raised-up branch(es).

     In another reading portion of this week's Ki-Tissa Sabbath, we find that the whole nation of Israel, including their royal family, had turned from the worship of God to the worship of the false god, Ba'al.

     How can God forgive this unforgivable thing? He again sent an intercessor, the prophet Elijah: "So Ahab (King of Israel) sent for all the children of Israel, and gathered (*aleph-tav/Alpha and Omega)-the-prophets together on Mount Carmel. And Elijah came to all the people, and said, 'How long will you falter between two opinions? If the LORD is God, follow Him; but if Baal, follow him.' But the people answered not a word." (1 Kings 18:20-21).

     Elijah took twelve stones representing the twelve tribes of Israel and built an altar in the name of the LORD. (v. 30-32). Elijah faced off against the prophets of Baal who were to offer a bull on an alter to their god, while Elijah prepared an offering of a bull on the altar that he had built to the LORD. The prophets of Baal could not get their god to answer them, and Elijah began to pray to the LORD: "LORD God of Abraham, Isaac, and Israel (Jacob), let it be known this day that You are God in Israel and I am Your servant, and that I have done (*aleph-tav/Alpha and Omega)-all-these-things (dabar - thing, matter, commandment) at Your word (dabar - see above). Hear me, O LORD, hear me, that this people may know that You are the LORD God, and that You have turned (*aleph-tav/Alpha and Omega)-their-hearts back to You again." (v. 36-37).

     The fire of the LORD fell and consumed Elijah's (*aleph-tav/Alpha and Omega)-burnt-sacrifice, including (*aleph-tav/Alpha and Omega)-the-stones of the altar: "Now when all the people saw it, they fell on their faces; and they said, 'The LORD, He is God! The LORD, He is God!" (v. 38-39). The LORD had turned the *aleph-tav/Alpha and Omega hearts of the people back to Himself.

     It is no surprise that God has also provided for us the perfect Intercessor - Jesus Messiah/Christ. The Book of Hebrews says of Christ: "Therefore He is also able to save to the uttermost those who come to God through Him, since He always lives to make intercession for them." (Heb. 7:25). Paul wrote of those who remain in the justification of God through Christ: "Who is he who condemns? It is Christ who died, and furthermore is also risen, who is even at the right hand of God, who also makes intercession for us. Who shall separate us from the love of Christ? Shall tribulation, or distress, or persecution, or famine, or nakedness, or peril, or sword?" (Rom. 8:34-35). John wrote to the church so that we may not sin. However: "... if anyone sins, we have an Advocate with the Father, Jesus Christ the righteous. And He Himself is the propitiation (meaning atoning blood covering sacrifice) for our sins, and not ours only but also for the whole world." (1 Jn. 2:1-2). We also are to pray and intercede continually for all of the saints in the same manner. (Eph. 6:18).

     If you would like to learn more about intercession and forgiveness of God and Jesus Christ, you can join my prayer: "Heavenly Father, when I didn't know you and had no hope in eternity, Your Word gave the promise of intercession on my behalf, and of an atonement covering for my spiritual vulnerability. You fulfilled these promises through Your beloved Son, Jesus. You forgave me of the unforgivable as I was determined to live a life without You. Your Son became not only my Intercessor, but my hope and expectation when I had none. Jesus poured out His blood in order to cover me when I didn't know I needed His covering. Father, I ask You to keep me from the temptation of the evil one and direct my steps so that I never leave the atonement covering Jesus provided for me. Fill me with Your Spirit so that I can pray and intercede for others as Your Son intercedes. 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. 

LIGHT

     The title of this Sabbath's reading portion is T'tzavveh, which means, "You shall command." The title comes from Exodus 27:20, as the LORD said to Moses: "And you shall command (tsav-vaw - command, charge, appoint, ordain a divine act, send a messenger, set in order, heap of stones, guide stone) (*aleph-tav/Alpha and Omega)-the-children of Israel that they bring you pure (zak/zakak - pure. clean, righteous/pure, bright, clean, shining, transparently clean, to wash, to be transparent, innocent) oil of pressed (katit/katat - beaten in a mortar rather than in a press, pounded fine/beat, break in pieces, crushed, destroy, to break, to rout an enemy) olives for the light (ma'or/'or - luminous body, brightness, light-bearer, candlestick/light, shine, enlighten, fire, glorious, light of day, light the eyes, make the face shine), to cause ('ala - offer, ascend, light, arose, exalted, offering, rise, shoot forth, come up before God) the lamp (nir - to glisten, a lamp, a light, progeny) to burn ('ala - see above) continually (tamid - continually, evermore, always, perpetual, indefinite extension, sacrifice)."  This instruction was for the care of the golden lampstand that was to be placed within the tabernacle.

     As we see the Hebrew meanings of the words in this one verse, the light and effectiveness of the lamp do not come without cost. The purity and brightness of the light are products of the oil of olives that have been beaten and crushed and is also connected to the idea of righteousness and innocence. The burning light produced is an offering, a sacrifice that rises up before God, and produces progeny (descendants). According to the meanings above, this light is not limited to the area around it but shoots forth in indefinite extension. It is a light that is commanded to shine continually, and forever more. Jesus said of Himself that He is the light of the world. He also said of those who believe in Him that we are the light of the world. (Mt. 5:14-16).

     Daniel prophesied of those who were wise in the last days of great turmoil and persecution: "Those who are wise shall shine (zahar - admonish, warn, teach, shine, send out light, be light, be bright, to enlighten, to shine forth, be brilliant, give forth light) like the brightness (zohar - brightness, shining, brilliancy) of the firmament, and those who turn many to righteousness like the stars (kokab - star, of Messiah/Christ, numerous progeny, blazing, an illustrious prince) forever and ever." (Dan. 12:3). This light that is commanded above by God to Moses is not the light that we take for granted, produced at the flip of a switch. This light is an offering, a sacrifice, that multiplies. It is the same 'or light (see ma'or/'or above) that God spoke into the dark emptiness before the creation in Genesis 1. It is the light that is produced by and is obedient to the voice of God. It is the same light that the darkness cannot overcome (see Jn. 1:5). It is the light of God and His Son, the Messiah/Christ, Jesus.

    The maintenance of this light in the tabernacle was a responsibility given to the priesthood (Lev. 24:1-4, Num. 8:1-3). There is an account in scripture of a negligent and vile priesthood and the lamp of (*aleph-tav/Alpha and Omega)-the-LORD during a time when there was no longer an open (paras - burst out, burst forth, open) vision (hazon/haza - to see, prophecy, perceiving eyes/vision in night, prophecy, revelation, oracle) in Israel: "And it came to pass at that time, while Eli was lying down in his place, and when his eyes had begun to dim (kehe/kaha - be dark, dim, obscure/utterly, darkened, be restrained, the light of the eye grows dull) that he could not see (ra'a), and before the lamp (nir - see above) of God went out (kaba - quenched, extinguish light or fire) in the tabernacle of the LORD where the ark of God was, and while Samuel was lying down, that the LORD called (qara' - call out, appoint, be chosen) Samuel. And he answered, 'Here I am!' (1 Sam. 3:2-4).

     Although young Samuel was not of the priestly tribe of the Levites, he was dedicated or set apart to the service of the LORD by His mother before his miracle conception. He became a living offering to the LORD in a way. He even wore a little linen ephod (see 1 Sam. 2:18-19) as he ministered to the LORD under Eli, the priest. 

     As Eli allowed the lamp of the LORD to grow dim in the tabernacle, his sight, both physical and spiritual, became dim also. Before the lamp went out, the LORD called young Samuel and spoke to him. Eli's household would be judged because of the wickedness of Eli's sons and Eli's reluctance to restrain his sons. The LORD said: "For I have told him (Eli) that I will judge (*aleph-tav/Alpha and Omega)-his-house forever for the iniquity which he knows, because his sons made themselves vile, and he did not restrain them...And therefore...the iniquity of Eli's house shall not be atoned (kapar - atonement, purge, reconciliation, forgive, pardon, to be covered) for by sacrifice or offering forever." (v. 13-14).

     The house of Eli would be removed from the priesthood, and Samuel, the young boy, would become the priest, prophet and judge of Israel. The LORD called Samuel before the lamp of the tabernacle could be allowed to go out from neglect.

     Jesus spoke of the connection between this spiritual light and spiritual eyesight: "The lamp (lychnos/leukos - a lamp, candle or candle placed on a stand or candlestick, illuminator, the eye which shows the body which way to move or turn/light, bright, brilliant, dazzling white, white garments, white color of ripening grain)) of the body is the eye (ophtahlmos/optanomai - the eye, sight, the eyes of the mind, the faculty of knowing, vision/to look at, to gaze at something remarkable with wide-open eyes, to allow one's self to be seen). If therefore your eye is good (halous - as a particle of a union, whole, fulfilling its office, good, sound), your whole body will be full of light (photoeinos - composed of light, well-illuminated, full of light, transparent). But if your eye is bad (poneros/ponos/penes - evil, wicked, full of and pressed by labors or annoyances or hardship/great trouble, anguish/starving poor), your whole body will be full of darkness (skoteinos - full of darkness, covered with darkness, opaque). If therefore the light that is in you is darkness (skotos - darkness, darkened eyesight or blindness, ignorance respecting divine things and the consequent misery in hell, a person in whom darkness becomes visible and holds sway), how great is that darkness (skotos -see above/skia - shadow, shade caused by the interception of light)!" (Mt. 6:22-23). The Greek meanings in these verses give us a deeper understanding of light and darkness, and the struggle for control within us as well as the connection between spiritual light and the spiritual sight of the eye. Paul also prayed that the eyes of our understanding be enlightened that we may know the hope of His calling and the glory of His inheritance in the saints. (see Eph. 1:17-18).

     It is interesting to note that the weekly observance of the Sabbath in each home begins with the prayerful lighting of the Sabbath candles and, by the sweeping of hands over the candles and then to the eyes, the light of the candles is invited and received into the eyes. Lord, light our eyes with the revelation of our Savior, Messiah/Christ Jesus.

     Jesus told a parable about ten virgins who were to be part of the wedding of the Bridegroom, who returned at night. Five of the virgins were wise (see Daniel above), having plenty of oil (see above) to keep their lamps shining brightly. Five of those virgins were foolish. They could not go out to meet the Bridegroom when He came because they had no oil with which to light their lamps. By the time they had acquired the oil, the Bridegroom had already come and gone, having entered into the wedding, and the door was shut. When the five foolish virgins came afterward crying for the Lord to open to them, He answered: "Assuredly, I say to you, I do not know (eido - to see, perceive, look, behold, turn the eyes to) you." (Mt. 25:1-13). Not only does the lighted lamp represent all of those things that we saw above, but the prepared lamp of (spiritual) light also identifies who is known by Messiah/Christ, who revealed Himself as the returning Bridegroom in the parable. He identified the wise virgins by His light shining within them.

     Peter wrote of the special priesthood of light that has been given to those who have become part of the Light of the world, Jesus: "But you are a chosen generation, a royal priesthood, a holy nation, His own special people, that you may proclaim the praises of Him who called you out of darkness (skotos/skia - see above) into His marvelous light (phos - light emitted by a lamp, heavenly light, fire as light and which sheds light, God as light which is pure and brilliant, the light of truth and knowledge and spiritual purity) who once were not a people but are now the people of God [note - God is light: see 1 Jn. 1:5], who had not obtained mercy but now have obtained mercy." (1 Pet. 2:9-10).

      Jesus spoke of and Paul wrote of the believers in Christ as sons of light who believe in the Light (Jesus), walking as a child of light, and being light in the Lord. (see Jn. 12:36, Eph. 5:8, 1 Thess. 5:4-5). We can understand the importance of having our eyes enlightened in understanding spiritual truths, as well as being light that leads others out of darkness, but there is also another spiritual importance to this kind of light. Paul wrote that all things, including the things to be reproved (elegcho - exposed, call to account, bring to the light), are made manifest (phaneroo/phaneros/phaino/phos - to make visible or known what has been hidden or unknown, expose to view, to be plainly recognized/apparent, open, shining/appear, to lighten, shine, be bright, be resplendent, be brought forth into the light, shed light/light, emitting light) by light that is shone upon them: "...for whatever makes manifest is light." (Eph. 5:13). To me this means that not only do we shine light into ourselves to expose any darkness that is present, but it also means to shine this light onto the hidden works of darkness in a way that exposes them for all to see. However, Paul notes that all things are made manifest by light, including the hidden things of God - revelation, visions and so on. We, being light, also make these truths plain for all to see. The same light that can expose darkness and its works is the same light that also manifests the light of the Lord and heaven here on earth. All things are made manifested by this light. Paul also connects this kind of light to resurrection, writing: "Awake, you who sleep, arise from the dead, and Christ will give you light" (v. 14), which he taught from Isa. 26:19 and Isa. 60:1. We have already been raised from the dead when we are in Messiah/Christ. (see Eph. 2:5-7, Col. 2:12-13, Col. 3:1-4).

     This Sabbath is a special Sabbath referred to as Zachor, meaning "Remember" or "Don't Forget." This is the Sabbath that comes before Purim, a day set aside to remember and celebrate the destruction of a plot to kill the Jewish people of Persia (now Iraq/Iran). The king of Persia ruled over an empire that extended from India to Ethiopia. (Esther 1:1-4). A set of circumstances occurred by which (*aleph-tav/Alpha and Omega)-Esther, whose Jewish identity and Jewish name (*aleph-tav/Alpha and Omega)-Hadassah (myrtle tree) had been hidden from the king, ended up being the king's new wife, (*aleph-tav/Alpha and Omega)-the-queen of the land. There was an evil man named Haman, who was one of the princes of the land, who had gotten the permission of the king to execute all of the Jews in the empire by paying money to the king. Esther was exhorted by her uncle to go to the king and intercede with him against this wicked decree. She was the only person who was in a position to approach the king. She feared that the king could kill her for approaching him without having been summoned, but with the support of the prayers and fasting of the Jews in the land, Esther approached the king. (Est. 4:10-17, Est. 5:1-3).

     Reminding us of what Paul wrote above, the evil plot of Haman was exposed or made manifest before the king by Esther. However, not only was Haman exposed, but an even greater hidden secret would be exposed or made manifest at the same time - Esther's Jewish identity. (Est. 7:1-6). Haman and his sons were destroyed, and the threat to the Jewish people was removed. How does light play a part in this story? Hidden things were revealed or made manifest, which is one of the things that light accomplishes, but also, Esther's name means "Star", which is a light in the heavens. (see also Dan. 12:3 as mentioned above). Esther, the Star, a light of heaven, saved many lives that day, including her own.

     If you would like to learn more about being light in the Kingdom of God, you can join with me in my prayer: "Heavenly Father, You are called 'The Father of Lights.' Scripture says that You are light. Jesus our Savior said that He is the Light of the world and called us to be the same light. Lord, help me to understand by Your Word and Holy Spirit how to walk as this light. Help me to be one who dispels the darkness in Jesus' name and Light. Help me to be the resurrection light of Messiah/Christ to those who are in darkness and perishing. Let the light of Christ and the candle of the Holy Spirit that dwell within me as Your Word promises, shed light upon hidden things, including first the hidden things in my own soul. I ask this in the name of the Lord, 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.