Beha’alotcha (When You LIft Up) Numbers 8-12
Torah Portion: Beha’alotcha (When You Lift Up) Numbers 8:1-12:16
HafTorah: Zechariah 2:14-4:7
This Torah section begins with a description of what Aaron was to do with the Holy Lamp stand in the Tabernacle (Mishkan). This lamp stand could be looked at as lighting the way to the Holy of Holies. Now the interesting part is the name of this section – Beha’alotcha. The root of this word is to lift up. So Aaron was to lift up the light that was to light the way to the Father. This caused me to think of us as priests of the L-rd. In the spiritual sense our job, our role in life is to lift up, lift up the light that people can find the way to the Father. Yeshua represents that light. As we live our life daily, every action, word or deed should be purposed to light the way for those around us in darkness. We don’t have to make some special effort. Our every effort should be to be that light we are called to be. We are to make sure the light stays lifted up.
Shemini (Eighth) Lev 9-11
Torah Portion: Shemini (Eighth) Vayikra Lev. 9:1-11:47
HafTorah: II Sam 6:1-7:17
Tonight we read and study the Torah portion of Shemini or eighth. This eighth day was at the conclusion of the seven day training period for Aaron and his sons. Eighth in Torah has special significance. It usually is connected with something that transcends the ordinary but is still connected to that which it transcended. Here the priests had been practicing their role in the Mishkan. Now was the time to step out of practice into reality. If you think about it Yeshua rose on the eighth day or what became know as Sunday. He, with His resurrection, entered another realm. This realm was that for which He came. He was to take His place at the Father’s side and intercede for us. So this eighth concept can help us further understand the order of G-d. Yeshua was not separated from what had gone before, His people, His land, but entered the spiritual world, which is that which should be the pattern for our physical life.
Vayak’hel and P’kudei Ex 35-40
Torah Portion: Vayak’hel (He Assembled) P’Kudei (Accounts) Sh’mot (Exodus) 35:1-40:38
HafTorah: Ezekiel 45:16-46:18
To begin with tonight I want to talk about something I saw this week that really caught my attention. In Sh’mot 38:21 we read, “The tabernacle, the tabernacle of testimony.” Usually when the Torah makes double use of a word it is making a deeper point. The Talmud picks up on this and states that here the point is that Torah is speaking of the earthly Tabernacle as being a shadow of the heavenly. This sounds really similar to Hebrews chapters 8-9, Hebrews 8:4 and 9:24. This brings us to the common argument used by many to say the Torah is finished and of little value to us as believers.
T’rumah (Tithe) Ex 25-27
Torah Portion: T’rumah (Contribution) Sh’mot (Exodus) 25-27
HafTorah: I Kings 5:26-6:13
New Testament: Hebrews 8:1-6
This week we read of the details of the Miskan (tabernacle). The materials are donated from the people as a free will offering. The offering had to be given with a willing heart. It was not a tithe but an offering. Why did G-d command the building of a Mishkan? In Exodus 25:8 we read so that He could dwell in them. In I Cor. 3:16 we read where we are the Temple of G-d, the Temple being patterned after the Miskan.
Entering His Sabbath – Ki Tisa (To Take) Exodus 30
Torah Portion: Ki Tisa (To Take) Exodus 30:11-34:35
HafTorah: I Kings 18:1-39
Tonight I want to start right off with the question I sent out to you. Moses takes a census of the people and as a result of this census every person age 20 and older had to pay ½ shekel for an atonement for their soul. (Exodus 30:12) How can money count as an atonement. Leviticus 17:11 tells us that only the shedding of innocent blood of an animal can atonement come. So how do we reconcile this? Another meaning for the word atonement is ransom. And if we use that word it gives us a clearer understanding of what Moses is saying here. In battle they would be shedding blood and in the Torah when you shed blood a ransom must be paid for the taking of a life.
Terumah (Donate)
Weekly Torah Section: Terumah (Donation) Exodus 25:1-27:19, Haftorah: I Kings 5:12-6:13
Let us start with the Torah Portion which covers the materials used in the construction of the Mishkan (tabernacle). The title of this portion is Terumah. In this word is carried both the thought of an offering but more than that, an offering that is lifted up before G-d. It is totally set apart for Him.