T’rumah(Contribution)Ex./Sh’mot 25:1-27:19
Torah Portion: T’rumah(Contribution)Ex./Sh’mot 25:1-27:19 Haftorah Reading: I Kings 5:26-6:13 Tonight we study a Torah portion that covers the materials used for the construction of the Mishkan or Tabernacle. It also covers the items needing to be donated for its construction. During our time tonight I want us to also talk about some of the Hebrew words […]
Trumah (Contributions) Exodus/Sh’mot 25:1-27:19
Trumah(Contributions)Exodus/Sh’mot 25:1-27:19
Haftorah Reading: I Kings 5:12-6:13
I want us to concentrate our study today on one particular verse. I want us to look at Exodus 25:2. I am sure we have looked at this verse before, however, today I want us to look at it from a viewpoint we may not have considered before.
In this verse we read the offering brought to the L-rd was to come from only those people who were moved to give willingly. It could come from both male and female Israelites. This offering was for the specific purpose of constructing the Mishkan. So this offering was to include all the people not a select few. The purpose of the offering is clearly stated in Exodus 25:8. There we read, “And let them make Me a sanctuary that I may dwell in their midst.” The Mishkan was to be constructed in such a way that it was mobile and could be moved. It would need to be transported wherever the people journeyed. It was used for the duration of the exodus and for many years once the people arrived in the Promised Land. Most importantly the Mishkan was to be a visible, tangible reminder that the L-rd was dwelling among them. The very word for the structure has at its root, neighbor or neighborhood. I would pray each of us can feel that same assurance that G-d is always with us. He abides in our heart.
Tazria Lev. 12-13
Torah Portion: Tazria Vayikra Lev. 12-13
HafTorah: II Kings 4:42-5:19
NT Matt 8:1-4, 11:2-6
This week we continue on with the laws of clean and unclean which began in chapter 11 with clean and unclean animals. I want us to begin our time with what it means to be clean or unclean. The word in Hebrew, tahor, can also be found in Psalms 51:10 where David prays to G-d to, “create in me a pure/clean heart.” So clean denotes something pure and unblemished. Tami, in Hebrew would be the opposite. If you will notice this is the same word used for the sacrifices. They had to be tahor, no blemish or spot could be found. In Torah this term is used to denote if a person would be able to take part in the Sanctuary worship or to come in contact with any holy object. It had nothing to do with sin but rather was a physical issue. It was usually dealt with by the passage of time (usually until evening) and passing through the waters of mikvah. It in effect excluded a person from experiencing the presence of G-d in the Mishkan or Temple. So these laws pertained to the things of the Sanctuary. which is here being used for the first time. These laws had nothing to do with the person’s heart condition, yet they are used in both Hebrew scripture and the New Testament to symbolically refer to issues of morality. So we hear David speak of a Tahor heart. In the New Testament, Yeshua does the same in Matt. 5:8. So as we go on I want us to keep these things in mind as we explore clean and unclean.
Vayak’hel and P’kudei Ex. 35-40
Torah Portion: Vayak’hel (He assembled) and P’kudei (Accounts)
Shemot (Exodus) 35:1-40:38
HafTorah: I Kings 7:40-8:21
New Testament: II Cor. 9:1-15, Hebrews 9:1-14; Revelations 11:1-13; 15:5-8
In Shemot (Exodus) it says, “They shall make me a sanctuary and I shall dwell among them.” This verse is the basis for two names for G-d’s earthly dwelling places. The Hebrew word for dwell is “Shachin,” from this comes the word for Tabernacle or Mishkan. Later the Temple was known as “Beit HaMikdash.” Mikdash is from the root word Chodesh or holy. From it we also get sanctify and sanctity. So these places of G-d can be seen together to show us that G-d sanctifies that which He inhabits. G-d is seen by those who look for Him. To one person a tree is merely a tree – to another it is the handiwork of G-d, depending on the viewer. Our own joys and tragedies can seem quite accidental or they can be seen as G-d’s hand in our life. How we see it depends on us. Everything in and about our life can reveal G-d if we allow it.