Tzav צַו - Command!
Torah Portion: Leviticus 6:1-8:36
Haftarah: Jeremiah 7:21-8:3, 9:22-23
Shabbat: Leviticus 8:30–36
8:30 Moses took some of the anointing oil, and some of the blood which was on the altar, and sprinkled it on Aaron, on his garments, and on his sons, and on his sons’ garments with him, and sanctified Aaron, his garments, and his sons, and his sons’ garments with him.
31 Moses said to Aaron and to his sons, “Boil the meat at the door of the Tent of Meeting, and there eat it and the bread that is in the basket of consecration, as I commanded, saying, ‘Aaron and his sons shall eat it.’ 32 What remains of the meat and of the bread you shall burn with fire. 33 You shall not go out from the door of the Tent of Meeting for seven days, until the days of your consecration are fulfilled: for he shall consecrate you seven days. 34 What has been done today, so Hashem has commanded to do, to make atonement for you. 35 You shall stay at the door of the Tent of Meeting day and night seven days, and keep Hashem’s command, that you don’t die: for so I am commanded.” 36 Aaron and his sons did all the things which Hashem commanded by Moses.
Today’s Meditation:
In verse 35, we read that the sons of Aaron are to stay at the door of the Tabernacle for seven days, obey what Hashem has commanded, or they will die. We know that Torah is eternal life. And for those who believe Yeshua is the Mashiach, He is the Word. So, here it is clear. If you want to come into the presence of Hashem, you must follow His commands and instructions. Not to do so will cause death to you. Isn’t that true now? If we follow Hashem and His Commandments, they will bring us life. They show us how to worship, praise, follow, repent, and forgive, atone, live, love Him, and love others. If we don’t do all that, we spiritually die. I believe that is why the world is so dark and sad. They don’t know Hashem and His Messiah. They don’t have life. It’s time for those who believe to begin being a light to the world, reflecting the Torah and Hashem’s love for us.
Today’s Challenge:
Today, I encourage you to review whether you are following Hashem’s commandments. Are you honoring the Sabbath? Are you eating clean foods? Are you loving your neighbor more than yourself? Are you loving Hashem with your whole heart, soul, and strength? Give yourself a spiritual check-up today. And change where necessary. Follow Him, and He will give you life.
This Week’s Haftarah: Jeremiah 7:21-8:3, 9:22-23
7:21 Hashem of Armies, the Elohim of Israel says: “Add your burnt offerings to your sacrifices and eat meat. 22 For I didn’t speak to your fathers or command them in the day that I brought them out of the land of Egypt concerning burnt offerings or sacrifices; 23 but this thing I commanded them, saying, ‘Listen to My voice, and I will be your Elohim, and you shall be My people. Walk in all the way that I command you, that it may be well with you.’ 24 But they didn’t listen or turn their ear, but walked in their own counsels and in the stubbornness of their evil heart, and went backward, and not forward. 25 Since the day that your fathers came out of the land of Egypt to this day, I have sent to you all My servants the prophets, daily rising up early and sending them. 26 Yet they didn’t listen to me or incline their ear, but made their neck stiff. They did worse than their fathers.
27 “You shall speak all these words to them, but they will not listen to you. You shall also call to them, but they will not answer you. 28 You shall tell them, ‘This is the nation that has not listened to Hashem their Elohim’s voice, nor received instruction. Truth has perished, and is cut off from their mouth.’ 29 Cut off your hair, and throw it away, and take up a lamentation on the bare heights; for Hashem has rejected and forsaken the generation of his wrath.
30 “For the children of Judah have done that which is evil in My sight,” says Hashem. “They have set their abominations in the house which is called by My name, to defile it. 31 They have built the high places of Topheth, which is in the valley of the son of Hinnom, to burn their sons and their daughters in the fire; which I didn’t command, nor did it come into My mind. 32 Therefore behold, the days come”, says Hashem, “that it will no more be called ‘Topheth’ or ‘The valley of the son of Hinnom’, but ‘The valley of Slaughter’; for they will bury in Topheth until there is no place to bury. 33 The dead bodies of this people will be food for the birds of the sky, and for the animals of the earth. No one will frighten them away. 34 Then I will cause to cease from the cities of Judah, and from the streets of Jerusalem, the voice of mirth and the voice of gladness, the voice of the bridegroom and the voice of the bride; for the land will become a waste.”
8:1 “At that time,” says Hashem, “they will bring the bones of the kings of Judah, the bones of his princes, the bones of the priests, the bones of the prophets, and the bones of the inhabitants of Jerusalem, out of their graves. 2 They will spread them before the sun, the moon, and all the army of the sky, which they have loved, which they have served, after which they have walked, which they have sought, and which they have worshiped. They will not be gathered or be buried. They will be like dung on the surface of the earth. 3 Death will be chosen rather than life by all the residue that remain of this evil family, that remain in all the places where I have driven them,” says Hashem of Armies.
Jeremiah 9:22-23
9:22 Speak, “Hashem says,
“‘The dead bodies of men will fall as dung on the open field,
and as the handful after the harvester.
No one will gather them.’”
23 Hashem says,
“Don’t let the wise man glory in his wisdom.
Don’t let the mighty man glory in his might.
Don’t let the rich man glory in his riches.
Today’s Haftarah Meditation:
Verse 23 says, “Listen to My voice, and I will be your Elohim.” Pretty simple, right? But do we listen to Him? Do you feel a gentle “nudging” during your day to do something or not to do something? Do you follow that nudge? Chances are that Hashem is encouraging you. Listen to Him. Do what He says, or don’t do what He is telling you not to do. If we do this, He has promised to be our Elohim.
Today’s Haftarah Challenge:
In verse 9:23, we are specifically told not to glory or have pride in the wisdom, might, or riches we have. Everything we have comes from Hashem. He owns it all. He lends us things and people temporarily while we are on earth. Don’t think for a minute that the things you possess or the children you have born are from your own doing. It is all from Hashem. Remember that today, and give glory to Him for all He has done and given you. Eagerly awaiting the day He sends His Mashiach to the Temple in Jerusalem. Where we can bow down and offer worship to the Holy One.
