Tetzaveh - Day #7

Tetzaveh תְּצַוֶּה - You Shall Command  

Torah Portion: Exodus:27:20-30:10

Haltarah: Ezekiel 43:10-27

Shabbat: Exodus 30:1–10

30 “You shall make an altar to burn incense on. You shall make it of acacia wood. 2 Its length shall be a cubit, and its width a cubit. It shall be square, and its height shall be two cubits. Its horns shall be of one piece with it. 3 You shall overlay it with pure gold, its top, its sides around it, and its horns; and you shall make a gold molding around it. 4 You shall make two golden rings for it under its molding; on its two ribs, on its two sides, you shall make them; and they shall be for places for poles with which to bear it. 5 You shall make the poles of acacia wood, and overlay them with gold. 6 You shall put it before the veil that is by the ark of the covenant, before the mercy seat that is over the covenant, where I will meet with you. 7 Aaron shall burn incense of sweet spices on it every morning. When he tends the lamps, he shall burn it. 8 When Aaron lights the lamps at evening, he shall burn it, a perpetual incense before Hashem throughout your generations. 9 You shall offer no strange incense on it, nor burnt offering, nor meal offering; and you shall pour no drink offering on it. 10 Aaron shall make atonement on its horns once in the year; with the blood of the sin offering of atonement once in the year, he shall make atonement for it throughout your generations. It is most holy to Hashem.”

Today’s Meditation:

If you do some research on the altar of incense, you will find some varying opinions. We know that Hashem required that it fill the Holy Place with smoke, that it ascended, and it was to be enforced day and night. Most likely, it was a display of obedience by the Priests to Hashem in following the Laws. Whatever reason Hashem chose for the burning of incense, it must have made it very special to the senses of smell and sight. Maybe there was even an association that, when you were in the Tabernacle and smelled the special spices burning, reminded you of Hashem’s presence. Again, everything in the Tabernacle was special and for a specific purpose.

Today’s Challenge:

Some people believe that the incense in the Tabernacle represents our prayers. As incense smoke ascends upward, so should our prayers to Hashem. Some of the prophets in Scripture liken the incense to prayers ascending to the heavenly altar. This is a good reminder to us that Hashem does acknowledge our prayers —maybe sees them as incense. So we must present them to Him daily. This does not necessarily mean prayers of requests, but prayers of praise and honor to Hashem for all He does in our lives. Praising and thanking Him should be natural, and often, our very existence on the planet is because of Him. Thank you, Hashem, for all you do in our lives and those whom we love.

This Week’s Haftarah: Ezekiel 43:10-27

43:10 “You, son of man, show the house to the house of Israel, that they may be ashamed of their iniquities; and let them measure the pattern. 11 If they are ashamed of all that they have done, make known to them the form of the house, and its fashion, and its exits, and its entrances, and all its forms, and all its ordinances, and all its forms, and all its laws; and write it in their sight; that they may keep the whole form of it, and all its ordinances, and do them.

12 “This is the law of the house. On top of the mountain the whole limit around it shall be most holy. Behold, this is the law of the house. 13 “These are the measurements of the altar by cubits (the cubit is a cubit and a hand width): the bottom shall be a cubit, and the width a cubit, and its border around its edge a span; and this shall be the base of the altar. 14 From the bottom on the ground to the lower ledge shall be two cubits, and the width one cubit; and from the lesser ledge to the greater ledge shall be four cubits, and the width a cubit. 15 The upper altar shall be four cubits; and from the altar hearth and upward there shall be four horns. 16 The altar hearth shall be twelve cubits long by twelve wide, square in its four sides. 17 The ledge shall be fourteen cubits long by fourteen wide in its four sides; and the border about it shall be half a cubit; and its bottom shall be a cubit around; and its steps shall look toward the east.”

18 He said to me, “Son of man, Hashem says: ‘These are the ordinances of the altar in the day when they make it, to offer burnt offerings on it, and to sprinkle blood on it. 19 You shall give to the Levitical priests who are of the offspring of Zadok, who are near to me, to minister to me,’ says Hashem, ‘a young bull for a sin offering. 20 You shall take of its blood, and put it on its four horns, and on the four corners of the ledge, and on the border all around. You shall cleanse it and make atonement for it that way. 21 You shall also take the bull of the sin offering, and it shall be burned in the appointed place of the house, outside of the sanctuary.

22 “On the second day, you shall offer a male goat without defect for a sin offering; and they shall cleanse the altar, as they cleansed it with the bull. 23 When you have finished cleansing it, you shall offer a young bull without defect, and a ram out of the flock without defect. 24 You shall bring them near to Hashem, and the priests shall cast salt on them, and they shall offer them up for a burnt offering to Hashem.

25 “Seven days you shall prepare every day a goat for a sin offering. They shall also prepare a young bull, and a ram out of the flock, without defect. 26 Seven days shall they make atonement for the altar and purify it. So shall they consecrate it. 27 When they have accomplished the days, it shall be that on the eighth day, and forward, the priests shall make your burnt offerings on the altar, and your peace offerings. Then I will accept you,’ says Hashem.”

Today’s Haftarah Meditation:

In Ezekiel's reading today, we learn more about the building of a sacrificial altar for burnt offerings. Many people believe that these instructions are for a future Temple. Isaiah and others have similar references to a future Temple. Some people think that when the last Temple was destroyed, that marked the end of the Temple era. However, Scripture, as seen in Ezekiel, defines the opposite. That there will be another Temple, and we need to prepare for it. The future Mashiach will reside there, and the glory of Hashem will dominate it. Let us look forward to this day when the world will be made right again.

Today’s Haftarah Challenge:

I have previously challenged you to conduct some Temple studies. There isn't much teaching available that supports the prophecies of the Third Temple. But, I believe with my whole heart that there will be a Temple prepared for the return of the Mashiach, where He will rule and reign for eternity. It only makes sense. But I recommend you study it on your own.

Terumah - Day #7

Terumah תְּרוּמָה - Offering  

Torah Portion: Exodus: 25:1-27:19

Haftarah: 1 Samuel 15:1-34

Shabbat: Exodus 27:9–19

27:9 “You shall make the court of the tabernacle: for the south side southward there shall be hangings for the court of fine twined linen one hundred cubits long for one side. 10 Its pillars shall be twenty, and their sockets twenty, of bronze. The hooks of the pillars and their fillets shall be of silver. 11 Likewise, for the length of the north side, there shall be hangings one hundred cubits long, and its pillars twenty, and their sockets twenty, of bronze; the hooks of the pillars, and their fillets, of silver. 12 For the width of the court on the west side shall be hangings of fifty cubits; their pillars ten, and their sockets ten. 13 The width of the court on the east side eastward shall be fifty cubits. 14 The hangings for the one side of the gate shall be fifteen cubits; their pillars three, and their sockets three. 15 For the other side shall be hangings of fifteen cubits; their pillars three, and their sockets three. 16 For the gate of the court shall be a screen of twenty cubits, of blue, and purple, and scarlet, and fine twined linen, the work of the embroiderer; their pillars four, and their sockets four. 17 All the pillars of the court around shall be filleted with silver; their hooks of silver, and their sockets of bronze. 18 The length of the court shall be one hundred cubits, and the width fifty throughout, and the height five cubits, of fine twined linen, and their sockets of bronze. 19 All the instruments of the tabernacle in all its service, and all its pins, and all the pins of the court, shall be of bronze.

Today's Meditation:

This reading continues with the construction of the Temple. This is about the hangings that will cover the outside walls. Again, they are to be excellent and beautiful. Nothing is to be spared for Hashem and His presence. But it also had to be portable because they were moving. It truly was a portable sanctuary. Hashem, in all His wisdom and love, gave them this, as He also gave them His presence in a cloud by day and fire by night. What a faithful Elohim.

Today’s Challenge:

Just as the Tabernacle (house) of Hashem is to be beautiful and perfect for His residing presence, so should our hearts be the same. Ensure that you keep your heart clean and pure so that His love can reside within you. If you need to do some work in certain areas, take a moment to create a plan now. What sin do you need to get rid of? Who do you need to forgive? Do you need to repay someone? Do you need to spend more time in His Scripture and in prayer? Start today. Make a place for Him in your heart. 

This Week’s Haftarah: 1 Samuel 15:1-34

15 Samuel said to Saul, “Hashem sent me to anoint you to be king over his people, over Israel. Now therefore listen to the voice of Hashem’s words. 2 Hashem of Armies says, ‘I remember what Amalek did to Israel, how he set himself against him on the way when he came up out of Egypt. 3 Now go and strike Amalek, and utterly destroy all that they have, and don’t spare them; but kill both man and woman, infant and nursing baby, ox and sheep, camel and donkey.’”

4 Saul summoned the people, and counted them in Telaim, two hundred thousand footmen and ten thousand men of Judah. 5 Saul came to the city of Amalek and set an ambush in the valley. 6 Saul said to the Kenites, “Go, depart, go down from among the Amalekites, lest I destroy you with them; for you showed kindness to all the children of Israel when they came up out of Egypt.” So the Kenites departed from among the Amalekites. 7 Saul struck the Amalekites, from Havilah as you go to Shur, which is before Egypt. 8 He took Agag the king of the Amalekites alive, and utterly destroyed all the people with the edge of the sword. 9 But Saul and the people spared Agag and the best of the sheep, of the cattle, of the fat calves, of the lambs, and all that was good, and were not willing to utterly destroy them; but everything that was vile and refuse, that they destroyed utterly.

10 Then Hashem’s word came to Samuel, saying, 11 “It grieves me that I have set up Saul to be king, for he has turned back from following Me, and has not performed My commandments.” Samuel was angry, and he cried to Hashem all night.

12 Samuel rose early to meet Saul in the morning, and Samuel was told, saying, “Saul came to Carmel, and behold, he set up a monument for himself, turned, passed on, and went down to Gilgal.”

13 Samuel came to Saul, and Saul said to him, “You are blessed by Hashem! I have performed the commandment of Hashem.”

14 Samuel said, “Then what does this bleating of the sheep in my ears and the lowing of the cattle which I hear mean?”

15 Saul said, “They have brought them from the Amalekites; for the people spared the best of the sheep and of the cattle, to sacrifice to Hashem your Elohim. We have utterly destroyed the rest.”

16 Then Samuel said to Saul, “Stay, and I will tell you what Hashem said to me last night.”

He said to him, “Say on.”

17 Samuel said, “Though you were little in your own sight, weren’t you made the head of the tribes of Israel? Hashem anointed you king over Israel; 18 and Hashem sent you on a journey, and said, ‘Go, and utterly destroy the sinners, the Amalekites, and fight against them until they are consumed.’ 19 Why then didn’t you obey Hashem’s voice, but took the plunder, and did that which was evil in Hashem’s sight?”

20 Saul said to Samuel, “But I have obeyed Hashem’s voice, and have gone the way which Hashem sent me, and have brought Agag the king of Amalek, and have utterly destroyed the Amalekites. 21 But the people took of the plunder, sheep and cattle, the best of the devoted things, to sacrifice to Hashem your Elohim in Gilgal.”

22 Samuel said, “Has Hashem as great delight in burnt offerings and sacrifices, as in obeying Hashem’s voice? Behold, to obey is better than sacrifice, and to listen than the fat of rams. 23 For rebellion is as the sin of witchcraft, and stubbornness is as idolatry and teraphim. Because you have rejected Hashem’s word, He has also rejected you from being king.”

24 Saul said to Samuel, “I have sinned; for I have transgressed the commandment of Hashem and your words, because I feared the people and obeyed their voice. 25 Now therefore, please pardon my sin, and turn again with me, that I may worship Hashem.”

26 Samuel said to Saul, “I will not return with you, for you have rejected Hashem’s word, and Hashem has rejected you from being king over Israel.” 27 As Samuel turned around to go away, Saul grabbed the skirt of his robe, and it tore. 28 Samuel said to him, “Hashem has torn the kingdom of Israel from you today, and has given it to a neighbor of yours who is better than you. 29 Also, the Strength of Israel will not lie nor repent; for he is not a man, that he should repent.”

30 Then he said, “I have sinned; yet please honor me now before the elders of my people and before Israel, and come back with me, that I may worship Hashem your Elohim.”

31 So Samuel went back with Saul, and Saul worshiped Hashem. 32 Then Samuel said, “Bring Agag the king of the Amalekites here to me!”

Agag came to him cheerfully. Agag said, “Surely the bitterness of death is past.”

33 Samuel said, “As your sword has made women childless, so your mother will be childless among women!” Then Samuel cut Agag in pieces before Hashem in Gilgal.

34 Then Samuel went to Ramah, and Saul went up to his house to Gibeah of Saul.

Today’s Haftarah Meditation:

“To obey is better than sacrifice” (verse 22). That does not mean that Hashem no longer wants sacrifice, as some doctrines will teach. You need to read this in context. Saul gives the excuse that the reason he did not follow Hashem’s command to destroy everything, including livestock completely, was that they had animals to sacrifice. But that is not what Hashem asked for. He asked them to destroy everything, and they disobeyed Him. That is why Samuel tells Saul that Hashem would rather have obedience than sacrifice because Saul disobeyed and wanted to use this as an excuse to sacrifice. 

Hashem’s Law is eternal. And someday, when the Temple is restored, and He sends His Mashiach to rule and reign, there will still be sacrifice. Read Isaiah and Ezekiel on this. It is clear. Man can not erase Hashem’s Commandments, and like Saul, cannot replace them.

Today’s Haftarah Challenge:

What Commandment are you hedging on in your life? Do you watch TV shows or go to the movies to watch things you know Hashem has not approved? Do you treat people in a way that disregards Hashem’s commands in that area? Do you dishonor your parents with excuses to do so? Reevaluate your life and make sure you are following and obeying Hashem’s Commandments. Do not be like Saul and make exceptions to His rules. It is wrong, and there will be consequences.

Mishpatim - Day #7

Torah Portion: Exodus:21:1-24:18  

Haftarah: Isaiah 66:1-24

Shabbat: Exodus 23:26–24:18

23:26 No one will miscarry or be barren in your land. I will fulfill the number of your days. 27 I will send my terror before you, and will confuse all the people to whom you come, and I will make all your enemies turn their backs to you. 28 I will send the hornet before you, which will drive out the Hivite, the Canaanite, and the Hittite, from before you. 29 I will not drive them out from before you in one year, lest the land become desolate, and the animals of the field multiply against you. 30 Little by little, I will drive them out from before you, until you have increased and inherit the land. 31 I will set your border from the Red Sea even to the sea of the Philistines, and from the wilderness to the River; for I will deliver the inhabitants of the land into your hand, and you shall drive them out before you. 32 You shall make no covenant with them, nor with their gods. 33 They shall not dwell in your land, lest they make you sin against me, for if you serve their gods, it will surely be a snare to you.”

24 He said to Moses, “Come up to Hashem, you, and Aaron, Nadab, and Abihu, and seventy of the elders of Israel; and worship from a distance. 2 Moses alone shall come near to Hashem, but they shall not come near. The people shall not go up with him.”

3 Moses came and told the people all Hashem’s words, and all the ordinances; and all the people answered with one voice, and said, “All the words which Hashem has spoken will we do.”

4 Moses wrote all Hashem’s words, then rose up early in the morning and built an altar at the base of the mountain, with twelve pillars for the twelve tribes of Israel. 5 He sent young men of the children of Israel, who offered burnt offerings and sacrificed peace offerings of cattle to Hashem. 6 Moses took half of the blood and put it in basins, and half of the blood he sprinkled on the altar. 7 He took the book of the covenant and read it in the hearing of the people, and they said, “We will do all that Hashem has said, and be obedient.”

8 Moses took the blood, and sprinkled it on the people, and said, “Look, this is the blood of the covenant, which Hashem has made with you concerning all these words.”

9 Then Moses, Aaron, Nadab, Abihu, and seventy of the elders of Israel went up. 10 They saw the Elohim of Israel. Under his feet was like a paved work of sapphire stone, like the skies for clearness. 11 He didn’t lay his hand on the nobles of the children of Israel. They saw Hashem, and ate and drank.

12 Hashem said to Moses, “Come up to me on the mountain, and stay here, and I will give you the stone tablets with the law and the commands that I have written, that you may teach them.”

13 Moses rose up with Joshua, his servant, and Moses went up onto Elohim’s Mountain. 14 He said to the elders, “Wait here for us, until we come again to you. Behold, Aaron and Hur are with you. Whoever is involved in a dispute can go to them.”

15 Moses went up on the mountain, and the cloud covered the mountain. 16 Hashem’s glory settled on Mount Sinai, and the cloud covered it six days. The seventh day, He called to Moses out of the middle of the cloud. 17 The appearance of Hashem’s glory was like devouring fire on the top of the mountain in the eyes of the children of Israel. 18 Moses entered into the middle of the cloud, and went up on the mountain; and Moses was on the mountain forty days and forty nights.

Today’s Meditation:

In verse 26:24, we read “Come up to Hashem.” I am immediately thinking that is what we should do every day. We should come to Hashem in our prayer, in our worship, in our actions. They were experiencing something that they had never had before. Witnessing the presence and power of Hashem on the mountain. And they were receiving Commandments that would give them life. Hashem’s love for us is just amazing and overwhelming. He takes care of every detail in our lives. And when necessary, He presents Himself to us. Sometimes in small ways, sometimes in significant ways. Through miracles, through people, and in everyday life, He makes Himself known to us. If you haven’t been “up to the mountain” lately, I encourage you to do it today.

Today’s Challenge:

At the beginning of today’s reading, we see how Hashem will confuse the enemy and have them turn their backs on you (verse 23:27). Isn’t that amazing? He knows that we can experience spiritual warfare daily, but if we love Him and serve Him, He makes these promises to protect us. If you are in an unusual situation in life and feel attacked, this is a good reading for you today. Know that He goes ahead of you, gets rid of the enemy in your path, and will make a way for you. A good way. His way.

This Week’s Haftarah: Isaiah 66:1-24

66 Hashem says,

“Heaven is My throne, and the earth is My footstool.

    What kind of house will you build to Me?

    Where will I rest?

2 For my hand has made all these things,

    and so all these things came to be,” says Hashem:

“But I will look to this man,

 even to he who is poor and of a contrite spirit,

    and who trembles at My word.

3 He who kills an ox is as he who kills a man;

    he who sacrifices a lamb, as he who breaks a dog’s neck;

    he who offers an offering, as he who offers pig’s blood;

    he who burns frankincense, as he who blesses an idol.

Yes, they have chosen their own ways,

    and their soul delights in their abominations:

4 I also will choose their delusions,

    and will bring their fears on them;

because when I called, no one answered;

    when I spoke, they didn’t listen.

but they did that which was evil in my eyes,

    and chose that in which I didn’t delight.”

5 Hear Hashem’s word,

    you who tremble at His word:

“Your brothers who hate you,

    who cast you out for My name’s sake, have said,

‘Let Hashem be glorified,

    that we may see your joy;’

    but it is those who shall be disappointed.

6 A voice of tumult from the city,

    a voice from the temple,

    a voice of Hashem that repays His enemies what they deserve.

7 “Before she travailed, she gave birth.

    Before her pain came, she delivered a son.

8 Who has heard of such a thing?

    Who has seen such things?

Shall a land be born in one day?

    Shall a nation be born at once?

For as soon as Zion travailed,

    she gave birth to her children.

9 Shall I bring to the birth, and not cause to be delivered?” says Hashem.

    “Shall I who cause to give birth shut the womb?” says your Elohim.

10 “Rejoice with Jerusalem, and be glad for her, all you who love her.

    Rejoice for joy with her, all you who mourn over her;

11 that you may nurse and be satisfied at the comforting breasts;

    that you may drink deeply,

    and be delighted with the abundance of her glory.”

12 For Hashem says, “Behold, I will extend peace to her like a river,

    and the glory of the nations like an overflowing stream;

    and you will nurse.

You will be carried on her side,

    and will be dandled on her knees.

13 As one whom his mother comforts,

    so I will comfort you.

    You will be comforted in Jerusalem.”

14 You will see it, and your heart shall rejoice,

    and your bones will flourish like the tender grass.

Hashem’s hand will be known among his servants,

    and He will have indignation against His enemies.

15 For, behold, Hashem will come with fire,

    and His chariots will be like the whirlwind;

to render His anger with fierceness,

    and His rebuke with flames of fire.

16 For Hashem will execute judgment by fire and by His sword on all flesh;

    and those slain by Hashem will be many.

17 “Those who sanctify themselves and purify themselves to go to the gardens, behind one in the middle, eating pig’s meat, abominable things, and the mouse, they shall come to an end together,” says Hashem.

18 “For I know their works and their thoughts. The time comes that I will gather all nations and languages, and they will come, and will see my glory.

19 “I will set a sign among them, and I will send those who escape of them to the nations, to Tarshish, Pul, and Lud, who draw the bow, to Tubal and Javan, to far-away islands, who have not heard My fame, nor have seen My glory; and they shall declare My glory among the nations. 20 They shall bring all your brothers out of all the nations for an offering to Hashem, on horses, in chariots, in litters, on mules, and on camels, to My holy mountain Jerusalem, says Hashem, as the children of Israel bring their offering in a clean vessel into Hashem’s house. 21 Of them I will also select priests and Levites,” says Hashem.

22 “For as the new heavens and the new earth, which I will make, shall remain before me,” says Hashem, “so your offspring and your name shall remain. 23 It shall happen that from one new moon to another, and from one Sabbath to another, all flesh will come to worship before me,” says Hashem. 24 “They will go out, and look at the dead bodies of the men who have transgressed against me; for their worm will not die, nor will their fire be quenched, and they will be loathsome to all mankind.”

Today’s Haftarah Meditation:

Here in Isaiah, we read about Hashem's desire to have a dwelling place on earth. Verse 1 says, “What kind of house will you build to Me?” I believe throughout Scripture we read that Hashem loves us and wants to be with us. But maybe He is waiting for us to welcome Him. Think of it. There has not been a holy Temple, a dwelling place, for Hashem in Jerusalem for over 2,000 years. The enemy has occupied this sacred mountain for all those years. Have we fought to get it back? Have we prayed to get it back? Are we supporting groups in Israel to rebuild the Temple? We should be giving money and prayer to the rebuilding of the Temple. What could be more important? If you are not doing this, please consider doing so.

Today’s Haftarah Challenge:

There is an organization called the Temple Institute in Jerusalem. They have been preparing all the instruments and necessary artifacts for the Temple and the priests. I have visited their Institute many times, and it is incredible. But they need help and prayer to fulfill their mission. Please go to: www:templeinstitute.org and consider supporting them today. That is my challenge to you.