The Glory of the LORD Fills His Tabernacle! | Parashat Vayakhel-Pekudei | By His EVERY Word

Parashat Vayakhel-Pekudei

פרשת ויקהל 

The Glory of the LORD Fills His Tabernacle! 

Torah: Exodus 35:1 - 38:20
Haftarah: 1 Kings 7:40 - 50 
B’rit Chadashah: 2 Corinthians 9:6-11

:: Shabbat HaChodesh ::

Shabbat | 13 March 2021 | 29th of Adar, 5781

In Hebrew, Vayak’hel וַיַּקְהֵל literally means “and he assembled,” as our parashah begins with Moses assembling all the “congregation of the sons of Israel” for instruction from the LORD regarding the Sabbath, the Tabernacle, and congregational life.

Pekudei פְקוּדֵי is translated “accounts," "sum” or “records.” This portion is added some years as a double portion, recounting the stunning generosity of the assembly in over supplying the building of the Tabernacle.

With these final portions we complete the book of Exodus. 

Adonai has formed His congregation of the Sons of Israel, who have devoted their resources, gifts, and talents to preparing a dwelling place on earth for His Divine Presence according to the heavenly blueprint SHOWN to Moses. (This account captivates the imagination! Exodus 25)

Upon completion of this holy enterprise, their efforts are rewarded as His awesome Shekhinah filled the Tabernacle, a celestial acceptance of their labor of love.

Adonai is STILL building His congregation until the final redemption when we will at last see the Heavenly Tabernacle, which is created by His eternal presence. 

As we take the time to read through the Torah, Haftarah, and B'rit Chadashah, we see His plan and pattern—lovingly, painstakingly, and oft times heartbreakingly, wrought in flesh through the millennia—generation to generation.

In these days of growing spiritual darkness...

“Chazak! Chazak! Be strong, be strong! And let us strengthen one another!” These words of the ancient warrior, paraphrased from 2 Samuel 10:12, are customarily  proclaimed upon completing the reading of each of the five books of the Torah—as in today’s parsha, as we complete the book of Exodus.

It is our personal message to each of our readers as well during these days of trial and tribulation. May you be strengthened in the LORD who gives you each breath, and has numbered your days, remembering He alone is your refuge and your fortress. And strengthen others with your certain hope! Under the shadow of His wings, take refuge—that you may not fear the terror by night, the arrow that flies by day, nor the pestilence, plague, or virus that walks in darkness! (Psalm 91)

The LORD bless and keep you, now and ever, in His perfect Shalom! (Health, well-being and peace)

—His EVERY Word Ministries

Join us now at the Father’s table as we keep the rhythm of Israel for more than two millennia, anticipating fresh manna from our God and King. As followers of Messiah we have added a corresponding New Covenant portion reflecting the fulfillment and crown of the Torah.
 

Exodus 35  The Holy Congregation—Assembled for a Holy Purpose

vv. 1-3 “Then Moses assembled all the congregation of the sons of Israel, and said to them, 'These are the things that the LORD has commanded you to do: For six days work may be done, but on the seventh day you shall have a holy day, a sabbath of complete rest to the LORD; whoever does any work on it shall be put to death. You shall not kindle a fire in any of your dwellings on the sabbath day.'” 

The Hebrew word assembled is 'kä·hal קהל, meaning to assemble, to gather, to call together.

From kahal is derived the word kehillah, the Hebrew word for ASSEMBLY, SYNAGOGUE, or CONGREGATION. Kahal is also the Old Testament Hebrew equivalent of the Greek word ἐκκλησία or ekklēsia. 

Most are familiar with its English usage in the New Testament: CHURCH—an assembly or gathering of “the called” among the Jews or Gentiles who believed in Yeshua.

Most are familiar with the admonishment in James 2:2-4, regarding treating the wealthy better than the poor:

“...if a man comes into your assembly with a gold ring and dressed in fine clothes, and there also comes in a poor man in dirty clothes, and you pay special attention to the one who is wearing the fine clothes and say, ‘You sit here in a good place,’ have you not made distinctions among yourselves, and become judges with evil motives?”



However, very few realize that the described scenario—involving believers in Yeshua—takes place in a synagogue.

The word assembly in James 2:2 is συναγωγή synagōgē. It is the Greek word for kehillah from the Septuagint (the Greek translation of the Tenakh, the Old Testament). 

In the B’rit Chadashah/New Covenant/New Testament, synagogue generally refers to the assembling of the Jews, and ekklesia or church generally speaks to the assembly of believers—Jews and Gentiles. However, in first century lingo, ekklēsia and synagōgē were used interchangeably.

We find another very familiar verse in Hebrews 10:25 that most can quote by heart. Yet it may surprise some to find out it utilizes the word synagogue, not church:

“...not forsaking our own assembling together, as is the habit of some, but encouraging one another; and all the more as you see the day drawing near.” 


This is ἐπισυναγωγή episynagōgē, which also occurs in 2 Thessalonians 2:1: “Now we request you, brethren, with regard to the coming of our Lord Jesus Christ and our gathering together to Him...”

Many have a myopic view built around the word “church.” Even those who know the word church does not mean a building that people go to on Sunday, but rather the people who are called [out of the world, together for worship] assembling together, often have somewhat of a skewed or narrow view. This view paints a picture of the glorious church, birthed at Pentecost as an entirely new and unique thing, as contrasted with "the corrupt synagogue of the Jews," an idea graphically portrayed on the edifices of some of the grand cathedrals of Europe in the characters of Ecclesia and Synagoga.

There is no dispute that “the church,” the Body of Messiah, the assembly of believers is a glorious thing! 

Entirely new, however? Not entirely.
For thousands of years, 

Adonai has been forming His Congregation. 

As we take the time to read through the Torah and Haftarah,
we see His plan and pattern—lovingly, painstakingly,
and ofttimes heartbreakingly,
wrought in flesh—generation to generation.

Israel in the wilderness at Mt. Sinai is referred to as "the church" in Acts 7:38 in the KJV, again using the Greek word for church/assembly/congregation: ἐκκλησία ekklēsia.


Something Old, Something New


The believers were together “in one place” on the day of Pentecost in Acts 2, oft noted as the “birth of the church.” The reason they were together was not a new thing—this was the ancient practice of the “congregation of the sons of Israel.” Exodus 35:1

In the New Covenant, Shavu’ot is called by the Greek word, Pentecost, but it is the pilgrimage festival from Leviticus 23:15-22, when the men of Israel were called by Adonai to come up to Jerusalem fifty days after Passover. Paul continued to observe this rich festival as noted in Acts 20:16 and I Corinthians 16:8.

The believers were “...continuing with one mind in the Temple, and breaking bread from house to house, they were taking their meals together with gladness and sincerity of heart, praising God and having favor with all the people. And the Lord was adding to their number day by day those who were being saved.” Acts 2:46-47

The life of faith is meant to be shared, as exemplified in this week’s parasha. Each member, alone being limited, contributes an essential piece for the vitality of the “...whole body, being fitted and held together by what every joint supplies, according to the proper working of each individual part, causes the growth of the body for the building up of itself in love.” Ephesians 4:16

Observe the Sabbath, Do Not Create Fire

In Exodus 35, we see Moses assembling the congregation together to hear the Word of the Lord:



vv. 2-3 “For six days work may be done, but on the seventh day you shall have a holy day, a sabbath of complete rest to the LORD; whoever does any work on it shall be put to death. You shall not kindle a fire in any of your dwellings on the sabbath day.” 

The issue of the Sabbath seems to be one of extreme importance to Adonai, as often as He revisits the subject! Embodied in the Sabbath observance is a weekly demonstration of TRUST for provision, thus recognizing and testifying to the world that the LORD God is a faithful provider. How many times do the Scriptures entreat, exhort, and admonish those who fear the LORD to trust the LORD, as in Psalm 115:11? 



It is also a reminder and testimony of His magnificent work of Creation. Why would Adonai command us not to kindle a fire on the Sabbath? 

Making light is an act of creation. God rested from His work of creation on the seventh day, and sanctified it for man to rest with Him. Therefore observant Jews prepare for the Sabbath, lighting their candles before sunset, turning on lights, preparing foods, etc., that they may rest with their Creator on this blessed day—His first appointment with His beloved in the Leviticus 23 list of mo’edim, or "appointed times."

No Fundraising Schemes ... Receive from Those Who Had a Heart to Give

vv. 5-9 “Take from among you a contribution to the LORD; whoever is of a willing heart, let him bring it as the LORD'S contribution: gold, silver, and bronze, and blue, purple and scarlet material, fine linen, goats' hair, and rams' skins dyed red, and porpoise skins (or tanned skins), and acacia wood, and oil for lighting, and spices for the anointing oil, and for the fragrant incense, and onyx stones and setting stones for the ephod and for the breastpiece.” 

Adonai must have had faith in His People and His plan, as He didn’t employ persuasive or clever fundraising principles to raise the resources needed to build His Tabernacle!

Let Each Joint Supply Accordingly and Liberally

vv. 10-29 “Let every skillful man among you come, and make all that the LORD has commanded: the tabernacle, its tent and its covering ... the ark and its poles, the mercy seat ... the table and its poles ... the lampstand also for the light ...the oil for the light ... the woven garments for ministering in the holy place, the holy garments for Aaron the priest and the garments of his sons, to minister as priests. 

“Then all the congregation of the sons of Israel departed from Moses' presence. Everyone whose heart stirred him and everyone whose spirit moved him came and brought the LORD'S contribution for the work of the tent of meeting and for all its service and for the holy garments. Then all whose hearts moved them, both men and women, came and brought brooches and earrings and signet rings and bracelets, all articles of gold; so did every man who presented an offering of gold to the LORD.” 

Skins—cloths of Tekhelet blue and scarlet were brought by every man who had them in his possession, and all who could contribute silver, bronze, and acacia wood brought it forth. 

Women whose hearts were stirred, spun fine linen, goats’ hair, and materials in Tekhelet blue, scarlet, and purple. The onyx stones, and precious stones for the ephod and breastpiece were contributed by the rulers. All that was needed, was given by a “freewill offering to the LORD.” v. 29

vv. 30-33 Moses proclaimed that the LORD had called by name, Bezalel of the Tribe of Judah, filling him “with the Spirit of God, in wisdom, in understanding and in knowledge and in all craftsmanship; to make designs for working in gold and in silver and in bronze, and in the cutting of stones for settings and in the carving of wood, so as to perform in every inventive work.” 

vv. 34-35 Not only was Bezalel gifted to do the work, but Adonai “also has put in his heart to teach, both he and Oholiab, the son of Ahisamach, of the tribe of Dan,” filling them with “skill to perform every work of an engraver and of a designer and of an embroiderer...” 

Here we see a practical application of the Congregation working together—each one utilizing his skill, and teaching and equipping others—to build the earthly dwelling place for the LORD. Isn’t this an apt picture of Ephesians 4:16 where, “...every joint supplies, according to the proper working of each individual part?”

This is the Body, formed by Adonai to build a habitation for His Divine Presence on earth ... then and now. In the time of Moses, His Glory would reside in the Tabernacle and then the Temple crafted by human hands—“the congregation of the sons of Israel.” Today, Adonai dwells in tabernacles of flesh and blood, who together form His Body for His Kingdom purposes on earth.

Exodus 36  Sufficient Unto His Purpose

Just as in verse 1, where we are told, “Bezalel and Oholiab, and every skillful person in whom the LORD has put skill and understanding to know how to perform all the work in the construction of the sanctuary, shall perform in accordance with all that the LORD has commanded,” each member of His Body performs an essential function for Adonai's eternal purposes.

There are those who seek to know what God has for them to enhance their own life, and those who conform the Scriptures to what is comfortable, palatable, culturally relative, or popular. There are those who “go to church” on Sunday and then live the rest of the week for themselves—although they may pray for theirs’ and others’ needs, and seem very "spiritual." 



God, however, is forming a Body for His purposes. A body that only puts forth a foot or an eye for service—on its own terms—and even then, only one day a week is seriously handicapped.

God is seeking a Holy Tabernacle from which His Holy Presence may penetrate this dark world as a beacon, exposing the deadly deceptions of wickedness, compromise, and rebellion. 

He is defining the Way that leads to Life. If we are conformed to the darkness of this age, we have dimmed that light. “If then the light that is in you is darkness, how great is the darkness!” Mark 6:23

As we are yielded to HIS purposes, HIS desires, and seek HIS will—not ours, we will be sufficiently supplied to fulfill His purposes through the lives He has given us. 

And that chief purpose is this: that God be glorified—in His people ... in the earth.

Dayeinu! It is Sufficient!

v. 7 As suspected, Adonai knew what He was doing in taking an offering from His People “as stirred by their heart.” 

They gave ... and gave ... and gave! In fact, they gave sufficient materials for the entire Tabernacle, and even “more than enough for all the work, to perform it.” 

Have you ever heard of such a thing? Without a fundraising strategy or clever gimmicks—the people gave more than was needed! 

Moses had to issue a command and a proclamation to circulate throughout the camp, saying, “Let no man or woman any longer perform work for the contributions of the sanctuary” (v. 6) to restrain the people from bringing any more!

The Passover Seder (traditional supper) contains a song called Dayeinu (pronounced die-ā-noo), a Hebrew word דַּיֵּנוּ, meaning “it would have been sufficient.”

The song has 14 verses recounting the many wonderful things Adonai did for our people in the Exodus story, “If He had brought us out from Egypt, and had not carried out judgments against them ... Dayeinu! It would have been sufficient! If He would have supplied our needs in the wilderness for forty years, but not given us manna ... given us the Shabbat, but not brought before Mount Sinai, etc., etc. ...Dayeinu!”

Dayeinu is formed from the Hebrew word dai די in verse 7: “they gave sufficient materials...” This is the same word translated as overflows in Malachi 3:10: “Bring the whole tithe into the storehouse, so that there may be food in My house, and test Me now in this," says the LORD of hosts, "if I will not open for you the windows of heaven and pour out for you a blessing until it overflows.”

Exodus 37-39  The Tabernacle Constructed

According to Adonai’s meticulous instructions, with the over-abundant supply of

materials and willing craftsmen, the Wilderness Tabernacle is constructed.

An interesting insight from the Jewish commentaries on Exodus 38:8: “Moreover, he made the laver of bronze with its base of bronze, from the mirrors of the serving women who served at the doorway of the tent of meeting.”

In keeping with the theme of consecration for the service of the LORD, it is thought these women sacrificed their mirrors—essentially renouncing their vanity—as a demonstration of their devotion to Adonai and His service. 

“So the sons of Israel did all the work according to all that the LORD had commanded Moses. And Moses examined all the work and behold, they had done it; just as the LORD had commanded, this they had done. So Moses blessed them.” Exodus 39:42-43

Moses had been given a view of the Heavenly Tabernacle—the Divine Blueprints for Adonai’s dwelling place among His People. (Exodus 25:9) He was able to bless the congregation for their zealous dedication to the sacred task of preparing God’s Tabernacle in the Wilderness.

Exodus 40  The Glory of the LORD Fills His Tabernacle































vv. 1-16 “Then the LORD spoke to Moses, saying, ‘On the first day of the first month you shall set up the tabernacle of the tent of meeting.’ ...You shall put the holy garments on Aaron and anoint him and consecrate him, that he may minister as a priest to Me. You shall bring his sons and put tunics on them; and you shall anoint them even as you have anointed their father, that they may minister as priests to Me; and their anointing will qualify them for a perpetual priesthood throughout their generations.’ Thus Moses did; according to all that the LORD had commanded him, so he did.” 

The Tabernacle had been scrupulously prepared for the Almighty.
The priesthood is now to be prepared with holy garments.

Holy garments represent consecration unto Adonai, being undefiled, and separated unto Him for His service and glory. 

“Who may ascend into the hill of the LORD?
And who may stand in His holy place?
He who has clean hands and a pure heart,
Who has not lifted up his soul to falsehood
And has not sworn deceitfully.”
Psalm 24:3-4

vv. 17-34 “Now in the first month of the second year, on the first day of the month, the tabernacle was erected. ...He erected the court all around the tabernacle and the altar, and hung up the veil for the gateway of the court. Thus Moses finished the work. Then the cloud covered the tent of meeting, and the glory of the LORD  filled the tabernacle.” 

Some may say that God is too demanding.

Why so many details?

But this was the reward for the generosity and months of dedication
 in the desert for the congregation of the sons of Israel—the glory of the LORD filled the Tabernacle they had built for Him!

The awesome Divine Presence was His seal of approval on their completed work.

How many long to hear, “Well done, good and faithful servant!” Matthew 25:21

v. 35 “Moses was not able to enter the tent of meeting because the cloud had settled on it, and the glory of the LORD filled the tabernacle.”

Shekhinah

The Hebrew sages spoke of the manifest Divine Presence as the Shekhinah שכינה (Pronounced: sheh-kee-nah), which has been adopted by Christianity. 

The word Shekhinah does not appear in the the Bible, but is likely derived from the word, shakhan שכן, translated as settled in verse 35. Shakhan is also translated abide, dwell, tabernacle. 

Thus, in Judaic tradition, Shekhinah is defined as the Divine Presence of the Almighty.

Follow Me!

vv. 36-37 “Throughout all their journeys whenever the cloud was taken up from over the tabernacle, the sons of Israel would set out; but if the cloud was not taken up, then they did not set out until the day when it was taken up.” 

Thus the congregation of the sons of Israel would learn to follow the LORD in the wilderness. Again, we find  a parallel—something old, something new. 

And much like Israel, who had to learn to follow Adonai so many generations ago, we too, are called to follow. For Yeshua entreats us: “follow me!” “My sheep hear My voice, and I know them, and they follow Me.” (John 10:27) “If anyone serves Me, he must follow Me; and where I am, there My servant will be also; if anyone serves Me, the Father will honor him.” (John 12:26) Do you hear His voice today?

v. 38 For throughout all their journeys, the cloud of the LORD was on the tabernacle by day, and there was fire in it by night, in the sight of all the house of Israel.”

When we finally see the Heavenly Tabernacle, which is the LORD Almighty Himself, we will finally walk perfectly by His Divine Light...

“The nations will walk by its light, and the kings of the earth will bring their glory into it. In the daytime (for there will be no night there) its gates will never be closed; and they will bring the glory and the honor of the nations into it; and nothing unclean, and no one who practices abomination and lying, shall ever come into it, but only those whose names are written in the Lamb's book of life.” Revelation 21:27

With This We Complete the Book of Exodus!

Chazak! Chazak! Be strong, be strong! And let us strengthen one another! These are the words of the ancient warrior paraphrased from 2 Samuel 10:12, and are customarily  proclaimed upon completing each of the five books of the Torah.

To be continued...

Haftarah Vayak’hel 1 Kings 7:40-50

Well, here we are again with more information on the Tabernacle being given in our Torah portion of Scripture. That which we have already seen in Exodus is a preliminary to what God is going to do when He has Solomon build the first permanent Temple. In the Exodus 35:1-38:20 portion there are some things of note that reflect upon this week’s Haftarah and B’rit Chadashah. First though, some dissimilarities between the Torah (Tabernacle) and Haftarah (Temple) passages.

The first is that the opportunity to contribute to the construction of the Tabernacle was extended to all of the congregation. (Exodus 35:4-5) That’s everyone. “Moses spoke to all the congregation...”(v.4) With Solomon’s Temple there was no contribution of wealth from the people. David had either provided it prior to his death or it came from taxation. 

The second is that the giving for the Tabernacle was done willingly and not out of compulsion. “...whoever is of a willing heart, let him bring...” (v.5)  Moses was quite clear on both of these points when he spoke to the people. “This is the thing which the LORD has commanded, saying, ‘Take from among you a contribution to the Lord; whoever is of a willing heart, let him bring it as the Lord’s contribution: gold, silver, and bronze...’” (Exodus 35:4-5) Significant here is that the laborers on Solomon’s Temple were not voluntary, but conscript.

And the third dissimilarity is that this giving to the Tabernacle's construction seemed to just pour out of the proverbial horn of plenty. It just never stopped. “They received from Moses all the contributions which the sons of Israel had brought to perform the work in the construction of the sanctuary. And they still continued bringing to him freewill offerings every morning.” (36:3) This could be summed up by saying that with the Tabernacle God’s children were invited to participate and willingly did so; whereas with the building of the first Temple they were commanded to. They had no choice in the matter. Ouch, that must have hurt. And so...

I Kings 7:40-50 is the Haftarah selection of Scripture to which we are comparing the Torah. While these verses deal solely with some construction issues of Solomon’s Temple there are unspoken points of similarity. What might some of them be? Why would the Sages have chosen these verses as a compliment—or substitutionary reading—to the Torah portion?

Perhaps the most obvious link the Sages saw between this and the Torah portion is that both speak of the collection of materials for, and the construction of God’s House. But beyond that, this process was to make a place for God to meet His people, and be a place from which God’s people would offer their sacrifices to Adonai.

We must not forget as well that both the Tabernacle and Temple reflected the best that could be given to the task of creating these structures at that time.

At this point, let’s hold off making any application for now and move on to our B’rit Chadashah portion. I think we’ll see the application there.

B'rit Chadashah Vayak’hel
II Corinthians 9:6-11

As we move into our B’rit Chadashah passage of II Corinthians 9:6-11 we are introduced to a portion of the doctrine concerning New Testament giving. As you read these verses see if your able to find similarity and contrast with the previous Tabernacle and Temple passages. Here we go.

“Now this I say, he who sows sparingly will also reap sparingly, and he who sows bountifully will also reap bountifully. Each one must do just as he has purposed in his heart, not grudgingly or under compulsion, for God loves a cheerful giver. And God is able to make all grace abound to you, so that always having all sufficiency in everything, you may have an abundance for every good deed; as it is written, ‘HE SCATTERED ABROAD, HE GAVE TO THE POOR, HIS RIGHTEOUSNESS ENDURES FOREVER.’ Now He who supplies seed to the sower and bread for food will supply and multiply your seed for sowing and increase the harvest of your righteousness; you will be enriched in everything for all liberality, which through us is producing thanksgiving to God.”

The Apostle Paul was on a mission. The believers in the Jerusalem church were in financial need and Paul was committed to meeting that need through offerings from other churches. So he writes to the Corinthian church regarding a commitment they had made to contribute to this circumstance. “So I thought it necessary to urge the brethren that they would go on ahead to you and arrange beforehand your previously promised bountiful gift, so that the same would be ready as a bountiful gift and not affected by covetousness.” II Corinthians 9:5

With the thought of an impending collection in mind Paul pulls out some of those Tabernacle giving principals. 

• First of all, the opportunity to contribute was extended to all the saints in Corinth. In 8:1 Paul addresses the “brethren.” Paul has been speaking to the whole church in this letter and goes right on doing so as he launches into this portion on giving. No one was to be excluded from this opportunity. All were invited to share in the blessing.

• Secondly, Paul wanted only what was going to be given willingly and not because one felt they had to. In 9:7 he says, ”Each one must do just as he has purposed in his heart, not grudgingly or under compulsion, for God loves a cheerful giver.”

As the Holy Spirit brought these points to Paul’s thinking for the process of the divinely inspired act of pen to paper, this educated Pharisee’s mind had to leap back to the process whereby the Tabernacle was “funded.”  Both of these points must have reminded Paul of Exodus 35:4-5. Remember how... “Moses spoke to all the congregation of the sons of Israel, saying, ‘This is the thing which the LORD has commanded, saying,  'Take from among you a contribution to the LORD; whoever is of a willing heart, let him bring it as the Lord’s contribution: gold, silver, and bronze...’ ” And 35:21 then goes on to say, “Everyone whose heart stirred him and everyone whose spirit moved him came and brought the Lord’s contribution for the work of the tent of meeting and for all its service and for the holy garments.”

• The third point could be no different in the Apostle’s thinking. He must have recalled how Moses, in recounting this Tabernacle event, wrote of those giving, “They received from Moses all the contributions which the sons of Israel had brought to perform the work in the construction of the sanctuary. And they still continued bringing to him freewill offerings every morning.” Exodus 36:3

These giving Israelites, one and all, were first, offered the opportunity to give. Then they were, instructed how to give. It had to be out of a willing heart. And lastly the fruit of this was that they just didn’t stop giving.

What a contrast we see when we consider the construction of Solomon’s Temple. Let’s first understand though, that the building of the Temple was of the Lord. God had instructed King David to prepare much of what would be needed. He just could not do the building himself. Solomon, his son and the next King, was to use what had been assembled along with other materials acquired largely from a foreign country. This was God’s plan. It was a blessed and divinely led endeavor. But there were major differences.

These differences centered around the interaction of the Jewish people with the project of building the Temple. 

• First, there was no offer made to them to contribute goods or wealth to the project. 
• And so, secondly, there could be no giving out of that willing heart so openly seen in the construction of the Tabernacle. 
• This meant that, third, there was no continual giving and no consequential blessing in their lives which would have come as a result of that giving.

As we move on in the story of the Temple building we see that it was successfully finished and it was the grandest of structures. Not only had David planned and then Solomon erected the Temple, but they completed many other building projects in each of their respective reigns. 

The Temple itself was seven years in the making and then after that there was another thirteen years to build Solomon’s house. And after that there was more building.  

II Chronicles 8:1-6 tells us that Solomon built city after city. How this was accomplished was warned of by Samuel. Let’s visit that.

It is in I Samuel 8 that the children of Adonai come to Samuel and ask for a king to  rule over them. Up until then they had what would be called a theocratic kingdom. In other words, God was their King. He ruled over them through appointed representatives. But these Israelites wanted to be like all the other folks and do things the way everyone else did, the world’s way. Samuel warned them of the bad consequences of this desire. We find it in I Samuel 8:1-22, especially verses 9 and 16.

Here God says to Samuel, “Now then listen to their voice; however you shall solemnly warn them and tell them of the procedure of the king who will reign over them” (v.9). And then Samuel says to the people speaking of these kings they want, “He will also take your male servants and your female servants and your best young men and your donkeys and use them for his work.” v.16

The people would be used to serve the king. But they insisted, and so God allowed the institution of the monarchy. This system was oppressive and was abused. When Israel finally divided into two separate  kingdoms the specific reason given for initiating its division was the oppressive labor forced on the people by Solomon.

You’ll see this in I Kings 12:1-16. In verse four, Jeroboam, soon to be the first king of the new Northern Kingdom, says to Rehoboam, at that point the next king of Israel after his father Solomon, “Your father made our yoke hard; now therefore lighten the hard service of your father and his heavy yoke which he put on us, and we will serve you." Ultimately this agreement was not reached and Israel was thus divided into two separate kingdoms.

Suffice it to say that where the Tabernacle was concerned there was much blessing. Where the Temple was concerned that blessing which comes from giving did not exist. Two ways of building, two different outcomes when it comes to the blessing of giving or not giving. The way of blessing came because the process of building the Tabernacle was done under God’s rule, done His way. The missed blessing happened because the people were under a King’s rule and things were just done differently.

So where does all of this lead us? Hopefully as believers in Yeshua and therefore members of the Body of Messiah, it impresses upon us the necessity of giving in a Biblical way.

There are many gimmicks, schemes, programs, rallies, and the like to get believers to give.  Let's recognize them for what they are; man-made substitutes for giving God’s way. But God’s way, the right way, is found in Scripture—a bit of it in our II Corinthians passage.

Why don’t we just stick with that. The opportunity to give is open to all. Those that give willingly and not out of compulsion will be blessed. 

And our God will supply the need, even meet it with excess.

Have a blessed Shabbat!

In Messiah's Love,
His EVERY Word Ministries

Separating the Common from the Holy | Parashat Ki Tisa | By His EVERY Word

Parashat Ki Tisa

  פרשת כי תשא
 “When you take...”

Torah Portion: Exodus 30:11-34:35

Haftarah:1 Kings 18:1-39

B'rit Chadashah/New Covenant: 
II Corinthians 3:1-18

Shabbat | 6 March 2021 | 22nd of Adar, 5781

Exodus 30  Separating the Common from the Holy

vv. 11-15 “The LORD also spoke to Moses, saying, When you take a census of the sons of Israel to number them, then each one of them shall give a ransom for himself to the LORD, when you number them, so that there will be no plague among them when you number them. This is what everyone who is numbered shall give: half a shekel according to the shekel of the sanctuary ... Everyone who is numbered, from twenty years old and over, shall give the contribution to the LORD. The rich shall not pay more and the poor shall not pay less...” 


The Hebrew commentaries explain that this difficult to understand passage is more concisely phrased “When you lift the heads of sons of Israel to muster them...” as an army before a battle.

The Hebrew word paqad פקד translated here to number is better understood as muster. Also, nasa et rosh תִשָּׂא אֶת־רֹאשׁ is literally lift the head rather than take a census. 

The commentaries suggest that Adonai used the half shekel rather than having people counted directly, which would have caused confusion with His later disapproval of doing just that. People are sacred creations, and thus are not to be thought of as numbers.

In this light, one has to see the mocking hand of the enemy in tattooing numbers on every new arrival to Hitler’s death camps....

Sacred Anointing Oil and Incense

vv. 22-33 “Moreover, the LORD spoke to Moses, saying, ‘Take also for yourself the finest of spices: of flowing myrrh five hundred shekels, and of fragrant cinnamon half as much, two hundred and fifty, and of fragrant cane two and of cassia five hundred, according to the shekel of the sanctuary, and of olive oil a hin. You shall make of these a holy anointing oil, a perfume mixture, the work of a perfumer; it shall be a holy anointing oil. With it you shall anoint the tent of meeting and the ark of the testimony, and the table and all its utensils, and the lampstand and its utensils, and the altar of incense, and the altar of burnt offering and all its utensils, and the laver and its stand. You shall also consecrate them, that they may be most holy; whatever touches them shall be holy. You shall anoint Aaron and his sons, and consecrate them, that they may minister as priests to Me.

“You shall speak to the sons of Israel, saying, ‘This shall be a holy anointing oil to Me throughout your generations. It shall not be poured on anyone's body, nor shall you make any like it in the same proportions; it is holy, and it shall be holy to you. Whoever shall mix any like it or whoever puts any of it on a layman (a stranger) shall be cut off from his people.’” 

Adonai has some further explicit instructions for the tabernacle—for the making and use

of the Sacred Anointing Oil and Incense. Once again, Israel is learning an imperative of YHVH—not to mix the common with the holy. This will be reinforced throughout the Scriptures in a multitude of ways. It is extremely important to the LORD. 



“Her priests have done violence to My law and have profaned My holy things; they have made no distinction between the holy and the profane, and they have not taught the difference between the unclean and the clean; and they hide their eyes from My sabbaths, and I am profaned among them.” Ezekiel 22:26

How much more is expected of those who have received the great gift of eternal life at the unfathomable cost to our gracious God and King? Who have the full revelation of His Word written on their inward parts, and the empowerment of His Spirit to walk in His ways... His call remains today, as it has been from the beginning, “Be holy—set apart, separated from the ways and the love of the things of the world—as I am Holy.”

vv. 34-38 
“Then the LORD said to Moses, ‘Take for yourself spices, stacte and onycha and galbanum, spices with pure frankincense; there shall be an equal part of each. The incense which you shall make, you shall not make in the same proportions for yourselves; it shall be holy to you for the LORD. Whoever shall make any like it, to use as perfume, shall be cut off from his people.’” 

From the beginning to the end, Adonai is preparing a people to dwell with Him for eternity. Those things He desires should be our desires; those things he finds abhorrent should also be abhorrent to us. As denizens of His glorious city in eternity, the New Jerusalem, whose brilliance emanates from the Almighty and the Lamb—who are the Temple, there will be no mixture, no unclean thing. 
 

“And the city has no need of the sun or of the moon to shine on it,

for the glory of God has illumined it, and its lamp is the Lamb. 

The nations will walk by its light, and the kings of the earth will bring their glory into it. 
In the daytime (for there will be no night there) its gates will never be closed;

and they will bring the glory and the honor of the nations into it; 

and nothing unclean, and no one who practices abomination and lying,

shall ever come into it,
but only those whose names are written in the Lamb's book of life.” 


 Revelation 21:23-27

Exodus 31  God’s Heart for the Artisan and the Sabbath

vv. 1-5 “Now the LORD spoke to Moses, saying, ‘See, I have called by name Bezalel, the son of Uri, the son of Hur, of the tribe of Judah. ‘I have filled him with the Spirit of God in wisdom, in understanding, in knowledge, and in all kinds of craftsmanship, to make artistic designs for work in gold, in silver, and in bronze and in the cutting of stones for settings, and in the carving of wood, that he may work in all kinds of craftsmanship.’” 

The name Bezalel, Betzalel בצלאל, means in the shadow of the Almighty.

Artisans can use their creative gifts to exalt God and lift mankind, or exalt themselves and defile mankind. As believers, our talents are not our own, but His to express Himself through us. It is a privilege and honor to share this gift of creativity with the Master Creator.

The first art institute in Israel in modern times was established in 1906 in Jerusalem. It was named the Bezalel School of Arts and Crafts, after this biblical artisan. The institute produced many beautiful biblically-themed pieces. Bezalel celebrated their centennial in 2006.

Immediately after instructions for the Holy Tabernacle, Adonai gives great emphasis to

the Sabbath: The Sabbath is a sign between the sons of Israel and Adonai for all generations; it reestablishes Adonai as redeemer; celebrating the Sabbath brings refreshing; it is a covenant; death and exile follows desecration of God’s Holy Day.

vv. 12-17 “The LORD spoke to Moses, saying, ‘But as for you, speak to the sons of Israel, saying, ‘You shall surely observe My sabbaths; for this is a sign between Me and you throughout your generations, that you may know that I am the LORD who sanctifies you. Therefore you are to observe the sabbath, for it is holy to you. Everyone who profanes it shall surely be put to death; for whoever does any work on it, that person shall be cut off from among his people. For six days work may be done, but on the seventh day there is a sabbath of complete rest, holy to the LORD; whoever does any work on the sabbath day shall surely be put to death. So the sons of Israel shall observe the sabbath, to celebrate the sabbath throughout their generations as a perpetual covenant. It is a sign between Me and the sons of Israel forever; for in six days the LORD made heaven and earth, but on the seventh day He ceased from labor, and was refreshed.’” 

“The Sabbath was more than a day of rest. Its observance by the Israelites was a constantly recurring acknowledgment of God as the Creator of the Universe. It would be an open denial of God for an Israelite to desecrate the Sabbath, even in the construction of the Tabernacle; as well as a contradiction of the essential purpose of the Sanctuary, the sanctification of Israel’s life in the service of God.”
 From The Pentateuch and Haftorahs, Chief Rabbi Dr. J.H. Hertz, 1938

v. 18 “When He had finished speaking with him upon Mount Sinai, He gave Moses the two tablets of the testimony, tablets of stone, written by the finger of God.” 

The first tablets were written by the finger of Adonai...

Exodus 32  The High Cost of a God of Gold

vv. 1-4 “Now when the people saw that Moses delayed to come down from the mountain, the people assembled about Aaron and said to him, ‘Come, make us a god who will go before us; as for this Moses, the man who brought us up from the land of Egypt, we do not know what has become of him. Aaron said to them, ‘Tear off the gold rings which are in the ears of your wives, your sons, and your daughters, and bring them to me.’ Then all the people tore off the gold rings which were in their ears and brought them to Aaron. He took this from their hand, and fashioned it with a graving tool and made it into a molten calf; and they said, ‘This is your god, O Israel, who brought you up from the land of Egypt.’” 

It had been less than six weeks since Israel had stood in the awesome presence of Adonai and received the commandment against making graven images, where they had declared, “All that the LORD has spoken we will do, and we will be obedient!” (Exodus 24:7) The visible Presence attended them day and night in a pillar of fire and smoke. They had witnessed the Hand of God in wonders and miracles of deliverance in Egypt, and in the crossing of the Sea of Reeds.

This seems inexplicable. It’s tempting to write it off to “the stiff-necked Jews.” Yet, all is written for our example. 1 Corinthians 10:11 

The Jews are a microcosm of mankind. In our own context, we do exactly the same thing—it just looks different. 

We don’t trust God in all things. We define His Word to suit our desires and needs. 

Who among us is 100% faithful 100% of the time? This is why we need a Savior.

v. 5 “Now when Aaron saw this, he built an altar before it; and Aaron made a proclamation and said, ‘Tomorrow shall be a feast to the LORD.’” 

This is very interesting. Aaron sees the idol, builds an altar, and then proclaims that the next day there will be a feast ... not to the god of gold, but to the LORD—YHVH

.Was he stalling, hoping Moses would return? Was he hoping the people would come to their senses by the next day? Was he thinking it would be acceptable to worship YHVH and a graven image—one of the gods of Egypt?

Meanwhile on the mountain...

vv. 7-10 “Then the LORD spoke to Moses, ‘Go down at once, for your people, whom you brought up from the land of Egypt, have corrupted themselves. They have quickly turned aside from the way which I commanded them. They have made for themselves a molten calf, and have worshiped it and have sacrificed to it ... Now then let Me alone, that My anger may burn against them and that I may destroy them; and I will make of you a great nation.’” 

Adonai is furious and ready to wipe out Israel and then start over with Moses and his descendants! Such is the magnitude of the sin of idolatry to our Holy God.

vv. 12-13 Moses intercedes, protective of the Name of YHVH—“the God of Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob.” 

“Why should the Egyptians speak, saying, ‘With evil intent He brought them out to kill them in the mountains and to destroy them from the face of the earth?’ Turn from Your burning anger and change Your mind about doing harm to Your people. Remember Abraham, Isaac, and Israel, Your servants to whom You swore by Yourself, and said to them, ‘I will multiply your descendants as the stars of the heavens, and all this land of which I have spoken I will give to your descendants, and they shall inherit it forever.’” 

This is a vital point. All who trust in the LORD should also be protective of His Name. Does our life bring glory or reproach to His Holy Name? We also see in this exchange the overriding impetus for God’s everlasting covenant with Israel—it’s for His Name’s sake—regardless of her spiritual state.

So the LORD relented and Moses “went down from the mountain with the two tablets of the testimony in his hand, tablets which were written on both sides; they were written on one side and the other. The tablets were God's work, and the writing was God's writing engraved on the tablets.” vv. 15-16

When Moses saw the golden calf and the people dancing with his own eyes—the very thing the LORD had seen and told him about, his anger was ignited and he threw down the tablets, shattering them.

He burned the golden calf and ground it down to fine dust, and made all the sons of Israel drink the ashes of it mixed with water, partaking of the sin together.

Moses stood at the gate of the camp and challenged the people: “Whoever is for the LORD, come to me!” And all the sons of Levi gathered together to him.” (v. 26) And then charged those who stood with LORD to kill every man—brother, neighbor or friend—who did not.

v. 29 The cost of rebellion to Adonai in the camp was terrific. Three thousand men fell that day. Moses then instructed the living: “Dedicate yourselves today to the LORD—for every man has been against his son and against his brother—in order that He may bestow a blessing upon you today.”

And Moses went up the mountain to entreat the LORD for atonement on their behalf.

Exodus 33  Contrition of the People

vv.1-4 “Then the LORD spoke to Moses, ‘Depart, go up from here, you and the people whom you have brought up from the land of Egypt, to the land of which I swore to Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob, saying, ‘To your descendants I will give it. I will send an angel before you and I will drive out the Canaanite, the Amorite, the Hittite, the Perizzite, the Hivite and the Jebusite. Go up to a land flowing with milk and honey; for I will not go up in your midst, because you are an obstinate people, and I might destroy you on the way.’ When the people heard this sad word, they went into mourning, and none of them put on his ornaments.” 

Adonai would not revoke His promises from Israel, but He was not yet ready to “tabernacle” among them at that moment. The hearts of the people were filled with remorse and shame in spite of the renewed promise.

vv. 7-11“Now Moses used to take the tent and pitch it outside the camp, a good distance from the camp, and he called it the tent of meeting. And everyone who sought the LORD would go out to the tent of meeting which was outside the camp. And it came about, whenever Moses went out to the tent, that all the people would arise and stand, each at the entrance of his tent, and gaze after Moses until he entered the tent. Whenever Moses entered the tent, the pillar of cloud would descend and stand at the entrance of the tent; and the LORD would speak with Moses. When all the people saw the pillar of cloud standing at the entrance of the tent, all the people would arise and worship, each at the entrance of his tent. Thus the LORD used to speak to Moses face to face, just as a man speaks to his friend.” 

Adonai would not abide in close fellowship during this time with the sons of Israel. However, as Moses had not sinned, He met with him outside the camp.

v. 18 Immediately following, Moses requests of Adonai,
  “I pray You, show me Your glory!” 

v. 20 Adonai answers, “You cannot see My face, for no man can see Me and live!” although verse 11 said He used to “speak to Moses face to face.”

v. 23 Adonai promises however, to pass by him in a special place, shielded in the cleft of the rock, and covered by His Hand, “Then I will take My hand away and you shall see My back, but My face shall not be seen.” 

“Even as a ship sails through the waters of ocean and leaves its wake behind, so God may be known by His Divine “footprints” in human history, by His traces in the human soul.”

From The Pentateuch and Haftorahs, Chief Rabbi Dr. J.H. Hertz, 1938

Exodus 34  The Second Set of Tablets

Moses ascends the mountain of the LORD once again and prostrates himself before Adonai in prayer and supplication. He will return to his people after forty days with a second set of tablets—these in his own hand, not carved by the Hand of God.

vv. 2-5 “So be ready by morning, and come up in the morning to Mount Sinai, and present yourself there to Me on the top of the mountain. So he cut out two stone tablets like the former ones, and Moses rose up early in the morning and went up to Mount Sinai, as the LORD had commanded him, and he took two stone tablets in his hand. The LORD descended in the cloud and stood there with him as he called upon the name of the LORD.”

vv. 6-7 “Then the LORD passed by in front of him and proclaimed, ‘The LORD, the LORD God, compassionate and gracious, slow to anger, and abounding in lovingkindness and truth; who keeps lovingkindness for thousands, who forgives iniquity, transgression and sin; yet He will by no means leave the guilty unpunished, visiting the iniquity of fathers on the children and on the grandchildren to the third and fourth generations.’” 

Moses, prostrating himself before Adonai asked forgiveness for the sins of his people, and that Adonai would take this people as His possession, His inheritance.

v. 10 Adonai answered, “Behold, I am going to make a covenant. Before all your people I will perform miracles which have not been produced in all the earth nor among any of the nations; and all the people among whom you live will see the working of the LORD, for it is a fearful thing that I am going to perform with you.” 

Adonai reiterated the importance of obedience to His Word, and His promise to drive out before Israel all the Amorites, Perizzites, Hivites, Canaanites and Jebusites.

vv. 11-16 Once again, Adonai impresses the importance of not making a covenant “with the inhabitants of the land into which you are going, or it will become a snare in your midst. But rather, you are to tear down their altars and smash their sacred pillars and cut down their Asherim—for you shall not worship any other god, for the LORD, whose name is Jealous, is a jealous God—otherwise you might make a covenant with the inhabitants of the land and they would play the harlot with their gods and sacrifice to their gods, and someone might invite you to eat of his sacrifice, and you might take some of his daughters for your sons, and his daughters might play the harlot with their gods and cause your sons also to play the harlot with their gods.” 

Adonai knows what humankind is made of. He knows how easily we slip into compromise and mixture.
 His people are to be separate unto Him;
 His Land a place for His Holy Name.

v. 17 Adonai spells out clearly, “You shall make for yourself no molten gods.” 

Adonai then gives Moses the yearly rhythm of appointed times—the Feasts of Israel, and various regulations of observance.

v. 28 So Moses was on the mountain “with the LORD forty days and forty nights; he did not eat bread or drink water. And he wrote on the tablets the words of the covenant, the Ten Commandments.” 

Why do many classical artists depict MOSES WITH HORNS?

v. 29 When he came down from the mountain with the tablets of the testimony, “the skin of his face shone,” from being in the Divine Presence, and Aaron and the sons of Israel were afraid to come near to him. So Moses had to veil his face.

As noted in a previous commentary, a mistranslation in the Latin Vulgate of Exodus 34:29 spawned a sinister myth enduring for centuries that all Jews have horns under their hair. The word shone in Hebrew is karan קרן, a subtle difference from keren, which means horns. This singular vowel error resulted in the Latin Vulgate rendering “shone” as “horns.” Thus today we see some famous Renaissance art depicting Moses with horns. And now you know the rest of the story!

Find out more: MOSES WITH HORNS? CLICK HERE

To be continued...

Haftarah Ki Tisa
1 Kings 18:1-39

What youth in Bible study class has not been taught the story of Elijah slaying the prophets of Baal. It’s great stuff. The sages undoubtedly picked this portion of Scripture and its story because of its similarity with the confrontation Moses had had with a sinning Jewish people and their turning to another God.

In Moses’ case he came down from a mountain top experience with Adonai to confront a Jewish nation that had decided that worshiping another God was a better deal for them than being faithful to the one true God who had just led them out of bondage. Chastisement along with proof of who the true God was followed. We have a very similar theme in our haftarah portion.  

In our I kings passage we see the prophet Elijah challenging 450 of the prophets of Baal and 400 prophets of Asherah. As you will recall in this story Elijah prevails. As much as they tried the 850 could not succeed in having their gods send fire from heaven to burn up the sacrifice they had laid out for them. Well, of course not. These nonexistent gods represented by inadequate demonic power at best could not outdo the real and all powerful God of Elijah. Having failed their test, Elijah now steps up and calls upon Adonai. God sends fire from heaven, burns up the sacrifice, and thus once again legitimatizes Himself as the true God of Israel. 

What we have in these two stories of Moses and Elijah are two rebellious and idolatrous groups of Jews, and two men of God who stand against them. Both men trust in Adonai who honors that trust and brings them  victory against the many who outnumber them. For Moses there is the slaying of 3000 by the edge of the Levite sword, and for Elijah a similar death for the 850 false prophets by a people now enlightened and returned in service to the one true God.

Is there a message for the believer here. I think so. We live in a day when those following Messiah as their Lord and Savior are truly in the minority. The majority, whether blatant unbeliever or pretender to the faith not only are much larger in number but wield great power in the social and political world. It is a match-up that on its surface looks so lopsided it must be impossible. But it isn’t.

Scripture is very clear that there is nothing so great in its opposition to righteousness that it is ever able to overcome Adonai. And when we allow Him to work through us we are partakers of His victory.     

Consider Romans 8:37 in the NASB, “But in all these things we overwhelmingly conquer through Him who loved us.” The King James Version translates it, “...we are more than conquers through Him...” I really like the interlinear’s rendering of the Greek word in play, “we over-conquer.”                                                                            

Are you living as a conquerer through Messiahs working in you? If not, you have sidelined yourself. But if your out on the field of play, if your allowing the Savior to work through you then be very busy. Be a Moses, an Elijah. Slay what is ungodly, and see righteousness reign victorious. 

B’rit Chadashah Ki Tisa
2 Corinthians 3:1-18

In II Corinthians 2:14-17 Paul tells us a bit about his ministry. “But thanks be to God, who always leads us in triumph in Christ, and manifests through us the sweet aroma of the knowledge of Him in every place. For we are a fragrance of Christ to God among those who are being saved and among those who are perishing; to the one an aroma from death to death, to the other an aroma from life to life. And who is adequate for these things? For we are not like many, peddling the word of God, but as from sincerity, but as from God, we speak in Christ in the sight of God.”

This passage both thrills me and breaks my heart. It leads me to understand that our ministry in sharing the gospel will both bring some to that saving knowledge of the Messiah and for others serve as a condemnation for their not responding to God’s free gift of eternal life through the Messiah, “...to the one an aroma from death to death, to the other an aroma from life to life” (v. 16). But see the next line, “And who is adequate for these things?”

Paul is really asking, Who is bold enough to bear this ministry? Consider the weightiness of the issue. By our message some will be saved, and by our message some will be condemned because they will not respond. Where could enough boldness come from to initiate a message such as this?

Our answer is found in 3:5-6. “...but our adequacy is from God, who also made us adequate as servants of a new covenant..” That boldness then all starts with God. It is He that makes us adequate (What better adequacy could one have?) or bold enough to do the work He calls us to.

It’s not hard now to see how Elijah could have had enough boldness to initiate his challenge to the 450 prophets of Baal. God empowered him to do it. Elijah did it. And then God outwardly blessed him for trusting in His adequacy... as Elijah acted on that empowerment, and then saw his God bless as a result of it.

As we consider the time ahead left for us to spread the Good News of Yeshua, we never have to wonder where our boldness or adequacy to do this job will come from. The power to initiate the witnessing process will come from God.  Just as Elijah gained his adequacy to initiate the challenge to the 450 false prophets so will our God adequately provide the  boldness, ability, and ultimately even the success for the task He has called us to do.

Now let’s get busy...

In Messiah's Love,

His EVERY Word Ministries