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Discussions Torah

Why we must guard Heaven’s tabernacle in our hearts (Exodus 25)

The focus of the Tabernacle/Temple of Israel is the Ark of the Testimony, aka the Ark of the Covenant. That’s a key lesson of the Torah reading תְּרוּמָה Terumah (“contribution,” Exodus 25:1-27:19). The Ark protected the founding documents, the constitution of the People of God. This document binds all the people of God together, just as the people of the United States are bound by the U.S. Constitution, honor that document and work to put it into practice.

Heaven put the Word of God into action in the midst of the people of God with the birth, ministry, death and resurrection of Yeshua the Mashiakh (Jesus the Messiah/Christ).

If the people of God don’t put the 10 Commandments into practice, we run a real risk of losing our first love and going astray from God. We can end up in a very bad place. When we realize we have gone astray, the first thing we do is to turn back to the foundation.

Categories
Discussions Torah

Exodus 35:1-40:38: Rebuilding your life after Heaven’s Pattern

Why did the LORD call for the building of the Tabernacle? What are we supposed learn from it? How are we supposed to apply the lessons to everyday life today? These are questions answered in the double-header reading ויקהל Vayakhel (“and he assembled”) and פקודי Pekudei (“accounts”), covering the last six chapter of the book of Shemot (Exodus 35:1–40:38).

It’s a second telling about the construction of the Tabernacle, but it’s not just the world’s most lengthy non-IKEA instruction manual. When God repeats Himself, it’s for a good reason. When we look at these plans and compare them to the construction of Solomon’s temple, Solomon’s Temple certain had more and bigger items than what the Tabernacle had. One might ask if bigger always better? Herod’s Temple was even grander than that, but which one had more of God’s glory?

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Discussions Torah

Leviticus 24: Tabernacle oil and bread plus use of God’s name

Anything that is brought to God must be clean, pure and sincere, not just our olive oil and bread but our words and hearts are to be clean, pure and sincere, too. When a person blasphemes God’s name, that desecration of God’s reputation has to be dealt with in the most severest of terms, regardless of whether the person is a native born Israelite or a “stranger.” We can’t understand the depths of God’s mercy without understanding the depths of God’s justice.

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Discussions Prophets and Writings

1st Samuel 21 — David flees Sha’ul to Nob, Philistia

David flees Saul on Jonathan’s command since Saul had set out to kill him. He first flees to the priestly city of Nob and later flees to the land of the Philistines, his sworn enemy.