Drash by Ralph D. Moore (first shared at Beth Messiah Congregation, Gaithersburg, MD – 27 Adar 5770)

Torah: Sh’Mot (Exodus) 35:1-19
Haftorah: 1 M’lakhim (1 Kings) 7:40b-51a
Brit Hadasha: Yochanon (John) 2:13-22

Shabbat Shalom!

This week we were treated to a double portion: Vayak’hel and P’kudei.  Together, they direct our attention to the tabernacle — the place in which and from which ADONAI Eloheinu – the L-RD our G-D – took up dwelling with His people B’nei Yisrael – the children of Israel.

Concerning that Tabernacle, the L-RD our G-D said in Sh’mot 40:2:

“‘On the first day of the first month, you are to set up the tabernacle, the tent of meeting.’”

Well, in just a few days, God willing, we will observe the anniversary of this event. So, I thought this would be a most appropriate time for us each of us, and in fact all of us, to focus our attention on our own temples and our own fellowship with the G-D of Israel.  To aid us in this effort, I’m going to highlight two aspects of the construction of the tabernacle: the materials collected, and the manner in which they were connected.

Concerning the materials, Sh’mot 25:2-7 reads:

2 “Tell the people of Isra’el to take up a collection for me -accept a contribution from anyone who wholeheartedly wants to give. 3 The contribution you are to take from them is to consist of gold, silver and bronze; 4 blue, purple and scarlet yarn; fine linen, goat’s hair, 5 tanned ram skins and fine leather; acacia-wood; 6 oil for the light, spices for the anointing oil and for the fragrant incense; 7 onyx stones and other stones to be set, for the ritual vest and breastplate.”

Some years ago, I launched into an intense study of the Tabernacle.  To this day, I recall wondering where these people who were slaves in Egypt would get such precious materials to donate to the Tabernacle building fund.  My only concept of slavery at the time was the chattel slavery practiced in North America.  While the slavery Israel experienced also included brutality, it seems that the Israelites still had their own land and possessions.  That notwithstanding, there was another source of raw materials.  The children of Israel spoiled the Egyptians just prior to their Exodus.  Consider Sh’mot (Exodus) 11:2-3 and 12:35-36:

2 Now tell the people that every man is to ask his neighbor and every woman her neighbor for gold and silver jewelry.” 3 ADONAI made the Egyptians favorably disposed toward the people. Moreover, Moshe was regarded by Pharaoh’s servants and the people as a very great man in the land of Egypt.

35 The people of Isra’el had done what Moshe had said - they had asked the Egyptians to give them silver and gold jewelry and clothing; 36 and ADONAI had made the Egyptians so favorably disposed toward the people that they had let them have whatever they requested. Thus they plundered the Egyptians.

That’s right, in addition to their own possessions the children of Israel went out of Egypt with what I like to call some souvenir – souvenirs of slavery.  The beautiful thing about this is that these souvenirs of slavery became the very substance of sanctuary.  The very dwelling place of the manifest presence of the glory of G-D was constructed in part from these souvenirs of slavery. 

Of course, first they had to be placed in the hands of skilled craftsmen, who transformed them into something more useful.  As we consider our own temples, I would offer that we too have some souvenirs of slavery that had to, or perhaps yet have to, go through a transformation.  “What souvenirs,” and “What slavery,” you ask? Well, I’m referring to things that you may not have thought of as souvenirs.  I’m talking about the physical and emotional scars, the memories, the regrets, the broken promises, the deferred dreams, the lost relationships, and all the other things that have resulted from our years in bondage to sin, or from relapses even after we came under the blood of Yeshua. 

For those who are still carrying some of those raw materials, I’m pleased to remind you that no matter what your souvenirs may be, we have an advocate, a skilled craftsman, who specializes in transforming those very things into something useful.  HE knows how to turn hurts into things that heal.  He knows how to turn painful memories into powerful testimonies.  He knows how to turn a shameful story, into an object that reveals HIS glory. 

Speaking of HIS glory, let me turn our attention from the materials collected to the manner in which they were connected.

First, let’s look at the sequence in which the components were assembled.  Consider Sh’mot 40:16-33. 

“16 Moshe did this - he acted in accordance with everything ADONAI had ordered him to do. 17 On the first day of the first month of the second year, the tabernacle was set up. 18 Moshe erected the tabernacle, put its sockets in place, put up its planks, put in its crossbars and set up its posts. 19 He spread the tent over the tabernacle and put the covering of the tent above it, as ADONAI had ordered Moshe. 20 He took and put the testimony inside the ark, put the poles on the ark, and set the ark-cover above, on the ark. 21 Then he brought the ark into the tabernacle, set up the curtain as a screen and concealed the ark for the testimony, as ADONAI had ordered Moshe. 22 He put the table in the tent of meeting on the side of the tabernacle facing north, outside the curtain. 23 He arranged a row of bread on it before ADONAI, as ADONAI had ordered Moshe. 24 He put the menorah in the tent of meeting across from the table, on the side of the tabernacle facing south. 25 Then he lit the lamps before ADONAI, as ADONAI had ordered Moshe. 26 He set the gold altar in the tent of meeting in front of the curtain 27 and burned on it incense made from aromatic spices, as ADONAI had ordered Moshe. 28 He set up the screen at the entrance to the tabernacle. 29 The altar for burnt offerings he placed at the entrance to the tabernacle, the tent of meeting, and offered on it the burnt offering and the grain offering, as ADONAI had ordered Moshe. 30 He set the basin between the tent of meeting and the altar and put water in it for washing, 31 so that Moshe and Aharon and his sons could wash their hands and feet there - 32 so that they could wash when entering the tent of meeting and when approaching the altar, as ADONAI had ordered Moshe. 33 Finally, he erected the courtyard around the tabernacle and the altar and set up the screen for the entrance to the courtyard.

From this description, we learn that the L-RD our G-D works from the inside out.  As we look at our own temples, this method is especially important.  For, it is easy for us to work mostly on the outside.  We can wear certain things.  We can do certain things.  Or we may not do certain things.  But, from what I can tell, the L-ORD our G-D is not as much interested in our habits as in our hearts, and the heart behind those habits.  Just as the set up of the Tabernacle began with placing the ark of the covenant in the most holy place, followed by furnishing the holy place, to the inner court and finally to the outer court, so also, when one takes part in the New covenant, the L-RD our G-D writes HIS laws on his or her heart and inward parts.  Then, that inscription works its way – sometimes slowly, thankfully surely – out into our lives.

Lest we think Moshe used an arbitrary sequence, let me finally draw your attention to the cadence.  Or, more specifically to this key phrase: “as ADONAI had ordered Moshe.”  In the earlier portion of the chapter, the L-RD our G-D gave Moshe instructions for building the Tabernacle.  When you read the description of Moshe constructing the Tabernacle, did you notice that each step was performed as ADONAI had ordered Moshe?  If each step was performed as ADONAI had ordered Moshe, is it safe to say that all the steps were performed as ADONAI had ordered Moshe?  If all the steps were performed as ADONAI had ordered Moshe, is it safe to say the entire process was completed as ADONAI had ordered Moshe?

Yes, Ralph. Yes, yes, and yes.  What’s your point?

Look at what happened, when the Tabernacle was assembled as ADONAI had ordered Moshe (Sh’mot 40:34):

“Then the cloud covered the tent of meeting, and the glory of ADONAI filled the tabernacle.”

I have no proof of this, but I dare say, had any of the steps not been done as ADONAI had ordered Moshe, the glory would not have been revealed.  Had the M’norah been placed on the opposite side, no glory.  K’ruvim been left off the curtains, no glory.  Had the garments been made incorrectly, no glory.  I describe it this way: G-D never manifests anything until there is first an environment in place to sustain it.

Family, I’m certain the L-RD desires to manifest more of HIS glory in us and in our midst.  It’s why he is rearranging our collective furniture.  You know, over time, some things got misplaced.  Some steps may have been overlooked.  There have been rips and tears, rust and wear.  But, the master builder is setting things in order – both in our community and, I dare say, in our individual lives.  As he does so, some souvenirs are bound to turn up.  When they do, give them to HIM.  Even if you’ve been holding on to them for years, and can’t imagine ever being without them, I guarantee you HE can do so much more with them than you can.  If you’re honest with yourself, they’re really just weighing you down.  But, HE is ready to lift us up.

No matter what it requires, may the words of this song (author unknown) be our declaration:

L-RD prepare me

to be a sanctuary

pure and holy,

tried and true

and with thanksgiving,

I’ll be a living,

sanctuary,

for you

Shabbat Shalom!

For some, the whole thing is simply taboo.
They prefer a cultural focus. Too,
others already noted eight miraculous nights.
While others for four days gave attention to their site.

Some take this time to mark nothing at all.
Though they do appreciate all the sales at the mall.
So many traditions. All have their place.
But with a new year staring us in the face:

I invite you to consider that all can’t be right.
Some things stem from darkness while others are of light.
There is that which is true and that which is false.
It’s a zero sum game. It’s a win or a loss.

The time is soon coming where decisions will be frozen.
Are you confident in the path that you’ve chosen?
“Is that your final answer?” as Regis would say.
I urge you, BE SURE. Today is the day.

As tough as times have gotten, I would offer that the true “peril” to come on “us” yet lies ahead. Or, as Y’shua said, “All these are the beginning of sorrows” (Matthew 24:8 KJV).  He then goes on to describe the real peril, including persecution, deception, abomination of desolation, and great tribulation, only to be followed by astronomical destruction — literally, as in sun and moon going dark, stars falling, and the heavens shaking (you know, all that 2012 type stuff).

If your theology is as mine was, you are not overly concerned about these things because you anticipate being raptured away before things get out of hand.  Let me caution you, at the end of the discourse, Y’shua admonishes (verse 33), “when ye shall see all these things, know that it is near even at the doors.”  Note that he spoke of them knowing as a resulting of seeing (could that be firsthand?).

Sh’ul’s reminder about perilous times was written to Timothy (2 Timothy 3:1).  To the Thessalonians he wrote (2Thessalonians 2:3), “for that day shall not come, except their come a falling away first.”  He doesn’t say what causes the falling away. A good candidate cause, though, is people going through peril that they had been led to believe they would escape.

Clearly, that’s speculation on my part. But, what we can count on is that perilous time are coming.  Notice, I said count on, not dwell on.  While we need to know what’s coming, we need to keep doing what he left us here to do. For Y’shua went on to say (Matthew 24:46), “Blessed is that servant, whom his lord when he cometh shall find so doing.”

Perilous times shall come. What are you doing about it?

Can you teach what you believe from the “Old Testament” exclusively? Can people verify what you proclaim by searching in the “Old Testament” exclusively?  If not, there’s a good chance you’re not proclaiming exactly what Jesus and His disciples proclaimed.

The “Old Testament”: It’s all they had.*

It’s all they needed.

 
* DISCLAIMER: They actually had the apocryphal writings as well

Before long, she was making her way through Exodus. When she got to the 10 Commandments, her question was something like this: “Daddy, this says we’re not supposed to work on the Sabbath. Why do you work on Saturdays?

For some years prior to this, I had been wrestling with the issue.  Increasingly, my study was revealing that the migration from 7th day to 1st day observance was not in scripture, and was not the practice of the 1st century believers. Rather, I could see that the practice resulted from the schemes of men.  Despite the mounting evidence, I had not made the leap to act on what I was learning.

That is, not until I was faced with the question of an impressionable child who was an excellent reader. I was no longer able to sit on the fence.

Hmmm, what to do? What to do?

It was quite a liberating day. Sabbath is indeed a delight!

It is a well-known refrain in Christian circles:

“If my people, which are called by my name, will humble themselves, and pray, and seek my face, and turn from their wicked ways; then I will hear from heaven, and will forgive their sins, and will heal their land.” (2 Chronicles 7:14)

What may not be as well known is what else the LORD our GOD said at the time, or the context in He was speaking in the first place. Let’s consider the context first, then we’ll look at the entire statement.

At the time, Solomon, King of all Israel, was dedicating the temple his father David had envisioned. He had constructed the building. He commissioned and installed all its furnishings. He and the people had offered innumerable sacrifices. The trumpeters and singers made one sound thanking and praising the LORD. And, a cloud, the glory of the LORD, had filled the place.

In this atmosphere, King Solomon made a petition of the LORD that He would establish the temple as the centerpiece of worship for all Israel, and in fact all people. Solomon asked that the prayers and sacrifices made there be accepted. Likewise, he asked that prayers made toward there from places and situations of distress and duress be heard, and that those situations be overturned for the good of those praying.

The well-known refrain was part of the beginning of the LORD our GOD’s response to this prayer. Here is what He said in it’s entirety (2 Chronicles 7:13-22):

“If I shut up heaven that there be no rain, or if I command the locusts to devour the land, or if I send pestilence among my people; If my people, which are called by my name, shall humble themselves, and pray, and seek my face, and turn from their wicked ways; then will I hear from heaven, and will forgive their sin, and will heal their land. Now mine eyes shall be open, and mine ears attent unto the prayer that is made in this place. For now have I chosen and sanctified this house, that my name may be there for ever: and mine eyes and mine heart shall be there perpetually.

And as for thee, if thou wilt walk before me, as David thy father walked, and do according to all that I have commanded thee, and shalt observe my statutes and my judgments; Then will I stablish the throne of thy kingdom, according as I have covenanted with David thy father, saying, There shall not fail thee a man to be ruler in Israel. But if ye turn away, and forsake my statutes and my commandments, which I have set before you, and shall go and serve other gods, and worship them; Then will I pluck them up by the roots out of my land which I have given them; and this house, which I have sanctified for my name, will I cast out of my sight, and will make it to be a proverb and a byword among all nations.

And this house, which is high, shall be an astonishment to every one that passeth by it; so that he shall say, Why hath the LORD done thus unto this land, and unto this house? And it shall be answered, Because they forsook the LORD God of their fathers, which brought them forth out of the land of Egypt, and laid hold on other gods, and worshipped them, and served them: therefore hath he brought all this evil upon them. “

I would offer that most Christians are fairly up to speed on what it means to humble ourselves, pray, and seek His face. Where we may need help is in turning from our wicked ways. Why do I say that. I would offer that we are so drunk on grace, we fail to value the sobriety of “the law.”

Note, that the LORD our GOD did not say if my people, which are called by my name, would humble themselves, and pray, and seek my face, and believe in me. No, He said for us to turn from our wicked ways.

What wicked ways?

Look at what he went on to say in verses 17 and 19:
1. walk before me (v 17) not turn away and serve other gods and worship them (v 19)
2. do all that I have commanded thee and observe my statues and judgments (v 17) not forsake my statues and my commandments (v 19)

We’ve voted, we’ve lobbied, we’ve protested, we’ve humbled ourselves (at times), we’ve prayed (on occasion), and we’ve even sought His face (though not as much as His hand).

Oh, that we would turn from our wicked ways!

One of their most renowned descendants, King David, had a similar path. He, too, started off as a shepherd, but was selected by the true and living G-d, the Creator of heaven and earth, to be king over Israel.

Come to think of it, when the Son of the living G-d came to earth, He took on the role of shepherd, with the primary objective of gathering the lost sheep of Israel.  And, yes, he, too, has been selected to serve as King over Israel.

Hmmmmm. Is anybody else seeing a pattern here?

Jewish tradition holds that there is a personal, somewhat “prophetic” significance a person can find in the Torah portion being read the on the Sabbath of the week of his or her birth. (My understanding is that since the days of Ezra the covenant people have read through the Torah annually on a set schedule). Below is link to a Hebrew calendar calculator that allows you to identify the Parashah that was being studied the week of your birth.

Hebcal

When I identified my “Hebrew Birthday,” the Torah and Haftarah portion (Vayigash - Genesis 44:18 to 47:27 / Ezekiel 37:15 to 28) tied directly to the journey I have been on in discovering the hebrew roots of our faith. I thought you might find it interesting to see how your portion relates (or doesn’t).

L’shanah tovah!

This traditional greeting for Rosh Hashanah means, “for a good year.” That’s my wish and desire for you.

Ralph, aren’t you a bit late? 2009 started 8 1/2 months ago.

Yes, it did. But my wish is for 5770. In case you didn’t know, today’s Hebrew date is 1 Tishrei 5770. This “head of the year” (as it is commonly called) is observed with the sound of the shofar, as the LORD our GOD said in Leviticus 23:24:

“Tell the people of Isra’el, ‘In the seventh month, the first of the month is to be for you a day of complete rest for remembering, a holy convocation announced with blasts on the shofar.

At our local fellowship, I had the honor of sounding the shofar as a part of this observance. As I considered the responsibility, I recalled one of my favorite hymns: “March of Zion’s King” by Bishop C. P. Jones. The lyrics are:

We don’t know the day nor the hour. But, we do know the signs and the seasons.

Even so, come Yeshua!