Pekudei: Countings — פקודי

Thoughts on Torah for Last Week:
 
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Exodus 35-38
We see in this portion another discussion and construction of the Tabernacle.  The Tabernacle represented to Israel the central focus of worship – it was the dwelling place of God.  Within the Tabernacle, God directed that certain furnishings be present.  One such furnishing was God’s lamp – the Menorah. The Menorah is a dominant symbol of the Jewish faith as is the Star of David.  In this portion review, we will examine the special meanings associated with the Menorah.

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An Instrument of Light
Light in the scriptures connotes a medium that reveals truth.  The Torah is a “light” because it reveals the law of God and of life that we can differentiate from the laws of men and of death.  Yeshua/Jesus was and is a "light" because he taught the way to truth and life as we properly apply the Torah.  The representations of light that are in the Menorah are discussed below.
 
Seven Lamps
The number Seven is prevalent throughout the scriptures.  The number Seven in the scriptures connotes wholeness, completeness and perfection.  We see the number seven in the days of creation, the seven millennia of the earths existence.  Seven days of feasting with Unleavened Bread and Sukkot. Jacob’s seven year service to Laban.  Pharaoh's dream of seven fat and lean oxen. The seven day siege of Jericho.  The priests washing themselves seven times.  Forgiving ones neighbor seven times seventy.  And we could go on.
 
Placed in the Sanctuary
According to scripture, the Menorah was placed in the sanctuary where the priests administered to the Lord.  So it is a sacred item. For all intent and purposes, a Menorah should only to be displayed in the Tabernacle and is not appropriate for any other setting.  Many Jewish synagogues adorn their sanctuaries with an abstract representation of the menorah, which might be acceptable, like the one below.  Further, any latter-day or Endtime temple would have a Menorah - Isaiah 2:2,3.

​The Seven Spirits of Jehovah
Three key scriptures define the meaning and representation of the Menorah.  The seven lamps on the Menorah represent the seven divine attributes of God that God’s Servants are to emulate, which can be a guide to all, but more specifically for God’s Servants, His Savior-Kings.  And since the number seven is incorporated with this presentation, these seven attributes represent the perfect character of God.

Revelations 4:5
And out of the throne proceeded lightnings and thunderings and voices: and there were seven lamps of fire burning before the throne, which are the seven Spirits of God.
 
Isaiah 11:2
The Spirit of Jehovah, will rest upon him—the spirit of wisdom and of understanding, the spirit of counsel and of valor, the spirit of knowledge and of the fear(respect) of Jehovah.  The Seventh is Justice Isaiah 42:1​

The Spirit of Jehovah

Spirit of Wisdom

Spirit of Understanding

Spirit of ​ Counsel

Spirit of ​Valor

Spirit of Knowledge

Spirit of ​Respect

Spirit of ​Justice

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Hebrew Study

Isaiah 11:2

English	Hebrew	Transliteration
And she/it shall rest	וְנָחָ֥ה	v-nah-kah
upon him	עָלָ֖יו	ah-lav
the Spirit	ר֣וּחַ	ru-ahk
of Yehovah	יְהוָ֑ה	Ye-ho-vah
the Spirit	ר֧וּחַ	ru-ahk
of wisdom	חָכְמָ֣ה	kahk-mah
and of understanding	וּבִינָ֗ה	u-vee-nah
the Spirit	ר֤וּחַ	ru-ahk
​of counsel	עֵצָה֙	eh-tzah
and of valor	וּגְבוּרָ֔ה	u-ge-vu-rah
the Spirit	ר֥וּחַ	ru-ahk
of knowledge	דַּ֖עַת	dah-aht
and of respect	וְיִרְאַ֥ת	v-yeer-aht
of Yehovah	יְהוָֽה׃	Ye-ho-vah

Side Bar

The One Dimensional Gospel

When something is one dimensional, it only has one part or aspect.  When one dimensional thinking is applied to the Gospel, we get a general idea that doesn’t tell the whole Gospel story.  Typically, a one dimensional view of the Gospel looks like this:

​Accept Yeshua as Messiah  >  Be Saved  >  Live with God in eternity

​However, the Gospel has multiple parts or aspects.  The Gospel is a rich dynamic theology that understands and accommodates the varieties of God's children; and, provides an opportunity for God's children for each of them to realize their greatest individual potential through His system of covenants.  Those who make greater commitments to God, God employs to assist Him in moving forward His plan to save and exalt His children.  For those who make greater commitments to God, they can bear greater manifestations of God's presence.  God's plan looks like this:

Non-Covenant People	Covenant People	God's Leaders
Accepts Yeshua as Messiah (Messianic Covenant)	Accepts Yeshua as Messiah Torah Covenantors (Sinai Covenant)	Accepts Yeshua as Messiah Torah Covenanters Savior-Kings (Davidic Covenant)
God, The Holy Spirit	God, The Son	God, The Father

​Isaiah Chapter 21
Jehovah appoints a watchman to warn of Babylon’s imminent fall at the hands of the Assyrian alliance.

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Resource Links for this Week's Portion

TORAH: Exodus 38:21-40:38
GOSPELS: Luke 16:1-13

Listen and Read the Portion
First Fruits of Zion

​​Commentary with Nehemia Gordon
​

HAFTARAH: Isaiah Chapter 22

Commentary with Avraham Gileadi, PhD