Thoughts on Torah for Last Week: See our page on Spiritual Coaching. Leviticus 9-11 Last weeks Torah portion details the types of animals that God has designated to be used for food. Animals had a critical role to play in Israel's sacrificial system. Only certain kinds of animals were acceptable to be used for sacrifice. As we see in the Bible, God created a variety of animals for the use of man on the earth. And God has designated that certain animals are to be used as God has prescribed in the Bible. When we use animals outside of God’s intended purposes, we not only disrespect that creature but we also disrespect God. God has set an order for man’s use of living creatures.
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Thoughts on Torah for Last Week: See our page on Spiritual Coaching: Leviticus 6-8 This portion continues to detail Israel’s sacrificial system. At the center of sacrifice, is the altar of sacrifice. In the bible, the altar was the place for meeting and worshiping God. The first altar recorded in the Hebrew Bible is that erected by Noah (Genesis 8:20). Altars were erected by Abraham (Genesis 12:7; 13:4; 22:9), by Isaac (Genesis 26:25), by Jacob (33:20; 35:1-3), and by Moses (Exodus 17:15). After the theophany on biblical Mount Sinai, in the Tabernacle–and afterwards in the Temple–only two altars are mentioned: the Altar of Burnt Offering, and the Altar of Incense. Thoughts on Torah for Last Week: See our page on Spiritual Coaching: Leviticus 1-5 This Torah portion begins to detail the sacrificial system that God required of ancient Israel. The primary purpose of the sacrificial system was to commune with God – forgiveness of sin, thanksgiving, and ritual purity. But this was not God’s preferred method for getting close to Him. God’s preferred method was to accept His atoning sacrifice and honor Him by living His law. Because of Israel’s disobedience and stiffneckness, God employed the system of sacrifices to teach Israel the relationship between sin and death, and as a method of worshiping Him. In this review, we see how we can commune with God as receivers of Yeshua’s infinite atonement and resurrection; and, commune with our neighbor under God’s system of justice and mercy. Thoughts on Torah for Last Week: See our page on Spiritual Coaching: Exodus 38-40 This Torah portion describes the holy garments to be worn by the High Priest. An integral fitment of the High Priest garments is the breastplate. On the breastplate was fastened twelve jewels representing the twelve tribes of Israel. The High Priest would wear this breastplate as he approached the throne of God on the Day of Atonement – Yom Kippur. Thoughts on Torah for Last Week: See our page on Spiritual Coaching: 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. Thoughts on Torah for Last Week: See our page on Spiritual Coaching: Exodus 31-34 In this portion, specifically in chapter 32, we see Moses offering his life for the lives of the children of Israel whom the Lord threatens to destroy because of their gross sin with the golden calf – “Yet now, if thou wilt forgive their sin—; and if not, blot me, I pray thee, out of thy book which thou hast written.” – (32:32). In biblical theology, this concept is known as proxy salvation where the life of a righteous man is offered to save others. Thoughts on Torah for Last Week: See our page on Spiritual Coaching: Exodus 28-30 This portion details the clothing, consecration and sacrificial duties of the priests. So this is a good place to introduce priesthood and what priesthood looks like throughout the scriptures. To lead us into this discussion, lets consider Paul’s brief writings of his two covenant discussion in Galatians chapter 4. Thoughts on Torah for Last Week: See our page on Spiritual Coaching: Exodus 25-27 This portion details the construction of the Tabernacle – or God’s dwelling place. The text language goes onto say: "And you shall put the mercy seat on the top of the ark, and in the ark you shall put the testimony that I shall give you. There I will meet with you, and from above the mercy seat, from between the two cherubim that are on the ark of the testimony, I will speak with you about all that I will give you in commandment for the people of Israel." (25:21-22) This text instructs Moses to meet the Lord in the Tabernacle as they wander through the wilderness and receive instruction from Him. The Tabernacle was then designated as the place where God's presence was to reside. Thoughts on Torah for Last Week: See our page on Spiritual Coaching: Exodus 21-24 In this portion, God begins to reveal the specific rules for His people that further define the Commandments set out in chapter 20. This portion is titled “Judgments”, but God’s legal system is comprised of His covenant, law, commandments, statutes and judgments. Some of the rules that God reveals in the Torah appear on the surface to be alarming, but for a God who wants us to Love Our Neighbor as Ourselves, we need to do a better job of understanding what God is really saying. Thoughts on Torah for Last Week See our page on Spiritual Coaching: Exodus 18-20 As Israel approached Sinai, Moses ascended the Mountain and God spoke with him saying, “Thus you shall say to the house of Jacob, and tell the people of Israel: ‘You yourselves have seen what I did to the Egyptians, and how I bore you on eagles' wings and brought you to myself. Now therefore, if you will indeed obey my voice and keep my covenant, you shall be my treasured possession among all peoples, for all the earth is mine; and you shall be to me a kingdom of priests and a holy nation.’ These are the words that you shall speak to the people of Israel.” |
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