Tetzaveh: You shall command — תצוה

Thoughts on Torah for Last Week:
 
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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.

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​​But the Tabernacle is more than a dwelling place for God and His presence.  On another level, the Tabernacle stands as a representation or model of heaven.
 
God's Presence
God collectively is referred to as the Godhead – God, the Father; God, the Son/Jehovah/Messiah and God, the Holy Spirit. God’s presence in the scriptures can be manifested by one of these three forms.  In time and eternity, God’s presence is generally present during the following periods:
 
                                                    Our Fallen World - The Holy Spirit
                                     Paradise (Millennium) – The Son/Messiah/Jehovah
                                                               Heaven – The Father
 
Moreover, all three of these manifestations of God continue throughout eternity in heaven.


Enduring God’s Presence
Though the vast majority of humanity will accept Yeshua as Messiah and be resurrected, our works, the covenants/commitments we make with God will determine the form of God’s presence that we can endure in Heaven. Moreover, even though the veil of the temple was rent subsequent to Yeshua’s death and opened the way for humanity to enter into the presence of God, the level of our spirituality/righteousness/holiness will determine the form of God’s presence we can endure.  This principle became evident during the Second Temple period when the High Priest's level of spirituality/holiness had degenerated to the point that he could no longer endure the Lord's presence and died when he entered the Holy of Holies on the day of atonement.  Jewish tradition holds that the High Priest was fastened to a cord so that the priests could retrieve the High Priest should he perish  while attempting to converse with the Lord.

Here are other places in the scriptures that indicate this concept of enduring God's presence:
 
"And then shall that Wicked be revealed, whom the Lord shall consume with the spirit of his mouth, and shall destroy with the brightness of his coming."  2 Thessalonians 2:8
 
“He [God] said, “you cannot see my face, for man shall not see me and live.’”  Exodus 33:20

Below is a table summary of this concept:

Status in Heaven (level of commitment/righteousness)	Can Endure God's Presence in this Form
Accept Yeshua as Messiah and lives basic law.	The Holy Spirit
Covenant People (Are Holy and Set Apart)	The Son/Jehovah/Messiah
Savior Kings/Queens (Suffers for the transgressions of others)	The Father

This is what it looks like with the Tabernacle:

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Hebrew Study

Tabernacle ​(Holy Place)

מִקְדָּ֑שׁ

meek-dahsh

Strong's Exhaustive Concordance chapel, hallowed part, holy place, sanctuary ​Or miqqdash (Exod. 15:17) {mik-ked-awsh'}; from qadash; a consecrated thing or place, especially, a palace, sanctuary (whether of Jehovah or of idols) or asylum -- chapel, hallowed part, holy place, sanctuary.

Exodus 25:8

midst your in	dwell may I And	place holy a	me to	make them let And
בְּתוֹכָֽם׃	וְשָׁכַנְתִּ֖י	מִקְדָּ֑שׁ	לִ֖י	וְעָ֥שׂוּ
b-to-kahm	v-sha-kahn-tee	meek-dahsh	lee	v-ah-su

Isaiah 18
God's people’s dread of Assyria’s world conquest is unfounded as Jehovah has prepared a way of escape.

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Resource Links for this Week's Portion

TORAH: Exodus 27:20-30:10
GOSPELS: Matthew 5:13-20

Listen and Read the Portion
First Fruits of Zion

​​Commentary with Nehemia Gordon
​

HAFTARAH: Isaiah Chapter 19

Commentary with Avraham Gileadi, PhD