Weekly Torah Teaching
February 25, 2012
Parashah: Terumah - “Gifts”
Torah Reading: Exodus 25:1-27:19
Haftarah: I Kings 5:26-6:13
Apostolic Writings: Luke 2:1-20; John 1:1-14
Parashah: Terumah - “Gifts”
Torah Reading: Exodus 25:1-27:19
Haftarah: I Kings 5:26-6:13
Apostolic Writings: Luke 2:1-20; John 1:1-14
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AND THE WORD WAS GOD
Parasha Terumah teaches us about the Tabernacle in the Wilderness and Solomon’s glorious Temple in Jerusalem, which were the places where YHVH let His Name dwell among His people. In essence, this lesson tells us about God’s great love for flawed human beings, who ignore the good plans He has for them. Finally, “God so loved the world that He gave His only begotten Son, that whoever believes in Him will not perish, but have everlasting life” (John 3:16), and Yeshua Himself came to dwell among us. YHVH has always wanted to be near those He loves.
Opportunity to show love for God
ADONAI said to Moshe, “Tell the people of Israel to take up a collection for Me - accept a contribution from anyone who wholeheartedly wants to give” (Exodus 25:1-2).
This was something new and exciting for the Hebrew people. No longer were they slaves, compelled to build structures for a cruel task master, Pharaoh, but people redeemed by the mighty hand of YHVH. He had brought them to Mount Sinai; there vows of loyalty had been exchanged, and now YHVH wanted to show His love for His bride by living in close proximity to them, to remind them of His faithfulness. They had also received YHVH’s Torah, and had been sprinkled with the blood of the Covenant.
In order for this special Sanctuary to be built, materials had to be available to Moshe and the especially chosen workers. The structure had to be beautiful; a little bit of heavenly glory right there in the Wilderness. While on the Mountain, Moshe was shown the heavenly Tabernacle, so that he could see what the Tabernacle in the Wilderness should look like.
The LORD was not putting pressure on His people to get the largest possible contribution out of them, which is so unlike many religious fund raisers of our day. This invitation to give put it on a level of being a privilege, rather than a duty. Actually, all that we have is a gift from our loving Father anyway, and what a blessing it is to give to that which is pleasing to Him. At the same time we have a responsibility to see to it that the contributions we give are indeed used according to God’s will.
The Ark
They are to make an ark of acacia-wood three-and-three-quarters feet long, two-and-a-quarter feet wide and two-and-a-quarter feet high. You are to overlay it with pure gold - overlay it both inside and outside (25:10-11).
Even before the instructions for building the Tabernacle are given, YHVH tells Moshe to build the Ark; the holy and only piece of furniture that would be placed in the Holy of Holies. We need to think of it as a chest, a container in which the Torah tablets, the Word of God would be stored. YHVH had given His people His Word and now they needed to prepare a place to store it in the heart of the Tabernacle. The Psalmist apparently understood the personal application to this Scripture. In Ps. 119:11 we read, “Your word I have hidden in my heart, that I might not sin against You.” It is of the utmost importance that the Word of God is indeed housed in our hearts, so that it will guide us safely through life.
The ark was to be made of acacia wood, which may have been the same wood from which Yeshua’s crown of thorns was constructed. It was an unattractive tree, growing very deep roots, drawing nourishment from deep in the earth, and surviving very well in dry ground. It was also supposed to be incorruptible. Here we see terms attached to our Messiah, Who is described as “like a root out of dry ground,” and “He has no form of comeliness… There is no beauty that we should desire Him” (Isaiah 53:2). This kind of wood speaks of Yeshua’s perfect humanity. Even though, in His human form, He was met with resistance and even hatred, yet He remained undefiled and incorruptible.
However, this wooden chest had to be overlaid with gold, inside and out. Gold represents royalty, or kingship. Indeed, “of His kingdom there shall be no end” (Luke 1:33b).Gold, or the Hebrew word zahav means shining, or brightness, and Yeshua is called “the brightness of His glory and the express image of His person, and upholding all things by the word of His power, when He had by Himself purged our sins, sat down at the right hand of the Majesty on high…” (Hebrews 1:3). The Ark, this “chest”, is made of two materials. One is common, but incorruptible, and the other precious.
The Cover
You are to make a cover for the ark out of pure gold; it is to be three-and-three- quarters feet long and two-and-a- quarter feet high. You are to make two Cherubim of gold. Make them of hammered work for the two ends of the ark- cover (25:18).
The covering was the first thing the high priest would see when entering the Holy of Holies once a year on the Day of Atonement (Yom Kippur). It is the place where the atoning blood would be sprinkled. Here we see how the Word of God inside the Ark would be surrounded by Yeshua’s atoning blood. No one can access the Torah of God without being first redeemed by Yeshua’s blood, His covering. First comes salvation by the blood of Yeshua Messiah, and then we will be able to receive His Torah. More than that, only those that are really born of the Spirit of God will gladly obey His Torah because it is “holy, righteous and good” (Romans 7:12). Freedom does not come by running away from God’s instructions but by obedience to them.
The Table of Show-bread
You are to make a table of acacia-wood three feet long, eighteen inches wide and eighteen inches high. Overlay it with pure gold, and put a molding of gold around the top of it (25:23-25).
As we enter the Holy Place we will learn of the things that YHVH is going to change in those who have given their lives to Him. This is about all that we have to learn after we have received His mercy and forgiveness. Our minds need to be transformed by the Word. Education comes after birth, both physically and spiritually. After our heart has been changed, our mind has to follow suit. Consequently, since our mind tells our body what to do, our physical actions will also change. For example, if our mind tells our body to go to work it cannot go shopping.
The Table of Show-bread is made of the same materials as the Ark; acacia-wood and gold. The Hebrew verbal root is shalach, which is the Hebrew verb meaning to “send out”. In the Hebrew culture and many others, the table in the home was the place where the family gathered. There the Hebrew children were not only fed their daily meals but they also received (Torah) teachings from their father; life-sustaining bread. By the time these children would grow up they would be equipped in the knowledge of the Word and, as it were, “sent out” into their adult lives. God’s life-giving bread (His Word) needs to be given to those that hunger for righteousness.
The word show-bread, or lechem paniyim means the bread of His face, or presence. God’s presence is experienced in obeying His Word. Yeshua said, “Man shall not live by bread alone but by every word that proceeds out of the mouth of God” (Matthew 4:4). If you really want the presence of the LORD in your life, try obeying His words!
“On the Table shall you place show-bread before Me, always” (Exodus 25:30). Every Shabbat twelve fresh loaves, representing the twelve tribes, were brought in to replace the loaves that would be distributed and eaten by the priests on that day. This is how the weekly Parasha readings are distributed to the people that gather together on Shabbat. The Word of God (Torah) was divided into weekly portions and after Antiochus ruled against the reading of the Torah, readings from the Prophets were added, called the haftarah. Therefore, assembling as believers on His Shabbat is honouring YHVH in more than one way. First we acknowledge that He created the universe in six days and rested on the seventh, and we also eat of His Word so that we can live in His presence.
The Menorah
You are to make a menorah of pure gold. It is to be made of hammered work; its base, shaft, cups ring of outer leaves and petals are to be of one piece with it” (Exodus 25:31).
This word menorah is taken from the word ner or “light”. The menorah consisted of six branches extending from the center shaft, all made from once piece of gold. Is it a coincidence that Romans 11 describes both Jewish and Gentile believers in Messiah as branches that are one with the tree, and called the BODY OF MESSIAH? And why would Yeshua mention the menorah (lamp stand) in reference to His congregations (Revelation 1:20)?
Since the Sanctuaries were covered with curtains and skins, there was total darkness inside. That is why the menorah was of the utmost importance, it was the only source of light. But what brilliance would be seen when the light of the seven lamps were reflected in the gold covered walls and furniture! It must have been a glorious sight!
Yeshua told His followers to be “the light of the world” (Matth.5:14). The disciples would have understood this term “light” to come from the menorah in the temple. They would have identified with the words of Proverbs 6:23, “For the commandment is a lamp, Torah is LIGHT, and reproofs that discipline are the way of light.” Yeshua called Himself the “Light of the World” (John 8-10).
How do most Christians think what it means to walk in the LIGHT? Are we to walk around surrounded by some halo? Is being a light putting some “Christian” bumper stickers on my car, or buying only “Christian” music? Am I a light to the world by just going to church on the day of the sun-god and telling people about Jesus, or coming against the cults? Or does the word of YHVH teach us that we are a light when we live in obedience to His Torah and proclaim to a world, covered in darkness, that the answer to all of man’s problems is found in His Word? The light we shine must come from the source of light, our Messiah.
“God is light and in Him is no darkness at all. If we claim to have fellowship with Him while we are walking in the darkness, we are lying and not living out the truth. But if we are walking in the light as He is in the light, then we have fellowship with each other, and the blood of His Son Yeshua purifies us from all sin” (1 John 1:4-7).
The Linen Curtains
You are to make the tabernacle with ten sheets of finely woven linen and with blue, purple and scarlet yarn. You are to make them with cherubim worked in, that have been crafted by a skilled artisan (Exodus 26:1).
The finely woven white linen speaks of righteousness in Yeshua Messiah. “And to her it was granted to be arrayed in fine linen, clean and bright, for the fine linen is the righteous acts of the saints” (Revelation 19:8). When we confess Yeshua as Lord and turn to follow Him, then our filthy sin-garments are exchanged for Yeshua’s righteousness, symbolized by white linen. Only then can a believer be changed into the likeness of Messiah. First, He must dwell in our heart, and then the mind, which is our way of thinking, must be transformed, after which our life-style will change also.
Not only are the curtains woven of linen, representing righteousness, three colors are involved; blue, purple and red, always given in that order in the Tanach (O.T.). The color blue represents YHVH’s perfect holiness. This color had to be attached to the tzitzit (fringes) on the end of their garments to remind them of His Torah, which is God Himself. (Numbers15:37-41). The color red pictures man’s sinful nature. In between is the color purple which is a combination of two primary colors blue and red. Purple is not half blue and half red but 100% blue and 100% red. This is a perfect picture of the nature of our Messiah; 100% divine and 100% man, but without sin. “For there is one mediator between God and men, the man, the Messiah Yeshua” (1 Tim. 2:5).
May we come to understand more and more of YHVH’s glorious revelations concerning our Messiah, built into the Tabernacle and its furnishings. “Oh give thanks to the God of heaven! For His mercy endures forever” (Psalm 136:26).
Shabbat Shalom!
Ann
Sources: ArtScroll Chumash, Jeff Feinberg’s “Walk Exodus”, and “The Shadow of Heavenly Things” by Bradford Scott.
Ann Stephens, Torah Teacher.