The (Mishkan haEdut)
“Tabernacle of the Testimony” refers to the Tabernacle with its many furnishings
that testify concerning Yeshua. It also refers to this Tabernacle being the
place where
Yahweh Elohim – the creator-Judge and
Eternal-Gracious-One – dispenses His Instruction to man. The (qehql)
church in the wilderness that was taken out of Egypt was given this as a
testimony and a place of continuing reminder of God’s instruction.
It is the travelling forerunner of the future Jerusalem Temple of the Holy One.
It is the center from which the synagogue would become an outreach. It was the
place from which “the Torah shall go forth.” It was the place of the highest
court over the synagogue courts. It was the place towards which prayer should be
rendered. It was the center of true worship, of which a significant part was
animal, grain, and fruit offerings. It was the center for true praise, of which
a significant part was non-contemporary orchestral music accompanying the
group-singing of verbally-inspired songs.
As this was the
eternal center for dissemination of God’s Holy Word, so also the Apostle Paul
referred to the (qehal)
church as “the pillar and ground of the truth” (1 Timothy 3:15). Yeshua said
that He would “build My church, and the doors of death shall not prevail against
it” (Matthew 16:18) – it would be eternal.
In the last couple
of hundred years, there has been a great movement (by no means the first) to
obliterate this concept. The (seder)
service order of the “sacred assembly” has been subjected to every whim of
self-exalted man.
King –
Priest – Prophet
King: Yeshua,
as King, leads us into spiritual prosperity, and rules all things for us in
love. Messiah was to be of Israel, a leader and ruler from their midst:
“ ‘And
their leader shall be one of them, and their ruler shall come forth from their
midst’. . .” – Jeremiah 30:21a.
“The book
of the genealogy of Yeshua the Messiah, the son of David, the son of Abraham”
– Matthew 1:1.
Priest: Yeshua,
as Priest, stands before Yahweh for us, making atonements. He would dare to
approach Yahweh, as no other man would (though Moses, in a sense, did so as
prophetic type).
(V.24) In the
latter days, Israel will understand this.
“ ‘and I
will bring him near, and he shall approach Me; for who would dare to risk his
life to approach Me?’ declares Yahweh’ ” – Jeremiah 30:21b.
“Now Yahweh
said to Moses, ‘Cut out for yourself two stone tablets like the former ones, and
I will write on the tablets the words that were on the former tablets which you
shattered. So be ready by morning, and come up in the morning to Mount Sinai,
and present yourself there to Me on the top of the mountain. And no man is to
come up with you, nor let any man be seen anywhere on the mountain; even the
flocks and the herds may not graze in front of that mountain.’ So he cut out two
stone tablets like the former ones, and Moses rose up early in the morning and
went up to Mount Sinai, as Yahweh had commanded him, and he took two stone
tablets in his hand. And Yahweh descended in the cloud and stood there with him
as he called upon the name of Yahweh. Then Yahweh passed by in front of him and
proclaimed, ‘Yahweh, Yahweh El, compassionate and gracious, slow to anger, and
abounding in lovingkindness and truth; who keeps lovingkindness for thousands,
who forgives iniquity, transgression and sin; yet He will by no means leave the
guilty unpunished, visiting the iniquity of fathers on the children and on the
grandchildren to the third and fourth generations.’ And Moses made haste to bow
low toward the earth and worship” – Exodus 34:1-8.
Prophet:
Yeshua, as Prophet, teaches us His way, that His salvation may be displayed to
all the earth.
“That Thy
way may be known on the earth, Thy salvation among all nations” – Psalm
67:2.
“An angel
of the Lord appeared to him in a dream, saying, ‘Joseph, son of David, . . . you
shall call His name Yeshua (Yahweh is Salvation), for it is He who will
save His people from their sins’ ” – Matthew 1:20-21.
Psalm 67
It is
interesting that Psalm 67, which we sing for Rosh Hodesh
(Head-of-the-Month), is the Psalm for the first Sabbath of Elul (2002) / Sabbath
of the Blessing for Elul (2005) of the second year of the Torah cycle.
(Psalm
67:title, 1-2) In the Temple, the Levitical orchestra played harps and flutes,
and the Levitical choir sang, “God be gracious to us and bless us, and cause
His face to shine upon us-- Selah. That Thy Way (‘I am the Way’ – John 14:6)
may be known on the earth, Thy Salvation (Heb. – Yeshua) among all
nations”.
The Psalm has
a title and seven lines (shown as eight verses). The seven lines make the seven
lampstands of the menorah (traditionally the one on David’s shield). Note the
symmetry: compare lines 1 & 7, 2 & 6; 3 & 5.
|
 |
1 May Elohim favor us
2 Knowledge of Yahweh
3 All nations to
acknowledge Elohim
4
Nations to be glad and sing of fair judgment
5 All nations to
acknowledge Elohim
6 Fruit of Word of Yahweh
7 May Elohim bless us |
1.
May Elohim favor us,
although we are undeserving (Sforno).
May He
bless us – together, as His people.
May He
display His luminous countenance upon us
– being pleased to grant us His light/understanding, so that we know His will
and reflect His glory in our actions.
2.
So that we display His Salvation to all peoples of
the earth, making His way known.
(Isaiah 11:9) The earth shall be full of the knowledge of Yahweh, as the
waters cover the sea.
3.
Then the people of all nations will acknowledge
Elohim, the Creator and Judge.
4.
The nations will be glad and
sing, because Elohim will judge with fairness, and will guide them.
5.
Then the people of all nations will acknowledge
Elohim, the Creator and Judge.
6.
The earth has yielded the fruit
of the Word of God.
(John 4:36) The harvesters are paid good wages, and the fruit they harvest
is people brought to eternal life. What joy awaits both the planter and the
harvester alike!
(Matthew 3:10) Even now the ax of God's judgment is poised, ready to
sever your roots. Yes, every tree that does not produce good fruit will be
chopped down and thrown into the fire.
7.
May Elohim bless us, and may all the ends of the
earth fear Him.
2 Corinthians 4
The Apostolic
portion parallels the Psalm.
“Therefore, since we have this
ministry, as we received mercy, we do not lose heart, but we have renounced the
things hidden because of shame, not walking in craftiness or adulterating the
word of God, but by making known the truth, commending ourselves to every man's
conscience in the sight of God” - v.1-2.
For all things are for your sakes,
that the grace which is spreading to more and more people may cause the giving
of thanks to abound to the glory of God”
– v.15.
___________________
We are to make known the way of
salvation – Yeshua.
An often troubling concept is that
God commands things of us that we are unable to perform.
We are commanded Love God with all of
our hearts, all of our souls, and all of our minds, and to love our neighbors as
ourselves; but who is able to do that? We are commanded to trust God; but who is
able to do that? We are commanded to keep all of God’s judgments; but who is
able to do that?
If we have faith, it is not of
ourselves; it is a gift of God (Ephesians 2:8); it has been received (2 Peter
1:1). Yeshua is both its author and its perfecter (Hebrews 12:2). Therefore Paul
thanked God for the faith of saints (Titus 3:15).
If we are led to repentance (turning
from sin to God), it is by the goodness of God (Romans 2:4). To whatever extent
we keep God’s judgments, it is the work of the Holy Spirit in our hearts both to
will and to perform them (Philippians 2:13).
Those who are “dead in trespasses
and sins” (Ephesians 2:1) have no spark of life to fan, nor any ability to
fan it; they need regeneration – they need to be given new life.
God’s way is
to call sinners by His gospel. God sends out people carrying His Word, and His
Word accomplishes that which He intends. His Spirit works in the hearts of
sinners with His Word.
“So will My
Word be which goes forth from My mouth; it will not return to Me empty, without
accomplishing what I desire, and without succeeding in the matter for which I
sent it” – Isaiah 55:11.
This gives us
hope and purpose and direction to evangelize: we can know that when we spread
God’s Word, that it will be used to accomplish His purpose. Any other methods of
ours are of no value in seeing sinners converted: it is not in our own power.
“But as
many as received Him, to them He gave the right to become children of God, even
to those who believe in His name, who were born, not of blood nor of the will of
the flesh nor of the will of man, but of God” – John 1:12-13.
“So then it
does not depend on the man who wills or the man who runs, but on God who has
mercy” – Romans 9:16.
Readings:
"Blessed are You, Yahweh our God, King
of the Universe,
Who chose us from among all peoples by
giving us Your Torah.
Blessed are You, Yahweh, giver of the
Torah."
Reader 1*
Amen. 21 This is the
number of the things for the tabernacle, the tabernacle of the testimony, as
they were numbered according to the command of Moses, for the service of the
Levites, by the hand of Ithamar the son of Aaron the priest. 22 Now
Bezalel the son of Uri, the son of Hur, of the tribe of Judah, made all that
Yahweh had commanded Moses. 23 With him was Oholiab the son of
Ahisamach, of the tribe of Dan, an engraver and a skillful workman and a weaver
in blue and in purple and in scarlet material, and fine linen.
Reader 2*
Amen. 24 All the gold
that was used for the work, in all the work of the sanctuary, even the gold of
the wave offering, was 29 talents and 730 shekels, according to the shekel of
the sanctuary. 25 The silver of those of the congregation who were
numbered was 100 talents and 1,775 shekels, according to the shekel of the
sanctuary; 26 a beka a head (that is, half a shekel according to the
shekel of the sanctuary), for each one who passed over to those who were
numbered, from twenty years old and upward, for 603,550 men.
Reader 3*
Amen. 27 The hundred
talents of silver were for casting the sockets of the sanctuary and the sockets
of the veil; one hundred sockets for the hundred talents, a talent for a socket.
28 Of the 1,775 shekels, he made hooks for the pillars and overlaid
their tops and made bands for them. 29 The bronze of the wave
offering was 70 talents and 2,400 shekels. 30 With it he made the
sockets to the doorway of the tent of meeting, and the bronze altar and its
bronze grating, and all the utensils of the altar, 31 and the sockets
of the court all around and the sockets of the gate of the court, and all the
pegs of the tabernacle and all the pegs of the court all around.
"Blessed are You, Yahweh our God, King
of the Universe,
Who in giving us Yeshua, the Living
Torah, has planted everlasting life in our midst.
Blessed are You, Yahweh, giver of the
Torah."
"Blessed are You, Yahweh our God, King
of the Universe,
Who selected good prophets, delighting
in their words which were spoken truthfully.
Blessed are You, Yahweh, Who chose the
Torah, Your servant Moses, Your people Israel,
and the prophets of truth and
righteousness."
Jeremiah 30:18-24
Reader 4*
Amen. 18 "Thus says
Yahweh, 'Behold, I will restore the fortunes of the tents of Jacob And have
compassion on his dwelling places; And the city will be rebuilt on its ruin, And
the palace will stand on its rightful place. 19 'From them will
proceed thanksgiving And the voice of those who celebrate; And I will multiply
them and they will not be diminished; I will also honor them and they will not
be insignificant. 20 'Their children also will be as formerly, And
their congregation shall be established before Me; And I will punish all their
oppressors. 21 'Their leader shall be one of
them, And their ruler shall come forth from their midst; And I will bring him
near and he shall approach Me; For who would dare to risk his life to approach
Me?' declares Yahweh. 22 'You shall be My people, And I will be your
God.'" 23 Behold, the tempest of Yahweh! Wrath has gone forth,
A sweeping tempest; It will burst on the head of the wicked. 24 The
fierce anger of Yahweh will not turn back Until He has performed and until He
has accomplished The intent of His heart; In the latter days you will understand
this.
Psalm 67 (To be sung.)
For the choir director; with stringed instruments. A Psalm. A Song.
1 God be gracious to us and
bless us, and cause His face to shine upon us-- Selah. 2
That Your way may be known on the earth, Your salvation
among all nations. 3 Let the peoples praise You, O God; let
all the peoples praise You. 4 Let the nations be glad and sing for
joy; for You will judge the peoples with uprightness and guide the nations on
the earth. Selah. 5 Let the peoples praise You, O God; let all the
peoples praise You. 6 The earth has yielded its produce; God, our
God, blesses us. 7 God blesses us, that all the ends of the earth may
fear Him.
2 Corinthians 4:1 – 5:19
Reader 5*
Amen. 1 Therefore, since
we have this ministry, as we received mercy, we do not lose heart, 2
but we have renounced the things hidden because of shame, not walking in
craftiness or adulterating the word of God, but by the manifestation of truth
commending ourselves to every man's conscience in the sight of God. 3
And even if our gospel is veiled, it is veiled to those who are perishing,
4 in whose case the god of this world has blinded the minds of the
unbelieving so that they might not see the light of the gospel of the glory of
Messiah, who is the image of God. 5 For we do not preach ourselves
but Messiah Yeshua as Lord, and ourselves as your bond-servants for Yeshua’s
sake.
Reader 6*
Amen. 6 For God, who
said, "Light shall shine out of darkness," is the One who has shone in our
hearts to give the Light of the knowledge of the glory of God in the face of
Messiah. 7 But we have this treasure in earthen vessels, so that the
surpassing greatness of the power will be of God and not from ourselves; 8
we are afflicted in every way, but not crushed; perplexed, but not despairing;
9 persecuted, but not forsaken; struck down, but not destroyed;
10 always carrying about in the body the dying of Yeshua, so that the life
of Yeshua also may be manifested in our body.
Reader 7*
Amen. 11 For we who live
are constantly being delivered over to death for Yeshua’s sake, so that the life
of Yeshua also may be manifested in our mortal flesh. 12 So death
works in us, but life in you. 13 But having the same spirit of faith,
according to what is written, "I believed, therefore I spoke," we also believe,
therefore we also speak, 14 knowing that He who raised the Lord
Yeshua will raise us also with Yeshua and will present us with you. 15
For all things are for your sakes, so that the grace which is spreading to more
and more people may cause the giving of thanks to abound to the glory of God.
16 Therefore we do not lose heart, but though our outer man is
decaying, yet our inner man is being renewed day by day. 17 For
momentary, light affliction is producing for us an eternal weight of glory far
beyond all comparison, 18 while we look not at the things which are
seen, but at the things which are not seen; for the things which are seen are
temporal, but the things which are not seen are eternal.
Reader 8*
Amen. 5:1 For we know
that if the earthly tabernacle which is our house is torn down, we have a temple
from God, a house not made with hands, eternal in the heavens. 2 For
indeed in this house we groan, longing to be clothed with our dwelling from
heaven, 3 inasmuch as we, having put it on, will not be found naked.
4 For indeed while we are in this tabernacle, we groan, being
burdened, because we do not want to be unclothed but to be clothed, so that what
is mortal will be swallowed up by life. 5 Now He who prepared us for
this very purpose is God, who gave to us the Spirit as a pledge. 6
Therefore, being always of good courage, and knowing that while we are at home
in the body we are absent from the Lord-- 7 for we walk by faith, not
by sight-- 8 we are of good courage, I say, and prefer rather to be
absent from the body and to be at home with the Lord.
Reader 9*
Amen. 9 Therefore we
also have as our ambition, whether at home or absent, to be pleasing to Him.
10 For we must all appear before the judgment seat of Messiah, so
that each one may be recompensed for his deeds in the body, according to what he
has done, whether good or bad. 11 Therefore, knowing the fear of the
Lord, we persuade men, but we are made manifest to God; and I hope that we are
made manifest also in your consciences. 12 We are not again
commending ourselves to you but are giving you an occasion to be proud of us, so
that you will have an answer for those who take pride in appearance and not in
heart. 13 For if we are beside ourselves, it is for God; if we are of
sound mind, it is for you.
Reader 10*
Amen. 14 For the love of
Messiah controls us, having concluded this, that one died for all, therefore all
died; 15 and He died for all, so that they who live might no longer
live for themselves, but for Him who died and rose again on their behalf.
16 Therefore from now on we recognize no one according to the flesh; even
though we have known Messiah according to the flesh, yet now we know Him in this
way no longer. 17 Therefore if anyone is in Messiah, he is a new
creature; the old things passed away; behold, new things have come. 18
Now all these things are from God, who reconciled us to Himself through Messiah
and gave us the ministry of reconciliation, 19 namely, that God was
in Messiah reconciling the world to Himself, not counting their trespasses
against them, and He has committed to us the word of reconciliation.
"Blessed are You, Yahweh
our God, King of the Universe,
Rock of Ages, righteous
throughout all generations.
You are the faithful God,
promising and then performing, speaking and then fulfilling,
for all Your words are true
and righteous.
Faithful are You, Yahweh
our God, and faithful are Your words,
for no word of Yours shall
remain unfulfilled;
You are a faithful and
merciful God and King.
Blessed are You, Yahweh our
God, Who are faithful in fulfilling all Your words."