HOME          TEMPLE SEDARIM      < PRIOR WEEK       NEXT WEEK >

 

Commentary - Year 2 Sabbath 31

Leviticus 8:1-36   -   Ezekiel 43:27   -   Psalm 75  -   Revelation 20:1-15
 

 

Heshvan 6, 5763 / Oct 12, 2002

Heshvan 3, 5766 / Nov 5, 2005

Heshvan 3, 5769 / Nov 1, 2008

Heshvan 1, 5772 / Oct 29, 2011

Heshvan 1, 5775 / Oct 25, 2014

Heshvan 1, 5778 / Oct 21, 2017

Tishrei 29, 5781 / Oct 17, 2020

 

Qach et-Aharon / Take Aaron    SCRIPTURES (should be read first)

 

On recent Sabbaths, we have studied God’s instructions for building the Tabernacle, considered their spiritual implications for us, and then read of the actual construction according to those instructions. We have studied God’s instructions for the priesthood and offerings, considered their spiritual implications for us, and today we read of the beginnings of the Levitical priestly service.

 

(V.1) Aaron and his sons must enter a mikvah (baptistery), don the priestly garments. This signifies being born again, being one of several situations in a man’s life that can be so called. In other words, it means dying to a previous life and entering in to a new one, in this case dedicated to God’s service.

 

They must be anointed with the special oil. This signifies that they are to be yielded to the Spirit of God.

 

They must offer a bull for a sin offering and a ram for an elevation offering. The priests’ sins must be laid upon Yeshua, and Yeshua’s righteousness imputed to the priests, before they can be God’s representatives to the people.

 

A ram of ordination must then be offered: the priests must be consecrated to God in their hearing (blood applied to the ear), their actions (blood applied to the thumb), and their goings (blood applied to the toe). From the forty loaves that were made (last week’s lesson), the three kinds of unleavened loaves must be waved before Yahweh, then offered up as smoke from being burnt upon the altar.

 

(Slide 1)
The High Priest’s garments containing the Urim and Tummim.

 

The Urim v’Tumim / Urim and Tummim (oo-REEM and toom-MEEM) was is placed in the fold of the Breastplate, and used to consult God for answers to major questions. It was called Urim / Lights, because it would cause letters on the breastplate stones to light up, and it was called Tumim / Completeness, because the letters would spell answers to the answers of national importance that the High Priest would ask of God.

 

The Torah gives us all of the instruction we need in order to know how to behave in personal, in family, and in congregational matters. How Torah is to be applied in varying situations in life is a matter of halachic judgment – and God has appointed men for this task. However, national decisions, such as going to war, require guidance beyond Torah to know God’s will. This is where the “Lights and Completeness” in the “Breastplate of Judgment” came into play to show divine judgment. Such decisions were neither left to individuals nor to “feelings” attributed to the Holy Spirit.

 

As God established certain offices for the functioning of the Tabernacle and Temple, there are also certain offices for the functioning of the synagogue/church – which is a local sanctuary that is to function as an outreach of the Holy Temple. The Apostles left us instructions that verify these ancient offices, but today they are interpreted so differently that they are not recognizable.

 

In Titus, we may see that, from qualified elders, an overseer is to be appointed. Elders are defined as men over 50 or 60 (depending upon source). Officers are to be chosen from elders who meet certain qualifications. An overseer is the one who oversees the Torah readers, to insure that they read correctly.

 

Titus 1:4-9  4 To Titus, my true child in a common faith: Grace and peace from God the Father and Messiah Yeshua our Savior.  5 For this reason I left you in Crete, that you would set in order what remains and appoint elders (presbuterous) in every city as I directed you,  6 namely, if any man is above reproach, the husband of one wife, having children who believe, not accused of dissipation or rebellion.  7 For the overseer (episkopon) must be above reproach as God's steward, not self-willed, not quick-tempered, not addicted to wine, not pugnacious, not fond of sordid gain,  8 but hospitable, loving what is good, sensible, just, devout, self-controlled,  9 holding fast the faithful word which is in accordance with the teaching, so that he will be able both to exhort in sound doctrine and to refute those who contradict.

 

1 Peter 5:1-5  1 Therefore, I exhort the elders (presbuterous) among you, as your fellow elder and witness of the sufferings of Messiah, and a partaker also of the glory that is to be revealed,  2 shepherd the flock of God among you, exercising oversight not under compulsion, but voluntarily, according to the will of God; and not for sordid gain, but with eagerness;  3 nor yet as lording it over those allotted to your charge, but proving to be examples to the flock.  4 And when the Chief Shepherd appears, you will receive the unfading crown of glory.  5 You younger men, likewise, be subject to your elders;

 

Israel was given offices of High Priest and King. Major decisions, such as going to war, were made by the High Priest with the Urim & Tummim – the King carried out the decision. Ultimately, Yeshua will be both High Priest and King.

 

Neither God nor our country’s constitution established separation of church and state.

 

Our country was established on principles of leadership with godly integrity, but such that no one denomination could control. Judeo-Christian values were initially the norm. Catholicism scarcely tolerated because it was formerly the state persecutor. Atheism was despised.

 

 

(Slide 2)
Leviticus 9:1 & Ezekiel 43:27 – Hebrew lesson

   Bayom        hashmini

B’ha-Yom    ha-Shemini

In the  day,    the eighth.


 Bayom hashmini – In the Eighth Day.

 

Ezekiel 43:27 – In the Eighth Day, God will accept us: we will offer elevation offerings and peace offerings – thanksgiving offerings, not sin offerings.


The greatest commandment, Loving Yahweh with all our heart, includes keeping our appointments with God – Yahweh’s appointed times, which He declared to be eternal (observed as prophetic and/or memorial).

 

Lev 23:2 “Yahweh's appointed times which you shall proclaim as holy assemblies – My appointed times are these:” . . . . “So Moses declared to the sons of Israel the appointed times of Yahweh.”

See FEASTS .

 

 (Slide 4)
This shows the “Eighth Day” Appointed Time.

          See SABBATH for enlargement

 

Psalm 75 title: “Al-tashcheit” – Do not destroy.
Psalm 75:2 – “When I select an appointed time, it is I who judge with equity.”

God has selected the appointed time for final judgment of sinners. For seven millennial days atonements must be made. Then is the appointed time for judgment: the judgment of the righteous for rewards will be 1000 years prior; this is the judgment of the condemned; there is no “judgment” to determine who is or is not saved.

 

Moses is the representative of Yeshua. We all (believers) are priests. We have seven millennial days when salvation is available, then there will be judgment for sin at the beginning of the eternal eighth day.

 

Hebrews 13:11-12 For the bodies of those animals whose blood is brought into the holy place by the high priest as an offering for sin, are burned outside the camp. Therefore Yeshua also, that He might sanctify the people through His own blood, suffered outside the gate.

Hebrews 4:14-5:6  Since then we have a great high priest who has passed through the heavens, Yeshua the Son of God, let us hold fast our confession. For we do not have a high priest who cannot sympathize with our weaknesses, but One who has been tempted in all things as we are, yet without sin. Let us therefore draw near with confidence to the throne of grace, that we may receive mercy and may find grace to help in time of need. 5:1 For every high priest taken from among men is appointed on behalf of men in things pertaining to God, in order to offer both gifts and sacrifices for sins; he can deal gently with the ignorant and misguided, since he himself also is beset with weakness; and because of it he is obligated to offer sacrifices for sins, as for the people, so also for himself. And no one takes the honor to himself, but receives it when he is called by God, even as Aaron was. So also Messiah did not glorify Himself so as to become a high priest, but He who said to Him, "Thou art My Son, Today I have begotten Thee"; just as He says also in another passage, "Thou art a priest forever According to the order of Melchizedek."

 

So, Yeshua had no need to offer sin sacrifices for Himself. But we need to keep this continually in mind: He is sympathetic toward our weaknesses, and stands daily to aid us in overcoming sin. We need continual exercise to growing in love for God and neighbor.

 

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 1Amen. 1 Then Yahweh spoke to Moses, saying, 2 "Take Aaron and his sons with him, and the garments and the anointing oil and the bull of the sin offering, and the two rams and the basket of unleavened bread, 3 and assemble all the congregation at the doorway of the tent of meeting." 4 So Moses did just as Yahweh commanded him. When the congregation was assembled at the doorway of the tent of meeting, 5 Moses said to the congregation, "This is the thing which Yahweh has commanded to do."

Reader 2Amen. 6 Then Moses had Aaron and his sons come near and washed them with water. 7 He put the tunic on him and girded him with the sash, and clothed him with the robe and put the ephod on him; and he girded him with the artistic band of the ephod, with which he tied it to him. 8 He then placed the breastpiece on him, and in the breastpiece he put the Urim and Thummim. 9 He also placed the turban on his head, and on the turban, at its front, he placed the golden plate, the holy crown, just as Yahweh had commanded Moses. 10 Moses then took the anointing oil and anointed the tabernacle and all that was in it, and consecrated them. 11 He sprinkled some of it on the altar seven times and anointed the altar and all its utensils, and the basin and its stand, to consecrate them. 12 Then he poured some of the anointing oil on Aaron's head and anointed him, to consecrate him.

Reader 3Amen. 13 Next Moses had Aaron's sons come near and clothed them with tunics, and girded them with sashes and bound caps on them, just as Yahweh had commanded Moses. 14 Then he brought the bull of the sin offering, and Aaron and his sons laid their hands on the head of the bull of the sin offering. 15 Next Moses slaughtered it and took the blood and with his finger put some of it around on the horns of the altar, and purified the altar. Then he poured out the rest of the blood at the base of the altar and consecrated it, to make atonement for it. 16 He also took all the fat that was on the entrails and the lobe of the liver, and the two kidneys and their fat; and Moses offered it up in smoke on the altar. 17 But the bull and its hide and its flesh and its refuse he burned in the fire outside the camp, just as Yahweh had commanded Moses.

Reader 4Amen. 18 Then he presented the ram of the elevation offering, and Aaron and his sons laid their hands on the head of the ram. 19 Moses slaughtered it and sprinkled the blood around on the altar. 20 When he had cut the ram into its pieces, Moses offered up the head and the pieces and the suet in smoke. 21 After he had washed the entrails and the legs with water, Moses offered up the whole ram in smoke on the altar. It was an elevation offering for a soothing aroma; it was an offering by fire to Yahweh, just as Yahweh had commanded Moses.

Reader 5Amen. 22 Then he presented the second ram, the ram of ordination, and Aaron and his sons laid their hands on the head of the ram. 23 Moses slaughtered it and took some of its blood and put it on the lobe of Aaron's right ear, and on the thumb of his right hand and on the big toe of his right foot. 24 He also had Aaron's sons come near; and Moses put some of the blood on the lobe of their right ear, and on the thumb of their right hand and on the big toe of their right foot. Moses then sprinkled the rest of the blood around on the altar. 25 He took the fat, and the fat tail, and all the fat that was on the entrails, and the lobe of the liver and the two kidneys and their fat and the right thigh.

Reader 6Amen. 26 From the basket of unleavened bread that was before Yahweh, he took one unleavened cake and one cake of bread mixed with oil and one wafer, and placed them on the portions of fat and on the right thigh. 27 He then put all these on the hands of Aaron and on the hands of his sons and presented them as a wave offering before Yahweh. 28 Then Moses took them from their hands and offered them up in smoke on the altar with the elevation offering. They were an ordination offering for a soothing aroma; it was an offering by fire to Yahweh. 29 Moses also took the breast and presented it for a wave offering before Yahweh; it was Moses' portion of the ram of ordination, just as Yahweh had commanded Moses.

Reader 7Amen. 30 So Moses took some of the anointing oil and some of the blood which was on the altar and sprinkled it on Aaron, on his garments, on his sons, and on the garments of his sons with him; and he consecrated Aaron, his garments, and his sons, and the garments of his sons with him. 31 Then Moses said to Aaron and to his sons, "Boil the flesh at the doorway of the tent of meeting, and eat it there together with the bread which is in the basket of the ordination offering, just as I commanded, saying, 'Aaron and his sons shall eat it.' 32 "The remainder of the flesh and of the bread you shall burn in the fire. 33 "You shall not go outside the doorway of the tent of meeting for seven days, until the day that the period of your ordination is fulfilled; for he will ordain you through seven days. 34 "Yahweh has commanded to do as has been done this day, to make atonement on your behalf. 35 "At the doorway of the tent of meeting, moreover, you shall remain day and night for seven days and keep the charge of Yahweh, so that you will not die, for so I have been commanded." 36 Thus Aaron and his sons did all the things which Yahweh had commanded through Moses.

 

"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."

 

Ezekiel 43:27

Reader 8Amen. 27 “And when they have completed the days, it shall be that on the eighth day and onward, the priests shall offer your elevation offerings on the altar, and your peace offerings; and I will accept you,” declares Yahweh God.

 

Psalm 75    (To be sung.)    For the choir director; set to Al-tashcheit. A Psalm of Asaph, a Song.

We give thanks to You, O God, we give thanks, for Your name is near; men declare Your wondrous works. 2 "When I select an appointed time, it is I who judge with equity. 3 The earth and all who dwell in it melt; it is I who have firmly set its pillars. Selah. 4 I said to the boastful, 'Do not boast,' and to the wicked, 'Do not lift up the horn; 5 do not lift up your horn on high, do not speak with insolent pride.'" 6 For not from the east, nor from the west, nor from the desert comes exaltation; 7 but God is the Judge; He puts down one and exalts another. 8 For a cup is in the hand of Yahweh, and the wine foams; it is well mixed, and He pours out of this; surely all the wicked of the earth must drain and drink down its dregs. 9 But as for me, I will declare it forever; I will sing praises to the God of Jacob. 10 And all the horns of the wicked He will cut off, but the horns of the righteous will be lifted up.

 

Revelation 20:1-15

Reader 9Amen. 1 Then I saw an angel coming down from heaven, holding the key of the abyss and a great chain in his hand. 2 And he laid hold of the dragon, the serpent of old, who is the devil and Satan, and bound him for a thousand years; 3 and he threw him into the abyss, and shut it and sealed it over him, so that he would not deceive the nations any longer, until the thousand years were completed; after these things he must be released for a short time. 4 Then I saw thrones, and they sat on them, and judgment was given to them. And I saw the souls of those who had been beheaded because of their testimony of Yeshua and because of the word of God, and those who had not worshiped the beast or his image, and had not received the mark on their forehead and on their hand; and they came to life and reigned with Messiah for a thousand years. 5 The rest of the dead did not come to life until the thousand years were completed. This is the first resurrection. 6 Blessed and holy is the one who has a part in the first resurrection; over these the second death has no power, but they will be priests of God and of Messiah and will reign with Him for a thousand years.

Reader 10Amen. 7 When the thousand years are completed, Satan will be released from his prison, 8 and will come out to deceive the nations which are in the four corners of the earth, Gog and Magog, to gather them together for the war; the number of them is like the sand of the seashore. 9 And they came up on the broad plain of the earth and surrounded the camp of the saints and the beloved city, and fire came down from heaven and devoured them. 10 And the devil who deceived them was thrown into the lake of fire and brimstone, where the beast and the false prophet are also; and they will be tormented day and night forever and ever. 11 Then I saw a great white throne and Him who sat upon it, from whose presence earth and heaven fled away, and no place was found for them. 12 And I saw the dead, the great and the small, standing before the throne, and books were opened; and another book was opened, which is the book of life; and the dead were judged from the things which were written in the books, according to their deeds. 13 And the sea gave up the dead which were in it, and death and Hades gave up the dead which were in them; and they were judged, every one of them according to their deeds. 14 Then death and Hades were thrown into the lake of fire. This is the second death, the lake of fire. 15 And if anyone's name was not found written in the book of life, he was thrown into the lake of fire.

 

"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."


© 2005  Beikvot HaMashiach
(Followers of the Messiah)