Rabbi’s Reflections – Thursday, February 18, 2021
Shalom,
Daily Bread, reading plan by Lars Enarson (https://www.thewatchman.org/)
Thu 18-Feb-2021 6th of Adar, 5781
Ex 26:31-37 2 Ki 21-22 Ps 146 Jn 18 (Heb 3)
Only 7 verses in the 5th Aliyah today. The last 7 verses of Exodus 26 describe the finishing of the Holy of Holies. The curtain in Hebrew is called the “Parokhet.” Exodus 26:33 You are to hang the curtain under the clasps, and bring the Ark within the curtain of the Testimony. The parokhet will divide for you between the Holy Place and the Holy of Holies.
God commanded a division between the Holy of Holies and the Holy Place. The Holy of Holies had no light and no way for light to enter, except the shekainah glory of God. The Holy Place had man’s light (the 7 branch menorah). The Holy of Holies had a pot of manna, made and delivered by God. The Holy Place had (fresh baked by man every Friday) Shewbread. The Holy of Holies had Aaron’s rod that budded (life from the dead). The furniture of the Holy Place was made of dead wood covered in gold. The Holy of Holies had the 2 Tablets of Testimony (the 10 Commandments), and no people (except the High Priest once a year). The Holy Place had people who would always struggle to obey God’s commandments. Only inside the Holy of Holies do we find the mercy seat and Ark of the Covenant, the throne of God.
My point should be obvious. For every item in the Holy Place, there is a greater spiritual reality within the Holy of Holies. But, access was extremely limited. One man (the High Priest), once a year (on Yom Kippur afternoon), and one place (within the Tabernacle and later in Jerusalem).
Now for the good news…. The Parochet (curtain of separation) was torn in two when Yeshua was crucified. Matthew 27:51 And behold, the curtain of the Temple was split in two, from top to bottom. This was a sign that access is now granted to all of us. We can all enter in. At any time and at any place we have access to the presence of God.
Psalm 24:3 Who may go up on the mountain of Adonai? `Who may stand in His holy place? 4 One with clean hands and a pure heart, who has not lifted his soul in vain, nor sworn deceitfully. 5 He will receive a blessing from Adonai, righteousness from God his salvation.
Ephesians 2:18 for through Him we both (Jews and Gentiles) have access to the Father by the same Ruach.
Week 8
Memory Verse: Galatians 5:14 For the whole Torah can be summed up in a single saying: “Love your neighbor as yourself.”
36 2/15 Monday: Exodus 19-20
37 2/16 Tuesday: Exodus 24-25
38 2/17 Wednesday: Exodus 26-27
* 39 2/18 Thursday: Exodus 28-29
40 2/19 Friday: Exodus 30-31
Question of the day: What is the connection between the High Priest robes and the names of the 12 tribes? Better yet, why is it important to us?
Answer: The High Priest robes had two sets of the names of the 12 tribes. One set on the shoulders and one set on the breast plate. Exodus 28:9 “You are to take two onyx stones and engrave on them the names of Bnei-Yisrael: 10 six of their names on one stone and the names of the remaining six on the other stone, in the order of their birth…. 12 Fasten the two stones upon the shoulder pieces of the ephod, to be memorial stones for Bnei-Yisrael. So Aaron is to bear their names before Adonai on his two shoulders as a reminder. This first set of names was written on onyx stones which are typically dark or even black. This is a picture of the weight, of the darkness, of the sin of the 12 tribes on the shoulders of the High Priest.
The contrast is the names on the jewels on the breastplate. Exodus 28:15 “Make a breastplate of judgment, the work of a skillful craftsman.” 21a The stones are to be engraved in the order of the names of Bnei-Yisrael, twelve according to their names. This represents the glorious end prophesied in Revelation 19:4 Then the twenty-four elders and the four living creatures fell down and worshiped God who is seated on the throne, saying, “Amen! Halleluyah!” (The 24 elders are mentioned in at least 4 other places in Revelation.).
Wait a minute, I thought there were 12. How is it that there are 24? Do you remember the 12 Apostles? Matthew 19:28 And Yeshua said to them, “Amen, I tell you, when the Son of Man sits on His glorious throne in the new world, you who have followed Me shall also sit on twelve thrones, judging the twelve tribes of Israel. No wonder the 11 Apostles worked so hard to replace Judas and bring Matthias in as the 12th Apostle.
The story of every believer in Yeshua is told in the translation of the names of the 12 tribes. (I’ve told you this before, so this is for new subscribers to the RR.)
The Names of the 12 Tribes Tell the Story of the Gospel
Ywl /wUmv /bwar
Levi Shimon Reuben
Reuben (Leah) – Gen 29:32 “The LORD has surely looked on my affliction.” NKJV Behold a son. To see, but also to fear as in respect.
Shimeon (Leah) – Gen 29:33 Then she conceived again and bore a son, and said, “Because the LORD has heard” And she called his name Simeon. NKJV (Listen)
Levi (Leah) – Gen 29:34 “Now this time my husband will become attached to me” NKJV (My heart)
Behold a son, listen to Him and you will be tied to my heart.
Yltpn /d hdwhy
Naphtali Dan Yehuda
Judah (Leah) – Gen 29:35 And she said, “Now I will praise the LORD. NKJV (Praiser)
Dan (Bilhah) – Gen 30:6 Then Rachel said, “God has judged NKJV (Judgement)
Naphtali (Bilhah) – Gen 30:8 Then Rachel said, “With great wrestling… NKJV (Wrestle)
You will praise the Lord. You will be a judge and you will wrestle with God and man and prevail.
rkcvy rva dg
Isachar Asher Gad
Gad (Zilpah) – Gen 30:11 Then Leah said, “A troop comes!” NKJV (Fortune)
Asher (Zilpah) – Gen 30:13 Then Leah said, “I am happy,NKJV (Happy) .
Issachar (Leah) – Gen 30:18 Leah said, “God has given me my wages, because I have given my maid to my husband.” NKJV (Wages)
Your fortune will be increased (physically or bodily), you will be happy And you will receive a reward, “spiritual riches.” Body, soul, and spirit will be enriched.
/ymynb [swy /wlbz
Benjamin Joseph Zebulon
Zebulun (Leah) – Gen 30:And Leah said, “now my husband will dwell with me. NKJV (Dwelling)
Joseph (Rachel) – Gen 30:23 “God has taken away my reproach.” NKJV
(He will add)
Benjamin – (Rachel) Gen 35:18 And so it was, as her soul was departing (for she died), that she called his name Ben-Oni; but his father called him Benjamin. 19 So Rachel died and was buried on the way to Ephrath (that is, Bethlehem). 20 And Jacob set a pillar on her grave, which is the pillar of Rachel’s grave to this day. NKJV (Son of the right hand)
You will dwell with the Lord, you will be increased, and you will be a son of the right hand.
This is the message of the names: Behold a son, listen to Him and you will be tied to my heart. You will praise the Lord. You will be a judge and you will wrestle with God and man and prevail. Your fortune will be increased (physically or bodily), you will be happy And you will receive a reward, “spiritual riches.” Body, soul, and spirit will be enriched. You will dwell with the Lord, you will be increased, and you will be a son of the right hand.