Rabbi’s Reflections – Thursday, February 20, 2020
Shalom,
Pillar Seven: The Kingdom is Expressed in a Quest for Unity – part 3
Amazing, we’re on “Part 3” of the 7th pillar and just now are going to mention the “Shema.”
Rabbi Trail: The “Shema” is the most foundational of Hebrew liturgical prayers. (Hence the reason I am incredulous over not mentioning it until now.) The prayer is taken from Deuteronomy 6 (primarily) beginning with verse 4.
More often in the New Testament, it is Deuteronomy 6:5 that is quoted as the greatest commandment. Matthew 22:36 “Teacher, which is the greatest commandment in the Torah?” 37 And He said to him, “‘You shall love Adonai, your God, with all your heart, and with all your soul, and with all your mind.’ 38 This is the first and greatest commandment. End RT.
The reason I bring up the “Shema” today is that there is a premium (an understood added value) on “unity” in Scripture. There is one God! We are one in Him… John 17:22 The glory that You have given to Me I have given to them, that they may be one just as We are one.
Even at the Tower of Babel, God confessed the value of unity. Genesis 11:6 Adonai said, “Look, the people are one and all of them have the same language. So this is what they have begun to do. Now, nothing they plan to do will be impossible.
So, here’s the point. The Devil knows the value of unity too. So he and his demons do what they can to disrupt unity in the body of Messiah. Offense and gossip are two methods of sowing discord among the people of God.
Think about it; real unity produces children. When the leadership in the congregation is flowing in unity (and by the grace of God we are at Shomair), spiritual children are born and properly nurtured.
Rabbi’s Note: The Lord told me years ago, that if we would build a leadership team with the capacity to minister, He would send us the people. End RN.
Naturally, the quest for unity is an expression of the kingdom of God.
Week 8
Memory Verse: Exodus 20:1 Then God spoke all these words saying, 2 “I am Adonai your God, who brought you out of the land of Egypt, out of the house of bondage. 3 “You shall have no other gods before Me.
36 2/17 Monday: Exodus 19-20
37 2/18 Tuesday: Exodus 24-25
38 2/19 Wednesday: Exodus 26-27
* 39 2/20 Thursday: Exodus 28-29
40 2/21 Friday: Exodus 30-31
Question of the day: What is the significance of the robes of the high priest?
Answer: Exodus 28 contains detailed instructions of making the robes of the high priest. Books have been written to answer this question. Let me give you some highlights.
There are 3 robes in one. The white linen robe in closest to the man. White is the color of the Holy Spirit and the Holy Spirit will be in the man who follows Yeshua (our high priest after the order of Melchizedek).
Then there is the middle robe (ephod) of blue. This represents Yeshua. Blue is Yeshua’s color. (So far we have the blue and white of the Israeli flag.). Numbers 15:38 “Speak to Bnei-Yisrael. Say to them that they are to make for themselves tzitzit on the corners of their garments throughout their generations, and they are to put a blue cord on each tzitzit. 39a It will be your own tzitzit—so whenever you look at them, you will remember all the mitzvot of Adonai and do them.
Yeshua is the Law of God in the flesh. Matthew 5:17 “Do not think that I came to abolish the Torah or the Prophets! I did not come to abolish, but to fulfill.” The blue is a reminder to do God’s commandments. (WWYD?)
Then there is the outer garment of glory. It is very colorful with the jewels on the breastplate, and the urim and thummim inside (over the heart of the priest). The names of the 12 tribes on the shoulders of the priest as a memorial. A memorial that the priest is ministering on behalf of the weight of the sin of the people.
There is so much more, but so little time. Check back with me next year when we return to this same reading.