Acharei Mot/ Kedoshim Lev 16:1–20:27; Ezek 22:1–19; Amos 9:7–15; Eph 6
God has called and equipped us to stand for Him in this world through the blood of Yeshua. But, unless we place upon ourselves our spiritual armour we will have no protection against the fiery darts of the enemy who seeks to steal, kill and destroy every vestige of our identity in Him.
The armour described by Paul in Eph 6 relates specifically to the priestly garments (the garments of glory and beauty) mentioned in this Parasha and also in Ex 28. The High Priest had special garments that he wore as he ministered unto God. We read in Ex 19 that we are a “royal priesthood, a holy nation and a peculiar (unique) people” stated also in 1Pet. 2:9, so spiritually we too are clothed in priestly garments that form the basis for the armour of God as referred to in Eph. 6.
Paul never had in mind the armour of a Roman soldier in his letter to the Ephesians even though many commentaries make this connection. The Romans were the bitter enemies of the Jews so Paul would never used such an illustration that would have brought contempt.
Eph.6 10-18: “Finally, grow powerful in union with the Lord, in union with his mighty strength! 11 Use all the armour and weaponry that God provides, so that you will be able to stand against the deceptive tactics of the Adversary. 12 For we are not struggling against human beings, but against the rulers, authorities and cosmic powers governing this darkness, against the spiritual forces of evil in the heavenly realm. 13 So take up every piece of war equipment God provides; so that when the evil day comes, you will be able to resist; and when the battle is won, you will still be standing.
14 Therefore, stand! Have the belt of truth buckled around your waist,[b] put on righteousness for a breastplate,15 and wear on your feet the readiness that comes from the Good News of shalom. 16 Always carry the shield of trust, with which you will be able to extinguish all the flaming arrows of the Evil One. 17 And take the helmet of deliverance; along with the sword given by the Spirit, that is, the Word of God;
THE BELT OF TRUTH (‘avnet emet’)
Yeshua is the TRUTH who alone can set us free from all evil, deceit and enslavement. The colours of the linen belt were intricately interwoven. The thread of gold represented God’s Divinity; blue represented the heavenlies and purple typified Yeshua as King of King’s and also the incarnation: God made man.
This linen belt worn by the high priest was like a sash which he would wrap around himself and illustrates every believer who is covered in God’s truth! It is this belt that sets us free as Yeshua, “You shall know the truth and the truth shall set you free.”The belt of truth was made from the same items as the breastplate of righteousness that kept it secure and in position.
THE BREASTPLATE OF RIGHTEOUSNESS (‘hoshen tzedeka’)
This covered the heart of the high priest and had settings of 12 stones representing the tribes of Israel with the name of each tribe engraved upon the stones (Ex 28:15) and is a symbol of Israel. Those who are deemed righteous before God must also love Israel and the Jewish people that is engraved upon the ‘ephod’ of their hearts. Ps.1 speaks of the righteous qualities of a godly person echoed in the teachings of Yeshua with His statements in Matt.5.
Yeshua is our ‘Great High Priest’ who likewise covers us with His love and makes intercession for us continuously. Scripture describes the fruit of righteousness as an outflow in Gal.5: “But the fruit produced by the Holy Spirit within you is divine love in all its varied expressions: joy that overflows, peace that subdues, patience that endures, kindness in action, a life full of virtue, faith that prevails, gentleness of heart, and strength of spirit.”
FEET FITTED WITH THE PREPARATION OF THE GOSPEL OF PEACE
Nothing should come in the way of separating us from enjoying fellowship with God. This is why the high priest went barefoot in the Tabernacle and why God commanded Moses to, ‘take off your shoes because you are standing on holy ground’ at the burning bush. The high priest wore a cloak with tassles at the bottom with pomegranates and bells attached so that everyone could hear him ministering to God in the Holy of Holies which represented a Divine melody of fruitfulness grounded in holiness.
The high priestly garments included a cloak with items shaped into pomegranates and bells sewn into the fringes that tinkled as he moved around the Temple. So, it is with us as we serve the Lord and share the ‘besorah’ (Gospel) with others through our words and deeds, we make a beautiful ‘sound’ before the Lord and bear fruit as represented by the pomegranates. In Isa 52 the prophet declares, “How beautiful upon the mountain are the feet of those who bring good news!” What makes them beautiful? It is because they are barefoot so whenever we journey in life through times whether on the mountain tops or the valleys, we do so as a priest of God!
When we walk barefoot our feet eventually become toughened and calloused and immune to rough surfaces. So too, as the children of God, the Lord transforms our spiritual constitution as we learn to weather the storms of life and spiritual battles we face.
HELMET OF SALVATION (‘tzitziot Yeshua’)
The high priest wore a special covering upon his head, a turban with the words inscribed on a golden plate attached to it, ‘kadosh l’Adonai’ (holiness unto the Lord). The high priest’s head covering would have ‘tzitziyot’ (fringes or tassels) that were used to keep it attached representing our thoughts that must be holy in order to fulfil the command of God for us to “Be ye holy even as I am holy.” (Lev 11:44; 1Pet 1:16). When Satan attacks believers, he will begin by sowing a seed in our mind and it is how we respond that will determine the outcome. Paul describes in 2Cor 10 how powerful our spiritual armoury is to bring down all demonic opposition and taking every thought captive to the obedience of Yeshua.
It is through our minds that we make the conscious choice to follow Yeshua both as Saviour and Lord in obedience to the calling that He has placed upon our lives. In Hebrew, ‘kadosh’ (holy) means to be ‘set apart.’ God desires us to live ‘set apart’ lives for Him. We are in the world but not of the world. That means that contrary to cutting ourselves off from those who are unredeemed, we engage with them by presenting the Gospel, in season and out, through our words and actions; we become the influencers rather than the influenced.
Every thought, action or reaction is judged against the measure in which we apply the helmet of salvation. We must learn to take captive every thought to the obedience of Yeshua (2Cor10:5). What a joy and privilege it is for us to practice the presence of God through thinking upon things that bring glory to Him!
SWORD OF THE SPIRIT
The sword of the high priest was used to kill the animals presented for sacrifice. In Heb 4:12 the Word of God is described as a double-edged sword (referring to the high priests sword) that can pierce even to the dividing between the joints and marrow and is a discerner of the thoughts and intents of the heart. This weapon is powerful to overcome all opposition for those who diligently spend time daily immersed in His word and learn to wield it skilfully, keeping it well-oiled and in good condition.
The sword of sacrifice cuts off the flesh. Sacrifices ceased with the destruction of the 2nd Temple but Scripture states that the body of every believer is a temple of the Holy Spirit. Each day we must choose whether to sacrifice what our flesh wants or do what is pleasing in God’s sight according to His word.
SHIELD OF FAITH (magen emunah)
Above all, we take the shield of faith. What is faith (Heb 11:1)? We live by faith, we walk by faith. It is a shield that will protect us from every fiery dart of the enemy. The shield of faith is not something outwardly visible, yet is powerfully present and applied in the life of a believer. Ps. 28:7 declares that, “God is our shield!” and in Ps. 3 that (He)is a shield for me, the glory and lifter of my head!”
THE POWER OF PRAYER
Paul ends his description of our spiritual armour with a piece of advice often overlooked urging us to “… pray at all times, with all kinds of prayers and requests, in the Spirit, vigilantly and persistently, for all God’s people.”
This is prayer in all its varieties: supplications, intercessions, warfare, worship that take us beyond our comfort zones to reach out to others. It is like the altar of incense, the piece of Tabernacle furniture placed closest to the Holy of Holies. There, the incense of smoke would be burning upon the coals and raise up even as our prayers are raised up to the Throne Room of God. This sweet incense was offered daily continuously unto God by the priests and reminds us that God is not merely a casual acquaintance who we come to only when it is useful, but one who we seek sweet communion with every moment.
And lest we forget, “7 We have this treasure in jars of clay, so that the surpassing greatness of the power may be from God and not from ourselves. 8 We are hard pressed in every way, yet not crushed; perplexed, yet not in despair; 9 persecuted, yet not forsaken; struck down, yet not destroyed; 10 always carrying in the body the death of Yeshua, so that the life of Yeshua may also be revealed in our mortal body.” (2 Cor. 4)
Are you perhaps feeling hard pressed today with things that are tearing you apart?We as the family of God must remember to reach out to one another and bear one another’s burdens, surrounded by the love of Yeshua and the comfort of the Ruach Ha Kodesh. Physical isolation is one thing but spiritual isolation is infinitely worse.
Let’s walk the path of holiness as His priesthood and become an expression of worship unto Him in full submission to His perfect ways.
Raphael ben Levi
