1 Kings 7- 8:21; 2Cor.9:1-15; Heb.9:1; Rev.11:1-13
After the episode with the golden calf Moses addressed the Israelites who are described in Scripture as ‘peruah,’ a “wild, disorderly, chaotic, unruly, tumultuous people.” Aaron had let them get out of control during the 40-day period whilst Moses had communed with God on the mountain resulting in the unthinkable.
All of that was now behind them but clearly it was essential to establish and define clear boundaries to avoid more catastrophes of the same from happening. The Israelites lacked a road map – something definitive that would enable them to live in close relationship with God and one other. And so, in His perfect timing, God presented the Israelites with the Torah that specified how to live righteously in a manner that would bring glory and honour to Him.
And anyone who chose to disregard, rebel against, or cheapen God’s Word would now bear the full consequences of their choices. Here we see both the compassionate and loving nature of God combined with His absolute holiness and justice. Beware when we see within the Body of Messiah people who choose to abide by their own rules rather than God’s!
So Moses gathered all of the Israelites together in one location. We know from the earlier census undertaken that the exact number of men between the ages of 20 and 50 who could go to fight in a war were 603,550 men. Something of great significance was going on for Moses to gather the entire community of Israel for a public meeting in the Sinai desert, over 2 million people, equivalent in number to filling 20 of the largest rugby stadiums. When all the people had been assembled, Moses addressed them focusing upon two items.
The first regarded the construction of the Tabernacle that would provide a symbolic home for God. The second was to reestablish Shabbat following centuries of neglect – these were the two items that outwardly may have appeared unconnected – the Tabernacle and Shabbat yet the opposite was in fact true. Both became powerful expressions and unique identifiers which separated the Israelites from the nations and was a covering that protected them from becoming assimilated into pagan culture.
The Tabernacle was constructed spontaneously and joyfully amid an overwhelming and generous spirit of selfless giving in stark contrast to the event of the golden calf. Scripture focuses much time describing the building of the Tabernacle, (containing hundreds of verse) which is interesting when we compare it to the space allocated describing the creation of the universe in the Book of Genesis, (only around 30 verses) The sages explain that it illustrates how much more difficult it has been for mankind to make a home for GOD than it was for Him to create the entire universe!
Every item in the construction of the Tabernacle are types and shadows containing nuggets of priceless treasures. Countless books have been written on the subject that has been covered exhaustively in fine detail and I address a segment devoted entirely to it in Vol. 3 of “Bagels and Cream Cheese” because I consider it an essential area of study for every believer. Here the mystery of the eternal God is revealed as He takes up residence within the Tabernacle. The far reaching prophetic significance demonstrates how the Eternal God who created the universe and everything within it desires to take up residence in you and me that has been made possible through Yeshua that we might be carriers or “temples” of the Holy Spirit that glorify and give Him honour.
The word for glory in Ex.40:34 is related to the Hebrew words for ‘honour ‘(kavod) and ‘heavy’ (kaved). In Isa.6 when the prophet came into the presence of the Divine, God’s presence was so heavy that he cried out in anguish, “Woe to me! I am doomed! — because I, a man with unclean lips, living among a people with unclean lips, have seen with my own eyes the King, Adonai-Tzva’ot!” (v.4)
When we give someone kavod, we give them honour and respect – something heavy (kaved) or significant — to treat somebody with importance and value. When we glorify God, we honour Him and so we cannot truly love someone without honouring them.
The command to love God with all our heart is unambiguous – it’s a simple statement with the hardest application. To love God with all our soul and strength was understood by the sages to mean, “with our life”. Scripture makes this a requirement for believers not an optional extra: “So you also should consider yourselves to be dead to the power of sin and alive to God through Christ Jesus.” (Rom.6:11) i.e., prepared to lay down one’s life daily.
This is how we can define ‘giving’ in the truest sense biblically. The Bible consistently teaches us about the importance of giving, first and foremost the giving of our lives as a living sacrifice unto God (Rom.12:1-2). This is a requirement for every believer symbolised by the half shekel, a very small amount of money which everybody could afford whether poor or rich. Irrespective of our age, gender, background, economic status, education or giftings, God is concerned about how well we serve Him with what He has given us irrespective of how little it may appear in the eyes of the world. Those who are faithful with the little He has bestowed will receive a greater reward to those given much but faithful only in part.
Once this point is established everything else becomes a no-brainer as we seek to serve Him as wise custodians of the riches which He has lavished upon us through Messiah Yeshua.
The NT describes us as a “set-aside people” in 1Pet.2:9-10 “…a chosen people; Is. 43:21], royal priests [L priesthood], a holy nation, a people for God’s own possession [who belong to God; Ex. 19:5–6]. (We) were chosen to tell about the wonderful acts of God, who [proclaim the praises/virtues of him who] called (us) out of darkness into his ·wonderful light. At one time (we) were not a people, but now (we) are God’s people.”
What a beautiful picture of the redeemed representing the ‘Commonwealth of Israel’ who have been grafted into the Vine through Yeshua!
As with the Israelites, God has not called us to live corporately in isolation where broken lives remain hidden and unresolved conflicts fester. This is not what God intended. His heart is that we be strengthened and refreshed through fellowship, worship, and time set aside for corporate prayer; studying Torah, ministering one to another in love and compassion – this is the character of true celebration and unity.
In Judaism, community is an integral expression that is inseparable from spiritual life. When we celebrate or mourn we do so as a community. Even when we confess, we do so together (i.e.,Yom Kippur). The Jewish sage, Maimonides, made the following statement:
“One who separates himself from the community, even if he does not commit a transgression but merely holds himself aloof… does not fulfil the commandments together with his people, and shows himself indifferent to their distress …but goes on his own way like one of the nations– such a person has no share in the world to come.”
As an illustration, it’s easy to become selective and partisan in our commitment within the Body of Messiah and lapse into a Laodicean mentality where our lives as believers slowly but surely lose meaning and momentum. So, for example, the command to honour Shabbat is relegated and falls by the wayside as an optional extra instead of a biblical imperative.
And in case we be tempted to trivialise this, as many within the Body of Messiah do, let’s be reminded that the Torah has more to say about Shabbat than any other command (mentioned 111 times in the Torah).
The gift of Shabbat like all things can be abused or misused or easily fall into disuse. Yeshua made the important point that Shabbat was made for man not man for Shabbat because He understood our nature that can so easily become entrapped within legalistic observances as characterised by the religious hierarchy of His day.
Although more is said about honouring Shabbat than any other command in the Torah, most of the detailed directives in Scripture can only to be found in the Oral Law where the Sages attempted to build a fence around the Law that was intended to be a protection yet for the main part became a legalistic stronghold.
The apostle Paul warned the Colossians against certain people in their midst who tried to impose false standards and regulations regarding Shabbat observance: “20 For you were included in the death of Christ and have died with him to the religious system and powers of this world. Don’t retreat back to being bullied by the standards and opinions of religion— 21 for example, their strict requirements, “You can’t associate with that person!” or, “Don’t eat that!” or, “You can’t touch that!” 22 These are the doctrines of men and corrupt customs that are worthless to help you spiritually… it is actually nothing more than empty rules rooted in religious rituals!” As Yeshua said: “Shabbat is made for man not man for Shabbat.”
I want to mention in closing how the glory of the Lord filled the Temple after the work of building the Tabernacle was completed. As the psalmist declared, “”How lovely is your dwelling place [Mishkan], Lord Almighty [Lord of Hosts]! My soul yearns, even faints, for the courts of the Lord; my heart and my flesh cry out for the living God.” (Ps.84:1-2)
And I want to close with a story that I shared once before which some of you may remember.
It’s a story of a poor shepherd boy who was blowing his horn to call his flock together at the end of a day. After the sheep gathered to him, he led them to a nearby trough to water them. While they were drinking, he looked up to heaven and began to call out loudly, “Master of the world, You are so great! You created heaven and earth, and everything else! I’m a simple man; I’m ignorant and unlearned, and I don’t know how to serve You or praise You. I was orphaned as a child and raised among gentiles, so I never learned any Torah. But I can blow on my shepherd’s horn like a shofar, with all my strength, and call out, ‘The L-rd is G‑d!’” After blowing with all his might on the horn, he collapsed to the ground, without an ounce of energy, and lay there motionless until his strength returned.
Then he got up and said, “Master of the world, I’m just a simple shepherd; I don’t know any Torah, and I don’t know how to pray. What can I do for You? The only thing I know is to sing shepherds’ songs!” He then began to sing loudly and fervently with all his strength until, again, he fell to the earth, exhausted, without an ounce of energy.
After recovering, he got up again and began to call out, “Master of the world! What is it worth that I blew on my horn and sang songs for You, when You’re so great? What more can I do to serve You?” He paused for a moment and said, “There’s something else I know how to do, and I’ll do it for Your honour and glory!” He then stood on his head and began to wave his feet wildly in the air. Then he did somersaults one after the other, until he collapsed on the ground, exhausted.
The shepherd lay there silently until his strength returned. Again, he began to speak and said, “Master of the world, I’ve done what I can, but I know it’s not enough! What more can I do to serve You?” After pausing to reflect, he said, “Yesterday, the nobleman who owns the flock made a feast for his servants, and when it ended, he gave each of us a silver coin. I’m now giving that coin to You as a gift, dearest God, Maker of Heaven and earth, because You created everything and You feed all Your creatures, including me, Moshe the little shepherd boy!”
“And you shall love the Lord your God with all your heart, soul and strength!”
