Beth Elohim Messianic Synagogue
Parashah #19: T’rumah (Contributions) Sh’mot (Exodus 25:1-27:19)
Haftarah: M’lakhim Alef (1 Kings) 5:26-6;13
B’rit Chadashah: Hebrews 8:1-6; 9:23-4; 10:1
In this week’s parashah G-d describes how the Tabernacle is to be built in great detail with the voluntary contributions of the people. Note that He does not ask for anything other than what is required for its construction. The materials are the very finest, appropriate for the place in which the King will communicate and dwell with His people. The highest quality of the materials represents G-d’s greatness and transcendence. Below is a brief description of the scriptural meaning of colors that may assist you in understanding the symbology used in the construction of the Mishkan. It is by no means exhaustive.
Red- blood and atonement (Leviticus 17:11; Hebrews)
Blue- Heaven (Exodus 24:10)
Turquoise- Yahshua (also translated as blue) (Exodus 25:4)
Purple- Royalty (Judges 8; 26; Mark 15:17-18)
Silver- Redemption (Numbers 18:15-16)
Gold- Divinity and G-d’s Glory (Exodus 37, 40)
Bronze-Brass- Judgment/testing (Exodus 27:1-3)
Also, the curtain surrounding the most holy place symbolizes G-d’s moral perfection symbolized by the separation for the clean from unclean. The portable nature of the Tabernacle shows us that G-d travels with His people wherever they may go. Finally, the Tabernacle and all its furnishings along with the services performed including the sacrifices symbolizes the atonement that Yahshua’s sacrifice would provide in the future.
In contrast, the sanctuaries built for the many gods worshipped by polytheistic societies were for the purpose of feeding their gods and otherwise appeasing them in order to get the desired outcome. The G-d of Israel needs nothing, and the Tabernacle was a place where the Israelites could relate to Him under His guidelines which were very specific. There was no “slaying in the spirit”, babbling of unknown tongues or other soulish behaviors in G-d’s Tabernacle as we see in many religious institutions today under the guise of being “filled with the spirit.” The problem is that no one seems to consider “which” spirit is filling their emotional, soulish desires.
There were three carefully designated areas of descending holiness and restricted access. First was the ‘Holy of Holies” where the Ark and the Tablets of the Covenant were kept. Its antechamber “the Holy Place” were inside the Tent of Meeting, the Tabernacle proper, and the surrounding courtyard. Access to these areas was also restricted.
In any case, only the ritually pure were allowed to enter their respective areas. These restrictions were to protect the purity and sanctity of G-d so that His unblemished presence could interact with the people.
The cover of the Ark was called the Atonement Cover where the presence of G-d would dwell in a cloud above the outstretched wings of the cherubim, both of which faced inward toward the presence. The Atonement Cover was where the most perfect and highest act of atonement would be made when the high priest would enter the Most Holy Place on the Day of Atonement to atone for the sins of all the people. The existence and location of the Atonement Cover perfectly symbolized our L-rd and savior Yahshua who was and is our intermediary between Himself and G-d as Father, and who was the Olah offering (completely burned and consecrated to G-d) for our sins.
When Yahshua fulfilled His role as the perfect sacrificial Lamb that would free those who choose to lovingly follow Him from the imputed sin as a result of Adam’s (mankind’s fall from grace), the special decorated curtain made of finely woven linen which separated the Holy Place from the Most Holy Place was torn in two (Mark 15:38). This symbolized the free access to G-d without the need to go through priests, saints, or sacrifices. I am often asked the question why the sacrificial system will be reinstituted during the millennial kingdom if Yahshua was the perfect, complete sacrifice for sin? The answer is that there will be people who have not accepted Yahshua as their Messiah during this time. Yahshua will rule with an iron hand and all the people will be required to bring sacrifices to the Temple with Yahshua as King Ezekiel 40-48. Those who unwillingly submit will eventually rebel and will eventually be destroyed with a sharp sword that proceeds from His mouth (Rev. 19:15-21).
Haftarah: M’lakhim Alef (1 Kings) 5:26-6:13
This week’s Haftarah theme is consistent with that of our parashah. Both readings describe the construction of places for G-d to dwell. I want to call your attention to the last part of the Haftarah which I believe is most important. G-d tells Solomon that “This house which you are building, IF you walk in my statutes, and execute my ordinances, AND keep all my commandments to walk in them’ THEN I will establish my word with you, which I spoke to David your father. And I will dwell among the children of Israel, and will not forsake my people, Israel.” It doesn’t matter how lavish the house; without G-d dwelling within it, it will never be a home.
B’rit Chadashah: Hebrews 8:1-6
This haftarah describes the fact that Yahshua is now our High Priest and there is no need for earthly priests to communicate with or relate to G-d. Furthermore, no one except YHVH/Yahshua can forgive sin. Yahshua is G-d who manifested himself in a tangible earthly form so that humans could relate to Him on a physical level. He spent his earthly ministry teaching us how we are to interact with Him and with our fellow man, the latter emphasized in James 2:8 when James reminded those who gave people preferential treatment because of their social or economic status were committing the sin against the “royal” command of G-d by not” loving your neighbor as yourself.” Yahshua’s sacrifice, his commands of which two are the greatest of all, encompassing all subsequent commands, laws, rulings, and statutes leave mankind no excuse for not hearing, internalizing, and acting upon His Word/Instructions/Torah. He showed us that it can be done! The two greatest commands are found in Matthew 22:36-40: “Teacher, which is the greatest commandment of the Law? Yahshua replied: ‘Love your G-d with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your mind/might.’ This is the first and greatest commandment. And the second is like it: ‘Love your neighbor as yourself.’ All the law and the Prophets hang on these two commandments.” This is why we need not become obsessed with trying to figure out which of the 613 commandments of the Old Testament or of the 1,059 commandments in the B’rit Chadashah (New” Testament) we are to follow. The context of them all, whether the ceremonial commands that we are unable to perform at this time, statutes and rulings which may not apply due to changes from Biblical societies to those of today, and all that remain valid, fall under the two greatest commands of loving G-d in every way and loving our neighbor as ourselves.
Shabbat Shalom,
Rabbi Tamah Davis-Hart