Blessing of Torah.
Hebrew:
Baruch atah YHVH eloheinu melech
ha-olam, asher kideshanu b'mitzvotav, v'tzivanu la'asok b'divrei Torah.
V'ha'arev na YHVH eloheinu et divrei toratecha befinu uvfi amecha beit Yisrael.
V'niyeh anachnu v'tze'etze'einu v'tze'etza'ei amecha beit Yisrael kullanu yodei
sh'mecha v'lomdei toratecha lishmah. Baruch atah YHVH hamelamed Torah le'amo
Yisrael. Baruch atah YHVH Eloheinu melech ha-olam, asher bachar banu mikol ha'amim
venatan lanu et torato. Baruch atah YHVH, notein haTorah.
English
translation: Blessed are You, YHVH
our Elohim, King of the universe, who has made us set apart through His
commandments and commanded us to actively study Torah. Please YHVH, our Elohim,
sweeten the words of Your Torah in our mouths and in the mouths of all Your
people Israel. May we and our offspring, and the offspring of Your people, the
House of Israel, may we all, together, know Your Name and study Your Torah for
the sake of fulfilling Your desire. Blessed are You, YHVH, Who teaches Torah to
His people Israel. Blessed are You, YHVH our Elohim, King of the universe, Who
chose us from all the nations and gave us the Torah. Blessed are You, YHVH,
Giver of the Torah.
This Torah portion reminds us of the protection
and safety we will have on earth through a Ruach- filled set apart priesthood
revealing the true essence of the revelation of Messiah.
It is clear that YHVH can only occupy
a space that is truly set apart according to His Torah. It is these clay vessels that He has chosen
to fill with Himself.
2Co 4:5 For
we do not proclaim ourselves, but Messiah יהושע the Master,
and ourselves your servants for the sake of יהושע.
2Co 4:6 For
Elohim, who said, “Let light shine out of darkness,” is the One who has shone
in our hearts for the enlightening of the knowledge of the esteem of Elohim in
the face of יהושע Messiah.
2Co
4:7 And we have this treasure in earthen
vessels, so that the excellence of the power might be of Elohim, and not of us.
This treasure in earthen vessels does not exist to draw
attention to itself but to reveal to us the true essence of the revelation of
Messiah. This truth will be one of the greatest challenges to believers who
operate in an independent spirit by not seeing the value of seeking and
submitting to YHVH’s appointed authority.
Lev 22:1 And יהוה spoke to Mosheh, saying,
Lev 22:2 “Speak to
Aharon and his sons, that they separate themselves from the set-apart offerings
of the children of Yisra’ĕl, and that they do not profane My set-apart Name in
what they set apart to Me. I am יהוה.
The Hebrew word for “separate” is “nazir” the dictionary
defines this word: “to put somebody in an isolated or lonely place away from
other people, the pressures of everyday life, or possible disturbances.” This
is applicable if the priest is unclean for some reason, but it may also apply
to the priest’s position in terms of being set apart to do YHVH’s service - to be sequestered eg Yochanan the immerser.
The implication is profound. The priests were not to get
in the way between YHVH and His people, when they brought offerings. In other
words the mediator or priest is meant to connect you to YHVH.
This is why the Levites had no inheritance amongst the
Yisraelites – YHVH was their inheritance.
Lev 22:3 “Say to
them, ‘Any man of all your offspring throughout your generations who draws near
the set-apart offerings which the children of Yisra’ĕl set apart to יהוה, while he has uncleanness upon him, that being shall be cut off from before Me. I
am יהוה.
Lev 22:4 ‘Any man
of the offspring of Aharon, who is a leper or has a discharge, does not eat the
set-apart offerings until he is clean. And whoever touches what is
rendered unclean by a corpse, or a man who has had an emission of semen,
Lev 22:5 or a man
who touches any creeping creature by which he would be made unclean, or any
being by whom he would become unclean, even any of his uncleanness;
Lev 22:6 the being
who has touched it shall be unclean until evening, and does not eat the
set-apart offerings, but shall bathe his body in water.
Lev 22:7 ‘And when
the sun goes down he shall be clean, and afterward eat the set-apart offerings,
because it is his food.
Lev 22:8 ‘He does
not eat that which dies or is torn by beasts, becoming unclean by it. I
am יהוה.
Lev 22:9 ‘And they
shall guard My Charge, lest they bear sin for it and die thereby, when they
profane it. I יהוה set them
apart.
Lev 22:10 ‘And no
stranger eats the set-apart offering. A sojourner with the priest, or a hired
servant, does not eat the set-apart offering.
Lev 22:11 ‘But
when the priest buys a being with his money, he does eat of it. And one who is born in his house does eat his food.
Lev 22:12 ‘And
when a priest’s daughter is married to a stranger, she does not eat of the
set-apart offerings.
Lev 22:13 ‘But
when a priest’s daughter is a widow or put away, and has no child, and has
returned to her father’s house as in her youth, she does eat her father’s food,
but no stranger eats of it.
Lev 22:14 ‘And
when a man eats the set-apart offering by mistake, then he shall give a
set-apart offering to the priest, and add one-fifth to it.
Lev 22:15 ‘And let
the priests not profane the set-apart offerings of the children of
Yisra’ĕl, which they lift up to יהוה,
Lev 22:16 or allow
them to bear the crookedness of trespass when they eat their set-apart
offerings. For I am יהוה, who sets them
apart.’ ”
Lev 22:17 And יהוה spoke to Mosheh, saying,
Lev 22:18 “Speak
to Aharon and his sons, and to all the children of Yisra’ĕl, and say to them,
‘Any man of the house of Yisra’ĕl, or of the strangers in Yisra’ĕl, who brings
his offering for any of his vows or for any of his voluntary offerings, which
they bring to יהוה as a burnt
offering,
Lev 22:19 for your
acceptance, is a male, a perfect one from the cattle, from the sheep, or from
the goats.
Lev 22:20
‘Whatever has a defect, you do not bring, for it is not acceptable for
you.
Lev 22:21 ‘And
when a man brings a peace offering to יהוה, to complete a
vow, or a voluntary offering from the cattle or the sheep, it is to be perfect
to be accepted, let there be no defect in it.
Lev 22:22 ‘Those
blind or broken or having a cut, or have an ulcer or eczema or scabs, you do
not bring to יהוה, nor make an
offering by fire of them on the altar to יהוה.
Lev 22:23 ‘As for
a bull or a lamb that has any limb deformed or dwarfed you do prepare as a
voluntary offering, but for a vow it is not accepted.
Lev 22:24 ‘Do not
bring to יהוה what is bruised or crushed, or torn or
cut, nor do it in your land.
Lev 22:25 ‘And
from a son of a stranger’s hand you do not bring any of these as the bread of
your Elohim, for their corruption is in them, and defects are in them, they are
not acceptable for you.’ ”
Lev 22:26 And יהוה spoke to Mosheh, saying,
Lev 22:27 “When a
bull or a sheep or a goat is born, it shall be seven days with its mother. And
from the eighth day and thereafter it is acceptable as an offering made by fire
to יהוה.
Lev 22:28 “But do
not slaughter a cow or a sheep and its young on the same day.
Lev 22:29 “And
when you bring a slaughtering of thanksgiving to יהוה, bring it for
your acceptance.
Lev 22:30 “It is
eaten that same day, leave none of it till morning. I am יהוה.
Lev 22:31 “And you
shall guard My commands and do them. I am יהוה.
Lev 22:32 “And do
not profane My set-apart Name, and I shall be set-apart among the children of
Yisra’ĕl. I am יהוה, who sets you
apart,
Lev 22:33 who
brought you out of the land of Mitsrayim, to be your Elohim. I am יהוה.”
In the light of a priesthood operating without blemish,
we have the stage set for some very important instructions.
Vayikra 23 is that well-known and wonderful chapter about the “Appointments”
(Moadim) of YHVH with His people Yisrael. Apart from the fact that on the one side these Moadim/Appointments (also called Chaggim/Feasts) are portraying YHVH's Seven-thousand year plan of salvation so beautifully, these Appointments have also been
likened to a Bridegroom and His Bride.
We start off with the Sabbath (Shabbat – The Sabbath is compared with a sign (“oht”) that we are betrothed to
YHVH.
Lev 23:1 And יהוה spoke to
Mosheh, saying,
Lev 23:2 “Speak to
the children of Yisra’ĕl, and say to them, ‘The appointed times of יהוה, which you are to proclaim as set-apart gatherings, My appointed
times, are these:
Lev 23:3 ‘Six days
work is done, but the seventh day is a Sabbath of rest, a set-apart gathering.
You do no work, it is a Sabbath to יהוה in all your
dwellings.
Exo 31:13 “And you, speak to the children of Yisra’ĕl,
saying, ‘My Sabbaths you are to guard, by all means, for it is a sign1
between Me and you throughout your generations, to know that I, יהוה, am setting
you apart. Footnote: 1The only sign of יהוה setting us
apart, the only sign of the everlasting covenant, is His Sabbaths, one of them
being the seventh day Sabbath. This is repeated in Ezek. 20:12 & 20.
According to Hebraic tradition, marriage is a two-step process. The first stage is called "kiddushin," and the second step is known as "nisu'in." Kiddushin is commonly translated as betrothal, but actually renders the bride and groom full-fledged husband and wife.
Kiddushin:
According to ancient Hebraic tradition, there are three ways to betroth a woman:1 a) A money transaction. The man gives to the woman money or any object of value. b) A document. The man gives the woman a marriage document which states his intention to marry her (ketubah) c) Sexual intercourse with the intention that it consummates the marriage.
The rabbis forbade betrothing though intercourse, making it a punishable offense.
In order for the betrothal to take effect, the transaction must be witnessed by two kosher witnesses. If the betrothal is effected through sexual intercourse, it is sufficient for the witnesses to see the couple entering a private room with their stated intention of being intimate.
Nisu'in:
The nisu'in is accomplished through "chupah" -- the husband uniting with the wife under one roof for the sake of marriage.
In ancient times, the two stages of marriage were done on separate occasions, often separated by a full year which the groom would devote to Torah study. Both the kiddushin and the nisu'in were accompanied by celebratory feasts. By the twelfth century this practice had ended, and it became customary to do both kiddushin and nisu'in, successively, beneath the chupah. One of the reasons given for this change of custom is the poverty which prevailed in the Jewish communities. People simply couldn't afford the expense of the two celebrations.
If matrimony started with nisu'in, the physical relationship could permanently overshadow the spiritual connection, resulting in a marriage whose priorities and ideals are skewed.
All we experience in this earthly realm is merely a reflection of a higher spiritual super-reality. Marriage between man and woman follows the model of a heavenly marriage -- that between Yahshua, the groom, and Israel, His beloved bride. This wedding, too, consists of two stages:
Kiddushin:
YHVH descended on Mount Sinai and gave us the Torah and its commandments. He took His most precious and treasured possession, the Torah, and used it as a wedding band on His wedding day. From that moment onwards, we are His and He is ours. Nothing can ever change that fact. The union, however, had not yet been consummated. For that we need the... Messiah.
Nisu'in:
The Hebrew (Yisraelite) who embraces Torah and fulfills the commandments is uniting with Messiah, creating the most perfect unity possible.
On a deeper level, the entire period which started with the giving of the Torah is one long betrothal. We are committed to YHVH, and He to us, but this marriage has never expressed itself in full esteem. The Messianic Era will usher in the age of nisu'in, when our relationship will be tangible, fully enjoyed, and revealed for all to see. (Adapted from Chabad)
Yahshua gives us valuable insight into this practice when he says:
Joh 14:1 “Let not your heart be troubled. Believe in
Elohim, believe also in Me.
Joh 14:2 “In My Father’s house are many staying
places. And if not, I would have told you. I go to prepare a place for you.
Joh 14:3 “And if I go and prepare a place for you, I
shall come again and receive you to Myself, that where I am, you might be too.
Joh 14:4 “And where I go you
know, and the way you know.”
Joh 14:21 “He who possesses My commands (Torah) and
guards them, it is he who loves Me. And he who loves Me shall be loved by My
Father, and I shall love him and manifest Myself to him.”
Passover
– Pesach – Redeeming the bride.
The first issue of marriage in the ancient world was the
redeeming of the bride – paying the bride price to the bride’s father as the
first step in the betrothal process. This also meant that a selection – a
choosing – had taken place. The groom-to-be along with his father, had cast
their eye upon a maiden as the fairest prospect for a bride.
But the bride would not come without a price. Paying such
a bride-price speaks to the issue of redemption, the heart and soul of the
Pesach festival. There, at Passover, the payment required to redeem Yisrael
from Mitsrayim’s/Egypt’s servitude is dramatically displayed every year. The
slaying of the lamb, the blood on the doorposts, and the slaughter of Egypt’s
first born sons all vividly remind us that the feedom we enjoy was purchased at
great cost. But such a price was paid, and Yisrael was redeemed to become the
bride of Yahshua.
1Co 6:20 For you were bought with a price, therefore
esteem Elohim in your body and in your spirit,1 which are of Elohim.
Footnote: 1See 7:23, 1 Peter 1:18-19.
1Pe 1:18 knowing that you were redeemed from your
futile way of life inherited from your fathers, not with what is corruptible,
silver or gold,
1Pe 1:19 but with the precious blood of Messiah, as of
a lamb unblemished and spotless,
1Pe 1:20 foreknown, indeed, before the foundation of
the world, but manifested in these last times for your sakes…..
Lev 23:4 ‘These are the appointed times of יהוה, set-apart gatherings which you are to
proclaim at their appointed times.
Lev 23:5 ‘In the
first month, on the fourteenth day of the month, between the evenings, is the
Passover to יהוה.
Lev 23:6 ‘And on
the fifteenth day of this month is the Festival of Unleavened Bread to יהוה – seven days you eat unleavened bread.
Lev 23:7 ‘On the
first day you have a set-apart gathering,
you do no servile work.
Lev 23:8 ‘And you
shall bring an offering made by fire to יהוה for seven
days. On the seventh day is a set-apart
gathering, you do no servile work.’ ”
Perhaps the writer to the Hebrews was referring to
commanded gatherings of this chapter.
Heb 10:25 not forsaking the assembling of ourselves
together, as is the habit of some, but encouraging, and so much more as you see
the Day coming near.
Lev 23:9 And יהוה spoke to
Mosheh, saying,
Lev 23:10 “Speak
to the children of Yisra’ĕl, and you shall say to them, ‘When you come into the
land which I give you, and shall reap its harvest, then you shall bring a sheaf
of the first-fruits of your harvest to the priest. (Omer Reshiet)
Lev 23:11 ‘And he
shall wave the sheaf before יהוה, for your
acceptance. On the morrow after the Sabbath the priest waves it.
Lev 23:12 ‘And on
that day when you wave the sheaf, you shall prepare a male lamb a year old, a
perfect one, as a burnt offering to יהוה,
Lev 23:13 and its
grain offering: two-tenths of an ĕphah of fine flour mixed with oil, an
offering made by fire to יהוה, a sweet
fragrance, and its drink offering: one-fourth of a hin of wine.
Lev 23:14 ‘And you
do not eat bread or roasted grain or fresh grain until the same day that you
have brought an offering to your Elohim – a
law forever throughout your generations in all your dwellings.
Lev 23:15 ‘And
from the morrow after the Sabbath, from the day that you brought the sheaf of
the wave offering, you shall count for yourselves: seven completed Sabbaths.
Lev 23:16 ‘Until
the morrow after the seventh Sabbath you count fifty days, then you shall bring
a new grain offering to יהוה. – (Shavuot)
Lev 23:17 ‘Bring
from your dwellings for a wave offering two loaves of bread, of
two-tenths of an ĕphah of fine flour they are, baked with leaven, first-fruits
to יהוה.
Lev 23:18 ‘And
besides the bread, you shall bring seven lambs a year old, perfect ones, and
one young bull and two rams. They are a burnt offering to יהוה, with their grain offering and their drink
offerings, an offering made by fire for a sweet fragrance to יהוה.
Lev 23:19 ‘And you
shall offer one male goat as a sin offering, and two male lambs a year old, as
a peace offering.
Lev 23:20 ‘And the
priest shall wave them, besides the bread of the first-fruits, as a wave
offering before יהוה, besides the
two lambs. They are set-apart to יהוה for the
priest.
Lev 23:21 ‘And on
this same day you shall proclaim a set-apart gathering for yourselves, you do
no servile work on it – a law forever in
all your dwellings throughout your generations.
Lev 23:22 ‘And
when you reap the harvest of your land do not completely reap the corners of
your field when you reap, and do not gather any gleaning from your harvest.
Leave them for the poor and for the stranger. I am יהוה your Elohim.’ ”
Shavuot: The Ketubbah.
“Shavuot, or what is
commonly known as the feast of Pentecost, is directly connected to Pesach, by
the counting of the Omer. This means that the bride-price symbolized by Pesach
is directly tied to the events of Shavuot. While the festival itself has a
great many other symbolisms, the fact that by all reckonings, the first Shavuot
occurred while Yisrael was standing at Sinai, is significant. The Torah, given
on Sinai, comes to Yisrael as a contract, and in our picture, as the Ketubbah
or the marriage contract. Written to assure the maintenance of the Bride, the
ketubbah outlines what is expected of each party, and the commitment the bride
and groom make to each other.
The giving of the
Torah, then maybe viewed within the context of the love relationship between
YHVH and Yisrael. Redeemed as His future bride, the Torah comes to her as the
treasured token of her Groom’s fidelity and promise to maintain her. It also
requires her faithfulness but promises enduring blessings and security within
the marriage bond.
Interestingly the
Ruach was poured out on Shavuot (Acts 2) in anticipation of the harvest of the
nations to worship Yisrael’s Elohim. Yet the Ruach is also as a pledge of
intention to enter into a marriage covenant.”
This union between Messiah and his bride will bring enormous blessing
fruitfulness on all nations and peoples.
2Co 5:4 For indeed, we who are in this tent groan,
being burdened, not because we wish to put it off, but to put on the other,
so that what is to die might be swallowed up by life.
2Co 5:5 Now He who has prepared us for this same
purpose is Elohim, who has given us the
Spirit as a pledge of what is to come.
“Pledge” or “arrabon”
in Greek. In
the first century – an arrabon – αρραβων – bound someone legally to the
complete purchase… If we went to Greece today and met an engaged lady and asked
to see her “arrabon”, she would put out her hand with an engagement ring on
it.
The
evidence that we have received the “arrabon” is our desire to walk in the
fullness of Torah.
Rom 8:4 so that the righteousness of the Torah should
be completed in us who do not walk according to the flesh but according to the
Spirit.