This weeks reading is from Parashat Naso (Bamidbar / Numbers 4:21-7:89), the Lord speaks to Moshe telling him to number the sons of Gershon and the fathers of their household by their families. Moshe obeys the Lord and numbers the Gershonites (הַגֵּרְשֻׁנִּי) and details the duties of the sons of Levi in their work to carry the Mishkhan (Tabernacle) in its construction and deconstruction (4:21-49). The Lord then tells Moshe to command the people to send away the person who is unclean, the one with Tzaraat (Leper) and every person having a discharge of the skin (5:1-4) this refers to everyone who is unclean so the camp is not defiled. The Lord commands when a person sins he is to make restitution by confessing their sin and then adding one-fifth to the wrong and giving it to the person that he has wronged. In Bamidbar / Numbers 5:6-8 it says that if a man sins against another man, the man has also sinned against God (מִכָּל-חַטֹּאת הָאָדָם לִמְעֹל מַעַל בַּיהוָֹה וְאָשְׁמָה הַנֶּפֶשׁ הַהִוא:).

כתבי הקודש / The Holy Scriptures

ספר במדבר פרק ה
ו דַּבֵּר אֶל-בְּנֵי יִשְֹרָאֵל אִישׁ אוֹ-אִשָּׁה כִּי יַעֲשֹוּ מִכָּל-חַטֹּאת הָאָדָם לִמְעֹל מַעַל בַּיהוָֹה וְאָשְׁמָה הַנֶּפֶשׁ הַהִוא: ז וְהִתְוַדּוּ אֶת-חַטָּאתָם אֲשֶׁר עָשֹוּ וְהֵשִׁיב אֶת-אֲשָׁמוֹ בְּרֹאשׁוֹ וַחֲמִישִׁתוֹ יֹסֵף עָלָיו וְנָתַן לַאֲשֶׁר אָשַׁם לוֹ: ח וְאִם-אֵין לָאִישׁ גֹּאֵל לְהָשִׁיב הָאָשָׁם אֵלָיו הָאָשָׁם הַמּוּשָׁב לַיהוָֹה לַכֹּהֵן מִלְּבַד אֵיל הַכִּפֻּרִים אֲשֶׁר יְכַפֶּר-בּוֹ עָלָיו:

Bamidbar / Numbers 1:1-3
5:6 ‘Speak to the sons of Israel, ‘When a man or woman commits any of the sins of mankind, acting unfaithfully against the Lord, and that person is guilty, 5:7 then he shall confess his sins which he has committed, and he shall make restitution in full for his wrong and add to it one-fifth of it, and give it to him whom he has wronged. 5:8 ‘But if the man has no relative to whom restitution may be made for the wrong, the restitution which is made for the wrong must go to the Lord for the priest, besides the ram of atonement, by which atonement is made for him. (NASB)

The reading from this weeks Torah portion reveals to us what God requires of us; one must turn from sin and confess his or her sin before the Lord. These verses speak of repentance, specifically that a person is to “repent from his sin” וְהֵשִׁיב אֶת-אֲשָׁמוֹ where the word וְהֵשִׁיב “Heshiv” means “to turn” indicating that repentance requires us to physically (taking action) turn from sin and not simply show remorse in the heart. Repentance begins in our hearts and goes from our head to our toes. If repentance remains in the heart and does not reach our feet then we will not turn from our evil ways which is the very nature of the word repentance (הֵשִׁיב) to turn from the paths of unrighteousness to the path of righteousness that God wants for us. In the Psalms 32, David says 32:3 When I kept silent about my sin, my body wasted away Through my groaning all day long. 32:4 For day and night Your hand was heavy upon me; My vitality was drained away as with the fever heat of summer. Selah. 32:5 I acknowledged my sin to You, And my iniquity I did not hide; I said, ‘I will confess my transgressions to the Lord’; And You forgave the guilt of my sin. Selah. 32:6 Therefore, let everyone who is godly pray to You in a time when You may be found; Surely in a flood of great waters they will not reach him. (NASB) David said that “when I kept silent about my sin my body wasted away.” Have you ever sinned and not made it right with the Lord and as a result has your body ever “groaned all day long” because of it? According to David, the hand of the Lord was tichbad (תִּכְבַּד) heavy upon him day and night (32:4). These verses suggest that the Lord was working in David leading him to repent from his sin. He says “I acknowledged my sin to You, And my iniquity I did not hide; I said, ‘I will confess my transgressions (פְשָׁעַי) to the Lord’; And You forgave the guilt of my sin. Selah.” (32:5) even the smallest sin needs to be confessed before the Lord. The Scriptures from the Torah in sefer Bamidbar / Numbers 5:7 tell us that repentance (וְהֵשִׁיב) and confession work together. This is very similar to what the Apostle John said in 1 John 1:9 ἐὰν ὁμολογῶμεν τὰς ἁμαρτίας ἡμῶν, πιστός ἐστιν καὶ δίκαιος ἵνα ἀφῇ ἡμῖν τὰς ἁμαρτίας καὶ καθαρίσῃ ἡμᾶς ἀπὸ πάσης ἀδικίας. 1:9 “If we confess our sins, He is faithful and righteous to forgive us our sins and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness.” (NASB) In the book of Samuel, Eli heard all of the wickedness that his sons committed before the Lord. On hearing this he said 1 Samuel 2:25 “If one man sins against another, God will mediate for him; but if a man sins against the LORD, who can intercede for him?” (NASB) The Scriptures say in Luke 19:10 For the Son of Man came to seek and to save the lost.” (ESV) Today we do have one who will speak and intercede as an advocate before our Father in Heaven (1 John 2:1). Yeshua said John 6:40 For this is the will of my Father, that everyone who looks on the Son and believes in him should have eternal life, and I will raise him up on the last day.” (ESV) This is the Lords will, to save those who are lost. We have been given the promise that if we confess our sins, he is faithful and just to forgive us our sins, and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness. Our Lord never fails. Trust in our great Saviour Yeshua the Messiah!  BTT_Parashat Naso-2013

This weeks reading is from Parashat Bamidbar (Bamidbar / Numbers 1:1-4:20), the Lord God speaks to Moshe in the Tent of Meeting (Ohel Moed, בְּאֹהֶל מוֹעֵד) saying  ב  שְֹאוּ אֶת-רֹאשׁ כָּל-עֲדַת בְּנֵי-יִשְֹרָאֵל לְמִשְׁפְּחֹתָם לְבֵית אֲבֹתָם בְּמִסְפַּר שֵׁמוֹת כָּל-זָכָר לְגֻלְגְּלֹתָם:  1:2 ‘Take a census of all the congregation of the sons of Israel, by their families, by their fathers’ households, according to the number of names, every male, head by head. (NASB)  The men who are to be numbered are those who are able to go to war, twenty years and older, the number of men from each tribe is given in Bamidbar / Numbers 1:4-46.  The Levites however were not numbered because they are given to the service of the Lord in the Tabernacle (1:47-50).  The scriptures state that the Levites are to camp around the Tabernacle so God’s wrath does not fall upon the congregation of Israel (1:53).  The Scriptures list who will camp on the north, east, south, and west sides of the Tabernacle (2:1-34).  The generations of Aaron are given (3:1-4), then the Lord commands that the Levites be brought before Aaron and declares 3:13‘For all the firstborn are Mine; on the day that I struck down all the firstborn in the land of Egypt, I sanctified to Myself all the firstborn in Israel, from man to beast. They shall be Mine; I am the Lord.’(NASB)  Moshe then numbered Aaron’s sons according to the command of the Lord (3:14) and the number of the first born are listed (3:15-50).  This week’s reading ends with the mitzvot (commandments) on what to do when the Tabernacle moves from one place to another, how the Levites are to prepare the Tabernacle for traveling (4:4-20).

כתבי הקודש / The Holy Scriptures

ספר במדבר פרק א
א   וַיְדַבֵּר יְהוָֹה אֶל-מֹשֶׁה בְּמִדְבַּר סִינַי בְּאֹהֶל מוֹעֵד בְּאֶחָד לַחֹדֶשׁ הַשֵּׁנִי בַּשָּׁנָה הַשֵּׁנִית לְצֵאתָם מֵאֶרֶץ מִצְרַיִם לֵאמֹר: ב   שְֹאוּ אֶת-רֹאשׁ כָּל-עֲדַת בְּנֵי-יִשְֹרָאֵל לְמִשְׁפְּחֹתָם לְבֵית אֲבֹתָם בְּמִסְפַּר שֵׁמוֹת כָּל-זָכָר לְגֻלְגְּלֹתָם: ג   מִבֶּן עֶשְֹרִים שָׁנָה וָמַעְלָה כָּל-יֹצֵא צָבָא בְּיִשְֹרָאֵל תִּפְקְדוּ אֹתָם לְצִבְאֹתָם אַתָּה וְאַהֲרֹן:

Bamidbar / Numbers 1:1-3
1:1 Then the Lord spoke to Moses in the wilderness of Sinai, in the tent of meeting, on the first of the second month, in the second year after they had come out of the land of Egypt, saying, 1:2 ‘Take a census of all the congregation of the sons of Israel, by their families, by their fathers’ households, according to the number of names, every male, head by head 1:3 from twenty years old and upward, whoever is able to go out to war in Israel, you and Aaron shall number them by their armies. (NASB)

In the reading for this week from Bamidbar / Numbers 1:1-3, God speaks to Moshe telling him to number the people.  Studying the Scriptures it is interesting to note that, on occasion, when a king takes a census it is considered a sin to do so before the Lord.  Have you ever asked the question concerning the census that is recorded in the books of 1 Chronicles 21:1-4 and 2 Samuel 24; why did David number Israel?  Why was it was a sin that king David numbered Israel?  Many people look upon this episode as an esoteric commentary not immediately knowing or understanding why God would deal so harshly with King David for simply numbering the people of Israel?  Counting the people may be done for various reasons, both good and bad.  For example, a country might count its people for a census to see how many new roads need to be built.  Numbering the people for this reason would not result in sin by doing so. On the other hand, if a country counted the people to determine how many man are able to draw the sword (as David did) in order to determine whether to invade another country, to attack an enemy, or to glory being great in power, then this is sinful.  King David counted for the purpose of satisfying his pride, which was provoked by Satan.  Based on the biblical text, the conclusion we are able to make regarding David taking a census of the people, he did his census taking out of human ego and pride.  He wanted to know how powerful Israel’s army was.  This is confirmed by God declaring plainly that the number of the men that he counted were “those that drew the sword” (2 Samuel 24:9-10). The offense to the Lord God Almighty concerning Israel was that David had begun to trust in man rather than the Lord.  What was the reason for God asking Moshe to number the people in Bamidbar / Numbers chapter 1?  It was not for the purpose of knowing the power of Israel’s army.  In fact, Israel was going to spend another 40 years wandering the desert.  So why number the people here?  The reason was to provide an account of the number of able bodied men who were delivered up out of Egypt.  In addition to this, we do not read that Moshe taking a ransom for the people following the census (Shemot / Exodus 30:11-12).  This is most likely because God motivated Moshe’s actions by giving the mitzvah to do so.  What is the lesson for us this week?  Will we trust in the Lord for all of our needs or will we behave like David, to take account of all that we have and take pride in our wealth believing the work of our hands was something of our own making and not God’s blessing?  This is related to our walking humbly before the Lord and with repentant hearts.  As we live each day, we should be quick to seek God’s mercy and to seek His Son Yeshua to take away our iniquity.  Matthew 6:33 But seek first His kingdom and His righteousness, and all these things will be added to you. (NASB)  BTT_Parashat Bamidbar-2013

This weeks reading is a double portion from Parshiot Behar and Bechukotai (Vayikra / Leviticus 25:1-27:34).  In the reading from Parashat Behar (“on the mountain”) we find the mitzvah to observe the year of Jubilee.  During this year, the land is to be fallow,  (25:1-12), all property is to revert back to its original owner (25:13-28), all slaves are to be set free (25:39-54), and all debts are to be released.  Parashat Bechukotai begins with God stating to observe His Mitzvot (Commandments) so that the rains will come and the land will produce its fruit in its seasons (26:3-5).  Walking in God’s ways will bring peace to the land, remove harmful beasts, and no sword will pass through the land (26:6).  The scriptures say that when we obey God’s Mitzvot our enemies will run and fall before us (26:7-8) and God will make His dwelling among us (26:11).  The Scriptures go on to say that if the people fail to keep His commandments and reject His statutes (26:14-15) He will appoint a sudden terror, a consumption, and a fever over them, and the sowing of seed will be useless because your enemies will eat it up (26:16), the people will fall before their enemies and the people will flea even when no one is pursuing them (26:17).  Continuing in sin results in the increase in punishment (26:21-29), the Lord will lay waste to the cities (26:31), and scatter the people among the nations (26:33).  While studying the Scriptures we read that when one obeys God and His mitzvot the Lord will make his dwelling among His people and walk among them saying “and I will be their God and they will be my people.”  

כתבי הקודש / The Holy Scriptures  

ספר ויקרא פרק כו
מא   אַף-אֲנִי אֵלֵךְ עִמָּם בְּקֶרִי וְהֵבֵאתִי אֹתָם בְּאֶרֶץ אֹיְבֵיהֶם אוֹ-אָז יִכָּנַע לְבָבָם הֶעָרֵל וְאָז יִרְצוּ אֶת-עֲוֹנָם: מב   וְזָכַרְתִּי אֶת-בְּרִיתִי יַעֲקוֹב וְאַף אֶת-בְּרִיתִי יִצְחָק וְאַף אֶת-בְּרִיתִי אַבְרָהָם אֶזְכֹּר וְהָאָרֶץ אֶזְכֹּר:

Vayikra / Leviticus 26:41-42
26:41 I also was acting with hostility against them, to bring them into the land of their enemies or if their uncircumcised heart becomes humbled so that they then make amends for their iniquity, 26:42 then I will remember My covenant with Jacob, and I will remember also My covenant with Isaac, and My covenant with Abraham as well, and I will remember the land. (NASB)

Studying these Scriptures we read the consequences of living in sin before the Lord Almighty, obeying God results in rain coming in its season, and our land being free from wild beasts and our enemies.  On the other hand, disobeying God’s word will cause prosperity to stop and our enemies to attack.  The Lord God says that if the people, who were brought into the land of their enemies would humble their “uncircumcised heart” and repent the Lord would remember His covenant with Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob.  In the Torah we read in various places God speaking of the circumcision of the heart.  What does it mean to have a circumcised heart?  Circumcision was a part of the covenant that God made with Abraham.  Circumcision required that loose skin be removed from the male body which was done when a boy is 8 days old in a ritual known as a “brit milah.”  According to the passage here, God speaks of the circumcision of the heart and not of the body.  What the Lord is saying here is that it isn’t enough to just change one part of your body, you must also change your heart on the inside too.  During circumcision, generally speaking, one cuts off the loose foreskin and pulls the skin back and then puts everything together into a new shape.  This is the imagery that is described is needed for our hearts.  We must allow the Spirit to cut off the loose areas of our hearts. In a boy’s circumcision the part that is cut off is discarded.  Upon coming to the Lord, there are parts of our hearts that must be cut off and discarded, such as hate, violent-tendency, lust, greed, pride, malice, discontent, prejudice and much more.  All of these things must be circumcised and cast away.  Similar to male circumcision our new circumcised hearts must take on a new shape upon discarding the old.  In Yeshua the Messiah, our hearts are shaped to love God and others.  When the Messiah walked this earth, a rich man asked him what is the greatest commandment.  Yeshua responded saying that one must love the Lord God with all his heart, mind, and strength, and to love his neighbor as himself.  It is by the power and indwelling of the Holy Spirit that God enables us to do just that.  In 2 Thessalonians 1:5-9 Paul speaks of the Lord’s return saying “1:5 This is a plain indication of God’s righteous judgment so that you will be considered worthy of the kingdom of God, for which indeed you are suffering. 1:6 For after all it is only just for God to repay with affliction those who afflict you, 1:7 and to give relief to you who are afflicted and to us as well when the Lord Jesus will be revealed from heaven with His mighty angels in flaming fire, 1:8 dealing out retribution to those who do not know God and to those who do not obey the gospel of our Lord Jesus. 1:9 These will pay the penalty of eternal destruction, away from the presence of the Lord and from the glory of His power. ”  (NASB)   Here Paul says the Lord is returning to deal out retribution who do not know God and who do not obey the gospel of our Lord Jesus.  What does it mean to “obey the gospel of our Lord Jesus?”  According to the Hebrew text in Devarim / Deuteronomy 28:1, listening, harkening (שמע תשמע) is synonymous to obeying and doing the command of God.  How does one obey the gospel of our Lord Yeshua?  How does one live with a circumcised heart before God?  BTT_Parashat Behar-Bechukotai-2013

This week reading is from Parashat Emor (Vayikra / Leviticus 21:1-24:23); the Lord tells Moshe to speak to the Priests about the sons of Aaron to be careful not to defile themselves by touching a dead person among his people.  Scripture also says 21:5 ‘They shall not make any baldness on their heads, nor shave off the edges of their beards, nor make any cuts in their flesh.  21:6 ‘They shall be holy to their God and not profane the name of their God, for they present the offerings by fire to the Lord, the food of their God; so they shall be holy. (NASB)  Shaving baldness on one’s head, rounding the edges of one’s beards, or making cuts in one’s flesh make one unclean (impure) before God like one becoming unclean by reason of touching the dead.  The Lord also says the Priests are not to take a woman who has profaned herself as a prostitute and not to take a woman who is divorced from her husband (21:7).  The daughter that profanes herself by prostitution, she profanes her father by doing so (21:9).  The priest that is anointed with oil shall not tear his cloths, uncover his head, or defile himself by a dead person, not even his nearest relative (21:11), the priest is not to leave the sanctuary or profane the sanctuary in any way (21:12).  The Priest that approaches any of the holy things in his uncleanness will be cut off from before the Lord (22:3).  In addition to this, the Scriptures  (Vayikra / Leviticus 22:10-15) describe who may and may not eat of the holy gifts.  We are also told that the animals brought for an offering before the Lord are to be perfect and without defect (22:18-25).  In addition to this, the Lord says to keep His commandments so that one does not profane the name of the Lord (22:31-32).

כתבי הקודש / The Holy Scriptures

ספר ויקרא פרק כג
כז   אַךְ בֶּעָשֹוֹר לַחֹדֶשׁ הַשְּׁבִיעִי הַזֶּה יוֹם הַכִּפֻּרִים הוּא מִקְרָא-קֹדֶשׁ יִהְיֶה לָכֶם וְעִנִּיתֶם אֶת-נַפְשֹׁתֵיכֶם וְהִקְרַבְתֶּם אִשֶּׁה לַיהוָֹה: כח   וְכָל-מְלָאכָה לֹא תַעֲשֹוּ בְּעֶצֶם הַיּוֹם הַזֶּה כִּי יוֹם כִּפֻּרִים הוּא לְכַפֵּר עֲלֵיכֶם לִפְנֵי יְהוָֹה אֱלֹהֵיכֶם: כט   כִּי כָל-הַנֶּפֶשׁ אֲשֶׁר לֹא-תְעֻנֶּה בְּעֶצֶם הַיּוֹם הַזֶּה וְנִכְרְתָה מֵעַמֶּיהָ:

Vayikra / Leviticus 23:27-29
23:27 ‘On exactly the tenth day of this seventh month is the day of atonement; it shall be a holy convocation for you, and you shall humble your souls and present an offering by fire to the Lord.  23:28 ‘You shall not do any work on this same day, for it is a day of atonement, to make atonement on your behalf before the Lord your God.  23:29 ‘If there is any person who will not humble himself on this same day, he shall be cut off from his people. (NASB)

In this week’s reading from the Torah (Parashat Emor) the Lord is very concerned with purity.  The priests and the people are not be able to come before the Lord if having come in contact with the dead.  The priest and the people are not to shave their heads, beards, or tattoo their bodies, because their bodies are holy.  The Scriptures say the person one marries has an effect upon ones relationship with God.  Within the context on the issue of purity and relationship with the Lord Vayikra / Leviticus 23:27-29, the commandment concerning the Day of atonement is given, which is on the tenth day of the seventh month of the year.  The Scriptures say we are to guard ourselves on that day in such a way as to “humble our souls” and to present an offering by fire to the Lord.  The day of atonement is a day when one comes face to face with God.  Today in Christ we see the whole picture of God’s plan for redemption, that in His Son Yeshua atonement has been made.  Reading through these Scriptures, do they apply in any way to our lives today, the way we live, what we think, and walking humbly before our God?  These verses describe an important aspect of the Almighty and His Holiness.  According to the Scriptures the person who does not humble himself before the Lord will be cut off.  In 1 Chronicles 7:14 we read 7:14 and My people who are called by My name would humble themselves and pray and seek My face and turn from their wicked ways, then I will hear from heaven, will forgive their sin and will heal their land. (NASB)  All of these commandments on purity is related to being humble and submitting to God’s word.  When we come before the Lord in prayer, we are also to do so with a humble heart.  When we are saved by faith in Yeshua, we humbly repent confessing our sins before the Host High God in the Name of His Son Yeshua.  Following being saved, we are to humbly submit our lives to the Lord according to His word (the Scriptures).  Yeshua told the religious leaders of His day, “You have neither heard His voice at any time nor seen His form” (John 5:37) today we have His Word and we know the only begotten Son of God has revealed Him (Our Father in Heaven).  Yeshua says, “He who has seen Me has seen the Father” (John 14:9).  Yeshua saves us, he reveals to us the Father, and he puts us in right standing before the Lord!  A true appreciation of the greatness of God excludes religious arrogance because the Lord is the one working in our lives.  On the other hand our walk before God and others is to be done in humility, just like the Priest involved in the Temple service is to walk in purity.   Today, because of Yeshua, our bodies are the Temple of the Holy Spirit, so, how should we be walking before the Lord with regard to purity, holiness, and justice? BTT_Parashat Emor-2013

This week is a double portion from Parshiot Acharei Mot and Kedoshim (Vayikra / Leviticus 16:1-20:27).  This week’s question is “Shomer Mitzvah Shomer Nafsho?” (שֹׁמֵר מִצְוָה שֹׁמֵר נַפְשׁוֹ) for us today?  Let’s study a portion of the Scriptures from Vayikra / Leviticus 18-20.

The Lord instructs Israel to not do what is done in the Land of Egypt nor do what is done in the land of Canaan (18:1-5).  The commands against incest are given (18:6-20), homosexuality is an abomination (18:22), intercourse with an animal is prohibited (18:23), these are the things the nations do and are the reason they are being cast out from the land (18:24).  It is written in 18:30 that we are also not to keep any of the abominable customs of the nations.  We are to honor our father and mother and not turn to idols or molten gods (19:1-4).  We are told not to steal, not to swear falsely, not to slander others, and not to hate your neighbor or brother (19:11-17).  We are told that three years are to be given for freshly planted fruit trees before harvesting (19:23-24).  We are commanded not to practice divination or soothsaying (19:26).  Do not cut your body for the dead or make tattoos or marks on yourself for “I am the Lord” (19:28).  Do not turn to mediums or spiritists, doing so will cause one to become defiled by them (19:31).  You are to keep the Shabbat (19:30), do not do wrong to the stranger in the land (19:33-34), and keep correct weights and measures (19:35-37).  The Lord God states that any person who gives his son or daughter as a sacrifice to Molach is to be put to death (20:1-4).  The Lord says to the person who turns to mediums and to spiritists that He will turn His face against that person and cut him/her off from among his people (20:6).  We are told to consecrate ourselves and be holy for our God is holy (20:7).  The Scriptures state that God sanctifies us in His Word (Tehilim / Psalm 86.1-5).  It is written that anyone who curses his mother or father is to be put to death (20:9), if one commits adultery with another man’s wife he is to be put to death (20:8), if a man lays with his father’s wife, daughter in law, or commits incest, he is to be put to death (20:9-12), if a man lays with another man (homosexuality) they are to be put to death and their blood is upon them (20:12).  If a man lays with an animal he is to be put to death (20:15) and the same for a woman who approaches any animal (20:16).

The reading this week concludes saying 20:25 ‘You are therefore to make a distinction between the clean animal and the unclean, and between the unclean bird and the clean; and you shall not make yourselves detestable by animal or by bird or by anything that creeps on the ground, which I have separated for you as unclean.  20:26 ‘Thus you are to be holy to Me, for I the Lord am holy; and I have set you apart from the peoples to be Mine.  20:27 ‘Now a man or a woman who is a medium or a spiritist shall surely be put to death. They shall be stoned with stones, their bloodguiltiness is upon them.’ (NASB)

כתבי הקודש / The Holy Scriptures

ספר ויקרא פרק כ
ז   וְהִתְקַדִּשְׁתֶּם וִהְיִיתֶם קְדֹשִׁים כִּי אֲנִי יְהוָֹה אֱלֹהֵיכֶם: 

Vayikra / Leviticus 20:7
20:7 ‘You shall consecrate yourselves therefore and be holy, for I am the Lord your God. (NASB)

In the midst of the reading for this week, we are told to consecrate ourselves and be holy for our God is holy (20:7).  With regard to Vayikra / Leviticus 20:7, is “Shomer Mitzvah Shomer Nafsho?” (שֹׁמֵר מִצְוָה שֹׁמֵר נַפְשׁוֹ) for us today?  The Hebrew words “Shomer Mitzvah Shomer Nafsho” (שֹׁמֵר מִצְוָה שֹׁמֵר נַפְשׁוֹ) are taken from Mishley / Proverbs 19:16 He who keeps the commandment keeps his soul, But he who is careless of conduct will die. (NASB)  So “He who keeps the commandment keeps his soul” is this meaningful for us today?  Parshiot Acharei Mot and Kedoshim speak on incest, homosexuality, bestiality, creating graven images (idols), not to practice witchcraft, or consult mediums, etc.  By observing (keeping) these commandments do we keep our souls?  The Apostle Paul said in 1 Thessalonians 4:3 For this is the will of God, your sanctification; that is, that you abstain from sexual immorality; 4:4 that each of you know how to possess his own vessel in sanctification and honor, 4:5 not in lustful passion, like the Gentiles who do not know God; 4:6 and that no man transgress and defraud his brother in the matter because the Lord is the avenger in all these things, just as we also told you before and solemnly warned you.  4:7 For God has not called us for the purpose of impurity, but in sanctification.  4:8 So, he who rejects this is not rejecting man but the God who gives His Holy Spirit to you. (NASB)  The lists of prohibitions are very important for us today; we are not to practice these things because we are a holy people that worship a Holy God.  We are also told that every man is to bring their sacrifice to the door of the Ohel Moed (אֹהֶל מוֹעֵד, Tent of Meeting).  Doing this means going before the Lord on a regular basis.  All of these commands are given to us to warn us to watch carefully what we do so that we do not defile ourselves and become detestable in the eyes of the Lord.  Today, our bodies being the Temple of the holy Spirit, are there things in our things we could do, in body and in spirit that would cause us to be impure before the Lord?  The Apostle Paul suggests so and that we were not made for “impurity.”  Food for thought this week on how we should live our lives.  BTT_Parashat Acharei Mot-Kedoshim-2013