‘PARSHA PEKUDEI’ – DEDICATED TO PUTTING G-D FIRST
‘SHABBAT PARAH’
‘PARSHA PEKUDEI’ – DEDICATED TO PUTTING G-D FIRST
SHABBAT HACHODESH
Special ‘Shabbatot’ are Jewish ‘Shabbat’ days, on which special events are commemorated. Variations in the liturgy and special customs differentiate them from the regular Sabbaths and each one is referred to by a special name. One such special ‘Shabbat’ is ‘Shabbat HaChodesh’ which takes place this ‘Shabbat’.
Before we look at the ‘Torah’ portion for this week, let us take a brief look at ‘Shabbat HaChodesh’ (“Sabbath of the Month”).
‘Parsha HaChodesh’ is the last of the four ‘parshiot’ which are read before the holidays of Purim and Pesach. In this portion, Almighty G-d commands the Jewish people to calculate the days of the months and ensure that all the holidays fall at their proper time. The portion begins with the words: “Hachodesh hazeh l’chem Rosh Chodashim” (“This month is the first of months for you....”)
‘Shabbat HaChodesh’ takes place on the Shabbat proceeding the first day of the Hebrew month of ‘Nisan’ (or on the 1st of ‘Nisan’ itself if it falls on Shabbat). ‘Pesach’ (Passover) is celebrated during the Hebrew month of ‘Nisan’. Exodus 12:1-20 (from ‘Parsha Bo’) and the laws of Passover are read in addition to this week’s ‘parsha’.
PARSHA
Exodus 40:1-16: “Then the LORD spoke to Moses, saying: “On the first day of the first month you shall set up the tabernacle of the tent of meeting. You shall put in it the ark of the Testimony, and partition off the ark with the veil. You shall bring in the table and arrange the things that are to be set in order on it; and you shall bring in the lampstand and light its lamps. You shall also set the altar of gold for the incense before the ark of the Testimony, and put up the screen for the door of the tabernacle. Then you shall set the altar of the burnt offering before the door of the tabernacle of the tent of meeting. And you shall set the laver between the tabernacle of meeting and the altar, and put water in it. You shall set up the court all around, and hang up the screen at the court gate. And you shall take the anointing oil, and anoint the tabernacle and all that is in it; and you shall hallow it and all its utensils, and it shall be holy. You shall anoint the altar of the burnt offering and all its utensils, and consecrate the altar. The altar shall be most holy. And you shall anoint the laver and its base, and consecrate it. Then you shall bring Aaron and his sons to the door of the tabernacle of meeting and wash them with water. You shall put the holy garments on Aaron, and anoint him and consecrate him, that he may minister to Me as priest. And you shall bring his sons and clothe them with tunics. You shall anoint them, as you anointed their father, that they may minister to Me as priests; for their anointing shall surely be an everlasting priesthood throughout their generations.” Thus Moses did; according to all that the LORD had commanded him, so he did.”
The ‘parsha’ (‘Torah’ portion) this week, ‘Parsha Pekudei’ (Accounts), is found in Exodus 38:21 – 40:38 and makes up the twenty third weekly ‘Torah’ portion in the annual Jewish cycle of ‘Torah’ reading; the corresponding ‘haftorah’ (reading of the prophets) is found in 1 Kings 7:51 – 8:21.
‘Parsha Pekudei’ records the actual implementation of G-d’s instructions on how to build the ‘Mishkan’ (Tabernacle).
Much of ‘Pekudei’ is almost an exact repeat of ‘Parsha Terumah’, the only difference being that the details which in ‘Terumah’ are prefaced with the words: “And they shall make...” are here prefaced with the words: “And they made...”
Last week’s ‘Parsha’, Vayakhel, related - again, in minute detail - the actual making of the ‘Mishkan’ and its Vessels.
‘Parsha Pekudei’ is the last in a series of five ‘parshiot’ describing the ‘Mishkan’, the portable sanctuary build by the people of Israel in the Sinai Desert by divine command to serve as “a dwelling for G-d in the physical world.”
In the ‘Parshiot’ of ‘Terumah’, ‘Tetzaveh’ and the first part of ‘Ki-Tisa’ G-d's instructions to Moses regarding the making of the Mishkan, its Vessels, and the priestly garments were detailed.
‘Parsha, Pekudei’, contains an audit of the gold, silver and copper used in the ‘Mishkan’s’ construction; the making of the priestly garments; and the erection and consecration of the ‘Mishkan’.
The ‘Menorah’ and the ‘Kaporet’ (Ark cover) were of solid gold. The Ark, Table, Golden Altar, and the’ Mishkan's’ wall panels and posts were gold-plated, and gold thread was added to the fibres in the roof coverings, ‘Parochet’ (Veil), screens, and the High Priest's garments.
The silver for the ‘Mishkan’ was contributed by each of those who “went to be numbered”; 603,550 men of draftable age, each giving half a shekel. This made 100 talents plus 1,775 shekels of silver (a “talent” is approximately 68 Kilos). The 100 talents were used to make the one hundred foundation sockets that held up the ‘Mishkan's’ wall panels and post. The 1,775 shekels were used for the hooks and trimmings on the sixty posts that held up the walls-hangings which enclosed the Courtyard.
The copper was used to make the foundation sockets to the entrance of the Tent of Meeting, the copper brazen altar and its copper grate, and all the vessels of the altar. The copper was also used to make the “foundation sockets of the court round about and the sockets of the court gate, and all the pegs of the tabernacle and all the pegs of the court round about.”
Although the priestly garments have already been described in detail in G-d's instruction to Moses related in ‘Parsha Tetzaveh’, the ‘Torah’ now devotes 30 verses in describing the actual making of the garments.
The next verses relate the assembling of The Dwelling, and our ‘parsha’ ends by telling us that a cloud appeared over the ‘Mishkan’, signifying the Divine Presence that had come to dwell within it.
‘Haft0arah Pekudei’ describes the dedication of Solomon's Temple, following the theme of this week's ‘Torah’ reading: the dedication of the desert Tabernacle.
The construction of the Holy Temple was completed and King Solomon assembled the leaders and elders of the tribes to Jerusalem. The Levites transported the Ark from its temporary location in the City of David and installed it in the Holy of Holies chamber in the Holy Temple.
Immediately, G-d’s presence appeared in the Temple in the form of a smoky cloud.
‘Haftorah Pekudei’ describes the dedication of Solomon’s Temple, following the theme of this week's ‘Torah’ reading: the dedication of the desert Tabernacle.
The construction of the Holy Temple was completed. King Solomon assembled the leaders and elders of the tribes to Jerusalem, and amidst great fanfare, the Levites transported the Ark from its temporary location in the City of David and installed it in the Holy of Holies chamber in the Holy Temple. Immediately, G d's presence appeared in the Temple, in the form of a smoky cloud.
King Solomon then blessed G-d and recalled the history of the sanctuary; how his father, King David, had wanted to build it but was told by G d that it would be his son who would accomplish this feat.
The theme of this week’s ‘parsha’ and ‘haftorah’ is “dedication”. In both the ‘parsha’ and the ‘haftorah’, the Tabernacle and the Temple is dedicated to the L-rd as a place in which “He could dwell”.
Now, G-d wants to indwell us, but this can only happen if we are dedicated to Him. So, my question is: “How dedicated are you to G-d, and how much of your life is dedicated to Him?”
Most people go through life oblivious to G-d and oblivious to His will for their lives.
Some people look at the ‘Dati’im (religious Jews) around the world who sit in a ‘Yeshiva’ all day just to study the ‘Torah’. They are considered by many secular Jews and many Gentiles as ‘a bunch of crazies’ who live on grants and sit around all day studying, and discussing the ‘Torah’. These people are frowned upon and ridiculed.
Now, I personally don’t think that G-d intended for mankind to sit all day and just study the ‘Torah’, but I can’t fault the dedication of these ‘Dati’im’ to the biblical command to “diligently learn the ‘Torah’ and to teach it to your children”.
Some people look at the ‘Dati’im’ as some kind of being from another planet in their long black coats and hats (some of them fur hats) on a sweltering summer day in Jerusalem, swaying to and fro and from side to side, as if in a trance, at the ‘Kotel’ (Western Wall), yet their dedication to ‘pressing in’ to Almighty G-d is amazing.
Being a Jewish believer in Yeshua and coming out of an Orthodox Jewish background which I followed for the first 41 years of my life, I have been both in ‘shul’ (synagogue) and in church.
In shul, especially in the diaspora, many Jewish people read the Hebrew text in the ‘Siddur’ (Prayer book) and don’t really understand what they are reading. They pray, sway to and fro and from side to side, and then exit the ‘shul’ and get back to life…almost forgetting about G-d.
In church, many Christians lift their hands to the L-rd in worship, and then exit the church and get back to life…almost forgetting about G-d.
I say this not as condemnation, but rather with sadness in my heart. “What would the Jewish Messiah, Yeshua, say about this?”
Our lives should be totally dedicated to G-d. Our lives should revolve around Him (not G-d revolving around our lives). He must be first in every area of our lives and in everything we do. Our marriages, our families, our careers, our businesses, our recreation must all be dedicated to Him.
We read in ‘Parsha Pekudei’ in Exodus 40:34: “Then the cloud covered the tabernacle of meeting, and the glory of the LORD filled the tabernacle.”
G-d’s glory and presence filled the Tabernacle and it filled the Temple. Would G-d’s glory and presence fill your marriage, your family, your career, your business, your recreation and your life; or will He say: “My presence cannot dwell here”.
I am sure that for most of you reading this, G-d’s glory and presence does fill your marriage, your family, your career, your business, your recreation and your life. But what about those of you reading this who know deep down that you are not really dedicated to ‘Adonai Elohim’, the G-d of Abraham, Isaac and Jacob – the Father, Son, Holy Spirit.
Allow me to encourage you: Dedicate yourselves to Almighty G-d. Dedicate your lives, your marriage, your family, your career, your business, your recreation and your everything to Him. He gave His all for you; now you give your all to Him.
G-d loves all people – both Jews and Gentiles – so much, that He sacrificed His only Son, Yeshua, so that those who believe and follow Him should have the forgiveness of sin and everlasting life in heaven.
And G-d weeps for every Jew and every Gentile who dies without Yeshua. Sadly without Yeshua, your sins cannot be forgiven you and your eternal future is not secure.
Are you willing to dedicate your life to Yeshua, who lovingly and faithfully endured the Cross for you and for me, accepting Him as your ‘Moshiach’ (Messiah), your Saviour? This is the only way to salvation, as only through Yeshua can one’s sins be forgiven and one’s soul be atoned for - or saved.
In the Book of Joel 2:32 in the ‘Tenach’ (Old Testament), it declares: “And it shall come to pass That whoever calls on the name of the LORD (Yeshua) Shall be saved. For in Mount Zion and in Jerusalem there shall be deliverance, As the LORD has said, Among the remnant whom the LORD calls.”
This is a prophecy regarding the Jewish people. And we are seeing Jewish people coming to faith in Yeshua around the world, fulfilling this prophecy.
In the Book of Acts 4:12 in the New Testament speaking of Jesus, it declares: “Nor is there salvation in any other, for there is no other name under heaven given among men by which we must be saved.”
This is a call to every one of us, Jews and Gentiles, to commit our lives to Jesus for the forgiveness of our sins and eternal life in heaven. And this needs to be shared with all people, both Jews and Gentiles.
To all of you reading this article who are born-again believers in Yeshua, are you dedicating your life to fulfilling this Biblical command known as the ‘Great Commission’? If not, how truly dedicated are you to ‘Adonai Elohim’, the G-d of Abraham, Isaac and Jacob – the Father, Son, Holy Spirit.
Emet Ministries is totally dedicated to ‘Adonai Elohim’ in all that we do. Every event that we do is dedicated to ‘Adonai Elohim’, and the presence of G-d by His Holy Spirit fills the venue that we are in, and it is absolutely glorious. Those of you reading this who attend Emet Ministries’ events, you know how true this is.
Allow me to encourage you: Put G-d first in every area of your life and in everything that you do, your marriages, your families, your careers, your businesses, your recreation must all be dedicated to Him.
Most of all, be dedicated to sharing Jesus with as many people as you can as this is well pleasing to ‘Adonai Elohim’. It’s then that you will experience His presence with you in the most wonderful way.
For those of you who want to accept G-d’s gift of the forgiveness of sin, salvation and everlasting life in heaven, all you need to do is confess your sins, repent of them and ask Yeshua to come into your life as your L-rd and Saviour.
And you can do this by praying the Prayer of Salvation found at the end of this article.
We love you.
Shalom.
Scripture of the week: Exodus 40:34-38: “Then the cloud covered the tabernacle of meeting, and the glory of the LORD filled the tabernacle. And Moses was not able to enter the tabernacle of meeting, because the cloud rested above it, and the glory of the LORD filled the tabernacle. Whenever the cloud was taken up from above the tabernacle, the children of Israel would go onward in all their journeys. But if the cloud was not taken up, then they did not journey till the day that it was taken up. For the cloud of the LORD was above the tabernacle by day, and fire was over it by night, in the sight of all the house of Israel, throughout all their journeys.”
SALVATION PRAYER
Thank you Yeshua for Your love for me.
Thank you for giving up Your life on the cross for me and for taking my sins upon Yourself.
I confess that I have sinned.
I repent of my sins and I turn from everything I know to be wrong.
I invite You to come into my life as my Messiah, my Saviour.
By Your grace I will serve You all the remaining years of my life.
