Simchat Torah: Rejoicing In Torah

The Feast of Tabernacles has drawn to a close, and today marks the Simchat Torah, A day of rejoicing with the Torah. This is not a biblical feast, it was added later to the Jewish holidays, but I love the implications. 

Devout Jews read through the Torah cyclically through the year. The eighth day of the Feast of Tabernacles marks the end of the cycle of weekly Torah readings with Deuteronomy 34, and the new cycle begins, going back to Genesis 1. Synagogues hold services on this day, and at the end of the reading service, a ceremony call the Hagbah is performed. The Hagbah is lifting the Torah Scroll for the people to see. It is held in a way where it is reversed with all the weight of the scroll on one side to symbolize turning the Torah back to its beginning. This eighth day is said to be the last great scene of Jehovah’s joy in the accomplishment of His purposes of grace.

What are the implications here for believers in Yeshua? Jesus is the Living Word, the Living Torah, written upon our hearts, so that we can truly dance and embrace God’s Truth. David said of the Torah:

I delight in following your commands more than in having great wealth. I study your instructions; I examine your teachings. I take pleasure in your laws; your commands I will not forget (Ps. 119: 14-16 NASB).

In Nehemiah 8, Nehemiah and Ezra, and the Levites, gathered the people to read them the Law (Torah), because it had been lost for so long, and the people did not know or understand what was written in the Law:

Then Nehemiah, who was the governor, and Ezra the priest and scribe, and the Levites who taught the people said to all the people, “This day is holy to the Lord your God; do not mourn or weep.” For all the people were weeping when they heard the words of the law. Then he said to them, “Go, eat of the fat, drink of the sweet, and send portions to him who has nothing prepared; for this day is holy to our Lord. Do not be grieved, for the joy of the Lord is your strength.”  So the Levites calmed all the people, saying, “Be still, for the day is holy; do not be grieved.”  All the people went away to eat, to drink, to send portions and to celebrate a great festival, because they understood the words which had been made known to them (vv. 9-12).

The people were weeping at the reading of the Torah. That we would be in awe over hearing God’s Word. Nehemiah instructs the people not to mourn, but that this is a time of celebration. Celebrate over the Word—that we would celebrate over the Word. Right after this, the people realized that the Feast of Booths had not been celebrated since the days of Joshua.

The sons of Israel had indeed not done so from the days of Joshua the son of Nun to that day. And there was great rejoicing. He read from the book of the law of God daily, from the first day to the last day. And they celebrated the feast seven days, and on the eighth day there was a solemn assembly according to the ordinance (vv.17-18).

Again there is celebration over obeying the Word; such an example for us.

Jesus said in Matt. 5, that He came not to destroy the Torah, but to fulfill the Torah. He is the embodiment of the Word. Jesus Is the Word and He came down and dwelt among us;

In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God.  He was in the beginning with God.  All things came into being through Him, and apart from Him nothing came into being that has come into being.  In Him was life, and the life was the Light of men.  The Light shines in the darkness, and the darkness did not comprehend it… And the Word became flesh, and dwelt among us, and we saw His glory, glory as of the only begotten from the Father, full of grace and truth (John 1:1-5,14).

Jesus is the Word and we should be celebrating Him every day. We should be thankful for His Word, and allow it to guide our lives—daily.

The Word came to make you whole, and to heal you. I love the account of the woman caught in adultery. The religious leaders threw her at the feet of Jesus, at the end of Sukkot (Jn.8). Jesus had remained in Jerusalem during the conclusion of the eighth day of the Feast of Tabernacles, and it was during this time that a woman caught in her sin, had an appointment with the Word Himself. Not to be condemned by it, but cleansed by it.   

The Torah in which they were celebrating, Numbers 5 to be precise, describes a test for a woman suspected of adultery. If a husband suspected his wife committed adultery but could not prove it, he would bring her to the priest. The priest wrote the curses of the law on parchment. He would then mix the water from the dirt and pour it over the ink-stained parchment. This would cause the ink to bleed into the cup. The woman then was required to drink it. If she was not guilty she would have no ill effect. If she was guilty her thigh would swell.

This test for adultery is known as the trial of bitter waters, and it usually is performed in the temple. The leaders however, decided they would kill two birds with one stone; condemn the woman and trap their enemy. They did not understand that they brought her to Christ—for the Living Torah Himself to bring judgement according to the Word. He simply knelt down and wrote in the sand. Is it possible that He wrote this in the sand with the finger that created the universe?

Lord, you are the hope of Israel; all who forsake you will be put to shame.Those who turn away from you will be written in the dust because they have forsaken the Lord, the spring of living water (Jeremiah 17:13).

They were saying this, testing Him, so that they might have grounds for accusing Him. But Jesus stooped down and with His finger wrote on the ground. But when they persisted in asking Him, He straightened up, and said to them, “He who is without sin among you, let him be the first to throw a stone at her.”  Again He stooped down and wrote on the ground.  When they heard it, they began to go out one by one, beginning with the older ones, and He was left alone, and the woman, where she was, in the center of the court. Straightening up, Jesus said to her, “Woman, where are they? Did no one condemn you?” She said, “No one, Lord.” And Jesus said, “I do not condemn you, either. Go. From now on sin no more.” John 8:6-11

Whatever Jesus wrote in the sand that day, we will not know—at least not on this side of eternity. But He was most likely writing in the very dust that would have been used at the woman’s bitter waters trial that day. The religious leaders brought her to Jesus to condemn her according to the Torah; He restored her according to the Word. He told her to go and not sin—He never condoned her sin, He freed her from it. Now we can rejoice that the living Torah delivers the sinner from sin and guilt, and restores them to life. This is worth celebrating. 

This is my scribbling...

Amazon

Barnes and Noble

Westbow Press

Google Play

The Coverings For The Tabernacle: A Refuge From The Storm

The Curtains and the coverings:

The ten curtains were referred to as the Tabernacle and the eleven goats skin curtains referred to the tent. 

~The curtains of fine linen (Ex. 26: 1-6 and 36:8-13): These were the framework of the Tabernacle and the ceiling of the Sanctuary. 

~The curtain of Goat’s hair: (Ex. 26:7-13 and 36:14-18): This referred to as the tent and was placed over the white linen.

~ Ram’s Skin dyed red (Ex. 26:14 and 36:19): This was the ‘covering’ and went over the goat’s hair.

~Badgers Skin (Ex. 26:14 and 36:19): The final covering and was the layer seen by all on the outside.

I will rejoice greatly in the Lord, My soul will exult in my God; For He has clothed me with garments of salvation, He has wrapped me with a robe of righteousness, As a bridegroom decks himself with a garland, And as a bride adorns herself with her jewels. Is. 61:10 NASB

~Fifty Loops and fifty taches. 50 is the number of jubilee, Pentecost; it is significant of freedom, liberty, Pentecost, and jubilee.

~The taches that were brass (Judgment) and hung the black curtain; the taches that hung the inner most beautiful curtains were of gold.

~The fifty loops were to be of blue, the heavenly color. It speaks of Jesus Christ as the Second Man. The Lord from Heaven. With gold taches- linking heaven and earth together. Gold representing the divinity of Christ.

~ everything hangs on Jesus Christ.

It is also interesting to note, that FIFTY also represents the fifty names of Christ that refer to His deity:

1.      The Mighty God

2.      The Almighty

3.      Jehovah

4.      The Son

5.      The Son of God

6.      The only begotten of the Father

7.      The First-born of every creature

8.      The Word

9.      The Beginning

10.  The Wisdom of God

11.  The Power of God

12.  The Image of the Invisible God

13.  The Brightness of God’s glory

14.  The Eternal Life

15.  The First and the Last

16.  Immanuel

17.  Jesus

18.  Messiah

19.  The Lord

20.  The Lord of Glory

21.  The Prince of Life

22.  The Prince of Peace

23.  The Everlasting the Father

24.  The Creator

25.  The Sustainer

26.  The Holy One of God

27.  The Same

28.  Wonderful

29.  Counselor

30.  The Son of Man

31.  The seed of the woman

32.  The Resurrection

33.  The Quickening Spirit

34.  The Light

35.  The Truth

36.  Righteousness

37.  The Way

38.  The Sun of Righteousness

39.  The Day-Star

40.  The Amen

41.  The King of Kings

42.  The Heir of all things

43.  The Root of David

44.  The Offspring of David

45.  The Shepherd

46.  The Lamb of God

47.  The Rock of Ages

48.  The True Witness

49.  Shiloh (or sent one)

50.  The Redeemer

The White Blue Purple and scarlet linen

~The veil will speak more about when we talk about the Holy of Holies

~The Cherubim do not represent angels; they represent the workings and operation of the Holy Spirit and the Father in the birth, life, ministry, death, resurrection of the Lord Jesus Christ. The inwrought cherubim manifest Christ as the fullness of the God-head.

~Also made up the ceiling of the sanctuary so the priest ministered in the holy place under the cherubim. The Cherubim then would have their wings spread out over the sanctuary as the priest ministers.

~This represents the wings of the Almighty

~The priest would in effect be enjoying fellowship under the wings which is seen in Scripture: In the shadow of thy wings will I rejoice (Ps. 63:7); Under His Wings shalt thou trust (Ps. 91: 1-2,4).

And now, in the holy places not made with hands, Christ is the covert, the hiding-place, the refuge, the defenses, help, power, and joy, of all those who trust under the shadow of His wings. 

Goats hair curtain

Read Ex. 26:7-13

~Over the ten curtains of linen, the eleven curtains were placed, this is referred to as the tent as well as the covering

~there were eleven curtains- eleven is the number of lawlessness and disorder—associated with sin and rebellion.

~The goat was one of the animals used in the sacrificial offerings. It was offered as a sin offering on the Day of Atonement and for cleansing the sanctuary.

~it was used as the scapegoat

The Goat speaks of sin. Jesus used the goats to represent unrepentant sinners (Matt. 25: 31-32).

~ The goat hair covering speak of our Lord Jesus Christ who became sin for us, who knew no sin, that we might be made the righteousness of God within Him (II Cor. 5:21 and Rom. 8:3).

He was offered to bear the sins of many (Heb. 9:28)

The eleventh curtain was the only one visible to the observer.

Ram’s Skin Dyed Red

~The ram’s skin was called a covering

~The Ram was used in the trespass offering, burnt offering, and peace offerings.

~Also called the Ram of consecration—it was used to consecrate the priests to minister.

~The first time we see the ram as a substitution is with Abraham and Isaac (Gen. 22:8-13)

~This all speaks to Christ who became the Lamb of God to take ways the sins of the world (John 1:29, 36).

Christ as:

1.       The Sacrificial One offered to God (Heb. 9:26-28)

2.      The Substitute One who died in our stead (I Cor. 15:4; Gal. I:4)

3.      The Consecrated One who was committed to God’s will (Heb. 7:25-28)

This is the covering that Christ provided for the Church, so that we may partake of His nature.

~The curtains were dyed red—again representing the color of blood and represents the cleansing of sin.

~The first time Christ came, His garments were died red with His shed blood, the second time Christ comes, they will be dyed with the blood of His enemies.

~Represents Christ’s judgment on sin.

Who is this who comes from Edom, With garments of glowing colors from Bozrah, This One who is majestic in His apparel, Marching in the greatness of His strength? “It is I who speak in righteousness, mighty to save.” Why is Your apparel red, And Your garments like the one who treads in the wine press? “I have trodden the wine trough alone, And from the peoples there was no man with Me. I also trod them in My anger And trampled them in My wrath; And their lifeblood is sprinkled on My garments, And I stained all My raiment. Isaiah 63:1-3 NASB

~The Book of Revelation, we see a rider on a white horse whose vesture is dipped in blood. Rev. 19: 11-14

Badger Skins

~The final and outer covering

~these skins are recorded as seal or porpoise skin and blueish-grey. The Septuagint translates it as skin of blue color.

~They were the final covering which gave protections from the storms, weather and heat of the desert.

~Badger skins were used to cover all the vessels of the Tabernacle during travel.

~There was no beauty in the badger skins, so those that look upon it did not see anything beautiful (a reference to Christ He has no stately form or majesty that we should look upon Him, nor appearance that we should be attracted to Him. Isaiah 53:2)

Those who are sinners are not attracted to Christ

Those who are in Christ:  He is altogether lovely Song of Songs 5:16;

~Only the priest who were allowed to enter saw the beauty of the inside of the tabernacle.

To recap:

1. Linen curtain—Righteousness
2. Goat’s Hair Curtain— Sin offering
3. Ram’s Skin dyed red—Substitution
4. Badger’s skin—Protection and covering.

Christology in Chanukah

As long as I am in the world, I am the light of the world. John 9:5

By the time you read this, Menorahs all over the world will have been lit in celebration of Chanukah, or the Feast of Dedication. The shamash or servant candle lighting the way… Jesus the Messiah the Suffering Servant…

Then came the feast of the Dedication in Jerusalem. It was winter, and Jesus was walking in the temple area in Solomon’s Portico. John 10:22-23 NET

Jesus celebrated the beloved anniversary of the rededication of the temple; the temple that had been desecrated hundreds of years before. Those Jews that would not embrace Hellenism, overtook their captors and reclaimed Jerusalem. They sought to cleanse the temple, and repaired the lampstand to relight the ner tamid,  the eternal light, but could only find enough oil to light the Menorah for one day. It would take eight days to fill the supply. The oil burned for eight-God’s number for new beginnings. The Temple of which that temple spoke, graces it with His precious feet. He is confronted to answer whether He is the Messiah:

The Jewish leaders surrounded him and asked, “How long will you keep us in suspense? If you are the Christ, tell us plainly.” Jesus replied, “I told you and you do not believe. The deeds I do in my Father’s name testify about me. John 10: 24-25

The very temple the Messiah walked through that Feast of Dedication, would see destruction and would be rebuilt by the One the temple spoke of. This is the inherent meaning of the Feast of Lights—to look for the light of the Messiah.

“Jewish scholars see a deeper meaning ‘Then the light is kindled to give inspiration for the light of Messiah must burn brightly in our hearts.’”[1] 

Jesus the Messiah is the Light of the temple;

“Jesus was not talking about the literal temple, which had taken forty-six years to build. He was talking about His body. Through His resurrection and ascension, He would build a spiritual temple made of people whose lives would be dedicated to God. We are that spiritual temple, and we have received His life and power to overcome the Hellenistic world in which we live.”[2] 

The bravery and resolve of the Maccabees speaks to believers today; like these righteous ones that would not turn their backs on God in a society that would defile and defame that God, we too, can kindle Messiah’s light in our hearts by separating ourselves from the world system that would seek to rid society of God and embrace a humanistic paradigm.

We can dedicate ourselves to God in this Feast of Dedication and trust God to overcome our spiritual enemies and give us the victory. 

But thanks be to God, who always leads us in triumphal procession in Christ and through us spreads everywhere the fragrant knowledge of Him. 2 Corinthians 2:14

We too are lights; 

You are the light of the world. A city located on a hill cannot be hidden.  People do not light a lamp and put it under a basket but on a lampstand, and it gives light to all in the house.  In the same way, let your light shine before people, so that they can see your good deeds and give honor to your Father in heaven. Mat 5:14-16 NET

We first see the Menorah in the Tabernacle in the wilderness under the leadership of Moses—by vision from the Lord as a pattern of things above. It foreshadowed things to come as well;

In him was life; and the life was the light of men. John 1:4

Then spake Jesus again unto them, saying, I am the light of the world: he that followeth me shall not walk in darkness, but shall have the light of life. John 8:12   

For ye were sometimes darkness, but now are ye light in the Lord: walk as children of light: Eph. 5:8 

This then is the message which we have heard of him, and declare unto you, that God is light, and in him is no darkness at all.  1 John 1:5   

And this is the condemnation, that light is come into the world, and men loved darkness rather than light, because their deeds were evil. John 3:19

The lampstand rested in the Holy Place, the place of illumination—it supplied the only light, as the flames danced on the golden walls of the tent. Once inside the Holy Place, the believer-priest receives light and illumination, anointing and insight by the 7-fold Spirit of the Lord in the church and the revelation of God’s Word.

Attributes of the Lampstand and how it foreshadowed the work of Christ:

~One piece of gold- one is the number of unity, oneness, or one accord

~Three knops- the number three is symbolic of the Godhead these three knops upheld all of the seven branches as the very foundation. This is typical of the truth that the Godhead is the foundation and upholder of the church

~Seven Lamps- seven is completeness or fullness. Each branch had a lamp of fire this is typical of the seven spirits in the book of Revelation.

~Nine ornaments- each branch has nine ornaments, three bowls, three knops and three flowers. Nine is the number of the Holy Spirit in the Church, there are nine characteristics of the fruit of the Holy Spirit and nine gifts of the Holy Spirit.

~The almond is a symbol of Christ in resurrection. It is the first fruit to awake from winter.

~Christ is the Light of the world; He commissioned believers to be lights as well. We bear fruit from The Lamstand. We should illuminate God to the world.

~The Lily is the symbol of beauty and splendor. We should exude a sweet fragrance from our experience from the Lamp Stand.  

~The Israelites were to bring an offering of beaten olive oil for the light so that it will burn continually and not go out. Aaron was to trim the wicks and tend the lamps twice a day. Pressed olives symbolize the anointing of the Holy Spirit. The first press of olive oil is extra- virgin. It is in its purest state in the first press and this what the Israelites were to bring. He would tend the wicks by trimming away the burnt parts and filling the lamps with oil.

Jesus our High Priest intercedes for us continually and He trims away the burnt part of us, and fills us with oil to bear His light.

“And of course, as Mashiach ben Yosef, our Suffering Servant, Yeshua is the Ultimate Shamash - He is our Light who enables us to shine a sacred fire of sacrificial love to the darkened outside world. Yeshua commanded ‘Let your light so shine before men, that they may see your good works, and glorify your Father which is in heaven’ (Matt 5:16). He told us that He is the Light of the world, and that whoever follows Him will not have darkness, but the Light of Life…It is only by the Light of Yeshua that we gain victory over the powers of darkness, since the darkness cannot comprehend the light. When we walk in the Light, we have fellowship, unity, echdut, with one another, and the gates of hell shall not prevail against such divinely sanctioned communion. May the LORD God of Israel, the Father of the Blessed One Yeshua, help us all to behold the glory of His Light by abiding in His love! And may we turn to Him now and rededicate our own lives as temples cleansed and readied by His Spirit to honor His abiding Presence. Amen.”[3]

The liturgy for Chanukah, the Torah portion whispers to us-prepares us for the Light of the World; The Brit Chadashah fulfills the first…

Torah Portion: Numbers 7:1-7:17

Brit Chadashah Portion: John 9:1-7; John 10:22-39

May the Light of Messiah, The Ner Tamid,be ignited in your heart…

The Light of Your Presence

I walk into the Holy Place and what do my eyes see
A Golden Lampstand a light by which all the darkness must flee
The Lamp stand is so beautiful I long to come and touch it
The almond pots of gold, the lily flowers, they were so lovingly writ

You are the Vine we are the branches it is told us in Your Word
Your Light is now in us to go and tell those that have not heard
We are the light of the world and the salt of the earth we must go and do
To lead the lost and the hurting to come into Your Light too

I will bring my oil and trim the wicks each and every day
To cut off that which hinders me and trips me up along the way
I want my path illuminated so that I may see
All that I must do and all I am to be

Oh Holy Spirit light my path and reveal Yourself to me
So I know which way to go and so that I may see
I prepare my lamp to be ready, for I know that He will call
I know the Bride Groom is coming with a Feast for one and all

By Piper Green ©2003

In His Grace, 

[1] Hersh Goldwurm, ed., Artscroll Mesorah Series Chanukah, (Brooklyn: Mesorah Publications, 1981), 104.

[2] Richard Booker, Celebrating Jesus in the Biblical Feasts, (Shippensburg, PA: Destiny Image Publishers, 2009), 180, 181.
[3] http://www.hebrew4christians.com/Holidays/Winter_Holidays/Chanukah/chanukah.html