Shemini - Reading #1

Shemini שְּׁמִינִי - Eighth

Leviticus 9:1-11:47

Reading #1 - Leviticus 9:1–16

My Thoughts:

Prepare the offerings for “today Hashem appears to you (verse 4).” How amazing that would be! You are bringing a perfect offering, you are preparing to present it, and you know that soon Hashem will appear in His glory! What excitement and energy that must have brought to the people. And hopefully fear. Fear of the presence of the Holy One! Good fear, fear of Hashem. We should be getting excited too! We should be praying every day for Hashem to come back to the Temple in Jerusalem. We should be praying for the Temple to be built! We should be getting ready for the glory of Hashem to come to Israel, may it be soon. Remember to do this. It may help to bring Him back sooner. Please Hashem.

Challenge:

I challenge you today to make an “offering” to Hashem. It can be prayer, sacrifice, worship, repentance or a good deed (mitzvah). Think about what you can give today and do it. And be excited and anticipatory to give it to Him. Think of all the gifts He gives you every day. Today is the day to give Him one!

Reading #1 - Leviticus 9:1–16

9 On the eighth day, Moses called Aaron and his sons, and the elders of Israel; 2 and he said to Aaron, “Take a calf from the herd for a sin offering, and a ram for a burnt offering, without defect, and offer them before Hashem. 3 You shall speak to the children of Israel, saying, ‘Take a male goat for a sin offering; and a calf and a lamb, both a year old, without defect, for a burnt offering; 4 and a bull and a ram for peace offerings, to sacrifice before Hashem; and a meal offering mixed with oil: for today Hashem appears to you.’”

5 They brought what Moses commanded before the Tent of Meeting. All the congregation came near and stood before Hashem. 6 Moses said, “This is the thing which Hashem commanded that you should do; and Hashem’s glory shall appear to you.” 7 Moses said to Aaron, “Draw near to the altar, and offer your sin offering, and your burnt offering, and make atonement for yourself, and for the people; and offer the offering of the people, and make atonement for them, as Hashem commanded.”

8 So Aaron came near to the altar, and killed the calf of the sin offering, which was for himself. 9 The sons of Aaron presented the blood to him; and he dipped his finger in the blood, and put it on the horns of the altar, and poured out the blood at the base of the altar; 10 but the fat, and the kidneys, and the cover from the liver of the sin offering, he burned upon the altar, as Hashem commanded Moses. 11 The meat and the skin he burned with fire outside the camp. 12 He killed the burnt offering; and Aaron’s sons delivered the blood to him, and he sprinkled it around on the altar. 13 They delivered the burnt offering to him, piece by piece, and the head. He burned them upon the altar. 14 He washed the innards and the legs, and burned them on the burnt offering on the altar. 15 He presented the people’s offering, and took the goat of the sin offering which was for the people, and killed it, and offered it for sin, like the first. 16 He presented the burnt offering, and offered it according to the ordinance.

Shemini - Week #4

Shemini שְּׁמִינִי - Eighth

Leviticus 9:1-11:47

2 Sam. 6:1-7:17

Matthew 3:11-17

1.1 First reading — Leviticus 9:1–16

1.2 Second reading — Leviticus 9:17–23

1.3 Third reading — Leviticus 9:24–10:11

1.4 Fourth reading — Leviticus 10:12–15

1.5 Fifth reading — Leviticus 10:16–20

1.6 Sixth reading — Leviticus 11:1–32

1.7 Seventh reading — Leviticus 11:33–47

Tzav - Reading #7

Tzav צַו - Command!

Leviticus 6:1-8:36

Haftarah: Jeremiah 7:21-8:3, 9:22-23

Apostolic Scripture: Matthew 9:10-17

Reading #7 - Leviticus 8:30–36

My Thoughts:

In verse 35 we read that the sons of Aaron are to stay at the door of the Tabernacle for seven days, obey what Hashem has commanded or they will die. We know that Torah is eternal life. And for those who believe Yeshua is the Mashiach -- He is the Word. So, here it is clear. If you want to come into the presence of Hashem, you must follow His commands and instructions. To not do so will cause death to you. Isn’t that true now? If we follow Hashem and His Commandments they will bring us life. They show us how to worship, praise, follow, repent, forgive, atone, live, love Him and love others. If we don’t do all that we spiritually die. I believe that is why the world is so dark and sad. They don’t know Hashem and His Messiah. They don’t have “life”. It’s time we who believe, begin to be a “light” to the world -- reflecting the Torah and Hashem’s love for us.

Challenge:

Today I encourage you to review if you are following Hashem’s commandments? Are you honoring the Sabbath? Are you eating clean foods? Are you loving your neighbor more than yourself? Are you loving Hashem with your whole heart, soul and strength? Give yourself a spiritual check up today. And change where you need to change. Follow Him and He will give you LIFE.

Reading #7 - Leviticus 8:30–36

8:30 Moses took some of the anointing oil, and some of the blood which was on the altar, and sprinkled it on Aaron, on his garments, and on his sons, and on his sons’ garments with him, and sanctified Aaron, his garments, and his sons, and his sons’ garments with him.

31 Moses said to Aaron and to his sons, “Boil the meat at the door of the Tent of Meeting, and there eat it and the bread that is in the basket of consecration, as I commanded, saying, ‘Aaron and his sons shall eat it.’ 32 What remains of the meat and of the bread you shall burn with fire. 33 You shall not go out from the door of the Tent of Meeting for seven days, until the days of your consecration are fulfilled: for he shall consecrate you seven days. 34 What has been done today, so Hashem has commanded to do, to make atonement for you. 35 You shall stay at the door of the Tent of Meeting day and night seven days, and keep Hashem’s command, that you don’t die: for so I am commanded.” 36 Aaron and his sons did all the things which Hashem commanded by Moses.

Haftarah

My Thoughts:

Verse 23 says to “listen to My voice and I will be your Elohim.” Pretty simple, right? But do we listen to Him? Do you feel a gentle “nudging” during your day to do something or not to do something? Do you follow that “nudge”? Chances are that Hashem is encouraging you. Listen to Him. Do what He says, or don’t do what He is telling you NOT to do! If we do this, He has promised to be our Elohim. Isn’t that so worth it!?

Challenge:

In verse 9:23 we are specifically told not to “glory” or have pride in the wisdom, might or riches we have. Everything we have comes from Hashem. He owns it all. He just “lends” things and people temporarily while we are on the earth. Don’t think for a minute that the things you possess or the children you have born, are from your “own doing”. It is all from Hashem. Remember that today, and give glory to Him for all He has done and given you. Eagerly awaiting the day He sends His Mashiach to the Temple in Jerusalem. Where we will be able to bow down and give worship to the Holy One -- Hashem!

Haftarah: Jeremiah 7:21-8:3, 9:22-23

7:21 Hashem of Armies, the Elohim of Israel says: “Add your burnt offerings to your sacrifices and eat meat. 22 For I didn’t speak to your fathers or command them in the day that I brought them out of the land of Egypt concerning burnt offerings or sacrifices; 23 but this thing I commanded them, saying, ‘Listen to My voice, and I will be your Elohim, and you shall be my people. Walk in all the way that I command you, that it may be well with you.’ 24 But they didn’t listen or turn their ear, but walked in their own counsels and in the stubbornness of their evil heart, and went backward, and not forward. 25 Since the day that your fathers came out of the land of Egypt to this day, I have sent to you all my servants the prophets, daily rising up early and sending them. 26 Yet they didn’t listen to me or incline their ear, but made their neck stiff. They did worse than their fathers.

27 “You shall speak all these words to them, but they will not listen to you. You shall also call to them, but they will not answer you. 28 You shall tell them, ‘This is the nation that has not listened to Hashem their Elohim’s voice, nor received instruction. Truth has perished, and is cut off from their mouth.’ 29 Cut off your hair, and throw it away, and take up a lamentation on the bare heights; for Hashem has rejected and forsaken the generation of his wrath.

30 “For the children of Judah have done that which is evil in my sight,” says Hashem. “They have set their abominations in the house which is called by My name, to defile it. 31 They have built the high places of Topheth, which is in the valley of the son of Hinnom, to burn their sons and their daughters in the fire; which I didn’t command, nor did it come into my mind. 32 Therefore behold, the days come”, says Hashem, “that it will no more be called ‘Topheth’ or ‘The valley of the son of Hinnom’, but ‘The valley of Slaughter’; for they will bury in Topheth until there is no place to bury. 33 The dead bodies of this people will be food for the birds of the sky, and for the animals of the earth. No one will frighten them away. 34 Then I will cause to cease from the cities of Judah, and from the streets of Jerusalem, the voice of mirth and the voice of gladness, the voice of the bridegroom and the voice of the bride; for the land will become a waste.”

8 “At that time,” says Hashem, “they will bring the bones of the kings of Judah, the bones of his princes, the bones of the priests, the bones of the prophets, and the bones of the inhabitants of Jerusalem, out of their graves. 2 They will spread them before the sun, the moon, and all the army of the sky, which they have loved, which they have served, after which they have walked, which they have sought, and which they have worshiped. They will not be gathered or be buried. They will be like dung on the surface of the earth. 3 Death will be chosen rather than life by all the residue that remain of this evil family, that remain in all the places where I have driven them,” says Hashem of Armies.

Jeremiah 9:22-23

9:22 Speak, “Hashem says,

“‘The dead bodies of men will fall as dung on the open field,

    and as the handful after the harvester.

    No one will gather them.’”

23 Hashem says,

“Don’t let the wise man glory in his wisdom.

    Don’t let the mighty man glory in his might.

    Don’t let the rich man glory in his riches.

Apostolic Scripture

My Thoughts:

In verse 13 we are reminded by Yeshua that Hashem “Desires mercy, not sacrifice.” Does that mean we are not to follow His Law. Absolutely not! It means we are to live a life of righteousness and mercy. We are to be merciful to those around us that we love and to those we do not know. We are to help others when we are presented with the need to do so. Yes, sacrifice is important. But, if we are making offerings to Hashem, but ignoring those around us who need help -- then our offerings are useless. That is what He desires, for us to be merciful and giving. Then to present our clean offerings to Him. Think about it.

Challenge:

What does it mean in verses 16 and 17 when Yeshua is talking about new wine and old wineskins? I believe it simply means this. When you repent, worship and seek forgiveness you are washed, new, born again. You can come “clean” before Hashem like a “new wineskin”. When this happens you are ready to be “filled” with fresh wine, new wine. If you don’t come clean before Hashem and expect to be “filled” spiritually with new wine, you will not be able to accept it -- you will “burst”. Make sure today that you are coming prepared and clean before Hashem to be filled daily with His Holy Spirit, the “new wine”. Do not try to come before Him in “dirty” clothing, it will not work. You will not be able to come into His presence. Remember, sins separates us from Hashem.

Apostolic Scripture: Matthew 9:10-17

9:10 As He sat in the house, behold, many tax collectors and sinners came and sat down with Yeshua and His disciples. 11 When the Pharisees saw it, they said to his disciples, “Why does your teacher eat with tax collectors and sinners?”

12 When Yeshua heard it, He said to them, “Those who are healthy have no need for a physician, but those who are sick do. 13 But you go and learn what this means: ‘I desire mercy, and not sacrifice,’ for I came not to call the righteous, but sinners to repentance.”

14 Then John’s disciples came to him, saying, “Why do we and the Pharisees fast often, but your disciples don’t fast?”

15 Yeshua said to them, “Can the friends of the bridegroom mourn as long as the bridegroom is with them? But the days will come when the bridegroom will be taken away from them, and then they will fast. 16 No one puts a piece of unshrunk cloth on an old garment; for the patch would tear away from the garment, and a worse hole is made. 17 Neither do people put new wine into old wine skins, or else the skins would burst, and the wine be spilled, and the skins ruined. No, they put new wine into fresh wine skins, and both are preserved.”

Tzav - Reading #6

Tzav צַו - Command!

Leviticus 6:1-8:36

Reading #6 -  Leviticus 8:22–29

My Thoughts:

Moses consecrates Aaron and his sons. He places blood on their right ear, thumb of right hand and toe of right foot (verses 23-24).  What does that all signify? Some sages and scholars believe the ears represent what you listen to, the hand represents what you do and the toe where you walk. That would make sense. We have to be so careful in all that we do. Sometimes I think, “If Hashem were here would He approve of this?” That’s a good measuring line. Imagine His presence and check yourself if you are doing the “right” thing!

Challenge:

Moses is consecrating (“making holy”) Aaron and his sons to do the work of the sacrifices, offerings, etc. in the Tabernacle. We learn from studying Torah that Hashem is into cleanliness and order. The animals must not have defects and the priests must be clean and wear clean clothing. Our Elohim is Holy and Just. We must not bring anything dirty before Him. As it is today. I challenge you to make sure you are not “dirty” before Hashem. In all you do and say, make sure it is pleasing to Hashem. Pray that He will “convict” you to know when you are doing something wrong. And listen to Him. Life will be better. And remember eternal life is in the Commandments.

Reading #6 -   Leviticus 8:22–29

8:22 He presented the other ram, the ram of consecration. Aaron and his sons laid their hands on the head of the ram. 23 He killed it; and Moses took some of its blood, and put it on the tip of Aaron’s right ear, and on the thumb of his right hand, and on the great toe of his right foot. 24 He brought Aaron’s sons; and Moses put some of the blood on the tip of their right ear, and on the thumb of their right hand, and on the great toe of their right foot; and Moses sprinkled the blood around on the altar. 25 He took the fat, the fat tail, all the fat that was on the innards, the cover of the liver, the two kidneys and their fat, and the right thigh; 26 and out of the basket of unleavened bread that was before Hashem, he took one unleavened cake, one cake of oiled bread, and one wafer, and placed them on the fat and on the right thigh. 27 He put all these in Aaron’s hands and in his sons’ hands, and waved them for a wave offering before Hashem. 28 Moses took them from their hands, and burned them on the altar on the burnt offering. They were a consecration offering for a pleasant aroma. It was an offering made by fire to Hashem. 29 Moses took the breast, and waved it for a wave offering before Hashem. It was Moses’ portion of the ram of consecration, as Hashem commanded Moses.

Tzav - Reading #5

Tzav צַו - Command!

Leviticus 6:1-8:36

Reading #5 - Leviticus 8:14–21

My Thoughts:

Verse 14 says they “laid hands” on the bull. Usually “laying hands” on something or someone means some sort of dedication or transference. Here it could be both. They are dedicating this great animal to Hashem and they are “transferring” the sins of the people onto this sacrifice. Sometimes when people pray for me or others - they “lay hands” on us. I believe what they are trying to do is “transfer” Hashem’s healing power, love and grace onto the person they are praying for. Just one word of caution -- do not just let anybody lay hands on you, be sure you know the person and you trust them. They are helping Elohim’s power and plan to reach you.

Challenge:

Again, we are learning Hashem’s specific rules for sacrifice. They are carefully laid out and nothing is to be missed when applying them. We need to look at the whole Torah this way. We are to follow things exactly and not with carelessness. Pay attention to the details and learn to study each Commandment. I encourage you as you read the giving of the Laws in Torah, that you see who they apply to your life today and how you can follow them carefully and exactly as you are able. Torah is life. Breathe it in and obey it.

Reading #5 - Leviticus 8:14–21

14 He brought the bull of the sin offering, and Aaron and his sons laid their hands on the head of the bull of the sin offering. 15 He killed it; and Moses took the blood, and put it around on the horns of the altar with his finger, and purified the altar, and poured out the blood at the base of the altar, and sanctified it, to make atonement for it. 16 He took all the fat that was on the innards, and the cover of the liver, and the two kidneys, and their fat; and Moses burned it on the altar. 17 But the bull, and its skin, and its meat, and its dung, he burned with fire outside the camp, as Hashem commanded Moses. 18 He presented the ram of the burnt offering. Aaron and his sons laid their hands on the head of the ram. 19 He killed it; and Moses sprinkled the blood around on the altar. 20 He cut the ram into its pieces; and Moses burned the head, and the pieces, and the fat. 21 He washed the innards and the legs with water; and Moses burned the whole ram on the altar. It was a burnt offering for a pleasant aroma. It was an offering made by fire to Hashem, as Hashem commanded Moses.

Tzav - Reading #4

Tzav צַו - Command!

Leviticus 6:1-8:36

Reading #4 -  Leviticus 8:1–13

My Thoughts:

Today it’s all about preparation. Hashem tells Moses to bring everyone to the Tent (Tabernacle) and get ready. Aaron and his sons need to get washed, dressed and ready. And everyone must meet there and get ready to sacrifice. This is going to be a big day as we will soon see. I believe Hashem is all about preparing. He is a Elohim of order and not of disorder. Just like we should be enacting in our lives. Order. It brings peace and prosperity because things get done! Try it today!

Challenge:

My challenge to you today is about getting ready to meet Hashem. We have talked about this in the past. But today I want to challenge you about clothing. Aaron and his sons have been dressed in their special tunics. What do we wear when we go before Hashem? You may think it is irrelevant, but is it? During your prayer time are you sitting in your old pajamas, ripped stained clothing or just not caring about what you're wearing? Maybe you are saying “Hashem doesn’t care what I look like!” Well, yes, He does accept us for who we are, but that doesn’t mean we don’t have to be especially clean and nice when we come to Him. So, today when you enter your prayer time or study time, be neat and clean and dressed well. It is about respecting Hashem. And respecting Him in all areas of our life!

Reading #4 -  Leviticus 8:1–13

8:1 Hashem spoke to Moses, saying, 2 “Take Aaron and his sons with him, and the garments, and the anointing oil, and the bull of the sin offering, and the two rams, and the basket of unleavened bread; 3 and assemble all the congregation at the door of the Tent of Meeting.”

4 Moses did as Hashem commanded him; and the congregation was assembled at the door of the Tent of Meeting. 5 Moses said to the congregation, “This is the thing which Hashem has commanded to be done.” 6 Moses brought Aaron and his sons, and washed them with water. 7 He put the tunic on him, tied the sash on him, clothed him with the robe, put the ephod on him, and he tied the skillfully woven band of the ephod on him and fastened it to him with it. 8 He placed the breastplate on him. He put the Urim and Thummim in the breastplate. 9 He set the turban on his head. He set the golden plate, the holy crown, on the front of the turban, as Hashem commanded Moses. 10 Moses took the anointing oil, and anointed the tabernacle and all that was in it, and sanctified them. 11 He sprinkled it on the altar seven times, and anointed the altar and all its vessels, and the basin and its base, to sanctify them. 12 He poured some of the anointing oil on Aaron’s head, and anointed him, to sanctify him. 13 Moses brought Aaron’s sons, and clothed them with tunics, and tied sashes on them, and put headbands on them, as Hashem commanded Moses.

Tzav - Reading #3

Tzav צַו - Command!

Leviticus 6:1-8:36

Reading #3 - Leviticus 7:11–38

My Thoughts:

In today’s reading we have certain instructions on consuming the offering meat after it has been offered and burned. In some cases the person making the offering has the meat to eat (verses 11-15) and in other verses the priests are entitled to it. What I find most valuable is that Hashem is not letting any of the offerings go to waste. Maybe you weren’t planning on giving up a valuable animal, until you realized you sinned. But, after you're commanded to do so, you are able to keep the cooked meat for two days. It seems pretty generous of Hashem to offer this back to you. Don’t you think?

Challenge:

There are five offerings listed in this recent reading in Leviticus. They can be a little hard to understand because most of us do not live in a Jewish community where these offerings are made (and because there currently is not a Temple in Jerusalem to offer them!). So, the best we can do is research and learn. Today I ask you to go to the “heart” of this all. We discussed yesterday about how the main aspect of giving the offerings was to draw closer to Hashem. We know this, that sins separates us from communing with Hashem. An offering of repentance and worship brings us back to Him. Just like in Temple times you could bring an animal or meal offering, now you can bring a worship, prayer or mitzvah offering to Hashem. Let’s remember that -- so we can stay close to Hashem every day!

Reading #3 - Leviticus 7:11–38

7:11 “‘This is the law of the sacrifice of peace offerings, which one shall offer to Hashem: 12 If he offers it for a thanksgiving, then he shall offer with the sacrifice of thanksgiving unleavened cakes mixed with oil, and unleavened wafers anointed with oil, and cakes mixed with oil. 13 He shall offer his offering with the sacrifice of his peace offerings for thanksgiving with cakes of leavened bread. 14 Of it he shall offer one out of each offering for a heave offering to Hashem. It shall be the priest’s who sprinkles the blood of the peace offerings. 15 The flesh of the sacrifice of his peace offerings for thanksgiving shall be eaten on the day of his offering. He shall not leave any of it until the morning.

16 “‘But if the sacrifice of his offering is a vow, or a free will offering, it shall be eaten on the day that he offers his sacrifice. On the next day what remains of it shall be eaten, 17 but what remains of the meat of the sacrifice on the third day shall be burned with fire. 18 If any of the meat of the sacrifice of his peace offerings is eaten on the third day, it will not be accepted, and it shall not be credited to him who offers it. It will be an abomination, and the soul who eats any of it will bear his iniquity.

19 “‘The meat that touches any unclean thing shall not be eaten. It shall be burned with fire. As for the meat, everyone who is clean may eat it; 20 but the soul who eats of the meat of the sacrifice of peace offerings that belongs to Hashem, having his uncleanness on him, that soul shall be cut off from his people. 21 When anyone touches any unclean thing, the uncleanness of man, or an unclean animal, or any unclean abomination, and eats some of the meat of the sacrifice of peace offerings which belong to Hashem, that soul shall be cut off from his people.’”

22 Hashem spoke to Moses, saying, 23 “Speak to the children of Israel, saying, ‘You shall eat no fat, of bull, or sheep, or goat. 24 The fat of that which dies of itself, and the fat of that which is torn of animals, may be used for any other service, but you shall in no way eat of it. 25 For whoever eats the fat of the animal which men offer as an offering made by fire to Hashem, even the soul who eats it shall be cut off from his people. 26 You shall not eat any blood, whether it is of bird or of animal, in any of your dwellings. 27 Whoever it is who eats any blood, that soul shall be cut off from his people.’”

28 Hashem spoke to Moses, saying, 29 “Speak to the children of Israel, saying, ‘He who offers the sacrifice of his peace offerings to Hashem shall bring his offering to Hashem out of the sacrifice of his peace offerings. 30 With his own hands he shall bring the offerings of Hashem made by fire. He shall bring the fat with the breast, that the breast may be waved for a wave offering before Hashem. 31 The priest shall burn the fat on the altar, but the breast shall be Aaron’s and his sons’. 32 The right thigh you shall give to the priest for a heave offering out of the sacrifices of your peace offerings. 33 He among the sons of Aaron who offers the blood of the peace offerings, and the fat, shall have the right thigh for a portion. 34 For the waved breast and the heaved thigh I have taken from the children of Israel out of the sacrifices of their peace offerings, and have given them to Aaron the priest and to his sons as their portion forever from the children of Israel.’”

35 This is the consecrated portion of Aaron, and the consecrated portion of his sons, out of the offerings of Hashem made by fire, in the day when he presented them to minister to Hashem in the priest’s office; 36 which Hashem commanded to be given them of the children of Israel, in the day that he anointed them. It is their portion forever throughout their generations. 37 This is the law of the burnt offering, the meal offering, the sin offering, the trespass offering, the consecration, and the sacrifice of peace offerings 38 which Hashem commanded Moses in Mount Sinai in the day that he commanded the children of Israel to offer their offerings to Hashem, in the wilderness of Sinai.