Terumah תְּרוּמָה - Offering
Exodus: 25:1-27:19
Haftarah: 1 Samuel 15:1-34
Apostolic Reading: Mark 12:35-44
Reading #7 - Exodus 27:9–19
My Thoughts:
This reading continues on with Temple construction. This is about the hangings that will cover the outside walls. Again they are to be excellent and beautiful. Nothing is to be spared for Hashem and His presence. But, it also had to be “portable” because they were picking up and moving. It truly was a “portable sanctuary”. Hashem in all His wisdom and love gave them this, as He also gave them His presence in a cloud by day and fire by night. What a faithful Elohim!
Challenge:
Just as the Tabernacle (“house”) of Hashem is to be beautiful and perfect for His residing presence, so should our hearts be the same. Make sure you are keeping your heart clean and perfect so that His love can preside in you! If you need to do some work in some areas, take some time right now to make a plan. What sin do you need to get rid of? Who do you need to forgive? Do you need to repay someone? Do you simply need to spend more time in His Scripture and in prayer? Start today. Make a “place” for Him in your heart.
Reading #7 - Exodus 27:9–19
9 “You shall make the court of the tabernacle: for the south side southward there shall be hangings for the court of fine twined linen one hundred cubits long for one side. 10 Its pillars shall be twenty, and their sockets twenty, of bronze. The hooks of the pillars and their fillets shall be of silver. 11 Likewise for the length of the north side, there shall be hangings one hundred cubits long, and its pillars twenty, and their sockets twenty, of bronze; the hooks of the pillars, and their fillets, of silver. 12 For the width of the court on the west side shall be hangings of fifty cubits; their pillars ten, and their sockets ten. 13 The width of the court on the east side eastward shall be fifty cubits. 14 The hangings for the one side of the gate shall be fifteen cubits; their pillars three, and their sockets three. 15 For the other side shall be hangings of fifteen cubits; their pillars three, and their sockets three. 16 For the gate of the court shall be a screen of twenty cubits, of blue, and purple, and scarlet, and fine twined linen, the work of the embroiderer; their pillars four, and their sockets four. 17 All the pillars of the court around shall be filleted with silver; their hooks of silver, and their sockets of bronze. 18 The length of the court shall be one hundred cubits, and the width fifty throughout, and the height five cubits, of fine twined linen, and their sockets of bronze. 19 All the instruments of the tabernacle in all its service, and all its pins, and all the pins of the court, shall be of bronze.
Haftarah Reading
My Thoughts:
“To obey is better than sacrifice” (verse 22). That does mean that Hashem no longer wants sacrifice, like some doctrines will teach. You need to read this in context. Saul gives the excuse that the reason he did not follow Hashem’s command to completely destroy everything, including livestock, was because then they had animals to sacrifice. No, that is not what Hashem asked for! He asked them to completely destroy everything and they disobeyed Him! That is why Samuel tells Saul that Hashem would rather have obedience then sacrifice. Because Saul disobeyed and wanted to use this as an excuse to sacrifice.
Hashem’s Law is eternal. And someday when the Temple is restored and He sends His Mashiach to rule and reign -- there will still be sacrifice. Read Isaiah and Ezekiel on this. It is clear. Man can not erase Hashem’s Commandments and like Saul cannot replace them. Think about it.
Challenge:
What Commandment are you “hedging” on in your life? Do you watch shows on TV or go to the movies and watch things that you know are not approved by Hashem? Do you treat people in a way that disregards Hashem’s commands in that area? Do you dishonor your parents with excuses to do so? Reevaluate your life and make sure you are following and obeying Hashem’s Commandments. Do not be like Saul and make exceptions to His rules. It is wrong and there will be consequences.
Haftarah: 1 Samuel 15:1-34
15 Samuel said to Saul, “Hashem sent me to anoint you to be king over his people, over Israel. Now therefore listen to the voice of Hashem’s words. 2 Hashem of Armies says, ‘I remember what Amalek did to Israel, how he set himself against him on the way when he came up out of Egypt. 3 Now go and strike Amalek, and utterly destroy all that they have, and don’t spare them; but kill both man and woman, infant and nursing baby, ox and sheep, camel and donkey.’”
4 Saul summoned the people, and counted them in Telaim, two hundred thousand footmen and ten thousand men of Judah. 5 Saul came to the city of Amalek, and set an ambush in the valley. 6 Saul said to the Kenites, “Go, depart, go down from among the Amalekites, lest I destroy you with them; for you showed kindness to all the children of Israel when they came up out of Egypt.” So the Kenites departed from among the Amalekites.
7 Saul struck the Amalekites, from Havilah as you go to Shur, which is before Egypt. 8 He took Agag the king of the Amalekites alive, and utterly destroyed all the people with the edge of the sword. 9 But Saul and the people spared Agag and the best of the sheep, of the cattle, of the fat calves, of the lambs, and all that was good, and were not willing to utterly destroy them; but everything that was vile and refuse, that they destroyed utterly.
10 Then Hashem’s word came to Samuel, saying, 11 “It grieves me that I have set up Saul to be king, for he has turned back from following Me, and has not performed My commandments.” Samuel was angry; and he cried to Hashem all night.
12 Samuel rose early to meet Saul in the morning; and Samuel was told, saying, “Saul came to Carmel, and behold, he set up a monument for himself, turned, passed on, and went down to Gilgal.”
13 Samuel came to Saul; and Saul said to him, “You are blessed by Hashem! I have performed the commandment of Hashem.”
14 Samuel said, “Then what does this bleating of the sheep in my ears and the lowing of the cattle which I hear mean?”
15 Saul said, “They have brought them from the Amalekites; for the people spared the best of the sheep and of the cattle, to sacrifice to Hashem your Elohim. We have utterly destroyed the rest.”
16 Then Samuel said to Saul, “Stay, and I will tell you what Hashem said to me last night.”
He said to him, “Say on.”
17 Samuel said, “Though you were little in your own sight, weren’t you made the head of the tribes of Israel? Hashem anointed you king over Israel; 18 and Hashem sent you on a journey, and said, ‘Go, and utterly destroy the sinners the Amalekites, and fight against them until they are consumed.’ 19 Why then didn’t you obey Hashem’s voice, but took the plunder, and did that which was evil in Hashem’s sight?”
20 Saul said to Samuel, “But I have obeyed Hashem’s voice, and have gone the way which Hashem sent me, and have brought Agag the king of Amalek, and have utterly destroyed the Amalekites. 21 But the people took of the plunder, sheep and cattle, the best of the devoted things, to sacrifice to Hashem your Elohim in Gilgal.”
22 Samuel said, “Has Hashem as great delight in burnt offerings and sacrifices, as in obeying Hashem’s voice? Behold, to obey is better than sacrifice, and to listen than the fat of rams. 23 For rebellion is as the sin of witchcraft, and stubbornness is as idolatry and teraphim. Because you have rejected Hashem’s word, He has also rejected you from being king.”
24 Saul said to Samuel, “I have sinned; for I have transgressed the commandment of Hashem and your words, because I feared the people and obeyed their voice. 25 Now therefore, please pardon my sin, and turn again with me, that I may worship Hashem.”
26 Samuel said to Saul, “I will not return with you; for you have rejected Hashem’s word, and Hashem has rejected you from being king over Israel.” 27 As Samuel turned around to go away, Saul grabbed the skirt of his robe, and it tore. 28 Samuel said to him, “Hashem has torn the kingdom of Israel from you today, and has given it to a neighbor of yours who is better than you. 29 Also the Strength of Israel will not lie nor repent; for he is not a man, that he should repent.”
30 Then he said, “I have sinned; yet please honor me now before the elders of my people and before Israel, and come back with me, that I may worship Hashem your Elohim.”
31 So Samuel went back with Saul; and Saul worshiped Hashem. 32 Then Samuel said, “Bring Agag the king of the Amalekites here to me!”
Agag came to him cheerfully. Agag said, “Surely the bitterness of death is past.”
33 Samuel said, “As your sword has made women childless, so your mother will be childless among women!” Then Samuel cut Agag in pieces before Hashem in Gilgal.
34 Then Samuel went to Ramah; and Saul went up to his house to Gibeah of Saul.
Apostolic Reading
My Thoughts:
Yeshua is teaching in the story of the widow that it is important to give back to Hashem. Just as in the time of the Torah readings this week, people were giving back to Hashem. They were taking the presents they had received from the Egyptians and giving it back for the creation of the Tabernacle. I’m sure some did so without hesitation. Do we give back to Hashem, some of what He gave us to help His work? Search your conscience and see if you have given back what He has asked you.
Challenge:
Yeshua is telling people to not be “showy” in their service to Hashem. That we are in service to Elhim we do so humbly and without pride. Whether you belong to a synagogue, a church, a Bible study group it is important to remember this story about serving Hashem with humility. That will be an example to others that we do not seek any glory of our own, but give Him all the glory! Amen!
Apostolic Reading: Mark 12:35-44
12:35 Yeshua responded, as He taught in the Temple, “How is it that the scribes say that the Mashiach is the son of David? 36 For David himself said in the Holy Spirit,
‘The L-rd said to my Lord,
“Sit at my right hand,
until I make your enemies the footstool of your feet.”’Psalm 110:1
37 Therefore David himself calls him L-rd, so how can he be His son?”
The common people heard Him gladly. 38 In His teaching He said to them, “Beware of the scribes, who like to walk in long robes, and to get greetings in the marketplaces, 39 and the best seats in the synagogues, and the best places at feasts: 40 those who devour widows’ houses, and for a pretense make long prayers. These will receive greater condemnation.”
41 Yeshua sat down opposite the treasury, and saw how the multitude cast money into the treasury. Many who were rich cast in much. 42 A poor widow came, and she cast in two small brass coins, which equal a quadrans coin. 43 He called his disciples to Himself, and said to them, “Most certainly I tell you, this poor widow gave more than all those who are giving into the treasury, 44 for they all gave out of their abundance, but she, out of her poverty, gave all that she had to live on.”
