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Vayikra - Leviticus
Started by LovingNeighbor at 04-11-2006 10:52 AM. Topic has 3 replies.
  
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 04-11-2006, 10:52 AM
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LovingNeighbor
 
Joined on 02-10-2006
Washington
Posts 397
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Vayikra Parasha Thoughts, Studies, and Comments
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The goal of this section is to get everybody's studies, thoughts, and opinions on anything in the weeks parasha. This includes, word studies, thoughts on verses, history, related subjects, and anything that may help us to understand this Torah Portion. Even if it's just an observation on the smallest part, it can help others who may not have seen it that way. The goal is then as we visit the parasha (Torah Portion) each year we will create a collection of studies and thoughts on this portion and everyone will benefit by having a broader view of the portion. Shalom!
A disciple should diligently search for the truth and humbly deny and reconsider it's possession.
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04-11-2006, 11:03 AM
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LovingNeighbor
Joined on 02-10-2006
Washington
Posts 397
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Vayikra Parasha Message Lovingneighbor
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When I Walk Away
For Parasha Vayikra
By Lovingneighbor 4-1-2006
This weeks Parasha focuses on the offerings (corban - to bring near). It goes into all the different offerings, and how to do them. Who is responsible to do what, and the process between repentance and forgiveness. It just wasn't enough to say sorry for your sin, and it's not that way in todays society either. There was restitution to be made to those you harmed on top of the penalty to the authorities. We see God's system includes this also.
It's interesting that God has an exact way you must go about making things right. And if you don't get it right it isn't forgiven. True forgiveness always costs something. There is always a price and always a penalty. Many people don't want to believe this with our Messiah. They think he is offering a free forgiveness pass, But to those who love him, it seems the more you love him, the greater the cost for your sin becomes. Just as we are to remember how God brought us out of Egypt (world of sin) during passover, we also then must remember how our sin was part of the suffering and crucifiction of Messiah. If he did indeed die for our sins, then his punishment and his death was due to us also. I think this is something to often forgotten by those who claim to love and follow him. If he truly died for those who would love him and believe in him, then every drop of blood was then shed for each of our sins.
I think the more you walk with him and learn to love him, the more you are humbled by his love for us. John told the pharisees of the time who wanted to baptized, to go and bring fruits worthy of repentance. In many ways this is like bringing an offering. Offerings are exactly measured in the scriptures, a certain amount for a certain thing. The interesting thing about John's statement is how much then should they bring. It depended on how much they thought they had done wrong. Reminds me of the story of the man who humbly came asking for forgiveness admitting his sin vs. the man thinking he was righteous bragging about the things he did. Messiah said it was the man with the broken or humble spirit who was justified.
Psa 51:17 The sacrifices of God are a broken spirit: a broken and a contrite heart, O God, thou wilt not despise.
This offering is acceptable to God and helps us draw near. To sin is to walk away from him and his presence. Notice Adam and Eve hid from God when they sinned. It stops us from dwelling near him. The offerings help right our wrong and are the fruit of our repentance. True love is sacrifice. The opposite of sacrifice is selfishness. God has loved us since the beginning and even gave his son for us that we would not be destroyed. Messiah also loved us and gave his own life for us. What have we done in return? What great thing have we given to him? It's a gut check. Torah teaches us how to love God. Messiah says if you love him keep his commandments. What can you really give God? he created it all. I believe the only thing we can give him is our choices. It's the only thing we own. When we sacrifice our self serving ways and stop sinning, studying his Torah to find out how to love him, and Thank him for everything. Is it really that big of a list? Is keeping his sabbaths such a burden when he gave his life for us. Nobody wants to be in a one sided relationship. This is what was so despicable about the golden calf. After all God did for Israel they gave the glory to a piece of gold they made. Let's look at ways we can show our love for God and our Messiah that will help us draw closer to them.
1Jo 5:3 For this is the love of God, that we keep his commandments: and his commandments are not grievous.
In this Torah portion we see God saying that they children of Israel in Isaiah 43:22 that they are weary of God, with his offerings and incense. Yet he says it is not his joy to receive all their sin sacrifices, they have wearied him with their lawlessness. Many people today think the Torah and God's law is a bother and a burden they can happily do without. But it is only a burden if they break it. It was put there for them to help them and yet they have made it grevious, this shows they do not love God.
When we sin it creates separation between Man and God. Messiah comes to be an intercessor. When we sin like the golden calf we walk away from God and push him outside the camp. Moshe a peacemaker brings us back together as Messiah will be cleaning us up and helping to bring us near through (corban or offerings). The very fact God made a system for us to be restored shows his great love and mercy and his desire to dwell with us even though we have walked away from him. God is faithful to us, it is us who are unfaithful in this relationship. When we walk away from God by sinning he doesn't chase after us, but he does create a path by which we can return to him. In this weeks parasha the offerings are the way he helps us atone for our sin and draw close to him. Shalom!
A disciple should diligently search for the truth and humbly deny and reconsider it's possession.
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03-25-2007, 12:36 AM
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LovingNeighbor
Joined on 02-10-2006
Washington
Posts 397
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Vayikra Parasha 2006-7 Message Lovingneighbor
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The Guilt of Ignorance
For Parasha Vayikra
By Lovingneighbor 3-24-2007
This weeks Parasha is in the book of Vayikra also called Leviticus, and is called Vayikra which means 'and He called'. In this weeks parasha:
- The law of the burnt offering of cattle is given
- The law of the burnt offering of sheep and goats is given
- The law of the burnt offering of turtle doves and pigeons is given
- The law of the minkha ( grain offering) is given
- You shall not make the minkha with leaven or honey
- The law of the firstfruit offering is given
- The law of the peace offering of the cattle is given
- The law of the peace offering of the lambs is given
- The law of the peace offering of the goats is given
- The law of the sins of ignorance by men and priests is given
- The law for the whole congregation that sins through ignorance is given
- The law for a ruler who sins through ignorance is given
- The law for the common person who sins through ignorance is given
- If a person has knowledge or testimony of a matter they must bear witness
- If a person touches an unclean thing such as a carcass and don't know it they are unclean and guilty
- If a person touches the uncleanness of a man not knowing, when they know they are guilty
- The law concerning swearing and giving oaths
- Law of the optional minkha offering for the person who swears an oath and can't bring from the flock or fowls
- The law of the trespass against the holy things through ignorance
- The law of the trespass of ignorance offering
- The law of the trespass offering concerning lying and unjust gain
- Haftarah - YHWH has chosen Yisra'el and there is no elohim besides him
In this weeks portion we start with the laws of the various offerings to be given. Essentially last parasha we have the finishing of the building of the tabernacle and all the laws that go along with that and now we have the laws of the sacrifices that are going to be brought to the tabernacle. We start with the burnt offering, then we go to the minkha or grain offering, and finally we get to the peace offering. These can be described as a sweet savor to YHWH. But then things change as we get to the sin offering which was killed inside then brought outside and burned. Sound familiar? What would that have to do with the idols in the haftarah and how they were empty inside and burned on the outside and yet called gods. This also in my opinion implies that the sin offering is not to be worshipped but the peace offering, and burnt offerings. These are like righteousness and our good works and obediance. These are a sweet savour to YHWH. Yet many treat Messiah in the same way they worship his sacrifice for sin and not His righteousness and obediance to Elohim which is pleaseing to YHWH. Elohim provides us a path to return but the glory is not in the sacrifice for sin but int the offering of obediance. In looking at the book of Vayikra we can choose one of two paths. We can read through it as if it is antiquated and irrelavant skimming a few tidbits of information or we can strive harder to remove our ignorance of the importance and pattern of these things. The temple, sacrifices and holy days all fit in the same categories in my opinion. they can be just things empty of meaning or they can be things of beauty and depth filled with relevance and teachings. Many Christians treat the temple as such, a old non relavent to their life type of thing much like the sacrificial system and even the holy days, and though many Jews today keep the holy days they can be just as empty by your side as they are thousands of years removed. Sacrifices and the temple seem a thing of the past even to most modern Jews. We find some meaning out of the holy days simply because we still do them and interact with them and in some ways this forces us to find some meaning. But tradition can dullen the senses and repetition can hamper the desire to keep searching for meaning. We simply are ignorant to the purpose and meaning of many of these things. So shall we just keep going on in our ignorance. I think not. The word ignorance sheg'aw'gaw H 7684 is first used in this portion in Lev 4:2 talking of the sin through ignorance. The root word is Shaw'gag meaning to stray or sin, be decieved or to err. This root word is used in psalms
Psa 119:67 Before I was afflicted I went astray: but now have I kept thy word.
The word shawgag is spelled Shin, gimel, gimel which in the ancient hebrew could mean eat or press, foot, foot or walk, walk. I see this as a testing of the feet which also means walk. to press upon your walk two times or your two feet. When we see the shin I see this as judgment. The shin is the two teeth and means to press or eat. As the mouth is likened to judgment so the teeth divide the food. seperating the parts. This seperation of the the feet or walk is where I see the concept of going astray from the shin, gimel,gimel, The feet are divided and yet that division is seen in that a man cannot have two masters. Just as one foot cannot go west and the other east, so also you are either walking toward Elohim with both letter and spirit or you are walking away from him. The interesting thing is the word used in this portion for ingnorance is spelled with the shin, gimel, gimel, and a hay at the end. the hay is the arms of the man raised and can mean reveal. So where shaw'gag means to go astray and sin, sheg'aw'gaw can mean to reveal the going astray meaning you didn't know you sinned. So why is this important?
In this weeks parasha we find a pattern of guilt and sacrifice needed when you know that you have sinned. It doesn't say that you didn't know so your fine go on about your way. It says when you know of the sin you shall be guilty. Just as touching an unclean thing makes you unclean whether you know you touched it or not, so also sin through ignorance is still sin and must be attoned for. Why would they be ignorant to their sin? If they recieved the Torah and Torah updates live from Elohim what ignorance would there be. What sin is not a choice? In their day they were living Torah and after them they were raised with it. So how often was this sin of ignorance used? Interesting that Paul spoke on this I beleive when he spoke on the Torah showing us our sin. This was not it's only purpose, but once it showed you your sin you would go and be required to make a sin offering then go and sin no more because now that you knew it would not be the same. If you know torah you should not be ignorant of sin. Is it a blessing then to know Torah? Those who are studying for the first time may be ignorant more than others yet their sin is accumulating. How many bulls and goats have we accumulated over the years of our ignorance to Torah. Will we be able to pay for all of our bill? Two things stand out to me in this. One is that YHWH is merciful for the person who doesn't know. But also it implys that your guilt will come upon you eventually of all your ignorance. much like charging up a credit card and not realizing they are adding up your charges to give you a big bill, many people just keep going running up their sin credit card and Torah is there to remind them the bill is coming. This is much like John the baptist. This reminds me of the haftarah that stated show them the temple that they may be ashamed. How many goats of the common person would be needed for their sins of ignorance? See the longer you remain in ignorance the more sins your accumulating and yet the more you learn the more you are held accountable.
I believe we are going to need massive sin offerings when Messiah returns and reveals the truth to us. Yet we can also see in the verse about Messiah giving himself for his congregation how Messiah in teaching us and removing our ignorance also offers himself as a sin offering for our ignorance as we learn of our sins and as he said to some of the people he healed "go and sin no more or a worse thing will befall you."
Studying Torah, the holy days, temple, and sacrifices will help take away the guilt that will come upon us if we continue to just ignore the meanings of these things and not study them. It will put a stop to the frivilous sin spending that we do every day in ignorance. The guilt of not knowing these things and their meanings is accumulating until the cost of not knowing will be too high for us to pay. Lets all take the time to seek these things out and their meanings so that we will no longer be ignorant. Lets cut up our ignorance credit card and start working on repaying our debt with righteousness. Shalom!
A disciple should diligently search for the truth and humbly deny and reconsider it's possession.
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03-22-2008, 10:45 AM
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LovingNeighbor
Joined on 02-10-2006
Washington
Posts 397
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Vayikra Parasha 2007-8 Message Lovingneighbor
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Called, Spoken to, and Asked to Speak
For Parasha Vayikra
By Lovingneighbor 3-15-2008
This weeks Parasha is in the book of Vayikra also called Leviticus, and is called Vayikra which means 'and He called'. In this weeks parasha:
- The law of the burnt offering of cattle is given
- The law of the burnt offering of sheep and goats is given
- The law of the burnt offering of turtle doves and pigeons is given
- The law of the minkha ( grain offering) is given
- You shall not make the minkha with leaven or hiney
- The law of the firstfruit offering is given
- The law of the peace offering of the cattle is given
- The law of the peace offering of the lambs is given
- The law of the peace offering of the goats is given
- The law of the sins of ignorance by men and priests is given
- The law for the whole congregation that sins through ignorance is given
- The law for a ruler who sins through ignorance is given
- The law for the common person who sins through ignorance is given
- If a person has knowledge or testimony of a matter they must bear witness
- If a person touches an unclean thing such as a carcass and don't know it they are unclean and guilty
- If a person touches the uncleanness of a man not knowing, when they know they are guilty
- The law concerning swearing and giving oaths
- Law of the optional minkha offering for the person who swears an oath and can't bring from the flock or fowls
- The law of the trespass against the holy things through ignorance
- The law of the trespass of ignorance offering
- The law of the trespass offering concerning lying and unjust gain
- Haftarah - YHWH has chosen Yisra'el and there is no elohim besides him
In this weeks parasha we see a powerful lesson we can learn. The parasha starts with the sentences:
Lev 1:1 And YHWH called unto Moshe, and spoke unto him out of the tabernacle of the congregation, saying,
Lev 1:2 Speak unto the children of Yisra'el, and say unto them, If any man of you bring an offering unto YHWH, you shall bring your offering of the cattle, even of the herd, and of the flock.
What I find interesting here is just the basics of the the sentences. We have three things happening, Moshe was called, then he was spoken to, then he was to speak to others. Sometimes the simple mechanics of a piece of text reveals so much and has great implications. In this verse what I get out of it, is that it starts with being called, then you must listen, then you may speak. Let's look at each of these and see if this pattern is supported in the Torah.
First is you are called. The very first things called is from Gen 1:5
Gen 1:5 And Elohim called the light Day, and the darkness he called Night. And the evening and the morning were the first day.
Of course this makes sense since the word for called is ka'raw spelled quph, resh, alef in the ancient Hebrew it could mean the division of light and dark, beginning, strength. Strength can represent Elohim who divided the light and darkness in the beginning. Very interesting. And these things were called in the beginning.
We also see the concept of being called
Gen 2:19 And out of the ground YHWH Elohim formed every beast of the field, and every fowl of the air; and brought them unto Adam to see what he would call them: and whatsoever Adam called every living creature, that was the name thereof.
This word here means to call by name, pronounce and we see that in this word being used to give authority to different things.
Gen 2:23 And Adam said, This is now bone of my bones, and flesh of my flesh: she shall be called Woman, because she was taken out of Man.
Woman was also called and called with an authority given by Elohim. We have a very big problem in wanting to rename ourselves and things we are not in authority over.
Next we see Moshe beign called from the Burning Bush.
Exo 3:4 And when YHWH saw that he turned aside to see, Elohim called unto him out of the midst of the bush, and said, Moshe, Moshe. And he said, Here am I.
In the end we see the punishment for not heeding the calling
Pro 1:24 Because I have called, and you refused; I have stretched out my hand, and no man regarded;
Pro 8:1 Does not wisdom cry? and understanding put forth her voice?
Pro 8:2 She stands in the top of high places, by the way in the places of the paths.
Pro 8:3 She cries at the gates, at the entry of the city, at the coming in at the doors.
Pro 8:4 Unto you, O men, I call; and my voice is to the sons of man.
His son was also called by the Father
Mat 2:15 And was there until the death of Herod: that it might be fulfilled which was spoken of YHWH by the prophet, saying, Out of Egypt have I called my son.
As we see just being called is not enough.
Mat 20:16 So the last shall be first, and the first last: for many be called, but few chosen.
Next we go to listening. This is the concept of shema. To hearken. This is where we are now. Learning the Torah is to listen to Elohim.
Pro 8:33 Hear instruction, and be wise, and refuse it not.
Many come and repeat what they have heard from men. Many come and as Eve who wanted to change her authority to as the serpent said be like Elohim. She was not called to this level and sought to take it for herself. To rule over her husband which was not given to her. Tricked by a serpent who was at the same time trying to rule over people who were above him. The serpent is lower by nature than men, but it elevated itself in the tree. This is the model of satan in my opinion being able to be elevated from a lowly serpent to being above men, only by them letting him. Thus the picture of the snake in the tree suspended above the man. She gave it authority in order to gain more authority herself but in the end she became lower than the lowest. She was under the serpent as dust of the ground.
What was it all about? who she would shema to. She listened to the serpent instead of Elohim who is greater and her husband. The sin multiplied as the husband who is greater than the wife listened to one beneath him and thus became lower than her, and the pattern continues. So it started as Elohim then man, then woman, then serpent, and when the lowest wanted to tak what was not given then all fell from Elohim. Now it looks like Elohim, Serpent, Woman, and man. How does that compare to todays society. So when someone doesn't accept the authority or name they are given and decides to as it says in bavel ' make a name for themselves' then you have destruction and the concept of being fallen.
So what does this mean for listening. You have to be very careful who you listen to and not give someone more authority than they deserve. I see many people lifting up leaders and teachers and they aren't actually lifting them up, they are coming under them. Ultimately this doesn't bring you closer to Elohim it moves you further away from Him. There is only one man to come under. That is Mashiach. As it says in the scripture:
1Co 3:21 Therefore let no man glory in men. For all things are yours;
1Co 3:22 Whether Paul, or Apollos, or Cephas, or the world, or life, or death, or things present, or things to come; all are yours;
1Co 3:23 And you are Mashiach's; and Mashiach is Elohim's.
So here there are only three levels Everyone, Mashiach, Elohim. When you lift another man up you really just seperate yourselves from Elohim and Mashiach.
So what is the last level. To speak. This is the problem, people haven't shema'd to the Torah and yet they run out and teach. Not share, but teach. The Torah speaks volumes about this. Being hasty with your words, not listening, holding your tongue.
Pro 15:23 A man has joy by the answer of his mouth: and a word spoken in due season, how good is it!
Pro 25:11 A word fitly spoken is like apples of gold in pictures of silver.
Hearing the Torah is not enough:
Rom 2:13 (For not the hearers of the law are just before Elohim, but the doers of the law shall be justified.
These teachers who are really students run out and teach what they themselves have not mastered can be seen in the scriptures:
Rom 2:19 And art confident that thou thyself art a guide of the blind, a light of them which are in darkness,
Rom 2:20 An instructor of the foolish, a teacher of babes, which hast the form of knowledge and of the truth in the law.
Rom 2:21 You therefore which teach another, teach you not yourself? you that preach a man should not steal, do you steal?
Rom 2:22 You that say a man should not commit adultery, do you commit adultery? you that abhor idols, do you commit sacrilege?
Rom 2:23 You that make your boast of the law, through breaking the law dishonourest you Elohim?
Rom 2:24 For the name of Elohim is blasphemed among the nations through you, as it is written.
Mashiach addresses this issue in this verse:
Mat 7:3 And why behold you the mote that is in your brother's eye, but consider not the beam that is in your own eye?
Mat 7:4 Or how will you say to your brother, Let me pull out the mote out of your eye; and, behold, a beam is in your own eye?
Mat 7:5 You hypocrite, first cast out the beam out of your own eye; and then shall you see clearly to cast out the mote out of your brother's eye.
So here we see this is likened to knowing Torah. The person is judging their fault which is judging them according to Torah. Yet they have their own faults in Torah. It says First, yes read it first so you don't justify yourself in what you're doing. First cast our the beam in your eye. Then you are to speak to Cast out. See it doesn't say you can't fellowship. Sharing is not the same as teaching. That is where people go. This is why I believe it says about Mashiach that unlike the pharisees who were teaching, he taught with authority. They tried but they themselves had not learned Torah correctly. They had the beam in their eye and so were not of help to others. They were gouging out eyes with their misinterpretations and thus making the whole community blind.
So yes like it says, We are called and must respond, then we are spoken to by Elohim through His Torah, then maybe we will be useful to speak to others. If you skip step 2 you will have a blind camp. This is where I think we are now. If everyone was studying and sharing with each other not trying to stand up and be a leader or sit down and be a follower of men and we were as Mashiach says sharing with others but not being called teacher, then we would be way better off.
So let's all take a closer look at not really what we are saying, but how we are saying it and with what authority when sharing with others. We need to remain student understanding our own ignorance. Like the sins of ignorance in this Torah portion, there is a cost. You don't just stop yourself from learning more by thinking you already have it down, but you hurt others by teaching your misunderstanding with authority. Humble yourself and get back to studying Torah, and maybe, just maybe, we will be asked to actually teach with authority someday.
Pro 25:6 Put not forth yourself in the presence of the king, and stand not in the place of greatness:
Pro 25:7 For better it is that it be said unto you, Come up here; than that you should be put lower in the presence of the prince whom your eyes have seen.
A disciple should diligently search for the truth and humbly deny and reconsider it's possession.
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