Post by Mark on Apr 3, 2009 4:15:29 GMT -8
When I worked as a manager, I had a number of employees who answered to me to perform duties as an extension of the decisions that I made. While some of the things I needed people to do were very important (sometimes even a matter of life or death), others were actually very mundane- often to give them something to do so that their shift would go faster and be more interesting for them. I concocted a rule: when I’m asking, I’m asking. When I’m telling, I’m telling.
The Hebrew word tzav means to command, not ask, not suggest, not to speak in any ambiguity at all.
I’ve had, over the years, a number of people make it clear to me that they don’t appreciate being told what to do. I had one supervisor (who lasted only a short while) who explained to me that he became a supervisor because he didn’t like to be told what to do so he got in a position where he did most the telling (a very confused young man).
It is this natural inclination of mankind that stands against our ability to walk in close fellowship with the Most High. We push out our chests and huff at His
, "I don’t like anyone telling me what to do."
David says this in response:
Keep back thy servant also from presumptuous sins; let them not have dominion over me: then shall I be upright, and I shall be innocent from the great transgression. Let the words of my mouth, and the meditation of my heart, be acceptable in thy sight, O LORD, my strength, and my redeemer.
(Psalms 19:13-14 KJV)
The word "tzade" (translated presumptuous) is obviously related to the word "tzav". It means arrogance or self-will. It carries the idea of coming out from under authority: to do things my way, to avoid those who have the authority to tell me what to do.
When Moses was told by God to command Aaron and his sons, the relationship was clear: "I’m not asking, I’m telling." The manner in which the priests were to perform their function in worship was not a negotiable. It is unfortunate that so many who describe Adonai Tzavaot, The commander of the hosts (those under His command), as their God are so flippant and wayward with respect to His commandments.
As we open His Word, His Truth, His Tzavaim, may we hear with obedient hearts, not with the ear to twist the words to our own liking, not with the ear that repels any personal application but to "shammah", to hear obediently, and to live acceptably under His command.
And the LORD spoke unto Moses, saying, (Leviticus 6:8 KJV)
Command Aaron and his sons, saying, This is the law of the burnt offering: It is the burnt offering, because of the burning upon the altar all night unto the morning, and the fire of the altar shall be burning in it. (Leviticus 6:9 KJV)
And the priest shall put on his linen garment, and his linen breeches shall he put upon his flesh, and take up the ashes which the fire hath consumed with the burnt offering on the altar, and he shall put them beside the altar. (Leviticus 6:10 KJV)
And he shall put off his garments, and put on other garments, and carry forth the ashes without the camp unto a clean place. (Leviticus 6:11 KJV)
And the fire upon the altar shall be burning in it; it shall not be put out: and the priest shall burn wood on it every morning, and lay the burnt offering in order upon it; and he shall burn thereon the fat of the peace offerings. (Leviticus 6:12 KJV)
How can that which has been started or created by God thus be sustained by man? The question extends far beyond the Tabernacle. In our own lives, our industry, our ministry, our family, we are perpetually "adding wood" to contribute to the flame that is to be sustained at all times (the Light of God in our lives). We pray at meal time to thank God for His providence for us; but what we see before us as that which we receive is by the toil of our own hand, exactly the same as the table of the of those who give no glory to God for their provision.
It is exactly true. The question is, to which fire are we adding wood? Do we contribute to the fires that we have started or do we add to the flame that He has given us, in honor and service to Him? It is His desire that we participate in His goodness, share in the ownership of belonging with Him in all things. The non-observant sees no difference in the fire that he adds to and our own. The result is the same; but what he doesn’t understand is that he sits at his fire alone while we share in communion and community with the Most High.
"There is a fire of love for God that burns within every soul. It is the task of the "Kohen"—the spiritual leaders of the generation—to feed and preserve this fire."
(Alshich)
The fire shall ever be burning upon the altar; it shall never go out. (Leviticus 6:13 KJV)
God doesn’t keep office hours. When we delay in doing our business with Him, it is our hesitation, not His: He is ever available to restore and release us from the burdens that we carry.
Talmud describes the inner and outer fires (the fire of the Altar of Sacrifice versus the fire of the Menorah and Altar of Incense). These may be compared to the outer workings, the conduct, of man and the inner workings of the his spirit. It is our inclination to focus in on the "spiritual" aspects of our worship, thinking that if we preserve and nurture the spiritual things, the physical workings will respond; but the example of the Tabernacle is exactly the opposite. Adonai lit the fire of the Altar of Sacrifice and it is from this flame that the inner lights are kindled.
The fire of God never went out. As the Tabernacle would be pulled up, the fire, itself was carried in a copper basin and maintained along the way.
And this is the law of the meat offering: the sons of Aaron shall offer it before the LORD, before the altar. (Leviticus 6:14 KJV)
And he shall take of it his handful, of the flour of the meat offering, and of the oil thereof, and all the frankincense which is upon the meat offering, and shall burn it upon the altar for a sweet savor, even the memorial of it, unto the LORD. (Leviticus 6:15 KJV)
And the remainder thereof shall Aaron and his sons eat: with unleavened bread shall it be eaten in the holy place; in the court of the tabernacle of the congregation they shall eat it. (Leviticus 6:16 KJV)
It shall not be baked with leaven. I have given it unto them for their portion of my offerings made by fire; it is most holy, as is the sin offering, and as the trespass offering. (Leviticus 6:17 KJV)
All the males among the children of Aaron shall eat of it. It shall be a statute forever in your generations concerning the offerings of the LORD made by fire: every one that toucheth them shall be holy. (Leviticus 6:18 KJV)
And the LORD spoke unto Moses, saying, (Leviticus 6:19 KJV)
This is the offering of Aaron and of his sons, which they shall offer unto the LORD in the day when he is anointed; the tenth part of an ephah of fine flour for a meat offering perpetual, half of it in the morning, and half thereof at night. (Leviticus 6:20 KJV)
The High Priest’s daily offering was a meal offering, the offering of a poor man. This, for two reasons: that a poor man bringing his pauper’s offering to the Sanctuary should not be ashamed; and to awaken humility in the High Priest’s heart, with the appreciation that before G-d he is the equal of the most impoverished of his brethren.
(Abarbanel)
In a pan it shall be made with oil; and when it is baked, thou shalt bring it in: and the baked pieces of the meat offering shalt thou offer for a sweet savor unto the LORD. (Leviticus 6:21 KJV)
And the priest of his sons that is anointed in his stead shall offer it: it is a statute forever unto the LORD; it shall be wholly burnt. (Leviticus 6:22 KJV)
The priest brought a meal offering on the day that he began serving in the Sanctuary, while the High Priest brought one every day. It is a mark of greatness that a person regards his every day as a new beginning in which he strives to transcend all his previous achievements.
(Maayanah Shel)
For every meat offering for the priest shall be wholly burnt: it shall not be eaten. (Leviticus 6:23 KJV)
And the LORD spoke unto Moses, saying, (Leviticus 6:24 KJV)
Speak unto Aaron and to his sons, saying, This is the law of the sin offering: In the place where the burnt offering is killed shall the sin offering be killed before the LORD: it is most holy. (Leviticus 6:25 KJV)
The priest that offereth it for sin shall eat it: in the holy place shall it be eaten, in the court of the tabernacle of the congregation. (Leviticus 6:26 KJV)
Whatsoever shall touch the flesh thereof shall be holy: and when there is sprinkled of the blood thereof upon any garment, thou shalt wash that whereon it was sprinkled in the holy place. (Leviticus 6:27 KJV)
But the earthen vessel wherein it is sodden shall be broken: and if it be sodden in a brazen pot, it shall be both scoured, and rinsed in water. (Leviticus 6:28 KJV)
All the males among the priests shall eat thereof: it is most holy. (Leviticus 6:29 KJV)
And no sin offering, whereof any of the blood is brought into the tabernacle of the congregation to reconcile withal in the holy place, shall be eaten: it shall be burnt in the fire. (Leviticus 6:30 KJV)
Likewise this is the law of the trespass offering: it is most holy. (Leviticus 7:1 KJV)
In the place where they kill the burnt offering shall they kill the trespass offering: and the blood thereof shall he sprinkle round about upon the altar. (Leviticus 7:2 KJV)
And he shall offer of it all the fat thereof; the rump, and the fat that covereth the inwards, (Leviticus 7:3 KJV)
And the two kidneys, and the fat that is on them, which is by the flanks, and the caul that is above the liver, with the kidneys, it shall he take away: (Leviticus 7:4 KJV)
And the priest shall burn them upon the altar for an offering made by fire unto the LORD: it is a trespass offering. (Leviticus 7:5 KJV)
Every male among the priests shall eat thereof: it shall be eaten in the holy place: it is most holy. (Leviticus 7:6 KJV)
As the sin offering is, so is the trespass offering: there is one law for them: the priest that maketh atonement therewith shall have it. (Leviticus 7:7 KJV)
And the priest that offereth any man's burnt offering, even the priest shall have to himself the skin of the burnt offering which he hath offered. (Leviticus 7:8 KJV)
And all the meat offering that is baked in the oven, and all that is dressed in the frying pan, and in the pan, shall be the priest's that offereth it. (Leviticus 7:9 KJV)
And every meat offering, mingled with oil, and dry, shall all the sons of Aaron have, one as much as another. (Leviticus 7:10 KJV)
And this is the law of the sacrifice of peace offerings, which he shall offer unto the LORD. (Leviticus 7:11 KJV)
If he offer it for a thanksgiving, then he shall offer with the sacrifice of thanksgiving unleavened cakes mingled with oil, and unleavened wafers anointed with oil, and cakes mingled with oil, of fine flour, fried. (Leviticus 7:12 KJV)
There are four who are required to bring a thanksgiving offering: one who traverses the sea, one who crosses a desert, one who was ill and recovered, and one who was imprisoned and was released.
(Talmud, Berachot 54b)
Besides the cakes, he shall offer for his offering leavened bread with the sacrifice of thanksgiving of his peace offerings. (Leviticus 7:13 KJV)
And of it he shall offer one out of the whole oblation for a heave offering unto the LORD, and it shall be the priest's that sprinkleth the blood of the peace offerings. (Leviticus 7:14 KJV)
And the flesh of the sacrifice of his peace offerings for thanksgiving shall be eaten the same day that it is offered; he shall not leave any of it until the morning. (Leviticus 7:15 KJV)
But if the sacrifice of his offering be a vow, or a voluntary offering, it shall be eaten the same day that he offereth his sacrifice: and on the morrow also the remainder of it shall be eaten: (Leviticus 7:16 KJV)
But the remainder of the flesh of the sacrifice on the third day shall be burnt with fire. (Leviticus 7:17 KJV)
And if any of the flesh of the sacrifice of his peace offerings be eaten at all on the third day, it shall not be accepted, neither shall it be imputed unto him that offereth it: it shall be an abomination, and the soul that eateth of it shall bear his iniquity. (Leviticus 7:18 KJV)
And the flesh that toucheth any unclean thing shall not be eaten; it shall be burnt with fire: and as for the flesh, all that be clean shall eat thereof. (Leviticus 7:19 KJV)
But the soul that eateth of the flesh of the sacrifice of peace offerings, that pertain unto the LORD, having his uncleanness upon him, even that soul shall be cut off from his people. (Leviticus 7:20 KJV)
Moreover the soul that shall touch any unclean thing, as the uncleanness of man, or any unclean beast, or any abominable unclean thing, and eat of the flesh of the sacrifice of peace offerings, which pertain unto the LORD, even that soul shall be cut off from his people. (Leviticus 7:21 KJV)
The commands of Tzav concerning sacrifices appear to be a repeat of the same commands given in Vayikra (the previous reading). Why would Adonai see it necessary to go over these things a second time, especially in our understanding that the sacrificial system was a temporary "stop gap"? Maybe it is more important to God than it is to us, and thus we ought to consider it the more carefully. In Vayikra, it is written as though Moses is addressing the congregation as a whole: "These are the sacrifices you are to bring and how you are to be involved in this worship." Then, in Tzav, he turns to the priests and gives them specific instruction as to how they are to administer this worship. In every course of worship, all parties carry responsibility. This is not well appreciated in modern worship. The clergy stands before and performs the rites or rituals, the congregation is only obligated to show up. Yet, in Hebraic worship, the elements and practices of a particular party are incomplete without the other. The priests could in no way offer sacrifice without the involvement of the people, nor could the people perform the service without the priesthood. It’s unfortunate that this relationship is utterly lost in our understanding of what it means to worship. "I don’t have to go to Church in order to worship God." I can’t tell you how many times I’ve heard that one! It carries a measure of truth; yet without the corporate participation of all the elements, worship is incomplete. We need each other and we each carry our own measure of responsibility to each other in our worship of God.
And the LORD spoke unto Moses, saying, (Leviticus 7:22 KJV)
Speak unto the children of Israel, saying, Ye shall eat no manner of fat, of ox, or of sheep, or of goat. (Leviticus 7:23 KJV)
And the fat of the beast that dieth of itself, and the fat of that which is torn with beasts, may be used in any other use: but ye shall in no wise eat of it. (Leviticus 7:24 KJV)
For whosoever eateth the fat of the beast, of which men offer an offering made by fire unto the LORD, even the soul that eateth it shall be cut off from his people. (Leviticus 7:25 KJV)
Moreover ye shall eat no manner of blood, whether it be of fowl or of beast, in any of your dwellings. (Leviticus 7:26 KJV)
Two conflicting opinions in Christian commentaries (Jewish sources are pretty consistent on this issue) suggest that fat can be eaten from any meat meal except from these offerings or that fat cannot be eaten at all. The earlier opinion seems to be poorly thought out since, when reading the descriptions of how these sacrifices are made, the fat is specifically commanded to be burned on the altar, yet the rule here suggests you can use fat for anything you want except to eat it.
The prohibition, as the prohibition against blood, may be very basic in what it is trying to teach us: that all things are given for purpose in life, all things are valuable in their time and holy when appropriately handled according to their design; yet our capacity to experiment and deviate from what is prudent is uncanny. Our doctors and dieticians have been telling us for years that fat is not good for us… still we persist in shoveling in that which is designed for our destruction, clogging our arteries and padding our bellies. This is not simply to take the carnal position that we ought not do such things simply because they are unhealthy- it is rather to understand that each thing that the Most High has provided to us, He has provided with purpose. Our tendency is to squander His provision upon our own lusts, committing acts of wantonness and mindless gratification; then cry out to Him from our poverty blaming Him for the state we have made for ourselves. Scripture teaches us that all things are given to us with purpose. It is our foolish handling of His blessing that often results in our poverty; yet by wisdom and discretion we are made strong in Him, through faith.
By faith Moses, when he was come to years, refused to be called the son of Pharaoh's daughter; Choosing rather to suffer affliction with the people of God, than to enjoy the pleasures of sin for a season; Esteeming the reproach of Christ greater riches than the treasures in Egypt: for he had respect unto the recompense of the reward.
(Hebrews 11:24-26 KJV)
I have to agree with the Jewish perspective and dismiss the idea that, within the Temple we must behave one way but in our homes we can do whatever we please. The Hebraic understanding is that everything we do should be as though it were a sacrifice to God. If we would not eat fat in the Temple, we ought not do so in our homes. The applications of this extend far past the dinner table.
Whatsoever soul it be that eateth any manner of blood, even that soul shall be cut off from his people. (Leviticus 7:27 KJV)
And the LORD spoke unto Moses, saying, (Leviticus 7:28 KJV)
Speak unto the children of Israel, saying, He that offereth the sacrifice of his peace offerings unto the LORD shall bring his oblation unto the LORD of the sacrifice of his peace offerings. (Leviticus 7:29 KJV)
His own hands shall bring the offerings of the LORD made by fire, the fat with the breast, it shall he bring, that the breast may be waved for a wave offering before the LORD. (Leviticus 7:30 KJV)
And the priest shall burn the fat upon the altar: but the breast shall be Aaron's and his sons'. (Leviticus 7:31 KJV)
And the right shoulder shall ye give unto the priest for a heave offering of the sacrifices of your peace offerings. (Leviticus 7:32 KJV)
He among the sons of Aaron, that offereth the blood of the peace offerings, and the fat, shall have the right shoulder for his part. (Leviticus 7:33 KJV)
For the wave breast and the heave shoulder have I taken of the children of Israel from off the sacrifices of their peace offerings, and have given them unto Aaron the priest and unto his sons by a statute forever from among the children of Israel. (Leviticus 7:34 KJV)
This is the portion of the anointing of Aaron, and of the anointing of his sons, out of the offerings of the LORD made by fire, in the day when he presented them to minister unto the LORD in the priest's office; (Leviticus 7:35 KJV)
Which the LORD commanded to be given them of the children of Israel, in the day that he anointed them, by a statute forever throughout their generations. (Leviticus 7:36 KJV)
This is the law of the burnt offering, of the meat offering, and of the sin offering, and of the trespass offering, and of the consecrations, and of the sacrifice of the peace offerings; (Leviticus 7:37 KJV)
Which the LORD commanded Moses in mount Sinai, in the day that he commanded the children of Israel to offer their oblations unto the LORD, in the wilderness of Sinai. (Leviticus 7:38 KJV)
And the LORD spoke unto Moses, saying, (Leviticus 8:1 KJV)
Take Aaron and his sons with him, and the garments, and the anointing oil, and a bullock for the sin offering, and two rams, and a basket of unleavened bread; (Leviticus 8:2 KJV)
And gather thou all the congregation together unto the door of the tabernacle of the congregation. (Leviticus 8:3 KJV)
And Moses did as the LORD commanded him; and the assembly was gathered together unto the door of the tabernacle of the congregation. (Leviticus 8:4 KJV)
And Moses said unto the congregation, This is the thing which the LORD commanded to be done. (Leviticus 8:5 KJV)
And Moses brought Aaron and his sons, and washed them with water. (Leviticus 8:6 KJV)
And he put upon him the coat, and girded him with the girdle, and clothed him with the robe, and put the ephod upon him, and he girded him with the curious girdle of the ephod, and bound it unto him therewith. (Leviticus 8:7 KJV)
And he put the breastplate upon him: also he put in the breastplate the Urim and the Thummim. (Leviticus 8:8 KJV)
And he put the miter upon his head; also upon the miter, even upon his forefront, did he put the golden plate, the holy crown; as the LORD commanded Moses. (Leviticus 8:9 KJV)
And Moses took the anointing oil, and anointed the tabernacle and all that was therein, and sanctified them. (Leviticus 8:10 KJV)
And he sprinkled thereof upon the altar seven times, and anointed the altar and all his vessels, both the laver and his foot, to sanctify them. (Leviticus 8:11 KJV)
And he poured of the anointing oil upon Aaron's head, and anointed him, to sanctify him. (Leviticus 8:12 KJV)
And Moses brought Aaron's sons, and put coats upon them, and girded them with girdles, and put bonnets upon them; as the LORD commanded Moses. (Leviticus 8:13 KJV)
And he brought the bullock for the sin offering: and Aaron and his sons laid their hands upon the head of the bullock for the sin offering. (Leviticus 8:14 KJV)
And he slew it; and Moses took the blood, and put it upon the horns of the altar round about with his finger, and purified the altar, and poured the blood at the bottom of the altar, and sanctified it, to make reconciliation upon it. (Leviticus 8:15 KJV)
And he took all the fat that was upon the inwards, and the caul above the liver, and the two kidneys, and their fat, and Moses burned it upon the altar. (Leviticus 8:16 KJV)
But the bullock, and his hide, his flesh, and his dung, he burnt with fire without the camp; as the LORD commanded Moses. (Leviticus 8:17 KJV)
And he brought the ram for the burnt offering: and Aaron and his sons laid their hands upon the head of the ram. (Leviticus 8:18 KJV)
And he killed it; and Moses sprinkled the blood upon the altar round about. (Leviticus 8:19 KJV)
And he cut the ram into pieces; and Moses burnt the head, and the pieces, and the fat. (Leviticus 8:20 KJV)
And he washed the inwards and the legs in water; and Moses burnt the whole ram upon the altar: it was a burnt sacrifice for a sweet savor, and an offering made by fire unto the LORD; as the LORD commanded Moses. (Leviticus 8:21 KJV)
And he brought the other ram, the ram of consecration: and Aaron and his sons laid their hands upon the head of the ram. (Leviticus 8:22 KJV)
And he slew it; and Moses took of the blood of it, and put it upon the tip of Aaron's right ear, and upon the thumb of his right hand, and upon the great toe of his right foot. (Leviticus 8:23 KJV)
And he brought Aaron's sons, and Moses put of the blood upon the tip of their right ear, and upon the thumbs of their right hands, and upon the great toes of their right feet: and Moses sprinkled the blood upon the altar round about. (Leviticus 8:24 KJV)
And he took the fat, and the rump, and all the fat that was upon the inwards, and the caul above the liver, and the two kidneys, and their fat, and the right shoulder: (Leviticus 8:25 KJV)
And out of the basket of unleavened bread, that was before the LORD, he took one unleavened cake, and a cake of oiled bread, and one wafer, and put them on the fat, and upon the right shoulder: (Leviticus 8:26 KJV)
And he put all upon Aaron's hands, and upon his sons' hands, and waved them for a wave offering before the LORD. (Leviticus 8:27 KJV)
And Moses took them from off their hands, and burnt them on the altar upon the burnt offering: they were consecrations for a sweet savor: it is an offering made by fire unto the LORD. (Leviticus 8:28 KJV)
And Moses took the breast, and waved it for a wave offering before the LORD: for of the ram of consecration it was Moses' part; as the LORD commanded Moses. (Leviticus 8:29 KJV)
And Moses took of the anointing oil, and of the blood which was upon the altar, and sprinkled it upon Aaron, and upon his garments, and upon his sons, and upon his sons' garments with him; and sanctified Aaron, and his garments, and his sons, and his sons' garments with him. (Leviticus 8:30 KJV)
And Moses said unto Aaron and to his sons, Boil the flesh at the door of the tabernacle of the congregation: and there eat it with the bread that is in the basket of consecrations, as I commanded, saying, Aaron and his sons shall eat it. (Leviticus 8:31 KJV)
And that which remaineth of the flesh and of the bread shall ye burn with fire. (Leviticus 8:32 KJV)
And ye shall not go out of the door of the tabernacle of the congregation in seven days, until the days of your consecration be at an end: for seven days shall he consecrate you. (Leviticus 8:33 KJV)
As he hath done this day, so the LORD hath commanded to do, to make an atonement for you. (Leviticus 8:34 KJV)
Therefore shall ye abide at the door of the tabernacle of the congregation day and night seven days, and keep the charge of the LORD, that ye die not: for so I am commanded. (Leviticus 8:35 KJV)
So Aaron and his sons did all things which the LORD commanded by the hand of Moses. (Leviticus 8:36 KJV)
When we picture, in our minds, the events of initiation of the sacrifices, we see Moses, Aaron and his sons, and all the people standing around as witness. Yet, so easily and so consistently, we are inclined to miss the whole point.
We see Moses administering the sacrifice, directing the service, appointing and anointing his brother and nephews as the religious leaders of the fledgling nation. He is central to the events and all eyes are upon him. The manner in which he demonstrates the ritual services will dictate the process of worship for thousands of years to come… but the service we are witnessing as it is recounted in the text of Scripture is not about him.
The subject and recipients of this service is Aaron and his sons who will take on the role and responsibility of priests of Israel. They have been honored with the gifts of the nation, to administrate and facilitate the people in their worship. Here they are given holy garments and sanctified by holy rituals. They are sprinkled with oil and with blood (spirit and life). They sit and eat together as guests and royalty, honored citizens that are blessed with unique portions and privileges… but the service and honor is not about them.
Surrounding the Tabernacle, the people all stand silently watching, taking in every detail, learning the deeper truths that are embedded in this story told by the dance of Moses and Aaron. They will remember and teach their children, and as the priests, prophets and rabbis declare the Word and will of God, they will see it displayed before them in the ritual sacrifices in ways that we can only grasp in the most foreign, cursory, intellectual level. They will experience the truth of God’s Word in intimate contact from this day forward… but the message is not about them.
Why do we come to services of worship as part of our regular routine? Why do we establish the practice of meeting together for ritual observance or religious study? Some are stimulated by knowledge, enticed and gratified by knowledge and an ever clearer understanding of things… but it is not about them.
Some are drawn by the spectacle of show, the emotional highs and lows of the music and the stories, captivated by the presentation and display… but the reason to come together is not about that.
Some come because of the great respect and honor they hold for the pastor, teacher or rabbi: a desire to impress or get close to him (or her) by our dedication and willingness to ever be at his feet to learn… but the time of worship ought not be about him.
People come together for lots of reasons and reap an array of benefits from the events that they choose to attend. Often the purpose and design of it’s origin is lost in the display- those not really knowing why they come in the first place have no reason to expect to find anything specific. Others who come for their own reasons and with their own agendas promote a variety of ideas, confusing the true objective and purpose of gathering together.
It is about Adonai, our God. It isn’t Moses or Aaron, or the rest of us. It is Him. If we come together because the teaching stimulates us or if we gather because we like the show, we have disgraced Him, and missed the entire point. We might as well have sat at home and watched the whole thing on television. Yet, if we come together because we desire to be in His presence and to be among others who are there, simply to be in His presence, then we have found an absolutely beautiful thing. We have been a blessing to God. Who could hope for a better purpose in life than that!
The Hebrew word tzav means to command, not ask, not suggest, not to speak in any ambiguity at all.
I’ve had, over the years, a number of people make it clear to me that they don’t appreciate being told what to do. I had one supervisor (who lasted only a short while) who explained to me that he became a supervisor because he didn’t like to be told what to do so he got in a position where he did most the telling (a very confused young man).
It is this natural inclination of mankind that stands against our ability to walk in close fellowship with the Most High. We push out our chests and huff at His
, "I don’t like anyone telling me what to do." David says this in response:
Keep back thy servant also from presumptuous sins; let them not have dominion over me: then shall I be upright, and I shall be innocent from the great transgression. Let the words of my mouth, and the meditation of my heart, be acceptable in thy sight, O LORD, my strength, and my redeemer.
(Psalms 19:13-14 KJV)
The word "tzade" (translated presumptuous) is obviously related to the word "tzav". It means arrogance or self-will. It carries the idea of coming out from under authority: to do things my way, to avoid those who have the authority to tell me what to do.
When Moses was told by God to command Aaron and his sons, the relationship was clear: "I’m not asking, I’m telling." The manner in which the priests were to perform their function in worship was not a negotiable. It is unfortunate that so many who describe Adonai Tzavaot, The commander of the hosts (those under His command), as their God are so flippant and wayward with respect to His commandments.
As we open His Word, His Truth, His Tzavaim, may we hear with obedient hearts, not with the ear to twist the words to our own liking, not with the ear that repels any personal application but to "shammah", to hear obediently, and to live acceptably under His command.
And the LORD spoke unto Moses, saying, (Leviticus 6:8 KJV)
Command Aaron and his sons, saying, This is the law of the burnt offering: It is the burnt offering, because of the burning upon the altar all night unto the morning, and the fire of the altar shall be burning in it. (Leviticus 6:9 KJV)
And the priest shall put on his linen garment, and his linen breeches shall he put upon his flesh, and take up the ashes which the fire hath consumed with the burnt offering on the altar, and he shall put them beside the altar. (Leviticus 6:10 KJV)
And he shall put off his garments, and put on other garments, and carry forth the ashes without the camp unto a clean place. (Leviticus 6:11 KJV)
And the fire upon the altar shall be burning in it; it shall not be put out: and the priest shall burn wood on it every morning, and lay the burnt offering in order upon it; and he shall burn thereon the fat of the peace offerings. (Leviticus 6:12 KJV)
How can that which has been started or created by God thus be sustained by man? The question extends far beyond the Tabernacle. In our own lives, our industry, our ministry, our family, we are perpetually "adding wood" to contribute to the flame that is to be sustained at all times (the Light of God in our lives). We pray at meal time to thank God for His providence for us; but what we see before us as that which we receive is by the toil of our own hand, exactly the same as the table of the of those who give no glory to God for their provision.
It is exactly true. The question is, to which fire are we adding wood? Do we contribute to the fires that we have started or do we add to the flame that He has given us, in honor and service to Him? It is His desire that we participate in His goodness, share in the ownership of belonging with Him in all things. The non-observant sees no difference in the fire that he adds to and our own. The result is the same; but what he doesn’t understand is that he sits at his fire alone while we share in communion and community with the Most High.
"There is a fire of love for God that burns within every soul. It is the task of the "Kohen"—the spiritual leaders of the generation—to feed and preserve this fire."
(Alshich)
The fire shall ever be burning upon the altar; it shall never go out. (Leviticus 6:13 KJV)
God doesn’t keep office hours. When we delay in doing our business with Him, it is our hesitation, not His: He is ever available to restore and release us from the burdens that we carry.
Talmud describes the inner and outer fires (the fire of the Altar of Sacrifice versus the fire of the Menorah and Altar of Incense). These may be compared to the outer workings, the conduct, of man and the inner workings of the his spirit. It is our inclination to focus in on the "spiritual" aspects of our worship, thinking that if we preserve and nurture the spiritual things, the physical workings will respond; but the example of the Tabernacle is exactly the opposite. Adonai lit the fire of the Altar of Sacrifice and it is from this flame that the inner lights are kindled.
The fire of God never went out. As the Tabernacle would be pulled up, the fire, itself was carried in a copper basin and maintained along the way.
And this is the law of the meat offering: the sons of Aaron shall offer it before the LORD, before the altar. (Leviticus 6:14 KJV)
And he shall take of it his handful, of the flour of the meat offering, and of the oil thereof, and all the frankincense which is upon the meat offering, and shall burn it upon the altar for a sweet savor, even the memorial of it, unto the LORD. (Leviticus 6:15 KJV)
And the remainder thereof shall Aaron and his sons eat: with unleavened bread shall it be eaten in the holy place; in the court of the tabernacle of the congregation they shall eat it. (Leviticus 6:16 KJV)
It shall not be baked with leaven. I have given it unto them for their portion of my offerings made by fire; it is most holy, as is the sin offering, and as the trespass offering. (Leviticus 6:17 KJV)
All the males among the children of Aaron shall eat of it. It shall be a statute forever in your generations concerning the offerings of the LORD made by fire: every one that toucheth them shall be holy. (Leviticus 6:18 KJV)
And the LORD spoke unto Moses, saying, (Leviticus 6:19 KJV)
This is the offering of Aaron and of his sons, which they shall offer unto the LORD in the day when he is anointed; the tenth part of an ephah of fine flour for a meat offering perpetual, half of it in the morning, and half thereof at night. (Leviticus 6:20 KJV)
The High Priest’s daily offering was a meal offering, the offering of a poor man. This, for two reasons: that a poor man bringing his pauper’s offering to the Sanctuary should not be ashamed; and to awaken humility in the High Priest’s heart, with the appreciation that before G-d he is the equal of the most impoverished of his brethren.
(Abarbanel)
In a pan it shall be made with oil; and when it is baked, thou shalt bring it in: and the baked pieces of the meat offering shalt thou offer for a sweet savor unto the LORD. (Leviticus 6:21 KJV)
And the priest of his sons that is anointed in his stead shall offer it: it is a statute forever unto the LORD; it shall be wholly burnt. (Leviticus 6:22 KJV)
The priest brought a meal offering on the day that he began serving in the Sanctuary, while the High Priest brought one every day. It is a mark of greatness that a person regards his every day as a new beginning in which he strives to transcend all his previous achievements.
(Maayanah Shel
)For every meat offering for the priest shall be wholly burnt: it shall not be eaten. (Leviticus 6:23 KJV)
And the LORD spoke unto Moses, saying, (Leviticus 6:24 KJV)
Speak unto Aaron and to his sons, saying, This is the law of the sin offering: In the place where the burnt offering is killed shall the sin offering be killed before the LORD: it is most holy. (Leviticus 6:25 KJV)
The priest that offereth it for sin shall eat it: in the holy place shall it be eaten, in the court of the tabernacle of the congregation. (Leviticus 6:26 KJV)
Whatsoever shall touch the flesh thereof shall be holy: and when there is sprinkled of the blood thereof upon any garment, thou shalt wash that whereon it was sprinkled in the holy place. (Leviticus 6:27 KJV)
But the earthen vessel wherein it is sodden shall be broken: and if it be sodden in a brazen pot, it shall be both scoured, and rinsed in water. (Leviticus 6:28 KJV)
All the males among the priests shall eat thereof: it is most holy. (Leviticus 6:29 KJV)
And no sin offering, whereof any of the blood is brought into the tabernacle of the congregation to reconcile withal in the holy place, shall be eaten: it shall be burnt in the fire. (Leviticus 6:30 KJV)
Likewise this is the law of the trespass offering: it is most holy. (Leviticus 7:1 KJV)
In the place where they kill the burnt offering shall they kill the trespass offering: and the blood thereof shall he sprinkle round about upon the altar. (Leviticus 7:2 KJV)
And he shall offer of it all the fat thereof; the rump, and the fat that covereth the inwards, (Leviticus 7:3 KJV)
And the two kidneys, and the fat that is on them, which is by the flanks, and the caul that is above the liver, with the kidneys, it shall he take away: (Leviticus 7:4 KJV)
And the priest shall burn them upon the altar for an offering made by fire unto the LORD: it is a trespass offering. (Leviticus 7:5 KJV)
Every male among the priests shall eat thereof: it shall be eaten in the holy place: it is most holy. (Leviticus 7:6 KJV)
As the sin offering is, so is the trespass offering: there is one law for them: the priest that maketh atonement therewith shall have it. (Leviticus 7:7 KJV)
And the priest that offereth any man's burnt offering, even the priest shall have to himself the skin of the burnt offering which he hath offered. (Leviticus 7:8 KJV)
And all the meat offering that is baked in the oven, and all that is dressed in the frying pan, and in the pan, shall be the priest's that offereth it. (Leviticus 7:9 KJV)
And every meat offering, mingled with oil, and dry, shall all the sons of Aaron have, one as much as another. (Leviticus 7:10 KJV)
And this is the law of the sacrifice of peace offerings, which he shall offer unto the LORD. (Leviticus 7:11 KJV)
If he offer it for a thanksgiving, then he shall offer with the sacrifice of thanksgiving unleavened cakes mingled with oil, and unleavened wafers anointed with oil, and cakes mingled with oil, of fine flour, fried. (Leviticus 7:12 KJV)
There are four who are required to bring a thanksgiving offering: one who traverses the sea, one who crosses a desert, one who was ill and recovered, and one who was imprisoned and was released.
(Talmud, Berachot 54b)
Besides the cakes, he shall offer for his offering leavened bread with the sacrifice of thanksgiving of his peace offerings. (Leviticus 7:13 KJV)
And of it he shall offer one out of the whole oblation for a heave offering unto the LORD, and it shall be the priest's that sprinkleth the blood of the peace offerings. (Leviticus 7:14 KJV)
And the flesh of the sacrifice of his peace offerings for thanksgiving shall be eaten the same day that it is offered; he shall not leave any of it until the morning. (Leviticus 7:15 KJV)
But if the sacrifice of his offering be a vow, or a voluntary offering, it shall be eaten the same day that he offereth his sacrifice: and on the morrow also the remainder of it shall be eaten: (Leviticus 7:16 KJV)
But the remainder of the flesh of the sacrifice on the third day shall be burnt with fire. (Leviticus 7:17 KJV)
And if any of the flesh of the sacrifice of his peace offerings be eaten at all on the third day, it shall not be accepted, neither shall it be imputed unto him that offereth it: it shall be an abomination, and the soul that eateth of it shall bear his iniquity. (Leviticus 7:18 KJV)
And the flesh that toucheth any unclean thing shall not be eaten; it shall be burnt with fire: and as for the flesh, all that be clean shall eat thereof. (Leviticus 7:19 KJV)
But the soul that eateth of the flesh of the sacrifice of peace offerings, that pertain unto the LORD, having his uncleanness upon him, even that soul shall be cut off from his people. (Leviticus 7:20 KJV)
Moreover the soul that shall touch any unclean thing, as the uncleanness of man, or any unclean beast, or any abominable unclean thing, and eat of the flesh of the sacrifice of peace offerings, which pertain unto the LORD, even that soul shall be cut off from his people. (Leviticus 7:21 KJV)
The commands of Tzav concerning sacrifices appear to be a repeat of the same commands given in Vayikra (the previous reading). Why would Adonai see it necessary to go over these things a second time, especially in our understanding that the sacrificial system was a temporary "stop gap"? Maybe it is more important to God than it is to us, and thus we ought to consider it the more carefully. In Vayikra, it is written as though Moses is addressing the congregation as a whole: "These are the sacrifices you are to bring and how you are to be involved in this worship." Then, in Tzav, he turns to the priests and gives them specific instruction as to how they are to administer this worship. In every course of worship, all parties carry responsibility. This is not well appreciated in modern worship. The clergy stands before and performs the rites or rituals, the congregation is only obligated to show up. Yet, in Hebraic worship, the elements and practices of a particular party are incomplete without the other. The priests could in no way offer sacrifice without the involvement of the people, nor could the people perform the service without the priesthood. It’s unfortunate that this relationship is utterly lost in our understanding of what it means to worship. "I don’t have to go to Church in order to worship God." I can’t tell you how many times I’ve heard that one! It carries a measure of truth; yet without the corporate participation of all the elements, worship is incomplete. We need each other and we each carry our own measure of responsibility to each other in our worship of God.
And the LORD spoke unto Moses, saying, (Leviticus 7:22 KJV)
Speak unto the children of Israel, saying, Ye shall eat no manner of fat, of ox, or of sheep, or of goat. (Leviticus 7:23 KJV)
And the fat of the beast that dieth of itself, and the fat of that which is torn with beasts, may be used in any other use: but ye shall in no wise eat of it. (Leviticus 7:24 KJV)
For whosoever eateth the fat of the beast, of which men offer an offering made by fire unto the LORD, even the soul that eateth it shall be cut off from his people. (Leviticus 7:25 KJV)
Moreover ye shall eat no manner of blood, whether it be of fowl or of beast, in any of your dwellings. (Leviticus 7:26 KJV)
Two conflicting opinions in Christian commentaries (Jewish sources are pretty consistent on this issue) suggest that fat can be eaten from any meat meal except from these offerings or that fat cannot be eaten at all. The earlier opinion seems to be poorly thought out since, when reading the descriptions of how these sacrifices are made, the fat is specifically commanded to be burned on the altar, yet the rule here suggests you can use fat for anything you want except to eat it.
The prohibition, as the prohibition against blood, may be very basic in what it is trying to teach us: that all things are given for purpose in life, all things are valuable in their time and holy when appropriately handled according to their design; yet our capacity to experiment and deviate from what is prudent is uncanny. Our doctors and dieticians have been telling us for years that fat is not good for us… still we persist in shoveling in that which is designed for our destruction, clogging our arteries and padding our bellies. This is not simply to take the carnal position that we ought not do such things simply because they are unhealthy- it is rather to understand that each thing that the Most High has provided to us, He has provided with purpose. Our tendency is to squander His provision upon our own lusts, committing acts of wantonness and mindless gratification; then cry out to Him from our poverty blaming Him for the state we have made for ourselves. Scripture teaches us that all things are given to us with purpose. It is our foolish handling of His blessing that often results in our poverty; yet by wisdom and discretion we are made strong in Him, through faith.
By faith Moses, when he was come to years, refused to be called the son of Pharaoh's daughter; Choosing rather to suffer affliction with the people of God, than to enjoy the pleasures of sin for a season; Esteeming the reproach of Christ greater riches than the treasures in Egypt: for he had respect unto the recompense of the reward.
(Hebrews 11:24-26 KJV)
I have to agree with the Jewish perspective and dismiss the idea that, within the Temple we must behave one way but in our homes we can do whatever we please. The Hebraic understanding is that everything we do should be as though it were a sacrifice to God. If we would not eat fat in the Temple, we ought not do so in our homes. The applications of this extend far past the dinner table.
Whatsoever soul it be that eateth any manner of blood, even that soul shall be cut off from his people. (Leviticus 7:27 KJV)
And the LORD spoke unto Moses, saying, (Leviticus 7:28 KJV)
Speak unto the children of Israel, saying, He that offereth the sacrifice of his peace offerings unto the LORD shall bring his oblation unto the LORD of the sacrifice of his peace offerings. (Leviticus 7:29 KJV)
His own hands shall bring the offerings of the LORD made by fire, the fat with the breast, it shall he bring, that the breast may be waved for a wave offering before the LORD. (Leviticus 7:30 KJV)
And the priest shall burn the fat upon the altar: but the breast shall be Aaron's and his sons'. (Leviticus 7:31 KJV)
And the right shoulder shall ye give unto the priest for a heave offering of the sacrifices of your peace offerings. (Leviticus 7:32 KJV)
He among the sons of Aaron, that offereth the blood of the peace offerings, and the fat, shall have the right shoulder for his part. (Leviticus 7:33 KJV)
For the wave breast and the heave shoulder have I taken of the children of Israel from off the sacrifices of their peace offerings, and have given them unto Aaron the priest and unto his sons by a statute forever from among the children of Israel. (Leviticus 7:34 KJV)
This is the portion of the anointing of Aaron, and of the anointing of his sons, out of the offerings of the LORD made by fire, in the day when he presented them to minister unto the LORD in the priest's office; (Leviticus 7:35 KJV)
Which the LORD commanded to be given them of the children of Israel, in the day that he anointed them, by a statute forever throughout their generations. (Leviticus 7:36 KJV)
This is the law of the burnt offering, of the meat offering, and of the sin offering, and of the trespass offering, and of the consecrations, and of the sacrifice of the peace offerings; (Leviticus 7:37 KJV)
Which the LORD commanded Moses in mount Sinai, in the day that he commanded the children of Israel to offer their oblations unto the LORD, in the wilderness of Sinai. (Leviticus 7:38 KJV)
And the LORD spoke unto Moses, saying, (Leviticus 8:1 KJV)
Take Aaron and his sons with him, and the garments, and the anointing oil, and a bullock for the sin offering, and two rams, and a basket of unleavened bread; (Leviticus 8:2 KJV)
And gather thou all the congregation together unto the door of the tabernacle of the congregation. (Leviticus 8:3 KJV)
And Moses did as the LORD commanded him; and the assembly was gathered together unto the door of the tabernacle of the congregation. (Leviticus 8:4 KJV)
And Moses said unto the congregation, This is the thing which the LORD commanded to be done. (Leviticus 8:5 KJV)
And Moses brought Aaron and his sons, and washed them with water. (Leviticus 8:6 KJV)
And he put upon him the coat, and girded him with the girdle, and clothed him with the robe, and put the ephod upon him, and he girded him with the curious girdle of the ephod, and bound it unto him therewith. (Leviticus 8:7 KJV)
And he put the breastplate upon him: also he put in the breastplate the Urim and the Thummim. (Leviticus 8:8 KJV)
And he put the miter upon his head; also upon the miter, even upon his forefront, did he put the golden plate, the holy crown; as the LORD commanded Moses. (Leviticus 8:9 KJV)
And Moses took the anointing oil, and anointed the tabernacle and all that was therein, and sanctified them. (Leviticus 8:10 KJV)
And he sprinkled thereof upon the altar seven times, and anointed the altar and all his vessels, both the laver and his foot, to sanctify them. (Leviticus 8:11 KJV)
And he poured of the anointing oil upon Aaron's head, and anointed him, to sanctify him. (Leviticus 8:12 KJV)
And Moses brought Aaron's sons, and put coats upon them, and girded them with girdles, and put bonnets upon them; as the LORD commanded Moses. (Leviticus 8:13 KJV)
And he brought the bullock for the sin offering: and Aaron and his sons laid their hands upon the head of the bullock for the sin offering. (Leviticus 8:14 KJV)
And he slew it; and Moses took the blood, and put it upon the horns of the altar round about with his finger, and purified the altar, and poured the blood at the bottom of the altar, and sanctified it, to make reconciliation upon it. (Leviticus 8:15 KJV)
And he took all the fat that was upon the inwards, and the caul above the liver, and the two kidneys, and their fat, and Moses burned it upon the altar. (Leviticus 8:16 KJV)
But the bullock, and his hide, his flesh, and his dung, he burnt with fire without the camp; as the LORD commanded Moses. (Leviticus 8:17 KJV)
And he brought the ram for the burnt offering: and Aaron and his sons laid their hands upon the head of the ram. (Leviticus 8:18 KJV)
And he killed it; and Moses sprinkled the blood upon the altar round about. (Leviticus 8:19 KJV)
And he cut the ram into pieces; and Moses burnt the head, and the pieces, and the fat. (Leviticus 8:20 KJV)
And he washed the inwards and the legs in water; and Moses burnt the whole ram upon the altar: it was a burnt sacrifice for a sweet savor, and an offering made by fire unto the LORD; as the LORD commanded Moses. (Leviticus 8:21 KJV)
And he brought the other ram, the ram of consecration: and Aaron and his sons laid their hands upon the head of the ram. (Leviticus 8:22 KJV)
And he slew it; and Moses took of the blood of it, and put it upon the tip of Aaron's right ear, and upon the thumb of his right hand, and upon the great toe of his right foot. (Leviticus 8:23 KJV)
And he brought Aaron's sons, and Moses put of the blood upon the tip of their right ear, and upon the thumbs of their right hands, and upon the great toes of their right feet: and Moses sprinkled the blood upon the altar round about. (Leviticus 8:24 KJV)
And he took the fat, and the rump, and all the fat that was upon the inwards, and the caul above the liver, and the two kidneys, and their fat, and the right shoulder: (Leviticus 8:25 KJV)
And out of the basket of unleavened bread, that was before the LORD, he took one unleavened cake, and a cake of oiled bread, and one wafer, and put them on the fat, and upon the right shoulder: (Leviticus 8:26 KJV)
And he put all upon Aaron's hands, and upon his sons' hands, and waved them for a wave offering before the LORD. (Leviticus 8:27 KJV)
And Moses took them from off their hands, and burnt them on the altar upon the burnt offering: they were consecrations for a sweet savor: it is an offering made by fire unto the LORD. (Leviticus 8:28 KJV)
And Moses took the breast, and waved it for a wave offering before the LORD: for of the ram of consecration it was Moses' part; as the LORD commanded Moses. (Leviticus 8:29 KJV)
And Moses took of the anointing oil, and of the blood which was upon the altar, and sprinkled it upon Aaron, and upon his garments, and upon his sons, and upon his sons' garments with him; and sanctified Aaron, and his garments, and his sons, and his sons' garments with him. (Leviticus 8:30 KJV)
And Moses said unto Aaron and to his sons, Boil the flesh at the door of the tabernacle of the congregation: and there eat it with the bread that is in the basket of consecrations, as I commanded, saying, Aaron and his sons shall eat it. (Leviticus 8:31 KJV)
And that which remaineth of the flesh and of the bread shall ye burn with fire. (Leviticus 8:32 KJV)
And ye shall not go out of the door of the tabernacle of the congregation in seven days, until the days of your consecration be at an end: for seven days shall he consecrate you. (Leviticus 8:33 KJV)
As he hath done this day, so the LORD hath commanded to do, to make an atonement for you. (Leviticus 8:34 KJV)
Therefore shall ye abide at the door of the tabernacle of the congregation day and night seven days, and keep the charge of the LORD, that ye die not: for so I am commanded. (Leviticus 8:35 KJV)
So Aaron and his sons did all things which the LORD commanded by the hand of Moses. (Leviticus 8:36 KJV)
When we picture, in our minds, the events of initiation of the sacrifices, we see Moses, Aaron and his sons, and all the people standing around as witness. Yet, so easily and so consistently, we are inclined to miss the whole point.
We see Moses administering the sacrifice, directing the service, appointing and anointing his brother and nephews as the religious leaders of the fledgling nation. He is central to the events and all eyes are upon him. The manner in which he demonstrates the ritual services will dictate the process of worship for thousands of years to come… but the service we are witnessing as it is recounted in the text of Scripture is not about him.
The subject and recipients of this service is Aaron and his sons who will take on the role and responsibility of priests of Israel. They have been honored with the gifts of the nation, to administrate and facilitate the people in their worship. Here they are given holy garments and sanctified by holy rituals. They are sprinkled with oil and with blood (spirit and life). They sit and eat together as guests and royalty, honored citizens that are blessed with unique portions and privileges… but the service and honor is not about them.
Surrounding the Tabernacle, the people all stand silently watching, taking in every detail, learning the deeper truths that are embedded in this story told by the dance of Moses and Aaron. They will remember and teach their children, and as the priests, prophets and rabbis declare the Word and will of God, they will see it displayed before them in the ritual sacrifices in ways that we can only grasp in the most foreign, cursory, intellectual level. They will experience the truth of God’s Word in intimate contact from this day forward… but the message is not about them.
Why do we come to services of worship as part of our regular routine? Why do we establish the practice of meeting together for ritual observance or religious study? Some are stimulated by knowledge, enticed and gratified by knowledge and an ever clearer understanding of things… but it is not about them.
Some are drawn by the spectacle of show, the emotional highs and lows of the music and the stories, captivated by the presentation and display… but the reason to come together is not about that.
Some come because of the great respect and honor they hold for the pastor, teacher or rabbi: a desire to impress or get close to him (or her) by our dedication and willingness to ever be at his feet to learn… but the time of worship ought not be about him.
People come together for lots of reasons and reap an array of benefits from the events that they choose to attend. Often the purpose and design of it’s origin is lost in the display- those not really knowing why they come in the first place have no reason to expect to find anything specific. Others who come for their own reasons and with their own agendas promote a variety of ideas, confusing the true objective and purpose of gathering together.
It is about Adonai, our God. It isn’t Moses or Aaron, or the rest of us. It is Him. If we come together because the teaching stimulates us or if we gather because we like the show, we have disgraced Him, and missed the entire point. We might as well have sat at home and watched the whole thing on television. Yet, if we come together because we desire to be in His presence and to be among others who are there, simply to be in His presence, then we have found an absolutely beautiful thing. We have been a blessing to God. Who could hope for a better purpose in life than that!
