Post by Ben Avraham on Mar 5, 2022 17:56:32 GMT -8
Parasha "Pikudei" (accountings of) Exodus 38:21-40:38
We are ALL ACCOUNTABLE before the LORD. We will all have to give an account of what HE has given us in order to serve and worship HIM. Be it money, things, spiritual gifts, etc.. We are HIS living tabernacles, What are we doing with what HE has entrusted us with?
Continuing in a midrash over Parashah “P’Kudei” (accountings of) in Exodus 38, the tabernacle seems to be mentioned/referred to in three ways; HaMishkan (The Tabernacle) HaMishkan, HaOhel Moed (The Tabernacle, Tent of Meeting) HaMishkan, HaEidut (The Tabernacle of the Testimony).
In reality, there are ALL the same, yet referred to by different names. Why is that? Why does Moshe refer to them in different ways? Perhaps we can see the ministry of Adonai in different ways.
“HaMishkan” If we go back to the ancient Hebrew spelling of the word “Mishkan” It is spelled with 4 Hebrew letters. “Mem” “Sheen” “Kaph” and “Nun” It comes from the verb “Sh’ken” which is “to dwell”. The reason that Adonai ordered Moshe to build the Tabernacle was so that HE could dwell amongst HIS people. One can look at the letters from the ancient Hebrew perspective and say;
“The Living Water who is the All-Consuming Fire anoints (his people) with life” … or … “Our lives became anointed when the presence of the All-Consuming Fire /the Living Water is amongst us”
“HaOhel Moed” (The Tent of Meeting) Why do we go to the synagogue/church? Because it is the meeting place where we meet with Elohim. His spirit is there! Even if there are only two believers present in some place, HE is in the midst! So, Adonai dwells with his people so that we can “meet” with HIM. “Ohel Moed” has 7 letters, “7” is the number of perfection. “Aleph” “Hey” “Lamed” and then; “Mem” “Vav” “Ayin’ “Dalet”
Again, going back to the ancient Hebrew understanding of the symbolism in the letters, we could understand these two words in the following manner:
“Behold the God of Instruction and Teaching (gives his people/us) the “living water (of the word) which connects us with insight, which is at the door”. When we meet with Adonai, we are taught His Word through his chosen teachers, we are taught about Yeshua who is the “Living Water” who gives “insight’ (or understanding). The understanding is there at the door, all we have to do is open the door (of our mind and heart) to receive it. It is interesting that the last word “Moed” has the letters “Ayin and Dalet” which spell “Witness” there are witnesses when we meet with Adonai, Adonai himself and his holy angels besides those who are there to receive the Word of God.
“HaEidut” (Testimony or Pact) The Mishkan was also known as the “Eidut” the Tabernacle of Testimony. What is the testimony? The testimony is the presence of the “Tables of the
” The tablets of the Commandments which were placed in the Ark of the Covenant. The word “Eidut” spelled in the Hebrew consists of three letters; “Ayin’ “Dalet” and “Tav”. When we see these from the ancient Hebraic perspective, we can see this message;“Insight is at the door of the Covenant” or we could also understand it as; “The covenant gives insight, and that is at the door”. The letter “Tav” in the ancient spelling looks like a cross leaning to one side. It speaks of the New Covenant under Yeshua, and when we understand (insight) the message of “Yeshuah” (Salvation) then that “Yeshuah” is at the “door”. All that we need to do is open the door and receive “Yeshuah” that comes from “Yeshua” (seems like a play on words). Again, we see the two letter “Ayin and Dalet” (ED) yet here they are reversed, yet they are still present, the “Witness”
The Tabernacle was all about where Adonai came to dwell amongst his people to dwell with them, teach them his word, his ordinances, his commandments, to direct them to a new life style other than the life they had in Egypt.
We meet with Adonai in HIS place of worship to receive his word, and to allow HIM to dwell inside of us through His Holy Spirit. We learn His Word and his Word directs ALL to YESHUA, who is the New Covenant.
From here, we can look at "Pikudei" from another aspect. The "pikudei" has a few word meanings, in accordance to how it is used. It not only means "accountings" but also "deposits" and even "inventories". The chosen workers among the Israelites were given tasks in the building of the Tabernacle. With the tasks, HaShem endowed them with knowledge, understanding, and wisdom. We can remember these words by the acronym K.U.W. or "Da'at" "Binah" and "Chokhmah" or "Chabad" (the other way around) or even "DaBiCh" (which ever way is easier for you) .
Those who were not directly involved in the building, brought the materials as "freewill offerings", the gold, silver, bronze, fabric, the precious stones, etc... There was something for everyone, so no one was left out. "Pikudei" summarizes all that was brought and it is mentioned quite a few times that they "did as they were commanded by Moshe." We see obedience to the Word of Moshe, because Moshe was God's spokesman. He was a "Messiah type"
Everything was "brought to Moses" and I am sure that he inspected everything to see that all was in accordance to the instructions of God. Then, the last part of Exodus says that the Mishkan was set up on the First of Nissan, on the second year after they had left Egypt. So, On New Year's Day, the "Kavod Adonai" (the Glory of Adonai) came to rest on the Mishkan in the form of a cloud. Moshe could only enter when he was CALLED. So, what does that have to do with you and me?
We are the temple of the Ruach HaKodesh. As born-again believers, we are endowed with different gifts of the Holy Spirit. We serve the body of believers with these gifts. We contribute with the three "T"s; Time, Talent, and Treasure. Just as the Israelites contributed all three, "Time" (The mishkan was not build in a day) Talent; (knowledge, understanding, and wisdom) and Treasure (all the materials). We perform with our gifts and we "lay them down" at the feet of Mashiach for inspection, for approval. If we do our best, we will be approved, but only through the power of the Holy Spirit can we perform our duties to the body.
Just as the Glory of Adonai came to rest on the Tabernacle, so the Holy Spirit comes to rest on us all. His indwelling is real. He will not leave us nor forsake us. Yes, the Spirit of God DID leave the temple because of all the corruption later on. When Titus destroyed the Temple in A.D. 70, he destroyed a lifeless, empty building. A building can have material treasure, yet still be lifeless, if the Spirit of God does not live there. The Spirit of God will NEVER leave the believer. We may fall out of fellowship with God from time to time, yet He is always there awaiting our return.
In the World to Come, we will have "accountings" to deal with. God will measure our deeds, works, inventories, deposits, and we will either receive rewards or lose rewards. So, be diligent, We are His Mishkan on earth. Let's work together and glorify His NAME.
Ben Avraham
