Leviticus 21:1-24:23; Ezekiel 44:15-31; l Peter 2:4-10
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In the middle of this week's Parsha we find the commandments to observe the Feast of The L-RD. These are special appointed times chosen by G-D. These are days of commitment given to the Children of Israel to observe and Keep for all generations. I was thinking that these commandments are between the chapters that tells us how Priests must be Holy and Pure before G-D in order to serve G-D in the Tabernacle and later in the Temple. The chapter of the Parsha following this list of Feast is the chapter describing the keeping of the Burning Lamp which had to continually remain lit in the Tabernacle. There are many lessons for us in these words. First that we are called Priests of G-D and as such our relationship with G-D must be understood to involve more then just offering sacrifices but we must have a relationship of fellowship with G-D. Our prayer and praise times are important. In the middle of our service to G-D we must remain thankful. We must always remember what G-D has already done for us. We must look at our relationship with G-D as more then just doing things for G-D so that He will do things for us; rather we must do things for G-D because we have a relationship with Him. G-D could have left out these appointed times in the Torah. He could have just given us a list of things to do without giving us any time for fellowship, but that is not how relationship works. G-D desires our service to be a result of His love for us and our love for Him. He wants us to look forward to our times together, just as a marriage cannot work without relationship time, no matter how hard you work at it and no matter how much you do for one another. A relationship with G-D cannot work without relationship times No matter how hard you "work for G-D" or how great a "servant" you are you must be more than those things; you must also be His Child. You must be part of the Bride as Israel has been called in Tanakh. Serving G-D is not equal to loving G-D, but true love for G-D will always result in serving him. If we serve G-D only so G-D will do things for us then who is really serving Who. Are we serving Him or are we enticing Him to serve us?
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Within this week's Parsha in chapter 23 we find the listing of the Moedim (appointed times). These special times are given by G-D to the Children of Israel. They are some of the most wonderful gifts given by G-D to us. When asked in surveys what most people would like as a gift from a loved one, almost every survey has either at the top or at least very close to the top, time. G-D has given to us with the words of this Parsha something that we so many times overlook. ;the Gift of Time. We need to understand the truth, that the Feasts of the L-RD were not given to limit our diets or to make us give something up. They were given as promises from HaShem that at those times each week and each year He would be there to meet us. Unlike friends and family who sometimes miss our special days, birthdays, anniversaries etc., G-D will never miss an appointment He has made with us. The only question for us at this point is whether we will be there to meet with G-D. Are we setting aside these special times to spend them with G-D? Every week we have an opportunity to spend Shabbat with the One who loves us more then we could ever imagine. Each Shabbat He is looking forward to our fellowship with Him. It is a gift of His Time given to each of us every week. This Shabbat G-D will be on time looking for you. When He looks will He see you?
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In this weeks Parsha we begin by reading the limitations given to the Cohen and especially to the Cohen HaGadol (High Priest). In verse 10 we read:
10 "'The cohen who is ranked highest among his brothers, the one on whose head the anointing oil is poured and who is consecrated to put on the garments, is not to stop grooming his hair, tear his clothes...
I bring this verse out to show a biblical fulfillment found in the Brit Chadasha. In the book of Matthew chapter 26:65 we find the Cohen HaGadol tearing his clothes, by doing this the Cohen HaGadol disqualified himself as High Priest of Israel just in time for Yeshua to become our great High Priest as he offered Himself as atonement for our transgressions. As we study this week’s Parsha let all look for more ways scripture is fulfilled by our Great Cohen Gadol Yeshua haMoshiach.