"You shall instruct"
Exodus 27:20 - 30:10; Ezekiel 43:10 - 27; Philippians 4:10-20
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This week's Parsha begins with Exodus 27:20 "You are to order the people of Isra'el to bring you pure oil of pounded olives for the light, and to keep a lamp burning continually. 21 Aharon and his sons are to put it in the tent of meeting, outside the curtain in front of the testimony, and keep it burning from evening until morning before ADONAI. This is to be a permanent regulation through all the generations of the people of Isra'el. We read this instruction from G-D to place a Menorah for light in the Holy Place. G-D deals with light and darkness throughout his word. In order for us to understand G-D's word we must read it through the light of His Ruach (Spirit). We are taught in Romans 8:7 For the mind controlled by the old nature is hostile to God, because it does not submit itself to God's Torah - indeed, it cannot. 8 Thus, those who identify with their old nature cannot please God. 9 But you, you do not identify with your old nature but with the Spirit - provided the Spirit of God is living inside you, for anyone who doesn't have the Spirit of the Messiah doesn't belong to him. The only way we can follow G-D and His word is by not walking in our flesh but rather walking in His Ruach. The is brought about by always keeping the Menorah of our hearts burning with pure oil. In other words we cannot allow anything to degrade, dilute, or compromise the purity of the oil in our lamps. No matter what the situation we find ourselves in we must always look at things through the light of the Spirit of our G-D. It is only then that we can truly walk in the paths he has prepare for us because it is only then that we can truly see.
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his week’s Parsha is named Tetzaveh which means command. It begins in a different way then many of the other Parashot that we have studied. Most begin with the words, “Vadaber Ad-nai Al-Moshe L’mor Daber Al-Bnei Yisrael…” “And Ad-nai spoke to Moshe saying, ‘Speak to the children of Israel’”. This week’s Parsha differs in that it does not use the word for “speak” but rather the word for “command”. As we read through the rest of the Parsha we find information concerning the dress and anointing of Aaron and the Cohenim, those who would be priests over Israel. These men would be the intercessors for the whole nation. They would be the ones who would stand in the gap for the people. Their job description contains making sacrifices that would roll the sins of the whole nation ahead for one year. The clothing that would be worn had to be specific and made according to the design of G-D. The breastplate was to be made in exact details. Even his head covering was designed in fine details, exclaiming “Holy to Ad-nai”. However as we read this Parsha there is a nugget that can be missed if we read too fast. This nugget is found in the command concerning pure oils to kindle the menorah continually. Before we see the anointing of the Cohen Gadol (High Priest) we first see the specific command that before anyone is raised up the first step is that there must be light. Before all other things created in this world G-D said, “Let there be light.” Before man could be created G-D first lit the light and it was pure light. The world was without sin. So also the light of the Menorah had to be pure and had to be kindled before the priest was anointed. We also need to realize we are called to be priests. But before we can assume the role of priest we must have the pure oil and the light of the Ruach HaKodesh in our lives. It matters not if we have all of the garments of the priest if we lack the pure light of G-D in our lives. Let us pray for pure oil to burn in the hearts of all of the members of our congregation so that we may truly rise up to our calling as priests in G-D’s service.