Shabbat shalom, everyone! (Hey - if you haven’t done so yet, this is a friendly reminder to start cleaning out your “leaven” as Passover/Feast of Unleavened Bread starts at sunset, March 31st!) Anyway, as always, a synopsis of this week’s Torah study can be found on our website.
This parashah largely outlines the crafting of YHWH's Tabernacle and everything contained within, and of the holy garments worn by the priests. We are also once again reminded about how very adamant YHWH was about obedience to His Torah, which includes the all-important Seventh Day Shabbat. (The following scripture echoes Exodus 34:21 and a host of others throughout the Tanach!)
Exodus 35: 1 Moshe assembled the whole community of the people of Isra'el and said to them, "These are the things which ADONAI has ordered you to do. 2 On six days work is to be done, but the seventh day is to be a holy day for you, a Shabbat of complete rest in honor of ADONAI. Whoever does any work on it is to be put to death.
It is so clear that we are to "work" for six days and then REST on the Seventh! Back in olden days before matches or electricity, people had to "work" to cut and gather the wood. To keep from being guilty of "working" they had to cut and gather wood before Shabbat. Today, all we need to do to have heat in our homes is to flick a switch; same with "building a fire" to cook meals. It's no longer "work" to do these things, but cooking, for instance, is work - and that is why it's best to prepare our Shabbat meals ahead of time.
By the way, please note that Exodus 35:21 reveals exactly what it means to have "Torah written on our hearts". These people who were earlier guilty of building a golden calf, had done the proverbial "180" and decided to live their lives for God:
Exodus 35: 20 Then the whole community of the people of Isra'el withdrew from Moshe's presence; 21 and they came, everyone whose heart stirred him and everyone whose spirit made him willing, and brought ADONAI's offering for the work on the tent of meeting, for the service in it and for the holy garments. 22 Both men and women came, as many as had willing hearts...
HALLELUYAH! That is what we ALL should do!
Anyway, this Torah covers a whole lot. Please click on the link above to check it all out. Shabbat shalom to you all!
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