Created to Worship – Vayakhel-Pekudei – Shabbat HaChodesh – Mar. 25

A friend and I boarded the train in Jerusalem on our way to Yad VaShem, the Holocaust Memorial in Jerusalem. While we were sitting on the train we were discussing the previous week’s Torah Portion on the subject of the red heifer and its connection to Yeshua as the Messiah.

In the middle of our discussion, one of the passengers sitting next to us, an older Jewish woman, overheard our conversation and chimed in to add her thoughts on the subject. She began by saying, “Forgive me for listening to your conversation but I couldn’t help but to hear you talking about the red heifer and the Messiah. You know Jesus was Jewish and we share the same Jewish book, the Hebrew Scriptures, but the Christians also read the New Testament.” My friend and I were surprised that this woman was listening to us and, at the same time, that she was so amicable about this subject of Jesus, Yeshua.

As we talked with this woman, she was surprised to learn that I am Jewish and a believer in Yeshua. I answered her by saying, “Do you know that the New Testament is a prophecy of God to the Jewish people?” The woman was shocked to hear this and she simply said, “No, I’ve never heard of this before. Where is it prophesied in the Hebrew Scriptures about the New Testament?”

New Testament – ברית חדשה – Brit Cha’da’sha

I showed the woman the verse in Jeremiah 31 and then read it to her in Hebrew: “Behold, days are coming,” declares the LORD, “when I will make a new covenant with the house of Israel and with the house of Judah…” (Jer. 31:31). The woman was so surprised to learn that the source of the “ברית חדשה” – “brit chadasha” – “New Covenant” or “New Testament” is clearly prophesied in the Hebrew Scriptures. We shared a few more words with the woman but then she needed to get off at her train stop. She thanked us for the brief but enlightening conversation and got off the train.

My friend and I rejoiced after the woman got off the train as we were thrilled to see how God took a simple discussion about His Word and used it to share the light of His Scriptures with someone else. If I was alone on that train, I more than likely would have kept to myself and we would not have had that opportunity to talk with that woman, however, it was through the sharing of our faith in Yeshua with one another that God opened a door to share with this woman as well.

The Fellowship of Our Faith

This incident with the woman on the train reminds me of a spiritual truth that is brought out in the New Testament when Paul was writing to Philemon:

I thank my God always, making mention of you in my prayers, because I hear of your love and of the faith which you have toward the Lord Yeshua and toward all the saints; and I pray that the fellowship of your faith may become effective through the knowledge of every good thing which is in you for Messiah’s sake. – Philemon 1:4-6

Paul encouraged Philemon in his sincere faith in Yeshua and communicated to him that his desire was that he would continue to grow in his love and knowledge in Yeshua through the fellowship of his faith.

The word for “fellowship” in the above verse is the Greek word “koinonia” which carries the meaning of “participation, sharing in, communion, spiritual fellowship, and a fellowship in the spirit.” Paul was praying that Philemon would continue to grow in his spiritual walk in the Messiah through the fellowship of his faith. It would be through the spiritual communion with God and other believers that Philemon would gain a fuller knowledge of the Messiah.

This is such a simple truth but at the same time a vital part of the life of God that we have through His Holy Spirit together with other believers. As we actively unite in the name of the LORD and fellowship together in His Spirit, the result is that God’s presence is manifested in our midst, we know Him more intimately, and others are given the opportunity to experience the presence of God. We see this same principle of the fellowship of our faith illustrated throughout the Scriptures in this week’s Torah Portion.

Shabbat HaChodesh

In keeping with the four special Sabbaths connected to the Hebrew month of Adar, we remember the fourth or last Sabbath of Adar which is called “שבת החודש” – “Shabbat HaChodesh” – “Sabbath of the month,” which is observed on March 25, 2017. The name “Shabbat HaChodesh” stems from the supplemental reading in Exodus 12:1-20 in connection to the celebration of Passover. This section of Scripture begins with these words:

Now the LORD said to Moses and Aaron in the land of Egypt, “This month shall be the beginning of months for you; it is to be the first month of the year to you… – Ex. 12:1-2

The month of Nisan was the month that the LORD brought the children of Israel out of Egypt and the month of Nisan was to be the beginning of months for the children of Israel.

The Hebrew month of Nisan will begin this year on Tuesday, March 28, 2017. Passover will begin two weeks later on Tuesday, April 11, 2017. In preparation for the Passover, we specifically acknowledge that the biblical head of the year begins on the first day of the month of Nisan.

The Completion of the Tabernacle

Another event which historically took place on the first of Nisan was the completion and assembling of the Tabernacle. This event is recorded in this week’s Torah Portion (Ex. 35 – Ex. 40) and beautifully illustrates how the fellowship and unity of God’s people brought about a manifestation of His presence on earth.

It began with Moses calling the sons of Israel together: “Then Moses assembled all the congregation of the sons of Israel, and said to them, ‘These are the things that the LORD has commanded you to do: …” (Ex. 35:1). Moses then reminded the Israelites about working six days and resting one (Ex. 35:1-3), he asked them to voluntarily contribute to the material needs of the Tabernacle (Ex. 35:4-9), and he also asked for skilled laborers to volunteer to construct the Tabernacle under the leadership of Bezalel and Oholiab (Ex. 35:10-35). For more on the meaning of the names Bezalel and Oholiab, I recommend the following article: The Shadow of the Law

A powerful aspect to the construction of the Tabernacle was that the whole community of Israel was involved. Everyone had a part to play whether they contributed to the needs of the Tabernacle or were actually part of building the Tabernacle:

Then Moses called Bezalel and Oholiab and every skillful person in whom the LORD had put skill, everyone whose heart stirred him, to come to the work to perform it. They received from Moses all the contributions which the sons of Israel had brought to perform the work in the construction of the sanctuary. And they still continued bringing to him freewill offerings every morning. – Ex. 36:2-3

God had called the Israelites through His servant Moses to build a tabernacle where He would cause His presence to dwell in the midst of the camp of the Israelites. All the people contributed to the work through offerings and through service.

The Power of Unity in Community

The children of Israel were living in the desert since they had left Egypt about a year earlier and they did not have much to occupy their time except for the time to take care of their daily needs. The Tabernacle project brought the children of Israel together in a unique manner that unified them in the service and worship of Almighty God:

Thus all the work of the tabernacle of the tent of meeting was completed; and the sons of Israel did according to all that the LORD had commanded Moses; so they did. – Ex. 39:32

Moses must have had a sense of joy and relief that the people were finally working together and fulfilling the word of the LORD rather than rebelling against him and the LORD. The community of Israel was finally united and there was peace in the camp.

Just a couple of months before they started working on the Tabernacle project, the Israelites had asked Aaron to make them a god and Aaron crafted the golden calf which they worshipped and to which they offered sacrifices. The people were lost, like sheep without a shepherd, and chaos entered the camp as the people went wild worshipping their “new god” (Ex. 32:6-8).

We as human beings are designed to worship something or someone and we want to devote ourselves to a project that is bigger than ourselves. If we are not worshipping the God of Abraham, Isaac, and Israel through His appointed Messiah we will worship something or someone else. When we worship God as He desires and are involved with projects that bring Him glory, we protect ourselves from the evil in this world and provide a place for God’s presence to dwell in our midst.

The Manifestation of God’s Presence

After the Israelites finished the construction of the Tabernacle, they brought the finished pieces to Moses. According to the word of the LORD, Moses assembled the Tabernacle on the first day of Nisan, a year after they had come out of Egypt (Ex. 40:17). Nisan was the month that God demonstrated His power in Egypt by striking the firstborn of every household of Egypt while passing over every home which had the blood of the lamb applied to its door posts. God redeemed His people on the 15th day of Nisan and brought them out of Egypt.

Approximately one year later, on the first of Nisan, the children of Israel completed the construction of God’s Tabernacle and Moses assembled it exactly as God commanded it to be assembled. The end result was that God appeared in His glory:

Then the cloud covered the tent of meeting, and the glory of the LORD filled the tabernacle. Moses was not able to enter the tent of meeting because the cloud had settled on it, and the glory of the LORD filled the tabernacle. – Ex. 40:34-35

The glory of the LORD filled the Tabernacle to the extent that no one could even enter it.

I believe we see through this Tabernacle project a very clear illustration of the unification of God’s people and the manifestation of God’s presence as a result. As God’s people are united in serving and worshipping Him according to His desired plan, God’s presence is manifested in our midst and the world cannot help but take notice. Our unification in the plans of God provides a platform for God’s glory and His Kingdom to be revealed on the earth.

The Unity of Believers

One of the fundamental teachings of the Bible, found in both the Old and New Testaments, is for God’s people to walk in His righteous ways and to be light to the nations amongst whom they live. We can accomplish this only if we are united in purpose and in His Holy Spirit.

There is an excellent example of New Testament believers united in purpose and in the Holy Spirit in the book of Acts. These believers whom I am referring to were located in the city of Antioch and the majority of them were very new in the faith, probably one to two years (Acts 11:26). This is the same church where the believers were first called “Christians” from the Greek word “Christianos” or “Messianics” from the Hebrew word “משיחיים” – “Me’shi’chi’yim.”

When news came to Jerusalem about the believers at Antioch, the Apostles sent Barnabas to visit them and teach them in order to build them up in the faith (Acts 11:19-24). While Barnabas was at Antioch, he went in search of the Apostle Saul (Paul) and brought him to Antioch as well. They were together with the believers in Antioch for about one year (Acts 11:25-26).

The unity amongst the believers at Antioch was strong and we are able to get glimpse into their spiritual life together as recorded in the book of Acts:

Now there were at Antioch, in the church that was there, prophets and teachers: Barnabas, and Simeon who was called Niger, and Lucius of Cyrene, and Manaen who had been brought up with Herod the tetrarch, and Saul. While they were ministering to the Lord and fasting, the Holy Spirit said, “Set apart for Me Barnabas and Saul for the work to which I have called them.” Then, when they had fasted and prayed and laid their hands on them, they sent them away. – Acts 13:1-3

The believers at Antioch had a godly team who were leading them and using their spiritual gifts of teaching and prophecy. We read how the believers were united in ministering and worshipping the Lord together with fasting. It was in this unified setting that the Holy Spirit spoke to them and set apart Barnabas and Saul for a particular work of service.

Holistic Worship

As the believers moved forward together, using their gifts for the building up of the body of Messiah, the Lord Himself, through the Holy Spirit, sent out Barnabas and Saul to spread the good news of Yeshua to a people who had not yet heard. Up until the account in Acts 13, the gospel of Yeshua had only reached as far as Antioch, Cyprus, and Phoenicia (Acts 11:19), an area just outside of Israel. Barnabas and Saul, however, would take the gospel to Jews and Gentiles throughout the Mediterranean world by the direction of the Holy Spirit.

The example of the Holy Spirit being manifested to the believers at Antioch serves an encouragement to us to be united in purpose and worship with other believers. Each one of us should be using our spiritual gifts in the body of Messiah for the building up of one another in order to minister to the Lord together through corporate worship in all of its various expressions.

As we have seen in the building of the Tabernacle in the book of Exodus and in the account of the believers in Acts 13, God’s presence is manifested as we serve and worship Him in a unified manner. The challenge before us today is to live out spiritual unity in the name of Yeshua so as to effectively build up the body of Messiah and provide an environment where God’s presence can be manifested in our midst.

Are you an active part of a body of believers today where you are able to be encouraged through the spiritual gifts of others and encourage others as well through the exercise of your spiritual gifts? We are all called by God to be an active part of His Kingdom on earth and this begins by worshiping and serving Him in unity with other believers.

Shabbat Shalom – We welcome your comments below!

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Torah Portion: Ex. 35:1 – Ex. 40:38

Haftara: 1 Kings 7:51 – 1 Kings 8:21

Maftir for Shabbat HaChodesh: Ex. 12:1-20 

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