Weekly Torah Lesson
Torah: Shemot 38:21 – 40:38
“34 Then the cloud covered the tabernacle of meeting, and the glory of Avinu filled the tabernacle. 35 And Moses was not able to enter the tabernacle of meeting, because the cloud rested above it, and the glory of Avinu filled the tabernacle.
38 For the cloud of Avinu was above the tabernacle by day, and fire was over it by night, in the sight of all the house of Israel, throughout all their journeys.” (Ex 40:34-35, 38)
** The Hebrew word for glory is Kevode. It is also translated “weighty” or “heavy”. The “glory of Avinu” seems to act like an “atmospheric pressure” that pushes humans down flat on the ground. Here is something to consider:
“Now when He said to them, “I am He,” they drew back and fell to the ground.” (John 18:6 )
“13 indeed it came to pass, when the trumpeters and singers were as one, to make one sound to be heard in praising and thanking Avinu, and when they lifted up their voice with the trumpets and cymbals and instruments of music, and praised Avinu, saying: “For He is good, For His mercy endures forever,” that the house, the house of Avinu, was filled with a cloud, 14 so that the priests could not continue ministering because of the cloud; for the glory of Avinu filled the house of Avinu.” (2Ch 5:13-14 )
“Sing to Avinu, sing praises to His name; Extol Him who rides on the clouds, By His name YAH, And rejoice before Him.” (Ps 68:4 )
“Ascribe strength to Avinu; His excellence is over Israel, And His strength is in the clouds.” (Ps 68:34 )
“He lays the beams of His upper chambers in the waters, Who makes the clouds His chariot, Who walks on the wings of the wind,” (Ps 104:3 )
“The burden against Egypt. Behold, Avinu rides on a swift cloud, And will come into Egypt; The idols of Egypt will totter at His presence, And the heart of Egypt will melt in its midst.” (Isa 19:1 )
“Then I looked, and behold, a whirlwind was coming out of the north, a great cloud with raging fire engulfing itself; and brightness was all around it and radiating out of its midst like the color of amber, out of the midst of the fire.” (Eze 1:4 )
“Like the appearance of a rainbow in a cloud on a rainy day, so was the appearance of the brightness all around it. This was the appearance of the likeness of the glory of Avinu. So when I saw it, I fell on my face, and I heard a voice of One speaking.” (Eze 1:28 )
“Then the glory of Avinu went up from the cherub, and paused over the threshold of the temple; and the house was filled with the cloud, and the court was full of the brightness of Avinu’S glory.” (Eze 10:4 )
“I was watching in the night visions, And behold, One like the Son of Man, Coming with the clouds of heaven! He came to the Ancient of Days, And they brought Him near before Him.” (Da 7:13 )
“Then the sign of the Son of Man will appear in heaven, and then all the tribes of the earth will mourn, and they will see the Son of Man coming on the clouds of heaven with power and great glory.” (Mt 24:30)
** Avinu uses clouds in many different ways. In most situations He seems to be using them to “shield” mankind from His glory.
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