Weekly Torah Lesson
Parasha: Tetsaveh – He commanded
Torah: Shemot 27:20 – 30:10
Shemot 27:20 “And you shall command the people of Israel that they bring to you pure beaten olive oil for the light, that a lamp may be set up to burn continually. 21 In the tent of meeting, outside the veil which is before the testimony, Aharon and his sons shall tend it from evening to morning before Avinu. It shall be a statute for ever to be observed throughout their generations by the people of Israel.
** The people of Israel were commanded to bring the oil needed to keep the lampstand burning in the Holy Place. They weren’t told how much oil to bring. They brought what they felt was the proper amount. Some brought a little and others brought a large amount. Just as the physical oil was being provided to the lampstand by the people, so was The Holy Spirit being supplied to the people by Avinu. It takes the oil and the wick to produce the light. The lampstand in The Holy Place pictured what we are supposed to do with the “oil” and the “wick” that we have been given.
“And out of the throne proceeded lightning and thunder and voices: and there were seven lamps of fire burning before the throne, which are the seven Spirits of Avinu.” (Re 4:5)
“12 And I turned to see the voice that spoke with me. And being turned, I saw seven golden lampstands; 13 And in the middle of the seven lampstands one like to the Son of man, clothed with a garment down to the foot, and girt about the breasts with a golden girdle.” (Re 1:12-13)
“The mystery of the seven stars which you saw in my right hand, and the seven golden lampstands. The seven stars are the angels of the seven congregations: and the seven lampstands which you saw are the seven congregations. (Re 1:20)
To the angel of the congregation of Ephesus write; These things said he that holds the seven stars in his right hand, who walks in the middle of the seven golden lampstands;” (Re 1:20-2:1)
“Remember therefore from where you are fallen, and repent, and do the first works; or else I will come to you quickly, and will remove your lampstand out of his place, except you repent.” (Re 2:5)
** The “lampstand” is the instrument that enables the “oil” (Ruach HaKadosh) to be combined with the “wick” (a living soul) to produce “light” (good works).
“1 “Then the kingdom of heaven shall be likened to ten virgins who took their lamps and went out to meet the bridegroom. 2 “Now five of them were wise, and five were foolish. 3 “Those who were foolish took their lamps and took no oil with them, 4 “but the wise took oil in their vessels with their lamps. 5 “But while the bridegroom was delayed, they all slumbered and slept. 6 “And at midnight a cry was heard: ‘Behold, the bridegroom is coming; go out to meet him!’ 7 “Then all those virgins arose and trimmed their lamps. 8 “And the foolish said to the wise, ‘Give us some of your oil, for our lamps are going out.’ 9 “But the wise answered, saying, ‘No, lest there should not be enough for us and you; but go rather to those who sell, and buy for yourselves.’ 10 “And while they went to buy, the bridegroom came, and those who were ready went in with him to the wedding; and the door was shut. 11 “Afterward the other virgins came also saying, ‘Master’, open to us!’ 12 “But he answered and said, ‘Assuredly, I say to you, I do not know you.’ 13 “Watch therefore, for you know neither the day nor the hour in which the Son of Man is coming.”
** There is a counterfeit “oil” that will be diminished as the time approaches. This counterfeit oil and it’s “light” is described by Yeshua:
*** “20 “Therefore by their fruits you will know them. 21 “Not everyone who says to Me, ‘Master, Master,’ shall enter the kingdom of heaven, but he who does the will of My Father in heaven. “Many will say to Me in that day, ‘Master, Master, have we not prophesied in Your name, cast out demons in Your name, and done many wonders in Your name?’”
And then I will declare to them, ‘I never knew you; depart from Me, you who practice lawlessness!’” (Mt 7:20-23)
** Here are the lamps:
*** “14 “You are the light of the world. A city that is set on a hill cannot be hidden. 15 “Nor do they light a lamp and put it under a basket, but on a lampstand, and it gives light to all who are in the house. 16 “Let your light so shine before men, that they may see your good works and glorify your Father in heaven.” (Mt 5:14-16 )
*** “Therefore I remind you to stir up the gift of Avinu which is in you through the laying on of my hands.” (2Ti 1:6 )
*** “And let us consider one another in order to stir up love and good works,” (Heb 10:24 )
** The ability to “Love” (worshipping Avinu through His commandments) and “good works” (loving our neighbors as ourselves) are both the consequence of the Ruach HaKadosh within us.
The Ruach HaKadosh is a “gift” that is given to us: ***
“10 For every one that asks receives; and he that seeks finds; and to him that knocks it shall be opened. 11 If a son shall ask bread of any of you that is a father, will he give him a stone? or if he ask a fish, will he for a fish give him a serpent? 12 Or if he shall ask an egg, will he offer him a scorpion? 13 If you then, being evil, know how to give good gifts to your children: how much more shall your heavenly Father give the Holy Spirit to them that ask him?” (Lu 11:10-13)
We are commanded to “stir it up”!
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