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KI TISA
14 March 2009
Exodus 30:11-34:35
Ezekiel 36:16-36.
1:Cor.8:4-13
Normally the HafTorah reading would be from 1Kings18:1-39. Since this is
Shabbat Parah we read from Ezekiel 36 as an additional reading in
preparation for the upcoming Festival of Passover (Pesach) when all were
to be in a state of ritual purity (Numbers 19)
As
we begin this Parasha we read of the command to take a census in order for
each one to provide a half shekel for the sanctuary. The rich will not
give more than the poor, and the poor shall not give less. Everyone is to
give the same. G-d is equal opportunity when it comes to the basic care
of the sanctuary.
Further, we read that a bronze laver should be built for the sons of Aaron
to wash themselves before they minister before the altar of the Lord. The
command was given for the anointing oil to be made. Like the priests, we
must keep clean in our daily walk. Even the priests became defiled while
serving in the Tabernacle. Think what must happen to us as we
serve/work/live in an evil world!
In
this present world system we encounter daily enticements and temptations.
Things we would like to take, hunger for, crave, or thirst for. These are
what we call lusts of the flesh. Even Shaul writes to us about these
cravings or lusts of the flesh. He states, “But I see a different law in
the members of my body, waging war against the law of my mind and making
me a prisoner of the law of sin which is in my members,” (Romans 7:23)).
James also writes about our lust of the flesh when he states that our
cravings can cause divisions among the body of the faithful (James 4:1-2).
The anointing oil symbolizes the Spirit of G-d. It is the Ruach HaKodesh
(Spirit) who gives us the power to conquer the lust of the flesh. It is
the Spirit that empowers us to walk in the presence of G-d. We have the
Ruach that will teach us all things (John 14:16), expose the world’s error
and bring conviction of sin (John 16:8) guiding us in the way of truth,
and thus glorifying Messiah.
James calls the worldly person an adulterer and warns that to be allied to
the world is to be at war with G-d (James 4:4). John discourages the
believer from being a lover of the world and the things of the world (1
John 2:15).
So
just as Shaul did, let us proclaim that “the world has been crucified to
me, and I to the world” (Gal 6:14).
Shavua Tov
Rabbi Z.
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