Scriptures

Exodus 38:21 to 40:38
Exodus 12:1-20
2 Kings 11:17 to 12:17
1 Corinthians 2:6 to 3:17

Continued from the last study Vayakhel …

Exodus 38:21-31 Materials

The amount of material used for the mishkan/Tabernacle was recorded by the Levites under the supervision of Ithamar, the fourth son of Aaron. Scripture records the metals used weighed a little over one ton of gold, just over three and three quarter tons of silver and about two and a half tons of copper.

Exodus 39:1-43 Priestly Garments

The account of the priestly garments completes the description of the mishkan in Exodus and symbolizes the service of the priesthood of YHVH. The garments are prophetic in nature and represent different aspects of the ministry of Yeshua. As His kingdom of priests and holy nation, His bride and ambassadors of His Word, we are called to “clothe ourselves” in these priestly garments, as they significantly reflect the image of our Messiah. Wearing them reflects His very nature, and represents the heart and image we are to walk in daily. As believers in the Messiah of Israel, we are part of His priesthood and the priestly garments are for us today (1 Peter 2:9; Ephesians 6:10-17). May we be found wearing the garments of Yeshua that sanctify and purify our walks daily and keep our hearts and minds protected and strong in Him (Isaiah 11:5; Isaiah 59:17; Psalm 132:9; Isaiah 52:7; Isaiah 49:2; 1 Thessalonians 5:8).

Exodus 39:1-21 The Ephod and Breastpiece

The ephod and breastplate of the priestly garments were made of the same fabric materials as the curtains that surrounded the mishkan: blue, purple and scarlet yarn and finely twisted linen, but with the added content of pure gold. We have learned that pure gold represents the divine nature of the Messiah. Gold also represented a conductor of His Presence. In order to prepare gold for the garment, it first was hammered into a paper-thin sheet, then rolled and cut very finely to produce a thread-like quality for weaving into the garments. These garments held stones, set in gold, which were engraved with the names of the twelve tribes. These items of clothing with the living stones were held together with a belt wrapped around the waist, known as the belt of truth, the truth being the Torah. These garments were known as the armor of God. When the twelve tribes come together in the teaching and instruction of YHVH, walking in faith and righteousness not of their own but that which comes from a personal relationship with the living Torah, Yeshua Ha Mashiach, they will again be a vast and mighty army of YHVH the Elohim (Isaiah 59:17; Ephesians 6:10-17).

There was an electrical charge in the mishkan. When a priest went in to minister before YHVH he would walk into the Holy Place with bare feet against the earth floor. The priest would be grounded or shod with the gospel, the Torah, and be physically and spiritually in the power of YHVH.

The priest experiencing YHVH’s power would know His faithfulness. This can be seen as the shield of faith. It was not a faith of the priest’s own but a trust in YHVH’s faithfulness, which “extinguished all the flaming missiles of the evil one.” Having faith in Yeshua’s faithfulness gave the priest peace and self-control. According to Hebraic understanding faith is an action word; therefore, it is not merely a mental state but a lifestyle, that of trust-grounded obedience and a pursuit of holiness. For us today, this is His will for our lives. Living according to the Torah, His teaching and instruction, equips us with the sword of the Spirit, the Word of God, which cleanses our hearts and minds. The miter or sacred diadem on the priests’ foreheads, made out of pure gold and engraved like an inscription on a seal, and tied with a blue cord (symbolizing Yeshua), declared them HOLY TO YHVH. This is called the helmet of salvation, and is also understood as the signet ring, the mark or seal upon us. When we actively do and speak the Word, the shield of faith and the sword of the Spirit put out the flames of the enemy.

Put on the whole armor of God [armor is zanah: Hebrew for armor; any type of military equipment, sword or shield; that which brings life, and representing the Messiah], that you may be able to stand against the wiles of the devil [wiles is zantah: Aramaic for strategies or wiles; hooked or barbed fish hook or any other trap; that which brings death], so that when the day of evil comes, you may be able to stand your ground, and after you have done everything, to stand. Stand firm then, with the belt of truth buckled around your waist, with the breastplate of righteousness in place, and with your feet fitted with the readiness that come from the gospel of peace (Ephesians 6:11, 13-15).

Paul, a Pharisee, quoted Torah and wrote of the priestly garments as described through the prophet Isaiah, a prophet who gave a message from YHVH for the elect not to be easily ensnared by false doctrines. Paul referenced the words of Isaiah as a prophetic warning for us today, not to be lured into false teachings that would become a snare of the enemy to us. The armor of God in Ephesians 6 is priestly apparel, not a Roman soldier’s armor. We need to know God’s teaching and instruction, the Torah, in order to see and recognize a counterfeit teaching.

He put on righteousness as his breastplate, and the helmet of salvation on his head; he put on the garments of vengeance and wrapped himself in zeal as in a cloak (Isaiah 59:17).

But with righteousness He shall judge the poor, and decide with equity for the meek of the earth; He shall strike the earth with the rod of His mouth, and with the breath of His lips He shall slay the wicked. Righteousness shall be the belt of His loins, and faithfulness the belt of His waist (Isaiah 11:4-5).

And He has made My mouth like a sharp sword; In the shadow of His hand He has hidden Me, And made Me a polished shaft; In His quiver He has hidden Me (Isaiah 49:2).

How beautiful on the mountains are the feet of those who bring good news, who proclaim peace, who bring good tidings, who proclaim salvation, who say to Zion, "Your God reigns!" (Isaiah 52:7).

As we clothe ourselves in Yeshua, we put on the priestly garments. We wrap ourselves in Him as our hearts and minds are transformed into His image and nature. The priestly garments were designed to set YHVH’s people apart from the world with its worldly system and influence, enabling us to serve in the heavenly kingdom.

This is the foundation we are to build on. There is no other.

For through him we both have access to the Father by one Spirit.  Consequently, you are no longer foreigners and aliens, but fellow citizens with YHVH's people and members of YHVH's household, built on the foundation of the apostles and prophets, with Yeshua the Messiah himself as the chief cornerstone. In him the whole building is joined together and rises to become a holy temple in YHVH.  And in him you too are being built together to become a dwelling in which YHVH lives by his Spirit (Ephesians 2:18-22 ref. 1 Corinthians 2:6-3:17).

Exodus 40:1-37 Setting Up the Mishkan

We have seen the Israelites struggle with their own inadequate ways that brought poverty of heart and mind while YHVH was leading them out into the wilderness to be a people for Himself. We have seen their hearts and minds change through the trials they struggled through. In their vulnerability they met ‘The Truth’ and experienced a far deeper love of YHVH and His Presence. As the people responded to His Presence they opened their hearts to Him and were moved to give freewill offerings that came in continual waves, so much so they had to restrict the offerings.

If we are looking for freedom in YHVH we need to let go of our own ways and trust in His faithfulness. In so doing, we will see Him in far deeper depths of revelation and experience the building of a mishkan that cannot be destroyed. May we thus enter in to such an experience of His Presence. May our pattern and building be exactly as the Children of Israel built it so long ago. May it be after the pattern of the heavenly Tabernacle that Yeshua serves in today, the bridal chamber of the bride who is getting herself ready for the return of her Bridegroom (Ezekiel 43:10-12; Hebrews 8:1-13).

When they had finished making all the furnishings and garments, they presented them to Moses and it was Moses who set up the mishkan. The house we are to build for YHVH will only rise through Moses. If we walk in the words YHVH gave Moses at Mount Sinai, we too will raise a “Tabernacle” for YHVH. This Word is the only foundation we are to build on; there is none other. The Word of God given to us is the voice of YHVH and the will of YHVH for our life. This foundation of Truth was fulfilled in Yeshua, who was and is The Presence of YHVH. Yeshua is the Redemption, the Power and the Deliverer of YHVH (Amos 9:11; Acts 15:15-21; 1 Peter 2:5-12).

It was when the Children of Israel did not obey the message at Mount Sinai that David’s tent (Covenant) fell, as the Davidic Covenant is dependant on the Abrahamic and Mosaic Covenants. They all support each other and are the foundation of our walk (1 Peter 2: 8b-10; Amos 9:11; Acts 15:16-21).

For we are YHVH’s fellow workers; you are YHVH’s field, YHVH’s building. By the grace YHVH has given me, I laid a foundation as an expert builder, and someone else is building on it. But each one should be careful how he builds. For no one can lay any foundation other than the one already laid, which is Yeshua, the Messiah. If any man builds on this foundation using gold, silver, costly stones, wood, hay or straw, his work will be shown for what it is, because the Day will bring it to light. It will be revealed with fire, and the fire will test the quality of each man's work. If what he has built survives, he will receive his reward. If it is burned up, he will suffer loss; he himself will be saved, but only as one escaping through the flames...

Don't you know that you yourselves are YHVH’s temple and that YHVH’s Spirit lives in you? If anyone destroys YHVH’s temple, YHVH will destroy him; for YHVH’s temple is sacred, and you are that temple (1 Corinthians 3:9-17).

Exodus 40:34 The Glory of YHVH

When Moses set up the Tabernacle according to the pattern he had seen on Mount Sinai, the Glory of YHVH came in a cloud and covered the Tabernacle.

I saw YHVH seated on a throne, high and exalted, and the train of his robe filled the temple. Above Him were seraphs, each with six wings: With two wings they covered their faces, with two they covered their feet, and with two they were flying. And they were calling to one another: “Holy, holy, holy is YHVH Almighty; the whole earth is full of His Glory.” At the sound of their voices the doorposts and thresholds shook and the temple was filled with smoke (Isaiah 6:1-4).

So the cloud of YHVH was over the Mishkan by day, and fire was in the cloud by night, in the sight of all the House of Israel during all their travels (Exodus 40:38).

Now the first covenant had both regulations for worship and a Holy Place here on earth. A tent was set up, the outer one, which was called the Holy Place; in it were the menorah, the table and the Bread of the Presence. Behind the second curtain was a tent called the Holiest Place, which had the golden altar for burning incense and the Ark of the Covenant, entirely covered with gold. In the Ark were the gold jar containing the manna, Aaron’s rod that sprouted and the stone Tablets of the Covenant; and above it were the cherubim representing the Sh’khinah [Presence of YHVH], casting their shadow on the lid of the Ark – but now is not the time to discuss these things in detail.

With things so arranged, the priests go into the outer tent all the time to discharge their duties; but only the High Priest enters the inner one; and he goes in only once a year, and he must always bring blood, which he offers both for himself and for the sins committed in ignorance by the people. By this arrangement, the Ruach HaChodesh [Holy Spirit] showed that so long as the first Tent had standing, the way into the Holiest Place was still closed. This symbolizes the present age and indicates that the conscience of the person performing the service cannot be brought to the goal by the gifts and sacrifices he offers. For they involve only food and drink and various ceremonial washings – regulations concerning the outward life, imposed until the time for YHVH to reshape the whole structure.

But when the Messiah appeared as High Priest of the good things that are happening already, then, through the greater and more perfect Tent which is not man-made [that is, it is not of this created world], he entered the Holiest Place once and for all.

And he entered not by means of the blood of goats and calves, but by means of his own blood, thus setting people free forever. For if sprinkling ceremonially unclean persons with the blood of goats and bulls and the ashes of a heifer restores their outward purity; then how much more the blood of the Messiah, who, through the eternal Spirit, offered himself to YHVH as a sacrifice without blemish, will purify our conscience from works that lead to death, so that we can serve the living YHVH! (Hebrews 9:1-14 CJB).

Chazak! Chazak! VeNitchazak
Be Strong! Be Strong!
 And May We Be Strengthened!

Shabbat Shalom,
Carl and Julie Parker

References:

Reference to the Mishkan/Tabernacle furnishings: See Torah Commentary: Terumah

Reference to the Priestly Garments: See Torah Commentary: Tetzaveh

Redeemed Israel – Reunited and Restored by Batya Wootten

The Tabernacle by M. Wilson

The Tabernacle by D. Saunders

STBM: “The Armor of God”

CJB: Complete Jewish Bible by Dr. David Stern Jewish New Testament Publications

Past Parshot: www.messianicisrael.com/sheepfold-gleanings/
Sheepfold Gleanings written by Carl and Julie Parker: www.sheepfoldgleanings.com
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