Shemine

Parashas Shemine

Leviticus 9:1 – 11:47

 

Please Pray this

Prayer

First before reading.

 

In the name of Yahushua

Our Messiyah,

I pray for the Spirit of Understanding

The Spirit of Knowledge and

The Spirit of Wisdom

As I read through this Parashas

 

This Torah Portion of Shemini is the 26^th in the yearly Torah cycle, the meaning of Shemini is Eight.

At the end of Parashas Tzav, Aaron and his sons, the Mighty Hand of Elohim were instructed to remain in the Tent of Meeting for seven full days while Moses preformed the inauguration service, which began on the twenty third day Adar.

Each day for seven days Moses performed the entire service himself. The inauguration period climaxed with the consecration of Aaron and his sons as Kohanim on the eight-day, the day of new beginning. From that day onward, only the Kohanim were eligible to perform the Tabernacle Service.

 

This chapter begins on the first day of the first month, the month of Nissan, the eight day of the inauguration service. On that day, the Tabernacle was completed and the Kohanim assumed their new role. This Parashas describe the special service the newly consecrated Kohanim performed on the day they achieved their new status.

 

Parashat shemini begins with the first celebration of sacrifice, after the seven days of sacrifice, after the seven days of ordination. This sacrifice on the eight day marks the first time that the Altars are used for sacrifice on behalf of the people of Yisrael.

Moses underscores the purpose of the sacrifice when he said, This is what EL YAHVEH has Command that we should do, that the Shekinah of YAHVEH may appear to us.

Let’s read the account.

 

Lev 9:1  And on the eighth day it came to be that Mosheh called Aharon and his sons and the elders of Yisra’ĕl. – On the eighth day, the day of new beginning, Moses sadly called Aaron and his sons along with the elders, and reminded them why the Tabernacle was build; the sin of the Golden Calf had far reaching result.

The Hebrew () word word that is often used to indicate what trouble or grief is associated with the narrative. What sadness could there be on the first day of the year? Except for the realization that the Children of Yisrael had lost a glorious opportunity to be the Tabernacle of the Shechinah instead, a structure had to be built in place of them.

 

Lev 9:2 And he said to Aharon, “Take for yourself a young bull as a sin offering and a ram as a burnt offering, a perfect one, and bring them before יהוה . – Before you and your son go before EL YAHVEH, you must bring a young bull, the highest form of sacrifice. We know today that, that bull was a representation of El Yahushua our Messiyah. He was, He is, and He will always be our sin offering and our burnt offering. No man goes to the Father except thought Him.

 

Lev 9:3 “And speak to the children of Yisra’ĕl, saying, ‘Take a male goat as a sin offering, and a calf and a lamb, both a year old, perfect ones, as a burnt offering, - We also know that Aaron and his sons were in the Holy of Holies spiritually, they are require to bring the Bull offering. The ordinary people the nation of Yisrael as a whole, was a holy people, they too dwells in the Holy Place spiritually, they must bring a lamb or a calf, which also had to be perfect.

 

Lev 9:4 and a bull and a ram as peace offerings, to slaughter before יהוה , and a grain offering mixed with oil. For today יהוה  shall appear to you. – The priesthood and the set apart people, the nation of Yisrael, must bring their offering daily. They must bring their peace offering, their grain offering mixed with the anointing, the Holy Spirit, for EL YAHVEH require to meet with us every day.

 

Lev 9:5 And they took what Mosheh commanded before the Tent of Meeting, and all the congregation drew near and stood before יהוה . – Aaron and his sons took the offering of the bull and ram and the grain offering to the entrance of the tent of meeting according to what Moses was commanded to do. Today the church say that what Moses was command to do is nail to the cross, the principle was never nail to the cross the curse of our sin was nail to the cross.

 

Lev 9:6 And Mosheh said, “This is the service which יהוה  commanded you to do, so that the esteem of יהוה  appears to you.” – Moses said to Aaron and his sons, this is the service that EL YAHVEH require of the Mighty Hand Ministry, that will cause the Shechinah may appear to the people. It is the same today; the Fivefold ministry must minister, or led the people to perfect righteousness that they will become the individual Tabernacle of the Presence of ELOHIM. This is the whole purpose of Creation.

 

Lev 9:7 And Mosheh said to Aharon, “Go to the altar, and prepare your sin offering and your burnt offering, and make atonement for yourself and for the people. And make the offering of the people, and make atonement for them, as יהוה  has commanded.” – Every human high Priest because of the nature of humanity must first make atonement for them self, before they can make atonement for others. That is why he could only go into the Holy Place one a year. Today we have a High Priest who was absolutely perfect; His Name is El Yahushua, who sits at the Right Hand of YAHVEH permanently, ever making atonement for us.

 

Lev 9:8 So Aharon came near to the altar and slaughtered the calf of the sin offering, which was for himself. – The draw back of humanity, dictates that this act has to be done, until we all reach perfection. This is what our Messiyah is doing for us as He sits at the Right Hand of  יהוה.

 

Lev 9:9 And the sons of Aharon brought the blood to him, and he dipped his finger in the blood, and put it on the horns of the altar, and poured the blood at the base of the altar. – Aaron had to offer the sacrifice exactly the way it had to be done; there is no other way around it. Without the shedding of blood there can be no redemption. Today our Messiyah shows His Right Hand and said I die for that one too.

 

Lev 9:10 And the fat, and the kidneys, and the appendage on the liver of the sin offering he burned on the altar, as יהוה  had commanded Mosheh. – Apparently there was no fire in the Tabernacle until verse 24 when the Fire from Heavens came and lights the fire on the Brazen Altar. This verse seems to imply that Aaron place the necessary offering on the Altar as he was commanded to do. When we as belivers offered up the means or the wealth of this world, it will be for a sin offering.

 

Lev 9:11 And the flesh and the skin he burned with fire outside the camp. – However, the flesh and the skin he set apart to be burn in the right place outside of the camp as he was required to do. The question I will ask is, did he use the fire from Heavens to ignite the fire outside the camp. This would seem to be the logical thing to do, but there is no command to do so. The camp is a code word for the Kingdom of Heaven. Outside the camp is a code word for planet earth. We must sacrifice the flesh here on earth befor we enter the Kingdom of Heaven.

 

Lev 9:12 And he slaughtered the burnt offering, and the sons of Aharon presented to him the blood, which he sprinkled on the altar all around. – Aaron continue to perform the ritual prescribe by Moses, with the slaughtering of the offering and the sprinkling of blood. This verse seems to imply that what we sacrifice on earth is also sacrifice in the Heavens.

 

Lev 9:13 And they presented the burnt offering to him, with its pieces and head, and he burned them on the altar. – As Aaron sons presents the offering to him, so we must presents our offering to our High Priest, that He may bring it to our Father.

 

Lev 9:14 And he washed the entrails and the legs, and burned them with the burnt offering on the altar. – He also washes the inner organs and legs and presents them as a burnt offering, also to El Yahushua.

 

Lev 9:15 And he brought the people’s offering, and took the goat, which was the sin offering for the people, and slaughtered it and made it a sin offering, like the first one. – The High Priest is the one who must bring the offering of the people and offer it as the required offering, at the right time in the right place.

 

Lev 9:16 And he brought the burnt offering and made it, according to the right ruling. – Right ruling comes from EL YAHVEH, if HE says this is the way it is, then that the way it should be. Yahushua said no one come to the FATHER except through Him.

 

Lev 9:17 He also brought the grain offering, and filled his hand with it, and burned it on the altar, besides the burnt offering of the morning. – Continuing on the same principle, we are been instructed to do all the required offering according to the required ritual is an everlasting principle. We are not require to burn our offering anymore, that is the Job of our Hight Priest.

 

Lev 9:18 And he slaughtered the bull and the ram as peace offerings, which were for the people. And Aharon’s sons presented to him the blood, which he sprinkled on the altar all around, - We do know that we do not have to kill any animal any more, for El Yahushua is our Sacrifice, Bull, Lamb, and Goat, slaying from the foundation of the world. However we are still required to bring the cost of the offering, been offered.

 

Lev 9:19 and the fat from the bull and the ram, the fat tail, and the covering, and the kidneys, and the appendage on the liver, - a repeat of the ritual is to help cement in our mind the requirement for doing things the right way.

 

Lev 9:20 and they placed the fat on the breasts, and he burned the fat on the altar. – The offering up off our our sinfull nature is an indicature of our commitment to the Kingdom of Heavens.

 

Lev 9:21 But the breasts and the right thigh Aharon waved as a wave offering before יהוה , as Mosheh had commanded. – Every thing that is dare to us must be sacrifice for the kingdom sake, there can be no exception, as Yahushua told us about the story of the rich young ruler.

 

Lev 9:22 Aharon then lifted up his hand toward the people and blessed them, and came down from making the sin offering, and the burnt offering, and the peace offerings. - When Aaron had done all on his part, that was to be done about the sacrifices, he lifted up his hand towards the people, and blessed them.
This was one part of the priest’s work, in which he was a type of Messiyah, who came into the world to bless us, and when he was parted from his disciples, at his ascension, lifted up his hands and blessed them, and in them his whole body, of which they were the elders and representatives, as the great high priest of our profession.
Aaron lifted up his hands in blessing them, to intimate whence he desired and expected the blessing to come, even from heaven, which is YAH’s throne. Aaron could but crave a blessing, it is YAH’s prerogative to command it. Aaron, when he had blessed, came down; Messiyah, when he blessed, went up.

 

Lev 9:23 And Mosheh and Aharon went into the Tent of Meeting, and came out and blessed the people. And the esteem of יהוה  appeared to all the people, - The result of performing the rituals according to the requirements prescribe by Torah, will cause the Shechinah to the people. We are not told what Moses and Aaron went into the tabernacle to do. Some of the Jewish writers say, "They went in to pray for the appearance of the divine glory;’’ most probably they went in that Moses might instruct Aaron how to do the service that was to be done there, burn incense, light the lamps, set the show-bread, etc., that he might instruct his sons in it.

But, when they came out, they both joined in blessing the people, who stood expecting the promised appearance of the divine glory; and it was now (when Moses and Aaron concurred in praying) that they had what they waited for. YAH’s manifestations of himself, of his glory and grace, are commonly given in answer to prayer.

When Messiyah was praying the heavens were opened, Lu. 3:21. The glory of Messiyah appeared, not while the sacrifices were in offering, but when the priests prayed (as 2 Chr. 5:13), when they praised YAHVEH, which intimates that the prayers and praises of YAH’s spiritual priests are more pleasing to YAHVEH than all burnt-offerings and sacrifices.

When the solemnity was finished, the blessing pronounced, and the congregation ready to be dismissed, in the close of the day, then YAHVEH testified his acceptance, which gave them such satisfaction as was well worth waiting for.

The glory of יהוה appeared unto all the people. What the appearance of it was we are not told; no doubt it was such as carried its own evidence along with it. The glory which filled the tabernacle (Ex. 40:34) now showed itself at the door of the tabernacle to those who attended there, as a prince shows himself to the expecting crowd, to gratify them. YAHVEH hereby testified of their gifts, and showed them that he was worthy for whom they should do all this. Those that diligently attend upon YAHVEH in the way he has appointed shall have such a sight of his glory as shall be abundantly to their satisfaction. Those that dwell in YAH’s house with an eye of faith may behold the beauty of ABBA YAHVEH.

 

Lev 9:24 and fire came out from before יהוה  and consumed the burnt offering and the fat on the altar. And all the people saw and cried aloud and fell on their faces. – The consuming Fire of the Shechinah came down and ignites the fire that consumed the offering. If it were not done in the right way, this would never happen. That why it is mandatory for us, to put aside human or man made practices for the establish protocol of Torah. When we offer up our flesh, the Holy Spirit will make our body a Temple for Her to dwell in.

 

 

 

Chapter 10
 

This chapter explains a sad part of the journey of the children of Yisrael to the promise land. The death of two people who should never had died. They were two people who should have known better, they spent seven day practicing before the dedication of the tabernacle. They were warned by Moses to make sure the Tabernacle was build according to the directions specified by Moses.

Just when the joy of the inauguration ritual had reached its peak, tragedy stuck. Two of Aaron’s sons, men who should have known better. Men who Moses, described as an outstanding sons of the nation. Those who had risen to the position of priest in Yisrael are such men. They perform that which was not authorizing in the Templeservice.

In the redeemed community, we see an avalanche ofmanmade commandments and we make it part of our belief system, we never learn from the death of Aaron two sons.

Nadab and Abihu erred in bringing their own incense into the Holy Place, I believe that they had good intention, but like the man who touches the Ark of the Covenant when he saw it falling, good intention is no reason to do that which we are commanded not to do. They took it upon themselves to do so. 

Lev 10:1 And Naḏaḇ and Aḇihu, the sons of Aharon, each took his fire holder and put fire in it, and put incense on it, and brought strange fire before יהוה , which He had not commanded them. – They were sons of Aaron, but they slighted him by acting on their own, without consulting him. They acted independently, without discussing the matter with one another. Can you imagine two of your finger on your right hand all of a sudden begins to act independent of the other three fingers; it would no longer be the mighty hand, but a hand that was dysfunctional.

They took fire from another source and place in their own fire holder. Much like what the Christian churches does today. Their own feast days, their own Sabbath. Amo 5:21  I hate, I despise your feast days, and I will not delight in your solemn assemblies. Just maybe this rebellion was a prophetic indicator of a time when the Priesthood would create their own form of praise and worship. This verse teaches us the significant of doing exactly what EL YAHVEH says we are to do. This is the presumptuous sin David spoke of; when he said keep me from presumptuous sin.

The Altar of Burnt Offering was the prescribe location for the burning of incense, now Aaron’s boys was replacing it with their own fire pots. This is in tune with Christianity replacing the Torah with the New Testament, or replacing the Altar of Showbread with their own version.

 

Lev 10:2 And fire came out from יהוה  and consumed them, and they died before יהוה . – The Consuming Fire of YAHVEH will always consume that which is not of Him, and they perished. Those of us who believe that our good intention is reason enough, we need to think again. I often hear believer say that He is a loving God, He understand, no He does not.

Instead of the Fire from EL YAHVEH becoming their glory and resting on them, it became their consuming fire and destroys them. This is similar to the Word of Elohim been a double-edged sword, which can cut both for good and for bad. What we as believers befive in will either bless us or destroy us.

 

Lev 10:3 Then Mosheh said to Aharon, “This is what יהוה  spoke, saying, ‘By those who come near Me let Me be set-apart! And before all the people let Me be esteemed!’ ” And Aharon was silent. – The fire that consumed them was a Divine statement; it was the wordless message of EL YAHVEH’S intent that this was not acceptable. The Shekinah Glory must sanctify the Tabernacle, not the glory of man as the two sons of Aaron tried to accomplish.

EL YAHVEH, Tabernacle will be sanctified by those who seek to come close to Him according to His plan, not according to mans desire. Moses says that he knew that the Tabernacle would be sanctified through someone in whom Elohim’s glory reposes; that person is El Yahushua. I believe Aaron, like Eve was very zealous in their desire to accomplish this most lofty of task, that they over step their boundary. At Mount Sinai, EL YAHVEH warned Moses to set a boundary around the mountain, less the people in their zealousness try to come up the mountain and be killed.

EL YAHVEH imposed strict justice even upon the righteous, He must be feared and honored. That is why; one of the seven Spirits is the Spirit of the Fear of Elohim. It is common in human society that leaders maintain a higher standard of behavior than ordinary people. EL YAHVEH demands higher standard from His ministers and deal more strict with their lapses. The statement, to whom much is given, much is expected.

 

Lev 10:4 And Mosheh called to Misha’ĕl and to Eltsaphan, the sons of Uzzi’ĕl the uncle of Aharon, and said to them, “Come near, take your brothers from before the set-apart place out of the camp.” – I believe that the remain of the body was mere coal, it is inconceivable that a dead body could be present in the Tabernacle. It would have been a violation of the Sanctuary, and it would have to be sanctified for seven days.

It was the next of kin, not the brothers of their father who perform the burial, for they would have to take of their garment and go outside the camp.  It was there granduncle that did the burial.

 

Lev 10:5 So they came near and took them by their long shirts out of the camp, as Mosheh had said. – As one commentator said the fire came and burns their body and left the cloth intact. Very possible, for a dead body of any sort would contaminate the area.  

In order not to interfere with the joy of the inauguration, Elohim forbade the usual expression of grief even to the brothers of Nadad and Abihu.

 

Lev 10:6 And Mosheh said to Aharon, and to Elʽazar and to Ithamar, his sons, “Do not unbind your heads nor tear your garments, lest you die, and wrath come upon all the people. But let your brothers, all the house of Yisra’ĕl, bewail the burning which יהוה  has kindled. – The message or the principle been taught here is that a true Hebrew should always try to accept EL YAHVEH’S justice with faith, as Aaron and his two other sons were commanded to do. The prime directive of Aaron and his sons were to minister to the people that should not stop for any reason, as El Yahushua said, let the dead buried the Dead, Matthew 8:22; Luke 9:6.

 

Lev 10:7 “And do not go out from the door of the Tent of Meeting, lest you die, for the anointing oil of יהוה  is upon you.” And they did according to the word of Mosheh. – In the process of administering in the Tabernacle, a minister or priest should never leave their post. It is an everlasting covenant, much like a solder deserting his post.

 

Lev 10:8 And יהוה  spoke to Aharon, saying, - One of the rare moment that EL YAHVEH actually spoke to Aaron directly. It was like a direct command from the Commander and Chief to one of His Generals.

 

Lev 10:9 “Do not drink wine or strong drink, you, nor your sons with you, when you go into the Tent of Meeting, lest you die – a law forever throughout your generations, - The incident with the boys create or exposed a problem with human character. I keep telling believers, that I view sin differently from most people, while it is a violation of Torah principles. It also exposes our human tendencies. The question everyone who sin need to asked is, what is the prevailing principle behind my action? When we determine why, then we are more likely to plug the hole, or repair character traits that support such an action.

Now EL YAHVEH is Putting in place further restrictions to curtail any further violation of the Tabernacle. We as believers should take the same appreciate to sanctifying our individual Tabernacle. When anyone of the Mighty Hand Ministry, minister in the Tabernacle or anyone of the five Altar, they should not consume any toxic drink before going on duty. Zero tolerance.

 

Lev 10:10 so as to make a distinction between the set-apart and the profane, and between the unclean and the clean, - The whole purpose of Torah is to make a distinction between clean and unclean, holy and unholy. Every single commandment forms part of the process in sanctifying an individual. Our obedience to the commandments determine how righteous we are, some people can be more righteous than some, Genesis 38:26 And Judah acknowledged them, and said, She hath been more righteous than I; because that I gave her not to Shelah my son. And he knew her again no more; I Samuel 24:17; I Kings 2:32; Ezekile 15:52; Hab 1:13  Thou art of purer eyes than to behold evil, and canst not look on iniquity: wherefore lookest thou upon them that deal treacherously, and holdest thy tongue when the wicked devoureth the man that is more righteous than he?.

 

Lev 10:11 and to teach the children of Yisra’ĕl all the laws which יהוה  has spoken to them by the hand of Mosheh. – Since we know that there are degree of righteousness, the responsibility of the Mighty Hand is to teach the people how to achieve righteousness. By teaching the people to be obedient to all the laws, we are in essence teaching the people righteousness.

 

Verse 12 –20 On the day a close relative dies, the mourner is know as an onen, and the laws governing his status are more stringent than those of the following days. Although the Kohen Gadol is required to perform his Temple service even as an onen other Kohanim are forbidden to do so. The period of the Tabernacle’s inauguration was an exception to this rule, in that all Kohanim were required to continue their sacrificial service, including the eating of the sacrifice meal; but the extent of this dispensation became a matter of controversy between Moses and Aaron in the following verses.

The question been debated was this: were the Kohanim permitted to eat from the entire offering on that day, or were they permitted to eat only some of the offering.

The answer to the question varies with the nature of the offering. Two kind of offering were brought on that day. Some were kodshei shaah offering that were brought exclusively for that occasion and would never again be repeated, while the other were kodshei doros, offering that were part of the regular tabernacle service and would be brought again in the future.

Moses had command them to eat the meal offering, which was a special inauguration service. The questions did this command extend to other offerings as well? Logic might dictates that the mourning Kohanim was to eat only the offering that could never be brought again, because they were similar to the meal offering.

 

Lev 10:12 And Mosheh spoke to Aharon, and to Elʽazar and Ithamar, his sons who were left, “Take the grain offering that is left over from the offerings made by fire to יהוה , and eat it without leaven beside the altar, for it is most set-apart. – Although it is forbidden to eat the meal offering, Moses informed the rest of the sons to make this day an exception. The lesson been teach here is that if EL YAHVEH does not specifically tell us to do a specific task, or even to by pass one of His Commandments, we have no right to nail them to the cross as we are so often told.

 

Lev 10:13 “And you shall eat it in a set-apart place, because it is yours by law and your sons’ by law, of the offerings made by fire to יהוה , for so I have been commanded. – As Holy People, we are set apart to determine if we are worthy to receive the Shikinah Glory. When we eat the set apart food, for example the Torah it must be done in a set apart place, in a set apart way. Aaron’s two sons might have done it in a set apart place, but not in a set apart way. Not because a place is called a place a church, does not make it a church.

 

Lev 10:14 “And the breast of the wave offering and the thigh of the contribution you eat in a clean place, you, and your sons, and your daughters with you. For they are yours by law and your sons’ by law, which are given from the slaughterings of peace offerings of the children of Yisra’ĕl. – The breast of the wave offering for your son, that they may have strength, and the Thigh of the raising up offering for your daughter, that they may be bless with abundant of children. Our children were given to us by the law, set forth in Genesis when Adam was told to go forth and multiply. Genesis 1:22 And YAHVEH blessed them, saying, Be fruitful, and multiply, and fill the waters in the seas, and let fowl multiply in the earth; 1:28 And EL YAHVEH blessed them, and YAHVEH said unto them, Be fruitful, and multiply, and replenish the earth, and subdeu it: and have dominion over the fish of the sea, and over the fowl of the air, and over every living thing that moveth upon the earth. – As believers we have forgotten that we are commanded to be fruitful, multiply and replenish.

 

Lev 10:15 “The thigh of the contribution and the breast of the wave offering they bring with the offerings of fat made by fire, to bring as a wave offering before יהוה . And it shall be yours and your sons’ with you, by a law forever, as יהוה  has commanded. – As believers we are to practice these statues, on behalf of our children. No wonder the children of most Pastors today are spiritually worst off than there furthers. When the son and daughter of a priest fall by the wayside, I can almost guarantee they did not practice these commandments.

Three goats are usually offered as sin offering that day. One was the special offering of Nachshon, the tribal leader of Judah Number 7:12-17; the second was for the inauguration of the Tabernacle numbers 9:3, both of the above were kodshei shaah, which would never be offered again; the third goat was for the sin offering of Rosh Codesh Numbers 28:15.

Previously, Moses had instructed the Kohanim that they should eat the meal offering, both of which were kodshei shaal, and the Kohanim had done so. As noted above, that was an exception to the general rule, because even a Kohen Gadol who may perform the service as an onen may not eat offering in that state.

The question facing Aaron and his sons was whether Moses command regarding the meal offering should apply to all three of them?

Although EL YAHVEH had commanded that the kohanim eat despite their onen status, it remained for Moses and Aaron to determine the circumstances to which the command applied. Moses though that the command should apply to all the offering, including kosshei doros, so that the Kohanim should eat the goat of Rosh Chodesh.

 Aaron, however, reasoned that since the direct command concerned the meal offering, which were kodshei shaal, it should apply only to the goat of Nachshon and the inauguration, which were also kodshei shaah.

Since the goat of Rosh Kodesh was kodshei doros, Aaron held that it was forbidden for him and his sons to eat it as meal. This is the first time in Torah that reason is used to define the parameters of the laws.

 

Lev 10:16 And Mosheh diligently looked for the goat of the sin offering and saw it was burned up. And he was wroth with Elʽazar and Ithamar, the sons of Aharon who were left, saying, -  The he goat of the sin offering, since this phrase is in the singular, it is evidence that only one sin offering had been burned, not eaten. Which of the three was it? Some may say it was the goat of Rosh Chodesh, which would be done every month, therefore Moses command would not apply to it.

 

Lev 10:17 “Why have you not eaten the sin offering in a set-apart place, since it is most set-apart, and Elohim has given it to you to bear the crookedness of the congregation, to make atonement for them before יהוה ? – If it was indeed only one offering that was burnt, and it was Rosh Chodesh, the New Moon offering, Moses had no reason to question Aaron sincerity.

The expression in the Hebrew sense implies that it was double inquiry, meaning that Moses had two questions: Why have you burned the New Moon offering? And why have you eaten the other offering? Therefore your actions are contrary to Torah.

This incident teaches us that even for a person at the mature level of Moses must never stop studying and seeking an even deeper and broader understanding of the Torah.

Moses erred because he became angry. Had it not been for his anger, he would have analyzed what happened and realized that the Kohanim had acted properly.

Even great people have shortcomings. This lesson is to teach us that we may learn from their errors just as we learn from their virtues. If the master of all prophets could err due to anger, then surely the rest of us must learn to control our emotions.

 

Lev 10:18 “See, its blood was not brought inside the set-apart place. You should have eaten it without fail in a set-apart place, as I have commanded.” – If it was indeed the New Moon offering, was the blood needed to be brought into the set apart place. I do not think so. Even in the ministry, mature believers can have false assumption.

 

Lev 10:19 And Aharon said to Mosheh, “See, today they have brought their sin offering and their burnt offering before יהוה , and matters like these have come to me! If I had eaten the sin offering today, would it have been right in the eyes of יהוה ? – From verse 16 we see that Moses had address his harsh queries to Aaron’s sons, they did not respond, it would have been disrespectful for them to speak up in their father’s presence and for them to take issue with their teacher Moses.

We can deduce from Aaron’s response that he was responding to another possible reason why they might have burnt the offering. Since the service of an onen is disqualified, the offering that they perform would have had to be burned. To dispel this idea, Aaron said that it was not they, but he, The Kohem Gadol, who had performed the day’s entire service, and a Kohen Gadol is permitted to serve as an onen.

However, Aaron went on to say, even though the service was properly performed, no one was permitted to eat the offering, for even a Kohen Gadol may not eat while he is an onen. Now that this tragedy has made him an onen, and therefore disqualified him from eating the sacrificial meat. Would it have been proper for even Aaron to eat the New Moon offering? Surely EL YAHVEH would not have approved. Plus the incident with the death of my others two sons I am extra careful.

 

Lev 10:20 And when Mosheh heard that, it was good in his eyes. -  As soon as Moses heard Aaron’s reasoning, he conceded that Aaron was right. In a demonstration of the humility that was at the essence of his greatness, Moses did not attempt to defend his position.

 

Chapter 11

 

This chapter deals with the laws of Kashrus or Kosher. Verse 43 – 45 stress the reason very clearly and in the most powerful terms: That by observing these laws the Hebrew People can pull themselves up the ladder of holiness; and by ignoring them, we not only contaminates ourselves, we gradually builds a barrier that blocks out our comprehension of holiness.

 

Just as someone who is constantly expose to loud music will slowly, but surly, suffers the ability to hear fine sounds and detect subtle modulations, so too, the Torah informs us, as a Hebrew person consumption of non-kosher food deadens his spiritual capacities to and denies them the full opportunity to become holy.

 

Worst of all, it renders them incapable of even perceiving their loss. For these reason even small children must be prevented from eating forbidden foods, less their spiritual ears is damage.

 

Lev 11:1 And יהוה  spoke to Mosheh and to Aharon, saying to them, - Every time EL YAHVEH spoke to Moses it is usually some thing importance. As children of Elohim, should our speech with each other be of the finest quality.

 

Lev 11:2 “Speak to the children of Yisra’ĕl, saying, ‘These are the living creatures which you do eat among all the beasts that are on the earth: -  Moses only spoke what was told to him by EL YAHVEH. If only the redeem community would only listen to the Word of Elohim alone there would not be so much blatant violation of Torah Laws. The Hebrew word ( ) is in the plural, to indicate that Moses and the entire priestly family for all generation to whom the Torah was taught, was to share in the honor of conveying this chapter to the people. This was their reward for accepting without protest the Divine decree against Nadab and Abihu.
 

The Hebrew word (hmhBha) the creatures (hyHh) the animals. In this verse as in many other places, these two words are used interchangeable. On other occasion, (hyh) refers to wild animals only, while (hmhB) refers to domesticated animals only.

Torah identifies the animals whose flesh may be eaten as ruminants, (cud chewing animals) whose hooves are split.

In the spiritual sense, it is referring to those who take the time to study Torah verse for verse, line upon line, and precepts upon precepts. Not someone who are gullible, who accept what is given to them. Those with the split hooves are does who have a separate walk, holy unto YAHVEH. Not every one who calls themselves Christian has a separate walk.

 

Lev 11:3 ‘Whatever has a split hoof completely divided, chewing the cud, among the beasts, that you do eat. - The term in this verse, which is completed, separated into double hooves, if the hooves are split at the top and connected at the bottom they are omitted. This would suggest that only a believer who have a complete separated walk, and is in no were connected with his or her past life is Holy People.

The chewing of the cud are those animal who after gathering the meal for the day, find a quite place and go over their daily intake, much like someone who come home from Torah study, and carefully go over what they have been taught.

 

Lev 11:4 ‘Only, these you do not eat among those that chew the cud or those that have a split hoof: the camel, because it chews the cud but does not have a split hoof, it is unclean to you; - The Hebrew term tumah has two meaning, depending on the context. Most often, it refers to the spiritual contamination that can be conveyed to a person or things. At other times, as in this chapter, it refers primarily to forbidden foods.

Therefore, when the Torah describes an animal as unclean, it has nothing to do with contamination. In fact, no living animal can ever be tamei, contaminated. Even if a horse carries a human corpse on its back, the animal is not tamei in the sense of contamination; it is tamei, however, in that it is forbidden as food.

 There are a few animals, as there are a few churches who chew they cud, they are the one who study Torah in dep’t, they are the ones who have a head knowledge of Torah, yet they denied the truth thereof.

 

Lev 11:5 and the rabbit, because it chews the cud but does not have a split hoof, it is unclean to you; - The rabbit, (Rabbi) is one that chews its cud, but has no split hoof. The animal represent a type of personality, that is very unstable, they move about very quickly, here one minute and there another. They do not settle at one place for longer, they nibble here and run off to the next place were they nibble again. They move about at the first sign of noise. They seem very busy but never accomplish much.

 

Lev 11:6 and the hare, because it chews the cud but does not have a split hoof, it is unclean to you; - That person may seem to be a redeem person, for they eat of the clean food of Torah, but never grow spiritually.

 

Lev 11:7 and the pig, though it has a split hoof, completely divided, yet does not chew the cud, it is unclean to you. – The pig has his split hoof, it separate walk, yet the first sign of a mud hole it jumps in an waller in it. It does not chew it cud, it do not know what is right and what is wrong. It will eat or believe whatever is put in front of it, without trying to discern its spiritual contents.

 

Lev 11:8 ‘Their flesh you do not eat, and their carcasses you do not touch. They are unclean to you. – Why should we not eat of it flesh, since pork is such a popular meat. Those who eat of the flesh of a Rabbit, pig, or Camel, will adapt the same character that these animals represent. One will not die physically for eating them, it is not physical poison, and it is spiritual contamination.

The prohibition not to touch it applies only during the festival visits to the temple, when everyone must be pure. At such a contamination carcass, because everyone is commanded to remain uncontaminated during the festive visits to the temple.

                    

Lev 11:9 ‘These you do eat of all that are in the waters: any one that has fins and scales in the waters, in the seas or in the rivers, that you do eat. – Our focus now turns to those animals that live in the water. We know from past teaching that water represents teachings. The fresh water the teaching of Heavens and the salt water the philosophy of man. Yet we are told in this verse the character we are to look for in the kosher animals. Those that has fins and scale. Fins represent the ability to draw oxygen from the water, whether fresh or salt water. Every form of water contains oxygen.

Even the philosophy of man has an element of truth in it, they are the ones who are able to take the precious from the vile, and they recognize what is right and what is wrong.

The fish that has scale is indicative of a kosher fish are only those who that can be scrape or those that can be scale very easily. They are the ones spiritually that we can go to and say, your form of righteousness is not according to Torah and they will listen.

There are fish whose scales are not clearly defined, such as shellfish and amphibians. There righteous can not be easily see, much less, easily removed.
This is what Kabbalah teaches, to see everything as a learning possiblity.

 

Lev 11:10 ‘But all that have not fins and scales in the seas and in the rivers, all that move in the waters or any living creature which is in the waters, they are an abomination to you. – The character shows by the various animals in the last few verses, are the character traits the redeem community needs to resist. When we eat of these animals or fishes, it make it easy for us to embrace a certain type of teachings, or certain type of character which these various animals is an example off.

 

Lev 11:11 ‘They are an abomination to you – of their flesh you do not eat, and their carcasses you abominate. - The word system embrace pork as their chief meat to consume, is it surprising that they easily embrace the doctrine of evolution over creation.

 

Lev 11:12 ‘All that have not fins or scales in the waters is an abomination to you. – In the redeem community do not associate with anyone who is not will to view Torah or scripture, trough the Spirit of Understanding, they should be an abomination to us.

 

The forbidden birds, unlike the kosher animals and fishes, which are identified not by name but be characteristic so that their identities are clear, the identities of the permissible birds are very cloudy.

When we talk about the air, we know that the devil is the prince of the Air. So we can safely say that the fowls of the air are spirits, for the devil is a god, and a god is a spirit.

The Torah names the twenty non-kosher speeches, which means that all the other birds are kosher. However, as a result of the various exile and dispersions, the language of the Torah fell into relative disuse, with the result that the exact identities of the non-kosher birds become doubtful.

 

Lev 11:13 ‘And these you do abominate among the birds, they are not eaten, they are an abomination: the eagle, and the vulture, and the black vulture, - Birds is scripture represent spirits. The eagle for example has a particular dominant spirit. A believer must be strong in Spirit but he or she must not exert domination, but dominion over another person.

The vulture eats dead flesh, there is a type of personality that only feed on secular teachings, and they have no part with spiritually uplifting teachings.

 

Lev 11:14 and the hawk, and the falcon after its kind, - These birds are birds of prey, they take for themselves, at the expense of others.

 

Lev 11:15 every raven after its kind, - The raven is a code word for those who feed on dead things.

 

Lev 11:16 and the ostrich, and the nighthawk, and the seagull, and the hawk after its kind, - All of these birds represent a certain segment of society.

 

Lev 11:17 and the little owl, and the fisher owl, and the great owl, - These animals usually operate in darkness.

 

Lev 11:18 and the white owl, and the pelican, and the carrion vulture, -

 

Lev 11:19 and the stork, the heron after its kind, and the hoopoe, and the bat. – Today we have different cross breading of animals, which is also a restriction of Torah. The term after its kind means and birds that resemble any of the above forbidden birds.

Verse 20 – 23 teaches us about the forbidden and permissible insects. Surprising there is a few specie of insects that may be eaten, as indicated in the following verse. It is impossible to determine which are Kosher solely through their ancient traditions regarding the kosher insects.

 

Lev 11:20 ‘All flying insects that creep on all fours is an abomination to you. - All flying insects that walk on all four legs are an abomination. Simple enough. The difficulty with this is that all have six legs such as flies, hornets, mites, and grasshoppers. Two are use for walking and two for jumping.

 

Lev 11:21 ‘Only, these you do eat of every flying insect that creeps on all fours: those which have jointed legs above their feet with which to leap on the earth. – These insects have two jointed legs, similar to the human knee, whose joints are above the insect’s body when it s at rest.

It used these powerful legs to launch itself from the ground when it flies or jumps.

 

Lev 11:22 ‘These of them you do eat: the locust(arbeh) after its kind, and the destroying (sal’em)locust after its kind, and the cricket(chargol) after its kind, and the grasshopper(chagav) after its kind. – This verse speaks of the type of insects we may eat.

 

Lev 11:23 ‘But all other flying insects which have four feet is an abomination to you. – Any person who dances on all four, both hand and feet are an abomination. Those ladies who dances in the strip joints, they dance on all four, as part of their routine.

 

Verse 24 – 31 discusses the transmission of contamination. As a practical matter, contamination is forbidden only for sacred foods or objects, including terumah and maaser sheni, and people who may touch them. The only sort of contamination that is forbidden without exception is for a Kohen to become contaminated through contact with a human corpse.
 

Kosher animal that were slaughtered through a halachically valid shechitah are not contaminated. These kosher animals will be discussed below in verse 29 – 40. The carcasses of large non-kosher animals are contaminated no matter how they die or killed.

Insects are never tamei, alive or dead. In the case of small, creeping animal, only the eight species listed below are tamei when they are dead.

 

Lev 11:24 ‘And by these you are made unclean, anyone touching the carcass of any of them is unclean until evening, - The prohibition here, do not even touch there dead bodies. Anyone who touches them will be unclean until evening, when we wash the Water that flows from El Yahushua side. The only way a person can remove tumah from himself is through washing in water, the Mikveh chapter 17:15.

 

Lev 11:25 and anyone picking up part of the carcass of any of them has to wash his garments, and shall be unclean until evening. – Insects are both spirits that are both air and ground based. They could be a type of music that come to us trough the air and we react to it on the earth. They too must be washed in water, if the person wishes to remove their contamination.

 

Lev 11:26 ‘Every beast that has a split hoof not completely divided, or does not chew the cud, is unclean to you. Anyone who touches their carcass is unclean. – The same principle of cleansing is required for the person who was apart of a church that practices such behavior. Before they are required to come into your redeem community they too must be washed in the Water that flow from the Side of El Yahushua (Jesus Christ).

 

Lev 11:27 ‘And whatever goes on its paws, among all the creatures that go on all fours, those are unclean to you. Anyone who touches their carcass is unclean until evening, - As humans who was created in the image of Elohim, we must not walk on our hand and feet. We must stand on our feet our separate walk like Elohim, not walk on all four like animals. The contamination of walking in the flesh like animals, we are required to wash our cloth, our righteousness. For right living is according to Torah.

 

Lev 11:28 and he who picks up their carcass has to wash his garments, and shall be unclean until evening. They are unclean to you. – Anyone who embraces there teaching, must reconsider they his or her position spiritually and repent by washing their garments and make their self-clean.

  

Lev 11:29 ‘And these are unclean to you among the creeping creatures that creep on the earth: the mole, and the mouse, and the tortoise after its kind, - These animal again represent a spiritual character: It is general agree that a achbar is a mouse, and it may include the entire rodent family, such as the rat. We know that when we call a person a rat what it means.
 

The tzav, resemble a frog, or a toad, which is a form of demonic. An anakah also known as a hedgehog or porcupine is also a viper.

 

Lev 11:30 and the gecko, and the land crocodile, and the sand reptile, and the sand lizard, and the chameleon. - The koach or lizard; the chomet, the snail or the chameleon; the tinshemes, it is a mole, also a type of lizard.

 

Lev 11:31 ‘These are unclean to you among all that creep. Anyone who touches them when they are dead becomes unclean until evening. - These animals represent a shady character; these animals usually live in holes. We are not to touch any of them, or practice any of their shady character.

 

Lev 11:32 ‘And whatever any of them in its dead state falls upon, becomes unclean, whether it is any wooden object or garment or skin or sack, any object in which work is done, it is put in water. And it shall be unclean until evening, then it shall be clean. – When ever we see any of there character traits been implemented we must stay away from them. For example we know that it is said to keep the Sabbath day holy, when we see our Christian friends disobeying Torah, do not go to there church, it is the same as touching there caucuses. We will become unclean, even the tambourine we take to church on Sunday will also become unclean.

 

Lev 11:33 ‘Any earthen vessel into which any of them falls, whatever is in it becomes unclean, and you break it. – An earthly vessel is a type of pot that absorbed the character of the thing that is place inside of it. These types of pots, or personalities must be broken; this mindset must be removed from the redeem community.

 

Lev 11:34 ‘Any of the food which might be eaten, on which water comes, becomes unclean, and any drink which might be drunk from it becomes unclean. – Again the redeem community must not consume any teaching that come from the Christian Church.

 

Lev 11:35 ‘And on whatever any of their carcass falls becomes unclean – an oven or cooking range – it is broken down. They are unclean, and are unclean to you. – Even the very building where the assemble is unclean for us.

 

Lev 11:36 ‘But a fountain or a well, a collection of water, is clean, but whatever touches their carcass is unclean. – Even though we know that the Torah is as clean as the water from Heavens, if this water touches any religious institution, no matter how clean the water is, the container it is in makes it unclean.

 

Lev 11:37 ‘And when any of their carcass falls on any planting seed which is to be sown, it is clean. - The contaminated church cannot contaminate the true word; they only can contaminate the interpretation of the word.

 

Lev 11:38 ‘But when any water is put on the seed and any part of any such carcass falls on it, it is unclean to you. – When our false understand is place on the word, the word become unclean to us.

 

Lev 11:39 ‘And when any of the beasts which are yours for food dies, he who touches its carcass becomes unclean until evening. – When any of the beasts dies a natural death, who ever touches it becomes unclean. There are things in our lives that our Heavenly Father have given a natural death, do not go back, and try to resuscitate it. It has become a dead thing. If our Heavenly father removes certain friends from your life it as become a dead thing. Leave it alone; they are of no value to you spiritually. Do not take a leaf and make it into a root.

 

Lev 11:40 ‘And he who eats of its carcass has to wash his garments, and shall be unclean until evening. And he who picks up its carcass has to wash his garments, and shall be unclean until evening. – He, who embraces a dead thing, even for a moment, will become unclean until evening. Some people will say, we all serve the same god, no we don’t! My Elohim require absolute perfection, He does not understand. He might wink in our ignorance, just as Aaron two sons who died for making false fire.

The one who carries the carcass is one who is a minister for the form of religion or contamination as I was as a Christian Pastor. I had to go and wash my garment. I had to go and revisited my belief system correct my self and start a new. If someone merely touches the meat without carrying it, he becomes contaminated but his or her garment is not.

 

Verse 41 – 44 elucidates the prohibition against the eating of creeping creatures. The Torah now returns to the subject of forbidden foods, which had been interrupted by the discussion of the law of contamination. Verse 23 had concluded the laws of larger winged creatures; this verse continues with the laws of the smaller insects.

 

Lev 11:41 ‘And every creeping creature that creeps on the earth is an abomination, it is not eaten. – Insects are sometime small insignificant creature; like most of the Christian teachings. One such action was done to Eve in the Garden of Eden, when the serpent one such insects ask Eve to bypass EL YAHVEH commandment. You will not surely die, the serpent trivializes the Commandment of Elohim, it is only a small matter.

Yet we are told that every creeping thing that creeps on the earth, those doctrine that tries to hide it true nature behind YAHVEH Name, are an abomination, it must not be eaten. Just ask Eve?

 

Lev 11:42 ‘Whatever crawls on its stomach, and whatever goes on all fours, and whatever has many feet among all creeping creatures that creep on the earth, these you do not eat, for they are an abomination. - What ever crawls on its stomach, those who live for their belly, avoided them like the plague. Those who walk on all four legs are those who walk after the animal nature, these character traits we must avoided.

 

Verse 43 – 47 In conclusion, the Torah places these laws in a new perspective. The consumption of certain food, certain teaching will impedes a person’s ability to elevate and sanctify himself. As Yahushua man shall not live by bread alone but also by every word that proceeded from Torah.

False teaching contaminates the soul in ways that no physical examination can decipher, and it creates a barrier between the redeem and his perception of YAHVEH, Torah and Himself. It is no wonder that those who consumed forbidden food cannot see the spiritual logic of these prohibitions, just as one who lives on analgesics finds it strange that other people cry out in pain at stimuli that he does not feel. Forbidden food like painkillers dull the spiritual antennae.

 

Lev 11:43 ‘Do not make yourselves abominable with any creeping creature that creeps, and do not make yourselves unclean with them, lest you be defiled by them. – Do not make yourself abominable by adopting their nature; do not even embrace any of the actions they are designed to contaminate us, making us an unsuitable place for the Holy Spirit. If we contaminate our selves by eating forbidden food in this world, it will render you contaminated in the world to come and before the Elohim.

 

Lev 11:44 ‘For I am יהוה  your Elohim, and you shall set yourselves apart. And you shall be set-apart, for I am set-apart. And do not defile yourselves with any creeping creature that creeps on the earth. – I EL YAHVEH have set you apart unto holiness. You must continue to keep yourself set apart by following these instructions. It is incumbent on every believer to make sure we sanctify ourselves, for that is the sole purpose of life. What does a man gain if he gains the whole world and lose his soul.

 

Lev 11:45 ‘For I am יהוה  who is bringing you up out of the land of Mitsrayim, to be your Elohim. And you shall be set-apart, for I am set-apart. – Our Heavenly Father takes us out of Egypt to create for His Son Yahushua a Bride, an unspotted Virgin. As He is Set Apart, so is His Son Yahushua, therefore Yahushua bride to be must also be set apart. The reason why we were redeemed from Egyptian bondage is so that we may be given the Torah to create for Himself a Bride fitting for His Favorite Son El Yahushua.

Since this is the reason EL YAHVEH liberated us from Egypt, it is proper that we show our gratitude to Him by living up to His Standards written in Torah.

YAHVEH’S purpose in delivering us was for us to choose to make ourselves pure enough to receive the Shikinah. This goal of absolute holiness is the purpose of the Laws of forbidden food.

 

Lev 11:46 ‘This is the Torah of the beasts and the birds and every living creature that moves in the waters, and of every creature that creeps on the earth, - It is incumbent upon every redeem person to know the Torah and the Laws, not only in the abstract but in the spiritual application.

 

Lev 11:47 to make a distinction between the unclean and the clean, and between the living creature that is eaten and the living creature that is not eaten. - The Torah urges us to make the delicate and difficult distinctions that are often essential to carry out Elohim’s Will. This commandment makes it incumbent upon us to learn how to distinguish between things appear to be similar, such as the ability to distinguish between purity and contamination, or discerning the faction of an inch that makes the difference between a holy and unholy.

 

 

Haftarah

Second Schmuel “Second Samuel” 6:1-7:17

 

 

The obscurity of the ark, during the reign of Saul, had been as great a grievance to Yisrael as the insults of the Philistines. David, having humbled the Philistines and mortified them in gratitude for that favour, and in pursuance of his designs for the public welfare, in this chapter we see the bringing up the ark to Saul own city, that it might be near him, and be an ornament and strength to his new foundation.

The Philistines is a code word for the flesh.

 

Here is, 
 

I. An attempt to do it, which failed and miscarried. The design was well laid verse 1, 2.

1. They were guilty of an error in carrying it in a cart verse 3-5. 

2. They were punished for that error by the sudden death of Uzzah verse 6, 7

3. Which was a great terror to David verse 8, 9 and

4. Put a stop to his proceedings verse 10, 11.

 

II. The great joy and satisfaction with which it was at last done verse 12–15

 

1. The good understanding between David and his people verse 17–19. 

2. The uneasiness between David and his wife upon that occasion verse 16, 20–23.

3. When we consider that the ark was both the token of YAH’s presence and a type of Messiyah, we shall see that this story is very instructive.

 

2Sa 6:1  Now Dawiḏ again gathered all the chosen men of Yisra’ĕl, thirty thousand. – We have not heard a word about the Ark since it was lodged in Kirjath-jearim, immediately after its return out of its captivity among the Philistines (1 Sa. 7:1, 2), except that, once, Saul called for it, 1 Sa. 14:18. That which in former days had made so great a figure is now thrown aside, as a neglected thing, for many years. And, if now the ark was for so many years in a house, let it not seem strange that we find the church so long in the wilderness, Rev. 12:14. Perpetual visibility is no mark of the true Assembly. The desire to reach spiritual maturity should be a constant graciously present with the souls of the people even when they want the external tokens of HIS presence. But now that David is settled in the throne the purpose of the ark begins to revive, and Yisrael’s care of it to flourish again, wherein also, no doubt, the good people among them had been careful, but they lacked opportunity. See Phil. 4:10.
 

David gathered the spiritual mature men to make such a journey. It is only men who desire to achieve spiritual maturity that want the presence of the ark in there mids.

 

2Sa 6:2 And Dawiḏ rose up and went with all the people who were with him from Baʽalĕ Yehuḏah, to bring up from there the ark of Elohim, that is called by the Name, the Name יהוה  of Hosts, who dwells between the keruḇim. – David made it a life desire to wake up early to go and bring the Ark to the City of David. Those who desire the Ark to be among them will awake early in the morning to summoned the Ark or to stride towards the Ark. Remember the contents of the Ark is an example of a mature believer. The ten Commandments, Aaron Rod the Holy Spirit, and the Pot of Manna.

Here is honorable mention made of the ark. Because it had not been spoken of a great while, now that it is spoken of observe how it is described: it is the ark of ABBA YAHVEH whose name is called by the name of YAHVEH TSEABOTE that dwelleth between the cherubim, or at which the name, even the name of YAHVEH TSEABOTE, was called upon, or upon which the name of YAHVEH TSEABOTE was called, or because of which the name is proclaimed, the name of YAHVEH TSEABOTE (that is, God was greatly magnified in the miracles done before the ark), or the ark of God, who is called the name (Lev. 24:11, 16), the name of the YAHVEH TSEABOTE, sitting on the cherubim upon it.

Let us learn:
 

 a.  To think and speak highly of YAHVEH. He is the name above every name, YAHVEH TSEABOTE, that has all the creatures in heaven and earth at his command, and receives homage from them all, and yet is pleased to dwell between the cherubim, over the propitiatory or mercy-seat, graciously manifesting himself to his people, reconciled in a Mediator, and ready to do them good.
 

b.  To think and speak honorably of holy ordinances, which are to us, as the ark was to Israel, the tokens of YAH’s presence (Mt. 28:2), and the means of our communion with him, Ps. 27:4. It is the honor of the ark that it is the Ark of YAHVEH; he is jealous for it, is magnified in it, his name is called upon it.

The divine institution puts a beauty and grandeur upon holy ordinances, which otherwise have neither form nor comeliness. Messiyah is our Ark. In and by him YAHVEH manifests HIS favor and communicates His grace to us, and accepts our adoration and addresses.

 

2Sa 6:3 And they placed the ark of Elohim on a new wagon, and brought it from the house of Aḇinaḏaḇ, which was on the hill. And Uzzah and Aḥyo, sons of Aḇinaḏaḇ, were leading the new wagon. – The Ark should at all time be carry by the Priesthood, a Levites. In this example it was been carried by a new wagon, a new religion.

 

2Sa 6:4 And they brought it from the house of Aḇinaḏaḇ, which was on the hill, with the ark of Elohim. And Aḥyo was walking before the ark. – Here is an honorable attendance given to the ark upon the removal of it. Now, at length, it is enquired after, David made the motion (1 Chr. 13:1-3), and the heads of the congregation agreed to it. All the chosen men of Yisrael are called together to grace the solemnity, to pay their respect to the ark, and to testify their joy in its restoration.

The nobility and gentry, elders and officers, came to the number of 30,000 verse 1, and the generality of the common people besides (1 Chr. 13:5); for, some think, it was done at one of the three great festivals. This would make a noble cavalcade, and would help to inspire the young people of the nation, who perhaps had scarcely heard of the ark, with a great veneration for it, for this was certainly a treasure of inestimable value which the king himself and all the great men waited upon, and were a guard to.

 

2Sa 6:5 And Dawiḏ and all the house of Yisra’ĕl were dancing before יהוה , with all instruments of fir wood, and with lyres, and with harps, and with tambourines, and with sistrums, and with cymbals. – Here are great expressions of joy upon the removal of the ark. David himself, and all that were with him that were musically inclined, made use of such instruments as they had to excite and express their rejoicing upon this occasion. It might well put them into a transport of joy to see the ark rise out of obscurity and move towards a public station. It is better to have the ark in a house than not at all, better in a house than a captive in Dagon’s temple; but it is very desirable to have it in a tent pitched on purpose for it, where the resort to it may be more free and open.

As secret worship is better the more secret it is, so public worship is better the more public it is; and we have reason to rejoice when restraints are taken off, and the ark of ABBA YAHVEH finds welcome in the city of David, and has not only the protection and support, but the countenance and encouragement, of the civil powers; for joy of this they played before EL YAHVEH.
 

Public joy must always be as before EL YAHVEH, with an eye to HIM and terminating in HIM, and must not degenerate into that which is carnal and sensual. David penned the 68th Psalm, because it begins with that ancient prayer of Moses at the removing of the ark, Let YAHVEH arise, and let HIS enemies be scattered; and notice is taken there verse 25 of the singers and players on instruments that attended, and verse 27 of the princes of several of the tribes; and perhaps those words in the last verse, O YAHVEH thou art terrible out of thy holy places, were added upon occasion of the death of Uzyah.

 

2Sa 6:6 And when they came to the threshing-floor of Naḵon, Uzzah reached out toward the Ark of Elohim and took hold of it, for the oxen stumbled. – The City of David was to be the home of the Ark not Nakon. This verse speaks of a error in spiritual judgment, before we reach maturity many of us want to become the Ark. Too many so-called leaders to want to go into ministry, which is only reserved for mature believer. Uzzyah in His over zealousness, to be near the Ark, he made a fatal mistake. Those who were carrying the Ark, even if they were not perfect, Uzyah should not have touch the Ark.
 

Uzzah’s offence seems very small. He and his brother Ahio, the sons of Abinadab, in whose house the ark had long been lodged, having been used to attend it, to show their willingness to prefer the public benefit to their own private honor and advantage, undertook to drive the cart in which the ark was carried, this being perhaps the last service they were likely to do it; for others would be employed about it when it came to the city of David. Ahio went before, to clear the way, and, if need were, to lead the oxen. Uzyah followed close to the side of the cart. It happened that the oxen shook it.
 

 The critics are not agreed about the signification of the original word: They stumbled (so our margin); they kicked (so some), perhaps against the goad with which Uzzah drove them; they stuck in the mire, by some. By some accident or other the Ark seems to be in danger of being overthrown. Uzyah thereupon laid hold of it, to save it from falling, we have reason to think with a very good intention, to preserve the reputation of the ark and to prevent a bad omen. Yet this was his crime. Uzyah was a Levite, but priests only one supposed to touch the Ark. The law was express concerning the Kohathites, that, though they were to carry the Ark by the staves, yet they must not touch any holy thing, lest they die, Num. 4:15. Uzyah’s long familiarity with the ark, and the constant attendance he had given to it, might occasion his presumption, but would not excuse it.

 

2Sa 6:7 And the wrath of יהוה  burned against Uzzah, and Elohim smote him there for the fault. And he died there by the Ark of Elohim. – The Ark is an example of YAHVEH mature believers, even if they are been carried by the wrong wagon instead of the Priesthood, we have no right to touch it. His punishment for this offence seems very great: The anger of YAHVEH TSEABOTE was kindled against him (for in sacred things he is a jealous EL) and HE smote him there for his rashness, as the word is, and struck him dead upon the spot. There he sinned, and there he died, by the ark of YAHVEH; even the mercy-seat would not save him. Why was YAHVEH so severe with Uzyah?
 

1. The touching of the ark was forbidden to the Levites expressly under pain of death, lest they die; and YAHVEH, by this instance of severity, would show how HE might justly have dealt with our first parents, when they had eaten that which was forbidden under the same penalty, lest you die.
 

2. YAHVEH saw the presumption and irreverence of Uzzah’s heart. Perhaps he affected to show, before this great assembly, how bold he could make with the ark, having been so long acquainted with it. Familiarity, even with that which is most awful, is apt to breed contempt.
 

3. David afterwards owned that Uzzah died for an error they were all guilty of, which was carrying the ark in a cart. Because it was not carried on the Levites’ shoulders, EL YAHVEH made that breach upon us, 1 Chr. 15:13. But Uzyah was singled out to be made an example, perhaps because he had been most forward in advising that way of conveyance; however he had fallen into another error, which was occasioned by that. Perhaps the ark was not covered, as it should have been, with the covering of badgers’ skins (Num. 4:6), and that was a further provocation.
 

4. YAHVEH would hereby strike an awe upon the thousands of Yisrael, would convince them that the ark was never the less venerable for its having been so long in mean circumstances, and thus he would teach them to rejoice with trembling, and always to treat holy things with reverence and holy fear.
 

5. YAHVEH would hereby teach us that a good intention will not justify a bad action; it will not suffice to say of that which is ill done that it was well meant. He will let us know that he can and will secure his ark, and needs not any man’s sin to help him to do it.

6. If it was so great a crime for one to lay hold on the ark of the covenant that had no right to do so, what is it for those to lay claim to the privileges of the covenant that come not up to the terms of it? To the wicked YAHVEH says, What hast thou to do to take my covenant in thy mouth? Ps. 50:16. Friend, how camest thou in hither? If the ark was so sacred, and not to be touched irreverently, what is the blood of the covenant? Heb. 10:29.

 

2Sa 6:8 And Dawiḏ was displeased because יהוה  had broken out against Uzzah. And he called the name of the place Perets Uzzah, until this day. – David’s feelings on the infliction of this stroke were keen, and perhaps not altogether as they should have been. He should have humbled himself under YAH’s hand, confessed his error, acknowledged YAH’s righteousness, and deprecated the further tokens of his displeasure, and then have gone on with the good work he had in hand.
 

But we find, He was displeased. It is not said because Uzzah had affronted YAHVEH, but because YAHVEH had made a breach upon Uzzah: David’s anger was kindled. It is the same word that is used for YAH’s displeasure, verse 7. Because YAHVEH TSEABOTE was angry, David was angry and out of humour. As if YAHVEH might not assert the honor of his ark, and frown upon one that touched it rudely, without asking David leave. Shall mortal man pretend to be more just than YAHVEH, arraign his proceedings, or charge him with iniquity? David did not now act like himself, like a man after YAH’s own heart. It is not for us to be displeased at any thing that YAHVEH does, how unpleasing what-so-ever it is to us. The death of Uzzah was indeed an eclipse to the glory of a solemnity which David valued himself upon more than any thing else, and might give birth to some speculations among those that were disaffected to him, as if YAHVEH were departing from him too; but he ought nevertheless to have subscribed to the righteousness and wisdom of YAHVEH in it, and not to have been displeased at it. When we lie under YAH’s anger we must keep under our own.

 

2Sa 6:9 And Dawiḏ was afraid of יהוה  on that day, and said, “How shall the Ark of יהוה  come to me?” – He was afraid. It should seem he was afraid with amazement; for he said, How shall the ark of YAHVEH come to me? As if YAHVEH sought advantages against all that were about him, and was so extremely tender of HIS Ark that there was no dealing with it; and therefore better for him to keep it at a distance. To retire from Jove is to retire from the thunder-bolt. He should rather have said, "Let the ark come to me, and I will take warning by this to treat it with more reverence.’’ Provoke me not (says YAHVEH, Jer. 25:6) and I will do you no hurt. Or this may be looked upon as a good use which David made of this tremendous judgment. He did not say, "Surely Uzyah was a sinner above all men, because he suffered such things,’’ but is concerned for himself, as one conscious, not only of his own unworthiness of YAH’s favor, but his obnoxiousness to YAH’s displeasure. "YAHVEH might justly strike me dead as he did Uzzah. My flesh trembles for fear of thee,’’ Ps. 119:120. This YAHVEH intends in his judgments that others may hear and fear. David therefore will not bring the Ark into his own city till he is better prepared for its reception.

 

2Sa 6:10 And Dawiḏ would not move the ark of יהוה  with him into the City of Dawiḏ, but Dawiḏ turned it aside to the house of Oḇĕḏ-Eḏom the Gittite. – It was kindly entertained and welcomed, and continued there three months. Obed-edom knew what slaughter the ark had made among the Philistines that imprisoned it and the Bethshemites that looked into it. He saw Uzzah struck dead for touching it, and perceived that David himself was afraid of meddling with it; yet he cheerfully invites it to his own house, and opens his doors to it without fear, knowing it was a savor of death unto death only to those that treated it ill. "O the courage, and the Faith of Obed "of an honest and faithful heart! nothing can make ABBA YAHVEH otherwise than amiable to HIS people to grasp the concept of the Ark: even his very justice is lovely.’’

 

2Sa 6:11 And the Ark of יהוה  remained in the house of Oḇĕḏ-Eḏom the Gittite three months, and יהוה  blessed Oḇĕḏ-Eḏom and all his house. – It paid well for the believers to  entertainment the Ark: ABBA YAHVEH blessed Obed-edom and all his household. The same hand that punished Uzyah’s proud presumption rewarded Obed-edom’s humble boldness, and made the ark to him a savor of life unto life. Let none think the worse of the gospel for the judgements inflicted on those that reject it, but set in opposition to them the blessings it brings to those that duly receive it. None ever had, nor ever shall have, reason to say that it is in vain to serve YAHVEH.

Let masters of families be encouraged to keep up religion in their families, and to serve YAHVEH and the interests of his kingdom with their houses and estates, for that is the way to bring a blessing upon all they have. The ark is a guest which none shall lose by that bid it welcome. Josephus says that, whereas before Obed-edom was poor, on a sudden, in these three months, his estate increased, to the envy of his neighbors. Piety is the best friend to prosperity. In wisdom’s left hand are riches and honor. His household shared in the blessing. It is good living in a family that entertains the Ark physically and spiritually, for all about it will make us the better.

 

2Sa 6:12 And it was reported to Sovereign Dawiḏ, saying, “יהוה  has blessed the house of Oḇĕḏ-Eḏom and all that he has, because of the Ark of Elohim.” Dawiḏ then went and brought up the Ark of Elohim from the house of Oḇĕḏ-Eḏom to the City of Dawiḏ with rejoicing. – It should seem that the blessing with which the house of Obed-edom was blessed because of the Ark was a great inducement to David to bring it forward; for when it was told him, he hastened to fetch it to him.
 

1. It was an evidence that YAHVEH was reconciled to them, and HIS anger was turned away. As David could read YAH’s frowns upon them all in Uzyah’s stroke, so he could read YAH’s favor to them all in Obed-edom’s prosperity; and, if YAHVEH be at peace with them, they can cheerfully go on with their design.
 

2. It was an evidence that the ark was not such a burdensome stone as it was taken to be, but, on the contrary, happy was the man that had it near him. Messiyah is indeed a stone of stumbling, and a rock of offence, to those that are disobedient; but to those who believe He is a corner-stone, elect, precious, 1 Pt. 2:6-8. When David heard that Obed-edom had such joy of the Ark, then he would have it in his own city.  The experience others have had of the gains of godliness should encourage us to be seekers after spiritual maturity. Is the ark a blessing to others’ houses? let us welcome it to ours; we may have it, and the blessing of it, without fetching it from our neighbors.

 

2Sa 6:13 And it came to be, when those bearing the ark of יהוה  had gone six steps, that he slaughtered bulls and fatted sheep. – Let us see how David managed the matter:
 

1. He rectified the former error. He did not put the Ark in a cart now, but ordered those whose business it was to carry it on their shoulders. This is implied here and expressed 1 Chr. 15:15. Then we make a good use of the judgments of YAHVEH on ourselves and others when we are awakened by them to reform and amend whatever has been amiss.
 

2. At their first setting out he offered sacrifices to YAHVEH by way of atonement for their former errors and in a thankful acknowledgment of the blessings bestowed on the house of Obed-edom. Then we are likely to speed in our enterprises when we begin with YAHVEH and give diligence to make our peace with him, When we attend upon YAHVEH in holy ordinances our eye must be to the great sacrifice, to which we owe it that we are taken into covenant and communion with God, Ps. 50:5.
 

When they had gone 6 steps, six days of creation, we come into the fullness of ABBA YAHVEH, we become the Ark of the Covenant, we slaughter the bull in us, the animal nature.

 

2Sa 6:14 And Dawiḏ danced before יהוה  with all his might. And Dawiḏ was wearing a linen shoulder garment. – Will we dance before ABBA YAHVEH when we finish our sixth days of creation? Will we dance like Dawid dance, in celebration the achievement of this most illustrious achievement.

 

2Sa 6:15 Thus Dawiḏ and all the house of Yisra’ĕl brought up the Ark of יהוה  with shouting and with the sound of the ram’s horn. – All the people triumphed in this advancement of the ark: They brought it up into the royal city with shouting, and with sound of trumpet, so expressing their own joy in loud acclamations, and giving notice to all about them to rejoice with them. They were blowing the sound of Shevarim, the three  blast of the Shofar, meaning something important is coming.

 

2Sa 6:16 And it came to be, when the ark of יהוה  came into the City of Dawiḏ, that Miḵal, daughter of Sha’ul, looked through a window and saw Sovereign Dawiḏ leaping and dancing before יהוה , and she despised him in her heart. – There is an important leason to be learn in this verse. Remember I say before that women represent the flesh, the flesh will always object towards been sacrifice in order to achieved spiritual maturity. Remember a bull was slaughter every six steps, the sixth steps represent the six day of Creation, the six stages in our spiritual journey. Every step in life should take us close to perfection as the sixth days of Creation illustrate. The flesh looks through the window of our body and see a man after YAHVEH own heart, rejoicing that the Ark, the very presence of ABBA YAHVEH was with man, and the flesh became indignant.

 

2Sa 6:17 So they brought the Ark of יהוה  in, and set it in its place in the midst of the Tent that Dawiḏ had pitched for it. And Dawiḏ brought burnt offerings before יהוה , and peace offerings. – The public and free administration of ordinances, not only under the protection, but under the smiles, of the civil powers, is just matter of rejoicing to any people. The ark was safely brought to, and honorably deposited in, the place prepared for it.

They set it in the midst of the tabernacle, or tent, which David had pitched for it; not the tabernacle which Moses reared, for that was at Gibeon (2 Chr. 1:13), and, we may suppose, being made of cloth, in so many hundred years it had gone to decay and was not fit to be removed; but this was a tent set up on purpose to receive the ark. He would not bring it into a private house, no, not his own, lest it should seem to be too much engrossed, and people’s resort to it, to pray before it, should be less free; yet he would not build a house for it, lest that should supersede the building of a more stately temple in due time, and therefore, for the present, he placed it within curtains, under a canopy, in imitation of Moses’s tabernacle.
 

As soon as ever it was lodged, he offered burnt-offerings and peace-offerings, in thankfulness to YAHVEH that the business was now done without any more errors or breaches, and in supplication to YAHVEH for the continuance of HIS favor, for giving sinful man the means to draw near to HIM. All our joys must be sanctified both with praises and prayers; for with such sacrifices YAHVEH is well pleased. New, it should seem, he penned the 132nd Psalm.

 

2Sa 6:18 And when Dawiḏ had finished bringing burnt offerings and peace offerings, he blessed the people in the Name of יהוה  TSABOTE. – The people were then dismissed with great satisfaction. He sent them away, with a gracious prayer: He blessed them in the name of יהוה  TSABOTE, having not only a particular interest in heaven as a prophet, but an authority over them as a prince; for the less is blessed of the better, Heb. 7:7. He prayed to YAHVEH to bless them, and particularly to reward them for the honor and respect they had now shown to his ark, assuring them they should be no losers by their journey, but the blessing of YAHVEH upon their affairs at home would more than bear their charges. He testified his desire for their welfare by this prayer for them, and let them know they had a king that loved them.

 

2Sa 6:19 And he apportioned to all the people, to all the crowd of Yisra’ĕl, from man even to women, to each one a loaf of bread, and a measure, and a cake of raisins. And all the people left, each one to his house. - With a generous treat; for so it was, rather than a distribution of alms. The great men, it is probable, he entertained at his own house, but to the multitude of Yisrael, men and women and children, he dealt to every one a cake of bread (a spice-cake, so some), a good piece of flesh, a handsome decent piece (so some), a part of the peace-offerings, that they might feast with him upon the sacrifice, and a flagon, or bottle, of wine. Probably he ordered this provision to be made for them at their respective quarters, and this he did.  In token of his joy and gratitude to YAHVEH.

When the heart is enlarged in cheerfulness the hand should be opened in liberality. The feast of Purim was observed with sending portions one to another, Esth. 9:22. As those to whom YAHVEH is merciful ought to show mercy in forgiving, so those to whom YAHVEH is bountiful ought to exercise bounty in giving.
 

To recommend himself to the people, and confirm his interest in them; for every one is a friend to him that giveth gifts. Those that cared not for his prayers would love him for his generosity; and this would encourage them to attend him another time if he saw cause to call them together.

 

2Sa 6:20 And Dawiḏ returned to bless his household, and Miḵal the daughter of Sha’ul came out to meet Dawiḏ, and said, “How esteemed was the sovereign of Yisra’ĕl today, uncovering himself today in the eyes of the female servants of his servants, as one of the foolish ones shamelessly uncovers himself!” – Remember what Adam and Eve did in the Garden, they covered themselves. Here Dawid was doing the opposite, he uncovered himself as he was accused of. Nudity is only of great concern among those who are governed by the flesh. David, having dismissed the congregation with a blessing, returned to bless his household , that is, to pray with them and for them, and to offer up his family thanksgiving for this national mercy.
Ministers must not think that their public performances will excuse them from their family-worship; but when they have, with their instructions and prayers, blessed the solemn assemblies, they must return in the same manner to bless their households, for with them they are in a particular manner charged. David, though he had prophets, and priests, and Levites, about him, to be his chaplains, yet did not devolve the work upon them, but himself blessed his household. It is angels’ work to worship YAHVEH, and therefore surely that can be no disparagement to the greatest of men.
 

How she taunted him: "How glorious was the king of Yisrael to-day! What a figure didst thou make to-day in the midst of the mob! How unbecoming of your character!’’ Her contempt of him and his devotion began in the heart, but out of the abundance of that the mouth spoke. That which displeased her was his affection to the Ark, which she wished he had no greater kindness for than she had: but she basely represents his conduct, in dancing before the ark, as lewd and immodest; and, while really she was displeased at it as a diminution to his honor, she pretended to dislike it as a reproach to his virtue, that he uncovered himself in the eyes of the maid-servants, as no man would have done but one of the vain fellows that cared not how much he shamed himself.
 

We have no reason to think that this was true in fact. David, no doubt, observed decorum, and governed his zeal with discretion. But it is common for those that reproach religion to put false colors upon it and lay it under the most odious characters. To have abused any man thus for his pious zeal would have been very profane, but to abuse her own husband thus, whom she ought to have reverenced, and one whose prudence and virtue were above the reach of malice itself to disparage, one who had shown such affection for her that he would not accept a crown unless he might have her restored to him (ch. 3:13), was a most base and wicked thing, and showed her to have more of Saul’s daughter in her than of David’s wife or Jonathan’s sister.
 

This is the same mentality that the women of today have the spirit of Miḵal the daughter of Sha’ul, who want to dictate to the King how he should behave. I will say this that is was the jealous spirit that was in her as it is in today’s women. The spirit of control, which is the spirit of jezebel.

 

 

2Sa 6:21 So Dawiḏ said to Miḵal, “Before יהוה , who chose me instead of your father and all his house, to appoint me ruler over the people of יהוה , over Yisra’ĕl, so I danced before יהוה . – David saw right through her comment. He knew that she was a daughter of Saul, Dawid remined her that ABBA YAHVEH chose him over her father and her brothers, to make him David ruler over the people of YAHVEH, she had no right to question his actions. But that what women does today, if a man makes a decision the woman will always come later and question his choice.

Dawid designed was to honor ABBA YAHVEH: It was before EL YAHVEH, and with an eye to him. Whatever invidious construction she was pleased to put upon it, he had the testimony of his conscience for him that he sincerely aimed at the glory of YAHVEH, for whom he thought he could never do enough. The flesh will always accused the Spirit of been over spiritual.
 

Here he reminds her indeed of the setting aside of her father’s house, to make way for him to the throne, that she might not think herself the most proper judge of propriety: "YAHVEH chose me before thy father, and appointed me to be ruler over Yisrael, and now I am the fountain of honor; and, if the expressions of a warm devotion to YAHVEH were looked upon as mean and unfashionable in thy father’s court, yet I will play before EL YAHVEH, and thereby bring them into reputation again.

 

2Sa 6:22 “And I shall be even more slight than this, and shall be humble in my own eyes. But as for the female servants of whom you have spoken, by them I am esteemed.” – If this be to be vile, I will be yet more vile.’’  We should be afraid of censuring the devotion of others though it may not agree with our sentiments, because, for aught that we know, the heart may be upright in it, and who are we that we should despise those whom YAHVEH has accepted?

If we can approve ourselves to YAHVEH in what we do in religion, and do it as before the Lord, we need not value the censures and reproaches of men. If we appear right in YAH’s eyes, no matter how mean we appear in the eyes of the world.
 

The more we are vilified for well-doing the more resolute we should be in it, and hold our religion the faster, and bind it the closer to us, for the endeavors of Satan’s agents to shake us and to shame us out of it. I will be yet more vile.
 

He designed thereby to humble himself: "I will be base in my own sight, and will think nothing too mean to stoop to for the honor of YAHVEH.’’ In the throne of judgment, and in the field of battle, none shall do more to support the grandeur and authority of a prince than David shall; but in acts of devotion he lays aside the thought of majesty, humbles himself to the dust before EL YAHVEH, joins in with the meanest services done in honor of the ark, and thinks all this no diminution to him. The greatest of men is less than the least of the ordinances of Messiyah Yahushua.

 

2Sa 6:23 And Miḵal the daughter of Sha’ul had no children to the day of her death. – The mentality of a person such a Mikal will never produce fruit. I often wonder what sin a person commit, making them childless.

He doubted not but even this would turn to his reputation among those whose reproach Michal pretended to fear: Of the maid-servants shall I be had in honor. Look what the woman think  of you the king, gyrating in public. The common people would be so far from thinking the worse of him for these pious condescension’s that they would esteem and honor him so much the more. Those that are truly pious are sometimes manifested in the consciences even of those that speak ill of them, 2 Co. 5:11. Let us never be driven from our duty by the fear of reproach; for to be steady and resolute in it will perhaps turn to our reputation more than we think it will. Piety will have its praise. Let us not then be indifferent in it, nor afraid or ashamed to own it.
 

David was contented thus to justify himself, and did not any further animadvert upon Michal’s insolence; but YAHVEH punished her for it, writing her for ever childless from this time forward. She unjustly reproached David for his devotion, and therefore YAHVEH justly put her under the perpetual reproach of barrenness. Those that honor YAHVEH, HE will honor; but those that despise HIM, and HIS servants and service, shall be lightly esteemed.

 

 
 

Chapter 7

 

Still the Ark is in David’s care as well as his joy. In this chapter we have, 
 

I.                 His consultation with Nathan about building a house for it; he signifies his purpose to do it verse 1, 2
 

II.               Nathan approves his purpose verse 3. 
 

III.            His communion with YAHVEH about it. 
 

1. A gracious message YAHVEH sent him about it, accepting his purpose, countermanding the performance, and promising him an entail of blessings upon his family verse 4–17.
 

2. A very humble prayer which David offered up to YAHVEH in return to that gracious message, thankfully accepting YAH’s promises to him, and earnestly praying for the performance of them verse 18–29. And, in both these, there is an eye to the Messiah and his kingdom.

 

2Sa 7:1  And it came to be when the sovereign was dwelling in his house, and יהוה  had given him rest from all his enemies all around, - In this verse we see that Dawid became a mature believer, he complete the sixth days of Creation and entered in to or experience the Sabbath rest. For it says that ABBA YAHVEH gave him rest. The term rest from all is enemies can be taken literally from a spiritual perspective. The enemies around us are our flesh, in which we are cloth. What happen in the spiritual manifested in the physical?
 

David at rest. He sat in his house , quiet and undisturbed, having no occasion to take the field: YAHVEH had given him rest round about, from all those that were enemies to his settlement in the throne, and he set himself to enjoy that rest. Though he was a man of war, he was for peace (Ps. 120:7) and did not delight in war. He had not been long at rest, nor was it long before he was again engaged in war; but at present he enjoyed a calm, and he was in his element when he was sitting in his house, meditating in the law of YAHVEH.

 

2Sa 7:2 that the sovereign said to Nathan the prophet, “See now, I am dwelling in a house of cedar, but the Ark of Elohim dwells within curtains.” – David’s thought of building a temple for the honor of YAHVEH. He had built a palace for himself and a city for his servants; and now he thinks of building a habitation for the ark. he would make a grateful return for the honors YAHVEH put upon him. When YAHVEH, in HIS providence, has remarkably done much for us, it should put us upon contriving what we may do for him and his glory.
 

What shall I render unto EL YAHVEH? He would improve the present calm, and make a good use of the rest YAHVEH had given him. Now that he was not called out to serve YAHVEH and Yisrael in the high places of the field, he would employ his thoughts, and time, and estate, in serving HIM another way, and not indulge himself in ease, much less in luxury.

When YAHVEH, in HIS providence, gives us rest, and finds us little to do of worldly business, we must do so much the more for YAHVEH and our souls. How different were the thoughts of David when he sat in his palace from Nebuchadnezzar’s when he walked in his! Dan. 4:29, 30.

That proud man thought of nothing but the might of his own power, and the honor of his own majesty; this humble soul is full of contrivance how to glorify YAHVEH, and give honor to HIM. And how YAHVEH resisteth the proud, and giveth grace and glory to the humble, the event showed.
 

David considered the stateliness of his own habitation (I dwell in a house of cedar), and compared with that the meanness of the habitation of the ark (the ark dwells within curtains), and thought this incongruous, that he should dwell in a palace and the ark in a tent.

David had been uneasy till he found out a place for the ark (Ps. 132:4, 5), and now he is uneasy till he finds out a better place. Gracious grateful souls,
 

(1.) Never think they can do enough for YAHVEH, but, when they have done much, are still projecting to do more and devising liberal things.
 

(2.) They cannot enjoy their own accommodations while they see the Assembly of YAHVEH in distress and under a cloud. David can take little pleasure in a house of cedar for himself, unless the ark have one. Those who stretched themselves upon beds of ivory, and were not grieved for the affliction of Joseph, though they had David’s music, had not David’s spirit (Amos 6:4, 6) nor those who dwelt in their ceiled houses while YAH’s house lay waste.

It is always a wise plan after we have entered our rest to help others to enter their rest also. Dawid had build his personal tabernacle, now he wanted to build the corporate tabernacle for ABBA YAHVEH.
 

His communicating this thought to Nathan the prophet. He told him, as a friend and confidant, whom he used to advise with. Could not David have gone about it himself? Was it not a good work? Was not he himself a prophet? Yes, but in the multitude of counsellors there is safety. David told him, that by him he might know the mind of YAHVEH. It was certainly a good work, but it was uncertain whether it was the will of YAHVEH that David should have the doing of it.

 

 

2Sa 7:3 And Nathan said to the sovereign, “Go, do all that is in your heart, for יהוה  is with you.”  - Nathan’s approbation of it: Go, do all that is in thy heart; for YAHVEH is with thee. We do not find that David told him that he purposed to build a temple, only that it was a trouble to him that there was not one built, from which Nathan easily gathered what was in his heart, and bade him go on and prosper.
 

We ought to do all we can to encourage and promote the good purposes and designs of others, and put in a good word, as we have opportunity, to forward a good work. Nathan spoke this, not in YAH’s name, but as from himself; not as a prophet, but as a wise and good man; it was agreeable to the revealed Will of YAHVEH, which requires that all in their places should lay out themselves for the advancement the service of YAHVEH, though it seems his secret will was otherwise, that David should not do this. It was Messiyah’s prerogative always to speak the mind of YAHVEH, which he perfectly knew. Other prophets spoke it only when the spirit of prophecy was upon them; but, if in any thing they mistook (as Samuel, 1 Sa. 16:6, and Nathan here) YAHVEH soon rectified the mistake.

 

2Sa 7:4 And it came to be that night that the Word of יהוה  came to Nathan, saying, - We have here a full revelation of YAH’s favor to David and the kind intentions of that favor, the notices and assurances of which YAHVEH sent him by Nathan the prophet, whom he entrusted to deliver this long message to him. The design of it is to take him off from his purpose of building the temple and it was therefore sent,
 

1. By the same hand that had given him encouragement to do it, lest, if it had been sent by any other, Nathan should be despised and insulted and David should be perplexed, being encouraged by one prophet and discouraged by another.
 

2. The same night, that Nathan might not continue long in an error, nor David have his head any further filled with thoughts of that which he must never bring to pass. YAHVEH might have said this to David himself immediately, but he chose to send it by Nathan, to support the honor of his prophets, and to preserve in David a regard to them. Though he be the head, they must be the eyes by which he must see the visions of the Almighty, and the tongue by which he must hear the Word of YAHVEH. He that delivered this long message to Nathan assisted his memory to retain it, that he might deliver it fully (he being resolved to deliver it faithfully) as he received it of YAHVEH.

 

2Sa 7:5 “Go and say to My servant Dawiḏ, ‘Thus said יהוה , “Would you build a house for Me to dwell in? – David’s purpose to build EL YAHVEH a house is superseded. YAHVEH took notice of that purpose, for he knows what is in man; and he was well pleased with it, as appears 1 Ki. 8:18.
 

Thou didst well that it was in thy heart; yet he forbade him to go on with his purpose: "Shalt thou build me a house? No, thou shalt not (as it is explained in the parallel place, 1 Chr. 17:4); there is other work appointed for thee to do, which must be done first.’’ David is a man of war, and he must enlarge the borders of Yisrael, by carrying on their conquests.
 

David is a sweet psalmist, and he must prepare psalms for the use of the temple when it is built, and settle the courses of the Levites; but his son’s genius will better suit for building the house, and he will have a better treasure to bear the charge of it, and therefore let it be reserved for him to do. As every man hath received the gift, so let him minister. The building of a temple was to be a work of time, and preparation made for it; but it was a thing that had never been spoken of till now.
 

It is also possible that the intention for Dawid to build this Tabernacle, even though it seems to be a good thing, could also be Dawid down fall. Many a great men have fallen due to pride. It is also possible that ABBA YAHVEH knew of the possible out come before Dawid.

 

2Sa 7:6 “For I have not dwelt in a house since the time that I brought the children of Yisra’ĕl up from Mitsrayim, even to this day, but have moved about in a Tent and in a Dwelling Place. - That hitherto he had never had a house built for him, a tabernacle had served hitherto, and it might serve awhile longer. YAHVEH regards not outward pomp in HIS service; HIS presence was as surely with his people when the ark was in a tent as when it was in a temple. David was uneasy that the ark was in curtains (a mean and movable habitation), but YAHVEH never complained of it as any uneasiness to him. He did not dwell, but walk, and yet fainted not, nor was weary.

Messiyah, like the ark, when He was here on earth walked in a tent or tabernacle, for he went about doing good, and dwelt not in any house of his own, till he ascended on high, to the mansions above, in his Father’s house, and there he sat down.

Yisrael, like the ark, in this world dwells in a tent, because its present state is both pastoral and military; its continuing city is to come. David, in his psalms, often calls the tabernacle a temple (as Ps. 5:7; 27:4; 29:9; 65:4; 138:2), because it answered the intention of a temple, though it was made but of curtains. Wise and good men value not the show, while they have the substance. David perhaps had more true devotion, and sweeter communion with YAHVEH, in a house of curtains, than any of his successors in the house of cedar.

 

2Sa 7:7 “Wherever I have walked with all the children of Yisra’ĕl, have I ever spoken a Word to anyone from the tribes of Yisra’ĕl, whom I commanded to shepherd My people Yisra’ĕl, saying, ‘Why have you not built Me a house of cedar?’ ” ’ – That he had never given any orders or directions, or the least intimation, to any of the scepters of Yisrael, that is, to any of the judges, 1 Chr. 17:6 (for rulers are called scepters, Eze. 19:14, the great Ruler is called so, Num. 24:17), concerning the building of the temple. That worship only is acceptable which is instituted; why should David therefore design what YAHVEH never ordained? Let him wait for a warrant, and then let him do it. Better a tent of YAH’s appointing than a temple of his own inventing.

 

2Sa 7:8 “And now, say to My servant Dawiḏ, ‘Thus said יהוה  of hosts, “I took you from the pasture, from following the flock, to be ruler over My people, over Yisra’ĕl. – YAHVEH TSEBAOTE says to Dawid, David is reminded of the great things YAHVEH had done for him, to let him know that he was a favorite of heaven, though he had not the favor to be employed in this service, as also that YAHVEH was not indebted to him for his good intentions, but, whatever he did for YAH’s honor, YAHVEH was beforehand with him, v. 8, 9.

He had raised him from a very mean and low condition: He took him from the sheep-cote. It is good for those who have come to great preferment to be often reminded of their small beginnings, that they may always be humble and thankful.

 

2Sa 7:9 “And I have been with you wherever you have gone, and have cut off all your enemies from before you, and have made you a great name, like the name of the great ones who are on the earth. – He had given him success and victory over his enemies: "I was with thee whithersoever thou wentest, to protect thee when pursued, to prosper thee when pursuing. I have cut off all thy enemies that stood in the way of thy advancement and settlement.’’

He had crowned him not only with power and dominion in Yisrael, but with honor and reputation among the nations about: I have made thee a great name. He had become famous for his courage, conduct, and great achievements, and was more talked of than any of the great men of his day. A great name is what those who have it have great reason to be thankful for and may improve to good purposes, but what those who have it not have no reason to be ambitious of: a good name is more desirable. A man may pass through the world very obscurely and yet very comfortably.

 

2Sa 7:10 “And I shall appoint a place for My people Yisra’ĕl, and shall plant them, and they shall dwell in a place of their own and no longer be afraid, neither shall the children of wickedness oppress them again, as at the first, - A happy establishment is promised to YAH’s Yisrael. This comes in a parenthesis, before the promises made to David himself, to let him understand that what YAHVEH designed to do for him was for Yisrael’s sake, that they might be happy under his administration, and to give him the satisfaction of foreseeing peace upon Yisrael, when it was promised him that he should see his children’s children, Ps. 128:6.
 

A good king cannot think himself happy unless his kingdom be so. The promises that follow relate to his family and posterity; these therefore, which speak of the settlement of Yisrael, intend the happiness of his own reign. Two things are promised:
 

1. A quiet place: I will appoint a place for my people Yisrael. It was appointed long ago, yet they were disappointed, but now that appointment should be made good. Canaan should be clearly their own without any ejection or molestation.
 

2. A quiet enjoyment of that place: The children of wickedness (meaning especially the Philistines, who had been so long a plague to them) shall not afflict them any more; but, as in the time that I caused judges to be over my people Yisrael, I will cause thee to rest from all thy enemies, that is, "I will continue and complete that rest; the land shall rest from war, as it did under the judges.’’

 

 

2Sa 7:11 even from the day I appointed rulers over My people Yisra’ĕl, and have caused you to rest from all your enemies. And יהוה  has declared to you that He would make you a house. – Blessings are entailed upon the family and posterity of David. David had purposed to build God a house, and, in requital, YAHVEH promises to build him a house. Whatever we do for YAHVEH, or sincerely design to do though Providence prevents our doing it, we shall in no wise lose our reward. He had promised to make him a name VERSE 9; here YAHVEH promises to make him a house, which should bear up that name.

It would be a great satisfaction to David, while he lived, to have the inviolable assurance of a divine promise that his family should flourish when he was dead. Next to the happiness of our souls, and Yisrael of YAHVEH, we should desire the happiness of our seed, that those who come of us may be praising YAHVEH on earth when we are praising him in heaven.
 

Some of these promises relate to Solomon, his immediate successor, and to the royal line of Judah. That YAHVEH would advance him to the throne. Those words, when thy days be fulfilled, and thou shalt sleep with thy fathers, intimate that David himself should come to his grave in peace; and then I will set up thy seed. This favor was so much the greater because it was more than YAHVEH had done for Moses, or Joshua, or any of the judges whom he called to feed his people. David’s government was the first that was entailed; for the promise made to Messiyah of the kingdom was to reach to his spiritual seed. If children, then heirs.

 

2Sa 7:12 “When your days are filled and you rest with your fathers, I shall raise up your seed after you, who comes from your inward parts, and shall establish his reign. – That he would settle him in the throne: I will establish his kingdom , the throne of his kingdom. His title shall be clear and uncontested, his interest confirmed, and his administration steady.

 

2Sa 7:13 “He does build a house for My Name, and I shall establish the throne of his reign forever. – That he would employ him in that good work of building the temple, which David had only the satisfaction of designing: He shall build a house for my name. The work shall be done, though David shall not have the doing of it.

 

2Sa 7:14 “I am to be his Father, and he is My son. If he does perversely, I shall reprove him with the rod of men and with the blows of the sons of men. – That he would take him into the covenant of adoption: I will be his father, and he shall be my son. We need no more to make us and ours happy than to have ABBA YAHVEH to be a Father to us and them; and all those to whom God is a Father he by his grace makes his sons, by giving them the disposition of children. If he be a careful, tender, bountiful Father to us, we must be obedient, tractable, dutiful children to him. The promise here speaks as unto sons.
 

That his Father would correct him when there was occasion; for what son is he whom the Father chasteneth not? Afflictions are an article of the covenant, and are not only consistent with, but flow from, YAH’s fatherly love. "If he commit iniquity, as it proved he did (1 Ki. 11:1), I will chasten him to bring him to repentance, but it shall be with the rod of men, such a rod as men may wield, I will not plead against him with the great power of YAHVEH,’’ Job 23:6. Or rather such a rod as men may bear, "I will consider his frame, and correct him with all possible tenderness and compassion when there is need, and no more than there is need of; it shall be with the stripes, the touches (so the word is) of the children of men; not a stroke, or wound, but a gentle touch.’

 

2Sa 7:15 “But My kindness does not turn aside from him, as I turned it aside from Sha’ul, whom I removed from before you. – That yet he would not disinherit him: My mercy (and that is the inheritance of sons) shall not depart from him. The revolt of the ten tribes from the house of David was their correction for iniquity, but the constant adherence of the other two to that family, which was a competent support of the royal dignity, perpetuated the mercy of YAHVEH to the seed of David, according to this promise; though that family was cut short, yet it was not cut off, as the house of Saul was. Never any other family swayed the scepter of Judah than that of David. This is that covenant of royalty celebrated (Ps. 89:3, etc.) as typical of the covenant of redemption and grace.

 

2Sa 7:16 “And your house and your reign are to be steadfast forever before you – your throne is established forever.” – Others of them relate to Messiyah, who is often called David and the Son of David, that Son of David to whom these promises pointed and in whom they had their full accomplishment. He was of the seed of David, Acts 13:23. To him YAHVEH gave the throne of his father David (Lu. 1:32), all power both in heaven and earth, and authority to execute judgment. He was to build the gospel temple, a house for YAH’s name, Zec. 6:12, 13. That promise, I will be his Father, and he shall be my Son, is expressly applied to ? Messiyan by the apostle, Heb. 1:5. But the establishing of his house, and his throne, and his kingdom, for ever verse 13, and again, and a third time for ever), can be applied to no other than Messiyah and His kingdom.
 

David’s house and kingdom have long since come to an end; it is only the Messiah’s kingdom that is everlasting, and of the increase of his government and peace there shall be no end. The supposition of committing iniquity cannot indeed be applied to the Messiyah Himself, but it is applicable (and very comfortable) to his spiritual seed. True believers have their infirmities, for which they may expect to be corrected, but they shall not be cast off. Every transgression in the covenant will not throw us out of covenant.

 

2Sa 7:17 According to all these words and according to all this vision, so Nathan spoke to Dawiḏ. - This message Nathan faithfully delivered to David; though, in forbidding him to build the temple, he contradicted his own words, yet he was not backward to do it when he was better informed concerning the mind of YAHVEH. These promises YAHVEH faithfully performed to David and his seed in due time. Though David came short of making good his purpose to build YAHVEH a house, yet YAHVEH did not come short of making good HIS promise to build him a house. Such is the tenor of the covenant we are under; though there are many failures in our performances, there are none in YAH’s.

 

 

Brit Chadashe

Markus “Mark” 7:1-23

 

 

 

In this chapter we have,   Messiyah’s dispute with the scribes and Pharisees about eating meat with unwashen hands verse 1–13; and the needful instructions he gave to the people on that occasion, and further explained to his disciples verse 14–23.

 

Mar 7:1  And the Pharisees and some of the scribes assembled to Him, having come from Yerushalayim. – One great design of Messiyah’s coming, was, to nail to the Stake the law that was place on the outside of the Ark Deu 31:26 law which was against us. This is the curse of the law found in Deut 28:15 – 68. The law says the soul that sin will die, Messiyah was crucified on the Stake was our substitute.
 

These Pharisees and scribes, with whom he had this argument, are said to come from Jerusalem down to Galilee,   fourscore or a hundred miles, to pick quarrels with our Savior there, where they supposed him to have the greatest interest and reputation. Had they come so far to be taught by him, their zeal had been commendable; but to come so far to oppose him, and to check the progress of his gospel, was great wickedness. It should seem that the scribes and Pharisees at Jerusalem pretended not only to a pre-eminence above, but to an authority over, the country clergy, and therefore kept up their visitations and sent inquisitors among them, as they did to John when he appeared, Jn. 1:19.

 

Mar 7:2 And seeing some of His taught ones eat bread with defiled, that is, with unwashed hands, they found fault. – In this verse we learn about the Pharisees addition to the law. I do believe that one should wash one’s hand before eating, but it is not a commandment. Similarly, it is not a bad idea to have a ceremony in a church when one get married, but to say it is holy matrimony is also creating our own commandments. Telling people that sex before marriage is a sin, is adding to scripture, when all that is require is for the man is to pay the bride price of 50 shekels.
 

What the tradition of the elders was: by it all were enjoined to wash their hands before meat; a cleanly custom, and no harm in it; and yet as such to be over-nice in it discovers too great a care about the body, which is of the earth; but they placed religion in it, and would not leave it indifferent, as it was in its own nature; people were at their liberty to do it or not to do it; but they interposed their authority, and commanded all to do it upon pain of excommunication; this they kept up as a tradition of the elders. The Papists pretend to a zeal for the authority and antiquity of the church and its canons, and talk much of councils and fathers, when really it is nothing but a zeal for their own wealth, interest, and dominion, that governs them; and so it was with the Pharisees.
 

What the practice of Messiyah’s disciples was; they knew what the law was, and the common usage; but they understood themselves so well that they would not be bound up by it: they ate bread with defiled, that is, with unwashen, hands. Eating with unwashen hands they called eating with defiled hands; Men keep up their superstitious vanities by putting every thing into an ill name that contradicts them, just like Holy matrimony replace the bride price in the 11 century when the church decided that they were wiser that ABBA YAHVEH.
 

The disciples knew (it is probable) that the Pharisees had their eye upon them, and yet they would not humor them by a compliance with their traditions, but took their liberty as at other times, and ate bread with unwashen hands; and herein their righteousness, however it might seem to come short, did really exceed, that of the scribes and Pharisees, Mt. 5:20.

The offence which the Pharisees took at this; They found fault ; they censured them as profane, and men of a loose conversation, or rather as men that would not submit to the power of the church, to decree rites and ceremonies, and were therefore rebellious, factious, and schismatical.

They brought a complaint against them to their Master, expecting that he should check them, and order them to conform; for they that are fond of their own inventions and impositions, are commonly ready to appeal to Messiyah, as if he should countenance them, and as if his authority must interpose for the enforcing of them, and the rebuking of those that do not comply with them.
 

They do not ask, why do not thy disciples do as we do? (Though that was what they meant, coveting to make themselves the standard.) But, why do not they walk according to the tradition of the elders?  To which it was easy to answer, that, by receiving the doctrine of Messiyah, they had more understanding than all their teachers, yea more than the ancients, Ps. 119:99, 100.
 

Today, we call people who live together without holy matrimony common law marriage; it was the same way the Pharisees criticize the disciples for not keep the man made statues. Other man made statues are Christmas, good Friday, Sunday worship, Holy Communion, new years, these practices have nothing to do with scripture yet they are part of the Christian mosaic.

 

Mar 7:3 For the Pharisees, and all the Yehuḏim, do not eat unless they wash their hands thoroughly, holding fast the tradition of the elders, - We have here an account of the practice of the Pharisees. They washed their hands often; they washed them,  the critics find a great deal of work about that word, some making it to denote the frequency of their washing (so we render it); others think it signifies the pains they took in washing their hands; they washed with great care, they washed their hands to their wrists ; they lifted up their hands when they were wet, that the water might run to their elbows.
 

They particularly washed before they ate bread; that is, before they sat down to a solemn meal; for that was the rule; they must be sure to wash before they ate the bread on which they begged a blessing. "Whosoever eats the bread over which they recite the benediction, Blessed be he that produceth bread, must wash his hands before and after,’’ or else he was thought to be defiled.
 

They took special care, when they came in from the markets, to wash their hands; from the judgment-halls, so some; it signifies any place of concourse where there were people of all sorts, and, it might be supposed, some heathen or Jews under a ceremonial pollution, by coming near to whom they thought themselves polluted; saying, Stand by thyself, come not near me, I am holier than thou, Isa. 65:5. They say, The rule of the rabbies was, that, if they washed their hands well in the morning, the first thing they did, it would serve for all day, provided they kept alone; but, if they went into company, they must not, at their return, either eat or pray till they had washed their hands; thus the elders gained a reputation among the people for sanctity, and thus they exercised and kept up an authority over their consciences.
 

Mar 7:4 and coming from the market-place, they do not eat unless they wash. And there are many other traditions which they have received and hold fast – the washing of cups and utensils and copper vessels and couches. – They added to this the washing of cups, and pots, and brazen vessels, which they suspected had been made use of by heathens, or persons polluted; nay, and the very tables on which they ate their meat. There were many cases in which, by the Torah, washings were appointed; but they added to them, and enforced the observation of their own impositions as much as of YAH’s institutions.

 

Mar 7:5 Then the Pharisees and scribes asked Him, “Why do Your taught ones not walk according to the tradition of the elders, but eat bread with unwashed hands?” – The religious mind set will always want us to conform to there religious practice. Example many Pentecostal, if you were not slain in the spirit and speak in tongs you were not consider spiritual. Most religion today have their own unique idiosyncrasy that they used to define themselves as unique and force compliance too by anyone who wishes to be apart of that group.

These are the practice of eating of the Tree of the knowledge of good and evil. We want to decide how we must draw near to ABBA YAHVEH and our prayers and teaching are justified in support of these ideas.

 

Mar 7:6 And He answering, said to them, “Well did Yeshayahu prophesy concerning you hypocrites, as it has been written, ‘This people respect Me with their lips, but their heart is far from Me. – He reproves them for their hypocrisy in pretending to honor YAHVEH, when really they had no such design in their religious observances; They honor me with their lips, they pretend it is for the glory of God that they impose those things, to distinguish themselves from the heathen; but really their heart is far from YAHVEH, and is governed by nothing but ambition and covetousness. They would be thought hereby to appropriate themselves as a holy people to EL YAHVEH, when really it is the furthest thing in their thought. They rested in the outside of all their religious exercises, and their hearts were not right with YAHVEH in them, and this was worshipping YAHVEH in vain; for neither was he pleased with such sham-devotions, nor were they profited by them.

 

Mar 7:7 And in vain do they worship Me, teaching as teachings the commands of men.’¹ Footnote: ¹See Isa. 29:13, 2 Ki. 17:19, and Mt. 15:3-9. – Christian church history is pregnant with such practices. Many a men have been excommunicate from the church over man made belief system. I know I will face a barrage of critics over this statement, in particular the issue of Holy matrimony, but scripture cannot be altered. How many young woman have had abortion for getting pregnant before marriage, when they did nothing wrong. Today many young women have had numerous mates before getting married and the church do not speak out against it.

It is so easy for people to be led like sheep into religious practices, because it is man definition of perfection. Yet these religious institution never teach the people how to experience the sixth days of creation, how to become the Ark of the Covenant.

 

Mar 7:8 “Forsaking the command of Elohim, you hold fast the tradition of men.” – He reproves them for placing religion in the inventions and injunctions of their elders and rulers; they taught for doctrines the traditions of men. When they should have been pressing upon people the great principles of Torah, the Written Word, they were enforcing the canons of their church, and judged of people’s being Jews or no, according as they did, or did not, conform to them, without any consideration had, whether they lived in obedience to YAHVEH’s laws or no. It was true, there were divers washings imposed by the law of Moses (Heb. 9:10), which were intended to signify that inward purification of the heart from worldly fleshly lusts, which YAHVEH requires as absolutely necessary to our communion with him; but, instead of providing the substance, they presumptuously added to the ceremony, and were very nice in washing pots and cups; and observe, he adds, Many other such like things ye do.
 

This is true for the institution of marriage today. Where is the Bride Price! When I became saved my Messiyah paid the Bride Price with His Blood for me, not I am been prepared to be invited to the Wedding Feast of the Lamb. As Christianity says that the Bride price do not honor women, it make them the passion of the man, yes I am a possession of the Messiyah, He owns men, he is the best husband there is, He never force me to do anything I don not want to do.
 

Superstition is an endless thing. If one human invention and institution be admitted, though seemingly ever so innocent, as this of washing hands, behold, a troop comes, a door is opened for many other such things.

 

Mar 7:9 And He said to them, “Well do you set aside the command of Elohim, in order to guard your tradition. – He reproves them for laying aside the commandment of YAHVEH, and overlooking that, not urging that in their preaching, and in their discipline conniving at the violation of that, as if that were no longer of force. It is the mischief of impositions, that too often they who are zealous for them, have little zeal for the essential duties of Torah, but can contentedly see them laid aside. They rejected the commandment of YAHVEH. He do fairly disannul and abolish the commandment of YAHVEH; and even by your traditions make the word of YAHVEH of no effect.
 

It is because we love Jesus why we do not keep the Sabbath, for He rose from the dead on Sunday morning. Most of these so call commandments is usually base on a wrong misinterpretation of scripture. Matthew 28:1 tell us that at the end of the Sabbath, which is sundown on Saturday evening at the dawn of the new day, and the Scriptural day start at sundown, the two Mary’s came to the grave, when the earthquake too place and Messiyah came out of the grave.
 

YAH’s statutes shall not only lie forgotten, as antiquated obsolete laws, but they shall, in effect, stand repealed, that their traditions may take place. They were entrusted to expound the law, and to enforce it; and, under pretence of using that power, they violated the law, and dissolved the bonds of it; destroying the text with the comment.

When believers call the law Moses law, they are giving themselves permission to break it, for if it is Moses law, it could not be YAHVEH’s Law. Therefore Moses law can be broken, but not YAHVEH’S Law.
 

Mar 7:10 “For Mosheh said, ‘Respect your father and your mother,’ and, ‘He who curses father or mother, let him be put to death.’ – This he gives them a particular instance of, and a flagrant one YAHVEH commanded children to honor their parents, not only by the law of Moses, but, antecedent to that, by the law of nature; and whoso reviled, or speaketh evil of, father or mother, let him die the death. Hence it is easy to infer, that it is the duty of children, if their parents be poor, to relieve them, according to their ability; and if those children are worthy to die, that curse their parents, much more those that starve them.

                             

Mar 7:11 “But you say, ‘If a man says to his father or mother, “Whatever profit you might have received from me, is Qorban (that is, a gift), – But if a man conform himself in all points to the tradition of the elders, they will allow him, to be discharged from his obligation to his parents.

If his parents be in want and he withal help from them, but give to the Temple instead he was exempt. Such doctrine as this the Papists teach, discharging children from all obligation to their parents by their monastic vows, and their entrance into religion, as they call it.

Most cult follow this same principle, separate the children from any obligation to their older parents.

 

Mar 7:12  you no longer let him do any matter at all for his father or his mother, - He concludes, Any many such like things do ye. Where will men stop, when once they have made the Word of YAHVEH off no effect they give way to their tradition? These eager imposers of such ceremonies, at first only made light of YAH’s commandments in comparison with their traditions, but afterward made void YAH’s commandments, if they stood in competition with them. All this, in effect, Isaiah prophesied of them; what he said of the hypocrites of his own day, was applicable to the scribes and Pharisees, verse 6. When we see, and complain of, the wickedness of the present times, yet we do not enquire wisely of that matter, if we say that all the former days were better than these, Eccl. 7:10. The worst of hypocrites and evil doers have had their predecessors.

                                                                     

Mar 7:13 nullifying the Word of Elohim through your tradition which you have handed down. And many such traditions you do.” –  He do fairly disannul and abolish the commandment of YAHVEH; and even by your traditions make the Word of YAHVEH of no effect. YAH’s statutes shall not only lie forgotten, as antiquated obsolete laws, but they shall, in effect, stand repealed, that their traditions may take place. They were entrusted to expound the law, and to enforce it; and, under pretence of using that power, they violated the law, and dissolved the bonds of it; destroying the text with the comment.

 

Mar 7:14 And calling the crowd to Him, He said to them, “Hear Me, everyone, and understand: -  He instructs the people concerning the principles upon which this ceremony was grounded. It was requisite that this part of his discourse should be public, for it related to daily practice, and was designed to rectify a great mistake which the people were led into by their elders; he therefore called the people unto him, and bid them hear and understand. Note, it is not enough for the common people to hear, but they must understand what they hear. When Messiyah would run down the tradition of the Pharisees about washing before meat, he strikes at the opinion which was the root of it. Corrupt customs are best cured by rectifying corrupt notions.

 

Mar 7:15 “There is no matter that enters a man from outside which is able to defile him, but it is what comes out of him that defiles the man. – Now that which he goes about to set them right in, is, what the pollution is, which we are in danger of being damaged by. Not by the meat we eat, though it be eaten with unwashen hands; that is but from without, and goes through a man.

It is by the breaking out of the corruption that is in our hearts; the mind and conscience are defiled, guilt is contracted, and we become odious in the sight of YAHVEH by that which comes out of us; our wicked thoughts and affections, words and actions, these defile us, and these only. Our care must therefore be, to wash our heart from wickedness, by the blood and water that flow from Messiyah’s side.

 

Mar 7:16 “If anyone has ears to hear, let him hear!” – Hearing is a spiritual thing. We never ask for the spirit of understanding before we read or listen to a sermon, there fore we never truly understand the spirit behind the message. Many preachers have the spirit of gab, they sound great delivering a message, but the substance is lacking.

                                                                      

Mar 7:17 And when He went from the crowd into a house, His taught ones asked Him concerning the parable. – He gives his disciples, in private, an explication of the instructions he gave the people. They asked him, when they had him by himself, concerning the parable; for to them, it seems, it was a parable. Now, in answer to their enquiry, He reproves their dullness; "Are ye so without understanding also? Are ye dull also, as dull as the people that cannot understand, as dull as the Pharisees that will not? Are ye so dull?’’ He doth not expect they should understand every thing; "But are ye so weak as not to understand this?

When Messiyah teach His disciples he teach them using Kabbalistic terms. Meaning that hidden within the story He used to teach is a spiritual meaning.

                                                                

Mar 7:18 And He said to them, “Are you also without understanding? Do you not perceive that whatever enters a man from outside is unable to defile him, -  He explains this truth to them, that they might perceive it, and then they would believe it, for it carried its own evidence along with it. Some truths prove themselves, if they be but rightly explained and apprehended. If we understand the spiritual nature of YAHVEH and of his law, and what it is that is offensive to him, and make us misfits from communion with HIM, we shall soon perceive.

 

The Torah was written for everyone, but everyone cannot understand it. When we learn the languages of Torah, it is to rise us up to the upper world by becoming inwardly like our Messiyah. He question the disciples as if they are the ones who should be getting the spiritual meaning of His message. All of creation and it principles speak of a spiritual principle, as believers when we are been led by the Holy Spirit these things will become light to us.

 

Mar 7:19 because it does not enter his heart but his stomach,¹ and is eliminated, thus purging all the foods?” Footnote: ¹Mt. 15:20. – Natural food enter the stomach, while spiritual food enter the heart, the mind, through the Spirit of Understanding. Spiritual food last forever while natural food is eliminated.

                                                                

Mar 7:20 And He said, “What comes out of a man, that defiles a man. – What comes out of a man’s mouth tell the contents of his heart.  That that which we eat and drink cannot defile us, so as to call for any religious washing; it goes into the stomach, and passes the several digestions and secretions that nature has appointed, and what there may be in it that is defiling is voided and gone; meats for the belly, and the belly for meats, but YAHVEH shall destroy both it and them.

 

Mar 7:21 “For from within, out of the heart of men, proceed evil reasonings, adulteries, whorings, murders, -  It is that which comes out from the heart, the corrupt heart, that defiles us. As by the ceremonial law, whatsoever (almost) comes out of a man, defiles him (Lev. 15:2; Deu. 23:13), so what comes out from the mind of a man is that which defiles him before ABBA YAHVEH, and calls for washing of the heart by the Living Water that flow from Messiyah’s Side; From within, out of the heart of men, which they boast of the goodness of, and think is the best part of them, thence that which defiles proceeds, thence comes all the mischief. As a corrupt fountain sends forth corrupt streams, so doth a corrupt heart send forth corrupt reasoning’s, corrupt appetites and passions, and all those wicked words and actions which are produced by them. Divers particulars are specified, as in Matthew; we had one there, which is not here, and that is, false witness-bearing; but seven are mentioned here, to be added to those we had there.

 

Mar 7:22 thefts, greedy desires, wickednesses, deceit, indecency, an evil eye, blasphemy, pride, foolishness. – First, Covetousnesses, for it is plural; immoderate desires of more of the wealth of the world, and the gratifications of sense, and still more, still crying, Give, give. Hence we read of a heart exercised with covetous practices, 2 Pt. 2:14. Kabbalah teach that a believer must receive in order to bestow, the principle of giving without the desire to receiving any gain.

Secondly, Wickedness; malice, hatred, and ill-will, a desire to do mischief, and a delight in mischief done. It is also knowing that a particular action is forbidden by Torah and we do it anyway.

 

Thirdly, Deceit; which is wickedness covered and disguised, that it may be the more securely and effectually committed. When we teach people that the Law is nail to the cross, and we do not have to keep them any more, this is deceit.

 

Fourthly, Lasciviousness; that filthiness and foolish talking which the apostle condemns; the eye full of adultery, and all wanton dalliances.

 

Fifthly, The evil eye; the envious eye, and the covetous eye, grudging others the good we give them, or do for them (Prov. 23:6), or grieving at the good they do or enjoy. This evil eye is the desire to gratify the flesh only, me, myself and I.

 

Sixthly, Pride; exalting ourselves in our own conceit above others, and looking down with scorn and contempt upon others. When we do things to be seen by others.

 

Seventhly, Foolishness; imprudence, inconsideration; some understand it especially of vainglorious boasting, which St. Paul calls foolishness (2 Co. 11:1, 19), because it is here joined with pride; I rather take it for that rashness in speaking and acting, which is the cause of so much evil. Ill-thinking is put first, as that which is the spring of all our commissions, and unthinking put last, as that which is the spring of all our omissions. Wisdom means to do what is right or righteousness. Foolishness is the opposite of Wisdom. Knowing that an action is wrong and we keep doing it and expect the same result is pure unadulterated foolishness.

 

Mar 7:23 “All these wicked matters come from within and defile a man.” - Of all these he concludes:

 1. That they come from within, from the corrupt nature, the carnal mind, the evil treasure in the heart; justly is it said, that the inward part is very wickedness, it must needs be so, when all this comes from within.

2. That they defile the man; they render a man unfit for communion with YAHVEH, they bring a stain upon the conscience; and, if not mortified and rooted out, will shut men out of the new Jerusalem, into which no unclean thing shall enter. A defile man is like unto a computer with a virus, it must be isolated from the other computer, to prevent cross contamination.