Haftarah V’yakheil
1 Kings 7:40-50 (A); 7:13-26 (S)
Haftarah Pequdei
“Glorious Details and More”
1 Kings 7:51-8:21 (A); 7:40-50 (S)
excerpted from TorahScope Haftarah Exhortations
One of the principal blessings of reviewing the Torah and Haftarah teachings each year, is the annual reminder that the God of Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob, is personally concerned about the details of life, and how He wants to be intimately involved with His chosen people. This week, the last six chapters of Exodus are considered (Exodus 35:1-38:20; 38:21-40:38). We see that not only are the construction details of the Tabernacle outlined, but the work was completed by those gifted with the ability to fabricate all which the Lord required. After the willing hearts of the Israelites brought forth a freewill offering of materials, the Lord then provided skilled artisans, like Bezalel of Judah and Oholiab of Dan, to follow His precise instructions:
“The children of Israel brought a free will offering to the LORD; every man and woman whose heart made them willing to bring for all the work, which the LORD had commanded to be made by Moses. Moses said to the children of Israel, ‘Behold, the LORD has called by name Bezalel the son of Uri, the son of Hur, of the tribe of Judah. He has filled him with the Spirit of God, in wisdom, in understanding, in knowledge, and in all kinds of workmanship; and to make skillful works, to work in gold, in silver, in bronze, in cutting of stones for setting, and in carving of wood, to work in all kinds of skillful workmanship. He has put in his heart that he may teach, both he and Oholiab, the son of Ahisamach, of the tribe of Dan. He has filled them with wisdom of heart to work all kinds of workmanship, of the engraver, of the skillful workman, and of the embroiderer, in blue, in purple, in scarlet, and in fine linen, and of the weaver, even of those who do any workmanship, and of those who make skillful works’” (Exodus 35:29-35, WMB).
After completing the instructions for building the moveable Tabernacle, the presence of the Lord was revealed as He filled the Tabernacle with His glory. This description of God’s glory filling the Tabernacle—to the point of preventing Moses from entering—provides a vivid reminder of how human beings cannot often stand, or in this case occupy, the same space as His glorious presence:
“He raised up the court around the tabernacle and the altar, and set up the screen of the gate of the court. So Moses finished the work. Then the cloud covered the Tent of Meeting, and the LORD’s glory filled the tabernacle. Moses wasn’t able to enter into the Tent of Meeting, because the cloud stayed on it, and the LORD’s glory filled the tabernacle. When the cloud was taken up from over the tabernacle, the children of Israel went onward, throughout all their journeys; but if the cloud wasn’t taken up, then they didn’t travel until the day that it was taken up. For the cloud of the LORD was on the tabernacle by day, and there was fire in the cloud by night, in the sight of all the house of Israel, throughout all their journeys” (Exodus 40:33-38, WMB).
Unsurprisingly, when the Sages searched for a complementary passage, the construction of the First Temple was the obvious parallel. 1 Kings chs. 7-8, where the building of Solomon’s edifice on the Temple Mount is recorded, was selected. The record here lists many of the specific details about the construction project. Yet in contrast, rather than using the materials supplied by the generous hearts of the people, King Solomon turned to the neighboring Kingdom of Tyre for not only materials, but also skilled labor. God uniquely gifted an artisan named Hiram, who had been the son of a man from Tyre and a Naphtalite woman:
“King Solomon sent and brought Hiram out of Tyre. He was the son of a widow of the tribe of Naphtali, and his father was a man of Tyre, a worker in bronze; and he was filled with wisdom and understanding and skill to work all works in bronze. He came to King Solomon and performed all his work” (1 Kings 7:13-14, WMB).
Hiram’s mixed heritage was not at all an issue; he possessed God-given abilities and skills to work with bronze, exactly what was needed for the Temple project (1 Kings 7:15-45). The Temple which was built, after all, would not only be for Israel, but for those of other nations (1 Kings 8:41-43). Just like the Tabernacle in the wilderness, the Temple was to be in a location which—once completed, anointed, and with the Ark of the Covenant in place—would be filled with the glory of the Lord:
“There was nothing in the ark except the two stone tablets which Moses put there at Horeb, when the LORD made a covenant with the children of Israel, when they came out of the land of Egypt. It came to pass, when the priests had come out of the holy place, that the cloud filled the LORD’s house, so that the priests could not stand to minister by reason of the cloud; for the LORD’s glory filled the LORD’s house” (1 Kings 8:9-11, WMB).
What strikes you as being the most important theme, seen in this week’s Torah and Haftarah readings?
The Creator God desires to dwell with the human beings He has created. While Israel was designated to be His chosen people, Israel’s chosenness had a significant purpose to it. The purpose of constructing the Temple was so “all the peoples of the earth will know Your name and revere You” (1 Kings 8:43, NJPS). The Temple was built to be a place for God’s glory to be manifest, and for the fame of the Creator to reach beyond the people of Israel! The Temple constructed in Jerusalem was to be a reminder that God does not want a far-off relationship with His people, but rather He wants a proximate relationship with His people.
Even though God desires intimacy with His people, this does not by any means demean the fact that He is holy and pure. Moses was unable to easily enter into the Tent of Meeting. Similarly, the priests who served God in the Temple, were powerless to stand in His presence. These physical realities are stark reminders that He is so holy—that coming into the absolute presence of His glory as unredeemed sinners—is impeded, if not impossible!
So what is needed to enter into His presence? Is something else required? If we want to participate in the communion which our Father so desires, what do we need to do?
We do see in our readings this week, how God provided the materials for His dwelling places (either the wilderness Tabernacle or Solomon’s Temple) from the physical world, while also supernaturally empowering the individuals with the skills to follow to His precise instructions. Yet, despite the combination of both God’s desire to dwell with His people, and the provision of materials and the skilled workers to accomplish His goals—something still prevents the full communion which He seeks with humanity. At least, this is what appears to be the case.
Was there something in ancient times obstructing the intimacy? Obviously, there was something, but what was it? After all, Moses’ relationship with the Holy One was unique (cf. Deuteronomy 34:10), and the priests in Solomon’s era appeared to be following His instructions rather well. We do know that at some point in past history, after Moses requested to see God’s glory, he was only permitted to see it in passing:
“Moses said, ‘Please show me your glory.’ He said, ‘I will make all my goodness pass before you, and will proclaim the LORD’s name before you. I will be gracious to whom I will be gracious, and will show mercy on whom I will show mercy.’ He said, ‘You cannot see my face, for man may not see me and live.’ The LORD also said, ‘Behold, there is a place by me, and you shall stand on the rock. It will happen, while my glory passes by, that I will put you in a cleft of the rock, and will cover you with my hand until I have passed by; then I will take away my hand, and you will see my back; but my face shall not be seen’” (Exodus 33:18-23, WMB).
Why is it so difficult to see the full presence of God? It is only because human beings are mortal and corporeal creatures? Or is it because of the limitations imposed by the presence of sin?
For some Messianics today this can be a mystery—often because they find their Bible studies focused almost exclusively on the Torah (and sometimes, parts of the Tanakh). Yet the very fact that we are “Messianic,” requires us to consider the further perspective of the Apostolic Writings, widening and deepening our understanding of God’s plan of salvation. The promise of the New Covenant—where the Lord will write His Instruction onto the hearts of His people—is inaugurated in their lives via the atoning work of Yeshua the Messiah. This work not only allows Believers to be filled with the Holy Spirit, but also gives them an assurance and confidence to approach God’s presence, to a much higher level than those who preceded the time of the Messiah. The author of Hebrews attested to this:
“For by one offering he has perfected forever those who are being sanctified. The Holy Spirit also testifies to us, for after saying, ‘This is the covenant that I will make with them after those days,’ says the Lord, ‘I will put my laws on their heart, I will also write them on their mind;’ then he says, ‘I will remember their sins and their iniquities no more’ [Jeremiah 31:33-34]. Now where remission of these is, there is no more offering for sin. Having therefore, brothers, boldness to enter into the holy place by the blood of Yeshua, by the way which he dedicated for us, a new and living way, through the veil, that is to say, his flesh, and having a great priest over God’s house, let’s draw near with a true heart in fullness of faith, having our hearts sprinkled from an evil conscience and having our body washed with pure water, let’s hold fast the confession of our hope without wavering; for he who promised is faithful” (Hebrews 10:14-23, WMB).
Since God will forget human sin, because of the sacrifice of His Son (Romans 11:27), born again Believers have a grand privilege of being able to enter into the intimacy of the Holy Place and entreat Him with their requests. The original requirement to Moses to stay outside the tent, or the prostrate positioning of the priests unable to stand, has certainly been modified. The ancient examples do show, though, that even if we have a much greater access to the Lord’s presence, now that Yeshua has come, we still have to approach Him with great reverence and awe.
The need for us to approach God properly, was emphasized by the Apostle Paul in his writings to the Corinthians. The people of God are not to be bound to unbelievers, and nor are they to fellowship with lawlessness and darkness. If born again Believers make up the corporate Temple of God today, then they are not to have any fellowship with idols and sinful activities:
“Now in return—I speak as to my children—you also open your hearts. Don’t be unequally yoked with unbelievers, for what fellowship do righteousness and iniquity have? Or what fellowship does light have with darkness? What agreement does Messiah have with Belial? Or what portion does a believer have with an unbeliever? What agreement does a temple of God have with idols? For you are a temple of the living God. Even as God said, ‘I will dwell in them and walk in them. I will be their God and they will be my people’ [Leviticus 26:12; Jeremiah 32:38; Ezekiel 37:27; Isaiah 52:11; Ezekiel 20:34, 41]. Therefore “‘Come out from among them, and be separate,” says the Lord. “Touch no unclean thing [2 Samuel 7:8, 14; Isaiah 43:6; Jeremiah 31:9]. I will receive you. I will be to you a Father. You will be to me sons and daughters,” says the Lord Almighty’” (2 Corinthians 6:13-18, WMB).
God’s desire is not that we just be His people, but that we be His sons and daughters! The word proclaimed to Moses, that God would dwell in His people and walk among them (Exodus 29:45; Leviticus 26:12), is something which Paul said the Corinthians could experience in their lives. The Holy One of Israel would be One with whom redeemed souls could experience great intimacy, like that of a father to his children. This is far more than just a far off Almighty God in the distant cosmos being worshipped, revered, and awed. This is a relationship which goes beyond His glory residing in a temporary wilderness Tabernacle, or even a permanent Temple. It is a relationship which is to be experienced every day, regardless of where one resides, as “Messiah is all, and in all” (Colossians 3:11, WMB).
These are the things which should motivate us to seek the Lord and His righteousness more and more—knowing that through our desire to commune with Him, our intimacy with Him will be enhanced. While it is awesome to know about the physical details of the Tabernacle and Temple, and what they consisted of—it is far more wonderful to consider the reality that we compose God’s Temple today, and that His presence can reside inside of us. At some point in past time, it is my prayer that you have answered His call, and have allowed His Holy Spirit to take up residence inside of your heart! What the ancient Tabernacle and Temple depict for us, has now become a reality inside of you as a redeemed person!
Perhaps this week’s review, of the appearance of the glory of God at the Tabernacle and the Temple, will prompt you to ask for a greater peek of His glory as it resides in your heart? Brothers and sisters, I implore you to ask our Heavenly Father to reveal more of Himself to you. For as you experience more of Him, so should others see Him in you and want more of Him too!
