Offering up ourselves on the altar of service to God; Lev 6:8-8:36

[Jacob Ben Avraham]

PARASHAH: “Tzav” (command)    LEVITICUS 6:8-8:36
 

     Last week we studied Parasha “Vayikra” (and he called) and this week, we read Parasha “Tzav” (command).  We are studying the same offerings, yet the titles are different.  One is “Called” and this study falls under “command.”  What is the relationship here?  One way to look at this is that “offering up to Adonai” is a calling.  We are called to “offer up to Him” yet not all respond.  But for those who DO respond to the calling, there is a set way to offer up to HIM.

     HaShem is saying in a way; “You are called, but I know that not all of you will respond, yet to those who DO respond, THIS is how it is done!  Remember that today, there are no more animal offerings/sacrifices, yet the offerings are symbolic in how we relate to HaShem today, through prayer, mitzvoth, and our relationship with Messiah Yeshua.   

     We continue to look at the “Korbanot Shel Mishkan” (the offerings of the Tabernacle) which are…  

     “The Burnt Offering” (Korban Olah), “The Grain Offering” (Minchah), “The Peace offering” (Zevah Shelamim), the “Sin Offering” (Korban Chatat), “The Trespass or guilt offering” (Korban Asham).  One thing about the burnt, sin, and guilt offerings, there had to be “Teshuvah” (repentance) or “a change of heart”.  A “Turning away from sin” like when Yeshua told the woman who was caught in the act of adultery; “Go and sin no more!” (by the way, I wonder why the crowd didn’t bring the man?)  If the woman was caught in the “act” the man was there too! Yet he was not brought forth.  

     The burnt offerings symbolized recognizing our sin nature and a willingness to give oneself to God.  The sin and trespass/guilt offerings symbolized the offeror’s recognition that “I have sinned” in a specific way, unintentionally, and forgiveness was sought.  If the trespass was property damage or stolen, the person offering the animal has to first “compensate” the person offended, and “restitution” was in order.       I

     The grain and peace offerings were to “thank God” for blessings received or anticipated.  Every time people go to the park and fire up the BBQ grills and invite guests to eat hamburgers, hot dogs, sausage, tostadas, and grilled peppers, they are, in a way, lifting up a “peace offering”.  These offerings were not without fine flour, olive oil, salt, and Frankincense.  I guess a good outing in the park could not be complete without garlic bread brushed with a bit of olive oil and salt.  Salt in the bible symbolizes “incorruptibility” and what better way to lay down to rest at night than to light an incense stick of Frankincense.

     We can see Yeshua in all of these offerings.  The clean animals symbolize Yeshua as the “perfect sacrificed lamb of God” the grain offerings symbolize “Yeshua the Bread of Life” and the peace offerings “Yeshua, the Prince of Peace” (Yeshua Sar Shalom).  The olive oil the “Ruach HaKodesh” (The Holy Spirit) and the Frankincense “Our prayers and supplications” go “up” like burning incense.

     In this Parashah we see “Esh Tamid” (the eternal fire) the burnt offering roasted all night and the ashes that remained in the morning were removed to a clean place outside the camp.  The fire symbolizes purification, destruction, heat, light, and judgment of sin.  It can also symbolize our zeal and love for God and the things of God, service to Adonai, I am sure you have heard the expression “being on fire for God!” The things we did yesterday are gone, and the things of today remain to be done.  We can consider the “ashes” the things of yesterday, and the things of today, are being done, and the things of tomorrow, “yet to be done”

     YHVH considers all things done for His name’s sake, honor, and glory.  The ashes of “yesterday” can be our “future rewards” in Heaven in the world to come.

     Chapter 8 is the highlight of the Torah.  The Torah (Genesis – Deuteronomy) has 304,805 Hebrew letters, 79,977 words, and 5845 verses.  Lev 8:15 is the “midpoint” with the word “Yesod” (foundation or base).  It talks about Aaron being anointed as the high priest.  He is symbolically a “type of Messiah.”  The blood from the offering was sprinkled onto the 4 horns of the altar, and the rest was poured out at the "Base" (Yesod) of the altar.   

    This gives us imagery of Yeshua/Jesus who was nailed to the Cross of Calvary, the blood from his extended hands marked the two ends of the cross, the blood from his head marking the top part, and the blood from his feet marking the bottom part or "base" of the cross.  His blood marked all 4 parts of the cross, just as his redemption and atonement affected all 4 corners of the earth, ALL people of the earth can receive his atoning redemption, (if they choose to receive it).  

     “to anoint” is “m sh k” (Mashakh) in Hebrew letters. We get the Word "Mashiach" or "Messiah" from those letters.   The word “Mishkan” (Tabernacle) also has those letters. The Mishkan was anointed for the place of worship.  In the high priest, we have the mediator between man and God, and now “Yeshua” is our “Cohen Gadol” (High Priest)

     The blood of the animals used to anoint Aaron and his sons was sprinkled on the horns of the brazen altar and poured out at the “base” or “foundation” of the altar, pointing us to Yeshua who is the “Chief Corner-stone” or the “Foundation Stone” (Yeshua HaYesod)

     It is also interesting to see that the first word in the Torah is “B’reisheet” (in the beginning) the middle was now known is “Yesod” (foundation) and the last word in Deuteronomy is “Yisrael” giving us the message that “Yeshua is the Foundation of Israel” but where is “Yeshua” in Genesis?   If we take the last letters of the first three words of Genesis “B’reisheet Bara Elohim” we get the word “Emet” (truth) and one of Yeshua’s titles is “The Truth” the “Alef” “Mem” and “Tav”.  Yeshua said;

“I AM the Way the Truth and the Life” (John 14:6).

     Aaron and his sons were anointed with blood on their right ear lobes, their right thumbs, and the big toe on their right feet.  This can symbolize our “hearing” (Shema) and putting into action what we hear from God’s Word, our “doing” through mitzvoth (good needs, following the commandments) and “walking” according to HIS direction, walking a “Torah based lifestyle, or “Halacha” as some put it.  This was the ministry of Aaron and his sons, and also our ministry as well.

 

One day ends only to start a new day to serve the LORD.