This was posted as a comment on Skip Moen’s blog, but I wanted to repost it here because it clarifies a lot of questions I had/have. Granted, it’s one person’s view and since I don’t know much about the Jewish beliefs (other than what’s in the Bible), I don’t know if it’s perfectly, precisely, 100% right. However, it really helps me see much more clearly how the Torah applies to worshiping God. Thanks to Rodney who wrote this post! No-one was ever justified by bringing sacrifices and it was never about removing sin. Torah defines sin; it does not remove it. The 13 sacrifices given in Torah relate to the 13 aspects of the mercy of God. They were given to teach us how to approach God in a right way, not presumptuously but humbly and with reverence. They point us to Messiah and all speak of His ministry and work in us. The outward act of bringing the sacrifice or offering was supposed to teach us how to offer ourselves on the altar of our hearts. Isn’t that what Paul said in Romans 12? “I beseech you therefore brethren by the mercies of God topresent yourselves as living sacrifices, holy and acceptable to God, which is your reasonable service of worship”. The external acts are supposed to be internalised and acted on in our heartsand, as such, are still as valid today as they ever were. What are the 13 sacrifices? 1. Minchah – a meal offering of grain, flour, bread or cakes. Is not Jesus the “bread of life”? Did he not break bread and say, “this bread is my body, broken for you?” 2. Olah – a whole burnt offering, completely given to God, to be lifted up onto the altar. Was not Messiah lifted up for us? Completely given to God? He is our Olah, our Lamb (the Lamb of God), our whole burnt offering. 3. Chata’ah – a sin offering for unintentional sin. Messiah took on himself our sin and is our sin offering. 4. Nesek – a drink offering (of wine). Did not Jesus take the cup and say, “this cup is the blood of the new covenant, my blood poured out for you”? 5. Tenuphah – a wave offering (usually loaves of bread or leafy branches), lifted up and waved before God. Is this not what we do when we lift our hands in worship to our Saviour and King? 6. Asham – a guilt offering (for an unintentional mistake by a leader). Messiah is our true leader, the only perfect leader and example, yet he offered himself as our guilt offering; thus we are made righteous and declared “not guilty” – as Skip has just pointed out in the last couple of days, we are “justified by faith” by believing and acting on God’s declaration of righteousness bestowed on us. 7. Millu – an ordination offering, where priests and kings were anointed. Is not Jesus the Christ, the Messiah, the Anointed One? 8. Shelem – a peace offering. Is He not the Prince of Peace? 9. Todah – a thanksgiving offering (usually at the completion of something). Do we not still give thanks to our Heavenly Father for his strength, provision, sustenance and guidance in our lives? 10. Nedabah – a freewill offering (to celebrate with the Lord or involve Him in a celebration). Do we not still bring gifts to God and offer praise and thanksgiving as part of our celebrations? 11. Neder – a votive offering (in connection with a vow). Has our Father not vowed that “I will never leave you nor forsake you“? Does he not vow to save us through the sacrifice of Messiah Yeshua? He is the votive offering that guarantees and completes God’s vow to us. 12. Terumah – a heave offering (a contribution from the heart). Do we not still give alms as a contribution from our hearts? Messiah taught about this when He said, “Don’t sound a teruah(trumpet) when you make a terumah (give alms)”; in other words, “when you make a true contribution from the heart, don’t make a big noise about it, but do it quietly – you’re giving to God and it is betwen you and Him”. 13. Azkarah – a memorial offering (a remembrance). Did Jesus not say to His disciples, “As often as you do this, remember me”? Each of these offerings was called “Qorban” – brought near – to be brought near when we approached the Lord. Only 2 have anything to do with sin and none are for intentional sin. The Torah is clear – there is no sacrifice that a man can bring that atones for intentional, wilfull sin – the penalty for wilfully sinning against God (which we have all done at some time in our lives) is death. The only way out of that is to be passed from death to life and that is only done through the sacrifice brought by God Himself- the Lamb of God that takes away the sin of the world. OurPassover Lamb that passes us from death to life. Oh, by the way, that wasn’t taught by Moses – that one was taught to us by Abraham. Remember? Isaac was to supposed to be up on the altar, but Abraham prophesied that “God will provide Himself a Lamb in this place“. Isaac was passed from death to life in the same way we are; through the substitutionary sacrifice of the Lamb of God. In that place. Mt Moriah. Known later as the Temple Mount. No-one was ever justified by “keeping the Law” (obeying Torah). That was never its purpose. It had two functions – to define sin and to teach us about Messiah. If you remove the definition of sin, then there is no more sin – therefore there can be no judgment for sin (and no-one on earth need fear God’s judgment because God has no grounds for judgment if there is no sin). BTW, Paul said this over and over again. We just twisted his words to say what we wanted them to say because we didn’t like the message. Just one thing to clarify – I said above that the sacrificial system is still just as valid today. It is, but we don’t have an operating Levitical Priesthood to assist with bringing and presenting the sacrifices, we don’t have a consecrated altar on the temple mount nor do we have a temple; therefore we obey Torah by not bringing the sacrifices, except in our hearts. Oh, yes. About the fact that each of the sacrifices was assisted by a priest? Yeshua is our High Priest – He is the one who assists us to bring the sacrifices on the altar of our hearts. We would all do well to study and learn how to apply that to our lives today (and our relationship with our Father will be all the richer for it). How’s that for awesome? I like it! I know there is some controversy over the part about Isaac (due to later comments), but it’s still amazing! God’s pretty incredible to come up with a system that had meaning then and that can continue to have meaning today! Skip’s Original Post is here. Rodney’s website is here.
Since I’m running late this morning and in light of the new school year starting, I’m posting a link to Skip Moen’s daily word post. It’s, appropriately, about enlightenment, the relative worth (or lack thereof) of knowledge, and the importance of application. Have fun! If you’re feeling (I can’t think of the word, but it’s a little like “ready to debate”) this morning, read the comments of his previous day’s post. It’s very interesting.
No long post today as I have to run to work early (I’m trying to be there by 6:30 am – school starts at 7:18 am). It’s the first day back at school for the kiddos! However, Skip has a great post today about how in Yeshua we are all brothers and sisters, equals. None of us, no matter what our job title says, is any greater or any lesser than another. A good reminder these days when everything seems to be about the title and prestige. Read more here.
Isn’t it interesting how the truth changes over time? You’d think that the truth is the truth and doesn’t change, but you’d be wrong. Or rather, you’d be right, but our definition of the truth is wrong. For example, Genesis 1-3. The truth is that there is more to that story than what we get told in Sunday school, church, or the media. Reading it in English barely scratches the surface of the intricacies and implications hidden in the Hebrew words. Or, take a more controversially “known truth” about the early “church.” There’s the truth we learn, that they removed themselves from Judaism, threw out the Torah, and started building congregations in pretty buildings. Okay, maybe not quite the pretty buildings, but you get the idea. And then there’s the truth of actual history where they were followers of the Way, a so-called sect within the Hebrew community, who meticulously followed Torah, observed the Sabbath, and celebrated the Festivals with the rest of the community (until around 300AD when things started to change). Pretty shocking, right? Nearly heretical! Why? Is it so hard to believe that Yeshua followed Torah? He was, after all, Hebrew. He did say that He didn’t come to abolish the Torah but rather to fulfill it. Is it that we are trained not to question our teachers? Not to question tradition? Not to question “inspired” Words that have already been subtly tweaked to reinforce “the truth”? As a teacher, I find that my students rarely question what I say (scary thought, considering what some people tell them). I find that I rarely question people I trust. I never dreamed of questioning the status-quo of what I had been taught at home and at church until Skip Moen stepped into my church and turned my world on its head. Maybe I was the only one in the entire congregation whose foundations cracked, rippled, and shifted that day, but God’s not worried about how long it takes for light to break through. He’s incredibly patient. So, the question is, “What is Truth”? Or perhaps, “Who is Truth?” And then, two more questions: How do you know? and … Do you really want to know? Read Dr. Skip Moen’s post on Paul’s statement that he has “kept the faith” (2 Tim. 4:7). Read more here >>>
I’m rushed this morning, but I wanted to point you to a post I read this morning. My thoughts on it are in the comments, but I’m pasting them here, too. The article is on giving, but it’s not a traditional, “hey, tithe to your church!” kind of thing. It’s a very interesting commentary on one of Yeshua’s statements. Read it here. My Comments: I think it’s difficult, given the amount of Greek-ness we get soaked in, to be on the receiving end of others’ giving, too. At least, it is for me… and lately, that seems to be where I am more often than not. I find it frustrating to have so little (or no) excess from which to give. But, I suppose that it’s a cycle, and there will come a day when there is more left over and we have more to give back. I’m not saying that in a “look at me” way or “poor me” or for any reason other than this strikes a chord in me. All my life I would never have characterized myself as someone who enjoyed or truly wanted to give… Maybe because I always felt it was mandated by the “church,” and I didn’t usually feel that was where it was needed most. And now that God has set me on this path of discovery, I find myself wanting to give back to Him and those around us, yet having less with which to do it. It’s kind of funny, in a way… kind of something at any rate. That being said, I think, maybe, that this applies in more ways than monetarily, although I tend to end up focusing on that a lot. I just realized that maybe, even if I don’t have excess of money, I might have excess in other areas from which I can give. Skip said that our gifts from God are like an orange tree – we don’t eat our own oranges, we give them away. Maybe that applies here, too? I think it’s difficult, given the amount of Greek-ness we get soaked in, to be on the receiving end of others’ giving, too. At least, it is for me… and lately, that seems to be where I am more often than not. I find it frustrating to have so little (or no) excess from which to give. But, I suppose that it’s a cycle, and there will come a day when there is more left over and we have more to give back. I’m not saying that in a “look at me” way or “poor me” or for any reason other than this strikes a chord in me. All my life I would never have characterized myself as someone who enjoyed or truly wanted to give… Maybe because I always felt it was mandated by the “church,” and I didn’t usually feel that was where it was needed most. And now that God has set me on this path of discovery, I find myself wanting to give back to Him and those around us, yet having less with which to do it. It’s kind of funny, in a way… kind of something at any rate. That being said, I think, maybe, that this applies in more ways than monetarily, although I tend to end up focusing on that a lot. I just realized that maybe, even if I don’t have excess of money, I might have excess in other areas from which I can give. Skip said that our gifts from God are like an orange tree – we don’t eat our own oranges, we give them away. Maybe that applies here, too?
Psalm 34:7 Delight yourself also in YHWH; and He shall give you the desires of your heart. This is the verse on which Skip Moen did his daily post for today (read it here). It’s about the interpretation of the word desires and how it doesn’t mean my laundry list of things I want. It’s an ongoing imperfect verb. In other words, it’s not something I already have, it’s something He gives. When I delight in Him, He gives me His desires for me and then fulfills them. But I can’t come to Him with my list, like a child coming to Santa Claus. I have to come empty handed. I thought that would be pretty easy, but as I continued to think, I realized how many things I have on my wish list… They’re not selfish things, per se, but they’re still on my wish list. I have to be willing to let these things go so that He can replace them with what He desires for me. Oddly I found myself somewhat reluctant for an instant! I know that God and goodness and love cannot be separated, but I fear that I won’t get my way. How childish, yet how common! If I come with clenched fists grasping my things, my hands can’t accept what He has to give. I must open them and allow my stuff to fall away so that my hands are empty, and I have room for all He has to give. One of the most basic questions that people have is “What’s my purpose here on this planet? Why am I here?” Ultimately, as Skip points out, the question is, “What does God desire of me?” It seems to me, that when I delight in Him and come empty handed to receive what He desires, this question is answered. Then I find the passion to live fully as I fulfill His desires given to me, planted in my life, growing and blossoming into something new and beautiful.
I just had to post this. Obviously, I regularly read Dr. Skip Moen’s blog, and I feel that he brings many things to light that many people, especially traditional Christians, don’t know about because we can’t read God’s Word in its original language (I am thinking I need to learn Hebrew, though). There was a post yesterday about what it means to be created in God’s image (read it here), and it’s generated a lot (A LOT) of commenting. The comments are fascinating in and of themselves, and if you read the blog long enough you can recognize the style of writing of different people (some have such distinct writing styles that I can almost imagine them bobbing in their seat trying to contain their enthusiasm). I love the community of this site. I love that questions aren’t discouraged or laughed at, that suggestions are encouraged, and criticism or skepticism are accepted graciously and not condemned. Sometimes I feel very inadequate when I post comments because my understanding seems so small, but nobody laughs or is rude when I write something stupid (oh, and I’ve done this several times). I wish I lived in a community of people (not just a virtual community) like this. I hardly know anyone who lives around us in the apartment complex (although many of them are empty, are rented on a month-to-month basis, or are vacation condos; or the people who live there don’t speak English). I know I get caught up in living my life with my family (which is overwhelming sometimes, to say the least), and I should probably reach out more to the people around me. Most of the people I know, most of my friends live across town from me, and with each mile and each month it seems to get harder and harder to stay connected. I miss living there. (And I am reminded that I need to be content and grateful in the place I find myself. The last few days this has been a struggle. I have more than most, and sometimes I only see how much less than some I have. Maybe I’m here to learn more about contentment.) And, finally, one last story. Yesterday I was at the grocery store and as I was pulling out I saw this old man getting out of his car with great difficulty. At first I didn’t think anything of it, but as I put the car into drive I noticed that he was using the post to hold onto as he got a grocery cart to lean on. I almost re-parked the car and asked him if he needed help. I almost. But as I started to re-park the car I saw that he had a shopping cart and was using it to help him walk to the grocery store. And out of fear of being “rude or condescending” I figured he was okay and on his way. So I left. And ever since then I’ve kicked myself. I should have gotten out sooner instead of watching to see if I should help. I shouldn’t have hesitated. I should have offered to get him one of those mechanized cart thingies. I should have asked him if he wanted help, even if he rejected it. This was a kairos moment, when God injected himself into my day… and I missed it until it was too late. I missed an opportunity to show God’s love and compassion because I was afraid of what he might think of my offer. I think this is a moment that will haunt me, a reminder to seize those opportunities that God puts in my path. Yeshua recognized those kairos moments (think about the woman at the well when he was on His way to heal/raise Lazarus – what would have happened if He hadn’t obeyed God’s leading and taken that moment to change her life and the lives of everyone in her town). He wasn’t too busy or worried to stop. I want to be like that, and I hope the next time I am ready.