Joy in the Messiah

תְּרוּמָה
Terumah / Offering
Exodus 25:1-27:19
HafTorah Portion 1 Kings 5:12-6:13
Brit Chadasha Hebrews 9:1-10

    Terumah begins with ‘Then the Lord spoke to Moses, saying: ² “Speak to the children of Israel, that they bring Me an offering. From everyone who gives it willingly with his heart you shall take My offering.’  Exodus 25:1. 
     The double statement of ‘My, for Me’ is telling the people that the offerings are dedicated for His Sake.  This may seem like a small matter, but these instructions say a lot about the God we serve. 
    First, it was not to be under compulsion, but completely voluntary, “from every man whose heart moves him…”. That contribution included silver, gold and copper (bronze), but also multi-colored fabrics, exotic stones, oil and spices and animal hides, and the purpose was for the people to worship God His way, to Him and for Him. Secondly, God states that the voluntary offerings are for Him, not to build a place for the people, but for the people to worship God His Way. So, the voluntary offering coming from a willing heart was to build a place for the people for Him.
     The mishkan or Tabernacle can also relate to four things, and God’s presence dwells in all:
     A heavenly dwelling of sanctity, Hebrews 8:2; 9:11-24.
     The body of the Messiah, John 1:14; 2:18-22. 
     The body of the believer, 1 Corinthians 6:19
     The Messiah’s assembly, 1 Peter 2:4-10; 1 Corinthians 3:16-17; 2 Corinthians 2:4-10.
     Exodus 25:10 is about the ark. God always begins His work from the inside out. Man sees from the outside and in, but God sees from the inside and out, as it is written in 1 Samuel 16:7.
     Torah Portion Terumah offers profound insights when viewed through a Messianic perspective. Various elements of the Tabernacle not only served a functional purpose but also pointed forward to Messiah Yeshua. The structure of the Tabernacle with its layout and design foreshadow the ministry and sacrifice of Yeshua. The Holy of Holies, for instance, signifies the place where ultimate atonement occurs, mirroring how Yeshua serves as the ultimate mediator between God and us.
    Terumah ends in chapter 27 with instructions for the altar and courtyard.    

 

תְּרוּמָה
T’rumah / Offering
Exodus 25:1-27:19
hafTorah Portion 1 Kings 5:12-6:13
Brit Chadasha Hebrews 9:1-10

     T’rumah begins with offerings and instructions for constructing the Ark, the Table, and the Lampstand. Chapter 26 continues with detailed instructions for the Tabernacle curtains, and T’rumah ends with instructions for the Altar, the Courtyard, and the oil. 
     But the idea of building the first physical dwelling place is strange in itself. The children of Israel were to bring gold, silver, copper; blue, purple, and red-dyed wool.  They were to bring flax, goat hair, animal skins, wood, olive oil, spices, and precious gems. This was a communal cooperation and event for the first house of worship; the first physical dwelling place that the children of Israel made for God, yet how can you build a house for God? He is the universe yet He is not contained in the universe.
     King Solomon made this point when he dedicated The First Temple.  He wrote in 1 Kings 8:27 “But will God indeed dwell on the earth? Behold, heaven and the heaven of heavens cannot contain You. How much less this temple which I have built!”   Isaiah made the same comparison in Isaiah 66:1-2 ‘Thus says the Lord: “Heaven is My throne, and earth is My footstool. Where is the house that you will build Me? And where is the place of My rest? ² For all those things My hand has made, and all those things exist, says the Lord. “But on this one will I look: On him who is poor and of a contrite spirit, and who trembles at My word.”
       Not only does it seem impossible to build a home for God, but should it be necessary? The God of the universe is everywhere. He is omnipotent, omnipresence, and omniscience. He is with us and can be accessed anywhere, everywhere whether we are in the pit, or on the mountain.  The paramount answer is that God does not live in buildings but He lives in builders. He lives not in structures but in those that serve Him - Malachi 3:18 ‘So you will again distinguish between the righteous and the wicked, between one who serves God and one who does not serve Him.’
     Exodus 25:8 states: ‘And let them make Me a sanctuary, that I may dwell among them.” He does not say: “that I may dwell in it.”
    Adonai dwells in the builders, but He desires that there is a place to worship Him. This is where worshipers come together in unity to worship God.
      This command to build the Tabernacle came right after the golden calf.  As Moshe was absent from the people for forty days and nights, the people grew weak and substituted their faith in God for faith in the golden calf. As long as Moses was with them the people knew that God was with them, for it was Moshe that communicated with God.    This is the point that God instructed Moshe: “Let them build Me a sanctuary that I may dwell among them.” The key word here is the verb sh-kh-n, to dwell. Never before had it been used in connection with God and it comes from the word Mishkan meaning a sanctuary, and Shekhinah, which is the Divine Presence.
      God dwells within the people who choose Him and serve Him. This was the beginning of holiness for the people and was setting the stage for our holy offerings. The people brought physical items, yet the heart must be clean and pure. Our offerings today may be that of a physical entity, but as before, our heart and mind and the meaning of the offering weighs heavily on our character. It must be pure, holy, and made with love and obedience.
Is the place holy? Deuteronomy 23:14 ‘
The heart must move him: Exodus 25:2 
Our offerings must be made in a clean place: Deuteronomy 12:13 ‘T
What is our offering: Psalm 50:14 ’
We must imitate Messiah: Ephesians 5:1-2 
We must be clean: Isaiah 66:20
Offered in righteousness: Malachi 3:3
Our offering must be that of obedience: 1 Samuel 15:22 
Our offerings must be our delight in doing His will: Psalm 40:6
Offerings must be that of loyalty. Hosea 6:6  
Our hearts must be void of arrogance: Psalm 51:16-17 
Are we joyful? Isaiah 56:7 
Are we acceptable? Romans 12:1 ‘I beseechyou therefore, brethren, by the mercies of God, that you present your bodies a living sacrifice, holy, acceptable to God, which is your reasonable service.’