Feb 20, 2021
8 Adar 5781
Torah: Ex 25-27 TERUMAH
1 Sam 15:1-34
MT 6:14-29, Mark 12:35-44

Other events:
February 25 Fast of Esther
February 26-27 Purim
February 19, Adar 7, yesterday was considered the birthday of Moses. He passed away 120 years later on the same date!
Go to bottom of this article for more links.

The Book of Exodus tells how the Israelite people were freed from slavery in Egypt by Yahweh, under the leadership of Moses. Moses is considered an important prophet in three major world religions: Judaism, Christianity, and Islam. The Book of Exodus is a sacred story to these three religions.

TERUMAH means offering, contribution, tithe, gift.  
Ex 25:2  Speak unto the children of Israel, that they bring me an offering.  Moses was still at Mt Sinai receiving instructions from God on building the tabernacle in the wilderness. These offerings were for the building materials required.

The Lord said to Moses, “…let them make me a sanctuary; Tabernacle, Hebrew Mishkan, dwelling, tent that I may dwell among them” (Exodus 25:8).

The pillar of fire by day, and the cloud by night was also a manifestation of the divine presence.

The Tabernacle (AKA TENT OF MEETING) was first set up “on the first day of the first month in the second year,”nearly a year after the nationwide exodus of the Israelites from Egypt (Exodus 40:2, 17).  The Tabernacle was set up Abib 1, 1444 BC.   Abib is the month later named Nisan.

In Hebrews 8:5 (NIV), the apostle Paul wrote that the Aaronic priests “serve at a sanctuary (tabernacle) that is a copy and shadow of what is in heaven. This is why Moses was warned when he was about to build the tabernacle: ‘See to it that you make everything according to the pattern shown you on the mountain.’”
This was a list of some of the supplies needed: gold, silver, brass, linen in blue, purple and scarlet, goats hair, Rams skins, badger skin, shittim wood, oil, spices, sweet incense, onyx stones.

It took almost a year to construct this tent in the wilderness. There were three parts to it:  the holy of holies, About 15’x15’, the holy place, about 15’x30’and the outer court, 75’x150’.  The Fence or walls were in a rectangular shape made of high curtains and wooden boards all the way around.  In the outer court, also called Court of Gentiles, was the huge altar made of brass to sacrifice the animals. Then there was the laver, a large brass structure to hold water so the priests could wash their hands. Next tent was the holy place with the table for the show bread on north side. The lampstand, also known as a menorah or a candle stick, with six branches and the center branch which makes seven on the south side.  And the altar of incense was set in front of the veil leading to the Holy of Holies. All these items were made of gold or overlaid with gold, except the bread of course. Only the priests entered daily to light the menorah, to tend to the bread on the table and to burn incense.

Then there was The Holy of Holies, Hebrew Qodesh Ha-qadashim, Aron Ha-berit or HaDvir, the innermost and most sacred area.  Only the high priest was permitted to go into the holy of holies once a year on Yom Kippur. In the holy of Holies was the ARK  of the covenant, made of gold with the cherubim & mercy seat on top, and with  the tablets of stone containing  the Law.

Reading from Samuel.  King Saul was told to go to war with the Amalekites, he was told to destroy all men, women, animals. Did he? No. He took 200,000 footman, and 10,000 men from Judah. He was victorious. Prophet Samuel asked why did you spare the king and the best animals when you were told to destroy everything ? Since Saul has rejected the Lord, the Lord has rejected Saul from remaining king. The scripture say Samuel hacked in pieces KING Agag in front of Saul.

So for a Mystery,  Where is the Ark? Some answers:
The fabled Ark of the Covenant is a wooden and gold box that holds the two stone tablets called the Ten Commandments. It was lost to history and has never been re-discovered
Another guess: Levitical priests moved the Ark to Egypt just before the Babylonians sacked Jerusalem in 586 B.C. From there it was supposedly moved to Ethiopia, where it resides to this day in the town of Aksum.
Stay tuned for the answer next week!

Here is a Treat! A video tour of the Tabernacle built in Timna Park, Israel.  A young Jewish Messianic couple narrates it. Advance the video to nine minutes for the tabernacle tour.
https://youtu.be/0fcUVe6S4vg

Now let’s celebrate PURIM this week,
https://www.chabad.org/holidays/purim/article_cdo/aid/645309/jewish/What-Is-Purim.htm

Movies: you might enjoy these biblically based movies on Purim:
https://youtu.be/ccTHkycbYXo
ESTHER free on youtube 1 1/2 hour Video

One Night with the King
free 2 hour youtube video
You may have to enter the name of the movie, I don’t know if this link works.
https://youtube.com/playlist?list=PL8B0IC5WIedICPxpNHXwlZrKTWevGc9kL

I plan to fast on Thursday February 25 on the Fast of Esther, to pray God spares the righteous around the world, including Israel. written by Glory Girl.