Parasha Pekudei 5784

Me

This week we read Parasha Pekudei, Exodus 38:21-40:38, which is our final Parasha of Sefer Shemot. Pekudei begins with the recording of the weight of the precious materials used in the building of the Mishkan and its furnishings. This is, in essence, an accounting record of all the precious metals that were given (in financial equivalency) and how those items were used on the P&L of the construction of the Mishkan. Chapter 39 begins with relaying the details put into the production of the priestly garments for Aaron and his sons. The chapter then ends with the completion of the work of the Tabernacle and two clarifications that B’nei Yisrael had done all the work exactly as Adonai had shown Moses.

Chapter 40, the final chapter of Exodus, details the actual procedures for the assembly of the Tabernacle, followed by the actual raising of the Tabernacle for the very first time. When Moses completed the work of assembling the Mishkan the Shechinah of Adonai filled the Tabernacle and took up residence there before the entire Nation.

(Talk about marriage not being easy, that you have to work for it, and you have to want to work for it.)

We

God

Principle: The most important aspect of being a follower of G-d is the revelation of His Presence dwelling with us.

(Repeat)

Parasha Pekudei

Exodus 38:21–23 TLV

These are the accounts of the Tabernacle of the Testimony, as they were recorded according to the commandment of Moses, by the service of the Levites, under the hand of Ithamar son of Aaron the kohen. Bezalel son of Uri son of Hur of the tribe of Judah made all that Adonai commanded Moses. Along with him was Oholiab son of Ahisamach of the tribe of Dan, a craftsman, a skillful workman, and a weaver of colors, in blue, purple, scarlet and fine linen.

Parasha Pekudei

Rabbinic traditions discusses how the creation of the universe in Bereshit and the creation of the Mishkan in Shemot are parallel or mirroring activities

In Bereshit we see HaShem create for six days and after each He says it is good, then establishes the Shabbat on the 7th day, which is even greater and it is established as a day for us to rest in His Shechinah/Presence

In Exodus 39 we see the detail of the manufacturing of the priestly garments and regalia, there are seven sections in Exodus 39 describing the various aspects of the garments and after each we see this phrase: כַּֽאֲשֶׁ֛ר צִוָּ֥ה יְהוָֹ֖ה אֶת־מֹשֶֽׁה (Ka’asher tzivah AD-NAI et-Moshe) “as ADONAI commanded Moses” (mirroring “it is good”)

In Exodus 40 we see the work of the Mishkan was completed and the detail of when and how the Mishkan was to be setup. Again we see seven sections and each section is finished with this phrase: כְּ֠כֹ֠ל אֲשֶׁ֨ר צִוָּ֧ה יְהוָֹ֛ה אֹת֖וֹ כֵּ֥ן עָשָֽׂה (K’kol asher tzivah AD-NAI oto kein asah) “just as ADONAI had commanded him”

Then, with the seventh section we see the work of creation is completed, and Moses finished his work… Likewise, at the completion of the work of the Mishkan the Shechinah took up rest in the midst of Israel

In fact, in Genesis 2 we read:

Genesis 2:1–3 TLV

So the heavens and the earth were completed along with their entire array. God completed—on the seventh day—His work that He made, and He ceased—on the seventh day—from all His work that He made. Then God blessed the seventh day and sanctified it, for on it He ceased from all His work that God created for the purpose of preparing.

Parasha Pekudei

Similarly in Exodus 39 at the completion of the seventh section describing the work of the Mishkan we read:

Exodus 39:42–43 TLV

According to everything that Adonai had commanded Moses, Bnei-Yisrael had done all the work just so. When Moses saw the entire work, and that they had done it just as Adonai had commanded, Moses blessed them.

Parasha Pekudei

And at the end of Exodus 40 we read:

Exodus 40:33–38 TLV

He set up the courtyard around the Tabernacle and the altar and set up the screen at the gate of the courtyard. So Moses finished the work. Then the cloud covered the Tent of Meeting, and the glory of Adonai filled the Tabernacle. Moses was unable to enter into the Tent of Meeting, because the cloud resided there and the glory of Adonai filled the Tabernacle. Now whenever the cloud was taken up from over the Tabernacle, Bnei-Yisrael went onward, throughout all their journeys. But if the cloud was not taken up, then they did not move out until the day that it was. For the cloud of Adonai was on the Tabernacle by day and a fire was there by night, in the sight of all the house of Israel throughout all their journeys.

Parasha Pekudei

The building of the Mishkan was Israel participating in the work of redemption and restoration of the sin humanity brought into the world. Mankind was created to dwell in the Presence of G-d, which is what Gan Eden was all about… But we chose sin and G-d removed us from His Presence. But with the Mishkan He places His dwelling in our midst through a work of restoration. We still were unable to enter His Presence at the time, only the High Priest was able to enter and only on one specific day each year and shrouded in incense and smoke to protect him from the Shechinah, but the nation as a whole were only able to behold the Presence from a distance (such as on Mt. Sinai and seeing the cloud on above the Mishkan)

Principle: The most important aspect of being a follower of G-d is the revelation of His Presence dwelling with us.

Parasha Pekudei

2 Corinthians 5:16–21 TLV

So from now on we recognize no one according to the flesh. Even though we have known Messiah according to the flesh, yet now we no longer know Him this way. Therefore if anyone is in Messiah, he is a new creation. The old things have passed away; behold, all things have become new. Now all these things are from God, who reconciled us to Himself through Messiah and gave us the ministry of reconciliation. That is, in Messiah God was reconciling the world to Himself, not counting their trespasses against them; and He has entrusted the message of reconciliation to us. We are therefore ambassadors for Messiah, as though God were making His appeal through us. We beg you on behalf of Messiah, be reconciled to God. He made the One who knew no sin to become a sin offering on our behalf, so that in Him we might become the righteousness of God.

Parasha Pekudei

Paul begins this teaching with a discussion in the early verses of 2 Corinthians 5 equating our bodies to the Tabernacle in which the Presence of God dwells, via the Ruach HaKodesh.

Hebrews 4:14–16 TLV

Therefore, since we have a great Kohen Gadol who has passed through the heavens, Yeshua Ben-Elohim, let us hold firmly to our confessed allegiance. For we do not have a kohen gadol who is unable to sympathize with our weaknesses, but One who has been tempted in all the same ways—yet without sin. Therefore let us draw near to the throne of grace with boldness, so that we may receive mercy and find grace for help in time of need.

Parasha Pekudei

Hebrews 10:19–25 TLV

Therefore, brothers and sisters, we have boldness to enter into the Holies by the blood of Yeshua. He inaugurated a new and living way for us through the curtain—that is, His flesh. We also have a Kohen Gadol over God’s household. So let us draw near with a true heart in full assurance of faith, with hearts sprinkled clean from an evil conscience and body washed with pure water. Let us hold fast the unwavering confession of hope, for He who promised is faithful. And let us consider how to stir up one another to love and good deeds. And do not neglect our own meetings, as is the habit of some, but encourage one another—and all the more so as you see the Day approaching.

Parasha Pekudei

Principle: The most important aspect of being a follower of G-d is the revelation of His Presence dwelling with us.

Parasha Pekudei

Revelation 21:22–27 TLV

I saw no temple in her, for its Temple is Adonai Elohei-Tzva’ot and the Lamb. And the city has no need for the sun or the moon to shine on it, for the glory of God lights it up, and its lamp is the Lamb. The nations shall walk by its light, and the kings of the earth bring their glory into it. Its gates shall never be shut by day, for there shall be no night there! And they shall bring into it the glory and honor of the nations. And nothing unholy shall ever enter it, nor anyone doing what is detestable or false, but only those written in the Book of Life.

Parasha Pekudei

Principle: The most important aspect of being a follower of G-d is the revelation of His Presence dwelling with us.

Parasha Pekudei

You

(Call worship team up and unmute)

We

If our worship team will make their way back up to the stage.