Parasha Sh’mini 5784
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This week we read Parasha Sh’mini (Leviticus 9:1-11:47) which picks up where the discussion of the consecration of the Kohanim left off in Parasha Tzav. Aaron and his sons were consecrated and commanded to stay in the Mishkan for seven days, then Parasha Sh’mini picks up with the eighth day (hence the name in Hebrew) after their consecration, in which their actual ministry begins officially. Aaron makes a series of offerings and then at the end of chapter 9 he blesses B’nai Yisrael (most presume the blessing spoken is likely the Birkat Kohanim). He and Moses go back into the Tent of Meeting and then when they come back out they bless B’nai Yisrael again and the Glory of Adonai appears before the Nation, which was followed by a divine fire coming from the Presence of Adonai and devouring the burnt offering on the altar. All of Israel saw this occur and they immediately fell on their faces before the Lord.
The next thing we see is in Leviticus 10 when Aaron’s oldest two sons, Nadav and Avihu, become overly-eager with a misplaced zeal and rushed into the Presence of Adonai with the Aish Zarah (strange or unauthorized fire) which was not commanded. The fire of the Lord then consumed them and they died on the spot. Moses instructs Aaron and his remaining two sons, Eleazar and Ithamar, on how they are to mourn while consecrated. He also instructs them on exactly how they are to approach the Tent of Meeting while in service as Kohanim, which includes not drinking alcohol before going in—and some hypothesize that Nadav and Avihu may have been drunk when they rushed in with Aish Zarah because of Leviticus 10:8-11 (although, I don’t necessary subscribe to this theory).
Then we read Leviticus chapter 11 which closes out Parasha Sh’mini and details with painstaking care the basic Kashrut laws for Israel, what can be eaten and what can’t be.
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Principle: We can’t blame G-d for the consequences experienced when we are walking outside His will.
(Repeat)
Parasha Sh’mini
Now David again gathered all the chosen men of Israel, 30,000.
Then David and all the people who were with him arose and set out from Baale-judah to bring up from there the ark of God, which is called by the Name, the very Name of Adonai-Tzva’ot who is enthroned between the cheruvim.
So they loaded the ark of God on a new cart and carried it out of the house of Abinadab that was on the hill. Uzzah and Ahio, Abinadab’s sons, drove the new cart
as they brought it from the house of Abinadab (which was on the hill) with the ark of God, and Ahio was walking in front of the ark.
Parasha Sh’mini
Exodus 25 describes that the Ark has rings with poles in rings by which it is to be carried. Numbers 4 tells us that the Kohathites were responsible for carrying the furnishings of the Tabernacle, including the Ark. The Kohathites were to carry the Ark upon their shoulders by the poles.
David is zealous for G-d and in his zeal is bringing the Ark to Jerusalem, however, we notice he is hauling it entirely wrong.
Meanwhile David and the whole house of Israel were celebrating before Adonai with all kinds of instruments made of cypress wood, with harps, lyres, tambourines, three-stringed instruments and cymbals.
But when they reached the threshing floor of Nahon, Uzzah reached out to the ark of God and grasped it, for the oxen had stumbled.
Then the anger of Adonai was kindled against Uzzah. God struck him down there for his irreverence, so that he died there beside the ark of God.
Parasha Sh’mini
David was zealous for God but was wrong in how he was hauling the Ark, Uzzah was zealous for God but was wrong in trying to reach up to steady the Ark by hand. The Ark would have never needed to be steadied had it been hauled properly to begin with.
And what is David’s reaction?
David was upset because of Adonai’s outburst against Uzzah. That place is called Perez-uzzah to this day.
So David was frightened of Adonai that day. Then he said, “How can the ark of Adonai come to me?”
Parasha Sh’mini
Principle: We can’t blame G-d for the consequences experienced when we are walking outside His will.
Parasha Sh’mini
“The heart is deceitful above all things, and incurable—who can know it?
I Adonai search the heart, I try the mind, to give every man according to his ways, according to the fruit of his deeds.
Parasha Sh’mini
Psalm 30 begins by saying:
Mizmor shir chanukat habayit l’David
A psalm, a song for the dedication of the Temple, of David.
Parasha Sh’mini
But, it more directly translates to “the dedication of the House of David” and there’s a lot of debate over roughly when David would have written this Psalm. Was it at the time of the completion of his palace? Was it written in advance as a blessing over Solomon’s Temple when it would be built? I personally think a plausible timeframe of Psalm 30 is likely after David brings the Aron HaBrit to Jerusalem finally and establishes the Tabernacle there, in which he saw the death of his friend Uzzah because of David’s own mistake…
And we read:
Sing praise to Adonai, His faithful ones, and praise His holy name.
For His anger lasts for only a moment, His favor is for a lifetime. Weeping may stay for the night, but joy comes in the morning.
Parasha Sh’mini
And
You turned my mourning into dancing. You removed my sackcloth and clothed me with joy.
So my glory will sing to You and not be silent. Adonai my God, I will praise You forever.
Parasha Sh’mini
There is a way that seems right to a man, but its end is the way to death.
Parasha Sh’mini
The plans of the heart belong to man, but the tongue’s answer is from Adonai.
All a man’s ways are pure in his own eyes, but Adonai weighs the motives.
Commit whatever you do to Adonai, and your plans will succeed.
Another way to word this is the old Yiddish proverb:
Mann Tracht, Un Gott Lacht
“Man plans, God Laughs”
Parasha Sh’mini
Principle: We can’t blame G-d for the consequences experienced when we are walking outside His will.
Parasha Sh’mini
It is for discipline that you endure. God is treating you as sons—for what son does a father not discipline?
But if you are without discipline—something all have come to share—then you are illegitimate and not sons.
Besides, we are used to having human fathers as instructors—and we respected them. Shall we not much more be subject to the Father of spirits and live?
Indeed, for a short time they disciplined us as seemed best to them; but He does so for our benefit, so that we may share in His holiness.
Now all discipline seems painful at the moment—not joyful. But later it yields the peaceful fruit of righteousness to those who have been trained by it.
Parasha Sh’mini
Therefore, since we have such a great cloud of witnesses surrounding us, let us also get rid of every weight and entangling sin. Let us run with endurance the race set before us,
focusing on Yeshua, the initiator and perfecter of faith. For the joy set before Him, He endured the cross, disregarding its shame; and He has taken His seat at the right hand of the throne of God.
Parasha Sh’mini
Principle: We can’t blame G-d for the consequences experienced when we are walking outside His will.
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(Call Worship Team Back and UNMUTE)
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