12th Month: Adar I 5784 (Feb-March 2024)
Parashah Project (Exodus 21:1-38:20); Hebrew Treasure (Hey from Psalm 119:33-40)
This is the fifth monthly newsletter organized around the Biblical calendar and lunar months. This is the 12th month and is called Adar I (אַדָר א). Adar has a “1” in it because this is a leap year and next month will be Adar II. These leap months occur 7 times in a 19 year cycle. Thus, every 3rd, 6th, 8th, 11th, 14th, 17th, & 19th years is a leap year that contains an extra month. This month includes the next five portions in the book of Exodus (#6-10).
Each portion has a brief summary followed by links that take you to devotional commentary designed to help you dive deeper into God’s heart by exploring Torah as the gateway into transformational Bible reading.
2/10/24 – MISHPATIM (מִּשְׁפָּטִים) “Judgments”
The previous portion included the Creator of All wooing newly freed slaves into a national covenant at the foot of Mt. Sinai. It was like a “proposal” into a type of marriage covenant. The key promise God made to these physical descendants of Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob was that “if you obey Me fully and keep My covenant, then out of all nations you will be My treasured possession. Although the whole earth is Mine, you will be for Me a Kingdom of Priests and a Holy Nation” (Exodus 19:5-6).
Chapter 20 then describes the dramatic giving of the Ten Commandments (the other description is in Deuteronomy 5) followed by what is traditionally called the “Book of the Covenant” (Sefer ha-B’reet, סֵפֶר הַבְּרִית). This “Book” extends from Exodus 20:22 through the end of chapter 23 and contains “Judgments” (Mishpatim, sometimes also translated as “laws,” “rules,” “regulations,” or “ordinances”). This Book of the Covenant is likely what was described to have been read aloud in Exodus 24:7 before the Israelites climactically declared, “we will do and we will obey” (na’eseh v’nishma, נַעֲשֶׂה וְנִשְׁמָֽע).
This declaration was like the “I do” acceptance into a marriage covenant.
In a sense, the “Book of the Covenant” records the “terms” of this covenant relationship God was establishing with the children of Israel. And while it is tempting to view these mishpatim as a bunch of legalistic rules, instead consider them standards of justice. In fact, the Hebrew word for justice is mishpat (מִשְׁפָט) that comes from the same root as mishpatim. Furthermore, God’s mishpatim establishes His created order of holiness that is actually designed to promote intimacy between Creator — Created — and All Creation that will finally be realized on earth, as it is in Heaven, in the age to come when Messiah returns.
The portion ends with a foretaste of this intimacy with a 40-day meeting between Moses and God under the canopy of a cloud-covered mountaintop! Read Exodus 24:17, and consider how in Exodus 3, God gave Moses a vision of a burning bush that did not consume. Now Moses is entering what looked to the Israelites like a “consuming fire” on top of Mt. Sinai! Instead of Moses being destroyed, however, he encountered and communed with God! Relational depth for Kingdom breadth!
Click here for commentary and daily reading guide for MISHPATIM.
Torah: Exodus 21:1-24:18
Prophets: Jeremiah 34:8-22; 33:25-26
Apostles: Matthew 17:1-13
2/17/24 – T'RUMAH (תְּרוּמָה) “Offering”
In sweet communion with God on top of the non-consuming burning mountain, God instructs Moses to receive an “Offering” from the children of Israel in the form of precious metals and other materials. These metals and materials were to be used to build the Tabernacle, its furniture, and the priestly garments. The key verse is Exodus 25:8 that explicitly states God’s desire and intention. “Then have them make a sanctuary for me, and I will dwell among them.”
Do you see the heart of God in this? He wants to dwell among us. What was particularized with one man on a mountaintop was leading to a universalized restored access to God on Earth as it is in Heaven! The important thing to remember is that God takes the initiative by giving us good instructions. His written Torah are words of life. His Living Torah was revealed two millennia ago and Jews and Christians alike are awaiting the age-ending climax of Messiah’s appearance here on Earth. God is pursuing Relational depth with you…to establish His Kingdom breadth—and fulfill the hope of the prophets—to restore ALL things!
Click here for commentary and daily reading guide for T’RUMAH.
Torah: Exodus 25:1-27:19
Prophets: 1 Kings 5:12 [26 Tanah]-6:13
Apostles: 2 Corinthians 9:1-15
2/24/24 – T'TSAVEH (תְּצַוֶּה) “You Shall Command”
God continues giving instructions to Moses on Mt. Sinai for establishing a heavenly ecosystem of restored access to God on Earth. This portion pivots from most of the Tabernacle infrastructure in the previous portion to the wardrobe and consecration of the priests in this portion. This portion begins with God telling Moses, “You Shall Command” the Israelites to bring oil.
Oil.
Oil fuels flame.
Flames bring light. Illumination.
God gives instructions for a priesthood that He wants to use to bring illumination.
Following the Messiah positions and postures us to shine brightly—by loving God and others with our whole hearts—in an increasingly darkening world.
Click here for commentary and daily reading guide for T’TSAVEH.
Torah: Exodus 27:20-30:10
Prophets: Ezekiel 43:10-27
Apostles: Hebrews 13:10-16
3/2/24 – KI TISA (כִּי תִשָּׂא) “When You Elevate”
This portion opens with God’s command to count the number of people in Israel who are at least 20 years and collect a half shekel (about 1/5 ounce) as an offering to the LORD. While the common translation in Exodus 30:12 is “Take a census,” the literal meaning of the Hebrew is “When you elevate” referring specifically to “elevating the heads of the Israelites…20 years or older.” This instruction will be repeated multiple times in the Book of Numbers with repeated calls for “lifting the heads” or “elevating the heads” of Israelites of various ages for various purposes.
What do you think it means when God commands a census, or counting of the people, as a lifting, or elevating of heads?
This portion goes on to record the Golden Calf debacle and God’s gracious second giving of the tablets of stone containing the ten commandments. The final verse describes Moses habit of “unveiling” his face whenever he went in to speak with the LORD. What a great example for us!
Click here for commentary and daily reading guide for KI TISA.
Torah: Exodus 30:11-34:35
Prophets: 1 Kings 18:1-39
Apostles: 2 Corinthians 3:1-18
3/9/24 – VAYAKHEL (וַיַּקְהֵל) “And He Assembled”
This portion begins with another Sabbath command that Moses gives when “he assembled” the people to hear yet again about God’s invitation to enter into a weekly rhythm of rest. This weekly rest points to an eternal rest that can only be found in relationship with God.
The remaining chapters in this portion begin to describe the faithful construction of the Tabernacle which would function like a mobile Mt. Sinai so God could “come down” from the top of the mountain and safely dwell among the people. The safety of living in the Presence of God, however, requires faithful obedience. While our obedience is marked by imperfection, the obedience of Messiah was perfect and has made a way for us to enter into God’s rest!
Click here for commentary and daily reading guide for VAYAKHEL.
Torah: Exodus 35:1-38:20
Prophets: 1 Kings 7:13-26, 40-50
Apostles: Hebrews 9:1-10
This is the fifth installment of Hebrew Treasure from Psalm 119, the longest chapter in the Bible. Each month I mine nuggets of gold from the original Hebrew and my goal is to make the riches of God’s Word more accessible to you—even if you don’t know any Hebrew!
33. Teach me, O Lord, the way of your statutes;
and I will keep it to the end.
34. Give me understanding, that I may keep your law
and observe it with my whole heart.
35. Lead me in the path of your commandments,
for I delight in it.
36. Incline my heart to your testimonies,
and not to selfish gain!
37. Turn my eyes from looking at worthless things;
and give me life in your ways.
38. Confirm to your servant your promise,
that you may be feared.
39. Turn away the reproach that I dread,
for your rules are good.
40. Behold, I long for your precepts;
in your righteousness give me life!
HUNGRY FOR SURRENDER
How hungry are you for God? Appetites drive actions. This stanza opens with a hungry cry by the Psalmist to learn from Almighty God Himself. He is hungry to engage the Father's heart and to learn from Him. His heart is in a holy posture of openness. He cries out, Horeini (הוֹרֵנִי) — meaning teach me! — a heavenly hungry and open-hearted plea to learn. This word also begins with the Hebrew letter hey (ה). This same word is found in my favorite go-to prayer in Psalm 86:11, "Teach me Your way, Oh Lord, and I will walk in Your truth; Give me an undivided heart to fear Your Name." It is a desperate plea — hungry and open to God — asking not only for information to fill the head but power to unite the heart in whole-hearted surrender and obedience.
One of the earliest uses of this root word in Scripture is in Exodus 4:12 when God commissions Moses to lead the Israelites out of slavery. He promises, "I will teach you what to say." Jesus promises His followers the same intimate and relationally driven leadership in John 16:12-15. He promises to "guide/lead/teach you" by the voice of His Holy Spirit. As you work on cultivating a holy appetite of hunger for God and openness to follow His lead, be encouraged — God is the best teacher. His instruction is the only food that will ultimately feed and satisfy you!
Hebrew Treasure excerpt written by Thomas Boehm.
From The Psalm 119 Journey by Steve Allen, ©2022.
Used with permission.
Shabbat Shalom!
Thomas