Sh’mini (Eighth)
I just returned from a 3-day trip to Nashville, TN. I arrived there on the same day as the shooting at Covenant School where seven people were killed. I went there to give some “Faith and Disability” talks and have meetings at two universities. With the shooting, however, I was also confronted with the ravaging effects of brokenness and sin endemic to this age. The shooting occurred right up the street from where I was staying. The talks and meetings went well but the added layers of pain and grief were palpable.
What a contrast. The holiness and beauty of God and the warped wickedness of man.
The book of Leviticus offers prescriptions for holiness amidst the hardships of life. The readings for this week are in the middle of instructions to steward the holy Presence of God Who had just come down from the top of Mt. Sinai to dwell in the earthly Tabernacle amidst the recently freed children of Israel. Stewarding God’s holy Presence, however, requires functioning priests. Priests were to play a mediating role between people and God.
Parashah Sh’mini begins just after the ordination of the priests in chapter 8. Chapter 9 describes them beginning their ministry at the altar. Let’s take a look at the implications of the Levitical priests beginning their ministry. And it should come as no surprise to you that I will describe God’s outworking plan in terms of Relational depth for Kingdom breadth (RD4KB)! Relational depth, however, first requires relational access.
Exodus 40:35 describes the lack of relational access to God’s Presence in the Tent of Meeting before the priests begin their service.
Moses could not enter the Tent of Meeting because the cloud had settled on it, and the glory of the LORD filled the Tabernacle.
After the 7-day ordination of the priests, however, look what happens to this relational access in Leviticus 9:23.
Moses and Aaron went into the Tent of Meeting.
What a difference the 7-day priestly ordination makes. Leviticus 8:33 described the cycle of time designed to create this new set-apart people to serve this newly set-apart nation.
Do not leave the entrance to the tent of meeting for seven days, until the days of your ordination are completed, for your ordination will last seven days.
This 7-day cycle sounds familiar, doesn’t it? Originally, God created the world and everything in it in six days and then God rested and blessed the 7th day and declared it holy — the Holy Day of Shabbat (Sabbath). The next day, the 8th day of the week, is also therefore the 1st day of a new week, and is thus a day of renewal or re-creation.
Mediating priests begin their ministry on the eighth (sh’mini) day of the week which is also the 1st day of a new week. Eighth in Hebrew is sh’mini and is the name of this week’s parashah.
Resurrection power was poured out on the 1st day of the week which was also the 8th day of the week.
As you go about your week, remember that Yeshua, as the Son of God, also functions as our Great High Priest who mediates a relationship with our Heavenly Father. Additionally, however, God calls us into a new “priesthood of believers” who, through the power of the Holy Spirit, can make the love of God known to a broken world.
As you “remember” and “guard” the Sabbath by living a 6 (work) +1 (rest) +1 (renewal) rhythm, pursue abiding intimacy with Yeshua, who is the Lord of the Sabbath. He has good plans for you this week. Work in the strength that only God can give you and out of the soul-rest that can only come from Him.
Speaking of rhythms, I got a little out of my rhythm and sent this email out a day late. Sorry about that. Also, this week is unique in that it contains both the biblical rhythm of Passover and the Church rhythm of Holy Week. In all your traditions, strive to enter the rest of God, Who never slumbers or sleeps but watches over Israel, is purifying His Church, and preparing His people for the restoration of all things when things like school shootings will never happen again.
Readings for the Week:
Torah: LEVITICUS 9:1–11:47
Prophets: 2 SAMUEL 6:1–7:17
Apostolic Writings: HEBREWS 7:1–19
Click HERE for the online Parashah commentary.
Shalom,
Thomas