Torah Portion Shemini/Eighth-- Set Apart People For Yahweh

Leviticus 9:1-11:47; 1 Samuel 20:18-42; 2 Corinthians 1-35; Mark 9:1-13

We are walking in today:  Torah Portion Shemini/Eighth-- Set Apart People For Yahweh
Leviticus 9:1-11:47; 1 Samuel 20:18-42; 2 Corinthians 1-35

Witness set apart throughout the Bible: separated for specific use, to cross over, to pass over, to march over
Exodus 13:12, 19:6, 20:8, 31:13-14; Deuteronomy 5:12, 7:6, 14:2, Ezekiel 36:23; Psalm 4:4; John 17:16-18; Acts 20:32; Romans 6:19


Fiveamprayer, we are looking to find the importance of being set apart as the people of Israel find in the wilderness.  In this section of scripture the fire fell, from the presence of Adonai to accept the sacrifice offering.  This was done after the leader, Aaron carried out what he was directed to do by Yahweh.  The importance of leadership is that when things are in order allows the people are also found to also walk in an acceptable manner.   What is this strange fire?  This is the fire that did not come from the acceptance of Yahweh of the offerings, fire from heaven.  Fire that was brought in from another source.  This is a visual of finding our own way and not being obedient to His direction.  This reliance in ourselves shows our lack of trust of Yahweh our God.  This is seen later with King David returning the ark of the covenant, caused death of Uzzah who thought that he could help the ark of the covenant from falling form the cart that was lead by oxen from falling.  These incidents seems like it should not result in death at first glance, but with more understanding of what was set forth, instructed and directed would allow better understanding of where the trespass or mistake was made.  Yahweh, teaches us first and when we uphold His teachings we do not come to be out of order--that could lose our lives.  The fire was not to come from anywhere or anyone else.  When this was tested two perished.  The returning of the ark by King David, was not adhered to the correct process in handling the ark.  Recall in the directions in Numbers  chapters 3 and 4 the correct handling of the items in the tabernacle.  Not just anyone was to handle the things in the tabernacle and the ark itself had poles that were to be used when carrying it.  Recall that with Uzzah set forth his hand to steady the ark on the cart.  The cart was not directed by Yahweh in His directions to the Levites, but was the manner that the ark was carried away by their enemies.  Fiveamprayer we have to be very careful not to follow and do the things we see others doing.  That in which we are to follow are His directions and instructions!  Whether or not it seems like a good idea shows that we are not fully decided that He truly knows best.  He created all and we were crafted by His hands, certainly there is not higher authority to consider and yet we often do.  This portion is warning us not to be led astray to other practices that He never intended for us to.  Well meaning in ignorance or prideful in infallibility, the result is the same.  Those things that are not to be done, are just that--not to be done and both cases they lost their lives for their actions.  This gives even  more import to going back to the beginning to find the Hebraic meaning and intention of scripture.  This is what we have lost over the years and have come to only read and understand scripture from a Greek/Western mindset that is firmly set in the the centuries of a different understanding that is based on man's intellect and not in what Yahweh directed from beginning! To hear more of this teaching click here.