3 22 26 - Bookends

This morning we will continue our journey through the "speed bump" of the Tanakh (the Old Testament)—Leviticus (Vayikra). This week's Torah portion, Tzav ("command") (Lev. 6–10), is our second week of learning about the korbanot system used to give us access into the presence of the Most High God! We read about the laws known as the korban Tamid, or the daily offering (Lev. 6:9–13). Our portion begins by telling us, "This is the law of the burnt offering" (korban olah) (Lev. 6:9). The burnt offerings in this passage, unlike Leviticus chapter 1, are not voluntary. The lamb is brought voluntarily, but the role of the priest is under tzav—"command" (Ex. 19:6). The offering of this lamb is to be continual (Rom. 8:36):

As it is written, For thy sake we are killed all the day long; we are accounted as sheep for the slaughter.
(Rom. 8:36)

The Tamid, or daily offerings, are required to be brought at the beginning and end of every single day: one lamb offered in the morning, and the other lamb you shall offer in the evening (Ex. 29:39). These two offerings served as "bookends" to the daily services of the Holy House. They also serve as the basis for the daily prayer times. The prayers—known as Shacharit (morning prayer) and Mincha (evening prayer)—correspond to these two daily offerings (Ex. 30:7–8; Ps. 55:17; 1 Thess. 5:17). When discussing this particular korban (offering), the Torah specifies that the fire that burns on the altar shall never be allowed to be extinguished (Lev. 6:9, 12, 13). Wow! It is emphasized three times within four verses—it must be really important in the Lord's eyes!

For the inquiring mind, we can take three applications from this command to keep the fire blazing upon the altar 24/7.

The first is a literal understanding: when there was/is a functioning Temple, the fire on the altar must never go out. It must be tended to and stoked so the flame of the altar will never be extinguished.

The second and third are essential for us today while the physical Temple is not functioning. The altar should be kept alive through our prayers every morning and evening (daily I am praying for you). Included in this prayer time should be the commitment to live our lives as a daily sacrifice—a korban olah (burnt or ascension offering)—where we commit our lives to Him for His glory (1 Cor. 3:16; 6:19–20; Ps. 1:2).

Finally, for this morning, let me encourage you to always strive to keep the flame of Torah and mitzvah alive within our hearts and encourage others to do the same, because the day is drawing near, so we MUST consider how to stir up one another to love and good works. How? By not forsaking the assembling of ourselves together, as some do, but being conscious of it even more as the Day of His return approaches (Heb. 10:23–25).

When the disciples of Yeshua encountered Him on the road to Emmaus after His resurrection, their hearts burned within them as He taught them the Torah. They said to one another, "Didn't our hearts burn within us while he talked with us on the road, when he opened up the Scriptures to us?" (Luke 24:32). Our hearts should also burn within us when the words of our Rabbi, Yeshua, stoke the flame within us for the Torah. Be careful not to allow the winter chill to affect the flame within (Matt. 24:12). However, with a reality check, we cannot expect that flame to last indefinitely without attendance; so we must work diligently to fan the flame within the altar of our temple (2 Tim. 1:6).

Which brings us to a couple of practical questions: What will you do today to keep the fire continually burning on the altar of your heart? What will you do to help your brother attend to the fire on the altar of his heart?

Have a wonderful first day of the week!

Happy Passover season (1 Cor. 5:8)!

Shalom!
Alan

Shabbat morning's Zoom call: "Yeshua Our Passover, Who Takes Away the Sin of the World: Magnifying the Work He Did on the Cross" 
https://us02web.zoom.us/rec/share/K12o3kTAAsh3GQiVb_nGvEu8vS4ZZmUCvwzl2PAXB72ovUtuMTIbza21bDKLW-6c.WFIf-T0ngw6hso8r

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