The Oil for the Lamps: Holy Spirit or Works

This week's Torah portion, Tetsaveh תְּצַוֶּה (You Shall Command), based on Exodus 27:20-30:10, is about the prescribed rules for the priests who work on the tabernacle's inner court or holy place. The proper garments and procedures they must abide by to work in the most intimate allowable setting permitted in Adonai's dwelling place on earth. For those in the know, you may protest and bring up the High Priest's role that must be accomplished when entering the holy of holies, but that is a once a year ritual that had to be done to atone and cover all the nations sin at once. As far as daily work, the holy place was the ultimate place of worship amosgt the Israelites. It was the most intimate place anyone can work and serve the Living God.

You may think then that these chapters have nothing to do with me. I'm not a priest and the tabernacle and temple are gone. But I assure you, that this is not a true assumption. First off, we are the equivalent versions of the priests today and what was done in the past was a foreshadow of what has been accomplished on the cross so that we can do that work today (see 1 Peter 2:9 & Revelation 1:6 & 5:10). The only thing we can ignore are the duties of the High Priest. Christ has fulfilled and accomplished the role of the High Priest once and for all, and scriptures identify Him, even as of today, as our High Priest (see Hebrews 4:14-16). Because of that, we, even the lowest of God's people, have access to the holiest place and most intimate form of worship. A privilidge that was given to only a few men in all of history:

"Therefore, brothers and sisters, since we have confidence to enter the Most Holy Place by the blood of Jesus, by a new and living way opened for us through the curtain, that is, his body, and since we have a great priest over the house of God, let us draw near to God with a sincere heart and with the full assurance that faith brings, having our hearts sprinkled to cleanse us from a guilty conscience and having our bodies washed with pure water." Hebrews 10:19-22

Everything commanded to the Priests in these chapters are equivalent to some revelation and work we, as modern priests, must do to serve God in the most intimate place and way. Sure, we can be blissfully unaware of these duties and still be God's holy and chosen people, but we will never fully experience the life Christ called us to have until we understand and submit to these practices. Neglecting these rules and the intimacy they provide us isn't something that will affect God and His eternal glory, but we would rob ourselves of the life in abundance Jesus wants for us to experience. The life He gave His body for as a living sacrifice. A life of victory and abundance.

The tasks given to the priests may seem like mundaine things that make no difference in people's lifes back then. Keeping a candlestick on and replacing "show" bread may sound like duties that are meant to keep you busy and have no impact in life. However, the lessons in these chapters are so rich and profound that I will focus on a single one it this week's blog, hopefully giving you a taste of what you can glean from the remaning chapters. That law is the following:

"Command the Israelites to bring you clear oil of pressed olives for the light so that the lamps may be kept burning." Exodus 27:20

When making olive oil, only the first press is considered "pure" oil and the quality worthy for use in the temple.

As believers, we are told to bring the clear oil of pressed olives to maintain the light of the lampls burning. As Christitans we are often told that the oil in the temple is a symbol of the Holy Spirit. So it doesn't make sense that we are the ones who are told to bring the oil. If it were indeed the Holy Spirit, then the only duty we would have is to receive it. This and other verses in scripture made me think that the symbol of the oil is not the receiving of the Spirit, but the work required to keep us pure and holy. The other example I often share is the parable of the virgins. The 5 prudent virgins brought with them extra oil and the 5 foolish virgins didn't. If the oil was simply the presense of the Spirit, then the 5 prudent virgins could have given them some of their own oil. We see in scripture examples of the lead prophets passing on their anointing to their successors (see examples of this in 2 Kings 2 where Elijah not only passed his anoiting to Elisha, but ask the Lord for a double portion of the anointing). The oil here is works of righteousness. That cannot be passed on and each person must attain that precious oil on their own.

We see the natural process of obtaining that oil from the olives. The olives' skin have to be "hurt" damaged and torn, and then the oil is extracted by pressing the olives over and over again until the olive has nothing left to give. That is also the process we, as believers, must go through to provide oil for the lamps. We bare fruit and oil thought works of rightesouness. By doing what God has commanded us to do even if that means we will be hurt in the process. Even if that means we have to go through situations of extreme pressure and moments of being uncomfortable as we live out God's commands for our lives. You see, being a Christian in church is not very difficult. We are in an environment where we are celebrated when we do God's commands. The true test comes from when we are in the worldly environment that favors those who lie and cheat to get ahead. That is when we will be pressed and "hurt" by doing the opposite. These environements often punish us for doing the right thing, but that is where we can produce the "pure and clear oil" to keep our lamps burning. To keep ourselves and those around us inspired and encouraged to keep going. To keep serving the Living God in an intimate and proper way.

This week, take the time to read throught these chapters with that mentality. Don't read it thinking, "these don't apply to me", but instead read it with this thought in mind, "what is God trying to teach me through these tasks and how do they apply to my life today." I guarantee you that you will come out of it blessed and will walk closer to our God who is worthy of our praise.

"For everything that was written in the past was written to teach us, so that through the endurance taught in the Scriptures and the encouragement they provide we might have hope." Romans 15:4

Have a blessed week my beloved family and friends. Shalom Ve'Shavuah Tov!