Parashat Shemini – Leviticus 9-11
Shemini means 8 (Eight)
In book of Exodus or Shemot,
we are explained how to build the Tabernacle. In the book of Leviticus, or
Vayikra, we and our priests are instructed how to perform the different
sacrifices to the LORD. We are now in the third parashat of Vayikra, called
Shemini.
There are many subjects to
study here; however, I would like to speak about an insight the LORD gives us
from the Hebrew. After Moses had seen how
Aaron’s sons Nadab and Abiu had died before the LORD; he was being extra careful
and was still giving specific instructions on the offering procedures to Aaron
and his other 2 sons, Eleazar and Ithamar. On chapter 10, verse 16 we read that
Moses inquired about the male goat of the sin offering, which had already been
burned. Aaron explained that in his
grieving condition, he did not think his eating of the offering would have been
acceptable to the LORD; this answer appeased Moses.
It is said in the Talmud by
our early sages, the soferim, the scribes, meaning those who count, that right
here in Leviticus 10:16 is the very middle of the word count of the Torah and
the two words that are right at the center are: DAROSH, DARASH.
In this verse in Hebrew,
the verb DERASH is repeated to indicate that he, Moses searched diligently and carefully. DAROSH DARASH Moshe.
This makes us think that
this is important to God in reference to searching His Word. Studying the Torah requires to search the
Torah; to search the Scriptures. We can interpret these words as STUDY, STUDY!
We must inquire of the Word of God constantly. It is the Word of the Creator of
the Universe; it is our instruction manual.
Proverbs 8 and 9 urge us to
learn wisdom from the Word of God. “Receive my instruction instead of silver and
knowledge rather than choice gold”.
Psalm 12 says, the Words of
ADONAI are pure, as silver purified in a furnace of the earth purified seven
times.
Jeremiah says we are to
understand and know Him, for He is ADONAI who exercises lovingkindness, justice
and righteousness. In this, He delights.
Yeshua said: 7 “Ask, and it
will be given to you; seek, and you will find; knock, and it will be opened to
you. Search, search, inquire, seek, knock.
We are encouraged by the
words: “If any of you lacks wisdom, let him ask God, who gives generously to
all without reproach, and it will be given him”.
We are further encouraged,
to dig into the Word by knowing that: “All Scripture is breathed out by God and
profitable for teaching, for reproof, for correction, and for training in
righteousness, that the man of God may be complete, equipped for every good
work.
We are exhorted to study to
show ourselves approved unto God. To be diligent on giving Him our very best.
We know that the heart of our
Good Father through the Scriptures is to reveal His plan of redemption and
salvation to us, Yeshua. Yeshua said to the religious men of His time: You
search the Scriptures because you think that in them you have eternal life; and
it is they that bear witness about me, yet you refuse to come to me that you
may have life. In Yeshua are hidden all the treasures of wisdom and knowledge
of God. All the fullness of God is in our precious Redeemer.
In Luke 24, we read that on
the way to Emmaus, two disciples, Cleopas and his companion, are sad, thinking
about Yeshua’s death. Suddenly the resurrected Yeshua joins them and they don’t
recognize Him. As he inquiries about their conversation, they explain… Yeshua
of Nazaret, a prophet, powerful in deed and word before God and all the people.
How He was put to death. We were hoping that He was the One to redeem Israel.
Some of our women say they went to His tomb and saw a vision of angels but He
is not there! To this thought, Yeshua answered: “Oh foolish ones, so slow of
heart to put your trust in all that the prophets spoke! Was it not necessary
for Messiah to suffer these things and to enter into His glory?” Then
beginning with Moses and all the Prophets, He explained to them the things
written about Himself in all the Scriptures. As they urged Him to stay with
them since it was late, “it happened that when He was reclining at the table
with them, He took the matzah, offered a bracha and, breaking it, gave it to
them. Then their eyes were opened, and they recognized Him, and He disappeared
from them. They then recognized their hearts burnt as He spoke to them. The
things told by Yeshua here, are not specified, they are left for us to search
and find more revelation about Him. We pray, Ruach HaKodesh, continue to reveal
Yeshua to us.
All the scripture is God
breathed! It’s all about Yeshua. John 1 says He is the Word. Yeshua is the
essence, the substance of the Torah.
As we count the Omer and
ponder about the AWESOME WORD OF GOD as we read Psalm 119 – our love for Torah
– God’s instruction. As we practice
DAROSH DARASH, as we read intently, as we search, as we dig into the Word, as
we “study study”; Yeshua will be more and more revealed to us.
We are invited by God
Himself to know Him intimately, yadah, by reading His Word.
In John 17 Yeshua says, and
this is eternal life, that they may know You, the only true God, and Yeshua the
Messiah, the One You sent.
Thank you, Abba, for giving
us Your Truth, Your Word. Thank you for giving us Yeshua. Ahmen.
https://torahportions.ffoz.org/torah-portions/allportions/shemini/
http://www.askmoses.com/en/article/698,2210154/How-many-words-and-letters-are-in-the-Torah.html
https://www.chabad.org/library/article_cdo/aid/1883118/jewish/What-Is-the-Midpoint-of-the-Torah.htm
https://www.jewishvirtuallibrary.org/soferim
