Audio & Notes for Parashat Shemini
Parashat Shemini - VaYikrah (Leviticus) 9:1-11:47 - Haftarah Reading: II Samuel 6:1-7:17
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I. Introduction
A. The counting of the omer and 'Cheshbon Nefesh'
- Barley and wheat
- Though the Bible records many instances of Yeshua instantly healing people's illnesses, we know of not even one instance in which he simply waved his hand to immediately fix an ugly habit for one of his disciples.
- Transformation not only information
B. Parashah Abbreviated Outline
- On the eighth day following "seven days of inauguration," Aaron and his sons begin to officiate as Kohanim (priests); a fire issues forth from G-d to consume the offerings on the Altar and the Divine Presence comes to dwell in the Sanctuary.
- Aaron's two elder sons, Nadav and Avihu, offer a "strange fire before G-d, which He commanded them not" and die before G-d. Aaron is silent in face of his tragedy. Moses and Aaron subsequently disagree as to a point of law regarding the offerings, but Moses concedes to Aaron that Aaron is in the right.
- G-d commands the kosher laws, identifying the animal species permissible and forbidden for consumption. Land animals may be eaten only if they have split hooves and also chew their cud; fish must have fins and scales; a list of non-kosher birds is given, and a list of kosher insects (four types of locusts).
- Also in Shemini are some of the laws of ritual purity, including the purifying power of the mikvah (a pool of water meeting specified qualifications) and the wellspring. Thus the people of Israel are enjoined to "differentiate between the impure and the pure."
C. Review
- Since the Torah is the word of G-d, who is infinite, it is itself infinite. Infinite in time, because it is eternally binding. Infinite in meaning, because every verse has innumerable layers of interpretation and significance. At the literal level (peshat) it contains laws and narratives; at the level of allusion (remez) it points obliquely to the deeper principles of Judaism; homiletically (drush) it outlines the religious ethic of the Jew; and esoterically (sod) it contains the clues to the mysteries of the experience of G-d
- 2. When G-d told Moses to erect a Sanctuary, He said: "And they shall make Me a Sanctuary, and I will dwell in them," meaning, in the soul of every Jew/believer. Thus, even though the physical Temple is destroyed, the inward Temple, which each Jew/believer makes within himself, survives, indestructible. And the service, which he conducts in the reaches of his soul, mirrors in every respect the service of the Temple and Sanctuary. So their laws, which appeared at first sight to have no contemporary application, are in fact precise instructions for the inner life of the Jew/believer.
- The restoration of the 'dry bones ' - Ezekiel 37
- Drawing near as a "living Korban (sacrifice)."
a. The word Korban literally means, "drawing near not sacrifice.
b. Literally Vayikrah can be read as "When you draw near to God with a sacrifice bring your self as a sacrifice and in addition bring an animal or?
D. Playing with fire - Know before Who you stand! (Da Lifne Mi Atah Omed) - The sin of Nadav & Avihu - VaYikrah 10; 1-9
III Playing with fire- Know before Who you stand!
A. The problem - Approaching HaShem with proper Kavanah. - VaYikrah 10:1- 9
- The same fire but different results - cp VaYikrah 9:24
- Kavanah - Where did their fire come from? Perceiving the presence of God and acting accordingly. Being profoundly aware of the One to whom you are speaking as you direct your heart towards heaven
- Doing the right thing in a wrong way -cp I Chronicles 13:7-11 - The sins of an unprepared heart and arrogance/ presumption cp Nu 4:1; Acts 5:1-11
- God had not commanded their offering - cp Ex 30:1-10
- Intoxicated in the presence of the Lord- VaYikrah 10: 9; 8:14-25
E. The remedy - Know before who you stand!! - VaYikrah 10:10
- Distinguishing between the holy and the common and the clean and the unclean
- Clean hands and a clean heart - Psalm 24
IV. Conclusion
A. Cheshbon Nefesh - Barley and wheat
B. Know before who you stand! Da Lifney Mi Atah Omed!
C. Yeshua is the one who can completely cleanse our hands and our hearts