CHIEF OF THE TABERNACLE THE 23 RD DEGREE OF THE SCOTTISH RITE

Transcription

1 CHIEF OF THE TABERNACLE THE 23 RD DEGREE OF THE SCOTTISH RITE

2 THE NATURE OF GOD A revisit of the Kabbalah is useful to appreciate this degree. The Kabbalists wanted to understand the nature or personality of their God.

3 THE NATURE OF GOD The kabbalists pondered the nature and history of God. To them, the actions and thoughts of man changed the nature of God from angry to loving.

4 IN THE BEGINNING... The God of the Hebrews was vengeful, merciless, jealous, and punishing. This is substantiated by a review of the Biblical timeline.

5 BIBLICAL HISTORY It is necessary to place this degree in historical perspective to fully appreciate it. Let s review the Biblical timeline.

6 TIMELINE Creation: 4004 B.C. Garden of Eden: 4003B.C. * Noah s Flood: 2948 B.C. * Sodom and Gomorrah: 1897 B.C. * Abraham: 1800 B.C. *

7 TIMELINE Slavery in Egypt: 1590 B.C. The Exodus: 1430 B.C. * The Golden Calf: 1429 B.C. * Korah, Dathan and Abiram: 1428 B.C. * Over 14,000 others with the plague

8 NOW TO HE DEGREE Aaron, his sons were selected as the priests. They were to be assisted by lesser priests from the among the tribe of Levi (chosen by God) Only Levites could be priests.

9 THE DEGREE Set in the wilderness in the Tabernacle. The Furniture: Basin of Bronze Table of Presence or Shewbread (12 loaves representing the12 tribes) Candelabrum Altar of Incense

10 THE DEGREE And The Ark of the Covenant

11 THE TABERNACLE

12 THE TABERNACLE

13 OF INTEREST God personally appointed Bezaleel and Aholiab: They were given favor by God to carry out this responsibility in His behalf for Israel. He gave them wisdom and skills far above their natural abilities. Bezaleel constructed the Ark and the Tabernacle and Aholiab worked with the fabrics and the High Priest dress.

14 BESIDES THE TABERNACLE The Court represents an encampment of the Twelve Tribes, in the desert, near Sinai. The standards of the Tribes are planted round the room near the walls. In the east: Judah, Issachar, Zebulon; In the south: Simeon, Reuben, Gad;

15 BESIDES THE TABERNACLE In the west: Manasseh,Ephraim, Benjamin; In the north: Asher, Dan, Naphthali

16 THE HIGH PRIEST

17 HIERARCHY 3 FOLD The High Priest - hereditary Priests - hereditary Levites

18 THE LEVITES The Torah describes the Levites as a landless Israelite tribe who inherited their position by responding to the call of their most illustrious member, Moses, to take vengeance against sinning Israelites.

19 DEUT 10:8 At that time YHWH set apart the tribe of Levi to carry the Ark of YHWH s Covenant, to stand in attendance upon YHWH, and to bless in His name, as is still the case. 10:9 That is why the Levites have received no hereditary portion along with their kinsmen: YHWH is their portion, as YHWH your God spoke concerning them.

20 WHAT WAS THE PURPOSE OF THE LEVITES????

21 WHAT WAS THE PURPOSE OF THE OTHER PRIESTS? 1. To assist the HighPriest 2. To prepare the animals and cereals and bake fresh shewbread. 3. Upkeep of the Tabernacle 4. To punish the people. 5. To educate.

22 THE CANDIDATE The Candidate represents Elias, the son of Lael, Chief of the House of Gershon, the son of Levi.

23 RECEPTION 1. The priests pronounce the Tetragrammaton. 2. Great is Adonai Elohim, who was known to our fathers by his name El Shaddai! 3. Seven raps open the Court.

24 A REMINDER Korah, Dathan and Abiram, and their company, put strange fire in their censers and stood in the door of the Tabernacle, before the Lord, and the Lord opened the mouth of the earth, and swallowed them up.

25 A REMINDER Flee, children of Israel, for there has come a fire from the Lord and consumed two hundred and fifty men.

26 A REMINDER The children of Israel murmured against the Lord, and against Moses and Aaron, for the death of Korah and his company; and He has sent a plague upon them, and the whole people is about to be destroyed.

27 THE CANDIDATE Prays for forgiveness and hears the awful sounds of those punished. He can only proceed by being repented, of pure heart and clean hands.

28 THE PRAYER A hint of the coming light and changing Hebrew perception of God, from vengeful and merciless to beneficent and loving.

29 ENTERING INTO THE COVENANT Sprinkled with water from a leaved branch; A lock of hair is cut; Clothed in a white tunic; The tunic is opened to bare flesh;

30 ENTERING INTO THE COVENANT With water, he is marked with The letter L on the right breast; The letter V on the left; The letter X on the abdomen.

31 ENTERING INTO THE COVENANT Arise and shine for the light is come and the glory of the Lord is risen in you. His hand and feet are then washed at the brazen laver.

32 ENTERING INTO THE COVENANT Light is the gift of God to all men Be you henceforth a Son of Light. Honor your office by reverence in your service, and may you ever say with us [all hold up hands]: Holiness to the Lord!