hm'_wrt. Terumah Offering, Contribution Torah: Exodus 25:1 27:19 Haftarah: 1 Kings 5:26 6:13 (Hebrew Bible divisions used in ) 1 Kings 5:12 6:13 (Bible divisions in most English translations) Though the chapter divisions are different in 1 Kings 4-5, there is the same number of verses with the same content. Chapter and verse divisions were not in the original Hebrew text; they were inserted much later. Hebrew Text Most Translations Total Chapter 4 has 20 verses Chapter 4 has 34 verses 52 verses Chapter 5 has 32 verses Chapter 5 has 18 verses 52 verses Wisdom 1 Kings 5:12 The LORD gave wisdom to Solomon Q: What is the difference between wisdom and knowledge? Hol2525 hm'k.x' wisdom hm'k.x' (140, Pr 32, Ec 28, Jb 18 ): cs. tm;k.x' (Is 33 6 abs.), sf. Atm'k.x', ~k,t.m;k.x'; 1. technical skill, aptitude 1K 7 14 ; 2. experience, good sense: wise woman 2S 20 22, political 1K 2 6 ; 3. worldly wisdom of the b nê qedem & of Egypt 1K 5 10 ; 4. wisdom of godly Isr. Ps 90 12 ; 5. God s wisdom 1K 3 28 ; µokmat mal ak lœhîm 2S 14 20 ; rû µ µokmâ Dt 34 9 ; 6. personified Wisdom Jb 28 12 ff Pr 8 1-36. (pg 104) P: Wisdom comes from God. Truth about reality comes from God. ALW Proverbs 2:6 6 For YHWH gives wisdom; From His mouth come knowledge and understanding. Daniel 1:17 17 As for these four youths, God gave them knowledge and intelligence in every branch of literature and wisdom; Daniel even understood all kinds of visions and dreams. ALW Daniel 2:20-22 20 Daniel answered and said, "Let the name of God be blessed forever and ever He gives wisdom to wise men, and knowledge to men of understanding. 22 "It is He who reveals the profound and hidden things; He knows what is in the darkness, and the light dwells with Him. Proverbs 8:17 "I love those who love me; And those who diligently seek me will find me John 14:26 "But the Helper, the Holy Spirit, whom the Father will send in My name, He will teach you all things... Q: Why does the Bible make these statements? Proverbs 1:7 The fear of ADONAI is the beginning of knowledge Proverbs 9:10 The fear of ADONAI is the beginning of wisdom 1
Q: Why did Solomon go off track since he had so much wisdom? P: When people reject God, they began to lose their God given wisdom and rationality, easily blinded and led astray by the god of this world. Romans 1:21-22 21 For even though they knew God, they did not honor Him as God or give thanks, but they became futile in their speculations, and their foolish heart was darkened. 22 Professing to be wise, they became fools ESV 2 Corinthians 4:4 In their case the god of this world has blinded the minds of the unbelievers, to keep them from seeing the light of the gospel of the glory of Christ, who is the image of God. This is why we see the irrationality of so many nations being anti-israel in spite of Israel being a blessing to the world. Ap: Ask the Lord for wisdom and knowledge. He is our source. ALW Psalm 25:4-5 4 Make me know Your ways, O YHWH; Teach me Your paths. 5 Lead me in Thy truth and teach me, For You are the God of my salvation; For You I wait all the day. Psalm 119:18 18 Open my eyes, that I may behold wonderful things from Your law. Psalm 119:33-34 33 Teach me, O LORD, the way of Your statutes, And I shall observe it to the end. 34 Give me understanding, that I may observe Your law And keep it with all my heart Psalm 119:144 144 give me understanding that I may live. James 1:5 Now if any of you lacks wisdom, let him ask God, who gives to all generously and without reproach; and it will be given to him. o James 3:17 But the wisdom from above is, first of all, pure, then peaceful, kind, open to reason, full of mercy and good fruits, without partiality and without hypocrisy. Temple The temple represents the presence of God dwelling with His people. Building the temple was a high priority for Solomon. Jerusalem is the center of Israel. And the temple is the center of Jerusalem. In other words God Himself is the center of life. Holy of Holies Holy Place Table of Showbread Laver Altar Ark Altar of Incense 7 Branched Candelabra How the temple speaks to our relationship with God. 1. The Altar speaks of sacrifice- Yeshua sacrificed Himself to make atonement for our sins. 2
a. ESV 1 Peter 3:18 For Christ also suffered once for sins, the righteous for the unrighteous, that he might bring us to God, b. ESV Hebrews 9:12 he entered once for all into the holy places, not by means of the blood of goats and calves but by means of his own blood, thus securing an eternal redemption. c. Isaiah 53:5-6 5 But He was pierced through for our transgressions, He was crushed for our iniquities; The chastening for our well-being fell upon Him, And by His scourging we are healed. 6 All of us like sheep have gone astray, Each of us has turned to his own way; But the LORD has caused the iniquity of us all To fall on Him. 2. The Laver speaks of cleansing- We confess our sins; He forgives and cleanses us from all unrighteousness. NKJ 1 John 1:9 If we confess our sins, He is faithful and just to forgive us our sins and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness. 3. The Table of Showbread speaks of God s word- The word of God instructs us in the ways of God. ALW 2 Timothy 3:16 All Scripture is God-breathed and profitable for teaching the truth, convicting of sin, correcting faults and training in righteousness; so the man of God may be fully equipped for every good work. 4. The Seven Branched Candelabra speaks of the Holy Spirit- The Holy Spirit guides us and reveals truth. a. John 14:26 "But the Helper, the Holy Spirit, whom the Father will send in My name, He will teach you all things b. John 16:13 However, when the Spirit of Truth comes, he will guide you into all the truth 5. The Altar of Incense speaks of praying- We pray with intercession and thanksgiving. a. b. Ephesians 6:18 With all prayer and petition pray at all times in the Spirit, and with this in view, be on the alert with all perseverance and petition for all the saints, CSB 1 Timothy 2:1 First of all, then, I urge that petitions, prayers, intercessions, and thanksgivings be made for everyone, 6. The Ark speaks of God s presence- We are in God s very presence, worshipping Him. a. John 4:24 "God is spirit, and those who worship Him must worship in spirit and truth. b. NAS Luke 4:8 And Jesus answered and said to him, "It is written, 'You shall worship the Lord your God and serve Him only.'" Ap: When you pray and read the Scriptures, when you enter into God s presence, picture yourself going through the spiritual temple, from right to left just like Hebrew. Temple- New Covenant Under the New Covenant, the temple is the body of Christ, the universal church consisting of all of those in the Messiah s kingdom. God dwells in His people. We are the manifestation of His presence in the world today. 1 Corinthians 3:16 Don't you know that you people are God's temple and that God's Spirit lives in you? 3
Ephesians 2:19-22 19 So then, you are no longer foreigners and strangers. On the contrary, you are fellow-citizens with God's people and members of God's family. 20 You have been built on the foundation of the emissaries and the prophets, with the cornerstone being Yeshua the Messiah himself. 21 In union with him the whole building is held together, and it is growing into a holy temple in union with the Lord. 22 Yes, in union with him, you yourselves are being built together into a spiritual dwelling-place for God! 1 Peter 2:5 you also, as living stones, are being built up as a spiritual house for a holy priesthood, to offer up spiritual sacrifices acceptable to God through Jesus Christ Obedience 1 Kings 6:12-13 12 "Concerning this house which you are building, if you will walk in My statutes and execute My ordinances and keep all My commandments by walking in them, then I will carry out My word with you which I spoke to David your father. 13 "I will dwell among the sons of Israel, and will not forsake My people Israel. Building this fabulous temple did not magically guarantee the presence of God. Obedience to His commands was necessary for His presence, protection, and provision. Ap: Obedience to our King is our highest priority each day. John 4:34 34 Jesus said to them, "My food is to do the will of Him who sent Me and to accomplish His work. Luke 22:42 42 "Father, if You are willing, remove this cup from Me; yet not My will, but Yours be done. Matthew 7:24-27 24 "Therefore everyone who hears these words of Mine and acts on them, may be compared to a wise man who built his house on the rock. 25 "And the rain fell, and the floods came, and the winds blew and slammed against that house; and yet it did not fall, for it had been founded on the rock. 26 "Everyone who hears these words of Mine and does not act on them, will be like a foolish man who built his house on the sand. 27 "The rain fell, and the floods came, and the winds blew and slammed against that house; and it fell-- and great was its fall." NIV Acts 20:24 However, I consider my life worth nothing to me, if only I may finish the race and complete the task the Lord Jesus has given me P: Love is demonstrated by obedience. Love for God will necessarily result in doing His word. John 14:23a word 23 Jesus answered and said to him, "If anyone loves Me, he will keep My P: The Lord will dwell among us and in us as we obey Him. John 14:23 23 Jesus answered and said to him, "If anyone loves Me, he will keep My word; and My Father will love him, and We will come to him and make Our abode with him. John 14:16-17 16 "I will ask the Father, and He will give you another Helper, that He may be with you forever; 17 that is the Spirit of truth, whom the world cannot receive, because it does not see Him or know Him, but you know Him because He abides with you and will be in you. 4
Do not quench or grieve the Holy Spirit through disobedience. 1 Thessalonians 5:19 Don't quench the Spirit, Ephesians 4:30 Do not grieve the Holy Spirit of God, by whom you were sealed for the day of redemption. Terumah- Contributions, Offerings, Giving (One aspect of obedience) Exodus 25:2 "Tell the people of Isra'el to take up a collection for me- accept a contribution from anyone who wholeheartedly wants to give. Construction of the tabernacle under Moses was done through voluntary contributions. This is the nature of contributions today under the New Covenant. 2 Corinthians 9:7 Each should give according to what he has decided in his heart, not Promises: 1. 2. grudgingly or under compulsion, for God loves a cheerful giver. CSB 2 Corinthians 9:6 Remember this: the person who sows sparingly will also reap sparingly, and the person who sows generously will also reap generously CSB Luke 6:38 Give, and it will be given to you; a good measure-- pressed down, shaken together, and running over-- will be poured into your lap. For with the measure you use, it will be measured back to you." These promises should motivate us to give with generosity. God will be generous to those who are generous. 2 Corinthians 9:8 And God is able to make all grace abound to you, so that always having all sufficiency in everything, you may have an abundance for every good deed; This promise guarantees that God will provide the resources for any good work He has planted in your heart. Resources may be time, money, meeting the right people, opportunities, etc. More Scripture on giving and sharing: 1 Timothy 6:17-19 17 As for those who do have riches in this present world, charge them not to be proud and not to let their hopes rest on the uncertainties of riches but to rest their hopes on God, who richly provides us with all things for our enjoyment. 18 Charge them to do good, to be rich in good deeds, to be generous and ready to share. 19 In this way they will treasure up for themselves a good foundation for the future, so that they may lay hold of the real life In the USA, the great majority of us fit this description, rich in this present world. 2 Corinthians 8:13-15 13 For this is not for the ease of others and for your affliction, but by way of equality-- 14 at this present time your abundance being a supply for their need, so that their abundance also may become a supply for your need, that there may be equality; 15 as it is written, "HE WHO gathered MUCH DID NOT HAVE TOO MUCH, AND HE WHO gathered LITTLE HAD NO LACK." You might call this voluntary socialism. 5
Solomon s Temple What were David s two greatest sins? Most people would reply, his adultery with Bathsheba and his taking a census of the people, and their answers would be correct. As a result of his sin of numbering the people, David purchased property on Mount Moriah where he built an altar and worshiped the Lord (2 Sam. 24). David married Bathsheba and God gave them a son whom they named Solomon (2 Sam. 12:24-25). Now we have Solomon building a temple on David s property on Mount Moriah! G-d took the consequences of David s two worst sins a piece of property and a son and built a temple! But where sin abounded, grace abounded much more (Rom. 5:20, NKJV). The Bible Exposition Commentary History. Summary: 1. We need wisdom from God. 2. The temple in the Tanakh gives us instruction in our relationship with God. 3. The Body of Christ is the temple or presence of God under the New Covenant. 4. Obedience to the King of the universe is our first priority each day. 5. Generosity is one aspect of obedience. 6. God does work all things together for good for those who love Him. 6