Torah Commentary Archives
Emor (Speak)
Leviticus 21:1-24:23
Ezekiel 44:15-31
Matthew 5:38-42
Galatians 3:26-29
“Small Matters”
The Book of Leviticus is devoted to the subject of what is clean and what is not clean. Simply put, we should desire to live our lives pursuing that which Yah calls clean and stay away from what He calls unclean. In doing so, it is not only so we can live a life of blessing and closeness to Him, but so we may also show forth His holy character to others.
In this Torah portion His name, YH VH, is used 81 times. We see a summary of instructions for His Feasts. We also find something I want to draw attention to. The word profane is used 12 times. We find Webster's dictionary defines the word profane as “irreverence for that which is sacred.” Strong's Concordance has many definitions, one of which is to “make common.” These definitions supply descriptions that may differ from what we would normally consider profane to mean.
Consider it this way. For most of us, trees in our living rooms and decorated eggs hidden in the yard are practices that have become distant memories. We would look back to those practices and call them unclean. Now we have the blessing of celebrating Feasts that have been called clean by our King. However, is it possible to observe the Feasts clearly taught in Scripture and make them unclean? Go back to the definition of Webster, “irreverence for that which is sacred.” His Feasts are sacred, if we do not reverence them in Light of Him, we can make them unclean in His sight. Read Amos 5:21”“I hate, I utterly loathe your festivals; I take no pleasure in your solemn assemblies.” The people were “doing” the Feasts, but in such a way that Yah not only said He hated them, but He no longer called them His.
How do we keep from making the same mistakes of our ancestors? Take a moment to reflect on your last Shabbat, Passover, Unleavened Bread, New Moon, the current counting of the Omer. Without looking at a sheet of paper or a calendar, what day is it on the counting? What was the Torah portion for last Shabbat? Do you recall its overall theme? Did you even bother to read it? Are you napping through Leviticus? Can you tell what phase the moon is in right now?
Do I need to go on? Consider your answers to the above questions. Answer truthfully. In the eyes of Yah, was your last Shabbat clean or unclean? Was your celebration of the last New Moon more “common” than sacred? How many days of counting the Omer have you missed?
In Luke 16 we read about faithfulness. Verse 10 says, “Someone who is trustworthy in a small matter is also trustworthy in large ones, and someone who is dishonest in a small matter is also dishonest in large ones. “ How are we doing in the “small matters” like counting the Omer? Is our reverence or lack of reverence in what many would call a small matter affecting the weightier matters? I can only answer for myself on this one. Today we are in the middle of the Counting of the Omer. Though we do not have a place in Jerusalem to take an offering to and perform our daily counting, Scripture still tells us to count. How we do so may be as simple as acknowledging a number or adding Scripture readings and prayer. Question is, “How important is the counting to us?” Is it something we are looking forward to every day or do we let a few days go by and realize we have forgotten? Are we allowing the counting to become common?
It is so easy for us to put on a show at the “Big Feasts.” For Passover we bring out the best seder plate for all to see. For Sukkot it is a brand new rolling sukkah, complete with luxury and indoor plumbing. In the end is our observance really more of a show if, we are not being faithful with what we may consider the “small matters?” Can we in fact even profane the “Big Feasts” if we are not being faithful with the minor things? These are probing questions to stop and honestly consider.
In less than three weeks we will come to the culmination of our counting and the day of Shavuot. This can be a special day for all of us. It is a day of decision of direction. Let me explain what I mean by that statement. Passover, Unleavened Bread and First Fruits of the Barley Harvest are about being brought out of bondage or a worldly system. Traditionally Shavuot is the giving of the Torah on Mount Sinai. Sukkot is about the coming Kingdom. May we see Shavuot as a place of decision regarding which direction we are choosing to go. Without the acceptance of His Torah, we are destined to wander around and eventually die in the wilderness with our hearts longing to return to what was. With receiving of the Torah comes a decision to move forward in the reason He brought us out in the first place, to live in relationship with Him in His Kingdom.
Let us take another quick look at counting the Omer. Could we see it as the days leading up to a wedding, each day filled with building anticipation? Are they days we might begin to practice over and over the words, “I Do?”
May we be found faithful in the small matters for in the end it is the small matters which set the standard for the weightier ones.