Chasing Honor :writtenbyWillSpires

Imalwaysalittle
saddenedwhenwepull
awayfromShabbatand
beginanewweek.Sure,
therearenewadventures,
newthingstolearn,new
experiencesandallofthese
aretobeembraced,because
Godusesallofthemtowrite
Hisworduponourheart.
MaybeIjusthavea
tendencytowalktowards
thebackofthecrowd,butI
liketotarryalittlelongerat
thewell.Iwanttoimmersemyself,toreceivethefullnessofGodswordforthis
weeksparshabeforeImoveontothenextone,andsometimesthattakesalittle
longerformethanothers.AndIreallymustsaysomeofthegreatestteaching
comes,formepersonallyjustaswereweighinganchorandshovingoffshoreatthat
lastsecond.Butsometimeswedontgetthatlastseconddowe?
SuddenlywereallclamoringtosqueezebackontotheTorahtrainagain.
EverfeltlikeweneverstoppedlongenoughtosoakinthepieceofTorahwevebeen
given?Wellifso,youreinluck(andIdontbelieveinluckbutthefigureofspeech
fitsoIusedithere),causethisguyjustpulledtheemergencySTOP.Sureitwontlast
forlong,butifyouwanttoexittheplatformandmeetmeattheendofthestation
aroundthislittlebonfire(causeitstillgetsalittlecoldintheeveningshere)were
goingtorevisitVayak'hel,onemoretime.
Onethingisforsure,theresawholelotofbuildinggoingoninthisportion.
Theverbiagedripslikehoneyonmanna;theIsraelitesarebringingGoldandSilver
andBronze,theresfineblueandscarletthread,snuffersandbowls,andlampsand
tables.TheresAcaciawoodborderedingoldandheavylayeredwovencurtains
claspedinsilver;theresrodsandtenonsandbeamsandboards,andtheMercySeat
betweentwogoldencheruvim.Allofitsbeenforgedandspun,portionedand
hammeredandsetalightbytheblueprintofGodbyHisindwellingSpiritmovingin
Hispeoplewithwisdomandunderstanding.Justthereadingalonegivesthefeelof
flowandmovementlikechoreographedchaos.Butstill,thereunderGodswatchful
care,allgoesaccordingtoplanwithonelittlecaveatwillingness.
AtleastthatshowitreadsinmyBible.Believeme,theressomanywords
wellcoverherethateventuallyyoullfeelliketheeyeofaneedlehavingthreaded
itswaybackandforthacrossandunder.Buttheyallrelatetohelpformthebig

picturewhichImightaddissomethingIneedattimes.Itsacaringthingwhen
onecanpolitelypullmebackbythearmandadmonishmetotakeafewstepsback;
becauseifImissthebigpicture,thenImmissingthewholepictureandifwemiss
thebigpicture,thenwellneverchange.
Firstallowmetostatetheobvious.GodhascommissionedIsraeltobuilda
sanctuarythatHemaydwellwiththemthatHemaydwellwiththem;whydoes
Godneedasanctuary?Imean,seriously?"ButwhoisabletobuildahouseforHim,
fortheheavensandthehighestheavenscannotcontainHim?SowhoamI,thatI
shouldbuildahouseforHim,excepttoburnincensebeforeHim?(2Chronicles2:6).
CouldntYHVHdwellcomfortablywithIsraeloutintheopendesert?Absolutely
andHedid,asacloudbydayandapillaroffireatnight.ButYHVHisteachinga
muchmorespecificlessonhereandithastodowithspecificplaces,likewhatHe
wantstodoinourhomeandinsideyourheart.
IntheparshafollowingVayak'helwecloseShemot/Exodusandenterinto
thebookknownasVayikra/Leviticuswiththeparshabythesamename.Herewe
learnanewnameforthesanctuaryistheMOhelMoedbetterknownastheTent
ofMeeting.ThisiswhereGodmetwithMosheandHispeople.Moedmeansan
appointedtimeandappointedplace;rootedintheHebrewwordad,spelledwithan
AyinDaletanditmeanstobeawitness,towitnessrepeatedlyastheeyeseesthe
doorofthetent.Specificallyitistherecountingofsomethingthathappensoverand
overagainmuchinthewaywearetobewitnessesoftheHolydaysofTheLORDas
outlinedinVayikra/Leviticuschapter23.Witheveryyearspassingweenterintoa
renewedseasonandthetimetorehearseeachfeast.Itsnotacoincidencethatthe
placeYHVHdesirestomeetwithHispeopleiscalledtheTentofMeetingandthere
inthecenterofthattentisaplacecalledtheHolyofHolieswherewefindtheMercy
Seat.HeretheHighPriestwouldenterintothisappointedplaceatanappointed
time,inanappointedway.IfaplacewhereyoumeetYHVHiscalledtheHolyof
Holieshowdoyouthinkonewouldbeexpectedtoenter?Inholinessofcourse,we
read,GiveuntotheLORDtheglorydueuntohisname:bringanoffering,andcome
beforehim:worshiptheLORDinthebeautyofholiness(1Chronicles16:29.Iwrotea
songaboutthisthatwasthetitletrackforthatalbumcalledTheBeautyofHoliness).
Speakingofglory,Ibelievewevetakenourfirstindirectlookatthefocusofour
teachingjustnow.Glorykbd,thatstheweightystuffthatmattersinlife.Solets
gettoit.
TheMishkanisalsothenameofthetabernacleinHebrew.Therootwordof
MishkanisShakananditwasfirstusedinExodus/Shemotchapter25verse8when
Moseswascommanded:Andletthemmakemeasanctuary,thatImaydwell
amongthem.GodissayingHewantsarelationshipwithus.Nowtheprevious
weeksparshaKiTisaorWhenYouTakewasallaboutIsraelreceivingTorahand
enteringintorelationshipwithYHVH,whilethenameofthisparshawere
concentratingon,Vayak'hel,meansAndHegatheredisallaboutbuildingthe
MishkanwhereGodspeoplegotomeetHim.Thefollowingportionafterthisoneis
VayikraanditmeansHecalledanditsallabouthowtodrawneartoGodinthe

Mishkanandwhatthevarioustypesofsacrificesandofferingsareallaboutand
understandingtheirpurposeandfunction.Areyoubeginningtoseehowthereis
thisflow?GodisleadingHispeople,teachingthem,thisiswhoIAM,thisishowyou
approachMe,thisishowwedorelationship.Butintheprocessofallofthisweneed
toreturntosomefundamentals.
Earlierwewerediscussingwillingness.Willingnessissuchapoorwordin
theEnglishlanguagewhenwereusingittodescribewhatsgoingonintheHebrew.
AskanyqualifiedHebrewlinguistorforthatmatteranywellstudiedstudentof
TorahandtheywillquicklytellyouthatEnglish,aswideofascopeasitcovers
cannotbegintopinpointthesamemeaningsmuchlessthedepthachievedin
Hebrew.Youmayalreadybewellawareofthisbutitbearsrepeatinghereforyou
thereader.Iamspecificallyspeakingtoyouwhohasyettoreallybeginimmersing
yourselfinthelanguageofTheBible.AtthebeginningofVayak'helYHVHis
commandingIsrael.AndHesays,Everyonewhoseheartstirredhimandeveryone
whosespiritmovedhimcameandbroughttheLORD'Scontributionfortheworkofthe
tentofmeetingandforallitsserviceandfortheholygarments.Now,thewordused
hereformovedisverytelling.Everyonewhosespiritmovedhimthewordin
Hebrewisnadab.Strongs#H5068,anditmeansfreelyoffered.InBrownDrivers
Briggsitmeansafreewilloffering,andconsultingtheAncientHebrewLexicon
nadabmeanstooffer,anoffering,honor:Theofferingofsomethingwithawilling
heartasasignofhonor.
Nowthatssomethingisntit?Afreewillofferingseenasasignofhonor
considerit.GodwantsustogiveourselvestoHimwillinglyasHegivesHimselftous,
butthereissomethingmoreheretounderstand.Listen,weserveaGodofhonor,
butdoweevenknowwhathonoris?Sadly,Iamnotconvinced.Personally,Istill
havealottolearn.WhatGodspokeinPsalmschapter4versetwowillbringmuch
greatersignificancetothisconversation.Hereweread,Osonsofmen,howlongwill
myhonorbecomeareproach?Howlongwillyoulovewhatisworthlessandaimat
deception?Selah.Sothewordforhonorinthisverseiskbd,wementionedita
littleearlierinourdiscussion.Defined,thispowerfulwordcarriessubstantial
meaning,literallytobeweighty,burdensome,honored,giftsofhonor,afreewill
offering;someoneorsomethingthatisheavyinweight,abundance,importanceor
respect.SowhenwesaywearegivingYHVHtheglory,weactuallymeanthatweare
givingHimHonor,becauseHeistobehonoredaboveall.FriendandteacherKen
Ranksaiditthisway,honorisWEIGHT.YouareelevatingGodbecauseHemeansso
much,islovedsomuch...iftheyarechasingfalsegodsandacceptingliesitisbecause
theydon'tplaceWEIGHTonHimortruth.WhenHisreputationisruined,itisbecause
Heisbeingtreatedcommonly,again,becauseoflackofweight.Sotheanswerisinthe
firstcommandment.Thisbearsrepeatingfriendsanditiswhysomanycommitted
followersofYeshuastarttheirdaywithgoodintentionsanddrawittoaclosewith
cloudedtiredeyesandalittleonthedepthlessside.Howdoesthathappen?Aswe
explorethemeaningsofbeingmovedorwillingwiththatofhonor,wefindthat
honorandofferingsacrificesshareacommonbond.Whydoyouthinkthatis?Could
itmeanthattogivehonorisgoingtocostmesomething?ItdidYeshuawhenHe

sacrificedHimselfonthecross.YHVHhasbeentryingtospeakHiscovenantintothe
heartofeverywillingpersonwhoisnadab,ormoved.AreyoumovedforGod?
TheofferingsareGodswayofallowingustodrawneartoHimthrough
obedience,buttheofferingsthemselvesaredesignedtobetheresultofachoice
drivenbytheintentionsoftheheart.Then,andonlythencanourofferingsbring
YHVHhonor.SowhenIsraelnolongerinvestedtheirheartintotheirofferings,God
wasdishonored.ThentheLordsaid,"Becausethispeopledrawnearwiththeir
wordsAndhonorMewiththeirlipservice,Buttheyremovetheirheartsfarfrom
Me,AndtheirreverenceforMeconsistsoftraditionlearnedbyrote,(Isaiah29:13).
Hear,heaven!Listen,earth!ForAdonaiisspeaking.Iraisedandbroughtup
children,buttheyrebelledagainstme.Anoxknowsitsownerandadonkeyits
mastersstall,butIsraeldoesnotknow,mypeopledonotreflect.Oh,sinfulnation,
apeopleweigheddownbyiniquity,descendantsofevildoers,immoralchildren!
TheyhaveabandonedAdonai,spurnedtheHolyOneofIsrael,turnedtheirbackson
him!Whyareallthosesacrificesofferedtome?asksAdonai.Imfedupwith
burntofferingsoframsandthefatoffattenedanimals!Igetnopleasurefromthe
bloodofbulls,lambsandgoats!Yes,youcometoappearinmypresence;butwho
askedyoutodothis,totramplethroughmycourtyards?Stopbringingworthless
grainofferings!Theyarelikedisgustingincensetome!RoshHodesh,Shabbat,
callingconvocationsIcantstandeviltogetherwithyourassemblies!Everything
inmehatesyourRoshHodeshandyourfestivals;theyareaburdentomeImtired
ofputtingupwiththem!Whenyouspreadoutyourhands,Iwillhidemyeyesfrom
you;nomatterhowmuchyoupray,Iwontbelistening;becauseyourhandsare
coveredwithblood.Washyourselvesclean!Getyourevildeedsoutofmysight!
Stopdoingevil,learntodogood!Seekjustice,relievetheoppressed,defend
orphans,pleadforthewidow(Yeshayahu/Isaiah1:24,1117).NoticewhenYHVH
boilsitdownHetakesittomattersofchoice.CertainlyYHVHwantsIsraeltoobey
HissetapartHolydaysbutifwespendourdaysfailingtobringhonortoHimin
thecommonplaceplacesofourlivesthentheserehearsalswontbringhonortoHim
thereeither.That!Is!What!Yeshua!Did!Messiahenteredintothecommonplace,
andHemadeitholy.How?HehonoredHisFatherineverychoiceHemadeorwas
confrontedwitheverydayofHisearthboundexistence.YHVHwantsusratherto
Honorallpeople,lovethebrotherhood,fearGod,honortheking(1Peter2:17).
Anditishere,inthecommonplaces,intraffic,inthecheckoutatthegrocery,alone
inourhomesortravelingforministryorwork,inthehotelthatwecanbe
witnessesofYHVHshonor,orshame.Itistheconditionoftheheart,thereason
behindeverythingwedothathaseverythingtodowithwhetheritistruly
honorableornot.
Wevecoveredaprettygoodamountofgrounduptothispoint.ToconcludeI
wouldliketoroundoutourdiscussionwithasmallbutpowerfulgraphicifyou
willletit,andthenbrieflyexplainitforyouredification.


Letsrevisitourverseagain,Psalm4:2whichreads,
Osonsofmen,howlongwillmyhonorbecomeareproach?Howlongwillyoulove
whatisworthlessandaimatdeception?Selah.
Theproblemwithchasinghonoristhatitsnotjustonething;anditdoesnt
announce,promoteormarketitself.Ibelieveyoucouldmakealistbutdistilled
downtoitsessentials,honor,Ibelieveandsubmittoyouwillrequirethreethings.

Situatedinthecenterofthisverseisthewordlove.Howlongwillyoulove,He
asks.TherootwordusedforlovehereinHebrewis'hab. Ive placed it at the top of
our graphic. Pictographically this two-letter expression hob formed by the letter heh
beit paints a picture. Heh means to behold as if one is looking upon a great sight. The
letter beit represents a home, more specifically the people inside of it. Together these two
letters translate as to look or to provide for the family. In Benners Ancient Hebrew
Lexicon Love is further defined as expressions and actions toward the family, which one
was privileged with. Love is best defined I think by studying 1Corinthians chapter 13.
What we find throughout Scripture is that love is best defined as putting someone above
yourself. Because when you truly love someone you put that person before yourself, you
give them preference, you value what they say above others, you consider their words
above others and allow them to penetrate into your heart and mind. When you love
someonewho they are and what they say carries greater weight that outweighs the
others. This follows with GOD. When you love GOD you put Him above others, which is
the opposite of what our Israelite ancestors had allowed themselves to become. He says
Howlongwillyoulovewhatisworthlessandaimatdeception?Israelhad
rebelledagainstGODandtradedtheirloveforGODforthosethingsthatare
worthlessandofdeception.Thisrebellionbreakstheveryfirstcommandment,
ThenGodspokeallthesewords,saying,"IamtheLordyourGod,whobroughtyouout
ofthelandofEgypt,outofthehouseofslavery."Youshallhavenoothergodsbefore

Me(Exodus/Shemot20:13).WhenwepursuethingsthatbreakYHVHs
commands,whenweplaceweightonsomethingotherthanGODandHisNameand
Hisreputationthenweareguiltyofidolatry,andofchasingafterthosethingsthat
areworthlessandemptyandlies,whichisdeception;andthatsreallywherethe
shamecomesfromplacingweightorgivinggloryandhonortosomethingthat
intendstogiveofftheappearanceofvalueandtruth,buttruthfullyitsworthless,
empty,andalie.

Whenwelovesomeonewegiveourselvesfreely.Exodus35:21saysthat
Everyonewhoseheartstirredhimandeveryonewhosespiritmovedhimcameand
broughttheLord'scontributionfortheworkofthetentofmeetingandforallits
serviceandfortheholygarments.Earlierweexaminedthewordformoved.When
yourheartismoved,youarestirrednoonehastodoitforyou,butyoudoit
becauseyoulove.Whenyouhavelove,yougivefreelywithoutcoercionorprodding
orcajoling,andtogivefreelyoutoflovegivesthatofferingvaluebecausenow
yourenotgivingitbegrudginglybutyouregivingyourbestbecausethatpersonis
moreimportanttoyouthanothersoryourself.Agoodexampleofsacrificing
willinglycanbeeasilyobservedinamaritalrelationship.Inamarriagethehusband
giveshimselffreelytohiswifeandthewifegivesherselffreelytoherhusband,
becausetheyhonoroneanotherwiththeirdailychoicestheyfiltereverything
theydothroughthelensofensuringitwillbringhonortotheirspouse.Now,thisis
whatweneedtostrivetodoforYHVHinallofourdailydecisions.

Thethirdcomponentisholiness.Remember,YHVHhadcommandedIsraelto
buildHimthesanctuary,andinthemiddleofthecampwastheMOhelMoed,the
TentofMeeting;andthereinthemiddleoftheTentofMeetingwastheHolyof
Holies.AprimalcomponentofHonorisHoliness.HolinessorQadashmeanstobe
setapart,separateforaspecificpurpose.WemustunderstandthatYHVHisHoly
andHecommandsustobeHolyorsetapartfromtheworld.Theworldisfullof
commonandprofaneplacesdeception,liesandidolatryweavetheirwayinto
almosteveryfacetofdailylife.ButHonorHonorissetapart.Honorgivesitself
freely.Honorlovesaboveall,itgivesanditisconspicuouslyuncommon,becauseit
issetapartandholy.WhatYHVHgivesustheopportunitytodoistotransforma
commonprofanethingorplaceintosomethingthatisholy.Yougotowork,perhaps
youareaffordedtheopportunitytoworkamongthosewhoareactivelyrebelling
againstYHVH,andtheplaceyouworkiseitherdirectlyorindirectlydishonoring
GOD.WehavebeenplacedtherebecauseYHVHwantstobreatheHishonorintoit.
Howdoesthathappen?Byourconductandyourwords,yourchoices.Returningto
theconversationIhadwithKen,hesaidWill,FromAdam'sfalltoYeshuaperfecting
us,thegoalofScriptureiscausingustoplaceenoughweightonGodtoturnour
hearttowardHimBECAUSEofthatweight.Wordswellspoken,andmightIjust
simplyaddaswehonorGODinourdailylivesbyplacingmoreweightonHimand
Hiswordinourlives,themorefocusandvalueyoubringtoyourdayandnotonly
toyoursbuttothosearoundyouaswell.Ihopethishasbeenahelpfuldiscussion.I
encouragefeedbackandpraythishasbeenablessingtoyou.Shalom.

WillSpires
FollowerandWorshipper
OfYeshuaMessiah.