Commentaries & Kingdom News

3/6/2019 9:52:16 AM

Pekudei

Ardelle Brody

Shalom! The last several chapters of the book of Shemot/Exodus deal with the instructions and implementation of the building of the Tabernacle.  (Pekudei 2019) Have you noticed that there are no complaints, no rebellions, no strife recorded during any one of these chapters?  As long as they were occupied with the work of the Tabernacle, they did not grumble!  This is a great thought!  When one's life is consumed with serving the Almighty and their community, it...

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2/27/2019 9:35:43 AM

Vayakhel

Ardelle Brody

Shalom! With the golden calf experience behind them, and the opportunity for a second chance offered to them, the children of Israel must have wondered what exactly they were to do next.  Moshe was quick to fill the void, gathering them together and giving them precise directions - keep the Sabbath, joyfully bring contributions for the Tabernacle, be willing to share your talents, and begin construction.  All was to be done in the spirit of unity.  We will read the results of...

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2/20/2019 11:32:07 AM

Ki Tisa

Ardelle Brody

Shalom! This week we find in the Torah, grace, mercy, and forgiveness.  The people that YHWH has chosen to enter into covenant with are not perfect and will not be able to survive without learning and trusting in the attributes of their Deliverer.   Moshe receives the tablets of the Torah up on the mountain.  But when he descended from the mountain carrying the two divine tablets, and he saw the people dancing about a golden calf in revelry, he realized that he had two...

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2/13/2019 10:05:37 AM

Tetzaveh

Ardelle Brody

Shalom! This week our Torah reading gives us a lot of details concerning the garments of the priesthood.  Clothes had the ability to set the priests apart for holiness, allowing them to communicate and interact with the Holy One of Israel.  From the beginning of Scripture (YHWH clothed Adam and Eve) to the end of Revelation, garments are relevant to the plan of the Almighty. Tetzaveh - 2019 takes a look at the kingdom of priests and the garments to be worn by those in service to...

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2/6/2019 10:11:51 AM

Terumah

Ardelle Brody

Shalom! In his comments for Parashat Terumah (Terumah 2019), Rabbi David Fohrman wrote that now is when they see a major decline in viewership.  For some reason, people don't seem all that interested in reading the long list of instructions the Torah gives us on how to build the Tabernacle.  The picture of what is in heaven will come down and dwell with His people on earth.  Shemot 25:8 more literally translated: Shemot 25:8 "And let them make Me a sanctuary, that...

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1/30/2019 10:05:57 AM

Mishpatim

Ardelle Brody

Shalom! Last week was so exciting with the giving of the Ten Words.  This week's more mundane commands can seem rather boring.  Yet we need more detail as the great commands of the Torah are valid only if they are placed into everyday life activities.  The final chapter of Mishpatim describes how the Israelites consented to keep these laws, entering into a Covenantal relationship: Shemot/Exodus 24:7 Then he took the Book of the Covenant and read it to the people. They...

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1/23/2019 12:47:06 PM

Yitro

Ardelle Brody

Shalom! The Israelites are continuing on now with their journey, having been delivered from slavery.  In the next step of their salvation they will receive the instruction of the Torah to help them understand how to live a life holy and pleasing to their Master. Yitro - 2019 While it is true that many of the laws and commands Elohim would give to His people through Moshe already existed in other Middle Eastern societies, it was the PERSONAL relationship of the Hebrew Elohim to His...

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1/16/2019 11:29:17 AM

Beshalach

Ardelle Brody

Shalom! In Parashat Beshalach we encounter many events confronting the Israelites where faith plays a part.  We read about how frightened they were when being pursued by the Egyptians, how they marched through the divided sea, how they believed in YHWH and Moshe when they saw the dead Egyptians on the seashore, how they grumbled two times for water and once for food, and how they victoriously fought Amalek.  It seems one moment they were full of faith and the next moment they were...

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1/9/2019 10:30:40 AM

Bo

Ardelle Brody

Shalom! This week the Israelites will have their first taste of freedom!  But what is the real difference between being a slave and being free?  We might answer that it has to do with hard work or labor.  But many people work hard just because they want to.  A slave has no choice in the matter.  Time for a slave is under the control of his master.  And so we read that the very first commandment given to the Israelites as a nation was a change in their paradigm...

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1/2/2019 9:40:13 AM

Va'era

Ardelle Brody

Shalom! Va'era 2019 has a focus on the paradigm of Egypt. YHWH was calling the children of Israel out of slavery to the Pharaoh and into His service.  The Pharaoh, however, wanted the Israelites to compromise their allegiance to YHWH by sacrificing to the Almighty in Egypt, while at the same time serving him.  "Impossible," said Moshe and Aharon.  And the Creator has His ways of making His desires become reality. And now to share an amazing true story of...

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