Exodus 69 part 2 - Exod. 29:20-37 - Ram of the Lord Sanctifies Head and Heart and Hands and Ferret

Before you listen to this podcast, part 2 of lesson 69 of Exodus, it is highly recommended that you listen to part 1.  It establishes the foundation for part 2 and part 3.  Here’s the link to Exodus 69 part 1 - https://lightofmenorah.podbean.com/e/exodus-69-part-1-exod-291-20-ordain-fill-the-hands/?token=7ff856387a2146fbe29d60bdcecc5531

The concept of head and heart and hands and feet is a metaphor the rabbis of Jesus’ day and before recognized.  It is found throughout the Bible.  In Jewish thought, the head, heart, hands, and feet symbolize the integration of a person's life, encompassing the faculties of intellect (head), mental capabilities & will (heart), and action (hands and feet), all directed toward serving God and living a moral, purposeful life.

Symbolic Meanings

• Head (Intellect/Wisdom): is an input out device. We speak and see as output. We see and hear and taste as input.  From the input it goes directly to our heart.
• Heart (Mind & mental abilities & Will): the heart (lev) is the seat of our mind, our intellect, our mental capabilities. It is not related to our feelings or emotions. In the Hebrew scriptures the seat of emotions are the kidneys (see https://www.torahapologetics.com/language--word-studies/hebrew-anatomy-part-2-the-kidneys for this idea).
• Hands (Action/Deeds): the tools of action and the means by which a person translates intellectual understanding into tangible deeds – things that we do resulting from the intentions coming from our mind (hearts).
• Feet (The way we live/Our walk): how we live, the observable direction of our lives.

This lesson might spur you on to do you own study of the concept of head and heart and hands and feet.  I watch for this constantly as I read and meditate and study and do research and even pray the text.  One example is when I say my morning prayers including the Shema that Jesus would’ve said three times a day.  I have been blown away as to how the concept of head and heart and hands and feet is everywhere in these Bible verse prayed by Jews three times a day in Jesus’ day, before His time, and even till today.  Check it out …

 THE SHEMA שׁמע

Head and Heart and Hands and Feet

Deuteronomy 6:4–9

"Hear (HEAD), O Israel! The LORD is our God, the LORD alone! "You shall love the LORD your God with all your heart (HEART) and with all your soul and with all your might. "These words, which I am commanding you today, shall be on your heart (HEART). "You shall teach (HEAD) them diligently to your sons (children) and shall talk (HEAD) of them when you sit in your house and when you walk (FEET) by the way and when you lie down and when you rise up. "You shall bind them as a sign on your hand (HAND) and they shall be as frontals on your forehead (HEAD). "You shall write them (HAND) on the doorposts of your house and on your gates (FEET).

Deuteronomy 11:13–21

 "It shall come about, if you listen (HEAD) obediently to my commandments which I am commanding you today, to love the LORD your God and to serve Him with all your heart (HEART) and all your soul, that He will give the rain for your land in its season, the early and late rain, that you may gather (HAND) in your grain and your new wine and your oil. "He will give grass in your fields for your cattle, and you will eat and be satisfied. "Beware that your hearts (HEART) are not deceived, and that you do not turn away (FEET) and serve other gods and worship them. "Or the anger of the LORD will be kindled against you, and He will shut up the heavens so that there will be no rain and the ground will not yield its fruit; and you will perish quickly from the good land which the LORD is giving you. "You shall therefore impress these words of mine on your heart (HEART) and on your soul; and you shall bind them as a sign on your hand (HAND)  and they shall be as frontals on your forehead (HEAD). "You shall teach (HEAD) them to your sons (children), talking (HEAD) of them when you sit in your house and when you walk (FEET) along the road and when you lie down and when you rise up. "You shall write them (HAND) on the doorposts of your house and on your gates (FEET), so that your days and the days of your sons may be multiplied on the land which the LORD swore to your fathers to give them, as long as the heavens remain above the earth.

Numbers 15:37–41

The LORD also spoke to Moses, saying, "Speak to the sons of Israel, and tell them that they shall make (HAND) for themselves tassels on the corners of their garments throughout their generations, and that they shall put (HAND) on the tassel of each corner a cord of blue. "It shall be a tassel for you to look (HEAD) at and remember (HEART) all the commandments of the LORD, so as to do (HAND) them and not follow (FEET) after your own heart (HEART) and your own eyes (HEAD), after which you played the harlot (FEET), so that you may remember (HEART) to do (HAND) all My commandments and be holy to your God. "I am the LORD your God who brought you out from the land of Egypt to be your God; I am the LORD your God.

In this lesson I commented on Psalm 119:2 and the phrase “seek Him with all their heart.”  It has nothing to do with someone “looking” for God or Jesus since they do not feel His closeness or since He is invisible, we ask where is He.  Two podcasts that demonstrate that God is always with us and there is no reason to look for Him are Truth Nuggets 3 part 1 & 2.  These lessons will enhance our understanding that if we are His people, if we are truly His disciples, the followers of Jesus, and He is always with us.  There is absolutely no reason to go looking for the Lord as per the very words of God.  Moreover, it is more than the Holy Spirit who dwells in us.  Check them out …

 

Truth Nuggets 3 part1 –

https://lightofmenorah.podbean.com/e/truth-nuggets-lesson-3-part-1/

 

Truth Nuggets 3 part 2 –

https://lightofmenorah.podbean.com/e/truth-nuggets-lesson-3-part-2/?token=ddbd4a5471c8c67b359d9cb31ea26d7b

 

Light of Menorah did a podcast of this concept.  It is Truth Nuggets 13 entitled, “Head and Heart and Hands and Feet.” The link is below. 

Over and over again we read the about being righteous and it is pictured in the way we talk or hear or listen (our head) or in our work or results of what we do (hands)  and in the ways we walk (feet) – walk in the commands of the Lord and walk in our own ways.  It is also pictured in the way we think or our emotions of feelings (heart).  Just consider the text in the prophet Isaiah.

"Where will you be stricken again, As you continue in your rebellion? The whole head is sick And the whole heart is faint. From the sole of the foot even to the head There is nothing sound in it, Only bruises, welts and raw wounds, Not pressed out or bandaged, ... So when you spread out your hands in prayer, I will hide My eyes from you; Yes, even though you multiply prayers, I will not listen. Your hands are covered with blood." (Isa 1:5-15)

In one chapter we see this concept played out quite clearly.  The rebelliousness against God is pictured using the concept “head and heart and hands and feet.” 

Another place this is seen is in the consecration of the high priest Aaron and his sons.  This is exactly what we are focusing in on in this podcast and in part 1.  Consider …

"Then you shall take the other ram, and Aaron and his sons shall lay their hands on the head of the ram. "You shall slaughter the ram, and take some of its blood and put it on the lobe of Aaron's right ear and on the lobes of his sons' right ears and on the thumbs of their right hands and on the big toes of their right feet, and sprinkle the rest of the blood around on the altar. (Exo 29:19-20)

In the Torah Commentary by the Messianic Jewish scholar, Tim Hegg (make sure you check out his website as another resource for Bible study - https://torahresource.com/) says that these body parts in the ancient Middle East and among the ancient Hebrews came to mean hearing and obeying the Torah of the Lord using the ear (Head).  The right hand symbolizes one’s work.  Aaron had his hand dedicated to the daily work of the sacrifices of the Lord (Hand).  His feet symbolize that he walk according the God’s ways and maintain his right standing before God in his daily movements in life (Feet). 

There are two verses that you may remember that deal with the heart.  In these verses we see that the heart is the source of our wickedness and our evil ways and thoughts.  Consider …

"The heart is more deceitful than all else And is desperately sick; Who can understand it? "I, the LORD, search the heart, I test the mind, Even to give to each man according to his ways (feet), According to the results of his deeds(hands). (Jer 17:9-10)

"But the things that proceed out of the mouth(head) come from the heart, and those defile the man. "For out of the heart come evil thoughts (heart), murders(hands), adulteries(hands), fornications(hands), thefts (hands), false witness(head)., slanders(head). (Mat 15:18-19)

Let's delve into this and see the dramatic place it takes us.  Let's study this idea God seems to use to teach from Genesis to Revelation.  Come let's learn about Head and Hearts and Hands and Feet.

Link - https://lightofmenorah.podbean.com/e/truth-nuggets-psalms-13-psm-151-3-head-heart-hands-feet/

In this lesson there is only one way to cleanse and sanctify and purify us head and heart and hands and feet.  It is found in the picture below.  It is the direction that God was taking the concept of head and heart and hands and feet.