Hello, John and Doves,
I was reading the Maftir of the Parashat Vayakhel [Exodus 30:11-16].
This "holy half shekel" came to be known in Yehoshua's day as the temple tax.
Isn't interesting that Meshiach always, every year after He turned 25, identified with fallen humanity by paying for the redemption of His soul according to the Law?
Every man, whether rich or poor, had to pay the same. No man could pay for another. The rich could not pay more to redeem his soul.
For it is written,
"All have sinned [committed moral error], and fall short of the glory of God."
Romans 3:23
Now, Paul goes on to prove that we are justified, both Jews and Gentiles, by faith in Jesus Christ [Yehoshua HaMashiach].
And yet, the Law is not overthrown. It is by means of the Law that the sins of repenting people are overlooked until they come to Christ. Good works do not save a person's soul, but by means of them, a person might not destroy himself or herself before getting saved.
After getting saved, we progress to a position where we begin to enjoy the blessings and privileges, with all their responsibilities, that were named to us from before the beginning of time.
So then, why all this horn blowing of the holy half shekel?
Some commentators believe that the silver contained in the holy half shekel was used, among other things perhaps, to make the silver trumpets used to call the people to holy convocations.
It is written,
The Silver Trumpets
1 Now the LORD said to Moses, 2 “Make two trumpets of hammered silver for calling the community to assemble and for signaling the breaking of camp. 3 When both trumpets are blown, everyone must gather before you at the entrance of the Tabernacle. 4 But if only one trumpet is blown, then only the leaders—the heads of the clans of Israel—must present themselves to you.
5 “When you sound the signal to move on, the tribes camped on the east side of the Tabernacle must break camp and move forward. 6 When you sound the signal a second time, the tribes camped on the south will follow. You must sound short blasts as the signal for moving on. 7 But when you call the people to an assembly, blow the trumpets with a different signal. 8 Only the priests, Aaron’s descendants, are allowed to blow the trumpets. This is a permanent law for you, to be observed from generation to generation.
9 “When you arrive in your own land and go to war against your enemies who attack you, sound the alarm with the trumpets. Then the LORD your God will remember you and rescue you from your enemies. 10 Blow the trumpets in times of gladness, too, sounding them at your annual festivals and at the beginning of each month. And blow the trumpets over your burnt offerings and peace offerings. The trumpets will remind the LORD your God of his covenant with you. I am the LORD your God.”
Numbers 10:1-10 New Living Translation
All right then, we are getting somewhere--not just rocking in our chair!
The Greek word for silver trumpet is, "salpingx."
Again, it is written,
51 But let me reveal to you a wonderful secret. We will not all die, but we will all be transformed! 52 It will happen in a moment, in the blink of an eye, when the last trumpet [salpingx] is blown. For when the trumpet sounds, those who have died will be raised to live forever. And we who are living will also be transformed. 53 For our dying bodies must be transformed into bodies that will never die; our mortal bodies must be transformed into immortal bodies.
54 Then, when our dying bodies have been transformed into bodies that will never die, this Scripture will be fulfilled:
“Death is swallowed up in victory.
55 O death, where is your victory?
O death, where is your sting?l”
56 For sin is the sting that results in death, and the law gives sin its power. 57 But thank God! He gives us victory over sin and death through our Lord Jesus Christ.
58 So, my dear brothers and sisters, be strong and immovable. Always work enthusiastically for the Lord, for you know that nothing you do for the Lord is ever useless.
1 Corinthians 15:51-58 New Living Translation
All that you do for the LORD can be symbolized by that holy half shekel, now that we are in the Age of Grace.
The trumpets won't be complete for them to be blown until the last Christian is saved.
It is written,
Jesus told them, "This is the only work God wants from you: Believe in the one he has sent."
John 6:29 New Living Translation
Thus, a little bit of silver is added to one or the other salpingx as each believer gets saved!
As many here on The Five Doves have said, "The trumpet is about to be blown!
Take care!
~Blessings,
Mike Colunga