Bring Forth the Holy Artist in You

Selections from Names/Shemot in Ki Tissa Exodus 30.11-34.35
We're crossing the wilderness in the second scroll of the Old Testament. God is passing the dharma to us, the eternal wisdom, in practical language and instruction. We are encouraged to tap our intuition and artistry. We are instructed how to direct our devotion effectively and powerfully. And we are invited into a sacred contract with divinity.

God singles out Bezalel and Oholiab
Endowing them with refined awareness
Ability, craftsmanship and knowledge
Bring forth the holy artists in yourself

How quickly one turns aside from the way God shows us
We tend to bow and sacrifice to golden calves
Thinking God can be defined by one form or another

Prostrate and pray: pardon my iniquity
We remember your vow to our ancestors
Take us for your own and go in our midst

In the morning present yourself to me
And I’ll pass before you revealing compassion
Kindness, truth, omnipotence, patience and vast love
Remembering your good deeds, and for the repentant
Forgiving sins, rebellion and error

God says, hereby I make a covenant with you
Take a count of your numbers (This is empowering)

You Israelites (all seekers of truth) keep my Sabbaths
As a sign between us forever to know you’re consecrated

Give some money as an offering
To support the Tents of Meeting
Always give something to support sacred places

Redeem every firstborn
Don’t come before me empty-handed
Every child is our firstborn. Come before God with offerings

Don’t offer sacrifices to me with leaven (pride)
When you’re stiff-necked, I don’t go in your midst
Lest you be destroyed. So leave off your finery (vanity)

Don’t boil a kid in its mother’s milk
Have compassion for all animals

Come down from the heights bearing the covenant
Two tables of stone (letter symbols) inscribed on both sides
The work and writing of El (of God)

Write down these teachings (and live them)
For with them you strike a covenant with God