As Heard From Rabbi Avigdor Miller ZT”L

“And on the day of the Shabbat, two lambs…” (28:9)

What is the message that is proclaimed by the Shabbat offerings?
Three gigantic principles are being enunciated.

1) The Universe was created from Nothing. “By the Word of Hashem the heavens were made; and all their host by the breath of His mouth” (Tehillim 33:6). “For He spoke, and it became; He commanded, and it arose” (ibid. 33:9). Forever Hashem, does Your Word stand in the heavens” (ibid. 119:89). “You established the world and it stands” (ibid. 119:90). The word “Hashem means “Being” and also “Causing Being”. He alone has intrinsic existence (”Being”), and all that exists has come into being and remains in being, because of His Will. Thus all of what we call Reality is solely His Will.

2) “The world is built with Kindliness” (ibid. 89:3). Every phenomenon: every object and every process are intended for kindly purpose. “For His kindliness is everlasting” (ibid. 118:1), not only in the sense that the processes of the world continue to function forever with the same purpose of benevolence for life in this world; but the phenomena of the world, if utilized properly by the holy nation, cause the eventual happiness of the Afterlife, which is forever.

3) “Between Me and the sons of Israel it is a sign forever, that in six days Hashem made the heavens and the earth” (Shemot 31:7). The message of Shabbat proclaims that this superlative privilege of serving as agents in the promulgation of Hashem as the Creator: is given solely to the sons of Israel. No other nation (or creed) is permitted to assume the dignity of this function, and therefore cannot be justified in declaring a Shabbat, whether on the seventh day or any other day of the week. “The Kingdom of Cohanim, and the holy people” (Shemot 19:6) are elected by Hashem for this function.

The Mussaf-offerings of Shabbat come to remind us of these three principles. Even today, when we are unable to bring these offerings, we are still expected to proclaim these outstanding lessons of the Shabbat.

Quoted from “Journey Into Greatness” by Rabbi Avigdor Miller ZT’L

Shabbat Shalom

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