February 10, Reading Notes

Exodus 30:11-31:18

Ex. 30:11-16

I'm not sure of all of the ramifications of this census, but here are a couple things that hit me.

First, this later seems to become the temple tax. In the NT we've read the story where Peter is confronted by the IRS about this tax and Jesus tells Peter to go fishing.

This tax doesn't seem to be a yearly thing, but happens now to cover the men who are counted in the census. I can't think of anything written that warns against numbering the men, but there is the story in 1 Chron. 21 where David numbered the fighting strength of Israel and God did bring a plague. Since the tax was only given for a census, maybe it was a reminder / warning not to be proud and that these men had first been redeemed by God.

All the tithes and taxes were to pay for the ministry of the priests and Levites, and for maintenance. The priests represented the people before God. The Levites were to serve in the temple and to educate the people, becoming the first Sunday school teachers.

Ex. 30:17-21

Another provision and warning for Aaron and his sons. There was to be a basin where they could wash before they served the Lord. The symbolic emphasis was that they were to be holy inwardly. Symbolic though this was, nevertheless, it was a grave warning that God would judge them.

In our service as disciples, our holiness and cleansing is important also. The difference is, we don't do this out of fear of punishment because this washing takes place in the love and grace of Christ as we read the Word.

Ex. 30:22-38

The fragrance of this anointing oil and incense would only be associated with God and worship and sacrifice. God, as a good educator, is not only covering things conceptually, and not only culturally (the feasts, etc), and not only visually, but now also through the association of this particular smell and God' holiness and their redemption in the activities in the Tabernacle.

Ex. 31:1-11

God not only sought out skilled men, but He skilled them to do this work. The same is true of us. Paul's words are still as gripping today as back when he said in 1 Corinthians 4:7 "For who sees anything different in you? What have you that you did not receive? If then you received it, why do you boast as if it were not a gift?"

Ex. 31:12-18

More laws will follow, but this is an important spot. God gives them a sign of this covenant. This sign shows they, as a nation, were separated from all races for the Lord's special purpose. It was based on God's work in creation, recounting the 6 days of work and His rest and enjoyment on the 7th day.

When it says they shouldn't do any work, it literally means work, or, that which you did to sustain your livelihood and take care of the cares of life. If you think of this in terms of what Jesus warns about as He teaches the disciples in the beatitudes, you get the picture. They were not to care for their lives, but seek first the kingdom of God. Jesus made it clear they could help others in showing mercy. It was to be a day of reflection on the creation, glory and goodness of God.

As disciples, whether on Sunday or some other day, we need to stop and chill and reflect on the creation, glory and goodness of God in Christ. From the outside, Israel keeping the Sabbath looked silly, but reflection made them stronger. The same is true for us.

Matthew 26:47-68

Matt. 26:47-56

There is a lot packed into these verses. Enjoy what you get out of them.

A couple of things:

It was dark, so Judas identified Jesus by a sign. So, "when I embrace this guy, grab Him!"

Jesus could have gotten out of this.

Luke, thankfully, tells us Jesus healed the ear.

Jesus commands the situation and creates a distraction so Peter and Co. are not whacked.

Matt. 26:57-68

63 But Jesus remained silent. And the high priest said to him, “I adjure you by the living God, tell us if you are the Christ, the Son of God.” 64 Jesus said to him, “You have said so. But I tell you, from now on you will see the Son of Man seated at the right hand of Power and coming on the clouds of heaven.”

"you have said so," meant yes. If this was poker, you would say that Jesus "sees and raises" him, on this challenge, not only admitting He is the Son of the God, but He also says He is the Son of Man from Daniel chapter 7.

I remember when I read this the first time, when they put the potato sack over Jesus' head and hit Him and taunted Him. I would not have wanted to have been one of those guys. The sobering thing is, at one time before I knew Christ, I could have seen myself doing something like this.

Psalm 32

Paul quotes this Psalm in Romans Ch. 4. What I find interesting, is the link between receiving God's forgiveness or deliverance, and teaching it to others. That is just like a disciple.

Proverbs 8:27-32

If we marvel at the creation, we marvel at the wisdom of God.  It is interesting that this is the 2nd time creation is referred to in today’s reading.

This same wisdom is available to us as God appeals to us to live our lives in following and obeying Him.

If you’re reading along and don’t have a One Year Bible, click on this link Every Day in the Word. If that doesn't work, go to http://www.gnpcb.org/esv/devotions/ and click on “Every Day in the Word.” 

I'm writing these comments to and for those at New Song who are following a One Year Bible and involved in a discipleship cell. We're meeting weekly and discussing the texts, not necessarily my comments. We're growing together, learning to become and make disciples who make disciples. We will all be leading others in this process and training them to do likewise.

The comments I'm writing are in no way exhaustive, but meant to give some leading thoughts on how the text applies to us as disciples and to encourage and stimulate our growth in reading the Bible, with the effect that we will grow as disciples and encourage the growth of others as disciples growing in the word. If you would like a more descriptive commentary that is still readable and concise, I'd recommend the Bible Knowledge Commentary. It's keyed to the NIV, so the result is, the commentators are constantly telling you what the Greek or Hebrew is. That never hurts.

I am not endorsing any particular One Year Bible, in fact, no one in our church reads the version I do, die revidierte Lutherbibel 1984.

Anyone reading along with us is welcome to do so and encouraged to take their own notes and make their own observations. If the comments made do not agree with your particular tradition or understanding, that's OK. Nothing I've written is meant to criticize any point of view, but only to express the truth of what God has written to us, as I understand it.