Exodus 35:10-36:38
Ex. 35:10-36:7
Lots of observations here, but I'll only make a few.
The people gave willingly and eventually had to be restrained in their giving. They also gave willingly to make the calf. Giving doesn't tell the entire story, nor is it a sure sign of spiritual maturity.
The caution I see in all of this, for us as disciples, is that if they had sought the Lord and waited on Him, they would have gotten what they wanted, a place and symbol of worship. God was already giving the plan to Moses as they were pressing Aaron to allow them to go bovine. As often as I have heard preachers wax elephants on this story, talking about the willing heart of the people, as Paul/Spirit reminds us in 1Cor. 10, all of these people who were giving (except a couple) rebelled and died in the wilderness. Sin is incurable and the heart is deceitful beyond all things. Our religious routines and sacrifices do not mean spiritual maturity and can be used by us to gain our own ends and pacify our guilt. Our only hope is to keep our hearts soaked daily in the Word and for us to set our hearts on closely, humbly following the Spirit.
Verse 35 refers to the veil that stood before the Holy of Holies, in the Holy Place. In the Tabernacle, there were two connected tents. One was called the Holy Place, where the lampstand, altar of incense and table of the bread of the presence stood. As you entered this tent, straight ahead was the altar of incense, and just beyond that was the veil. Beyond that veil was the Holy of Holies. The ark of the covenant was in the Holy of Holies, holding the 10 commandments, and the top of the ark was the mercy seat, symbolically, the throne of God.
The priests entered the Holy Place twice every day, but they only entered the Holy of Holies once a year on the day of atonement where they made sacrifice for the sins of the people/nation. This veil separated the people from the presence of God. It was only by going though this veil that forgiveness for the people and nation could be made. This is the making of that veil.
The Tabernacle would be completed about a year after the exodus.
Matthew 27:32-66
For us as disciples, this is hallowed ground. All that Jesus endured and suffered for our salvation comes to a focus on the cross as He is cursed and punished by His Father, for our sins.
Note that the bystanders try to prolong Jesus' life/death to see if Elijah will come.
Notice verse v. 51 and think about what you just read in the OT portion….pretty cool, huh?
Notice the time when vs. 52-53 actually take place. They couldn't rise until He did.
What does this section mean to you in your life as a follower of Jesus in the harvest? What observations or thoughts come to mind as you read this?
Psalm 34:1-10
I have to admit that my heart really clings to the promise and assurance of this psalm. This morning, my heart is on the needing end of what David has experienced.
I once saw the first half of verse 8 on a coffee mug.
Proverbs 9:7-8
For anyone who has tried to help others, the trick is to understand the difference between a wise man and a fool. There are a lot of brilliant fools, and as you see in Matthew, even a lot of religious ones. As a disciple, seeking and praying for others to nurture as disciples, what does that spark of wisdom look like that can shine through immaturity? Jesus saw it in Peter and didn't let Peter go.
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.
No comments:
Post a Comment