Exodus 37-38
So, what do you get from this section? God
builds furniture! No wonder Jesus was a carpenter. It is interesting that we
have so many extremes of ideas. Obviously we worship God in spirit and in
truth, and we don't need buildings or lavish surroundings, yet look at how God
made the tabernacle and surrounding courtyard. The precious metals that they
used weighed tons. We need to observe God, learn of Him and resist our pious
opinions. That was the same trap the disciples fell into when Mary broke the
ointment to anoint Jesus' feet. They rebuked her, because in their minds,
"God is for the poor and this was waste." The real rebuke came from
Jesus.
Exodus 37
Vs. 1-9 The building of this furniture went
from the inside out, from the Most Holy Place, out to the Holy Place, out to
the courtyard. First you have the ark of the covenant, used once a year to make
atonement for the sins of the nation, appealing to God for His mercy and
presence in Israel, fulfilling the covenant of Abraham through His covenant
with them as a nation. That was in the Most Holy Place.
Vs. 10-16 Then, on the other side of the
veil, in the Holy Place, you have the table for the bread that had to be tended
every Sabbath (Lev. 24:8). The twelve loaves represented Israel and God's
gracious, daily provision and sustaining blessing upon them. (Any lessons for
us disciples here?)
Vs. 17-24 Then you have the lampstand that
had to be filled evening and morning so that it would never go out (Exodus
27:21). The lampstand was made from one solid, 75-pound piece of gold. This
represented the leading and guidance that Israel was always to seek. This was
the most elaborate and precious thing in the Holy Place and probably would
represent His Word. (Any lessons for us disciples here?)
Vs. 25-29 Then came the altar of incense that was to be tended morning and evening (Ex.
30:7-8), that also was never to go out. This represented the constant prayers of
the people to God. The smoke of the incense rose up the veil before God who
symbolically was in the Most Holy Place on the seat of mercy. (Any lessons for
us disciples here?)
Exodus 38
Vs. 1-7 Outside the tabernacle (the tent that
housed the Holy Place and the Most Holy Place) was the altar of the burnt
offering. This was also used twice a day, representing the constant sacrifice
of substitution for the ongoing sins of the people. These sacrifices also
incorporated all of the elements of God's provision for His people: meat, flour
and wine. (Any lessons for us disciples here?)
V. 8 Finally, between the altar and the
tabernacle was the basin of bronze
where the priests washed before they entered the Holy Place of the tabernacle.
The mirrors were highly polished bronze. They may also have been brass bowls
used for carrying things or for cleaning as they served the needs of Moses and
Joshua. The tent of meeting was the
tent that Moses put up outside the camp where he met with God. Joshua lived in
this tent when it wasn't in use by Moses. After this, the tent that made up the
courtyard and the tabernacle, the entire complex, would be referred to as the tent
of meeting.
It just hit me how God built in constant
cycles of reminders, the bread, the prayers, the light, the need for cleansing
from sin, morning and evening. God put the entire nation on
"two-a-days," that is, symbolic sacrifices morning and evening. I
suppose we don't need more ritual; but, as disciples, what do we do to keep the
reality of His grace and our need in the center of our hearts, day and night? I
read in the morning. I pray in the morning. Maybe I need to go to
"two-a-days" too.
Vs. 9-20 This was the courtyard of the
tabernacle.
Vs. 21-31 This is a total surprise to me.
These were very advanced people who not only had amazing building skills, but
they kept great records. Isn't it interesting that God built this into them
through slavery, having to learn the skills to build Egypt?
V. 24 This would have been over 2,175 pounds
of gold.
Vs. 25-26 You can figure out the weight of
silver. A talent was 75 pounds. What surprises me here is that the shekels of
silver came from the men who were 20 and older. This means they took a count
and a census as they were leaving Egypt, and I'll bet they had this broken down
by tribes and families.
All of this building took about 10 months.
Tomorrow, God goes into the clothing business.
Matthew 28
What an amazing chapter in the Bible.
Vs. 1-10 The women came early because the
preparation of Jesus' body had been done quickly to get Him into the tomb
before the Sabbath began.
There is joy in all of this, but notice that
the emphasis is to tell the disciples to meet Jesus in Galilee. Jesus is risen,
but instead of letting the disciples and everyone go ballistic about that, the
angels and Jesus kind of go, "yeah, yeah, ok, are you done? Good, now tell
them to go to Galilee." Look at vs. 7 & 10. I thought that the
resurrection was the huge deal. It obviously was, but huge only when applied.
We'll see what the application of the cross and the resurrection are when we
look at vs. 16-20.
V. 10 Notice that
Jesus calls the disciples, my brothers.
This sounds like Romans 8:29, For those
whom he foreknew he also predestined to be conformed to the image of his Son,
in order that he might be the firstborn among many brothers.
The significance of Jesus saying brothers is that Jesus was not only
fully God, but He is fully human and was now the victorious human king who
could rightfully reclaim the authority and dominion of Adam. All mankind should
rejoice at this.
Vs. 11-15 When you read this you notice a few
things. First, the Jews had political power to pull this off. The guards should
have been killed for falling asleep. That they could pay off the guards and
placate Pilate showed that they were really in charge. Second, the lie itself
made no sense. The thought that the guards fell asleep was silly; and then, if
they had fallen asleep, how would they know it was the disciples? The people
would have seen through this lie very easily.
Vs. 16-20 The 11 finally get to Galilee. The
mention of doubt was probably a reference to Thomas' previous doubts or what is
mentioned in John when they met Jesus on the beach. Although He didn't look
like Jesus, they knew in their hearts it was He.
What was so important about meeting there?
The importance for Jesus was the application of the resurrection and the focus
of all that He had now accomplished. They were to go.
Vs. 18-20 ought to be tattooed on every
Christian. We have no other reason to be on earth. What powerful and
beautiful verses these are. These are our orders, our mission, our good news,
and our strength. These are our weapons to fight to save broken people like
ourselves. And we've got the power because we've got HIM. This should cause a
disciple's heart to beat faster.
Though saved by grace in His sovereign plan,
and beloved despite our disobedience, I will never understand a believer who is
not reaching out to the lost, making disciples, who make disciples.
Notice the order of this commission.
Make disciples: This is
belief and repentance, entering into a living, growing relationship with
Christ. The "lordship" aspect is present immediately upon belief in
Christ, for if Christ is God, God must be worshipped by sheer definition of the
word "God." To believe that Jesus is God is not "a meritorious
work." He cannot be our Savior unless He is God, and if God, He should be
worshiped and served.
Baptizing them: This
personal devotion is linked to the action of publicly declaring our devotion to
Christ. This must come before teaching. Learning without personal devotion and
a mission leads to, well, look around.
Teaching them: Teaching
them what? What did Jesus command the disciples? When you begin reading Mark
and then Luke and then John, take note of what He tells the disciples. Most of
what Jesus will command them has to do with following Him as disciples in the
harvest, being light and salt. It is assumed that they will live lives worthy
of their calling and worthy of Him. Living morally is a given. Following Him
and acknowledging His name before men is the command. And remember, the
motivation to obey is always love. (John 14:21-23)
And He is with us always to the end of the age. Not only is this present confidence
in the work of the harvest, but Jesus is showing the finish line. The end of
the age is coming. This is motivation to do the work now while there is still
time. This is also our blessed hope that He will return in glory and we will
see Him.
Psalm 34:11-22
Vs. 11-14 David earned the right to say these
words through long years of being hunted and following the Lord in spite of
opportunities he had to take short cuts, disobey and not wait on the Lord's
deliverance. As we read the story of David's suffering, we'll see how David actually
did vs. 13-14.
Actually, vs. 13-14 will be used to define righteous, which will be repeated
several times in the next few verses. The word righteous is basically archaic outside of Christian circles. It
would be good to think through what that word means. It means to live according
to a standard and to be found "right" according to that standard. In
the OT the basic standard was the Ten Commandments. For Christians, it is
living according to our Lord, living according to what He stands for and according
to His words. Righteousness isn't religious compliance. Religious righteousness
means living according to the behavioral standards of rules. Being righteous in
Christ means having Jesus' work applied to us so that we can stand forgiven and
sinless before God. And then it means living according to the reality of who
Jesus is and what His Word says is true about life.
Vs. 15-22 This is David's encouragement for those
who are suffering to wait on the Lord. These are great verses God has given to
strengthen our hearts. Notice that one is quoted by John when he gives his
account of the crucifixion of Jesus. Can you figure out which one?
Proverbs 9:9-10
I feel like I need v. 10 tattooed on my
heart. I think of what Paul said:
1
Corinthians 8:1 Now concerning food
offered to idols: we know that “all of us possess knowledge.” This “knowledge”
puffs up, but love builds up.
I want
to know Him and be known only by HIM.
Philippians
3:10-15 That I may know him and the power
of his resurrection, and may share his sufferings, becoming like him in his
death, that by any means possible I may attain the resurrection from the dead.
Not that I have already obtained this or am already perfect, but I press on to
make it my own, because Christ Jesus has made me his own. Brothers, I do not
consider that I have made it my own. But one thing I do: forgetting what lies
behind and straining forward to what lies ahead, I press on toward the goal for
the prize of the upward call of God in Christ Jesus. Let those of us who are
mature think this way, and if in anything you think otherwise, God will reveal
that also to you.
Amen,
and Happy Valentine's Day.
If you’re reading along and don’t have a One Year
Bible, click on this link http://www.esvbible.org/devotions/every-day-in-the-word/. If that doesn't
work, go to http://www.esvbible.org/devotions/
and click on “Every
Day in the Word.”
I'm writing these comments to and for those who are
following a One Year Bible and interested in growing deeper as a disciple,
following Jesus in the harvest. My hope is to see the growth of a discipleship
culture in the church. Groups of 3-4 disciples, meeting weekly, encouraging
each other to follow Christ and work to reach out and make disciples who make
disciples. The Bible itself is the most universal manual we have and key to our
growth and service in Christ. Nothing keeps us more focused on why we are here
or what we are to be doing. My comments are only meant to provide some
explanation of the events or to show the flow of God's plan of redemption. My
comments are in no way exhaustive, but are designed to keep us focused on
Christ and our role in His harvest. My hope is that the people in these groups
will grow in Christ and be willing, after a year, to find 3 others to meet with
and encourage in their growth as disciples, disciples making disciples in the
harvest.
If you would like a complete description of this model
of being and making disciples you can find it in my book: Simply
Disciples*Making Disciples. http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B011WJIDQA?*Version*=1&*entries*=0
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, I read something you don't, die revidierte Lutherbibel 1984.
Anyone reading along with us is welcome to do so and is
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. Send
comments or feedback to dgkachikis@gmail.com.
If you would like documents containing an entire month
of the Reading Notes, go to https://sites.google.com/site/dlkachikis/reading-notes. You can download
these to use on your computer or to print.
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