FEBRUARY 9
Exodus 29:1-30:10
There is a lot of detail today. It is fascinating at times
to listen to someone, who really has a feel for all of this symbolism, describe
what he thinks the symbols mean.
Generally speaking, as you read, look for major impressions
and then look for some details that stand out to you.
What we are seeing is God describing the ceremony for the
consecration of the priests, in this case, Aaron and his sons. Moses is still
on the mountain. In order for them to represent the people before God, they
themselves needed to be cleansed and prepared. There are aspects of this
consecration that are looking ahead to Jesus. We'll see more of that when we
read the book of Hebrews. The Father's preparation of the Son to be our Priest
and Redeemer was more dramatic than what we'll read here. One notable
difference, where there are no lines of correspondence between this ceremony
and our Lord, is that He was sinless. No sin offering was necessary for Him,
nor did He need to make yearly sacrifices of cleansing for Himself. He is the
sinless priest who interceded for us and He is the pure sacrifice who stood in
our place.
Exodus 29
Vs. 1-9 First, Aaron and his sons have to be washed and then
dressed in their clothes. Notice that God promises that as long as there is an
Israel, Aaron and his descendants will be the priests.
One thought here: How did the Father prepare the Son to be
our priest? Were there clothes? Was there a ceremony? Think about the Christmas
story and Hebrews 10:5.
Vs. 10-14 This is a sin offering to cleanse Aaron and his
sons. Notice where you burned the sin offering that covered their sins. Read
Hebrews 13:11-13. Pretty cool.
Vs. 15-18 This was a sacrifice symbolizing total dedication.
Just as the animal was totally offered on the altar, Aaron and his sons were to
be totally devoted to serving God. Look at Romans 12:1. When it says the aroma
was pleasing, it was because of the total dedication of the worshiper. Later,
when people with impure hearts give these offerings to God, He will say they
stink.
After our sin has been forgiven, the next step is total
devotion and offering to God.
Vs. 19-28 This third sacrifice symbolized their readiness to
join God in ministry. They were cleansed of sin and fully devoted with all on
the altar. Now their ears were dedicated to hearing God. The actions of their
hands were dedicated to obeying and working for God, and the steps of their
feet were dedicated to following God.
V. 21 Their nice new clothes were sprinkled in blood.
Hebrews 9:22 says, Indeed, under the law
almost everything is purified with blood, and without the shedding of blood
there is no forgiveness of sins.
V. 24 The wave offering of the meat and bread was symbolic
of them receiving from the Lord and offering it back. It was a fragrant aroma
to God as they offered this back to God on the altar.
Vs. 26-28 And they were fed and blessed by God in their
service with and for Him. This is actually a meal with God. They are now
partners with Him in ministry.
Vs. 29-30 The office and the clothing would always belong to
Aaron and his sons.
Vs. 31-34 This special meal of
ordination could only be prepared a certain way and it could only be eaten by
the priests that day. It could not be made into sandwiches the next day. It had
to be consumed by eating in celebration of their ordination that day or by fire
on the day after.
Vs. 35-37 This ceremony would take a week for the atoning
and consecration of both the priests and the altar.
Vs. 38-46 Now this would be the primary responsibility of
the service of the priest. They did a lot of stuff during the special days, but
this would be every day. This was their main and most important ongoing service
to the people. This sacrifice was each morning and evening. It wasn't primarily
for the covering of sins, but an offering of thanks to God. The elements of
this sacrifice were all the things God had given them to sustain their lives:
meat, flour, oil and wine.
V. 41 The acknowledgement of thanks and dependence on God
would be a pleasing aroma to Him.
V. 42 The result is that God would meet with the priests and
speak to them.
Vs. 43-46 And He would meet with His people and dwell with
them.
For us following our Lord in the harvest, I think the
preparation of the priests speaks to the heart of the disciple. We are cleansed
because of Jesus; we lay our lives on the altar in full devotion and we are
invited into ministry with God in the harvest. He shares the blessing with us
as we hear, obey and follow. And our joy is the joy of our Savior, seeing
people meet God, follow Him as disciples and dwell with Him forever.
Exodus 30:1-10
It is interesting that the altar of incense is first
mentioned here. It was another of those responsibilities of the priests that
had to be done twice a day. The lampstand in the Holy Place had to be supplied
with oil morning and evening. But here we see this small pillar standing in the
middle of the veil that would someday be torn when Jesus died. From this altar
would be a continual column of incense rising up before God, symbolizing the
prayer of the people. This was the place where the Christmas story really
begins. The people are praying outside and Zechariah the priest goes in to add
incense to this altar in the evening. On the right side of the altar he sees
the angel Gabriel standing there saying to him, "Your prayers have been
heard before God."
God built amazing symbols into the everyday life of the
nation of Israel. These symbols would point to the coming and ministry of
Jesus. Yet for us too, they still have something to say to us. As disciples in
the harvest we are supposed to be constantly praying, not just for ourselves,
but for the progress of the kingdom as the gospel of Christ reaches into the
lives of the lost around us as we make disciples, who make disciples.
So far, the Lord has given Israel a prophet (Moses), a
priest (Aaron & Sons), and symbols of perpetual light (the Word), perpetual
provision and care (the bread), perpetual forgiveness (the daily sacrifices),
and perpetual prayer (the incense). Then add to this that all the men were to
appear before the Lord three times a year, personally bearing the testimony of
redemption to their families, nation and neighbors. If Israel had truly
followed God in faith and gratefulness, they would have been a blessed nation
and a mighty witness for God. As disciples, this is an incredible picture of
our lives in Jesus in the harvest. Instead of the temple and all the customs,
we begin in the mornings (or whenever it works in the day) with our Bibles, in
prayer, in faith and gratefulness, ready to follow Him into the harvest. We
also have the church, a community of people to grow and work with in the
harvest.
Matthew 26:14-46
Vs. 14-29 What is interesting is that Matthew/Mark/Luke
record the actual giving of the Lord’s Supper memorial. John gives the most
comprehensive view, but doesn’t give the exact words. The chronological events
are as follows from Luke 22 and John 13: The supper and the partial institution
of the Lord’s Supper came first. Jesus had the disciples divide His cup among
themselves to be drunk later, and then He broke the bread signifying His body. He
mentioned that His betrayer was at the table and next came the fight over who
would be first. Jesus washed the disciples’ feet, mentioned to John the identity
of the betrayer, gave the morsel to Judas, Satan entered Judas and he left. With
that final morsel the supper was over and Judas was gone. Then Jesus promised a
blessing on those who had continued with Him and He drank the cup with them
that had already been poured out, that signified the blood of the new covenant.
Then came the upper room discourse (Jn. 14-17), most of which was given as they
walked toward the Mount of Olives. Finally Jesus entered the garden of
Gethsemane with His disciples.
This means that Judas was at the initial part of the Lord’s
Supper and then had his feet washed. Jesus showed him love and gave him
opportunity to change his mind, right up to the end. What blows me away is that
Jesus’ behavior toward Judas never changed, so that the disciples had no clue
it was him.
V. 18 Jerusalem was flooded with people during the Passover.
It is a miracle that they found this room. It is thought that this was also the
room they were in after the resurrection and on the day of Pentecost. The
theory is that it belonged to the family of John Mark, the writer of the next
Gospel.
V. 26 It is interesting that we are reading of God making
the Old Covenant with Israel, as we are reading here of Jesus making the New
Covenant with His blood.
Vs. 30-35 This is an important event, especially for Peter.
Jesus was telling them what would happen. They would leave Him, but it was
already predicted. This wasn't as much a warning as an encouragement to them
not to feel too defeated when they did this. Rather, Jesus focused them
forward. In v. 32 He mentions that when He is risen, He’ll meet them in
Galilee. The weight of Jesus' words is on them meeting Him in Galilee. He passes
over the “risen” part and emphasizes the meeting in Galilee. I wonder why. What
was so important? We'll see.
Vs. 36-46 This is Jesus' understanding and dealing with what
He would have to endure on the cross.
V. 38 That distinctly human part of us, the soul, was
reacting to the thought of death. Jesus was fully man in body and soul and
fully God in spirit, fully joined and fully one. He was the God man.
Jesus' submission to the Father is a model to every
disciple.
V. 41 This temptation probably had to do with the fear and
flight that would dominate all of the disciples in a short time.
Psalm 31:19-24
What an amazing lesson of praise from David. To be able to
sing this kind of praise and have this kind of testimony, you have to face all
the negative, the threats and the anxiety, crying out to God.
Vs. 19-20 Laura pointed out to me this morning the words of
Exodus 29:46, And they shall know that I am the Lord their God, who brought them out of the land
of Egypt that I might dwell among them. I am the Lord their God.
God
has always meant to dwell with us. It makes sense that His goodness is stored
up for those who fear Him and take their refuge in Him.
Vs. 21-22 David could only learn v. 21 by living through v.
22, hoping in God and crying out to Him. God has no other way to teach us so
that the lesson is written on our hearts.
Vs. 23-24 It is worth waiting on the Lord to have this
burned across your heart and become your testimony to others. Wait on the Lord.
Proverbs 8:14-26
It seems to me that God is saying we should really, really
be seeking wisdom. What parent or spouse couldn’t use more wisdom? James says
that if anyone lacks wisdom they should ask God. Paul says we are to know what
the will of the Lord is, like we should really be able to understand. I guess
it’s all in the Word. All we need to add is time and desire to read what He
says and do it.
The words here also suggest why we don't seek wisdom. We
don't value it more than we value other stuff. I think I'm finally beginning to
get this message.
Finally, notice that the wisdom of God is seen in creation.
Intelligent design is not only something God expects us to notice, but His
wisdom in creation is meant to make our hearts secure and trustful. God's
wisdom in creation is a major factor in the book of Job and in His rebuke of
Job. It is as if God is saying, "You don't understand what has happened or
why, but you see My power and wisdom in creation, so trust Me."
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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