If you don't
have a One Year Bible or prefer something online, this link will take you to
the day's reading, http://oneyearbibleonline.com/daily-oyb/. This
site allows you to select from several languages and several English
translations.
FEBRUARY 14
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 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. Yet, the essence
of being a disciple is sitting at Jesus’ feet learning from Him in His Word,
through His Spirit. And can you imagine the privilege we have of guiding people
into this relationship and experience? It is totally humbling and amazing.
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. Before you can learn from Him, you must take the yoke willingly.
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.
Please Read
the Following Disclaimer
I'm writing the Reading Notes to and
for those who are following a One Year Bible and are 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, that is, 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 and important discipleship manual we have and it is the 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, or whom we are to be following. 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, as disciples, 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, making disciples in the harvest.
If you would like a more descriptive
commentary that is still readable and concise, I'd recommend the Bible Knowledge Commentary (BKC).
I read the BKC in doing background for the Reading Notes and refer to it quite
often. I also make reference to maps or charts in the BKC, though I will only
note where those resources can be found. Often you can do a search for these
and find them in Google books. Buying both volumes of the Bible Knowledge
Commentary would be a good idea.
I am not endorsing any particular
One Year Bible translation; in fact, I read something you probably don't, Die
Revidierte Lutherbibel, 1984. Unless noted, all Scripture quotes are from the
ESV Bible.
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. Often there is a breadth of opinion on certain events, both
historical and prophetic. Many of my views come from my church background,
theological training and my personal study.
I'm
doing this with discipleship in mind, meaning, I'm writing out thoughts that
will keep discipleship and our growth as disciples applied to what we are
reading. Remember, the real focus of the Reading Notes is to be a
supplement, a disciple’s commentary, giving motivation and insight so that we
will keep following our Lord in the harvest, reaching the lost and making
disciples, who make disciples. Being in
the Word every day, sitting at Jesus’ feet, learning directly from Him, is the
essential essence of being and making disciples.
May the Lord bless you as you follow Him in the
harvest, reaching the lost and making disciples, who make disciples. Dan
If you would like documents
containing an entire month of the Reading Notes, go to https://sites.google.com/site/dlkachikis/reading-notes.
If you would like a full
presentation of discipleship read Simply
Disciples*Making Disciples.
Or if you are struggling with
insomnia and would like a long boring dissertation on disciple making, these
can both be found on https://sites.google.com/site/dlkachikis/reading-notes.
Reading Notes ©, Dan Kachikis
2011, 2012, 2014, 2015, 2016, 2018
The One Year Bible © by
Tyndale House Publishers, Inc., Wheaton Illinois 60189
The Holy Bible, English
Standard Version® (ESV®) Copyright © 2001 by Crossway, a publishing ministry of
Good News Publishers.
All charts/graphics/outlines
from the Bible Knowledge Commentary are used with the permission of David C.
Cook.
© 1983, 2001 John F Walvoord and Roy B Zuck.
The Bible Knowledge Commentary is published by David C Cook.
All rights reserved. Publisher permission
required to reproduce.
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