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FEBRUARY 6
Exodus 23:14-25:40
Exodus 23:14-13
Vs. 14-19 These feasts were a
great idea by God to have the entire nation, and the men in particular, always
focused on God’s salvation, redemption and selection of Israel. The feasts made
the people think of God’s provision and His cleansing of their sin. There is
actually much more to this, but it is amazing to think of what is built into
these three festivals. More than anything, in a heart of faith, these feasts
would have made Israel strong in knowing that the promise of God to redeem all
mankind was being worked out through them. They were the chosen people through
whom the promise to Adam and Eve and the promise to Abraham would be fulfilled
and proclaimed in the world.
As a footnote to these feasts
and the presentation of sacrifices and firstfruits, three stipulations are
given. Looking at them, it seems to me that each applies to each feast in that
order.
V. 18 This has to do with the
Passover feast where yeast or “leaven” was not allowed.
V. 19 They should offer only the
best as firstfruits. This was the feast at Pentecost, 50 days after the
Passover.
The young goat and its mother's
milk - this has to do with the feast in October, the Day of Atonement and the
Feast of Tabernacles. Men smarter and godlier than I have broken their heads
trying to understand and explain the prohibition here, but it makes sense to me
that it’s just out of line, so if God said not to do it, don’t do it. It could
be that there was a pagan ritual involving this. It could also be that since a
goat plays a significant part in the Day of Atonement, any goats offered were
to be roasted.
In a practical sense, for all
the men to come to Jerusalem three times a year would have made Israel very
unique in the eyes of all its neighbors. They would have been unique not just
religiously, but in terms of sanity, leaving the country unguarded for weeks,
in fact, the same weeks every year. For Israel itself, it would have
demonstrated great love, faith and dependence on God their Savior.
As disciples, we live with
reminders of our salvation and the grace given to us. That God would choose us
to love, forgive, and call to His service is incredible. The Word reminds us of
God’s plan to redeem and bring salvation through Jesus. Communion reminds us of
the price that was paid to redeem us. The very fact that the Church exists
should be a reminder of our Savior, our place in God’s kingdom and our mission
to reach a lost world, making disciples. God has built all this, and more, into
our lives as disciples; but they only stay vital and meaningful if we are in
love with Christ and are following Him in the harvest.
Vs. 20-22 This is a promise to
the people that God will give them the land. They have seen His power, so there
should be no doubt that God will do this. They see the mountain smoking,
burning at the top, lightning, thunder, a blaring trumpet…all indications that
what Moses is telling them from God is a pretty good bet.
One question I have is regarding
the angel. Is this just an angel or is it Christ? I say this because of what
Paul/Spirit says in 1 Corinthians 10:1-4, For
I do not want you to be unaware, brothers, that our fathers were all under the
cloud, and all passed through the sea, and all were baptized into Moses in the
cloud and in the sea, and all ate the same spiritual food, and all drank the
same spiritual drink. For they drank from the spiritual Rock that followed
them, and the Rock was Christ.
In the verses above it says Christ
was represented in the “Rock” or provision of water; but since there is the
aspect of following or accompanying them, I would guess that Jesus was that
angel who led them. God's presence was with the people, not by proxy, but He
was actually there in the person of Christ, the angel of the Lord. Now, in the
promise of the Holy Spirit, God is not only "with us," He dwells
within us. Amazing.
Vs. 23-33 There is a lot to
observe here.
Notice that God says He will
bless them and give them victory, but it is repeated that they dare not worship
the gods of these people. That sounds like the warning about the tree of good
and evil.
Notice that God says He will not
drive the people out immediately and why. Also, God says He will drive the
people out of the land. This means that, in a sense, Israel never had to fight
against anyone. There never had to be any bloodshed. The people of the land
knew that God was giving the land to Israel and they could have responded to God
and left. That is an interesting wrinkle on what we'll be reading in Joshua,
especially when we see what Rahab says.
Exodus 24
Vs. 1-8 This is the “Mosaic
Covenant,” that is, the covenant that God made with Israel through Moses. It is
a conditional covenant, in that the people have to agree to obey in order to
see the blessings. This obedience was to have been driven by their love of God
for their salvation from Egypt. It would be saving faith by believing that God
was fulfilling the promise to Abraham through them. Even here, the focus was
not on them, but on God, who would show them love as a witness to draw the
nations.
Moses had already been writing,
since he mentions a Book of the Covenant.
The Ten Commandments actually signified other commands God had given and those
He would still give. This is why in the New Testament we'll see statements that
loving God and one's neighbor actually fulfill the law. Just as loving God and
one's neighbor fulfilled the Ten Commandments (Romans 13:9), the Ten Commandments
summarized all of the laws of the Old Testament.
The people agreed to the
covenant and in the only time this happens in the OT, they are sprinkled
(somehow) with the blood of the covenant.
Those words, the blood of the covenant,
will be repeated when Jesus institutes the Lord’s Supper, in making a new
covenant.
Just for clarification, the
covenant that Jesus makes with us for redemption and righteousness before God
is unconditional. In the Mosaic Covenant (MC) obedience was a mandate. The MC
was an “If/Then” arrangement, not for salvation, but for national blessing. I
think that the “faith that saved” was in the God of Israel, who redeemed Israel
according to His promise to Abraham. No one could ever be saved by obeying the
law. Paul says that salvation is, and always has been, through faith.
Vs. 9-11 A meal usually followed
the making of a covenant. It says they see God. Jesus, John and Paul all say
that no one has ever seen God. So what is happening here? Again, I think that
they are seeing the angel of the Lord, the pre-incarnate Son of God. Seeing
Jesus is the only time mankind has ever seen God.
Another thing worth mentioning
has to do with the men at this meal, two of whom are Aaron’s sons. We need to
keep in mind that through these 40 years, God is going to be teaching the
people His holiness and the deadliness of sin. These two men are given a great
privilege. How many people have eaten with God? Surely they’ve gotta be like
“buds” with God, and if they mess up, He’ll cut them some slack. Right? Wrong.
Vs. 12-18 Joshua went further up
the mountain with Moses, but didn’t go up to the place where Moses met God.
This does mean that Joshua is being given great privilege. I find it
interesting that Moses’ successor is already shown to us.
Aaron and the guys went down to
the people to take care of stuff. I doubt that Joshua or Moses had food for 40
days. God must have somehow been providing for them too.
Exodus 25
Vs. 1-9 It is interesting that
the first thing God does after the covenant is to begin forming the nation
around their worship of Him. Notice that the materials for the tabernacle and
everything in it were to come from their free offerings as their hearts led
them.
God either gave Moses detailed
plans or He gave Moses a supernatural memory.
Also, some of these materials
for building the tabernacle were probably what the people brought out of Egypt.
But in the forty years they were living in the wilderness, I'll bet this
community of 2-3 million people became a stop on the caravan routes.
Vs. 10-22 Beginning from the
very innermost room, the Most Holy Place, God describes the ark of the covenant
and the mercy seat. It was here every year on the Day of Atonement that the
sins of the nation would be provisionally forgiven as a symbol of the
forgiveness that would come through Jesus.
Vs. 23-30 Now God describes the
furniture in the Holy Place, the room right before the veil that covered the
entrance to the Most Holy Place. It is interesting that the next thing God
talks about is the table for the bread of the Presence. The twelve loaves (Lev.
24:5) represent the people of Israel always being before God. That this symbol
was bread probably signified that the life and provision of Israel came from
Him.
Vs. 31-40 The lampstand
signified God's light and life to the people. The talent of gold in v. 39 was
about 75 pounds.
As you think of these pieces of
furniture, remember that in all God is doing here, He is setting the visual
aids to what redemption in Jesus would look like. The three pieces mentioned
symbolize the light God gives, the care and provision He gives, and most
importantly, the forgiveness and grace we receive from Him. The mercy seat was
set atop of the ark of the covenant which held the Word. The forgiveness is
given to us based, not on the law, but upon the promise of the living Word. These
three pieces represent what God gives to His people.
The only piece missing from the Holy
Place is the altar of incense representing the prayers of God's people rising
up before Him. This is our part. Of course, there is still the veil, but in a
couple of days in Matthew, Jesus will take that away.
There is deep symbolism in these
pieces of furniture, and blessings for those who take the time to consider and
meditate on them.
Matthew 24:29-51
It is good to keep in mind that
all of this prophetic information will have a very helpful and specific meaning
to the people going through the Tribulation. They will understand these words
better than we do. The Lord is giving them a basic outline of what will happen.
It is OK if we don't understand everything fully. They will.
Vs. 29-31 I’ve always thought
this was comical. In v. 15 from yesterday, the antichrist goes into the temple
with an attitude and declares himself to be god. Then he walks out on the
temple steps, and basically the earth and the universe go kaput. Cool, he has
just pronounced himself captain of the Titanic.
This is not the rapture of the
church before the Tribulation. This gathering refers to all believers on earth
at the end of the Tribulation. Because of the persecution, they will be driven
into all nations. The believing on earth will be supernaturally gathered, but
not be “changed” as Paul says the raptured church will be “changed” in 1
Corinthians 15:51-53. These believers will enter the Millennial Kingdom as
normal humans with normal and untransformed bodies. It is at this time, too,
that the Lord will resurrect all the OT believers and they will enter, enjoy,
and serve in the Millennial Kingdom of Christ.
Vs. 32-51 The fig tree
illustration is a reference to the “birth pangs” that are not the coming of
Christ, but give the sign that His “day” is coming. This coming “day” will be
all seven years of the Tribulation. For those disciples who are watching, there
will be a sense of alertness when they see times of great distress hit the
nations and the earth.
Vs. 36-39 Jesus says that the
day will come totally unexpected. There will be enough peace on earth to allow
the normal flow of life. The reference has to be to the beginning of the
Tribulation. This “day of the Lord” will bring such severe judgment that all
normal life on earth will end. Once the Tribulation begins, people who are wise
can begin marking X's on their calendars.
I understand vs. 40-41 to refer
to the rapture, that is, God removing the church from earth before the
Tribulation, thus introducing the Tribulation. Just as God made a choice
between belief and unbelief in the plagues of Egypt, He will do that also as He
begins the Tribulation. The result will be turmoil on the earth and many in
Israel will be awakened to belief in the gospel and their Messiah.
Vs. 42-51 This is the second
time Jesus has used this example with His disciples. Now all of this
information will have a great meaning to the people going through the
Tribulation, but Jesus expects all of His disciples in all ages to be awake and
alert. I know the final thing Jesus says about the lazy servant can be taken to
mean that this servant wasn’t a believer. I think that defeats the purpose of
the warning; but then, you don’t want a believer thrown into hell. What are we
to do?
My take on this is that the
servant is a believer, like millions we have today who live for themselves as
good Christians but do not follow Christ into the harvest. When they are
judged…and we all will stand before the judgment seat of Christ…their lives and
works built on the foundation will be looked at. I think this is another view
of 1 Corinthians 3:12-15. To cut him in
pieces is a figure of speech like, “the fir will fly,” or “tear him a new
one.” These hypocrites will suffer. I think those who live a lukewarm life for
Christ will feel deep distress and remorse in that moment when they see their
life’s work burned away and realize, in the presence of their Savior, what a
waste it was. I know the weeping and
gnashing of teeth is usually reserved for those who end up in hell, but I
think the anguish can be applied in this case to those who, though believing,
treat the love and grace and mission of Christ with contempt.
Psalm 30
The note here that this was at
the dedication of the temple probably means the tabernacle when David brought
the ark of the covenant into Jerusalem. David must have had times he wondered
if he would ever see this day. David's deep despair is felt here, but out of
that despair and crying out came this amazing testimony of God's care. Verses
11 and 12 came out of that suffering.
Vs. 1-3 Look at all the things
David mentions in these verses. These are the things God would also do for
those who came to the tabernacle and sought God's help and mercy. Notice the
connection between crying out to God and being healed.
Vs. 4-5 After all of the civil war
and the oppression of enemies, this nation was now united under God, under
David. The waiting was worth it. The morning had come.
Vs. 6-7 David had to experience
betrayal and persecution to become humble. That oppression was a blessing.
Vs. 8-10 In persecution is where
David learned to cry out to the Lord.
Vs. 11-12 And look what David
learned and how finding God as his help changed him.
As we read these psalms, they
should give us hope as we are crying out and waiting on the Lord. The joy that
God gave David will be given to us also, if we wait on the Lord.
Proverbs 7:24-27
There she is again. In my book, Looking
Out For Number One, I used these verses of warning for Andreas when Angela
came to get him. I intentionally made Angela look “normal” and “moral,” because
most men are smart enough not to go after a wild looking prostitute; but the
woman next door, or at church, or in the next office who they see at lunch,
comes right through their radar. But it all leads to the same place.
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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