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Pastor's Reflection
Hebrews 9 describes Jesus as the high priest for all time and all people.
If you think back to our time earlier this year in the "Year of the Bible," you recognize what the first couple of verses of the chapter are describing: the Tabernacle . . . with the lampstand and the bread, the curtain and the altar, the ark of the covenant. The priests and Levites only entered the outer room. Only the high priest entered the inner room, and only then on the day of atonement.
Hebrews interprets this ritual of Judaism in the context of Christianity, in light of Christ. In the Jewish tabernacle, only one man is allowed to enter, once and for always. That never changes. But Hebrews is telling us that, in the light of Christ, there is a new way into the tabernacle, a way in for ANY person, not just the high priest.
Through the blood of Christ (not goats, bulls, or heifers), believers are cleansed from the acts that lead to death, and are led into acts that serve the living God.
So then Christ becomes the mediator of a new covenant, sealed in the blood of the perfect, unblemished Lamb of God. "Christ was sacrificed once to take away the sins of many people; and he will appear a second time, not to bear sin, but to bring salvation to those who are waiting for him."
Showing posts with label tabernacle. Show all posts
Showing posts with label tabernacle. Show all posts
Saturday, September 26, 2009
Tuesday, March 3, 2009
Be a Levite!
Brrr. . . Another chilly day. But we could have gotten the snow from that last storm, so I guess cold isn't so bad. (PS I like snow, that silver lining was for everyone who HATES winter :0)Sounds like a warm up is on the way. Just hang in there. . . .
Here's the question and answer from yesterday:
Mon, Mar 2: What group came to do their work at the Tent of Meeting under the supervision of Aaron and his sons? (Num 8)
Num 8:22 22 After that, the Levites came to do their work at the Tent of Meeting under the supervision of Aaron and his sons.
Hmm, I seem to be off on the readings and days of the week, since the question for Monday actually covers the readings from Tuesday. Let me get that figured out and we'll get back on track again.
And here's today's reflection:
In today's reading from Numbers, we read God's instruction for setting up the lampstand (aka menorah) by Aaron, which was a part of the dedication of the tabernacle. Remember all those chapters in Exodus we spent reading about building the temple? Well, we now see all those lists of this and that finally coming together.
The menorah represents the presence of God in the tabernacle, hence the need for particular attention to its detail (remember "I am the lord your God am therefore be holy as I am holy"). It also has botanical symbolism too. The menorah was created to look like a tree and is probably meant to parallel the tree of life in the garden of Eden. Therefore, it relates God's presence and creation.
This chapter is also concerned with the purification of the Levites. Today's church doesn't really have an official equivalent to the Levite--they weren't quite clergy but not laypeople either. They are a third category all their own. Numbers 8:5-22 seems to indicate they are "living sacrifices in the camp" (Dozeman, NIB Commentary on Leviticus). Dozeman says, "Levites substitute for the divine claim on firstborn, serve the priesthood, and allow the camp to function by atoning for all Israelites."
The author of this commentary goes on to point out that every church does indeed have Levites, whether they are officially recognized or not. "Every church," Dozeman says, "has members who substitute for others by taking on extra responsibility. They serve on committees beyond their appointed time. They teach Sunday school or vacation Bible school for an extra term. The clean up the church on Saturday, paint a room, or set up coffee of Sunday. They are the first persons called in an emergency. Such persons relieve someone else of responsibility every time they take on an extra task. They ransom other members from God's claim on their time. They are living sacrifices of great value."
Perhaps the Levites are the model Paul had in mind in Romans 12:1--"Present your bodies as a living sacrifice, holy and acceptable to God, which is your spiritual worship." This is a model which Paul intends to be for ALL Christians, though not all follow it. That's why even the Christian church needs Levites, to fulfill the claim for others.
If you are a Levite, THANK YOU FOR YOUR SERVICE!
Allison
Here's the question and answer from yesterday:
Mon, Mar 2: What group came to do their work at the Tent of Meeting under the supervision of Aaron and his sons? (Num 8)
Num 8:22 22 After that, the Levites came to do their work at the Tent of Meeting under the supervision of Aaron and his sons.
Hmm, I seem to be off on the readings and days of the week, since the question for Monday actually covers the readings from Tuesday. Let me get that figured out and we'll get back on track again.
And here's today's reflection:
In today's reading from Numbers, we read God's instruction for setting up the lampstand (aka menorah) by Aaron, which was a part of the dedication of the tabernacle. Remember all those chapters in Exodus we spent reading about building the temple? Well, we now see all those lists of this and that finally coming together.
The menorah represents the presence of God in the tabernacle, hence the need for particular attention to its detail (remember "I am the lord your God am therefore be holy as I am holy"). It also has botanical symbolism too. The menorah was created to look like a tree and is probably meant to parallel the tree of life in the garden of Eden. Therefore, it relates God's presence and creation.
This chapter is also concerned with the purification of the Levites. Today's church doesn't really have an official equivalent to the Levite--they weren't quite clergy but not laypeople either. They are a third category all their own. Numbers 8:5-22 seems to indicate they are "living sacrifices in the camp" (Dozeman, NIB Commentary on Leviticus). Dozeman says, "Levites substitute for the divine claim on firstborn, serve the priesthood, and allow the camp to function by atoning for all Israelites."
The author of this commentary goes on to point out that every church does indeed have Levites, whether they are officially recognized or not. "Every church," Dozeman says, "has members who substitute for others by taking on extra responsibility. They serve on committees beyond their appointed time. They teach Sunday school or vacation Bible school for an extra term. The clean up the church on Saturday, paint a room, or set up coffee of Sunday. They are the first persons called in an emergency. Such persons relieve someone else of responsibility every time they take on an extra task. They ransom other members from God's claim on their time. They are living sacrifices of great value."
Perhaps the Levites are the model Paul had in mind in Romans 12:1--"Present your bodies as a living sacrifice, holy and acceptable to God, which is your spiritual worship." This is a model which Paul intends to be for ALL Christians, though not all follow it. That's why even the Christian church needs Levites, to fulfill the claim for others.
If you are a Levite, THANK YOU FOR YOUR SERVICE!
Allison
Thursday, February 26, 2009
The Last Day!
Hello! Today is our last day with Leviticus. And today is the first day with Numbers. I thought maybe I could do a little intro to Numbers to get you started off right. But first, questions and answers.
Here's the question and answer from yesterday:
Weds, Feb. 25- How many years is the Year of Jubilee?
Leviticus 25:11, “The fiftieth year shall be a jubilee for you.”
And here's the question of the day:
Thurs, Feb. 26- What happened to Paul in Lystra?
And here's the reflection of the day:
Here are some themes to look for as you read through Numbers:
1. COMMUNITY--The nation of Israel was formed at Sinai and they journey with God through the wilderness. This is intended "to be a continuing model of how the people of God live out their faith in this world" (Thomas Dozeman, Numbers, NIB Commentary).
2. WILDERNESS SETTING--This is the primary setting for Numbers, as the Israelites travel from Sinai to the promised land of Canaan (through Num 21). The wilderness is replaced by "the plains of Moab" in Numbers 22. The wilderness is the "birthplace" of Israel, a symbol of testing, a symbol of homelessness, and is a location for "God's continuing work in creation" (Brozeman).
3. CHARACTERS--The development of the characters in Numbers revolves around the problem of how to build a theocratic ("a form of government in which a god or deity is recognized as the state's supreme civil ruler"--God bless www.wikipedia.org) society in the wilderness. God is the central character in the story, and all the other characters are defined in relation to God. Brozeman says, "The goal is to devise a way in which a holy God can be brought into relationship with humans who do not share this quality, and, and hence, are at risk in the presence of God."
4. TENSION--There is an underlying tension in the book of Numbers. God, who is holy, separate, and other is also in covenant with humans and creation in spite of their sin. But how can a God who is holy continue to be in relationship with sinful humanity who repeatedly violate the covenant? Something to think about as you read!
The central question of these first group of chapters is "how Israel should organize itself around Yahweh, who dwells in the sanctuary?" (Brozeman). Chapter 1 talks about how Israel was organized into 12 tribes with 12 lay leaders representing them. Also in chapter 1 we see God designating the "Levites" ask keepers (priests) of the tabernacle (0r "Tent of Meeting). Chapter 2 talks about the arrangement of the camp: tribes are clustered in groups of three, surrounding the tabernacle from four directions. Each encampment represents a different theological significance.
Numbers 1:1 sets the stage for reflecting on the importance of order for the priests. It is important that the people are numbered precisely, hence the census here in Numbers 1. The nation is divided up into groups; each group needs a lay leader; the Levites are separated from the other groups to encircle the tabernacle. All things are done "decently and in order," a Presbyterian catchphrase.
But what may seem like OCD to us is actually a response to the presence of God in the community. Administration--numbers and order--are intended to foster a new community in the wilderness. God imposed order upon the chaos at Creation, just as the priest seek to order their new society. But the order of creation is vulnerable to disruptions, just as society is easily susceptible to descent into disorder.
We see that every day, don't we? How neatly ordered life is stretched thin and frequently disrupted by those who refuse to be rank and file members of society. Chaos breaks in at any given moment, and society seeks to patch the hole. We seek to impose order again in hopes of discouraging any other chaos.
So, next time you have to read a list of numbers of this and that (the book is called Numbers, remember!), consider it the priests' way of making the community a presentable place for God to dwell. A spring cleaning of sorts.
What kind of spring cleaning do you need to do in your own life, in your own heart?
Have a great day!
Allison
Here's the question and answer from yesterday:
Weds, Feb. 25- How many years is the Year of Jubilee?
Leviticus 25:11, “The fiftieth year shall be a jubilee for you.”
And here's the question of the day:
Thurs, Feb. 26- What happened to Paul in Lystra?
And here's the reflection of the day:
Here are some themes to look for as you read through Numbers:
1. COMMUNITY--The nation of Israel was formed at Sinai and they journey with God through the wilderness. This is intended "to be a continuing model of how the people of God live out their faith in this world" (Thomas Dozeman, Numbers, NIB Commentary).
2. WILDERNESS SETTING--This is the primary setting for Numbers, as the Israelites travel from Sinai to the promised land of Canaan (through Num 21). The wilderness is replaced by "the plains of Moab" in Numbers 22. The wilderness is the "birthplace" of Israel, a symbol of testing, a symbol of homelessness, and is a location for "God's continuing work in creation" (Brozeman).
3. CHARACTERS--The development of the characters in Numbers revolves around the problem of how to build a theocratic ("a form of government in which a god or deity is recognized as the state's supreme civil ruler"--God bless www.wikipedia.org) society in the wilderness. God is the central character in the story, and all the other characters are defined in relation to God. Brozeman says, "The goal is to devise a way in which a holy God can be brought into relationship with humans who do not share this quality, and, and hence, are at risk in the presence of God."
4. TENSION--There is an underlying tension in the book of Numbers. God, who is holy, separate, and other is also in covenant with humans and creation in spite of their sin. But how can a God who is holy continue to be in relationship with sinful humanity who repeatedly violate the covenant? Something to think about as you read!
The central question of these first group of chapters is "how Israel should organize itself around Yahweh, who dwells in the sanctuary?" (Brozeman). Chapter 1 talks about how Israel was organized into 12 tribes with 12 lay leaders representing them. Also in chapter 1 we see God designating the "Levites" ask keepers (priests) of the tabernacle (0r "Tent of Meeting). Chapter 2 talks about the arrangement of the camp: tribes are clustered in groups of three, surrounding the tabernacle from four directions. Each encampment represents a different theological significance.
Numbers 1:1 sets the stage for reflecting on the importance of order for the priests. It is important that the people are numbered precisely, hence the census here in Numbers 1. The nation is divided up into groups; each group needs a lay leader; the Levites are separated from the other groups to encircle the tabernacle. All things are done "decently and in order," a Presbyterian catchphrase.
But what may seem like OCD to us is actually a response to the presence of God in the community. Administration--numbers and order--are intended to foster a new community in the wilderness. God imposed order upon the chaos at Creation, just as the priest seek to order their new society. But the order of creation is vulnerable to disruptions, just as society is easily susceptible to descent into disorder.
We see that every day, don't we? How neatly ordered life is stretched thin and frequently disrupted by those who refuse to be rank and file members of society. Chaos breaks in at any given moment, and society seeks to patch the hole. We seek to impose order again in hopes of discouraging any other chaos.
So, next time you have to read a list of numbers of this and that (the book is called Numbers, remember!), consider it the priests' way of making the community a presentable place for God to dwell. A spring cleaning of sorts.
What kind of spring cleaning do you need to do in your own life, in your own heart?
Have a great day!
Allison
Tuesday, February 24, 2009
Feasts and Festivals
I'm glad you decided to stop by today. I hope God is blessing you as you continue to read through the Bible--even while you're reading Leviticus. Just a few more days!
Here's the question and answer from yesterday:
Mon, Feb. 23- What did the voice tell Peter to do?
Acts 11:7, “Then I heard a voice telling me, ‘Get up, Peter. Kill and eat.’”
And here's the question of the day:
Tues, Feb. 24- What are the appointed festivals of the Lord, which you to proclaim as sacred assemblies?
And here's the reflection of the day:
Though I am tempted to write about the man being stones in Leviticus (Lev 24:10-23), I have already addressed the principle of this issue in an earlier post. No need to be redundant. Instead, I thought it might be helpful to explain what all these festivals are about!
1. The Sabbath: Hopefully you know plenty about this festival. The seventh day is declared a day of holy rest because on the seventh day of Creation, God himself rested. This day is meant not just to be a day of rest, but to be a day dedicated to God. To translated this festival into our contemporary society is difficult, however. Many jobs require folks to work on Sundays or to work six days a week so that Sunday is the only day left for chores. (Not to mention that Sundays are work days for pastors!) If you have a schedule that is not conducive to Sabbath on Sundays, I encourage you to find another day for Sabbath rest.
2. The Passover/Feast of Unleavened Bread: This is a ritual observance to celebrate God delivering the Israelites from Egyptian slavery. The Passover originally was celebrated by slaughtering a lamb for a meal with the whole family, to remember when God's Spirit "passed over" the houses of Israelites who put the lambs blood on their doors. It later blended together with the "Feast of Unleavened Bread," which, in its latter days, was a celebration of the first harvest of the season. (Think of the similarities of these two feasts with the whole Exodus story.)
3. First Fruits: This is a celebration of the first crop of seasonal produce--grain, new wine, new olive oil, syrup, leavened food, bread dough, and even wool. The Israelites acknowledge that the earth is the Lord's and therefore its crops are intrinsically holy. And since it was the Lord who led the Israelites to the land, the first part of the crop was to be given to God before the rest could be produced.
4. Festival of Weeks: This festival is a celebration of the firstfruits of the wheat harvest. It involved a freewill offering that functions as a ritual response of gratitude to God. As they celebrated, they were also to remember the time when they were enslaved. In the latter years of this festival, it became associated with the Sinai covenant.
5. Festival of Trumpets: This is a feast normally celebrated in September/October, which begins Israel's most sacred month, including the Feast of Booths (Tabernacle) and Day of Atonement. When the trumpets would blast, all work was to cease and the people gathered to hear a reading of God's Law. There were sacrifices, burnt offerings, and a sin offering to make atonement for the people. It was probably an anticipation of the Day of Atonement, which happened 9 days later. Scholars are uncertain what this festival was intended to mark, though is its latter years it became associated with a New Year's celebration.
6. Day of Atonement: This is the annual day of purification. At this time, the high priest enters the holy of holies in the tabernacle; this is the ONLY day of the year in which a person enters this most sacred place. The high priest "places the sins of the community on the head of a goat (the scapegoat) which is sent out to the wilderness. The ritual functions to cleanse the camp of impurities and to remove the sins of the people from the camp" (Eerdman's Bible Dictionary, p 459).
7. The Festival of Booths/Tabernacles: This is a seven day autumn festival associated with gathering produce used in making oil and wine. It is a celebration which is a response to as well as an anticipation of God's blessings. Scholars think this is named for the"booths" which were temporary field shelters constructed by the people during the time of the harvest.
Christianity has developed its own sets of "feasts and festivals" throughout the year. All of our celebrations of seasons have their roots in our Judeo-Christian heritage. Sometimes I wish we made a bigger deal out of the "festivals" that we have. Christmas and Easter get all the glory, but lesser holy-days don't get much attention.
There is something to having rhythm, a cycle of celebrations, that helps us to examine the different aspects of God's story. To focus on new celebrations would be to get us out of our liturgical ruts.
Maybe that's something to think about for next year. . . .
Hope this was helpful!
Allison
Here's the question and answer from yesterday:
Mon, Feb. 23- What did the voice tell Peter to do?
Acts 11:7, “Then I heard a voice telling me, ‘Get up, Peter. Kill and eat.’”
And here's the question of the day:
Tues, Feb. 24- What are the appointed festivals of the Lord, which you to proclaim as sacred assemblies?
And here's the reflection of the day:
Though I am tempted to write about the man being stones in Leviticus (Lev 24:10-23), I have already addressed the principle of this issue in an earlier post. No need to be redundant. Instead, I thought it might be helpful to explain what all these festivals are about!
1. The Sabbath: Hopefully you know plenty about this festival. The seventh day is declared a day of holy rest because on the seventh day of Creation, God himself rested. This day is meant not just to be a day of rest, but to be a day dedicated to God. To translated this festival into our contemporary society is difficult, however. Many jobs require folks to work on Sundays or to work six days a week so that Sunday is the only day left for chores. (Not to mention that Sundays are work days for pastors!) If you have a schedule that is not conducive to Sabbath on Sundays, I encourage you to find another day for Sabbath rest.
2. The Passover/Feast of Unleavened Bread: This is a ritual observance to celebrate God delivering the Israelites from Egyptian slavery. The Passover originally was celebrated by slaughtering a lamb for a meal with the whole family, to remember when God's Spirit "passed over" the houses of Israelites who put the lambs blood on their doors. It later blended together with the "Feast of Unleavened Bread," which, in its latter days, was a celebration of the first harvest of the season. (Think of the similarities of these two feasts with the whole Exodus story.)
3. First Fruits: This is a celebration of the first crop of seasonal produce--grain, new wine, new olive oil, syrup, leavened food, bread dough, and even wool. The Israelites acknowledge that the earth is the Lord's and therefore its crops are intrinsically holy. And since it was the Lord who led the Israelites to the land, the first part of the crop was to be given to God before the rest could be produced.
4. Festival of Weeks: This festival is a celebration of the firstfruits of the wheat harvest. It involved a freewill offering that functions as a ritual response of gratitude to God. As they celebrated, they were also to remember the time when they were enslaved. In the latter years of this festival, it became associated with the Sinai covenant.
5. Festival of Trumpets: This is a feast normally celebrated in September/October, which begins Israel's most sacred month, including the Feast of Booths (Tabernacle) and Day of Atonement. When the trumpets would blast, all work was to cease and the people gathered to hear a reading of God's Law. There were sacrifices, burnt offerings, and a sin offering to make atonement for the people. It was probably an anticipation of the Day of Atonement, which happened 9 days later. Scholars are uncertain what this festival was intended to mark, though is its latter years it became associated with a New Year's celebration.
6. Day of Atonement: This is the annual day of purification. At this time, the high priest enters the holy of holies in the tabernacle; this is the ONLY day of the year in which a person enters this most sacred place. The high priest "places the sins of the community on the head of a goat (the scapegoat) which is sent out to the wilderness. The ritual functions to cleanse the camp of impurities and to remove the sins of the people from the camp" (Eerdman's Bible Dictionary, p 459).
7. The Festival of Booths/Tabernacles: This is a seven day autumn festival associated with gathering produce used in making oil and wine. It is a celebration which is a response to as well as an anticipation of God's blessings. Scholars think this is named for the"booths" which were temporary field shelters constructed by the people during the time of the harvest.
Christianity has developed its own sets of "feasts and festivals" throughout the year. All of our celebrations of seasons have their roots in our Judeo-Christian heritage. Sometimes I wish we made a bigger deal out of the "festivals" that we have. Christmas and Easter get all the glory, but lesser holy-days don't get much attention.
There is something to having rhythm, a cycle of celebrations, that helps us to examine the different aspects of God's story. To focus on new celebrations would be to get us out of our liturgical ruts.
Maybe that's something to think about for next year. . . .
Hope this was helpful!
Allison
Sunday, February 15, 2009
02.15.09 Sunday Sermon
PRAYER OF ILLUMINATION
Gracious God, Still our minds and quiet our worries; open our ears and hearts so that we might truly hear your Word. In Jesus’ name, Amen.
SCRIPTURE READING Exodus 25:1-9
The LORD said to Moses, 2 "Tell the Israelites to bring me an offering. You are to receive the offering for me from each man whose heart prompts him to give. 3 These are the offerings you are to receive from them: gold, silver and bronze; 4 blue, purple and scarlet yarn and fine linen; goat hair; 5 ram’s skins dyed red and hides of sea cows; acacia wood; 6 olive oil for the light; spices for the anointing oil and for the fragrant incense; 7 and onyx stones and other gems to be mounted on the ephod and breast piece. 8 "Then have them make a sanctuary for me, and I will dwell among them. 9 Make this tabernacle and all its furnishings exactly like the pattern I will show you.
The grass withers and the flower fades, but the Word of the Lord endures forever.
INTRODUCTION
I love lists. There is not a day that goes by that I’m not making a list about something: a grocery list or a list of things to take to church on Sunday. I especially love “to do lists.” I get nothing accomplished if I don’t have a to do list.
Now, I guess I should qualify this statement—“I love lists”—by saying that I love MY lists. I don’t so much care for reading someone else’s list, like the lists my mom used to leave of things I needed to have done before the weekend or I couldn’t go out with my friends.
There are A LOT of lists in the last thirteen chapters of Exodus; lists just like the one we read together, but usually much, much longer. Thirteen long, repetitious chapters about building materials and fabrics and decorations.
Now, those of you who are builders, at first you were probably interested in visualizing what this tabernacle must have looked like. And for all the seamstresses out there, you were probably trying to figure out a pattern to make the priestly garments. Interesting, but 13 chapters?
C’mon, we’re likely to say. Thirteen whole chapters that are just like the 9 verses we just read?
Is it really that big of a deal? Just ask the average person in the church, and they’d say no, it’s not a big deal.
BUT. . . if you asked God, He would say, “YES! Yes! This IS a big deal! Why else do you think I told Moses to spend 13 chapters about it?!”
So, it would seem there is something important about these 13 chapters. And it is our task to uncover just what is so important about the tabernacle to involve 13 chapters of lists.
MOVE #1
Up to this point in time, as far as the Israelites were concerned, God lived high up on a mountain. He seemed to be distant and aloof. No one dared to approach Him other than Moses—even then He had to invite Moses up to meet Him; Moses didn’t just wander up for a chat.
In most ancient Near-Eastern religions, the gods always lived up in the mountains. The gods were always separate from the people who worshiped them. In Greek mythology, the gods looked down from the mountains, controlling the people at their whim and for their amusement.
The Israelites lived down the mountain on the land below, far away from the God they worshiped. They felt far away from God when they were enslaved in Egypt, forced to make bricks and to build large storehouse cities called Pithom and Rameses. And they felt farther and farther away from God each time Pharaoh denied their freedom each time Moses asked. They felt far, far away from God.
I can identify with that. I have gone through times in my life where I feel far away from God, when I have strayed from the narrow path and wondered away from Him. And there have been times when God has felt very far away from me, when I have looked for Him and couldn’t see Him.
We all know what it’s like to feel like God is far away. We have all been though those times. We know exactly how those Israelites must have felt during that time in slavery and the time they spent wandering through the wilderness. We know what it’s like to feel like God is up on the mountain, far away from us.
MOVE #2
But God said to Moses, “Then have them make a sanctuary for me, and I will dwell among them.” . . . . “I will dwell among them.” This is why the tabernacle is such a big deal. Instead of living high up on the mountain, God will dwell among them in the tabernacle. Instead of having to go up the mountain to be in God’s presence, now they just have to walk around the corner. Our God came down to dwell among them.
The Israelites are in the middle of their wilderness wanderings, moving from place to place. And now, God can go with them. They can fold up the curtains, pick up the poles, and take God with them wherever they go. No longer do they need to feel like God is far away from them. God came down to dwell among them.
Did you know that the Judeo-Christian God is the only god who comes down the mountain to his people? Our God is the only one who comes down to us. All the other gods people created to worship stayed put, high up on that mountain. But our God came down to dwell among them.
Think back to those days right after the fire here at the church. I don’t know about you, but God sure seemed pretty far away. I had come to associate God with this church, and while we were away from the church, it seemed like God was far away.
Now remember how it felt to be back in this church once again. Remember how grateful you were to be home? That’s what the tabernacle meant to the Israelites; it meant that God came down to dwell among them.
MOVE #3
Does that sound familiar? God came down and dwelled among them. It’s what we just celebrated at Christmas—God came down, in the second person of the Trinity, Jesus Christ, and dwells among us. It’s called incarnation—that God came down and dwelled among us the fully human, fully divine Jesus the Christ. Incarnation is a big fancy word, but it’s an important word for us to remember.
Jesus was incarnate: he ate meals, just like us; he cried, just like us; he was lonely, just like us. He was happy and sad and disappointed and excited, just like us. In every way, Jesus was one of us. Yet he was also God at the same time.
Even after Jesus “ascended into heaven and sitteth on the right hand of God the Father almighty,” God came down to dwell among us in the third person of the Trinity, the Holy Spirit, given to the disciples at Pentecost. And the Holy Spirit still dwells among us; he dwells inside us—in our hearts.
Friends, YOU are a tabernacle. God’s presence lives inside you. Your body is a tabernacle, so present yourselve as a living sacrifice, holy and pleasing to God (Rom 12.1). You have a treasure in a clay jar—God came down and dwells within you, a treasure living inside a fragile clay jar (2 Cor 4.7).
CONCLUSION
The book of Exodus tells the story of God taking the Israelites from slavery in Egypt and freeing them for service to God. Under the Pharaoh, they were controlled and subdued; under God, they are free and liberated. God has freed them from restrictions and limitations.
The whole Bible tells the story of God taking His children from slavery to sin and freeing them for His service. The wages of sin is death but the gift of God is eternal life in Christ Jesus our Lord.
God came down and dwelled among us, freeing us to be a tabernacle of God. Wherever we go, he goes with us. Whatever we do, he is right beside us. And he is calling us to use our freedom to serve others, to share the incarnation with our neighbors. God came down and dwelled among us and to him be all glory and honor, now and forever, Amen.
Gracious God, Still our minds and quiet our worries; open our ears and hearts so that we might truly hear your Word. In Jesus’ name, Amen.
SCRIPTURE READING Exodus 25:1-9
The LORD said to Moses, 2 "Tell the Israelites to bring me an offering. You are to receive the offering for me from each man whose heart prompts him to give. 3 These are the offerings you are to receive from them: gold, silver and bronze; 4 blue, purple and scarlet yarn and fine linen; goat hair; 5 ram’s skins dyed red and hides of sea cows; acacia wood; 6 olive oil for the light; spices for the anointing oil and for the fragrant incense; 7 and onyx stones and other gems to be mounted on the ephod and breast piece. 8 "Then have them make a sanctuary for me, and I will dwell among them. 9 Make this tabernacle and all its furnishings exactly like the pattern I will show you.
The grass withers and the flower fades, but the Word of the Lord endures forever.
INTRODUCTION
I love lists. There is not a day that goes by that I’m not making a list about something: a grocery list or a list of things to take to church on Sunday. I especially love “to do lists.” I get nothing accomplished if I don’t have a to do list.
Now, I guess I should qualify this statement—“I love lists”—by saying that I love MY lists. I don’t so much care for reading someone else’s list, like the lists my mom used to leave of things I needed to have done before the weekend or I couldn’t go out with my friends.
There are A LOT of lists in the last thirteen chapters of Exodus; lists just like the one we read together, but usually much, much longer. Thirteen long, repetitious chapters about building materials and fabrics and decorations.
Now, those of you who are builders, at first you were probably interested in visualizing what this tabernacle must have looked like. And for all the seamstresses out there, you were probably trying to figure out a pattern to make the priestly garments. Interesting, but 13 chapters?
C’mon, we’re likely to say. Thirteen whole chapters that are just like the 9 verses we just read?
Is it really that big of a deal? Just ask the average person in the church, and they’d say no, it’s not a big deal.
BUT. . . if you asked God, He would say, “YES! Yes! This IS a big deal! Why else do you think I told Moses to spend 13 chapters about it?!”
So, it would seem there is something important about these 13 chapters. And it is our task to uncover just what is so important about the tabernacle to involve 13 chapters of lists.
MOVE #1
Up to this point in time, as far as the Israelites were concerned, God lived high up on a mountain. He seemed to be distant and aloof. No one dared to approach Him other than Moses—even then He had to invite Moses up to meet Him; Moses didn’t just wander up for a chat.
In most ancient Near-Eastern religions, the gods always lived up in the mountains. The gods were always separate from the people who worshiped them. In Greek mythology, the gods looked down from the mountains, controlling the people at their whim and for their amusement.
The Israelites lived down the mountain on the land below, far away from the God they worshiped. They felt far away from God when they were enslaved in Egypt, forced to make bricks and to build large storehouse cities called Pithom and Rameses. And they felt farther and farther away from God each time Pharaoh denied their freedom each time Moses asked. They felt far, far away from God.
I can identify with that. I have gone through times in my life where I feel far away from God, when I have strayed from the narrow path and wondered away from Him. And there have been times when God has felt very far away from me, when I have looked for Him and couldn’t see Him.
We all know what it’s like to feel like God is far away. We have all been though those times. We know exactly how those Israelites must have felt during that time in slavery and the time they spent wandering through the wilderness. We know what it’s like to feel like God is up on the mountain, far away from us.
MOVE #2
But God said to Moses, “Then have them make a sanctuary for me, and I will dwell among them.” . . . . “I will dwell among them.” This is why the tabernacle is such a big deal. Instead of living high up on the mountain, God will dwell among them in the tabernacle. Instead of having to go up the mountain to be in God’s presence, now they just have to walk around the corner. Our God came down to dwell among them.
The Israelites are in the middle of their wilderness wanderings, moving from place to place. And now, God can go with them. They can fold up the curtains, pick up the poles, and take God with them wherever they go. No longer do they need to feel like God is far away from them. God came down to dwell among them.
Did you know that the Judeo-Christian God is the only god who comes down the mountain to his people? Our God is the only one who comes down to us. All the other gods people created to worship stayed put, high up on that mountain. But our God came down to dwell among them.
Think back to those days right after the fire here at the church. I don’t know about you, but God sure seemed pretty far away. I had come to associate God with this church, and while we were away from the church, it seemed like God was far away.
Now remember how it felt to be back in this church once again. Remember how grateful you were to be home? That’s what the tabernacle meant to the Israelites; it meant that God came down to dwell among them.
MOVE #3
Does that sound familiar? God came down and dwelled among them. It’s what we just celebrated at Christmas—God came down, in the second person of the Trinity, Jesus Christ, and dwells among us. It’s called incarnation—that God came down and dwelled among us the fully human, fully divine Jesus the Christ. Incarnation is a big fancy word, but it’s an important word for us to remember.
Jesus was incarnate: he ate meals, just like us; he cried, just like us; he was lonely, just like us. He was happy and sad and disappointed and excited, just like us. In every way, Jesus was one of us. Yet he was also God at the same time.
Even after Jesus “ascended into heaven and sitteth on the right hand of God the Father almighty,” God came down to dwell among us in the third person of the Trinity, the Holy Spirit, given to the disciples at Pentecost. And the Holy Spirit still dwells among us; he dwells inside us—in our hearts.
Friends, YOU are a tabernacle. God’s presence lives inside you. Your body is a tabernacle, so present yourselve as a living sacrifice, holy and pleasing to God (Rom 12.1). You have a treasure in a clay jar—God came down and dwells within you, a treasure living inside a fragile clay jar (2 Cor 4.7).
CONCLUSION
The book of Exodus tells the story of God taking the Israelites from slavery in Egypt and freeing them for service to God. Under the Pharaoh, they were controlled and subdued; under God, they are free and liberated. God has freed them from restrictions and limitations.
The whole Bible tells the story of God taking His children from slavery to sin and freeing them for His service. The wages of sin is death but the gift of God is eternal life in Christ Jesus our Lord.
God came down and dwelled among us, freeing us to be a tabernacle of God. Wherever we go, he goes with us. Whatever we do, he is right beside us. And he is calling us to use our freedom to serve others, to share the incarnation with our neighbors. God came down and dwelled among us and to him be all glory and honor, now and forever, Amen.
Thursday, February 12, 2009
Blowin' in the Wind Edition
Batten down your hatches! I'm glad Rocky and I got our (deliciously muddy) romp in the woods done yesterday afternoon. We both might blow away today! By the way, has anyone seen a green AC unit cover flying around? If so, send me an email. Mine is "blowin' in the wind." Speaking of which. . .
Here's the question and answer from yesterday:
Weds, Feb. 11- What would happen to the Israelites if they worked on the seventh day?
Exodus 35:2, “For six days, work is done, but the seventh day shall be your holy day, a day of Sabbath rest to the Lord. Whoever does any work on it is to be put to death.”
And here's the question of the day:
Thurs, Feb. 12- What did the lame beggar ask of Peter and John? What did the lame beggar receive instead?
And here's the reflection of the day:
Congratulations to all those who have been wading through the last 13 chapters of Exodus--two more chapters tomorrrow and you're done with it! It's a little repititious, I know. My sermon on Sunday is going to paint the BIG PICTURE for you about the tabernacle and why it's so important. So if you're still wondering why, hopefully you'll be in worship on Sunday. If not, I'll be sure to post the sermon. I hope it helps!
As we find ourselves at the end of Exodus, so too we find ourselves at the beginning of Acts. Here is the beginning of the church and the initial way the first church sought to live out the gospel: preaching and teaching, fellowship, sharing communion, and praying together.
The first two chapters of Acts tells us about Pentecost and its effect on the people. Spiritual experiences--like Pentecost--seem to come and go quickly. We are not used to seeing spirituality on a long term basis. But that is what Acts seeks to do: provide a vision of the ongoing embodiment of the gospel, not just gospel in fits and starts.
In Acts three, the gospel has moved from the crowds to the temple--the heart of worship--"where the gospel would do its work and encounter opposition" (Willimon, Acts, p 43). The disciples are preaching the gospel as the fulfilment of God's promises to the people of Israel. (We will see how the Jews react to the gospel a little later on.)
Willimon tells us that the gospel is the power of God which creates healing, astonishment, or anger, depending on the situation. In Acts 3, which we read today, the power of the gospel has created both healing and astonishment.
Peter and John, being faithful Jews, go up to the temple at the time of prayer when they stumble on a man who was lame from birth begging at the temple gate. Willimon writes, "The path toward significant prayer is a way that goes straight through, not around, human misery" (p 44).
The lame beggar has no way to supprt himself, instead relying on the crumbs thrown to him from others. He can't even make eye contact with the disciples. I'm going to make a little interpretive leap here and suggest that he was probably so beaten down by the circumstances of his life, that he can't even imagine asking for healing--not from God or from the disciples. He asks only for alms, but he receives physical and spiritual wholeness.
This is where the gospel goes; this is what the gospel does. Church isn't so much about handing out money to people in need; it's about pointing out the wholeness in Jesus Christ that God offers to everyone. The path to significant prayer--to significant ministry and mission and kingdom building--is through human misery and hopelessness and defeat. Human misery is like a magnet for the gospel; Jesus came to seek out the least and the lost. That is where Jesus is and where the church should be too.
Where do you see human misery? Can you see the gospel at work there? Is God calling you to be a part of it?
Allison
Here's the question and answer from yesterday:
Weds, Feb. 11- What would happen to the Israelites if they worked on the seventh day?
Exodus 35:2, “For six days, work is done, but the seventh day shall be your holy day, a day of Sabbath rest to the Lord. Whoever does any work on it is to be put to death.”
And here's the question of the day:
Thurs, Feb. 12- What did the lame beggar ask of Peter and John? What did the lame beggar receive instead?
And here's the reflection of the day:
Congratulations to all those who have been wading through the last 13 chapters of Exodus--two more chapters tomorrrow and you're done with it! It's a little repititious, I know. My sermon on Sunday is going to paint the BIG PICTURE for you about the tabernacle and why it's so important. So if you're still wondering why, hopefully you'll be in worship on Sunday. If not, I'll be sure to post the sermon. I hope it helps!
As we find ourselves at the end of Exodus, so too we find ourselves at the beginning of Acts. Here is the beginning of the church and the initial way the first church sought to live out the gospel: preaching and teaching, fellowship, sharing communion, and praying together.
The first two chapters of Acts tells us about Pentecost and its effect on the people. Spiritual experiences--like Pentecost--seem to come and go quickly. We are not used to seeing spirituality on a long term basis. But that is what Acts seeks to do: provide a vision of the ongoing embodiment of the gospel, not just gospel in fits and starts.
In Acts three, the gospel has moved from the crowds to the temple--the heart of worship--"where the gospel would do its work and encounter opposition" (Willimon, Acts, p 43). The disciples are preaching the gospel as the fulfilment of God's promises to the people of Israel. (We will see how the Jews react to the gospel a little later on.)
Willimon tells us that the gospel is the power of God which creates healing, astonishment, or anger, depending on the situation. In Acts 3, which we read today, the power of the gospel has created both healing and astonishment.
Peter and John, being faithful Jews, go up to the temple at the time of prayer when they stumble on a man who was lame from birth begging at the temple gate. Willimon writes, "The path toward significant prayer is a way that goes straight through, not around, human misery" (p 44).
The lame beggar has no way to supprt himself, instead relying on the crumbs thrown to him from others. He can't even make eye contact with the disciples. I'm going to make a little interpretive leap here and suggest that he was probably so beaten down by the circumstances of his life, that he can't even imagine asking for healing--not from God or from the disciples. He asks only for alms, but he receives physical and spiritual wholeness.
This is where the gospel goes; this is what the gospel does. Church isn't so much about handing out money to people in need; it's about pointing out the wholeness in Jesus Christ that God offers to everyone. The path to significant prayer--to significant ministry and mission and kingdom building--is through human misery and hopelessness and defeat. Human misery is like a magnet for the gospel; Jesus came to seek out the least and the lost. That is where Jesus is and where the church should be too.
Where do you see human misery? Can you see the gospel at work there? Is God calling you to be a part of it?
Allison
Wednesday, February 11, 2009
Stone Soup
Hello! Thanks for stopping by today--I'm glad you visited us!
Here's the question and answer from yesterday:
Tues, Feb. 10- In the last days, what will God pour out on all people?
Acts 2:17, “In the last days, God says, I will pour out my Spirit on all people.”
And here's the question of the day:
Weds, Feb. 11- What would happen to the Israelites if they worked on the seventh day?
And here's the reflection of the day:
Exodus 36:3-5 3 They received from Moses all the offerings the Israelites had brought to carry out the work of constructing the sanctuary. And the people continued to bring freewill offerings morning after morning. 4 So all the skilled craftsmen who were doing all the work on the sanctuary left their work 5 and said to Moses, "The people are bringing more than enough for doing the work the LORD commanded to be done."
What a little gem of a story tucked away in all this talk about the tabernacle! Exodus 35 tells how God provided a divine grocery list. Technically, it was probably more like a divine "Pier 1" list (since it's mostly decorative items on the list!). At any rate, God provides the list of things needed to complete the tabernacle.
And He receives an overwhelming response! So many offerings are given that Moses orders people to STOP bringing offerings (v 6). They have more than enough. It's just amazing to me. I am overwhelmed at their response of obedience and gratitude to God. (I suppose I also have to admit feeling a little ashamed that my own offerings are not quite so overwhelming!)
I don't know about the origin of the story "Stone Soup," but I see the seeds of the story here in Exodus. Everyone has something to contribute to the pot. God did not call just the rich to contribute to the tabernacle; He called everyone. Everyone had a part to play: gold, silver, bronze, yarn, linen, goat hair, ram skins, olive oil, spices, and precious stones. God honors all the offerings, big and small. God sees all offerings as costly and valuable.
In "Stone Soup," just as in the Body of Christ, each person has a part to play and an offering to give. What is your part? What can you give?
Have a splendid day!
Allison
Here's the question and answer from yesterday:
Tues, Feb. 10- In the last days, what will God pour out on all people?
Acts 2:17, “In the last days, God says, I will pour out my Spirit on all people.”
And here's the question of the day:
Weds, Feb. 11- What would happen to the Israelites if they worked on the seventh day?
And here's the reflection of the day:
Exodus 36:3-5 3 They received from Moses all the offerings the Israelites had brought to carry out the work of constructing the sanctuary. And the people continued to bring freewill offerings morning after morning. 4 So all the skilled craftsmen who were doing all the work on the sanctuary left their work 5 and said to Moses, "The people are bringing more than enough for doing the work the LORD commanded to be done."
What a little gem of a story tucked away in all this talk about the tabernacle! Exodus 35 tells how God provided a divine grocery list. Technically, it was probably more like a divine "Pier 1" list (since it's mostly decorative items on the list!). At any rate, God provides the list of things needed to complete the tabernacle.
And He receives an overwhelming response! So many offerings are given that Moses orders people to STOP bringing offerings (v 6). They have more than enough. It's just amazing to me. I am overwhelmed at their response of obedience and gratitude to God. (I suppose I also have to admit feeling a little ashamed that my own offerings are not quite so overwhelming!)
I don't know about the origin of the story "Stone Soup," but I see the seeds of the story here in Exodus. Everyone has something to contribute to the pot. God did not call just the rich to contribute to the tabernacle; He called everyone. Everyone had a part to play: gold, silver, bronze, yarn, linen, goat hair, ram skins, olive oil, spices, and precious stones. God honors all the offerings, big and small. God sees all offerings as costly and valuable.
In "Stone Soup," just as in the Body of Christ, each person has a part to play and an offering to give. What is your part? What can you give?
Have a splendid day!
Allison
Monday, February 9, 2009
Hello, Monday!
Here's a little music video to start your day off right. I think I've mentioned this song before but only the lyrics. Let's have an "all-sing" to get Monday off right!
Here's the question and answer from yesterday:
Sun, Feb. 8- What was the altar for burning incense made from?
Exodus 30:1, “Make an altar of acacia wood for burning incense.”
And here's the question of the day:
Mon, Feb. 9- What process was used to pick Matthias as the 12th apostle?
And here's the reflection of the day:
Part II: The Importance of the Tabernacle (Exodus)
The tabernacle is important for two other reasons. . .
1. The distance between God and the people used to be very far. But with the tabernacle, housing God's presence, the distance is closed. No longer do they have to visit the mountaintop; now, God is right around the corner. (This ties in with what I talked about on Friday and Saturday. Click here to check out those posts: http://frankfortyotb.blogspot.com/2009_02_01_archive.html)
2. And now, because of the tabernacle, God's presence will go with them, instead of remaining in one static place. God is now portable, staying on the move with God's people as they travel through the wilderness and toward the Promised Land.
Next thing you know, the Israelites are distracted from the tabernacle construction. Instead of building the tabernacle, they build a golden calf--an idol. Let's compare and contrast the tabernacle and the golden calf:
Tabernacle was God's initiative, and he asked for a willing offering from the people to build it. The details for the tabernacle were painstaking, it was a lengthy building process, and it was build to protect the divine holiness. The tabernacle reinforced the idea of an invisible yet personal and active God.
The golden calf, on the other hand, was born of human initiative, at Aaaron's command. There is little to no planning that goes into this and it was made on the fly. Creating this idol gave them immediate accessibility to a visible god, who actually was a cold, impersonal god.
And remember, the Israelites just escaped Egyptian slavery where they were also constricted into construction on buildings there.
The tabernacle was meant to stand over and above any other building and any other god. It is meant to stand over and above all forms of idolatry. Because their God, and our God, is THE God. God has come down from on high to live among them--"God with us." The tabernacle is a way for the Israelites to exclude idolatrous practices from their worship life.
The Israelites became impatient, waiting for Moses to finish his divine pow-wow with God. They have placed Moses up on a pedestal and think that since he is gone, they are without God's leadership. They have mistakenly made Moses equal with God.
We do that sometimes, don't we? We mistakenly give someone or something God's place routinely. Sometimes it's the minister, sometimes it's a spouse or a job, sometimes it's food or alcohol or gambling. But nothing. . . nothing should or CAN take God's place.
Take time to do a little spiritual inventory today. Does God have the highest place, above all other things or people in your life? Idolatry seems to be our favorite sin, so don't be surprised if He's not. So I guess the question is, how can we rearrange our priorities so that God does come first?
Just something to contemplate on a "Monday, Monday". . . I pray that it's all you "hoped it would be!"
Allison
Here's the question and answer from yesterday:
Sun, Feb. 8- What was the altar for burning incense made from?
Exodus 30:1, “Make an altar of acacia wood for burning incense.”
And here's the question of the day:
Mon, Feb. 9- What process was used to pick Matthias as the 12th apostle?
And here's the reflection of the day:
Part II: The Importance of the Tabernacle (Exodus)
The tabernacle is important for two other reasons. . .
1. The distance between God and the people used to be very far. But with the tabernacle, housing God's presence, the distance is closed. No longer do they have to visit the mountaintop; now, God is right around the corner. (This ties in with what I talked about on Friday and Saturday. Click here to check out those posts: http://frankfortyotb.blogspot.com/2009_02_01_archive.html)
2. And now, because of the tabernacle, God's presence will go with them, instead of remaining in one static place. God is now portable, staying on the move with God's people as they travel through the wilderness and toward the Promised Land.
Next thing you know, the Israelites are distracted from the tabernacle construction. Instead of building the tabernacle, they build a golden calf--an idol. Let's compare and contrast the tabernacle and the golden calf:
Tabernacle was God's initiative, and he asked for a willing offering from the people to build it. The details for the tabernacle were painstaking, it was a lengthy building process, and it was build to protect the divine holiness. The tabernacle reinforced the idea of an invisible yet personal and active God.
The golden calf, on the other hand, was born of human initiative, at Aaaron's command. There is little to no planning that goes into this and it was made on the fly. Creating this idol gave them immediate accessibility to a visible god, who actually was a cold, impersonal god.
And remember, the Israelites just escaped Egyptian slavery where they were also constricted into construction on buildings there.
The tabernacle was meant to stand over and above any other building and any other god. It is meant to stand over and above all forms of idolatry. Because their God, and our God, is THE God. God has come down from on high to live among them--"God with us." The tabernacle is a way for the Israelites to exclude idolatrous practices from their worship life.
The Israelites became impatient, waiting for Moses to finish his divine pow-wow with God. They have placed Moses up on a pedestal and think that since he is gone, they are without God's leadership. They have mistakenly made Moses equal with God.
We do that sometimes, don't we? We mistakenly give someone or something God's place routinely. Sometimes it's the minister, sometimes it's a spouse or a job, sometimes it's food or alcohol or gambling. But nothing. . . nothing should or CAN take God's place.
Take time to do a little spiritual inventory today. Does God have the highest place, above all other things or people in your life? Idolatry seems to be our favorite sin, so don't be surprised if He's not. So I guess the question is, how can we rearrange our priorities so that God does come first?
Just something to contemplate on a "Monday, Monday". . . I pray that it's all you "hoped it would be!"
Allison
Friday, February 6, 2009
Sat, Feb. 7
Wow! Look out--it's a heat wave out there! I'm praying for all those with lots of snow and hoping that it doesn't turn into big flooding.
Here's the question and answer from yesterday:
Fri, Feb. 6- What kind of wood (or tree) was the ark of the covenant made from?
Exodus 25:10, “Have them make an ark of acacia wood.”
And here's the question of the day:
Sat, Feb. 7- Who said, "I am innocent of this man’s blood?"
And here's the reflection of the day:
Today's readings from Exodus 27 and 28 continue the details (some might say minutia) surrounding worship in the tabernacle. Again we read piles and piles of description, now extending to the clothes that Aaron and his sons are to wear "whenever they enter the Tent of Meeting or approach the altar to minister in the Holy Place" (28:43).
There is a lot of significance tied in to the tabernacle, or the Tent of Meeting, which I'll mention over the next couple of days. Today is part 1.
The tabernacle is not just a building to the Israelites. It contained the presence of the Lord. Before the tabernacle, God's presence was thought to inhabit the mountain. People were afraid to go up the mountain though they longed to know God's presence was with them. Remember how Moses occasionally went up the mountain to talk to God? The occasional presence of the Lord turns into the ongoing presence with the building of the tabernacle. Now, with the tabernacle built in the middle of the camp, God's presence is always with them.
In other words, God came down from on high to live among the people. Sound familiar? God came down from on high in the person of Jesus Christ and dwelled among us. In many world religions, gods live high on the mountains, separated from their worshipers. But in the Judeo-Christian tradition, God came down to us and became Emmanuel--"God with us." Even when Jesus ascended into heaven, the Holy Spirit is given to us, to be our Advocate and our Comforter.
Our God never leaves us; He is always with us. But not just in the "tabernacle" we worship in on Sunday mornings but in the every day tabernacle in our hearts. God's presence is always with us.
Praise God for his steadfast lovingkindess!!
Allison
Here's the question and answer from yesterday:
Fri, Feb. 6- What kind of wood (or tree) was the ark of the covenant made from?
Exodus 25:10, “Have them make an ark of acacia wood.”
And here's the question of the day:
Sat, Feb. 7- Who said, "I am innocent of this man’s blood?"
And here's the reflection of the day:
Today's readings from Exodus 27 and 28 continue the details (some might say minutia) surrounding worship in the tabernacle. Again we read piles and piles of description, now extending to the clothes that Aaron and his sons are to wear "whenever they enter the Tent of Meeting or approach the altar to minister in the Holy Place" (28:43).
There is a lot of significance tied in to the tabernacle, or the Tent of Meeting, which I'll mention over the next couple of days. Today is part 1.
The tabernacle is not just a building to the Israelites. It contained the presence of the Lord. Before the tabernacle, God's presence was thought to inhabit the mountain. People were afraid to go up the mountain though they longed to know God's presence was with them. Remember how Moses occasionally went up the mountain to talk to God? The occasional presence of the Lord turns into the ongoing presence with the building of the tabernacle. Now, with the tabernacle built in the middle of the camp, God's presence is always with them.
In other words, God came down from on high to live among the people. Sound familiar? God came down from on high in the person of Jesus Christ and dwelled among us. In many world religions, gods live high on the mountains, separated from their worshipers. But in the Judeo-Christian tradition, God came down to us and became Emmanuel--"God with us." Even when Jesus ascended into heaven, the Holy Spirit is given to us, to be our Advocate and our Comforter.
Our God never leaves us; He is always with us. But not just in the "tabernacle" we worship in on Sunday mornings but in the every day tabernacle in our hearts. God's presence is always with us.
Praise God for his steadfast lovingkindess!!
Allison
Happy Friday!
Hello, again! Can you believe we're almost done with the gospel of Matthew? After today's reading (which has to be one of the most intense chapters in the Bible), there's only one left. The chapters are flying by, don't you think?
Here's the question and answer from yesterday:
Thurs, Feb. 5- How much silver does Judas receive to betray Jesus?
Matthew 26:15, “So they counted for him thirty pieces of silver.”
And here's the question of the day:
Fri, Feb. 6- What kind of wood (or tree) was the ark of the covenant made from?
And here's the reflection of the day:
Those of you who are wood workers or who like to sew might find these next couple chapters of Exodus to be pretty interesting. In Exodus 25 and 26, we read a lot about the details God commands to Moses concerning the Ark of the Covenant, the table, and the tabernacle (or tent), that will surround them. It's a little fascinating, trying to imagine what it all must have looked like once it was put together.
There are 13 chapters in Exodus that go on about the description of HOW to build the tabernacle as well as the chapters detailing the actual BUILDING of it too. And so as you're reading this, the question running through your mind may be this: WHY? Why does Exodus spend so much time talking about this stuff? What does this have to do with us? (Even if we had been living back in biblical times, would we really have thought it was interesting even back then?!)
Here's the thing: Exodus tells the story of God taking the Israelites from slavery to Pharaoh and freeing them for service to God. In Egypt, they were controlled and subdued; in God, they are free and liberated. God has freed them from restriction and limitation. They are now able to worship God. And to worship God, they need some place to do it; hence, the need for a tabernacle.
The Israelites who were once enslaved to make bricks for Pharaoh's buildings are now able to freely and enthusiastically build a tabernacle for God. It is their "glad and obedient offering of themselves for a building for the worship of God" (Fretheim, Exodus, 263). That's a pretty big deal. In light of all of this, I can understand why so much of Exodus is involved with building this tabernacle.
Certainly, there's more to it than that, and I'll explain some of the other important aspects of the tabernacle, but for now, let it suffice to say that this is the ultimate reversal of fortunes for the Israelites. This is one of the ways they are showing gratitude to God for their deliverance.
How can you show YOUR gratitude to God today?
Allison
Here's the question and answer from yesterday:
Thurs, Feb. 5- How much silver does Judas receive to betray Jesus?
Matthew 26:15, “So they counted for him thirty pieces of silver.”
And here's the question of the day:
Fri, Feb. 6- What kind of wood (or tree) was the ark of the covenant made from?
And here's the reflection of the day:
Those of you who are wood workers or who like to sew might find these next couple chapters of Exodus to be pretty interesting. In Exodus 25 and 26, we read a lot about the details God commands to Moses concerning the Ark of the Covenant, the table, and the tabernacle (or tent), that will surround them. It's a little fascinating, trying to imagine what it all must have looked like once it was put together.
There are 13 chapters in Exodus that go on about the description of HOW to build the tabernacle as well as the chapters detailing the actual BUILDING of it too. And so as you're reading this, the question running through your mind may be this: WHY? Why does Exodus spend so much time talking about this stuff? What does this have to do with us? (Even if we had been living back in biblical times, would we really have thought it was interesting even back then?!)
Here's the thing: Exodus tells the story of God taking the Israelites from slavery to Pharaoh and freeing them for service to God. In Egypt, they were controlled and subdued; in God, they are free and liberated. God has freed them from restriction and limitation. They are now able to worship God. And to worship God, they need some place to do it; hence, the need for a tabernacle.
The Israelites who were once enslaved to make bricks for Pharaoh's buildings are now able to freely and enthusiastically build a tabernacle for God. It is their "glad and obedient offering of themselves for a building for the worship of God" (Fretheim, Exodus, 263). That's a pretty big deal. In light of all of this, I can understand why so much of Exodus is involved with building this tabernacle.
Certainly, there's more to it than that, and I'll explain some of the other important aspects of the tabernacle, but for now, let it suffice to say that this is the ultimate reversal of fortunes for the Israelites. This is one of the ways they are showing gratitude to God for their deliverance.
How can you show YOUR gratitude to God today?
Allison
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