Resource Manager Posted February 26, 2014 Author Report Share Posted February 26, 2014 26 February 2014Exodus 39; 40Psalms 1021 Corinthians 10“AS THE LORD COMMANDED MOSES”We realized as we read the last 2 chapters of Exodus [Exodus 39;40] this morning that the above phrase occurs in them no less than 18 times! The chapters detail the erection of the tabernacle and the placement of the things that are to go into it. Nothing is left to Moses’ initiative, the all-knowing and all seeing Creator directs every detail; this includes all the items the priests are to wear, “their anointing shall admit them to a perpetual priesthood throughout their generations.” [Exodus 40:15]Tragically two of Aaron’s 4 sons were to fail to do “as the LORD commanded” as we will read next week in Leviticus 10:1 - and they lost their lives as a result. Paul wrote in Hebrews 10:31, “It is a fearful thing to fall into the hands of the living God.” Food for the deepest thought as we serve him and his Son - how essential that we really know his word - and it becomes part of our thinking - and doing.Today’s reading is a lesson for us in two ways, firstly that we must be faithful to what is written - and second -that God is involved in every detail of the way in which he is to be served and worshipped. In our Corinthians reading we see how Paul spells this out to them. “I speak as to sensible people, judge for yourselves what I say. The cup of blessing that we bless, is it not a participation in blood of Christ? The bread that we break, is it not a participation in the body of Christ?” [1 Corinthians 10:15-16] Beware lest we observe this in the wrong way, Paul warns, “Shall we provoke the Lord to jealousy?” [1 Corinthians 10:22]1 Corinthians 10:26 is most interesting especially when viewed from another perspective, he writes, “The earth is the Lord’s, and the fullness thereof.” It led us to reflect on the unending discoveries of human science over the last 100+ years. Human knowledge of the smallest things, things unseen by the unaided human eye has grown and grown, they are utterly remarkable!The atheist is increasingly desperate in keeping on saying - all that exists happened purely by chance - an endless series of ‘accidents’! But, as we have seen in the making and erection and operation of the Tabernacle God is involved right down to the smallest detail! Finally - meditate very intently on what wonders the Creator has in store for us in the coming ages. Let us live for him and his Son today, so that we will be with him in the future.-------- DC Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Resource Manager Posted February 27, 2014 Author Report Share Posted February 27, 2014 27 February 2014Leviticus 1; 2Psalms 1031 Corinthians 11“… THE LORD WORKS RIGHTEOUSNESS AND JUSTICE”“Fear” as it occurs in God’s word often has the sense of being in awe of God. We have delightful and meaningful examples of this in today’s Psalm, Psalm 103. “The LORD works righteousness and justice for all who are oppressed. He made his ways known to Moses, his acts to the people of Israel.” [Psalm 103:6,7]“His ways” as he made them known to Moses are a major example of his working righteousness and justice – it did not however, happen in a moment, we reflect on the lessons in Moses’ life. Then in Psalm 103:11 we read, “For as high as the heavens are above the earth, so great is his steadfast love toward those who fear him.”Again in Psalm 103:13, “As a father shows compassion to his children, so the LORD shows compassion to those who fear him.” This repetition reminded us of Solomon’s saying that “a threefold cord is not quickly broken.” [Ecclesiastes 4:12] for in Psalm 103:17 David for the third time states, “the steadfast love of the LORD is from everlasting to everlasting on those who fear him.” All those who have established an ongoing relationship with the LORD, find that a heartfelt sense of awe permeates all their thoughts.David sets the highest example (apart from that of Christ] of seeing the involvement of God in his life - and the Psalms illustrate this again and again. David demonstrates the reality of what Paul meant when he said to the Athenians about the “unknown” God, that “in him we live and move and have our being.” [Acts 17:28]In Psalm 64 David says, prays, “Hear my voice Oh God … preserve my life from dread of the enemy” [Psalm 64:1] David had many enemies, his prayer was to be able to rise above any feelings of dread – and this – is the wonderful outcome of hearts truly being in awe of all we conceive God as being as we live and move and have our own being “in him.” And then, every day, we “feed” on his Son, remembering his Son’s words, “I live because of the Father, so whoever feeds on me, he (or she) also will live because of me.” [John 6:57] The foundation to this is to “feed” on God’s word day by day.-------- DC Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Resource Manager Posted February 28, 2014 Author Report Share Posted February 28, 2014 28 February 2014Leviticus 3; 4Psalms 1041 Corinthians 12; 13“FAITH, HOPE AND LOVE ABIDE”What a remarkably challenging letter Paul wrote to Corinth. It is essential we keep it all in context. Some of the early chapters show there was considerable disharmony among the believers there. Today we saw how 1 Corinthians 13 ends by telling us, “So now faith, hope, and love abide, these three; but the greatest of these is love.”Human numbering has made 13 very significant here! A verse to be remembered. So there are 3 things that were to abide, while other things would not, they “will pass away” [1 Corinthians 13:10] such as tongues, “they will cease” [1 Corinthians 13:8]Members had no Bibles to refer to, the gospels were only then being written and then hand copied for circulation. Early church records show the Psalms were especially valued and some memorized them all and could go around reciting them. We do not have to memorize things today, or very little, and we are the poorer for this. What fills the minds of people today – and therefore their hearts? But make this question personal – my mind – my heart?Now consider the 3 things Paul said would not – or should not – pass away! These are the 3 things it is essential for us to have – if they are lacking then our way of life in serving Christ is doomed. The world around us lacks them, they have no faith in anyone, well, certainly not the politicians! They live for the here and now more and more as any hope in the future is increasingly bleak – and - do not people really only love – themselves!Let us now focus our thoughts on the future. There is an important thing we may not fully realize. “Faith and hope” will not abide! Why? Because they will no longer apply. Faith is needed in that which is unseen: how tellingly Peter expresses this, look at 1 Peter 1:8-9. But faith and hope will not abide then for the simple reason faith will be turned to sight and hope will be realized, the future will have become the present!So love will be the guiding principle for those blessed to be in God’s kingdom – truly – “the greatest of these is love” – may it rule in our hearts more and more each day.And a final note: in a couple of weeks we will come to Psalm 136 which tells us – no less than 26 times that God’s “steadfast love endures for forever” so “give thanks to the God of heaven” (last verse) with all your heart.-------- DC Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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