Month: February 2017

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EXODUS 28:1-43 | MATTHEW 25:31-26:13 | PSALM 31:9-18 | PROVERBS 8:12-13 

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It would take multiple readings to fully understand the excruciatingly detailed and unquestionably complex instructions that Moses receives from God to build all the furnishings of the Temple.  All this, so that the people could approach God via the priests. 

If nothing else, this entire passage serves to illustrate the hugely cumbersome exercise it was to engage in worship.  And a very cold and distant God this appeared to be.  An intercessor in the form of a priest was always needed to approach God.  There was nothing direct, and certainly nothing personal about this manner of corporate worship.

There must surely have been a purpose for God to have set it up in this way, if not anything– and I’ll go out on a limb to say this — perhaps to make a point about the oppressive nature of worship of this kind.  The kind that leaves you wondering if you’re doing the right thing, and whether or not your offerings are even acceptable to God. 

At all times there is this lingering fear and trepidation about whether the wrath of God might come crashing down on you.  After all, what if the priests misinform you, or what if they don’t convey your sentiments to God in the way you had intended?  What if this, what if that?  Alas, I don’t see any love flowing either way; I see only fear. 

And so we shall see how this might work out in the days to come.  I do believe God himself might tire of this well before the people do!

But until then, let us turn to our reading in the Book of Mathew.  We see Jesus speak of the Great Judgment Day, and wouldn’t you know it, it is not the high-and-mighty and the oh-so-righteous folks that have a place set aside for them in the Kingdom of Heaven. 

Jesus explains it like this: ³⁴ “Then the King will say to those on his right, ‘Come, you who are blessed by my Father; take your inheritance, the kingdom prepared for you since the creation of the world. ³⁵ For I was hungry and you gave me something to eat, I was thirsty and you gave me something to drink, I was a stranger and you invited me in, ³⁶ I needed clothes and you clothed me, I was sick and you looked after me, I was in prison and you came to visit me.’ ³⁷ “Then the righteous will answer him, f‘Lord, when did we see you hungry and feed you, or thirsty and give you something to drink? ³⁸ When did we see you a stranger and invite you in, or needing clothes and clothe you? ³⁹ When did we see you sick or in prison and go to visit you?’  ⁴⁰ “The King will reply, ‘I tell you the truth, whatever you did for one of the least of these brothers of mine, you did for me.’

As we fast approach the time of Jesus’ arrest and crucifixion, there is the beautiful account of the woman who brings the expensive jar of alabaster and chooses to give it all to Jesus as a present.  It isn’t a waste, you see.  It is an extravagant show of love and devotion.  And it doesn’t always have to make sense.  When there is such great love, things don’t always make sense.  You express it in the way that best makes sense to you and only you.  Such must have been the thinking of the woman who anointed Jesus’ head with the expensive perfume.

We turn now to the Psalms, and find David’s psalm for the day is another one in which David is pouring out his heart to God.  This is one man who was unabashed in expressing both praise and grief, and always had the utter confidence in approaching God with his paeans.  David might as well be echoing our own thoughts and pleas when he says:

¹⁴ But I trust in you, O LORD;
I say, “You are my God.”
¹⁵ My times are in your hands;
deliver me from my enemies
and from those who pursue me.
¹⁶ Let your face shine on your servant;
save me in your unfailing love.

Finally, a few verses from the Book of Proverbs in which we hear Wisdom’s words via the pen of Solomon, wise king of Israel:

¹² “I, wisdom, dwell together with prudence;
I possess knowledge and discretion.
¹³ To fear the LORD is to hate evil;
I hate pride and arrogance,
evil behavior and perverse speech.

May God bless the reading and reflection of His Word.  Amen.

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EXODUS 26:1-27:21 | MATTHEW 25:1-30 | PSALM 31:1-8 | PROVERBS 8:1-11

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The details are elaborate.  But they are evidently followed accurately by Moses.  And so it is written that the Tabernacle, the altar, the courtyard, and the lampstand are built according to specification.  The Jewish people now have a structured way to conduct worship, and Aaron and his sons are appointed the chief priest and keepers of the Temple.

But turning to our reading in the gospel of Matthew, in keeping with the theme from yesterday, Jesus continues to stress the importance of keeping watch for the day when the end will come.  There’s the parable of the ten virgins — five foolish and five wise, and the parable of the talents. 

May it be that we are like the wise virgins who exercised foresight in taking enough oil for their lamps, and also like the resourceful men who made wise choices to use and increase what was entrusted to them in anticipation of the return of their master.

The Psalm for the day is yet another one in which David pours out his heart to God.  He says:

² Turn your ear to me,
   come quickly to my rescue;
be my rock of refuge,
   a strong fortress to save me.
³ Since you are my rock and my fortress,
   for the sake of your name lead and guide me.

Finally, Solomon, wise king of Israel gives an exhortation on the import of choosing instruction, knowledge and wisdom over all the material riches of the world.  He says:

¹⁰ Choose my instruction instead of silver,
   knowledge rather than choice gold,
¹¹ for wisdom is more precious than rubies,
   and nothing you desire can compare with her.

May God bless the reading and reflection of His Word.  Amen.

Click Here For Today’s Reading

EXODUS 23:14-25:40 | MATTHEW 24:29-51 | PSALM 30:1-12 | PROVERBS 7:24-27

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Demanding and exacting.  That is how this God is.  Moses is told exactly what is needed of the people, and he duly carries this out.  The people are also initially quite accepting and cooperative.  The expectations are being laid out quite clearly.  After all, this is the God that has brought them out of slavery having performed a series of supernatural acts, has provided for them in the desert all these years, and has made it possible for them to be well on their way to the promised land. 

So, what’s not to like?  Well, nothing just yet.  But it is to be seen if this arrangement will work out well in the long-run.  In the meantime, they do just as they are instructed in the building of the tabernacle, and all of the essential furnishings within it.  The Ark of the Covenant, the Table, and the Lampstand (today commonly known as the menorah) are all constructed to the prescribed design.

 Turning next to Matthew, we find Jesus continues to speak about the end-times, only, he makes it quite clear that no one can predict with any certainty the day of his return.  This must have been quite puzzling to his disciples and listeners as they do not have the foresight of the events that ill soon unfold in the coming days of Jesus being taken away and put to death.  What might it mean that Jesus talks now of his return?  The people obviously know nothing yet of Jesus’ resurrection from the dead, so how could they fully understand the meaning of a return? 

And yet, Jesus explains in various ways the uncertainty of the hour of the end of the world and exhorts that everyone be watchful of this great event to come.  Jesus is telling them that not only will he leave them for a short while, but that he will rise from the dead, be with them for a while, leave them again, but will return eventually to rule the world for a thousand years and take back with him all those who are living in that day. 

All this must have seemed mind-bendingly cryptic, enigmatic, and even incomprehensible to them.  Yet some time later, after they had witnessed the resurrection, it would have all made sense!

As it should to us today.  We might not have the benefits of foresight, but we do have the benefits of hindsight.  And we have something even greater:  faith.  We believe in what Jesus has said would happen.  And in matters of such belief, evidence is not always necessary. 

And so, when Jesus says, ⁴² “Therefore keep watch, because you do not know on what day your Lord will come” that is exactly what every Christ-follower chooses to believe.  Christ will return.

Turning next to the Psalms, we find David’s psalm for the day is an intimate one in which he cries out to God and affirms his own faith in the mercies and provision of God.  This was a man who apparently had a unique relationship with God, the same God of his forefathers who didn’t always seem to have a personal relationship with his people.  And yet, for those who wanted to, it was always possible.  David says,

⁴ Sing to the LORD, you saints of his;
praise his holy name.
⁵ For his anger lasts only a moment,
but his favor lasts a lifetime;
weeping may remain for a night,
but rejoicing comes in the morning. 

And he says also:

¹¹ You turned my wailing into dancing;
you removed my sackcloth and clothed me with joy,
¹² that my heart may sing to you and not be silent.
O LORD my God, I will give you thanks forever.

Finally, turning to the Book of Proverbs, we find Solomon, wise king of Israel, offering these words of instruction concerning staying away from evil: 

²⁴ Now then, my sons, listen to me;
pay attention to what I say.
²⁵ Do not let your heart turn to her ways
or stray into her paths.

May God bless the reading and reflection of His Word.  Amen.