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For I know the plans I have for you,declares the LORD, plans to prosper you and not to harm you, plans to give you hope and a future. Jer 29:11 |
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| Archived Manna: | |
Dear
Friend,
If you do not already have a habit of gathering daily manna the first thing in the morning (we can look at the example given to us in Exodus 16 and find the pattern for make it a habit. Establish your life and your schedule to allow you the necessary time to do your daily collection first thing every morning to give you the strength to make it through the day. And remember that today’s manna will not be sufficient for tomorrow; tomorrow’s manna must be collected tomorrow morning. Wednesday, July 21, 2021
Today's Passage : Today's Passage :Contributions for the Sanctuary Bible Verse:Exodus 25:1-9 (1-40) (ESV) "The Lord said to Moses, “Speak to the people of Israel, that they take for me a contribution. From every man whose heart moves him you shall receive the contribution for me. And this is the contribution that you shall receive from them: gold, silver, and bronze, blue and purple and scarlet yarns and fine twined linen, goats’ hair, tanned rams’ skins, goatskins, acacia wood, oil for the lamps, spices for the anointing oil and for the fragrant incense, onyx stones, and stones for setting, for the ephod and for the breastpiece. And let them make me a sanctuary, that I may dwell in their midst. Exactly as I show you concerning the pattern of the tabernacle, and of all its furniture, so you shall make it.” Synopsis of verses 10-40 The rest of the chapter is a lengthy, detailed description of four items to be built for the sanctuary: 1) The Ark of the Covenant, acacia wood covered in gold, about four feet long with poles so it can be carried; 2) The Mercy Seat, made of pure gold, with two cherubs facing each other; 3) A table made of acacia wood and covered in gold, about four feet long; and 4) A golden lampstand with seven candles — the well-known menorah — and ornate decoration. (Exodus 25) " Message:
“They will make me a holy place, that I may dwell among them.” (Exo. 25:8) God gives the Hebrews seven chapters of instructions in Exodus about the details of how they shall worship, beginning with this chapter, which describes exactly how the primary four items of furniture should look. The first and most important, by far, is the Ark of the Covenant, which contains the law inscribed on stone tablets. This is the focal point of the tabernacle, the Holy of Holies, so sacred that, eventually, nobody will even see it except one priest, once a year.
temple menorah
The temple menorah
has 7 candles. The
more commonly seen
Chanukah menorah
has 9 candles.
And so, where did God live? Even in the days of the Law, God lived in His Word. The tablets themselves were simple slabs of stone filled with writing. There were lavish structures outside, surrounding it, so that the people will know the importance of what was within, but the actual sacred object representing God’s presence were words.
Daily Prayer places great emphasis on the importance of minimizing division between Christian denominations, and the structure of the tabernacle is a good illustration of what is most important. We have been freed from literal compliance with many laws of Moses and no longer must build elaborate structures where God may live among us, for we were given the Living Word, in the person of Christ, and today, the Holy Spirit.
But we must not look on our neighbors’ places of worship with disapproval, for we commit the sin of pride when we do. Notice that the tabernacle contains graven images, golden statues of cherubim complete with wings, certainly something that lives in the “heavens above.” Moreover they are right at the center of Hebrew worship.
Amish teenager simple pious
It is surely mistaken for the Catholic or Orthodox worshipper to criticize those who worship in simple and plain surroundings, for we are released from literal compliance with these chapters of Exodus (and all the law of Moses). There is nothing in the Bible that commands us to build elaborate churches. And by reference to the apostles, they often worshipped in the simple rooms of a church member.
But on the other hand, neither can we criticize any church with elaborate decoration, made of gold and other precious materials, for God clearly authorizes it to be done, even to the point of instructing the Jews to make golden statues of angels. If we read Exodus with no preconceptions, no personal axe to grind, we must conclude that the prohibition against graven images was meant to forbid making and worshipping heathen gods (as will be specified in Exodus 34). So the zeal of the Puritans, who ransacked Catholic and Anglican churches, destroying stained glass and crucifixes and statues of saints, was misguided.
But the primary thing to take away from this chapter is that even in the most elaborate and ornate setting is only window dressing for what we are worshipping: God’s presence in His Word.
Meditation : Prayer : May the Almighty and merciful Lord graciously hear me, pardon and deliver me from all my sins, confirm and strengthen me in all goodness, and bring me to everlasting life; through my Savior, Jesus Christ........Amen |
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