TODAY’S READING: LEVITICUS 21-24

 

OVERVIEW:

The qualifications of priests; God sets the dates of the Jewish feasts; the death penalty instituted and carried out.

 

HIGHLIGHTS & INSIGHTS:

In I Peter 2:5, we learn that God has set Christians apart as “an holy priesthood, to offer up spiritual sacrifices, acceptable to God by Jesus Christ”.  Every born-again believer is a priest, not in the Old Testament (OT) sense or the Roman Catholic sense, but in a biblical sense.  A New Testament (NT) priest teaches unbelievers to worship God properly (evangelism) and offers up “spiritual sacrifices” pleasing to God.  Some of the spiritual sacrifices that a Christian offers to God are faith (Phil.2:17), money (Phil.4:18), praise and giving (Heb.13:15, 16), people led to Christ (Rom.15:16) and finally, his/her life (Rom.12:1, 2; II Co.2:15).  All of these spiritual sacrifices are symbolically represented by physical offerings in the Old Testament.

 

Priests are ambassadors for God, and as such, have been called to God’s standard of holiness.  Since God is a holy God, we must approach Him in holiness.  In Leviticus 21, we find a list of physical blemishes that prevent an OT priest from offering the bread of God (Lev.21:16, 17).  These blemishes represent spiritual blemishes (Eph.5:27) in the life of a Christian, a NT priest.  When we are spiritually handicapped by these sinful actions or attitudes, we are hypocrites and we cannot offer the Word of God (bread of God) to a lost world.  Let’s examine a few of these blemishes to discover their spiritual applications.

 

1. A blind man (vs. 18).  In the NT, a blind man is one who is not maturing spiritually (II Pet. 1:5-9).
2. A blemished eye (vs. 20).  A blemished eye prevented the OT priest from seeing his reflection in the bronze laver where he was to wash himself (Ex. 30:18) in preparation for service.  In the NT, a blemished priest is one who hears the Word of God, but does not obey it (James1:22-25).
3. A flat nose (vs. 18).  A flat-nosed OT priest cannot smell the incense on the golden altar (a picture of prayer).  A flat-nosed NT priest neglects prayer, and therefore experiences no power in his walk with God.
4. A lame man (vs. 18).  A lame man cannot walk.  A lame NT priest is a believer who does not walk in obedience to God’s Word or in the fullness of the Spirit (Gal.5:16, 17, 22, 23).
5. A superfluous or extra body part (vs. 18).  An extra body part is numb, not functional, and interferes in service.  A NT priest who carries superfluous bitterness, unforgiveness, malice, or anger interferes with the worship of God (Eph.4:31,32).
6. A brokenfooted or brokenhanded man (vs. 19).  A brokenfooted priest cannot walk straight, he has no balance, and he cannot run.  A brokenfooted NT priest constantly wanders in and out of sin and worldliness (James 1:8).  A brokenhanded man cannot hold a knife, censer, bread, sacrifices, etc.  A brokenhanded believer does not hold fast to the profession of the faith (Heb.10:23) or the Word of God (II Tim.1:13).
7. A man with broken stones (vs. 20).  A man with broken stones cannot physically reproduce.  A NT priest with broken stones is someone who does not spiritually reproduce, i.e. make disciples (II Peter 1:8).

 

Please understand that if you have any of these blemishes, it doesn’t mean that you have lost your salvation; you are still a son of the High Priest by birth.  However, it does mean that you have sinful blemishes in your life that need to be repented of and corrected.  Otherwise, you are a hypocrite when you offer the Word of God to the lost world.  Remember that Jesus healed the lame, the blind, the deformed, etc. and He is willing and able to do the same for you. 

 

CHRIST IS REVEALED:

As our PERFECTLY SPOTLESS HIGH PRIEST – Lev.21:16-23 (Heb. 8:1). As the UNREVEALED REALITY of the eternal feasts ofIsrael– Lev. 23:2,21,42 (Col. 2:16,17).

 

TODAY’S READING: LEVITICUS 17-20

 

OVERVIEW:

God forbidsIsraelfrom worshiping other gods and eating blood; laws protecting the sanctity of sex; the declaration of civil laws.

 

HIGHLIGHTS & INSIGHTS:

In these chapters, God teaches us that the character of a society is a reflection of the character of her people.  In other words, our private lives determine our public welfare.  For example, how could HIV have become a worldwide pandemic if every human being would have obeyed God’s commands regarding the sanctity of sex?  Our nation is a chaotic cauldron of contradictions.  We sit in shock when the nightly news tells us of a mother (Andrea Yates) who has drowned her own children, or a man who has shot his wife, or a child that is abused, while at the same time, we sit idly by while our judges undercut our legal system and their own power by denying the presence of the Ten Commandments in the courtroom.  If morality is relative then upon what basis does a judge pronounce someone guilty?  The foundation of our society’s laws is the Bible and the absolute truth declared therein.  If the foundation be destroyed how will our society stand?  God guarantees that it won’t!  If we pursue other gods (money, sex, pleasure), then we will be cut off from our biblical heritage and lost in indecisive (Lev. 17:1-7). If we demote life to nothing more than a chemical composition (abortion, cloning) God will set His face against us (Lev.17:10-14). If we ignore the sacredness of sex, we are, by default, attacking the sacredness of humanity (see I Cor. 6:18; consider how pornography, in the mind of those addicted to it, turns (women/men) into something subhuman, a tool or toy without a mind or feelings). In general, when we reject God’s call to personal holiness, our society can go nowhere but down.

 

The moral of the story is that all of us are holy (holy means “set apart”) to someone or something.  We are either holy to God or holy to sin.  You cannot serve two masters (Matt.6:24).  “And ye shall be holy unto me: for I the LORD am holy, and have severed you from other people, that ye should be mine” (Lev.20:26).

 

CHRIST IS REVEALED:

As the HOLY WORD OF GOD that protects our private and public lives from rampant wickedness. – Lev. 20:8 (Jn. 1:1, 2, 14; Rev. 19:13)

 

TODAY’S READING: LEVITICUS 14-16

 

OVERVIEW: 

The purification of lepers; purification of those with unclean issues; instructions regarding the Day of Atonement.

 

HIGHLIGHTS & INSIGHTS:

God is invisible and many of His truths relate to an unseen realm.  Hence the need for faith: “the substance of things hoped for, the evidence of things not seen” (Heb. 11:1).  Though the spiritual realm is invisible, God is an expert at teaching spiritual truths through physical realities.  Leviticus chapter 15 is a perfect example of this method of teaching.  Clearly, God is very postmodern in that He recognizes that we all have “issues”.  Without a doubt, God provides instructions regarding “unclean issues” for the obvious reason of preventing the spread of infectious illnesses among the Israelites.  However, God’s strict rules regarding “unclean issues” also teach us spiritual truths about “unclean” thoughts, attitudes and words that “issue” out of our hearts.  Jesus reminded us that “those things which proceed out of the mouth come forth from the heart; and they defile the man.  For out of the heart proceed evil thoughts, murders, adulteries, fornications, thefts, false witness, blasphemies: These are the things which defile a man . . .” (Matt.15:16-18).  No wonder David prayed “Set a watch, O LORD, before my mouth; keep the door of my lips” (Ps. 141:3).

 

In Leviticus chapter 16, God introduces a special holiday into the Jewish calendar: the Day of Atonement.  On this day, both the sin nature and the individual sins of the entire nation ofIsraelare atoned for or covered.  A simple way to remember the significance of this holy day is by breaking the word “atonement” into three hyphenated words: “at – one – ment”.  This is the day whenIsrael’s sin is covered, making them “at – one – ment” with God.  The Day of Atonement is a very descriptive picture of the person and work of Jesus Christ.  The high priest enters the holy of holies with the blood of a sin offering signifying our High Priest, Jesus Christ, entering the third heaven with His own blood as a sin offering.  Hebrews states it like this: “For Christ is not entered into the holy places made with hands, which are the figures of the true; but into heaven itself, now to appear in the presence of God for us” (Heb. 9:24).  With this offering completed, the high priest lays his hands upon the head of the scapegoat and confesses the sins of the children ofIsrael(vs. 21) and the scapegoat carries away their iniquities.  Isaiah prophetically described this portion of Christ’s work saying, “the LORD hath laid on him the iniquity of us all” (Isa. 53:6).  He has carried our sins to a place as far as the east is from the west (Ps. 103:12).  In other words, Jesus permanently eliminated the record of our sins; God remembers them no more.  So through the Day of Atonement, God teaches us that He has effectually dealt with both our sin nature and our sinful actions.  Though there are many parallels to the person and work of Jesus, two important differences must be mentioned.  First, the Old Testament high priest had to make sin offerings for himself because he was as guilty as the rest of the children ofIsrael. Jesus Christ, our High Priest, never offered a sin sacrifice for Himself because He was completely sinless (Heb.9:14;7:22-28)!  Secondly, the Day of Atonement was celebrated every year because “it is not possible that the blood of bulls and of goats should take away sins.  And every priest standeth daily ministering and offering oftentimes the same sacrifices, which can never take away sins: But this man [Jesus Christ], after he had offered one sacrifice for sins for ever, sat down on the right hand of God; From henceforth expecting till his enemies be made his footstool” (Heb 10:4,11-13). 

 

For those of us who have a personal relationship with Jesus Christ, we can glory in the fact that our Saviour offered Himself one time to permanently and forever pay for our sins; we never need ask for His salvation again.  Praise the Lord!

 

CHRIST IS REVEALED:

As our SIN OFFERING which effectually crucified our sin nature – Lev. 14:19-32 (Rom.5:8)

As our SCAPEGOAT which carried away our sins – Lev. 16:5-34 (II Cor.5:21) As our eternal HIGH PRIEST who intercedes for us – Lev.14:20(Heb7:24, 25).

 

 

TODAY’S READING: LEVITICUS 10-13

 

OVERVIEW:

Nadab and Abihu judged by God; the first kosher menu is created; post partum purification; leprosy is identified and addressed.

 

HIGHLIGHTS & INSIGHTS:

Tolerance and pluralism are common words in the vocabulary of our lukewarm society.  Christians have been told that they should avoid making claims such as “the Bible is the only source of absolute truth” and “Jesus is the only way to heaven”.  Such claims are impolite and disruptive.  And besides, all roads lead to heaven, right?  Let’s ask Nadab and Abihu.  In Leviticus 10, we find two men, Nadab and Abihu, who were so caught up in the emotional excitement of experiencing God’s presence (Lev. 9:23-10:7) that they were inspired out of the goodness of their heart to worship God in a new way.  What’s wrong with that?  Think about it, here are two men with honest intentions and sincere hearts trying to please God.  Surely God is overwhelmed with joy.  Check out God’s response to these truly sincere individuals: “And there went out fire from the LORD, and devoured them, and they died before the LORD” (Lev. 10:2).  Is this really the response of a loving God?  What’s the big deal?

 

Read vs. 1, “And Nadab and Abihu . . . offered strange fire before the Lord, WHICH HE COMMANDED THEM NOT.”  The fire of judgment devoured them because they refused to worship God in accordance with God’s Word.  Sincerity of heart and good intentions will not lead anyone to eternity in heaven (Pro.14:12).  We saw this same scenario played out in Genesis, where Cain offered with a sincere heart the fruit of his hands as an offering to God. There was no question of the sincerity of his heart was in the right place, but was not according to the requirements of God. There will be a lot of people in hell that had a sincere heart, but not the right faith. The fact is, all roads do not lead to heaven; there is only one road: Jesus Christ.  In John 14:6, Jesus said, “I am the way, the truth, and the life: no man cometh unto the Father, but by me”.  Jesus is the only road because only Jesus is God, only Jesus lived a sinless life, only Jesus paid the price for sins, only Jesus rose from the dead and only Jesus will return to take vengeance on them that know not God and obey not His gospel (II Thess. 1:7-10)!  God demands that we worship Him precisely the way that He commands us to in His Word.

 

God paints an incredible picture of sin, its working, and consequences in Leviticus 13.  In this chapter we are introduced to leprosy which, like sin, is a disease that spreads throughout the body, often remains undetected by others, defiles everyone near to it, isolates the infected and is fit only for destruction by fire.  Sounds like the life of someone trapped in sin.  Such a situation is not hopeless, however, if we chose to separate ourselves from the sin, “put off” the garment of the flesh (Col. 3:5-17) and let our High Priest, the Lord Jesus Christ, apply the blood of the sacrifice (I Jn. 1:7) and anoint us with oil (a type of the power of the Holy Spirit).  Through Christ, our faithful High Priest we can be restored to a right relationship with God and man.

 

CHRIST IS REVEALED:

As our HIGH PRIEST who identifies and cleanses the disease of our sin – Lev. 13 (Heb.4:14, 15).

TODAY’S READING: LEVITICUS 6-9

 

OVERVIEW:

Re-stating of the sacrifices in a new order and with an additional offering; Aaron and his sons consecrated for and instituted in service to God.

 

HIGHLIGHTS & INSIGHTS:

We can be certain that our all-knowing God doesn’t suffer from short-term memory loss.  When God repeats Himself, start digging because you’re standing on buried treasure!  In chapters 1-5, the sacrifices are listed in the following order: burnt, meat, peace, sin and trespass. This order shows God’s transcendence toward man in the person of Jesus Christ.  Jesus voluntarily offered (burnt offering) His sinless life (meat offering) to reconcile (peace offering) God and man by atoning for man’s sin (sin and trespass offerings).  In chapters 6 and 7, the sacrifices are listed in a new order and another sacrifice has been added: burnt, meat, priest’s, sin, trespass and peace.  This reveals man’s ascension toward God only through Jesus Christ, the great High Priest.  It’s no accident that the priest’s offering serves as a bridge between the burnt and meat offerings and the sin and trespass offerings for “there is one God, and one mediator between God and men, the man Christ Jesus;  Who gave himself a ransom for all” (I Tim. 2:5-6a).  Jesus is our only bridge to God.  The last offering listed is the peace offering because peace is the result of Jesus Christ standing in the gap between God and man; “we have peace with God through our Lord Jesus Christ” (Rom. 5:1).

 

Another noteworthy truth is found in chapter 6 and verse 13:  “The fire shall ever be burning upon the altar; it shall never go out.”  The fire of the altar was forbidden to go out.  This signifies that our God is always ready, willing and waiting for us to enter His presence through the appropriate sacrifice.  Psalm 86:5 declares, “For thou, Lord, art good, and ready to forgive; and plenteous in mercy unto all them that call upon thee”.

 

Once the path to God has been established and clearly marked (chapters 1-7), God prepares His children for consecration to His service and to experience His glorious presence.  Chapters 8 and 9 show us the consecration of the priests and the preparation for God’s glorious presence.  At this point it’s important to take note of a few things: first, that all priests are Levites, but not all Levites are priests.  Only Aaron’s sons could become priests.  In other words, you must be born a priest.  The same is true in the New Testament: only those who have been born-again into the family of the great High Priest, Jesus Christ, can serve and worship God in holiness.  Next, only the High Priest wears the “holy crown” (Lev. 8:9) teaching us that there is only one High Priest who is also a King, the Lord Jesus Christ, and only He holds the place of preeminence (Col. 1:18).  Third, when Aaron and his sons were consecrated for service to God, blood was placed upon their right ear lobes, right thumbs and right toes symbolizing that all of their strength (denoted by the right hand side) was devoted to hearing and obeying God’s Holy Word, carrying out God’s holy work and continuing in a holy walk.  And such should be the case with New Testament priests (Col. 1:10).  Finally, in chapter 9, verses 6 and 7, Aaron makes atonement for himself and the people as a prerequisite to God’s glory descending upon the tabernacle.  Atonement precedes God’s presence.  Unless we are in a right relationship with God, completely consecrated to Him, we will never experience the glory of His presence in our lives (Lev.9:24).

 

CHRIST IS REVEALED:

As our MEDIATOR and HIGH PRIEST who intercedes before God on our behalf.  – Lev. 9:7-24  (I Tim. 2:5; Heb.7:22-26)

 

INTRODUCTION TO LEVITICUS

 

We have now come to one of the most challenging sections of the Bible. Not because the language is difficult to understand, but because the intricate details regarding the sacrifices and feasts seem so boring and tedious.  Church Age believers mistakenly believe that Leviticus does not pertain to them because we no longer offer animal sacrifices or celebrate the Jewish feasts. However, God tells us that “ALL scripture is profitable for doctrine, for reproof, for correction, for instruction in righteousness” (II Tim3:16; see also Ro. 15:4). So what does Leviticus have to do with my life today?  Consider the following:

 

• Leviticus contains more words spoken directly by God than any other book in the Bible (Lev 1:1).

 

• Leviticus is quoted more than 40 times in the New Testament.  Apparently, there is something very important that God wants to communicate to us in the book of Leviticus!

 

• Without Leviticus we could never understand the New Testament book of Hebrews.  Leviticus foreshadows New Testament truths regarding the person and work of Jesus Christ.

 

• David continuously and insistently declared that he delighted in God’s “statutes” (Ps. 119:16, 54, 80).  Many of God’s statutes are recorded in Leviticus (Lev.3:17).  Apparently, David, the man after God’s own heart, DELIGHTED in the book of Leviticus!

 

• Leviticus reveals that God, through Jesus Christ, has prepared for us a SACRIFICE (Jesus Christ, the Lamb of God – John1:29), a PRIEST (Jesus Christ, the great High Priest – Heb 3:1) and a PLACE (Heaven, where Jesus Christ is enthroned – I Pet.3:22).  Not only has God prepared these things for us, but He has made each believer a SACRIFICE (Rom 12:1, 2), a PRIEST (I Pet. 2:5) and a PLACE (Eph2:22)!

 

The purpose of Leviticus is twofold: first, to show us that we must worship the LORD in holiness (the word “holy” appears 94 times in Leviticus!); and second, that worship is the only pathway to peace, rest and fruitfulness.  God will not give you peace, rest or fruitfulness until you are worshiping Him in holiness.

 

Historically, the events recorded in Leviticus occur at the door of the tabernacle (Lev 1:1) over a period of one month (cp. Lev 1:1; Ex 40:17; Num 1:1).  Having delivered His children by the blood of the lamb (Exodus), God plans to take them to a place of peace, rest and fruitfulness, but before they embark on their journey, they must first establish worship.  Leviticus isIsrael’s instruction book on worship.  The word Leviticus means “that which pertains to the Levites” and is so called because the tribe of Levi was chosen by God to beIsrael’s worship leaders.  The word Levi means “joined to God” and because the Levites were joined to God they had no inheritance in the Promised Land; God was their inheritance.

TODAY’S READING: LEVITICUS 1-5

 

OVERVIEW:

The burnt offering; the meat (meal, grain) offering; the peace offering; the sin offering; the trespass offering

 

HIGHLIGHTS & INSIGHTS:

Chapters 1-5 describe five types of sacrifices, all of which are a prophetic picture of both Jesus Christ and New Testament believers.

 

 

Chapter 1 – The Burnt Offering 

This offering represents the substitutionary sacrifice of Jesus Christ.  As believers, we are to offer our bodies as living sacrifices, holy, acceptable unto God (Rom.12:1).  Note that the head and fat of the animal is laid upon the wood (vs.8), a picture of you and I laying our plans, our wills and our treasures upon the cross of Christ (Lk.9:23).  Notice also that the inside and the legs are washed in water (vs.9), representing our “inner man” (Eph.3:16) and our “walk” (Col. 1:10) being washed with the water of the word of God (Eph.5:26, 27).

 

Chapter 2 – The Meat (Meal, grain) Offering. 

This is the only bloodless sacrifice.  It represents the sinless life of Jesus Christ.  The remnant of this offering was given to Aaron’s sons (vs.10) picturing Christ’s righteousness given to believers (II Cor.5:21).

 

Chapter 3 – The Peace Offering

This offering represents the peace which Jesus Christ purchased for us with His own precious blood (Col. 1:20).  Note that the kidney, caul and liver were taken away.  These organs filter out poisonous chemicals.  Through this sacrifice, God tells us that we have permanent genuine peace with Him through our Savior Jesus Christ.

 

Chapter 4 – The Sin Offering 

This offering reveals how Jesus Christ has given believers victory over our sinful nature, the flesh.  The sin referred to here is “ignorant sin”, meaning sin that mysteriously permeates our flesh; sin that is so deeply rooted that we are sometimes unconscious of it (see Ps. 19:12; 90:8; 139:23,24; Jer. 17:9; Rom. 7).  Note that the whole body of the bullock (an ox or horned cow) is taken outside of the camp and burned.  Our flesh is of no value or use to God and must therefore, be “put off” and “mortified” (Col. 3:5-17;Rom.6:1-23).

 

Chapter 5 – The Trespass Offering 

This offering represents Christ’s victory over specific individual sins, also called trespasses.  This is the only sacrifice associated with money (v.15).  Truly, “the wages of sin is death” (Rom.6:23).  Thanks be to God, Jesus Christ has paid the price for our sins with His precious blood (Acts20:28).

 

Leviticus is a book of violence and blood.  In fact, the word “offering” occurs 387 times, and the word “blood” appears 88 times.  Why would a loving God require such horrible violence?  Several reasons are obvious: first, without the shedding of blood there is no remission for sins (Heb. 9:22); second, God doesn’t want us to forget the horrible consequences of sin (James 1:15); third, God wants us to know that He loved us so much that He voluntarily (Lev. 1:3; Rom. 5:8) subjected His Son to bloody violence for the price of our sin; fourth, we are in a violent war with our flesh; finally, God desires to have every part of us, severally and wholly, and that can be very painful.

 

CHRIST IS REVEALED:

As our voluntary substitutionary sacrifice (Lev. 1 – burnt offering) who lived a sinless life (Lev. 2 – meat offering) and purchased peace with God (Lev. 3 – peace offering) by paying the price for our sins (Lev. 4 – trespass offering) and giving us victory over our flesh (Lev. 5 – sin offering).

TODAY’S READING: EXODUS 37-40

 

OVERVIEW:

The tabernacle is completed and an inventory is taken; God commands Moses to set up the tabernacle; God’s presence fills the tabernacle.

 

 

HIGHLIGHTS & INSIGHTS:

In chapters 37 and 38, God prompts Moses to once again list and describe the seven pieces of furniture to be placed in the tabernacle.  1) The Brazen Altar  2) The Brazen Laver 3) The Table of Shewbread  4) The Candlestick  5) The Altar of Incense  6) TheArk  7) The Mercy Seat.

 

John says of the Lord Jesus Christ, “And the Word was made flesh and dwelt (literally, “tabernacled”) among us.”  It is amazing to observe the order of the furniture found in the tabernacle, and the order of the Gospel of John.  It’s as if the Holy Spirit were leading us, in the same exact order as the furniture was to be placed in the tabernacle, to the incredible spiritual realities pictured by the furniture in the tabernacle. We just finished the series “Can you see him in the Tabernacle” that will explain each idem in greater detail.

 

He begins by leading us to the Brazen Altar of Sacrifice, as twice in John chapter one He urges us to “Behold the Lamb of God, which taketh away the sin of the world” (John 1:29,46). 

 

We are then taken to the Laver in John 3:5 where the Spirit of God records, “Except a man be born of water and of the Spirit, he cannot enter into thekingdomofGod.”

 

Moving further into the Gospel of John (and into the tabernacle), the Spirit leads us in chapters 4-6 to the food and drink of the Table of Shewbread, as Christ is presented as “Living Water” and “Living Bread.”

 

In John 8 and 9 we are taken to the Golden Candlestick as twice Jesus proclaims, “I am the Light of the world,” and “he that followeth me shall not walk in darkness, but shall have the light of life.”

 

In John 14-16, the Spirit of God brings us as it were, to the Altar of Incense, as Jesus teaches us to pray in His name — the name that is to the Father a sweet smelling savor.

 

Then in John 17 we are taken beyond the veil into the Holy of Holies to behold our Great High Priest, the Lord Jesus Christ, making intercession for us in the presence of God.  Here, Christ is seen not only as our High Priest, but as theArkand the Mercy Seat through whom we have found access and acceptance with His Father and God.  Jesus said in John 20:17, “I ascend unto my Father, and YOUR Father; and to my God, and YOUR God.”

 

Finally in Exodus 40:34, everything having been made according to the Divine Pattern was now to be filled with the Divine Glory.  Coincidentally, the Gospel of John closes with Jesus breathing on His disciples saying, “Receive ye the Holy Ghost” (John20:22).

 

CHRIST IS REVEALED:

In the HIGH PRIEST and his BREASTPLATE, who bears the names of God’s people before the presence of God – Ex. 39:8-21 (Heb.9:11;10:19-22)

 

In the FOUR COLORS as representing the FOUR GOSPELS – Ex. 38:18, 23: 39:2, 3,5,8, 24, 29 Purple (Matthew) – Christ presented as the King. 

Scarlet (Mark) – Christ presented as the Suffering Servant. White (Luke) – Christ presented as the sinless Man. Blue (John) – Christ presented as the Son of God come down from heaven.

 

TODAY’S READING: EXODUS 33-36

 

OVERVIEW:

God commands the people to go to Canaan; Moses asks God to reestablish His presence with Israel; God rewrites the tables of stone that Moses had broken; God reaffirms His special relationship with Israel; Moses reveals the tabernacle plans and the people respond obediently.

 

HIGHLIGHTS & INSIGHTS:

What is God to do with a “stiffnecked” people?  (Ex. 32:9, 33:3, 5, 34:9)  He delivers them, He protects them, He provides for them, but still they are dead set on living like the world.  God is wroth, considering consuming them (Ex. 32:10, 33:3, 5) and building His people up again through Moses, but Moses begs God for His presence once more.  This brush with extinction, Moses prays, will be a wake-up call to God’s people.  God offers to send His Angel to lead them, but Moses pleads for the actual personal presence of God (Ex. 32:15).  The “insight” here is as simple as a look in the mirror (II Chron. 30:8, Acts7:51).

 

With God’s presence restored, the admonitions from God are unchanged, “For thou shalt worship no other god: for the Lord, whose name is Jealous, is a jealous God” (Ex. 34:14).   Paul was jealous in this same way in II Corinthians 11:2.

 

God’s plan for the tabernacle, delivered to the children ofIsraelin chapter 35, is basically a repeat of chapters 25 – 31 with one incredible difference.  While God’s plan was so very specific (it almost sounds stifling!), the execution of the plan employs the willing and wise-hearted participation of God’s people.  Here they apply their skill, their cunning and their curious works (Ex. 35:32, 33, 35).  The work of God drew on all their talents and, filled with God’s wisdom, they were enthused to do it; so much so that they almost went overboard. (Ex. 36:7).

 

CHRIST IS REVEALED:

In the TABERNACLE – Ex. 35 (Heb. 9:1-14).

The SINGLE DOOR into the tabernacle – Ex. 35:15 (John 10: 1, 2, 7, 9).

The HOLY OF HOLIES into which only the High Priest could enter – Ex. 35:19 (Hebrews9:12).

TODAY’S READING: EXODUS 29-32

 

OVERVIEW:

God gives instruction on the consecration of the priests; God explains how the tabernacle is to operate; God appoints specific men to oversee the building of the tabernacle; God emphasizes the Sabbath day;Israelsins against God; Moses intercedes forIsrael.

 

HIGHLIGHTS & INSIGHTS:

For 40 days (since the end of Ex. 24) Moses has been back onMount Sinaireceiving explicit direction from God. Israelhad just faithfully promised, “All the words which the Lord hath said will we do.” (Ex. 24:3)  What could be better?  God’s presence was apparent; God was actively working withIsrael; Moses was at that very moment on the mount hearing from God. BUT – (Gen. 4:7) “Sin lieth at the door.”  Aaron, (the High Priest about whom God was giving detailed instructions on how he would picture our High Priest, the Lord Jesus Christ) bows to the pressures of the people, builds a false god and leads Israel in the worship of it; dancing about it naked and praising it for delivering them from Egypt.  How could they be so weak?  Sound like anybody you know? AND – Then comes the lame cover up (Ex. 32:24), where when confronted with his sin, Aaron explains that he simply threw the gold into the fire and out popped this golden calf!  That “miracle” having taken place, the only natural thing was to then to set it in front of the people, so they could dance around it and party the day away in sensual lust.

 

Sadly, the wonderful things that God had planned for His people were being permanently polluted by them as He spoke (Acts7:41).  While God is painting a beautiful picture of how His people could exemplify His holiness and mercy,Israelis painting the dreadful portrait of how we so often react to His love (I Corinthians 10:1-10).

 

Make special note that this great sin ofIsraelis also used in Steven’s sermon in Acts 7:41 to illustrate how we so blatantly reject God’s perfect plan.

Paul also lets us know in 1 Cor. 10: 6 & 11 that all these things were done for our examples that we wouldn’t make the same mistaskes.

CHRIST IS REVEALED:

Through God’s plan for Aaron the HIGH PRIEST. Ex.29 (Hebrews7:26- 8:1)

 

Through the ONCE-A-YEAR SACRIFICE FOR ATONEMENT. Ex. 30:10 (Rom.6:10, Hebrews7:27, 9:7,9:12,10:10)

 

TODAY’S READING: EXODUS 25-28

 

OVERVIEW:

God details His plans for the tabernacle; God details His plans for the High Priest’s coverings.

 

HIGHLIGHTS & INSIGHTS:

Here the Divine Architect (Designer and Builder of the entire universe) takes on His second building project through man.  His first, theArk, was a vessel that carried man through the flood.  The second, a tabernacle, is a way for God to be carried by man through the desert.  God’s second building project is a tent, but in actuality, it is far, far more.

 

The blueprint is SIMPLE – made from materials available to the children ofIsraelin the desert – gold, silver and brass (unintentional gifts from the Egyptians), fine linen, animal skins, wood, oil, incense and precious stones.  The blueprint is SYMBOLIC – absolutely every detail is a portrait of God’s character, how He desires to dwell with us, and how we can approach Him.

 

The tabernacle is to be PRECIOUS.  God’s art demands the very best workmanship available to the Israelites – sewing, carving, goldsmithing, baking, dying.  The tabernacle is to be PORTABLE.  God has His people on the move and His design allows the Israelites to keep Him at the center of their lives while they move on to the Promised Land.

 

Entire books have been written about the numerous pictures drawn by God in this design.  Like any great art, the more you look, the more you see. There is more column inches dedicated to the design of the tabernacle than any other idem in all the Word of God. God gives us 66 versus in Genesis to explain the design and creation of the universe, but gives us 15 Chapters and 515 versus to describe the tabernacle and its workings. Most be rally important!

 

Historically, God designed this tabernacle because He wanted to dwell and commune with His people (Ex. 25:8, 22).  Practically, God designed the record of it for all history to know how we can dwell in Him (I John4:12-13; Hebrews 9:1-14).

 

CHRIST IS REVEALED:

In theARKOF THE COVENANT – wood overlaid by pure gold (wood representing His humanity and gold representing His deity – Ex. 25:10-11 (Phil. 2:6-8).

 

In the MERCY SEAT – Ex. 25:17 (Rom.3:24-25 – Note that the word “propitiation” in Rom.3:25is translated “mercy seat” in Heb. 9:5)

 

In the TABLE OF SHEWBREAD – Ex. 25:23-30 (Jesus is the Bread of Life: John 6:33, 35, 48, 51).

 

In the CANDLESTICK – Ex. 25:31 (Jesus is the Light: John 1:4-9;8:12; 9:5;12:35-36, 46)

 

In the VEIL – Ex. 26:30-37 (Representing the body of Christ which was torn to bring us to God: Mark 15:38; Hebrews 10:20)

 

Through the HIGH PRIEST and all of his CLOTHING – Ex. 28:1-43 (Jesus is our High Priest: Heb. 2:17; 3:1)