April 2, 2014
Exodus 38-39:31
And they made the plate of the holy crown of pure gold, and wrote upon it a writing, like to the engravings of a signet, HOLINESS TO THE LORD. Exodus 39:30
LET IT GLOW
Can I be honest here? This Sunday will be my fifth Sunday morning in a row to lead Children's church. I am getting a little weary in my doing good, if you know what I mean. Oh, it's not that I don't enjoy the children, I do, but I miss worshiping with the adults. Having said that, Scripture comes to my mind. Colossians 3:17 and 23 tells me, whatever I do, I am to do it (and heartily) as unto the Lord, not unto men.
Each item placed in the Tabernacle was important in God's service. Each act of service is seen by the Lord. Who am I serving, self or the Lord? Yes, I need an attitude adjustment.
We have been talking abut the items made to be placed inside the Tabernacle. As I have said before scholars estimated this construction used nearly a ton of gold, about 3 3/4 of silver, and 2 1/4 tons of bronze. (Wiersbe)
Johnson has figured the amount of gold listed as 29 talents, 730 shekels, or about 40,940 ounces troy weight. At $500 per ounce that would translate into $20,470,000, an enormous sum in that day. The silver, though amounting to only about 141,000 ounces would be valued at about $7,000,000, figuring silver at $50 an ounce. (Falwell)
Reading through the detailed instructions of the furniture, we see that artistic skills can be dedicated to God and used for His glory. God's work requires different kinds of laborers. Do we have a willing heart to be used by God with whatever skills we have?
LET IT GROW
Aaron was the High Priest and his sons were other priests for the Israelites. Chapter 39 gives the descriptive details of the priestly holy garments to be worn during the performance of the priestly duties. Exodus 28 gives detailed comments of the materials and symbolic significance of the garments. (See my previous posts for these.)
Does it matter to God what we wear to worship services?: God required the priests to wear the best. Is He pleased with anything less from us?
The priests' garments are called cloths of service (verse 1). These holy garments were not made for men to sleep in, or to strut in, but to do service in them.
What does the New Testament have to say about garments?
Those who will come out of the Great Tribulation will have washed their robes white in the blood of the Lamb.
Therefore are they before the throne of God, and serve Him day and night in His temple: and He that sitteth on the throne shall dwell among them. Rev. 7:15
The Son of Man came not to be ministered unto, but to minister.
Matthew Henry's Commentary on the Whole Bible states:
Christ is our High Priest; when He undertook the work of our redemption, He put on the cloths of service-He arrayed Himself with the gifts and graces of the Spirit , which received not by measure-girded Himself with the curious girdle Himself with all God's spiritual Israel, bare them on His shoulders, carried them in His bosom, laid them near His heart, engraved them on the palms of His hands, and presented them in the breastplate of judgment unto His Father. True believers are spiritual priests. The clean linen with which all the cloths of service must be made, is the righteousness of saints and Holiness to the Lord (Rev. 19:8) must be so written upon their foreheads, that all who converse with them, may see, and say, that they bear the image of God's holiness, and are devoted to the praise of it.
Are we clothed in the righteousness of Jesus Christ?
Are we bearing witness of His love, forgiveness, holiness, patience, kindness, goodness, gentleness?
LET IT GO
Be the written Word to others.
Be the hands, feet, and tongue of Jesus to others.
Watch what I say, do, and where I go, for others are watching me.
No comments:
Post a Comment