Sacrifices

O. T. #226  "Sacrifices"
Feb. 10, 2014
Exodus 27-Part 1
And thou shalt make an altar...  Exodus 27:1


LET IT GLOW

I wonder, what I have sacrificed lately? Hum.... Let's see, I did give up my comfort of a warm house as I waited for a new heat stove. Nope, that was out of necessity as I waited for the order to
arrive in two weeks.
Oh, I know, I gave up my free time as I babysat for a month due to snow. No, that was enjoyable.
Perhaps it's the 2-3 hours I spend writing these studies. Really, Linda, that's obedience.
Maybe it was when I baked banana bread and gave to our deacons' families. I ate some, too, so
what kind of sacrifice was that?
All these were good deeds, but were they actually a sacrificial thing God asked me to give up?
Not really. Maybe I only did things for those I loved or what I wanted to do.

So I asked myself some questions:
What am I willing to sacrifice in order for someone to come to Jesus? Or for His will to be done?
Or for Him to be glorified? Am I willing to lay my life on the altar of sacrifice for whatever Jesus
wants of me? How about you? Soul searching time.

Let's see what the altar in the Tabernacle was like. Please read on sweet friend.


There were two altars in the Tabernacle? The golden altar for the burning of incense is discussed
in Exodus 30:1-10.
The other altar was made of bronze for sacrifices, found here in chapter 27.
What do we know about this altar of sacrifices?

• It was situated in the courtyard or the Holy Place of the Tabernacle.
• It was a made of acacia wood seven feet square and five feet high.
• It was covered with brass, thus called the bronze altar.
• Four horns were made into it at each corner.
• It had a grating, a bronze network, and a bronze ring at each corner, which was put under       the ledge of the altar so it was halfway up the altar.
• Poles of acacia wood overlaid with bronze were placed on the two side when the altar was carried. It was hollow, out of boards.
• The utensils were made of bronze-its pots for removing the ashes, its shovels, sprinkling     bowls held the blood sacrifice, meat forks or fleshhooks were for taking the priests' share       of the offerings, and firepans.

Falwell described this altar's function much like a modern barbecue pit.

This altar was the place where  animals died in place of its owners so their sins could be forgiven.
This was God's standard for the Israelites, His beloved children.


LET IT GROW

The bronze altar stood just inside the entrance of the court. There was one entrance and one altar,
just as there is only one way of salvation for lost sinners (Acts 4:12).
God lit the fire on the altar when the tabernacle was dedicated. The priests kept the fire burning
(Lev. 6:9-13).
This altar speaks of the sacrificial death of our Lord Jesus on the cross. He is pictured in all the sacrifices God commanded Israel to bring (Lev. 1-5; Heb. 10:1-14). He went through the fire of judgment for us and gave Himself as the sacrifice for our sins. (Wiersbe)

The Hebrew word for altar means slaughter place. (Young's Concordance)

The idea is that an altar is a "killing place." As believers, our altar, or killing place, is the cross,
where Jesus died for our sins and we follow by dying unto self and living for Jesus. (Guzik)

In Galatians 2:20 and 6:14, Paul says: I am crucified with Christ: nevertheless I live; yet not I, but Christ liveth in me: and the life which I now live in the flesh I live by faith of the Son of
God, who loved me, and gave Himself for me.
But God forbid that I should glory, save in the cross of our Lord Jesus Christ, by whom the
world is crucified unto me, and I unto the world.

Are we willing to lay down our lives on that same altar? Will we deny our self, take up our cross,
and follow Jesus?


LET IT GO...

                                    of sin.                                   
                                    of myself and let Jesus live through me.
                                    denying myself and let others be...
                                    of  my focus on things, looking where Jesus is leading and follow Him.

*Thank you dear ones, for sacrificing your time to faithfully study God's Word with me. I am so
   glad that you are with me on this journey. Feel free to share your comments with us.
                                   

Colored Curtains

O.T. #225  "Colored Curtains"
Feb. 10, 2014
Exodus 26-Part 2
...and the veil shall divide unto you between the holy place and the most holy. 
 Exodus 26:33c

LET IT GLOW

Today we can go to the store and buy whatever color of curtains we wish and not give it much
though as to the process for making them. My kitchen curtains have red apples pained on them. I really have not given much thought as to how they got there. It wasn't easy for the Hebrews in the wilderness. Are you curious? Read on, friend.

Instructions for the two veils hung in the Tabernacle, the inner and outer veils.
What do we learn about the inner veil?

• It separated the two rooms, the Holy Place and the Holy of Holies.
• Only the high priest could pass through this veil, and only once a year, on the Day of Atonement (Lev. 16).
• This beautiful veil was made of finely twisted linen, blue, purple, and scarlet, with         cherubim motif woven into the design by a skilled craftsman.
• It hung with gold hooks on four posts of acacia wood overlaid with gold and standing on      four silver bases.
• It hung with clasps and the Ark of the Covenant, or Ark of the Testimony, as it is called.

How is the outer veil described?

• It hung was also made of blue, purple, and scarlet yarn and finely twisted linen, which an embroiderer made.
• It hung on gold hooks as a curtain, across five posts made of acacia wood that formed the entrance to the tent of meeting, the Tabernacle, like a screen. They had five bronze bases.

The three colors of blue, purple, and scarlet were produced by dying the thread. Blue was from a shellfish, purple was from the secretion of a murex snail, and crimson from powdered eggs and bodies of certain worms, which attached themselves to holly plants. Producing these colors
required some technical sophistication with textiles and fabrics.  (MacArthur)

Did you ever consider all the work which went into making these curtains?


LET IT GROW

The veil hiding the Holy of Holies, the place where the Ark of the Covenant and the Mercy Seat
were placed, represented our Lord Jesus Christ's body which was given for us on the cross. When He offered u His Spirit, the veil in the temple was torn from top to bottom, thus allowing anyone to
come at any time into God's presence. (Wiersbe)

Matthew 27:50-51 states, Jesus, when He had cried again with a loud voice, yielded up the
ghost. And, behold, the veil of the temple was rent in twain from the top to the bottom;
and the earth did quake, and the rocks rent.

As Jesus hung of the cross and died, this inner veil tore from top to bottom. This signified that no person did, only God. Why was this significant?

Hebrews 10:19-21 says, Having therefore , brethren, boldness to enter into the holiest by the blood of Jesus, By a new and living way, which He hath consecrated for us, through the veil, that is to say, His flesh; And having a high priest over the house of God.

As believers in Jesus Christ, and Gentiles, we do not need a priest to speak to God for us. We
now have access to  Holy God our Father, in His throne room. Jesus is our High Priest,
interceding for us to The Father as we pray. Such a wonderful privilege! Thank You Jesus!

LET IT GO

Use my skills for the Lord's work.

Pray with reverence, since I am entering the Holy of Holies, bowing before Jesus.

Always thank Jesus for what He endured for me, a sinner.

Curtains and Blankets

O. T. #224  "Curtains and Blankets"
Feb. 7, 2014
Exodus 26-Part 1
Make the Tabernacle with ten curtains of finely twisted linen and blue, purple and scarlet
yarn, with cherubim worked into them by a skilled craftsman.  Exodus 26:1 NIV

LET IT GLOW

Most of the curtains and blinds which hang in our house I purchased before we move in. We
have had such a cold winter in which temperatures plunged into the single digits several
consecutive nights, that I had to add something to those thin curtains in order to block the cold
wind seeping inside. Yep, I hung blankets up over the curtains and rods. They may not add to
the décor of the rooms, unmatching valances, but they sure do help keep it warmer. Like the
rest of the country, our propane and electricity bills have doubled and even tripled in price, so desperate times required desperate measures. (I am glad my mother cannot see those blankets.)
The Bible mentions curtains here in our chapter. Want to see what colors they are?

Inside the Tabernacle, were three separate rooms. The first room contained the Bronze Laver
and the Altar of Burnt Offering. The Middle room, the Holy Place contained three things-The
Table of Showbread, the Golden Lampstand, and the Altar of Incense. This Altar is described
in chapter 27, so we will discuss it later. The third room housed the Ark of the Covenant and
the Mercy Seat.

Chapter 26 describes the curtains and coverings (verses 1-14), the framework (verses 15-30),
and the veils (verses 31-37).
As the priests were ministering within the Tabernacle, only they could see the colorful curtains
of linen, hung upon the wooden framework. God had the Israelites make the beautiful walls
from ten curtains from fine twined linen, even-textured, speaking of the perfection of  Christ.
They were embroidered blue, purple, and scarlet, which speaks of Christ's heavenly origin,
royalty, and shed blood to cover our sins. The images of angelic cherubims were woven into
the curtains.
There were four different coverings, the inner two woven, the outer two of animal skins. The
third covering was made of rams' skins dyed red, as a picture of death. The fourth, or
outermost covering, was of leather-like badgers skins. These materials were commonly used
by the nomadic peoples of that day.

How do we clothe our body? Are we Christian women revealing too much to the world? Or do we modestly keep our private parts covered. Some parts are only for my husband to see. Therefore I must make sure I am properly covered before leaving the house. How about you? Are we teaching our daughters and granddaughters modesty?

LET IT GROW

The framework of the Tabernacle is discussed in verse 15-30. It was a series of acacia wood
standing about 15 feet high and 2 feet wide. The wood and gold coverings suggest the
humanity and deity of our Lord Jesus Christ. the frame or trellis work was the support of the
curtains and outer coverings. The Tabernacle boards rested on silver sockets, while the curtains
were hung from the silver hooks. The Israelites could quickly dismantle the Tabernacle, easily
transported, and rapidly reassembled during their wilderness wanderings.

The silver sockets, curtain bases, were used to securely hold the tent in place and level. We
read where the silver for these sockets came from the "redemption price" given by each male
who was twenty years old or older, in Exodus 30:11-16. The basis for our worship today is our redemption in Christ.

According to the New International Version of the Bible, it records in Exodus 38:25-28,
one-fifth of an ounce (about 5.5 grams) was given by each male 20 years and older. There
were 603,550 men at that time. About three and three-fourths tons was used for the
Tabernacle. There was about 45 pounds of silver used for the hooks.

God had it all planned out before the Israelites left Egypt. They used the silver and gold which
the Egyptians willingly gave to the Israelites, for the building of the Tabernacle, the place of
God's presence and glory.

What are we willing to give sacrificially unto the Lord?

In Psalm 34:1, David says, I will bless the LORD at all times: His praise shall continually
be in my mouth.

Ladies, are we thankful for the curtains we hang in our house? Do we thank Him for the
jewelry we have to wear?

LET IT GO

Thank the Lord for the curtains in my house.

Thank Him for the big and little things He provides in my life.

Praise Him for being such a loving and compassionate God.

A Swaying Candelabra

#223 "A Swaying Candelabra"
Feb. 6, 2014
Exodus 25-Part 5
And thou shalt make a candlestick of pure gold...  Exodus 25:31

LET IT GLOW

My husband has presided in many a weddings over the years. One ceremony sticks out in my
mind. The ceremony was going as usual, the bridesmaids and maid of honor were dressed in
the beautiful, pink gowns. After the couple was pronounced man and wife, the duty of the maid
of honor was to move the bride's train behind her as she and her new husband went down the
steps and the isle. (No tripping.) Well, the maid of honor unbeknownst) bent over to move the
train and hit the candelabra, with candles lit. As it weaved back and forth, swaying as the
guests gasped. No, it didn't topple over, but settled back in its place. I recalled that event as I
read about a lampstand in this chapter.

The second item within the Holy Place of God's Tabernacle is the lampstand.
What are the explicit instructions for making this lampstand?

• made of pure gold, hammered out, with a base and shaft;
• have flower like cups, buds, and blossoms in one piece with it;
• six branches are to extend from the sides of the lampstand (3@ side);
• three cups shaped like almond flowers with buds and blossoms are to be on 1 branch,               same for all 6 branches;  
• four cups have the same shape, with 1 bud located under another, 6 in all;
• seven lamps, located in the front, using wick trimmers and trays made of pure gold. 

The lampstand is:

• placed opposite the Table of Showbread on the south side of the Holy Place;
• patterned after a flowering almond tree; 
• provided light for the priests serving in the Holy Place;
• special care instructions (27:20-21; 30:7-8; Lev. 24:1-4);
• pure olive oil was used continuously. (MacArthur)

Remember, this Tabernacle was to be a portable tent, taken down and moved as the Lord led
the Hebrews in the wilderness.


LET IT GROW

What does the Lampstand and items represent to us?

• The lampstand is typifying of the Lord Jesus Christ. Jesus is the light of the world           
•  (John 8:12).
• Just as the lampstand provided the only light within the tent itself, Jesus is the light of the world (John 8:12; 9:5). Believers are to radiate that Light.
• The pure olive oil used to produce the light represents the Holy Spirit, who anoints us.
• The almond tree likeness represents new life, as the almond tree is the first to blossom  in Israel.  
•  Local churches are represented by golden lampstand in Revelation 1, giving God's light  
• to the dark world. (Wiersbe)

[Resources: The MacArthur Bible Commentary, Wiersbe's Expository Outlines on the Old
Testament, Liberty Bible Commentary]

Are we representing Jesus to the sin sick and dark world?

LET IT GO

Make Jesus the light of my life.

Allow the Holy Spirit to direct me.


         


 

What a Table

O. T. #222  "What a Table"
Feb. 5, 2014
Exodus 25-Part 4
And thou shalt set upon the table showbread before Me alway.  Exodus 25:30 

LET IT GLOW

Our dining table is an old, oak table which previously belonged to my parents. Even though it
is wobbly, marred, and stained, the memories made of loved ones around this table are invaluable. We ate meals with family and friends throughout the years there. My husband and I played many
a card game with my folks sitting there. Such fun and fellowship has been experienced around that table. I had not realized what a treasured item in our house this table is. Yes, what a table!
God wanted a special table in His residence, too. Will you join me in checking it out?

Previously in this chapter we read about the details of the Ark of the Covenant which was to
be placed in the Holy of Holies room of the Tabernacle. Over the Mercy Seat is where God
appeared in His shekinah glory, representing His presence with His people. (Only the High
Priest could enter behind the veil, once a year on the Day of Atonement as he offered the
blood sacrifice for the people.
Jesus is our Mercy Seat. He is the place and the means of our redemption. (Guzik)

Located in front of the Holy of Holies was a separate room called the Holy Place. It contained
three special things:

1. The Table of Showbread
2. The Altar of Incense
3. The Golden Lampstand

What are we told about this table?

• It was about 3' long and 2' wide, made of Acacia wood, and overlaid with pure gold.           Pure refers to the physical, chemical, ceremonial or moral sense of being clean. (Strong's Concordance)
• Four rings made of pure gold were to be made in the four corners of the Table. This was          for transporting the Table whenever the tent, Tabernacle, was moved. 
• On it were placed twelve fresh, new loaves of bread. Each Sabbath the priests on duty were allowed to eat  the bread (Lev. 24:5-9). This bread was to sustain the priests as they ministered within the Tabernacle.  
• The utensils on the table were to be made of pure gold, also. The utensils included dishes, spoons, bowls, and their covers.
• The Table of Showbread was to always be set before the Lord God.

Do we provide enough bread (money, salary) for the pastor in our church to live on? Is he
provided for as we are provided for through our salary?


LET IT GROW

What can we learn from the Table of Showbread and its articles?

• The showbread is a typify of the Lord Jesus Christ as the bread which came from heaven    (John 6:32-33).
• In John 6:35, we read where Jesus declared, "I am the bread of life. He who comes to         Me will never go hungry, and he who believes in Me will never be thirsty.
• The bread was to remind the tribes that they were constantly in the presence of God and He saw all that they did (Lev. 24:5-9) As God fed His people with manna, He feeds us on      His truth and His Word (Matt. 4:4). Israel was supposed to fee the Gentiles and witness to them, but they did not always obey.
• Bread is the means of nourishment of the natural life. It points to the higher bread with      which God nourishes the soul. It reminds us of our duty to give thanks for this. As Christ    gave Himself for us (John 6:51), we are to live, not to ourselves, but to Him who died for us, and rose again (2 Cor. 5:15).  (Matthew Henry)
• The priests picture Christ sustaining believers in their service for Him. God meets the needs    of His children.
• The gold used to cover the items used in the Tabernacle was to be pure gold. That meant that the gold was refined in the fire. As I understand, the heat brings the impurities to the top and are removed from the pure gold. When we are put into the fire of trials, they should expose our impurities, sins. We come to Jesus for the cleansing of our soul from its sins.

Isaiah 48:10 God states, See, I have refined you, though not as silver; I have tested you in
the furnace of affliction.

1 Peter 1:7 tells us, These have come so that your faith-of greater worth than gold, which perishes even though refined by fire-may be proved genuine and may result in praise,
glory and honor when Jesus Christ is revealed.

Is Jesus the bread for our soul's substance? Do we give Him thanks for His love, grace, mercy,
and forgiveness, as well as meeting our physical needs? How pure is our faith? Does it withstand the heat of the trials? Are our motives pure? Morals pure?

LET IT GO

Go to Jesus when my soul is hungry.

Feed on God's Word.

Keep my faith, motives, and morals pure.

Special Chairs

O. T. #221  "Special Chairs"
Feb. 4, 2014
Exodus 25-Part 3
And thou shalt put the Mercy Seat above upon the Ark; and in the Ark thou shalt put the testimony that I shall give thee.  Exodus 25:21

LET IT GLOW

Most men have their favorite chairs in their home. My grandpa had a golden leather chair; Dad
had a burnt orange recliner; and my husband has a burgundy material covered recliner. Everyone knew that that particular chair was sat in by its owner. When they were around, you knew that
you should not be found sitting in their chair. (Dad played with the grandkids who got into his
chair.) The Lord had a special marvelous chair, so to speak. Let's see what was put into His
special tent.

The Ark of the Covenant was the most important piece of furniture to be placed in the tent Tabernacle. It was the throne of God where His glory rested (verse 22; Ps. 80:1, 90:1).
The Ark is described here in chapter 25:

• made of acacia wood, a box or chest about 3' x 2';
• overlay with pure gold inside and out;
• gold molding around it, as a crown of gold;
• four gold rings were to be connected to the four feet, two on each side;
• poles made of acacia wood were inserted into the rings, used for moving the Ark, and    remained there;
• two cherubims were to be hammered out of gold at the ends of the Mercy Seat; their         wings were spread and they were to face each other;
• above the Mercy Seat, cover, is where God would meet with Moses.

The term Mercy Seat  (kapporeth pronounced kap-por'eth in Hebrew) is defined as a lid
 (used only of the cover of the sacred Ark.
Had it not been for the Mercy Seat upon the Ark, Israel could have been under God's judgment.
This was the place where the sacrificial blood wads sprinkled annually on the Day of Atonement (Lev.16:14). The shed blood covered the sins of the people so God only saw the blood, not their rebellious sin. (Wiersbe)

The Ark and the Mercy Seat were to be in the place called the Holy of Holies, the place where
God was present with His people. It was to be separated from the rest of the Tabernacle by a
veil. More  details of it will be discussed in the future.

What were the three special items to be inside it?

1. The tablets of the Ten Commandments, the tables of the Law (verse 16)
2. Aaron's rod that budded (Numbers 16-17)
3. A pot of manna (Ex. 16:32-34).

Each of these three items were connected with Israel's rebellion: the Law tablets-making of
the golden calf, the rod of Aaron-rebellion led by Korah, and manna-complaining in the
wilderness. (Wiersbe)

LET IT GROW

According to Wiersbe's Expository Outlines on the Old Testament, the phrase mercy seat also
means propitiation, and Jesus Christ is the propitiation (mercy seat) for us today (Rom. 3:25;
1 John 2:2). We come to God through Jesus and offer our spiritual sacrifices (1 Peter 2:5,9).

Jesus Christ is at once both the blood that is shed for our sins and the Mercy Seat that bears it
up before the Father in heaven.  (Falwell)

How do we please God? What spiritual sacrifices does the Lord God accept from us as
believers in Jesus?

• our body as a living, holy sacrifice (Rom. 12:1),
• live a life of love (Eph. 5:2 NIV),
• showing mercy and having the knowledge of God (Matt. 9:13; Hosea 6:6),
• obedience (1 Sam.15:22),
• a broken spirit, and a broken and contrite heart (Ps. 51:17),
• praise, the fruit of lips that confess Jesus' name (Eph. 13:15),
• doing good and sharing with others (Eph. 13:16),
• praise God's name in song, and glorify Him with thanksgiving (Ps. 69:30 NIV),
• preaching salvation in Jesus (1 Cor. 1:21),
• faith (Heb. 11:6; Rom 1:17),
• love (1 Cor. 13),
• serving Christ in righteousness, peace, and joy in the Holy Spirit (Rom 14:17-18).

This is some good spiritual food for me today. How about you? Do we consider these things as offerings unto our God? Don't we all want to please Him? Although we do not offer burnt
offerings and animal sacrifices, Jesus has replaced all of that. Are we loving Christ, our
Passover Lamb, which was sacrificed for us, in our place (1 Cor. 5:7b)?


LET IT GO

Come to Jesus with a broken spirit, confessing my sins, asking His forgiveness.

Give my live, body, and soul to Jesus to be used as an offering for His glory.

Obey and praise my Lord Jesus. In everything give thanks.

Show others love, mercy, doing good and sharing with them.

Just Another Building?

O.T.#220  "Just Another Building?"
Feb. 3, 2013
Exodus 25-Part 2
God loves a cheerful giver.  2 Corinthians 9:7

LET IT GLOW

How do I dress for entering the sanctuary of God for worship? Is it casual as though I am going to a sports event or do I dress my best for Him? How is my attitude? Is it one of prayer, thanksgiving, and praise unto my Savior Jesus? Do I consider the church building a special place or just another building in which believers gather?

Do you remember that God told the Hebrews to collect certain items from the Egyptians before they left Egypt? Did you wonder what their purpose was? Here is the answer.

The last post spoke of the offering from the heart of the Israelites. These offerings were to be used according to God's instructions in making the tent sanctuary, tent tabernacle where the LORD God would dwell.
Here are the things (NIV) which they were to bring:

• gold, silver, brass;
• blue, purple, scarlet yarn and fine linen;
• goats' hair; 
• ram skins dyed red, and badgers skins; (for curtains)
• acacia wood;
• olive oil for the light;
• spices for the anointing oil and for the fragrant incense;
• onyx stones and other gems to be mounted on the ephod and breast piece. 

Do we bring our offerings to God into His house of worship? What is our attitude in giving?
God loves a cheerful giver.  (2 Cor. 9:7)
Are we cheerful in giving it? Is it out of habit that we give or love?

LET IT GROW

The rest of the book of Exodus tells of the construction of the tabernacle, the items within it, the priests requirements, and procedures of offerings.

The MacArthur Bible Commentary informs us about the Tabernacle:

"The Pentateuch records 5 different names for the tabernacle:

1. Sanctuary, which denotes a sacred place or set apart, holy place.
2. Tent, which denotes a temporary or collapsible dwelling.
3. Tabernacle, from "to dwell," denotes the place of God's presence (as well as other titles).
4. Tabernacle of the Congregation or Meeting
5. Tabernacle of the Testimony."

Is our church building, a sanctuary, reverenced as special place, set apart for worship, offerings, prayer, and teaching of God's Word?

Jesus said that His house was to be called a house of prayer, found in Matthew 21:13 and Luke 19:46.
Are we praying in His house? Are we teaching our children such things?

Do we enter His gates with thanksgiving and into His courts with praise, be thankful unto Him and bless His name? (Psalm 100:4)

Do we come to worship singing with joy and gladness?  (Psalm 100:1-2)

For the LORD is good; His mercy is everlasting; and His truth endureth to all generations.
(Psalm 100:5)

Everything comes from God alone.  Romans 11:36

Are our bodies a sanctuary of the Lord, for Him to dwell in today? (Rom. 12:1)


LET IT GO

Leave my burdens at the altar.

Offer praise, singing, and worship with a joyful heart.

Cheerfully give Jesus thanks for all He has done.

Glorify the Lord in His sanctuary and outside it, also.

Give my body as a living sacrifice unto the Lord.