Time in the Word: Exodus 40, Proverbs 24

In this final chapter from Exodus, we finally see the erecting of the Tabernacle. In parts are all assembled and laid out just as the Lord had prescribed. Two observations…and an application thought.

First, the consecration of the Priests, Aaron and his sons, was to separate them as ministers to God (40:13-16). Their service was to God. They ministered on behalf of the people, but they served God. This is a subtle choice of terms…since in our church culture today…the “view from the pew” is that the ministers/pastors serve the people. The pastors are there to counsel the people…to visit with the people…to entertain the people…and to teach the people what the people want to know. (Now I know this may sound a bit abrupt…and you may argue that this is not your particular view or the consensus in your church; however, trust me in this…it is far mor common than you’d like to believe and represents the majority of churches that I have ever known.)

The fact is that the pastor cannot minister to the people primarily and God secondarily. Once a pastor is consecrated, He serves the Lord. He ministers before the Lord. One of the ways he does this is by ministering to the Lord’s people…but it is only one of the ways. The NT teaches us that the pastor is an equipper of men so that they may serve God. (The presumption seems to be that they wanted to serve the Lord and relied on the pastors to equip them to do it properly…and according to the will of God.)

A question to reflect on is this: “Does my attitude about God reflect that of a servant or a spectator? Am I waiting for God to help me…or am I serving His interests?

The second observation is that the erected Tabernacle became the focal point of God’s presence. He dwelt there…visibly in the manifestation of the cloud. The Shekinah glory of God rested on the Tabernacle.

God’s presence and power was visible to the people and really…to anyone who was inside the camp. God’s power was evident to the world THROUGH His working in the people, but it was clear to all who looked on the Tabernacle…that God was there.

QUESTION: Is it clear to all who come to your church meeting that God is there? Is His presence known and evident? If not…why not? Is it because there is no consecration (setting apart for God?) Is it because of “sin in the camp? Is it something else? Is it because God has moved on and you failed to join Him?

Application: The ministry of the Tabernacle is still a vital and biblical ministry today. God still manifests His presence among His people. There are some in Christian circles today who want to diminish the role of “church”. They argue for the priesthood of the believer and the in dwelling presence of God. Some see them doing “church” in every individual activity of life. In some respect this is true…but often times, it is merely an excuse for unbiblical and radical individualism stemming from pride and a rebellious spirit. In the end we must know that “we are the church and don’t just go to church,” AND we must prioritize the corporate assembly and corporate approach to fulfilling the mission of God. Show me someone who focuses on his own thing and diminishes the role of the corporate ministry, and I’ll show you someone who has a wrong view of the Tabernacle/church ministry to God.

Proverbs 24:11 is the takeaway today. “Deliver those who are being taken away to death, and those who are staggering to slaughter, Oh hold them back. (this is one of the strongest commands for the intentional initiative of evangelism. It is never good enough in God’s mind for us to not get involved.)

Time in the Word: Exodus 39, Proverbs 23

This chapter details the fabrication of the priestly garments for Aaron and his sons…down to the most intricate detail as instructed by the Lord through Moses. Following this (39:32), the craftsmen brought all of the fabricated items of clothing and those of the construction of the Tabernacle to Moses for inspection. This is the key I want to drill down on today.

In 39:43, Moses examined the work and it was all done according to God’s instrcutions…so Moses blessed them.

The standard our lives are measured by is not an internal one or a cultural one. We are measured by a divinely given standard. We find that standard in God’s Word. Moses had given the Word of God and he examined how the people had applied the Word. In the end, he blessed the people…not because of the intention of their hearts, or the attempts they had made…but because they had adhered to the Word of God.

Sometimes I wonder in our “i’m ok, you’re ok” society has not hurt us. We live in a world (especially our Christian subculture) where we don’t want to say to anyone that they failed to meet the standard. When my children were really young, our church league sports did not keep score of the games…because we wanted to focus on “how well they played” not on who won or lost. The problem is…you can play well (relatively speaking) and still not meet the standard (put more points on the board than the other team). Everyone cannot be a winner just because they had good intentions. They must meet an objective standard.

I read this week where the majority of Americans struggle over whether or not homosexuality is a sin. GOOD NEWS! Struggle no more! The Word is in…and it is an objective Word from God who is above us and as Creator…is Sovereign over us. He says, it is a sin…a lifestyle contrary to design. (By the way…so is lying, lust, gossip, adultery, drunkenness, gluttonous living, stealing, failing to live according to any aspect of God’s revealed Word…and the like.) We don’t get a vote on it. We cannot mitigate against it. All we can do is measure our conduct against this standard and agree with God. If we choose to disagree with God…we cannot call that “higher learning” or “informed expression.” We must call it outright rebellion. After all, God is still God and we are still beneath Him in the created order.

Now we don’t have to wonder if God loves us. He does. (Romans 5:8). In the midst of our active rebellion against His standard (the Word) and the One who gave the standard (Himself), Christ gave His life for us that we might appropriate the righteousness of Christ before God by seeking forgiveness and yielding control of our lives to Him. (This is…an affirmation of yieldedness to the Standard). To resist the Standard is to declare that we will have no part of yielding to God and experiencing God’s love and forgiveness. PERIOD. (I know that seems hard and matter-of-fact like…but the reason for this is because IT IS.) I am not hard…I am inspecting and measuring according to the Standard.

Moses’ role was to examine the lives/applied living of the people according to the given standard…then pronounce it good or lacking. He then blessed them because they had done all that was commanded. To expect a blessing apart from their careful obedience…is baseless and contrary to the character of God.

Now some will say, “We cannot keep the standard. Only Christ can! Are we not blessed?” Yes, those who realize this…and yield CONTINUALLY to God’s leadership/Standard do keep God’s Standard…not in their own efforts but by the accomplished work of Christ which is imputed to them. Yes…by Grace.

So…are you measuring up? Are you continually yielded or do you openly rebel? If rebellion…do not expect a blessing. There is no evidence to support your position. God’s Word teaches otherwise. If yielded…even though you are not fully accomplishing the Standard…your sanctification through repentance and faith serves as evidence of your acceptance before God…not by your efforts but by your yieldedness to Christ and His imputed righteousness to you.

Proverbs 23:17 is the takeaway today. “Do not let your heart envy sinners, but live in the fear of the Lord always.”

Time in the Word: Exodus 37-38, Proverbs 22

In these two chapters, we find the execution of the instructions regarding the construction of the utensils and the court of the Tabernacle. Here is what stuck out to me (and it is a general impression, not an exegetical approach to any particular verse). I wonder how the workers saw their labors? For the most part, Bezalel and his right hand man, Oholiab (37:1; 38:22-23) oversaw nearly every aspect of this construction and fabrication project. For them…the assembly of acacia wood and overlaying of gold was more than another carpentry assignment…or was it? You have to land on one side or the other.

Some of US place hard divisions between the “sacred” and the “secular” areas of our lives. We are spiritually minded at church, when we read our bibles during the week, at prayer times, etc. When we are at the office though…we don’t always function from a spiritual mindset. We think that our recreation time or our hobby/entertainment time is our own. But is it?

Bezalel could have been a master craftsman who was hired to simply build furniture. He could have been like the people (all of us at times) who had hard divisions between the secular and the sacred. Perhaps he worked all day building boxes and cabinets…and this was a job for the church (so to speak). Perhaps God chose him because he was the BEST at fabricating stuff.

Or…as I personally have come to believe…he was a man who did all that he did as worship to the Lord. It did not matter if he was building a cabinet or a box for “brother Bob,” he did it to the best of his ability as unto the Lord. It was no different when he fabricated the furnishings of the Tabernacle. He did his best as unto the Lord.

When we separate the secular from the sacred, we start to see pastors and church workers as different from the rest of us. (On some level that is true…they are set apart by calling and serve almost exclusively in ministry to others who are ministering to the Lord in their everyday lives. On the other hand…a pastor is just doing what he is called to do. No more significant or important…just different in calling. If you’re a construction worker or an accountant, a nurse or a truck driver…you have a calling and you’re to pursue it in all you do to the glory of God.

When we understand our lives in this way…each of us could be Bezalel. Each of us serves God in every moment and with every breath. We are Christ’s Ambassadors…in business, government, and service. We represent Him and serve Him…regardless of where our “check” comes from. He is the approving authority in every aspect of our lives…not our employer, or our co-workers.

So…how is your WORSHIP? Not just what you do on Sunday…but the way you respond to God while serving your employer, interacting with your neighbors, and impacting your community?

Proverbs 22:2 is the takeaway today. “The rich and the poor have a common bond, the Lord is the maker of them all.”

Time in the Word: Exodus 35-36, Proverbs 21

Chapter 35 opens with another strong word about observing the Sabbath. On at least two other occasions prior to this, the Sabbath has been emphasized in similar ways. I tis a command to be observed perpetually as an act of worship. God demonstrated the rest and we, as His people, are to obey Him and to imitate Him in observing the Sabbath.

35:2 states that those who neglect to observe the Sabbath shall be put to death. This command in to the community, not to the observer…or in this case, the one failing to observe. The community is to enforce the Sabbath observance.

NOTE: I have said a few times along the way…that we struggle a bit thinking in “community” terms. We live in a highly individualistic world…focusing on our worship, our needs, our comfort, etc. We hold to our beliefs and do not desire to impose our beliefs on anyone else. We have a “live and let live” philosophy…except when we don’t .

In our NT understanding, I fear we may have de-emphasized the Sabbath to the point that we have actually dishonored God. Yes…we read where the “Sabbath was made for man, not man for the Sabbath.” However, that was never intended to move us to the center of God’s universe and Him to the “cosmic concierge desk” to await our instructions or requests. It was intended to remind us of the fact that God gave us a Sabbath for our good…and we are to observe it in trust of Him.

Recently, I met some folks who are rigid Sabbath observers. I believe them to be believers…and enjoyed meeting with them. They were so rigid about observing the Sabbath that they said they would not even discuss business (much less do it) on the Sabbath. Even during tax season (and he was an accountant), they observed the Sabbath rigidly. For them…it was an act of worship…and a statement of trust. By the way…it seemed to me that God blessed them in their worship.

My point is not to impose some “legalistic” standard on myself or others…but to offer for consideration: “Do you observe the instructions of God as He intended or do you justify not doing so…in order to fit better into the rest of the things you have going on?” Perhaps our “witness” would be strengthened if we were a bit more “peculiar” in comparison to our neighbors in the way that we observed and practiced our worship.

The balance of the chapter and chapter 36 bore out the priority of this worship. Moses instructed the people to engage in a “freewill” offering for the construction of the tabernacle…in giving their money/resources, as well as dedicating their talents (35:5, 29; 36:3-7). Their worship was set (Sabbath observance) and then their hearts were moved by God and for God…in such a way…that Moses had to ask them to stop giving…because there was too much to store up in the abundance of their generosity. [Consequently...I have no illustrative point of reference for this.]

Proverbs 21:2 is the takeaway today. “Every man’s way is right in his own eyes, but  the Lord weighs the hearts.”

Time in the Word: Exodus 34, Proverbs 20

As I read this today, two big ideas came into focus. First…the mercy and grace of God to renew a covenant that we have broken. Yes…I know these events happened thousands of years ago…but God has not changed…and for that matter…neither has the character of people. We blow it and God is merciful, gracious and good. He restores those who are fallen. Notice in the verses (34:6-9), the God’s character precedes the request for forgiveness. God does not “forgive” in response to our asking…we ASK in response to knowledge of God’s forgiveness.

The second big idea…which also follows the proclamation of God’s character…is the fact that we are to “give no quarter” to sin and sinful influences (34:11-17). When we make allowances for sinful influences, we set ourselves up for failure. Holiness is radical…and it requires a radical response toward unholiness.

Proverbs 20:7 is the takeaway today. “A righteous man who walks in his integrity, how blessed are his sons after him.”

Time in the Word: Exodus 33, Proverbs 19

In this chapter, we find the people being instructed to proceed to Canaan. However, the Lord stated that His presence would not go with them since they were obstinate (33:3).

Now remember that the people had been complaining all of this time about the condition in the desert. They would rather have been enslaved in Egypt than be in the desert. Now God tells them to proceed to the land of promise, only that He will not go with them. (I see this as another great test of faith and also as an example for us today. )

What is it that makes the Promised Land so promising? What is it that makes the People of God so different from all other people? Moses states that it is the presence of God (33:13-16). Moses says, if You do not go with us, we’ll stay here, because You are the reason we exist.

Then Moses says some powerfully instructive things for us:

The evidence of God’s favor is God’s presence. (The evidence of God’s presence is God’s power.)

Knowing God is more than knowing God’s Name. (33:13). It is knowing and keeping God’s ways.

God ‘s presence is the power in our witness of God (33:16).

God’s graciousness toward us is connected to our obedience to Him. We do not earn His favor, but He certainly is no rewarded of disobedience; so, our obedience is somewhat connected to His presence, power, and grace in our lives.

God’s graciousness is also seen sometimes in what God does not reveal to us about Himself (33:20-23).

God’s grace and compassion is wholly His call and completely according to His initiative (33:19). At the same time, God is responsive to our petitions for Him to be gracious and compassionate.

I know it is Old Testament…but we can learn a lot from Moses and these people. I fear that we get comfortable without the presence of God. I fear that sometimes we move forward in our “wisdom” and expect God to bless it by joining us. I fear that we manufacture “God sightings” at times to give the appearance that God is with us…when He has been gone for quite some time. I fear that we have, at times, lost our hunger for His presence…as if we are okay without Him. Then…we simply spiritualized our feelings by acting like we should be content with some anemic idea of what it is to walk with God. I fear that the world looks at us while we claim to be “blessed” by the power and presence of God…and they see us an an “emperor with no clothes.” They KNOW that there is nothing different about us. Finally, I fear that we won’t do the necessary and humbling things that we must to experience the power of God with us.

Proverbs 19:16 is the takeaway today. “He who keeps the commandment keeps his soul, but he who is careless of conduct will die.”

Time in the Word: Exodus 32, Proverbs 18

This chapter in Exodus is one of the most sobering for me…as a pastor. In the time Moses was absent from the people, they came to convince Aaron that Moses was probably dead…and he (Aaron) needed to act like a leader and make them a god to lead them out of the wilderness at Sinai. [Now...I doubt this took place out of the blue and all at once. I imagine there was an ongoing "meeting" of smart guys coming to Aaron to "counsel him" on what was wise for the people. {smile}] They wore him down and convinced him of their need for an idol. (Now they were just reverting to their own experience in Egypt. They had the “truth” of God’s Word…but that was at war with the experience fo their cultural experience. It is not that they set out to offend the God of Heaven…but they never really got that far into the conversation. Their lack of obedience and lack of reverence for God’s Word was offensive…but their intent (I imagine) was not to offend God.)

God pointed out that these were Moses’ people (vv.7-8). Yes they were God’s people. Yes God had given instructions. Yes it was God’s instructions that were being violated…but they were Moses’ people. [God wanted Moses to OWN the responsibility for these people. He was not to be disconnected from them. He was not above them. He was their leader.] [It would seem to me that some leaders lack the commitment to their people that God expects. For some of them...the people are an assignment. They are a duty station. They are a necessary "evil" until the leader moves on to the next ministry. NOT SO! God wanted to cement in Moses' mind that these were his people.]

Notice that God, after reaffirming that these were Moses’ people, threatened to destroy them and start over. Moses objected and argued that doing so would defame God’s Name! (Moses interceded for these people for the glory of God’s Name.) And now we see the intended motivation for every godly leader…lead YOUR people in the right path for the glory of God’s Name. Doing so (contra to Aaron’s actions) means not taking an opinion poll from the people. People cannot lead themselves…lest they not need a leader at all. It means NOT acquiescing to political pressure or personal fears. It means doing the right thing…if only understood by you and God alone. PERIOD!

Notice 32:21. “Aaron, what did these people do to you (that was so bad) that you would lead them to this destruction (which they willingly asked for)? WOW! What a convicting question.

Aaron’s lack of action as a leader led the people to cast off restraint (32:25) and to begin acting as if they were in charge of themselves. What a horrible commentary. The results…and yes, I believe this is reflective of the leader’s inaction as well as the actions of the people…is the death of 3,000 men of the people (32:28).

The next major statement that strikes me is in 32:32. “God, if you won’t forgive them…then condemn me as well.” [Now there is a leader who knows that these are his people.]

Proverbs 18:17 is the takeaway today. “The first to plead his case seems right, until another comes and examines him.”

Time in the Word: Exodus 31, Proverbs 17

I love days like today. I was two words into the chapter and God spoke almost audibly. Today…you get to listen into the conversation.

“Moses…I appointed Bezalel…and equipped him for the task of overseeing the construction of the Tabernacle…but as for you…go and tell the people to observe the sabbath” (31:1-3, 12-13). [Translated...I have a big job to do...but you're not to do it...I have other things for you to do.]

As I read this…I was reminded that God had key players for His mission…and I may not be one (at least for every task under heaven). I am a key player for the task He called me to. It might not seem all that cool. After all…people can see a building, or check the balance in a checking account…but they rarely see the influence of a pastor. They don’t know what he does between Sundays. (Yes…most of us work between Sundays too.)

God has key roles for all of us…and we cannot do all of the roles…even if we want to. The fact that God told Moses that this wasn’t his job…makes me think that Moses was a take charge kind of leader. He was willing and eager to roll up his sleeves and get busy. Yet…doing so would have been detrimental to the project and would have discouraged the EQUIPPED guy…by not letting him get involved.

Now this is different from some power-broker from the congregation standing up to tell Moses to let him build the tabernacle. (Yes…those guys live in the church today too. They also live under the rocks in a lot of corporations. They want power and they want influence…and they want to be in charge…so they tell others in all to kind ways, “He just needs to let go and let us do this for him…so he can focus on more ‘important’ things.” Beware of that guy (those guys). They sound spiritual…but they are usually like snakes sunning on a log. Let them have their way or get too close to them…and you’ll get bit.

The responsibility for the project belonged to the leader. It was divinely bestowed. When God wanted diversification in leadership, He raised up a qualified leader and then told Moses to use him. Big difference between God instructions and the little reptile’s power grab.

LEADERS…beware. Sometimes God speaks on these matters through less than supernatural means. Yes…here He spoke to Moses directly…but just recently He delivered the same type message through Jethro. A good leader should be keenly aware of his own weaknesses and shortcomings. Doing so does not make him weaker; rather, it equips him to not FALL for the temptations that play on those weaknesses. [NOTE: I personally know my own personality type and my -nearly OCD- perfectionism. As such, I struggle releasing and delegating. I confess this often to God and to others in my organization. Doing so...doesn't make me weaker (though some use it as ammunition to harass me with and to justify their own narcissistic-driven power grabs); rather, it serves as one of the first questions I ask myself when an opportunity to delegate arises.

LEADERS: Listen carefully to the other message here...Moses was quick to act. He was not a lazy leader or a weak leader. He wasn't a consensus guy. He served the interests of One. He waited to hear from God and then spoke. When he did...it was often uncomfortable. He did not always know how things would turn out, nor was he always abreast of what God had been up to. He acted. Leaders act. They are not lazy. They don't mask inaction in some "quasi-spiritual" rhetoric. They work hard, act decisively, and give an account.

[Stepping down from my soapbox]

31:13, 16 leapt off of the page today. There is a perpetual command to observe the Sabbath…period. It is the day that Sovereign God rested and in celebration of His finished work of creation, He directed us to do so as well. We celebrate the sabbath, not by talking about it…or by agreeing intellectually. We celebrate by observing. We act obediently…because God said so and He still says so today.

[SHORT SIDENOTE: I think we can get wrapped up in trying to justify our own sinful preferences by twisting the Word of God into a pretzel. There is a principle called the "perspicuity" (simplicity) of Scripture, meaning that the simplest reading is often the intended meaning. If you have to do Scriptural gymnastics to get to your point, or to justify your actions...you probably are working too hard and going "WAY WRONG."

Proverbs 17:9 is the takeaway today. “He who conceals a transgression seeks love, but he who repeats a matter separates intimate friends.”

Time in the Word: Exodus 30, Proverbs 16

This chapter of Exodus has two prominent features. First is the requirement for the altar of incense which was to be burning constantly before the Lord. The burning of incense is easily understood as the offering of prayers (in our current context). We are to constantly pray…or “pray without ceasing”…to quote the Apostle Paul.

This altar was holy to the Lord…also carried with poles and was consecrated for the purpose fo the incense offering only. Once per year, the High Priest would make atonement on it, but every other time of the year…the incense was burned on it.

The second feature relates tot he anointing oil. Each person in the community was to contribute equally and annually…a half shekel for this purpose. The anointing oil was special…unique only unto this purpose before the Lord. It was to anoint the instruments and the sanctuary and those who ministered there. It was never to be duplicated in any other place or manner…and was never to be touch by a layman.

These two things should serve to remind us of how serious God takes His holiness. He is holy. He specifies just exactly how we are to approach Him. It is not debatable. It is not mitigatable. It is…what it is.

I think sometimes…we take God’s holiness too lightly. We reduce Him to being like us…as if we were the standard of goodness that God would require. His standard of Holiness is perfection…and it is for us…to be quite honest…unattainable. We cannot achieve perfection…therefore, we cannot (in our efforts) become acceptable to God. This creates a quandary of sorts…a situation whereby we are hopeless apart from outside assistance. Therein lies the truth of the cross and Christ’s atoning work. He has saved us.. and we can be saved in no other way…because He alone was (and is) perfect. Only He could offer Himself as a substitution for us…since only He was/is perfect.

Yes…Aaron had to offer atonement on the altar once a year, every year; however, Christ offered Himself once…for all (past, present, and future.) He is not continually crucified or re-crucified or paying again for our sins at Mass…He accomplished perfectly the redemption of God AND maintained God’s holiness standard.

So…what does this mean for us? Should we be fatalistic in our thinking? (I cannot be perfect so why try?) Should we be boastful and arrogant in our position as those who were redeemed and are secured by Christ’s “once for all” act? (I am saved I will do what I wish and it will not affect me…sicne Christ saved me completely). Or…and I would argue RATHER…should the work of Christ draw us to a place of humble adoration and a decision to embrace perpetual and increasing obedience to Him as He reveals our path day unto day?

Living for God is a one time (justification) and ongoing (sanctification) decision. It is a yieldedness and a continual yielding.

Proverbs 16:1 is the takeaway today. “The plans of the heart belong to man, but the answer fo the tongue is from the Lord.” [Hmmm...that will give us much to consider this day].

Time in the Word: Exodus 28-29, Proverbs 15

Wow! Reading this today, I felt as though I was there…in the moment. The details of the garments for Aaron (the High Priest) and his sons (the priests) are very specific. There are tremendously symbolic pieces fo the garments…from the royalty of the blue/purple, to the stones for each fo the tribes, to the judgment of God understood in the casting of the Urim and Thummim. (NOTE: It would be easy to be lost in the details of the material. I have gone deep into the weeds there myself at times; however, if we pull up a bit, there are some principles that are humbling and strike a sense of awe…at least for me as a pastor of a congregation.

The Priest (which is admittedly different from the role of a pastor today as it relates to sacrificial intercession, but similar in the role of teaching, shepherding, admonishing, and explaining God’s position/perspective), carried memorials on his garments of the names of every tribe of God’s people. They are God’s people, but the Priest was/is responsible to bear their names before God perpetually. The priest not only bore their names, but his breastplate consisted of 12 stones…one for each of the tribes. This rested over his heart. In addition, he bore in his pocket of the breastplate, the Urim and Thummim (think of casting dice) which represented the judgment of God…also over his heart.

In the heart of the Priest is both the responsibility to bear the names of God’s people before Him…and the responsibility to bear the judgment of God before the people. He is a true intercessory.

EXCURSION: In the Protestant tradition  and particularly in the Baptist faith (my own) we strive to minimize the role of a pastor as intercessor and mouthpiece of God’s judgments. We accentuate the “priesthood of every believer” and the “SOLE ROLE of Christ as Mediator between God and man. [All of these things are correct!!] However, there is still something significant in responsibility for the modern-day pastor. He still has an enormous responsibility before God.

This “idea” is made more clear in the 29th chapter on consecration. Notice that the Priest was set apart to minister to God (29:1, 44, et. al.). He is not a hireling or representative of the people. He represents the people before God, but he also represents God before the people…and he ministers/serves God exclusively! Yes, EXCLUSIVELY. [NOTE: This makes Aaron's sin of the golden calf that much more comprehensible when we consider that he chose in that moment to acquiesce to the demands of the people rather than to represent God.]

The ordination (public) and consecration (private) of the priests to God is serious business. They were set apart. Their food (provision from God) was not even to be touched by an non-priest because it is Holy (29:33).

In addition, the altar (where the priest interceded on behalf of the people before God in MINISTRY TO GOD) was also consecrated and everything that went onto the altar was also set apart as holy. No common/base/profane thing could ever touch the altar. [POINT/NOTE: You cannot separate the consecration of the priest from the altar and vice-versa. The priest existed to minister at the altar and the altar existed for the priest to minister.]

REFLECTION: It strikes me how little respect we show sometimes for both the altar and for those who minister at it. We seek (at least in this Western context) to reduce it to a geographic location and the minister to some form of hireling…forgetting that the church is not a business or an organization…but is first the meeting place with God. [Yes, I know that we can meet with God anywhere and that as believers, God lives in our hearts; however, there is still something significant...if not difficult to define...about the corporate worship location, where God's people assemble to meet with and hear from Him.

FInal thought: Once God consecrated the priests and the place, He promised to meet with His people there...perpetually...as they came to enter into His presence. If there is no presence of God (i.e. His Glory 29:43) then there is no promise. If there is no reverence for the place, then there is no Glory. [More to say...but I'll leave it there.]

Proverbs 15:3 is the takeaway today. “The eyes of the Lord are in every place, watching the evil and the good.”