Burunche’s Blog

Exodus 39:8 – 21 “He also made the breastpiece with the same workmanship as the ephod, with gold, with blue, purple, and scarlet yarn, and with finely spun linen. It was square when folded over double, a span long and a span wide. (The breastpiece, when folded over, was approximately 9 inches or 22.86 centimeters in both length and width.)

And they mounted on it four rows of gemstones:

The first row had a sardius, a topaz, and an emerald; the second row had a turquoise, a sapphire, and a diamond; the third row had a jacinth, an agate, and an amethyst;

and the fourth row had a beryl, an onyx, and a jasper. These stones were mounted in gold filigree settings. The twelve stones corresponded to the names of the sons of Israel. Each stone was engraved like a seal with the name of one of the twelve tribes.

For the breastpiece they made braided chains like cords of pure gold. They also made two gold filigree settings and two gold rings, and fastened the two rings to the two corners of the breastpiece. Then they fastened the two gold chains to the two gold rings at the corners of the breastpiece, and they fastened the other ends of the two chains to the two filigree settings, attaching them to the shoulder pieces of the ephod at the front. They made two more gold rings and attached them to the other two corners of the breastpiece, on the inside edge next to the ephod. They made two additional gold rings and attached them to the bottom of the two shoulder pieces of the ephod, on its front, near the seam just above its woven waistband. Then they tied the rings of the breastpiece to the rings of the ephod with a cord of blue yarn, so that the breastpiece was above the waistband of the ephod and would not swing out from the ephod, just as the LORD had commanded Moses.”

Yesterday we discussed the creation of the woven ephod with its engraved onyx stones on the shoulder pieces. Today we consider the breast piece. Understanding the design of the breast plate is not difficult; however, the actual identity of the stones that were used is in considerable doubt. If you compare the verses as recorded above with the illustration, you rapidly realize that they don’t match. But as it turns out, these few verses have generated enormous amounts of disagreement over the years. Some of the stones are mentioned by modern names. It’s possible that some of the stones that were used have no modern equivalent or are unknown in the modern world. The order in which the tribes of Israel has been a subject of intense argument.

While the identity of the stones is a matter of dissension, the principle remains: God wanted the high priest to bear the names of each of the twelve tribes into the holy of holies, both on his shoulders as well as on his breast plate. And the breast plate was to be attached in such a way that it would move with the high priest and not swing around.

APPLICATION: What is the significance of a breast plate? Breast plates protect the heart, lungs, and bone marrow in the breast bone. If your heart and lungs fail or if your body stops making blood cells, you die. At the same time, wearing a breast plate close to your heart indicates concern for the people represented by that garment. The stones in the breast plate represented the twelve tribes of Israel. God wanted to make sure that when the high priest entered the holy of holies, he would have all of Israel close to his heart, so that he could represent them and also pray for them.

What does an ancient priest’s garment have to do with us today? Those of us who are believers have been called to be intercessors and pray for others. Oswald Chambers tells us that intercession is the only ministry with no drawbacks. Although we may not wear a garment carrying the names of those for whom we are praying, each time we pray for someone, it is as if we are carrying people into the presence of God. Some people post photos of those for whom they are praying on a wall or on a web site. Others simply keep lists. Some people belong to online prayer groups where needs are posted.

“But I don’t know how to pray!” you cry. No problem! God knows all languages, including the language of the heart. Sometimes the most eloquent prayers are not those we speak out but those that spring from our passion. However you pray, be assured that your Heavenly Father is listening. And just as the high priest carried the names of the tribes of Israel into God’s presence, so God already has written your name in His heart. Go to Him in prayer!

PRAYER: Father God, thank You for your Word! Thank You that You want to meet us in prayer. Help us to come to You bearing those around us on our hearts. Thank You that You not only hear but also answer. In the mighty Name of King Jesus.

Exodus 39:1 – 7 “From the blue, purple, and scarlet yarn they made specially woven garments for ministry in the sanctuary, as well as the holy garments for Aaron, just as the LORD had commanded Moses. He made the ephod of finely spun linen embroidered with gold, and with blue, purple, and scarlet yarn. They hammered out thin sheets of gold and cut threads from them to interweave with the blue, purple, and scarlet yarn, and fine linen—the work of a skilled craftsman. They made shoulder pieces for the ephod, which were attached at two of its corners, so it could be fastened. And the skillfully woven waistband of the ephod was of one piece with the ephod, of the same workmanship—with gold, with blue, purple, and scarlet yarn, and with finely spun linen, just as the LORD had commanded Moses.

They mounted the onyx stones in gold filigree settings, engraved like a seal with the names of the sons of Israel. Then they fastened them on the shoulder pieces of the ephod as memorial stones for the sons of Israel, as the LORD had commanded Moses.”

God has already given Moses the instructions, but now Bezalel and Oholiab are creating one of the most important parts of the high priest’s garments, the breast plate. Although we might think that these stones were set in a flat inflexible plate of gold with settings for the stones, this garment was more cleverly designed than that.

The first part of the ephod or breast plate was created using finely spun linen embroidered with gold and with blue, purple, and scarlet yarn. The color blue represented heaven, while purple was the color of royalty, and red was the color of the blood of the sacrifices, particularly the lambs sacrificed at Passover. Gold also represented the royalty of God and His eternal nature. The gold threads were cut from thinly hammered sheets of gold. To hold the ephod in place, there were shoulder pieces as well as a waist band. These attachments allowed the ephod to move as the priest moved. The priest would pull this garment over his head and then tie the waist band.

Once this heavily embroidered linen material was created, gold filigree settings were created and attached to the material. Then twelve onyx stones representing the twelve tribes of Israel were mounted in these settings. When completed, the ephod proved to be a highly durable and flexible garment that would last for centuries.

APPLICATION: When we first came to Ghana, one set of friends were a wonderful Christian Lebanese couple who ran a fantastic goldsmith’s business. A visit to this place of delights immediately demonstrated why craftsmen from the Middle East have been renowned for their ability to handle delicate filaments of gold and silver for thousands of years. Reading the description of the ephod reminds me of those visits.

 When reading the account of the high priest’s garments, there are two different places where engraved stones representing the tribes of Israel are located. The first part of the garment was an ephod, a garment that was pulled over the priest’s head and tied with a waist band. Engraved stones representing the twelve tribes of Israel were mounted on each of the shoulder pieces. We will consider the actual breast plate tomorrow.

What is the significance of the stones mounted on the shoulder pieces? Throughout the Bible, there are references to God bearing Israel on His shoulders. In Isaiah 9:6, we read of the Messiah that “the government will be upon his shoulders.” For the high priest, the weight of those shoulder pieces would serve as a reminder of his responsibility for those whom he was representing.

Do you feel as if God has abandoned you? Do you feel your situation is hopeless? Take heart! Just as the high priest would bear the names of the tribes of Israel before the Lord, so God is carrying you on His shoulders. Turn to God and allow Him to speak to your heart. Take courage! You are very precious to God!

PRAYER: Father God, there are many of us who have been betrayed by their earthly fathers and who feel there is nobody to support them. Please help all who read this devotional to know that You love them, that You care for them, and that You will never leave them or forsake them. In the matchless Name of King Jesus. Amen.

JULY 26, 2021 MERCY 148: THE BEAN COUNTERS HELP WRITE THE BIBLE!

Exodus 38:21 – 31 “This is the inventory for the tabernacle, the tabernacle of the Testimony, as recorded at Moses’ command by the Levites under the direction of Ithamar son of Aaron the priest. Bezalel son of Uri, the son of Hur, of the tribe of Judah, made everything that the LORD had commanded Moses. With him was Oholiab son of Ahisamach, of the tribe of Dan, an engraver, designer, and embroiderer in blue, purple, and scarlet yarn and fine linen.

All the gold from the wave offering used for the work on the sanctuary totaled 29 talents and 730 shekels, according to the sanctuary shekel. (The total weight of the gold was approximately 1.1 tons or 2200 lb./1000 kg.)

The silver from those numbered among the congregation totaled 100 talents and 1,775 shekels, according to the sanctuary shekel— a beka per person, that is, half a shekel,i according to the sanctuary shekel, from everyone twenty years of age or older who had crossed over to be numbered, a total of 603,550 men. (A beka is half a shekel, or approximately 0.2 ounce or 5.7 grams.)

The hundred talents of silver were used to cast the bases of the sanctuary and the bases of the curtain—100 bases from the 100 talents, one talent per base. (100 talents is approximately 3.77 tons or 3.42 metric tons of silver (7,540 lb./4,420 kg.)

With the 1,775 shekels of silver, he made the hooks for the posts, overlaid their tops, and supplied bands for them. (1,775 shekels is approximately 44.6 pounds or 20.2 kilograms of silver.)

The bronze from the wave offering totaled 70 talents and 2,400 shekels. He used it to make the bases for the entrance to the Tent of Meeting, the bronze altar and its bronze grating, all the utensils for the altar, the bases for the surrounding courtyard and the gate of the courtyard, and all the tent pegs for the tabernacle and the surrounding courtyard. (The total weight of the bronze was approximately 2.67 tons or 2.42 metric tons, 5,340 lb./2,420 kg.)

When we read the account of the Exodus in the Bible, the description of the Egyptians forcing their most cherished treasures on the Israelites doesn’t make much of an impression…. until you start reading the eye – popping amounts of gold, silver, and bronze that were used in the construction of the Tabernacle. Then there were also the huge amounts of fine linen and specially dyed yarns. Really, those Israelites practically STAGGERED out of Egypt, loaded down by all the jewelry, material, etc., their Egyptian neighbors had given them!

Just as remarkable as the huge amounts of treasure available is the detailed record keeping involved in these accounts. Reading this list, you realize that the ancient bean counters kept track of everything down to the last beka! (A beka is half a shekel, or approximately 0.2 ounce or 5.7 grams.)

Who were these ancient accountants who kept such accurate records? For the answer, we need to return to ancient Egypt again. When the Egyptians were selecting slave labor, it’s entirely possible that they may have trained a whole group of accountants. The Egyptians were dedicated record keepers as indicated by the scene from an Egyptian monument. Once the Israelites were traveling, these trained accountants were ready to practice their skills.

APPLICATION: Considering the accountants of the construction of the Tabernacle, it’s very easy to get mired down in the statistics and fail to realize the miracles hidden in these accounts. Consider the following:

1. God moved the Egyptians to donate everything that would later be required to construct the Tabernacle.

2. God protected those donated items so that they remained available when they were needed.

3. Not only did God equip Bazalel and Oholiab with skills, but He also equipped many other men and women who did much of the grunt work to create the Tabernacle furnishings.

4. When record keeping became necessary, God had trained accountants ready and waiting to exercise their skills. (One wonders which language they used to keep their records.)

We have a friend who is an accountants’ accountant. Those called to be accountants have a divinely – given need to make sure that columns of numbers add up, that statistics are accurately generated and reported, and that all accounts balance completely. For those with such gifts, reports that are clear, understandable, honest and correct are soul – satisfying.

Sometimes we wonder if God knows our names or even cares about us. We plod through our daily work, feeling that we are occupying endless ruts. But God views us differently. God gives different gifts and does not use a cookie cutter to create people. Each of us is completely unique and each of us has talents that God has built into us.

While Moses gets much of the attention in these passages, never overlook the little people! In God’s sight, the little people are just as important as the iconic leaders.

What gifts has God given you? Perhaps you are a hard worker or a compassionate care giver or a gifted artist. No matter what you think of yourself, remember that God has loved you so much that He has created you to delight in Him.

PRAYER: Father God, thank You that You have created people with diverse gifts and talents. Help us to see ourselves as You do, as people created for You to love. And help everyone who reads this devotional to accept Your gift of salvation in Jesus Christ. In the matchless Name of King Jesus. Amen.

Exodus 38: – 20 “Then he constructed the courtyard. The south side of the courtyard was a hundred cubits long and had curtains of finely spun linen, with twenty posts and twenty bronze bases, and with silver hooks and bands on the posts. The north side was also a hundred cubits long, with twenty posts and twenty bronze bases. The hooks and bands of the posts were silver. The west side was fifty cubits long and had curtains, with ten posts and ten bases. The hooks and bands of the posts were silver. And the east side, toward the sunrise, was also fifty cubits long. (The courtyard was 150 feet long by 75 feet wide.)

The curtains of the one side of the entrance were fifteen cubits long, with three posts and three bases. (15 cubits is approximately 22.5 feet or 6.9 meters.)And the curtains for the other side were also fifteen cubits long, with three posts and three bases as well. All the curtains around the courtyard were made of finely spun linen. The bases for the posts were bronze, the hooks and bands were silver, and the plating for the tops of the posts was silver. So all the posts of the courtyard were banded with silver.

The curtain for the entrance to the courtyard was embroidered with blue, purple, and scarlet yarn, and finely spun linen. It was twenty cubits long and, like the curtains of the courtyard, five cubits high, with four posts and four bronze bases. Their hooks were silver, as well as the bands and the plating of their tops. All the tent pegs for the tabernacle and for the surrounding courtyard were bronze.”

Reading these descriptions for the first time, you might be excused if you get lost in the details. Basically, the Tabernacle courtyard was 75 feet wide by 150 feet long, The courtyard was enclosed with curtains of fine linen 7.5 feet wide, supported by acacia wood posts. The bases of the posts were bronze, the plating of the tops of the posts was done in silver, and the hooks for holding the guy wires were silver. The tent pegs holding the guy wires in place were bronze.

The reasons for a courtyard fence are many and obvious:

1. Keep out stray livestock 2. Keep out the curious who merely wanted to observe the religious rituals. 3. Emphasize the fact that this was God’s Tabernacle and access was to be restricted to those men presenting sacrifices and to the priests..

Why use linen and where did the linen come from in the first place? While linen was strong, it was also costly. Why not just whip up some goat hair curtains and call it quits? Of course, goat hair would be far darker, but it might resist animals better.

Linen was the cloth worn by Egyptian nobles and rich people. Made from the flax plant, linen production took lots of time and effort. The best linen was so fine that it could pass through a signet ring. It is possible that this linen was part of the spoils collected by the Israelites on their way out of Egypt. At its best, linen was a glistening white material. At a distance, the Tabernacle courtyard fence with its linen curtains and silver inlays on the posts must have been an awe – inspiring sight. Why use such costly materials? God wanted the Israelites to know that He really was the One True Living God and that His worship was no joke! Think about it; even at night, those courtyard walls would have gleamed as a reminder that God was still with His people.

APPLICATION: Jack Zavada points out the fact that the gleaming white walls of the courtyard would have illustrated the righteousness of God, while the dust and dirt surrounding the courtyard would have represented the filthiness of our sins when we try to live without Jesus Christ. (Zavada, Jack. “Courtyard Fence of the Tabernacle.” Learn Religions, Feb. 8, 2021, learnreligions.com/courtyard-fence-of-the-tabernacle-700102

For me, this passage raises all kinds of questions:

How did the Israelites keep that linen clean? Did they have a big enough stock of the linen that if some of the curtains became dirty or stained, those curtains could be exchanged for new ones? What if a passing dog or even a passing ox or camel chose to urinate on the curtains? Perhaps those serving ladies had to quickly mobilize and do spot cleaning. Did the Israelites employ young boys to keep track of their livestock so that nothing strayed too close to the Tabernacle courtyard? (As I am writing this, I can hear somebody’s cows making noises as they trample past our house. We deal with animal problems all the time.)

Silver is a relatively soft metal. Why use silver to plate the tops of the posts and to make the hooks for the guy wires? Again, if you were simply going for durability, bronze would seem to have been a better choice.

Many years ago, I was in a high school physics class with a wonderful teacher. Whenever a student asked a question for which our teacher had no answer, he simply replied, “Because God wants it that way.” The only appropriate answer to the questions I have raised is “Because God wants it that way.” God did NOT want an ugly dark brown enclosure; He wanted a gleaming courtyard that would inspire the Israelites to worship even before they reached the Tabernacle. God was NOT interested in economy or cutting corners on this job! Really, God was watching when each of those Egyptians hauled their most precious items out and pressed them on the Israelites. God had a complete inventory of the materials available when it was time to construct the Tabernacle.

Is there a place for “plain Jane” worship centers with utilitarian architecture? Of course. If God shows up during worship, the architecture doesn’t matter and if God does not show up, no amount of fancy buildings or furnishings will substitute for the presence of the Holy Spirit. But God was establishing an entire religion; many of the Egyptian temples were dark and mysterious. God wanted the courtyard of His Tabernacle to be open to His glorious light and to reflect that light.

With the revival of the Star Wars movies, the phrase “the dark side” has come back into use. Sadly, there is a dark side. There is no such thing as spiritual neutrality; you are either serving God or Satan. And if you are not serving God, by default, you ARE serving Satan. In Joshua 24:15, Joshua challenged the Israelites to choose which god they were going to serve. But Joshua firmly stated that he and his household would serve the Lord.

PRAYER: Father God, help! We want to serve You but sometimes we don’t know how. Let everyone who reads this devotional stop and ask you to show them Your perfect Will for their lives. In the matchless Name of King Jesus. Amen.

Exodus 38:8 “Next, he made the bronze basin and its stand from the mirrors of the women who served at the entrance to the Tent of Meeting.”

In this age of plenty, it’s difficult to realize that mirrors were once highly prized objects that only belonged to rich women. The picture at the top is of an actual ancient Egyptian hand mirror very similar to the kind that were used to make the bronze basin and stand. But where did these mirrors come from in the first place?

When the Israelites were leaving Egypt, the Egyptians were in a panic and were literally forcing their prized possessions on the Israelites. “Here, take my jewelry! Take my best linens! Take my hand mirrors! Take anything you want, but just take it and LEAVE!!!

Up to this point, those Israelite ladies might never have had hand mirrors. After all, such things were for upper class Egyptian ladies with lots of maid servants, not for Israelite slave women! It’s quite likely that these mirrors became one of the choicest possessions of the lucky Israelite women.

Who were these women who served at the entrance to the Tent of Meeting? There have been all kinds of speculations given by various scholars. Perhaps these women were from the priestly families or were merely others who were spiritually sensitive and who hungered to be in God’s presence. Someone has suggested that these women might have been intercessors, praying with those who were coming. Perhaps these women served in a secretarial role, coordinating those who were bringing sacrifices, making sure nobody was overlooked, keeping things running smoothly. Perhaps these women also made sure that the area around the Tent of meeting was freshly swept each morning so that those coming to the Tent would not encounter leaves, sticks, etc., up against the entrance. Someone had to take the soiled linen garments discarded by the priests and turn them into wicks for the great lampstand in the Holy Place. And who would bring the water that would be used for sacramental washing of hands and feet? Certainly, in that culture the women were the ones who fetched water. These ladies were busy, busy, busy!

APPLICATION: As we grow older, many of us have come to realize that our dearest treasures are not the big showy possessions, but the small ones that mean the most. Once these ladies gave up their mirrors, it was an irrevocable decision; they were in the midst of a wilderness without any chance to replace them. Did these ladies ever have regrets when they went throughout the rest of the camp and saw other women admiring themselves in Egyptian mirrors?

Were the ladies forced to donate their mirrors or did they do so willingly? Working as these women did so close to the Tent of Meeting, they were probably under the influence of the Holy Spirit. I strongly believe that these women met among themselves and then came as a group to Moses with their mirrors.

We know very little about these women. All that we know is that these women were willing to serve and willing to sacrifice something precious when called on to do so. The question for us from this brief passage is this: is God asking you to give up something precious?

In Luke 12:32-34, Jesus told His disciples, “Do not be afraid, little flock, for your Father is pleased to give you the kingdom. Sell your possessions and give to the poor. Provide yourselves with purses that will not wear out, an inexhaustible treasure in heaven, where no thief approaches and no moth destroys. For where your treasure is, there your heart will be also.”

We have spent most of the last 33 years on the mission field in Ghana. We have always served with faith missions, depending on donations. During that time, we have sometimes had very little money but have never lacked anything. God has allowed us to educate many students and to continue to help the hospital where we work. What have we given up? Does a list matter? The important thing is that we have tried to remain as stewards of whatever God has given us and channels of His grace to those around us. Are we concerned about providing for our old age? Well, God has gotten us this far, and we trust that God will not drop us.

Nobody knows the names of those ladies who gave up their mirrors… but God knows. Nothing you give up for God will ever be wasted.

PRAYER: Father God, thank you for the example of these women who gave their treasures freely. Help us to hold whatever you give us with open hands, ready to pass it on to the next person when you tell us to do so. In the matchless Name of King Jesus. Amen.

Exodus 38:1 – 7 “He constructed the altar of burnt offering from acacia wood. It was square, five cubits long, five cubits wide, and three cubits high. The altar was approximately 7.5 feet in length and width, and 4.5 feet high (2.3 meters in length and width, and 1.4 meters high) He made a horn at each of its four corners, so that the horns and altar were of one piece, and he overlaid the altar with bronze. He made all the altar’s utensils of bronze—its pots, shovels, sprinkling bowls, meat forks, and firepans. He made a grate of bronze mesh for the altar under its ledge, halfway up from the bottom. At the four corners of the bronze grate he cast four rings as holders for the poles. And he made the poles of acacia wood and overlaid them with bronze. Then he inserted the poles into the rings on the sides of the altar for carrying it. He made the altar with boards so that it was hollow.”

One of the most amazing things about the Tabernacle is the fact that these people had never seen most of the equipment God ordered them to construct. What did the altars in Egyptian temples look like? The answers come from the Global Egyptian Museum web site: http://www.globalegyptianmuseum.org/glossary.aspx?id=50

“There were two types of altar in Egyptian temples:

Small, portable stands on which different tops could be placed, depending on the kind of offering: a flat table top for food, flowers, etc., a bowl for libations, and a dish for burning incense. These altars were probably stored in the temple magazines and could be placed wherever they were needed.

Stone altars, sometimes very large. They were usually not much more than enlarged offering tables. Some altars of this type are made from one piece of stone, others are constructed of smaller stones. The larger altars often had a small stair or slope on the western side, so that the priest climbing the altar to make an offering was facing east. Not very many of these stone altars have been found. They are mainly known from sun temples, where offerings to the sun were made directly under the open sky.”

Reading these descriptions, one realizes that nothing in Egyptian religious practice had prepared the Israelite craftsmen for the task facing them. And God wanted to make sure that everything was done according to His plans. The Tabernacle and all its furnishings with all its tools was going to travel for forty years; God wanted to make sure every thing would hold up properly. Some people feel that the Altar of Sacrifice was situated on two large mounds of earth with a ramp of earth and stones leading up to the altar. This would have allowed a space underneath so that wood could be placed inside to help burn the sacrifices while ashes could also be removed. Some people feel that there might have been earth inside the altar below the grate. The most important aspect of the ramp and the earth would have been the fact that the stones were not chiseled and the earth was obtained from the site where the Tabernacle was set up.

APPLICATION: “Look at that dog’s head on that post!” It was several years ago, and my husband and I were returning from buying supplies for our hospital in rural northern Ghana. Passing a near – by village, we were shocked to see the freshly severed head of a dog placed on a post. Our friends later informed us that this grisly sight was an offering to the traditional gods of our area to help a notable hunter succeed in the hunt. The dog who died was the man’s best hunting dog. This poor man might have been misguided; however, he understood the need to make the best offering he could.

Throughout the Old Testament, God makes the matter of acceptable offerings quite clear. Any animal for sacrifice was to be perfect without any blemishes whatsoever. At a time of moral dissolution, the prophet Malachi takes the Jews to task, “A son honors his father, and a servant his master. But if I am a father, where is My honor? And if I am a master, where is your fear of Me?” says the LORD of Hosts to you priests who despise My name. “But you ask, ‘How have we despised Your name?’ By presenting defiled food on My altar. But you ask, ‘How have we defiled You?’ By saying that the table of the LORD is contemptible.” “When you offer blind animals for sacrifice, is it not wrong? And when you present the lame and sick ones, is it not wrong? Why not offer them to your governor! Would he be pleased with you or show you favor?” asks the LORD of Hosts.” (Malachi 1:6-8)

These days, the concept of sacrifice has gone out of fashion; in fact, there are many Christians in industrialized countries who choose to believe that Jesus has already made the ultimate Sacrifice, so there is no need for them to do anything. But this belief has no basis in Scripture. A Bible teacher in an earlier generation was fond of saying that “it isn’t a sacrifice until you don’t feel like it.” That same wise man also advised his students that “Many sacrifices of praise have to be pushed out between clenched teeth.” The Bible speaks of the sacrifices of praise, of the sacrifices of time and talents, and the sacrifice of obedience. For most of us, obedience is the most difficult sacrifice to make.

Many Christians in other countries already know the meaning of sacrifice. Some entire churches have paid with their lives at the hands of terrorists rather than abandon the Gospel.

James Russell Lowell was an American poet, art critic, magazine editor, professor, and statesman of the nineteenth century. An ardent abolitionist, Lowell spoke out strongly against slavery and its evils. Lowell wrote this poem which was later turned into a hymn:

1 Once to every man and nation 
Comes the moment to decide, 
In the strife of truth with falsehood, 
For the good or evil side; 
Some great cause, God’s new Messiah, 
Offering each the bloom or blight, 
And the choice goes by forever 
Twixt that darkness and that light. 

2 Then to side with truth is noble, 
When we share her wretched crust, 
Ere her cause bring fame and profit, 
And ’tis prosperous to be just; 
Then it is the brave man chooses 
While the coward stands aside, 
Till the multitude make virtue 
Of the faith they had denied. 

3 By the light of burning martyrs, 
Christ, Thy bleeding feet we track, 
Toiling up new Calvaries ever 
With the cross that turns not back; 
New occasions teach new duties, 
Time makes ancient good uncouth;
They must upward still and onward, 
Who would keep abreast of truth. 

4 Though the cause of evil prosper, 
Yet ’tis truth alone is strong; 
Though her portion be the scaffold, 
And upon the throne be wrong: 
Yet that scaffold sways the future, 
And, behind the dim unknown, 
Standeth God within the shadow, 
Keeping watch above His own.

PRAYER: Father God, help us to follow you, no matter how much the sacrifices might cost us! In the mighty and precious Name of King Jesus. Amen.

Exodus 37:25 – 29 “He made the altar of incense out of acacia wood. It was square, a cubit long, a cubit wide, and two cubits high. (The altar was approximately 1.5 feet in length and width, and 3 feet high (45.7 centimeters in length and width, and 91.4 centimeters high) Its horns were of one piece. And he overlaid with pure gold the top and all the sides and horns. Then he made a molding of gold around it. He made two gold rings below the molding on opposite sides to hold the poles used to carry it. And he made the poles of acacia wood and overlaid them with gold. He also made the sacred anointing oil and the pure, fragrant incense, the work of a perfumer.”

The altar of incense was to stand very close to the thick curtain that separated the holy place from the holy of holies. Aaron was instructed to burn incense on the altar each morning and at twilight, every day, as a regular offering to the Lord (Exodus 30:7–8). God gave the recipe for making the incense and stipulated that no other incense ever be burned on the altar (verses 34–38). The fire used to burn the incense was always taken from the altar of burnt offering outside the sanctuary (Leviticus 16:12). Never was the altar of incense to be used for a burnt offering, a grain offering, or a drink offering (Exodus 30:9). Once a year, on the Day of Atonement, the high priest was to put blood on the horns of the altar of incense to cleanse it. The altar of incense was called “most holy to the Lord”. (Information from What was the significance of the altar of incense? | GotQuestions.org)

APPLICATION:

“Incense, peppermints
Incense, peppermints”

Who cares what games we choose
Little to win, but nothing to lose

The year was 1967, and this refrain from a popular song was one of the anthems of disgruntled youth. Why were we disgruntled? We were young and afraid. The Vietnam War was heating up, and many of us were being jerked out of our daily lives, handed guns, and dumped in Southeast Asian rice paddies. Why the mention of incense and peppermints together? Perhaps it was because of the rhyme, but it might also have been because people who were smoking pot would burn incense to cover the smell and suck on peppermints afterwards to sweeten their breath. Many of us danced to this tune and felt B*A*A*D!!! but really, we were only S*A*A*D!!!! (P.S. I learned that I was actually allergic to the scent of marijuana; I never smoked the stuff. It was my neighbors down the dormitory corridor who were burning the incense!)

While many of us have had little exposure to the use of incense, incense actually has a long and honorable history. Throughout the Bible, incense is associated with worship and with prayer. King David said in Psalm 141:2 “May my prayer be set before You like incense, my uplifted hands like the evening offering.” The idea was that our prayers would give God just as much pleasure as would the scent of the incense specially compounded for use only on the altar of incense.

Why were Aaron and the other priests commanded to burn incense twice a day? There is a great deal of value in repetition of worship. While many people feel that worship should always be spontaneous, a framework is still a good idea. Throughout our lives we have worshiped in churches with set forms of worship and churches that claim not to have any form. But even those churches claiming to eschew set forms of worship continue to follow some kind of pattern.

When God spoke the world into existence, He spoke it out of chaos, not into chaos. Seasons change, the earth revolves around the sun, and plants and animals grow, produce, and live according to internal time clocks. There is nothing wrong with order so long as it does not become a stranglehold to free will.

We all need sacred spaces in our lives, times and places where we can be alone with God. Your sacred space might be your office or your recliner or even just a corner of one room. Perhaps you live in such crowded conditions that you must copy Susanna Wesley. Susanna was not only the mother of Charles and John Wesley, but also of seventeen more children. (Yes, she had 19 kids in a small house!) Susanna retreated to be with God by sitting and throwing her long apron over her head, covering her face. The children knew that when their mother had her head covered, she was speaking with God and they should leave her alone.

Does God value your prayers? Oh yes! A thousand times yes! “But,” you say, ” I can’t pray long eloquent prayers.” No worries! God loves plain language and hates phonies. One Christian comedian described his frantic attempts to appear holy just after he got saved. This young man adapted as many mannerisms of the popular evangelists of that time as he could. The results were so ridiculous that God told him to stop, that He did not call this man to be an imitation Billy Graham. (Mr. Graham himself never forgot that he was the son of a dairy farmer from rural North Carolina. Graham never tried to be anything apart from what he was: a sinner saved by grace.)

Find a quiet place and then ask God to join you. In the stillness you will feel His pleasure.

PRAYER: Father God, thank You for loving us so much that you honor our prayers, even the short stammering ones. Thank You that You have promised to be with us forever. Help us to offer sincere prayers from the depths of our hearts, knowing that You will hear and respond. In the matchless Name of King Jesus. Amen.

Exodus 37:17 – 24 “Then he made the lampstand out of pure hammered gold, all of one piece: its base and shaft, its cups, and its buds and petals. Six branches extended from the sides, three on one side and three on the other. There were three cups shaped like almond blossoms on the first branch, each with buds and petals, three on the next branch, and the same for all six branches that extended from the lampstand.

And on the lampstand were four cups shaped like almond blossoms with buds and petals. A bud was under the first pair of branches that extended from the lampstand, a bud under the second pair, and a bud under the third pair. The buds and branches were all of one piece with the lampstand, hammered out of pure gold. He also made its seven lamps, its wick trimmers, and trays of pure gold. He made the lampstand and all its utensils from a talent of pure gold. (A talent is approximately 75.4 pounds or 34.2 kilograms of gold.)

Once you realize the size of this lampstand, you realize that this lamp was absolutely enormous. Seventy – five pounds of gold will make a huge lampstand. This lamp was used to light the inside of the Holy place, being located across from the Table of Showbread.

Why was this lampstand made from gold? Jack Zavada provides us with the answer. (Zavada, Jack. “Symbolism Behind the Golden Lampstand of the Wilderness Tabernacle.” Learn Religions, Apr. 5, 2021, learnreligions.com/golden-lampstand-of-the-tabernacle-700108.)

“In the courtyard outside the tabernacle tent, all items were made of common bronze, but inside the tent, close to God, they were precious gold, symbolizing deity and holiness. God chose the resemblance of the lampstand to almond branches for a reason. The almond tree blooms very early in the Middle East, in late January or February. Its Hebrew root word, shaked, means “to hasten,” telling the Israelites that God is quick to fulfill his promises.

Aaron’s staff, which was a piece of almond wood, miraculously budded, bloomed, and produced almonds, indicating that God chose him as high priest. (Numbers 17:8) That rod was later put inside the ark of the covenant, which was kept in the tabernacle holy of holies, as a reminder of God’s faithfulness to his people. The golden lampstand, made in the shape of a tree, stood for God’s life-giving power. It echoed the tree of life in the Garden of Eden (Genesis 2:9). God gave Adam and Eve the tree of life to show that he was their source of life. But when they sinned through disobedience, they were cut off from the tree of life. Even still, God had a plan to reconcile his people and give them new life in his Son, Jesus Christ. That new life is like the almond buds blossoming in springtime. The golden lampstand stood as a permanent reminder that God is the giver of all life. Like all the other tabernacle furniture, the golden lampstand was a foreshadowing of Jesus Christ, the future Messiah. It gave forth light. Jesus told the people: “I am the light of the world. Whoever follows me will never walk in darkness, but will have the light of life.” (John 8:12, NIV)

APPLICATION: for years when I read these verses, I thought of this lamp as a cute little thing about 2 feet high sitting on a table – nothing could be further from the truth! Once you look at the weight of gold involved, you realize that this lamp stand was probably at least 6 feet tall. This lampstand was the only source of light for the holy of holies. God never does anything by half measures, and this lampstand is a prime example.

How important is light? For the first several years we lived in our small town in northern Ghana, we did not have electricity. We really missed two things: lights and fans. While we could use kerosene lanterns for light, they were smelly and hot. Later when we did get electricity, we had frequent power outages. Somewhere in our possessions there is a photo of several senior high students studying under our kitchen window, taking advantage of our security lights that we powered with a gasoline generator.

Quoting Kavada again, “Jesus compared his followers to light as well: “You are the light of the world. A city on a hill cannot be hidden. Neither do people light a lamp and put it under a bowl. Instead they put it on its stand, and it gives light to everyone in the house. In the same way, let your light shine before men, that they may see your good deeds and praise your Father in heaven.” (Matthew 5:14-16, NIV)

The question for each of us is this: what kind of light are we shedding to those around us? When people come to us, are we an encouragement or a disappointment? The only way we can possibly have light within us that will shine for others is if we allow Jesus to shine through us.

PRAYER: Father God, please shine the light of Your Son, Jesus, through us so that others will be built up and encouraged. Let us radiate Your Love. In the matchless Name of King Jesus. Amen.

Exodus 37:10 – 16 “He made the table of acacia wood two cubits long, a cubit wide, and a cubit and a half high. (The table was approximately 3 feet long, 1.5 feet wide, and 2.25 feet high (91.4 centimeters long, 45.7 centimeters wide, and 68.6 centimeters high) He overlaid it with pure gold and made a gold molding around it. He also made a rim around it a handbreadth wide and put a gold molding on the rim.

He cast four gold rings for the table and fastened them to the four corners at its four legs. The rings were placed close to the rim, to serve as holders for the poles used to carry the table. He made the poles of acacia wood for carrying the table and overlaid them with gold. He also made the utensils for the table out of pure gold: its plates and dishes, as well as its bowls and pitchers for pouring drink offerings.“

Today’s discussion comes from an article by Mary Fairchild. (Fairchild, Mary. “Table of Showbread.” Learn Religions, Aug. 28, 2020, learnreligions.com/table-of-showbread-700114.)

Many times we feel that the repetition of the descriptions of the furnishings of the Tabernacle are too boring and tedious! But think about it: why would God force His priests to eat bread that was a week old?

Ms. Fairchild writes: The table of showbread, also known as the “table of shewbread” (KJV), was an important piece of furniture inside the Holy Place of the tabernacle. It was situated on the north side of the Holy Place, a private chamber where only priests were allowed to enter and perform daily rituals of worship as representatives for the people....

Atop the table of showbread on pure gold plates, Aaron and his sons placed 12 loaves of bread made from fine flour. Also called “bread of the presence,” the loaves were arranged in two rows or piles of six, with frankincense sprinkled on each row. The loaves of bread were considered holy, an offering before the presence of God, and could be eaten only by the priests. Each week on the Sabbath, the priests consumed the old bread and replaced it with fresh loaves and frankincense supplied by the people.

Significance of the Table of Showbread

The table of showbread was a constant reminder of God’s everlasting covenant with his people and his provision for the 12 tribes of Israel, represented by the 12 loaves. In John 6:35, Jesus said, “I am the bread of life. Whoever comes to me will never go hungry, and whoever believes in me will never be thirsty.” (NLT) Later, in verse 51, he said, “I am the living bread that came down from heaven. Whoever eats this bread will live forever. This bread is my flesh, which I will give for the life of the world.” Today, Christians observe communion, partaking of consecrated bread to remember the sacrifice of Jesus Christ on the cross. The table of showbread in Israel’s worship pointed forward to the future Messiah and his fulfillment of the covenant. The practice of communion in worship today points backward in remembrance of Christ’s victory over death on the cross.

Hebrews 8:6 says, “But now Jesus, our High Priest, has been given a ministry that is far superior to the old priesthood, for he is the one who mediates for us a far better covenant with God, based on better promises.” (NLT)As believers under this new and better covenant, our sins are forgiven and paid for by Jesus. There is no longer a need to offer sacrifices. Our daily provision is now the living Word of God.” (Fairchild, Mary. “Table of Showbread.” Learn Religions, Aug. 28, 2020, learnreligions.com/table-of-showbread-700114.)

APPLICATION: There is an old saying that “Bread is the staff of life,” meaning that many people around the world depend on bread as the main staple of their diet. This idea has become so ingrained in our culture that one expression for earning one’s living is to “earn one’s daily bread.”

At the beginning, we asked the question regarding old bread. The bread placed on the table of showbread was considered holy; it could only be consumed by those who were also considered holy, that is, by males among the priests. There is only one recorded instance when someone other than the priests ate the showbread; when David and his men were fleeing King Saul. At that time, the priests made sure that the young men were ritually clean before releasing the old showbread to David.

To be allowed to consume the showbread was a privilege. How did this bread taste? Did the frankincense that was sprinkled on it help preserve it? This bread was unleavened and therefore less likely to go bad than bread baked with leaven. We don’t know; all we do know is that nobody has recorded instances where a priest refused to eat the bread.

2020 – 2021 has been a rough time for people all over the world! Many have lost family members or jobs or businesses in the wake of the ongoing pandemic. Current information indicates that in Myanmar, India, Nepal, and other areas, the devastation continues to burgeon. Many believers find themselves asking, “Where is God in the midst of all this?” Recently, friends in India who run a whole series of orphanages and training schools for disadvantaged students had to watch as their beloved son died in his thirties from COVID. This man had played a critical part in the ministry and was slated to take over as head; now his parents and his wife and children were bereft. This family might well have asked, “Where is God in the midst of our tragedy” and yet, they have not. Instead, this family has repeatedly praised God for His provision, for His comfort, and for His watch – care.

Those who teach a prosperity Gospel choose to proclaim that God will never allow us to lack anything physically; yet, many of God’s greatest saints have suffered deprivation. Yes, God can supply our needs; however, sometimes we demand physical help when God wants to give us something far better: spiritual help and deliverance. That man who died in India knew Jesus Christ as his Savior and had a close personal walk with God. The manner in which the family handled this man’s death left no doubt in the minds of all around them that their hope was not in present physical things but rather in the promises of eternal life through Jesus Christ.

When Jesus stated that He was the Bread of Life and that anyone who came to Him would never be hungry or thirsty, he was speaking of spiritual hunger and thirst. Countless millionaires and billionaires can witness that no matter how much they have, their riches do not satisfy them but only drive them to want more. The hunger these men and women are feeling is spiritual and cannot be assuaged by wealth or fame. The only answer to spiritual hunger is Jesus Christ.

PRAYER: Father God, thank You for sending Jesus to die for our sins! We freely admit that we are sinners and that it is only through the sacrifices that Jesus Christ has made for us that we can be freed from our sins. Thank You for loving us so much that You have sent Jesus and that You continue to lead us to faith in Him. In the matchless Name of King Jesus. Amen.

Exodus 37:1 – 9 “Bezalel went on to construct the ark of acacia wood, two and a half cubits long, a cubit and a half wide, and a cubit and a half high. He overlaid it with pure gold, both inside and out, and made a gold molding around it. And he cast four gold rings for its four feet, two rings on one side and two on the other. Then he made poles of acacia wood and overlaid them with gold. He inserted the poles into the rings on the sides of the ark in order to carry it.

He constructed a mercy seat of pure gold, two and a half cubits long and a cubit and a half wide. He made two cherubim of hammered gold at the ends of the mercy seat, one cherub on one end and one on the other, all made from one piece of gold. And the cherubim had wings that spread upward, overshadowing the mercy seat. The cherubim faced one another, looking toward the mercy seat. (The ark was approximately 3.75 feet long, 2.25 feet wide, and 2.25 feet high (114.3 centimeters long, 68.6 centimeters wide, and 68.6 centimeters high. The mercy seat was approximately 3.75 feet long and 2.25 feet wide (114.3 centimeters long and 68.6 centimeters wide).

APPLICATION: Lamentations 3:22-23 says, “It is of the Lord’s mercies that we are not consumed, because his compassions fail not. They are new every morning; great is thy faithfulness.” A few days ago, I quoted the poem “Invictus.” The name of the poem means “unconquered” in Latin. The poet asserts that he is the captain of his fate and the master of his soul. Nothing could really be further from the truth! While we might like to THINK that we are in charge of ourselves, this is an illusion. True, we are creatures of free will and can make wise decisions or foolish ones. But in the end, there is relatively little about our lives that we actually control.

Recently my sisters were clearing out the house my dad and my stepmother had lived in for all of their married lives. Among the things my sisters found was a clipping describing the auto accident that nearly claimed my father’s life in July 1955. It was the time of oats harvest and Dad was returning from getting parts to repair his combine so that he could complete the harvest. Unfortunately, a drunk driver roaring down the road crossed the center line, hitting Dad head – on. Dad was so seriously injured that he had a near – death experience in which he saw his grandparents and others in heaven. From my knowledge as a surgeon, I can confidently state that it was only God’s mercy that kept Dad from dying that night.

We are approaching the twentieth anniversary of the terrorist attacks of September 11, 2001, a day of infamy second only to the attack on Pearl Harbor. That morning my husband and I were flying out of Newark Airport, looking down at the World Trade Center. By the time we reached Charleston, SC, the Trade Center was already collapsing. Only the mercy of God delivered those who survived that disaster.

For anyone who continues to cling to the beliefs expressed in “Invictus,” the events of the last year should serve as a stark reminder. Even with the best of precautions, and sometimes even with the best treatments, we can develop terrible health problems. It is only God’s mercy that continues to preserve us!

One interesting point that I have never seen raised is this: just how did Bezalel and Oholiab know what cherubim would look like? I have no answer!

PRAYER: Father God, thank You for Your mercies that are new every morning! Thank You for Your faithfulness! Thank You for caring for us. Help us to love You and to serve You all the days of our lives. In the matchless Name of King Jesus. Amen.