Amen and Amen

Posted on February 13, 2015 by Pete

Sometimes it’s the most common things that escape our notice. You’re so used to seeing them, that you miss them. But when they’re doubled up, sometimes they will grab your attention. Such was the case for me this morning. Amen and Amen.

I was surprised as I did a bit of computer concordance work. In the Old Testament, the word for “amen,”, which by the way is “amen,” only shows up 30 times in 24 verses. It simply means “truly” or “so be it.” A couple of times it is linked directly with God’s name as in “Elohim Amen” . . . “the God of truth” (Isa. 65:16). But most often it is used as a response . . . “so be it.” And on five occasions it is doubled up. Amen and Amen! So be it . . . so be it! And in four of those five times, the declaration worthy of a “double truly” is “blessed be the LORD!”

Blessed be the LORD, the God of Israel,
        from everlasting to everlasting!
                 Amen and Amen.      (Psalm 41:13 ESV)

Psalm 41 is a song of David when he was on his sickbed. And, if you were David, you really couldn’t afford to be under the weather for any length of time for it provided just another occasion for your enemies to rise against you. They hoped it would be a sickness unto death . . . they whispered of his demise. They hoped for the worst for him . . . the rumors were rampant . . . “a deadly thing is poured out on him” . . . “he will not rise from where he lies.” Even some whom David considered to be in his inner circle, viewed his weakness as perhaps their opportunity for advancement. Of them David would say, “Even my close friend in whom I trusted, who ate my bread, has lifted his heel against me” (41:9). (Sound familiar? . . . check out John 13:18).

And so David twice cries out, “O LORD, be gracious to me.” Heal me, he prays, . . . raise me up . . . “by this I know that You delight in me.”

And as he petitions heaven’s throne he knows that God will uphold him for he is reminded of God’s promises to him and that He, who is King over all, has “set me in Your presence forever” (41:12).

And so David concludes his song by blessing the LORD. And punctuates his closing with the double exclamation, “Amen and Amen.”

Blessed be the LORD . . . truly, truly . . . so be it, so be it.

He’s still in bed . . . fever continues to persist . . . the wolves continue to circle and plot outside his chamber. But David has called out to the God who delivers. He has petitioned the God who shows favor and grace to those He has called. He has pleaded his case to the One who protects the children of promise. He has remembered Him who has proven Himself a faithful and trustworthy refuge. And so, it’s time to bless the LORD.

No more to be said. No more to be done. Just bless the LORD from everlasting to everlasting.

Amen and Amen!

Amen?

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Fired

Posted on February 12, 2015 by Pete

Every time I encounter the story, I can’t help but think how extreme the consequences were. They were new to the job. Sure they had been trained and instructed on how to fulfill their role, but this week was their first week at actually giving it a try. Along with their father, they came to the tent of meeting and were clothed in their priestly garments. Moses walked them through the offerings and sacrifices that would be needed to “make atonement for you and for the people” (Lev. 9:7). And they seemed to be off to a good start.

Offerings offered per instruction . . . sacrifices sacrificed as commanded . . . the operation of the tabernacle commissioned . . . the priesthood of Israel established . . . God Himself making a “guest appearance” . . .

And Moses and Aaron went into the tent of meeting, and when they came out they blessed the people, and the glory of the LORD appeared to all the people. And fire came out from before the LORD and consumed the burnt offering and the pieces of fat on the altar, and when all the people saw it, they shouted and fell on their faces. (Leviticus 9:23-24 ESV)

But they were new to the job. And the sons of Aaron decided to improvise a bit. And the sons of Aaron made a fatal (literally) mistake and were fired (literally).

Now Nadab and Abihu, the sons of Aaron, each took his censer and put fire in it and laid incense on it and offered unauthorized fire before the LORD, which He had not commanded them. And fire came out from before the LORD and consumed them, and they died before the LORD.   (Leviticus 10:1-2 ESV)

What a shocker! It’s stunning, really. One moment the glory of God appears and fire from heaven consumes the offerings. And as the glory comes down, the people go facedown. What a holy, awesome moment. But then the sons of Aaron — we can only imagine what motivated them or what they were thinking — play loose with the holy things of God. And they offer “unauthorized fire” . . . “strange fire” . . . “profane fire” . . . “the wrong kind of fire.” They played with fire and got burned . . . literally. The fire of heaven that consumed the offering for their sin was unleashed on them because of their sin.

And as you sit back and try to make sense of it, your head can kind of spin. For those of us who have been wooed by grace, won by grace, and walk in grace, it just seems so extreme. But listen to the words of Moses . . .

Then Moses said to Aaron, “This is what the LORD has said, ‘Among those who are near me I will be sanctified, and before all the people I will be glorified.'” And Aaron held his peace.   (Leviticus 10:3 ESV)

“Whatever was written in former days was written for our instruction” (Rom. 15:4). So too, this. Thus, like Aaron, I hold my peace and sit in awestruck wonder at that which the holiness of God demands. Rather than be tempted to ask, “Was that really fair?” . . . instead, I see the fire come down — both on the offering and then on the transgressors — and I too fall to my face.

How holy is my God? Three times holy! Holy, holy, holy! And those who would draw near must set Him apart accordingly. Not playing loose with the things of heaven, but in reverential fear glorifying the God who desires to dwell in our midst. “Among those who are near me, I will be sanctified.” Yes, LORD.

And what of the grace that allows us Nadabs and Abihus to no longer fear the fire of judgment. Sure we might know some heat of testing in order that He might refine us “works in progress.” But we do not fear the fire of judgment. The sacrifice for our sin having been made once for all on the cross of Calvary when the hot wrath of a holy God was unleashed on His blessed Son for our, otherwise fatal, mistakes.

How awesome is our God? How holy is He? And how amazing is His grace?

To Him be all the glory . . .

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The Great Equalizer

Posted on February 11, 2015 by Pete

I’m reading again in Leviticus this morning and the math just doesn’t line up. You know, the math that says that if A=B and B=C then A=C. Or, in the case of this morning’s reading in Leviticus 5, if a lamb can pay the price for a sin, and if two turtledoves can pay the price for the same sin, and if a tenth of an ephah of flour can also pay the price for the same sin, then a lamb must be equivalent to two turtledoves and both must be the equivalent to a tenth of an ephah of flour. Don’t really know what an ephah is . . . not familiar with the ancient market price for turtledoves or lambs . . . but my instinct says that there’s no way that all three of these things can be equal in value.

And yet, depending on a person’s level of income, any of them could be offered “as the compensation” for their sin. Sin demands a price be paid before a holy God. Yet, depending on what someone could afford, they could bring either the lamb, the turtledoves, or the flour as an offering for their sin “and the priest shall make atonement for him for the sin that he has committed, and he shall be forgiven” (5:10, 13, 16). So how can that be? How can the same transgression be paid by either a lamb, or some birds, or some flour?

Short answer: It can’t.

For, says the Scriptures, the wages of sin is death (Romans 6:23). When it comes right down to the economics of reconciliation with a holy God, neither a lamb, nor a couple of birds, nor an offering of flour, is really sufficient to pay the price. So, in that sense, they are all equal. All equally insufficient. But then it begs the question, “If none of these Levitical offerings were sufficient to truly atone for sin, how could any of them atone for sin?”

Short answer: Jesus.

. . . for all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God, and are justified by His grace as a gift, through the redemption that is in Christ Jesus, whom God put forward as a propitiation by His blood, to be received by faith. This was to show Gods righteousness, because in His divine forbearance he had passed over former sins.   (Romans 3:23-25 ESV)

No way that any of the Old Testament sacrifices could pay the price for sin. At best, they could evidence a sinner’s heart who wished to confess their guilt and seek forgiveness. At best they could point to a future sacrifice, one that would be sufficient to appease fully the wrath of a holy God towards His creation’s rebellion. A sacrifice of which lambs, and birds, and cakes of flour were but a foreshadow. A sacrifice which would fully meet what was lacking in all other sacrifice and which was of such a certainty that God “in His divine forbearance” could pass over “former sins” knowing that one day they too would be covered by this ultimate sacrifice.

This sacrifice being the great equalizer.

Making equal the sacrifice of a lamb, or birds, or flour . . . for they all pointed to a greater offering. Leveling the playing field between the rich and the poor, the religious and not so religious, the “moderate sinner” and the “depraved and wicked.” All given opportunity to be justified through faith “by His grace as a gift.” All because redemption is in Christ Jesus. And He is the Great Equalizer.

To Him be all glory . . .

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Tell No One

Posted on February 10, 2015 by Pete

So, . . . I think I’m pretty good at maintaining a confidence when I’m asked to. Tell me to keep something a secret, and I’m thinking I’ll be able to do that. But aren’t there some things that would be next to impossible to keep to yourself? Things so wonderful . . . or so profound . . . or so out-of-this-world, that you’d just need to let it slip to someone . . . otherwise you’d burst? I may have just read about one of those things. And Jesus told the disciples who were with Him, “Tell no one.”

And after six days Jesus took with Him Peter and James, and John his brother, and led them up a high mountain by themselves. And He was transfigured before them, and His face shone like the sun, and His clothes became white as light. And behold, there appeared to them Moses and Elijah, talking with Him. . . . behold, a bright cloud overshadowed them, and a voice from the cloud said, “This is My beloved Son, with whom I am well pleased; listen to Him.” When the disciples heard this, they fell on their faces and were terrified. . . . And as they were coming down the mountain, Jesus commanded them, Tell no one the vision, until the Son of Man is raised from the dead.”   (Matthew 17:1-3, 5-6, 9 ESV)

Okay . . . noodle on that for a bit. Take just a couple of moments to enter the “imagination station” and try and picture what that hilltop experience must have been like. Seeing the Christ, the Son of God, in all His heavenly, majestic glory. Face shining like the sun. His very being radiating with a white that defines light. Beside Him, two others. And, I could be wrong, but neither of them are wearing name tags that say, “Hello, my name is Moses,” or “Hi there! I’m Elijah.” And it’s pre-Facebook and LinkedIn, so it’s not like there are a lot of photos of them floating around. But somehow you just know who they are.

And though he wasn’t so gauche as to ask for their autographs, Peter probably steps out of line a bit by thinking that he could somehow contribute to this divine reunion. That’s when the glory really comes down . . . literally! A cloud overshadows them. A cloud full of light (can it get any brighter on that mountain top?). A cloud reminiscent of the cloud that hovered over the tent of meeting in the wilderness. A cloud just like the one that filled Solomon’s temple. The glory of the Son had already been manifest, now the glory of the Father envelopes everything.

And from that cloud, a Voice. One that they had never heard before, but One that they recognized immediately. “This is my beloved Son, with who I am well pleased; listen to Him.”

Facedown time! With that much light, all they could do was close their eyes and hit the ground in awestruck amazement. Talk about your encounter of the divine kind!

And, after the lights have gone out and the guests have gone home, they head down the hill and Jesus says to them, “Tell no one.” Really? No one? How do you keep that to yourself? You’ve just witnessed the most amazing display of heaven on earth . . . seen things that no one has seen . . . heard things that no one has heard . . . and you can’t tell a soul.

Now I’m sure that Jesus had good reasons to require such secrecy until after He rose from the grave. But I’m stuck on how you keep such glorious revelation to yourself.

For now, the vision was for their eyes only. The wonder was for the three of them to share only among themselves. The vision of heaven’s glory, the thunder of God’s voice, was theirs alone to meditate on. And it would have a life transforming impact upon them. Part of preparing them for a time when Jesus would ask them to go public. For a day would come when they would tell the world.

For we did not follow cleverly devised myths when we made known to you the power and coming of our Lord Jesus Christ, but we were eyewitnesses of His majesty. For when He received honor and glory from God the Father, and the voice was borne to Him by the Majestic Glory, “This is my beloved Son, with whom I am well pleased,” we ourselves heard this very voice borne from heaven, for we were with Him on the holy mountain.   (2Peter 1:16-18 ESV)

But for right now, as they walked down that hill trying to process all that they had seen and heard, they were to tell no one.

Amazing!

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Our Anointing

Posted on February 9, 2015 by Pete

They could be all dressed up . . . even have somewhere to go . . . but without this, they couldn’t get even in the door . . . literally.

I’m wrapping up Exodus this morning. And the prevailing theme is the building, the setting up, and the commissioning of the tabernacle of the tent of meeting. Each piece of the meeting place architected by God. Moses the “general contractor” to make sure it all comes together according to spec. The people are moved to generously supply the needed raw materials. And men, raised up of God and with Spirit-infused skill and ability, fashioning each part of the tabernacle in exact conformance with God’s command.

And within the tent and amidst the furniture of the tabernacle, entering the holy place and ministering only a veil’s width from the Most Holy Place, there is the human factor. Ministering in this place upon which the glory of God would descend, were the priests. Aaron, the high priest, and his sons. And it’s something recorded concerning their ministry that struck me this morning. Something that reminded me of our anointing.

“Then you shall bring Aaron and his sons to the entrance of the tent of meeting and shall wash them with water and put on Aaron the holy garments. And you shall anoint him and consecrate him, that he may serve Me as priest. You shall bring his sons also and put coats on them, and anoint them, as you anointed their father, that they may serve Me as priests. And their anointing shall admit them to a perpetual priesthood throughout their generations.”  (Exodus 40:12-15 ESV)

They were to be washed before putting on the holy garments. They were to put on the holy garments before serving before the LORD. But, before serving they were to be consecrated, to be set apart for their spiritual service, and that with a holy anointing. Without the anointing, they could be all dressed and still have no place to go. But with the anointing, they were admitted into a perpetual priesthood.

And I can’t help but see some parallels. I don’t naturally come from a priestly line, but have been adopted as a child of God, considered a brother of His Son, the Great High Priest of whom Aaron was but a shadow. And, says His word, coming to Jesus, the Living Stone rejected by men but precious in the sight of His Father, I am made like a living stone too, “being built up as a spiritual house, to be a holy priesthood, to offer spiritual sacrifices acceptable to God through Jesus Christ” (1Peter 2:5). What’s more, I am part of “a chosen race, a royal priesthood, a holy nation, a people for His own possession, that you may proclaim the excellencies of Him who called you out of darkness into His marvelous light” (1Peter 2:9).

As such, I have been called to “the priesthood.” I have been washed by the blood of Christ, cleansed from all sin and stain. I have been given garments — not of my making or based on my merit — but holy garments representing the righteousness of the Savior, all sufficient for allowing access into the Most Holy Place. And — it overwhelms me even considering it — I have been consecrated, set apart for this high and holy work, with an anointing. The anointing of the Holy Spirit of God.

And it is God who establishes us with you in Christ, and has anointed us, and who has also put His seal on us and given us His Spirit in our hearts as a guarantee. (2Corinthians 1:21-22 ESV)

Just as the anointing of the priests of the tent of meeting admitted them to their perpetual priesthood, so too, our anointing seals us and establishes us forever in Christ. And, under His rule, we are considered qualified participants in what has been called the “priesthood of believers.” The offering of spiritual sacrifices to our God, the proclaiming of His excellencies to a lost world. Who am I? Wrong question. It’s all about who He is!

Praise God for our anointing. Grace upon grace for those who had no right to even approach the outer courts of God’s dwelling place, but now, have not only been granted access though Christ, but have been consecrated by His blessed Spirit to minister in the holy place.

All for His glory . . .

 

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A Foreign Language

Posted on February 6, 2015 by Pete

Her situation was desperate and He was in the neighborhood. She had a daughter “severely oppressed by a demon” — a demon perhaps invited into the home through her pagan practices. He was the Son of God. She was on a mission to do whatever was necessary to help her daughter. He was on a mission to glorify His Father — and, strictly speaking, His “target audience” was the house of Israel. And so, He had traveled to the borders of that land with the good news of the kingdom. But, it seems, that word had also traveled to the heathen that He was in the vicinity. And so she crossed the line . . . literally. She “came out” from that region. And then she called out. Called out to the One she believed could bring deliverance. And she called out in a foreign language.

And Jesus went away from there and withdrew to the district of Tyre and Sidon. And behold, a Canaanite woman from that region came out and was crying, “Have mercy on me, O Lord, Son of David; my daughter is severely oppressed by a demon.”   (Matthew 15:21-22 ESV)

She was a Canaanite woman. Mark says that she was a Gentile, a Syrophoenician by birth. And what grabbed me this morning is that, when she comes to Jesus begging Him to deliver her little girl, she addresses Him as “O Lord, Son of David.”

What’s a Canaanite woman doing using that sort of language? Even if you “give away” the use of “lord” as simply a term of respect, what does she know about David? Or, about His Son, the prophesied Messiah? Evidently something.

Not only has word reached beyond Israel’s borders concerning the miracle-performing, upstart Rabbi from Nazareth, but this pagan woman knows something about the promises made to the people neighboring her borders. And, apparently, hasn’t dismissed them but, at some level, believes them. And so she goes to Jesus and addresses Him with language uncommon to her normal way of life — “O Lord, Son of David.”

And though the Spirit had not yet been widely given, I can’t help but wonder how a foreign woman, in a pagan culture, comes to the realization that Jesus is the Lord, the Son of David.

And, I can’t help but identify. For I too, once unaware of God’s promises, once pursuing the ways of this world, was brought to a place where I also spoke in a foreign language.

Not reared in the things of God. Unfamiliar with any aspect of the kingdom of heaven. For the most part, unaware of any great need I might have. There came a point in my life when I too used that foreign word, “Lord.” Not sure I pronounced it very confidently, but did so sincerely. Not really sure of all that it meant, but believing it was linked to eternal life. Not the most natural word for me to use, but one, when spoken, would have a supernatural impact.

He answered, “I was sent only to the lost sheep of the house of Israel.” But she came and knelt before Him, saying, “Lord, help me.”  (Matthew 15:24-25 ESV)

O’ the grace of God that leads people far removed from the things of heaven to come in faith before the eternal Son of David, and speak in a language that has been foreign to them all their lives.

“Lord, help me.” That, my friends, is amazing, saving grace.

To Him be all glory . . .

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A Heart Problem

Posted on February 5, 2015 by Pete

He answered their question with a question. Not to avoid responding to them. But to point out that they, in fact, where asking the wrong question. That, in reality, it was less about His disciples’ scandalous actions and way more about their duplicitous attitudes. They were fixated on the speck in their brothers’ eyes and were clueless as to the log in their own. They thought they were exposing a hand problem among Jesus’ disciples. Instead, Jesus dropped the bomb on a heart problem that existed among them.

Then Pharisees and scribes came to Jesus from Jerusalem and said, “Why do Your disciples break the tradition of the elders? For they do not wash their hands when they eat.” He answered them, “And why do you break the commandment of God for the sake of your tradition?” (Matthew 15:1-3 ESV)

They stood before the Son of God and said, why do your followers not obey our traditions? Why don’t they wash their hands before they eat? They had taken the teaching of cleansing after contacting something unclean and “super-sized it” to apply to whenever they would eat. And it really wasn’t about the cleaning of dirty hands as it was intended to be a public demonstration of how clean they already thought themselves to be because of who they were. It was a self-righteous demonstration for the sake of public recognition.

And the Son of God answers their question with a question. He who sees in the secret and knows the thoughts and intents of the inner man, stands before them and asks in return, why do your traditions break my Father’s commandments? To make His point, Jesus gives an example of how the twisted, self-serving religion of the Pharisees could provide for a person to forsake caring for their parents if they were merely to declare, “Sorry, I cant help you. For I have vowed to give to God what I would have given to you” (15:5 NLT).

“You hypocrites!” Jesus declares (15:7a). God commands, “Honor your father and mother.” And you, through your “traditions,” make provision to dump your father and mother. And then Jesus exposes their heart problem:

“Well did Isaiah prophesy of you, when he said: ‘This people honors me with their lips, but their heart is far from me; in vain do they worship me, teaching as doctrines the commandments of men.'” (Matthew 15:7b-9 ESV)

And I can’t help but pause over Isaiah’s warning . . . and consider the Pharisees’ religious, self-serving practices . . . and think of their disregard for God’s word . . . and do a bit of a personal heart examination. I’m thinking it’s pretty easy, for the sake of feeling good about myself, to overlook the Word of God here, and maybe “modify it slightly” there, in order to justify not obeying it as God intended. That for the sake of my own preferences, I can rationalize my practices even if they don’t line up exactly to God’s precepts. That it’s not impossible for me to say all the right things to indicate I’m in relationship with Jesus but to, in reality, have a heart that is far from abiding in Him and His word.

O’ the thought of vain worship frightens me. The idea that I could fool myself into going with the flow of what men deem as okay and forsake the commandments of God causes me to pause and reflect.

But Jesus has the answer to our heart problems. The blood of Christ has paid the price for any wayward traditions. The cross of Christ beckons those who stray to return . . . those who have elevated tradition to reclaim truth . . . those who have a far away heart to draw near. If we confess our sin, He is faithful and just to forgive us our sin and cleanse us from all unrighteousness (1John 1:9).

He fixes hearts problems.

By His grace . . . for His glory.

 

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Above All . . . Enter My Rest

Posted on February 4, 2015 by Pete

The instructions were complete. All that Moses needed to know, he knew. Not as simple as following Ikea instructions, but the building plans for the tabernacle were clear. The place where God would meet with Moses . . . the place where God would dwell among His people . . . that place had been clearly spec’d out and the plans presented.

The tent of meeting . . . the ark of the testimony . . . the mercy seat . . . the furnishings for the tent, the table, lampstand, and altar of incense . . . the altar for the burnt offerings . . . the basin for washing of hands . . . the holy garments of the high priest . . . and the, to be spread overall, anointing oil . . . it all been detailed and delivered. Though “assembly was required,” even there, God had raised up and Spirit empowered men with the skills to construct the tabernacle and bring all the pieces together (Exodus 31:1-11).

All that was left was setting it up and waiting for the glory to come down. But, says God, one more thing . . .

And the LORD said to Moses, “You are to speak to the people of Israel and say, ‘Above all you shall keep my Sabbaths, for this is a sign between Me and you throughout your generations, that you may know that I, the LORD, sanctify you.
You shall keep the Sabbath, because it is holy for you.'”   (Exodus 31:12-14 ESV)

Moses has been on the Mount for days. He has lived and breathed the glory of God, literally. God has revealed to Him in great detail His commands and His plans for moving from the mountain into the people’s midst. And before God lets Moses go, He tells him to tell God’s people, “Above all you shall keep my Sabbaths.”

Above all. Really? Above all? Apparently the ESV translators feel those are the right English words to use to indicate how emphatic was the command in the original.

And it struck me. While God might make all the provision that heaven can afford in order to dwell among men, unless men enter His rest, there is no communion. Though God may set a place apart as holy that He might be in their midst, unless men set apart their God as holy, His provision has no benefit. How important is it to cease from our works in order to know His presence? . . . Pretty!

So then, there remains a Sabbath rest for the people of God, for whoever has entered Gods rest has also rested from his works as God did from His. Let us therefore strive to enter that rest, so that no one may fall by the same sort of disobedience.
(Hebrews 4:9-11 ESV)

The Old Testament Sabbath was a foreshadow of the New Testament reality that there, in fact, remains a rest for the people of God. That futile striving to reach God, or to somehow merit His favor, can cease for He has made full and complete provision for men and women to draw near “in full assurance of faith” (Heb. 10:22). Blood has been shed, once for all, to atone for sin and make open the way into the most holy place. The curtain has been torn, from top to bottom, proclaiming God’s invitation to “whosoever will” to enter. The Light of the world shines . . . the Bread of life is available to be eaten . . . the mercy seat is accessible . . . God desires to meet with all men and women as He met with Moses. And so, He says, Above all, keep my Sabbath. Above all . . . enter My rest!

And keep entering! The good news is not a “once and done” dynamic. To be sure, having believed we were sealed by the Spirit, guaranteeing our inheritance (Eph. 1:13-14). And in that sense we entered the rest once for all. But how easy it is to drift away from that rest. To start striving as though we think now it’s up to us. To stop applying the blood as the accuser suggests that our most recent transgression is such failure as to not be covered by the cross. To become lax with setting apart the LORD in our hearts, seeking instead the world’s pleasure as what truly defines our significance.

So to us the ancient words spoken to God’s ancient people still resonate . . . Above all . . . enter My rest!

O’ that His people would see the importance of continually abiding in His rest. Above all.

By grace alone . . . for His glory alone.

 

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He Shall Bear

Posted on February 3, 2015 by Pete

The phrase is repeated four times in Exodus 28. Said it before, said it again, repetition is God’s way of saying, “Listen up!” Also discovered that the phrase is used nowhere else other than in this chapter . . . this portion of Scripture detailing the LORD’s instruction to Moses about the garments of the high priest. And as I hovered over these verses I felt compelled to highlight them with one of my colored pencils. But which one? I don’t have a color for high priest . . . or do I? And so I highlighted these four occurrences of the phrase with the same highlighting I use for Jesus, the Christ. For He shall bear . . .

And you shall set the two stones on the shoulder pieces of the ephod, as stones of remembrance for the sons of Israel. And Aaron shall bear their names before the LORD on his two shoulders for remembrance. (Exodus 28:12 ESV)

So Aaron shall bear the names of the sons of Israel in the breastpiece of judgment on his heart, when he goes into the Holy Place, to bring them to regular remembrance before the LORD. And in the breastpiece of judgment you shall put the Urim and the Thummim, and they shall be on Aarons heart, when he goes in before the LORD. Thus Aaron shall bear the judgment of the people of Israel on his heart before the LORD regularly. (Exodus 28:29-30 ESV)

You shall make a plate of pure gold and engrave on it, like the engraving of a signet, ‘Holy to the LORD.’ And you shall fasten it on the turban by a cord of blue. It shall be on the front of the turban. It shall be on Aarons forehead, and Aaron shall bear any guilt from the holy things that the people of Israel consecrate as their holy gifts. It shall regularly be on his forehead, that they may be accepted before the LORD. (Exodus 28:38 ESV)

The LORD is giving Moses instruction for the building of the tabernacle. The tent of meeting where, above the mercy seat, God would meet with Moses and speak with him. The place that would be sanctified by God’s glory and where, in condescending grace, He would determine to meet with the people of Israel. He would dwell among His people and His people would know He is the LORD their God, their Deliverer who brought them out of Egypt that “I might dwell among them. I am the LORD their God (Ex. 29:42-46).

And integral to the operational dynamic of the tabernacle would be Aaron the high priest. While Moses would be permitted direct access, the people’s access would be through Aaron. He would be their conduit. He would be their advocate. He would be their intercessor. And the LORD declares, four times, “Aaron shall bear . . . “

He would bear their names on His shoulders. He would bear God’s judgment and God’s will for them over his heart. And he would bear their guilt upon his head. All that the people might be “accepted before the LORD.”

And while I know that there are depths to be plumbed here, even just dipping my toe into the water’s edge of this shadow of our great High Priest stirs the heart with awe and adoration.

We have such a high priest. One who bears our name before the throne of God in heaven. On His shoulders, the great Shepherd carries those He has called by Name, and who, by grace through regeneration, know His Name. On His heart, He brings His people to remembrance, interceding for them. The great Shepherd leading them in the ways and will of the Father. Leading them beside still waters and to green pastures.

And on His head, the Great Shepherd having humbled Himself to become the Lamb of God, has borne our guilt once for all. The sacrifice of atonement having been offered on Calvary’s cross . . . the blood able to cleanse us from all sin. And through, and in Him, we too are permitted access into the holy of holies.

That the LORD God might be our God . . . and we, His people . . . He shall bear.

To Him be all glory.

 

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The Treasure of the Kingdom

Posted on February 2, 2015 by Pete

Thinking about treasure this morning. Not just about acquiring it, but also what we’re to do with it. But the treasure I’m considering this morning is not gold or silver, but something far more valuable and longer lasting. And far from keeping it locked up and hidden away, it’s to be opened and accessed . . . and by implication, shared with others. That’s what we’re to do with the treasure of the kingdom.

Wrapping up my reading in Matthew 13 this morning. Jesus has been revealing truths and dynamics concerning the kingdom of heaven through parables. “Mystery stories.” Not as in “whodunnit?” But as in “whogetsit?” Simple stories grounded in relatable experience that carry a meaning and insight concerning a dimension only accessible by faith. Insights beyond the reach of those with hard hearts of unbelief, but illumination concerning a kingdom which, though sourced in heaven, operates within the hearts of men and women who believe. As such, revealing spiritual reality to those with “ears to hear.”

And Jesus disciples had such ears. “Blessed are your eyes, for they see, and your ears, for they hear,” said Jesus to His own, “For truly, I say to you, many prophets and righteous people longed to see what you see, and did not see it, and to hear what you hear, and did not hear it” (Matt. 13:16-17). And so, Jesus peppers them with parables. Telling them multiple stories, all beginning with the phrase, “the kingdom of heaven is like.”

And as Jesus concludes His Matthew 13 round of “story telling,” He asks His disciples a simple question and then gives them a profound lesson in stewardship. He tells them what they are to do with the treasure of the kingdom.

“Have you understood all these things?” They said to Him, “Yes.” And He said to them, “Therefore every scribe who has been trained for the kingdom of heaven is like a master of a house, who brings out of his treasure what is new and what is old.” (Matthew 13:51-52 ESV)

They were getting it. It would be awhile before they fully understood the depths of it, but they were getting it. And Jesus said that every truth their “ears to hear” received, every dynamic they “eyes to see” saw, every byte of data concerning the kingdom their hearts were able to store, that it was all to be regarded as gold, silver, and precious stones. That, like the scribes who had carefully handled the ancient Scriptures — particularly those like Ezra who had “set his heart to study the Law of the LORD, and to do it and to teach His statutes and rules in Israel” (Ezra 7:10) — they were to regard their degree of understanding as a solemn and privileged stewardship.

They were to regard themselves as heads of households accessing their treasure, both the old and the new, so that the household needs would be met . . . and that the members of the house might be fed . . . and that the family might be nurtured to maturity and productivity . . . and that those outside the family might be reached with the good news of the kingdom.

So too, for those who, by God’s grace, have ears to hear, we are, in a sense, like a “scribe who has been trained for the kingdom of heaven.” Said by Jesus TO His disciples . . . preserved by the Holy Spirit FOR us. And, as such, we are to be ready to access our treasures of knowledge, insight, and Holy Spirit revealed understanding. Treasure not to be regarded as something of our own intelligence or diligence, but gems freely given by the Spirit of illumination and revelation. Gems, both old and new, to be shared. We, as grace trained scribes, and grace compelled stewards, ready to share the gospel with all who have ears to hear.

That’s what we’re to do with the treasure of the kingdom.

For His glory . . .

 

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