The Fat Belongs to the Lord

Posted on February 15, 2012 by Pete

Ok . . . so as I’ve mentioned before, when I’m reading in the morning I’m on the watch for observations on a variety of topics . . . which, when found are either underlined or shaded with a certain colored pencil. One of those areas that I try and keep my eyes open for, unsurprisingly, are observations about God. This morning, I noticed something I had not noticed before . . . saw something concerning God which I had never articulated before . . . underlined something in blue in Leviticus that I had never underlined before. Get this, “All fat is the LORD’s.”

If his offering is a sacrifice of peace offering, if he offers an animal from the herd, male or female, he shall offer it without blemish before the LORD. And he shall lay his hand on the head of his offering and kill it at the entrance of the tent of meeting, and Aaron’s sons the priests shall throw the blood against the sides of the altar. And from the sacrifice of the peace offering, as a food offering to the LORD, he shall offer the fat covering the entrails and all the fat that is on the entrails, . . . And the priest shall burn them on the altar as a food offering with a pleasing aroma. All fat is the LORD’s. It shall be a statute forever throughout your generations, in all your dwelling places, that you eat neither fat nor blood.   (Leviticus 3:1-3, 16-17 ESV)

While I am in no way any where near an expert in the finer points of all that’s encompassed in the teaching on the sacrifices in Leviticus, I know enough that they contain types and shadows . . . hidden truths concerning the things of God, man, sin, and atonement. The peace offering, apparently, is just that, an offering to God which celebrates the peace, or fellowship, the offerer enjoys with the LORD. It’s the only offering where, the offerer partakes of the sacrifice, where he takes home a portion of it and eats it with his family (Lev. 7:15-21), and thus symbolizes the communion enjoyed with God because of the other atoning sacrifices. But in that partaking he is not to eat either the fat nor the blood (3:17).

Now I get the part about the blood . . . that goes back to the Genesis 9:4 . . . the life is in the blood . . . in terms of the sacrifice, the blood was to be poured out . . . the life of another was to be poured out for another . . . “and without the shedding of blood there is no forgiveness of sins” (Heb. 9:22). Therefore, no eating of the blood.

But the fat . . . when it came to the peace offering . . . this sacrifice recognizing the blessing of communion with God . . . this sacrifice where the offerer is allowed to partake in the offering . . . in this case, “you shall eat not fat . . . all fat is the LORD’s”. How come? Beyond the very practical health advantage of regulating fat intake, what’s the symbolic meaning? What’s the shadow? Why no fat? Why’s that the Lord’s portion only?

When Pharaoh invites Joseph to bring his family down to Egypt from Canaan, he tells Joseph to tell his brothers, “Bring your father and your households and come to me; I will give you the best of the land of Egypt, and you will eat the fat of the land” (Gen. 45:18). The best of the land is referred to as the fat of the land . . . we use the phrase even today. So, the fat was the very best part of the animal, and thus the best was not to be kept for the offerer but was to be given as the offering . . . given to Him who alone is worthy to be honored with the best . . . the LORD.

All fat is the LORD’s. He is to be honored with the best.

The finished work of Christ is seen in the peace offering . . . He is our peace (Eph. 2:14) . . . He has made peace through the blood of His cross (Col 1:20) . . . He has preached peace to those who were far off and to those who were near (Eph. 2:17). And for those who have, by faith in the finished work of Christ, been brought into privileged communion with the Holy, Holy, Holy God of heaven . . . doesn’t He deserve the fat . . . is He not worthy of the best we have to offer? Whether it’s my worship, my praise, my goods, my life . . . the fat belongs to the Lord.

Oh, that by His grace, and for His glory, I might seek to give Him the best . . .

Posted in Leviticus | 3 Comments

A No Name for The Name

Posted on February 14, 2012 by Pete

This morning, in my readings, I was struck by how quickly Peter crashes and burns. One moment he is called blessed by Jesus because of the illumination and revelation provided him by the Father . . . and the next he comes up with one of his “Not so, Lord” declarations and Jesus says to him, “Get thee behind me Satan.” And when I read that I thought I might journal on how important it is to set our minds on the things of God, and not the things of man (Matt. 16:13-23). But, before getting into it, I went back and re-read some previous years journal entries attached to this part of my reading plan. And my entry from Feb. 13, 2008 grabbed me . . . and derailed me . . . and encouraged me . . . so here it is . . . recycled . . .

So, I’m smilin’ . . . ’cause this morning the Lord allowed a special blessing . . . in a sense He taught me Hebrew without me even knowing it. So, here’s the deal . . .

One of my readings this morning was the last three chapters of Exodus, 38 to 40. It’s the second set of readings on the construction of all the pieces of the tabernacle. So, to be honest, not the most riveting reading . . . I often find myself drifting when reading this sort of detail. But I’m reading and I pick up on this phrase, “he made . . . he made . . . he made . . .” talking about the guy who was the master builder of most of the tabernacle. He made the altar . . . he made all the utensils . . . then he made the court.

And I realize that I don’t know who “he” is . . . even though I’ve come across his name a couple of times. And I think, “Isn’t that weird?” Of all the things that I know about the tabernacle, I don’t know the name of the guy who built it. I’ve got a replica of the major pieces of the tabernacle sitting on a shelf in my living room . . . but I can’t tell you who the builder was. Even though I’ve been reading about his works for the last two mornings . . . I couldn’t pick his name out of a multiple choice list of names.

And it occurs to me that it’s because the tabernacle is not about who built it but about Who architected it. It’s not about how it was made but about Whose glory descended upon it. It’s not about the beauty of the craftsmanship but the wonder of the story it tells of redemption and atonement and entering the Most Holy Place into the presence of God. And so I’m thinking that whoever this builder is, he is absolutely overshadowed by God.

But then I come across his name . . . and this is where it kind of gets interesting. Exodus 38:22 says that “Bezalel the son of Uri, the son of Hur, of the tribe of Judah, made all that the LORD had commanded Moses.” Now this isn’t the first time I’ve come across Bezalel’s name (Ex. 31:2, 35:30, 36:1, 36:2, 37:1), just the first time I’m taking note of it. So I say to myself, “Self, I wonder what this guy’s name means.” And I look it up and it says “in the shadow of God.” Ya’ think!?! I had already come to that conclusion . . . and then I find out that’s exactly what his name means . . . and I’m thinking this is so neat.
This guy . . . a great artisan . . . a fine craftsman . . . builder of the awesome tabernacle in the wilderness . . . and almost no one knows his name . . . ’cause he is in the shadow of God. He did a great work . . . but it pointed to an even greater God. It was an amazing structure . . . but housed an awesome glory. And I can’t help but think that he has quite the legacy . . . no one knows his name . . . oh, but so many have learned so much about his God through his work. Wasn’t that John the Baptist’s goal — “He must increase, I must decrease.” (John 3:30) John also knew what it was to be in the shadow of God.

Wouldn’t that be a great life’s mission statement — “To be in the shadow of God . . . my name being forgotten, His name being exalted . . . my efforts remembered only to the degree that they are to the praise of His glory . . . to be a no name for the sake of that Name which is above all names.”

Bezalel. Amen!

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Fret Not

Posted on February 13, 2012 by Pete

For many of us, when we think Psalm 37, we think five wonderful commands to obey. Somewhere along the way, someone has either pointed out to us, or we’ve discovered ourselves, that Psalm 37 contains five encouraging exhortations as it pertains to pursuing the Lord. “Trust in the LORD” (v.3) . . . “Delight yourself in the LORD” (v.4) . . . “Commit your way to the LORD” (v.5) . . . “Be still before the LORD” (v.7) . . . “Wait for the LORD” (v.34). Amen and Amen! But this morning it was a different command within this Psalm that caught my attention . . . a warning repeated three times . . .

Fret not yourself because of evildoers; be not envious of wrongdoers! . . . fret not yourself over the one who prospers in his way, over the man who carries out evil devices! . . . Refrain from anger, and forsake wrath! Fret not yourself; it tends only to evil. (Psalm 37:1, 7b, 8 ESV)

Fret not yourself . . . avoid getting choked . . . don’t blow a gasket . . . literally, do not “heat up with vexation.” The object that can fuel such flames of indignation? . . . evildoers who prosper in their ways. David, who found himself in his fair share of unjust situations, pens some sage wisdom when it comes to getting fixated on those who do the wrong stuff in the wrong way for the wrong reasons and yet, seem to reap the right results. Here David is trying to do the Lord’s will in the Lord’s way and things just aren’t going according to plan . . . yet he looks over the fence at the yard of the wicked and there sits the RV and the boat and that dude is sipping his lemonade by the pool and doesn’t seem to have a care in the world. It’s enough to set a slow boil a going . . . a “righteous wrath” to start brewing . . . you see red . . . and eventually, you’re fixated on the ways of darkness rather than pursuing the paths of light.

It’s in this context, that David encourages the weary pilgrim, who’s been struggling to remain faithful to the Narrow Way, to avert his eyes from those who appear to be on Easy Street, and instead focus on the One who has called them to the journey. It’s in this contradiction of sin apparently paying off better than righteousness, that the Psalmist reminds those with ears to hear that “in just a little while, the wicked will be no more . . . but the meek shall inherit the land and delight themselves in abundant peace” (37:11). For those who maintain a cool head, those who avoiding being consumed with a rage which can only lead itself to evil, there is the reminder that “the steps of a man are established by the LORD” and “He will not forsake His saints” (37:23, 28).

So easy to get myself tied up in knots with what’s happening around me. So easy to be distracted. So easy to waste resources on focusing on that which bears no fruit. Instead, avoiding heated vexation, there is capacity to look up rather than look around . . . to meditate on the promise rather than be manic about the paradox . . . to remember the LORD’s thoughts to me rather than fixate on the wicked’s thoughts of himself . . . to know afresh, and believe anew, that “better is the little that the righteous has than the abundance of many wicked” (37:16).

And when I obey this command . . . to fret not . . . then I can focus on the others. To trust in the Lord . . . for He is faithful and His promises are sure. To delight myself in the Lord . . . knowing that as a father loves to give his children, so too, my Heavenly Father will, in His time and for His purposes, give me the desires of my heart. To commit my way to the Lord . . . resting in that He has established my steps and know the plans He has for me. To be still before the Lord . . . to wait patiently . . . to know, in the quietness, that He is God . . . and He is good. And finally, to wait for the Lord . . . knowing that in Him, all His promises are yes . . . and that the day will come when “he will exalt you to inherit the land” (37:34b).

Fret not, weary pilgrim. But focus . . . focus on the LORD . . . for “the salvation of the righteous is from the LORD; He is their stronghold in the time of trouble” (37:39).

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We Have Beheld His Glory

Posted on February 10, 2012 by Pete

How often might we have said, “If I had only been there . . . then I’d be more on fire. If I had seen what those first century Christians had seen . . . then I’d be more like the first century disciples. If I had witnessed the miracles that they had witnessed . . . oh boy, then there’d be a passion in my belly for the kingdom.” And I get that sentiment . . . fact is, we walk by faith and not by sight (2Cor. 5:7) . . . that now we see in a mirror dimly and it won’t compare to what it will be like when we’re face to face (1Cor. 13:12). But I also wonder if we haven’t experienced more than, perhaps, we think we have . . . if we haven’t, in reality, witnessed more than we think we’ve seen . . . if we haven’t participated, up close and personal, in more miracles than our awe-o-meter is registering . . . that, in fact, we have beheld His glory.

Reading in Exodus 34 this morning . . . still mulling over our men’s study on this section of Scripture (ch. 32-34) from a couple of nights ago. ESV gives a nice outline: Covenant Breached (32) . . . Moses Intercedes (33) . . . Covenant Renewed (34). That, in a nutshell, is the gospel . . . the fulfillment of the promise . . . impossible based on our merits and/or performance but made sure through the power of an Intercessor . . . a Mediator . . . One chosen of God to stand in the breach . . . through the power of an endless life . . . “able to save to the uttermost those who draw near to God through Him, since He always lives to make intercession for them (Heb. 7:25) . . . but I digress . . .

Moses has asked God, “Please show me Your glory” (33:18) . . . and God has consented, “I will make My goodness pass before You” (33:19a). Moses is placed in the cleft of the rock . . . and from there he beholds a measure of God’s glory (33:22-23) . . . and Moses comes down from the mountain with a glow on . . . literally!!! . . . “the skin of his face shone because he had been talking with God” (34:29b). And we might say . . . oh, if only I could behold something of God’s glory . . . I’d shine too!

But check this out . . . the glory of God was seen by Moses as God made known to Him His peerless Name . . . the glory was encountered in the proclamation of the nature and character of God . . .

The LORD descended in the cloud and stood with him there, and proclaimed the name of the LORD. The LORD passed before him and proclaimed, “The LORD, the LORD, a God merciful and gracious, slow to anger, and abounding in steadfast love and faithfulness, keeping steadfast love for thousands, forgiving iniquity and transgression and sin, but who will by no means clear the guilty, visiting the iniquity of the fathers on the children and the children’s children, to the third and the fourth generation.” And Moses quickly bowed his head toward the earth and worshiped. (Exodus 34:5-8 ESV)

And I replay the revelation Moses had of God’s glory and ask myself . . . have I known the mercy of God . . . have I known the grace of God . . . have I known His patience? Have I encountered His abounding love . . . have I experienced His faithfulness? Have I personally realized the forgiveness of iniquity and transgression and sin . . . yeah, put away as far as the east is from the west! Do I know something of the holy and just nature of the God who doesn’t clear the guilty . . . but so loved the world that He gave His one and only Son to bear that guilt? I’m thinkin’! Then, my friends, I think that, in some measure . . . to some degree . . . by His grace . . . I have encountered the glory of God.

And so, like Moses, I bow my head, and in awe-filled wonder, worship!

We have beheld His glory . . . amen?

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The Mediator

Posted on February 9, 2012 by Pete

There was a rift. The covenant had been broken. God had said, “Obey My voice, keep My commandments and you will be My treasured possession” (Exodus 19:5). The people had responded, “All that the LORD has spoken we will do” (19:8). Covenant made . . . now time to live happily ever after. Ahhh . . . not so much. Fast forward a few pages to this morning’s reading . . . and there’s eating and drinking and goofing off . . . and it’s all centered on a golden calf . . . fashioned at the hand of Aaron . . . commissioned at the request of the people . . . declared to be “your gods, O Israel, who brought you up out of the land of Egypt!” (32:1-6). Ok . . . this can’t turn out good. Covenant’s broken . . . deal’s off . . . wrath of God is justifiably on . . . cue the mediator!

This morning’s reading just happened to be last night’s focus at our men’s OT study. Love meeting with those guys . . . never quite know where the conversation is going to go . . . but never disappointed with the Spirit’s leading . . . and last night Moses as mediator hit me in a blessed, fresh way. Moses’ back and forth between God and the people of God surfaced in such a wonderful way . . . and the type presented of Christ as mediator evoked awe-filled praise.

The covenant had been broken . . . in a big way! The had taken other gods over the God of Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob (Commandment 1, broken). They had made of gold an idol in the form of a calf . . . bowed before it . . . exalted it . . . reveled about it . . . evoking the jealousy of God (Commandment 2, toast). The had defiled the name of God . . . building an altar before the calf that they might sacrifice to it as “the Lord” . . . the name of my God carelessly attached to an inanimate object of man’s making . . . God will not hold him guiltless who takes His name in vain (Commandment 3, blew it!). What’s a just God to do in light of such stiff-necked sin? “Now therefore let Me alone, that My wrath may burn hot against them and I may consume them!” (32:10)

Enter Moses, the mediator. Moses implores God, for the sake of God’s glory and on the basis of God’s promises, to show mercy . . . “and the LORD relented from the disaster that He had spoken of bringing on His people” (32:11-14). Then Moses turns and goes down to the out-of-control mosh pit at the base of the holy mount. And there, he conveys something of God’s anger to the people . . . throwing down and breaking the tablets inscribed by the finger of God, thus indicating the breaking of the covenant by their sin . . . grinding the golden calf into power and force feeding it to the people that they might taste the bitterness of their folly . . . calling out Aaron for his part in this train-wreck . . . and finally, commissioning the sons of Levi to exact the wages of sin, death, “and that day about three thousand of the men of the people fell” (32:28).

A mediator represents the two parties to each other . . . Moses pled for the people . . . Moses represented the holy nature of God. But a mediator also seeks reconciliation . . .

The next day Moses said to the people, “You have sinned a great sin. And now I will go up to the LORD; perhaps I can make atonement for your sin.” 
(Exodus 32:30 ESV)

And Moses goes before the Lord . . . confesses the people’s great sin . . . pleads for God’s forgiveness . . . willing to die on their behalf. And God responds, “Go lead the people to the land I’ve promised them . . . I’ll send an angel before you” (32:34-33:3). But the mediator continues to plead . . . LORD what is the land of promise without the LORD of promise? Oh God, it’s not just the place we desire, but Your presence . . . it’s not just the gifts we seek, but Your glory . . . “Is it not in Your going with us, so that we are distinct, I and your people, from every other people on the face of the earth” (33:1-18).

And as I hover over this I see Jesus, God’s appointed Mediator . . . the One who reveals the nature and heart of the Father to a people entrapped in sin . . . the One who intercedes before God on behalf of the people . . . offering up His own life as payment for their sin, . . . “Father, forgive them for don’t know what they are doing” . . . the One who brings us into God’s presence . . . the One who brings God into our midst.

For there is one God, and there is one Mediator between God and men, the man Christ Jesus, who gave Himself as a ransom for all . . . He is THE MEDIATOR of a new covenant, so that those who are called may receive the promised eternal inheritance, since a death has occurred that redeems them from the transgressions committed under the first covenant.
(1Tim. 2:5-6, Hebrews 9:15 ESV)

Behold, the Mediator . . . Hallelujah, what a Savior!

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Taste and See

Posted on February 8, 2012 by Pete

At some point, theory needs to give way to reality. You can practice all you want, but the thrill comes from getting in the game. You can plate the finest meal, but if you really want to enjoy it, you need to chow down. And when it comes to Christianity, it’s not so much about a religion to be debated but a relationship to be experienced . . .

Oh, taste and see that the LORD is good! Blessed is the man who takes refuge in Him!   (Psalm 34:8 ESV)

The note in my Bible says that David wrote Psalm 34 after a close call . . . a narrow escape. David’s on the run from Saul. Saul is out to kill David. And David flees to Gath and finds himself in the midst of the Philistines . . . in particular before the king, or “the Abimilech”, of Gath, a ruler by the name of Achish. David is recognized by the servants of Achish . . . his reputation as a warrior and slayer of the Philistines precedes him . . . and the king is warned . . . and David’s in big trouble. And so, in an act of desperation, David “changed his behavior” and pretended to be insane . . . “he pretended to go crazy, pounding his head on the city gate and foaming at the mouth, spit dripping from his beard” (MSG). And rather than execute this enemy of the Philistines, Achish sees only a madman . . . dismisses him as a lunatic and tells his servants to get him out of his sight (1Sam.21:10-15). David flees . . . ends up in a cave in Adullam . . . and maybe there, pens this Psalm. Whew!!! . . . delivered . . . oh taste and see that the Lord is good!

That was David’s taste. A desperate situation . . . a feeble human effort . . . but a great God of deliverance. David had no choice but to “get out of the boat and walk on the water” . . . nothing left to do but cry to the Lord . . . nowhere else to look but up. Perhaps not the most manly of escape plans . . . but one that was wholly dependant on God’s intervention before an enemy king. And in that situation, the theory of God as deliverer gives way to reality . . . the promise that God hears the cry of the righteous proves to be true (34:17) . . . the teaching that the angel of the LORD encamps around those who fear Him (34: 7), translates into walking out of Gath unscathed. Not until such a “taste”, is the presence and the goodness of the LORD so known. Blessed is the man who takes refuge in Him.

Fact be known, I’d rather not be in the crucible . . . I’d rather avoid desperate situations . . . I’d just as soon pass on being helpless. But it’s there, when the thirst is the greatest and the hunger is the most intense, that goodness of God is the most experienced . . . “The LORD is near to the brokenhearted and saves the crushed in spirit” (34:18).

Faith is the taste . . . without faith it is impossible to please God (Heb. 11:6) . . . and sometimes it takes those desperate situations to take that step of faith . . . and experience, up close and personal, the goodness of God. But I don’t need to wait for the crisis . . . I can trust in the Lord with all my heart in all things . . . I can acknowledge Him in all ways . . . and, in so doing, know the reality of the God’s faithfulness . . . enjoy 24/7 His abiding presence . . . experience the thrill of walking together with Him . . . of knowing, experientially knowing, just how good the LORD is.

The theory giving way to reality . . . by His grace . . . for His glory . . .

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Aaron Shall Bear

Posted on February 7, 2012 by Pete

This morning’s interaction with God’s word was one of those that provides a taste of something precious . . . but you know there’s a lot more to the meal. It’s one of those encounters that you know you should come back to . . . should take some time and follow up on . . . should dig deeper into . . . but, at least for me, rarely do. For now though, I’ll just savor and enjoy whatever inkling of insight I think I’m getting about the amazing interaction of the high priest and the holy place. The phrase that caught my attention this morning in Exodus 28 . . . repeated 4 times . . . is “Aaron shall bear.”

. . . And Aaron shall bear their names before the LORD on his two shoulders for remembrance. . . . 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. . . . Thus Aaron shall bear the judgment of the people of Israel on his heart before the LORD regularly. . . . 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 28:12, 29, 30, 38 ESV)

I’m continuing to read the LORD’s instruction to Moses concerning the building and operation of the tabernacle . . . the place were God desires to “meet with His people” (29:43) . . . the place where He determines to dwell among the people . . . and be their God . . . that they might know that He is the LORD their God . . . the God of their deliverance . . . that He might dwell among them (29:45). And key to the operation of the tabernacle . . . key to God’s dwelling among the people . . . is the role of the high priest. And key to the high priest doing what the high priest does, is the make up and fashioning of his priestly garments . . . laid out in detail in Exodus 28.

And apart from understanding anything else, I get that, through these priestly garment, the high priest was “to bear”. To bear the names of the God’s people on his shoulders for remembrance . . . to lift up their names, which he carried over his heart, when he went into the Holy Place . . . to carry on himself the petition for God’s judgment, for the LORD’s will, as it concerned the leading of His people . . . to take away any guilt from the imperfection of the people’s holy offerings and gifts. If I pick up on nothing else, it is that the high priest was integral to God’s dwelling among His people . . . foundational to the people being represented in the Holy Place of God’s glory.

And that’s enough to trigger thanksgiving . . . sufficient to ignite a pilot light of praise . . . enough fuel to fan the flame of worship . . .

I may not get all the symbolism of the priestly garment . . . but what I get is that whether it’s the two stones, engraved with the names of the sons of Israel, on the shoulder pieces . . . or the twelve jewels, each bearing a name of one of the twelve tribes, on the breastpiece . . . or the turban, with “Holy to the LORD’ inscribed upon it, set upon the forehead . . . it reveals that the people of God are brought into the presence of God through the high priest of God. And, thanks be to God . . . glory be to His Son . . . I have such a High Priest . . .

“We have a great High Priest who has passed through the heavens, Jesus, the Son of God . . . let us then with confidence draw near to the throne of grace” (Heb. 4:14-15). “He is a merciful and faithful high priest in the service of God . . . making full atonement for the sins of the people” (Heb. 3:17). “He holds His priesthood permanently, because He continues forever. Consequently, He is able to save to the uttermost those who draw near to God through Him, since He always lives to make intercession for them” (Heb. 7:24-25). Praise God! . . . “we have such a High Priest, One who is seated at the right hand of the throne of the Majesty in heaven, a Minister in the holy places, in the true tent that the Lord set up, not man” (Heb. 8:1-2).

Thank You, Jesus . . . for cleansing me by Your blood . . . for making a way for me to enter the Holy of Holies . . . for bearing me before the Throne.

To You alone be all glory . . . amen!

Posted in Exodus, Hebrews | 1 Comment

A Test

Posted on February 6, 2012 by Pete

I read an article recently about how powerful the god of mammon is. Money, possessions, wealth and the apparent power and influence it brings . . . hard to win the game . . . hard to come out on top . . . but, I’m thinkin’, not so hard to get sucked into trying. I remember from long ago the sage counsel that our possessions have a way of possessing us . . . that our stuff has a way of seeking to displace our Lord. And so maybe it shouldn’t be too surprising if, from time to time, tests come our way that reveal something of how tightly we hold on to stuff . . . that reflect the degree to which we pursue mighty mammon. Such would be the case for these fresh out of slavery Israelites . . .

The LORD said to Moses, “Speak to the people of Israel, that they take for Me a contribution. From every man whose heart moves him you shall receive the contribution for Me. And this is the contribution that you shall receive from them: gold, silver, and bronze, . . . And let them make Me a sanctuary, that I may dwell in their midst.”   (Exodus 25:1-3, 8 ESV)

First thing that hits me is a sense of wonder and awe that my God is a God who desires to dwell in the midst of men. Chapter 25 launches a series of detailed instructions concerning the tabernacle . . . a place for the glory to dwell among men . . . a place where, through designated representatives, men might approach God . . . a place demonstrating the separating effect of holiness of God . . . a place where that distance is spanned through the blood of atonement. Oh, that God seeks to dwell in the midst . . . our God is an awesome God!

But then I noticed this little challenge at the beginning of these instructions. Moses was told to gather from every man, “whose heart moves him”, the materials necessary for the tabernacle’s construction. Gold, silver, bronze, colored yarn, fine linen, goats’ hair, tanned rams’ skins, goatskins, acacia wood, oil for lamps, spices for anointing oil, precious stones. So, where are a bunch of just liberated slaves from Egypt going to come up with such stuff? Well actually, they were loaded with this kind of stuff. In addition to the flocks and herds they had accumulated while living in Goshen, when they left Egypt it says that they were told to ask the Egyptians for “silver and gold jewelry and for clothing. And the LORD had given the people favor in the sight of the Egyptians, so that they let them have what they asked for. Thus they plundered the Egyptians.” (Ex. 12:35-36)

God’s people plundered the Egyptians . . . they were loaded with stuff . . . they possessed designer label things that they never could have imagined owning . . . they were decked out with gold and silver and jewelry, the likes of which, they had never had access to before. For some it must have felt like they were packing what was owed to them after so many years of hard labor. And now, says the LORD, as your heart is moved to, give it up for the building of a place where I might dwell in your midst.

So many of the gods of Egypt had been trounced during the time of the plagues . . . and now, one more was to be dealt a death blow to . . . mammon. I’m thinking this was a test. The people had already said they’d obey God (Ex. 24:7) . . . but would that obedience find it’s way to their wallet? Here they are packing the plunder of the world they had been rescued from . . . and now they’re being asked to give of it freely that God might have a place among them. Would their possessions posses them . . . would they find that they could not serve two masters, that it was impossible to serve God and to serve mammon (Matt. 6:24)? Stay tuned . . . answer’s to come in a few pages.

But for now, it’s less about the Israelites and more about me. How am I doing with the world’s treasure that’s in my possession . . . freely given by the God of my deliverance? Is it possessing me . . . or, by God’s grace, am I acting as a faithful steward over it? Am I seeking to build my bank account and fill my storeroom with stuff . . . or, am I desiring, above all things, to know the God who longs to dwell in the midst? Hmmm . . . worth noodling on . . .

Search me, O God, and know my heart! Try me and know my thoughts! And see if there be any grievous way in me, and lead me in the way everlasting!  
(Psalm 139:23-24 ESV)

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A Response

Posted on February 3, 2012 by Pete

There’s an old Southern Gospel song that reflects a truth about the effects of logging a few miles as a sojourner of God . . . captures something of the reality of having encountered opportunities for “the theory” to put be put into practice . . . expresses the heart’s declaration of those who have actually “tasted” and seen that the Lord is good. The opening words of the chorus are, “The longer I serve Him, the sweeter He grows” (© Bill Gaither, 1965). And what brought this sentiment to mind are three words that I came across this morning in Psalm 31. It’s not the first occurrence of this phrase in the Scriptures . . . but it is the first time I’m reading it this year because of how my daily reading plan is structured. And it is the first time the exhortation is made in the context of a response rather than in the context of a command . . .

Love the LORD, all you His saints! The LORD preserves the faithful but abundantly repays the one who acts in pride. Be strong, and let your heart take courage, all you who wait for the LORD!   (Psalm 31:23-24 ESV)

Love the LORD, all you His saints! You’ll find it as a “command to obey” throughout Deuteronomy (looks like 5 times) . . . and a couple of times in Joshua, again linked with walking in His ways. And, to be sure, it’s a good thing to determine up front to love the LORD, “with all your heart, and with all your soul, and with all your might” (Deut. 6:5). But I think that love takes on a “different flavor” when it comes from a place of responding to God’s interaction with your life. When it flows from a place of having known God’s faithfulness on your behalf. To be sure, we are to love the LORD for who He is . . . but I’m also thinking that we can’t help but love the LORD for what He’s done.

Not exactly sure of the circumstances around David’s writing of Psalm 31 . . . but you know it’s one of those “desperate need” times. He looks to the LORD as his refuge (v.1) . . . he cries out for God to incline His ear and to rescue him speedily (v.2) . . . his eye is “wasted from grief” (v.9) . . . he’s crushed by the knowledge of his own failures (v.10) . . . and his enemies have made him a reproach to his neighbors (v. 11). Tough times, to say the least. And so David cries out to the LORD.

But current desperation is placed in the context of past experience . . .

Into Your hand I commit my spirit; You have redeemed me, O LORD, faithful God.   (Psalm 31:5 ESV)

David can trust God with today’s situation because He recalls yesterday’s salvation. David commits his spirit to the LORD, because God has shown Himself faithful. He can cry for “grace to help in time of need” for the LORD has shown Himself gracious (v.9). He can rest in the LORD’s goodness because he has experienced, first hand, the abundance of God’s goodness (v.19). He has known the wondrous working of the LORD’s steadfast love on his behalf (v.21) . . . he remembers times past when God heard the voice of his pleas for mercy . . . times when God responded to his cries for help (v.22). And so, though in the valley, David, led by the Spirit of God, calls upon God’s people, all you His saints, to the love the LORD.

This is not “I got to because I got to” obedience . . . this is “I want to . . . I’m compelled to . . . I delight to . . . because He has shown Himself faithful, again and again” responsiveness.

Or, as captured by my friend, Billy G., “The longer I serve Him, the sweeter He grows!” . . . and the more I love the LORD!

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A Place of Blessing

Posted on February 2, 2012 by Pete

It’s kind of easy to miss. What, with all the fire and smoke . . . the mountain trembling, the unseen trumpet blowing . . . and the thunder! . . . whoa, the thunder is enough to shake you in your boots (literally). And then, there’s what’s happening on top of the mountain . . . God and Moses, one-on-one . . . and the giving of the ten commandments. A lot to take in. But at the end of Exodus 20 something caught my attention . . . perhaps a bit anti-climatic from all the rest . . . nevertheless another observation about God . . . what’s more, a promise from God. Wanna know where at least one place of blessing is?

An altar of earth you shall make for Me and sacrifice on it your burnt offerings and your peace offerings, your sheep and your oxen. In every place where I cause My name to be remembered I will come to you and bless you.   (Exodus 20:24 ESV)

It wasn’t about the altar, itself . . . nothing fancy-shmancy . . . God’s not impressed with the ornate . . . the expensive isn’t required for admission. But it was about what was going on at the altar . . . sacrifice . . . offerings . . . worship. So, in every place where the Lord ordained that His name would be remembered . . . in every place where there would be a fresh consideration of the holiness of God . . . in every place where there would be a heartfelt recognition of the need for blood to atone for the sin of men . . . in every place where there would be a willing self-determination to offer feeble offerings to a great God . . . in that place, God promises, I will come to you . . . I will bless. you.

And hey! I know such a place. Lord willing, in a couple of days, I’ll be gathering with those “of like precious faith” in a structure of wood & drywall. Nothing too fancy. But, it’s a place where the name of the Lord will be remembered. There’ll be opportunity to “offer up a sacrifice of praise to God, that is, the fruit of lips that acknowledge His name” (Heb. 13:15) . . . something of His name, His holy character, will be explained from the pulpit — and by God’s grace, and through the teaching ministry of the Holy Spirit, explanation will become illumination . . . and then, we’ll gather around a simple table, with a couple of simple emblems, and we’ll remember the sacrifice . . . we’ll recall the price paid for our sin . . . we’ll marvel at the entrance into intimate fellowship that is ours through the blood of Christ. In that place, where God’s name is remembered . . . we will come to worship . . . and, so He promises, He will come . . . and He will bless.

Oh, the anticipation that should be mine because of this simple promise in God’s word. Far from being just “the right thing to do”, far from going through the motions on another Sunday, I should come prepared . . . and I should come expecting. Prepared to remember the Name above all names . . . ready to exalt the Name in my singing . . . ready to revere the Name as it’s revealed through His word . . . ready to respond to the Name as I partake of the bread and the wine. Mine is to come prepared to remember . . . His will be to provide the blessing.

Easy to miss. Same time, same place, every Sunday. Routine has a way of making things . . . well, routine. But remembrance . . . minds fully engaged in the conscious recall of who God is . . . hearts determined to focus anew on the wonder of what God has done . . . souls stirred by heaven itself with the reminder of being His people . . . His treasured possession . . . a called out kingdom of priests . . .a hand-picked, holy nation . . . “that you may proclaim the excellencies of Him who called you out of darkness into His marvelous light” (Ex. 19:5, 1Peter 2:9-10] . . . yes, remembrance has a way of inviting God to come . . . remembrance has a way of invoking God to bless.

In every place where I cause My name to be remembered I will come to you and bless you.

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