January 31st
January 31, 2010
This weeks readings are Exodus 12:14-25:40, Matthew 20:29-24:51, Psalm 25:16-30:12, Proverbs 6:12-7:27. Feel free to post any thoughts, comments, questions, etc. about these readings as a comment to this post.
We (Me) like the Israelites can see God do mighty works one moment and mumble, worry, and disobey the next moment in regard to everyday stuff. I also look to people to meet my needs more often than I pray to the Lord. God delivers us to teach us to depend on him daily Philippians 4:6-7 Matt 6
“Do not oppress the alien …” (Twice in Exodus 22 and 23 – must have been important) Certainly internationals but also anyone at the “fringes” of our community, the most vulerable; economically, emotionally. Almost invisible, laying low, out of the line of fire. Trailer courts at the edges of town in every direction.
Also, “Sabbath Rest – Exodus 23:10-13″ Rest, rest, who can find it – I’m too tired to rest!
I have a question about the Ark: Ex. 25:15 commands that its carrying poles stay inside the carrying rings at all times, never to be removed. Any explanation of why?
Is there something I’m missing. Or is it just that they should always be prepared to be on the move? I hope that’s it, because I love the picture of literally following the Spirit of God, wherever and whenever. It kind of relates to Matt. 24:44, “You also must be ready all the time…”
I hope that we are ready!
OK, Meredith. Great question. And honestly, I think you may be on to something in regards to always being ready to follow God. When the Lord commands for the ark to move (Numbers 10:33-36; Joshua 3:6-17; 1 Samuel 4:3-13), the people are to obey right away.
But I think (and this is just a reasoned guess!) there might be another, more important reminder as to why the poles are never to be removed. It’s because of God’s holiness, and more specifically, His holiness that cannot be approached unless certain guidelines that the Lord Himself gave are followed.
God gave very clear instructions about the ark of God. He not only gave specific instructions about how it should be made, He indicated who should carry it and how it should be transported from one place to another. In Numbers 4, God tells exactly how the tabernacle should be taken down and carried to its next resting place. Notice especially the words of verse 15:
“When Aaron and his sons have finished covering the holy objects and all the furnishings of the sanctuary, when the camp is to set out, after that the sons of Kohath shall come to carry them, so that they will not touch the holy objects and die. These are the things in the tent of meeting which the sons of Kohath are to carry”.
In Exodus 25, God told Moses He would meet with him and speak to him from above the ark, between the cherubim (25:22). God chose to manifest His presence in the tabernacle, specifically from the ark. When God’s glory first filled the tabernacle, even Moses was not able to enter (Exodus 40:34-35). Sinful men cannot get too close to a holy God.
No wonder Uzzah (2 Samuel 6:1-9) was struck dead for having laid hands on the ark. The ark was holy. It could not be touched. Anyone who touched it would die. By using poles, men could transport the ark without touching the ark itself.
Even though Uzzah’s motive was clearly to prevent desecration, this incident was a dramatic reminder to David of God’s holiness and of the necessity of approaching God only according to his revealed instruction, so much so that David was afraid even to bring the ark back to Jerusalem.
So…does that make sense? And I don’t think it has to be one or the other. Often times there are more than one reason why God does something. He tends to communicate in “layers” to His people.