16 February 2014
Exodus 27
Psalms 81; 82
Mark 12
"FOR THE LIGHT"
In Exodus we are reading all the details of the construction of the tabernacle. This would be the centre of worship for the Israelites for hundreds of years to come. All the detail of construction, the measurements, the precise material to be used, where gold or silver was to be used, &c may seem rather boring to read. We may also think, why was all this detail given, every small aspect of construction? Today we read all the detail of the construction of the altar, the network of bronze, rings and poles, pots for the ashes, shovels, basins, forks and firepans ending with the comment [Exodus 27:8] "as it has been shown you on the mountain, so shall it be made."
So God was concerned with every little detail. Why? Then we suddenly thought that this is the marvel of everything that God has created. In our lifetime there has been an enormous expansion of knowledge of everything that exists. Charles Darwin considered the simple single cell to be the basic building block of life is now known to be incredibly complex. God is the great creator, so it is natural that he should give Moses fully detailed instructions about the tabernacle where the Levites would minister before him and the people would come into his presence for worship.
The chapter finishes with another command of God! To bring, "pure beaten olive oil for the light, that a lamp may burn regularly … it shall be a statute forever to be observed …" [Exodus 27:20-21] Today some might note that the oil of olives is used, a renewal energy source! Good, they would say, but in God's method of operation nothing ever goes to waste - except those who have no time for their Maker.
With the example of God's precision of detail for the altar and tabernacle, we should reflect on the precision of detail when the new creation under Christ came into being. This week in Mark we will read the words of Christ, "whoever believes and is baptised will be saved" [Mark 16:16] but some do not consider they need to follow that sort of detail.
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- DC
Thought for the Day
16 February 2014
"A man might lose his reason trying to grasp the idea of unending space or attempting to imagine how there could possibly be a limit. We cannot understand this matter any more than we can search the mind of God. We are finite beings but we are intelligent enough to grasp the fact that there is infinity around us. We are imperfect beings but we are intelligent enough to form the concept of perfection. This is the true conception of God, infinite and perfect."
- Islip Collyer
Principles and Proverbs
Exodus 27
Psalms 81; 82
Mark 12
"FOR THE LIGHT"
In Exodus we are reading all the details of the construction of the tabernacle. This would be the centre of worship for the Israelites for hundreds of years to come. All the detail of construction, the measurements, the precise material to be used, where gold or silver was to be used, &c may seem rather boring to read. We may also think, why was all this detail given, every small aspect of construction? Today we read all the detail of the construction of the altar, the network of bronze, rings and poles, pots for the ashes, shovels, basins, forks and firepans ending with the comment [Exodus 27:8] "as it has been shown you on the mountain, so shall it be made."
So God was concerned with every little detail. Why? Then we suddenly thought that this is the marvel of everything that God has created. In our lifetime there has been an enormous expansion of knowledge of everything that exists. Charles Darwin considered the simple single cell to be the basic building block of life is now known to be incredibly complex. God is the great creator, so it is natural that he should give Moses fully detailed instructions about the tabernacle where the Levites would minister before him and the people would come into his presence for worship.
The chapter finishes with another command of God! To bring, "pure beaten olive oil for the light, that a lamp may burn regularly … it shall be a statute forever to be observed …" [Exodus 27:20-21] Today some might note that the oil of olives is used, a renewal energy source! Good, they would say, but in God's method of operation nothing ever goes to waste - except those who have no time for their Maker.
With the example of God's precision of detail for the altar and tabernacle, we should reflect on the precision of detail when the new creation under Christ came into being. This week in Mark we will read the words of Christ, "whoever believes and is baptised will be saved" [Mark 16:16] but some do not consider they need to follow that sort of detail.
-------
- DC
Thought for the Day
16 February 2014
"A man might lose his reason trying to grasp the idea of unending space or attempting to imagine how there could possibly be a limit. We cannot understand this matter any more than we can search the mind of God. We are finite beings but we are intelligent enough to grasp the fact that there is infinity around us. We are imperfect beings but we are intelligent enough to form the concept of perfection. This is the true conception of God, infinite and perfect."
- Islip Collyer
Principles and Proverbs
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