We are in chapter sixteen of Exodus with our word for today which is actually a phrase. לִפְנֵ֣י יְהוָ֔ה before the LORD, in the presence of the LORD, to the face of the LORD. It is used 229 times in Old Testament. Our word is used a lot in the sense of God speaking or being spoken to. A lot of times it is not translated because the translators think it is just repetitive. But it does add to the meaning when you think about not just saying something but saying it before the LORD or literally to his face or in his presence. For example, Exodus 6:12 But Moses said לִפְנֵ֥י יְהוָ֖ה to the Lord, “If the Israelites will not listen to me, why would Pharaoh listen to me, since I speak with faltering lips?” In both of these verses it is literally Moses spoke in the presence of the LORD or to the face of the LORD. What is interesting is that we know that Moses had a special relationship with God which would be seen more if their dialogue was translated as speaking before the presence of instead of just that they spoke. Exodus 33:11 The Lord would speak to Moses face to face, as one speaks to a friend.
We also see our word used in the sense of recognizing God’s presence in an activity or place. Genesis 10:9 He was a mighty hunter לִפְנֵ֣י יְהוָ֑ה before the Lord; that is why it is said, “Like Nimrod, a mighty hunter לִפְנֵ֥י יְהוָֽה before the Lord.” Genesis 4:16 So Cain went out מִלִּפְנֵ֣י יְהוָ֑ה from the Lord’s presence and lived in the land of Nod, east of Eden. Genesis 18:22 The men turned away and went toward Sodom, but Abraham remained standing לִפְנֵ֥י יְהוָֽה before the Lord.
This idea of God’s presence in a particular place is how our word is used in our chapter today. Exodus 16:33-34 And Moses said to Aaron, “Take a jar, and put an omer of manna in it, and place it לִפְנֵ֣י יְהוָ֔ה before the Lord to be kept throughout your generations.” As the Lord commanded Moses, so Aaron placed it לִפְנֵ֥י before הָעֵדֻ֖ת the testimony to be kept. Notice how our phrase for today is compared with this other phrase. God is making both of these words the LORD and testimony synonymous here. God’s presence is his testimony which speaks to my favorite way to translate LORD, YHWH which is reality. God’s reality is his testimony in that we speak of God because what he desires become reality at the right time. And the whole concept of keeping these items is for the next generation to know God who is reality, to know his presence and be able to speak about his greatness. I’ll close with a great example of God’s presence in how he set up Aaron who as priest would go before God’s special presence in the tent of meeting. Exodus 28:29-30 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 לִפְנֵֽי־יְהוָ֖ה before the Lord. And in the breastpiece of judgment you shall put the Urim and the Thummim, and they shall be on Aaron's heart, when he goes in לִפְנֵ֣י יְהוָ֑ה before the Lord. Thus Aaron shall bear the judgment of the people of Israel on his heart לִפְנֵ֥י יְהוָ֖ה before the Lord regularly. Did you catch how God wants Aaron to wear the breastplate which has the names of God’s people on it so that it would be close to his heart. God is all about being close to his heart and his people’s hearts being close to him. There is a lot more to this idea of God’s presence which we will look at as we go through the Bible. I’ll close keeping with this idea of the heart as it relates to God’s presence. Psalm 19:15 May these words of my mouth and this meditation of my heart be pleasing לְפָנֶ֑יךָ יְ֝הוָ֗ה in your sight, Lord, my Rock and my Redeemer.
