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February 9th
Our Bible reading for today is in Exodus chapters 30,31,32.
What does it mean when scripture speaks of something or someone “being most holy to the Lord?”
Our text today says that Aaron would anoint the corners of the incense altar, once a year, with blood from a burnt offering....”
Making the incense altar “most holy to the Lord”. The word holy is related to the word “saint”.
The apostle Paul called all believers in Christ, saints. What did he mean? He meant that all who believe Jesus are “set apart” for God’s use only....not for our own use, but for God’s...
The apostle Paul also taught the believers in Thessalonica that it was the will of God for them to be “sanctified”...that is: made holy unto God...set apart for God’s use...not God’s use and someone else's use, just God’s ....at home, at work, at school, at play, at church.
So, once a year, Aaron went through a ritual to remind himself and all the other priests that the furnishings related to the tabernacle were “most holy to the Lord”. Set apart for God’s use only.
So Aaron would say to his fellow priests, be careful to never allow the tabernacle or it’s furniture to be used for any other purpose, but God’s.
Remember, God chose Israel and his descendants to be His treasured ones..His people by God’s grace and the God-given faith of the people.
God made them holy.
So the tabernacle and the furnishings and the priests and the sacrifices...were to be constant reminders to the congregation of Israel that they, in covenant relationship with God, had been made most holy unto the Lord. So set your mind and heart to live that way...to the glory of God.
Listen to the lyrics of a song by my friend, Scott Underwood Holiness...I just wish he was here to sing it...
Holiness, holiness is what I long for...Holiness is what I need...Holiness, holiness is what you want from me.
So take my heart, God
So take my heart and form it
Take my mind transform it
Take my will conform it
To Yours, to yours o Lord!
Now to the next part of the text...
Before the work on the tabernacle was started, God chose a talented man to oversee it. That sounds reasonable....but something else impressed me most.
“ I filled him with the Holy Spirit,” God said.
God was saying...”I filled the sails of his life with my wind...so that he will go in the direction of my blowing”.
And God gave all available men and women in the congregation abilities that could be used to build the tabernacle.
So, God was choosing to use Spirit-filled leadership and the availability of congregational members to build the tent of meeting for the worship of God. Sounds like a good recipe for success.
But not good enough.
You say “what happened”?
Well, that’s the rest of the story...
Have a great day.
