Old Testament
1. More information about building the Ark, the Mercy seat, the Tent of the meeting.
2. Some thing I have never noticed before, Bezalel is from the tribe of Judah. Remember the tribes? Well, gues who else are members of this tribe? King David for one. And, Jesus is referred to as "the Lion of the Tribe of Judah." Coincidence?
- On a more secular note, remember the lion in the "Chronicles of Narnia", well guess who that is supposed to represent? See, it's all around us, but we don't look, or maybe we just don't see.
3. There are also now 603,550 men over the age of 20 in the nation of Israel. Look back at Genesis. When Jacob and the boys joined Joseph, their total number was 78. See what this "remnant" has become. What a mighty God!
New Testamet
4. I didn't spend a lot of time on the Passion of Christ yesterday, but every time we read it or hear it it should give us pause. Think what an amazing sacrifice Jesus made to bring us back into relationship with God, the Father. He was beaten, scourged, mocked, hung on a cross, and died for us. There is no other gift like this.
5. Jesus did all this of His own free will to redeem us.
6. The angel of the Lord rolled the stone away, asssures the women that Jesus will meet them in Galilee.
7. The women come to visit the tomb, while the men are hiding back in town.
8. The guards are given a large bribe to perpetuate the lie that Jesus' body was stolen by the disciples.
9. The Great Commission- Jesus came and told his disciples, “I have been given all authority in heaven and on earth. Therefore, go and make disciples of all the nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and the Son and the Holy Spirit. Teach these new disciples to obey all the commands I have given you. And be sure of this: I am with you always, even to the end of the age.”
- Let's really look at these verses.
- Jesus has been given all authority, and He bestows it on us. This is our mandate. To take that authority and try to elimnate, tell evryboby the Good News of Jesus Christ, teach all nations to do all the things that Christ commanded. And the best part..."I will never leave you"
- It says to take authority and tell everyone. It doesn't say go out and make little Baptists or Methodists or Pentacostals or Unitarian. I am using these as examples only. There is nothing wrong with being any of these.
- But, but, but...What are the great commandments? There are only two...
- Love God above all else. Put no thing and no person before or above Him.
- Love your neighbor as yourself. Do you? Or maybe you don't think so well of yourself. Well you should work on that. God made us just the way we are...and as they say on TV, "God doesn't make junk." Anyway, Love your neighbor...
10. And, teach these new disciple...
11. "...And be sure of this: I am with you always, even to the end of the age.” Be absolutely 100% sure of this, He is always with us.
12. And, back to the disciples. They saw Him and still doubted, even though they worshiped. I'm having a little trouble here...maybe someone out there can help me. How do you douby and worship at the same time?
Psalm
13. "Search for peace, and work to maintain it."
14. "The Lord is close to the brokenhearted; he rescues those whose spirits are crushed." The Lord is after our hearts, not just our minds...Christ came to redeem the broken-hearted, to recue the sin-sick soul.
Proverbs
15. "Instruct the wise, and they will be even wiser. Teach the righteous, and they will learn even more."
16. "Fear of the Lord is the foundation of wisdom. Knowledge of the Holy One results in good judgment."
- That's what this site is all about. Get some knowlege of the Holy One for yourself...read your bible. Don't just take at face value what people say is in the bible.
Almost forgot, Happy Valentine's Day...
"My children, the three acts of faith, hope, and charity contain all the happiness of man on earth." - John Vianney
See you next post...
Showing posts with label mercy seat. Show all posts
Showing posts with label mercy seat. Show all posts
Thursday, February 14, 2008
Thursday, February 7, 2008
Exodus 26-27:21; Matthew 25:1-30; Psalm 31:1-8; Proverbs 8:1-11 (New Living Translation)
Old Testament text
1. Mercy seat
-God gives the measurements and construction materials.
- The Ark and mercy seat were kept inside the Holy of Holies - the Temple's innermost sanctuary, the Sanctum Sanctorum, which was separated from the remainder of the temple by a thick curtain, because the ark and mercy seat were associated with the presence of Yahweh.
- The account also states that two golden statues of cherubim were placed at each end of the mercy seat, facing one another and the mercy seat, with their wings spread in order to enclose the mercy seat. According to the Books of Samuel, these cherubim together formed a seat for Yahweh.
- According to the Biblical directions, the Holy of Holies could only be entered at Yom Kippur, and even then could only be entered by the Jewish High Priest, who was covenanted to do so in order to sprinkle the blood of a sacrificial bull onto the mercy seat, as an atonement for himself and his family, the other priests, the tabernacle, and the people of Israel.
- The directions specify that incense was first burnt in the Holy of Holies so that a cloud rose up and appeared above the mercy seat.
2. The light in the tabernacle is to burn all night. We are to keep our light burning and shining for Christ, day or night. The earth is in a "long, dark" night of suffering, wars (big and little), injustices...what better time to be a servant of God...to help bring "light" to the world? When is it needed more? Always.
New Testament text
3. Parable of the ten bridesmaids...I think there are 2 lessons here.
- As yesterday, always be prepared!
- The second is about giving, even if it is well meaning, when you don't have it to give. This is a clear example of a time when it was okay to say, "No". There just isn't always enough to go around. And, sometimes others need to be responsible for their own themselves and their own actions.
- While the unprepared bridesmaids were out shopping, the bridegroom came, and they missed the big party. The great event.
- For thos who have not done much bible study before...Christ is the Great Bridegroom we are waiting for. Don't get caught unprepared! You'll miss the party!
4. Parable of the giving of the three servants (talents)
- Again, from yesterday's lesson...always be faithful
- You can think of talents netaphorically as gitfs. Or you can think of them in monetary terms. It depends on where you are, where your head is.
-Notice that the servants who did something with their talent, returned 100%. Their effort was whole-hearted. That is how we are to give of our talents. We are to give a whole-hearted response. Many of us have had our hearts wounded or assaulted, and we don't feel we can give anything our whole heart. That's where Jesu comes in. He comes to redeem what was lost. Wether you were physically or mentally abused as a child, left at the altar, abandoned by your friends...Jesus is there to bring us back into the fold.
- We are not to hide (bury) our talents. They are not to be horded. I heard someone say yesterday, "we were not put here to get SUVs, and live by the beach". We all know that.
- The talents we are given are to be used to bring the glory of the Kingdom.
- "Well done, my good and faithful servant. You have been faithful in handling this small amount, so now I will give you many more responsibilities. Let’s celebrate together!"...Isn't this what we long to hear?
- Also notice that Jesus frequently starts many of these stories with..."The Kingdom of heaven is like this..."
- The subjects of the stories we can easily understand with our minds. But it is our heart that Jesus is after.
Psalm
5. " You are my rock and my fortress. For the honor of your name, lead me out of this danger".
- "You, Lord are my rock...It is for Your glory that You protect me.
- I was created to worship You!
Proverbs
6. Good sense and sound judgement...more important than silver or gold.
See you next post...
1. Mercy seat
-God gives the measurements and construction materials.
- The Ark and mercy seat were kept inside the Holy of Holies - the Temple's innermost sanctuary, the Sanctum Sanctorum, which was separated from the remainder of the temple by a thick curtain, because the ark and mercy seat were associated with the presence of Yahweh.
- The account also states that two golden statues of cherubim were placed at each end of the mercy seat, facing one another and the mercy seat, with their wings spread in order to enclose the mercy seat. According to the Books of Samuel, these cherubim together formed a seat for Yahweh.
- According to the Biblical directions, the Holy of Holies could only be entered at Yom Kippur, and even then could only be entered by the Jewish High Priest, who was covenanted to do so in order to sprinkle the blood of a sacrificial bull onto the mercy seat, as an atonement for himself and his family, the other priests, the tabernacle, and the people of Israel.
- The directions specify that incense was first burnt in the Holy of Holies so that a cloud rose up and appeared above the mercy seat.
2. The light in the tabernacle is to burn all night. We are to keep our light burning and shining for Christ, day or night. The earth is in a "long, dark" night of suffering, wars (big and little), injustices...what better time to be a servant of God...to help bring "light" to the world? When is it needed more? Always.
New Testament text
3. Parable of the ten bridesmaids...I think there are 2 lessons here.
- As yesterday, always be prepared!
- The second is about giving, even if it is well meaning, when you don't have it to give. This is a clear example of a time when it was okay to say, "No". There just isn't always enough to go around. And, sometimes others need to be responsible for their own themselves and their own actions.
- While the unprepared bridesmaids were out shopping, the bridegroom came, and they missed the big party. The great event.
- For thos who have not done much bible study before...Christ is the Great Bridegroom we are waiting for. Don't get caught unprepared! You'll miss the party!
4. Parable of the giving of the three servants (talents)
- Again, from yesterday's lesson...always be faithful
- You can think of talents netaphorically as gitfs. Or you can think of them in monetary terms. It depends on where you are, where your head is.
-Notice that the servants who did something with their talent, returned 100%. Their effort was whole-hearted. That is how we are to give of our talents. We are to give a whole-hearted response. Many of us have had our hearts wounded or assaulted, and we don't feel we can give anything our whole heart. That's where Jesu comes in. He comes to redeem what was lost. Wether you were physically or mentally abused as a child, left at the altar, abandoned by your friends...Jesus is there to bring us back into the fold.
- We are not to hide (bury) our talents. They are not to be horded. I heard someone say yesterday, "we were not put here to get SUVs, and live by the beach". We all know that.
- The talents we are given are to be used to bring the glory of the Kingdom.
- "Well done, my good and faithful servant. You have been faithful in handling this small amount, so now I will give you many more responsibilities. Let’s celebrate together!"...Isn't this what we long to hear?
- Also notice that Jesus frequently starts many of these stories with..."The Kingdom of heaven is like this..."
- The subjects of the stories we can easily understand with our minds. But it is our heart that Jesus is after.
Psalm
5. " You are my rock and my fortress. For the honor of your name, lead me out of this danger".
- "You, Lord are my rock...It is for Your glory that You protect me.
- I was created to worship You!
Proverbs
6. Good sense and sound judgement...more important than silver or gold.
See you next post...
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