Ex 29

This chapter deals with the consecrating Aaron and his sons for the royal priesthood. Animal sacrifice of a young bull and 2 rams are made as well as unleaven bread. They are to be dressed with the garments made in 28 and the bull is to be the sin offering. The blood of the rams is to be put on the altar on all sides and the ram is to be a burnt offering to the Lord. The blood of the second ram is to be used on parts of the body of Aaron and his sons as a consecration and ordination. The unleaven bread is to be used for the wave offering along with the breast meat of the ram. Portions of the sacrifice is to given to Aaron and his sons from the Israelites henceforth as a permanent share of the sacrifice and that will constitute the fellowship (or peace) offering. The balance of the chapter talks of the sacred garments  and how they will do their offerings annually. After all is said and done, the Tent of Meeting and the altar will be consecrated as well as Aaron and his sons and then the Lord will dwell among the Israelites and be their God. Then they will know who is the Lord and who brought them out of Egypt  so that He can dwell among them.

Pretty interesting chapter since there wasn't any rabbinical school that they could have graduated from but rather from the Professor himself. Outwardly the Lord at least made it apparent that this was necessary to be set apart for His work but the heart of man still was an issue.

Enjoyable weekend even though I left work early since I felt run down. Hopefully, there is a little more bounce to my step this week....

Praise for today: The Lord is close to the brokenhearted and saves those who are crushed in spirit. Ps 34:18

Ex 28

Now the Lord turns his attention to those who will attend to Him in the tabernacle - Aaron and his sons. He will be adorned with the proper garb to give him dignity and honor. The garments that need to be made will be the ephod, a breastpiece, robe, woven tunic, turban  and sash. The materials to be used will be gold, and blue, purple and scarlet yarn as well as fine linen.The ephod is the most interesting since the 12 tribes of Israel will be engraved on stones and put in there as a memorial before the Lord. The breastplate too will have the names engraved upon it as well with 12 stones. Aaron is also to wear gold bells when he ministers so that when he enters the Holy Place, God will not slay him. A gold plate with the engravement "HOLY TO THE LORD"will be worn on a turban on his forehead since he will carry the sins and guilt of the nation. When it is all done, Moses is to anoint and ordain Aaron and his sons so they can be consecrated and serve the Lord as priests.

This is the first of two chapters that will define Aaron and his sons as the priests of the Almighty. Do we take our priesthood seriously as we are told in 1 Peter? Do we make our hearts and minds special before the Almighty as we should? I know that it is tough even to clear our minds before Him when we pray. Perhaps if we have less distractions....

Praiseful that it is the weekend. Looking forward to going home! Was able to share my faith and the Bible with a few people over a business dinner. Glad for the opportunity!

Praise for today: With my mouth I will greatly extol the Lord; in the great throng I will praise Him. Ps 109:30

Ex 27

This chapter deals with an altar for burnt offerings, a courtyard and how the oil for the lampstand is to be created. The altar is to be made of bronze and of acacia wood and will be 4.5' and 7.7' square. The altar will have rings to be allowed to be transported by poles. The courtyard is very elaborate and have pretty big dimensions - south side will be 150' long, the north side 150', and 150' wide. The courtyard will be adorned with fine linen, purple and scarlet yarn and all of the ornaments are to be made from bronze. All the other articles that will be used for service of the tabernacle will be made of bronze. The oil for the lampstand will be brought by the Israelites of clear oil of pressed olives. Aaron and his sons will be in charge of keeping the lamps burning.

This is entirely new ground for a nomadic group like the Israelites. They were not cohesive and for them to be reined in like this would be a task in and of itself. God has taken them to the next step and forced them to be drawn to him in order to thrive and not just survive. Clearly these materials are not picked up at the Home Depot or at Michaels but have to be create within their ranks. What is interesting is the amount of acacia wood that will necessary to get the job done as well and the tools need to get this project going. God will be honored when this is completed.

Praise for today: The heavens declare the glory of God; the skies proclaim the work of his hands. Ps. 19:1.

Ex 26

The next step in the tasks set before Moses is the construction of the tabernacle - made of 10 curtains of finely twisted linen, purple and scarlet yarn, with angels worked into them made by skilled craftsmen. Each curtain was to be about 42' long and 6' wide. There will be 11 curtains of goat hair over the tabernacle. The frames would be made of acacia wood - 15' long and 2.25' wide. The south side will have 20 frames with 40 silver bases. The west end will have 6 frames and the details for the crossbars are also laid out. This tabernacle will have distinctive sections separated by curtains where they are degrees of holiness that ultimately will hold the ark of the Testimony which is the Most Holy Place.

It is tough to visualize this albeit construct this even if you were an architect.Still a shepherd was place with this awesome task and the tabernacle would ultimately be replaced by the temple that Solomon would build. What made it more interesting is that during the 40 days that Moses would spend on the mountaintop, he recorded all of this by himself. Still he is truly a remarkable man.

Things are muddling along and already I am ready for the weekend. Today is the day that should never be but still happens once every 4 years and on Presidential elections. I feel that I truly get my money's worth out of my apartment for this month's rent as opposed to the last 4 years, ha!

Prayers still continue for my peeps.

Praise for today: You have made known to me the path of life; you will fill me with joy in your presence, with eternal pleasures at your right hand. Ps 16: 11

Ex 25: 23-40

There are two items mentioned in this section - the first is the table and the second is the lampstand. The table is about 3' long, 1 1/2 ' wide and 2 1/4' tall. It was to be overlayed with pure gold and a gold moulding around it. It was to have a rim around 6" wide and with a gold molding. This too was to have 4 gold rings which would hold the poles that would carry it. There would be gold plates that would be used on it as well as pitchers and bowls for offerings. There would be bread on this as well which would indicate his Presence. Even then the foreshadow of Christ was there as He was the "bread of life". The lampstand was to be made of pure gold and all of the ornamentation was to be one piece. This design was to be unique - 6 branches with 3 cups on each branch. On the lampstand itself, there would be 4 cups shaped like almond flowers. Still in this unique design, the buds and branches shall be one piece with the lampstand, hammered out of pure gold. There are 7 lamps to be made and set upon it so that it would light the tabernacle. All in all around 75 pounds of gold was to be used for this. At $1750 per ounce by today's standard, this would a very, very expensive piece of furniture.

God truly had a plan and was showed that He was a God of detail but also involvement. The making of the table and the lampstand was to show that the people would value the relationship since they were fronting the goods. God could have made this himself, but where would the value and relationship be?

Praiseful that Irene made it home from her drive back from FL early this morning. Prayers continue for my peeps, and also for Cindy who lost her grandma yesterday.

Praise for today: My mouth will tell of your righteousness, of your salvation all day long, though I know not its measure. Ps 71:15

Ex 25: 1-22

Now the Lord is commanding Moses to receive an offering for the enablement of the Tabernacle. This is not forced giving but rather from "each man whose heart prompts him to give". The Lord is specific about what is to be given and its use as an ephod/breastplate and the tabernacle. The Tabernacle would be where the Lord would dwell as He goes with them to the Promised land. The next item that will be specified for the tabernacle would be the Ark. This is a chest measuring around 3.75' by 2.25' by 2.25' and made of acadia wood. The details for ring poles and the poles are laid out as well as an "atonement" cover of pure gold and having 2 angels made of gold at the ends of the cover. The cover will be on top of the arc. The ark will include the Testimony (10 Commandments stone tablets).

When I hear of the ark, my mind wanders to the movie, Indiana Jones and the Raiders of the Lost Ark. That was the first of its trilogy and perhaps the best. Still, the importance of the ark was lost in translation as the power of the Lord rests not in the created but the Creator. Yet it would be cool to see the actual tablets carved from the finger of God.

All in all, a decent weekend. Got all of my household chores done as well as 90% of the taxes. Glad to get a refund overall. Decent dentist report and some good shopping also highlighted Saturday although dinner was real make-shift. Church was good and was able to pray and anoint an old friend awaiting news from further medical tests. Got home relatively quickly and down to Delly. Praiseful that the boys got home from their destination. Long week in store for me workwise....

Prayers for Irene as she heads home today, the weather for her first half of the trip is forecasted for rain. Hope she takes my offer to stop the night if she tires out. Prayers also this week for Donna and Wilfred as she awaits her news.

Praise for today: For you make me glad by your deeds, O Lord; I sing for joy at the works of your hands. Ps 92:4

Ex 24

Wow!What a chapter, the Lord had the 70 elders and the chosen few and brought them up to the place where He will give to Moses the 10 Commandments in stone tablets to last a lifetime. Moses gave the Lord's intentions to the people and they in turn were respondent in one voice that they would obey and wait for Moses's return. The 12 tribes would be accounted for and after reading to them the Book of the Covenant - the prior chapters included, they also responded in one voice that they would obey and wait. v 10 was surreal with the pavement changing representing the nearness of God. God allowed himself to be seen (probably Jesus) and they lived - ate and drank. Then Moses went up to the mountain to receive the 10 Commandments, leaving Aaron and Hur to take charge of disputes. The cloud covered the mountain (Sinai) and stayed there for 6 days and on the 7th day, Moses entered the cloud and stayed there for 40 days and nights. To the Israelites, the glory of the Lord looked like a consuming fire on the top of the mountain. An extremely visual and moving chapter.

Praiseful that David got to his destination ok. Spoke to Irene last night and did some catch-up as well. Weekend's up and heading home.

Praise for today: The Lord will keep you from all harm - he will watch over your life; the Lord will watch over your coming and going both now and forevermore. Ps 121: 7-8