~ Click on this link for today's readings ~
Exodus 28:1-43 ~ Matthew 25:31-26:13
Psalm 31:9-18 ~ Proverbs 8:12-13
Old Testament - Today in Exodus chapter 28 we read about the ephod for the priests! The ephod was a sleeveless outer vest that typically extended down to the hips and had a waistband to hold the front and back of the ephod to the priest's body. The ephod is the blue cloth in this image below, and the chestpiece you'll see has the four rows of gemstones:
The high priest wearing the ephod and chestpiece:
Exodus chapter 28 verse 1 stood out to me in today's readings: "Your brother, Aaron, and his sons, Nadab, Abihu, Eleazar, and Ithamar, will be set apart from the common people. They will be my priests and will minister to me." Here we see that the priests are being set apart as mediators between the people of Israel and God. And this role is ultimately fulfilled in Jesus Christ as our high priest. Jesus is now the mediator between God and us. Personally, I still do see so much value in pastors and clergy in our lives and churches today. We'll study more about these important roles in Paul's writings in the New Testament. However, I also personally believe that we can approach the throne of God through Jesus Christ as our mediator - and that we don't need another human mediator here on earth to approach God. Jesus is more than enough. Do you believe that Jesus is our high priest today? Do you believe that Jesus is the mediator between you and God?
More information on the Urim and Thummim we read about today is online at this link.
New Testament - Today in Matthew chapter 25 we read about the Final Judgment. Verses 34 is an amazing thing to imagine coming in the future: "`Come, you who are blessed by my Father, inherit the Kingdom prepared for you from the foundation of the world." What a beautiful thought - come and inherit the Kingdom prepared for YOU from the foundation of the world! Do you believe in this inheritance? Do you look forward to this inheritance?
Verses 37 through 40 are so powerful for each of us to consider while we are still here on earth: "Then these righteous ones will reply, `Lord, when did we ever see you hungry and feed you? Or thirsty and give you something to drink? Or a stranger and show you hospitality? Or naked and give you clothing? When did we ever see you sick or in prison, and visit you?' And the King will tell them, `I assure you, when you did it to one of the least of these my brothers and sisters, you were doing it to me!'" Whatever we do for one of the least among us, we do for Jesus. And - what we do not do for the least among us, we do not do for Jesus. Is God calling you in any way to give food, give water, show hospitality, give clothing, visit the sick, or visit those in prison for the least among us? Will you do this for Jesus?
In Matthew chapter 26 today we read the beautiful story of Mary, the sister of Martha and Lazarus (Mark 14 identifies Mary), who anoints Jesus, and as he tells us in verse 12: "She has poured this perfume on me to prepare my body for burial." An interesting insight from the NIV Study Bible's commentary - In Jesus' day it was a normal Jewish custom to anoint a dead body with aromatic oils in preparing for burial. Jesus seems to be anticipating suffering a "criminal's" death, for only in that circumstance was there no anointing of the dead body...
Bible.org's commentary on today's readings in Matthew chapter 25 titled "The Sheep and The Goats" is at this link.
Psalms - Have you ever felt like Psalm 31 verse 10... "I am dying from grief; my years are shortened by sadness. Misery has drained my strength; I am wasting away from within." Do you believe that God can rescue you from this? Will you pray to God to save you from this?
Proverbs - Proverbs 8 verse 13 is a powerful look at what Wisdom hates! "That is why I hate pride, arrogance, corruption, and perverted speech." When you look at your own life - do you hate pride, arrogance, corruption and perverted speech in your own behavior?
Worship God: Psalm 31 verse 10 reminded me of the MercyMe song "Jesus, Bring the Rain." Here's the band talking about the song:
Are you in a rainstorm? Click here for your shelter!
Please join us in memorizing and meditating on a verse of Scripture this week: "Pray without ceasing." 1 Thessalonians 5:17 KJV
Comments from You and Questions of the Day: Back to Psalm 31 verse 10 above. I recently read C.S. Lewis' book "A Grief Observed". Has anyone read this? It is a very short book. But, wow, it is a powerful short book! It is a memoir C.S. Lewis wrote after the death of his wife and it is so incredibly thoughtful and moving as C.S. Lewis works through his grief and his questions for and about God. Psalm 31:10 reminds me of this book... though not really... it seems like C.S. Lewis didn't quite get as down as the level of this verse. Anyhow - great book I think for any Christian who has lost a loved one. Let me know reviews in the Comments section below if you've read A Grief Observed, or know others who have? Has it been consoling for you during a time of loss? Do you have any other book recommendations for people who might be going through grief? Books that were helpful to you when you went through a time of grief? Also, what verses or insights stand out to you in today's readings? Please post up by clicking on the "Comments" link below!
God bless,
Mike
Just read Exo 28 and it made me know how detailed God is. He is a very precise God and he uses the talents he bestows on man for his glory.
You know if he gave such precision in those days, i bet he still does that now, we only need to be still and hear his still small voice give us the precise detail of how we should go about our everyday life.
Posted by: Nkechi | February 07, 2008 at 10:49 PM
God's ways of are indeed higher than ours as the heavens are higher than the earth. In verse 1 of Ex. 28, we have a lesson to learn from Moses's complete and careful surrender to God in carrying out His instructions. He obeyed God and sanctified Aaron and His sons for the priesthood without presenting his own sons to God in a self centred manner.
Thank God too for Jesus our high Priest, who has taken away all the ceremonial ways of reaching God in worship. We do not need to go through a human mediator to communicate with God. How marvelous!!
Posted by: | February 08, 2008 at 04:09 AM
Two questions re Mary's foot washing:
1. Matthew refers to her pouring oil on Jesus' head and makes no reference to his feet. I know somewhere there is a reference to a Mary wiping her tears from His feet. Is that a more detailed description of this story described in another Gospel? Or a different story?
2. Is this Mary Magdalene or another Mary?
Thanks to anyone who will answer.
Jeff
P.S. Thank you to John yesterday for referring me to Mt 13:11-17 for Jesus' answer on why he spoke in parables.
Posted by: Jeff | February 08, 2008 at 06:10 AM
Mike, I also have a similar question as Jeff's above. You mentioned in Matthew chapter 26, it was Mary, the sister of Martha and Lazarus, that anointed Jesus' head. But when I read Mark 14, I couldn't see that it actually identifies Mary as the one who anoints Jesus??
However, I am not surprised it's Mary, as she lives in Bethany.
Posted by: Kitty | February 08, 2008 at 07:00 AM
Jeff,
(Sorry, do not have your email address.)
Luke 7:36-50 tells of a sinful woman wiping her tears from Jesus' feet with her hair.
Matthew 26, Mark 24, and John 12 all recount the anointing of Jesus at Bethany. Matthew and Mark speak of pouring of oil on the head. John informs us it is Mary (Lazarus' sister) and speaks of pouring of perfume on Jesus' feet and wiping with hair.
The woman in Luke (happened early in Jesus' ministry) is not the woman in Matthew, Mark, and John. Is there a contradiction between John and Matthew/Mark? No, Mary poured the oil on Jesus' head and feet.
Remember the Gospels were written to different audiences with different themes:
Matthew - Jesus as King; Jewish audience.
Mark - Jesus as servant; roman audience.
Luke - Jesus as man, Greek audience.
John - Jesus as God, evangelical and for all audiences.
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Just saw Lee Strobel's "The Case for Christ" DVD yesterday. As a Ivy league law graduate and legal editor for Chicago Tribune, Lee was an atheist trying to resolve the question of Christ/Salvation with the evidence that exists.
In the DVD Lee says that the first question the police ask is: "How many eyes do we have that saw the event?" How many eyewitnesses? The more the better. When they give their accounts of the event, they will be different based on the individual's perspective. That is OK. In fact if they were all the same - the defense attorney would scream "collusion" - that is they got together and made up this story.
The important thing is are the central facts the same - is the core of the story the same. Here John mentions feet, Matthew/Mark mention head. That is what they chose to write down about the event from their perspective, and the inspiration of the Holy Spirit. All are factual, just different telling of the event.
The core is the same in all three: Jesus was anointed in Bethany.
Why is this important? God is a God of great details, and if He is following a pattern he laid down in Old Testament nothing is left out. So what is special about anointing?
The Passover lamb is to be selcted days prior to the Passover meal. The spotless lamb is chosen and often brought into the house to safeguard from blemishing. By pouring the perfume on Jesus' body, Mary was anointing Jesus. Being anointed in the Bible symbolizes being chosen by God. Symbolically Jesus was the perfect spotless lamb that was being chosen (anointed) for the final Passover sacrifice. The sacrifice that would atone for our sins.
{sigh; my answers are never short :( }
jmikeadams@msn.com
2008
Posted by: John | February 08, 2008 at 03:38 PM
Psalm 31:9-18
Verses 9-13
The psalmist is really hurting in these verses. He is in anguish. He is not just having a bad day, but some terrible years. He is in contempt, dreaded, forgotten, and slandered.
"Who is this guy and where did he come from? And what happened to the one who wrote verses 1 through 8? It almost seems like it is two different people, but it’s not. It is one person saying, “This is what I believe; this is the truth upon which I stand, but this is what I’m feeling.” He is in despair, and he is going through this despondency and talking about his feelings and his struggle. This is really the place, for the psalmist, where his theology intersects with real life." - Pastor Bryan Clark
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Verses 14-18
Despite all the woes the psalmist makes a declarion!
14 But I trust in you, O LORD;
I say, "You are my God."
15 My times are in your hands;
deliver me from my enemies
and from those who pursue me.
The Psalmist places his (full) trust in the Lord. He acknowledges God's sovereignty saying it is "in your hands" and I cannot deliever myself - you deliver me and you take care of the wicked.
this is the attitude we need to have for God when we go to Him for Salvation or in our daily Christian walk. This is a "heart for God". Despite everything - I trust in YOU Lord.
Posted by: John | February 08, 2008 at 03:57 PM
Proverbs 8:12-13
Inserting Jesus again for wisdom it seems to fit.
13 To fear the LORD is to hate evil;
I hate pride and arrogance,
evil behavior and perverse speech.
The use of "fear" here in the Hebrew denotes reverance and awe of God. If you revere the Lord, then you will hate evil, pride, arrogance, etc.
Since these are inaminate characteristics, it is OK to literally hate them, but form yesterday's post one can also say "I oppose" evil, pride, arrogance, etc. It would not be wrong.
Why does the proverbs say to hate these things? Because none of them are of God - they all come from "self". These characteristics are all of people who are not focused on God - but do what THEY want in life. It is about them, and this has never been about us. What is unfolding here on earth is about God - it is about His Glory.
Posted by: John | February 08, 2008 at 04:06 PM
Exodus 28
God provided the design and even picked out the materials and metals for the garments in GREAT detail. Neither God, God speaking through the prophets, nor Jesus EVER said priestly garments were bad.
They did get angy and speak against the priests because they were wearing the attire of God's priets with the wrong attitude. Priests were to be humble and submissive to God - they were God's servants. Somewhere along the line this idea was lost, forgotten, or ignored.
In the OT and NT the priests came to use the garments as symbols of authority and power to enrich themselves here on earth - they had an issue of pride. They wanted attention, lavish praise, money, authority and power. That is not what God wants for a man who represents God's Word here on earth.
For a full description of the Priestly garments and their symbolism - the link is here:
http://www.bible-history.com/tabernacle/TAB4The_Priestly_Garments.htm
Posted by: John | February 08, 2008 at 04:15 PM
Matthew 25:31-46
The Sheep and the Goats
No "again" or "at this time" or "then" in the opening here, it is plainly stated it is when Jesus comes back in his full glory - the full final end - the end of the age/world.
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If the virgins were Israel, and the servants were mankind in the intervening time before the return of Christ, then who are sheeps and goats?
These are the people alive at the time of Jesus' return. There will be believers (sheep- common symbolism) and non-believers (goats).
Notice the subtle difference in the responses of the two groups:
The believers are astonished, because they never saw the Lord. they just did the works set out for them by God before time began as led by the Holy Spirit.
The non-believers said:
"They also will answer, 'Lord, when did we see you hungry or thirsty or a stranger or needing clothes or sick or in prison, and did not help you?'NIV
Hey if we had known it was you, we would have helped you. Why didn't you identify yourself? We didn't know. No, they didn't. Any kind act they did was of self (probably because it made them feel good). They never accepted Christ, thus never had the Holy Spirit.
IMPORTANT: This is not about WORKS getting anybody into the heaven. These people are separated from each other based on their acceptance or rejection of Christ. The sheep exhibit the works supporting their faith in Christ. The goats by rejecting Christ - are dependant on their own works, and Christ says these "WORKS" had NOTHING to do with me. Good deeds that are not the unconscious, automatic response of a heart indwelt by Jesus Christ are not truly "good" deeds.
Posted by: John | February 08, 2008 at 04:38 PM
Do you believe that Jesus is our high priest today? Do you believe that Jesus is the mediator between you and God?
I do believe that Jesus is our high priest and that we no do not have a need for priests. Jesus is the mediator between God and us. We still need ministers and pastors to help us understand scripture and how to use the mediator, but I believe that we can, as individuals, go directly to Jesus and have him communicate our prayers to God.
What a beautiful thought - come and inherit the Kingdom prepared for YOU from the foundation of the world! Do you believe in this inheritance? Do you look forward to this inheritance?
ABSOLUTELY! I truly believe Jesus when he told us that He is going to prepare a place for us. He told us that if it wasn’t so He wouldn’t have told us. I think the place that God has prepared for us is so unique and perfect and just for us that we can’t begin to fathom what it will be like. I so look forward to that inheritance! I not only look forward to it, I long for it.
Psalms - Have you ever felt like Psalm 31 verse 10... "I am dying from grief; my years are shortened by sadness. Misery has drained my strength; I am wasting away from within." Do you believe that God can rescue you from this?
Oh yes…I have certainly felt like Psalm 31:10. When I read this verse I immediately recalled that moment in my life and I could feel it all over again. Do I believe that God can rescue from this? I’m living proof that God can and has. He rescued me from this low-down, grief filled, empty and feeling like my whole being was dying from the inside out. He saved me! He saved me! Praise to you oh Lord! I am at peace and so can anyone feeling like Psalm 31:10. Put your total faith and trust in Jesus, ask Him to help you, talk to Him all day without ceasing and He will rescue from those feelings.
Yours in Christ
Skip
Posted by: Skip | February 08, 2008 at 05:37 PM
When my husband passed away I was given a wonderful little book, "A Different Season" by Joseph Robert Pfeiffer, LCSW.
It's a daily devotional that walks with you through your grief. I did not follow in order, but flipped through looking for a devotional that applied to where I was at on any given day.
I hope it's okay to tell everyone, it's available online at: http://www.landpub.com/
It was a tremendous blessing to me. I hope it will be to others too.
Posted by: Diana | February 08, 2008 at 08:23 PM