We continue our reading about God's plan for worship. We learn that worship is holy and set apart. Here, formulas for sacred anointing oil and for most holy incense are given along with; instructions to not make other oils or incense with the given formulas; warnings that if other oils or incense is made with the formula, then the maker "must be cut off from his people." God is serious about his worship. Consider the synagogue ruin in Korazin:
At the top of the middle back column, there is a medusa, a woman's head with snakes for hair. Nowhere in God's instruction is a medusa mentioned. When things get added, the truth becomes blurred and the Spirit's work is less clear.
"Woe to you Korazin, Woe to you, Bethsaida! If the miracles that were performed in you had been performed in Tyre and Sidon, they would have repented long ago in sackcloth and ashes." Matthew 11:21-NIV
We people tend to add things to what God has said, remember Eve, when she desribed God's command about the tree of knowledge of good and evil when she added, "and you must not touch it or you will die."
During the census, each one must pay the Lord a ransom for his life at the time he is counted, a half shekel. One can consider that this ransom points to Christ, the same ransom for all. Aren't you thankful that God did the planning and working for our ransom?
"just as the Son of Man did not come to be served, but to serve, and give his life as a ransom for many."
Matthew 20:28-NIV
The craftsmen were equipped for their work.
"May the God of peace, who through the blood of the eternal covenant brought back from the dead our Lord Jesus, that great Shepherd of the sheep, equip you with everything good for doing his will, and may he work in us what is pleasing to him, through Jesus Christ, to whom be glory for ever and ever, Amen" Hebrews 13:20-21-NIV
Aaron and the Isralites make a golden calf. One can reflect on Aaron's explaination to Moses: "So I told them,
'Whoever has any gold jewelry, take it off.' Then they gave me the gold, and I threw it into the fire, and out came this calf." Ok, Aaron....We believe you, you just threw the gold into the fire and that gold calf came out without any further effort.
God really became angry and departed from the Israelites on their journey to the promised land, for the Israelites were "a stiff necked people and I (God) might destroy you (them) on the way."
Remember the first commandment.
God did not totally abandon the Israelites. He sent his angel on before them. God did not believe Aaron's story for the people were struck with a plague because of what they did and the calf Aaron made.
"But those who trust in idols, who say to images, 'You are our Gods,' will be turned back in utter shame."
Isaiah 42:17-NIV
"Furthermore, since they did not think it worhwhile to retain the knowledge of God, he gave them over to a depraved mind, to do what ought not to be done."
Romans 1:28-NIV
Thoughts:
What have you "added" to God's plan for your salvation that you "must" do? Remember add anything...lose everthing.
In appreciation and response, being led by the Spirit, what kind of loving work are you doing?
What things do you set apart for God?
Pray for the Spirit's guidance to avoid the medusa and the golden calfs and the ideas like Eve's about adding "stuff" to a simple, perfect, beautiful, whole, complete, effective plan for salvation.
In Christ,
David P
No comments:
Post a Comment