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February
16
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Reading
1 - Exodus 27
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here to Listen
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v.
20,21 - The light - a statute for ever - Jesus - the oil in the lamp
that was to burn for ever - maintained by the Levitical Priesthood under
the law. This oil was to be supplied by the people. It was to be their best
- just the same as we should give. Consider these references in this connection:
Judg.9:9, Ps.23:5, Zech.4:11-14, Rev.11:4. Matt.4:16, Luke 12:25 2Cor.4:6.
Peter Cresswell |
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v.2,4
- I am not a numbers person at all - quite a sceptic. The number four is
quite predominant here and those who put great store by numbers say that
this represents God's creative work - four seasons, four points of the compass
etc. Maybe then the altar was there to remind them of the creative power
of God? [I'm trying!]
Peter Cresswell
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| Chapter
27 - The Song of Solomon, in describing the woman, makes a number of
links to the language of the tabernacle
Song
of Solomon
1:10
chain(s) of gold Exodus 28:24, 39:17
1:11
Borders of gold Exodus 37:12
1:13
Myrrh Exodus 30:23
1:14
Camphire 3724 'ransom' Exodus 21:30
3:6
Frankincense Exodus 30:34
4:1
[Flock of] goats hair Exodus 26:7 [for a covering in Exodus Hair is a
covering]
4:14
Calamus Exodus 30:23
4:14
Cinnamon Exodus 30:23
5:14
Gold rings Exodus 39:16
5:14
Beryl Exodus 28:20
7:1
Cunning workman Exodus 35:35
So the
tabernacle, in some way, speaks of the bride of Christ.
Peter Forbes
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The
court of the tabernacle ensured that there was only one way that one could
approach unto the tabernacle. There was only a 'gate' (:16)
at one point. Thus we see that there is only one way that God can be approached.
Peter Forbes |
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Exodus
27:1-8 - Describes the Brazen altar standing in the forecourt of the
Tabernacle. We see in this altar, Jesus in sacrificial manifestation -
Hebrews 13:10 - and all who touched this altar were deemed holy -
Exodus
29:37. We know that all who make contact with Jesus through Baptism
are likewise constituted Holy -
Romans 6:1-3.
Exodus
27:9-10 - Describes the Wall of White Linen around about the Tabernacle.
This white wall is a symbol of righteousness or justification (s.w. in
the Greek). The wall would remind the Israelites that they could only
worship God acceptably through the righteousness which comes of faith.
The linen wall was hung on pillars and sockets of brass (speaking of flesh
purified by trial of fire) and was topped by silver (rep. our redemption
in Christ).
Exodus
27:16 - Describes a curtain of Blue (God Manifestation), Scarlet (the
colour of flesh when sacrificed), and Purple (the harmonising colour,
a blending of scarlet and blue - rep. God manifest in Flesh, through the
colour of Royalty). This entrance curtain speaks of Jesus, who manifested
the qualities depicted in all these colours - John
10:9.
Cliff
York
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Reading
2 - Psalms 81 & 82
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here to Listen
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81
v.10 - There is always an action required before God will fill us with
his grace. It is a simple thing, but it requires humility on a scale that
human nature does not enjoy, but here it is quite plain - in the way of
a small child or baby being fed (and that's a fair degree of humility isn't
it?) we are to open our mouths, so that God might fill them. There is a
lot of encouragement to do this, and yet so often we keep our mouths and
our minds tight shut to God. Let us exhort ourselves from today's reading
to keep that avenue open for Him. Jer.31:31-33,
Ps.37:3, John 7:37, John 16:23, Eph.3:19,20, Rev.21:6, 22:17
Peter Cresswell
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82:7
- The inference is that those who follows God will not 'die like men'. Instead
their name is preserved in God's book of life as they await the return of
the Lord from heaven.
Peter Cresswell
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| 81:12
the way that God is willing to give sinners up to their evil desires is
a chilling thought - may we order our lives so that we are never in this
situation.
82:2-4
The things mentioned here are all spoken about in the law of Moses. So
we see that God is consistent in the way that He deals with His people.
We have no excuse, therefore, for straying from the teaching of Scripture.
Peter Forbes
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81:13-14
In reading of God's sorrow over Israel's failure to serve Him so that
He could deliver them we see a pattern of how we should respond to errant
brethren. Rather than simply seeking to cut them off we should be seeking
actively for repentance so that they can be restored.
82:6
Ye are Gods John
10:34. Jesus use of this verse shows that the Psalmist is speaking
of Israel's leaders. It seems that because of their exalted status they
became proud and needed to be reminded of their mortality. A severe warning
against pride.
Peter Forbes
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Psalm
81 - Begins "A Psalm of Asaph" - This Psalm
appears to have been arranged for the feast of the new moon -
v3. As such, Israel was constantly reminded at least every month -
Numbers 28:11-15 - of the new beginning that God had given them when
He redeemed them out of Egypt. What God had done on Israel's behalf,
was kept in remembrance by these public solemnities. To make that
deliverance appear more gracious, more glorious, it is good to observe
all that makes the trouble we are delivered from appear more grievous.
We ought never to forget the base and ruinous drudgery to which Sin has
brought us. But when, in distress of conscience, we are led to cry for
deliverance, the Lord answers our prayers, and sets us at liberty. Convictions
of sin, and trials by affliction, prove His regard to His people. If the
Jews, on their solemn feast-days, were to call to mind their redemption
out of Egypt, much more ought we ought always to call to mind a more
glorious redemption, wrought for us by our Lord Jesus Christ, from far
worse bondage than Pharaoh's Egypt.
Cliff
York
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Reading
3 - Mark 12
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here to Listen
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v.38-40
- We live in a world filled with these people - our modern commercial 'every
man for himself' world has emphasised this baser aspect of human beings
- the desire to be best, to be first, to be revered, to be on top - blind
us to the effect that it has on others. This thinking must be eradicated
from those who desire the kingdom, taking on instead the humility of a servant,
as Jesus did. Matt.23:1-7,
Mark 6:5, Luke 14:7-11, 3John v.9.
Peter Cresswell
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v.36
Having silenced his opponents Jesus now moves on to force them to confront
the reality of his person. They are confounded by the question about David's
son because they had a view of Messiah which was at variance with Scripture.
If they were to change their view they would have understood Jesus' point.
v.36
Quoting Psalm
110:1 [other
uses] The LORD said to my lord Matthew
22:44 Luke 20:42 Acts 2:34
Peter Forbes
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:10-11
In directing the leaders to consider 'the stone which the builders rejected'
Jesus is asking them if they understood Psalm 118 because he is quoting
verse 22 of the Psalm. Now the people had been singing the words of this
Psalm as Jesus entered the city [11:9,10
quoting Psalm 118:25,26] and the leaders had tried to get Jesus to prevent
them doing this [Luke
19:38-39]. So Jesus is again bringing the minds of he leaders back to
think about particular Scripture which they did not wish to see applied
to Jesus.
Peter Forbes
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:13-14
The Pharisees, in the way in which they speak to Jesus, seem to have a high
regard for Jesus. However it is clear that their intentions were to trap
Jesus in his own words. Their flattering words were, therefore, just that.
A sham to try to make Jesus fall into their trap. We need to be so careful
in our own speech that the way we speak to individuals is not designed to
elevate ourselves and denigrate the person we are speaking with.
Peter Forbes
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Mark
12:12 - "for they knew that He had spoken the parable against
them: and they left Him and went their way" - Oh, how
perceptive these fools were! Jesus had been speaking parables for months,
and only now they understand that they are the butt of a lot of His teachings!!
So they go their way. Theirs is the way of death. Do not follow
them!
"Against
them" - This was a straight shot, this parable of the Rejected Stone -
Mark
12:10 - and the longer parable just prior, of the Wicked
Husbandmen. There was no mistaking the application, for He had specifically
explained the application - Matthew
21:43-45. The Sanhedrin were so angry that they actually started or
sought to seize Him, but fear of the populace, now more enthusiastic for
Jesus than ever, held them back. They went off in disgust seeking to join
with the hated Herodians once more, to achieve their murderous design
- Mark
12:13. How do we react when we feel that we are not getting our own
way? Do we leave it to God to work it out? Or do we set out to gather
more "political" clout to achieve our ends?
Cliff
York
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