Exodus 29.30
This is, I have to honest, one of the chapters that I must have read over half asleep or totally inattentive because I just didn’t feel that there was anything practical for me in it, just a long list of seemingly random rules and procedures to adhere to. But in the 3rd century BC the culture was very familiar with sacrifices. It’s what priests did. Most communities had god’s and priests for that matter. Their priest may have had a specialty like making sure the crops were good or lightning didn’t strike or whatever but the Israelites worship was about God’s presence among them. Here are the last words of this chapter: “I will live among the people of Israel and be their God, 46 and they will know that I am the LORD their God. I am the one who brought them out of Egypt so that I could live among them.”
This is, I have to honest, one of the chapters that I must have read over half asleep or totally inattentive because I just didn’t feel that there was anything practical for me in it, just a long list of seemingly random rules and procedures to adhere to. But in the 3rd century BC the culture was very familiar with sacrifices. It’s what priests did. Most communities had god’s and priests for that matter. Their priest may have had a specialty like making sure the crops were good or lightning didn’t strike or whatever but the Israelites worship was about God’s presence among them. Here are the last words of this chapter: “I will live among the people of Israel and be their God, 46 and they will know that I am the LORD their God. I am the one who brought them out of Egypt so that I could live among them.”
Chapter 30
Here’s an interesting verse, again the last verse : “Never make this incense for yourselves. It is reserved for the LORD, and you must treat it as holy. 38 Those who make it for their own enjoyment will be cut off from the community."
Is it possible that we create worship for our own enjoyment? Once in a while I hear people say “ I don’t like that song” What they may mean is that personally I don’t prefer that song. But really the song isn’t for you, It’s for God. The last verse in Chapter 30 reminds me of that.
Psalm 40
About 300 years separate the Exodus narrative from the writing of the psalms. In this Psalm the writer in trying to make sense of the religious heritage of Moses. And comes to a conclusion in verse 6: “You take no delight in sacrifices or offerings. Now that you have made me listen, I finally understand – you don't require burnt offerings or sin offerings.” Does this reveal an evolution of faith and understanding of what God really desires from us as His children?
Ecclesiastes 9
Solomon was a philosopher. He observed life objectively and it left him with questions. That’s the nature of Philosophy; it often leaves you with more questions than answers. But I love to hear what they have to say. This verse caught my attention for some reason: “the quiet words of a wise person are better than the shouts of a foolish king.”
Acts 19
I think it’s interesting that Paul gave up trying to teach spiritual truth in the synagogue at Ephesus and moved his teaching to a secular venue. His ministry there became so successful that it disrupted the economy in the town by putting idol builders out of business. What business could we put out of business in this town because of changed lives?
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