The Psalmist reminds us of the sovereignty of God and the power of His plans. We may feel overwhelmed and troubled by the politics and plans of nations, including our own government. Yet, we can call on the One who is able to “frustrate” the schemes of kings. This is not to say that we should not be involved in making plans or attempting to influence our leaders, but it reminds us not to despair, for God is on His throne and this world is not our home. It reminds us to fear God and not men.
God told Moses that He had given Bezalel and Oholiab special abilities and skills to be used in the making of the Tabernacle. Some today would categorize their work as secular rather than sacred. Yet, whenever God calls and empowers a work, it is always holy work. And whenever we dedicate our abilities and work back to God, our work is sacred too. It’s Monday. Go to work for God!
This is Jesus’ prayer in the Garden of Gethsemene the night before His trial and crucifixion. It’s one thing to follow God’s will into an unknown future, but quite another to obey with eyes wide open to suffering. Yet, this is what Jesus did. Oh, the love and obedience we see here! For the Lord drank that cup of suffering, swallowing all its bitter dregs of sin, separation and death. So that, we who believe on Him might receive His righteousness, sonship and eternal life.
God gave specific instructions for the design and making of Aaron’s chestpiece (breastplate) to be worn when he performed his High Priestly duties. God assigned specific gems to each tribe and had the tribal name inscribed on each. He wanted Aaron to wear this chestpiece over “his heart” when he entered the Holy of Holies to remind him that he represented all the tribes before God. God was very specific and particular in the design for Aaron’s priestly garments, as He was in regards to all the Tabernacle’s elements. These details tell us something about the beauty and order of our God, but even more, they point to the Tabernacle’s fulfillment in Christ.
This is from the Parable of the Talents. Matthew’s gospel has this parable arranged in alignment with Jesus’ discussion of end times in chapter 24 and nested between His Parable of the Ten Virgins and His discussion of the judgment of the sheep and goats. Its placement and the parable itself point to the idea that Jesus will return and expect an accounting of our stewardship. God has entrusted certain gifts and abilities to each of us that are to be invested and used. He cares about our work. He wants us to be busy using what He has entrusted to us. How we manage our 3 Ts (Time, Talent, and Treasure) matter to God.
When we receive God’s comfort, He not only wipes away our tears, He strengthens our weak knees and sagging spirits, so that our “mourning is turned into dancing.” This comfort flows to us in such abundance as to produce an overflow, a surplus that we can share with others. Imagine the drastic transformation of the disciples on Easter morn and you get a sense of this comfort that moved them from discouragement to delight.
Has the gospel yet been preached in the “whole world?” Not yet. But surely, the time is coming soon. According to Wycliffe, there are 6,900 languages spoken in the world today, as the world’s population approaches seven billion. Of those, 180 million people (who speak about 1900 different languages) do not have a Bible in their heart language, nor anyone that is currently working on one. All the major languages have been translated. The ones remaining are small population groups. Of course, Bible translation is only part of the equation. Someone still needs to preach the gospel so that they can hear and understand.
This was the response of the Israelites when God spoke the ten commandments to them from the mountain amidst thunder, lightning, smoke and the sound of a ram’s horn. They were terrified and requested that Moses be their mediator. So, Moses went up on the mountain and brought down the Word of God written on stone tablets. When Jesus came, He became our Mediator, so we can boldly approach God. He has removed the separation of the law and written God’s Word not on stone tablets, but on our hearts.
As long as Moses held his arms up, the Israelite army was winning, but when he tired and began to lower his arms, the battle went against them. This is the spiritual influence that God invests in a key leader, yet they remain human, subject to fatigue and discouragement like everyone else. Many churches today replace their tired leaders with fresh ones, thinking that will turn the battle their way. It usually doesn’t. The new leaders eventually wear out too. Aaron and Hur thought of a better solution. Why not help hold up their leader Moses’ arms? Why not give him some help without trying to steal his leadership? Humbly moving to help their leader turned the tide. There are at least a couple of leadership lessons here: 1) Leaders need to be humble enough to ask/allow others to help hold up their leadership arms. 2) Followers need to support their leaders through times of difficulty because when their leader succeeds, so do they.
The day, the month and the year are all times determined by man’s observations of the heavenly bodies. But the Sabbath is a gift from God given by revelation. The 7-day week is not determined by the sun and moon, but by God’s Word. In it He reminds us that He created the universe in six days and rested on the seventh. He wants us to rest one day out of seven to remind us of His creation and care, showing our ultimate dependence on Him. The Sabbath not only points to God’s past creation, and His care for His people in the wilderness; it also points to Christ’s fulfillment. For Jesus is the Lord of the Sabbath. He was crucified on the sixth day, rested on the seventh and rose again on the first day of the new week. Now those who place their faith in Christ may enter His Sabbath rest. He has finished the work of salvation and there is nothing left for us to do, except to rest by faith in it.