SOAP 02/14/2015; Exodus 30:36-37

Today's reading: Exodus 30

S) "³⁶ You shall beat some of it very fine, and put part of it before the testimony in the tent of meeting where I will meet with you; it shall be most holy to you. ³⁷ The incense which you shall make, you shall not make in the same proportions for yourselves; it shall be holy to you for the Lord."

Exodus 30:36-37 (NASB)

O) This is another instruction that is very specific to a people, under the Old Covenant, so it can't be taken out of that context. Here we find a second formula which God specified for the priests. The first was a holy anointing oil, that was only to be used for specifically anointing holy things and people (see vv.22-33). This one is an incense for the priests to make and keep within the temple as a specific fragrance. In both instances, the LORD is very strict about not reproducing these for any other purpose or application. But, I chose to focus on this verse specifically, because God said that it was for their meeting place. It's as if God was trying to be exclusive with His priesthood (and by extension, with His people). He wanted this to be special. It was like a lover, giving his beloved a special gift, a token, only to be shared between them. God did not want the exclusivity of this incense to be compromised. He did not want its value to be diminished, or its significance to be diluted. There would be a very specific association, that whoever smelled this fragrance would be reminded of meeting with the LORD.

A) This is a level of intimacy that is very much like marriage. There are things I share with my wife that are very exclusive. Obviously, there are physical intimacies, but there are also words, experiences, inside jokes, and the like, all determined to be exclusively ours. This devotion strengthens our marriage in subtle, but effective ways. The same must be true of the LORD. In my marriage, this concept grew naturally out of my love for my wife, and the intimacy we have grown with each other over time. Along the way, I made small decisions to make things exclusive to us. The same should be true of God. I cannot sit here today, as I type this entry, and make up my mind to fabricate all of these terms that I want to make holy to God. But, I need to think of my relationship with my Father in heaven differently. He is not mine alone, exactly, but I am His alone. As such, I should be thinking about Him often enough throughout my day, that small things may come to mind and I would decide then and there to make something holy to Him. Whether that is an adjective that I decide I will only use when describing Him, or specific phrases I want to keep for prayer times, or habits I want to make His to honor Him. This cannot become a ritualistic, hollow gesture. If it is truly exclusive, and it is sincerely from a place of my desire to be more intimate with my God, then it will be protected from the pitfalls of human religion. God is special, and I want to make things especially for Him.

P) Father, the vastness of Your love seems to continue to grow. The more I learn to love You, and the more I learn of the depths of Your love, the more it seems I simply don't know. It's like I learn a little more only to realize I know even less than I thought I did. I don't deserve any of it, which only makes Your love even sweeter to me. Like the intimate lover You are, I want to make things especially Yours. I want to find phrases, or habits, or words, that I can dedicate to being Yours alone, Father God. Help me to be more aware of this devotion, and to keep in mind this idea, throughout each of my days, Lord. I am only Yours, and I want there to be things that are only Yours in my life. Thank You, God, for blessing my marriage in such a way that it reminds me of Your love. Thank You for all of the grace You have given me in my wife. I confess that pure devotion is hard, and I repent of my unfaithfulness. Your mercy and grace compels me to obedience. Your love draws me to love You more. Thank You God. In Jesus' name I pray. Amen.

SOAP 02/13/2015; Exodus 29:46

Today's reading: Exodus 29

S) "⁴⁶ They shall know that I am the Lord their God who brought them out of the land of Egypt, that I might dwell among them; I am the Lord their God."

Exodus 29:46 (NASB)

O) At first, this seemed like a peculiar verse tacked onto the end of a chapter that commands gory animal sacrifice with dozens of detailed instructions. In the end of the chapter, though, God is drawing our attention back to His will. He does not want us to get distracted by these sacrifices and lose perspective. God was requiring a lot of work from His priests, but there was purpose behind it all. He did not deliver Israel from Egypt, because He wanted them to sacrifice animals to Himself. He could have provided a way for them to do that from their captivity. No, God wanted His people freed. He wanted to fulfill the promises He made to Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob. All of that, was for one direct purpose: to be reconciled to His people, that He might dwell among them. This was the ultimate purpose for all of these sacrifices. The people had to atone for their sins, in order to have a right relationship with God, without incurring His holy wrath.

A) Thank the LORD for the sacrifice of Jesus Christ, who took all of His righteous judgment upon Himself, to be the ultimate, final, complete sacrifice, that God may dwell among us now! Reading through this chapter (and many others like it) can be tough from a 21st century perspective. But, when I got to the end of the chapter, I was reminded of the purpose behind all of that bloodshed - it was to reconcile sinful people to their God. For myself, I read this verse and I praise Him, for providing a means by which I am saved. He sacrificed His own Son, that the LORD my God might dwell with me. Hallelujah, indeed! He saved me, brought me up from my own sinful captivity, for the simple purpose that He might have a relationship with me, to be the LORD my God. Everything else stems from that simple truth about His will, His love, His grace. Everything else is secondary to that expression of His sovereignty.

P) Father, I am amazed by the power of this truth. You didn't save me to use me. You didn't redeem me to exploit me. You don't even need me, in the slightest. You want me. You desire to be with me. Your will is that we can be united, through the Holy Spirit within me, because of the work that Jesus Christ alone could do. I am humbled by Your grace. Let me dwell on the magnitude of this truth, Father God. You desire to be my Father in heaven, and for me to be Your son. I cannot wonder about Your will for my life, without first, and simply, acknowledging this as Your will for my life: that You would dwell with me. I want to reflect, even just a fraction of that desire, back to You, my Lord. In Jesus' name I pray. Amen.

SOAP 02/12/2015; Exodus 27:20

Today's reading: Exodus 27

S) "²⁰ You shall charge the sons of Israel, that they bring you clear oil of beaten olives for the light, to make a lamp burn continually."

Exodus 27:20 (NASB)

O) This literal instruction shouldn't be taken out of context, because the ordinances of the temple are not exactly relevant after Jesus came to fulfill The Law. However, there are a couple of principles that this command brings to light. First, this charge to the sons of Israel is somewhat vague. It is exact, in that the oil must be clear and of beaten olives, and that it is to be used for light, but it is not clear how much is needed, how often it should be brought, etc. What is clear, however, is that this is a separate offering than the required sacrifices and tithes. If a person's livelihood was in the production of oil, then I suppose they might fulfill both commands simultaneously, but again, it's not really defined to that degree. Essentially, what we're left with, is God telling His people, "There is a need; fill it." He has a requirement for a lamp to burn pure oil, and that oil has to come from somewhere, and He is telling His people, "Bring oil." The second principle that we can see at work, is that this need is never going to be quenched. There will never be enough oil. Also, oil will spoil, which means they couldn't really build up a huge storehouse of oil. God is telling His people that there will be a perpetual need, and they must answer that call continually. He does not name a specific tribe or profession, but leaves it open-ended and all-inclusive. It is the responsibility of every individual to ensure that the temple has oil (really good oil) for light.

A) While this instruction is not directly applicable to my life, it very nearly is. The temple's need for oil to burn is quite analogous to the very tangible, very real needs of my own church building. The world economy makes things different, for sure. I do not possess lamp oil, ever. My church doesn't use it much, I think. There are a great many consumables that my church does use, but even then, I may or may not have those things - or even access to those things. But, we have common currency. My current church is quite blessed, financially. We have a congregation of faithful tithers and a church council of responsible stewards. Still, occasionally, there are needs that arise. Unexpected expenses or calamity, or spontaneous desires to bless another church, or some external ministry. This verse above is applicable in those times. There will always be something that comes up, and I must be willing to fill those needs. This attitude of generous living extends to every area of my life, especially the principle that the needs never end. I cannot allow myself to think that I have a quota for any good work. There is no divine checklist. There is no retirement from doing good. There is no time card for filling a need.

P) Father, the patience displayed in Your grace toward me is amazing. Your mercy endures forever, and is new with each morning. Thank You God! I am in need of Your mercy over and over, but You never tire of forgiveness. You never tire of doing good to me. I am in constant need, but You are never exhausted. Convict me quickly, if I am ever tempted to resent Your call to do good. Rebuke me sharply, if I ever feel as though I've done enough already, and shouldn't have to do more. Instead, let it be my pleasure every time I can do anything for Your glory. Let it be my pleasure to be like my Father God, who never tires of doing for those He loves. Whether it is for my wife, or kids, or for people I don't even know, give me a compassionate heart that responds to Your grace and mercy with grace and mercy for others. Give me a heart that responds to Your unceasing heart to provide, with a heart of my own that wishes to glorify You by providing for others. I want to reflect Your love, by showing people a glimpse of that same kind of grace. Remind me, Father, that Your glory is at stake, every time there is an opportunity for me to meet a need. So, be glorified in my life. In Jesus' name I pray. Amen.

SOAP 02/11/2015; Exodus 26:33

Today's reading: Exodus 26

S) "³³ You shall hang up the veil under the clasps, and shall bring in the ark of the testimony there within the veil; and the veil shall serve for you as a partition between the holy place and the holy of holies."

Exodus 26:33 (NASB)

O) This veil is within the construction of the first tabernacle. God was giving very detailed direction as to who everything was to be constructed and assembled. Later, the temporary temple would be replaced by a permanent temple, when Solomon constructs it centuries later (see 2 Chronicles 3). Some of the specifications of the tabernacle might seem arbitrary, but we must remember that this was a shadow of the heavenly temple (see Hebrews 8:5), so the details are not random. This veil that God required, served as a physical representation of the spiritual separation between the LORD and His people. Perhaps the heavenly temple has no such veil, but on earth it served as both a symbolic and vital barrier. When the Spirit of God was manifested within the holy of holies, anyone who entered into that portion of the tabernacle, without proper atonement and cleanliness, would die (see Leviticus 16:2). This is the veil that was torn, as we see in Matthew 27:51, when Jesus died on the cross.

A) Understanding the historical significance of that veil, and all that it meant, gives a much deeper understanding of what Jesus did by dying for my sins. The reconciliation that He bought with His blood, was life itself. Still the above verse is not an instruction to me, so much as it is a reminder of who God is. He is holy and just, but He is also gracious and merciful. He taught His people about His ways with great detail, that they might live in covenant with Him. God does not change. He is still gracious with me, teaching me His ways. Through the Bible, I can learn about His character, and the statutes by which I am to live. I see the mercy He has given me, and that love compels me to obedience. So, when I read the above verse, I remember that the circumstances of life have changed, but God has not. He took away the partition, but He still has particular ways He wants His children to live. He is merciful, and in Christ my sins are atoned, but in His grace, He still instructs me through His Word about how to live.

P) Father in heaven, in Your perfect holy temple, be magnified! How great a love You have shown, to make a way to remove the veil, to eliminate the separation that existed between You and Your beloved. Thank You for the immeasurable grace there is, in my reconciliation to You. I celebrate the mercy, but let me also celebrate Your instruction. It is such a blessing to know that You wish to teach me Your ways, in order that I might live in more intimacy with You, God. Help me to seek Your instruction, as often as I need Your mercy. Let Your will be done. In Jesus' name I pray. Amen.

SOAP 02/10/2015; Exodus 23:25

Today's reading: Exodus 23

S) "²⁵ But you shall serve the Lord your God, and He will bless your bread and your water; and I will remove sickness from your midst."

Exodus 23:25 (NASB)

O) Initially, as with all Scripture, we must beware of taking verses out of context. This was, without doubt, a promise to the Israelites of The Exodus. As such, it would be presumptuous to think I can simply claim this same promise. Reading my footnotes, though, I see that the words, "and He will bless..." can also be translated, "that He may bless..." That subtle word change is the difference maker. Now, while this is a promise to the Israelites, it also takes on a different note as a statement about who God is. His desire is to bless His people (which includes me). His desire is to bless their (my) bread and water, and remove sickness from their (my) midst. But before any of that happens, God is saying that we must serve the LORD our God.

A) God is not under contract, but He is in a covenant with His people. In a contract, each side is legally required to do things, regardless of the actions of the other side. This is not how God operates with His people. He gives promises within the context of a covenant that says, "If you will do this, then I will do this." That is the premise of this promise. His desire is to bless and heal, but He also requires devotion from His people. If I am not serving the LORD, I cannot rightly ask God to bless my meals or heal my body. Now, God can, in His sovereignty and grace, choose to bless and heal whomever He chooses. As His child, I can hope that my Father God will do that, but I cannot rightly expect it, unless I am also upholding my side of the covenant.

P) Father, even the fact that You enter into covenant with such wretched creatures as us, is a testament to Your unparalleled love. In Your grace, You brought me to a place that I could even enter that covenant with You. The promises I have, through Your written Word, they are deep and wide, and yes and amen. Open my eyes and ears, and give me proper understanding, so that I am not assuming any promises that are not truly for me. At the same time, please increase my faith to attain all of the promises that are for me. Let me walk in obedience and faithfulness, not just for the reward of promises, but because that will increase my intimacy with You, Lord. Be glorified in my life, and let Your will be done. In Jesus' name I pray. Amen.

SOAP 02/09/2015; Exodus 21:1

Today's reading: Exodus 21

S) "¹ Now these are the ordinances which you are to set before them:"

Exodus 21:1 (NASB)

O) There are a lot of death penalties in the Law of Moses. Reading through this chapter, we see a lot of scenarios laid out for the people, with circumstances and consequences described plainly. Many of them end in death. This was a brutal time, and that explains some of the details, but we also have to remember that there was no recourse, no regeneration, no redemption by Jesus. Some of the details of these laws are interesting, if not exactly applicable to my life. But, reading it all in context, that it was thousands of years ago, that the people were working from scratch having no written laws, and most importantly, Jesus had not yet come to take the wrath of God upon Himself. With all of that having been said, despite the brutal lethality of many of these laws, the grace and justice of God are still evident. In this very first sentence of the chapter, God wants to make the rules very clear. He is not trying to surprise or trick anyone. He wants His people to succeed. He tries to be as explicit as He can about those rules, and as vivid as possible about the consequences, because He wants His people to remain holy. He wants them to know ahead of time what is at stake.

A) God does not change. Reading through these laws reminds me of how severely God looks upon my sins. I am thankful that I do not live in such a harsh time, and I am also thankful that I have forgiveness and grace through Jesus Christ. Remembering God's nature, here, I am thankful that He is relational. He desires for me to know His rules, His laws. It takes humility to remember that I don't get to vote about His laws. He is sovereign, the Creator, and if He says things must be a certain way, then I cannot argue or vote, and boycotting won't even delay my own destruction. But, God is exceedingly good. In His grace, He allowed me to live now, and He offers me mercy through the sacrifice of Jesus Christ.

P) Father, in Your sovereignty and justice, You laid out all of the rules. You are patient and full of lovingkindness, and You desire people to be holy unto You, so we can have relationship with You. This is amazing grace, and I am thankful for it. Help me to view my sins with an appropriate understanding of what's at stake with sin. Help me to remember that Your wrath for sin did not wane over time, but Jesus took the wrath for my sins upon Himself. Let that love change my heart, Father God, to long for obedience and to walk in the holiness You require of me. In Jesus' name I pray. Amen.

SOAP 02/08/2015; Exodus 20:20

Today's reading: Exodus 20

S) " ²⁰ Moses said to the people, 'Do not be afraid; for God has come in order to test you, and in order that the fear of Him may remain with you, so that you may not sin.'"

Exodus 20:20 (NASB)

O) There is an interesting conundrum of language in this verse. In order to get some clarification, we need to remember a little bit of context. This came just after the LORD imparted the Ten Commandments. He appeared in a thick cloud atop Mount Sinai, and spoke in a great thundering voice. The people were too afraid to approach, and wanted Moses to go alone and they promised to just obey him. Moses replied with the verse above, and the first thing I noticed is the difference between being afraid and having fear. Many other translations use the same word "fear" in the first and second lines of this verse, but there must be some other implication, and this seems to be a failing of language. The underlying message of his statement, seems to be that we are not supposed to be afraid for the sake of being afraid. These people were petrified, in the sense that their fears paralyzed them, held them hostage, and prevented them from accomplishing the will of God. They refused to approach God because they were afraid. The fear of God, however, will prevent people from sinning. The fear of Him will prompt action, not prevent action. The other significant impression I have from this verse, is that "being afraid" seems to be momentary and circumstantial, while "the fear of Him" seems to be more lasting and constant. They were tested so the fear of Him would remain, so they would not sin.

A) God desires change, maturity, growth in His children. I often pray for changes in my life, in my heart. One such prayer that has been frequent over the last year or so, is that I would learn to fear the LORD more. When I am considering the verse above, though, I wonder if there is a particular discipline that would help to this end. The verse says that God tested the people to produce fear of Him. In this context, God was making Himself known to them visually and audibly, and apparently measuring their reactions. In my own life, I don't expect God to test me in the same way, but perhaps there is still a test to take. By putting myself in a position to be confronted with the majesty of God, facing His power, acknowledging His great might and sovereignty, I will force myself to consider all of the reasons I should fear Him. It seems like it would be an easier test if He would simply appear to me in great power, but maybe part of my testing is the discipline of asking for the test. Maybe by seeking Him out in this way, that is part of passing the test.

P) Father, I want to be consumed by Your majesty, Lord. Open my eyes to see You more clearly, that I may fear You more rightly. Cause the fear of You to remain with me, in order that I may not sin, but also so that I can glorify You with my life more completely. Help me to teach my children to fear You rightly, that they also may not sin, and can glorify You with their lives. I want to be tested, Father God. I want to be disciplined in this area. Sign me up, Lord. I want to be disciplined, so that I may pass this test. Let Your sovereign will be done in my life, and on earth, as it is in heaven. In Jesus' name I pray. Amen.