Chapter 25: I would really like to see a picture of replica of these things sometime as they just seem cool, but I can't really get my mind wrapped around the details enough to get a solid mental "picture" of them. verse 2...God doesn't care so much about the offering itself, as He does the heart behind the gift. verse 3-7... the offerings are things to be used to build the temple...the study notes suggest that these would not be impulsive gifts, but instead things that the people would have to go to some lengths to prepare or obtain... interesting thought, because sometimes I do not do this when I give my offering in church... do I really think about it ahead of time?... do I make it meaningful and from the heart?... lots to think about here... verse 5... total side note, but what is a sea cow? the footnotes say it is a dugong, but that doesn't help me any. :) verse 8...God dwells with people again... first time since Garden of Eden verse 10... interesting to think about how God is so infinite yet can dwell inside something only 4x2x2 feet approximately (or even inside our hearts) :) verse 16... for clarification about what the Testimony is, see Exodus 31:18 verse 17... what is the "atonement cover"? The study notes make an interesting point about this section where it describes how the ark is to be portable... God will go with the people... as He dwells with THEM, not in a place... like we think of the "church" now being people, not a building. verse 30... for clarification on the Presence, see Leviticus 24:5-9. verse 31... for more about the lampstands, see Hebrews 8:3-6, Revelation 1-3, and Zechariah 4 verse 39... I know that there are stories in the New Testaments about talents (Matthew 18, and Matthew 25), but I never realized how big a talent was... the footnotes say it is equal to 75 pounds, in this case of gold (other places I don't know)... that is alot of gold! The Study Notes comment about whether the pattern that is set out by Moses (from God) is necessary to adequately worship God... this made me think that it does definately helps develop good discipline and habits, and withough a good basis or foundation, there is "no where" for a person to "go" and "nothing" for them to "build on"... but it also made me think about a worship class we recently took and the completely different churches we visited... some were ornate and other very minimalist, with many varieties in between... they all had the same focus: to point people to God and glorify Him in their worship... so, that makes me believe that there is no specific pattern or building that promotes complete and perfect worship, but it is our heart and its focus on glorifying God that ultimately makes the difference. So, why all the details and ornateness here? Maybe to give the people something to start with... maybe it was to get their attention and point it to Him... maybe it had something to do with their culture or the surrounding cultures and practices... maybe it was because God likes those things, and since they asked Him, or at least listened to His imput, He gave it to them... or maybe something else entirely... just something to think about...
Chapter 26: I thought it was cool how God requested "skilled craftsmen" (verse 31 and others)... it made me think about whether God would request me, and if I am sharpening my "skills" for Him, or just floating by with what He has gifted and given me in life. The Study Notes ask why did the Isrealites need a tabernacle, and point out that they had been using a tent in the meantime (see Exodus 33:7-11) The Study Notes also point out that when Jesus died the curtain (being constructed here) in the temple was torn from top to bottom (see Mark 15:38, and Hebrews 10:19-22).... this symbolizes that we are now free to enter into the presence of God ourselves, and no longer need a mediator to go to Him on our behalf... very important for us today and worthy of additional worship and praise! :)
Chapter 27: I thought it was cool how God showed everything to Moses on the mountain (verse 8 and others)... wouldn't that be cool to be up on the mountaintop with God and He is giving you like an ultimate power point presentation or art show or something on all the details.... very cool! In reference to the oil for the lampstand (verse 20), the study notes ask why is the lamp oil the province of laity and not the priests?... it made me think that everyone needs to participate in "corporate" worship (or worship in fellowship, like in a building or group), because worship is to come from our hearts, not just be a ceremony we do... also, at that time, the priests were working on behalf of the laity (or everybody who wasn't a priest), so the laity can provide the priests what they need to do what they do, so that way there is a mutually beneficial relationship, where both need each other, and rely on each other, and work together (as one body, see Romans 12 and 1 Corinthians 12)... for the ultimate glory of God. verse 21... the idea that the lamps were to be kept burning from evening until morning made me think about how that meant that they must have put them out during daylight hours... No need to waste energy when the sun is sufficient... that made me think about how we can say this in our Christian lives... by replacing "sun" with "Son" (see Galatians 3:3)... how often do I waste my energy for no reason, instead of relying on the sufficiency of Jesus?
Ok, that's all I got for today... hope to hear your thoughts on our reading tomorrow! In His Love, sandJ
The IDEA: Romans 1:12-That we may be mutually strengthened, encouraged, and comforted by each others faith. Have you ever read the whole Bible before? We have never done it. We want to share God’s Word, but how can we if we do not know it.
The PLAN: Ecclesiastes 4:12-One person is easily overcome, but two can stand together and conquer. Three is even better, though, as a triple-braided cord is not easily broken. With each others help we can succeed-So, let us team up and read the Bible in a year.
The DATE: We will start Dec 26, 2009 - Dec 26, 2010.
The FYI: We will read 3-4 chapters each day, starting in Genesis, and post thoughts daily. If you do not have a Bible, you can access many translations at www.biblegateway.com. You can also download an audio for each chapter at: http://www.audiotreasure.com/webindex.htm
Chapter 25: I would really like to see a picture of replica of these things sometime as they just seem cool, but I can't really get my mind wrapped around the details enough to get a solid mental "picture" of them.
ReplyDeleteverse 2...God doesn't care so much about the offering itself, as He does the heart behind the gift.
verse 3-7... the offerings are things to be used to build the temple...the study notes suggest that these would not be impulsive gifts, but instead things that the people would have to go to some lengths to prepare or obtain... interesting thought, because sometimes I do not do this when I give my offering in church... do I really think about it ahead of time?... do I make it meaningful and from the heart?... lots to think about here...
verse 5... total side note, but what is a sea cow? the footnotes say it is a dugong, but that doesn't help me any. :)
verse 8...God dwells with people again... first time since Garden of Eden
verse 10... interesting to think about how God is so infinite yet can dwell inside something only 4x2x2 feet approximately (or even inside our hearts) :)
verse 16... for clarification about what the Testimony is, see Exodus 31:18
verse 17... what is the "atonement cover"?
The study notes make an interesting point about this section where it describes how the ark is to be portable... God will go with the people... as He dwells with THEM, not in a place... like we think of the "church" now being people, not a building.
verse 30... for clarification on the Presence, see Leviticus 24:5-9.
verse 31... for more about the lampstands, see Hebrews 8:3-6, Revelation 1-3, and Zechariah 4
verse 39... I know that there are stories in the New Testaments about talents (Matthew 18, and Matthew 25), but I never realized how big a talent was... the footnotes say it is equal to 75 pounds, in this case of gold (other places I don't know)... that is alot of gold!
The Study Notes comment about whether the pattern that is set out by Moses (from God) is necessary to adequately worship God... this made me think that it does definately helps develop good discipline and habits, and withough a good basis or foundation, there is "no where" for a person to "go" and "nothing" for them to "build on"... but it also made me think about a worship class we recently took and the completely different churches we visited... some were ornate and other very minimalist, with many varieties in between... they all had the same focus: to point people to God and glorify Him in their worship... so, that makes me believe that there is no specific pattern or building that promotes complete and perfect worship, but it is our heart and its focus on glorifying God that ultimately makes the difference. So, why all the details and ornateness here? Maybe to give the people something to start with... maybe it was to get their attention and point it to Him... maybe it had something to do with their culture or the surrounding cultures and practices... maybe it was because God likes those things, and since they asked Him, or at least listened to His imput, He gave it to them... or maybe something else entirely... just something to think about...
Chapter 26: I thought it was cool how God requested "skilled craftsmen" (verse 31 and others)... it made me think about whether God would request me, and if I am sharpening my "skills" for Him, or just floating by with what He has gifted and given me in life.
ReplyDeleteThe Study Notes ask why did the Isrealites need a tabernacle, and point out that they had been using a tent in the meantime (see Exodus 33:7-11)
The Study Notes also point out that when Jesus died the curtain (being constructed here) in the temple was torn from top to bottom (see Mark 15:38, and Hebrews 10:19-22).... this symbolizes that we are now free to enter into the presence of God ourselves, and no longer need a mediator to go to Him on our behalf... very important for us today and worthy of additional worship and praise! :)
Chapter 27: I thought it was cool how God showed everything to Moses on the mountain (verse 8 and others)... wouldn't that be cool to be up on the mountaintop with God and He is giving you like an ultimate power point presentation or art show or something on all the details.... very cool!
ReplyDeleteIn reference to the oil for the lampstand (verse 20), the study notes ask why is the lamp oil the province of laity and not the priests?... it made me think that everyone needs to participate in "corporate" worship (or worship in fellowship, like in a building or group), because worship is to come from our hearts, not just be a ceremony we do... also, at that time, the priests were working on behalf of the laity (or everybody who wasn't a priest), so the laity can provide the priests what they need to do what they do, so that way there is a mutually beneficial relationship, where both need each other, and rely on each other, and work together (as one body, see Romans 12 and 1 Corinthians 12)... for the ultimate glory of God.
verse 21... the idea that the lamps were to be kept burning from evening until morning made me think about how that meant that they must have put them out during daylight hours... No need to waste energy when the sun is sufficient... that made me think about how we can say this in our Christian lives... by replacing "sun" with "Son" (see Galatians 3:3)... how often do I waste my energy for no reason, instead of relying on the sufficiency of Jesus?
Ok, that's all I got for today... hope to hear your thoughts on our reading tomorrow!
In His Love,
sandJ