Posted by: Bill Hornbeck | October 24, 2022

“In Him we have redemption through His blood, the forgiveness of our trespasses, according to the riches of His grace which He lavished on us.”

Today’s devotion comes from Exodus 27:1-8. Here is a link to this Scripture – https://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=Exodus%2027&version=NASB1995

I quote only the following verses.

“And you shall make the altar of acacia wood, five cubits long and five cubits wide;  the altar shall be square, and its height shall be three cubits.  You shall make its horns on its four corners;  its horns shall be of one piece with it, and you shall overlay it with bronze.  You shall make its pails for removing its ashes, and its shovels and its basins and its forks and its firepans;  you shall make all its utensils of bronze.  You shall make for it a grating of network of bronze, and on the net you shall make four bronze rings at its four corners.  …”  Exodus 27:1-4.

———————

As one specific example of the use of an altar, “Then Noah built an altar to the LORD, and took of every clean animal and of every clean bird and offered burnt offerings on the altar.  The LORD smelled the soothing aroma;  and the LORD said to Himself, “I will never again curse the ground on account of man, for the intent of man’s heart is evil from his youth;  and I will never again destroy every living thing, as I have done.

“While the earth remains,
Seedtime and harvest,
And cold and heat,
And summer and winter,
And day and night
Shall not cease.” Genesis 8:20-22.

More generally, another example of the use of an altar is to use it to give offerings of thanksgiving.

“27 The LORD is God, and He has given us light;
Bind the festival sacrifice with cords to the horns of the altar.
28 You are my God, and I give thanks to You;
You are my God, I extol You.
29 Give thanks to the LORD, for He is good;
For His lovingkindness is everlasting.” Psalm 118:27-29.

The most common use of the altar was to make sacrifices on it to seek forgiveness for sins.

“Each day you shall offer a bull as a sin offering for atonement, and you shall purify the altar when you make atonement for it, and you shall anoint it to consecrate it.”  Exodus 29:36.

“Then the priest is to take some of the blood of the sin offering with his finger and put it on the horns of the altar of burnt offering; and the rest of its blood he shall pour out at the base of the altar of burnt offering.  All its fat he shall offer up in smoke on the altar as in the case of the fat of the sacrifice of peace offerings.  Thus the priest shall make atonement for him in regard to his sin, and he will be forgiven.”  Leviticus 4:25-26.

But, ultimately, the use of an altar was to point to Jesus’ sacrificial offering, through His own blood, for the sins of God’s people a/k/a elect, through which sacrifice they were forgiven and sanctified.  

“For it is impossible for the blood of bulls and goats to take away sins. Therefore, when He comes into the world, He says,

“SACRIFICE AND OFFERING YOU HAVE NOT DESIRED,
BUT A BODY YOU HAVE PREPARED FOR ME;
IN WHOLE BURNT OFFERINGS AND SACRIFICES FOR SIN YOU HAVE TAKEN NO PLEASURE.
“THEN I SAID, ‘BEHOLD, I HAVE COME
(IN THE SCROLL OF THE BOOK IT IS WRITTEN OF ME)
TO DO YOUR WILL, O GOD.’” Hebrews 10:4-7.

“By this will we have been sanctified through the offering of the body of Jesus Christ once for all.”  Hebrews 10:10.

“Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, who has blessed us with every spiritual blessing in the heavenly places in Christ, just as He chose us in Him before the foundation of the world, that we would be holy and blameless before Him.  …  In Him we have redemption through His blood, the forgiveness of our trespasses, according to the riches of His grace which He lavished on us.”  Ephesians 1:3-4 and 8. 

“For by one offering He has perfected for all time those who are sanctified.”  Hebrews 10:14.

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Posted by: Bill Hornbeck | October 23, 2022

“Behold, the tabernacle of God is among men, and He will dwell among them, and they shall be His people, and God Himself will be among them”

Today’s devotion comes from Exodus chapter 26.  Here is a link to this chapter – https://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=Exodus%2026&version=NASB1995

I quote only the following verses.

“Moreover you shall make the tabernacle with ten curtains of fine twisted linen and blue and purple and scarlet material;  you shall make them with cherubim, the work of a skillful workman.  …  

“Then you shall make curtains of goats’ hair for a tent over the tabernacle;  you shall make eleven curtains in all.  …  

…  You shall make a covering for the tent of rams’ skins dyed red and a covering of porpoise skins above.

“Then you shall make the boards for the tabernacle of acacia wood, standing upright.  …  

…  Then you shall erect the tabernacle according to its plan which you have been shown in the mountain.”  Exodus 26:1, 7, 14-15, and 30.

——————–

What does the tabernacle look like?

People with long blue robes and gray hair and red caps standing upright, huddled close, facing inward together, like a football huddle.  

And although heaven and earth cannot hold God, there is hope!

“Thus says the LORD,

“Heaven is My throne and the earth is My footstool.
Where then is a house you could build for Me?
And where is a place that I may rest?
2 “For My hand made all these things,
Thus all these things came into being,” declares the LORD.
“But to this one I will look,
To him who is humble and contrite of spirit, and who trembles at My word.” Isaiah 66:1-2.

In other words, God is pleased to dwell in His people who are humble and contrite of spirit, and who tremble at His word.

“Do you not know that you are a temple of God and that the Spirit of God dwells in you?”  1 Corinthians 3:16. 

“And I saw the holy city, new Jerusalem, coming down out of heaven from God, made ready as a bride adorned for her husband.  And I heard a loud voice from the throne, saying, “Behold, the tabernacle of God is among men, and He will dwell among them, and they shall be His people, and God Himself will be among them, and He will wipe away every tear from their eyes;  and there will no longer be any death;  there will no longer be any mourning, or crying, or pain;  the first things have passed away.”  Revelation 21:2-4.

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Posted by: Bill Hornbeck | October 21, 2022

“a copy and shadow of the heavenly things, … But now He (Christ) has obtained a more excellent ministry, … which has been enacted on better promises.”

Today’s devotion comes from Exodus 25:40.

“See that you make them after the pattern for them, which was shown to you on the mountain.”  Exodus 25:40.

—————-

We remember God’s very precise instructions for the construction of the ark, mercy seat, table to hold the bread of the Presence, and lampstand under the first covenant.  

“Now even the first covenant had regulations of divine worship and the earthly sanctuary.  For there was a tabernacle prepared, the outer one, in which were the lampstand and the table and the sacred bread;  this is called the holy place.  Behind the second veil there was a tabernacle which is called the Holy of Holies, having a golden altar of incense and the ark of the covenant covered on all sides with gold, in which was a golden jar holding the manna, and Aaron’s rod which budded, and the tables of the covenant;  and above it were the cherubim of glory overshadowing the mercy seat;  but of these things we cannot now speak in detail.”  Hebrews 9:1-5.

This was done by God even though, these things were “only”  “… a copy and shadow of the heavenly things, just as Moses was warned by God when he was about to erect the tabernacle; for, “See,” He says, “that you make all things according to the pattern which was shown you on the mountain.”  Hebrews 8:5.

And, this was done by God even though “… the Law, since it has only a shadow of the good things to come and not the very form of things, can never, by the same sacrifices which they offer continually year by year, make perfect those who draw near.”  Hebrews 10:1.

And, this was done by God even though the first covenant was to be taken away to establish the second covenant.

“But now He (Christ) has obtained a more excellent ministry, by as much as He is also the mediator of a better covenant, which has been enacted on better promises.

For if that first covenant had been faultless, there would have been no occasion sought for a second.”  Hebrews 8:6-7. 

“then He (Christ) said, “Behold, I have come to do Your will.”  He takes away the first in order to establish the second.”  Hebrews 10:9.

“For by one offering He has perfected for all time those who are sanctified. And the Holy Spirit also testifies to us; for after saying,

“THIS IS THE COVENANT THAT I WILL MAKE WITH THEM
AFTER THOSE DAYS, SAYS THE LORD:
I WILL PUT MY LAWS UPON THEIR HEART,
AND ON THEIR MIND I WILL WRITE THEM,”

He then says,

“AND THEIR SINS AND THEIR LAWLESS DEEDS
I WILL REMEMBER NO MORE.” Hebrews 10:14-17.

In summary, consider all that was accomplished by Christ’s sacrifice and offering through His blood on the cross.

Article 8.  For this was the sovereign counsel, and most gracious will and purpose of God the Father, that the quickening and saving efficacy of the most precious death of his Son should extend to all the elect, for bestowing upon them alone the gift of justifying faith, thereby to bring them infallibly to salvation:  that is, it was the will of God, that Christ by the blood of the cross, whereby he confirmed the new covenant, should effectually redeem out of every people, tribe, nation, and language, all those, and those only, who were from eternity chosen to salvation, and given to him by the Father; that he should confer upon them faith, which together with all the other saving gifts of the Holy Spirit, he purchased for them by his death;  should purge them from all sin, both original and actual, whether committed before or after believing;  and having faithfully preserved them even to the end, should at last bring them free from every spot and blemish to the enjoyment of glory in his own presence forever.  Canons of Dordt in the section titled SECOND HEAD OF DOCTRINE Of the Death of Christ, and the Redemption of Men Thereby.

Therefore, considering everything above, if God gave such very precise instructions for the construction of the ark, mercy seat, table to hold the bread of the Presence, and lampstand under the first covenant, which were “only” “a copy and shadow of the heavenly things” to be taken away, then how much more should we hold in awe and reverence what was accomplished by Christ’s sacrifice and offering through His blood on the cross?!   

“For if we go on sinning willfully after receiving the knowledge of the truth, there no longer remains a sacrifice for sins, but a certain terrifying expectation of judgment, and THE FURY OF A FIRE WHICH WILL CONSUME THE ADVERSARIES.  Anyone who has set aside the Law of Moses dies without mercy on the testimony of two or three witnesses.  How much severer punishment do you think he will deserve who has trampled under foot the Son of God, and has regarded as unclean the blood of the covenant by which he was sanctified, and has insulted the Spirit of grace?  For we know Him who said:  “VENGEANCE IS MINE, I WILL REPAY.”  And again, THE LORD WILL JUDGE HIS PEOPLE.”  It is a terrifying thing to fall into the hands of the living God.”  Hebrews 10:26-31.

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Posted by: Bill Hornbeck | October 20, 2022

“For You are my lamp, O LORD; And the LORD illumines my darkness.” – “Your word is a lamp to my feet And a light to my path.”

Today’s devotion comes from Exodus 25:31-39.  Here is a link to this Scripture – https://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=Exodus%2025&version=NASB1995

I quote only the following verses.

“Then you shall make a lampstand of pure gold.  The lampstand and its base and its shaft are to be made of hammered work;  its cups, its bulbs and its flowers shall be of one piece with it.  Six branches shall go out from its sides;  three branches of the lampstand from its one side and three branches of the lampstand from its other side.  …  Their bulbs and their branches shall be of one piece with it;  all of it shall be one piece of hammered work of pure gold.  Then you shall make its lamps seven in number;  and they shall mount its lamps so as to shed light on the space in front of it.  Its snuffers and their trays shall be of pure gold.  It shall be made from a talent of pure gold, with all these utensils.”  Exodus 25:31-32 and 36-39.

—————–

“… and they shall mount its lamps so as to shed light on the space in front of it.”  Verse 37.

“For You are my lamp, O LORD;
And the LORD illumines my darkness.” 2 Samuel 22:29.

“Your word is a lamp to my feet
And a light to my path.” Psalm 119:105.

“Then Jesus again spoke to them, saying, “I am the Light of the world;  he who follows Me will not walk in the darkness, but will have the Light of life.”  John 8:12.

We know Jesus through God’s Word, not through mysticism nor other empty spiritualism based on our own thoughts or feelings nor through someone else’s thoughts or feelings.  

The concluding Scripture through its phrase “and the Word was God” brings it all together about the light coming from God’s Word (“Your word is a lamp to my feet”) and from the person Jesus (“I am the Light of the world”) by describing Jesus as “the Word”.   

“In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God.  He was in the beginning with God.  All things came into being through Him, and apart from Him nothing came into being that has come into being.  In Him was life, and the life was the Light of men.”  John 1:1-3.

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Posted by: Bill Hornbeck | October 19, 2022

“For the bread of God is that which comes down out of heaven, and gives life to the world.” – “This is My beloved Son, in whom I am well-pleased.” – “You shall set the bread of the Presence on the table before Me at all times.”

Today’s devotion comes from Exodus 25:23-30.  Here is a link to this Scripture – https://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=Exodus%2025&version=NASB1995

I quote only the following verses.

“You shall make a table of acacia wood, two cubits long and one cubit wide and one and a half cubits high.  You shall overlay it with pure gold and make a gold border around it.  …  You shall make its dishes and its pans and its jars and its bowls with which to pour drink offerings;  you shall make them of pure gold.  You shall set the bread of the Presence on the table before Me at all times.”  Exodus 25:23-24 and 29-30.  

—————

“So they said to Him, “What then do You do for a sign, so that we may see, and believe You?  What work do You perform?  Our fathers ate the manna in the wilderness;  as it is written, ‘HE GAVE THEM BREAD OUT OF HEAVEN TO EAT.’”  Jesus then said to them, “Truly, truly, I say to you, it is not Moses who has given you the bread out of heaven, but it is My Father who gives you the true bread out of heaven.  For the bread of God is that which comes down out of heaven, and gives life to the world.”  John 6:30-33.

“Do not work for the food which perishes, but for the food which endures to eternal life, which the Son of Man will give to you, for on Him the Father, God, has set His seal.”  John 6:27.

“Jesus said to them, “I am the bread of life;  he who comes to Me will not hunger, and he who believes in Me will never thirst.”  John 6:35.

“I am the bread of life.  Your fathers ate the manna in the wilderness, and they died.  This is the bread which comes down out of heaven, so that one may eat of it and not die.  I am the living bread that came down out of heaven;  if anyone eats of this bread, he will live forever;  and the bread also which I will give for the life of the world is My flesh.”

Then the Jews began to argue with one another, saying, “How can this man give us His flesh to eat?”  So Jesus said to them, “Truly, truly, I say to you, unless you eat the flesh of the Son of Man and drink His blood, you have no life in yourselves.  He who eats My flesh and drinks My blood has eternal life, and I will raise him up on the last day.  For My flesh is true food, and My blood is true drink.  He who eats My flesh and drinks My blood abides in Me, and I in him.  As the living Father sent Me, and I live because of the Father, so he who eats Me, he also will live because of Me.  This is the bread which came down out of heaven;  not as the fathers ate and died;  he who eats this bread will live forever.”  John 6:48-58.

“For I have come down from heaven, not to do My own will, but the will of Him who sent Me.  This is the will of Him who sent Me, that of all that He has given Me I lose nothing, but raise it up on the last day.”  John 6:38-39. 

“and behold, a voice out of the heavens said, “This is My beloved Son, in whom I am well-pleased.”  Matthew 3:17.

“You shall set the bread of the Presence on the table before Me at all times.”  Verse 30.

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Posted by: Bill Hornbeck | October 18, 2022

“I WILL HAVE MERCY ON WHOM I HAVE MERCY, AND I WILL HAVE COMPASSION ON WHOM I HAVE COMPASSION.” – “But God, being rich in mercy, … seated us with Him in the heavenly places in Christ Jesus”

Today’s devotion comes from Exodus 25:17-22.

“You shall make a mercy seat of pure gold, two and a half cubits long and one and a half cubits wide.  You shall make two cherubim of gold, make them of hammered work at the two ends of the mercy seat.  Make one cherub at one end and one cherub at the other end;  you shall make the cherubim of one piece with the mercy seat at its two ends.  The cherubim shall have their wings spread upward, covering the mercy seat with their wings and facing one another;  the faces of the cherubim are to be turned toward the mercy seat.  You shall put the mercy seat on top of the ark, and in the ark you shall put the testimony which I will give to you.  There I will meet with you;  and from above the mercy seat, from between the two cherubim which are upon the ark of the testimony, I will speak to you about all that I will give you in commandment for the sons of Israel.”  Exodus 25:17-22.

—————-

God’s precise control of the very specific details for a mercy seat leads us to meditate on God’s precise control of the details of His mercy.

Why not let the craftsman of the mercy seat choose the details?  

Many think likewise that mercy is generally offered to all to accept on their own terms.

But, what does Scripture state?

“For He says to Moses, “I WILL HAVE MERCY ON WHOM I HAVE MERCY, AND I WILL HAVE COMPASSION ON WHOM I HAVE COMPASSION.”  So then it does not depend on the man who wills or the man who runs, but on God who has mercy.”  Romans 9:15-16. 

“Or does not the potter have a right over the clay, to make from the same lump one vessel for honorable use and another for common use?  Romans 9:21.

Consider the following from the Canons of Dordt in the section titled FIRST HEAD OF DOCTRINE Of Divine Predestination. 

Article 7.  Election is the unchangeable purpose of God, whereby, before the foundation of the world, he hath out of mere grace, according to the sovereign good pleasure of his own will, chosen, from the whole human race, which had fallen through their own fault, from their primitive state of rectitude, into sin and destruction, a certain number of persons to redemption in Christ, whom he from eternity appointed the Mediator and Head of the elect, and the foundation of Salvation.

This elect number, though by nature neither better nor more deserving than the others, but with them involved in one common misery, God hath decreed to give to Christ, to be saved by him, and effectually to call and draw them to his communion by his Word and Spirit, to bestow upon them true faith, justification and sanctification; and having powerfully preserved them in the fellowship of his Son, finally, to glorify them for the demonstration of his mercy, and for the praise of his glorious grace;  as it is written:  “According as he hath chosen us in him, before the foundation of the world, that we should be holy, and without blame before him in love; having predestinated us unto the adoption of children by Jesus Christ to himself, according to the good pleasure of his will, to the praise of the glory of his grace, wherein he hath made us accepted in the beloved,” Ephesians 1:4,5,6.  And elsewhere:  “Whom he did predestinate, them he also called;  and whom he called, them he also justified;  and whom he justified, them he also glorified,”  Romans 8:30.

Article 9.  This election was not founded upon foreseen faith, and the obedience of faith, holiness, or any other good quality of disposition in man, as the pre-requisite, cause or condition on which it depended;  but men are chosen to faith and to the obedience of faith, holiness, etc., therefore election is the fountain of every saving good;  from which proceed faith, holiness, and the other gifts of salvation, and finally eternal life itself, as its fruits and effects, according to that of the apostle:  “He hath chosen us (not because we were) but that we should be holy, and without blame, before him in love,”  Ephesians 1:4.

This is “Unconditional Election”, the “U” of “TULIP”, the Five Points of Calvinism, the Reformed Doctrine of Salvation, as more fully taught in the Canons of Dordt. 

And, mercy seat is appropriately named in that it is a place where God shows mercy.

Today’s Scripture states that at the mercy seat:  “There I will meet with you”.  Verse 22. 

And, the following Scripture states that God “seated us with Him with Him in the heavenly places in Christ Jesus”.  In other words, God only shows us mercy in Christ. 

“But God, being rich in mercy, because of His great love with which He loved us, even when we were dead in our transgressions, made us alive together with Christ (by grace you have been saved), and raised us up with Him, and seated us with Him in the heavenly places in Christ Jesus, so that in the ages to come He might show the surpassing riches of His grace in kindness toward us in Christ Jesus.”  Ephesians 2:4-7. 

“Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, who has blessed us with every spiritual blessing in the heavenly places in Christ, just as He chose us in Him before the foundation of the world, that we would be holy and blameless before Him.  In love He predestined us to adoption as sons through Jesus Christ to Himself, according to the kind intention of His will, to the praise of the glory of His grace, which He freely bestowed on us in the Beloved.”  Ephesians 1:3-6.

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Posted by: Bill Hornbeck | October 17, 2022

“Now even the first covenant had regulations of divine worship and the earthly sanctuary.” – “But when Christ appeared as a high priest of the good things to come, … having obtained eternal redemption.”

Today’s devotion comes from Exodus 25:10:16.

“They shall construct an ark of acacia wood two and a half cubits long, and one and a half cubits wide, and one and a half cubits high.  You shall overlay it with pure gold, inside and out you shall overlay it, and you shall make a gold molding around it.  You shall cast four gold rings for it and fasten them on its four feet, and two rings shall be on one side of it and two rings on the other side of it.  You shall make poles of acacia wood and overlay them with gold.  You shall put the poles into the rings on the sides of the ark, to carry the ark with them.  The poles shall remain in the rings of the ark;  they shall not be removed from it.  You shall put into the ark the testimony which I shall give you.”  Exodus 25:10:16.

——————

The Ten Commandments were “the testimony” that was to be put into the ark.

“At that time the LORD said to me, ‘Cut out for yourself two tablets of stone like the former ones, and come up to Me on the mountain, and make an ark of wood for yourself.  I will write on the tablets the words that were on the former tablets which you shattered, and you shall put them in the ark.’  So I made an ark of acacia wood and cut out two tablets of stone like the former ones, and went up on the mountain with the two tablets in my hand.  He wrote on the tablets, like the former writing, the Ten Commandments which the LORD had spoken to you on the mountain from the midst of the fire on the day of the assembly; and the LORD gave them to me.  Then I turned and came down from the mountain and put the tablets in the ark which I had made;  and there they are, as the LORD commanded me.”  Deuteronomy 10:1-4.

What was the significance of the ark including “the testimony”?

“Now even the first covenant had regulations of divine worship and the earthly sanctuary.  For there was a tabernacle prepared, the outer one, in which were the lampstand and the table and the sacred bread;  this is called the holy place.  Behind the second veil there was a tabernacle which is called the Holy of Holies, having a golden altar of incense and the ark of the covenant covered on all sides with gold, in which was a golden jar holding the manna, and Aaron’s rod which budded, and the tables of the covenant;  and above it were the cherubim of glory overshadowing the mercy seat; but of these things we cannot now speak in detail.”  Hebrews 9:1-5.

“But when Christ appeared as a high priest of the good things to come, He entered through the greater and more perfect tabernacle, not made with hands, that is to say, not of this creation;  and not through the blood of goats and calves, but through His own blood, He entered the holy place once for all, having obtained eternal redemption.”  Hebrews 9:11-12. 

“For this reason He is the mediator of a new covenant, so that, since a death has taken place for the redemption of the transgressions that were committed under the first covenant, those who have been called may receive the promise of the eternal inheritance.”  Hebrews 9:15.

“For the Law, since it has only a shadow of the good things to come and not the very form of things, can never, by the same sacrifices which they offer continually year by year, make perfect those who draw near.”  Hebrews 10:1.

“then He (Christ) said, “Behold, I have come to do Your will.”  He takes away the first in order to establish the second.  By this will we have been sanctified through the offering of the body of Jesus Christ once for all.”  Hebrews 10:9-10.

“For by one offering He has perfected for all time those who are sanctified. And the Holy Spirit also testifies to us; for after saying,

“THIS IS THE COVENANT THAT I WILL MAKE WITH THEM
AFTER THOSE DAYS, SAYS THE LORD:
I WILL PUT MY LAWS UPON THEIR HEART,
AND ON THEIR MIND I WILL WRITE THEM,”

He then says,

“AND THEIR SINS AND THEIR LAWLESS DEEDS
I WILL REMEMBER NO MORE.” Hebrews 10:14-17.

“Therefore the Law has become our tutor to lead us to Christ, so that we may be justified by faith.  But now that faith has come, we are no longer under a tutor.  For you are all sons of God through faith in Christ Jesus.”  Galatians 3:24-25.

“But when the fullness of the time came, God sent forth His Son, born of a woman, born under the Law, so that He might redeem those who were under the Law, that we might receive the adoption as sons.  Because you are sons, God has sent forth the Spirit of His Son into our hearts, crying, “Abba!  Father!”  Therefore you are no longer a slave, but a son;  and if a son, then an heir through God.”  Galatians 4:4-7.

“Such confidence we have through Christ toward God.  Not that we are adequate in ourselves to consider anything as coming from ourselves, but our adequacy is from God, who also made us adequate as servants of a new covenant, not of the letter but of the Spirit;  for the letter kills, but the Spirit gives life.

But if the ministry of death, in letters engraved on stones, came with glory, so that the sons of Israel could not look intently at the face of Moses because of the glory of his face, fading as it was, how will the ministry of the Spirit fail to be even more with glory?  For if the ministry of condemnation has glory, much more does the ministry of righteousness abound in glory.  For indeed what had glory, in this case has no glory because of the glory that surpasses it.  For if that which fades away was with glory, much more that which remains is in glory.

Therefore having such a hope, we use great boldness in our speech, and are not like Moses, who used to put a veil over his face so that the sons of Israel would not look intently at the end of what was fading away.  But their minds were hardened;  for until this very day at the reading of the old covenant the same veil remains unlifted, because it is removed in Christ.  But to this day whenever Moses is read, a veil lies over their heart;  but whenever a person turns to the Lord, the veil is taken away.  Now the Lord is the Spirit, and where the Spirit of the Lord is, there is liberty.  But we all, with unveiled face, beholding as in a mirror the glory of the Lord, are being transformed into the same image from glory to glory, just as from the Lord, the Spirit.”  2 Corinthians 3:4-18. 

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Posted by: Bill Hornbeck | October 16, 2022

“Each one must do just as he has purposed in his heart, not grudgingly or under compulsion, for God loves a cheerful giver.”

Today’s devotion comes from Exodus 25:1-9.

“Then the LORD spoke to Moses, saying, “Tell the sons of Israel to raise a contribution for Me;  from every man whose heart moves him you shall raise My contribution.  This is the contribution which you are to raise from them:  gold, silver and bronze, blue, purple and scarlet material, fine linen, goat hair, rams’ skins dyed red, porpoise skins, acacia wood, oil for lighting, spices for the anointing oil and for the fragrant incense, onyx stones and setting stones for the ephod and for the breastpiece.  Let them construct a sanctuary for Me, that I may dwell among them.  According to all that I am going to show you, as the pattern of the tabernacle and the pattern of all its furniture, just so you shall construct it.”  Exodus 25:1-9.

—————    

God did not impose a mandatory duty for everyone to give.  But rather, God told Israel to raise a contribution for Him:  “from every man whose heart moves him you shall raise My contribution.”  Verse 1.

Today’s Scripture reminds us that God loves a cheerful giver.  

“Each one must do just as he has purposed in his heart, not grudgingly or under compulsion, for God loves a cheerful giver.  And God is able to make all grace abound to you, so that always having all sufficiency in everything, you may have an abundance for every good deed;”  2 Corinthians 9:7-8.

God gave a very specific reason for the contribution:  “Let them construct a sanctuary for Me, that I may dwell among them.”  Verse 8.

What a good reason!  Our hearts are moved to give at such a heavenly thought of God dwelling with us!!

“And I heard a loud voice from the throne, saying, “Behold, the tabernacle of God is among men, and He will dwell among them, and they shall be His people, and God Himself will be among them, and He will wipe away every tear from their eyes;  and there will no longer be any death;  there will no longer be any mourning, or crying, or pain;  the first things have passed away.”  Revelation 21:3-4.

In summary, let us use Scriptures in today’s devotion and elsewhere to eagerly meditate on the good that can happen when we give.  

When we give, we will be enriched in everything for all liberality.  God will give to us so we will have all sufficiency to do every good deed.     

When we give, we produce thanksgiving to God that pleases God.  

When we give, we fully supply the needs of the saints.

When we give, others pray for us.  

When we give, we demonstrate the surpassing grace of God in us.

When we give, others glorify God and yearn for us because of the surpassing grace of God in us. 

When we give, we show that we really believe God’s indescribable gift to us of His Son, Jesus Christ, Who saved us from our sins and hell and Who provided us with eternal life and heaven.         

“Now He who supplies seed to the sower and bread for food will supply and multiply your seed for sowing and increase the harvest of your righteousness;  you will be enriched in everything for all liberality, which through us is producing thanksgiving to God.  For the ministry of this service is not only fully supplying the needs of the saints, but is also overflowing through many thanksgivings to God.  Because of the proof given by this ministry, they will glorify God for your obedience to your confession of the gospel of Christ and for the liberality of your contribution to them and to all, while they also, by prayer on your behalf, yearn for you because of the surpassing grace of God in you.  Thanks be to God for His indescribable gift!”  2 Corinthians 9:10-15.

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Posted by: Bill Hornbeck | October 14, 2022

“the appearance of the glory of the LORD was like a consuming fire”

Today’s devotion comes from Exodus 24:12-18.

“Now the LORD said to Moses, “Come up to Me on the mountain and remain there, and I will give you the stone tablets with the law and the commandment which I have written for their instruction.”  So Moses arose with Joshua his servant, and Moses went up to the mountain of God.  But to the elders he said, “Wait here for us until we return to you.  And behold, Aaron and Hur are with you;  whoever has a legal matter, let him approach them.”  Then Moses went up to the mountain, and the cloud covered the mountain.  The glory of the LORD rested on Mount Sinai, and the cloud covered it for six days;  and on the seventh day He called to Moses from the midst of the cloud.  And to the eyes of the sons of Israel the appearance of the glory of the LORD was like a consuming fire on the mountain top.  Moses entered the midst of the cloud as he went up to the mountain;  and Moses was on the mountain forty days and forty nights.”  Exodus 24:12-18.

——————–   

In today’s Scripture, we get another appearance of the LORD.  “And to the eyes of the sons of Israel the appearance of the glory of the LORD was like a consuming fire on the mountain top.”  Verse 17.  We eagerly meditate on it. 

Many are preoccupied with their own appearance.  But, Reformed Doctrine is preoccupied with the appearances of the LORD, even consumed with the desire to know God.

“This is eternal life, that they may know You, the only true God, and Jesus Christ whom You have sent.”  John 17:3.

So, what does the appearance of the LORD in today’s Scripture tell us about the LORD?

First of all, this appearance tells us the LORD is glorious:  “the glory of the LORD was like a consuming fire”.  

Second, the closest thing that we know is like a consuming fire is the sun, and Scripture describes the LORD as a sun.

“11 For the LORD God is a sun and shield;
The LORD gives grace and glory;
No good thing does He withhold from those who walk uprightly.
12 O LORD of hosts,
How blessed is the man who trusts in You!” Psalm 84:11.

As just one example of what the sun does, the sun gives light so we can see.  Like the sun, the LORD gives light so we can see.  

“And there will no longer be any night;  and they will not have need of the light of a lamp nor the light of the sun, because the Lord God will illumine them;  and they will reign forever and ever.”  Revelation 22:5.  

Third, the LORD punishes His enemies like a consuming fire. 

“Sinners in Zion are terrified;
Trembling has seized the godless.
“Who among us can live with the consuming fire?
Who among us can live with continual burning?” Isaiah 33:14.

“27 Behold, the name of the LORD comes from a remote place;
Burning is His anger and dense is His smoke;
His lips are filled with indignation
And His tongue is like a consuming fire;
…
30 And the LORD will cause His voice of authority to be heard,
And the descending of His arm to be seen in fierce anger,
And in the flame of a consuming fire
In cloudburst, downpour and hailstones.
…
33 For Topheth has long been ready,
Indeed, it has been prepared for the king.
He has made it deep and large,
A pyre of fire with plenty of wood;
The breath of the LORD, like a torrent of brimstone, sets it afire.” Isaiah 30:27 and 30 and 33.

But, there is hope!

When we know the LORD is a consuming fire, such knowledge causes us to show reverence and awe to the LORD which leads us to salvation.

“See to it that you do not refuse Him who is speaking.  For if those did not escape when they refused him who warned them on earth, much less will we escape who turn away from Him who warns from heaven.  And His voice shook the earth then, but now He has promised, saying, “YET ONCE MORE I WILL SHAKE NOT ONLY THE EARTH, BUT ALSO THE HEAVEN.”  This expression, “Yet once more,” denotes the removing of those things which can be shaken, as of created things, so that those things which cannot be shaken may remain.  Therefore, since we receive a kingdom which cannot be shaken, let us show gratitude, by which we may offer to God an acceptable service with reverence and awe;  for our God is a consuming fire.”  Hebrews 12:25-29.

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Posted by: Bill Hornbeck | October 13, 2022

“they saw the God of Israel; and under His feet there appeared to be a pavement of sapphire, as clear as the sky itself.”

Today’s devotion comes from Exodus 24:9-11.

“Then Moses went up with Aaron, Nadab and Abihu, and seventy of the elders of Israel, and they saw the God of Israel;  and under His feet there appeared to be a pavement of sapphire, as clear as the sky itself.  Yet He did not stretch out His hand against the nobles of the sons of Israel;  and they saw God, and they ate and drank.”  Exodus 24:9-11.

————–

It was surprising that God “did not stretch out His hand against the nobles of the sons of Israel”.  Who can stand before Him?!

Even Abraham’s wife, Sarai, wondered:  “…  Have I even remained alive here after seeing Him?”  Genesis 16:13.

Consider Isaiah’s experience and statement.  

“Then I said,

“Woe is me, for I am ruined!
Because I am a man of unclean lips,
And I live among a people of unclean lips;
For my eyes have seen the King, the LORD of hosts.” Isaiah 6:5.

“4 For You are not a God who takes pleasure in wickedness;
No evil dwells with You.
5 The boastful shall not stand before Your eyes;
You hate all who do iniquity.
6 You destroy those who speak falsehood;
The LORD abhors the man of bloodshed and deceit.
7 But as for me, by Your abundant lovingkindness I will enter Your house,
At Your holy temple I will bow in reverence for You.” Psalm 5:4-7.

So, with reverence, even fear and trembling, we meditate on God’s appearance:  “they saw the God of Israel;  and under His feet there appeared to be a pavement of sapphire, as clear as the sky itself.”

Let us not merely think it was a beautiful sight.  What else does God’s appearance tell us about God’s position?  

As the sky is far above the earth, God is exalted far above the earth and all gods. God’s throne is in the heavens, and He rules over all.

“For You are the LORD Most High over all the earth;
You are exalted far above all gods.” Psalm 97:9.

“The LORD has established His throne in the heavens,
And His sovereignty rules over all.” Psalm 103:19.

Is there any hope for us?

“11 “O afflicted one, storm-tossed, and not comforted,
Behold, I will set your stones in antimony,
And your foundations I will lay in sapphires.
12 “Moreover, I will make your battlements of rubies,
And your gates of crystal,
And your entire wall of precious stones.
13 “All your sons will be taught of the LORD;
And the well-being of your sons will be great.
14 “In righteousness you will be established;
You will be far from oppression, for you will not fear;
And from terror, for it will not come near you.” Isaiah 54:11-14.

“But God, being rich in mercy, because of His great love with which He loved us, even when we were dead in our transgressions, made us alive together with Christ (by grace you have been saved), and raised us up with Him, and seated us with Him in the heavenly places in Christ Jesus, so that in the ages to come He might show the surpassing riches of His grace in kindness toward us in Christ Jesus.”  Ephesians 2:4-7.

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