Windows in the Word: February 2012

FEB 10 -TODAY’S READING IN THE ONE YEAR BIBLE: Exodus 30:11-31:18; Matthew 26:47-68; Psalm 32:1-11; Proverbs 8:27-32

Today's Reading; The Ransom Offering, The Anointing Oil, Laver, Sabbath and the Betrayal of Christ

THE RANSOM OFFERING- EVERY SOUL COUNTS- LET THE REDEEMED OF THE LORD SAY SO BY CONTRIBUTING TO THE TABERNACLE’S CONSTRUCTION

The Lord tells Moses that everyone who is to be counted as a member of this new nation, the people of Israel, is to bring a tribute in recognition of the fact that they have been ransomed by the Lord and the atoning work that He provides by grace. (Exodus 30:11-16)

This was not to be a free will offering. It was not to be a matter of ‘proportionate giving’ in which each gives in accordance to how much they had prospered. This particular offering was to be a half-shekel contribution from everyone, rich or poor. It would be used to construct and maintain the Tabernacle. This ‘tent of meeting’ would be a reminder to all that they had been redeemed. It would tell the story of their Redeemer and His perfect work of redemption. It was their Redeemer who gave the command that it should be built. And everything was to be built according to the pattern He had given. It was all to speak of Him. The sacrifices and furnishings would tell how every soul can find redemption from sin and become part of the holy people of God through faith in the Redeemer of Israel.

The preciousness of every soul, and its equal value before God, is reflected in this ransom tribute. All were to give honor to the One who paid the full price of atonement for their souls by contributing to the telling of the story portrayed in the Tabernacle.

Exodus 30:15 "The rich shall not pay more and the poor shall not pay less than the half shekel, when you give the contribution to the LORD to make atonement for yourselves.

The rich are not of any greater worth before the Lord than the poor. Nor are the strong worth more than the weak. The half-shekel was a memorial before the Lord and His people that we all are of equal worth. We all have an equal need for Him. Nothing can secure our access to God but the blood of Jesus, the atoning sacrifice. Our money cannot buy us out of our bondage. Nor should our poverty keep us in bondage. The ransom offering was not to be given according to how much a person had of wealth but according to whether or not they were numbered among God’s people brought out of Egypt. Each half-shekel represented one person.

This offering brings forth an acknowledgment that we all need to be right with God and we need to be pure before Him. We all need the story of the Tabernacle. Only what is illustrated in the Tabernacle of God’s redemptive work on our behalf can ransom us. This of course speaks of the full atonement provided in Jesus’ death, burial, resurrection and ascension.

The Bronze Laver (Exodus 30:18-21)

The hands and the feet of the priest must be washed at the laver in the outer court whenever they came to minister. The laver, like the altar, was made of brass that had been furnished by melting down mirrors from Egypt.

Mirrors speak of proper assessment. The brass speaks of the verdict of judgment. The water speaks of the word of God (Eph 5:26). The ceremonial washing of the priests hands and feet speak of the constant need of cleansing in everything we handle in life and everywhere we go. The Word reminds us of the sacrifice of Christ and the fact that “the blood of Jesus His Son cleanses us from all sin.” (1 John 1:7)

The Anointing Oil (Exodus 30:22-33)

The Anointing Oil is a graphic description of the influence of the Holy Spirit to enable His servants to communicate the life of Christ, the Truer and Greater High Priest, Prophet and King. Everything about the anointing is to communicate the truth about Christ. It is related to no other!

The oil was used for the anointing of the Tabernacle, its furnishings and utensils. It was used to set apart Aaron, the High Priest, and his sons for the service of the tent of meeting. (It would also be used for anointing the Prophet and King- all pointing to the coming Messiah, the Christ- The Anointed One- King, Priest and Prophet. That which is poured out on the Head will also flow down to the body; Psalm 133. This foreshadows the outpoured Holy Spirit upon believers.)

What is particularly important about the description of the Anointing oil is that it is of a distinct composition and for a distinct purpose.

There were 4 component spices mixed according to God-given proportions. All the components were fragrant and were to bring to mind the virtues of Christ. (We learn in the Book of Leviticus that sweet smelling sacrifices speak of the various attributes of Christ and how pleasing they are to the Father).

The dominant spice in the anointing oil is MYRRH. It is a precious fragrant gum extracted from a Commiphora tree (usually about 8 feet tall) found in Asia and Africa. 12 ½ pounds of myrrh were to be mixed into the olive oil.

We see the virtue of love and sacrificial devotion in the use of myrrh in the Bible. Myrrh was employed in perfumes (Esther 2:12), embalming spice (John 19:39), and was also one of the precious gifts of the Magi from the East who came to worship Jesus (Matt 2:11). Myrrh features often in the love poem of Song of Songs. It was mingled with wine and offered to Christ on the cross to alleviate his suffering but Jesus refused it. (Mark 15:23).

Cinnamon, calamus and cassia (6 ½ pounds of each) were other sweet spices added into the anointing oil.

Strict instructions were given not to manufacture anything similar that would be a counterfeit anointing. Neither was it to be used for any other purpose but for which it was prescribed.

“ You have loved righteousness and hated wickedness; Therefore God, Your God, has anointed You With the oil of joy above Your fellows. All Your garments are fragrant with myrrh and aloes and cassia.” (Psalm 45:8)

The purpose of the anointing was to point to the perfections of the person of Christ.

THE ARTISTS

The first person recorded as being filled with the Spirit was an artist, a master craftsman named Bezalel. He was assisted by Oholiab, of the tribe of Dan. What a special honor it must have been for these two men to know that they had been called by name to do this special work with their God-given talents. (Exodus 31:2). The Lord knows your talents and how they can be used for His glory! Ask Him for the wisdom to apply what He has given you for the work He is doing in your area!

THE SABBATH

The Old Testament reading concludes with the reminder of the Sabbath as a sign of God's covenant with Israel (31:17). In the New Testament Jesus introduces Himself as Lord of the Sabbath, indicating that the true source of rest and satisfaction is found in Him. (Matthew 12:8). He offers Sabbath (rest) to all who come to Him (Matt 11:28). Whereas the principle of a regular Sabbath is a God-given one, the do or die command is not one that is taught by Jesus, or one that is repeated in the New Testament, because Jesus fulfilled it. We are called to enter into His rest (the benefits of His finished work of redemption) by faith.

NEW TESTAMENT READING: Matthew 26:47-68

Judas betrays Jesus with a kiss. This reminds us of the incident in King David's life when he was betrayed by Ahithophel and said “Even my close friend in whom I trusted, who ate my bread, has lifted up his heel against me.” The apostle John applies this verse to Judas (John 13:18-19).

But it is not just Judas who betrays. “All the disciples deserted him and fled.” (Matt 26:56). This reminds us that we have all betrayed Jesus in that “all we like sheep have gone astray.”

For Jesus it would be a night in which he is shuffled from one hearing to another. These council meetings were not customary or lawful. They were conducted without regard for due process, after hours when only some could be present, and without previously established credible witnesses. In the first hearing before the Sanhedrin, Jesus, brought like a sheep to the slaughter, refers to the Messianic prophesy of Daniel 7:13. This causes the Sanhedrin to charge Him with blasphemy and to mock Him, spit in His face, and beat Him.

PSALM 32:1-11

This is a great psalm extolling the blessings of getting right with God through honest repentance expressed in confession. We would be wise to take the warning: “Therefore, let everyone who is godly pray to You in a time when You may be found” (Psalm 32:6).

PROVERBS 8

What we have read today of the excellencies of Christ as displayed in the features of the tabernacle and priesthood and to consider how Jesus was treated by His own people causes us to shudder, especially as we see Him in Proverbs 8 as our Wisdom. Proverbs 8:27-32 gives a wonderful witness to His preincarnate existence.

OPERATION WORLD- Today we pray for Afghanistan (p. 92-93)

http://www.operationworld.org/today1