One Year Bible, February 10

EXODUS 30:11-31:18
After butchering the offerings, the priests always washed themselves (feet and hands) at the brass "laver" or basin. Exo 38:8 says it was made from pounded-out women's brass hand mirrors. This is important. James 1:23-25 calls it "the perfect law of liberty".  "Anyone who listens to the word but does not do what it says is like a man who looks at his face in a mirror and, after looking at himself, goes away and immediately forgets what he looks like. But the man who looks intently into the perfect law that gives freedom, and continues to do this, not forgetting what he has heard, but doing it-he will be blessed in what he does. " 

Okay. So the priest looks into the basin, sees his own face in there, and is freed from his own false self-image. Then what? "Now the Lord is that Spirit: and where the Spirit of the Lord is, there is liberty. But we all, with open face beholding as in a glass the glory of the Lord, are changed into the same image from glory to glory, even as by the Spirit of the Lord." (2 Co 3:17-18) What we are really seeing as we look into the basin (which is the Word of God according to James): we see Jesus working in us as we look and study. And that viewing of the Word, has the power to cleanse us from uncleanness and self-preservation because there is water in the basin for washing! (Eph 5:26) 

The anointing oil, whose ingredients all represent the work of the Holy Spirit to perfect and change us, has three rules: (1) Do not imitate it (with works); (2) Do not pour it on man's flesh; (3) Do not put it on an unsaved outsider. 

The incense, which represents the prayers and worship of the saints, had salt added to it to keep it pure ("most holy"). Are you interested in its ingredients? Stacte which means "flowing out in drops," speaks of prayer and worship flowing freely. Onycha - a shell that got its scent from what it fed on, refers to the Holy Spirit causing our prayer and worship to be "sweet smelling odor" (Phil 4:18). Galbannum has a pleasant odor and bitter taste. It comes from a broken branch which speaks of our own brokenness, which, although a bitter experience, gives off a sweet odor. Fankincense burns with a bright, strong flame that is not easily extinguished. The plant has extraordinarily long roots, and is harvested by cutting the branches and collecting the "tears". It's name means "white", no surprise there. When we finally emerge from the Wilderness, leaning on Jesus' arm, we smell like frankincense (SS 3:6), pierced and weeping, but with deep roots and an un-extinguishable flame.

"Therefore let no one sit in judgment on you in matters of food and drink, or with regard to a feast day or a New Moon or a Sabbath. Such [things] are only the shadow of things that are to come, and they have only a symbolic value." (Col 2:16-17) And what DOES the Sabbath symbolize? Matthew 11:28-30 and Heb 3:12-4:11 explain that it is the "rest" of the Lord and we must "labor" to go there! Its opposite is "an evil heart of unbelief". Our rest is obtained by coming to the Lord and trusting Him. We do that OUT LOUD by instructing our hearts (which hate God and can't obey Him :Rom 8:7), that it is safe to trust Him. We meditate (OUT LOUD) on the goodness and greatness of God. Our "labor" is what we do to get "in the rest of faith".

RESPONSE:   I am struck by how ALL of the incense ingredients comes from INSIDE of the branches/shell. It is cut or broken to collect it, and that in order to smell it, it has to be BURNED and consumed. If Jesus smells like frankincense and myrrh, then I wonder if the cloud over the camp of Israelites smelled like that? When my prayer-life STINKS, it may be because it has become ritual and has no brokenness to it. Oh God, I want to smell like frankincense, with deep roots and a flame that can't be extinguished.

MATTHEW 26:47-68
Jesus was snatched in the Garden of Gethsemane by Jewish soldiers carrying torches and clubs and weapons. They were led there by Judas, whom John 18 says was familiar with the place, having been there several times with Jesus. "Yea, mine own familiar friend, in whom I trusted, which did eat of my bread, hath lifted up his heel against me." (Psa 41:9)

Jesus was falsely accused and did not defend Himself, but was silent, "that the Scriptures might be fulfilled," like a sheep waiting for the butcher in the Temple. When He replied as to Who He was, He told them that while He looked lowly, beaten, and ridiculous NOW, there was a soon-coming a day when He would be glorified on a throne with power, coming to judge and destroy Jerusalem ("the wrath of the Lamb": Rev 6:16). In other words, Jesus told them that they would see His vindication and exaltation. Jesus was finally convicted of blasphemy (to speak evil against God in a way that makes God look cheap and common: Lev 24:16) And then all hell broke loose against Him.

RESPONSE:   Jesus had no one. Even His "prayer partner" turned out to be the cruelest betrayer. Finally, at crucifixion, even His Father turned against Him. The weight of this situation must have been nearly unbearable. But He didn't defend Himself or complain. My own complaining now looks very juvenile and selfish. Again and again I "pledge" not to complain any more - and then do it in "little ways" that convict me, nonetheless, as being very self-centered. But I won't give up. TODAY is the day.

PSALM 32:1-11
This was probably written after David had been confronted by the prophet about his "relationship" with Bathsheba, while he SHOULD have been on the battlefield with his army. He had sinned, transgressed and committed iniquity. Sin: to forfeit "the Life" because of offense; transgress: rejection of authority, rebellion, self-sufficiency;  iniquity: lawlessness, to turn aside from God; guile: betrayal, deceit, mislead.

When he didn't repent (He fooled people for nearly a YEAR), David brought on himself sickness, mental and emotional torment, condemnation, bondage, sleeplessness, stagnation, diarrhea, guilt, and fear of punishment. If I DON'T repent, he said I would be dragged with "bit and bridle", like a horse or mule that has no understanding.

True repentance does not bring a sense of sin, but a sense of utter worthlessness. When I repent, I realize I am utterly helpless, and I know all through me that I am not worthy to even tie His shoes. My flesh must be KILLED, not cleansed. No one can cleanse the old nature, it must be crucified. Immediately after repentance, I must worship, because know He is worthy and His love surrounds me, and I must re-connect with Him.

PROVERBS 8:27-32
Wisdom is foundational. Hear and obey the voice of wisdom because God takes pleasure in wisdom.

RESPONSE:   I can come easy, or I can come hard. I can be dragged, or I can come willingly to repent. When I first got my new dog, he was 8 months old and had never been on a leash. For our first walk, I dragged him on his butt all the way out of the driveway before he figured out that I wasn't going to give up and he might as well do what I wanted! Right away I thought about my unwillingness to repent....and pictured myself being dragged before God. People who don't want to repent have "no understanding". They don't know how things work in the kingdom of God. I don't want to be like that. When I repent for my sins, transgressions and iniquities, I am surrounded by "songs of deliverance" and by "God's unfailing love". Repentance is a good thing!