One Year Bible, February 9

EXODUS 29:1-30:10
Aaron and his sons were ordained in the doorway to the Holy Place, in the sight of all Israel, so that they could see that God had called them. Three sacrifices are significant because they detail the life of service: first of all a sin offering, without which no service is possible. Second a whole burnt offering (after washing the guts and feet) which was totally consumed by God, signifying complete giving of the life (they "lost" their lives (Matt 16:25). Then third, the ordination offering, which was a peace offering, that they "shared" with God, feasting on the meat. This showed a mutual satisfaction between God and priest. The blood from that offering was sprinkled on the right ear, right thumb and right toe - which were the extreme edges of the body, signifying ALL was incorporated as being covered with blood. This is because without the blood, there is no way to hear, work and walk uprightly before God.

The golden altar of incense had a crown built into the top. It was placed before the veil into the Holy of Holies. We know from Revelation that the incense represents the worship and prayers of the saints (Rev 5:8; 8:3; Psa 141:2). The smoke of incense rose toward heaven, and the cloud of God's Presence descended from heaven, and mingled as one, magnifying the volume and the scent.

RESPONSE:   Burn it all: hide, hair and hooves (and guts)! It's the only offering that was totally consumed. None of it was thrown away. Thank You for that, anyway.

I understand why the insides (inner man) and the feet (where I live and walk) had to be washed first. You are very thorough, God. I want to be an "acceptable sacrifice", totally consumed, so that Jesus can live through me. Sometimes I worry about what that means. But that is just my flesh talking, and I KNOW it is safe to trust God. I KNOW that God is great and God is good. I also KNOW that I can give my life, or waste my life. There is no other choice.

MATTHEW 26:14-46
Beginning in verse 14, we have the last seven days of Jesus' life on earth. He steadily marched toward His death, taking His disciples with Him, giving His deathbed instructions.

One of those instructions occurred at the celebration of Passover. Jesus used the implements and food and wine of the Passover, and explained His fulfillment of this. Here we have the type (Passover feast) and the fulfillment (Jesus' death and resurrection) standing together in the same room. Jesus said we would no longer celebrate the Passover, but now we celebrate with His body and His blood, and partake ("drink" means "to keep on drinking") of it "in His Father's kingdom". In other words, communion has taken the place of Passover in the kingdom of God. And so in Acts 2:42 we read "breaking of bread", but no Passover, and the same with 1 Cor 10:16-21.

Did you know that the three prayers of Gethsemane may be prophetically recorded in Psalm 35? (1-10; 11-18; 19-28)

RESPONSE:   I think that if I knew what Jesus knew, I wouldn't have been able to swallow anything at that meal. Imagine sitting there as Jesus literally opened their eyes as to the true meaning of the Passover. It may have even finally registered that as the Lamb of God, Jesus was really and truly going to die. Just as the Passover meal celebrated their deliverance from bondage and being brought near to God, so does communion. Even though my salvation was "free", it cost Jesus everything. 

PSALM 31:19-24
I love verse 20 where it talks about "in the shelter of Your Presence". This is the place that demons can't enter. It is the place of praise and thanksgiving. As I (out loud) place my heart in God's hands with praise and thanksgiving, I become impervious to what is going on around me, immune from hurt or offense.

PROVERBS 8:14-26
Counsel (good advice), sound judgment, understanding and power are not so much possessed by wisdom, as they are a part of wisdom. They are what make a person wise. Her right to be heard? to be loved? to be obeyed? She was here before the beginning. She is not God, but she is God's and (vs 23) and was "poured out from eternity". Wisdom is not ACQUIRED by God, but was always eternally inherent in God as part of His nature; God was never without wisdom. If knowledge is power, then wisdom is strength.

RESPONSE:   When I start getting upset by what's going on around me, or tangled in some circumstance, I know it is time to "hide" in God's Presence - to talk out loud to my heart. This is especially true when it is too noisy, or I am too hungry or too tired. I just start thanking God for His goodness and His greatness and I am refreshed. That is "the shelter of His Presence".