Your sin requires a costly, bloody sacrifice. Faithlife.com Leviticus 1:1–9 (NIV) 1 The L ORD  called to Moses and spoke to him from the tent of meeting. He said, 2   “Speak to the Israelites and say to them: ‘When anyone among you brings an offering to the L ORD , bring as your offering an animal from either the herd or the flock. 3   “ ‘If the offering is a burnt offering from the herd, you are to offer a male without defect. You must present it at the entrance to the tent of meeting so that it will be acceptable to the L ORD . 4  You are to lay your hand on the head of the burnt offering, and it will be accepted on your behalf to make atonement for you . 5   You are to slaughter the young bull before the L ORD , and then Aaron’s sons the priests shall bring the blood and splash it against the sides of the altar at the entrance to the tent of meeting. 6  You are to skin the burnt offering and cut it into pieces. 7  The sons of Aaron the priest are to put fire on the altar and arrange wood on the fire. 8   Then Aaron’s sons the priests shall arrange the pieces, including the head and the fat, on the wood that is burning on the altar. 9   You are to wash the internal organs and the legs with water, and the priest is to burn all of it on the altar. It is a burnt offering, a food offering, an aroma pleasing to the L ORD . Heidelberg Catechism Q&A 19 Q. How do you come to know that your Savior must be truly man and truly righteous? A. The holy gospel tells me. God himself began to reveal the gospel already in Paradise; later, he proclaimed it by the holy patriarchs and prophets, and portrayed it by the sacrifices and other ceremonies of the law; finally, he fulfilled it through his own dear Son. Summary The book of Leviticus is well known for tripping up even the best intentioned Bible reading plans. The first two books of the Bible, which we've now completed, go from one adventure to the next as they begin to trace man's journey from being evicted from Eden to the new heavens and earth described at the end of the Bible. As we met and were immersed in the stories of the patriarchs, we came to be convinced early on that salvation is only possible by God's grace alone. But here we are at the threshold of Leviticus, and the action is going to dramatically slow down as the book describes how Israel was to be holy - that is, set apart from the nations. It begins with seven chapters similar to our reading today that describe the intricate details of the various sacrifices - rituals that seem so foreign, odd and even grotesque to our modern ears. But it's in these seemingly strange and exceedingly bloody details that we can learn so much about one of the most important theological concepts that you need to understand: atonement (sometimes referred to as propitiation ). Leviticus helps us understand that sin has a cost that must be paid for. Commentator Rousas Rushdoony explains it well: There are thus three conditions required in animal sacrifices: first , the only animals acceptable were those that had been specified as clean by God’s law; second , they were domesticated animals which were commonly used for food; third , they were a part of the sacrificer’s personal property and wealth, and thus they cost him something. Even the poor had to give a sacrifice which cost them something, a dove or a pigeon. Thus, in the sacrifice of atonement, nothing man does can earn his redemption: it is entirely an act of sovereign grace on God’s part. At the same time, it is not costless to man.   Dig Deeper   Although these sacrifices of atonement certainly had a financial component, they involved so much more than just paying a penalty. They demanded a very personal, hands on confession. The repentant man must lay his hand on the burnt offering so that it would be accepted on his behalf to make atonement. The innocent animal, a male without defect, would be substituting himself on behalf of the sinner. The intimate connection of placing hands upon the animal's head was meant to drive home the point that the sinner deserved the death that the animal would receive. But even then the sinner's duties were not yet complete. The man himself was required to slaughter the young bull before the LORD with his own hand. What an intense way to come to understand that the penalty for sin is lifeblood as the sinner held his dying animal as it bled out, having been substituted in his place! The priest would then take over, bringing the blood and splashing it against the sides of the altar. Every piece of the cut up animal would be burned on the altar as a burnt offering, a food offering, an aroma pleasing to the LORD. So as we read through the sometimes tedious book of Leviticus this week, pray that through the reading of this portion of God's Word that you will come to more deeply understand what it means that Christ, through His sacrificial death, became a substitutionary atonement for you. AAA Prayer (About) A CKNOWLEDGE WHO GOD IS : Our Father, the LORD, whose holiness demands a perfect atonement for sin; A LIGN YOUR LIFE WITH GOD'S WILL: Gratefully acknowledge that Jesus Christ substituted Himself as the atoning sacrifice for all of your sins; A SK GOD FOR WHAT YOU NEED:

What if Psalm 23 isn't really about sheep? Psalm 23 A psalm of David. 1  The L ORD  is my shepherd, I lack nothing. 2 He makes me lie down in green pastures, he leads me beside quiet waters, 3 he refreshes my soul. He guides me along the right paths for his name’s sake. 4   Even though I walk through the darkest valley [ under death's shadow ],  I will fear no evil, for you are with me; your rod and your staff, they comfort me. 5  You prepare a table before me in the presence of my enemies. You anoint my head with oil; my cup overflows. 6  Surely your goodness and love will follow me all the days of my life, and I will dwell in the house of the L ORD forever. Belgic Confession Article 27: The Holy Catholic Church We believe and confess one single catholic or universal church— a holy congregation and gathering of true Christian believers, awaiting their entire salvation in Jesus Christ being washed by his blood, and sanctified and sealed by the Holy Spirit. This church has existed from the beginning of the world and will last until the end, as appears from the fact that Christ is eternal King who cannot be without subjects. And this holy church is preserved by God against the rage of the whole world, even though for a time it may appear very small in the eyes of men— as though it were snuffed out. For example, during the very dangerous time of Ahab the Lord preserved for himself seven thousand men who did not bend their knees to Baal. And so this holy church is not confined, bound, or limited to a certain place or certain persons. But it is spread and dispersed throughout the entire world, though still joined and united in heart and will, in one and the same Spirit, by the power of faith. Summary Psalm 23 is one of the Bible's most familiar passages, and for good reason! Psalm 23 is poetically beautiful, theologically rich, and massively comforting. It soothes our souls when we're in green pastures , as well as when we find ourselves in the dark valley . One of the reasons Psalm 23 is so enduring is that the opening metaphor of a shepherd tending His sheep seems so appropriate. After all, the Bible often refers to us - God's people - as being the sheep of His pasture (Psalms 79, 95 , 96 , 100, John 10 , just to name a few). It only makes sense: sheep are driven only by their appetites, they're stubborn, prone to wander away, and completely lost and vulnerable once separated from their shepherd. Just like us. But re-read Psalm 23, and stop when you get to the word sheep . You won't stop, because it's not there. Yes, the shepherd motif continues, using metaphorical language like green pastures and the shepherd's rod and staff, but David doesn't go so far as to call us sheep! Your appreciation and application of Psalm 23 will grow once you understand the full imagery behind it. Yes, for sure, the LORD is our shepherd , but He's so much more than just a gentle farmhand sitting on a hillside tending a flock of sheep. In the Ancient Near Eastern culture that David wrote in, kings were understood to be the shepherds of their people. So here's David, the preeminent shepherd-king of Israel, indicating that he bases his comfort on the fact that he is under an even greater King.   Dig Deeper   If we stick to the shepherd / sheep metaphor, it seems to fizzle out half way through when the scene shifts to a table prepared in the presence of our enemies. Sheep are like us in many ways, but they don't sit at tables. But if we understand Psalm 23 as a picture of our relationship of the sovereign King of the universe who cares for His people as a shepherd cares for His sheep, the final two verses aren't merely just a change in imagery, but rather they're a progression showcasing the King's protective role. The prepared table and overflowing cup, then, become expressions of royal patronage and covenant blessing rather than simple pastoral provision. When read through a royal lens, this table reflects the king’s responsibility to ensure the welfare and honor of those under his protection. And not just minimum welfare, but an invitation to the King's luxurious table in the presence of our enemies! If our shepherd is the King, then dwelling in the house of the LORD represents entering the divine King’s palace - the ultimate expression of security and covenant favor. And David, inspired by the Holy Spirit, assures God's people that we'll dwell in this house of the LORD forever! So no matter wherever you find yourself in life - whether you've been given charge over much, like King David, whether you're lying down in green pastures and being guided along quiet waters and right paths , or whether you find yourself under a heavy shadow as you walk through the darkest valley, find your confidence in the fact that you are forever a subject of the LORD, the Shepherd-King who sovereignly reigns over all things. AAA Prayer (About) A CKNOWLEDGE WHO GOD IS : Our Father, the LORD, our shepherd ; A LIGN YOUR LIFE WITH GOD'S WILL: Thank your Shepherd-King that you lack nothing, and pray that His goodness and love will follow me all the days of my life as you follow His leading; A SK GOD FOR WHAT YOU NEED:

If it's heavy, it's expensive. SINCE WE LAST LEFT OFF... The LORD renewed His covenant with Israel after the golden calf, commanding them to tear down idols, keep His appointed feasts, and live as a distinct, holy people. Moses descends from Sinai with his face shining from having spoken with God. The people then give generously for the tabernacle, and under the skilled leadership of craftsmen filled with the Spirit, they carefully construct the tent, its furnishings, and the priests’ garments exactly as the LORD commanded—so that at last everything is ready for His dwelling among them. Exodus 40 (NIV) 40 Then the L ORD said to Moses: 2   “Set up the tabernacle, the tent of meeting, on the first day of the first month. 3   Place the ark of the covenant law in it and shield the ark with the curtain. -- 8   Set up the courtyard around it and put the curtain at the entrance to the courtyard. 9  “Take the anointing oil and anoint the tabernacle and everything in it; consecrate it and all its furnishings, and it will be holy. -- 12  “Bring Aaron and his sons to the entrance to the tent of meeting and wash them with water. 13  Then dress Aaron in the sacred garments, anoint him and consecrate him so he may serve me as priest. 14  Bring his sons and dress them in tunics. 15  Anoint them just as you anointed their father, so they may serve me as priests. Their anointing will be to a priesthood that will continue throughout their generations.” 16  Moses did everything just as the L ORD  commanded him. 17  So the tabernacle was set up on the first day of the first month in the second year. 18  When Moses set up the tabernacle, he put the bases in place, erected the frames, inserted the crossbars and set up the posts. 19  Then he spread the tent over the tabernacle and put the covering over the tent, as the LORD commanded him. -- 34  Then the cloud covered the tent of meeting, and the glory of the L ORD  filled the tabernacle. 35  Moses could not enter the tent of meeting because the cloud had settled on it, and the glory of the L ORD  filled the tabernacle. 36  In all the travels of the Israelites, whenever the cloud lifted from above the tabernacle, they would set out; 37  but if the cloud did not lift, they did not set out—until the day it lifted. 38  So the cloud of the L ORD  was over the tabernacle by day, and fire was in the cloud by night, in the sight of all the Israelites during all their travels. Belgic Confession Article 18, The Incarnation We confess that God fulfilled the promise which he had made to the early fathers by the mouth of his holy prophets when he sent his only and eternal Son into the world at the time set by him. -- In this way he is truly our Immanuel— that is: “God with us.” Summary By the time we reach this final chapter in the book of Exodus, God's people have been in the wilderness for just under a year. Eleven and a half months, to be exact. We can know that with certainty because of the LORD's instruction to set the Tabernacle up on the first day of the first month. Back in chapter 12 , we read that they'd been rescued through the Red Sea on the fifteenth day of the first month. Next time someone suggests to you that the exodus is just a myth or legend, ask them how many myths and legends contain exact dates. There's upwards of two million people in this convoy - a massive logistical challenge even by modern standards. But the only solid - yet transportable - infrastructure project recorded in the book of Exodus is this Tabernacle. God's dwelling place among His people was of paramount concern. It would be the literal center of their existence, even as they set out whenever the cloud lifted from above the tabernacle. What a sight it must have been when the LORD moved into His dwelling place centered amongst His redeemed covenant people. The English translations all properly render the event with the words the glory of the LORD filled the tabernacle. The Hebrew word that lies behind that is kā·ḇôḏ , which means heaviness. Remember the famous line from Jurassic Park - "if it's heavy, it's expensive." God's heavy glory conveys His infinite value. This same cloud borne heaviness that stood between these people and Pharoah's pursuing army had now settled in their midst.   Dig Deeper   The Hebrew word translated tabernacle simply means dwelling place. But what's so remarkable about the Tabernacle and the Jerusalem Temple that would later replace it was their inaccessibility. Their most striking features were their barriers. These dwellings were shrouded with either thick, heavy curtains or imposing walls. With each new curtained layer, the amount of people who could enter the area was increasingly restricted. It all culminated in the most exclusive area: the Holy of Holies, where the ark of the covenant law was to be kept. It could only be entered into once a year, under very tight constraints, with the high priest bearing the prescribed offering of atonement (payment). It's important to understand the spatial relationships regarding the Tabernacle. The facility itself was located at the center of Israelite society, and at the center of this center were the two stone tablets containing God's covenant specifications - two exact copies: one for the people, and one for the LORD. God's presence amongst His people was predicated upon this covenant relationship. This is exactly what has been fulfilled by our Savior, who became flesh and tabernacled among us ( John 1:14 ). Because He perfectly kept our end of this covenantal relationship with God, we look forward to the coming day when God's dwelling place [tabernacle] is now among the people, and He will dwell with them. They will be His people, and God Himself will be with them and be their God ( Revelation 21:3 ). The heavy curtains and imposing walls separating us and God will be gone. AAA Prayer (About) A CKNOWLEDGE WHO GOD IS : Our Father, the God who came to dwell amongst His people; A LIGN YOUR LIFE WITH GOD'S WILL: Pray that even though we no longer have a visible pillar of cloud to follow, that your life will be directed by pursuing God's glory; A SK GOD FOR WHAT YOU NEED:

Be thankful for God's grace and your salvation. But don't be satisfied with it. Logos.com SINCE WE LAST LEFT OFF... Moses came down from meeting with the LORD upon the mountain to find the Israelites "running wild" before the golden calf, "and that Aaron had let them get out of control and so become a laughingstock to their enemies" (32:25). Moses offered himself in intercession for Israel after the golden calf, pleading that God would forgive their sin or blot him out instead, and though the LORD spares the nation for the moment, He affirms that each sinner will bear his own guilt and sends a plague as judgment for their rebellion. Exodus 33 - 34:10 33 Then the L ORD said to Moses, “Leave this place, you and the people you brought up out of Egypt, and go up to the land I promised on oath to Abraham, Isaac and Jacob, saying, ‘I will give it to your descendants.’ 2   I will send an angel before you and drive out the Canaanites, Amorites, Hittites, Perizzites, Hivites and Jebusites. 3   Go up to the land flowing with milk and honey. But I will not go with you, because you are a stiff-necked people and I might destroy you on the way.” 4   When the people heard these distressing words, they began to mourn and no one put on any ornaments. 5   For the L ORD had said to Moses, “Tell the Israelites, ‘You are a stiff-necked people. If I were to go with you even for a moment, I might destroy you. Now take off your ornaments and I will decide what to do with you.’ ” 6   So the Israelites stripped off their ornaments at Mount Horeb. -- 12  Moses said to the L ORD , “You have been telling me, ‘Lead these people,’ but you have not let me know whom you will send with me. You have said, ‘I know you by name and you have found favor with me.’ 13  If you are pleased with me, teach me your ways so I may know you and continue to find favor with you. Remember that this nation is your people.” 14  The L ORD replied, “My Presence will go with you, and I will give you rest.” 15  Then Moses said to him, “If your Presence does not go with us, do not send us up from here. 16  How will anyone know that you are pleased with me and with your people unless you go with us? What else will distinguish me and your people from all the other people on the face of the earth?” 17  And the L ORD said to Moses, “I will do the very thing you have asked, because I am pleased with you and I know you by name.” 18  Then Moses said, “Now show me your glory.” 19  And the L ORD said, “I will cause all my goodness to pass in front of you, and I will proclaim my name, the L ORD , in your presence. I will have mercy on whom I will have mercy, and I will have compassion on whom I will have compassion. 20  But,” he said, “you cannot see my face, for no one may see me and live.” 21  Then the L ORD said, “There is a place near me where you may stand on a rock. 22  When my glory passes by, I will put you in a cleft in the rock and cover you with my hand until I have passed by. 23  Then I will remove my hand and you will see my back; but my face must not be seen.” 34 The L ORD said to Moses, “Chisel out two stone tablets like the first ones, and I will write on them the words that were on the first tablets, which you broke. 2   Be ready in the morning, and then come up on Mount Sinai. Present yourself to me there on top of the mountain. 3  No one is to come with you or be seen anywhere on the mountain; not even the flocks and herds may graze in front of the mountain.” 4  So Moses chiseled out two stone tablets like the first ones and went up Mount Sinai early in the morning, as the L ORD had commanded him; and he carried the two stone tablets in his hands. 5   Then the L ORD came down in the cloud and stood there with him and proclaimed his name, the L ORD . 6  And he passed in front of Moses, proclaiming, “The L ORD , the L ORD , the compassionate and gracious God, slow to anger, abounding in love and faithfulness, 7  maintaining love to thousands, and forgiving wickedness, rebellion and sin. Yet he does not leave the guilty unpunished; he punishes the children and their children for the sin of the parents to the third and fourth generation.” 8   Moses bowed to the ground at once and worshiped. 9  “L ORD ,” he said, “if I have found favor in your eyes, then let the L ORD go with us. Although this is a stiff-necked people, forgive our wickedness and our sin, and take us as your inheritance.” 10  Then the L ORD said: “I am making a covenant with you. Before all your people I will do wonders never before done in any nation in all the world. The people you live among will see how awesome is the work that I, the L ORD , will do for you. Heidelberg Catechism Q&A 122 Q. What does the first request of the Lord's Prayer mean? A. “Hallowed be your name” means, Help us to really know you, to bless, worship, and praise you for all your works and for all that shines forth from them: your almighty power, wisdom, kindness, justice, mercy, and truth. And it means, Help us to direct all our living— what we think, say, and do— so that your name will never be blasphemed because of us but always honored and praised. Summary As we've already seen multiple times these past weeks as we've begun our journey through the Bible, God doesn't fit in the boxes we like to keep Him in. We often bind God by His own attributes, thinking that His grace and patience are unlimited and will forever keep His wrath at bay. As the popular book claimed, we want to think that Love Wins, as if somehow God's mercy will always overcome His justice. But passages like today's ought to cure us of such vapid notions. God's patience has run out on His stiff necked people. He tells Moses that He'll send an angel to lead the people back to the land I promised on oath to Abraham, Isaac and Jacob... the land flowing with milk and honey, but that they'd be going alone. I will not go with you, the LORD says, because I might destroy you on the way. Even God's just rejection is based in His grace! Upon hearing these distressing words, the people began to mourn. Notice how different this reaction is for them. Whereas before their continual refrain was to blame God for bringing them out to the wilderness to die, they now recognize their utter sinfulness and simply and silently mourn. But it's in the midst of this mourning that we see the gospel. God's people, even at their lowest, most sinful moments, have an intercessor - a mediator... a man who stands in the middle - shielding them from experiencing the fullness of God's anger that our sins fully deserve. Moses tells the LORD that if your Presence does not go with us, do not send us up from here.   Dig Deeper   The LORD gave Moses, and the people Moses represented, exactly what Moses asked for. The LORD said to Moses, "I will do the very thing you have asked, because I am pleased with you and I know you by name." Notice that salvation isn't based on empty promises to do better or try harder, but fully rests upon the fact that upon the fact that the LORD knows  us. But Moses wasn't finished. He wanted more. He didn't even ask humbly, he simply demanded that the LORD show me your glory. And the LORD didn't even skip a beat. He told Moses I will cause all my goodness to pass in front of you, and I will proclaim my name, the LORD, in your presence. But Israel's mediator was limited. The LORD told him, you cannot see my face, for no one may see me and live. The LORD's holiness would completely crush Moses' sinfulness. So the LORD put Moses in a cleft in the Rock and covered him. The LORD protected this sinful, limited mediator by the holy, perfect Mediator - the Rock, upon which we continue to stand before the face of the LORD. Be thankful for God's grace and your salvation. But don't be satisfied with it. Like Moses, long to see God's glory as well. Pray that you, hidden in a cleft in the Rock, will fully experience all the wonders of the LORD and that you'll see how awesome is the work that the LORD has done and will do for you. AAA Prayer (About) A CKNOWLEDGE WHO GOD IS : Our Father, the LORD, the compassionate and gracious God, slow to anger, abounding in love and faithfulness, maintaining love to thousands, and forgiving wickedness, rebellion and sin; A LIGN YOUR LIFE WITH GOD'S WILL: Thank God for the grace He's given, and pray that you will experience and reflect His glory; A SK GOD FOR WHAT YOU NEED:

The most dangerous thing we can do is worship according to our own desires. SINCE WE LAST LEFT OFF... Exodus 25–31 For forty days Moses had been on the mountain with the LORD, receiving detailed instructions for the tabernacle that showed God intended to dwell among His redeemed people on His holy terms. Exodus 32:1–20 (NIV) 32 When the people saw that Moses was so long in coming down from the mountain, they gathered around Aaron and said, “Come, make us gods who will go before us. As for this fellow Moses who brought us up out of Egypt, we don’t know what has happened to him.” 2   Aaron answered them, “Take off the gold earrings that your wives, your sons and your daughters are wearing, and bring them to me.” 3   So all the people took off their earrings and brought them to Aaron. 4   He took what they handed him and made it into an idol cast in the shape of a calf, fashioning it with a tool. Then they said, “These are your gods,  Israel, who brought you up out of Egypt.” 5  When Aaron saw this, he built an altar in front of the calf and announced, “Tomorrow there will be a festival to the L ORD .” 6   So the next day the people rose early and sacrificed burnt offerings and presented fellowship offerings. Afterward they sat down to eat and drink and got up to indulge in revelry. 7  Then the L ORD said to Moses, “Go down, because your people, whom you brought up out of Egypt, have become corrupt. 8   They have been quick to turn away from what I commanded them and have made themselves an idol cast in the shape of a calf. They have bowed down to it and sacrificed to it and have said, ‘These are your gods, Israel, who brought you up out of Egypt.’ 9   “I have seen these people,” the L ORD said to Moses, “and they are a stiff-necked people. 10  Now leave me alone so that my anger may burn against them and that I may destroy them. Then I will make you into a great nation.” 11  But Moses sought the favor of the L ORD his God. “L ORD ,” he said, “why should your anger burn against your people, whom you brought out of Egypt with great power and a mighty hand? 12  Why should the Egyptians say, ‘It was with evil intent that he brought them out, to kill them in the mountains and to wipe them off the face of the earth’? Turn from your fierce anger; relent and do not bring disaster on your people. 13  Remember your servants Abraham, Isaac and Israel, to whom you swore by your own self: ‘I will make your descendants as numerous as the stars in the sky and I will give your descendants all this land I promised them, and it will be their inheritance forever.’ ” 14  Then the L ORD relented and did not bring on his people the disaster he had threatened. 15  Moses turned and went down the mountain with the two tablets of the covenant law in his hands. They were inscribed on both sides, front and back. 16  The tablets were the work of God; the writing was the writing of God, engraved on the tablets. 17  When Joshua heard the noise of the people shouting, he said to Moses, “There is the sound of war in the camp.” 18  Moses replied: “It is not the sound of victory, it is not the sound of defeat; it is the sound of singing that I hear.” 19  When Moses approached the camp and saw the calf and the dancing, his anger burned and he threw the tablets out of his hands, breaking them to pieces at the foot of the mountain. 20  And he took the calf the people had made and burned it in the fire; then he ground it to powder, scattered it on the water and made the Israelites drink it. Heidelberg Catechism Q&A 96 Q. What is God’s will for us in the second commandment? A. That we in no way make any image of God nor worship him in any other way than he has commanded in his Word. Summary Forty days. That's all it took for the people to give up on God. These people, who'd seen the ten plagues devastate the mightiest empire on earth, who'd seen the Red Sea open up so they could escape, who'd heard God's voice thunder down from Sinai, who'd tasted the manna and quail God had provided and drank the water He caused to spring up out of a rock, didn't know what had happened to this fellow Moses, so they assumed that both Moses and the LORD had ditched them. Aaron was quick to offer a solution, telling the people to fork over their gold jewelry - the same gold God had caused the Egyptians to hand over to them. From this, Aaron forged a golden calf, just like the religious icons their neighbors used to symbolize their gods' power and fertility - power that could be domesticated like a mighty ox. Aaron confirms that the calf wasn't meant to replace the LORD, but to merely repackage Him. Some of the Israelites immediately referred to the calf as their gods who'd brought them up out of Egypt, but Aaron did his best to redirect their efforts into a festival to the LORD, whose image they had now created and harnessed. Once the requisite sacrifices had been quickly offered, they sat down to eat and drink and got up to indulge in revelry. The King James and other versions translate this a bit more euphemistically: they rose up to play. Anytime religion deviates from God's truth, it doesn't take long before it takes on sexual elements.   Dig Deeper   The massive irony to this account is its setting. Moses is on the mountain with the LORD, being given the exact instructions for how the people are to worship Him, while the very people who'd been rescued to worship were drunkenly prancing around a gilded calf playing with each other. It's no wonder the LORD's anger burned against them and that He wanted to destroy them. But God's sinful people had a mediator - one who stood between them and Him. Moses clung to the the covenant promises that God had made as he implored for the rebellious Hebrews he represented. And then once again, we have to work through the difficult language describing how God relented (alternate translation: repented ). We don't have the space to dig into that today, but you can go back to Genesis 6 for a brief explanation. What follows is one of the saddest events in scripture. Moses went back down the mountain with the two tablets of the covenant law in his hands - the work of God; the writing was the writing of God, engraved on the tablets. These tablets - one copy for the people, the other for God, to be kept in the Holy of Holies - documented and sealed God's covenant relationship with the people. As Moses saw the calf and the dancing, his anger burned and he threw the tablets out of his hands, breaking them to pieces at the foot of the mountain. It wasn't just that Moses' fierce temper got the best of him again, but that he realized that his people had already broken their brand new agreement with the LORD. Sinful humanity is totally incapable of ever keeping it. God's people would not just need a new and better Mediator than Moses, they'd need a whole new covenant. We find both in Christ (Hebrews 8). AAA Prayer (About) A CKNOWLEDGE WHO GOD IS : Our covenant God and Father, whom we must not worship in any other way than he has commanded in his Word; A LIGN YOUR LIFE WITH GOD'S WILL: Confess how it is that you forge God into your own image and pray that you will cling to your new and better Mediator, Jesus Christ for salvation; A SK GOD FOR WHAT YOU NEED:

God's Call to Worship is an all consuming command. To the Israelites the glory of the LORD looked like a consuming fire on top of the mountain - Exodus 24:27 SINCE WE LAST LEFT OFF... Exodus 20:18–23:33 After God spoke the Ten Commandments, the people saw the thunder and smoke on Sinai, feared death, and asked Moses to mediate. God then taught them obedient worship, applied His holiness to daily life, and promised to lead them into the land without compromise. Exodus 24:1–18 (NIV) 24 Then the L ORD said to Moses, “Come up to the L ORD , you and Aaron, Nadab and Abihu, and seventy of the elders of Israel. You are to worship at a distance, 2  but Moses alone is to approach the L ORD ; the others must not come near. And the people may not come up with him.” 3   When Moses went and told the people all the L ORD's words and laws, they responded with one voice, “Everything the L ORD has said we will do.” 4  Moses then wrote down everything the L ORD had said. He got up early the next morning and built an altar at the foot of the mountain and set up twelve stone pillars representing the twelve tribes of Israel. 5  Then he sent young Israelite men, and they offered burnt offerings and sacrificed young bulls as fellowship offerings to the L ORD . 6  Moses took half of the blood and put it in bowls, and the other half he splashed against the altar. 7   Then he took the Book of the Covenant and read it to the people. They responded, “We will do everything the L ORD has said; we will obey.” 8   Moses then took the blood, sprinkled it on the people and said, “This is the blood of the covenant that the L ORD has made with you in accordance with all these words.” 9  Moses and Aaron, Nadab and Abihu, and the seventy elders of Israel went up 10  and saw the God of Israel. Under his feet was something like a pavement made of lapis lazuli, as bright blue as the sky. 11  But God did not raise his hand against these leaders of the Israelites; they saw God, and they ate and drank. 12  The L ORD said to Moses, “Come up to me on the mountain and stay here, and I will give you the tablets of stone with the law and commandments I have written for their instruction.” 13  Then Moses set out with Joshua his aide, and Moses went up on the mountain of God. 14  He said to the elders, “Wait here for us until we come back to you. Aaron and Hur are with you, and anyone involved in a dispute can go to them.” 15  When Moses went up on the mountain, the cloud covered it, 16  and the glory of the L ORD settled on Mount Sinai. For six days the cloud covered the mountain, and on the seventh day the L ORD called to Moses from within the cloud. 17  To the Israelites the glory of the L ORD looked like a consuming fire on top of the mountain. 18  Then Moses entered the cloud as he went on up the mountain. And he stayed on the mountain forty days and forty nights. Heidelberg Catechism Q&A 96 Q. What is God’s will for us in the second commandment? A. That we in no way make any image of God nor worship him in any other way than he has commanded in his Word. Summary Chances are you responded to God's call to worship yesterday. For most of us, going to church on Sunday is as much a part of our regular routine as brushing our teeth before going to bed. We roll into the sanctuary at the appointed time, read the bulletin, sing a few songs, pray a few prayers, listen to the minister, drink some coffee and then go home. Some of us still go back in the evening and do the same thing all over again... except with less coffee. God extends a call to worship to Israel in today's chapter, but not to everyone. The Israelites had made it quite clear that they didn't want to be anywhere near God, for they were terrified of Him. They had unanimously voted for Moses to mediate on their behalf - to stand between them and the LORD. So the LORD called Moses alone to approach Him, but He also ordered Aaron and his sons and seventy elders of Israel to worship at a distance. And what they saw was indescribable. All the text even attempts to explain is the pavement God walked upon... it was something like precious stones as bright blue as the sky. The LORD immediately made clear His purpose for this glorious worship service: to give the tablets of stone with the law and commandments He had written for our instruction. This service wasn't over in an hour, or even two. Moses went up on the mountain while the elders waited. Then for six days the cloud covered the mountain - a cloud that to the Israelites looked like a consuming fire. It wasn't until the seventh day that the LORD called to Moses from within the cloud. And that was just the prelude... Moses stayed on the mountain forty days and forty nights. Think of yesterday's service(s). How did you experience even a glimpse of God's holiness as you worshipped? How do passages like today's change your understanding and attitude toward the worship God still calls us to?   Dig Deeper   Old Testament worship was a bloody affair. We're not told here exactly how many bulls were sacrificed as fellowship offerings to the LORD, but there were many. Moses took half of the blood and put it in bowls, and the other half he splashed against the altar. Blood is so significant because it represents life. Hebrews 9:22 explains that without the shedding of blood, there is no forgiveness. But the blood in this chapter represents even more. This blood, Moses explains, is the blood of the covenant. Remember, a covenant is " a bond in blood, sovereignly administered ." The blood here represented the blood that would be spilled by the party that broke the covenant. As the LORD once again confirmed His covenant faithfulness to His people, the people eagerly affirmed their intent in the midst of this blood. Twice they proclaim, we will do everything the LORD has said; we will obey. But you already know the rest of the story. You know that before this forty day worship service is even over, the Israelites will be dancing around golden calves. They would still need a mediator between them and God to give the blood sacrifice they (and we) would owe, but that Mediator will need to be One better than Moses. AAA Prayer (About) A CKNOWLEDGE WHO GOD IS : Our covenant God and Father, whose holiness and glory is a consuming fire; A LIGN YOUR LIFE WITH GOD'S WILL: Pray that you will keep the law and commandments God gave for our instruction, even as you trust in the perfect blood of Christ that satisfies God's covenant; A SK GOD FOR WHAT YOU NEED:

You may feel far from God, but He is never far from you. The Bible App Psalm 22 For the director of music. To the tune of “The Doe of the Morning.” A psalm of David. 1   My God, my God, why have you forsaken me? Why are you so far from saving me, so far from my cries of anguish? 2   My God, I cry out by day, but you do not answer, by night, but I find no rest. 3   Yet you are enthroned as the Holy One; you are the one Israel praises.  4  In you our fathers put their trust; they trusted and you delivered them. 5  To you they cried out and were saved; in you they trusted and were not put to shame. 6  But I am a worm and not a man, scorned by everyone, despised by the people. 7   All who see me mock me; they hurl insults, shaking their heads. 8   “He trusts in the L ORD ,” they say, “let the L ORD  rescue him. Let him deliver him, since he delights in him.” 9   Yet you brought me out of the womb; you made me trust in you, even at my mother’s breast. 10  From birth I was cast on you; from my mother’s womb you have been my God. 11  Do not be far from me, for trouble is near and there is no one to help. 12  Many bulls surround me; strong bulls of Bashan encircle me. 13  Roaring lions that tear their prey open their mouths wide against me. 14  I am poured out like water, and all my bones are out of joint. My heart has turned to wax; it has melted within me. 15  My mouth is dried up like a potsherd, and my tongue sticks to the roof of my mouth; you lay me in the dust of death. 16  Dogs surround me, a pack of villains encircles me; they pierce  my hands and my feet. 17  All my bones are on display; people stare and gloat over me. 18  They divide my clothes among them and cast lots for my garment. 19  But you, L ORD , do not be far from me. You are my strength; come quickly to help me. 20  Deliver me from the sword, my precious life from the power of the dogs. 21  Rescue me from the mouth of the lions; save me from the horns of the wild oxen. 22  I will declare your name to my people; in the assembly I will praise you. 23  You who fear the L ORD , praise him! All you descendants of Jacob, honor him! Revere him, all you descendants of Israel! 24  For he has not despised or scorned the suffering of the afflicted one; he has not hidden his face from him but has listened to his cry for help. 25  From you comes the theme of my praise in the great assembly; before those who fear you I will fulfill my vows. 26  The poor will eat and be satisfied; those who seek the L ORD will praise him— may your hearts live forever! 27  All the ends of the earth will remember and turn to the L ORD , and all the families of the nations will bow down before him, 28  for dominion belongs to the L ORD and he rules over the nations. 29  All the rich of the earth will feast and worship; all who go down to the dust will kneel before him— those who cannot keep themselves alive. 30  Posterity will serve him; future generations will be told about the L ORD . 31  They will proclaim his righteousness, declaring to a people yet unborn: He has done it! Heidelberg Catechism Q&A 37 Q. What do you understand by the word “suffered”? A. That during his whole life on earth, but especially at the end, Christ sustained in body and soul the anger of God against the sin of the whole human race. This he did in order that, by his suffering as the only atoning sacrifice, he might set us free, body and soul, from eternal condemnation, and gain for us God’s grace, righteousness, and eternal life. Summary Psalm 22 opens with those famous words “my God, my God, why have you forsaken me?” These words gained fame when Jesus quoted Psalm 22 while suffering on the Cross. This is a psalm of lament expressing the pain of unanswered prayer. The opening words of this Psalm resonated with Jesus as he bore the weight of our sin on the cross. While the first 21 verses of this Psalm speak to the pain of unanswered prayer, there is a shift that takes place around verse 22. David, the psalmist, goes from agonizing over unanswered prayer to praising God for answered prayer. What starts as an expression of pain turns into an outpouring of praise.   Dig Deeper   The first section of this psalm laments over God’s apparent absence despite the psalmist remaining steadfast in prayer. David writes of crying out day by day yet not receiving a reply. Part of trusting God is trusting not only in his goodness, but also in his timing. When you humble yourself in prayer, do so in full faith that God can and will provide what you truly need. There may be a difference between what you want and what you need; recognizing this is an important step in learning to trust God. What seems like an agonizing wait for you may be a matter of God’s timing. If you are living through a time that resonates with the opening of this psalm, know that this lament is not forever. David’s expressions of lament were turned into words of praise. When Jesus faced the torment of the curse of sin on the cross, he too spoke these words. Then on the third day he rose from the grave, breaking the spiritual chains of sin, and setting captive sinners free. If both King David and our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ faced times of lament, why should we expect to be spared hardship in this life? There will be trouble in this world, when it inevitably comes, trust in the grace of Jesus. If you feel abandoned or alone, do not hesitate to share this with God through prayer. And when God answers your prayer, do not neglect to sing his praises. AAA Prayer (About) A CKNOWLEDGE WHO GOD IS : Our Father, who is enthroned as the Holy One; A LIGN YOUR LIFE WITH GOD'S WILL: Pray that you will never be far from the LORD; A SK GOD FOR WHAT YOU NEED:

An orderly society is one that honors God's commandments. DailyVerses.net We read through the first table of God's Law yesterday . Today we'll read the second. Exodus 20:12–17 (NIV) 12  “Honor your father and your mother, so that you may live long in the land the L ORD  your God is giving you. 13  “You shall not murder. 14  “You shall not commit adultery. 15  “You shall not steal. 16  “You shall not give false testimony against your neighbor. 17  “You shall not covet your neighbor’s house. You shall not covet your neighbor’s wife, or his male or female servant, his ox or donkey, or anything that belongs to your neighbor.” Heidelberg Catechism Q&A 93 Q. How are the Ten Commandments divided? A. Into two tables. The first has four commandments, teaching us what our relation to God should be. The second has six commandments, teaching us what we owe our neighbor. Summary Today’s passage is the second portion of the Ten Commandments. While the first four commandments dealt with our relationship with God, these six commandments address how to live in relation with one another. These commandments were given at Mount Sinai, instructing the Israelites how to live into God’s moral expectations for His people. God’s morality is unchanging. While directed towards the Israelites, these commands are relevant and meant to be followed by all of God’s people. As these commandments turn from our relationship with God to our relationship with our fellow man, God begins by addressing our relationship with our parents. The command to honor your father and mother is an anchor for a healthy society. This is also the commandment that comes with a promise, if the Israelites are faithful in honoring their parents their days will be long in the land the LORD is giving to them. The following commandments are foundational for a functioning society. Nations have laws against murder and theft, while the commands against adultery and coveting emphasize the importance of faithfulness in our relationships with one another.   Dig Deeper   In the book of Exodus, we find events that God used to test the people as well as examples of God’s provision. Earlier this week we covered how God miraculously fed millions of Israelites each day with bread called manna and then made water burst forth from a rock so the people had water to drink . While these commandments were given to the Israelites for them to follow and obey, they are also another means of God’s provision. This is especially apparent in these final six commandments which speak to how to live in relationship with one another. How we treat one another can make the difference between a peaceful society and complete anarchy. If you are paying attention to recent events in the United States, then you are aware of the deeply rooted divisions between different groups of people. Each person is different than every other person to ever live, we have different thoughts, ideas, and beliefs. While not everyone will agree with one another, are we treating each other well? In these final six commandments we are provided with guidance on how to live in relationship with one another. During his adult ministry, Jesus addresses many of these commandments and the spirit behind them. He taught that it was not enough to not murder, but we also must not harbor anger towards one another in our hearts. Are you living within God’s commands regarding your relationship with others? Do you follow not just the command, but the spirit behind the command by not harboring anger towards others, even those with viewpoints you find disagreeable? Find time to consider how you are, or are not, following these commands, as our love for God can be seen in how we love others. AAA Prayer (About) A CKNOWLEDGE WHO GOD IS : Our Father, who created us to live in good relationships with Him and our neighbors; A LIGN YOUR LIFE WITH GOD'S WILL: Pray that you will honor God's commandments for a godly society in the way you treat others; A SK GOD FOR WHAT YOU NEED:

God's Law is as relevant now as it was when He spoke it. Alittleperspective.com SINCE WE LAST LEFT OFF... Israel learns that the wilderness is not only a place of need, but of conflict and covenant. The LORD grants victory over Amalek as Moses’ raised staff shows their dependence on Him, not their own strength. Jethro’s counsel brings order to a weary leader, and at Sinai God draws near in fire and thunder—revealing His holiness, setting boundaries for His people, and preparing them to hear His law as a redeemed nation called to belong to Him. Exodus 20:1–11 20 And God spoke all these words: 2   “I am the L ORD your God, who brought you out of Egypt, out of the land of slavery. 3   “You shall have no other gods before me. 4   “You shall not make for yourself an image in the form of anything in heaven above or on the earth beneath or in the waters below. 5   You shall not bow down to them or worship them; for I, the L ORD  your God, am a jealous God, punishing the children for the sin of the fathers to the third and fourth generation of those who hate me, 6   but showing love to a thousand generations of those who love me and keep my commandments. 7   “You shall not misuse the name of the L ORD  your God, for the Lord will not hold anyone guiltless who misuses his name. 8  “Remember the Sabbath day by keeping it holy. 9   Six days you shall labor and do all your work, 10  but the seventh day is a sabbath to the L ORD  your God. On it you shall not do any work, neither you, nor your son or daughter, nor your male or female servant, nor your animals, nor any foreigner residing in your towns. 11  For in six days the L ORD  made the heavens and the earth, the sea, and all that is in them, but he rested on the seventh day. Therefore the L ORD  blessed the Sabbath day and made it holy. Heidelberg Catechism Q&A 93 Q. How are the Ten Commandments divided? A. Into two tables. The first has four commandments, teaching us what our relation to God should be. The second has six commandments, teaching us what we owe our neighbor. Summary After Rephidim, the Israelites came upon Mount Sinai. It was here that the Ten Commandments were given. They begin with And God spoke all these words. These commandments were not the work of man, but moral imperatives directly from the mouth of God. These commandments were given to Moses to share with the people. While there are differences of opinion on how to number these commandments, their instruction remains the same. The first four of these commandments deal with the people’s relationship with God. After reminding the Israelites of his provision for them in freeing them from their captivity in Egypt, God gives the first commandment: that they were to have to no other gods before Him. Similarly, the people were also not to create a carved image to be used as an idol. These first four commandments are rounded out by not taking the LORD’s name in vain and remembering to keep the sabbath day holy. Following the pattern in the seven days of creation, for six days the Israelites were to do all their labor and on the seventh day they were to rest.   Dig Deeper   One of the challenges in reading the Old Testament is deciphering how to handle matters of the law. Some of the laws given in the Old Testament were meant for a particular people at a particular time. There are also laws in the Old Testament that were not specific or temporary and speak to God’s morality. The Ten Commandments fall into that second category. The Ten Commandments are not temporary edicts; they are expressions of God’s eternal moral values. As we read the commandments, we are studying an expression of God’s will for how His people live relationally. In these first four commandments, we find God’s command on how we are to live in relation to Him. Repeated amongst these first few commandments is the call to put God first: to have no other God’s before Him, to not make an idol to take His place, and to not take His name in vain. Like He had done for the Israelites, our loving God invites us into a relationship with Him. With all relationships there are expectations and boundaries. God’s expectation for our relationship with Him is made clear in these commandments: we are not to put other gods or any created thing before Him. Are you living up to God’s moral expectations? Are you faithful to God’s commands or do you allow other things to occupy God’s place of authority in your life? AAA Prayer (About) A CKNOWLEDGE WHO GOD IS : Our Father, the LORD our God, who brought us out of the bondage of slavery to sin; A LIGN YOUR LIFE WITH GOD'S WILL: Pray that you would not put anything else before Him; A SK GOD FOR WHAT YOU NEED:

God stands before us providing even as we grumble before Him Exodus 17:1–7 (NIV) 17 The whole Israelite community set out from the Desert of Sin, traveling from place to place as the L ORD commanded. They camped at Rephidim, but there was no water for the people to drink. 2  So they quarreled with Moses and said, “Give us water to drink.” Moses replied, “Why do you quarrel with me? Why do you put the L ORD  to the test?” 3   But the people were thirsty for water there, and they grumbled against Moses. They said, “Why did you bring us up out of Egypt to make us and our children and livestock die of thirst?” 4   Then Moses cried out to the L ORD , “What am I to do with these people? They are almost ready to stone me.” 5   The L ORD answered Moses, “Go out in front of the people. Take with you some of the elders of Israel and take in your hand the staff with which you struck the Nile, and go. 6   I will stand there before you by the rock at Horeb. Strike the rock, and water will come out of it for the people to drink.” So Moses did this in the sight of the elders of Israel. 7   And he called the place Massah  and Meribah  because the Israelites quarreled and because they tested the L ORD  saying, “Is the L ORD  among us or not?” Heidelberg Catechism Q&A 120 Q. Why did Christ command us to call God “our Father”? A. At the very beginning of our prayer Christ wants to kindle in us what is basic to our prayer— the childlike awe and trust that God through Christ has become our Father. Our fathers do not refuse us the things of this life; God our Father will even less refuse to give us what we ask in faith. Summary As the Israelites continued their wandering through the desert, they came upon another concern. While they were camped at Rephidim they did not have water to drink. Just as other events in Exodus had previously done, this crisis again tested the Israelites. In response to this crisis the people quarreled with Moses. While Moses was the one being confronted, it was actually God who they were putting on trial - the accusation being that God had led them all into the desert just to have them die of thirst. The Israelites became so hostile that Moses believed them to be on the verge of taking his life by stoning him. In this desperate situation, Moses cried out to the LORD. God answered Moses’ plea, giving him instructions on how to provide water for the people. Moses was to take his staff and strike a particular rock, once this was done God would provide water from that rock for the people to drink. Moses did as God had commanded and the people were saved from their thirst.   Dig Deeper   There is something about a crisis that brings out either the best or worst of people. We find both extremes present in the search for water while camped at Rephidim. The shortage of water to drink brought out the worst in the Israelites. They quarreled with Moses and doubted God’s provision. Despite all that God had done and was continuing to do for them, it did not take long for the people to accuse God of leading them into the wilderness to die. The people’s anger was toward the LORD, yet it was Moses who was the recipient of much of their frustrations. Faced with yet another crisis, Moses knew where to turn. He cried out to God for help and God saved the people from their thirst. In this crisis we find two responses to God. The first response is that of the Israelites, who became angry and made accusations against God. The second response was that of Moses, who out of his desperation cried out to God for help. When you are faced with a time of need, how do you respond? Do you grumble and doubt like the Israelites or humbly cry out to God like Moses? AAA Prayer (About) A CKNOWLEDGE WHO GOD IS : Our Father, who abundantly provides for our need even when we put Him to the test; A LIGN YOUR LIFE WITH GOD'S WILL: Pray that you would cry out to your Father in heaven rather than grumble against Him; A SK GOD FOR WHAT YOU NEED: