Scripture Reading and Thoughts - July 4, 2008

Posted by David Jesse
Happy Independence Day!TODAY'S SCRIPTURE READING: Exodus 28:20-30:10; Ezekiel 48:10-27; Phillipians 4:10-20This passage from Exodus relates to the High Priest, at this time Aaron, and his purpose in the Tabernacle.The reading starts with a description of the Menorah that stood outside of the Holy of Holies. It was to be continously lit, and Exodus 27:20-21 says that this would be a commandment for ALL GENERATIONS. Does this apply today. Yes! But the light that stands before the presence of YHWH today is not a man made candlestick, it is the Light of the World, Yeshua! He stands before YHWH and lights the way to the very throne of YHWH. What a beautiful picture.The rest of the passage is about what the priest would wear and how he was to approach the Holy of Holies. He was to wear two stones, one on each shoulder. On these stones would be the names of the 12 tribes of Israel. What a heavy burden it must have to been to carry the weight of the sins of the nation of Israel before YHWH.Most of us have heard about the bells at the hem of the priest's robe that would indicate if the priest were still alive. It's actually pretty scary if you think about it. The priest is appointed by YHWH to bring atonement before Him for the sins of Israel. If he is not pure before the LORD, then he will die! Do we treat God with that type of reverance? Do we even begin to understand the holiness of YHWH? So often we treat the things of God so flippantly. I know that we are to "come boldy before the throne of grace" but many times we come "stupidly" before the throne of grace. We focus so much on the love of Golgotha that we forget about the judgment of Golgotha. As I was praying this morning I was focusing on this. The Cross is where we see the ultimate meeting of the holiness and wrath of the Creator and the love and mercy of the Father. We are the partakers of the love and mercy. Yeshua was the partaker of the wrath and holiness. We should be careful to remember this.One last thing - as we remember our country and freedom today, let's remember the eternal freedom and liberty we have because of the cross. Meditate on the lyrics to the song, "Statue of Liberty."In New York Harbor stands a ladyWith a torch raised to the sky;And all who see her know she stands forLiberty for you and me.I’m so proud to be an American,To be named with the brave and the free.I will honor the flag and our trust in God,And the Statue of Liberty.On lonely Golgotha stood a cross,With my Lord raised to the sky;And all who kneel there live forever,As all the saved can testify.I’m so glad to be called a Christian,To be named with the ransomed and whole.As the Statue liberates the citizen,So the Cross liberates the soul.Oh, the Cross is my Statue of Liberty,It was there that my soul was set free.Unashamed I’ll proclaim that a rugged crossIs my Statue of Liberty.Have a great weekend!David