Happy No-School Day XD

God bless!

-Love, GinniePark

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Memory Verse of the Week:

"Make sacred garments for your brother Aaron to give him dignity and honor." - Exodus 28:2

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Into His Presence - Exodus 27:1-21

The Altar of the Cross

1: "Build an altar of acacia wood, three cubits high; it is to be square, five cubits long and five cubits wide."

2: "Make a horn at each of the four corners, so that the horns and the altar are of one piece, and overlay the altar with bronze."

3: "Make all its utensils of bronze - its pots to remove the ashes, and its shovels, sprinkling bowls, meat forks, and firepans."

4: "Make a grating for it, a bronze network, and make a bronze ring at each of the four corners of the network."

5: "Put it under the ledge of the altar so that it is halfway up the altar."

6: "Make poles of acacia wood for the altar and overlay them with bronze."

7: "The poles are to be inserted into the rings so they will be on two sides of the altar when it is carried."

8: "Make the altar hollow, out of boards. It is to be made just a you were shown on the mountain."

 

Courtyard - The Way Inside

9: "Make a courtyard for the tabernacle. The south side shall be a hundred cubits long and is to have curtains of finely twisted linen,"

10: "with twenty posts and twenty bronze bases and with silver hooks and bands on the posts."

11: "The north side shall also be a hundred cubits long and is to have curtains, with twenty posts and twenty bronze bases and with silver hooks and bands on the posts."

12: "The west end of the courtyard shall be fifty cubits wide and have curtains, with ten posts and ten bases."

13: "On the east end, toward the sunrise, the courtyard shall also be fifty cubits wide [seventy-five feet]."

14: "Curtains fifteen feet long [twenty-two and a half feet] are to be on one side of the entrance, with three posts and three bases,"

15: "and curtains fifteen cubits long are to be on the other side, with three posts and three bases."

16: "For the entrance to the courtyard, provide a curtain twenty cubits long [thirty feet], of blue, purple, and scarlet yarn and finely twisted linen - the work of an embroiderer - with four posts and four bases."

17: "All the posts around the courtyard are to have silver bands and hooks, and bronze bases."

18: "The courtyard shall be a hundred cubits [150 feet] long and fifty cubits [75 feet] wide, with curtains of finely twisted linen five cubits high [seven and a half], and with bronze bases."

19: "All the other articles used in the service of the tabernacle, whatever their function, including all the tent pegs for it and those for the courtyard, are to be of bronze."

20: "Command the Israelites to bring you clear oil of pressed olives for the light so that the lamps may be kept burning."

21: "In the tent of the meeting, outside the curtain that shields the ark of the covenant law, Aaron and his sons are to keep the lamps burning before the LORD from evening till morning. This is to be a lasting ordinance among the Israelites for generations to come."

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Reflection

The Altar of the Cross (27:1-8)

These past few days, we have been studying the furnishings of the tabernacle and the symbolism of God's redemptive covenant found in each piece. These were sort of an object lesson for the worshiper, revealing the character of God. Today's passage describes the altar of burnt offering, which is made of wood overlaid with bronze. It is the first object to be seen by the Israelites as they enter the courtyard of the tabernacle. The altar reminds the worshipers that the blood shed on it represents the sacrifice necessary for the forgiveness of sins and the only means through which they can come to God. Some scholars believe that the horns which protrude from the four corners represent help and refuge as well as the atoning power of the altar. This ultimately points forward to the coming Messiah, Jesus, who gave Himself as a ransom for us on the altar of the cross.

 

Courtyard: The Way Inside (27:9-21)

The courtyard is the area that encloses both the tabernacle and the bronze basin and altar of burnt offerings with a curtain high enough to protect the privacy and sanctity of the worshipers inside (v.18). This is the way into the Holy Place, which ultimately leads into the Most Holy Place. Jesus' statement, "I am the way and the truth and the life" (John 14:6) can be interpreted as a parallel to the tabernacle structure, representing different levels of intimacy with God. The outer courtyard with the altar is the "way" of grace with the Father, where we enter into a relationship with God through Jesus' sacrifice. The Holy Place is where we find the lampstand illuminating God's "truth" and enters into a deeper relationship of enlightenment with the Father' the lamp of God's truth leads us into a lifestyle of holiness. Lastly, it is through the "life" or the Most Holy Place, that we experience the presence of God as we grow in deeper intimacy.

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Application

-Most churches will display the cross very prominently in their place of worship. What do you think of when you look at the cross? The next time you come into corporate worship, take a moment to focus on the cross and the incredible sacrifice Jesus paid for your life.

-Are you satisfied with worshiping in the outer courts? Many believers will spend their whole lives milling around the courtyard, but never really experiencing deeper intimacy with the Father. Long for His presence; grow deeper in Him.

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"In the rush and noise of life, as you have intervals, step home within yourselves and be still. Wait upon God, and feel His good presence; this will carry you evenly through your day's business."

-William Penn

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Christ, the Perfect Altar

Staring into a campfire is mesmerizing. Its flames dance along the edges of the wood and twirl with grace and beauty. And this beauty is met with an important function as well: it keeps us warm and cooks our food. But fire is always hungry; it will consume whatever source it can. As such, wood is always in danger around fire. Metal, however, is much more resilient.

The altar of burnt offering was made of wood covered in bronze. As it was the place where sacrifices would be consumed by fire, the altar itself had to be able to withstand the fire. At the same time, it had to be portable enough for the Israelites to carry with them as they traveled through the desert. If it were only made of bronze, it would have been very difficult to move; but if it were purely made of wood, it would not have lasted long. Both wood and metal were needed in order for the altar to serve its proper function.

Thomas Watson connects the relationships between the altar (made of wood and metal) and fire with Christ (who is fully man and fully God) and God's wrath. He says, "He conflicted with the wrath of God, which He could never have done if He had not been more than a man. We read that the altar of wood was overlaid with brass so that the fire on the altar might not consume the wood....The human nature of Christ, which was the wood, was covered with the divine nature, which was like brass, else the fire of God's wrath would have consumed it." Christ's dualistic nature allowed Him to be the perfect altar. He was able to contain the intense flame of God's wrath against all sin.

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A Letter to God

Lord, thank You for Your sacrifice.

It is only by grace that I am able to come to You.

Draw me deeper into You, for I am not satisfied with only being in the outer courts.

I long for Your truth; I desperately want to experience Your presence in a powerful way. Amen.