“Shout for joy to the LORD, all the earth. Worship the LORD with gladness; come before him with joyful songs. Ps. 100:1-2.”

# 45 2025 Dev. Lev.8-9-10. “Ordination, Ministry, Consequences!” Read all of chapters eighth, nine, and ten first. We invite you into God’s space, to read His Word, to think on and interact with. This is God’s story. Do you believe that this may also be part of our story, in our time? All passages are taken from the NIV.

Lev.Ch. 8 is all about the ordination of Aaron and his four sons. Ch. 9 is about beginning of worship as God ordained it. Ch. 10 is the consequences of worship that God did not approve.

Leviticus Ch. 8. Before the ordination the whole assembly was called to gather at the tent of meeting.  We see the elaborate dress for the high priest and for Aaron’s sons, all are anointed with oil, along with the tabernacle and all the furniture and utensils. Sin offerings are included, as well as burnt offering and fellowship offerings. They had to stay at the tabernacle for seven days.

Leviticus Ch. 9. Ministry is begun on the eighth day worship was instituted. “On the eighth day Moses summoned Aaron and his sons and the elders of Israel. He said to Aaron, “Take a bull calf for your sin offering and a ram for your burnt offering, both without defect, and present them before the Lord.” God also included the congregation.  “Then say to the Israelites: ‘Take a male goat for a sin offering,a calf and a lamb—both a year old and without defect—for a burnt offering, and an ox and a ram for a fellowship offering to sacrifice before the Lord, together with a grain offering mixed with olive oil. For today the Lord will appear to you.’” Moses and Aaron went into tabernacle, came out and blessed the people; “and the glory of the Lord appeared to all the people.”

Leviticus Ch.10 “Aaron’s sons Nadab and Abihutook their censers, put fire in them and added incense; and they offered unauthorized fire before the Lord, contrary to his command. So fire came out from the presence of the Lord and consumed them, and they died before the Lord.” Aaron and his family were not to mourn but the people could mourn for Nadab and Abihu. Vs 8,9,10 gives us an indication of the problem; “You and your sons are not to drink wine or other fermented drink whenever you go into the tent of meeting, or you will die. This is a lasting ordinance for the generations to come,  so that you can distinguish between the holy and the common, between the unclean and the clean.” Today we live in a culture that glorifies being impaired with drink and drugs. God have mercy on parents, teachers, pastors and leaders. We have a long way to go, may we all discern what is right and what is wrong.

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Salvation in Christ! “In the same way, count yourselves dead to sin but alive to God in Christ Jesus… For sin shall no longer be your master, because you are not under the law, but under grace.” Rom. 6:8-14  

# 40 2025 Dev.Isa.27:6 Grace! Read all of chapter twenty-seven first. We invite you into God’s space, to read His Word, to think on and interact with. This is God’s Story. Do you believe that this may also be part of our story, in our time? All passages are taken from the NIV.

Isa.27:6 “In days to come Jacob will take root, Israel (The Church) will bud and blossom and fill all the world with fruit.”

Isaiah 27 is the continuation of Ch. 26. It is in the context of Sannacherib’s attempt to capture Jerusalem and the destruction of the Assyrian army, but it points forward to Christ’s salvation and the establishment of the church today.

V.1 “In that day, the Lord will punish with his sword… he will slay the monster of the sea.” The immediate threat is here indicated but it includes all the monsters faced since that time and the monsters we face today encluding the source of all evil, Satan.

Vs.2-5 “In that day, sing about the fruitful vineyard. I, the Lord, watch over it; I water it continually. I guard it day and night so that no one may harm it.” (Also see Isa 5:1-2) The reference is to Israel but they have not always produced good fruit. God says: instead of punishment “come to me for refuge, let them make peace with me.”

Today, we have that invitation in Christ, not by our efforts but by the work of Christ on the Cross. That is the grace that has always been available for the people of God, Christ reaches back to the beginning and into eternity.

V.6 “In days to come Jacob will take root, Israel will bud and blossom and fill all the world with fruit.” This foreshadows the world-wide movement of the church, continuing today and beyond.

Vs.7-11 “Has the Lord struck her?  A rhetorical question. “Has she been killed?”  No, but punishment has followed her unfaithfulness, described here in the following verses 8-11. She is the Bride of God, like the church is the Bride of Christ.

V.12 “In days to come Jacob will take root, Israel will bud and blossom and fill all the world with fruit…” And they “will come and worship the Lord on the holy mountain in Jerusalem”, mirroring the heavenly Jerusalem. Praise God!

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God with us: “…They will be my people and I will be their God…” Jer.32:37-39.

# 39 2025 Dev. Ex.40:33. God With Us! Read all of chapter forty first. We invite you into God’s space, to read His Word, to think on and interact with. This is God’s Story. Do you believe that this may also be part of our story, in our time? All passages are taken from the NIV.

Ex. 40:33 “Then Moses set up the courtyard around the tabernacle and altar and put up the curtainat the entrance to the courtyard. And so Moses finished the work.”

Ex.40 This last chapter of Exudes is the culmination of God with his people, starting with Abraham until now, all his descendants, God’s physical presence directing their travel and directing their way to the promised land. God is now directing the new Israel, the church, to the New Heaven and the New Earth, that is for-shadowed here in this chapter.

Vs.1-5 Moses assembles the Tabernacle and places the ark of the covenant-restoration and God’s mercy. The table of showbread-God’s presence, and communion, the alter of incense-the prayers of the people and the lampstand-the eternal Light of God in all creation.  

Vs.6-8 Moses sets up the basin, and the alter of burnt offering, with the basin between the tabernacle and the alter. The alter of sacrifice being the first means of access to God. Repentance is first, then baptism, then full fellowship in Jesus. Some commentators see a cross in the arrangement in the furniture of the tabernacle. The alter of burnt offering lines up with the basin and the alter of incense, the table of the presence to the north and the lampstand to the south of the alter of incense and the Ark to the west. A cross? That all seems plausible but it is speculation.

Vs.9-33 God ordered Moses to anoint the tabernacle and everything in it, all the furniture, the basin and the alter of sacrifice, so that all of it would be holy. Also anoint Aaron and his sons to consecrate them for service to God for generations to come. All that God had commanded was accomplished, everything was put into place. “Then Moses set up the courtyard around the tabernacle and altar and put up the curtain at the entrance to the courtyard. And so Moses finished the work.

Vs.34-38 “Then the cloud covered the tent of meeting, and the glory of the Lord filled the tabernacle. Moses could not enter the tent of meeting because the cloud had settled on it, and the gloryof the Lord filled the tabernacle.” It stayed on the Tabernacle by day and was lit by fire at night. It indicated when to move and when to stop and which way to go. Truly God with them. Also with us by the power of the Holy Spirit in us, thank God!

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A Song of Praise. “Sing to the Lord a new song, for he has done marvelous things; his right hand and his holy arm have worked salvation for him. The Lord has made his salvation known and revealed his righteousness to the nations.” Ps 98:1-2.

# 38 2025 Dev. Isa.26:3. Trust! Read all of chapter twenty-six first. We invite you into God’s space, to read His Word, to think on and interact with. This is God’s Story. Do you believe that this may also be part of our story, in our time? All passages are taken from the NIV.

Isa.26:3 “You will keep in perfect peace those whose minds are steadfast, because they trust in you.”

Isaiah 26 is a praise song about God’s care and salvation that goes on in Ch. 27. The time line is the time of Sannacherib who laid siege to Jerusalem. And these two chapters cover all the Sannacheribs of history and all evil events to our very day, evil like Charlie Kirk’s assassination and the murder of three Police Officers in York Pa. In light of those events we turn to Scripture for hope and assurance.

Vs.1- 6 “Open the gates that the righteous nation (person) may enter, the nation (person) that keeps faith.” The Lord himself, is the Rock (our Rock) eternal. V.5 shows us the contrast event of the proud, who trample the poor and the oppressed.

Vs.7-11 “The path of the righteous is level;” what follows is an example of the righteous actions and the intimate relation with our God. “When your judgments come upon the earth, the people of the world learn righteousness.” God gives us second chances, even so the wicked do not respond.

Vs.12-15 “Lord, you establish peace for us; all that we have accomplished you have done for us.” Lord you have increased us.

Vs.16-18 “Lord, they came to you in their distress; when you disciplined them, they could barely whisper a prayer… We have not brought salvation to the earth, and the people of the world have not come to life.” Only Jesus brings life!

Vs.19-21 But your dead will live, Lord; their bodies will rise…” We will rise again, we are protected in that day when Jesus judges the people of the world, we will be the judges. Thanks be to God!

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Reflect God’s Glory and Holiness! “Therefore, as God’s chosen people, holy and dearly loved, clothe yourselves with compassion, kindness, humility, gentleness and patience.  Bear with each other and forgive one another if any of you has a grievance against someone. Forgive as the Lord forgave you.  And over all these virtues put on love,which binds them all together in perfect unity.” Col 3:12-14. This is the bottom line of Ex. 39.

# 37 2025 Dev. Ex.39:8. God’s Glory and Holiness! Read all of chapter thirty-nine first. We invite you into God’s space, to read His Word, to think on and interact with. This is God’s Story. Do you believe that this may also be part of our story, in our time? All passages are taken from the NIV.

Ex. 39:8 “They fashioned the breastpiece—the work of a skilled craftsman. They made it like the ephod: of gold, and of blue, purple and scarlet yarn, and of finely twisted linen.”

Ex.39 tells us about the priestly garments and the sacred garment of the High Priest as well as the work finished, presented to Moses, all made as God had commanded. This is what it looked like.

Vs.1-7 The Ephod was a sacred apron worn by the High Priest. It included the history of Israel, connecting the High Priest to the twelve tribes. Further it reflected God’s glory and holiness. This attire was only used in the sanctuary in worship of God, never worn when dealing with the congregation.

Vs.8-21 “The Breastpiece made like the Ephod, including four rows of precious stones on it. The first row was carnelian, chrysolite and beryl;the second row was turquoise, lapis lazuli and emerald; the third row was jacinth, agate and amethyst; the fourth row was topaz, onyx and jasper. They were mounted in gold filigree settings. There were twelve stones, one for each of the names of the sons of Israel, each engraved like a seal with the name of one of the twelve tribes.” The elaborate dress was a physical presence of God’s glory and holiness, much like God’s creation reflects God’s glory and His holiness, but it does not end with creation or with the worship attire of the High Priest; you, “clothe yourselves with compassion, kindness, humility, gentleness and patience” and add forgiveness. This is the bottom line, and how God’s glory and holiness is displayed in us! Instead of a physical seal we are sealed by the Holy Spirit.

Vs.22-31 “Other Priestly Garments. They made the robe of the ephod entirely of blue cloth—the work of a weaver— with an opening in the center of the robe like the opening of a collar…The bells and pomegranates alternated around the hem of the robe to be worn for ministering, as the Lord commanded Moses. For Aaron and his sons, they made tunics of fine linen.”

Vs. 32-43 “Moses inspects the Tabernacle…The Israelites had done all the work just as the Lord had commanded Moses. Moses inspected the work and saw that they had done it just as the Lord had commanded. So, Moses blessed them.” God blesses all those who listen to God’s commands, even with our imperfections.

What we saw with Charlie Kirk’s assassination this week, is the complete opposite of these commands: “clothe yourselves with compassion, kindness, humility, gentleness and patience.  Bear with each other and forgive one another if any of you has a grievance against someone. Forgive as the Lord forgave you.” Charlie lived and died for these commands! God bless his family.

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God Works. “In him we were also chosen, having been predestined according to the plan of him who works out everything in conformity with the purpose of his will, in order that we, who were the first to put our hope in Christ, might be for the praise of his glory.” Eph. 1:11-12.

# 36 2025 Dev. Isa.25:4. Praise and Assurance! Read all of chapter twenty-five first. We invite you into God’s space, to read His Word, to think on and interact with. This is God’s Story. Do you believe that this may also be part of our story, in our time? All passages are taken from the NIV.

Isa.25:4 “You have been a refuge for the poor, a refuge for the needy in their distress, a shelter from the storm and a shade from the heat.”

Vs.1-5 “Lord, you are my God; I will exalt you and praise your name,
for in perfect faithfulness you have done wonderful things, things planned long ago.” Isaiah, after the devastating prophecy of Ch. 24, begins with praising God in this chapter.

Vs.6-9 “On this mountain the Lord Almighty will prepare a feast of rich food for all peoples…” Here we have the assurance that salvation is intended for everyone. The separation we see in the Old Testament is removed and in Jesus, we now have God among us by His Spirit. Faith in Jesus and His work is the key to our salvation. “Surely this is our God; we trusted in him, and he saved us. This is the Lord, we trusted in Him; let us rejoice and be glad in His salvation.”                                        

Vs.10-12 “The hand of the Lord will rest on this mountain; but Moab will be trampled in their land…”. Isaiah makes a distinction between the people of God and those who have rejected Him. We saw that distinction in full display, at the recent school shooting. We pray for that community and we pray for those who do not understand faith or prayer. We thank God for faithful people!

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