Bibledoorjar: The Ransom Money

     God had been moving His people closer and closer to Him through all the requirements He made in regard to the tabernacle and the priests. All the holy furnishings had to be redeemed because sinful men employed their use. At last God is satisfied with the redemption process in all but one way. He desired a ransom of 10 gerah be made for each person that would be numbered as He required. This atonement money was to be used in the service of the tabernacle and reflected again the preciousness of its' presence among the people. It also sent the message that the people had been redeemed (saved) but that they are also were redeemed to be His (do His will). They were ransomed to do many things in service to Him such as soldier, king, prophet, artist, parent, etc. Every person was ransomed with the same amount of money and each understood the value of 10 gerah and had, at least some idea, of the contribution it made to the important aspect of the tabernacle. It was not that God needed the money, but He did have to have a way for the people to know they were His and served at His will. Letting go of money was a good way because of its' value. Remember when Jesus told the parable about a woman who had 10 pieces of silver but lost one. She lit a candle and hunted and hunted until she once again had the full amount.
     We learn from the light of the Word that our ransom was not with corruptible silver but with the incorruptible life of our Savior. It is good that we keep our light shining on that.

Bibledoorajar: Holy Furnishings

Yesterday my congregation met for fellowship with God following a rather involved class discussion about what happens to us at death. That is, if we are asleep (comatose) in Jesus, is there another part of us, say our spirit, that is alive and with the Lord and functioning among the many witnesses who urge us to finish the course?  For some, this discussion seemed "complicated" while others seemed to be more at peace with their view. Anyway, later as we came to that part of the worship where we share the emblems. I looked up and noticed that one server was concerned that the other had overlooked a believer and gone on to the next row. He signaled that we cannot leave even one out. (Really, the brother did not intend to leave her out, he just thought his dispensing method would be more efficient). It made me think of this study and how important the Most holy furnishings were and how much thought God put into them so not one would have to feel left out.
 It was with these furnishings that God said where He would meet with His people as opposed to other furnishings in the other parts of the tabernacle which prepared the people to meet with Him. God said He would meet with the people from the Mercy seat which was a solid sheet of pure gold. It sat above the Ark and had a crown of gold that formed the top and sides. It was the most costly item in the Most Holy Place( divine)  and the blood that was sprinkled there for the propitiation of sins was foremost in preciousness. For our sister to whom it looked like she may be left out, it meant that the preciousness of her Propitiatory was overlooked. She, a chosen one, must be included as Christs' (her sins satisfied) in order for the Father to be thoroughly satisfied with the fellowship.
God had also had Moses have a table made. On this table were twelve loaves of "pierced" bread in rows of six. Once again we see that all of God's chosen (the twelve tribes) were represented and therefore none were to be left out. The bread sweetened by frankincense stayed before the Lord for seven days and then was eaten by the High priest and his sons in the holy place. Each loaf was to be the same size indicating all of God's chosen were in view.  How could the sister enjoy this wonderful communion if overlooked? How could I feel complete if she were? But I am glad to say, the communication between the servers was cleared and the one server stepped back to her and saw that she was served. Whew! I now felt we were all one in Him.  And it was wonderful. I pray for all God's chosen who chose to miss this wonderful communion yesterday that they may be imbued by God (as my petition is presented by the Propitiatory and accepted) with a strong desire for this most holy and often fellowship.
          "O Master, through these symbols shared,
          Thine own dear self impart,
          That in our daily life may flame
          The passion of Thy heart."
            From Beneath The Forms of Outward Rite by James Blaisdell

Bibledoorajar: Unfailing Sacrifice

The Lord required that a burnt offering of a live animal be made morning and evening at the time of prayers. This animal sacrifice with its' shedding of blood and slow burn savor going up to God was foundational to all other sacrifices. That is, there were other sacrifices that did not call for spilled blood which could be offered but they only were acceptable within the context of the continual burnt offering. Done morning and evening, it was to be unfailing and carried out under the auspices of the priests.

Jesus died once and for all, and God has declared His sacrifice unfailing. His blood sacrifice is ever pleasing  before God. Paul spoke of being a sacrifice (poured out) via his work for other Christians on the basis of the foundational and unfailing work of Jesus. Sometimes we refer to people willing to do this as martyrs and there have been many. For the most of us, we should think of pouring out a sacrifice of prayer and praise morning and evening. We pour out because of the foundational work of Jesus and our offerings are a sweet savor before the Lord. Our prayers and praise are varied and specific but are always made in the light of sacrificial work of our marvelous Lamb, Jesus.  We may not be unfailing as we serve but praise God His mercy and grace are great. There is always the offering of "Thank you" to be made.

Bibledoorajar: Established by God (His Spirit Working)

"stay at the door of the tabernacle for seven days day and night" 

Exodus and Leviticus

The candidates for the priesthood were commanded to do the above in order that God might complete their consecration. Failure to complete this process meant death. The death talk may sound tough but God had in mind a working of His Spirit that would establish a union between He and the priests that would be a result of them having exercised faith to complete the act and His working on their hearts through His grace and mercy. During this process they would be so impacted supernaturally that they would be persuaded in their hearts to carry out the exercise of being a priest of God. Their hands were "filled".

We tend to speak a lot to each other about being saved by faith. This is true, but if we are not speaking of a faith so impacted supernaturally as to propel us to carry out spiritual functions, the fact that Christ is the very life of faith may have been ignored by the candidate. Mental assent to God's truth is not that different from accepting any other established and believed truths. But to "remain in one place" (See Acts 2) and allow the Spirit to complete our consecration is something much much different. It is about union. It is the formation of a like mindedness. It is the granting of the gift of saving faith with the power to serve. It is faith coming alive. It is realizing that we may have come to God for help but Jesus had already knocked at the door of our hearts and that He alone sends the Comforter (Teacher) in order to complete this wonderful union. In the fullness of time our hands are "filled".  Our hearts rejoice.

            "I'll shout it while eternity rolls." 

He Touched Me

Bibledoorajar: All that He Did

I hope by now, we all realize that no one from the tribe of Levi would have ever been a consecrated priest if it were not for the work God did through Moses. It was Moses who received the commands as to what was to be appropriately done and it was through the hands of Moses that most of the work was accomplished. While Aaron and his sons stood passive, Moses saw that they were "taken" from the rest of the children of Israel, that they were "brought" to the door of the tabernacle, that they were "washed" and made clean, that they were "clothed" appropriately, that they were "anointed" and that their hands were "filled" and lastly that they were sanctified. This was  all accomplished through the works of Moses. It was even Moses who brought the animal sacrifices to them that they all "touched".

Reading this and remembering verses like " For Christ also hath suffered once for sins, the Just for the unjust, that He might bring us to God" 1 Peter 3:18). Why? That we, once anointed and filled with the Spirit, might proclaim what we have seen and heard in our own lives and have fellowship with each other as we have fellowship with the Trinity. Thank You, thank You. As Sister Sledge says "get up everybody and sing!!!!

I have a good friend who reminds me that we serve an awesome God when I share something praise worthy with her. Indeed. If you are wondering about our anointing so that our hands can be filled, join our discussion next week and never forget all that has been done for you by the One who loves you.