Highlights In Today's Reading:
Moses delayed on Mount Sinai; Aaron's golden calf; its destruction; death of 3,000 Israelites; Law renewed; the Covenant of God; three feasts.
Verses for Today:
Moses took the Tabernacle, and pitched it without the camp . . . every one which sought the Lord went out unto the Tabernacle (Ex. 33:7).Certain requirements, without exception, were necessary before a person could acceptably worship the Lord. After passing through the gate into the fenced enclosure, the worshiper approached the Brazen Altar, also known as the Altar of Burnt Offering. The precious gold so freely used elsewhere was not used on this altar. Instead it was overlaid with bronze (sometimes called brass), which was symbolic of the judgment of God. This reminded the worshiper of his own guilt and the fact that he deserved judgment from a holy God. A lamb had to be sacrificed for his sins. Only the priest could offer the sacrifice on the Brazen Altar. But first, he had to wash his hands and feet at the Laver.
We too need cleansing: If we confess our sins, He is faithful and just to forgive us our sins, and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness (I John 1:9).
The Laver represents the need not just for onetime or occasional cleansing but for continually examining ourselves in the mirror of the Word of God and then separating ourselves from everything that defiles.
If any be a hearer of the Word, and not a doer, he is like unto a man beholding his natural face in a glass: For he beholdeth himself, and goeth his way, and straightway forgetteth what manner of man he was. But whoso looketh into the perfect Law of liberty, and continueth therein, he being not a forgetful hearer, but a doer of the work, this man shall be blessed in his deed (James 1:23-25).
The Bible reveals our inability to live the Christian life in our own strength: We know that the Law is spiritual: but I am carnal, sold under sin. . . . for what I would, that do I not; but what I hate, that do I. If then I do that which I would not, I consent unto the Law that is good (Rom. 7:14-16). We need the cleansing that comes through reading and applying His Word each day. Now ye are clean through the Word which I have spoken unto you (John 15:3). Sanctify them through Thy Truth: Thy Word is Truth (17:17). This cleansing makes it possible for us to live in practical, daily fellowship with our Lord.
Thought for Today:
Laying aside all malice, and all guile, and hypocrisies, and envies, and all evil speakings, As newborn babes, desire the sincere milk of the Word, that ye may grow thereby (I Pet. 2:1-2).
Christ Revealed:
As the One who is ever-present. My presence shall go with thee, and I will give thee rest (peace) (Ex. 33:14). He hath said, I will never leave thee, nor forsake thee (Heb. 13:5; compare Matt. 11:28; John 14:27).
Word Studies:
32:7 corrupted themselves =behaved sinfully; 32:9 stiffnecked =willfully disobedient; 32:12 mischief =evil intent; repent of =renounce; 32:14 repented =was moved with compassion and turned from; 32:20 strawed =scattered; 32:25 naked =out of control; made them naked =allowed them to sin; 32:34 will visit =will inflict punishment; 32:35 plagued the people =caused them to suffer; 34:10 terrible thing that I will do =amazing, awesome, feaful act of God; 34:12 be for a snare in the midst of thee =drove to be your ruin; 34:13 groves =places of idol worship; 34:17 molten gods =metal idols; 34:19 all that openeth the matrix =the firstborn, all that are first to come out of the womb; firstling =firstborn; 34:21 in earing time = at plowing time; 34:26 seethe a kid =took a young goat; 34:27 after the tenor of =according to.
Prayer Needs:
Pray for Internatonal Broadcasts sponsored by Matthew Jaworsky • Executive Director of the IBRA in our Washington DC Branch: Reverend Michael Hall • Government Officials: Rep. Brian Bilbray (CA), Rep. Linda Sánchez (CA), Sen. Jeanne Shaheen (NH), and Rep. Bennie Thompson (MS) • Country: Togo (5 million) in western Africa • Major languages: French and several African languages • Limited religious freedom • 41% belief in false gods and voodoo; 32% Roman Catholic; 19% Muslim; 8% Protestant • Prayer Suggestion: Confess wrongs you have committed to the Lord and to those whom you have hurt; ask for forgiveness (Matt. 5:23-24).
Optional Reading: Matthew 28
Memory Verse for the Week: Psalms 23:6