READING FOR AUGUST 6, 2024: EXODUS 40, LUKE 1, PSALM 77:1-9 EXODUS 40 Despite Israel’s huge sin with the golden calf and their grumbles against Moses, now, exactly one year removed from their escape from Egypt, they were ready to erect the Tabernacle. What have we been able to accomplish for and with the Lord in this past year? Perhaps today would be a good day to look back, if you keep a journal or personal calendar, and thank God for any victories He has given this past year.
In verses 2-16 we see God provided a flowchart or checklist for them to follow in erecting the Tabernacle. God was concerned with sequence and process. He did not merely say, “Put the tent up now.” In verses 17-32 we see that people followed God’s direction. Lay the bases, check. Set up boards, check. Insert bars, check. Erect pillars, check. This is the same approach we have seen with every phase of the work in these last chapters of Exodus. Does this have any application for us today, or was it a one-off?
Daniel Kahneman, Nobel Prize winner in Economics, has studied the thinking process throughout his career at Princeton. He has found checklists key in making decisions and implementing plans. For example, in the field of medical surgery, “the rate of major complications for surgical patients at the eight hospitals fell by 36% and deaths fell by 47%” with the use of checklists. Another example: “Every time a major issue arises with a commercial airliner in the United States, the National Transportation Safety Board investigates. When the cause of the problem is identified, a determination is made as to whether a change in procedure is needed or if a new checklist is necessary” (from Tony Svejcar and Chad Boyd).
How might this work with our spiritual lives? While prayerfully studying the scriptures, some people keep a journal of what the Holy Spirit reveals to them each day. (“The sword of the Spirit, which is the word of God” Eph. 6:17). Then coming from those observations, a to-do list or checklist is developed for the day, week, or longer term. This is a great way not to let these directions from God disappear into thin air once the day’s activities begin. Instead, they are applied in a concrete way to the individual’s action plan.
What was God’s reaction to the people precisely following the checklists He gave them?“Then the cloud covered the tent of meeting, and the glory of the Lord filled the tabernacle... For throughout their journeys, the cloud of the Lord was on the tabernacle by day, and there was fire in it by night, in the sight of all the house of Israel” (Ex.40: 34, 38). Who is up for a manifestation of God’s glory among us to lead into our future at Yorktown Methodist?
READING FOR AUGUST 6, 2024 CONTINUED: LUKE 1, PSALM 77:1-9 LUKE 1 This is a massive chapter in terms of length and importance. It requires more space than has been our normal practice. The opening is significant in what it tells us about the accuracy of the Gospels. Luke’s Gospel was written after others. He mentions the other accounts were written by people who witnessed the events from the beginning (not hearing about them generations after the fact) and who were servants of the words (concerned with the truth not opinion). Luke’s unique contribution to this existing literature was to be comprehensive (investigated everything) and chronological (not often the case with ancient histories). His purpose was so that Theophilus (a Greek Christian) would know the exact details of events about which he had been taught. This introduction is astounding for what is says about the trustworthiness of the Bible and about the extraordinary effort that Luke expended so that one person could know the truth of Jesus. How much effort would we make for one person to know the truth of Jesus?
We learn that both Elizabeth and Zechariah were descendants of Aaron (Moses’s brother), faithful believers, and old. Some of us fall into one or more of those categories. We also read that Elizabeth was unable to have children, which in those days was considered a great tragedy. It was Zachariah’s priestly duty one day to offer incense on the incense altar (Ex. 30:7). While he was doing this, a crowd was outside in prayer. This is exciting and similar to the prayer group that meets every Sunday before the service at our church. As is so often of case (e.g., Moses, Gideon, James, John, and Matthew), a person busy at work is interrupted and called to a special task for God. As is almost always the case, the appearance of an angel causes great fear. (These beings must not look like Hallmark Greeting Card angels.)
What is the first good news the angel brings? Zechariah’s prayers have been heard. Do we believe God has heard our prayers? Zechariah, like Isaac centuries earlier (Gen. 25:21) prayed on behalf of his wife to have children. Husbands, might it possibly be God’s will to pray for your wives about matters important to her? We know God responds to these kinds of prayers. The angel continues with amazing details. Elizabeth’s boy will be great in God’s sight, abstain from wine, be named John, be filled with the Holy Spirit from the womb, turn the hearts of fathers toward their children, turn Israel back to God, and prepare for the coming of the Messiah in the manner of the great prophet Elijah. Talk about an answer to prayer. Do we believe the follow verse: “Now unto Him that is able to do exceedingabundantly above all that we ask or think, according to the power that worketh in us” (Eph. 3:20)?
READING FOR AUGUST 6, 2024 CONTINUED: LUKE 1, PSALM 77:1-9 Most, if not all of us, would have responded as Zachariah did: uncertainty. In this case and in every case, God’s words are true and His plans for the future will take place, no matter how unlikely we in our little cultural bubble believe them to be. “If some did not believe, their unbelief will not nullify the faithfulness of God, will it? Far from it! Rather, God must prove to be true, though every person be found a liar” (Rom. 3:3-4).
Gabriel felt compelled to discipline the righteous priest Zachariah just as God did with Moses for hitting the rock instead of speaking to it. If these giants of the faith were disciplined, none of us should expect or really desire to avoid God’s discipline when it is for our own good—no matter how unpleasant in the short run. The praying crowd was sensitive to God’s moving among them as only praying people can be. Elizabeth and Zachariah then faithfully behaved in such a way as to facilitate the fulfillment of Gabriel’s prophecy. God took away her disgrace as He does for all who trust in Him.
Six months later, Gabriel is on another mission--this time to Mary in Nazareth. She was a virgin, betrothed (more than engaged but not yet married) to Joseph. Who among us would not love to hear we have found “favor with God”? Here is one way the Bible gives to obtain this: “Do not let kindness and truth leave you; bind them around your neck, write them on the tablet of your heart. So, you will find favor and a good reputation in the sight of God and man” (Prov. 3:3-4).
Gabriel graciously explains some of the characteristics of this child she, a virgin, will soon be carrying. One stands out: “The Holy Child will be called the Son of God” (vs. 35). Often in these studies I have referenced Bart Ehrman, perhaps America’s most famous Bible scholar and atheist. This is from a 2014 network interview: “During his lifetime, Jesus himself didn't call himself God and didn't consider himself God, and ... none of his disciples had any inkling at all that he was God.” If Dr. Ehrman had read the Book of Acts, he would see Luke was a ministry partner of Paul and contemporary with Peter and others of the 12 disciples. We should hesitate to judge but know Dr. Ehrman has done well selling his books to his niche audience of skeptics. Other belief systems that look like Christianity on the surface also seem to differ from the Luke account:
- “Those who overcome by faith and sealed by the Holy Spirit of promise receive the fulness of God’s glory and be gods, even sons of God... the saints shall be filled with his glory and receive their Inheri-- tance and made equal with Him. Latter-day Saints use the term exaltation.” (www.churchofjesuschrist.org)
- “Scriptural evidence indicates that the name Michael [the angel] applied to God’s Son before he left heaven to become Jesus Christ and also after his return.” (JW.org)
- “God is often referred to as the Great Architect of the Universe. It is a descriptive title that allows each member to think of the Supreme Being according to his own beliefs and convictions, uninfluenced by but respectful of those around him.” (freemason.com)
READING FOR AUGUST 6, 2024 CONTINUED: LUKE 1, PSALM 77:1-9 Brief responses to the three views above:
- The statement above is taken from the Church of Jesus Christ’s (AKA Mormons) website. Another quote from the site: “As man now is, God once was: As God now is, man may be.” Mary found favor with God but considered herself a bondservant. She exalted God not herself or any future divinity. Zachariah blessed the Lord God of Israel because his son would be a prophet of the Most High not be equal with Him. In fact, John the Baptist said, “He must increase, but I must decrease” (John 3:30).
- This is an excerpt from the Jehovah Witnesses’ website. Hebrews 1:6-8 refutes this view: “’Let all the angels of God worship Him [Jesus].’ And regarding the angels He [the Father] says, ‘He makes His angels winds, and His ministers a flame of fire.’ But regarding the Son He says, ‘Your throne, God, is forever and ever.’”
- This is the official position of the Freemasons on God. John 14:6 disagrees: “Jesus said to him, ‘I am the way, and the truth, and the life; no one comes to the Father except through Me.”’
This has gone on too long; the following are brief points about the rest of the chapter:
- The baby, not a collection of fetal tissue, leapt for joy in Elizabeth’s womb.
- In verse 47, Mary calls Jesus her Savior. She acknowledges she is not perfect and needs to be saved.
- In verses 54-55, Mary sees this birth as the next step of God’s covenant with Abraham.
- At John’s circumcision, Zachariah’s voice returned with a bang: praises to God. What a moment.
- Zachariah agrees with Mary that they are witnessing a new stage in God’s covenant with Abraham.
- Zachariah’s prophecy is especially on target regarding the redemptive plan that will emerge.
- For some reason, John’s pre-ministry life will be in the desert, away from the general public.
PSALM 77:1-9 This, like many of the Psalms, shows a believer honestly wrestling both with God and with his own competing realities of trust and pain. The three-way struggle is revealing and maybe even a model for us. Asaph says he directs a heartfelt audible expression toward a God he is confident is listening. He stretches his arms toward God in physical expression, as Paul later recommends: “I want the men in every place to pray, lifting up holy hands” (1 Tim. 2:8). And he does this day and night. Ever notice the seriousness of intent conveyed whenever a Muslim prostrates himself in prayer or when an Orthodox Jew sways back and forth while praying. This is more the approach toward prayer of all the Psalms rather than a quick and casual request.
Despite this, Asaph is restless, especially when he contemplates God. It seems he recalls much earlier times when God was comparatively more responsive or blessed him more visibly. Clearly, he believes God exists and is entirely capable of rescuing him, but he wonders if God will. So, what’s Asaph’s plan? Keep singing in the night, keep meditating in his heart, and keep pondering with his spirit. Yes, that leaves him with serious questions, but that’s where we are at this stage of this particular ordeal—halfway through the Psalm.
