READING FOR JULY 25, 2024: EXODUS 32, 2 TIMOTHY 1, PSALM 72:1-11 EXODUS 32 Why is the golden calf story important to us in Yorktown in 2024? Paul, quoting directly from Exodus 32, tells us: “Now these things happened as examples for us, so that we would not crave evil things as they indeed craved them. Do not be idolaters, as some of them were; as it is written: ‘The people sat down to eat and to drink, and rose up to play’” (1 Cor. 10:6-7). Exodus 32 starts with a delay, from the people’s perspective. This delay, as maybe all delays do, revealed the depth of their faith in the true God. They asked for a manmade god whom they could control. Perhaps the relevant question Paul would have us ask is, “Are we willing to submit to the Biblical God who is transcendent and sovereign, or do we construct one based upon personal preferences?”
Aaron, Moses’s older brother, shows why God chose Moses to lead. He went along with the plan, even facilitating it. Aaron put in lots of effort, but this was certainly not artist skill empowered by the Holy Spirit for God’s glory as was the case with Bezalel and Oholiab. Instead, it shows how strong the influence of public pressure can be to override all the unmistakable signs of God’s authority from before. Is this similar to us or our children forsaking faith when going off to college? Paul’s quotation above, translated from the Greek as “rose up to play,” is given a different slant when it is translated directly from the Hebrew: “got up to engage in lewd behavior.” It seems when we create our own gods, it leads to this result.
The Lord didn’t respond in ways many would consider loving and inclusive. He intended to kill them all. Moses pleaded for the people, reminding God of His covenant with Abraham and of Egypt’s reaction. Although it seems to the reader that God changed His mind, He responded according to His unchanging nature and the complete situation, eventually including Moses’s pleas. An overlooked detail is that Joshua went up with Moses part of the way. Thus, he never participated in this great sin, making him an excellent choice as Moses’s successor. A further detail is that each of the two stone tablets had God’s writing on both sides. This is also true of the scrolls in Zechariah 5:3, Ezekiel 2:10, and Rev. 5:1. (The writer has no explanation for this.)
We have seen Moses be bashful, but, as when he killed the Egyptian, he also had temper. His anger, which here seems justified, is now on full display. Scolding his older brother, having the people consume crushed gold dissolved in water, and having 3,000 of his countrymen killed by God-fearing Levites were not gentle responses. But shattering the stone tablets written upon and given by God might be the ultimate gesture of rage. Despite this, his willingness to be judged along with the people shows his humility and love remained. God, in His mercy, spared the people for now, but wiped the names of those who sinned from His book.
READING FOR JULY 25, 2024 CONTINUED: 2 TIMOTHY 1, PSALM 72:1-11 2 TIMOTHY 1 Paul makes a brief reference to those forefathers who served God before his time. Those who have studied church history have found similar wisdom and inspiration. We can start by reading Hebrews 11, which gives a pretty great overview of many centuries of faith heroes. Paul once again reminds his reader (in this case Timothy) that he constantly prays for him. Is there any doubt by now that 1) prayer for our fellow believers is vital and 2) we should tell them we are praying? Paul knew Timothy well, as evidenced by his remembering Timothy’s mother’s and grandmother’s names. Since no male is mentioned, it is likely that these women were not married to Christians. They still were able to foster faith in Timothy. If anyone is in a similar marriage arrangement, this example might provide hope.
There is good reason to think this is Paul’s last letter to anyone: “The time of my departure has come. I have fought the good fight, I have finished the course” (2 Tim. 4:6-7). His parting words are pertinent to Timothy and us. He urges Timothy to not be timid in his faith but exercise his gift with power. He says to him, and us, don’t be ashamed of the Gospel. In fact, even if we experience suffering for it, God has given us the high calling of sharing about this Jesus who has abolished death and brought life. What are we doing with our time that has more value than embracing this calling? Finally, he tells Timothy, and us, to hold unto the sound words Paul gave about the faith and love of Jesus. That’s why are we are reading through the Bible!
PSALM 72:1-11 In this psalm by Solomon, according to the title, he references himself in the third person. This is not unheard of even today with individuals in positions of high authority. The requests of Solomon for divine judgment and righteousness are consistent with what we know of the promising start of his reign: “Give Your servant an understanding heart to judge Your people, to discern between good and evil. For who is capable of judging this great people of Yours?” (1 Kings 3:9). In fact, anyone starting a new position is smart to pray this same prayer, and we know God was pleased with this request. Of special value for anyone aspiring to leadership, Solomon had an interest in peace and helping the poor and oppressed. Vote for Solomon!Verses 5-7 requests the nation retain its fear of God forever and that his own reign would be seen as gently nourishing. Requests from verses 8-11 would signal less godly desires If meant for Solomon, himself: extended geographic kingdom, humiliation of his enemies, gifts from foreign dignitaries, and all nations serving him. They would, however, make perfect sense as messianic prophesies of Jesus. In fact, this Psalm is paraphrased in the hymn Jesus Shall Reign: “Jesus shall reign where’er the sun does his successive journeys run; His kingdom spread from shore to shore, till moons shall wax and wane no more.”
