God First!
Psalm 66:8-15
8 Praise our God, all peoples,
let the sound of his praise be heard;
9 he has preserved our lives
and kept our feet from slipping.
10 For you, God, tested us;
you refined us like silver.
11 You brought us into prison
and laid burdens on our backs.
12 You let people ride over our heads;
we went through fire and water,
but you brought us to a place of abundance.
13 I will come to your temple with burnt offerings
and fulfill my vows to you—
14 vows my lips promised and my mouth spoke
when I was in trouble.
15 I will sacrifice fat animals to you
and an offering of rams;
I will offer bulls and goats.
Reflections: The psalmist reflects the distress he has gone through, but also his commitment to praise God in the temple as part of the fulfillment of a vow. He also reflects that times of trial are times where refining happens much as the heating of precious metals takes out the impurities. In all of this, he reflects God’s sovereign rule and allowing things to happen but ultimately leading to a place of abundance (promised land). If you are going through a trial these words might help you persevere beyond quitting points. Though we sometimes can’t see why something is happening to us, if God is in charge, it is for our good causing us to become more pure like His Son.
Numbers 7:72-8:4
84 These were the offerings of the Israelite leaders for the dedication of the altar when it was anointed: twelve silver plates, twelve silver sprinkling bowls and twelve gold dishes. 85 Each silver plate weighed a hundred and thirty shekels, and each sprinkling bowl seventy shekels. Altogether, the silver dishes weighed two thousand four hundred shekels,[a] according to the sanctuary shekel. 86 The twelve gold dishes filled with incense weighed ten shekels each, according to the sanctuary shekel. Altogether, the gold dishes weighed a hundred and twenty shekels. 87 The total number of animals for the burnt offering came to twelve young bulls, twelve rams and twelve male lambs a year old, together with their grain offering. Twelve male goats were used for the sin offering. 88 The total number of animals for the sacrifice of the fellowship offering came to twenty-four oxen, sixty rams, sixty male goats and sixty male lambs a year old. These were the offerings for the dedication of the altar after it was anointed. 89 When Moses entered the tent of meeting to speak with the Lord, he heard the voice speaking to him from between the two cherubim above the atonement cover on the ark of the covenant law. In this way the Lord spoke to him.
Setting Up the Lamps
Chapter 8 The Lord said to Moses, 2 “Speak to Aaron and say to him, ‘When you set up the lamps, see that all seven light up the area in front of the lampstand. ’” 3 Aaron did so; he set up the lamps so that they faced forward on the lampstand, just as the Lord commanded Moses. 4 This is how the lampstand was made: It was made of hammered gold —from its base to its blossoms. The lampstand was made exactly like the pattern the Lord had shown Moses.
Reflections: As we conclude the repetitive listing of the twelve tribes and their offerings to the Lord. The collective offering is monumental reminding us that as each of us do our part to give God thanks with returning to Him what has been given to us by His grace, there will be an abundance for the work of the Lord. Next, we move to Aaron, the priest, setting up the lampstands, which were a sign that the Lord light would be for all nations. Seven is the number of completeness and represents God’s desire to be a light for all peoples. (Remember the promises to Abraham that he would be a light for all nations)
Everything we do can either give light and glory to God, or cast a shadow on His name. That is why we sang for ages, “This little light of mine I’m gonna let is shine. Hide it under a bushel? No! I’m gonna let it shine!” Notice it says “let it shine”, we aren’t the source of light, but we can be a reflection of it, as we allow God’s light to shine through us!
Mark 12:13-17
Paying the Imperial Tax to Caesar
13 Later they sent some of the Pharisees and Herodians to Jesus to catch him in his words. 14 They came to him and said, “Teacher, we know that you are a man of integrity. You aren’t swayed by others, because you pay no attention to who they are; but you teach the way of God in accordance with the truth. Is it right to pay the imperial tax to Caesar or not? 15 Should we pay or shouldn’t we?” But Jesus knew their hypocrisy. “Why are you trying to trap me?” he asked. “Bring me a denarius and let me look at it.” 16 They brought the coin, and he asked them, “Whose image is this? And whose inscription?” “Caesar’s,” they replied.17 Then Jesus said to them, “Give back to Caesar what is Caesar’s and to God what is God’s.” And they were amazed at him.
Reflections: The leaders try to trap Jesus in his words, and today bring up the tax given to Caesar the Roman Emperor. Subject peoples were required to pay a tax to Roman Emperor, but not the Roman citizens. Some Jews flatly refused to pay this! (NIV Study Bible, p.1680) The leaders thought if Jesus said not to pay the tax that he would be disobeying the laws of the land. Jesus called their bluff, and admonished them to give to Caesar’s that which was Caesar’s; and to God, that which is God’s. Later Paul will teach in Romans 13 that we are to obey the governing authorities, as ordained by God to keep order in society, unless what they ask us to do is in conflict His Laws, which are eternal. That is why in the book of Acts the apostles could say, “We must obey God rather than man”, when asked by Jewish council to stop teaching in Jesus’ name.
This is good reminder to us today to obey the laws of the land, and by our good citizenship (paying taxes et al) be a reflection of our larger obedience to God. Of course, if there is a conflict between what we are called to do or support, and it is contrary to God’s Word as revealed in the bible, we will need to prayerfully discern where we need to make our stand with courage. Though Christian liberties have been protected for the most part in our country, there seems to be a movement against this liberty. I.e. Prayer in schools!
As we seek to be faithful disciples there will be times what God calls us to do will clash with culture and in a sense prophetically speak to it. At those times the Holy Spirit will give us courage to stand up under the pressure and grow from those trials in further dependence on God.
Who then will offer willingly, consecrating themselves today to the Lord? 1 Chronicles 29:5
Each of you must give as you have made up your mind, not reluctantly or under compulsion, for God loves a cheerful giver. 2 Corinthians 9:7
River of blessing, life would be so much more full and rich if we could accept your generosity and be more generous ourselves. But we are afraid. So often we care only for ourselves. Help us to look more like you. Amen.
8 Praise our God, all peoples,
let the sound of his praise be heard;
9 he has preserved our lives
and kept our feet from slipping.
10 For you, God, tested us;
you refined us like silver.
11 You brought us into prison
and laid burdens on our backs.
12 You let people ride over our heads;
we went through fire and water,
but you brought us to a place of abundance.
13 I will come to your temple with burnt offerings
and fulfill my vows to you—
14 vows my lips promised and my mouth spoke
when I was in trouble.
15 I will sacrifice fat animals to you
and an offering of rams;
I will offer bulls and goats.
Reflections: The psalmist reflects the distress he has gone through, but also his commitment to praise God in the temple as part of the fulfillment of a vow. He also reflects that times of trial are times where refining happens much as the heating of precious metals takes out the impurities. In all of this, he reflects God’s sovereign rule and allowing things to happen but ultimately leading to a place of abundance (promised land). If you are going through a trial these words might help you persevere beyond quitting points. Though we sometimes can’t see why something is happening to us, if God is in charge, it is for our good causing us to become more pure like His Son.
Numbers 7:72-8:4
84 These were the offerings of the Israelite leaders for the dedication of the altar when it was anointed: twelve silver plates, twelve silver sprinkling bowls and twelve gold dishes. 85 Each silver plate weighed a hundred and thirty shekels, and each sprinkling bowl seventy shekels. Altogether, the silver dishes weighed two thousand four hundred shekels,[a] according to the sanctuary shekel. 86 The twelve gold dishes filled with incense weighed ten shekels each, according to the sanctuary shekel. Altogether, the gold dishes weighed a hundred and twenty shekels. 87 The total number of animals for the burnt offering came to twelve young bulls, twelve rams and twelve male lambs a year old, together with their grain offering. Twelve male goats were used for the sin offering. 88 The total number of animals for the sacrifice of the fellowship offering came to twenty-four oxen, sixty rams, sixty male goats and sixty male lambs a year old. These were the offerings for the dedication of the altar after it was anointed. 89 When Moses entered the tent of meeting to speak with the Lord, he heard the voice speaking to him from between the two cherubim above the atonement cover on the ark of the covenant law. In this way the Lord spoke to him.
Setting Up the Lamps
Chapter 8 The Lord said to Moses, 2 “Speak to Aaron and say to him, ‘When you set up the lamps, see that all seven light up the area in front of the lampstand. ’” 3 Aaron did so; he set up the lamps so that they faced forward on the lampstand, just as the Lord commanded Moses. 4 This is how the lampstand was made: It was made of hammered gold —from its base to its blossoms. The lampstand was made exactly like the pattern the Lord had shown Moses.
Reflections: As we conclude the repetitive listing of the twelve tribes and their offerings to the Lord. The collective offering is monumental reminding us that as each of us do our part to give God thanks with returning to Him what has been given to us by His grace, there will be an abundance for the work of the Lord. Next, we move to Aaron, the priest, setting up the lampstands, which were a sign that the Lord light would be for all nations. Seven is the number of completeness and represents God’s desire to be a light for all peoples. (Remember the promises to Abraham that he would be a light for all nations)
Everything we do can either give light and glory to God, or cast a shadow on His name. That is why we sang for ages, “This little light of mine I’m gonna let is shine. Hide it under a bushel? No! I’m gonna let it shine!” Notice it says “let it shine”, we aren’t the source of light, but we can be a reflection of it, as we allow God’s light to shine through us!
Mark 12:13-17
Paying the Imperial Tax to Caesar
13 Later they sent some of the Pharisees and Herodians to Jesus to catch him in his words. 14 They came to him and said, “Teacher, we know that you are a man of integrity. You aren’t swayed by others, because you pay no attention to who they are; but you teach the way of God in accordance with the truth. Is it right to pay the imperial tax to Caesar or not? 15 Should we pay or shouldn’t we?” But Jesus knew their hypocrisy. “Why are you trying to trap me?” he asked. “Bring me a denarius and let me look at it.” 16 They brought the coin, and he asked them, “Whose image is this? And whose inscription?” “Caesar’s,” they replied.17 Then Jesus said to them, “Give back to Caesar what is Caesar’s and to God what is God’s.” And they were amazed at him.
Reflections: The leaders try to trap Jesus in his words, and today bring up the tax given to Caesar the Roman Emperor. Subject peoples were required to pay a tax to Roman Emperor, but not the Roman citizens. Some Jews flatly refused to pay this! (NIV Study Bible, p.1680) The leaders thought if Jesus said not to pay the tax that he would be disobeying the laws of the land. Jesus called their bluff, and admonished them to give to Caesar’s that which was Caesar’s; and to God, that which is God’s. Later Paul will teach in Romans 13 that we are to obey the governing authorities, as ordained by God to keep order in society, unless what they ask us to do is in conflict His Laws, which are eternal. That is why in the book of Acts the apostles could say, “We must obey God rather than man”, when asked by Jewish council to stop teaching in Jesus’ name.
This is good reminder to us today to obey the laws of the land, and by our good citizenship (paying taxes et al) be a reflection of our larger obedience to God. Of course, if there is a conflict between what we are called to do or support, and it is contrary to God’s Word as revealed in the bible, we will need to prayerfully discern where we need to make our stand with courage. Though Christian liberties have been protected for the most part in our country, there seems to be a movement against this liberty. I.e. Prayer in schools!
As we seek to be faithful disciples there will be times what God calls us to do will clash with culture and in a sense prophetically speak to it. At those times the Holy Spirit will give us courage to stand up under the pressure and grow from those trials in further dependence on God.
Who then will offer willingly, consecrating themselves today to the Lord? 1 Chronicles 29:5
Each of you must give as you have made up your mind, not reluctantly or under compulsion, for God loves a cheerful giver. 2 Corinthians 9:7
River of blessing, life would be so much more full and rich if we could accept your generosity and be more generous ourselves. But we are afraid. So often we care only for ourselves. Help us to look more like you. Amen.
Comments
Post a Comment