Lord’s Day, Vol. 12 No. 11

Opening the Book of Exodus (2)

God provided His Word (Exodus 19-24) and Worship (Exodus 25-40) as the means by which His people draw nigh to Him.

At Mount Sinai, the LORD gave His laws to Israel, the nation’s constitution. This is recorded in Exodus 19-24. What was the purpose of God giving His laws? Exodus 20:20 (KJV) And Moses said unto the people, Fear not: for God is come to prove you, and that his fear may be before your faces, that ye sin not.

It was the year 1445 B.C. when God first revealed His laws, universal laws binding for all mankind and for all eternity. God wrote the Ten Commandments by His fingers on two tablets of stone, given to Moses, the first record of God’s written Word.

The Apostle Paul interpretated Exodus 20:20 well when he said in 2 Timothy 3:16-17 (KJV) All scripture is given by inspiration of God, and is profitable for doctrine, for reproof, for correction, for instruction in righteousness: That the man of God may be perfect, throughly furnished unto all good works.

The phrase “given by inspiration of God” in our King James translation is one word in the Greek – God-breathed. All Scripture is God-breathed is the literal translation of the verse 16a. God’s laws were given in Mount Sinai amidst lightning and thunder. It is from the very breath of God that these words are given. It describes the divine origin and source of Scripture. It is the voice of God speaking through Scripture for the first time there at the Mount. The utterance of the Eternal God, as if the heaven were to be opened and we heard God speaking to us with human  voice. It carries with it the divine authority of God. When Scripture speaks, all must stand corrected, all critics silenced. Paul did not write “all the scripture” but “all scripture”. The absence of the definite article emphasizes the quality and character of Scriptures. The Bible carries the credentials of the Almighty God. This was emphatically recorded in the Exodus.

God’s laws enable us to renew our hearts so that we would have the wherewithal to fight against sin, corruption that still disturbs us even after we are saved. This renewal comes from the Word of God.

God’s Word is profitable for doctrine to impart the principles of life. For reproof, to show what is wrong with our lives. Where we have gone wrong, God’s Word reprove and corrects us, shows us how to correct ourselves when we realized we are on the wrong path, walking the wrong way. And for instruction in righteousness, teaching us the right way after putting away the wrong.

That the man of God may be perfect, throughly furnished unto all good works. The word “perfect” means complete, of one able to meet all demands, qualified, fully ready, perfectly fit, mature. That the man of God, might be throughly furnished. It speaks of thorough spiritual and moral preparedness to be equipped completely, made adequate to show forth a godly life by all the good works that he does to bless the people around him. We should press toward perfection. This is the call to living a holy life, not sinless but a life of godliness, characterized by good works. There is a future sense to the verb that tells us we must work at it. We must continue to have victory over sin in our lives.

God’s laws provided the perfect way to live our lives – Psalm 19:7-11 (KJV) The law of the LORD is perfect, converting the soul: the testimony of the LORD is sure, making wise the simple. The statutes of the LORD are right, rejoicing the heart: the commandment of the LORD is pure, enlightening the eyes. The fear of the LORD is clean, enduring for ever: the judgments of the LORD are true and righteous altogether. More to be desired are they than gold, yea, than much fine gold: sweeter also than honey and the honeycomb. Moreover by them is thy servant warned: and in keeping of them there is great reward.

From redemption to renewal, God had to teach the nation His ordinances, statutes, show them His judgments, so that they would know how to interact one with another and with Him. And with the nations around them, each step God showed by way of Israel’s witness.

The Lord showed Israel the way of redemption and the way of renewal through His Word and through worship. From chapter 25 to chapter 40. God would give Israel the blueprint for the building of the Tabernacle so that His people may rightly approach and worship Him. That the people of God may enjoy the presence, power, guidance and fellowship of God with them.

The tabernacle was a picture of the presence of God, of Christ dwelling with His people. When Christ come in the fullness of time, the Bible describe Him as coming to dwell with His people – John 1:14 (KJV) And the Word was made flesh, and dwelt among us, (and we beheld his glory, the glory as of the only begotten of the Father,) full of grace and truth. The word “dwelt” in John 1:14 means “to tabernacle”.

If you have God with you, you have all that you need. When Christ was upon earth, there was no disease that He couldn’t heal, no sickness that He couldn’t treat. Even the dead came to life. Death was no impasse for the Lord. The storm could be calmed. If you have the Lord as your God, He have the gift of eternal life.

吉祥

Ji Xiang

The Chinese characters for prosperity “吉祥” depict such a life with God. Life would be wholesome and full. In the wilderness, God renewed Israel through His Word and through worship. They drew nigh to Him. Having come to faith in the Lord Jesus Christ, you would need the Word of God to nourish you daily and you need to be in the presence of God in worship, in fellowship with God.

When the Tabernacle was built, God also appointed priests to minister there. The priest represented the people before God. The priest obeyed the instructions of God to make sacrifices on behalf of the people for the atonement of their sins. If an Israelite sin against God, he would bring an unblemished ox, lamb, goat or pigeon so that the animal that was slaughtered, blood that was shed, would bear his sin.

A picture of Christ, the Lamb of God, whose sacrifice on the cross at Calvary, nearly 1500 years later, shedding His blood, would cleanse us from our sins. It seemed so gruesome for the worshipper to bring a lamb to the Tabernacle and to kill the lamb himself. It helps us to see the great price that has to be paid for the redemption of our sins. Christ Himself, God Himself, the Lamb of God had to be slain. He was innocent. The animal that was slain was innocent too. But it was made to bear the sins of the Israelite worshipper. He puts his hand on the head of the animal, symbolizing the sins of the worshipper being transferred to the animal. The animal died on behalf of the worshipper to atone for his sins.

In the New Testament Church, the Lord’s Supper gives a picture of Christ’s redemption. When we partake of the bread and drink of cup, “ye do shew the Lord’s death till he come.” The Old Testament sacrifices therefore were visual aids for us to understand the atonement of Christ for our sins. Amen.   

Yours livingly

Pastor Lek Aik Wee