Gal.3:23-25 “...But before faith came, we were kept in custody under the law, being shut up to the faith which was later to be revealed. Therefore the Law has become our tutor to lead us to Christ, so that we may be justified by faith. But now that faith has come, we are no longer under a tutor...”
Garden - expectation that heart was one with God’s holiness
Sinai - corrupt heart needed law to lead to God’s holiness
Calvary - new heart can again be one with God’s holiness
Do we still need the law?
Ex.31:3,6 “...I have filled him with the Spirit of God in wisdom, in understanding, in knowledge, and in all kinds of craftsmanship...I Myself have appointed ...and in the hearts of all who are skillful I have put skill, that they may make all that I have commanded you...”
Where does skill come from?
Why does it exist?
And in this section of scripture about skilled workers- Ex.31:13-17 “...’You shall surely observe My sabbaths; for this is a sign between Me and you throughout your generations, that you may know that I am the Lord who sanctifies you. 'Therefore you are to observe the sabbath, for it is holy to you. Everyone who profanes it shall surely be put to death; for whoever does any work on it, that person shall be cut off from among his people. 'For six days work may be done, but on the seventh day there is a sabbath of complete rest, holy to the Lord; whoever does any work on the sabbath day shall surely be put to death. 'So the sons of Israel shall observe the sabbath, to celebrate the sabbath throughout their generations as a perpetual covenant.. It is a sign between Me and the sons of Israel forever; for in six days the Lord made heaven and earth, but on the seventh day He ceased from labor, and was refreshed."
Why Observe? A sign of remembrance? Remembering Creation, the God of Creation, and His ways.
Ex.34:21 “...You shall work six days, but on the seventh day you shall rest; even during plowing time and harvest you shall rest...”
Even during your busiest times?
Ex.32 - Rebellious Idolatry
32:1 “...Come, make us a god who will go before us...”
Don’t underestimate mankind’s desire and ability to make their own gods, who will take them where they want to go.
32:4 “...a molten calf...This is your god...”
32:7 “...people ...have corrupted themselves...”
Giving people what they want can be disastrous!
God’s response? Ex.32:10 “...let Me alone, that My anger may burn against them and that I may destroy them ...”
Response of Moses? Ex.32:11-13. What did he appeal to? Purposes and Promises of God.
Ex.32:25 “...the people were out of control - for Aaron had let them get out of control to be a derision among their enemies...”
What kind of a leader was Aaron?
What was the problem? Was God’s reputation at stake?
Is God’s reputation at stake now?
To what did “out of control” lead? Ex.33:3 “...I will not go up in your midst, because you are an obstinate people, and I might destroy you on the way..."
Do we desire His promises or His presence?
Is God’s presence the distinquishing feature of His people?
Ex.34:10 “...Then God said, "Behold, I am going to make a covenant. Before all your people I will perform miracles which have not been produced in all the earth nor among any of the nations; and all the people among whom you live will see the working of the Lord, for it is a fearful thing that I am going to perform with you...”
In spite of failure, this “compassionate and gracious, slow to anger, and abounding in lovingkindness and truth (34:6)” God made a covenant with Israel.
Exodus 35 - Tabernacle
Just before getting started, what do they talk about? (35:2,3)
Stress importance of the Sabbath - can’t even kindle a fire.
--- Sabbath: 89 references in OT, 69 references in NT
--- Adultery: 20 in OT, 23 in NT
--- Idolatry: 12 in OT, 3 in NT
--- Murder: 8 in OT, 14 in NT
Ask yourself - What are your intentions God?
Don’t ask - What works for me?
Needed materials 35:5? Willing. Egyptian stuff?
God’s people have the World’s goods - For God’s purposes
Where God guides, God provides? Ex.36:3-7 “...They received from Moses all the contributions which the sons of Israel had brought to perform the work in the construction of the sanctuary. And they still continued bringing to him freewill offerings every morning. And all the skillful men who were performing all the work of the sanctuary came, each from the work which he was performing, and they said to Moses, "The people are bringing much more than enough for the construction work which the Lord commanded us to perform." So Moses issued a command, and a proclamation was circulated throughout the camp, saying, "Let no man or woman any longer perform work for the contributions of the sanctuary." Thus the people were restrained from bringing any more. For the material they had was sufficient and more than enough for all the work, to perform it...”
Needed workers 35:10,35? “...He has filled them with skill...” Who gets the credit for your skill?
God’s people have God given abilities - For God’s purposes
Measurements in cubits:
Standard Cubit: elbow to end of middle finger (~20”)
Lower forearm cubit: elbow to base of hand (~12”)
Strong’s (~18”)
Deu.3:11 Og’s bed was 9 cubits (15’, 9’, 13.5’)
1 Sam.17:4 Goliath was 6 cubits and a span (finger spread) (10’, 6’, 9’)
Symbolism of Tabernacle fixtures:
Ark of the Testimony - God’s covenant with His people.
Mercy Seat - Presence of God among His people.
Veil - Separation from God because of sin.
Table with Bread of Presence - God provided nourishment.
Lampstands/Lamps - Light to find the way.
Altar of Incense - Acceptable prayer.
Anointing Oil - Sanctification, being set apart for God.
Altar of Burnt Offering - Sacrifice restores relationship.
Basin - Need to be clean.
Exodus 39 - Priestly Garments
What do you think of robed leaders?
How were the priestly garments made? Just as the Lord had commanded (39:7), including 12 memorial stones on the shoulder pieces, corresponding to the 12 tribes of Israel (39:14), and a sash (39:21).
Ex.39:42 “...So the sons of Israel did all the work according to all that the Lord had commanded Moses...”
Should leaders be robed?
Exodus 40 - The Tabernacle Erected
They set it up (40:1-8), they set it apart (40:9-15), and they finished the work (40:33)
What happened next?
Exodus 40:34-38 “...Then the cloud covered the tent of meeting, and the glory of the Lord filled the tabernacle. Moses was not able to enter the tent of meeting because the cloud had settled on it, and the glory of the Lord filled the tabernacle. Throughout all their journeys whenever the cloud was taken up from over the tabernacle, the sons of Israel would set out; but if the cloud was not taken up, then they did not set out until the day when it was taken up. For throughout all 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...”
God’s presence and God’s guidance are manifested after His people follow His commands.
What happened following Solomon’s erection and dedication of the temple? 2 Chronicles 7:1-3 “...Now when Solomon had finished praying, fire came down from heaven and consumed the burnt offering and the sacrifices, and the glory of the Lord filled the house. The priests could not enter into the house of the Lord because the glory of the Lord filled the Lord's house. All the sons of Israel, seeing the fire come down and the glory of the Lord upon the house, bowed down on the pavement with their faces to the ground, and they worshiped and gave praise to the Lord, saying, "Truly He is good, truly His lovingkindness is everlasting."
How does this work now? 1 Corinthians 6:18-20 “...Flee immorality. Every other sin that a man commits is outside the body, but the immoral man sins against his own body. Or do you not know that your body is a temple of the Holy Spirit who is in you, whom you have from God, and that you are not your own? For you have been bought with a price: therefore glorify God in your body.
Leviticus
Hebrew (Vayikra) - “And He Called”.
English (Leviticus) - “Matters pertaining to the Levites”
God did His part in freeing Israel from Egyptian bondage, freeing His people from the slavery of the world.
Now He expects His people to do their part. He called them to holiness, and the purity of each individual is the foundation of the holiness of the entire covenant community.
--- Rescue From. Rescue For.
--- Save From. Save For.
--- Call From. Call For.
Lev.1 Burnt Offerings - without defect, soothing aroma (1:9).
To make payment for sins in general.
Showed a person’s devotion to God.
Lev.2 Grain Offerings - seasoned with salt, soothing aroma (2:9).
To show honor and respect to God.
Showed that all we own belongs to God.
Lev.3 Peace Offerings - soothing aroma (3:5, 3:16).
To express gratitude to God.
Shows that we desire fellowship with God.
Lev.4 Sin Offerings - for unintentional sins of community (4:13,14), leaders (4:22), and the common people (4:27).
Payment for neglect, uncleanness, thoughtlessness.
Restored fellowship.
Lev.5 Guilt Offerings - even for “hidden”, “unaware of” sins. Ignorance of the Law is no excuse.
Lev.6 Restitution. In full +20%, then guilt offering as well.
Make it right with man.
Make it right with God.
Lev.7:21 “...When anyone touches anything unclean, whether human uncleanness, or an unclean animal, or any unclean detestable thing, and eats of the flesh of the sacrifice of peace offerings which belong to the Lord, that person shall be cut off from his people...”
Good time to point out a basic OT/NT difference.
Under the covenant of Law, there was always a problem of becoming unclean because of what you did.
Upon fulfillment of the Law, there is the privilege of being made clean by touching Christ.
Which is easier? OT worked hard to stay clean, because restoring was difficult. NT get careless, because restoring was accomplished through Christ. What was God looking for, then and now?
Why do things God’s way? Lev.8:34-35 “...The Lord has commanded to do as has been done this day, to make atonement on your behalf. At the doorway of the tent of meeting, moreover, you shall remain day and night for seven days and keep the charge of the Lord, so that you will not die, for so I have been commanded...”
Gen.2:17 “...but from the tree of the knowledge of good and evil you shall not eat, for in the day that you eat from it you will surely die..."
Did they? They died to God’s best for them.
What happens when things are done as prescribed? Lev. 9:22-23 “...Then Aaron lifted up his hands toward the people and blessed them, and he stepped down after making the sin offering and the burnt offering and the peace offerings. Moses and Aaron went into the tent of meeting. When they came out and blessed the people, the glory of the Lord appeared to all the people...”
What happens when things are NOT done as prescribed? Lev.10:1-2 “...Now Nadab and Abihu, the sons of Aaron, took their respective firepans, and after putting fire in them, placed incense on it and offered strange fire before the Lord, which He had not commanded them. And fire came out from the presence of the Lord and consumed them, and they died before the Lord...”
Why do things as prescribed? Lev.10:3 “...It is what the Lord spoke, saying, 'By those who come near Me I will be treated as holy, And before all the people I will be honored...”
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