Inspiring Words Knight Vision

We are in chapter forty of Exodus with our word for today. מָלֵא be full, fill, consecrate as a priest, devote, fulfill, carry out. It is used 248 times in the Old Testament, 2 times in our chapter. Our word is used in the sense to make full with sufficient quantity. It is used literally to fill a container. Genesis 21:19 Then God opened her eyes, and she saw a well of water. And she went וַתְּמַלֵּ֤א and filled the skin with water and gave the boy a drink (Genesis 24:16). Genesis 42:25 Joseph gave orders וַיְמַלְא֣וּ to fill their bags with grain. It is also used figuratively in the sense of being filled with an ability to accomplish a task. Exodus 28:3 You shall speak to all the skillful, whom מִלֵּאתִ֖יו I have filled with a spirit of skill, that they make Aaron's garments to consecrate him for my priesthood. This same idea is also referred to as ordaining. A good example is the consecration of priests to serve in the tabernacle worship. Exodus 29:9 The priesthood shall be theirs by a statute forever. Thus וּמִלֵּאתָ֥ you shall ordain Aaron and his sons. We also find our word used specifically to identify God’s presence being experienced in a special overwhelming way. Ezekiel 10:3-4; 44:4 A cloud מָלֵ֔א filled the inner court. And the glory of the Lord went up from the cherub to the threshold of the house, and the house was filled with the cloud, and the court וַיִּמָּלֵ֤א was filled with the brightness of the glory of the Lord … I looked, and behold, the glory of the Lord מָלֵ֥א filled the temple of the Lord. And I fell on my face. This is how our word is used twice in our chapter today. Exodus 40:34-35 Then the cloud covered the tent of meeting, and the glory of the Lord מָלֵ֖א filled the tabernacle. And Moses was not able to enter the tent of meeting because the cloud settled on it, and the glory of the Lord מָלֵ֖א filled the tabernacle. We also see this same thing when the ark is brought into the temple and when Solomon finishes dedicating the temple for temple worship. 1 Kings 8:10-11 When the priests came out of the Holy Place, a cloud מָלֵ֖א filled the house of the Lord, so that the priests could not stand to minister because of the cloud, for the glory of the Lord מָלֵ֥א filled the house of the Lord … 2 Chronicles 7:1-3 As soon as Solomon finished his prayer, fire came down from heaven and consumed the burnt offering and the sacrifices, and the glory of the Lord מָלֵ֥א filled the temple. And the priests could not enter the house of the Lord, because the glory of the Lord מָלֵ֥א filled the Lord's house. When all the people of Israel saw the fire come down and the glory of the Lord on the temple, they bowed down with their faces to the ground on the pavement and worshiped and gave thanks to the Lord, saying, “For he is good, for his steadfast love endures forever.” God doesn’t want us to miss just how special and valuable it is for people to connect with him in worship. This is why I think he shows up in this special way. I’ll close with these great passages about being filled with God’s presence as believers in Christ. John 7:37-39 Jesus stood up and cried out, “If anyone thirsts, let him come to me and drink. Whoever believes in me, as the Scripture has said, ‘Out of his heart will flow rivers of living water.’” Romans 5:5 God's love has been poured into our hearts through the Holy Spirit who has been given to us. Ephesians 3:14-19 For this reason I bow my knees before the Father, from whom every family in heaven and on earth is named, that according to the riches of his glory he may grant you to be strengthened with power through his Spirit in your inner being, so that Christ may dwell in your hearts through faith—that you, being rooted and grounded in love, may have strength to comprehend with all the saints what is the breadth and length and height and depth, and to know the love of Christ that surpasses knowledge, that you may be filled with all the fullness of God. 

We are moving into chapter forty of Exodus with our word for today. קוּם erect, build. It is used 627 times in the Old Testament, 5 times in our chapter. Our word is used in the sense to construct, build, or erect. We find it used to set up idol worship. Leviticus 26:1 You shall not make idols for yourselves or תָקִ֣ימוּ erect an image or pillar, and you shall not set up a figured stone in your land to bow down to it, for I am the Lord your God. Deuteronomy 16:22  And you shall not תָקִ֥ים set up a pillar, which the Lord your God hates. 2 Kings 21:3 For he rebuilt the high places that Hezekiah his father had destroyed, וַיָּ֨קֶם and he erected altars for Baal and made an Asherah, as Ahab king of Israel had done, and worshiped all the host of heaven and served them. Our word is used in reference to setting up the tabernacle worship. Numbers 1:51 When the tabernacle is to set out, the Levites shall take it down, and when the tabernacle is to be pitched, the Levites יָקִ֥ימוּ shall set it up. And if any outsider comes near, he shall be put to death. Notice that at this time God purposely designs a place of worship to be mobile because of the mission to bring his people into the land he promised them. Also notice that he gave very specific instructions as to who was to do the taking down and setting up. Here is an example of this taking place. Numbers 10:17, 21 And when the tabernacle was taken down, the sons of Gershon and the sons of Merari, who carried the tabernacle, set out … Then the Kohathites set out, carrying the holy things, and the tabernacle וְהֵקִ֥ימוּ was set up before their arrival. This is how our word is used 5 times in our chapter today.  Exodus 40:1-2, 16-18, 33 The Lord spoke to Moses, saying, “On the first day of the first month תָּקִ֕ים you shall erect the tabernacle of the tent of meeting … This Moses did; according to all that the Lord commanded him, so he did. In the first month in the second year, on the first day of the month, the tabernacle הוּקַ֖ם was erected. Moses וַיָּ֨קֶם erected the tabernacle. He laid its bases, וַיָּ֖קֶם and set up its frames, and put in its poles, and raised up its pillars … וַיָּ֣קֶםAnd he erected the court around the tabernacle and the altar, and set up the screen of the gate of the court. So Moses finished the work. We have looked at a lot of aspects of the tabernacle worship that God set up for people to connect with him in worship. It is significant to notice that this special tent actually worked in that the Levites who were assigned the task of taking it down and setting it up were able to do so until they reached the land God promised to them. God knows what he is doing and how to connect people to himself when we follow his specific direction on how to do so. Today we connect with God through his Son Jesus Christ death in our place and our willingness to receive this salvation through faith. I’ll close with this great Psalm of praise that uses our word to describe how great our salvation in God is. Psalm 40:1-4 I waited patiently for the Lord; he inclined to me and heard my cry. He drew me up from the pit of destruction, out of the miry bog, וַיָּ֖קֶם and set my feet upon a rock, making my steps secure. He put a new song in my mouth, a song of praise to our God. Many will see and fear, and put their trust in the Lord. Blessed is the man who makes the Lord his trust.

We are in chapter thirty-nine of Exodus with our word for today. עֲבֹדָה work, enforced labor, service which is rendered, service of worship. It is used 145 times in the Old Testament, three times in our chapter. Our word is used in the general sense of activity directed toward making or doing something. Psalm 104:23 Man goes out to his work וְֽלַעֲבֹ֖דָת֣וֹ and to his labor until the evening. We also see our word used in the sense of service to God. Numbers 4:4-5 This is the עֲבֹדַ֥ת service of the sons of Kohath in the tent of meeting: the most holy things. When the camp is to set out, Aaron and his sons shall go in and take down the veil of the screen and cover the ark of the testimony with it. Numbers 4:19-20 Aaron and his sons shall go in and appoint them each to his עֲבֹדָת֖וֹ task and to his burden. Our word is used to describe all the effort it took to set up the tabernacle worship. This is how our word is used three times in our chapter for today. Exodus 39:32-33, 40, 42-43 Thus all the עֲבֹדַ֕ת work of the tabernacle of the tent of meeting was finished, and the people of Israel did according to all that the Lord had commanded Moses; so they did. Then they brought the tabernacle to Moses … the hangings of the court, its pillars, and its bases, and the screen for the gate of the court, its cords, and its pegs; and all the utensils for the עֲבֹדַ֥ת service of the tabernacle, for the tent of meeting … According to all that the Lord had commanded Moses, so the people of Israel had done all הָעֲבֹדָֽה the work. And Moses saw all הַמְּלָאכָ֗ה the work [this is a different word for work], and behold, עָשׂוּ֙ [this is the word do or make] they had done it; as the Lord had commanded, so had עָשׂ֑וּ they done it. Then Moses blessed them. It is interesting all the emphasis on the work using our word three times a different word for work and the word for do twice. This reminds us that God doesn’t just do things for us he rather wants us to be involved in his work. Work is not a bad thing. Throughout the Bible we see God setting up work for people to do so that we can work with God. Here is a good example. Psalm 104:13-15 From your lofty abode you water the mountains; the earth is satisfied with the fruit of your work. You cause the grass to grow for the livestock and plants for man לַעֲבֹדַ֣ת to cultivate, that he may bring forth food from the earth and wine to gladden the heart of man, oil to make his face shine and bread to strengthen man's heart. Not only is work something that gives us purpose that God invites us into. It is also the only appropriate response to God’s salvation that is he doing what we cannot do. We can’t save ourselves from the consequences of our sin which is separation from Him. Only God can do that through his Son Jesus death in our place. But our response to God’s grace and salvation is to serve him which involves work. Not to earn our relationship with him but rather to be a part of his great work of helping others accept the relationship that God offers to everyone. Here in our chapter we have the people doing the work that God had instructed them to do. This work set up the tabernacle worship so that people could connect to God in worship. Now through Christ we don’t set up the tabernacle for people to come to but rather we are the temple. God can connect people to himself through our work. This is what the Holy Spirit is referring to when he calls us ambassadors and ministers of reconciliation. I’ll close with these great passages. 2 Corinthians 5:18-21 All this is from God, who through Christ reconciled us to himself and gave us the ministry of reconciliation; that is, in Christ God was reconciling the world to himself, not counting their trespasses against them, and entrusting to us the message of reconciliation. Therefore, we are ambassadors for Christ, God making his appeal through us. We implore you on behalf of Christ, be reconciled to God.

We are in chapter thirty-nine of Exodus with our word for today. נֵ֫זֶר consecration, dedication, crown, diadem, head-band, ordination. It is used 25 times in the Old Testament. Our word is used in the sense of separation whether formally through an act of consecration or as a result of some other informal means. We find our word used the most of any chapter in the Bible in Numbers chapter six. It is used 13 times to describe the Nazarite vow. Numbers 6:13, 18-19, 21 And this is the law for הַנָּזִ֑יר [this is not our word but very similar root idea. It means one consecrated] the Nazirite, when the time of נִזְר֔וֹ his separation has been completed: he shall be brought to the entrance of the tent of meeting … And the Nazirite shall shave his consecrated head at the entrance of the tent of meeting and shall take the hair from נִזְר֑וֹ his consecrated head and put it on the fire that is under the sacrifice of the peace offering. And the priest shall take the shoulder of the ram, when it is boiled, and one unleavened loaf out of the basket and one unleavened wafer, and shall put them on the hands of the Nazirite, after he has shaved the hair of נִזְרֽוֹ his consecration … This is the law of the Nazirite. But if he vows an offering to the Lord above his Nazirite vow, as he can afford, in exact accordance with the vow that he takes, then he shall do in addition to the law of the נִזְרֽוֹ Nazirite. Our word is also used in the sense of a small type of crown or diadem. We see this in reference to kings. 2 Chronicles 23:11 Then they brought out the king's son and put הַנֵּ֙זֶר֙ the crown on him and gave him the testimony. And they proclaimed him king, and Jehoiada and his sons anointed him, and they said, “Long live the king.” Not only do we see Kings with crowns but also the priest as God set up the garments as part of the tabernacle worship. Exodus 29:6 And you shall set the turban on his head and put the holy נֵ֥זֶר crown on the turban. This is how our word is used in our chapter today. Exodus 39:30 They made the plate of the holy נֵֽזֶר crown of pure gold, and wrote on it an inscription, like the engraving of a signet, “Holy to the Lord.” The significance of the priest wearing a crown is yet another example of this whole idea of connecting people to God in worship as being very important and special. The crown for the priest was called a crown of holiness and even had the words holy to the Lord engraved on it. God is pointing to how valuable having people connect to him is. I’ll close with this great example of how valuable a crown is and how valuable God thinks we are. Zechariah 9:15-16 The Lord of hosts will protect them … On that day the Lord their God will save them, as the flock of his people; for like the jewels of a נֵ֔זֶר crown they shall shine on his land.

We are in chapter thirty-nine of Exodus with our word for today. שָׁנִי crimson, scarlet, a color that is vivid red but sometimes with an orange tinge. It is used 42 times in the Old Testament, 7 times in our chapter. Our word is used in the sense of a garment that has been dyed crimson. Proverbs 31:21 She is not afraid of snow for her household, for all her household are clothed in שָׁנִֽים scarlet. The overwhelming way our word is used with 28 uses referring to setting up the tabernacle worship as wool yarn that has been dyed red. Exodus 35:23, 25 Every one who possessed blue or purple וְתוֹלַ֥עַת שָׁנִ֖י [Literally worm red or red red. We have two words that can both mean red but translated just once as scarlet] or scarlet yarns ... they had spun in blue and purple תּוֹלַ֥עַת הַשָּׁנִ֖י and scarlet yarns and fine twined linen. This is how our word is used 7 times in our chapter to describe the color of the yarn used to make the priests garments. Exodus 39:1-3 From the blue and purple וְתוֹלַ֣עַת הַשָּׁנִ֔י and scarlet yarns they made finely woven garments, for ministering in the Holy Place ... He made the ephod of gold, blue and purple וְתוֹלַ֥עַת שָׁנִ֖י and scarlet yarns. And they hammered out gold leaf, and he cut it into threads to work into the blue and purple תּוֹלַ֥עַת הַשָּׁנִ֖י and the scarlet yarns. It is also identified specifically as part of the shirt or ephod. Exodus 39:4-5 They made for the ephod attaching shoulder pieces, joined to it at its two edges. And the skillfully woven band on it was of one piece with it and made like it, of gold, blue and purple וְתוֹלַ֥עַת שָׁנִ֖י and scarlet yarns. And another reference as part of the breastpiece. Exodus 39:8 He made the breastpiece, in skilled work, in the style of the ephod, of gold, blue and purple וְתוֹלַ֥עַת שָׁנִ֖י and scarlet yarns. We also see it used as the color of the hem of the robe. Exodus 39:24 On the hem of the robe they made pomegranates of blue and purple וְתוֹלַ֣עַת שָׁנִ֑י and scarlet yarns and fine twined linen. And our word is used to describe the color of the sash of the coats for the priests. Exodus 39:27, 29 The sash of fine twined linen and of blue and purple וְתוֹלַ֥עַת שָׁנִ֖י and scarlet yarns. The significance of the color red with the tabernacle worship definitely has meaning when we look at the sacrifices that involved blood. This definitely points to Christ sacrifice. Hebrews 9:19-22 For when every commandment of the law had been declared by Moses to all the people, he took the blood of calves and goats, with water and scarlet wool and hyssop, and sprinkled both the book itself and all the people, saying, “This is the blood of the covenant that God commanded for you.” And in the same way he sprinkled with the blood both the tent and all the vessels used in worship. Indeed, under the law almost everything is purified with blood, and without the shedding of blood there is no forgiveness of sins … For Christ has entered … into heaven itself, now to appear in the presence of God on our behalf. Nor was it to offer himself repeatedly, as the high priest enters the holy places every year with blood not his own … But as it is, he has appeared once for all at the end of the ages to put away sin by the sacrifice of himself. I’ll close with this great passage that shows God’s heart where our word is used as a symbol for sin that God would do away with through Jesus work on the cross. God accomplishes salvation so that we can be connected back to himself. Isaiah 1:18 Come now, let us reason together, says the Lord: though your sins are כַּשָּׁנִים֙ like scarlet, they shall be as white as snow; though they יַאְדִּ֥ימוּ [this is a different word for red that we have looked at before with Esau who was also called red or Edom] are red כַתּוֹלָ֖ע [this is our word yesterday for worm or red which it can also be translated] like crimson, they shall become like wool. So because of Jesus we can be clean and pure like white snow and wool.

We are in chapter thirty-nine of Exodus with our word for today. תּוֹלֵעָה worm, glow-worm, crimson, scarlet, vivid red. It is used 41 times in the Old Testament, 7 times in our chapter. Our word is used in the sense as any of numerous, relatively small, elongated, soft-bodied animals which would include many insect larvae. A few good examples of this are the manna from heaven, the curses of disobedience, and God teaching Jonah a lesson. Exodus 16:19-20 But they did not listen to Moses. Some left part of it till the morning, and it bred תּוֹלָעִ֖ים worms and stank. Deuteronomy 28:39 You shall plant vineyards and dress them, but you shall neither drink of the wine nor gather the grapes, for the worm shall eat them. Jonah 4:7 The next day, God appointed a תּוֹלַ֔עַת worm that attacked the plant, so that it withered. The overwhelming way our word is used with 27 uses referring to setting up the tabernacle worship as wool yarn that has been dyed red. Exodus 35:23, 25 Every one who possessed blue or purple וְתוֹלַ֥עַת שָׁנִ֖י [Literally worm red or red red. We have two words that can both mean red but translated just once as scarlet. We will look at this other word tomorrow] or scarlet yarns or fine linen or goats' hair or tanned rams' skins or goatskins brought them … And every skillful woman spun with her hands, and they all brought what they had spun in blue and purple תּוֹלַ֥עַת הַשָּׁנִ֖י and scarlet yarns and fine twined linen. This is how our word is used 7 times in our chapter to describe the color of the yarn used to make the priests garments. Exodus 39:1-3 From the blue and purple וְתוֹלַ֣עַת הַשָּׁנִ֔י and scarlet yarns they made finely woven garments, for ministering in the Holy Place. They made the holy garments for Aaron, as the Lord had commanded Moses. He made the ephod of gold, blue and purple וְתוֹלַ֥עַת שָׁנִ֖י and scarlet yarns, and fine twined linen. And they hammered out gold leaf, and he cut it into threads to work into the blue and purple תּוֹלַ֥עַת הַשָּׁנִ֖י and the scarlet yarns, and into the fine twined linen, in skilled design. It is also identified specifically as part of the shirt or ephod. Exodus 39:4-5 The skillfully woven band on it was of one piece with it and made like it, of gold, blue and purple וְתוֹלַ֥עַת שָׁנִ֖י and scarlet yarns, and fine twined linen. And another reference as part of the breastpiece. Exodus 39:8 He made the breastpiece, in skilled work, in the style of the ephod, of gold, blue and purple וְתוֹלַ֥עַת שָׁנִ֖י and scarlet yarns, and fine twined linen. We also see it used as the color of the hem of the robe. Exodus 39:24 On the hem of the robe they made pomegranates of blue and purple וְתוֹלַ֣עַת שָׁנִ֑י and scarlet yarns and fine twined linen. And our word is used to describe the color of the sash of the coats for the priests. Exodus 39:27, 29 The sash of fine twined linen and of blue and purple וְתוֹלַ֥עַת שָׁנִ֖י and scarlet yarns, embroidered with needlework. The significance of the color red with the tabernacle worship definitely has meaning when we look at the sacrifices that involved blood. This definitely points to Christ sacrifice. We will look more into this with our other word that can be translated red tomorrow. For today let’s look at the other way our word is used that is in the sense of making a statement about one’s value or worth usually in a mocking way. Isaiah 41:13-14 Fear not, I am the one who helps you.” Fear not, you תּוֹלַ֣עַת worm Jacob, you men of Israel! I am the one who helps you, declares the Lord; your Redeemer is the Holy One of Israel (Job 25:4-6). I’ll close with this psalm that was a prediction that people would mock Jesus as he died for our sins to connect us to God. Psalm 22:6-8 But I am a תוֹלַ֣עַת worm and not a man, scorned by mankind and despised by the people. All who see me mock me; they make mouths at me; they wag their heads; “He trusts in the Lord; let him deliver him; let him rescue him, for he delights in him!” 

We are in chapter thirty-nine of Exodus with our word for today. אַרְגָּמָן wool dyed with red purple. It is used 38 times in the Old Testament, 7 times in our chapter. Our word is used only seven times in the sense of fabric that has been dyed purple. Esther 8:15 Then Mordecai went out from the presence of the king in royal robes of blue and white, with a great golden crown and a robe of fine linen וְאַרְגָּמָ֑ן and purple. The overwhelming way our word is used with 29 uses referring to setting up the tabernacle worship. All but a couple of these references use our word as wool yarn that has been dyed purple (Exodus 35:23, 25). This is how our word is used 7 times in our chapter to describe the color of the yarn used to make the priests garments. Exodus 39:1-3 From the blue וְהָֽאַרְגָּמָן֙ and purple and scarlet yarns they made finely woven garments, for ministering in the Holy Place. They made the holy garments for Aaron. He made the ephod of gold, blue וְאַרְגָּמָ֛ן and purple and scarlet yarns, and fine twined linen. And they hammered out gold leaf, and he cut it into threads to work into the blue and הָֽאַרְגָּמָ֔ן purple and the scarlet yarns, and into the fine twined linen, in skilled design. It is also identified specifically as part of the shirt or ephod. Exodus 39:4-5 They made for the ephod attaching shoulder pieces, joined to it at its two edges. And the skillfully woven band on it was of one piece with it and made like it, of gold, blue וְאַרְגָּמָ֛ן and purple and scarlet yarns, and fine twined linen, as the Lord had commanded Moses. And another reference as part of the breastpiece. Exodus 39:8 He made the breastpiece, in skilled work, in the style of the ephod, of gold, blue וְאַרְגָּמָ֛ן and purple and scarlet yarns, and fine twined linen. We also see it used as the color of the hem of the robe. Exodus 39:24 On the hem of the robe they made pomegranates of blue וְאַרְגָּמָ֖ן and purple and scarlet yarns and fine twined linen. And our word is used to describe the color of the sash of the coats for the priests. Exodus 39:27, 29 They also made the coats, woven of fine linen, for Aaron and his sons … and the sash of fine twined linen and of blue וְאַרְגָּמָ֛ן and purple and scarlet yarns, embroidered with needlework. Our word has always been associated with royalty. As we saw earlier with Mordecai when the king wanted to honor him he put him in purple. By using this color God is pointing to how valuable and important for people to connect with him in worship. So this was part of the tabernacle worship to show the people how important this was. What is interesting is that Jesus who is God who became man was mocked with this color. Those who beat him and crucified him made fun of him by dressing him as a king while they were torturing him. Mark 15:16-20 They clothed him in a purple cloak, and twisting together a crown of thorns, they put it on him. And they began to salute him, “Hail, King of the Jews!” And they were striking his head with a reed and spitting on him and kneeling down in homage to him. And when they had mocked him, they stripped him of the purple cloak and put his own clothes on him. And they led him out to crucify him. The irony is that Jesus really is the true king worthy of purple and every honor that a king deserves. But he left the riches of heaven to become human and endure the punishment of sin that we all deserve. He did all of this because connecting people back to God is the most valuable thing there is. I’ll close with this great reminder. Revelation 1:5-7 Jesus Christ the faithful witness, the firstborn of the dead, and the ruler of kings on earth. To him who loves us and has freed us from our sins by his blood and made us a kingdom, priests to his God and Father, to him be glory and dominion forever and ever. Amen. Behold, he is coming with the clouds, and every eye will see him, even those who pierced him, and all tribes of the earth will wail on account of him.

We are in chapter thirty-nine of Exodus with our word for today. תְּכֵ֫לֶת bluish or violet purple wool or dye. It is used 49 times in the Old Testament, 8 times in our chapter. Our word is used only four times in the sense of fabric that has been dyed blue. Esther 8:15 Mordecai went out from the presence of the king in royal robes of תְּכֵ֣לֶת blue. The overwhelming way our word is used with 45 uses referring to setting up the tabernacle worship. All but a couple of these references use our word as wool yarn that has been dyed blue. Exodus 35:23, 25 Every one who possessed תְּכֵ֧לֶת blue or purple or scarlet yarns ... they all brought what they had spun in הַתְּכֵ֙לֶת֙ blue and purple and scarlet yarns and fine twined linen. This is how our word is used 8 times in our chapter to describe the color of the yarn used to make the priests garments. Exodus 39:1-3 From הַתְּכֵ֤לֶתthe blue and purple and scarlet yarns [this word is not in the original but supplied by the translators] they made finely woven garments, for ministering in the Holy Place. They made the holy garments for Aaron, as the Lord had commanded Moses. He made the ephod of gold, תְּכֵ֧לֶתblue and purple and scarlet yarns, and fine twined linen. And they hammered out gold leaf, and he cut it into threads to work into הַתְּכֵ֙לֶת֙ the blue and purple and the scarlet yarns, and into the fine twined linen, in skilled design. I find it interesting that the word yarn is not in the original but translated three times in this section. It is a good translation because the literal wording just has the colors so supplying the word yarn helps us understand what is meant. It is also identified specifically as part of the shirt or ephod. Exodus 39:4-5 They made ... attaching shoulder pieces, joined to it at its two edges. And the skillfully woven band on it was of one piece with it and made like it, of gold, תְּכֵ֧לֶת blue and purple and scarlet yarns, and fine twined linen, as the Lord had commanded Moses. And another reference as part of the breastpiece. Exodus 39:8 He made the breastpiece, in skilled work, in the style of the ephod, of gold, תְּכֵ֧לֶת blue and purple and scarlet yarns, and fine twined linen. We also see it used as the color of the robe of the ephod. Exodus 39:22, 24 He also made the robe of the ephod woven all of תְּכֵֽלֶת blue … On the hem of the robe they made pomegranates of תְּכֵ֥לֶת blue and purple and scarlet yarns and fine twined linen. And our word is used to describe the color of the sash of the coats for the priests. Exodus 39:27, 29 the sash of fine twined linen וּתְכֵ֧לֶת and of blue and purple and scarlet yarns, embroidered with needlework, as the Lord had commanded Moses. I find it interesting how detailed and specific God is with his instructions even down to the color being a violet or bluish purple. We will look at the word for purple tomorrow as it is a different word. And we see the people followed these very specific detailed instructions that God commanded Moses to follow. This whole enterprise is for people to connect with God himself through the tabernacle worship which is how it was set up for that time. This emphasizes just how important being connected to God is. It is very, very, valuable and important so much that it has to be done correctly. Thankfully God sent his son who followed his will and instructions perfectly so he could be our sacrifice for sins and take our place. I’ll close with the passage that show how Jesus torn the veil or curtain that separated off the holy place showing that God had made a way for us to be close to him through Jesus death in our place. And that veil was made in the color of our word. 2 Chronicles 3:14 He made the veil of תְּכֵ֥לֶת blue and purple and crimson fabrics and fine linen. Matthew 27:50-51 And Jesus cried out again with a loud voice and yielded up his spirit. And behold, the curtain of the temple was torn in two, from top to bottom. And the earth shook, and the rocks were split.

We are moving into chapter thirty-nine of Exodus with our word for today. פָּתִיל thread, tied on, cord, line. It is used 11 times in the Old Testament. Our word is used most of the time as a cord or rope made of fibers, threads, or perhaps other materials. A good example is with Judah where our word is used probably as a way to hold on to his personal items. Genesis 38:18, 25 He said, “What pledge shall I give you?” She replied, “Your signet וּפְתִילֶ֔ךָ and your cord and your staff that is in your hand.” So he gave them to her. We also see it used to hold together some of the items of clothing that was to be worn by the priest. Exodus 28:28 And they shall bind the breastpiece by its rings to the rings of the ephod בִּפְתִ֣יל with a lace of blue, so that it may lie on the skillfully woven band of the ephod, so that the breastpiece shall not come loose from the ephod. Exodus 28:36-37 You shall make a plate of pure gold and ... fasten it on the turban by a פְּתִ֣יל cord of blue. Our word is also used in the sense of a very thin, thread-like piece of something. A good example of this is when Delilah was trying to find the source of Samson’s strength. Judges 16:9 She said to him, “The Philistines are upon you, Samson!” But he snapped the bowstrings, as a פְּתִֽיל thread of flax snaps when it touches the fire. This is how our word is used twice in our chapter. Exodus 39:1-3 From the blue and purple and scarlet yarns [this word is not in the original but supplied by the translators] they made finely woven garments, for ministering in the Holy Place. They made the holy garments for Aaron, as the Lord had commanded Moses. He made the ephod of gold, blue and purple and scarlet yarns, and fine twined linen. And they hammered out gold leaf, and he cut it into פְּתִילִם֒ threads to work into the blue and purple and the scarlet yarns, and into the fine twined linen, in skilled design. I find it interesting that the word yarn is not in the original but translated three times in this section. It is a good translation because the literal wording just has the colors so supplying the word yarn helps us understand what is meant. Our word for today and the larger context justifies supplying the word yarn. I find it interesting that God gives the people a visible way to remember him with our word. Numbers 15:37-41 The Lord said to Moses, “Speak to the people of Israel, and tell them to make tassels on the corners of their garments throughout their generations, and to put a פְּתִ֥יל cord of blue on the tassel of each corner. And it shall be a tassel for you to look at and remember all the commandments of the Lord.” We see this practice in the New Testament with the religious leaders of the people. One of Jesus condemnations of them involved their using this practice to draw attention to themselves instead of what God designed it for. Matthew 23:5-7 They do all their deeds to be seen by others. For they make their phylacteries broad and their fringes long, and they love the place of honor at feasts and the best seats in the synagogues and greetings in the marketplaces and being called rabbi by others. The word fringes is referring to God’s instructing them to add the thread or cord of blue to the tassel of their garment. I’ll close with this amazing miracle that Jesus preforms when a woman touches this very thread of Jesus garment that emphasizes God’s power to accomplish his will and purposes. Matthew 9:19-22 And Jesus rose and followed him, with his disciples. And behold, a woman who had suffered from a discharge of blood for twelve years came up behind him and touched the fringe of his garment, for she said to herself, “If I only touch his garment, I will be made well.” Jesus turned, and seeing her he said, “Take heart, daughter; your faith has made you well.” And instantly the woman was made well. 

We are in chapter thirty-eight of Exodus with our word for today. יָתֵד peg, pin, nail, a holding, tent pin, tent peg. It is used 24 times in the Old Testament, three times in our chapter. We find our word used four times to describe how Jael used it as a weapon when God delivered his people from the Canaanites. Judges 4:21-22 But Jael the wife of Heber took a יְתַ֨ד tent peg, and took a hammer in her hand. Then she went softly to him and drove הַיָּתֵד֙ the peg into his temple until it went down into the ground while he was lying fast asleep from weariness. So he died. And behold, as Barak was pursuing Sisera, Jael went out to meet him and said to him, “Come, and I will show you the man whom you are seeking.” So he went in to her tent, and there lay Sisera dead, וְהַיָּתֵ֖ד with the tent peg in his temple. Several of our uses are in reference to the tabernacle worship. Exodus 35:18 The יִתְדֹ֧ת pegs of the tabernacle and the יִתְדֹ֥ת pegs of the court, and their cords. This is how our word is used three times in our chapter today. Exodus 38:20, 29-31 And all הַיְתֵדֹ֞ת the pegs for the tabernacle and for the court all around were of bronze … The bronze that was offered was seventy talents and 2,400 shekels; with it he made the bases for the entrance of the tent of meeting … all the יִתְדֹ֧ת pegs of the tabernacle, and all the יִתְדֹ֥ת pegs around the court. If we remember the original tabernacle was a tent where God made himself known in a special way inside this tent. And all tents need pegs to hold them together even one that God shows up in. It is amazing that God chose a tent because his people were on a journey to the promised land. The good news today is that we don’t go to the tabernacle or temple because we are God’s temple or tabernacle. As believers the Holy Spirit lives in us because of Christ work on the cross and God’s amazing love that makes a way for us to be close to him. What is great about our word is that it is also used to describe how solid and dependable God is. So his love and affection is backed by his solid reliance like a strong tent peg. I’ll close with this great passage. Zechariah 10:3-4 The Lord of hosts cares for his flock, the house of Judah, and will make them like his majestic steed in battle. From him shall come the cornerstone, from him the יָתֵ֔ד tent peg.

We are in chapter thirty-eight of Exodus with our word for today. פָּקַד visit, inspect, look at, see, command, numbered, recorded. It is used 304 times in the Old Testament, three times in our chapter. Most of the uses of our word are in the sense to be added up in number or quantity. A good example is found in the book of Numbers where God’s people were counted according to each tribe. Numbers 1:44-46 These are those who הַפְּקֻדִ֡ים were listed, whom Moses and Aaron listed with the help of the chiefs of Israel, twelve men, each representing his fathers' house. So all those פְּקוּדֵ֥י listed of the people of Israel, by their fathers' houses, from twenty years old and upward, every man able to go to war in Israel— all those הַפְּקֻדִ֔ים listed were 603,550. This is how our word is used four times in our chapter today. Exodus 38:21, 25-26 These are the פְקוּדֵ֤י records of the tabernacle, the tabernacle of the testimony, as they פֻּקַּ֖ד were recorded at the commandment of Moses, the responsibility of the Levites under the direction of Ithamar the son of Aaron the priest … The silver from those of the congregation who פְּקוּדֵ֥י were recorded was a hundred talents and 1,775 shekels, by the shekel of the sanctuary: for everyone who was listed in הַפְּקֻדִ֗ים the records, from twenty years old and upward, for 603,550 men. This was an amazing amount that was contributed as materials for building the tabernacle. All of this was recorded and accounted for so that when it was summed up it was impressive how God moved the people to give and how they gave generously. It shows us just how important this how process of people being able to connect to God in worship. This shows God’s loving heart of care for people. We see our word used in this way in Psalms. Psalm 80:14-15 Turn again, O God of hosts! Look down from heaven, and see; וּ֝פְקֹ֗ד have regard for this vine, the stock that your right hand planted, and for the son whom you made strong for yourself. Psalm 8:3-5 When I look at your heavens, the work of your fingers, the moon and the stars, which you have set in place, what is man that you are mindful of him, and the son of man that תִפְקְדֶֽנּוּ you care for him? Yet you have made him a little lower than the heavenly beings and crowned him with glory and honor. I’ll close with the ultimate trust in God’s loving care when Jesus put his life in God’s hands and died on the cross to save us. Psalm 31:5 Into your hand אַפְקִ֪יד I commit my spirit; you have redeemed me, Lord, faithful God. Luke 23:46 Then Jesus, calling out with a loud voice, said, “Father, into your hands I commit my spirit!” And having said this he breathed his last. 

We are rolling into chapter thirty-eight of Exodus with our word for today. קֶ֫רֶן horn, strength, might. It is used 75 times in the Old Testament. Our word is used the most in the sense of one of the body outgrowths on the heads of hoofed mammals. A good example is the ram that God provides for the sacrifice for Abraham. Genesis 22:13 And Abraham lifted up his eyes and looked, and behold, behind him was a ram, caught in a thicket by בְּקַרְנָ֑יו his horns. And Abraham went and took the ram and offered it up as a burnt offering instead of his son. Our word is also used in the sense of strength or might. Jeremiah 48:25 The קֶ֣רֶן horn of Moab is cut off, and his arm is broken, declares the Lord. Lamentations 2:3 He has cut down in fierce anger all the קֶ֣רֶן might of Israel; he has withdrawn from them his right hand in the face of the enemy. Our word is also used in the sense of a projection point on an altar shaped similar to the horn of a bull. Exodus 29:11-12 Then you shall kill the bull before the Lord at the entrance of the tent of meeting, and shall take part of the blood of the bull and put it on the קַרְנֹ֥ת horns of the altar with your finger, and the rest of the blood you shall pour out at the base of the altar. This is exactly how our word is used in our chapter today. Exodus 38:1-2 He made the altar of burnt offering of acacia wood. Five cubits was its length, and five cubits its breadth. It was square, and three cubits was its height. He made קַרְנֹתָ֗יו horns for it on its four corners. קַרְנֹתָ֑יו Its horns were of one piece with it, and he overlaid it with bronze. I think the point of having horns on the altar is to show God’s strength to accomplish salvation for his people which is what the sacrifices were pointing toward in Christ. I’ll close with this great Psalm. Psalm 18:1-3 I love you, O Lord, my strength. The Lord is my rock and my fortress and my deliverer, my God, my rock, in whom I take refuge, my shield, וְקֶֽרֶן and the horn of my salvation, my stronghold. I call upon the Lord, who is worthy to be praised, and I am saved from my enemies. 

We are in chapter thirty-seven of Exodus with our word for today. קַשְׂוָה jug, jar, cups, pitcher, flagon. It is used 4 times in the Old Testament. Our word is used in the sense of a type of vessel, usually with a tapered, narrow neck, and likely containing some kind of plug device. All of our uses are used at the early tabernacle worship then in the temple. Let’s look all of our uses. Exodus 25:29 you shall make its plates and dishes for incense, וּקְשׂוֹתָיו֙ and its flagons and bowls with which to pour drink offerings; you shall make them of pure gold. Numbers 4:7 over the table of the bread of the Presence they shall spread a cloth of blue and put on it the plates, the dishes for incense, the bowls, and the קְשׂ֣וֹת flagons for the drink offering; the regular showbread also shall be on it. 1 Chronicles 28:11, 17 Then David gave Solomon his son the plan of the vestibule of the temple, and of its houses, its treasuries, its upper rooms, and its inner chambers, and of the room for the mercy seat … the basins וְהַקְּשָׂוֺ֖ת and the cups; for the golden bowls and the weight of each; for the silver bowls and the weight of each. This is exactly how our word is used in our chapter today. Exodus 37:16 And he made the vessels of pure gold that were to be on the table, its plates and dishes for incense, and its bowls and הַקְּשָׂוֺ֔ת flagons with which to pour drink offerings. It is interesting that our word used as part of the tabernacle worship that helped people connect to God is used by Paul as an analogy of being God’s temple. The word in the New Testament that is translated jar is used by Paul to describe God’s greatness living in us. The beauty of the new agreement is that we don’t go to the temple to connect with God anymore like they did in the Old Testament because we are God’s temple as believers because God’s spirit lives inside of us. I’ll close with this great passage about God being seen in our weakness. 2 Corinthians 4:7-10, 16-18 But we have this treasure in jars of clay, to show that the surpassing power belongs to God and not to us. We are afflicted in every way, but not crushed; perplexed, but not driven to despair; persecuted, but not forsaken; struck down, but not destroyed; always carrying in the body the death of Jesus, so that the life of Jesus also may be manifested in our bodies … So we do not lose heart. Though our outer self is wasting away, our inner self is being renewed day by day. For this light momentary affliction is preparing for us an eternal weight of glory beyond all comparison, as we look not to the things that are seen but to the things that are unseen. For the things that are seen are transient, but the things that are unseen are eternal. 

We are in chapter thirty-seven of Exodus with our word for today. מְּנַקִּיָּה vessels for libations, sacrificial bowl, offering-bowl. It is used 4 times in the Old Testament. Our word is used in the sense of a round vessel typically smaller than a basin that is open at the top and used chiefly for holding food or liquids. In all of the uses are in reference to the drink offerings. Let’s look at our uses. Exodus 25:29 you shall make its plates and dishes for incense, and its flagons וּמְנַקִּיֹּתָ֔יו and bowls with which to pour drink offerings; you shall make them of pure gold. Numbers 4:7 over the table of the bread of the Presence they shall spread a cloth of blue and put on it the plates, the dishes for incense, הַמְּנַקִּיֹּ֔ת the bowls, and the flagons for the drink offering; the regular showbread also shall be on it. Jeremiah 52:17-19 And the pillars of bronze that were in the house of the Lord, and the stands and the bronze sea that were in the house of the Lord, the Chaldeans broke in pieces, and carried all the bronze to Babylon. And they took away the pots and the shovels and the snuffers and the basins and the dishes for incense and all the vessels of bronze used in the temple service; also הַמִּזְרָק֜וֹת [this is a different word for bowl] the small bowls and the fire pans and the basins and the pots and the lampstands and the dishes for incense and הַמְּנַקִי֔וֹת the bowls for drink offerings. What was of gold the captain of the guard took away as gold, and what was of silver, as silver. This is exactly how our word is used in our chapter today. Exodus 37:16 And he made the vessels of pure gold that were to be on the table, its plates and dishes for incense, and מְנַקִּיֹּתָ֔יו its bowls and flagons with which to pour drink offerings. It is interesting that our word used as part of the tabernacle worship that helped people connect to God is also used this same way in the book of Revelation. The word in the New Testament that is translated bowl is used by John to describe both the prayers of believers and of God’s wrath. God’s wrath is seen in a vivid display as being poured out of a bowl. Revelation 15:7-8 And one of the four living creatures gave to the seven angels seven golden bowls full of the wrath of God who lives forever and ever, and the sanctuary was filled with smoke from the glory of God and from his power, and no one could enter the sanctuary until the seven plagues of the seven angels were finished. Revelation 16:1 Then I heard a loud voice from the temple telling the seven angels, “Go and pour out on the earth the seven bowls of the wrath of God.” The good news is that Christ has turned God’s wrath against us because of our sin on to himself so that we can be forgiven and connected back to God. Then we see this beautiful picture of believer’s prayers compared to a bowl of incense that pleases God. I’ll close with this great passage. Revelation 5:8 And when he had taken the scroll, the four living creatures and the twenty-four elders fell down before the Lamb, each holding a harp, and golden bowls full of incense, which are the prayers of the saints.

We are in chapter thirty-seven of Exodus with our word for today. כַּף hollow or flat of the hand, palm, whole hand, sole, bowl. It is used 194 times in the Old Testament. Most of the time our word is used in the sense of the extremity of the arm from the wrist to the fingers, sometimes including the forearm. Here are some examples. Genesis 40:11 Pharaoh's cup was בְּיָדִ֑י [a different word for hand used more often] in my hand, and I took the grapes and pressed them into Pharaoh's cup and placed the cup in Pharaoh's כַּ֥ף hand. Judges 14:8-9 he turned aside to see the carcass of the lion, and behold, there was a swarm of bees in the body of the lion, and honey. He scraped it out into כַּפָּ֗יו his hands and went on, eating as he went. And he came to his father and mother and gave some to them, and they ate. But he did not tell them that he had scraped the honey from the carcass of the lion. 1 Kings 8:22-23 Then Solomon stood before the altar of the Lord in the presence of all the assembly of Israel and spread out כַּפָּ֖יו his hands toward heaven, and said, “O Lord, God of Israel, there is no God like you, in heaven above or on earth beneath. Our word is also used in the sense of a pan or a cooking utensil that consists of a wide metal vessel. It is used 25 times in this sense. Like we saw yesterday with the word for plate 14 times it is used to describe the dedication offering that each of the twelve tribes gave. Numbers 7:84, 86 This was the dedication offering for the altar on the day when it was anointed, from the chiefs of Israel: twelve silver plates, twelve silver basins, twelve golden כַּפּ֥וֹת dishes … the twelve golden כַּפּ֨וֹת dishes, full of incense, weighing 10 shekels apiece according to the shekel of the sanctuary, all the gold of הַכַּ֖ף the dishes being 120 shekels. The rest of the uses are in reference to utensils used in tabernacle worship. Here is an example. 2 Kings 25:13-15 And the pillars of bronze that were in the house of the Lord, and the stands and the bronze sea that were in the house of the Lord, the Chaldeans broke in pieces and carried the bronze to Babylon. And they took away the pots and the shovels and the snuffers and הַכַּפּ֗וֹת the dishes for incense and all the vessels of bronze used in the temple service. This is exactly how our word is used in our chapter today. Exodus 37:16 And he made the vessels of pure gold that were to be on the table, its plates and כַּפֹּתָיו֙ dishes for incense, and its bowls and flagons with which to pour drink offerings. It is interesting that our word used as part of the tabernacle worship that helped people connect to God is also used by God to show his affection to his people. I’ll close with these encouraging words. Isaiah 49:13-16 Sing for joy, O heavens, and exult, O earth; break forth, O mountains, into singing! For the Lord has comforted his people and will have compassion on his afflicted. But Zion said, “The Lord has forsaken me; my Lord has forgotten me.” “Can a woman forget her nursing child, that she should have no compassion on the son of her womb? Even these may forget, yet I will not forget you. Behold, I have engraved you on the כַּפַּ֖יִם palms of my hands.

We are moving into chapter thirty-seven of Exodus with our word for today. קְעָרָה dish, bowl, platter, plate. It is used 17 times in the Old Testament. Our word is used in the sense of a shallow or flat dish for holding, serving, or eating food. 14 out of the 17 times our word is used refer to the dedication offering made by each of the twelve tribes of Israel in Numbers chapter seven. After each one is referenced in this chapter we also have a summary of their gifts. Numbers 7:84-85 This was the dedication offering for the altar on the day when it was anointed, from the chiefs of Israel: twelve silver קַעֲרֹ֨ת plates … each silver הַקְּעָרָ֤ה plate weighing 130 shekels. The other three uses are in the context of the utensils used in the tabernacle worship. Exodus 25:29-30 And you shall make its קְּעָרֹתָ֜יו plates and dishes for incense, and its flagons and bowls with which to pour drink offerings; you shall make them of pure gold. And you shall set the bread of the Presence on the table before me regularly. Numbers 4:7 And over the table of the bread of the Presence they shall spread a cloth of blue and put on it הַקְּעָרֹ֤ת the plates, the dishes for incense, the bowls, and the flagons for the drink offering; the regular showbread also shall be on it. This is exactly how our word is used in our chapter today. Exodus 37:16 And he made the vessels of pure gold that were to be on the table, its קְעָרֹתָ֤יו plates and dishes for incense, and its bowls and flagons with which to pour drink offerings. What is interesting is that our word was used to help people connect to God through the temple worship but in the New Testament Jesus uses it to make an analogy. The word in the New Testament that is translated plate is used by Jesus to point out that the religious leaders were not who they were pretending to be on the outside. I’ll close with Jesus words to them. Matthew 23:25-26 Woe to you, scribes and Pharisees, hypocrites! For you clean the outside of the cup and the plate, but inside they are full of greed and self-indulgence. You blind Pharisee! First clean the inside of the cup and the plate, that the outside also may be clean.

We are in chapter thirty-six of Exodus with our word for today. כְּרוּב cherub. It is used 91 times in the Old Testament, twice in our chapter. Our word is used in the sense of a winged supernatural angelic being that serves God in a number of ways. The first time we see our word used in the Bible is way back at the beginning in the garden of Eden. Genesis 3:23-24 He drove out the man, and at the east of the garden of Eden he placed הַכְּרֻבִ֗ים the cherubim and a flaming sword that turned every way to guard the way to the tree of life. Even though these are amazing creatures they are still under God’s authority. Isaiah 37:16 O Lord of hosts, God of Israel, enthroned above הַכְּרֻבִ֔ים the cherubim, you are the God, you alone, of all the kingdoms of the earth; you have made the heavens and the earth. Ezekiel 10:19-20 And הַכְּרוּבִ֣ים the cherubim ... stood at the entrance of the east gate of the house of the Lord, and the glory of the God of Israel was over them. These were the living creatures that I saw underneath the God of Israel by the Chebar canal; and I knew that they were כְרוּבִ֖ים cherubim. We also see our word used in the sense of the shape of a cherub as it may be represented in paintings, sculptures, molds, and other artistic representations. 2 Chronicles 3:10 In the Most Holy Place he made two כְּרוּבִ֣ים cherubim of wood and overlaid them with gold. This is how our word is used twice in our chapter today. Exodus 36:8, 35 All those who were skilled among the workers made the tabernacle with ten curtains of finely twisted linen and blue, purple and scarlet yarn, with כְּרֻבִ֛ים cherubim woven into them by expert hands … He made the veil of blue and purple and scarlet yarns and fine twined linen; with כְּרֻבִֽים cherubim skillfully worked into it he made it. What is interesting is that every single time our word is used in this way it is in reference to the place God made himself known in a special way in the tabernacle and then later when the temple was built. Here are a few specific examples of God meeting with his people in the place that has this specific kind of artistic representations. Numbers 7:89 And when Moses went into the tent of meeting to speak with the Lord, he heard the voice speaking to him from above the mercy seat that was on the ark of the testimony, from between the two הַכְּרֻבִ֑ים cherubim; and it spoke to him.  2 Samuel 6:2 And David arose ... to bring up from there the ark of God, which is called by the name of the Lord of hosts who sits enthroned on הַכְּרֻבִ֖ים the cherubim. The good news is that now we don’t have to go anywhere to connect with God because if we have accepted the salvation that God offers us in Christ have God’s spirit living in us. John 7:37-39 On the last day of the feast, the great day, Jesus stood up and cried out, “If anyone thirsts, let him come to me and drink. Whoever believes in me, as the Scripture has said, ‘Out of his heart will flow rivers of living water.’” Now this he said about the Spirit, whom those who believed in him were to receive, for as yet the Spirit had not been given, because Jesus was not yet glorified. Later the Holy Spirit speaking through Paul makes reference to this happening to believers. Romans 5:5 God's love has been poured into our hearts through the Holy Spirit who has been given to us. I’ll close with part of Jesus prayer that also emphasizes the Holy Spirit living in us as believers. John 17:20-23 I do not ask for these only, but also for those who will believe in me through their word, that they may all be one, just as you, Father, are in me, and I in you, that they also may be in us, so that the world may believe that you have sent me. The glory that you have given me I have given to them, that they may be one even as we are one, I in them and you in me, that they may become perfectly one, so that the world may know that you sent me and loved them even as you loved me.

We are in chapter thirty-six of Exodus with our word for today used for the first time in the Bible in our chapter. דַּי sufficiency, what is required, enough. It is used 39 times in the Old Testament, used twice in our chapter. Our word is used in the sense of an adequate quantity that is large enough to achieve a purpose. Let’s start in our chapter since it is used for the first time in the Bible and twice in our chapter. Exodus 36:3-7 And they received from Moses all the contribution that the people of Israel had brought for doing the work on the sanctuary. They still kept bringing him freewill offerings every morning, so that all the craftsmen who were doing every sort of task on the sanctuary came, each from the task that he was doing, and said to Moses, “The people bring מַרְבִּ֥ים much more מִדֵּ֤י than enough for doing the work that the Lord has commanded us to do.” So Moses gave command, and word was proclaimed throughout the camp, “Let no man or woman do anything more for the contribution for the sanctuary.” So the people were restrained from bringing, for the material they had דַיָּ֛ם was sufficient to do all the work, and more. This is an amazing section the people were so moved to give that they had more than they needed to accomplish the work. This is what happens when we are open to trusting God with what he has provided for us. We also see our word used in this same context of giving connected to God’s promise to provide. Malachi 3:10 Bring the full tithe into the storehouse, that there may be food in my house. And thereby put me to the test, says the Lord of hosts, if I will not open the windows of heaven for you and pour down for you a blessing until there is no more דָֽי need. This concept is also seen in the New Testament with the instructions on giving to support God’s work. 2 Corinthians 9:6-8, 10-15 The point is this: whoever sows sparingly will also reap sparingly, and whoever sows bountifully will also reap bountifully. Each one must give as he has decided in his heart, not reluctantly or under compulsion, for God loves a cheerful giver. And God is able to make all grace abound to you, so that having all sufficiency in all things at all times, you may abound in every good work … He who supplies seed to the sower and bread for food will supply and multiply your seed for sowing and increase the harvest of your righteousness. You will be enriched in every way to be generous in every way, which through us will produce thanksgiving to God. For the ministry of this service is not only supplying the needs of the saints but is also overflowing in many thanksgivings to God. By their approval of this service, they will glorify God because of your submission that comes from your confession of the gospel of Christ, and the generosity of your contribution for them and for all others, while they long for you and pray for you, because of the surpassing grace of God upon you. Thanks be to God for his inexpressible gift! This is truly amazing that we get to be a part of God’s work that brings others to himself so thankfulness to God increases and God is glorified. All by giving some of what God has already given us. I’ll close with this great Proverb that says all of this very well. Proverbs 11:25 A generous person will prosper; whoever refreshes others will be refreshed.

We are rolling into chapter thirty-six of Exodus with our word for today. כֹּל all, whole, everyone, everything, total, in all. It is used 5,415 times in the Old Testament. Our word is used in the sense of all of something including all its component elements or parts. We see it used in reference to the sacrifices. Leviticus 1:9 And the priest shall burn הַכֹּל֙ all of it on the altar, as a burnt offering, a food offering with a pleasing aroma to the Lord. Our word is used to reference everyone or everything in a group. Ruth 1:19 So the two of them went on until they came to Bethlehem. And when they came to Bethlehem, the כָּל whole town was stirred because of them. And the women said, “Is this Naomi?” Ruth 2:21 And Ruth the Moabite said, “Besides, he said to me, ‘You shall keep close by my young men until they have finished כָּל all my harvest.’” Our word is used to tell all the details of good things that were done or that happened. Ruth 2:11 But Boaz answered her, כֹּ֤ל “All that you have done for your mother-in-law since the death of your husband has been fully told to me, and how you left your father and mother and your native land and came to a people that you did not know before. Ruth 3:16-17 And when she came to her mother-in-law, she said, “How did you fare, my daughter?” Then she told her כָּל all that the man had done for her. We see our word used in reference to following all of one’s instructions. Ruth 3:5-6, 11 And she replied, כֹּ֛ל “All that you say I will do.” So she went down to the threshing floor and did כְּכֹ֥ל just as her mother-in-law had commanded her … And now, my daughter, do not fear. I will do for you כֹּ֥ל all that you ask, for כָּל all my fellow townsmen know that you are a worthy woman. Our word is used in following all of God’s commands. Leviticus 4:2, 13, 22 Speak to the people of Israel, saying, If anyone sins unintentionally מִכֹּל֙ in any of the Lord's commandments about things not to be done, and does any one of them … If the whole congregation of Israel sins unintentionally and the thing is hidden from the eyes of the assembly, and they do מִכָּל any one of the things that by the Lord's commandments ought not to be done … When a leader sins, doing unintentionally מִכָּל any one of all the things that by the commandments of the Lord his God ought not to be done. This is how our word is used in our chapter today. Exodus 36:1 Bezalel and Oholiab and every craftsman in whom the Lord has put skill and intelligence to know how to do any work in the construction of the sanctuary shall work לְכֹ֥ל in accordance with all that the Lord has commanded. I like how the same word is used to describe following all of God’s direction and telling all of the good things that happened. It reminds me of the woman who met with Jesus. She told the whole town all that he did for her. John 4:28-30, 39-41 So the woman left her water jar and went away into town and said to the people, “Come, see a man who told me all that I ever did. Can this be the Christ?” They went out of the town and were coming to him … Many Samaritans from that town believed in him because of the woman's testimony, “He told me all that I ever did.” So when the Samaritans came to him, they asked him to stay with them, and he stayed there two days. And many more believed because of his word. They said to the woman, “It is no longer because of what you said that we believe, for we have heard for ourselves, and we know that this is indeed the Savior of the world.” I’ll close with this great Psalm. Psalm 145:10, 13 כָּל All your works shall give thanks to you, O Lord, and all your saints shall bless you! … Your kingdom is an כָּל [literally an all kingdom or an everything kingdom] everlasting kingdom, and your dominion endures בְּכָל throughout all generations. The Lord is faithful לְכָל in all his words and kind לְכָל in all his works.

We are in chapter thirty-five of Exodus with our word for today. יָרָה throw, shoot, instruct, teach, lay foundations, to water. It is used 46 times in the Old Testament. Our word is used to point, indicate a place, direction, person or thing. Proverbs 6:12-13 A worthless person … מֹ֝רֶ֗ה points with his finger. Genesis 46:28 He had sent Judah ahead of him to Joseph לְהוֹרֹ֥ת to show the way before him in Goshen, and they came into the land of Goshen. Exodus 15:25 And he cried to the Lord, and the Lord וַיּוֹרֵ֤הוּ showed him a log, and he threw it into the water, and the water became sweet. Our word is used most of the time in the sense to teach, to instruct, to impart knowledge to. God himself is identified in this role as we see David using it in the Psalms. Psalm 27:11 ה֤וֹרֵ֥נִי Teach me your way, O Lord, and lead me on a level path because of my enemies. Psalm 86:11 ה֘וֹרֵ֤נִי Teach me your way, O Lord, that I may walk in your truth; unite my heart to fear your name. God also provides human teachers to give his instruction. Leviticus 10:8, 11 And the Lord spoke to Aaron, saying … וּלְהוֹרֹ֖ת “you are to teach the people of Israel all the statutes that the Lord has spoken to them by Moses.”  2 Kings 12:2 And Jehoash did what was right in the eyes of the Lord all his days, because Jehoiada the priest הוֹרָ֔הוּ instructed him. This is how our word is used in our chapter today. Exodus 35:30-31, 34-35 Then Moses said to the people of Israel, “See, the Lord has called by name Bezalel the son of Uri, son of Hur, of the tribe of Judah; and he has filled him with the Spirit of God, with skill, with intelligence, with knowledge, and with all craftsmanship … And he has נָתַ֣ן בְּלִבּ֑וֹ [literally given in his heart to teach] inspired him וּלְהוֹרֹ֖ת to teach, both him and Oholiab the son of Ahisamach of the tribe of Dan. He has filled them with skill to do every sort of work done by an engraver or by a designer or by an embroiderer in blue and purple and scarlet yarns and fine twined linen, or by a weaver—by any sort of workman or skilled designer. I find it interesting that even though God filled them with this ability Bezalel still needed to teach them how to do it. Just because God gives us gifts doesn’t mean that they are automatically understood and ready to use. God provides leaders and teachers to encourage us and show us how to develop the gifts and abilities God gives us. We see this same thing in the New Testament. Paul is used by God to encourage Timothy. 2 Timothy 1:3-7 I thank God whom I serve, as did my ancestors, with a clear conscience, as I remember you constantly in my prayers night and day. As I remember your tears, I long to see you, that I may be filled with joy. I am reminded of your sincere faith, a faith that dwelt first in your grandmother Lois and your mother Eunice and now, I am sure, dwells in you as well. For this reason I remind you to fan into flame the gift of God, which is in you through the laying on of my hands, for God gave us a spirit not of fear but of power and love and self-control. Paul identifies that Timothy has not only faith but gifts that need to be encouraged and developed. I’ll close with this great passage that reminds us that this developing and multiply of leaders is key to the purpose and growth of the church. 2 Timothy 2:1-2 You then, my child, be strengthened by the grace that is in Christ Jesus, and what you have heard from me in the presence of many witnesses entrust to faithful men, who will be able to teach others also. 

We are in chapter thirty-five of Exodus with our word for today. מַחֲשָׁבָה thought, intent, plan, invention, design. It is used 56 times in the Old Testament, 3 times in our chapter. We find our word used the first time in the Bible in a negative way. It is in the sense of the content of what a person is thinking about. Genesis 6:5-7 The Lord saw that the wickedness of man was great in the earth, and that every intention of the מַחְשְׁבֹ֣תthoughts of his heart was only evil continually. And the Lord regretted that he had made man on the earth, and it grieved him to his heart. So the Lord said, “I will blot out man whom I have created from the face of the land, man and animals and creeping things and birds of the heavens, for I am sorry that I have made them.” The contrast of this is using what we think about to glorify God. Our word is used in the sense of a decorative or artistic work. 2 Chronicles 2:13-14 Now I have sent a skilled man, who has understanding, Huram-abi, the son of a woman of the daughters of Dan, and his father was a man of Tyre. He is trained to work in gold, silver, bronze, iron, stone, and wood, and in purple, blue, and crimson fabrics and fine linen, and to do all sorts of engraving and execute any מַחֲשָׁ֑בֶתdesign that may be assigned him, with your craftsmen, the craftsmen of my lord, David your father. This is how our word is used three times in our chapter. Exodus 35:30-35 Then Moses said to the people of Israel, “See, the Lord has called by name Bezalel the son of Uri, son of Hur, of the tribe of Judah; and he has filled him with the Spirit of God, with skill, with intelligence, with knowledge, and with all craftsmanship, to devise מַֽחַשָׁבֹ֑ת artistic designs, to work in gold and silver and bronze, in cutting stones for setting, and in carving wood, for work in every מַחֲשָֽׁבֶתskilled craft. And he has inspired him to teach, both him and Oholiab the son of Ahisamach of the tribe of Dan. He has filled them with skill to do every sort of work done by an engraver or by a designer or by an embroiderer in blue and purple and scarlet yarns and fine twined linen, or by a weaver—by any sort of workman or מַחֲשָׁבֹֽת skilled designer. In our chapter our word is used to glorify God with these creative gifts he gives. I’ll close with this great prayer of David for God to direct thoughts towards glorifying himself. And what is interesting is the context of the preparations to build the temple where God would be worshiped. 1 Chronicles 29:17-19 I know, my God, that you test the heart and have pleasure in uprightness. In the uprightness of my heart I have freely offered all these things, and now I have seen your people, who are present here, offering freely and joyously to you. O Lord, the God of Abraham, Isaac, and Israel, our fathers, keep forever such purposes and מַחְשְׁב֖וֹת thoughts in the hearts of your people, and direct their hearts toward you. Grant to Solomon my son a whole heart that he may keep your commandments, your testimonies, and your statutes, performing all, and that he may build the palace for which I have made provision.

We are moving into chapter thirty-five of Exodus with our word for today which is a phrase. עֲצֵ֥י שִׁטִּ֛ים acacia wood. It is used 24 times in the Old Testament. Our word is used to describe the kind of material the ark of the covenant was made out of. Exodus 25:10 They shall make an ark of עֲצֵ֣י שִׁטִּ֑ים acacia wood. Two cubits and a half shall be its length, a cubit and a half its breadth, and a cubit and a half its height. Our word is used to describe the kind of material the poles to carry the ark of the covenant and the table were made out of. Exodus 25:13, 28 You shall make poles of עֲצֵ֣י שִׁטִּ֑ים acacia wood and overlay them with gold … You shall make the poles of עֲצֵ֣י שִׁטִּ֔ים acacia wood, and overlay them with gold, and the table shall be carried with these.  Our word is used to describe the kind of material the table for the bread of presence was made out of. Exodus 25:23 You shall make a table of עֲצֵ֣י שִׁטִּ֑יםacacia wood. Two cubits shall be its length, a cubit its breadth, and a cubit and a half its height. Our word is used to describe the kind of material the frames and bars of the tent was made out of. Exodus 26:15, 26-27 You shall make upright frames for the tabernacle of עֲצֵ֥י שִׁטִּ֖ים acacia wood … You shall make bars of עֲצֵ֣י שִׁטִּ֑ים acacia wood, five for the frames of the one side of the tabernacle, and five bars for the frames of the other side of the tabernacle, and five bars for the frames of the side of the tabernacle at the rear westward. Our word is used to describe the kind of material the altar and the poles to carry it was made out of. Exodus 27:1, 6 You shall make the altar of עֲצֵ֣י שִׁטִּ֑ים acacia wood … And you shall make poles for the altar, poles of עֲצֵ֣י שִׁטִּ֑ים acacia wood, and overlay them with bronze. The various items used for the tabernacle worship were made out of a lot of different materials. These materials came from the people who donated them to be used including our word. Exodus 25:1-5 The Lord said to Moses, “Speak to the people of Israel, that they take for me a contribution. From every man whose heart moves him you shall receive the contribution for me. And this is the contribution that you shall receive from them: gold, silver, and bronze, blue and purple and scarlet yarns and fine twined linen, goats' hair, tanned rams' skins, goatskins, וַעֲצֵ֥י שִׁטִּֽים acacia wood. This is how our word is used in our chapter today. Exodus 35:24 And every one who possessed עֲצֵ֥י שִׁטִּ֛ים acacia wood of any use in the work brought it. All this very specific preparation for the tabernacle worship in the Old Testament reminds us of what Christ accomplished for us by his work and preparations. Now because of Christ we are set apart to serve and be a part of his kingdom work. I’ll close with this great passage. Hebrews 9:11-14 But when Christ appeared as a high priest of the good things that have come, then through the greater and more perfect tent (not made with hands, that is, not of this creation) he entered once for all into the holy places, not by means of the blood of goats and calves but by means of his own blood, thus securing an eternal redemption. For if the blood of goats and bulls, and the sprinkling of defiled persons with the ashes of a heifer, sanctify for the purification of the flesh, how much more will the blood of Christ, who through the eternal Spirit offered himself without blemish to God, purify our conscience from dead works to serve the living God.

We are in chapter thirty-four of Exodus with our word for today used for the first time in the Bible. קָרַן shine, wear, possess or display horns. It is used 4 times in the Old Testament. Our word is used once in the sense to have horns, to have bony outgrowth on the head. Psalm 69:31 This will please the Lord more than an ox or a bull מַקְרִ֥ןwith horns and hoofs. The other three uses of our word is in the sense to shine with a beam, to emit light, be bright, as of the sun or a light. And all of these uses are in our chapter. Exodus 34:29-35 When Moses came down from Mount Sinai, with the two tablets of the testimony in his hand as he came down from the mountain, Moses did not know that the skin of his face קָרַ֛ןshone because he had been talking with God. Aaron and all the people of Israel saw Moses, and behold, the skin of his face קָרַ֖ןshone, and they were afraid to come near him. But Moses called to them, and Aaron and all the leaders of the congregation returned to him, and Moses talked with them. Afterward all the people of Israel came near, and he commanded them all that the Lord had spoken with him on Mount Sinai. And when Moses had finished speaking with them, he put a veil over his face. Whenever Moses went in before the Lord to speak with him, he would remove the veil, until he came out. And when he came out and told the people of Israel what he was commanded, the people of Israel would see the face of Moses, that the skin of Moses' face קָרַ֔ןwas shining. And Moses would put the veil over his face again, until he went in to speak with him. Moses covered up his face with a veil because the people were afraid to come near to him. It is interesting that his intimate time with God changed his appearance in such a visible way. The Holy Spirit speaking through Paul uses this event with Moses to instruct believers. The first thing that is taught is that the new covenant or agreement is so much better than the old one because it is the only way for us to be saved and be connected to God. This makes it much more glorious than the old one in that even the old one had glory as seen in Moses face shining. The new one is far greater. The other thing that is taught is how this new relationship with God because of this new agreement gives us such hope that we can be bold in our sharing God’s grace with others. I’ll close with this great teaching. 2 Corinthians 3:7-18 Now if the ministry of death, carved in letters on stone, came with such glory that the Israelites could not gaze at Moses' face because of its glory, which was being brought to an end, will not the ministry of the Spirit have even more glory? For if there was glory in the ministry of condemnation, the ministry of righteousness must far exceed it in glory. Indeed, in this case, what once had glory has come to have no glory at all, because of the glory that surpasses it. For if what was being brought to an end came with glory, much more will what is permanent have glory. Since we have such a hope, we are very bold, not like Moses, who would put a veil over his face so that the Israelites might not gaze at the outcome of what was being brought to an end. But their minds were hardened. For to this day, when they read the old covenant, that same veil remains unlifted, because only through Christ is it taken away. Yes, to this day whenever Moses is read a veil lies over their hearts. But when one turns to the Lord, the veil is removed. Now the Lord is the Spirit, and where the Spirit of the Lord is, there is freedom. And we all, with unveiled face, beholding the glory of the Lord, are being transformed into the same image from one degree of glory to another. For this comes from the Lord who is the Spirit.

We are in chapter thirty-four of Exodus with our word for today which is a phrase used for the first time in the Bible. עֲשֶׂ֖רֶת הַדְּבָרִֽים ten words, ten commandments. It is used 3 times in the Old Testament. Let’s start with our chapter today since it is also the first time it is used in the Bible. Exodus 34:27-28 Write these words, for in accordance with these words I have made a covenant with you and with Israel ... And he wrote on the tablets the words of the covenant, עֲשֶׂ֖רֶת הַדְּבָרִֽים the Ten Commandments. Here we see that the ten commandments are used to summarize the words of the covenant. We also see this idea in our next use. Deuteronomy 4:13 He commanded you to perform, that is, עֲשֶׂ֖רֶת הַדְּבָרִ֑ים the Ten Commandments, and he wrote them on two tablets of stone. And the Lord commanded me at that time to teach you statutes and rules. This passage helps us understand that there are more than just ten commandments or instructions for the people as Moses was to teach them statutes and rules for them to go into the land successfully. Our phrase is used as a summary of all the teachings God revealed to Moses. The ten are the main basic ones. Let’s look at our last use. Deuteronomy 10:4-5 And he wrote on the tablets, in the same writing as before, עֲשֶׂ֣רֶת הַדְּבָרִ֔ים the Ten Commandments that the Lord had spoken to you on the mountain ... Then I turned and came down from the mountain and put the tablets in the ark that I had made. And there they are, as the Lord commanded me. The fact that God wrote his commandments on stone means something. What is communicated is that it is not changeable. These are God’s commands that will and have stood the test of time. This is definitely true in the New Testament. Jesus refers back to these ten commandments referring to them as the commandments. Matthew 5:17-19 Did you catch what Jesus was saying? He is not saying that the ten commandments do not apply anymore. Not at all he is reinforcing their high importance as communicating God’s will to us. He is saying that he has followed them completely so that his life can take our place so that our salvation is not based on our following the commandments but instead accepting God’s salvation as a gift. The commandments are still what God desires for us to follow and keep just not as a means to our own salvation. We see this same thinking as the Holy Spirit writes through Paul to the Ephesian Churches. Ephesians 2:14-15 God abolished the law of commandments in the sense of not holding us accountable to following them perfectly as the basis for our salvation. The basis of our salvation is only the work of Christ on the cross. The Holy Spirit writing through Paul to the Corinthian Churches show the importance of the commandments. 1 Corinthians 7:19 For neither circumcision counts for anything nor uncircumcision, but keeping the commandments of God. Did you notice what the focus of believers is to be? Keeping God’s commandments is still what God has called us to do as people saved by God’s grace through faith. Revelation also makes this connection to Christians and following God’s commandments. Revelation 12:17; 14:12 Notice how both of these passages describe a follower of Jesus as also one who keeps God’s commandments. John claims that this is how we know God. 1 John 2:3-4; 3:24 So how we know God is if we keep his commandments because this is his will for us. The purpose of our salvation is to serve God and keep his commandments not to become saved but because we are saved. John also says that this shows that we love God. 1 John 5:2-3; 2 John 1:6 We can’t claim that we love God if we do not do what he has written down for us to follow his commandments. I’ll close with this great passage that reminds us that following the commandments are how we love God and others. Romans 13:8-10 Love does no wrong to a neighbor; therefore love is the fulfilling of the law.

We are in chapter thirty-four of Exodus with our word for today. בִּכּוּרִים first-fruits. It is used 17 times in the Old Testament. Our word is used in the sense of the first fruit of a harvest or season. A good example of this is when the spies went in to check out the promised land and Nahum’s prophecy. Numbers 13:20 Now the time was the season of the בִּכּוּרֵ֥י first ripe grapes … And they came to the Valley of Eshcol and cut down from there a branch with a single cluster of grapes. Nahum 3:12 All your fortresses are like fig trees with בִּכּוּרִ֑ים first-ripe figs— if shaken they fall into the mouth of the eater. Most of the time our word is used in reference to giving back to God from the first of one’s harvest. This gift can come from a variety of places. Exodus 23:16, 19 The best of the בִּכּוּרֵי֙ firstfruits of your ground you shall bring into the house of the Lord your God. We have a specific reference to this gift being wheat. Exodus 34:22 You shall observe the Feast of Weeks, the בִּכּוּרֵ֖י firstfruits of wheat harvest. We also have a specific reference to the gift being fresh ears of the plant. Leviticus 2:14 You shall offer for the grain offering of בִּכּוּרֶֽיךָ your firstfruits fresh ears, roasted with fire, crushed new grain. And another specific reference to this gift being bread. Leviticus 23:17 You shall bring from your dwelling places two loaves of bread to be waved, made of two tenths of an ephah. They shall be of fine flour, and they shall be baked with leaven, as בִּכּוּרִ֖ים firstfruits to the Lord. Our word is used in the same way in our chapter today. Exodus 34:26 The best of the בִּכּוּרֵי֙ firstfruits of your ground you shall bring to the house of the Lord your God. Notice that it is not just the first fruits but the best from the first fruits. God gives us his best so he asks us to give our best that he has allowed us to have in the first place. He not only gives us everything we need for our physical life but also provides for our spiritual and eternal life. John 3:16-17 For God so loved the world, that he gave his only Son, that whoever believes in him should not perish but have eternal life. For God did not send his Son into the world to condemn the world, but in order that the world might be saved through him. Romans 8:31-32 What then shall we say to these things? If God is for us, who can be against us? He who did not spare his own Son but gave him up for us all, how will he not also with him graciously give us all things? We know that God doesn’t need anything from us. Psalm 50:10-12 For every beast of the forest is mine, the cattle on a thousand hills. I know all the birds of the hills, and all that moves in the field is mine. “If I were hungry, I would not tell you, for the world and its fullness are mine. So the practice of giving to God is not because God needs it. It is for our benefit to help us to remember that our relationship with God is worth everything. When I give something valuable for his work and release it out of our hands it helps us value our relationship with God more than whatever it was that we gave up. I’ll close with this encouraging passage. 1 Timothy 6:6-10 ,17-19 As for the rich in this present age, charge them not to be haughty, nor to set their hopes on the uncertainty of riches, but on God, who richly provides us with everything to enjoy. They are to do good, to be rich in good works, to be generous and ready to share, thus storing up treasure for themselves as a good foundation for the future, so that they may take hold of that which is truly life. … As for the rich in this present age, charge them not to be haughty, nor to set their hopes on the uncertainty of riches, but on God, who richly provides us with everything to enjoy. They are to do good, to be rich in good works, to be generous and ready to share, thus storing up treasure for themselves as a good foundation for the future, so that they may take hold of that which is truly life.

We are in chapter thirty-four of Exodus with our word for today. חָרִישׁ plowing, time of plowing. It is used 3 times in the Old Testament. Our word is used in the sense of the time of year when soil is plowed in the early part of the planting cycle. The first time our word is used in the Bible is with Joseph when he instructs his brothers to bring their father back to Egypt because of the famine. Genesis 45:6-11 For the famine has been in the land these two years, and there are yet five years in which there will be neither חָרִ֖ישׁ plowing nor harvest ... Hurry and go up to my father and say to him, ‘Thus says your son Joseph, God has made me lord of all Egypt. Come down to me; do not tarry. You shall dwell in the land of Goshen, and you shall be near me, you and your children and your children's children, and your flocks, your herds, and all that you have. Our word is also used by Samuel in describing all that having a king would mean to the people who wanted one. 1 Samuel 8:10-12 So Samuel told all the words of the Lord to the people who were asking for a king from him. He said, “These will be the ways of the king who will reign over you: he will take your sons and appoint them to his chariots and to be his horsemen and to run before his chariots. And he will appoint for himself commanders of thousands and commanders of fifties, and some וְלַחֲרֹ֤שׁ חֲרִישׁוֹ֙ [word used twice even though just translated once. So literally it is to plow plowing] to plow his ground and to reap his harvest, and to make his implements of war and the equipment of his chariots. The last use of our word is in our chapter today. Exodus 34:21 Six days you shall work, but on the seventh day you shall rest. בֶּחָרִ֥ישׁ In plowing time and in harvest you shall rest. We have looked at the word for Sabbath and the word for rest previously. For today it is worth noting that everyone knows that no crops will come up if one doesn’t do the work of plowing. So for God to ask them to take the Sabbath off from working even during the time of plowing was a big ask. But again God knows what is best for us he created us and knows that we need to stop and take some time to reflect and remember where all good things come from, God himself. If we don’t we will forget about God and all that he does for us. And as we have seen with our words sabbath and rest when we do what God says and trust him he will provide enough to cover the one day we take off to focus on him. And we have also looked at how God has changed this day of rest and reflection to Sunday when the early church shifted this day because it was the day Christ rose from the dead. I’ll close with Jesus words about trusting him both with the focus of our life and with what we need to sustain our physical life. Matthew 6:25-33 Therefore I tell you, do not be anxious about your life, what you will eat or what you will drink, nor about your body, what you will put on. Is not life more than food, and the body more than clothing? Look at the birds of the air: they neither sow nor reap nor gather into barns, and yet your heavenly Father feeds them. Are you not of more value than they? And which of you by being anxious can add a single hour to his span of life? And why are you anxious about clothing? Consider the lilies of the field, how they grow: they neither toil nor spin, yet I tell you, even Solomon in all his glory was not arrayed like one of these. But if God so clothes the grass of the field, which today is alive and tomorrow is thrown into the oven, will he not much more clothe you, O you of little faith? Therefore do not be anxious, saying, ‘What shall we eat?’ or ‘What shall we drink?’ or ‘What shall we wear?’ For the Gentiles seek after all these things, and your heavenly Father knows that you need them all. But seek first the kingdom of God and his righteousness, and all these things will be added to you.

We are in chapter thirty-four of Exodus with our word for today used for the first time in the Bible. אָבִיב ears, young ears, ripe ears of grain, the month of the Canaanite calendar equal to Nisan now known as March - April. It is used 8 times in the Old Testament. Our word is used in the sense of a plant or the ear of the plant. The Holy Spirit writing through Moses describes the condition of the crops after one of God’s plagues against Egypt. Exodus 9:31-32 The flax and the barley were struck down, for the barley was in the אָבִ֔יב ear and the flax was in bud. But the wheat and the emmer were not struck down, for they are late in coming up. We also see our word used in this sense when the Holy Spirit writing through Moses to instruct the priests concerning grain offerings.  Leviticus 2:14-15 If you offer a grain offering of firstfruits to the Lord, you shall offer for the grain offering of your firstfruits אָבִ֞יב fresh ears, roasted with fire, crushed new grain. And you shall put oil on it and lay frankincense on it; it is a grain offering. The first time our word is used it is in the context of the original Passover during the exodus from Egypt. Exodus 13:3-5 Then Moses said to the people, “Remember this day in which you came out from Egypt, out of the house of slavery, for by a strong hand the Lord brought you out from this place. No leavened bread shall be eaten. Today, in the month of הָאָבִֽיב Abib, you are going out. And when the Lord brings you into the land of the Canaanites, the Hittites, the Amorites, the Hivites, and the Jebusites, which he swore to your fathers to give you, a land flowing with milk and honey, you shall keep this service in this month. This is how our word is used in our chapter today. Exodus 34:18 You shall keep the Feast of Unleavened Bread. Seven days you shall eat unleavened bread, as I commanded you, at the time appointed in the month הָאָבִ֑יב Abib, for in the month Abib you came out from Egypt. The reason God gives for keeping this feast in this specific time of the year is because that was the month that God delivered them from their slavery in Egypt. This reason is also given in Exodus 23:15 and Deuteronomy 16:1. This reminds us of the Lord Supper or Communion that Jesus sets up during the Passover that he was celebrating with his disciples. He likewise gives the same reason in that it is to be done to remember that God is rescuing us from being a slave to sin. I’ll close with Jesus words. Luke 22:14, 19-20 And when the hour came, he reclined at table, and the apostles with him. And he said to them, “I have earnestly desired to eat this Passover with you before I suffer … And he took bread, and when he had given thanks, he broke it and gave it to them, saying, “This is my body, which is given for you. Do this in remembrance of me.” And likewise the cup after they had eaten, saying, “This cup that is poured out for you is the new covenant in my blood.

We are in chapter thirty-four of Exodus with our word for today used for the first time in the Bible. אֲשֵׁרָה Asherah, Asherah cult pole, fortune, the planet Venus, images of Astarte. It is used 40 times in the Old Testament. Our word is used in the sense of a wooden pole that was used in the worship of the false deity Asherah. This is how our word is used in our chapter today. Exodus 34:13-16 You shall tear down their altars and break their pillars and cut down אֲשֵׁרָ֖יו their Asherim (for you shall worship no other god, for the Lord, whose name is Jealous, is a jealous God), lest you make a covenant with the inhabitants of the land, and when they whore after their gods and sacrifice to their gods and you are invited, you eat of his sacrifice, and you take of their daughters for your sons, and their daughters whore after their gods and make your sons whore after their gods. Right away God is not shy about the dangers of our word. Something this dangerous God instructs them to cut them down so that people are not tempted to worship Asheerah and arouse God’s protective jealousy. The next time we find our word God gives further instruction on how to dispose of this evil. Deuteronomy 7:4-5 They would turn away your sons from following me, to serve other gods ... But thus shall you deal with them: you shall break down their altars and dash in pieces their pillars and chop down וַאֲשֵֽׁירֵהֶם֙ their Asherim and burn their carved images with fire. So the people are to also burn them. And in the next use more instruction on irradiating this false idol worship. Deuteronomy 12:3 You shall tear down their altars and dash in pieces their pillars and burn וַאֲשֵֽׁרֵיהֶם֙ their Asherim with fire. You shall chop down the carved images of their gods and destroy their name out of that place. So here we see that the people are to destroy their name out of the place. God wants this temptation completely removed from the people. A good example of this in action is how God instructs Gideon. Judges 6:25-27 The Lord said to him, “pull down the altar of Baal that your father has, and cut down הָאֲשֵׁרָ֥ה the Asherah that is beside it and build an altar to the Lord your God on the top of the stronghold here, with stones laid in due order. Then take the second bull and offer it as a burnt offering with the wood of הָאֲשֵׁרָ֖ה the Asherah that you shall cut down.” So Gideon took ten men of his servants and did as the Lord had told him ... One would think that by doing God’s will people around Gideon would be grateful and thank him but not so because the people were already addicted to their worship of these false gods as we can see in the next couple of verse. Judges 6:28-30 Behold, the altar of Baal was broken down, וְהָאֲשֵׁרָ֥ה and the Asherah beside it was cut down, and the second bull was offered on the altar that had been built. And they said to one another, “Who has done this thing?” ... they said, “Gideon the son of Joash has done this thing.” Then the men of the town said to Joash, “Bring out your son, that he may die, for he has broken down the altar of Baal and cut down הָאֲשֵׁרָ֥ה the Asherah beside it.” This is a good example why God warns his people of the dangers of idol worship. We see this theme throughout the Bible. Even in the New Testament we have these two passages that I will close with. Ephesians 5:5 For you may be sure of this, that everyone who is ... covetous (that is, an idolater), has no inheritance in the kingdom of Christ and God. Did you catch this that one who is covetous or greedy is also an idolater? Jesus speaks directly why worshiping money is dangerous. Matthew 6:24 No one can serve two masters, for either he will hate the one and love the other, or he will be devoted to the one and despise the other. You cannot serve God and money. Idols will separate you from God. I’ll close with how John closes his letter to the churches. 1 John 5:21 Little children, keep yourselves from idols.

We are in chapter thirty-four of Exodus with our word for today. זָנָה commit fornication, be unfaithful, abandon someone to fornication, be a harlot, whore, prostitute. It is used 59 times in the Old Testament. Our word is used in a literal way that involves being unfaithful in immoral sexual activity. A good example of this is with Judah and Tamar. Genesis 38:15-16, 20-22, 24 Judah was told, “Tamar your daughter-in-law זָֽנְתָה֙ has been immoral. Moreover, she is pregnant לִזְנוּנִ֑ים by immorality.” Here are a couple more examples. Numbers 25:1 The people began לִזְנ֖וֹת to whore with the daughters of Moab. Leviticus 19:29 Do not profane your daughter לְהַזְנוֹתָ֑הּ by making her a prostitute, lest the land fall תִזְנֶ֣ה into prostitution and the land become full of depravity. Our word is used in a figurative way to describe being unfaithful without necessarily involving immoral sexual activity. In this sense God uses our word to describe his people passionately worshiping and sacrificing to false gods or idols. This word is used a lot to describe how heartbreaking and wrong unfaithfulness is to God. Here are a few examples. Leviticus 17:7 So they shall no more sacrifice their sacrifices to goat demons, after whom זֹנִ֖ים they whore. Leviticus 20:5-6 then I will set my face against that man and against his clan and will cut them off from among their people, him and all who הַזֹּנִ֣ים [literally our word prostitute here in the ESV translate follow. But it is all who prostitute in whoring] follow him לִזְנ֛וֹת in whoring after Molech. If a person turns to mediums and necromancers, לִזְנ֖וֹת whoring after them, I will set my face against that person and will cut him off from among his people. Deuteronomy 31:16 This people will rise וְזָנָ֣ה and whore after the foreign gods among them in the land that they are entering, and they will forsake me and break my covenant that I have made with them. Judges 2:17 Yet they did not listen to their judges, for זָנ֗וּ they whored after other gods and bowed down to them. They soon turned aside from the way in which their fathers had walked, who had obeyed the commandments of the Lord, and they did not do so. Jeremiah 3:8 She saw that for all the adulteries of that faithless one, Israel, I had sent her away with a decree of divorce. Yet her treacherous sister Judah did not fear, but she too went וַתִּ֥זֶן and played the whore. This is how our word is used in our chapter today. Exodus 34:13-16 You shall tear down their altars and break their pillars and cut down their Asherim (for you shall worship no other god, for the Lord, whose name is Jealous, is a jealous God), lest you make a covenant with the inhabitants of the land, וְזָנ֣וּ and when they whore after their gods and sacrifice to their gods and you are invited, you eat of his sacrifice, and you take of their daughters for your sons, and their daughters whore after their gods and make your sons וְהִזְנוּ֙ whore after their gods. We see how heartbroken God is over his people’s unfaithfulness in this passage. Ezekiel 6:8-9 Then those of you who escape will remember me among the nations where they are carried captive, how I have been broken over their הַזּוֹנֶ֗ה whoring heart that has departed from me and over their eyes that go whoring after their idols. And they will be loathsome in their own sight for the evils that they have committed, for all their abominations.  Did you see how God describes how what his people have done have affected him? He is broken. Wow! God loves us so much that he allows himself to be hurt by those he loves. I’ll close with Jesus words over his people who rejected him and his father. Matthew 23:37 and Luke 13:34 O Jerusalem, Jerusalem, the city that kills the prophets and stones those who are sent to it! How often would I have gathered your children together as a hen gathers her brood under her wings, and you were not willing! See, your house is left to you desolate.

We are in chapter thirty-four of Exodus with our word for today. כֹּרֵ֣ת בְּרִית֒ make a covenant, made a covenant. It is used 18 times in the Old Testament. The first time our phrase is used in the Bible is a good example of what it means. Abimelech’s men took one of Abraham’s wells so here is how Abraham settles the dispute. Genesis 21:27-32 So Abraham took sheep and oxen and gave them to Abimelech, וַיִּכְרְת֥וּ שְׁנֵיהֶ֖ם בְּרִֽית and the two men made a covenant ... He said, “These seven ewe lambs you will take from my hand, that this may be a witness for me that I dug this well.” ... וַיִּכְרְת֥וּ בְרִ֖ית So they made a covenant at Beersheba. It is interesting that instead of being aggressive Abraham finds a peaceful solution by clarifying their relationship using an agreement, contract which is what the word covenant means. Here is another good example. Genesis 31:44-45, 48-50 Come now, נִכְרְתָ֥ה בְרִ֖ית let us make a covenant, you and I. And let it be a witness between you and me.” … “The Lord watch between you and me, when we are out of one another's sight.” If find it interesting that God evoked as the witness between the two parties so that when they are away from each other they are relying on each other’s relationship with God to keep them faithful to carry out what they promised they would do. Our phrase is used of God making a covenant with people. Jeremiah 34:12-13 “Thus says the Lord, the God of Israel: I myself כָּרַ֤תִּֽי בְרִית֙ made a covenant with your fathers when I brought them out of the land of Egypt.’ This is how our phrase is used in our chapter today. Exodus 34:10-16 And he said, “Behold, I am כֹּרֵ֣ת בְּרִית֒ making a covenant. Before all your people I will do marvels, such as have not been created in all the earth or in any nation. And all the people among whom you are shall see the work of the Lord, for it is an awesome thing that I will do with you. Observe what I command you this day ... Take care, lest תִּכְרֹ֤ת בְּרִית֙ you make a covenant with the inhabitants of the land to which you go, lest it become a snare in your midst. You shall tear down their altars and break their pillars and cut down their Asherim (for you shall worship no other god, for the Lord, whose name is Jealous, is a jealous God), lest you תִּכְרֹ֥ת בְּרִ֖יתmake a covenant with the inhabitants of the land, and when they whore after their gods and sacrifice to their gods and you are invited, you eat of his sacrifice, and you take of their daughters for your sons, and their daughters whore after their gods and make your sons whore after their gods. Did you see how God points to his jealousy for them as a reason why they should only make and follow agreements with him and no one else. Because the nations would turn them away from the true God. This would be the worst thing they could do. God’s jealousy is a protective for those he loves. God doesn’t want any harm to come to them because he loves them. Jesus said this very pointedly about whose word should have the most weight in our lives. Matthew 10:28 And do not fear those who kill the body but cannot kill the soul. Rather fear him who can destroy both soul and body in hell. This may seem harsh to us because we often forget just how dangerous sin is. And notice Jesus’ words right after he gives us this warning in the next two verses. Matthew 10:29-30 Are not two sparrows sold for a penny? And not one of them will fall to the ground apart from your Father. But even the hairs of your head are all numbered. Fear not, therefore; you are of more value than many sparrows. I’ll close with this Psalm that shows praise to the God who makes covenants with his people especially the one that predicted Christ coming from David’s family. Psalm 89:1-4 You have said, “I have כָּרַ֣תִּֽי בְ֭רִית made a covenant with my chosen one; I have sworn to David my servant: ‘I will establish your offspring forever, and build your throne for all generations.’”

We are in chapter thirty-four of Exodus with our word for today. נָחַל maintain as a possession, take possession, give as an inheritance, assign. It is used 59 times in the Old Testament. Our word is used to reference people receiving an inheritance from God. Exodus 32:13 Remember your servants Abraham, Isaac and Israel, to whom you swore by your own self: ‘I will make your descendants as numerous as the stars in the sky and I will give your descendants all this land I promised them, וְנָחֲל֖וּ and it will be their inheritance forever.’ Numbers 26:55 Be sure that the land is distributed by lot. What each group יִנְחָֽלוּ inherits will be according to the names for its ancestral tribe. Joshua 14:1 Now these are the areas the Israelites received as an נִֽחֲל֜וּ inheritance in the land of Canaan, which Eleazar the priest, Joshua son of Nun and the heads of the tribal clans of Israel allotted to them. Deuteronomy 12:10 But you will cross the Jordan and settle in the land the Lord your God is giving you as an מַנְחִ֣יל inheritance, and he will give you rest from all your enemies around you so that you will live in safety. Our phrase is also used to refer to God’s people identified as God’s inheritance in the sense that they belong to God. Zechariah 2:10-13 Shout and be glad, Daughter Zion. For I am coming, and I will live among you,” declares the Lord. “Many nations will be joined with the Lord in that day and will become my people. I will live among you and you will know that the Lord Almighty has sent me to you. The Lord will וְנָחַ֨לinherit Judah as his portion in the holy land and will again choose Jerusalem. Be still before the Lord, all mankind, because he has roused himself from his holy dwelling. This is how our word is used in our chapter today. Exodus 34:8-9 And Moses quickly bowed his head toward the earth and worshiped. And he said, “If now I have found favor in your sight, O Lord, please let the Lord go in the midst of us, for it is a stiff-necked people, and pardon our iniquity and our sin, וּנְחַלְתָּֽנוּ and take us for your inheritance.” This is an interesting request Moses is praying for with our word. He is asking God to literally hold on to them as a valuable inheritance that one holds on to. Moses has a heart for the people and understands God’s heart by reflecting what God desires as well. We see this idea of God valuing people and wanting to hold us close to himself. In the New Testament the Holy Spirit is writing through Paul in his prayer for them to understand just how much God loves them. He calls them God’s inheritance and not just any inheritance but the riches of his glorious inheritance. Wow that is powerful. Ephesians 1:18-19 I pray that the eyes of your heart may be enlightened in order that you may know the hope to which he has called you, the riches of his glorious inheritance in his holy people, and his incomparably great power for us who believe. If we could grasp just how much God loves us it would transform how we live and treat ourselves and others around us.

We are in chapter thirty-four of Exodus with our word for today which is a phrase. פֹּקֵ֣ד עֲוֺ֣ן visiting the iniquity, punish iniquity. It is used 7 times in the Old Testament. Let’s look at these. Our phrase is used to describes God’s reaction to the worship of false gods and idols. Exodus 20:4-5 You shall not bow down to them or serve them, for I the Lord your God am a jealous God, פֹּ֠קֵד עֲוֺ֨ן visiting the iniquity of the fathers on the children to the third and fourth generation of those who hate me, but showing steadfast love to thousands of those who love me and keep my commandments (Deuteronomy 5:8-9). Our phrase is used alongside other words that show just how graphically God will judge sin. Leviticus 18:24-25 Do not make yourselves unclean by any of these things, for by all these the nations I am driving out before you have become unclean, and the land became unclean, וָאֶפְקֹ֥ד עֲוֺנָ֖הּ so that I punished its iniquity, and the land vomited out its inhabitants (Isaiah 26:20-21; Lamentations 4:22). Our phrase is used to describe a list of God’s characteristics which we have been looking at over the last several days. This is how our phrase is used in our chapter. Exodus 34:6-7 The Lord passed before him and proclaimed, “The Lord, the Lord, a God merciful and gracious, slow to anger, and abounding in steadfast love and faithfulness, keeping steadfast love for thousands, forgiving iniquity and transgression and sin, but who will by no means clear the guilty, פֹּקֵ֣ד עֲוֺ֣ן visiting the iniquity of the fathers on the children and the children's children, to the third and the fourth generation.” What is interesting is that our phrase is used right after he says God forgives iniquity so there seems to be a contradiction. Does God forgive iniquity, transgression, and sin or does he visit iniquity that is punish it instead of forgiving it? The answer is yes. God does both depending on whether or not we repent from sin or continue in it. The Holy Spirit writing through Paul to the Romans says this same thing in this way. Romans 11:22 Note then the kindness and the severity of God: severity toward those who have fallen, but God's kindness to you, provided you continue in his kindness. Otherwise you too will be cut off. It’s like this, God has two windows he will look through and we get to decide which window he looks at us through. If we chose to reject God’s salvation by continuing in our sin then we are asking God to look at us through the window of the law. This means that God will see all of my sin and judge me for it resulting in eternal separation from Him. The good news is that God has provided a better way for both him and us. If we chose to repent from our sins then we are asking God to look at us through the window of Grace. This means that God will see Jesus perfect life instead of my sinful one. I will be able to be connected to God forever in eternity because of my relationship with Jesus through Faith. So God is kind to those who accept Jesus but stern toward those who reject him. Notice how far reaching the consequences of unrepentant sin are, “visiting the iniquity of the fathers on the children and the children's children, to the third and the fourth generation.” That is staggering. But explains why there is so much heart break, pain and devastation in relationships through out generations. The good news is that Christ can break these generational sins starting today if we allow God to transform our lives through his Spirit working in and through us. This was a huge part of Jesus ministry to reconcile all things to himself. I’ll close with these great passages. Malachi 4:6; Luke 1:17 And he will turn the hearts of fathers to their children and the hearts of children to their fathers … he will go before him in the spirit and power of Elijah, to turn the hearts of the fathers to the children, and the disobedient to the wisdom of the just, to make ready for the Lord (Colossians 1:19-20).

We are in chapter thirty-four of Exodus with our word for today. אֱמֶת firmness, trustworthiness, constancy, duration, faithfulness, truth. It is used 127 times in the Old Testament. In our chapter, as we have looked at over the last couple of days, is the first time God gives us a list of characteristics about himself which includes our word for today. Exodus 34:6-7 The Lord passed before him and proclaimed, “The Lord, the Lord, a God merciful and gracious, slow to anger, and abounding in steadfast love וֶאֱמֶֽתand faithfulness, keeping steadfast love for thousands, forgiving iniquity and transgression and sin, but who will by no means clear the guilty, visiting the iniquity of the fathers on the children and the children's children, to the third and the fourth generation.” As in our chapter our word is used to describe God’s character most of the time. Psalm 25:10 All the paths of the Lord are steadfast love וֶאֱמֶ֑ת and faithfulness, for those who keep his covenant and his testimonies. Psalm 57:10 For your steadfast love is great to the heavens, אֲמִתֶּֽךָ your faithfulness to the clouds. Because our word is used to describe this character of God so much people would use it as a blessing. 2 Samuel 2:6; 15:20 Now may the Lord show steadfast love וֶאֱמֶ֑ת and faithfulness to you … Go back and take your brothers with you, and may the Lord show steadfast love וֶאֱמֶֽת and faithfulness to you. We also see it referenced to people also having this quality. Good examples of this are Jacob and the spies during Joshua’s time. Jacob uses our word when giving instructions about his bones. Genesis 47:29-30 And when the time drew near that Israel must die, he called his son Joseph and said to him, “If now I have found favor in your sight, put your hand under my thigh and promise to deal kindly וֶאֱמֶ֔ת and truly with me. Do not bury me in Egypt, but let me lie with my fathers. Carry me out of Egypt and bury me in their burying place.” He answered, “I will do as you have said.” When Joshua sends the spies into Jericho our word is also used by Rahab. Joshua 2:12-14 Now then, please swear to me by the Lord that, as I have dealt kindly with you, you also will deal kindly with my father's house, and give me a אֱמֶֽת sure sign that you will save alive my father and mother, my brothers and sisters, and all who belong to them, and deliver our lives from death.” And the men said to her, “Our life for yours even to death! If you do not tell this business of ours, then when the Lord gives us the land we will deal kindly וֶאֱמֶֽת and faithfully with you.” Joshua challenges the people to respond to God’s faithfulness by also being faithful to God. Joshua 24:14-15 Now therefore fear the Lord and serve him in sincerity וּבֶֽאֱמֶ֑תand in faithfulness. Put away the gods that your fathers served beyond the River and in Egypt, and serve the Lord. And if it is evil in your eyes to serve the Lord, choose this day whom you will serve, whether the gods your fathers served in the region beyond the River, or the gods of the Amorites in whose land you dwell. But as for me and my house, we will serve the Lord. We also see a similar challenge from Samuel when the people sinned by asking for a king. 1 Samuel 12:24 Only fear the Lord and serve him בֶּאֱמֶ֖ת faithfully with all your heart. For consider what great things he has done for you. I’ll close with Jesus quoting a psalm that has our word in it. He is literally putting his life in His father’s hands as he dies on the cross. Jesus trusts that God will raise him from the dead which as we know is exactly what he does. These are Jesus’ very last words before he dies for our sins. Words of trust in God’s faithfulness and love. Psalm 31:5, 7 Into your hand I commit my spirit; you have redeemed me, O Lord, אֱמֶֽת faithful God … I will rejoice and be glad in your steadfast love.

We are in chapter thirty-four of Exodus with our word for today which is a phrase used for the first time in the Bible. וְרַב־חֶ֥סֶד  and abounding in steadfast love. It is used 8 times in the Old Testament. In our chapter, as we have looked at over the last couple of days, is the first time God gives us a list of characteristics about himself which includes our phrase for today. Exodus 34:6-7 The Lord passed before him and proclaimed, “The Lord, the Lord, a God merciful and gracious, slow to anger, וְרַב־חֶ֥סֶדand abounding in steadfast love and faithfulness, keeping steadfast love for thousands, forgiving iniquity and transgression and sin, but who will by no means clear the guilty, visiting the iniquity of the fathers on the children and the children's children, to the third and the fourth generation.” All of our uses we have already looked at over the past few days as we find this list of words and phrases closely related to each other. The one things they have in common the most is that they are all ways that God employs to communicate with us who he is and who he desires for us to be. Let’s look at some of these again as a way of reminder for us in our desire to know God better and be more like him. We see our phrase used alongside these: merciful, gracious, and slow to anger. They are used together to describe God’s character. Psalm 86:15 You, O Lord, are a God merciful and gracious, slow to anger וְרַב־חֶ֝֗סֶד and abounding in steadfast love and faithfulness. Psalm 103:8 The Lord is merciful and gracious, slow to anger וְרַב־חָֽסֶד and abounding in steadfast love. Psalm 145:8 The Lord is gracious and merciful, slow to anger וּגְדָל־חָֽסֶד [this is a different word for abounding than in our phrase it is more of greatness than in number as the word in our phrase but also translated the same here as well as other places] and abounding in steadfast love. Nehemiah points to God’s character as the reason for his willingness to forgive. Nehemiah 9:17 They refused to obey ... they stiffened their neck and appointed a leader to return to their slavery in Egypt. But you are a God ready to forgive, gracious and merciful, slow to anger וְרַב־חָֽסֶד and abounding in steadfast love, and did not forsake them. We see our word with these others used to call people to repentance. Joel 2:13 and rend your hearts and not your garments.” Return to the Lord your God, for he is gracious and merciful, slow to anger, וְרַב־חֶ֔סֶדand abounding in steadfast love; and he relents over disaster. This character quality of God is not always welcomed. Jonah had personal experience with the Assyrians who he thought didn’t deserve God’s forgiveness. Jonah 4:2 And he prayed to the Lord and said, “O Lord, is not this what I said when I was yet in my country? That is why I made haste to flee to Tarshish; for I knew that you are a gracious God and merciful, slow to anger וְרַב־חֶ֔סֶד and abounding in steadfast love, and relenting from disaster. With this next Psalm we don’t have the words merciful and gracious in the list but instead the words good and forgiving. Psalm 86:5 For you, O Lord, are good and forgiving, וְרַב־חֶ֝֗סֶדabounding in steadfast love to all who call upon you. God’s unfailing love which other translations use for steadfast love, is abounding. Literally it is great, numerous many. We can count on God to forgive our sins because as the New Testament says he is rich in mercy. Being in Christ means we already have what everyone is looking for. I’ll close with this great passage. Ephesians 2:4-7 But God, being rich in mercy, because of the great love with which he loved us, even when we were dead in our trespasses, made us alive together with Christ—by grace you have been saved— and raised us up with him and seated us with him in the heavenly places in Christ Jesus, so that in the coming ages he might show the immeasurable riches of his grace in kindness toward us in Christ Jesus.

We are in chapter thirty-four of Exodus with our word for today which is a phrase used for the first time in the Bible. אֶ֥רֶךְ אַפַּ֖יִם slow to anger, slow nose [literally – the idea is one’s nostrils flare when one is angry so we are slow to flare our nostrils in anger]. It is used 13 times in the Old Testament. In our chapter, as we have looked at over the last couple of days, is the first time God gives us a list of characteristics about himself which includes our phrase for today. Exodus 34:6-7 The Lord passed before him and proclaimed, “The Lord, the Lord, a God merciful and gracious, אֶ֥רֶךְ אַפַּ֖יִםslow to anger, and abounding in steadfast love and faithfulness, keeping steadfast love for thousands, forgiving iniquity and transgression and sin, but who will by no means clear the guilty, visiting the iniquity of the fathers on the children and the children's children, to the third and the fourth generation.” Later when the people grumbled and rebel against God. God is angry and wants to destroy them. Moses prays. In his prayer he references our phrase. Numbers 14:15-19 And now, please let the power of the Lord be great as you have promised, saying, ‘The Lord is אֶ֤רֶךְ אַפַּ֙יִם֙ slow to anger and abounding in steadfast love, forgiving iniquity and transgression, but he will by no means clear the guilty, visiting the iniquity of the fathers on the children, to the third and the fourth generation.’ Please pardon the iniquity of this people, according to the greatness of your steadfast love.” Moses appeals to this character quality of God in asking him to forgive the people’s sins. This quality of God does not negate the need for repentance as we see in our chapter and will focus on in the days to come. Nahum spells this out for us well. Nahum 1:1-3 the Lord takes vengeance on his adversaries and keeps wrath for his enemies. The Lord is אֶ֤רֶךְ אַפַּ֙יִם֙ slow to anger and great in power, and the Lord will by no means clear the guilty. His way is in whirlwind and storm, and the clouds are the dust of his feet. God is slow to anger but that doesn’t mean he will not let lose his full wrath against evil if there is no turning away from it. As with the other character traits of God we have seen, God wants us also to become like Him in this way. The book of Proverbs calls the person who is like God in this way wise. Proverbs 14:29 Whoever is אֶ֣רֶךְ אַ֭פַּיִם slow to anger has great understanding, but he who has a hasty temper exalts folly (Proverbs 15:18; 16:32). We also see this instruction in the New Testament. James 1:19-21 Know this, my beloved brothers: let every person be quick to hear, slow to speak, slow to anger; for the anger of man does not produce the righteousness of God. Therefore put away all filthiness and rampant wickedness and receive with meekness the implanted word, which is able to save your souls. Did you catch how we can become slow to anger like God is? By putting away our sinful nature and receiving God’s word inside of us. This takes a humble willingness to pray and study God’s word. The passage in Hebrews is a good reminder of the power of God’s word to transform us. Hebrews 4:12 For the word of God is living and active, sharper than any two-edged sword, piercing to the division of soul and of spirit, of joints and of marrow, and discerning the thoughts and intentions of the heart. And no creature is hidden from his sight, but all are naked and exposed to the eyes of him to whom we must give account. I’ll close with a great example of humility and openness to God’s word. Jeremiah is praying to God and uses our phrase. Jeremiah 15:15-16 O Lord, you know; remember me and visit me, and take vengeance for me on my persecutors. לְאֶ֥רֶךְ אַפְּךָ֖In your forbearance take me not away; know that for your sake I bear reproach. Your words were found, and I ate them, and your words became to me a joy and the delight of my heart, for I am called by your name, O Lord, God of hosts.

We are in chapter thirty-four of Exodus with our word for today. חַנּוּן gracious, kind, merciful. It is used 13 times in the Old Testament. A good example of what our word means is seen in the first time it is used in the Bible. Exodus 22:25-27 If you lend money to any of my people with you who is poor, you shall not be like a moneylender to him, and you shall not exact interest from him. If ever you take your neighbor's cloak in pledge, you shall return it to him before the sun goes down, for that is his only covering, and it is his cloak for his body; in what else shall he sleep? And if he cries to me, I will hear, for I am חַנּ֥וּן compassionate. God’s character is seen in his kindness to people by this instruction so that the person can stay warm and be able to sleep. This character quality of God is seen throughout the Bible. Psalm 111:3-4 Full of splendor and majesty is his work, and his righteousness endures forever. He has caused his wondrous works to be remembered; the Lord is חַנּ֖וּן gracious and merciful. Psalm 116:4-6 Then I called on the name of the Lord: “O Lord, I pray, deliver my soul!” חַנּ֣וּן Gracious is the Lord, and righteous; our God is merciful. The Lord preserves the simple; when I was brought low, he saved me. During the public confession of sin during Ezra and Nehemiah’s time the Levites prayed using our word. Nehemiah 9:29-31 And you warned them in order to turn them back to your law. Yet they acted presumptuously and did not obey your commandments, but sinned against your rules, which if a person does them, he shall live by them, and they turned a stubborn shoulder and stiffened their neck and would not obey. Many years you bore with them and warned them by your Spirit through your prophets. Yet they would not give ear. Therefore you gave them into the hand of the peoples of the lands. Nevertheless, in your great mercies you did not make an end of them or forsake them, for you are a חַנּ֥וּן gracious and merciful God. Did you catch that they prayed referencing this quality of God? In our chapter as we looked at yesterday is the first time God gives us a list of characteristics about himself which includes our word for today. Exodus 34:6-7 The Lord passed before him and proclaimed, “The Lord, the Lord, a God merciful וְחַנּ֑וּןand gracious, slow to anger, and abounding in steadfast love and faithfulness, keeping steadfast love for thousands, forgiving iniquity and transgression and sin, but who will by no means clear the guilty, visiting the iniquity of the fathers on the children and the children's children, to the third and the fourth generation.” All the uses of our word are in reference to God except for one. The only time our word is not used of God is in the description of the man who fears God. God desires us to become like him in holiness and graciousness. Psalm 112:1, 4-5 Blessed is the man who fears the Lord, who greatly delights in his commandments! … Light dawns in the darkness for the upright; he is חַנּ֖וּן gracious, merciful, and righteous. It is well with the man who deals generously and lends; who conducts his affairs with justice. God calls us to become like him which includes being gracious. I’ll close with this great challenge from Jesus to all who would follow him and desire to be like him which brings God glory. Matthew 5:16 In the same way, let your light shine before others, so that they may see your good works and give glory to your Father who is in heaven.

We are rolling into chapter thirty-four of Exodus with our word for today used for the first time in the Bible. רַחוּם sympathy, compassion, compassionate, merciful. It is used 13 times in the Old Testament. Here is a good example of what are word means. Deuteronomy 4:31 For the Lord your God is a רַחוּם֙ merciful God. He will not leave you or destroy you or forget the covenant with your fathers that he swore to them. Notice how God defines what our word means. It is God not leaving or destroying his people. And it is not forgetting his agreement with them. This is a beautiful word to describe who God is and how he acts for our benefit. We also see further emphasis on God’s faithfulness to his people in this use of our word. 2 Chronicles 30:9 For the Lord your God is gracious וְרַחוּם֙ and merciful and will not turn away his face from you, if you return to him. Notice here that God shows this part of him when we come back to him in repentance. We also see our word used alongside these: gracious, slow to anger and abounding in steadfast love. They are used together to describe God’s character. Psalm 86:15 But you, O Lord, are a God רַח֣וּם merciful and gracious, slow to anger and abounding in steadfast love and faithfulness. Psalm 103:8 The Lord is רַח֣וּם merciful and gracious, slow to anger and abounding in steadfast love (Psalm 145:8).  Nehemiah points to God’s character as the reason for his willingness to forgive. Nehemiah 9:17 They refused to obey and were not mindful of the wonders that you performed among them, but they stiffened their neck and appointed a leader to return to their slavery in Egypt. But you are a God ready to forgive, gracious וְרַח֛וּם and merciful, slow to anger and abounding in steadfast love, and did not forsake them. We see our word with these others used to call people to repentance. Joel 2:13 and rend your hearts and not your garments.” Return to the Lord your God, for he is gracious וְרַחוּם֙ and merciful, slow to anger, and abounding in steadfast love; and he relents over disaster. This character quality of God is not always welcomed. Jonah had personal experience with the Assyrians who he thought didn’t deserve God’s forgiveness.  Jonah 4:2 And he prayed to the Lord and said, “O Lord, is not this what I said when I was yet in my country? That is why I made haste to flee to Tarshish; for I knew that you are a gracious God וְרַח֔וּם and merciful, slow to anger and abounding in steadfast love, and relenting from disaster. This is also how our word is used in our chapter today which is also the first time it is used in the Bible. Exodus 34:6-7 The Lord passed before him and proclaimed, “The Lord, the Lord, a God רַח֖וּם merciful and gracious, slow to anger, and abounding in steadfast love and faithfulness, keeping steadfast love for thousands, forgiving iniquity and transgression and sin, but who will by no means clear the guilty, visiting the iniquity of the fathers on the children and the children's children, to the third and the fourth generation.” I find it interesting that the first time God identifies himself he does it with our word alongside these other ones. People have a lot of ideas about God but if we asked him this is how he identifies himself. This is great news for us who need God’s mercy. I’ll close with how Peter correctly identifies who Jesus really is when so many had other ideas about him. Jesus takes Peter’s words and declares that his church will be built on this confession and belief in the God who is living and full of mercy. Matthew 16:13-18 Now when Jesus came into the district of Caesarea Philippi, he asked his disciples, “Who do people say that the Son of Man is?” And they said, “Some say John the Baptist, others say Elijah, and others Jeremiah or one of the prophets.” He said to them, “But who do you say that I am?” Simon Peter replied, “You are the Christ, the Son of the living God.” 

We are in chapter thirty-three of Exodus with our word for today which is a long phrase. וְחַנֹּתִי֙ אֶת־אֲשֶׁ֣ר אָחֹ֔ן וְרִחַמְתִּ֖י אֶת־אֲשֶׁ֥ר אֲרַחֵֽם And I will be gracious to whom I will be gracious, and will show mercy on whom I will show mercy. It is used just once in the Old Testament in our chapter for today. Let’s look at how our phrase is used. Exodus 33:18-19 Moses said, “Please show me your glory.” And he said, “I will make all my goodness pass before you and will proclaim before you my name ‘The Lord.’ וְחַנֹּתִי֙ אֶת־אֲשֶׁ֣ר אָחֹ֔ן וְרִחַמְתִּ֖י אֶת־אֲשֶׁ֥ר אֲרַחֵֽם And I will be gracious to whom I will be gracious, and will show mercy on whom I will show mercy. This is very interesting phrase God uses right after he agrees to show Moses some of his glory and goodness. He doesn’t show all of it if you remember from a few days ago because Moses wouldn’t be able to take it all in. It would kill him. So, our phrase I think is God saying don’t think I’m doing this because of anything you have done but rather I’m doing it because I am God and I’m the one who decides if something will or will not happen. This may seem kind of grandiose to us, but God knows that if he doesn’t remind us of this fact we often easily forget that He is God and we are not. That he doesn’t need us but we desperately need him. As you have heard me say repeatedly, I think the reason God refers to himself as YWHW is based on my favorite understanding of what YHWH means that God is reality in that he does whatever he pleases. And the good news is that everything he does is for our benefit and well-being. God, the LORD reality God is for us he is on our side. My understanding of our phrase I think is reinforced by how the Holy Spirit interprets it when speaking through Paul to the Roman Christians. He is correcting the accusation that God has not been faithful to his people Israel. Which could not be further from the truth. He brings up Pharaoh and how he used him to not only rescue his people from slavery in Egypt but also to make his name proclaimed throughout the earth. Which again is a good thing. Because God is and always has been in the business of bringing people to himself by making himself known. Right before he brings up his using Pharaoh, he uses our phrase. Romans 9:14-16 What shall we say then? Is there injustice on God's part? By no means! For he says to Moses, “I will have mercy on whom I have mercy, and I will have compassion on whom I have compassion.” So then it depends not on human will or exertion, but on God, who has mercy. Did you catch the not depends on human will or power? Just as God granted Moses request reminding him that he was doing so not because of anything Moses did or who Moses was but rather because God decided to do it. The same is true of God deciding to use Pharaoh to rescue his people and make his name great. It had nothing to do with how good or bad his people Israel were. We have talked previously several times about God’s power and our freewill as it relates to our salvation. Throughout the Bible God offers us a choice to accept his salvation which he offers freely through Christ work on the cross or to reject it. This passage does not negate this. I’ll close with Paul’s breaking into worship and praise over how God works everything out for his glory and our benefit. Romans 11:33-35 Oh, the depth of the riches and wisdom and knowledge of God! How unsearchable are his judgments and how inscrutable his ways! “For who has known the mind of the Lord, or who has been his counselor?” “Or who has given a gift to him that he might be repaid?”

We are in chapter thirty-three of Exodus with our word for today which is a construct. טוּבִי֙ my goodness. It is used 2 times in the Old Testament. It is a noun construct of the noun טוּב good things, goodness, best things, prosperity, beauty, blessing, well-being. The noun is used 32 times in the Old Testament. Both times our phrase is used refer to God and his goodness. Let’s start with our passage since it is also the first time it is used in the Bible. Exodus 33:18-19 Moses said, “Please show me your glory.” And he said, “I will make all טוּבִי֙ my goodness pass before you and will proclaim before you my name ‘The Lord.’ And I will be gracious to whom I will be gracious, and will show mercy on whom I will show mercy. Notice how God answers Moses request to see his glory by equating his glory with his goodness. This tells us one of the things other than God’s power that makes him glorious is his goodness, his character. The other use in the Bible of our phrase is used to describe how God’s goodness is shared or given to his people when he gathers them back together from their being scattered. Jeremiah 31:12-14 They shall come and sing aloud on the height of Zion, and they shall be radiant over the ט֣וּב יְהוָ֗ה goodness of the Lord, over the grain, the wine, and the oil, and over the young of the flock and the herd; their life shall be like a watered garden, and they shall languish no more. Then shall the young women rejoice in the dance, and the young men and the old shall be merry. I will turn their mourning into joy; I will comfort them, and give them gladness for sorrow.  I will feast the soul of the priests with abundance, and my people shall be satisfied with טוּבִ֥י my goodness, declares the Lord.” This theme of God not only being full of goodness but also sharing his goodness or blessing his people with his goodness is seen throughout the Bible. 1 Kings 8:66 They blessed the king and went to their homes joyful וְט֣וֹבֵי [literally goodness of heart] and glad of heart for all הַטּוֹבָ֗ה the goodness that the Lord had shown to David his servant and to Israel his people. 2 Chronicles 6:41 Let your priests, O Lord God, be clothed with salvation, and let your saints rejoice בַטּֽוֹב in your goodness. Psalm 27:13 I believe that I shall look בְּֽטוּב־יְהוָ֗ה upon the goodness of the Lord in the land of the living! One of the many things that makes God full of goodness is his mercy and forgiveness of our sins. Psalm 25:6-7 Remember your mercy, O Lord, and your steadfast love, for they have been from of old. Remember not the sins of my youth or my transgressions; according to your steadfast love remember me, for the sake of טוּבְךָ֣ your goodness, O Lord! Did you notice David’s appeal to God’s goodness as the reason for his forgiveness? I’ll close with this great reminder that absolute goodness is being with God for all of eternity. Psalm 23:6 Surely ט֤וֹב goodness and mercy shall follow me all the days of my life, and I shall dwell in the house of the Lord forever.

We are in chapter thirty-three of Exodus with our word for today. כְּבֹדִ֔י my glory, my honor. This noun construct of the noun כָּבוֹד we have already looked at several times. The noun glory is used 200 times. Our word is a noun construct “my glory” is used 22 times in the Old Testament. A good example of this noun construct is the instructions Joseph gives his brothers after he reveals himself to them and sends them back to get their father. Genesis 45:13 You must tell my father of all כְּבוֹדִי֙ my honor in Egypt, and of all that you have seen. Here we see that our word is used to describe all of what comes with Joseph’s power and position being second in charge of all of Egypt. This helps us understand how our word is used to describe God. It is all encompassing power and position packed in a single word. This is how our word is used in our chapter today. Exodus 33:18-23 Moses said, “Please show me כְּבֹדֶֽךָ your glory.” And he said, “I will make all my goodness pass before you and will proclaim before you my name ‘The Lord.’ And I will be gracious to whom I will be gracious, and will show mercy on whom I will show mercy. But,” he said, “you cannot see my face, for man shall not see me and live.” And the Lord said, “Behold, there is a place by me where you shall stand on the rock, and while כְּבֹדִ֔י my glory passes by I will put you in a cleft of the rock, and I will cover you with my hand until I have passed by. Then I will take away my hand, and you shall see my back, but my face shall not be seen.” What is interesting is that earlier in the chapter a few days ago we saw God’s special relationship with Moses described in this way. Exodus 33:11 Thus the Lord used to speak to Moses face to face, as a man speaks to his friend. So we have Moses speaking to God face to face but later in the chapter you cannot see my face and live? So which one is it because these seem to contradict each other. If we look at the context, which by the way is always a good thing to do, it will show us what is mean by each of these statements. Earlier in the chapter God just explains how he speaks with Moses in the pillar of cloud in that it is a closer way to speak to God unlike anyone else had available to them at the time. So in this way the pillar of cloud allows Moses to be in close proximity to the way God made part of himself visible at that time to Moses. Then later in the chapter we see that God is talking about something else. Moses wants to see his glory and God responds I will make all my goodness pass before you but you can’t look at my face because no one can do this and live because it is just too much for created beings to handle. So God will pass by showing his back to Moses so he will not see all of God’s glory and goodness. He will shield him in the cleft of the rock and cover his hand until all of his glory passes by. So we are talking about to different things but both are described with this idea of God’s face or presence which is another way the original word can be translated as we have seen previously when we look at this word for face, presence. Our word is also used in that God shares his glory with us so that he becomes our glory that is the best of who we are to become. And when this happens God is glorified because people see that it is God working in and through us. This is not something that we have done on our own. Isaiah 43:7 Everyone who is called by my name, whom I created וְלִכְבוֹדִ֖י for my glory, whom I formed and made. This theme is seen throughout the Bible. I’ll close with two great psalms that remind us that make this very point. Psalm 3:1-4 Many are rising against me; many are saying of my soul, “There is no salvation for him in God.” But you, O Lord, are a shield about me, כְּ֝בוֹדִ֗י my glory, and the lifter of my head. Psalm 62:7-8 On God rests my salvation וּכְבוֹדִ֑י and my glory; my mighty rock, my refuge is God. Trust in him at all times, O people ... God is a refuge for us. 

We are in chapter thirty-three of Exodus with our word for today which is a phrase used for the first time in the Bible. יְדַעְתִּ֣יךָֽ בְשֵׁ֔ם I know you by name. It is used 2 times in the Old Testament, both in our chapter. Let’s look at both of these uses. Exodus 33:12, Moses said to the Lord, “See, you say to me, ‘Bring up this people,’ but you have not let me know whom you will send with me. Yet you have said, יְדַעְתִּ֣יךָֽ בְשֵׁ֔ם ‘I know you by name, and you have also found favor in my sight … And the Lord said to Moses, “This very thing that you have spoken I will do, for you have found favor in my sight, וָאֵדָעֲךָ֖ בְּשֵֽׁם and I know you by name.” As we have been looking for a few days now Moses intercession for the people. What is great about his prayer is that he reminds God what he has said to Moses before about himself, his name, reputation, his heart and inner life which make up someone’s character. This was something that God had said to Moses in the past that we only have recorded here. And Moses pull it out to appeal to God’s grace that God knows Moses heart that he loves God and the people and wants them to be together. This is why Moses has been praying for God’s presence to go with them. Then we see God use the phrase that Moses quoted as if to say I’m doing this because of our relationship. This shows us how important intercession is on behalf of others as well as being honest with God and letting him transform our hearts into His likeness. Although these are the only two places where our phrase is used we see this theme throughout the Bible. Here are some examples. 1 Chronicles 28:9 And you, Solomon my son, know the God of your father and serve him with a whole heart and with a willing mind, for the Lord searches all hearts and understands every plan and thought. If you seek him, he will be found by you, but if you forsake him, he will cast you off forever. Hebrews 4:13 And no creature is hidden from his sight, but all are naked and exposed to the eyes of him to whom we must give account. I’ll close with this beautiful Psalm that combines God’s intimate knowledge of us and his love for us. Psalm 139:1-16 O Lord, you have searched me and known me! You know when I sit down and when I rise up; you discern my thoughts from afar. You search out my path and my lying down and are acquainted with all my ways. Even before a word is on my tongue, behold, O Lord, you know it altogether. You hem me in, behind and before, and lay your hand upon me. Such knowledge is too wonderful for me; it is high; I cannot attain it. Where shall I go from your Spirit? Or where shall I flee from your presence? If I ascend to heaven, you are there! If I make my bed in Sheol, you are there! If I take the wings of the morning and dwell in the uttermost parts of the sea, even there your hand shall lead me, and your right hand shall hold me. If I say, “Surely the darkness shall cover me, and the light about me be night,” even the darkness is not dark to you; the night is bright as the day, for darkness is as light with you. For you formed my inward parts; you knitted me together in my mother's womb. I praise you, for I am fearfully and wonderfully made. Wonderful are your works; my soul knows it very well. My frame was not hidden from you, when I was being made in secret, intricately woven in the depths of the earth. Your eyes saw my unformed substance; in your book were written, every one of them, the days that were formed for me, when as yet there was none of them.

We are in chapter thirty-three of Exodus with our word for today which is a phrase. מָצָ֨אתִי חֵ֜ן find favor. It is used 37 times in the Old Testament, 5 times in our chapter. The first time we find our phrase it is used to describe how God considered Noah that was different than anyone else on the face of the earth at that time. Genesis 6:5-8 The Lord saw that the wickedness of man was great in the earth … But Noah מָ֥צָא חֵ֖ן found favor in the eyes of the Lord. This does not mean that Noah was perfect because we find later the account of his sin. But there is a difference between Noah and everyone else which was his faith in God that made a difference in how he lived. Because of this God rescued him and his family from the flood. The next use of our phrase is used by Abraham recognizing what motivated YWHW to visit him (Genesis 18:3-5). We see our phrase used when Jacob meets his brother Esau for the first time since he had to flee because Esau wanted to kill him. Genesis 32:3-4 Jacob sent messengers before him to Esau his brother … instructing them, “Thus you shall say to my lord Esau: Thus says your servant Jacob … ‘I have oxen, donkeys, flocks, male servants, and female servants. I have sent to tell my lord, לִמְצֹא־חֵ֖ן in order that I may find favor in your sight.’” This encounter with brothers helps us understand our phrase better. Because Jacob is trying to appease or turn away his brother’s wrath against him because he had stolen his birthright. Genesis 33:8-10 Esau said, “What do you mean by all this company that I met?” Jacob answered, לִמְצֹא־חֵ֖ן “To find favor in the sight of my lord.” We also see our phrase used when Esther approaches the King with requests. Esther 7:3-4 Then Queen Esther answered, “If I have מָצָ֨אתִי חֵ֤ן found favor in your sight, O king, and if it please the king, let my life be granted me for my wish, and my people for my request. For we have been sold, I and my people, to be destroyed, to be killed, and to be annihilated (Esther 5:8; 8:5). This use of our phrase to describe asking someone greater than oneself to grant their request is how our phrase is used in our chapter. Let’s look at all five uses. Exodus 33:12-17 Moses said to the Lord, “See, you say to me, ‘Bring up this people,’ but you have not let me know whom you will send with me. Yet you have said, ‘I know you by name, and you have also מָצָ֥אתָ חֵ֖ן found favor in my sight.’ Now therefore, if I have מָצָ֨אתִי חֵ֜ן found favor in your sight, please show me now your ways, that I may know you in order to אֶמְצָא־חֵ֖ן find favor in your sight. Consider too that this nation is your people.” And he said, “My presence will go with you, and I will give you rest.” And he said to him, “If your presence will not go with me, do not bring us up from here. For how shall it be known that I have מָצָ֨אתִי חֵ֤ן found favor in your sight, I and your people? Is it not in your going with us, so that we are distinct, I and your people, from every other people on the face of the earth?” And the Lord said to Moses, “This very thing that you have spoken I will do, for you have מָצָ֤אתָ חֵן֙ found favor in my sight, and I know you by name. Moses knows God has to come up with them to the land so he asks in a manner that respects God’s greatness over him and the people asking for his request to be met. Moses knows that he cannot force God to do this but he request God to do it asking for God to find favor in him and their relationship. So just as Noah and Abraham were not perfect but had faith in God’s grace Moses also appeals in the same way. I’ll close with this great Psalm that makes the point of God giving favor to those who trust in Him. Psalm 84:11-12 For the Lord God is a sun and shield; the Lord bestows חֵ֣ן favor and honor. No good thing does he withhold from those who walk uprightly. O Lord of hosts, blessed is the one who trusts in you!

We are in chapter thirty-three of Exodus with our word for today which is a phrase. פָּנִ֣ים אֶל־פָּנִ֔ים face to face. It is used 5 times in the Old Testament. Our phrase is used to describe a special kind of in person closeness of communication like between friends. Every time our phrase is used it is referring to God and a human being. All of the uses are positive except for this one in Ezekiel. Ezekiel 20:33-35 I will enter into judgment with you פָּנִ֖ים אֶל־פָּנִֽים face to face. On two of these uses angels are present as God’s messengers or representatives but the person interprets this as a close connection with God himself. We see these with Jacob and Gideon.  Genesis 32:24-30 And a man wrestled with him until the breaking of the day.  When the man saw that he did not prevail against Jacob, he touched his hip socket, and Jacob's hip was put out of joint as he wrestled with him ... Then Jacob asked him, “Please tell me your name.” But he said, “Why is it that you ask my name?” And there he blessed him. So Jacob called the name of the place Peniel, saying, “For I have seen God פָּנִ֣ים אֶל־פָּנִ֔ים face to face, and yet my life has been delivered.” We are not exactly sure who the “man” is but he is probably an angel or the angel of the Lord or angel of YHWH based on how sometimes the Bible calls angels’ men referring to the same being. It is interesting that this angel says that Jacob was wrestling God and Jacob interpreted this event in the same way. We also see this angel representing God in the next example of our phrase used by Gideon. Judges 6:20-22 And the מַלְאַ֣ךְ הָאֱלֹהִ֗ים angel of God said to him, “Take the meat and the unleavened cakes, and put them on this rock, and pour the broth over them.” And he did so. Then the angel of the Lord reached out the tip of the staff that was in his hand and touched the meat and the unleavened cakes. And fire sprang up from the rock and consumed the meat and the unleavened cakes. And the angel of the Lord vanished from his sight. Then Gideon perceived that he was the angel of the Lord. And Gideon said, “Alas, O אֲדֹנָ֣י יְהוִ֔ה [sovereign or lord YWHWH literally] Lord God! For now I have seen the angel of the Lord פָּנִ֖ים אֶל־פָּנִֽים face to face.” This is quite a sentence! We have sovereign YHWH and angel of YHWH and earlier in verse 20 we have angel of God. So a lot of titles referring to God with his representative being the angel. Our last two uses of our phrase are used to identify Moses connecting with God in prayer in a special unique way. Exodus 33:9-11 When Moses entered the tent, the pillar of cloud would descend and stand at the entrance of the tent, and the Lord would speak with Moses. And when all the people saw the pillar of cloud standing at the entrance of the tent, all the people would rise up and worship, each at his tent door. Thus the Lord used to speak to Moses פָּנִ֣ים אֶל־פָּנִ֔ים face to face, as a man speaks to his friend. Deuteronomy 34:10-11 And there has not arisen a prophet since in Israel like Moses, whom the Lord knew פָּנִ֖ים אֶל־פָּנִֽים face to face. The good news is that even though Moses was unique in his opportunity to connect with God because of Christ we as believers have the closest connection possible. That is God himself living in us through his Spirit. I’ll close with these great passages. Romans 5:5 Hope does not put us to shame, because God's love has been poured into our hearts through the Holy Spirit who has been given to us. Romans 8:26-28 Likewise the Spirit helps us in our weakness. For we do not know what to pray for as we ought, but the Spirit himself intercedes for us with groanings too deep for words. And he who searches hearts knows what is the mind of the Spirit, because the Spirit intercedes for the saints according to the will of God. And we know that for those who love God all things work together for good, for those who are called according to his purpose.

We are in chapter thirty-three of Exodus with our word for today which is a phrase. עַמּ֣וּד הֶֽעָנָ֔ן column of cloud, pillar of cloud. It is used 7 times in the Old Testament, twice in our chapter. The first time it is used in the Bible it is used to describe how God would guide them in their journey to the promise land. Exodus 13:21-22 And the Lord went before them by day בְּעַמּ֤וּד עָנָן֙in a pillar of cloud to lead them along the way, and by night in a pillar of fire to give them light, that they might travel by day and by night. עַמּ֤וּד הֶֽעָנָן֙ The pillar of cloud by day and the pillar of fire by night did not depart from before the people. Nehemiah 9:18-19 Even when they had made for themselves a golden calf and said, ‘This is your God who brought you up out of Egypt,’ and had committed great blasphemies, you in your great mercies did not forsake them in the wilderness. עַמּ֣וּד הֶ֠עָנָן The pillar of cloud to lead them in the way did not depart from them by day, nor the pillar of fire by night to light for them the way by which they should go.Our phrase is also used to describe how God protected his people against the Egyptian army. Exodus 14:19-25 Then the angel of God who was going before the host of Israel moved and went behind them, and עַמּ֤וּד הֶֽעָנָן֙ the pillar of cloud moved from before them and stood behind them, coming between the host of Egypt and the host of Israel. And there was the cloud and the darkness. And it lit up the night without one coming near the other all night. Then Moses stretched out his hand over the sea, and the Lord drove the sea back by a strong east wind all night and made the sea dry land, and the waters were divided. And the people of Israel went into the midst of the sea on dry ground, the waters being a wall to them on their right hand and on their left. The Egyptians pursued and went in after them into the midst of the sea, all Pharaoh's horses, his chariots, and his horsemen. And in the morning watch the Lord בְּעַמּ֥וּד אֵ֖שׁ וְעָנָ֑ן in the pillar of fire and of cloud looked down on the Egyptian forces and threw the Egyptian forces into a panic, clogging their chariot wheels so that they drove heavily. And the Egyptians said, “Let us flee from before Israel, for the Lord fights for them against the Egyptians.”Our phrase is also used to identify God’s visible presence for people to connect with God. This is how our phrase is used twice in our chapter. Exodus 33:9-10 When Moses entered the tent, עַמּ֣וּד הֶֽעָנָ֔ן the pillar of cloud would descend and stand at the entrance of the tent, and the Lord would speak with Moses. And when all the people saw עַמּ֣וּד הֶֽעָנָ֔ןthe pillar of cloud standing at the entrance of the tent, all the people would rise up and worship, each at his tent door. A special time of connection with God was Joshua’s commissioning right before Moses death. Deuteronomy 31:14-15 And the Lord said to Moses, “Behold, the days approach when you must die. Call Joshua and present yourselves in the tent of meeting, that I may commission him.” And Moses and Joshua went and presented themselves in the tent of meeting. And the Lord appeared in the tent in a עַמּ֥וּד הֶעָנָ֖ן pillar of cloud. And the pillar of cloud stood over the entrance of the tent. In the New Testament God’s visible presence is seen in two major ways, Christ and His church. We see both of these emphasized and pointed out as where God is glorified in this great passage that I will close with. Ephesians 3:20-21 Now to him who is able to do far more abundantly than all that we ask or think, according to the power at work within us, to him be glory in the church and in Christ Jesus throughout all generations, forever and ever. Amen.

We are in chapter thirty-three of Exodus with our word for today. בָּקַשׁ discover, find, seek, attempt to do, possess, demand, require, request, search for. It is used 225 times in the Old Testament. What I find interesting about our word is the two main ways it is used. First we find it used to seek after someone to do them harm. 1 Samuel 23:15 David saw that Saul had come out לְבַקֵּ֣שׁ to seek his life. Psalm 35:4 Let them be put to shame and dishonor מְבַקְשֵׁ֪י who seek after my life! Let them be turned back and disappointed who devise evil against me! Psalm 37:32 The wicked watches for the righteous וּ֝מְבַקֵּ֗שׁ and seeks to put him to death. Psalm 38:12 Those מְבַקְשֵׁ֬י who seek my life lay their snares; those who seek my hurt speak of ruin and meditate treachery all day long. The other way it is used a lot is to seek after God. This is how it is used in our chapter. Exodus 33:7 Now Moses used to take the tent and pitch it outside the camp, far off from the camp, and he called it the tent of meeting. And everyone מְבַקֵּ֣שׁ who sought the Lord would go out to the tent of meeting, which was outside the camp. This theme of seeking after God is seen throughout the Bible. Psalm 24:6 Such is the generation of those who דֹּרְשׁוֹ seek him, מְבַקְשֵׁ֨י who seek the face of the God of Jacob. Psalm 27:4, 7-10 One thing have I asked of the Lord, that will I אֲבַ֫קֵּ֥שׁ seek after: that I may dwell in the house of the Lord all the days of my life, to gaze upon the beauty of the Lord and to inquire in his temple … Hear, O Lord, when I cry aloud; be gracious to me and answer me! You have said, בַּקְּשׁ֣וּ “Seek my face.” My heart says to you, “Your face, Lord, do אֲבַקֵּֽשׁ I seek.” Hide not your face from me. Turn not your servant away in anger, O you who have been my help. Cast me not off; forsake me not, O God of my salvation! For my father and my mother have forsaken me, but the Lord will take me in. We have some passages that use our word in both ways contrasting also those who know God and those who do not. Psalm 40:13-14, 16 Be pleased, O Lord, to deliver me! O Lord, make haste to help me! Let those be put to shame and disappointed altogether מְבַקְשֵׁ֥י who seek to snatch away my life; let those be turned back and brought to dishonor who delight in my hurt! … But may all מְבַ֫קְשֶׁ֥יךָ who seek you rejoice and be glad in you; may those who love your salvation say continually, “Great is the Lord!” I’ll close with this one that makes this point very well. Psalm 54:1-3 O God, save me by your name, and vindicate me by your might. O God, hear my prayer; give ear to the words of my mouth. For strangers have risen against me; ruthless men בִּקְשׁ֣וּ seek my life; they do not set God before themselves. 

We are in chapter thirty-three of Exodus with our word for today. כָּלָה stop, come to an end, be finished, completed, vanish, fade away, perish. It is used 208 times in the Old Testament, twice in our chapter. Our word is used in the sense to do away with, cause the destruction or undoing of. A good example is when Korah rebelled against God and the leadership put in place. This made God angry enough to destroy those who rebelled. And another example in the same chapter of God’s reaction to the people’s complaining about God carrying out the consequences of Korah’s rebellion. Numbers 16:20-24, 31-33, 41-45 “Separate yourselves from among this congregation, that וַאַכַלֶּ֥ה I may consume them in a moment.” … But on the next day all the congregation of the people of Israel grumbled against Moses and against Aaron, saying, “You have killed the people of the Lord.” ... the Lord spoke to Moses, saying, “Get away from the midst of this congregation, that וַאֲכַלֶּ֥ה I may consume them in a moment.” This anger and wrath over sin that moves God to want to destroy the sinner is exactly how our word is used both times in our chapter. Exodus 33:3-6 Go up to a land flowing with milk and honey; but I will not go up among you, lest אֲכֶלְךָ֖ I consume you on the way, for you are a stiff-necked people.” When the people heard this disastrous word, they mourned, and no one put on his ornaments. For the Lord had said to Moses, “Say to the people of Israel, ‘You are a stiff-necked people; if for a single moment I should go up among you, וְכִלִּיתִ֑יךָ I would consume you. So now take off your ornaments, that I may know what to do with you.’” Therefore the people of Israel stripped themselves of their ornaments, from Mount Horeb onward. Did you pick up on God’s tone surrounding our word? “in a single moment” shows that God is furious with the people. Also the phrase “now take off your ornaments” in other words this is not a time to act all religious or celebratory. As well as the phrase “that I may know what to do with you” God is so angry he needs time away from them. In the chapter before we find our word used twice when God and Moses talk about these stiff necked people. Exodus 32:10-12 Now therefore let me alone, that my wrath may burn hot against them וַאֲכַלֵּ֑ם and I may consume them ... Why should the Egyptians say, ‘With evil intent did he bring them out, to kill them in the mountains וּ֨לְכַלֹּתָ֔ם and to consume them from the face of the earth’? Turn from your burning anger and relent from this disaster against your people. As we have already looked at in previous days the fact that God hears Moses prayers of intercession for the people and he forgives them relenting from destroying them. But our word reminds us that we don’t want to take lightly God’s anger and wrath because of sin. It helps us understand God’s protective heart for us and how deadly and dangerous sin is. This reminds me of how God turns his anger and wrath away from us because of our sin. The New Testament word for this is propitiation or some translations say sacrifice of atonement. The idea is that Jesus death on the cross takes my place as the object of God’s wrath and anger to be burned off on instead of me. Hebrews 2:17 so that he might become a merciful and faithful high priest in the service of God, to make propitiation for the sins of the people. 1 John 2:2 He is the propitiation for our sins, and not for ours only but also for the sins of the whole world. If we are outside of Christ, then all we have to look forward to is God’s wrath. Ephesians 5:6 Let no one deceive you with empty words, for because of these things the wrath of God comes upon the sons of disobedience. John 3:36 Whoever believes in the Son has eternal life; whoever does not obey the Son shall not see life, but the wrath of God remains on him. I’ll close with this great passage showing us God’s motive for doing this. 1 John 4:10 In this is love, not that we have loved God but that he loved

We are in chapter thirty-three of Exodus with our word for today. יְבוּסִי Jebusite, Jebusites. It is used 41 times in the Old Testament. Our word is used to describe a nation of people. They live in the hill country. Numbers 13:29 The Hittites, וְהַיְבוּסִ֤י the Jebusites, and the Amorites dwell in the hill country. Joshua 11:3 וְהַיְבוּסִ֖י and the Jebusites in the hill country. They lived in the original city of Jerusalem before God’s people came and occupied the land. Joshua 15:8, 63 Then the boundary goes up by the Valley of the Son of Hinnom at the southern shoulder of הַיְבוּסִי֙ the Jebusite (that is, Jerusalem) … But הַיְבוּסִי֙ the Jebusites, the inhabitants of Jerusalem, the people of Judah could not drive out, so הַיְבוּסִ֜י the Jebusites dwell with the people of Judah at Jerusalem to this day (Joshua 18:21, 28). Once the tribe of Benjamin occupied Jerusalem we find both groups living together (Judges 1:21). Later we see King David fighting against them. 2 Samuel 5:5-7 And the king and his men went to Jerusalem against הַיְבֻסִ֖י the Jebusites, the inhabitants of the land. When David had sinned and God was caring out the consequences of that sin the angel stopped his destruction on the land of the owner who was from this nation. 2 Samuel 24:16, 18 And when the angel stretched out his hand toward Jerusalem to destroy it, the Lord relented from the calamity and said to the angel who was working destruction among the people, “It is enough; now stay your hand.” And the angel of the Lord was by the threshing floor of Araunah הַיְבֻסִֽי the Jebusite. This same place was where Solomon built the temple. It was over the threshing floor whose owner was from this nation. 2 Chronicles 3:1 Then Solomon began to build the house of the Lord in Jerusalem on Mount Moriah, where the Lord had appeared to David his father, at the place that David had appointed, on the threshing floor of Ornan הַיְבוּסִֽי the Jebusite. Our word is used most often to identify one of the nations on the list that lived in the land God promised his people. It is in the list when God first made this promise to Abraham (Genesis 15:18-20). This is how our word is used in our chapter today. Exodus 33:2 I will send an angel before you, and I will drive out the Canaanites, the Amorites, the Hittites, the Perizzites, the Hivites, וְהַיְבוּסִֽי and the Jebusites. We later see Joshua refer back to this promise before leading the people into the land. Joshua 3:10-13 And Joshua said, “Here is how you shall know that the living God is among you and that he will without fail drive out from before you the Canaanites, the Hittites, the Hivites, the Perizzites, the Girgashites, the Amorites, וְהַיְבוּסִֽי and the Jebusites. Behold, the ark of the covenant of the Lord of all the earth is passing over before you into the Jordan. Now therefore take twelve men from the tribes of Israel, from each tribe a man. And when the soles of the feet of the priests bearing the ark of the Lord, the Lord of all the earth, shall rest in the waters of the Jordan, the waters of the Jordan shall be cut off from flowing, and the waters coming down from above shall stand in one heap.” God demonstrated his power with this miracle to confirm that what he said was true and would happen. Today for those of us who are in Christ our miracle is the resurrection of Christ from the dead. This once and for all demonstrates God’s power to accomplish what he said he would do. I’ll close with this great passage. 1 Corinthians 15:3-8 For I delivered to you as of first importance what I also received: that Christ died for our sins in accordance with the Scriptures, that he was buried, that he was raised on the third day in accordance with the Scriptures, and that he appeared to Cephas, then to the twelve. Then he appeared to more than five hundred brothers at one time … Then he appeared to James, then to all the apostles. 

We are in chapter thirty-three of Exodus with our word for today. חִוִּי Hivi, Hivite. It is used 25 times in the Old Testament. Our word is used to identify a nation of people. The first time our word is used in the Bible it is used to show the original descendants of this nation starting with Noah. Genesis 10:6, 15, 17 The sons of Ham: Cush, Egypt, Put, and Canaan … Canaan fathered … הַֽחִוִּ֥י the Hivites. We find them living on mount Lebanon. Judges 3:3 the Hivites who lived on Mount Lebanon, from Mount Baal-hermon as far as Lebo-hamath. We also find our word used to describe the origin of Shechem’s father. Genesis 34:2 when Shechem the son of Hamor הַֽחִוִּ֖י the Hivite, the prince of the land, saw her, he seized her and lay with her and humiliated her. Most of the uses of our word are part of the list of nations that lived in the land God promised to give his people. This is how our word is used in our chapter today. Exodus 33:2 I will send an angel before you, and I will drive out the Canaanites, the Amorites, the Hittites, the Perizzites, הַחִוִּ֖י the Hivites, and the Jebusites. As we have seen God warns his people over and over again of not allowing those nations around them to lead them away from him. Our word for today is used to once again make God’s point. Judges 3:5-6 So the people of Israel lived among the Canaanites ... וְהַחִוִּ֖י the Hivites, and the Jebusites. And their daughters they took to themselves for wives, and their own daughters they gave to their sons, and they served their gods. God identifies why he allowed this nation of people to remain among them. Judges 3:1-3 Now these are the nations that the Lord left, to test Israel by them, that is, all in Israel who had not experienced all the wars in Canaan. It was only in order that the generations of the people of Israel might know war, to teach war to those who had not known it before. These are the nations: the five lords of the Philistines and all the Canaanites and the Sidonians and וְהַ֣חִוִּ֔י the Hivites who lived on Mount Lebanon. Did you see the reason? It was to test the people and get them ready that is prepared to fight. It is true that God gave the people the promised land but that didn’t mean that they were to be passive. God not only tested them as we have already looked at but also wanted them to prepare for a fight. In the New Testament we see God doing both things in our relationship with him. Yes, he gives us salvation through his son’s death in our place. This is something that we cannot earn but is given as a gift. Our receiving this gift does not mean that we will not be tested or tempted ever again. It also doesn’t mean that we will not have a battle on our hands that God both equips and cheers us on to not just fight but to be victorious. There is a lot in the New Testament about this battle. I’ll close with this great passage. Ephesians 6:10-17 Finally, be strong in the Lord and in the strength of his might. Put on the whole armor of God, that you may be able to stand against the schemes of the devil. For we do not wrestle against flesh and blood, but against the rulers, against the authorities, against the cosmic powers over this present darkness, against the spiritual forces of evil in the heavenly places. Therefore take up the whole armor of God, that you may be able to withstand in the evil day, and having done all, to stand firm. Stand therefore, having fastened on the belt of truth, and having put on the breastplate of righteousness, and, as shoes for your feet, having put on the readiness given by the gospel of peace. In all circumstances take up the shield of faith, with which you can extinguish all the flaming darts of the evil one; and take the helmet of salvation, and the sword of the Spirit, which is the word of God, praying at all times in the Spirit, with all prayer and supplication. To that end, keep alert with all perseverance, making supplication for all the saints.

We are in chapter thirty-three of Exodus with our word for today. פְּרִזִּי Perizzite, Perizzites. It is used 23 times in the Old Testament. Our word is used to describe a nation of people. The first time we see our word used in the Old Testament they are identified alongside the Canaanites contemporary with Abraham. Genesis 13:7 There was strife between the herdsmen of Abram's livestock and the herdsmen of Lot's livestock. At that time the Canaanites וְהַפְּרִזִּ֔י and the Perizzites were dwelling in the land. We also see these two nations named together during Jacob’s time period. Genesis 34:30 Then Jacob said to Simeon and Levi, “You have brought trouble on me by making me stink to the inhabitants of the land, the Canaanites וּבַפְּרִזִּ֑י and the Perizzites. My numbers are few, and if they gather themselves against me and attack me, I shall be destroyed, both I and my household.” Notice the reference to their great combined number. We have another reference of these two nations together right after the death of Joshua. Judges 1:4-5 Then Judah went up and the Lord gave the Canaanites וְהַפְּרִזִּ֖י and the Perizzites into their hand, and they defeated 10,000 of them  ... and defeated the Canaanites הַפְּרִזִּֽי and the Perizzites. We also see this nation referenced alongside of the Rephaim. Joshua 17:14-18 Joshua said to them, “If you are a numerous people, go up by yourselves to the forest, and there clear ground for yourselves in the land of הַפְּרִזִּ֖י the Perizzites and the Rephaim, since the hill country of Ephraim is too narrow for you.” ... From this passage it looks like the Perizzites lived in the hill country. All the other uses of our word have it in the list of nations that were living in the land God promised to give to his people. This is how our word is used the most and exactly how it is used in our chapter today. Exodus 33:2 I will send an angel before you, and I will drive out the Canaanites, the Amorites, the Hittites, וְהַפְּרִזִּ֔י the Perizzites, the Hivites, and the Jebusites. What is amazing in our chapter is that God is dealing with his people’s sins of worshiping the golden calf. There are consequences to their sin as we saw at the end of the previous chapter but even in this God is gracious. Notice that he doesn’t just forget about his promise even though they forgot to trust God. Exodus 33:1 The Lord said to Moses, “Depart; go up from here, you and the people whom you have brought up out of the land of Egypt, to the land of which I swore to Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob, saying, ‘To your offspring I will give it.’  Wow God remains faithful and keeps his promise to give the people the land. This reminds me of what the Holy Spirit writes about God through Paul to Timothy who was working with the early churches. Paul uses the analogy of a soldier which is what the Israelites would be as they went in to take the promise land. I’ll close with these encouraging words 2 Timothy 2:1-4, 8, 11-13 You then, my child, be strengthened by the grace that is in Christ Jesus, and what you have heard from me in the presence of many witnesses entrust to faithful men, who will be able to teach others also. Share in suffering as a good soldier of Christ Jesus. No soldier gets entangled in civilian pursuits, since his aim is to please the one who enlisted him … Remember Jesus Christ, risen from the dead, the offspring of David, as preached in my gospel … The saying is trustworthy, for: If we have died with him, we will also live with him; if we endure, we will also reign with him; if we deny him, he also will deny us; if we are faithless, he remains faithful— for he cannot deny himself.

We are in chapter thirty-three of Exodus with our word for today. חִתִּי Hittite, Hittites. It is used 48 times in the Old Testament. Our word is used to describe a nation of people. The place where Abraham and Isaac was buried was originally owned by a Hittite (Genesis 25:9). Esau marries women from this nation against his parents’ wishes (Genesis 26:34-35). The man that King David committed adultery with his wife was also one of his 30 renowned soldiers in his army. David later murders him to cover up the adultery. This man named Uriah was from this nation. 2 Samuel 12:9-10 Why have you despised the word of the Lord, to do what is evil in his sight? You have struck down Uriah הַֽחִתִּי֙ the Hittite with the sword and have taken his wife to be your wife and have killed him with the sword of the Ammonites. Now therefore the sword shall never depart from your house, because you have despised me and have taken the wife of Uriah הַחִתִּ֔י the Hittite to be your wife.’ 2 Samuel 23:24, 39 Asahel the brother of Joab was one of the thirty … Uriah הַֽחִתִּ֔י the Hittite: thirty-seven in all. Our word is used to describe the land where one of the nations lived that God was going to give his people. This promised land started with Abraham Genesis 15:18-20. This is exactly how our word is used in our chapter today. Exodus 33:2 I will send an angel before you, and I will drive out the Canaanites, the Amorites, וְהַֽחִתִּי֙  the Hittites, the Perizzites, the Hivites, and the Jebusites. Yesterday we looked at how many times this list is used in the Old Testament, 20 times. What I find real interesting is when God is talking to Joshua about his succession in referencing the land he only uses one of these nations. Our word for today. Joshua 1:2-6 Moses my servant is dead. Now therefore arise, go over this Jordan, you and all this people, into the land that I am giving to them, to the people of Israel. Every place that the sole of your foot will tread upon I have given to you, just as I promised to Moses. From the wilderness and this Lebanon as far as the great river, the river Euphrates, all the land of הַֽחִתִּ֔ים the Hittites to the Great Sea toward the going down of the sun shall be your territory … Just as I was with Moses, so I will be with you … for you shall cause this people to inherit the land that I swore to their fathers to give them. It looks like the Hittites is also a term synonymous with all of the land of Canaan based on this passage. However, later on in chapters 3, 9, 11, 12, and 24 Joshua refers to the whole list of nations in the land not just the Hittites. Not sure what this means that God would summarize the group with our word for today? But it is interesting. King David is a good example for us of Repentance. Like all of us David was not perfect and sinned like we have just looked at. But because he repented of his sin God was able to bless his people beyond his life even when their leaders were sinning against Him. 1 Kings 15:4-5 Nevertheless, for David's sake the Lord his God gave him a lamp in Jerusalem, setting up his son after him, and establishing Jerusalem, because David did what was right in the eyes of the Lord and did not turn aside from anything that he commanded him all the days of his life, except in the matter of Uriah הַחִתִּֽי the Hittite. David became the standard of what a good king should be not that he was perfect but that he turned from his evil and followed God like he was before his sin. I’ll close with David’s prayer of repentance. Psalm 51:1-2, 4, 10-12 Against you, you only, have I sinned and done what is evil in your sight, so that you may be justified in your words and blameless in your judgment … Create in me a clean heart, O God, and renew a right spirit within me. Cast me not away from your presence, and take not your Holy Spirit from me. Restore to me the joy of your salvation, and uphold me with a willing spirit.