May the words of my mouth and meditations of heart...

February 07, 2013            Exod 29:38–31:18, Matt 24:1–26, Ps 19:7–14, Prov 4:3–4

Exodus 29:39-31:18

The priests had four main duties described here. What were they? How can this apply to us today as priests of God?

Chapter 31

Bezalel is the first individual in the Bible said to be filled with the Spirit (31:1–11). Why is this significant?

When you think of spiritual gifts does craftsmanship come to mind? What gifts has God given you to help build His Kingdom?

The two tablets given to Moses were written by the hand of God. Why does this matter?

Matthew 24:1-26

At this point we are Jesus’ final week of His pre-crucifixion ministry. The cup of suffering is near and his disciples are sensing this as well. Jesus talks a lot about the end that is coming, but His vision is not limited to the immediate. He looks beyond, to the fall of Jerusalem, to the persecution that will come to His disciples after His departure, and then to His second coming and the end of the age. Matthew weaves several of Jesus’ futuristic themes together, so that it is often difficult to know precisely which He is speaking of at any one moment.

It seems that in Matthew 24:4–14, Jesus has in mind all of future history. He warns His disciples that they must not hastily interpret calamities like wars and earthquakes as sure-fire proof that history is about to end. Verses 15–28, on the other hand, appear to be more restricted to the destruction of Jerusalem. With verse 29, He picks up the theme of the second coming.

One of the greatest biblical images for God’s future is the approaching birth of a baby. It is a time of great hope and new possibilities, and also, especially before modern medicine, a time of great danger and anxiety. The medical profession can describe and study each stage of pregnancy in detail. But every couple, and of course particularly every mother, has to face them personally and live through them, even though for some it is a traumatic, painful and upsetting time. The biblical writers draw freely on this well-known experience to speak of the new world that God intends to bring to birth. And one of the high-water marks of this whole biblical theme is this chapter in Matthew, and its parallels in Mark 13 and Luke 21. This, said Jesus, is just the start of the birth pangs.

It’s only with images like this that one can speak of God’s future. We don’t have an exact description of it, and we wouldn't be able to cope with it if we did. What we have are pictures: the birth of a baby, the marriage of a king’s son, a tree sprouting new leaves. God’s future will be like all these, and (of course) unlike them as well.

Jews fervently awaited the Day of the Lord and the age to come. Jesus’ disciples are not exceptional, then, in wishing to know what their Teacher has to say on the subject. They looked down from the Mount of Olives to the Temple. The temple was a magnificent sight to behold. It was also the place of worship for all the Jewish people. It was a symbol to them of the protection of God, presence of God, and security. However, Jesus made it clear to them that the Temple would be destroyed. This would happen in 70 AD and it would be devastating. We must always be careful not to put our trust in things, no matter how secure we may believe them to be.

The disciples wanted signs of when this would happen and when the second coming would take place.  Jesus gives them six specific things to look for:

·         There would be false messiahs (vv. 3-5). We must be very careful who we follow. History teaches us many will claim to be the Christ and other will lead cults (Jim Jones is one modern example).

·         There will be disasters (vv. 6-8). Jesus told them that this will happen throughout time as well. Be careful not to draw the wrong conclusions when such things happen.

·         Christians will be persecuted (vv. 9-14). The voice of the martyrs cries out from history and today.

·         Evil will have times of temporary victory (vv. 15-22). He speaks of the abomination of desolation as does Daniel (9:27; 11:31; 12:11). About 150 years before Antiochus IV Epiphanes desecrated the Temple. In 70 AD Titus will do the same. No doubt abominations of different forms will always take place.

·         There will be rumors and false saviors (vv. 23-28). In our own time many cults and false teachers have given predictions of the end and have been wrong over and over again. Nevertheless people still seem to want to hear such teachings; it never ceases to amaze me.

We will discuss this more fully in other texts as the year progresses.

Psalm 19:7-14

While God’s creation is amazing and can teach us much about the Divine, what can it not teach us?

It is worth noting that in the first six verses David referred to God with a general name, like our English word “God.” However, in this section David changes and uses the personal name of God (Yahweh). Why is this important?

While the heavens declare the glory of the Lord, the Word declares the voice of the Lord.

What does David say about the Law of the Lord here?

He ends this psalm with this prayer, “Let the words of my mouth and the meditation of my heart be acceptable in Your sight. O LORD, my rock and my Redeemer.”

Let us pray the same thing today.

Proverbs 4:3-4

The writer speaks of the wisdom being passed from father and mother to children and then to grandchildren. If you are a parent or grandparent realize this is a duty from God and a blessing from God. If you are a child or a grandchild please listen to the wisdom given.

Pray about the Second Coming of Christ, are you ready and are those you love ready?

Pray the prayer David prayed, “Let the words of my mouth and the meditation of my heart be acceptable in Your sight. O LORD, my rock and my Redeemer.”