May 9th, 2012
Today’s reading from Encounter with God

A Call to Everyone

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Opening Prayer

Loving Savior, at times life swarms over me, my dreams collapse, and my hope dries up. Bind me closer to You today.

Read Exodus 35:1-29

[1] Moses assembled the whole Israelite community and said to them, “These are the things the LORD has commanded you to do: [2] For six days, work is to be done, but the seventh day shall be your holy day, a Sabbath of rest to the LORD. Whoever does any work on it must be put to death. [3] Do not light a fire in any of your dwellings on the Sabbath day.” [4] Moses said to the whole Israelite community, “This is what the LORD has commanded: [5] From what you have, take an offering for the LORD. Everyone who is willing is to bring to the LORD an offering of gold, silver and bronze; [6] blue, purple and scarlet yarn and fine linen; goat hair; [7] ram skins dyed red and hides of sea cows; acacia wood; [8] olive oil for the light; spices for the anointing oil and for the fragrant incense; [9] and onyx stones and other gems to be mounted on the ephod and breastpiece. [10] “All who are skilled among you are to come and make everything the LORD has commanded: [11] the tabernacle with its tent and its covering, clasps, frames, crossbars, posts and bases; [12] the ark with its poles and the atonement cover and the curtain that shields it; [13] the table with its poles and all its articles and the bread of the Presence; [14] the lampstand that is for light with its accessories, lamps and oil for the light; [15] the altar of incense with its poles, the anointing oil and the fragrant incense; the curtain for the doorway at the entrance to the tabernacle; [16] the altar of burnt offering with its bronze grating, its poles and all its utensils; the bronze basin with its stand; [17] the curtains of the courtyard with its posts and bases, and the curtain for the entrance to the courtyard; [18] the tent pegs for the tabernacle and for the courtyard, and their ropes; [19] the woven garments worn for ministering in the sanctuary-both the sacred garments for Aaron the priest and the garments for his sons when they serve as priests.” [20] Then the whole Israelite community withdrew from Moses’ presence, [21] and everyone who was willing and whose heart moved him came and brought an offering to the LORD for the work on the Tent of Meeting, for all its service, and for the sacred garments. [22] All who were willing, men and women alike, came and brought gold jewelry of all kinds: brooches, earrings, rings and ornaments. They all presented their gold as a wave offering to the LORD. [23] Everyone who had blue, purple or scarlet yarn or fine linen, or goat hair, ram skins dyed red or hides of sea cows brought them. [24] Those presenting an offering of silver or bronze brought it as an offering to the LORD, and everyone who had acacia wood for any part of the work brought it. [25] Every skilled woman spun with her hands and brought what she had spun-blue, purple or scarlet yarn or fine linen. [26] And all the women who were willing and had the skill spun the goat hair. [27] The leaders brought onyx stones and other gems to be mounted on the ephod and breastpiece. [28] They also brought spices and olive oil for the light and for the anointing oil and for the fragrant incense. [29] All the Israelite men and women who were willing brought to the LORD freewill offerings for all the work the LORD through Moses had commanded them to do.

Scripture taken from the Holy Bible, NEW INTERNATIONAL VERSION. Copyright © 1973, 1978, 1984 International Bible Society. All rights reserved throughout the world. Used by permission of International Bible Society.

Meditate

“You don’t need to run yourself to death! Neither by uninterrupted work&#8212nor by an uninterrupted pursuit of pleasure … nor by the fear you may miss something” (Ernst Lange).

Think Further

No idol was to represent the Lord. He was to be embodied in the world by his covenant people, his presence among them symbolized by the tabernacle. Over seven chapters (25-31) God had given precise instructions as to how this was to be constructed and furnished. Starting with today’s reading, five chapters (35-39) describe the people’s enthusiastic response in carrying out these directives.

Their willingness is noted many times (e.g., vs. 5,10,21,22,26,29). Once we accept God’s invitation to enter into relationship with him, we cannot treat his instructions lightly. He has specific ways for us to live and obey, but he does not compel us, for then we would be slaves, not friends. We know from our own personal relationships that coerced obedience produces not love, but fear. So serving God is always at his invitation to join him in his work in the world. We do it not to earn favor but because we have received grace. We give out of what we have received.

This is why the Sabbath requirements are presented first (1-3). They are a sign of the renewal of the covenant on God’s part—to be with his forgiven people. Keeping the covenant is the people’s signature to the deal. After their previous waywardness and its punishment they were anxious to have God inhabit their community as he had promised. In fact, they were so anxious that the restatement of the Sabbath provisions is perhaps also to discourage them from working 24/7 at the task; and the prohibition on Sabbath household fires to stop them taking work home! For us, too, serving God wholeheartedly can morph into repeating the atonement, not accepting it. Sabbath rest reminds us that it is God who has done the work.

Apply

Think of your spiritual gifts and see where you can give cheerfully to the Lord’s work in the church and the world.

Closing prayer

Father God, You have been generous to me and I want to display that generosity. Show me new ways and places where I can share for Your glory.

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