Exodus 35-37

“All who are skilled among you are to come and make everything the Lord has commanded” (35:10). After Moses received the instructions for the tabernacle, he called for the collection of materials: “the whole Israelite community … everyone who was willing and whose heart moved them came and brought an offering” (35:20-21). Then those with gifts for design and craftsmanship, working with wool, linen, leather, dyes, gold and silver gathered to do the work. They were led by Be

Exodus 33-34

“If your Presence does not go with us, do not send us up from here. How will anyone know that you are pleased with me and with your people unless you go with us?” (33:15-16). It was pointless to be known as “God’s people” and to attempt to enter the Promised Land without God’s presence. For the sake of the people, Moses asked, “If you are pleased with me, teach me your ways so I may know you” (33:13). Knowing God was more important than reaching a destination.

“My Presence

Mark 2

“Why does he eat with tax collectors and sinners?” (16). To people who thought they knew and understood Scripture, Jesus continually demonstrated what God was really like. He had time for long meals with sinners, especially the friends of Levi, who dropped everything to follow him. He healed the sick, and he even went beyond expectations and forgave sins (1-12). He was looking for “new wineskins” who would accept the radical nature of the gospel, rather than cling to old w

Mark 1

“The kingdom of God has come near. Repent and believe the good news!” (15). The Jewish people had been taught for centuries about God’s reign; it included righteousness, justice, and God’s design for the world being accomplished. Jesus boldly proclaimed that God’s kingdom had “come near” in him. He taught “with authority”, he healed the sick, and he cast out demons. The rule of God, surprisingly, had come near in a Person, and individuals like Simon, Andrew, James and John

Psalm 17

“Show me the wonders of your great love, you who save by your right hand those who take refuge in you from their foes” (7). The psalmist took his enemies’ threats seriously, and he knew the safest place of refuge was within the protection of God’s “great love.” His enemies, and the spiritual darkness behind them, wanted to destroy him (9) and bring him down (11). The psalmist saw that those whose reward was “in this life” rather than eternity (14) did not fear God at all.

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Exodus 30-32

“When the people saw that Moses was so long in coming down from the mountain, they gathered around Aaron and said, “Come, make us gods who will go before us” (32:30). The Israelites were easily discouraged when Moses did not return immediately from the mountain. They did not want to wait for God’s instructions; they wanted a visible idol they could worship, like other nations did, to provide security. The golden calf that resulted was a disastrous substitute for the living

Exodus 28-29

“So I will consecrate the tent of meeting and the altar and will consecrate Aaron and his sons to serve me as priests” (29:44). The tabernacle, altar, and priests were still “unclean” or unworthy of the Lord’s presence until they were consecrated. Special blood sacrifices (28-29 ch) cleansed the objects and people, so that God could meet with them there regularly and his glory would fill the place (29:42). 

“They will know that I am the Lord their God, who brought them out

Exodus 26-27

“Make the tabernacle with ten curtains of finely twisted linen and blue, purple and scarlet yarn …” (26:1). The “tabernacle” or sacred tent which the Lord commanded the Israelites to create was composed of many elaborate pieces. Embroidered curtains hung on the inside, covered by animal skins for protection (27:14), all hung on wooden frames (26:15). Inside was an ark of acacia wood and gold, golden cherubim, altar and lamps (ch 25). This huge, heavy equipment had to be ca

Matthew 28

“Do not be afraid. Go and tell my brothers to go to Galilee; there they will see me” (10). The women met the resurrected Jesus and were “afraid yet filled with joy” (8). Their hopes had come true, yet they were still in the city where the crowds, the government, and the religious leadership had turned violently against Jesus. Yet instead of celebrating his resurrection victory in Jerusalem and silencing those who had mocked him, Jesus met the disciples in Galilee and gave

Matthew 27

“But Jesus made no reply, not even to a single charge—to the great amazement of the governor” (14). Jesus had already proven his power through his miracles and his teaching. He had nothing to prove to Pilate or the crowds. His quiet refusal to defend himself infuriated the people, exposing the fact that they were in the grip of dark spiritual forces which opposed God (21). Even on the cross, Jesus endured insults without retaliation. “He saved others,” they said, “but he c

Matthew 26

“This very night you will all fall away on account of me” (31). Jesus warned his disciples that he would soon be crucified (2) and that they would not remain loyal to him. Knowing they would all run away in his darkest hour, Jesus still broke bread with them, saying “Take, eat, this is my body” (26). He offered them the cup that was based on his sacrifice, not their own (28). Jesus’ plan to go to the cross did not depend on the disciples. 

 “This is my blood of the covenant

Psalm 16

“You are my Lord; apart from you I have no good thing” (2). The closer the psalmist walked with the Lord, the more he realized that life outside God’s presence has “no good thing.” The idols of the world look great on the surface, offering us a false image of success and happiness, but the truth is that “those who run after other gods will suffer more and more” (4). The psalmist found real peace and satisfaction comes from fellowship with God: “You alone are my portion and

Psalm 15

“Lord, who may dwell in your sacred tent?” (1). Because of God’s great love, he gave Israel clarity about right and wrong. The righteous person honors God by treating others with respect. This person “speaks truth from their heart … utters no slander, does no wrong to their neighbor” (2-3). The person who walks with God sticks with their godly principles “even when it hurts, and does not change their mind” (4). Righteous people help the poor without expecting a return and

Exodus 23-25

They “saw the God of Israel. Under his feet was … lapis lazuli, as bright blue as the sky … they saw God, and they ate and drank” (24:9-11). Moses and other leaders met with God on the mountain, and Moses went up to further commune with God for 40 days. In these special encounters, “the people remained at a distance” (20:21). God was protecting and preparing them, but they were not ready for such intimacy with the Lord. Instead, he led them step by step. 

“Worship the Lord

Exodus 20-22

“I am the Lord your God, who brought you out of Egypt, out of the land of slavery” (20:2). Before giving the Israelites commands for life, God identified himself as the God who had rescued them from slavery. The Israelites, after generations in Egypt, were familiar with multiple false gods and not necessarily loyal to the God of Abraham. But only the God of Abraham had rescued them from their oppressors. He had the power and the right to tell them how to live. 

“You shall h