THE ARK OF THE COVENANT

Today’s Reading: Exodus 37-38

Click scripture link to read online or HERE to listen online (then click the symbol of the audio speaker above the scripture portion on the right-hand side).

A tour group visiting a life-sized replica of the Tabernacle stands in the Holy of Holies looking upon the representation of the Ark of the Covenant.

GOOGLE MAPS – To see where Reynold took the photo, click HERE.

Key Verse: Exodus 37:1

Then Bezalel made the ark of acacia wood; two and a half cubits was its length, a cubit and a half its width, and a cubit and a half its height.

The second Commandment says, “You shall not make for yourself any carved image…” (Exodus 20:4-5). Is God breaking His own Commandment by ordering the image of Cherubim? Not at all! Breaking this Commandment had to do with, “You shall not bow down to them nor serve them” (verse 5). Why make this point? Because of our tendency to take Bible verses out of context. For example, there is an area of Jerusalem known as Mea Sherim. Here the extreme orthodox Jews have been known to break a tourist’s camera because they believe a picture breaks the Commandment of making an image. In this daily blog, I hope to always present my message in context.

PRAYER FOR TODAY:

Lord, Your Word has been handed down to us correctly. When I interpret into my understanding what You gave Moses and others, may I consider the sentence before and after, the chapter before and after, and in fact the entirety of Your Word. In Jesus’ Name, the living Word, Amen!

100 PERSONAL WORDS:

A few years back, I gave a eulogy at the home-going celebration of Bruce Wastle, a 35-year team member of our Crossroads ministry. Bruce was one of the finest electronic engineers ever. He came on staff in the Spring of 1977 to help install the equipment for Canada’s first professionally equipped TV production centre dedicated to producing Christian television. It was at the address “100 Huntley Street” in downtown Toronto. About five years later, we purchased a TV production truck from Mother Angelica of Alabama and sent it to Italy for our Italian language productions with Rev. Onofrio Micolis. We discovered that the truck had to be completely re-wired. I was in Italy when Bruce was doing this job. One night at about midnight, I ordered Bruce to go to bed. He’d been working since 6 a.m. He dutifully went to bed, but to my surprise, when I looked out the window at 4 a.m. he was back at work. It would’ve never occurred to him to charge overtime. He knew he was working for God. He was a quiet, humble man. I wouldn’t be surprised if Bruce and Bezaleel have already met. They are two excellent craftsmen who served God and their generation well.

Yours for excellence in service to God,

David