Prayer
“LORD, who shall abide in thy tabernacle? who shall dwell in thy holy hill? He that walketh uprightly, and worketh righteousness, and speaketh the truth in his heart” (Psalm 15:1-2).
Today’s Hymn
Words: Gerhard Tersteegen, Geistliches Blumeng¨atea;rtlein, 1729 (Gott ist gegenw¨ate;rtig); translated from German to English by Frederick W. Foster and John Miller in the Moravian Hymn-book (London: 1789), alt.
GOD HIMSELF IS WITH US
Click here for tune.
God Himself is with us: Let us now adore Him,
And with awe appear before Him.
God is in His temple, all within keep silence,
Prostrate lie with deepest reverence.
Him alone God we own, Him our God and Savior;
Praise His Name forever.
God Himself is with us: Hear the harps resounding!
See the crowds the throne surrounding!
“Holy, holy, holy,” hear the hymn ascending,
Angels, saints, their voices blending!
Bow Thine ear to us here: Hear, O Christ, the praises
That Thy church now raises.
O Thou fount of blessing, purify my spirit;
Trusting only in Thy merit,
Like the holy angels who behold Thy glory,
May I ceaselessly adore Thee,
And in all, great and small, seek to do most nearly
What Thou lovest dearly.
Thought Provoker
One of the men in our church recently gave my son Paul CAD software for our home computer. What’s CAD? It stands for Computer Assisted Drawing. It’s the program that architects use for drawing blueprints. It draws plans according to scale and in 3-D! Once you tackle the program it’s a marvelous way of making plans to build. Today, without the assistance of CAD, God is going to give the blueprints for the construction of the tabernacle.
Dad’s Study
What was the tabernacle? Shortly after Israel fled Egypt, God provided the blueprints for a tent structure that would be a dwelling place where God would disclose Himself to His people and dwell among them (Ex. 25:9). God had given Israel His law to show them that they were sinners in need of His mercy and grace. God now provided a tent where sacrifices could be offered and atonement made for their sins. In Exodus 25, God designed the furniture including the ark, the table of shew-bread, and the candlestick. The Ark of the Covenant (Ex. 25:10-23) was a wooden box covered with gold which held the tables of stone, manna, and Aaron’s budded rod. On the lid, between two gold angels, was the golden mercy seat. When sprinkled with blood it satisfied the wrath of God against the sinner (25:21). God promised to meet with Moses there and commune with Him (25:22). Why is the tabernacle such a wonderful picture of Jesus Christ? Jesus Christ is the glory of God in human flesh. He came and “dwelt” (tented) “amongst us,” and now indwells the hearts of His elect (John 1:1,14). Through His blood sacrifice you can have peace with God and forgiveness of sin.
Click here for Matthew Henry’s Commentary.
Truth in Practice
Does Christ tabernacle in each member of your family through faith? Remind those who are still unconverted how the breaking of God’s law brings His judgment and wrath. Declare again the Good News of Christ tabernacling on earth and becoming priest and sacrifice for all who trust in Him. Call them to flee from their sin and seek God’s mercy through faith in His Son. Praise God today for the intimate fellowship Christ purchased on the cross.
What happens if believers do not seek God first in our lives?
Catechism
Question 72
Q. How is the Word made effectual to salvation?
A. The Spirit of God makes the reading, but especially the preaching of the Word, an effectual means of convicting and converting sinners (Ps. 19:7), and of building them up in holiness and comfort (1 Th. 1:6), through faith to salvation (Ro. 1:16).
