When Jesus instituted this meal, he did so with the full knowledge that he was at the end of his ministry. He was leaving, and as he left he promised that this was a good thing because he would send the comforter, the Holy Spirit to be with them and lead them into all truth. One of the central ways that the Holy Spirit leads us into all truth is here at this table. The Lord’s Supper is itself the proclamation of the Lord’s death; it is evangelism; it is the gospel. But someone might say; that’s funny, it doesn’t look like a highly effective marketing tool. But this is the glory of the Spirit, the Spirit often works silently, mysteriously, and it’s glorious because the Spirit does what is impossible. As Jesus leaves, he says it is better that he go because he will send them the Spirit. In order to be led into all truth, you must be led by the Spirit of Truth, the Spirit of Jesus. And all of this is proof that it’s the Spirit doing the work. Churches that have everything quickly fall into many temptations to rely on particular people, buildings, traditions, whatever. But churches that lose pastors, churches that have very diverse congregants, churches that have to meet at odd hours or in odd places, those kind of churches know (or should know) in their bones that if they make any kind of impact at all, if anything they do brings glory God and builds his kingdom in a significant way, it was a miracle, something only wrought by the Holy Spirit. And so here we are, doing the impossible. We are proclaiming right now with bread and wine that Jesus died and rose again. That he ascended into heaven and reigns over Greer, South Carolina as her rightful King. And we are doing so in faith believing that Greer will come streaming into the Kingdom one way or another. Since we know that is utterly impossible, we are all the more confident that it is the very sort of thing, our God will delight to do.
Monday, June 30, 2008
Seventh Sunday after Pentecost: Exodus 40
Opening Prayer: Almighty and Gracious God, we are your house, your temple, your dwelling place. Therefore we ask that you would fill us with your glory-spirit. Come and dwell with us now, and impress your image upon us through your Word, Amen!
Introduction
We come at last to the end of the book of Exodus. The chapter opens confirming that the erection of the tabernacle is in fact a new creation, the beginning of a new world: the tabernacle is set up on the first day of the first month (40:2).
Anastacia Ruth Sumpter: March 23, 2008
In the Name of the Father, Son, and Holy Spirit, Amen!
The Lord be with you.
And with your spirit.
I am the resurrection and the life, says the Lord: he that believes in my, though he were dead, yet shall he live: and whosever lives and believes in me, shall never die.
Hymn: Jesus Priceless Treasure
Let us pray: O God, whose beloved Son did take little children into his arms and bless them: Give us grace, we beseech you, to entrust this child Anastacia Ruth Sumpter to your never-failing care and love, and bring us all to your heavenly kingdom; through Jesus Christ our Lord, who lives and reigns with you and the Holy Spirit, one God, now and for ever. Amen.
Living like Royalty
“Go, eat your bread with joy, and drink your wine with a merry heart; For God has already accepted your works. Let your garments always be white, and let your head lack no oil. Live joyfully with the wife whom you love all the days of your vain life which He has given you under the sun, all your days of vanity; for that is your portion in life, and in the labor which you perform under the sun. Whatever your hand finds to do, do it with your might; for there is no work or device or knowledge or wisdom in the grave where you are going.” (Eccl. 9:7-10)
This is one of the great summary statements of the calling of the Christian life. Your calling as a Christian is to live like heaven. Work hard, love your wife, eat your dinner with joy, and drink your wine with a merry heart. Dress sharp, look your best for those around you, and do it all not with some kind of pride or arrogance, but because God is good, because God has already accepted your works, because God looks at you and your family and all the work still to be done and says, you are my new creation in Christ, you are my beloved son and daughter in whom I’m well pleased. And this is why you are invited here week after week so that you will not forget who you are and how you are required to live. You are the beloved sons and daughters of the king, and therefore he invites you to his feast week after week, and he calls you to go out into your homes, work places, and neighborhoods and live like the royalty that you are. You are the nobility of God, and he invites you here to rejoice with bread and wine at this table and sends you out to do the same in all of life. If it’s pizza paper plates, eat it like sons and daughters of the king. If you drive a beater car, drive it with joy in your heart. If your family is pretty rough around the edges, love them, serve them, and speak to them and about them, like they are the best people in all the world. We do all of this not because we’re blind or apathetic, but because we are called to live by faith, imitating the God who calls those things which are not yet existent as though they were. Therefore come and rejoice as though everything was right in the world because it is and it will be.
Sixth Sunday after Pentecost: Exodus 39
Opening Prayer: Kind Father, we come before you once again and ask you for your Spirit to be with us now. We know that the Spirit pours out your wisdom and knowledge and understanding. And we confess that we need those things desperately. We live in a day and in a culture that has rejected your wisdom and delights in incoherence and confusions. Open our eyes to see, give us clear thinking minds, and enable us to walk before you faithfully. Through Jesus Christ our Lord, Amen!
Introduction
Today we come to the completion of the construction of the tabernacle and the making of the priestly garments. Just as the first creation was concluded with the blessing of God, so too this new creation of Israel concludes with the blessing of God.
Thursday, June 19, 2008
Monday, June 16, 2008
To the Ends of the Earth
When we celebrate this meal, we do so in imitation of Jesus who having given thanks for the bread/cup gave it to his disciples to eat/drink. This is why it is our custom to have the elders serve one another and then distribute the elements to the rest of the congregation. With the wine, we offer the common cup and we also have the little cups available to those who prefer, but the idea is meant to be the same: we are one loaf and one cup. We are one body in Christ, and his blood flows through us. This is why we serve one another. Just as in a body, the different parts need each other; we confess and display that here. So the elder or deacon or other assistant may hand the bread or the wine to each row, but then maybe your wife hands you the bread or your son or daughter passes the wine to you. Maybe a member of another family passes you the tray of cups. This is as it should be. We are one body, one family made up of many parts held together and empowered to work together and serve one another through the working of the Holy Spirit. But our celebration here also pictures the promise of the gospel. The blessings of the new covenant are pictured in Ezekiel as water pouring out over the threshold of the temple, and as the prophet follows the flowing water it becomes ankle deep and then up to his waist and then it is too deep to wade through and it flows out and purifies the seas. This is what the gospel has been doing for the last two thousand years. And we are a witness of that fact sitting as we are on the other side of the world and two thousand years from that first upper room in Jerusalem. We are that body with the blood of Christ coursing through our veins; we are that river of blessing and forgiveness flowing out from the cross to the ends of the earth. You are God’s forgiven people, you are in the blood, you are his family. Come and rejoice.
Fifth Sunday after Pentecost: Exodus 37-38
Opening Prayer: Almighty and most merciful God, we ask that you would cause your Spirit to be poured out upon us once again. We are here as your new creation, and we ask that you would continue to renew us and remake us. Empower your word now that we might be built up into your house, fitted together as your temple and dwelling. Amen!
Introduction
We considered the tabernacle last week as the embodiment of Israel as the Warrior-bride of Yahweh. Bezalel and Aholiab are the fulfillment of the midwives, leading the wise-hearted women who are building the house of God as the armies of Yahweh (Ex. 38:8).
Right Away, All the Way, and Cheerfully
The fifth commandment requires that children honor their parents, and this command is reiterated by Paul in Ephesians when he says that children are to obey their parents in the Lord. This command must be understood in two directions: First, parents must love their children such that they are led to obey. Secondly, children must honor their parents such that they actually obey. And lest there be any confusion on what it means to obey, we must insist that obedience is immediate carrying out of instructions with joy. Children must obey their parents just as God requires all of his children to obey him. We are required to obey God right away, all the way, and cheerfully. Therefore, we ought not expect anything less of our children. Rolling eyes and then obeying is not obeying. Stomping feet while carrying out instructions is not obey. Doing half the job is not obeying. Parents must love their children enough to insist upon obedience. Proverbs says that a father who refuses to teach and discipline his son actually hates him. This is because he is allowing his children to grow up believing that obedience is optional. And this means that this child will grow up under the curse of God and the end of that road is death. A father who does not teach his child to stay out of the road hates his child. A father who lets his child put his fingers in electrical sockets hates his child. Likewise, a father who refuses to teach his child to obey hates his child. And this requirement of obedience does not end at some magic age. Whether you are fourteen or nineteen or twenty-six or fifty, the command is still in place to honor and obey your parents. Of course wise parents will not act like tyrants, but the command is still there. Children, obey. This means obeying right away, all the way, and cheerfully. Parents, love your children enough to require this; children, honor your father and mother enough to follow this. And we do this believing the promise that comes with this command: that we may have long lives and that it may go well with us in the land.
Smiling at our Enemies
In the New Testament when the apostles try to develop a baptismal theology or explain what baptism means they repeatedly refer to the great events of redemptive history. Paul refers to the Exodus, crossing the Red Sea and the cloud that followed Israel into the wilderness as a picture of baptism in 1 Corinthians 10. Peter refers to the flood and Noah’s ark to describe baptism. But of course those monumental events are merely previews for the greatest redemptive event which we see in the death and resurrection of Jesus; so it’s not too surprising to see Paul referring to that in Romans 6 where he insists that everyone who has been baptized has been joined to that historic event, united to the death, burial, and resurrection of Jesus Christ.
Monday, June 09, 2008
Fourth Sunday after Pentecost: Exodus 35-36
Opening Prayer: Almighty and gracious God, we come before you as your bride, and we ask that you would wash us with the water of your word. Wash us that we might be made spotless and equipped to serve in your house. Through Jesus Christ, Amen!
Introduction
Here, the instructions for building the tabernacle are beginning to be carried out. Notice that Moses begins the new covenant of Sinai with a reminder of the Sabbath (35:1-3). This is a reversal of the “old” covenant sequence of the instructions for building the tabernacle which ended with the Sabbath command (31:12-17). Contrast this Lord and his building project with Pharaoh and his.
When Worship Becomes Liturgical Clap Trap
In nearly every letter of the New Testament, the apostles insist that Christians must live out the gospel in their families. As we seek to build this church, this must be one of the central results of our gathering here. Husbands who worship here must be characterized by loving their wives, cherishing their wives, and teaching and leading their wives just as Christ loves, cherishes, teaches, and leads us. Wives who worship here must be characterized by love and submission to their husbands, rejoicing in their callings just as we submit ourselves as the Church to the leading and teaching of our head, the Lord Jesus Christ. Likewise, children who worship here (whether they are three or eighteen) must be characterized by love and obedience to their parents just as we love and obey the Word of God declared here. If we are not being characterized by these things, we are not getting it. If our families are not living out this gospel then our worship here is useless at best and at worst a high handed blasphemy against God. When the families of Israel were characterized by harsh words, injustice, disunity, and disobedience, God said to them through the prophet Isaiah: get your Call to Worship out of here. Who has required this Confession of Sin? I have had enough of your readings of Scripture. Why do you come here and trample my courts? Stop your empty Passing of the Peace. I cannot stand your celebrating the Lord’s Day. I do not delight in your Lord’s Supper. I have had enough of your Psalm Singing and all the rest of your other liturgical clap trap. When you lift up your hands in prayer, I hide my eyes from you; even though you make many prayers, I will not hear you. Wash yourselves, make yourselves clean. Put away the evil from your doings: Husbands love your wives, wives submit yourselves to your husbands in joy, children obey your parents in the Lord, for this is right.
Friday, June 06, 2008
Wise Men and Magic
Continuing my binge of posts:
"Wise men" only show up in Ex. 7:11 and 36:4. In 7:11 they're Egyptians who are helping the magicians to do enchantments to make their staffs turn into serpents like Aaron's. In 36:4 they're Israelites who are apparently helping Bezalel and Aholiab and the other "wise hearted" artisans to turn the offerings of Israel into a house.
This is in contrast to the golden calf. In 32:4 the golden calf was made with an "engraving tool" which is the same root for the word "magician." So not only was the Israelite sin some sort of imitation of Egyptian sorcery, the building of the tabernacle is true magic, the work of wise men in obedience to the Lord.
Tovia Ann: Real Baby
I've been meaning to mention that last week we heard Tovia give us a real good cry for the first time.
I should say that Tovia is the sort of baby that does a lot of grunting and squeaking and twisting and turning and frowning when things aren't quite like she would prefer. She's fairly subtle like that. Her usual pattern is to do this grunting-squeaking-twisting-frowning for a while and finally, when she is all fed up with our neglegence, she lays down the law with one, short-lived cry. It lasts for all of two seconds and then she goes back to the squeaking and grunting thing. Her "cry" is like the bell sound at the end of a boxing round; it's the last straw, the final call.
Ok, but what I was leading up to say is that Tovia had her first shots last week, and that was a bit painful and she came home and had her first real good cry. This lasted for all of two minute (maybe). Of course her mom and I were trying our best to make her comfortable and soothe her, but her older brother and sister (our resident natives) came rushing into the room and burst out laughing.
They had never heard Tovia really cry before, and all of a sudden they realized she was a real baby and she was crying and this was apparently quite hilarious.
Ever since, whenever Tovia lets out one of her little cries, both brother and sister giggle and chuckle. Tovia is a real baby. She cries.
Sumpter Plans
Most folks have probably heard by now or have at least heard rumors that we are moving. 'Tis true. I have accepted a call to serve as pastor at Trinity Reformed Church in Moscow, Idaho, and we will be moving at the beginning of July.
I'm very thankful that Holy Trinity here in Greenville has called Craig Beaton to take my place, and he will be able to take over immediately after I leave town. He's an old friend of many in the congregation, a gifted man, and we're grateful to have him stepping in.
So the boxes are beginning to accumulate (again), and plans are beginning to formulate for making the continental trek once more.
I'm grateful to report that our daughter Tovia continues to grow and act like a little new born. She seems to be a fairly mellow and easy-going baby so far, and Jenny is quite pleased that she seems to being going with a deep shade of blue for her eye color. She's plumping up rather nicely, and it's almost hard to believe that she is the same sickly, little girl that was born nine weeks premature on Easter Sunday.
Thanks to those of you who have faithfully upheld our family in prayer over the last number of months. Your prayers have been answered bountifully, and in God's goodness we will be moving home in a few weeks and rolling up our sleeves for the next chapter of this adventure.
Cheers!
Double Creation Narratives
Exodus 25-31 form a single unit of seven speeches: "And God spoke to Moses saying..." The fact that there are seven speeches already suggests a parallel to Genesis 1, but the order of the speeches seems to confirm this pattern as well (e.g. the last speech is a restatement of the Sabbath command). After this "new creation" of Israel, Israel sins and breaks covenant with the Lord, just like Adam. Exodus 32 and the golden calf incident have a number of parallels with Adam's fall (e.g. Aaron shifts blame like Adam, Moses and the sons of Levi gather at the entrance of the tabernacle with swords just like the cherubim that are stationed at the entrance of the garden after the Fall).
That first creation and fall are followed by a covenant renewal sequence (chs. 33-35) before the actual building of the tabernacle begins (36:8). The narrative describes in detail the obedience of Israel and the artisans in following the word of God in building what was described in the original seven speeches. This narrative closes with several statements like "all the work of the tabernacle of the tent of meeting was finished" and "Moses looked over all the work and indeed they had done it; as the Lord had commanded just so they had done it. And Moses blessed them." These sound remarkably like the end of the original creation week: "Then God saw everything that He had made, and indeed it was very good... Thus the heavens and the earth and all the hose of them were finished. And on the seventh day God ended his work which he had done... Then God blessed the seventh day..."
The implication seems to be that the actual building of the tabernacle is also an act of creation that fulfills and completes the creation "week" that God had spoken in Ex. 25-31. Perhaps this is in some way following the Genesis narrative. In Gen. 1-2 there are two creation narratives, the first is the original creation week structured by the speeches of God whereas the second is creation narrative focused more directly on the man, the garden, the animals, and finally the creation of the woman. Perhaps there is at least some correspondence to that double creation narrative in Exodus. Ex. 25-31 is Genesis 1-2:4 and Ex. 36:8-39:43 is Gen. 2:5-25.
This would also fit with the tabernacle as a woman motif. When the tabernacle is finally built, a new Eve has finally emerged from the side of Israel, the new son of God, the new Adam.
Bezalel and Aholiab and the Midwives
Given the parallels between the wise women of the early chapters of Exodus and the wise women who are building the tabernacle toward the end of Exodus, it seems clear that Bezalel and Aholiab, the chief artisans of the tabernacle, are in some sense parallel to Shiphrah and Puah, the faithful Hebrew midwives. As Shiphrah and Puah led the Hebrew mothers in giving birth to sons as an act of wisdom in the "fear of God" (1:17), so too Bezalel and Aholiab are leading the wise women artisans in bringing to birth the nation of Israel as the son of God (cf. 4:22).
This also fits with the statement that concludes the midwife narrative which says that because the midwives feared God, He blessed them and gave them "houses" (1:21). Faithful midwives build houses and are given houses; Bezalel and Aholiab are the new faithful midwives who fear the Lord and are building the house of Yahweh.
Thursday, June 05, 2008
Wisdom is a Woman
Given that "wisdom" is central to Yahweh's building project, it is hardly surprising that women are the ones singled out for their contributions to the building of the tabernacle (35:22, 35, 36, 38:8). There were clearly men leading the building project, but it is women who are identified most directly with being "gifted artisan" or having "wise hearts."
Wisdom, as Proverbs insists, is a woman.
What's also interesting is that in the instructions for building the tabernacle, the tabernacle itself is identified as a woman or as womanly. In chapter 26, the curtains and boards are said repeatedly to be "coupled to one another" (26:3, 5, 6, 17), but literally the hebrew says "a woman to her sister." The curtains are joined together like "a woman to her sister." Literally the curtains and boards of the tabernacle are sisters; they are feminine. It is the wise women who are weaving the fabrics and spinning the yarn for the curtains who are themselves women.
Wisdom, as the book of Exodus insists, is a woman.
Wisdom Builds a House
At the beginning of Exodus it is Pharaoh who decides to deal "shrewdly" with the Hebrews and forces them to build his storage cities. The word in Hebrew is literally "wisely" (1:10). Later, it is Pharaoh who summons his "wise men" to perform enchantments to counter Moses and Aaron (7:11). Of course Yahweh confounds the wisdom of Pharaoh and all of his wise men and delivers Israel out of bondage. Numerous people have pointed out that Israel is changing masters/lords: they go from serving Pharaoh to serving Yahweh, they go from building Pharaoh's cities to building Yahweh's house. One of the other striking contrasts is between the wisdom of Pharaoh and the wisdom of Yahweh. Throughout the tabernacle building narratives (31:1-6, and chapters 35-38), God gives "wisdom" to the craftsmen and builders of the tabernacle. In the NKJV, the word "gifted artisan/s" is literally "wise hearted." The wisdom of Pharaoh sends Hebrew slaves to build his cities as a not-so-cleverly disguised population control measure, whereas Yahweh's wisdom is the Spirit of freedom given that they might build Yahweh's house and have life.
Monday, June 02, 2008
New Covenants
We have noted this morning that when we refer to the "Sinai Covenant" we are really referring to two covenants. The covenant is originally established with the nation of Israel, the law is given and explained, and the whole deal is sealed with a feast. But this covenant is broken in the golden calf incident, and it is only through Moses' intervention and mediation, that the covenant is renewed. In Moses, God makes a new covenant with the people of Israel. But this is not the first time this pattern has occurred. In the Garden of Eden, God made a covenant with Adam. Adam broke that covenant, but God renewed the covenant with Adam through the promised seed. God made a new covenant with Adam on the basis of the Seed who would come to crush the head of the serpent. In the Seed, God makes the new covenant with Adam and his posterity. Finally, we see this same pattern at work in the New Covenant. There is ambiguity in the prophets at points whether the New Covenant was established in the return from exile or at the coming of the Messiah. But this ambiguity is for the same reasons we have noted the previous pattern. God did in fact make covenant with the returned exiles, but they like their Adamic ancestors before them, broke this covenant, and by the time of the first century, the covenant breaking had become a way of life. Only through the mediation of Christ, could Israel be saved from God's wrath. Thus in Jesus, God made a new covenant with Israel. And this meal is the celebration of that new covenant. This is the new covenant in Christ's blood. But one of the points that this reoccurring pattern makes is that new covenants are always for covenant breakers. New Covenants are provisions for people who are under the wrath and judgment of God. You are not invited here because you are good or holy or because somehow you really will keep covenant this time. No, you come to this table to be united to the one mediator who has pleased God. In Christ, your sins are forgiven, and you are accepted and forgiven. This meal is for the forgiveness of sins. This is the new covenant in his blood. So come and rejoice.
Third Sunday after Pentecost: Exodus 33-34
Note: A number of the following ideas were inspired by several talks in James B. Jordan's audio lecture series "Studies in Exodus."
Opening Prayer: Gracious and long-suffering God, we come before you now and ask that your Word would transform us and glorify us. Fill us with your Spirit that we might be your faithful servants. Through Jesus our Son and our Lord, Amen!
Introduction
The Image of God is related to the Word of God: Adam imaged God as he obeyed his Word. When the Word was broken so was the Image. Like Adam, Israel needs a Word-keeping Image to lead them. Moses is that Christ-like mediator.
Doing Marital Laundry
One of the ways that we love one another is through manners. Etiquette, someone has said, is just love in the little things. Everyone has laundry to do, but it’s common courtesy to do it before or after the dinner guests arrive. Now in every marriage there are discussions to be had; husbands and wives need to have open, honest conversations and sometimes issues need to be worked through before there is agreement or consensus. That in itself is not a problem so long as it is taking place in a Christian manner. But it is simply bad manners to allow those discussions and conversations to be broadcast to friends and other family members. Everyone knows that Mr. Smith has underwear, but Mrs. Smith ought not leave them lying around the living room for the dinner guests to wade through. This is all to say that wives and husbands need to guard their conversations with others such that their words do not bring out their dirty laundry for the world to see. And we need to guard this because James says that the tongue is fire that is able to set the whole body ablaze. Paul says that a wife is the glory of her husband, and it is the husband’s calling to give glory to her. And this is why Paul says that a man who loves his wife actually loves himself. To be glory and to bestow glory is to make the other look good. If you are the glory of your husband then your words ought to make him look good, your words ought to make him sound like the faithful husband that he is. If your wife is your glory, then your words ought to bestow glory upon her, by praising her (to her face and to others) and by making her look good. That’s what glory does. These are little things, but they are like the rudder that is able to turn a ship in completely different directions. Of course there is a time when husbands and wives can and should seek help and advice from appropriate friends and elders, but even this must be done in a spirit of love and respect. The second greatest commandment is to love your neighbor as yourself; this means that you ought to speak about your closest neighbor (your spouse) in the way that you would want to be spoken about. You are your spouse’s glory; therefore let your words reflect this.
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