02/07/10

Exodus 35-37

As Exodus chapter 35 begins, Moses gathers all of the Israelites and describes for them the rules and regulations the LORD has given for the Sabbath. He then passes on to them the instructions for the tabernacle, and they begin a collection. Everyone who was willing brought all of the material they needed, and more. Moses then told them that the LORD had chosen Besalel and Oholiab to lead the efforts.

In chapter 36, all of the skilled begin work on the Tabernacle. The people brought so much material that Moses had to tell them to stop bringing things. They built the Tabernacle, the frames and curtains and connecting pieces, all as God had instructed them. Then in chapter 37, they made the Ark and the Table, the lampstand, the altar of incense and the oil for anointing, all according to the instructions that the LORD had given them.

Thoughts, questions, issues

• These chapters offer tremendous guides for someone who desires to understand what the Israelites artifacts of the Exodus looked like. But I find myself without much to offer in the way of commentary.
• I guess the one thing that stands out from these passages, and the earlier passages where God gives the instructions, is the level of attention to detail which the LORD provides. On one level, it seems kind of silly - the Israelites can't be left alone for a month without violating all Ten of the Commandments, but God feels it appropriate to describe the size, shape and decor of the Tabernacle>
  
  But is it possible that the entire point of this is to a) give them something to occupy their energies that b) they can actually do? In my professional life, projects tend to be measured in months, if not years, and the satisfaction of a "job well done" can be elusive. There have absolutely been times when I've taken on short-term, one or two day, efforts because there's a real emotional satisfaction to finishing something. And it can help both refresh and renew your efforts on longer term projects.
  
  So is GOD giving the Israelites "busy work?" Something to give them that they can do, instructions that they can specifically follow, and which will result in the construction of an environment in which they cannot help but think of GOD?
  
  That makes as much sense to me as anything else I can come up with.

Psalms 7

A plea for justice. Basically, throwing himself on the mercy of God, understanding that if he's in the wrong, he shouldn't expect that to prevent punishment.

Awake, my God; decree justice...let the LORD judge the peoples. Judge me, O LORD, according to my righteousness, according to my integrity, O Most High...O righteous God, who searches minds and hearts...God is a righteous judge, a God who expresses his wrath every day..

A shiggaion of David, which he sang to the LORD concerning Cush, a Benjamite.
1 O LORD my God, I take refuge in you;
save and deliver me from all who pursue me,

2 or they will tear me like a lion
and rip me to pieces with no one to rescue me.

3 O LORD my God, if I have done this
and there is guilt on my hands-

4 if I have done evil to him who is at peace with me
or without cause have robbed my foe-

5 then let my enemy pursue and overtake me;
let him trample my life to the ground
and make me sleep in the dust.
Selah

6 Arise, O LORD, in your anger;
rise up against the rage of my enemies.
Awake, my God; decree justice.

7 Let the assembled peoples gather around you.
Rule over them from on high;

8 let the LORD judge the peoples.
Judge me, O LORD, according to my righteousness,
according to my integrity, O Most High.

9 O righteous God,
who searches minds and hearts,
bring to an end the violence of the wicked
and make the righteous secure.

10 My shield [b] is God Most High,
who saves the upright in heart.

11 God is a righteous judge,
a God who expresses his wrath every day.

12 If he does not relent,
he [c] will sharpen his sword;
he will bend and string his bow.

13 He has prepared his deadly weapons;
he makes ready his flaming arrows.

14 He who is pregnant with evil
and conceives trouble gives birth to disillusionment.

15 He who digs a hole and scoops it out
falls into the pit he has made.

16 The trouble he causes recoils on himself;
his violence comes down on his own head.

17 I will give thanks to the LORD because of his righteousness
and will sing praise to the name of the LORD Most High.