Year One, April 4

We Have Also Obtained Access By Faith1

After being given the law on Mount Sinai, Moses received instructions about public worship and sacrifices. All of these things pointed to spiritual matters. Therefore, we will read the New Testament summary of it found in

  

Hebrews 9:1-14

1Now even the first covenant had regulations for worship and an earthly place of holiness. 2For a tent was prepared, the first section, in which were the lampstand and the table and the bread of the Presence. It is called the Holy Place. 3Behind the second curtain was a second section called the Most Holy Place (or Holy of Holies), 4having the golden altar of incense and the ark of the covenant covered on all sides with gold, in which was a golden urn holding the manna, and Aaron’s staff that budded, and the tablets of the covenant. 5Above it were the cherubim of glory overshadowing the mercy seat. Of these things we cannot now speak in detail.

6These preparations having thus been made, the priests go regularly into the first section, performing their ritual duties, 7but into the second only the high priest goes, and he but once a year, and not without taking blood, which he offers for himself and for the unintentional sins of the people. (The greatest of the Jewish high priests had to admit that they were sinners themselves and they had to present sin-offerings for themselves as well as for the people. But our Lord Jesus has no sin of his own; which is part of the reason he was able to bear our sin.)

8By this the Holy Spirit indicates that the way into the holy places is not yet opened as long as the first section is still standing 9(which is symbolic for the present age). (The Most Holy Place was not open to all everyone, but only to Jews; and not to all Jews, but only to priests; and not to all priests, but only to the high priest; and not even to him at all times, or indeed at any time, but only on one solitary day in the year.) According to this arrangement, gifts and sacrifices are offered that cannot perfect the conscience of the worshiper (That is, they could not atone for sin. Therefore these gifts and sacrifices could not give peace to the conscience), 10but deal only with food and drink and various washings, regulations for the body imposed until the time of reformation.

These washings and regulations were a shadow of the Lord Jesus Christ. When the Light of the World appeared, the reason for these dim images was over. The time of reformation is now. Jesus is the completion and fulfillment of the ceremonial law. Is it not amazing that anyone would wish to undo this reformation and go back to the uselessness of trying to keep the law?  Even worse, many professing Christians want us to practice the follies of the Roman Catholic Church in our own places of worship.

11But when Christ appeared as a high priest of the good things that have come, then through the greater and more perfect tent (not made with hands, that is, not of this creation) 12he entered once for all into the holy places, not by means of the blood of goats and calves but by means of his own blood, thus securing an eternal redemption. (Our Lord’s offering is never to be repeated. It has been presented once and the result has been the absolute eternal redemption of all for whom he bled as a substitute. Oh what joy to see Jesus behind the second curtain, in the Most Holy Place, with a perfect offering, and to know that the one sacrifice has saved us.)

13For if the blood of goats and bulls, and sprinkling of defiled persons with the blood of goats and bulls and with the ashes of a heifer, sanctify for the purification of the flesh, 14how much more will the blood of Christ, who through the eternal Spirit offered himself without blemish to God, purify our conscience from dead works to serve the living God.

Who can answer this question, “How much more?” It is a glorious declaration. Jesus can most certainly remove our sins. Beloved, has he removed yours? Answer as if you were answering before the living God!

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¹ Romans 5:2

Year One, April 3

Whoever Believes and Is Baptized Will Be Saved1

We have selected for our present reading a portion that illustrates the difference between the law and the gospel.

  

Romans 10:1-21

1Brothers, my heart’s desire and prayer to God for them is that they may be saved.

The true spirit of Christianity is that of love and sympathy. It leads to prayer even for persecutors and to hope for the most stubborn of people. Paul prayed for the Jews.

2I bear them witness that they have a zeal for God, but not according to knowledge.

Do not deny the good points in others, even if they are not all we could wish them to be.

3For being ignorant of the righteousness of God, and seeking to establish their own, they did not submit to God’s righteousness. 4For Christ is the end of the law for righteousness to everyone who believes.

Christ fulfills the law’s purpose for us. When we have HIM we have all the law requires.

5For Moses writes about the righteousness that is based on the law, that the person who does the commandments shall live by them. 6But the righteousness based on faith says, “Do not say in your heart, ‘Who will ascend into heaven?’” (that is, to bring Christ down) 7or, “‘Who will descend into the abyss?’” (that is, to bring Christ up from the dead). 8But what does it say? “The word is near you, in your mouth and in your heart” (that is, the word of faith that we proclaim); 9because, if you confess with your mouth that Jesus is Lord and believe in your heart that God raised him from the dead, you will be saved. (Precious gospel. Not doing, but believing, saves us. We do not have to do or feel great things but simply to trust.)

10For with the heart one believes and is justified, and with the mouth one confesses and is saved. 11For the Scripture says, “Everyone who believes in him will not be put to shame.” 12For there is no distinction between Jew and Greek; for the same Lord is Lord of all, bestowing his riches on all who call on him. 13For “everyone who calls on the name of the Lord will be saved.”2  (Think about this verse. It should comfort even the most depressed seeker. Real prayer will be heard sooner or later.)

14How then will they call on him in whom they have not believed? And how are they to believe in him of whom they have never heard? And how are they to hear without someone preaching? 15And how are they to preach unless they are sent? As it is written, “How beautiful are the feet of those who preach the good news!”3 16But they have not all obeyed the gospel. For Isaiah says, “Lord, who has believed what he has heard from us?”4 17So faith comes from hearing, and hearing through the word of Christ. (Be determined to continue attending the gospel ministry and be committed to listen carefully, because it is the way that faith comes.)

18But I ask, have they not heard? Indeed they have, for

“Their voice has gone out to all the earth,

and their words to the ends of the world.”5

Sadly, not all hearers become believers. Most hear with deaf ears and do not obey the truth.

19But I ask, did Israel not understand? First Moses says,

“I will make you jealous of those who are not a nation;

with a foolish nation I will make you angry.”6

20Then Isaiah is so bold as to say,

“I have been found by those who did not seek me;

I have shown myself to those who did not ask for me.”7

Sovereign grace sometimes saves the most unlikely people. At the same time those who sit under a gospel ministry may harden their hearts and perish. Beware of thinking outward advantages are enough. You must have real faith in Jesus.

21But of Israel he says, “All day long I have held out my hands to a disobedient and contrary people.”8 (They were sincerely warned and lovingly invited. Yet it was all for nothing. Will this be the case with any of this household? May it never be!)

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¹ Mark 16:16

² Joel 2:32

³ Isaiah 52:7

⁴ Isaiah 53:1

⁵ Psalm 19:4

⁶ Deuteronomy 32:21

⁷ Isaiah 65:1

⁸ Isaiah 65:2

Year One, April 2

God, Be Merciful To Me, a Sinner1

We are now about to read the awe-inspiring heart of the law of God, that is contained in

  

Exodus 20:1-17

but, before we read a line, let us sincerely ask the Lord to forgive our offenses against his holy name and to accept us in the Son of his love. God’s law has been honored and kept perfectly by the Lord Jesus. There is nothing left out and nothing repeated in the Ten Commandments. It is the only perfect law in the universe. None of us have kept it and therefore it would be foolish to hope for salvation by keeping it, because nothing but perfect obedience can be accepted by the justice of God.

1And God spoke all these words, saying,

2“I am the LORD your God, who brought you out of the land of Egypt, out of the house of slavery.

3“You shall have no other gods before me.”

There is only one true God. We must not dare to worship or obey any other. Beware of making gold, or yourself, or your dearest relation into a god. “Little children, keep yourselves from idols.”2

4“You shall not make for yourself a carved image, or any likeness of anything that is in heaven above, or that is in the earth beneath, or that is in the water under the earth. 5You shall not bow down to them or serve them, for I the LORD your God am a jealous God, visiting the iniquity of the fathers on the children to the third and the fourth generation of those who hate me, 6but showing steadfast love to thousands of those who love me and keep my commandments.”

In the second commandment we are forbidden to worship God by bowing down to any image or worshiping him in any way he has not commanded. How great are the crimes of those who worship crosses, pictures, and bread; and even connect the idea of holiness to places and buildings.

7“You shall not take the name of the LORD your God in vain, for the LORD will not hold him guiltless who takes his name in vain.”

Any unholy use of the divine name is extremely sinful. Beware of flippantly saying, “Oh My God,” and other disrespectful expressions.

8“Remember the Sabbath day, to keep it holy. 9Six days you shall labor, and do all your work, 10but the seventh day is a Sabbath to the LORD your God. On it you shall not do any work, you, or your son, or your daughter, your male servant, or your female servant, or your livestock, or the sojourner who is within your gates. 11For in six days the LORD made heaven and earth, the sea, and all that is in them, and rested the seventh day. Therefore the LORD blessed the Sabbath day and made it holy.”

One day in seven is the Lord’s. To rob him of it is to injure ourselves as well as to disobey our Maker. Rest and worship are two of our sweetest blessings. The day should be set aside especially for them.

12“Honor your father and your mother, that your days may be long in the land that the LORD your God is giving you.”

We owe our parents respect, love, and obedience. This is the first commandment that comes with a promise.

13“You shall not murder.”

Anger and doing anything that would injure the health of ourselves or others are forbidden.

14“You shall not commit adultery.”

This forbids lust of heart, thought, and look, as well as actual actions.

15“You shall not steal.”

This forbids even taking things of little value as well as cheating and every kind of wrong.

16“You shall not bear false witness against your neighbor.”

All lying is condemned.

17“You shall not covet your neighbor’s house; you shall not covet your neighbor’s wife, or his male servant, or his female servant, or his ox, or his donkey, or anything that is your neighbor’s.”

This deals with sins of the heart. It shows that the command is very far reaching and involves even our thoughts and imaginations. Who can read it and then hope to be saved by their own activities and good deeds? Lord, have mercy on us and forgive us for breaking your holy law.

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¹ Luke 18:13

² 1 John 5:21

Year One, April 1

Let Us Then With Confidence Draw Near To the Throne Of Grace1

Exodus 19:1-6; 10-11; 16-18; 20-23

1On the third new moon after the people of Israel had gone out of the land of Egypt, on that day they came into the wilderness of Sinai. 2They set out from Rephidim and came into the wilderness of Sinai, and they encamped in the wilderness. There Israel encamped before the mountain, 3while Moses went up to God. The LORD called to him out of the mountain, saying,  “Thus you shall say to the house of Jacob, and tell the people of Israel: 4You yourselves have seen what I did to the Egyptians, and how I bore you on eagles’ wings and brought you to myself. 5Now therefore, if you will indeed obey my voice and keep my covenant, you shall be my treasured possession among all peoples, for all the earth is mine; 6aand you shall be to me a kingdom of priests and a holy nation.”

What a loving introduction to the law! If anything could have prepared rebellious people to obey God, this would have done it. The Lord has provided for his children and raised them up, but, alas, they have rebelled against him.

10The LORD said to Moses, “Go to the people and consecrate them today and tomorrow, and let them wash their garments 11and be ready for the third day. For on the third day the LORD will come down on Mount Sinai in the sight of all the people.”

Their clothes smell of Egypt and must be washed, to show them that people and everything they touch is unholy. When God meets a person in love, they must be completely cleansed from the filth of sin by being washed in the blood of Jesus Christ.

16On the morning of the third day there were thunders and lightnings and a thick cloud on the mountain and a very loud trumpet blast, so that all the people in the camp trembled. (Those who have ears to hear the law must tremble, because it condemns all who are under it.) 17Then Moses brought the people out of the camp to meet God, and they took their stand at the foot of the mountain. 18Now Mount Sinai was wrapped in smoke because the LORD had descended on it in fire. The smoke of it went up like the smoke of a kiln, and the whole mountain trembled greatly.

20The LORD came down on Mount Sinai, to the top of the mountain. And the LORD called Moses to the top of the mountain, and Moses went up.

21And the LORD said to Moses, “Go down and warn the people, lest they break through to the LORD to look and many of them perish. 22Also let the priests who come near to the LORD consecrate themselves, lest the LORD break out against them.” 23And Moses said to the LORD, “The people cannot come up to Mount Sinai, for you yourself warned us, saying, ‘Set limits around the mountain and consecrate it.’”

This is the spirit of the law. It shows us our sinfulness. It sets us at a distance from God, but the gospel removes our sin and brings us near to God. Hear how the Holy Spirit speaks concerning the law, by his servant Paul,2 in

  

Hebrews 12:18-26

18For you have not come to what may be touched, a blazing fire and darkness and gloom and a tempest 19and the sound of a trumpet and a voice whose words made the hearers beg that no further messages be spoken to them. 20For they could not endure the order that was given, “If even a beast touches the mountain, it shall be stoned.” 21Indeed, so terrifying was the sight that Moses said, “I tremble with fear.” 22But you have come to Mount Zion and to the city of the living God, the heavenly Jerusalem, and to innumerable angels in festal gathering, 23and to the assembly of the firstborn, who are enrolled in heaven, and to God, the judge of all, and to the spirits of the righteous made perfect, 24and to Jesus, the mediator of a new covenant, and to the sprinkled blood that speaks a better word than the blood of Abel.

25See that you do not refuse him who is speaking. For if they did not escape when they refused him who warned them on the earth, much less will we escape if we reject him who warns from heaven. 26At that time his voice shook the earth, but now he has promised, “Yet once more I will shake not only the earth but also the heavens.”

Dear members of this family, let these solemn words sink deep into your souls. Do not despise the Lord Jesus, but believe in him now.

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¹ Hebrews 4:16

² Many believe the apostle Paul wrote the book of Hebrews.

Year One, March 31

With God All Things Are Possible1

Today we will read a part of Israel’s history found in

  

Psalm 78:13-32

13 He divided the sea and let them pass through it,

and made the waters stand like a heap.

The story of the Israelites freedom from slavery begins at the Red Sea and the drowning of the Egyptian army. Our spiritual liberty begins at the drowning of all our sins in Jesus’ blood.

14 In the daytime he led them with a cloud,

and all the night with a fiery light.

Thanks be to God for his guiding hand. We are not wanderers who have lost their way in a barren desert without roads. We follow where the perfect wisdom of Jehovah leads.

15 He split rocks in the wilderness

and gave them drink abundantly as from the deep.

16 He made streams come out of the rock

and caused waters to flow down like rivers.

God gave the Israelites generous and amazing supplies. These are excellent pictures of the streams of grace that flow to us from the great depths of his electing love and covenant faithfulness.

17 Yet they sinned still more against him,

rebelling against the Most High in the desert.

What a change! They receive grace, but then they sinned. It is enough to make us weep to see how good God is and how badly people respond to that goodness. It would seem as if the more the Lord blesses people the less people bless their God.

18 They tested God in their heart

by demanding the food they craved.

To wish God would help us to satisfy our unholy feelings is to tempt the Lord. But his holiness will not give in to our desires, because God cannot be tempted.

19 They spoke against God, saying,

“Can God spread a table in the wilderness?

20 He struck the rock so that water gushed out,

and streams overflowed.

Can he also give bread

or provide meat for his people?”

To question the Lord’s power is to speak against him. Unbelief is actually trying to damage the reputation of the all powerful and gracious God.

21 Therefore, when the LORD heard, he was full of wrath;

a fire was kindled against Jacob;

his anger rose against Israel,

22 because they did not believe in God

and did not trust his saving power.

Nothing angers God as much as unbelief. Oh for grace to keep us from not believing the Holy One.

23 Yet he commanded the skies above

and opened the doors of heaven,

24 and he rained down on them manna to eat

and gave them the grain of heaven.

This made their unbelief all the worse. To not trust God is a crime. To not trust God when he has been so merciful to us is a greater crime.  It is much worse to doubt when we have already received such great favors from our gracious Father.

25 Man ate of the bread of the angels;

he sent them food in abundance.

26 He caused the east wind to blow in the heavens,

and by his power he led out the south wind;

27 he rained meat on them like dust,

winged birds like the sand of the seas;

28 he let them fall in the midst of their camp,

all around their dwellings.

When God gives, he gives generously.

29 And they ate and were well filled,

for he gave them what they craved.

30 But before they had satisfied their craving,

Satisfying a desire does not kill it. A person can be satisfied with evil, but they are not sickened by it. They may change the kind of the sin, but they continue to sin. Notice that, in this case, God’s generosity was not a sign of his love, but actually a sign of his anger.

while the food was still in their mouths,

31 the anger of God rose against them,

and he killed the strongest of them

and laid low the young men of Israel

God often strikes the mighty while he has pity on the poor and the weak.

32 In spite of all this, they still sinned;

despite his wonders, they did not believe.

Mercy did not soften them. Punishment did not humble them.

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¹ Matthew 19:26

Year One, March 30

Watch and Pray1

Exodus 17:8-16

8Then Amalek came and fought with Israel at Rephidim. (These violent nomads attacked Israel without warning. It was a cowardly and unprovoked act and came when the Israelites were least able to defend themselves. They seem to have been the most cruel and mean of all Israel’s enemies. As such, they are examples that teach us about sin and Satan.) 9So Moses said to Joshua, “Choose for us men, and go out and fight with Amalek. Tomorrow I will stand on the top of the hill with the staff of God in my hand.” (We must fight as well as pray. Though effort without prayer would be pride, prayer without effort shows disrespect for God. Joshua must go to battle and Moses must go to pray. Jesus said, “Watch and pray.”)

10So Joshua did as Moses told him, and fought with Amalek, while Moses, Aaron, and Hur went up to the top of the hill. 11Whenever Moses held up his hand, Israel prevailed, and whenever he lowered his hand, Amalek prevailed. 12But Moses’ hands grew weary, so they took a stone and put it under him, and he sat on it, while Aaron and Hur held up his hands, one on one side, and the other on the other side. So his hands were steady until the going down of the sun. (Let all of us make great effort to support the prayerfulness of the church, because if that becomes weak everything becomes weak. “Therefore lift your drooping hands and strengthen your weak knees.”2 Spiritual evil can only be conquered by the life of prayer. When we fail to pray, the enemy easily defeats us.) 13And Joshua overwhelmed Amalek and his people with the sword.

14Then the LORD said to Moses, “Write this as a memorial in a book and recite it in the ears of Joshua, that I will utterly blot out the memory of Amalek from under heaven.”

It has been suggested by an old writer, that the Lord’s reason for this special command to record this event is so his people will follow the example. We are to fight against sin and to expect victory over it by the help God gives us in answer to our prayers. Our Lord Jesus is both our Joshua who puts our sins to death and our Moses who prays for us to overcome them. His hands never need holding up. “He will not grow faint or be discouraged.”3 Amalek will be totally destroyed and we will be freed from sin forever.

15And Moses built an altar and called the name of it, The LORD is my banner, (because when Moses raised his staff, it was like a holy banner to Israel. Whenever we win victories we should bring thank offerings to the Lord and give glory to God alone.) 16saying, “A hand upon the throne of the LORD! The LORD will have war with Amalek from generation to generation.” (This war was still going on when King Saul reigned and he was instructed to remove that nation completely.)

Because of the sinfulness of Amalek, as well as its unprovoked hostility against the tribes of Israel, the nation was doomed by divine justice to complete destruction. In the same way, our sins are doomed by divine grace to be crucified with Christ, so that we should not serve sin any longer. Let us read:

  

Deuteronomy 25:17-19

17“Remember what Amalek did to you on the way as you came out of Egypt, 18how he attacked you on the way when you were faint and weary, and cut off your tail, those who were lagging behind you, and he did not fear God. (God will not tolerate attacks on his people. Injuries to them are seen as injuries to him.) 19Therefore when the LORD your God has given you rest from all your enemies around you, in the land that the LORD your God is giving you for an inheritance to possess, you shall blot out the memory of Amalek from under heaven; you shall not forget.

With the help of the Eternal Holy Spirit let us carry on war against all sin to complete victory, whether it is in ourselves or others. All sins are our deadly enemies. No ceasefires or coming to terms of peace are allowed.  Death to them all, because they all aim at our death. Our sins were what crucified our Lord Jesus.

  

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¹ Matthew 26:41

² Hebrews 12:12

³ Isaiah 42:4

Year One, March 29

I Give Water In the Wilderness1

Exodus 17:1-7

1All the congregation of the people of Israel moved on from the wilderness of Sin by stages, according to the commandment of the LORD, and camped at Rephidim, but there was no water for the people to drink. (God’s people never go long before they are tested.) 2Therefore the people quarreled with Moses and said, “Give us water to drink.” And Moses said to them, “Why do you quarrel with me? Why do you test the LORD?”

Complaining about things that happen to us is really complaining about the Lord, no matter how we may try to hide it. After all, what did Moses have to do with it? The source of this sin of grumbling was unbelief. Could they not trust Jehovah? Would he not be sure to supply their needs? Had he ever forgotten them? Despite all our experience of God’s faithfulness to us, we are also guilty of the sin of not believing our Lord. The one who is without fault among us, let them throw the first stone at Israel.

3But the people thirsted there for water, and the people grumbled against Moses and said, “Why did you bring us up out of Egypt, to kill us and our children and our livestock with thirst?” 4So Moses cried to the LORD, “What shall I do with this people? They are almost ready to stone me.” (Moses took the case to the right court. The people cried against him, but he cried to the Lord. Here is our best plan of action. We may always cry out to God.) 5And the LORD said to Moses, “Pass on before the people, taking with you some of the elders of Israel, and take in your hand the staff with which you struck the Nile, and go. 6Behold, I will stand before you there on the rock at Horeb, and you shall strike the rock, and water shall come out of it, and the people will drink.” (See how the Lord answers their grumblings. He could let their complaints come true and leave them to die of thirst; but he does not respond to their bitter speeches and let them have what they deserved. Instead, he gives them living streams from a rock. Surely the Lord, who repays good for evil like this, deserves our heart’s constant trust from this day forward. It is a wicked insult to doubt one who is so overflowing with kindness. Do not repay evil for good.)

7And he called the name of the place Massah and Meribah, because of the quarreling of the people of Israel, and because they tested the LORD by saying, “Is the LORD among us or not?” (Massah means testing and Meribah means quarreling. The Lord takes note of his people’s disapproval and remembers them. We must not think a grumbling spirit is a small evil. The Lord has marked this occasion with a brand of disgrace.)

The God who supplied Israel with natural water is ready to grant us the living water of his grace. Hear his words in:

  

Isaiah 41:17-18

17 When the poor and needy seek water,

and there is none,

and their tongue is parched with thirst,

I the LORD will answer them,

I the God of Israel will not forsake them.

18 I will open rivers on the bare heights,

and fountains in the midst of the valleys.

I will make the wilderness a pool of water,

and the dry land springs of water.

To strengthen our faith in this promise we are told to look back on the Lord’s wonders of old and to expect even greater things. God has not changed. The supply of his power and grace never runs out.

  

Isaiah 43:18-21

18 “Remember not the former things,

nor consider the things of old.

19 Behold, I am doing a new thing;

now it springs forth, do you not perceive it?

I will make a way in the wilderness

and rivers in the desert.

20 The wild beasts will honor me,

the jackals and the ostriches,

for I give water in the wilderness,

rivers in the desert,

to give drink to my chosen people,

21 the people whom I formed for myself

that they might declare my praise.”

Glorify the Lord! We receive fresh supplies of grace from him every day and even every hour. He has not kept back any good thing from us. His praise will always be in our mouths.

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¹ Isaiah 43:20