What a wonderful journey. The eighth day of celebration for all those outside of Jerusalem. As partakers of the table in the Kingdom of God, we are awaiting the coming of the spiritual Jerusalem, that will descend from the heavens, so technically we are all outside at the moment. Praise be to God, who lives forever and ever. A review of most of the topics covered this week, as well as prayer and benediction for the year to come. May the Lord bless you and your table, as He has blessed me and mine, for His glory, amen.
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Our God calls us into relationship with Him. What a privilege, what an honour. With the Wedding Feast, with the Festival Feasts, with our entire lives. All glory and praise to Him. Out of the frying pan and into the fire. God's chosen people displayed all the harsh and ugly characteristics of a life worthy of destruction. Although being resolute and faithful would be useful traits to take into the Holy Land, when stony faces and hard hearts are turned towards God they are the ugliest things in all creation. Obdurate and unforgiving. Teach us thy ways, Oh Lord! That it may be well with us in the land! An o so human trait and condition. At one point the Israelites yearned and lamented over the quality of the cucumbers that they'd had in Egypt. Irrespective of the slavery, the whips, the betrayal...cucumber quality. God's patience with us is so amazing, yet it is the spirit of grumbling that surely tests it. Low level, insistent and, worst of all, persistent. A a sombre thought in this time of celebration. God is MUCH bigger than us. Not just physically, but in every way imaginable...and then some. One author wrote, "the reason we cannot evaluate the magnitude of God's love, is that we have nothing to compare it to." Continually acknowledging God for who He is avoids the slippery slope of pride, where we think we can do all of this on our own, a point evidenced by the Israelites in the wilderness, and by the called here today. Be thee holy, as I am holy.... A challenge from the very beginning, one we are unable to meet without the Saviour's help. Yet a call it remains, and antipathy, procrastination and even ignorance can't hold us in sway forever... Although the main themes surrounding the Exodus repeat throughout the entirety of the celebration, it is hoped that a closer look at each one will bring blessing, insight and understanding, as a deeper revelation leads to a deeper response in praise and thanksgiving to our God. "We shall enter Your courts with thanksgiving in our hearts, we shall enter Your courts with praise..." He HAS made us glad! Day one of the devotionals, may you be comforted and blessed. Shake the Lulav! Lift up your voices in praise! Hosanna! Our God reigns! Hosanna! Our God is able! "The first will be last and the last will be first..." The Feast of Booths marks the final festival holiday ordained by the Lord in the book of Leviticus. Attended by Jesus and Paul, I see no discernible reason why the feast is no longer celebrated. What was the Lord showing us? What can be learned? In my experience, as with all the things that God has laid down, there is much to be gained and known. Glory to God! Glory to the God, Most High! Hoping to get round to a full 'branches and palms' booth at some point, a tent two years ago and the church now will suffice. <3 |
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