Reading
SAA Notes
Each tribe brought the same rich offerings to the dedication of the altar. The privilege of being a tribe in Israel brought responsibilities, no matter whether you were a large tribe or small, rich or poor. We, as a Christian congregation and denomination, have as great responsibilities in the Gospel – where our offering is Christ!
SJA Notes
* Dear God, You are the one who executes judgement, putting down one and lifting up another. Please help us to submit under Your mighty will.
“But to the sons of Kohath he gave none, because they were charged with the service of the holy things that had to be carried on the shoulder.”
We read today the outworking of the setting up and taking down and the transportation of the tabernacle.
The Gershonites were to put up and taken down and transport the tent itself, the curtains, hangings and cords of the tabernacle. They get two wagons and four oxen.
The Merarites helped with the setting up and taking down, and were to transport the frames, bars, pillars and bases, as well as all their equipment and accessories. They got four wagons and eight oxen.
And what about the Kohathites?
No oxen. No wagons.
Their burden was the ark and its cherubim, the veil, the table, lamps and the alter.
The holy things.
In Matthew 16 and Luke 19 Jesus says,
“If anyone would come after me, let him deny himself and take up his cross and follow me.”
Jesus did this on the walk to Golgotha, carrying a physical cross.
The cross is not a holy thing. It is an instrument of blood and death, an evil and cruel method of punishment.
Jesus bore the cross on His shoulders obediently, suffering the death of a wretched criminal, bearing on Himself the sins of the many.
And so our King calls us to walk as He did, the same way, submitting obediently under the Father’s will for us.
Follow Jesus.
Instead of carrying the holy things on our shoulders, we follow Him who IS the holy thing!
We are in Christ little portable tabernacles, God’s kingdom, not built by human hands.
And so we follow Jesus, THE HOLY ONE.
We take up our cross because He took up our sins and bore them on the tree.
* Dear Lord God,
Please help us to see Jesus today.
We thank You Lord God for the salvation that You wrought through You the Son at calvary.
Please help us wrestle each day with what it means to take up our cross and FOLLOW YOU.
Amen.