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Posts Tagged ‘Exodus 19’

Yitro – A story for Valentine’s Day!

Posted in Exodus, tagged , , , on February 14, 2023| 1 Comment »

YITRO
Based on Parashah Yitro, Exodus 18:1-20:23

Behold my bride!
She may not be pure
but she has come to Me
at the mountain
in the wilderness

She has placed herself
under my authority
yielding herself to Me
accepting My work of redemption
on her behalf

Tho’ I’ve freed her from bondage
she still thinks like a slave
afraid, unsure
misguided and unclean
she shivers, huddled before me

But I see her beauty
hidden beneath the layers
of Egyptian mud and sand
I sense her heart races at the
thought of Me
My mighty acts fresh in her mind

How I love her!
I will covenant Myself to her
My covenant love will keep her

I’m not naive about her
stubborn heart and wandering eye
But rather My kindness will
lead her to repentance
My steadfast love will win her over
I am her beloved and she is mine!

***
Beloved One!
I am so grateful
You came to rescue me
my enemy was too strong for me

You are beautiful, my beloved
You opened the doors of my prison
You set me free
You brought me here
Your mighty acts
take my breath away
my heart is racing at your closeness
my neck and cheeks warm
I’m expose and vulnerable before You

Great are You!
I pledge myself to You!

My face is dirty and my hair matted
What commends me to You?
My captors violated me
repeatedly, relentlessly
I have nothing to offer
all has been spoiled
my youth is also gone
What commends me to You?

I understand my attraction to You
My deliverer!
Mighty Warrior!
My hiding place
My shalom
I know why I need You
but why would you want me
there are so many more fair
and you are a King
You could have your pick
as many as You desire
Who am I?

* * *

Beloved!
I have chosen you
and groomed you
and prepared you
for this day,
our betrothal

This is the day Your Father Abraham
looked toward but never saw
I did not choose you based on
what men value

No, I am able to take such
at my whim should I desire them
the earth and its fullness are mine
I have no appetite for such
I long for deep, abiding connection
exclusivity, intimacy and covenant
I desire marriage, sweet Ysra’el
you are to become my covenant wife
you stand before Me
and this mountain–this day

I will speak life
provision
homeland
future
hope
blessing
treasure
over you

We will covenant
And our covenant will have no end.

Mary Beth
2/14/2023

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Exodus – Chapter 19

Posted in Exodus, tagged , on July 18, 2017|

Read Exodus 19
1. What does God tell Moses to tell the people in verse 4-6?

2. How did the people respond in verse 8?

3. What must the people do in preparation for God’s coming to them? What restrictions does God give them? Why?

4. This close encounter with God at the end of Exodus 19 is amazing. It must have been so incredibly frightening and intense for the people. God is awesome. What do the following verses teach you about God?
□ Deuteronomy 4:24

□ 1 kings 8:27

□ Jeremiah 23:24

□ Psalm 29:4-5

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Me, a priest?

Posted in Bible, Bible Study, Church, New Testament, Old Testament, tagged , , , , , on January 12, 2012|

But you are a chosen generation, a royal priesthood, a holy nation, His own special people, that you may proclaim the praises of Him who called you out of darkness into His marvelous light.   1 Peter 2:9

high priest

Peter, for all his awkwardness during the earthly ministry of Jesus, definitely pulled things together when he wrote his epistles.  This verse in his first epistle is just marvelous.  The whole section in 1 Peter 2 is worth an in-depth study.  The mention of us (the church) being a priesthood is especially interesting given its very “Jewish”  flavor.

Of course, there is nothing new under the sun and Peter lifted this imagery, probably very intentionally, from Exodus  19:5-6 where Moses is given this to tell the children of Israel by God:

 ‘Now therefore, if you will indeed obey My voice and keep My covenant, then you shall be a special treasure to Me above all people; for all the earth is Mine. And you shall be to Me a kingdom of priests and a holy nation.’ These are the words which you shall speak to the children of Israel.”

A couple of quick observations:

  • Priests in the Old Testament had privileges that no other member of the society Israel, namely they were the only ones with access to God and the only ones allowed to make sacrifices to God
  • The limited access to God of the Old Testament was represented by the separations in the Tabernacle (Gate, Court, Holy Place, Most Holy Place) and later the temple.  The veil represented the separation between God and man.  Only the High Priest could go past the veil into the Most Holy Place and then only once a year to make atonement for the people
  • When Jesus died on the cross, the veil was torn and the separation between God and man was removed
  • We have access to God by the shed blood of Jesus on the cross
Peter reminds us from whence we have come:  who once were not a people but are now the people of God, who had not obtained mercy but now have obtained mercy.  1 Peter 2:10  It is good news!

As a final thought, let us consider our purpose as this “chosen generation,”  “this royal priesthood,” and “this holy nation.”  For Peter does tell us the why:  “that you may proclaim the praises of Him who called you out of darkness into His marvelous light.”  1 Peter 2:9

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