DBG - January 30 - Exodus 30-32

In this chapter we have directions for the building of the Altar of Inces and the Brazan Laver, along with the recipes for the anointing oil and incense.

vs. 1-5 – The Altar of Incense, or Golden Altar, was 1½ feet square at its base 3 feet tall.  It was made of gold plated wood.  Like the Brazen Altar, it had four decorative projections on its four corners.  It was carried on gold plated rods. 

vs. 6 – The placement for the Altar of Incense is before the veil that separated the Holy Place from the Most Holy Place in the Tabernacle.

vs. 7-10 – Incense was burned on this Altar every morning and evening.  That is its only purpose.  On the Day of Atonement (see Leviticus 16), the blood of a sacrifice was placed on it its four horns.

vs. 11-16 – Every male Israelite over 20 years of age was to give a yearly offering of ½ shekel of silver.  A shekel is about 4/10ths of an ounce.  This is the tax that Christ pays in Matthew 17:24-27.

vs. 17-21 – The Brazen Laver held water that the priests used to wash themselves throughout their appointed duties.  No measurements or details are given here about its construction.  It does seem to consist of two parts, the basin and a stand.

vs. 22-33 – Here are the directions for making and using the holy anointing oil that was used to consecrate the Tabernacle and the priests.  The recipe is 12.6 pounds of myrrh, 6.3 pounds of cinnamon, 6.3 pounds of calamus (a sweet cane), 12.6 pounds of cassia (a cinnamon bark), and 1½ gallons of olive oil.  Some of these ingredients are thought to have originated in India.

vs. 34-38 – Here are the directions for the incense that was burned in the Tabernacle on the Golden Altar.  The precise ingredients are difficult to ascertain, but appear to be exotic spices from the East, myrrh, shell fish crust, and a gun resin.

In this chapter we see the workers prepared for the task of building the Tabernacle and the reiteration of the importance of the Sabbath.

vs. 1-11 – God had prepared the craftsmen necessary for the task of building the Tabernacle.  These would have been trained in their service in Egypt. Bezaleel, meaning “under the shadow of God”, was the superintendent over the work.  His assistant was Aholidab, meaning “tent of my father”. 

vs. 12-17 – The Sabbath is again established as a perpetual covenant upon the people of Israel.

vs. 18 – Thus concludes the first section of the Law.  There is much more to come but things are taking place in the camp that must be dealt with.

In this chapter we see Israel forsake its covenant with God and in pride attempt to worship Him according to their own will.

vs. 1 – As Moses was on the mountain receiving the Law, the people have grown impatient.  They forget the covenant they made in chapter 24 to follow the Lord only.  They demand other gods to follow to lead them.

vs. 2-4 – Aaron takes the golden earrings from the people and makes an idol in the form of a golden calf.

vs. 4-6 – Pay close attention to the wording in these verses.  Aaron says the idol IS the one that delivered them from Egypt.  He says that the feast on the next day was to JEHOVAH.  He did not create a new god for them to worship.  He created a new way, based on the old ways of the ancient polytheists, of worshipping the True God.  They did not reject God as much as they rejected how God had said He should be worshipped.  The use of an idol was not so much that they worshipped the idol, but that the idol was a sort of proxy or focus of their worship that redirected to God.  The description of their worship that follows could be about almost any other false god of the era.

vs. 7-14 – God tells Moses that he needs to get down to the camp because of the sin of the people.  The righteous anger of the Lord is raging against them, and Moses intercedes on their behalf.

vs. 15-16 – Moses descends carrying the stones with the Law upon them engraved by the finger of God.

vs. 17-18 – Note the comparison of the worship scene to chaotic battle.  Nowhere in Scripture is such worship prescribed or practiced before God. 

vs. 19-20 – Moses immediately responds in anger.  He  casts the stone tablets down and smashes them.  He takes the golden calf, grinds it to a powder, and pours it into the people’s water supply. 

vs. 21-24 – Aaron makes excuses when confronted by Moses.  He blames the people.

vs. 25 – The nakedness is likely two-fold.  First, literal nakedness, which was common in the debauched worship of the time.  Second, metaphoric nakedness, which speaks to their shameful and evil actions.

vs. 26-29 – The Levites are the first to repent of their evil and stand beside Moses.  They are told to get their swords and attack the worshippers of the calf. How this was determined is not completely explained, but I think they searched out those who refused to repent and were still actively engaged in their perverted worship.  3,000 are thus slain.

vs. 30-34 – Moses ascends the mountain again and makes intercession for the people before God.  He offers himself to be the subject of God’s judgment if it will spare the people.  God’s justice would see the sinner punished, but His grace and mercy would still extend to the people.  He would not reject them but would continue to lead them to the Promised Land. However, they will still be judged for their sins.  The Holy God will always work to purge His people from sin.

vs. 35 – God continued to chastise His people through an unnamed plague.  The incident of the golden calf did not close the book on the wayward hearts of the people.

I have spent much time in the past few years studying to determine what is Biblical worship.  I am convinced that chapter 32 is extremely important to understanding what it is and what it is not.  The Israelites knew enough just in the Ten Commandments to know what they did was wrong, but they chose to worship God by their own tastes and modern trends while rejecting God’s revealed instructions.  We see this same scenario playing out time and time again in our own day.  How we worship is important, not just Who we worship.  Worship is not about emotional highs or frenzied actions.  The Almighty God has set the boundaries for what pleases Him and He accepts as honoring Him. 

Our hymn today is “Who Is on the Lord’s Side?” by Frances Havergal.  It takes up the rousing call of Moses in 22:26 and echoes it for us to also stand true and strong for God today.

Who is on the Lord’s side? Who will serve the King?
Who will be His helpers, other lives to bring?
Who will leave the world’s side? Who will face the foe?
Who is on the Lord’s side? Who for Him will go?
By Thy call of mercy, by Thy grace divine,
We are on the Lord’s side—Savior, we are Thine!

Not for weight of glory, nor for crown and palm,
Enter we the army, raise the warrior psalm;
But for love that claimeth lives for whom He died:
He whom Jesus saveth marches on His side.
By Thy love constraining, by Thy grace divine,
We are on the Lord’s side—Savior, we are Thine!

Jesus, Thou hast bought us, not with gold or gem,
But with Thine own lifeblood, for Thy diadem;
With Thy blessing filling each who comes to Thee,
Thou hast made us willing, Thou hast made us free.
By Thy grand redemption, by Thy grace divine,
We are on the Lord’s side—Savior, we are Thine!

Fierce may be the conflict, strong may be the foe,
But the King’s own army none can overthrow;
’Round His standard ranging, vict’ry is secure,
For His truth unchanging makes the triumph sure.
Joyfully enlisting, by Thy grace divine,
We are on the Lord’s side—Savior, we are Thine!

Chosen to be soldiers, in an alien land,
Chosen, called, and faithful, for our Captain’s band;
In the service royal, let us not grow cold,
Let us be right loyal, noble, true and bold.
Master, Thou wilt keep us, by Thy grace divine,
Always on the Lord’s side—Savior, always Thine!