QT 6/9/2026 Heb 3:7-15, Learning what real faith means

Hebrews 3:7–15 (ESV) —

7 Therefore, as the Holy Spirit says,

“Today, if you hear his voice,

8 do not harden your hearts as in the rebellion,

on the day of testing in the wilderness,

9 where your fathers put me to the test

and saw my works for forty years.

10 Therefore I was provoked with that generation,

and said, ‘They always go astray in their heart;

they have not known my ways.’

11 As I swore in my wrath,

‘They shall not enter my rest.’ ”

12 Take care, brothers, lest there be in any of you an evil, unbelieving heart, leading you to fall away from the living God. 13 But exhort one another every day, as long as it is called “today,” that none of you may be hardened by the deceitfulness of sin. 14 For we have come to share in Christ, if indeed we hold our original confidence firm to the end. 15 As it is said,

“Today, if you hear his voice,

do not harden your hearts as in the rebellion.”

 

NOTE: The author quotes from Ps 95:7b-11 which is a reference to Exo 17:1 where the people grumble about not having water. But the real rebellion occurs in Numbers 14 where the people in fear refuse to follow God into the promised land because of giants. They heard God's voice and refused to obey the command to take the land and died in the wilderness for their rebellion. The incidents around the water (Massah and Meribah) are similar, suggesting they still had not learned. In the water incidents, they required water "immediately" or their children, their animals, and themselves would die within 2-4 days.

 

I have always believed that the people had no doubt about God's tremendous power, especially at what they saw in Egypt. I still believe that the problem of that generation was a failure to believe God cared for them individually. They saw him moving a great number of people, but they did not see him in their own lives. They did not want to be pawns in some great venture. And so, they did not trust God. "They saw my works … they have not known my ways."

 

Today, that is still the missing definition of faith, believing God cares for me.

 

Hebrews 11:6 (ESV) — 6 And without faith it is impossible to please him, for whoever would draw near to God must believe that he exists and that he rewards those who seek him.

 

It is not enough to believe God exists, we must believe that he cares for us to truly exercise real faith -- he is a rewarder to those who seek him and he is pleased.

 

Do I see God as an awesome and all powerful entity? (Which he is) Or do I also see God as someone who understands me and cares for me even in very difficult circumstances? Faith makes a big difference.

“Today, if you hear his voice,

do not harden your hearts as in the rebellion.”

 

PONDER:

1. How is my relationship with God -- do I see great works or do I know him such that I see his ways?

 

PRAYER: Father, when I first learned this, I was going through a very difficult time of life. I was not sure my children or my family would survive. Today, I see your hand as it worked in my life. And I still see it working today. I would never choose the path you took me through, but I understand your ways. And gratefully, I say, you saved my children and my family. Thank you.

QT 6/8/2026 Heb 3:1-6, Jesus is greater than Moses

Hebrews 3:1–6 (ESV) —

1 Therefore, holy brothers, you who share in a heavenly calling, consider Jesus, the apostle and high priest of our confession, 2 who was faithful to him who appointed him, just as Moses also was faithful in all God’s house. 3 For Jesus has been counted worthy of more glory than Moses—as much more glory as the builder of a house has more honor than the house itself. 4 (For every house is built by someone, but the builder of all things is God.) 5 Now Moses was faithful in all God’s house as a servant, to testify to the things that were to be spoken later, 6 but Christ is faithful over God’s house as a son. And we are his house, if indeed we hold fast our confidence and our boasting in our hope.

 

NOTE: Moses is very important. He carried the entire instruction for the old covenant down the mountain. He knew the plans. He saw the originals. He transmitted all of the laws from God to the people. And God called him faithful as a servant in His house. But Jesus is much different. He too was faithful in God's house, but not as a servant, but as the Son. It is Jesus' house because Jesus is God.

 

The writer has already made the point that Jesus is greater than any of the angels. Now, he makes the point to his Jewish readers, that Jesus is greater than even Moses. If you are following Moses, you need to be following Jesus. Moses was 'only' a faithful servant, Jesus is the Son of God, and actually God himself (fact of the trinitarian nature of God - God is one and God is three persons).

 

If you truly want to be a part of God's house, you must follow Jesus. Moses was a great man, but on the mount of transfiguration (Mark 9:1-8), when God declared Jesus was his Son, Moses and Elijah disappeared, leaving only Jesus.

 

PONDER:

1. Am I fully committed to Jesus alone?
2. Do I try to please God by living according to rules? Because of what Jesus did on the cross (if you believe), you are fully accepted and loved as a child of God, and there is nothing you can do to increase God's love for you.
3. It is good to do good works, but do it out of thankfulness for salvation.

 

PRAYER: Father, I thank you that because of my faith in Jesus for salvation, and being born again, I am part of your family. I am a child of God only because of my faith in Jesus. We are not children of God by being born. Actually, most people are condemned by their sin. Only our faith saves us and brings us into your family. Thank you, thank you for salvation. Thank you that I am loved completely. Thank you that I am eternally saved.

QT 6/5/2026 Heb 2:14–18, This life is temporary

Hebrews 2:14–18 (ESV) —

14 Since therefore the children share in flesh and blood, he himself likewise partook of the same things, that through death he might destroy the one who has the power of death, that is, the devil, 15 and deliver all those who through fear of death were subject to lifelong slavery. 16 For surely it is not angels that he helps, but he helps the offspring of Abraham. 17 Therefore he had to be made like his brothers in every respect, so that he might become a merciful and faithful high priest in the service of God, to make propitiation for the sins of the people. 18 For because he himself has suffered when tempted, he is able to help those who are being tempted.

 

NOTE: Jesus knows and understands our troubles. He understands the temptation to sin, though he never sinned or succumbed to the temptation. He is the perfect High Priest. He is that bridge between heaven and earth. He resides in Heaven, and he lived the perfect life on earth. His death for our sins destroyed the devil's greatest power, slavery to sin that leads to spiritual death.

 

Satan's power over men is permanent death. It causes us to listen to self and live for self because we will soon be dead. But freedom from death allows us to live for others. We lose nothing on this earth. There is no injustice that will not be made up by eternity in heaven. We are free to love when we have experienced the salvation that Jesus offers to those who believe in him.

 

PONDER:

1. What am I living for today -- comfort, worldly goods, status, or something much greater than this life?

 

PRAYER: Father, it is hard to let go of things here on earth. They seem so real than the things that are promised. But the promise is not without proof. Jesus' resurrection cannot be explained in any way except by the truth. Men and women who knew him, saw him, and were there, have died rather than change their testimony. Yes, other religions have martyrs, but only Christianity has eye-witness martyrs.

QT 6/4/2026 Heb 2:10–13, Jesus made complete

Hebrews 2:10–13 (ESV) —

10 For it was fitting that he, for whom and by whom all things exist, in bringing many sons to glory, should make the founder of their salvation perfect through suffering. 11 For he who sanctifies and those who are sanctified all have one source. That is why he is not ashamed to call them brothers, 12 saying,

“I will tell of your name to my brothers;

in the midst of the congregation I will sing your praise.”

13 And again,

“I will put my trust in him.”

And again,

“Behold, I and the children God has given me.”

 

NOTE: Constable titled this paragraph "The Son's Solidarity with Humanity." It is hard to think that the Son of God could be made perfect (verse 10), because that would suggest he was less than perfect, and therefore could not be God. But I think the problem is a misunderstanding of the Greek word used for perfect here. The work is teleioo which means to make perfect or complete (Strong's). The corollary first definition (1A) to carry through completely, to accomplish, finish, bring to an end. The second definition is to complete (perfect) with (2A) add what is yet wanting in order to render a thing full. Jesus was perfect already, but to be our savior and our high priest he needed to live as a human. He needed to completely fulfill the requirements for High Priest to offer his own body for our salvation. God had to also become man to complete what was needed to save us. He was perfect before, but he became a complete savior by living among us without sin, and offering his body to die in our place.

 

The verses that follow verse 10 declare Jesus, the Son of God, one of us. We are brothers. He calls us his children. The Christian has a unique and special place in the kingdom of God. We are heirs and co-heirs with Jesus. We will rule with Jesus on earth. We now share in his righteousness (perfection).

 

PONDER:

1. We need to stop and consider what the son of God did to become one of us, perfectly human in every way, and still God.

 

PRAYER: Father, these thoughts are hard to comprehend. They seem so impossible. But it is the truth of your word. There is much error in the world today, but your word stands out as truth. Thank you!

QT 6/3/2026 Heb 2:5–9, Undeserving of such a great Savior

Hebrews 2:5–9 (ESV) —

5 For it was not to angels that God subjected the world to come, of which we are speaking. 6 It has been testified somewhere,

“What is man, that you are mindful of him,

or the son of man, that you care for him?

7 You made him for a little while lower than the angels;

you have crowned him with glory and honor,

8 putting everything in subjection under his feet.”

Now in putting everything in subjection to him, he left nothing outside his control. At present, we do not yet see everything in subjection to him. 9 But we see him who for a little while was made lower than the angels, namely Jesus, crowned with glory and honor because of the suffering of death, so that by the grace of God he might taste death for everyone.

 

NOTE: Ultimately, it is not Angels who will rule, but man who will rule the earth. We will be subject to Jesus, who now sits on the right hand of the Father. Jesus emptied himself (in some unknown way) to become man, and then as the perfect man, died for the sins of the human race. By his death, we are healed, restored, and redeemed. By Jesus' resurrection, he is the firstborn of many. We (NT believers) will be resurrected with all the OT saints to live with him and then ultimately rule on the earth. We will have new bodies and will be free from sin. Jesus did this for man because of the great love God has for us. Jesus is worthy of our worship, our thankfulness, our lives, because of all he did to save us.

 

PONDER:

1. Do we truly understand how great the Messiah is?
2. Do we truly understand how fortunate those who believed are to be saved from the wrath to come?
3. Do we live like we understand? Sadly, many don't and I truly wonder if their salvation was true.

 

PRAYER: Father, I pray for a seriousness in our walk with you which would show that we understand that we are saved by grace and are completely unworthy of your love.

QT 6/2/2026 Heb 2:1-4, We must not drift!

Hebrews 2:1–4 (ESV) —

1 Therefore we must pay much closer attention to what we have heard, lest we drift away from it. 2 For since the message declared by angels proved to be reliable, and every transgression or disobedience received a just retribution, 3 how shall we escape if we neglect such a great salvation? It was declared at first by the Lord, and it was attested to us by those who heard, 4 while God also bore witness by signs and wonders and various miracles and by gifts of the Holy Spirit distributed according to his will.

 

NOTE: There is so much in these few verses. First, the heart of the problem is a drifting away from the truth. It is not how they viewed their salvation, they didn't think it was important. They were no longer in the word regularly growing. If they were in the word on a regular basis, I find it difficult to believe that they would have drifted away. Fellowship with other believers and accountability is also important. These Hebrew Christians need to grow up spiritually.

 

There is Hebrew tradition that angels acted as mediators in the giving of the OT law. The law proved true when Israel went away from the Lord (as Deut 29 promised). So, if Jesus, God's son, brings a new law, how can anyone escape if they drift away. Additionally, there were eyewitnesses to Jesus (vs 3) or at worst, listened to the eyewitnesses. To make matters more sure, the miracles and wonders Jesus performed, and the spiritual gifts given are God's sign to the people, just as the miracles and wonders during the introduction of OT law were also signs to the people.

 

In other words, the new covenant is very important. We will find out later that their physical lives and spiritual witness are at risk, if they do not listen to God's voice and return. In terms of history, they were only a few years away from the destruction of the city, temple, and surrounding cities -- 1.1 million dead.

 

PONDER:

1. Is our walk with God, laissez-faire?
2. Or, are we serious about our relationship with God such that it affects all areas of our life?

 

PRAYER: Father, as I talk with people, help me to convince others of the seriousness of our relationship with you. I pray that people would be doers of your word. I pray people would get into your word daily.

QT 6/1/2026 Heb 1:10-14, The awesomeness of the savior

Hebrews 1:10–14 (ESV) —

10 And,

“You, Lord, laid the foundation of the earth in the beginning,

and the heavens are the work of your hands;

11 they will perish, but you remain;

they will all wear out like a garment,

12 like a robe you will roll them up,

like a garment they will be changed.

But you are the same,

and your years will have no end.”

13 And to which of the angels has he ever said,

“Sit at my right hand

until I make your enemies a footstool for your feet”?

14 Are they not all ministering spirits sent out to serve for the sake of those who are to inherit salvation?

 

NOTE: God the Father's agent in all creation was God the Son. He existed before creation because he created the very foundations of the earth. The universe will wear out someday, but not the Son who created it. The Son of God is God, and that is made very clear. The writer quotes a number of OT passages in this chapter. Here, the author quotes Ps 102:26-27, and Isa 50:9 and 51:6 to emphasize that everything wears away, but not the Son because the Son is God himself.

 

The doctrine of the trinity is not well understood, but it is in scripture. From the beginning, when God speaks using plural subjects and objects among the godhead (Gen 1:26) to the beginning of John's gospel, he even repeats the creation story, calling Jesus the Word of God.

 

John 1:1–5 (ESV) — 1 In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God. 2 He was in the beginning with God. 3 All things were made through him, and without him was not any thing made that was made. 4 In him was life, and the life was the light of men. 5 The light shines in the darkness, and the darkness has not overcome it.

 

What does it mean for us who are believers? Jesus is our brother and our Lord. Sometimes, we forget the God-aspect of our savior. We may even be flippant in regards to his commands. But when we meet with God in the morning in our quiet times, and read his word, we are meeting with the God of the universe, the holy and awesome God. We should be humbled that we can meet with him. We should always make our time with him, our top priority of the day.

 

PONDER:

1. How do I approach God?
2. Do I realize the awesomeness of my savior?
3. Is he my greatest priority of life?

 

PRAYER: Father, it is beyond an honor to meet with you and listen to you speak. I think of Mary, Martha's sister, who was enraptured at your feet listening to you. I want to have that same rapture and seriousness regarding your word. Forgive me when I rush through my time with you.

QT 5/29/2026 Heb 1:5–9, Jesus is greater than all

Hebrews 1:5–9 (ESV) —

5 For to which of the angels did God ever say,

“You are my Son,

today I have begotten you”?

Or again,

“I will be to him a father,

and he shall be to me a son”?

6 And again, when he brings the firstborn into the world, he says,

“Let all God’s angels worship him.”

7 Of the angels he says,

“He makes his angels winds,

and his ministers a flame of fire.”

8 But of the Son he says,

“Your throne, O God, is forever and ever,

the scepter of uprightness is the scepter of your kingdom.

9 You have loved righteousness and hated wickedness;

therefore God, your God, has anointed you

with the oil of gladness beyond your companions.”

 

NOTE: The questions are rhetorical and intended to elevate Jesus above all. No angel was ever called God's son. Only God is worshipped and yet God commands worship of Jesus. The angels serve God, but Jesus reigns on a throne as God. God the father bestows upon God the son all authority. This emphasizes the doctrine of the trinity, well at least two of the persons in the trinity. The trinity is composed of three persons (Father, Son, and Spirit) who are both unique in personhood and totally one in every other aspect of what it means to be God. It is a mind-boggling truth that is beyond our less-than-on-cubic-foot minds. We can't understand and I am not surprised. I would be more surprised if we could understand everything about the infinite God. My granddaughter cannot comprehend quantum mechanics if I were to explain it to her. I am not surprised, but I don't expect her to understand all knowledge in the universe if she was an adult. We should not be surprised by truths about God that we cannot understand, such as foreknowledge, free will, and the trinity.

 

PONDER:

1. Do we understand the wonder of Jesus our Messiah, and the gift that God has given to those who believe?

 

PRAYER: Father, I can't understand all things but I can understand what was done on the cross for me. I was sealed with your spirit. I have an incredible inheritance. I will get a new. I will reign with you in the millennial kingdom in whatever role you have for me. I am saved from my sin and shame.

QT 5/28/2026 Heb 1:1–4, The New Covenant's superiority is based on Jesus' superiority

Hebrews 1:1–4 (ESV) —

1 Long ago, at many times and in many ways, God spoke to our fathers by the prophets, 2 but in these last days he has spoken to us by his Son, whom he appointed the heir of all things, through whom also he created the world. 3 He is the radiance of the glory of God and the exact imprint of his nature, and he upholds the universe by the word of his power. After making purification for sins, he sat down at the right hand of the Majesty on high, 4 having become as much superior to angels as the name he has inherited is more excellent than theirs.

 

NOTE: This is a great book to study after Exodus (probably even better after Deuteronomy). The aim of this book is to prove that the Old Covenant is superseded by the New Covenant (Marcus Dods). Much is devoted to the superiority of Jesus to anyone in the Old Testament. The writer starts out by acknowledging God spoke to his people and the prophets in many different ways and at many different times. There is no doubting the Old Covenant truths. But now, God speaks to us, literally directly, through his Son. He is the heir of all and the creator of all. He is God's glory and the EXACT imprint of his nature. He holds the universe together with his power. He sits at the right hand of the Father. He was victorious over sin. He is far superior to any angel. His name is more excellent than any.

 

Really, he is our God. And what he says defines all reality. He is the son, he is wisdom, and he is our High Priest. Consequently, he replaces the Old Covenant, because the law said nothing about our Priest coming from the tribe of Judah. Also, in the Old Covenant, the King could not do what the Priests do, as some Kings found out. It was against the law to be king and priest. So, the law is void and is replaced by a new law, the Law of Christ, also called the Law of Grace.

 

Galatians 6:2 (ESV) — Bear one another’s burdens, and so fulfill the law of Christ.

1 Corinthians 9:21 (ESV) — To those outside the law I became as one outside the law (not being outside the law of God but under the law of Christ) that I might win those outside the law.

1 John 3:23 (ESV) — And this is his commandment, that we believe in the name of his Son Jesus Christ and love one another, just as he has commanded us.

 

It is a new law but it is also a far better law, one that actually saves us.

 

PONDER:

1. Do I believe that the Old Covenant is null and void, or do I think righteousness or God's good graces are gained through OT law practices?

 

PRAYER: Father, thank you that Jesus paid it all. I am loved always and at all times because of my savior Jesus. And nothing can separate me from the love of God. I am secure in his love and favor, and very undeserving.

 

QT 5/27/2026 Exo 40:34–38, The rebirth of the cloud within us

Exodus 40:33b–38 (ESV) —

… So Moses finished the work.

34 Then the cloud covered the tent of meeting, and the glory of the Lord filled the tabernacle. 35 And Moses was not able to enter the tent of meeting because the cloud settled on it, and the glory of the Lord filled the tabernacle. 36 Throughout all their journeys, whenever the cloud was taken up from over the tabernacle, the people of Israel would set out. 37 But if the cloud was not taken up, then they did not set out till the day that it was taken up. 38 For the cloud of the Lord was on the tabernacle by day, and fire was in it by night, in the sight of all the house of Israel throughout all their journeys.

 

NOTE: I like how Stewart (2006) describes the cloud, "a visible presence—indicating symbol of an invisible God." The cloud on the mount "came down" (Exo 33:9) and now it stood over and in the tabernacle. Moses had spoken with God on a trembling mountain, and then in a small tent of meeting outside of camp, and now (in the story) God speaks to Moses within the tabernacle in the middle of and in sight of all the tribes.

 

The beauty of the gospel is that God, in the person of the Holy Spirit, resides in each believer who has put their faith in Jesus Christ for the payment for their sins. The cloud lives in us now and in fact seals us until the day of glorification, when we will receive new bodies and our heavenly inheritance. The OT law was in imperfect way of representing God's presence to the people. First, our sin separated us from God. The blood of sheep and goats could never take away our sin, but was only a temporary covering. A perfect Lamb of God, a redeemer, who had no sin of his own, was required. He, the Son of God, Jesus, voluntarily died in our place, to open the door to the real altar and temple in the Heavenlies. Jesus led the captives out of paradise and into the presence of God. We also await with them the redemption of our bodies and our new home. Exodus reminds us of our greater need, true forgiveness and true salvation.

 

PONDER:

1. Have we experienced the new birth that happens to those who have asked Jesus to be their savior? The bible describes it -- 2 Cor 5:17 Therefore, if anyone is in Christ, he is a new creation. The old has passed away; behold, the new has come.

 

PRAYER: Father, I pray that people around the world might experience the true rebirth that comes with accepting Jesus as Savior and Lord. It is not about a religion, it is about a relationship.

QT 5/26/2026 Exo 40:16–33, Meeting with God

Exodus 40:16–33 (ESV) —

16 This Moses did; according to all that the Lord commanded him, so he did. 17 In the first month in the second year, on the first day of the month, the tabernacle was erected. 18 Moses erected the tabernacle. He laid its bases, and set up its frames, and put in its poles, and raised up its pillars. 19 And he spread the tent over the tabernacle and put the covering of the tent over it, as the Lord had commanded Moses. 20 He took the testimony and put it into the ark, and put the poles on the ark and set the mercy seat above on the ark. 21 And he brought the ark into the tabernacle and set up the veil of the screen, and screened the ark of the testimony, as the Lord had commanded Moses. 22 He put the table in the tent of meeting, on the north side of the tabernacle, outside the veil, 23 and arranged the bread on it before the Lord, as the Lord had commanded Moses. 24 He put the lampstand in the tent of meeting, opposite the table on the south side of the tabernacle, 25 and set up the lamps before the Lord, as the Lord had commanded Moses. 26 He put the golden altar in the tent of meeting before the veil, 27 and burned fragrant incense on it, as the Lord had commanded Moses. 28 He put in place the screen for the door of the tabernacle. 29 And he set the altar of burnt offering at the entrance of the tabernacle of the tent of meeting, and offered on it the burnt offering and the grain offering, as the Lord had commanded Moses. 30 He set the basin between the tent of meeting and the altar, and put water in it for washing, 31 with which Moses and Aaron and his sons washed their hands and their feet. 32 When they went into the tent of meeting, and when they approached the altar, they washed, as the Lord commanded Moses. 33 And he erected the court around the tabernacle and the altar, and set up the screen of the gate of the court. So Moses finished the work.

 

NOTE: So everything was finished and set up in the first month (two weeks later is Passover) of the second year of the Exodus. The mystifying fact is the interchange of names, calling it the tent of meeting (verse 22 and 30) and the tabernacle (most of the verses). Earlier I had noted a difference in the tent of meeting and the tabernacle, and I think that was probably while the items of the tabernacle were still being constructed. With the completion of the tabernacle, the tent of meeting that Moses had set up outside the camp, the tent of meeting now becomes the tabernacle. This is where God will manifest his presence and this is where God answers Moses' prayer to go with the Israelites.

 

I have an office in my house. It is upstairs over our garage. In the morning, it becomes my tent of meeting. Now and then I will wear noise cancelling headsets to eliminate the buzz of the computer fan or the room fan. It is pretty quiet in the morning outside. I read the word and just start writing. I'm not always sure where I am going, but as I write (type), the Holy Spirit guides my mind and speaks to my soul. Things I have not thought about, come to mind. I hear God speak through his word to me directly. I think the most important thing about becoming a disciple of Jesus Christ is to have time in the word every day, away from distractions and noise and everything else that competes for attention, and just listen to our Lord speak.

 

PONDER:

1. Do I have a quiet place to read (hear) and commune with God?
2. Do I meet with God daily or is He not that high on your priority list?

 

PRAYER: Father, we always do the things that are most important. When we don't do what we ought, it reveals to us what are real priorities are. Help us to see our real priorities.

QT 5/25/2026 Exodus 40:1–15, The seriousness of anointing

Exodus 40:1–15 (ESV) —

1 The Lord spoke to Moses, saying, 2 “On the first day of the first month you shall erect the tabernacle of the tent of meeting. 3 And you shall put in it the ark of the testimony, and you shall screen the ark with the veil. 4 And you shall bring in the table and arrange it, and you shall bring in the lampstand and set up its lamps. 5 And you shall put the golden altar for incense before the ark of the testimony, and set up the screen for the door of the tabernacle. 6 You shall set the altar of burnt offering before the door of the tabernacle of the tent of meeting, 7 and place the basin between the tent of meeting and the altar, and put water in it. 8 And you shall set up the court all around, and hang up the screen for the gate of the court.

9 “Then you shall take the anointing oil and anoint the tabernacle and all that is in it, and consecrate it and all its furniture, so that it may become holy. 10 You shall also anoint the altar of burnt offering and all its utensils, and consecrate the altar, so that the altar may become most holy. 11 You shall also anoint the basin and its stand, and consecrate it. 12 Then you shall bring Aaron and his sons to the entrance of the tent of meeting and shall wash them with water 13 and put on Aaron the holy garments. And you shall anoint him and consecrate him, that he may serve me as priest. 14 You shall bring his sons also and put coats on them, 15 and anoint them, as you anointed their father, that they may serve me as priests. And their anointing shall admit them to a perpetual priesthood throughout their generations.”

 

NOTE: Anointing is an interesting concept. It is mostly symbolic, since from a physical point of view is does not do anything. But it is very important spiritually, and especially in God's eyes as he commands it. These are solemn events that are to be taken quite seriously.

 

It used to be, many years ago, that college graduation was a serious and solemn event. Even when I graduated, some decades ago, it was not, at least for many of the students. Technically it did lack some seriousness since we walked onto the stage and received an empty graduation folder / jacket. The actual diploma came by mail many days later.

 

So, how and why should ceremonies be serious? There is a big difference between ordination and some graduations. Both represent significant things, but one is about God's choosing. Anointing has tremendous spiritual implications. God is choosing this man to lead others spiritually. Who is up to such a task? Actually, no one, but if God has chosen you, he will provide what is needed for the task. It is a serious thing to be chosen by God to feed his sheep.

 

PONDER:

1. What has God chosen me to do?
2. Do I take God's calling seriously or half-heartedly?

 

PRAYER: Father, thank you for what you are doing and the ministry you have called me to. Help me to do it in a way that truly honors you.

QT 5/22/2026 Ex 39:2-7; 42–43, Putting God first

Exodus 39:2–7 (ESV) —

2 He made the ephod of gold, blue and purple and scarlet yarns, and fine twined linen. 3 And they hammered out gold leaf, and he cut it into threads to work into the blue and purple and the scarlet yarns, and into the fine twined linen, in skilled design. 4 They made for the ephod attaching shoulder pieces, joined to it at its two edges. 5 And the skillfully woven band on it was of one piece with it and made like it, of gold, blue and purple and scarlet yarns, and fine twined linen, as the Lord had commanded Moses.

6 They made the onyx stones, enclosed in settings of gold filigree, and engraved like the engravings of a signet, according to the names of the sons of Israel. 7 And he set them on the shoulder pieces of the ephod to be stones of remembrance for the sons of Israel, as the Lord had commanded Moses.

Exodus 39:42–43 (ESV) —

42 According to all that the Lord had commanded Moses, so the people of Israel had done all the work. 43 And Moses saw all the work, and behold, they had done it; as the Lord had commanded, so had they done it. Then Moses blessed them.

 

NOTE: In Exo 39, the subject goes from third person singular to third person plural repeatedly ("he" then "they" and back), showing that multiple people worked on the garments, but Bezalel did a lot of the special metal work that adorned the garments.

 

The last two verses caught my attention. Having read the OT more than a dozen times, it is not often that I see the people of Israel being commended for their obedience. Why are they so obedient now or at least in this particular activity? I can't say that the whole exodus experience was a good thing. They rebel with the golden calf, and then again when the spies return from the land. They moan and groan against God ten different times. I think the difference here is two-fold. First, they had a big task, a vision set before them. Second, things were a little boring in the desert. The nearest Walmart was a  hundred miles away (just kidding). Actually, they probably set up souks pretty quickly. Still, they had a focus and they did not have distractions. In essence they made a Lordship decision to put God first.

 

PONDER:

1. Is Jesus first in my life?
2. Does the world distract me from a sincere devotion to God?
3. Am I more interested in comfort than in service to God?

 

PRAYER: Father, I too am prone to live for worldly things or even for a little comfort. Forgive me for my selfishness. Give me grace to serve you first.

QT 5/21/2026 Exo 38:21–31, Spiritual babes have the wrong focus

Exodus 38:21–31 (ESV) —

21 These are the records of the tabernacle, the tabernacle of the testimony, as they were recorded at the commandment of Moses, the responsibility of the Levites under the direction of Ithamar the son of Aaron the priest. 22 Bezalel the son of Uri, son of Hur, of the tribe of Judah, made all that the Lord commanded Moses; 23 and with him was Oholiab the son of Ahisamach, of the tribe of Dan, an engraver and designer and embroiderer in blue and purple and scarlet yarns and fine twined linen.

24 All the gold that was used for the work, in all the construction of the sanctuary, the gold from the offering, was twenty-nine talents and 730 shekels, by the shekel of the sanctuary. 25 The silver from those of the congregation who were recorded was a hundred talents and 1,775 shekels, by the shekel of the sanctuary: 26 a beka a head (that is, half a shekel, by the shekel of the sanctuary), for everyone who was listed in the records, from twenty years old and upward, for 603,550 men. 27 The hundred talents of silver were for casting the bases of the sanctuary and the bases of the veil; a hundred bases for the hundred talents, a talent a base. 28 And of the 1,775 shekels he made hooks for the pillars and overlaid their capitals and made fillets for them. 29 The bronze that was offered was seventy talents and 2,400 shekels; 30 with it he made the bases for the entrance of the tent of meeting, the bronze altar and the bronze grating for it and all the utensils of the altar, 31 the bases around the court, and the bases of the gate of the court, all the pegs of the tabernacle, and all the pegs around the court.

 

NOTE: A lot of money (valuable items) were given by the entire community for the work of the temple. The silver was required during the census as a means to also count the men, but the rest was freely given. The whole community was involved. Aaron, Bezalel, and Oholiab represented three different tribes in the leadership of building the tabernacle. And I am sure the craftsmen under them were from even more of the twelve tribes. There is a fascinating degree of unity seen in their building project.

 

I wish more churches had that same degree of unity when facing a project. There is a major argument among churches that the money should be given before the work commences. In looking at this story, it appears the work started before all of the giving was complete. In fact, at some point the people were told to stop giving. So, should a church borrow money or wait upon having the full amount? I think we can be too legalistic to give an answer to that question. My preference would be to have the funds and resources before starting the project. But God has blessed efforts and churches who borrowed as much as those who waited. The more important issue is that people are unified.

 

When people argue about colors, carpeting, and comfort, they reveal that they are mere babes in the Lord. There will be baby Christians in the church -- some of those babies have attended the church for years, even decades. That is discouraging. Those people need to know Jesus deeper and they need to get involved in discipleship training.

 

PONDER:

1. Am I an infant in Christ despite years in the church?
2. Am I more concerned with colors of curtains than I am with where God would have me ministering?
3. Do I really ever think about a place of ministry, or is my focus on my personal comfort?

 

PRAYER: Father, open our eyes to our selfishness. Help us to grow up spiritually. Give us the wisdom to see our failure and to begin a discipline in our spiritual life of meeting with you each day.

QT 5/20/2026 Exo 38:8, Serving God on his terms

Exodus 38:8 (ESV) —

8 He made the basin of bronze and its stand of bronze, from the mirrors of the ministering women who ministered in the entrance of the tent of meeting.

 

NOTE: This is the first mention of women ministering at the entrance of the tabernacle. In a not so flattering description, the practice continue for hundreds of years after as seen in 1 Sam 2:22, where Eli's wicked sons abused their authority. What did these women do? The passage says they ministered or helped. Stuart has suggested based on other passages of scripture that they helped the men by:

 

"… utensil cleanup,284 general courtyard cleanup,285 water resupply,286 ancillary food preparation, guiding and assisting other women worshipers,287 washing priests’ clothes,288 and the like

 

284 See, e.g., Lev 6:28.

 

285 Sacrificial animals were not housebroken. Not only so, but many body parts had to be disposed of in the process of preparing and cooking animals. Cf. 29:14; Lev 4:12, 21; 6:11; 8:17; 9:11; 13:46; 16:27. Priests may have done most of the disposal work (note the masculine pronouns in many of the commands), but women may have helped in various ways.

 

286 In most cultures it has primarily been a woman’s job to provide water for a home, and Israelite women probably supplied the water for use in the bronze laver at the tabernacle. Cf. Gen 24:11; Exod 2:16.

 

287 E.g., Lev 12. It is highly unlikely that OT priests would ever have touched women worshipers because of the sense of distance that was maintained between the genders in Bible times and because of the possibility that the woman (or man) worshiper was defiled by undisclosed contact with a dead body and therefore would ruin the priest’s holiness for service. So in those cases where women required being held or led by the hand or the like (because of age or infirmity, e.g.), a trained woman worker at the entrance to the tabernacle would naturally have been the ideal person to handle the task (e.g., Num 5:16–18, 24–25).

 

288 Lev 6:27. Nothing explicitly tells us that women did the washing, and many passages in Leviticus sound in English as if they describe men washing their own clothes (e.g., Lev 17:15), but it would certainly be surprising if men actually did a significant proportion of clothes washing in any ancient culture at any time.

 

Stuart, D. K. (2006). Exodus (Vol. 2, p. 767). Broadman & Holman Publishers.

 

Someone might be critical and say, "ah, women's work, the bible is misogynist." I believe that the women working there never for a moment felt that way but saw it as a honor to serve. Likewise the Levites who were not from the line of Aaron saw their role as an honor even if they could not be a priest.

 

It is our western view that has corrupted us. We overemphasize our freedoms, preferring our individual kingdoms rather than service to God. It is a privilege to serve God. We don't serve God on our terms, we serve on His terms, which means we are accepting of whatever role he has called us.

 

PONDER:

1. How do I serve others or God, on my terms or on their terms? Real service is serving based on the needs of the person I am serving

 

PRAYER: Father, this is a hard concept in our narcistic western society. We have years of brain-washing to overcome. We are an incredibly selfish society and we are blinded by our own sin. Open our eyes to truly see you and serve you on your terms. If we can't say that prayer, then something is wrong in our hearts.

QT 5/19/2026 Exo 37:10–16, Knowing God through a spiritual mean

Exodus 37:10–16 (ESV) —

10 He also made the table of acacia wood. Two cubits was its length, a cubit its breadth, and a cubit and a half its height. 11 And he overlaid it with pure gold, and made a molding of gold around it. 12 And he made a rim around it a handbreadth wide, and made a molding of gold around the rim. 13 He cast for it four rings of gold and fastened the rings to the four corners at its four legs. 14 Close to the frame were the rings, as holders for the poles to carry the table. 15 He made the poles of acacia wood to carry the table, and overlaid them with gold. 16 And he made the vessels of pure gold that were to be on the table, its plates and dishes for incense, and its bowls and flagons with which to pour drink offerings.

 

NOTE: I guess I always thought the table of shewbread was just a table for the bread, and possibly plates for the bread. But apparently, there are drink offering in bowls and flagons, and dishes with incense. Maybe the real picture is that of a meal, not just bread, to depict the need for spiritual food and spiritual drink. Communion has the bread and the cup of wine. It makes sense that the table of shewbread would look more like communion or even Passover than just a table with twelve loaves.

 

In the new kingdom, similarly there will be a meal to celebrate the Lord's victory. And to the confusion of some, animal sacrifice will also be a part of the millennial kingdom. I'm not sure why, other than the meat is a part of a meal of celebration, as well as emphasizing the seriousness of death, and Gods' holiness.

 

PONDER:

1. Knowing God is a meal, bread and drink, what am I doing to partake of the Lord?

 

PRAYER: Father, I know the bread is your word, but what is the drink in the daily spiritual life. Is it prayer? In the sacrament of communion, it represents Jesus' blood that washed our sin, guilt, and shame away. In that sense, maybe prayer and repentance is the washing that we need spiritually (our drink).

QT 5/18/2026 Exo 37:1–9, Treating sacred things seriously

Exodus 37:1–9 (ESV) —

1 Bezalel made the ark of acacia wood. Two cubits and a half was its length, a cubit and a half its breadth, and a cubit and a half its height. 2 And he overlaid it with pure gold inside and outside, and made a molding of gold around it. 3 And he cast for it four rings of gold for its four feet, two rings on its one side and two rings on its other side. 4 And he made poles of acacia wood and overlaid them with gold 5 and put the poles into the rings on the sides of the ark to carry the ark. 6 And he made a mercy seat of pure gold. Two cubits and a half was its length, and a cubit and a half its breadth. 7 And he made two cherubim of gold. He made them of hammered work on the two ends of the mercy seat, 8 one cherub on the one end, and one cherub on the other end. Of one piece with the mercy seat he made the cherubim on its two ends. 9 The cherubim spread out their wings above, overshadowing the mercy seat with their wings, with their faces one to another; toward the mercy seat were the faces of the cherubim.

 

NOTE: Bezalel follows the instructions of 25:17-20 virtually verbatim (Stuart, 2006). I did notice (as did Stuart in his commentary), that Moses and Bezalel started on the coverings that made up the surrounding border of the tabernacle as well as the inside structure and roof. The different order of events protected the inside furniture (to include the ark) from weather, and also from becoming a curiosity to the people. In a way, they preserve a view of the holiness of God by keeping the finished products from general view. Ultimately, that is emphasized even more when the High Priest is the only one allowed to see the ark of the covenant, and that once a year. During the travels in the desert, it is also covered by the priests and then carried using the long poles inserted through the rings. Bezalel is probably the only non-Levite to officially view or touch the ark (prior to its consecration).

 

What do we learn? I think the story emphasizes the holiness of God and how the Israelites were beginning to understand his holiness. The golden calf event and the purging afterwards showed the Israelites the seriousness of God toward his holiness and his command to only worship God, and not idols or images.

 

PONDER:

1. How serious are we in our view of God?
2. Do we have a flippant attitude toward the things of God?

 

PRAYER: Father, thank you for your guidance in a difficult issue the other night and the godly responses from the men. Continue to lead us and teach us from your word.

QT 5/15/2026 Exo 36:8–10, Example of how God uses the whole body

Exodus 36:8–10 (ESV) —

8 And all the craftsmen among the workmen made the tabernacle with ten curtains. They were made of fine twined linen and blue and purple and scarlet yarns, with cherubim skillfully worked. 9 The length of each curtain was twenty-eight cubits, and the breadth of each curtain four cubits. All the curtains were the same size.

10 He coupled five curtains to one another, and the other five curtains he coupled to one another. …

Exodus 38:21–23 (ESV) —

21 These are the records of the tabernacle, the tabernacle of the testimony, as they were recorded at the commandment of Moses, the responsibility of the Levites under the direction of Ithamar the son of Aaron the priest. 22 Bezalel the son of Uri, son of Hur, of the tribe of Judah, made all that the Lord commanded Moses; 23 and with him was Oholiab the son of Ahisamach, of the tribe of Dan, an engraver and designer and embroiderer in blue and purple and scarlet yarns and fine twined linen.

 

NOTE: The pronoun "he" refers to Bezalel, but the "all the craftsmen among the workmen" refer to people in the congregation who volunteered to help. I postulate that Bezalel oversaw much of the work as opposed to doing all the coupling, etc. I think Bezalel probably did some of the intricate work. One of his qualities was his ability to teach. He probably did much of the initial work before passing it off to subordinates. I don't think that violates a literal hermeneutic (verse 10 and on), because the passage is the way most people would express an effort led by mostly one person. Otherwise, he would have had to do absolutely everything and the amount of work is quite extensive. In fact, Exo 38:22-23 seems to confirm my point when it says that Bezalel made all that the Lord commanded Moses, and then adds the fact Oholiab was with him, meaning Oholiab did quite a bit himself. Additionally, why mention that Oholiab was an engraver and a designer and an embroiderer if he did not do some of the fine work as well.

 

My point is that the building of the tabernacle was a team effort, and while one person might seem to get the credit, multiple people were involved. In terms that a Christian might understand, there are parts of the body that are noticed (pastors, teachers, evangelists, etc.) and other parts that are unnoticed (those with gifts of service, gifts of administration, gift of giving, etc.), but the body cannot function if each part does not contribute.

 

PONDER:

1. What is my part in the body of Christ? If you believed in Jesus, you were given a spiritual gift -- what are you doing with it?

 

PRAYER: Father, I know that I have certain gifts and responsibilities in the church. At times, I feel a little overwhelmed in terms of my ability to accomplish all that needs to happen. Give me grace, strength, and perseverance to finish the things that you have given me.