Scripture Nugget 6.5.2017
Scripture Read Exodus 37-40
Nugget Exodus 40:12-15; 34-38
“Then you shall bring Aaron and his sons to the entrance of the tent of meeting, and shall wash them with water, and put on Aaron the sacred vestments, and you shall anoint him and consecrate him, so that he may serve me as priest. You shall bring his sons also and put tunics on them, 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 all generations to come. . . . Then the cloud covered the tent of meeting, and the glory of the LORD filled the tabernacle. Moses was not able to enter the tent of meeting because the cloud settled upon it, and the glory of the LORD filled the tabernacle. Whenever the cloud was taken up from the tabernacle, the Israelites would set out on each stage of their journey; but if the cloud was not taken up, then they did not set out until the day that it was taken up. For the cloud of the LORD was on the tabernacle by day, and fire was in the could by night, before the eyes of all the house of Israel at each stage of their journey.”
Devotional Thought: Aaron and his sons were brought to the entrance of the tent of meeting, washed, dressed, anointed and consecrated to serve God as priests. A perpetual priesthood for all generations to come. To serve God as priests – Yes, they were priest of the people they were to serve God, to lead the people in serving God. Worship. In this priestly role as servants of God, they were to watch God. When God moved they moved, when God stayed still they stayed with God. To serve God we must move with God. “The presence of God creates not a static community but a movement that exists to mediate God’s presence to the world.” (Wesley Study Bible note, pg 120) Jesus calls us to go and make disciples in Jerusalem, Judea, Samaria and the ends of the earth (here, there and everywhere). Yesterday was Pentecost, we like the disciples and other followers in the Upper Room that day, have a decision to make. Will we stay in the room or hit the streets? Will we stay still or move? What is God doing? That’s why we need priest to serve God, to keep an eye on God’s movement so they can exhort the people to move with God, to serve God, to worship God. Aaron and his sons were consecrated priests to serve God and lead the people, not serve the people and lead God. Let’s pay better attention to the presence of God, and move with God as He leads.