Chapter 77 of 1163

EXODUS 30

Remember to pray. The golden altar before the veil symbolized the ministry of prayer (Ps. 141:1–3; Rev. 5:8). God’s people today don’t stand before the veil: they enter the very presence of God. We need the “fire” of the Holy Spirit or our prayers are heartless (Rom. 8:23–27). Prayer is special, and we must not treat it as common (vv. 34–38).

Remember you are ransomed. They were not redeemed by paying money, nor are we (1 Pet. 1:18ff.); but paying the annual half-shekel reminded them of what God had done for them. The silver was used to make the sockets for the posts of the tabernacle (38:25–37). The foundation for everything is redemption.

Remember to keep clean. Like the priests, we are washed once at redemption, but we must keep clean in our daily walk. If they became defiled even while serving the Lord in the holy tabernacle, what must happen to us as we serve in an evil world!

Remember to honor the Holy Spirit. The holy anointing oil symbolizes the Spirit of God. We must beware trying to duplicate His work by human effort or treating Him in a common way (vv. 32–33). (See Eph. 4:30–32.)

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