Week of September 7, 2008

Exodus 19:16-24

 Events at Mt. Sinai escalate to a fever pitch.  After two days of ritual preparations by the people, God prepares to speak.  Booming thunder and thick smoke and fire envelop the mountaintop, sending a shudder through the people, but Moses leads them out to the foot of the mountain.  While ram's horns blast, God speaks with Moses, legitimating his special office as mediator.  But wait, God summons Moses up the mountain for yet further instructions on ritual preparations before God will deliver his words. 

It is important to God that we be prepared to meet with him when we come into His presence.  Moses had been commanded to call his people away from their worldly business, and call them to religious exercises, meditation and prayer, they they might receive the law from God's mouth with reverence and devotion.  They were to make themselves ready.  Wandering thoughts must be gathered in, impure affections abandoned, unruly passions suppressed.  All cares about secular business, for the present, dismissed and set aside, that their hearts might be readied to approach God.  As a token of their cleansing they washed their clothes; not that God regards our clothes; but while they were washing their clothes, He would have them think of washing their souls by repentance.  If we were going to meet some great person, a king or president, we would want to appear in clean clothes; so clean hearts are required in our attendance on the Great God, who sees them as plainly as people see our clothes.

What preparations do you make each week before meeting with God?  When you come before Him are you read up and prayed up?  Have you cleansed your heart and soul through repentance?  Is your life clean?  Have you put aside the "cares of this world" and determined to focus only on Him for and hour or so?  Spending quality time with the Almighty God requires preparation on our part.

Grace and Peace,

Bro Rob