February 8, 2009

Morning Meetings 

• Hymn 261 – The holy one who knew no sin

• Scripture:

  • Leviticus 16:12 & 13, 21 & 22 — This is the chapter of the great day of atonement. There are so many types of Christ in this chapter v. 21 reminds us of our hymn.
  • Psalm 40:12 – 17, 1 – 7
• Hymn 137 – O Christ, what burdens bowed thy head
• Prayer
• Hymn 149 – Lord Jesus! we remember
• Scripture: Luke 23:39 – 47 — On either side of the cross we have a testimony to His righteousness. He was righteous. In the darkness he bore the judgement of our iniquities.
• Hymn 245, v. 3
• Breaking of bread
• 53a – Alas, and did my Saviour bleed
• Ministry: Hebrews 10:17
• Prayer 

Ministry — Norman Burgess

Earlier I read from Leviticus 16, where it mentions the schedule for the Great Day of Atonement. It told how that goat was taken, and Aaron put his hand on it’s head and confessed all the sins and iniquities of the children of Israel; then the goat was let go into a place not inhabited. In Leviticus 23, it gives the schedule for the feasts of the Lord that were to be practised year by year. The Great Day of Atonement is in that passage. So throughout the years, again and again, on that Great Day of Atonement, Aaron would confess all the sins and iniquities of the children of Israel. How wonderful it is for us to be able to read verses like Hebrews 10:17 “And their sins and iniquities will I remember no more.” How is this possible? V.12 “But this man, after he had offered one sacrifice for sins, for ever sat down on the right hand of God.” He was the perfect sacrifice and priest; accomplishing what the Old Testament sacrifices could not. His offering was accepted in full, so that we are now accepted in full. Now with our sins purged, we are made fit for heaven. Oh, the perfection of that work, and the glory of the One Who did it!

Children’s Meeting — Norman Burgess

Hymn 363 – Long ago a flood was coming

Prayer

Last time, we talked about seven design aspects of the ark. Uncle Gord has been studying this and has a few things to share with us. 

The Ark’s 7 Design Features

Gopher Wood (Ark) There are those that believe that the ark was made of Cypress wood. This wood is said to be hard, remarkably fine and close in grain, very durable, of a beautiful reddish-brown colour, and resinously fragrant. The evergreen character of the tree, and perhaps its flame-like monumental outline, the durability of its timber, and its wholesomely balsamic odour, have no doubt jointly contributed to the symbolism. Whatever was thought worthy to be handed down to the most remote posterity was by the ancients enclosed in Cypress or Cedar wood. The Gopher-wood of which the Ark was constructed is supposed by some to have been Cypress.

Cypress wood a description of our Salvation

• HARD – Cannot be penetrated – sin cannot enter
• DURABLE – Longlasting – Salvation lasts forever.
• FINE,CLOSE GRAIN – Knit together in love.
• REDDISH BROWN – Blood – Cleansed by the blood of Christ.
• FRAGRANT – We are fragrant to Christ. Rooms Enough room for every animal. There is enough room for everyone in Heaven. There are many mansions. Pitch The Hebrew word for pitch is the same for atonement. It was to be pitched inside and out – that is double protection. See John 10:28 & 29. It was protection from God’s judgment. Size God’s Salvation is big enough for every believer. Window The window was in the roof, not in the side to look out to the deadness of the world. Inside the Ark they were able to look up, that is pray. They could pray for requests. They could pray for help. They could pray with praise. They could commune with God. Door It was their entrance to safety. Jesus said, “I am the door.” He also said, “Come unto me.” He is the entrance to our eternal safety. Three Stories There are three levels to spiritual growth. In 1 John 2:12 it refers to “Little children.” In v. 13 it refers to “Young men.” In v.13 it refers to “Fathers.” These are 3 levels of spiritual growth. Spiritual growth takes place in the following ways:
• Reading and feeding on the word
• Absorbing the word – let it enter your heart
• Living out what you have read
• Telling others about it
• Receiving God’s blessing for doing the above

So, What went into the ark? We know that animals, people, and food for them all were in the ark. We get details about this in Genesis 6:18 –

21. This tells us about the different creatures Noah had: cattle (animals), fowls (birds), and creeping things (insects). We get a few more details about this in ch. 7:1 & 2. This mentions that Noah brought seven pairs of clean animals and two pairs of unclean animals. Well, what is the difference between clean and unclean animals. Read Leviticus 11:1 – 4. Clean animals were distinguished by two characteristics. They had a cloven, or divided, hoof. Also, they chewed the cud. If an animal did not do both of these things, it was considered unclean. So, a horse was unclean, because it doesn’t do either. A cow was clean: it has a cloven hoof and chews the cud. A pig is unclean because even though it has a cloven hoof, it doesn’t chew the cud. What can we learn from this. A cloven hoof is more stable; it won’t slip as easily. Our Christian walk should be steady; we shouldn’t slip into sin easily. Chewing the cud is like meditation; we should “eat” what we read in the Bible more than once. Uncle Gord did some chewing the cud when he came up with those points, don’t you think? We can learn wonderful things about the Bible as well if we ponder it.

Reading Meeting — Ezra 7:27 – 8:14

A large portion of ch. 7 is the letter that the king sent with Ezra. In v. 27, Ezra blessed God for turning the heart of the king. It really is miraculous: this was a heathen king who worshiped idols. These Jews didn’t deserve the chance Artaxerxes was giving them, but God had a plan to restore Jerusalem. It’s sad to see that less than 1% of the Jews went back to Israel; they would just as soon be in Babylon. The word to us here is to keep our hearts warm and live like a remnant.

Ezra thanked the Lord for putting it in the heart of the king to allow them to beautify the temple. Ezra returned with a heart prepared to teach the word of God. For us, that is what brings beauty to the house of God today: teaching and following the word of God. We can see types of this in Psalm 144:12 – 15.

We know the story of how Nehemiah was chosen by the king to return to Jerusalem, but we aren’t given as much detail about Ezra’s story. Verse 6 seems to imply that he made a request to the king. In v. 28 he praised the Lord for His mercy to him when he was before the king. Because of God’s mercy, he was strengthened. Notice that he credits the hand of God; this is the second time he mentions God’s hand upon him in this chapter (v. 9), and it isn’t the last time in the book. We can certainly see God’s hand in the king’s letter, which not only gives permission, but commands him to build the house of God. 

The list of names that start ch. 8 is differently given than the previous list; in ch. 2, the people did not know their lineage, and so they were categorized by where they came from. Here, the people are identified by their families. 

Hymn 351 – One door, and only one

Prayer