March 21, 2010
Prayer
Hymn 345 - Jesus loves the little children
Prayer
Genesis 24:22 - Why did the servant give Rebekah this jewellery? It might have been because she did all that work hauling water for the camels, but it also must have impressed her. She must have thought, “This is a lot of gold, it must have come from a rich man.” V23. So he gave her the jewelry and asked, “Is there room in your father’s house for us to stay?”
So Rebekah went home, and when her family saw the earring and bracelets, her brother Laban went out to the man. Vv. 29-30. Laban went and brought the servant to the house. But before they had the meal, the servant had to tell them why he had come. He told them that there was a father and a son; and that the father wanted a bride for the son. He told how Abraham had sent him to look for the bride; and how he had come to the well and prayed that the Lord would give him a sign. He prayed that the damsel that gave him a drink and offered to water his camels would be the one for Isaac. He told them how Rebekah had given him and his camels a drink; and that he thought he had found the right girl for Isaac. Vv.48-49. He asked them to tell him if Rebekah could come with him. If yes, good. If not, he would go somewhere else.
V50. Laban and Bethuel thought that this was the Lord’s doing. V51. So the servant got the approval. Vv. 50 - 60: this is the part of the chapter that I call the Bride’s Decision. Vv.52-53. If you thought that the bracelets and earring were good, there’s even more coming: jewels of silver, jewels of gold, and raiment.
Now, Rebekah was going into Abraham’s and Isaac’s presence. She might have said, “I feel too shabby to be a bride”, but not now. She has been made fit. When we are first saved we might think, “Am I fit for God?” We are made fit, like Rebekah was. The silver represents redemption, the gold represents righteousness, and the raiment represents the robe of righteousness.
To redeem means to buy back, like the story about the boy who bought a dog. A few weeks later the dog was lost and the boy found it in a pet store. He then had to buy the dog again. That’s redemption. Even though we were made by God, as sinners He had to buy us back through the death of His Son. We are also accounted righteous before God. This is all because we have put on that Robe of Salvation, like the Prodigal Son.
Rebekah was made fit for Abraham and Isaac. We have been bought back, accounted righteous, and given a Robe of Salvation. We are made fit to be Jesus’ Bride. I think Rebekah made the right decision, don’t you?
This part of the chapter talks about their work in the house of God. After the wall was built, their attention went to the temple. Where is the house of God today? It is made up of all Christians; we are living stones and each believer is a part of it. It is also called the Body of Christ in the New Testament, because the Holy Spirit baptized the Christians into one body at Pentecost; we are all united to our Head, the Lord in Heaven. The term “Body of Christ” has a heavenly connotation, while “House of God” refers to us on earth.
We’ve seen how the Jews made a covenant; now they commit to pay for the upkeep of the temple; they take responsibility for the cost of the operations and activities. The first thing they mention that they provided for was the shewbread. This is interesting, because the shewbread is a picture of our portion of Christ; it is also a picture of Christ representing all His people before God, since the table of shewbread represents Christ. There were twelve loaves on the table, one for each tribe of Israel. It’s precious that the first item on this list is the one that represents the whole nation before God; even though only two tribes are currently present, they most likely had all twelve loaves on the table.
In v. 33, they listed the rest of the items that they provided for. It’s interesting that they mention the continual meat offering; that isn’t mentioned in the law. Read Number 28:1 & 2; notice that God takes ownership of the offerings; these sacrifices were for Him even more than they were for the Israelites. We are in a similar situation: we can say “Jesus died for me.” But God can say that as well, because it is on the basis of Jesus’ work that He can meet man.
Read Num 28:3, 5, & 6. A meat offering was offered on top of the continual burnt offering; this may be what they were referring to as the continual meat offering.
These activities were done at regular intervals: some daily, some on the Sabbath, some monthly, and some annually. All of this that was established in the beginning is now being picked up in Nehemiah’s time. Even though it is only a small remnant, they can be faithful.
It’s amazing to think that although we needed Him to die for us, He needed us as well: “He and I in that bright glory \ One deep joy shall share \ Mine to be for ever with Him \His that I am there.”
Hymn 312 - Jesus loves the little children
Prayer