Grabbed by the Presence

When I was in college and taking Greek – just for fun – my teacher told us that we would have to work on our studies every day. We started out as a class of nine. Apparently, not many people find Greek to be fun. Go figure. We ended up with three. And we ended up with three because six people neglected to take the teacher’s advice seriously. What could be the harm if they set aside their flash cards for one day? Would the Greek world crumble if they didn’t learn to parse those pesky irregular verbs? But I think it is more than that. You see, I have always found language to be fascinating. I enjoyed learning Greek and for me it really was fun. I am no Greek scholar. Those irregular verbs are still pesky pests plaguing my peace. But I play with Greek to this day. I’ve even thrown in some Hebrew. But really it is not even the languages I love. I love God’s word. And really, it is not God’s word – it is God whom I love. It is God who shapes me; it is God who consecrates this old relic; it is God who seizes my imagination.

The emphasis of Exodus 29:38-46 is that Yahweh condescends to meet with his people. But before we get there we have instructions for the daily sacrifices. In the morning, probably before the beginning of the work day, the priests were to offer a two year old lamb along with some flour, beaten olive oil, and some wine as a drink offering. And then they were to offer the same sacrifice at twilight. They opened and closed the day with an offering to Yahweh; every day began and ended with remembering that Yahweh had gifted them with all things. And these offerings are described as a soothing or quieting aroma to the Lord. The image is not one of God sitting back in heaven drinking in the soothing aroma of burnt lamb, flour, oil and wine. The symbol is that of these offerings being offered before the very face of Yahweh and Yahweh is pleased. What is soothing to God is not the smoke or the smell of the sacrifice. What is soothing to Yahweh is the smell of obedience and worship; the smell of the children of Israel beginning and ending the day with devotion to their God.

All along I have been suggesting that the phrase “tent of meeting” refers to the Tabernacle in these passages. These offerings are to be offered at the doorway of the “tent of assembly”. And the Tabernacle is called the tent of meeting because it is in that place that, at the doorway, that God proclaims that he will meet with the children of Israel. It is there that God will speak with them. Talk about a come to God moment. And this is not any meeting. When God shows up, the people are set apart; made holy. What makes them holy? One could argue that they are made holy because they obey God. But that is not what the text tells us. They are made holy because they are in the Presence of Yahweh. The tent of meeting and the altar are also consecrated and not because blood has been sprinkled there (though that has been done) but because Yahweh is there. Aaron and his sons are made holy not by the sprinkling of a slain bull but by the person of Yahweh. They are set apart to minister in that presence because of the presence. O sure, they’ve been ordained and sprinkled with blood and dressed with holy clothes, but it is when God shows up that they are truly sanctified.

This section is wrapped up with the proclamation of Yahweh that he will dwell with the sons of Israel. Let the significance slay you. The I Am condescends to settle down and dwell with this rabble. And because he dwells with them they will know that he is Yahweh their God. He is their ruler; their judge. He is the God who brought them out of Egypt for this very purpose: that he could dwell with them. That deserves a “Wow!” And then, just in case they missed it, that he is Yahweh their God is thrown in one more time for good measure.

We sometimes think that if we could pray more, we would be made holy. Or maybe we need to worship more. Maybe we need some classes on singing. Surely, if we sing correctly we will be consecrated. Maybe we should read the Bible more. Now, here’s the thing, all of these things are good tools. They aid our attempts to bring our offerings before the face of God, but they, in and of themselves, cannot consecrate us. It is the presence of God that grabs us. It is being near the Awesome God that drops us to our knees. And it is when we feel that presence; when our hearts are surprised by Yahweh dwelling with us, that our songs burst with holiness. We worship, not to holy ourselves up, but to praise the one who makes us holy. Allow the presence of Yahweh to grab your soul. Be sanctified! Peace, Walter