Author: Erin Newton

Links for today’s readings:

Read: Exodus 37 Listen: (3:14) Read: Luke 19 Listen: (5:29)

Scripture Focus: Exodus 37:8-9

8 He made one cherub on one end and the second cherub on the other; at the two ends he made them of one piece with the cover. 9 The cherubim had their wings spread upward, overshadowing the cover with them. The cherubim faced each other, looking toward the cover.

Reflection: Overshadowing as Mercy

By Erin Newton

To overshadow the ark is not to darken the mercy seat.

The cherubim stand facing inward, wings touching. The wings create a hedge along the edge of the ark’s lid. In protective fashion, the “overshadowing” cherubim stand in service to God, holding the space where his glory will dwell.

The cherubim have been in a protective stance before at Eden. When Adam and Eve sinned and were cast from the garden, the cherubim stood to guard the way to the tree of life (Gen 3:24).

But what needs protection on the ark? Are the wings to keep us out or God’s glory in?

Cherubim not only guard and protect, in another passage they spread their wings like a throne for God. He rules the world from atop the cherubim-carried throne (Ps 80:1).

Is the ark the throne of God? Or is it something to be guarded?

I think what you have in this image is both. Numbers 7 reveals how the voice of God would bellow forth from atop the ark instructing Moses. When God chose to dwell with his people, the cherubim overshadowed where his glory dwelled. They were a veil for those who were in his presence. For no one can see God and live (Exod 33:20). The tree of life was also where God had dwelled with his people. Now tainted with sin, it is God’s act of mercy to provide a veil to the tree and a veil around his glory. To eat of the tree of life while under the burden of sin would be a fate worse than death.

The surrounding wingspan of the cherubim also represents the throne of God. As he dwells among Moses and the people, it is on earth as it is in heaven. There is no place that God does not rule.

When we think about the cherubim guarding the tree and overshadowing the ark, it is tempting to focus on how much people were separate from God. But when we see the cherubim as providing a safe space for us to commune with God, the veil is an act of mercy.

Since the death of Christ, the veil has been removed. No longer is there a need for protection from God’s presence. Why? Because of the indwelling of his Spirit. We are one with Christ. We no longer need to fear the presence of God in our lives.

Divine Hours Prayer: The Morning Psalm

Proclaim the greatness of the Lord our God and fall down before his footstool; he is the Holy One.
Moses and Aaron among his priests, and Samuel among those who call upon his Name, they called upon the Lord, and he answered them.
He spoke to them out of the pillar of cloud; they kept his testimonies and the decree that he gave them.
O Lord our God, you answered them indeed; you were a God who forgave them, yet punished them for their evil deeds.
Proclaim the greatness of the Lord our God and worship him upon his holy hill; for the Lord our God is the Holy One. — Psalm 99.5-9

– Divine Hours prayers from The Divine Hours: Prayers for Springtime by Phyllis Tickle.

Read more: At The Mercy Seat

Instead of a gold-covered lid, Christ’s mercy seat is a blood-soaked hilltop. Instead of hovering between angels’ wings, Jesus hung between two thieves.

At The Mercy Seat

Read more: Unveiled

Paul describes believers as those with “unveiled faces”…If Moses’ face glowed, ours should be incandescent.

Unveiled — Readers’ Choice

Links for today’s readings:

Read: Exodus 30 Listen: (5:06) Read: Luke 12 Listen: (7:42)

Scripture Focus: Exodus 30:12, 16

12 When you take a census of the Israelites to count them, each one must pay the Lord a ransom for his life at the time he is counted. Then no plague will come on them when you number them.

16 Receive the atonement money from the Israelites and use it for the service of the tent of meeting. It will be a memorial for the Israelites before the Lord, making atonement for your lives.

Reflection: All People Count

By Erin Newton

A megachurch has over two thousand members (according to research by Katelyn Beaty in Celebrities for Jesus). According to that fact, I was once a member of a megachurch.

I remember an elder strolling the aisles each week with a clicker in hand. Click! Click! Click! You could hear how full our services were. Counting people was a tried-and-true church practice.

Is there anything wrong with counting people? Actually, according to the Bible, there is no law forbidding it. But we do have stories that reveal the risks involved.

Exodus 30 is a bit scattered in topics; the verses about taking a census land in the middle of instructions on building an incense altar and preparing anointing oil.

God commands Moses to count the people and instruct them (rich and poor alike) to give a small portion of silver as a “ransom” to be used for the “service of the tent of meeting.”

What are they ransoming? The Hebrew word is broad, and “ransom” is still probably the best translation. Christopher J. H. Wright clearly states that it is not atonement from sins; “It is unthinkable … that Israelites were to imagine they could buy God’s forgiveness for half a shekel of silver once in a while.” The act was more like an act of identifying with this sacred place, an investment of sorts.

But counting (and taking in money) risks the invasion of pride. As the rolls grew with the census, the coffers would fill with money. So the instructions come with a warning wrapped in a promise, “Then no plague will come on them when you number them” (v. 12). (Because that did happen once in 2 Samuel 24.)

A census in the ancient world was a quick way to find out how many soldiers were available for an impending battle. Pride grew with large troops. But this counting is not for war. This is a census for worship.

Each person invested equally in the sacred assembly. They were also counted equally among the community.

When all people count, pride can be countered.

We are tempted to look for ways to boost our numbers, to grow our churches, to take pride in our overflowing, popular services. But to what end? Have we forgotten the risks of being obsessed with numbers?

Let us consider the warning and test the motives of our hearts. Are our numbers growing worship or pride?

Divine Hours Prayer: The Call to Prayer

Let us make a vow to the Lord our God and keep it; let all around him bring gifts to him who is worthy to be feared. — Psalm 76.11

– Divine Hours prayers from The Divine Hours: Prayers for Springtime by Phyllis Tickle.

Read more: The Context of The Widow’s Mite

The Widow’s Mite has more to say about unscrupulous religious leaders than about generous poor people…judgment is coming on leaders who take advantage of the poor.

The Context of The Widow’s Mite

Read more: Are We Proud of the Prideful?

Too often, we aren’t ashamed of the prideful, we are proud of them. “Look at the fruit!” However, the “fruit” we are typically pointing to is worldly results

Are We Proud of the Prideful?

Links for today’s readings:

Read: Exodus 23 Listen: (4:44) Read: Luke 5 Listen: (5:04)

Scripture Focus: Exodus 23.2

2 “Do not follow the crowd in doing wrong. When you give testimony in a lawsuit, do not pervert justice by siding with the crowd…

Reflection: Being a Crowd Unfollower

By Erin Newton

Following the crowd promises security and power, in the form of conformity. The temptation to follow is rooted in one’s insecurities.

In the story, Wicked, the main character Elphaba is born with green skin—a condition she is relentlessly ridiculed for. When her chance comes to ask the wizard to change her appearance, she is encouraged, “You can have all you’ve ever wanted.” To which she softly replies, “I know.” But what she has come to learn is that she doesn’t (can’t) want it anymore. To get what she had always wanted would mean following the crowd—and abandoning her convictions.

The truth learned in this Broadway show (now movie) is a timeless, biblical truth—following the crowd is not always in step with righteousness.

What’s the difference between finding community and just following the crowd? Aren’t both just finding a place to belong in a group of people? And even better, like-minded people?

Studies show that we are a lonely generation, brought on by global events and various other factors that are part of our everyday lives. Many of us work remotely, attend school at a distance, work long hours, and are hindered by a lack of finances, impending health crises, and even social anxieties. But we want to belong. We want to be known by others.

Crowds are the easiest places to fit in. You find a crowd, you join, and voila! Loneliness is, seemingly, solved.

But in cases where the crowds are doing the wrong thing—fitting in just makes you an accomplice.

The latter half of Exodus is a series of laws and instructions for God’s people. I found this one interesting and refreshing. The instruction is simple and evergreen. (Not like those festival laws or dress codes or dietary restrictions.) This law will last for eternity.

Crowds are not inherently bad. Following actually has biblical support. “Follow me,” Jesus said, and the Gospels recount many crowds in his presence.

Do not follow the crowd in doing wrong. You can be in a crowd. You can even follow along. But what is that crowd doing? What are your affiliations known for?

Many groups today will vie for our allegiance. It’s best to know your crowd before joining, but sometimes the crowd veers off the narrow path. Are we prepared to not follow?

Jesus calls us to abandon some of the groups we are in and follow him.

Divine Hours Prayer: A Reading

Another said, “I will follow you, sir, but first let me go and say good-bye to my people at home.” Jesus said to him, “Once the hand is laid on the plow, no one who looks back is fit for the kingdom of God.” — Luke 9.61-62

– Divine Hours prayers from The Divine Hours: Prayers for Springtime by Phyllis Tickle.

Read more: A Bad Day Fishing

Every time we see him fishing in the scriptures, he is failing at it…we see Peter fishing on the worst days of his career.

A Bad Day Fishing

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Links for today’s readings:

Read: Exodus 16 Listen: (5:02) Read: Matthew 27 Listen: (8:45)

Scripture Focus: Exodus 16:17-18

17 The Israelites did as they were told; some gathered much, some little. 18 And when they measured it by the omer, the one who gathered much did not have too much, and the one who gathered little did not have too little. Everyone had gathered just as much as they needed.

Reflection: Maggot Moments

By Erin Newton

Our Western culture operates on consumption. We not only have a drive toward getting what we need but a fervor toward having beyond necessity. We learn from ads, social media, peer pressure, and availability that excess is best.

Excess is unbiblical. Exodus 16 describes the well-known story of the “what’s this?” blessing—manna, the bread from heaven. The Hebrews have been wandering the arid desert learning how to operate a nomadic lifestyle in a strange land. When we see that they are grumbling about food, can we really blame them?

Moses points out that they need to realize their grumbling is not just against him but against God. That’s about all that is said of their lack of appreciation for God’s guidance. But God hears and he answers anyway.

God does not ask them to be better before he listens. Out of his love for them, he responds with exactly the thing they are grumbling about.

The instructions called for the people to gather what was necessary for them that day. Some gathered a lot and some gathered little—likely because of the varying family sizes. It is not how much they gathered that is judged via maggots; it is the excess.

The instructions said to gather one omer for each person. Working and gathering a specific amount sounds simple on paper, but it likely resulted in overages and shortages. I’m guessing they had to take time to figure out the right amount, and I’m sure they had more than one maggot-moment.

I wonder if they shared each morning. Did one family begin to realize they had gathered too much and try to find those who had gathered too little? Did they gather for the sick friend or neighbor? Did those in need find a safe place to ask for help when their ends wouldn’t meet or as the day grew hot and their omer was half-full?

There is no biblical command here to say they should refuse to help others. Being stingy is not a virtue.

We might be tempted to read this story with our Western eyes, seeing it as a call for each person to pull their own weight. But nothing about the Old Testament suggests an individualistic lifestyle. God has always called us to help our neighbors when we have beyond what our needs require.

Store up … what is needed for today, before the maggots and moths and rust destroy.

Divine Hours Prayer: The Morning Psalm

My eyes are upon the faithful in the land, that they may dwell with me, and only those who lead a blameless life shall be my servants.
Those who act deceitfully shall not dwell in my house, and those who tell lies shall not continue in my sight.
I will soon destroy all the wicked in the land, that I may root out all evildoers from the city of the Lord. — Psalm 101.6-8

– Divine Hours prayers from The Divine Hours: Prayers for Springtime by Phyllis Tickle.

Read more: Beauty from Ashes :: Guided Prayer

Are you watering and fertilizing weeds instead of the good seed of the gospel? Lent is a time to gather up the tares among your wheat—gather them to be burned to ash.

Beauty from Ashes :: Guided Prayer

Read more: Preparing for Joy

In the face of a culture that encourages us to neglect, degrade, and abuse each other, Lent invites us to see ourselves and our world clearly, humbly, and truly.

Preparing for Joy