Tag: holy

Posted in Through the Bible Devotions

Don’t touch that!

Posted on by William Douthwaite
Photo by Annie Spratt on Unsplash

A “through the bible” devotion from 2 Samuel 6.

There are many things you do not want to touch. The following is not a complete list, just a few things that come to mind.

  • Wet paint
  • Cactus
  • Porcupine
  • Hot stovetop burner
  • Fire
  • Jellyfish
  • Poison Ivy
  • Superglue
  • The ark of the covenant

The ark of the covenant? Yes, God’s law is clear. Only Levites can touch the holy things of God, especially the ark. Mishandle it, and you die. Period (Numbers 4:15).

This isn’t like your big brother threatening, “If you touch my stuff, I’ll kill you!” It’s about a holy God and impure, sinful people. Putting them together is like dropping a match into a bucket of gasoline. Just like camping at the base of Mt. Sinai, you better keep your distance.

Anyway, in 2 Samuel 6, David wants to bring the ark of the covenant back to Jerusalem. Twenty years ago, the Philistines captured the ark. When they suffered all kinds of health problems, they quickly got rid of it. They put it on a cart, hitched up a couple of cows, and sent it down the road to Israel. It was stored at the house of a man named Abinadab.

David had secured the throne of a united Judah and Israel. It’s time to bring the ark home. Unfortunately, they got sloppy. When the oxen pulling the cart stumbled, Uzzah kept the ark from falling with his hand and died on the spot. David is angry, and “David was afraid of the Lord that day,” too (2 Samuel 6:9). Rather than bringing the ark into the city, they store it in another person’s home.

When do we take God’s holiness for granted? Most of the time. We forget that Jesus had to die a terrible death on the cross to atone for our sins and make a relationship with God possible. We get sloppy. Rather than following his clear instructions, we figure he’ll let us slide. Rather than being grateful, we’ll get impatient and demanding. We’ll even get angry with God. What does it take before you fear the Lord?

Three months later, David tries again. This time he takes his time and does it right. He saturates the journey to Jerusalem with reverence, worship, sacrifice, praise, and joy (6:13-15).

Posted in Through the Bible Devotions

Ouch, that hurts

Posted on by William Douthwaite
Photo by ArWeltAtty Attila from pexels

A “through the bible” devotion from Numbers 20.

“I’m so angry I could…” Spit. Scream. Explode. Everyone has a favorite way to finish that sentence. Unfortunately, reacting in anger or frustration rarely serves us well.

I think Moses was perturbed when he had to deal with grumpy people demanding water. Again. “What are we doing out here in the middle of nowhere? We’re all going to die.” I wonder if Moses rolled his eyes? Come on. God provided before. God will provide this time, too. Haven’t you learned anything?

God’s instructions to Moses are simple. Speak to the rock and water will come out. There will be plenty to drink for everyone.

Not far from the end of his rope, Moses says,  “Hear now, you rebels: shall we bring water for you out of this rock?” Moses lifted up his hand and struck the rock with his staff twice, and water came out abundantly, and the congregation drank, and their livestock (Numbers 20:10,11).

It sounds like another happy ending until God says, “Because you did not believe in me, to uphold me as holy in the eyes of the people of Israel, therefore you shall not bring this assembly into the land that I have given them.” (20:12).

No one saw that coming. But when Moses takes control of that moment, he robs God of his glory. The consequences are severe. At the end of the journey, Moses will not be entering the promised land with everyone else. He loses that ultimate reward for one brief moment in the spotlight.

Today I heard a pastor say, “Don’t give up something you want for something that feels good.” In the moment, though, it’s easy to take our eye off the prize.

Posted in Through the Bible Devotions

Oil and incense

Posted on by William Douthwaite
Photo by Stéfano Girardelli on Unsplash

A “through the bible” devotion from Exodus 29.

It’s possible to find a copycat recipe for just about anything. I’ve made a lemon loaf just like the ones at Starbucks, Italian salad dressing just like Good Seasons, and Olive Garden’s chicken marsala.

However, you didn’t want to mix up a batch of anointing oil or incense like the blends used for the tabernacle. If you got caught, you’d be in big trouble.

“This shall be a holy anointing oil to me throughout your generations. It shall not be poured on anyone’s body, nor shall you make any like it in the same proportions; it is holy, and it shall be holy to you. Whoever mixes any like it or whoever puts any of it on a layman shall be cut off from his people” (Exodus 29:31,32).

“And the incense which you shall make, you shall not make in the same proportions for yourselves; it shall be holy to you for the Lord. Whoever makes any like it, to use as perfume, shall be cut off from his people” (Exodus 29:37,38).

Worship wasn’t a do-it-yourself endeavor. It was set up to be done a specific way at a specific time in a specific place. Unlike pagan rituals done on any and every high place to any number of different gods, there’s only one true God. We relate to him on his terms, not ours.

God is holy. Nothing about him is ordinary. So it is fitting to have oil and incense only used for worship. The fragrance of each would remind you of the uniqueness of God. Is anyone or any thing like him? Nope. Nothing even comes close.