30:1-10 - Altar of Incense.
- 18"L x 18"W x 36"H.
- Acacia wood, overlaid with gold
- Golden rings for transportation
- Poles of acacia, overlaid with gold
- Aaron to offer incense on it morning & evening
- No unholy incense, or burnt offering, or grain or drink offering
- Once-a-year rite of atonement
- Given at time of census
- A "ransom for their lives to the LORD, so no plague may come upon them."
- Half a shekel to be given by both rich and poor
- Designated for service of the tent of meeting
- For Aaron and sons to wash hands and feet so that "they may not die."
- Placed between the tent and the altar
- Oil - Myrrh, cinnamon, aromatic cane, cassia, olive oil - used for consecrating vessels
- A holy oil - not to be used for any other purpose
- Incense - Spices, seasoned with salt, beat into powder.
- Likewise not to be used for any other purpose
- Bezalel, of tribe of Judah, filled by God with divine spirit, ability, intelligence and a knowledge in every kind of craft
- Also Oholiah, of the tribe of Dan
- Skills given by God to all the skillful
31:18 - Conclusion of 40 days on the mountain: God gives to Moses two tablets of the covenant, written with the finger of God.
Chapter 32 - Golden Calf
- 1-6 - Aaron agrees to people's demands without hesitation.
- 7-8 - God to Moses: "Your people...have said, 'These are your gods, O Israel, who brought you up out of the land of Egypt!'" This is an astounding example of forgetfulness.
- 9-14 - God threatens to kill them all, but Moses convinces God to change his mind.
- 15-18 - Joshua, upon hearing the noise from the camp: It's a battle! Moses: No, it's a party!
- 19-20 - Moses breaks the tablets in anger and makes the people drink gold powder
- 21-24 - Aaron blames the people
- 25-29 - Levites kill 3,000 people
- 30-32 - Moses pleads for forgiveness of people, or "blot me out."
- 33-34 - God: "Whoever has sinned against me I will blot out of my book. But now go, lead the people...."
- 35 - God sends a plague.
Prophecy: "They divide my clothes among themselves, and for my clothing they cast lots." (See Mark 15:24; Matthew 27:27-31 for fulfillment.)
Acts 8
vv. 1-3 - Death of Stephen seems to embolden persecutors of the church.
vv. 4-25 - Philip in Samaria
- Crowds eagerly listen to him
- He performs many signs. NRSV - Unclean spirits come out with loud "shrieks."
- Amazes Simon the magician, and he believes
- Simon tries to buy gift of the Holy Spirit from Peter & John
- He is told his heart is not right; he needs to repent
- Philip obeys the angel -- without hesitation -- twice: "Go to road to Gaza" and "Go join that chariot."
- Eunuch is teachable, believes, is baptized
- When Spirit snatches Philip away, the eunuch goes on his way rejoicing
- Comment: Simon is impressed by signs; the eunuch is convinced by scripture.
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