Psalm 110

The Lord said to my Lord,
“Sit at My right hand,
Till I make Your enemies Your footstool.” v.1

Read chapter 110
"Jehovah said to Adonai" is the Hebrew translation here for the two names of Lord in English.  The translators attempted a little bit to show the difference by making all capital letters LORD every time it was a translation of the Hebrew Jehovah in the Old Testament.  The two names for God here is representing two characteristics of His character.  Jehovah is Jesus and the God of relationship, Adonai is like a master, king or head of a house and is implying that Adonai is the Messiah.  David is noted as the psalmist is the prescript here and also confirmed by Jesus who quotes this verse in the gospels of Matthew, Mark and Luke saying of David.  It is also one of the most quoted O.T verses in the New Testament.
To sit at a right hand doesn't mean just a pretty picture of one big throne and a small chair next to it where the next person in charge sits, but is to be at the rights or authority, there is no "hand" in the text.  Basically God's authority is Christ's authority.  

What this is telling us is that Christ will sit on the rights of God until all His enemies are subjected to Him. Something that is under your feet is something you have control over. You can tread lightly on it, or crush it in the dirt. Basically, you can do as you like with it. Therefore, to be under the feet is an idiom for being under the power or the control. So Christ reigns until all His enemies are His subjects.
Now this does not mean that His reign stops at the point when all His enemies are subjected to Him. Rather, the word “till” indicates this is the great point or purpose of Him being given this position. It is to subject His enemies and make them obedient to Him. Once they are subject to Him, then He can reign indeed. This is not the end of His reign, but rather the beginning! (Bible Teacher, Nathan Johnson)

Why do you think this verse is quoted so much in the New Testament?  What hope does this give you of this verse? 

Psalm 109

Set a wicked man over him, and let an accuser stand at his right hand...For He shall stand at the right hand of the poor, to save him from those who condemn him. vv.6,31

Read chapter 109
This psalm can be a bit confusing as it seems like David is praying cursings on others and blessings on himself.  It is true that David does pray by divine inspiration for and end of his enemies in some of his psalms, but in this psalm it's a little different.  Bible scholar E.W. Bullinger, author of the Companion Bible, noted the differences in who's speaking throughout psalm 109.  In verse 1-5, 16-27,30-31 David is speaking, verses 6-15, 28-29 David's enemies are speaking.  Seems a bit choppy but that's how conversations usually go, not just one person talking all the time.  How too in my prayers do I start praying and then play back in my mind the words said that are causing me frustration.  It's not that I'm praying those words but remembering them and their hurt.  
In verse six the word for accuser is satan.  The wicked's words are saying let satan stand at David's right hand that he may be condemned.  Yet we see in contrast verse thirty-one  that God will stand at the right hand of the poor to save him from the wicked who falsely accuse him.  What unrighteous man can complain if he finds himself governed by one of like character? What can the wicked expect but that their rulers should be like themselves? (Spurgeon)
Who do you have standing at your right hand?

Psalm 108

Give us help from trouble,
For the help of man is useless. v.12

Read chapter 108
The help of man is useless?  In comparison to God, YES!  Now it's not to say that let's not help anyone because it's useless but let's not put our trust in man like we ought to put our trust in God, for men will no doubt fail us, but God will never.  Even our most trusted friend or spouse will let us down some time or another, but God never will even, if in some moments it seems so.  How often does someone finally call out to God when they've hit rock bottom and realized nothing can save them except something divine?  Divine help is expected because human help is of no use.  It is never a vain thing to seek the Lord for help even when man's help may be in vain.  A lot of discouragement and depression come from the useless help of man and our expectations of the help of others, so lets set our minds straight and seek God's help from all our trouble.  Let's be thankful when we receive the help of man but not expect it.
How have you been discourage or depressed because someone let you down when you needed help?  How can you rely wholly on God as your help?

Psalm 107

He sent His word and healed them,
And delivered them from their destructions.  v.20

Read chapter 107
Here begins the fifth, and last, book in the psalms (Psalms 107-150).  Psalm 107's "theme  is thanksgiving and the motives for it" (Spurgeon).  The redeemed are the ones declaring these thanksgivings as we see in verse two, "let the redeemed of the Lord say so, whom He has redeemed from the hand of the enemy."  Each section of this psalm is a different situation men have been redeemed from and here in verses 17-22 we see specifically of the sick, leading to death, a sin-sick-soul.  The redeemed ones that were sick and then healed were healed by God's word.  Many can enjoy studying the scriptures, many can enjoy learning stories in the scriptures, many are inspired by the scriptures, but how many actually believe the Word of God can heal?  How many believe that just by His Word He can bring deliverance?  All God has to do is speak and it happens, just as He spoke creation into being so He can speak and heal or deliver.  His word we have today is the Bible, the God breathed words recorded on paper, and it still can heal today even if written thousands of years ago.
We see this truth come to life by Jesus in John 1:1,14, "In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God...And the Word became flesh and dwelt among us, and we beheld His glory, the glory as of the only begotten of the Father, full of grace and truth."
How have you felt the healing powers of God's word?  What can you do to find healing through the scriptures?  Read, meditate, pray, believe.

"If hunger brings us to our knees, it is more useful to us than feasting. If thirst drives us to the fountain, it is better than the deepest draughts of worldly joy. And if fainting leads to crying it is better than the strength of the mighty." (Spurgeon)

Psalm 106

Who can utter the mighty acts of the Lord?
Who can declare all His praise?
3 Blessed are those who keep justice,
And he who does righteousness at all times! vv.2-3

Read chapter 106

This psalm begins and ends with praise the Lord and everything in-between those lines is some of Israel's sins.  How too our lives should be started and end with praise everyday even when we mess up in-between!
The questions in verse two cannot be answered for no one can declare all the Lord's doings even if they tried.  There are infinite subjects to praise the infinite Lord.  The challenge to declare all His praise stands.  To speak of His acts is to bring the Lord praise as it's an acknowledgement of Him and  thankfulness of Him, revealing His character.  And we are blessed to keep His character in justice and truth.  To be blessed by this doesn't mean we get good fortune, but means we are so happy.  Holiness equals happiness.  But not following the way of justice and righteousness leads to sadness as we see the psalm go to show of Israel's falling off that path, and also how we see in our own lives.  It's not about being ok with occasionally doing rightly but at all times desiring righteousness.  
It's not just a do good at church or on Sundays, but throughout the whole week desiring to live as there is no sin in you and Christ is living among you.  How often do you honestly desire to live for Christ?

Psalm 105

Talk of all His wondrous works!
3 Glory in His holy name;
Let the hearts of those rejoice who seek the Lord! vv.2-3

Read chapter 105
How often do you talk about God's wondrous works?  This psalm describes the wondrous work of how He led the whole tribe of Israel out of Egypt with the signs of the ten plagues.  The account of that is numerous times in scripture and well known story to even nonbelievers.  It is to be remembered and share with generations to come of God's provision to save His people and provide for them.  So to today when we share of God's wondrous works that He's done in our lives it can speak volumes to others of the Lord's faithfulness and grace.  This will cause to glory in His holy name, to bask in the wondrous God we have.  Yet how often do we hold back talking about God's deeds because we're intimidated or insecure? Continue to seek and talk of God's wondrous works.  How can you be bold to share with others God's character?  Matthew 6:33 says seek first His kingdom. What are you seeking for?  Does it make you're heart rejoice once you've found it or do you still feel empty or discontent with what you've found and start seeking whatever's next?  

Psalm 104

These all wait for You,
That You may give them their food in due season. v.27

Read chapter 104
A poet's version of Genesis is what Charles Spurgeon calls Psalm 104.  We see poetically the days of creation described from verses 1-26.  It is the voices of nature that seem to speak and although it doesn't mention the making of man, no doubt it was man who wrote and sing this psalm. There is sin in nature and animals too, but we don't see them rebel from God like man does.  Bible teacher Nancy Walgamuth describes this psalm as "a magnificent psalm that talks about how all creation, the animals, the birds, the flowers, the vegetation, all creatures in heaven and on earth understand that God has ordained a purpose and a plan for their existence, and they gladly embrace it and fulfill it. Who are the only rebels? Human beings, created in the image, the likeness of God. We could learn something from the plants and the animals about accepting and joyfully embracing God’s plan for our lives, and joyfully embracing it, not reluctantly, not grudgingly."
Verse 27 says these (referring to all things created) wait for You (God).  All creation knows their Maker and waits for Him, why not humans?  What can you learn from creation of God's providence, provision, care?  Like the sunflower that always faces the sun let's turn the spotlight towards God instead of ourselves.

Psalm 103

For as the heavens are high above the earth,
So great is His mercy toward those who fear Him;
12 As far as the east is from the west,
So far has He removed our transgressions from us. vv.11-12

Read chapter 103
This is a psalm of David and is one of praise of God's mercies possibly written in his later years having a keener sense of sin and the forgiveness and mercy he received.  David had messed up numerous times and been forgiven numerous times.  This wasn't just a mindset of "ask for forgiveness later" but utter praise that he had been shown mercy again and again realizing how he fell short.   David feared the Lord in reverence and awe of Him not just to use God as a safety net.  It's not that the Lord will only forgive someone ten times and then stop, but David praises that God removes sin as far as the east from the west, a distance that can never be calculated- a miraculous gift of love indeed!  God's mercy is as high above the earth as heaven which expresses sublimity, for who has even touched the closest star?!  God forgets what man remembers (sins) and God remembers what man forgets (mercy).  What do you need help remembering or forgetting?

Psalm 102

This will be written for the generation to come,
That a people yet to be created may praise the Lord. v.18

Read chapter 102
This psalm starts of with great distress and depression but then turns to how the Lord answered the psalmist's prayer.  There is great bitterness followed by praise to God.  There is physical hardship turned in to strength.  The psalmist declares that the Lord's mercy, lovingkindness, answers to prayers shall be recorded for generations to come.  How much in our history classes we learn of wars, famines, disasters that have been recorded for us to know and learn from.  We ought to write down too all of God's answers to prayers and His acts of lovingkindness and grace that we may remember and teach the next generation.  It's hard to forget God's favor when you've been in a state of depression and bitterness to be relieved from it.  When was a time you were in that state and now see the Lord's deliverance?  How can you share about it with others to bring praises to the Lord?  Try keeping a journal of God's answers to your prayers (what the prayers are, answers are, duration of those prayers, etc).

Psalm 101

I will set nothing wicked before my eyes;
I hate the work of those who fall away;
It shall not cling to me. v.3

Read chapter 101
Setting no vile thing before our eyes is a hard thing to do, but must be diligent in it.  Almost everyone on TV or in movies is corrupt in some form, yet how often do people watch sin and not be offered or shocked at vileness.  Or the lust of our eyes cause us to sin.  How even just looking at something that is a stumbling block leads to follow in our actions.  Wickedness constantly before our eyes cause us to belittle the great harm sin is.
Hate the sin not the sinner.  Notice it says "the work" I hate, not that man.  "They" referring to the deeds will not cling to me, in other words I won't enjoy the sin of others, or even put up with the sin.  How often do we just close our eyes or ears to others sins or just look the other way?  Yet David, the psalmist, is saying he will hate others sins, not just put up with it.

Psalm 100

Make a joyful shout to the Lord, all you lands! v.1

Read chapter 100
What makes you want to shout for joy? When you're so excited and ecstatic you don't know what to say or do and there's this joyful emotion bubbling up inside of you.  Have you felt that towards the Lord?  Many when He's captivated you by His creation, or seen a miracle of birth, or given favor by someone or something you don't deserve?
When we shout for joy to the Lord whether in song or praise it's not to draw attention to ourselves but to worship the Lord.  Sometimes that worship is to be quiet and sometimes that worship is at the top of your lungs.  AS we know and learn about God and His character we stand more in awe and thankfulness.  How refreshing it is to just scream shouts of joy.  Try it.  Don't hold back.  Think of what joy the Lord's brought you and shout it out whether it be words or just your voice.

Psalm 99

You answered them, O Lord our God;
You were to them God-Who-Forgives,
Though You took vengeance on their deeds. v.8

Read chapter 99
God-Who-Forgives.  A sweet title that everyone is thankful for, even the great men of faith like Moses, Aaron, and Samuel referred to in the verses before.  They were sinners in need of mercy just like the rest of us.  The use of the word "our" God shows that it is not just their god but both them and the psalmist.  There is not a worship of two different gods.  There was still judgment for their sins as a result but once the Lord cast His judgment He doesn't hold it to us.

Are you able to call the Lord the "God-Who-Forgives" or is there something in your life that you can't believe God's been able to forgive (there's no sin He can't forgive!)?

Psalm 98

The Lord has made known His salvation;
His righteousness He has revealed in the sight of the nations.
3 He has remembered His mercy and His faithfulness to the house of Israel;
All the ends of the earth have seen the salvation of our God. vv.2-3

Read chapter 98
This song sings of what is still yet to take place.  A future time when the Lord has made Himself known to all the world.  No one will doubt His salvation and who God is for all will see and know Jehovah is God.  In these two verses it even shows in the Hebrew that Jehovah (all caps LORD) has made known His salvation and then in verse three that all the end of the earth have seen the salvation of Elohim (God).  They're the same!  Not two different gods.  This future time is the Kingdom we all wait and pray for to come and when it does there will be singing and rejoicing. It is the celebration of the Messiah (Christ) officially taking place of the King of the earth.  Salvation is no small thing, nor God's mercy and faithfulness to others or ourselves.
Though this has still yet to take place the psalmist wrote it in joyful expectation of it to be true and take place.  How can you rejoice now of what is still to come?  What do you long to be revealed or understood of His salvation?

Psalm 97

You who love the Lord, hate evil! v.10

Read chapter 97
It's easy to hate evil when you hear of rape or murder or abuse.  But do you hate evil when it's your own sin?  Sin is enticing and seems beneficial or good for a time, if it wasn't no one would do it.  How often I've sat in my own sin because I didn't hate my sin, I liked it too much and didn't want to give whatever it was up.  Yet I love the Lord and knew I couldn't and didn't want to live a hypocritical life.  I prayed to the Lord to help me hate evil, to hate my own sin.  Only then could I truly give it up, let go of it because I learned to hate it.  We ought not to just avoid evil, but be furious against it. The Lord hates evil and we have to learn to hate what He hates just as much as to love what He loves.  Verse ten goes on to say He preserves the souls of His saints.  We don't need to be afraid of hating those that do evil for the Lord will save our souls.
What sins in your life do you need to learn to hate?  What evil in the world do you just avoid and how can you be up in arms about it?

Psalm 96

Let the heavens rejoice, let the earth be glad;
    let the sea resound, and all that is in it.
12 Let the fields be jubilant, and everything in them;
    let all the trees of the forest sing for joy.
13 Let all creation rejoice before the Lord, for he comes,
    he comes to judge the earth. vv.11-13

Read chapter 96
When I first read this chapter I thought of the Chronicles of Narnia where the trees sing and other things of the earth rejoice.  I'd like to think that it comes true that when the Lord returns creation does sing and dance before the Lord as portrayed in the movie.  Everything above and below the heavens will be glad at the Lord's return, not just some but everything.  Today it's definitely not the topic of conversations to discuss the Lord and holiness or at least not a conversation that everyone is always excited to talk about, but when the Lord returns to rule the earth, holiness will always be the topic of conversation, like the number one interest of conversation.  If we really understood "the splendor of His holiness" (v.9), we would want to talk about it all the time with others and in rejoicing of Him always.  With all creation rejoicing at the Lord's return no longer will the sea swallow mariners and ships, no longer will the fields that men work be toil and hardship.  All of creation is in chorus together for the Lord comes to judge the earth.  This judgement is not a dreadful thing but a desire and a joy.  
Let us join the orchestra of the earth in praise to God's returning soon!

Psalm 95

Today, if you will hear His voice:
8 “Do not harden your hearts, as in the rebellion,
As in the day of trial in the wilderness," vv.7-8

Read chapter 95
This psalm isn't given an author at the beginning or end, but from another key in scripture we know that David penned this psalm.  In Hebrews 4:7 it says, "again He designates a certain day, saying in David, “Today,” after such a long time, as it has been said: “Today, if you will hear His voice, do not harden your hearts.”  The psalm is interesting in it's provocative like call.  It starts off calling to worship and praise with joy and shouting and then all the sudden into a funeral psalm of those that parishes in the wilderness.  I guess that's what a lot of funerals should be like though, celebrating the person's life and praising God for it, but still hating sin whose ultimate sting is death.  How can you praise God at funerals while also remembering the sin that brought us there?
The end of verse seven David says, "Today, if you will hear his voice."  Notice that it says "if you will" like it's our choice to hear Him or not; oh that dreadful "if."  And even if one chooses to hear God's voice they still might harden their hearts; again scary thought.  Are you choosing to hearing God's voice today? How so?  

Psalm 94

He who planted the ear, shall He not hear?
He who formed the eye, shall He not see?
10 He who instructs the nations, shall He not correct,
He who teaches man knowledge?
11 The Lord knows the thoughts of man,
That they are futile. vv.9-11

Read chapter 94
This confident psalmist in God reproves the atheist.  He reasons against their skepticism with specific examples such as the ear and the eye.  Shall not the Creator of the ear be able to hear or the Creator of the eye be able to see?  Of course!  

He fashioned that marvellous organ, and fixed it in the most convenient place near to the brain, and is he deaf himself? Is he capable of such design and invention, and yet can he not discern what is done in the world which he made? He made you hear, can he not himself hear? Unanswerable question! It overwhelms the sceptic, and covers him with confusion. He that formed the eye, shall he not see? He gives us vision; is it conceivable that he has no sight himself? With skilful hand he fashioned the optic nerve, and the eyeball, and all its curious mechanism, and it surpasses all conception that he can himself be unable to observe the doings of his creatures. If there be a God, he must be a personal intelligent being, and no limit can be set to his knowledge. ( Charles Spurgeon)

The Lord teaches man knowledge, He gave Adam all wisdom (the sciences included), yet it seems pointless sometimes arguing or debating one who does not believe as they can't understand these basics.  What basics of God as Creator, our Intelligent Designer, do you have a hard time understanding or reasoning with other about?

Psalm 93

"Your testimonies are very sure;
Holiness adorns Your house,
O Lord, forever." v.5

Read chapter 93

Oh the omnipotent sovereignty of God!  This is what is declared in this short psalm, His supreme reign.  Although this is yet to see while this fallen world continues in sin and the deceit of Satan, God has never been removed from the throne.  God's government isn't one that changes rulers every four years or have half the people against Him or wanting to overthrow Him.  No, God's throne is from everlasting to everlasting and will be the only ruler that can sustain forever.  "As in providence the throne of God is fixed beyond all risk, so in revelation his truth is beyond all question. Other teachings are uncertain, but the revelations of heaven are infallible" (Charles Spurgeon).  God's testimonies are not just sure they are very sure, just as God created man not just good but very good.  We are not just believing a fable, but truth.  And the time will come that no longer sin will dwell in all the world, God will not allow evil to dwell with Him.   Only holiness will be in all the earth forever.  What adorns your house?  Do you desire the absolute monarchy of God in all the earth?  How so?

Psalm 92

To declare Your lovingkindness in the morning,
And Your faithfulness every night, v.2

Read chapter 92
There is nothing like praise in the morning!  It's my favorite time of day; when all is still quiet and peaceful, when the sun is just breaking forth, as I'm still relaxed from a nights sleep.  To start my day off with the Lord sets my mind and heart straight; and boy can I tell days I don't get that- something just seems off.  The start of the day is a wonderful time to declare God's lovingkindness- no hour is too early to praise the Lord.  Then at night the psalmist declares God's faithfulness.  It's in the night that we think upon all that happened that day.  Every night can be filled with a song of God's faithfulness no matter the weather or circumstance.  Despite all the hard stuff to consider where and how we saw the Lord work and remain faithful.  
This psalm is a song for the Sabbath.  The sabbath was created for a day of rest for adorning the Lord in His finished work.  We can make sabbath moments throughout our day to stop from work and praise the Lord.  Let us not just praise the Lord during the day and be a whole other person at night.
Try starting your day and ending your day with praises to God and see what change comes about.  

Psalm 91

He shall cover you with His feathers,
And under His wings you shall take refuge;
His truth shall be your shield and buckler. v.4

Read chapter 91
God is not only our Father but our mother too.  Here He's described as a mother bird carrying for her children under her wings.  God has those same compassions only a mother has.  The wing is as a shield of protection of the souls under her care.  A divine tenderness that ought to cause us to win our confidence and secureness.  When we nestle so near to the Lord as a baby chick does her mom, nothing can harm us.  Let us equally nestle close to the Lord for protection and safety.  We also see a double armor of safety, the second being God's truth.  The shield of truth will stop and put out any flaming arrow or swords of lies and fight from the enemy.  Until we have entered the land of peace let us enter into battle so armed with truth and God as our shield and refuge.
How do you see God as the compassionate mother figure type?  How can you nestle closer to the Lord in whatever you're facing today?

Psalm 90

"So teach us to number our days,
That we may gain a heart of wisdom." v.12

Read chapter 90

We start the fourth book of the psalms with a prayer by Moses.  In verse 12 he says to teach us to number our days that we may gain a heart of wisdom.  What do you think it means to number our days?  By gaining wisdom!  Gain wisdom from God cause our days to be fruitful, not longer.  Gaining a heart of wisdom doesn't just happen, but wisdom come from God.  It comes by asking God for it (James 1:5).  The average age of a human around 70 years old is around 25,000 days, some of come short of that and some have exceeded that.  How are you using your days in light of eternity?

A poll taken by a company called Priority Management, Inc. figured that in a lifetime the average American will spend six months sitting at stoplights, eight months opening junk mail, one year looking for lost objects . . . that will be a little longer in my case! . . . two years unsuccessfully returning phone calls, and five years waiting in line.

So how are you going to spend your days?  How do you waste your days?  What do you want the sum of your days on earth to be remember by or about?  If you realized you only had a few days left to live, how would you live them?

Exodus 40

For the cloud of the Lord was above the tabernacle by day, and fire was over it by night, in the sight of all the house of Israel, throughout all their journeys. v.38

Read chapter 40
The tabernacle is now complete and useful for the purpose God planned for it: that He may dwell among them and guild them.  No matter how clear a day it was there was still a pillar of cloud, this wasnt just a possible could from a storm.  Fire pillar at night gave them light int eh darkness and security that He was still there.  Fire can seem like a scary thing but it showed God's presence and can symbolize a good thing.  It also symbolized when they were to stay and when they were to go.  How great a direction that would be to guide us!  Praise the Lord thought that through the Holy Spirit and the written word, He guides us each individually.  Where do you see "clouds" and "fire" in your life directing you?

Exodus 39

Then Moses looked over all the work, and indeed they had done it; as the Lord had commanded, just so they had done it. And Moses blessed them. v.43

Read chapter 39
Moses, being the inspector, and God, the Architect, now looks over the completion of the Tabernacle, probably every detail. It was exactly what he'd been shown by God. How else other than the Holy Spirit guiding the artisans and laborer could this earthly tabernacle be so exact?!  What a glorious praise and scene of celebration to follow this completion, especially after Israel had turned to worship a golden calf.  Moses is happy and blesses the people as a gesture of approval.  When have you experience approval from someone after you've worked hard and diligently?  it's estimated it took around six month for the Tabernacle to be built, which seems like a miracle in itself.  Whined you find big projects overwhelming that you skimp on the details, only to realize the details made all the difference?

Exodus 38

All the gold that was used in all the work of the holy place, that is, the gold of the offering, was twenty-nine talents and seven hundred and thirty shekels, according to the shekel of the sanctuary.  And the silver from those who were numbered of the congregation was one hundred talents and one thousand seven hundred and seventy-five shekels, according to the shekel of the sanctuary: vv.24-25

Read chapter 38
How expensive do you think it was to build this Tabernacle?  It's hard to know exactly the cost because of the value of gold and silver is always changing and understanding their units measurements.  A talent equalled 3,000 shekels so the entire amount of gold was 87,730 shekels and of silver was 301,775 shekels.  Gold and silver is valued and measure din weight, so the talent and shekel are weight units.  Where did all this gold and silver come from?  From the plunder from Egypt they got before the Exodus.  The sanctuary, in part, was made out of redemption money.  God gave and provided for them that they could and would freely give.  What has the Lord given you that you freely give for His glory?  What is something hard to give for you?  How have you seen volunteering and donations create something as majestic as trying to picture this Tabernacle?

Exodus 37

"Then Bezalel made the ark...he made the table...he also made the lamp stand...he made the incense altar...he also made the holy anointing oil and the pure incense." vv.1, 10, 17, 25, 29

Read chapter 37
Now that the Tabernacle was built it was time for the construction of the furniture.  The ark which was what held the Ten Commandments and had the mercy least with the two cheribums on top of it.  The table for the showbread and the utensils that was for the priest only.  The lamp stand for light inside the tabernacle.  The incense apart for a perfume in the air to diminish the smell of the sacrifices.  All these furnishes were very important and with purpose for coming and serving the Lord, nothing was made that didn't have a purpose.  It seems like Bezalel made all this by himself, but it also could be that he was the leader and mastermind of the the construction of others who helped construct these items.  In 35:30-34 it says he was filled with the Spirit in wisdom, understanding, and knowledge of all skill and put in his heart the ability to teach.  Bezel we also see is the grandson of Hur who was one who held up Moses' hands to God when he grew weak in battle.  Try drawing one of the furnishings baed on the description in this chapter.  What "furnishings" in your life are useless to your walk with the Lord that you need to clear out?  Bezel had the Holy Spirit guiding him and as the Holy Spirit dwells in us too, what wisdom, understanding, skill is He giving you currently?

Exodus 36

Then all the craftsmen who were doing all the work of the sanctuary came, each from the work he was doing, 5 and they spoke to Moses, saying, “The people bring much more than enough for the service of the work which the Lord commanded us to do.” vv.4-5

Read chapter 36
The construction of the Tabernacle begins and seems to start immediately, not just waiting for the "perfect" time or when all "funds are raised."  This chapter mimics chapter 26 of the words God spoke to Moses that Moses spoke to them or the spirit of wisdom that guided them (v.2), it wasn't just similar but was the exact representation of God's command.  Sometimes reading chapters of details is "boring" but if God didn't give us details would we know Him intimately?  Would He then not care of the details in our lives too?  I love this verse that the offerings were over abundant from the people.  They didn't need encouragement sermon to give or just a one time offering but feely and continually gave for the Lord.  Also amazing to see that the workers told Moses that it was enough than just picketing the extra for their own personal pay since they were the ones working.  What work is the Lord doing in your life that you may be putting off waiting for the perfect timing?  What is one detail of the Tabernacle that stands out to you?  What's one detail about you that you wish more people knew?  How/when/ do you freely give to the Lord?  

Exodus 35

"All the women who were gifted artisans spun yarn with their hands, and brought what they had spun, of blue, purple, and scarlet, and fine linen. And all the women whose hearts stirred with wisdom spun yarn of goats’ hair." vv.25-26

Read chapter 35
Not only men helped in the construction of the Tabernacle but women too in this patriarchal time period and culture.  These are gifted artisan women and wise-hearted, meaning did it heartily to the Lord.  Most likely these women were the common or lower class women who worked with their hands as a means to make a living.  The river sort of women brought their jewels of sorts (v.22).  They spun both fine and tough yarn; goats hair just sounds difficult to spin.  These women truly laid their best service to serve God no matter what the task or what their position in society was. A lot of times it can be intimidating or think we have nothing to offer or that we're a "no body" that won't matter in service.  But God made us for Him, not Him for us.  Ad we are useful tools to share HIs message and serve if we choose to step up.  What work would you've like to help in the Tabernacle?  What skills do you use today to serve the Lord?  What holds you back from giving your all or your finest (item or skill)?

Exodus 34

So he was there with the Lord forty days and forty nights; he neither ate bread nor drank water. And He wrote on the tablets the words of the covenant, the Ten Commandments.  Now it was so, when Moses came down from Mount Sinai (and the two tablets of the Testimony were in Moses’ hand when he came down from the mountain), that Moses did not know that the skin of his face shone while he talked with Him...And when Moses had finished speaking with them, he put a veil on his face. vv.28-29, 33

Read chapter 34
A person could survive without food for weeks, but no one can go without water for more than 3 or 4 days, yet MOess went 40 days!  This only is because God sustained him.  The verse that "man shall not live on bread alone, but on every word that comes form the mouth of God," (Matt. 4:4) truly happened by Moses living being fed by God's words.  The only food you should binge on or gorge on is the Bread of Life- Jesus.  Are you "eating" to your hearts content?  Are you "starving" yourself?
Moses was changed not just emotionally but physically too by spending initiate time with God, his face shown- was glowing.  Yet because of the hard hearts of the Israelites they could not look on Moses, so he put a veil over his face.  Yet we learn from 2 Cor. 3 that when one turns to the Lord the veil is lifted.  Do you shine that you've been with the Lord?  How has being with the Lord changed/transformed you?

Exodus 33

So the Lord spoke to Moses face to face, as a man speaks to his friend... And he said, “Please, show me Your glory.” Then He said, “I will make all My goodness pass before you, and I will proclaim the name of the Lord before you. I will be gracious to whom I will be gracious, and I will have compassion on whom I will have compassion.”  But He said, “You cannot see My face; for no man shall see Me, and live.”  vv.11,18-20

Read chapter 33
Oh the intimacy Moses had with God!  The relationship proves so much more important than the corporate body of believers.  Face-to-face is obviously a metaphor since He later says that Moses can't see His face and live.  But their conversations were as talking to a friend.  Is your relationship with the Lord like a best friend or better?  If not, why?  It's hard to imagine or grasp what God looks like.  yes we know Jesus is they image of the invisible God and how we see Jesus appear to men in the Old testament before He was born as a baby, but why here is it different?  Perhaps all God's glory cannot be grasped by man, that it is so much more than we can imagine, that we can't fathom or bare and why we could not live.