EXODUS
CHAPTER
30
1. You shall make an altar on which to offer incense; you shall make it of acacia wood. 2. It shall be one cubit long and one cubit wide; it shall be square, and shall be two cubits high; its horns shall be of one piece with it. 3. You shall overlay it with pure gold, its top, and its sides all around and its horns; and you shall make for it a molding of gold all around and its horns; and you shall make for it a molding of gold all around. 4. And you shall make two golden rings for it; under its molding on two opposite sides of it you shall make them and they shall hold the poles with which to carry it. 5. You shall make the poles of acacia wood, and overlay them with gold. 6. You shall place it in front of the curtain that is above the ark of the covenant, in front of the mercy seat that is over the covenant, where I will meet with you.
(Exodus chapter 30 verses 1 to 6)
The altar of incense was a device on which incense was burnt before God along with prayers on behalf of the High Priest himself and on behalf of the people. This was a very special place. May I also have a special place of worship for You in my heart oh God! As much as the altar was portable and could be moved from one place to another, in the same way we can offer you praise and worship on the altar of our hearts. When we join together in prayer as a congregation or simply as friends interceding for others our prayers become like burned incense of perfect odour that rises before God as an offering.
In order to view the altar of incense or maybe what it may have looked like please click on the following link:
The Altar of Incense
7. Aaron shall offer fragrant incense on it every morning when he dresses the lamps he shall offer it, 8. and when Aaron sets up the lamps in the evening, he shall offer it, a regular incense offering before the LORD throughout your generations. 9. You shall not offer unholy incense on it, or a burnt offering, or a grain offering; and you shall not pour a drink offering on it.
(Exodus chapter 30 verses 7 to 9)
Throughout the years as we grow in our relationship with You Oh Father our praise and worship becomes more precious. In the times of your people who were still being grounded in the discipline of worship by means of sacrificial offerings there was the need for them to make offerings according to these instructions, however in our every day life, are not constrained by rules in order to worship You because I can turn to you any time any day in praise and worship and open my heart to You. Thank You my God for giving me a prayer corner and time and an opportunity of worshipping You even during my break time at work, because this helps me in always keeping You in my heart and mind all day.
As in the case of Aaron who lit the Menorah every morning and every evening and offered You burnt incense of fragrant quality likewise I shall offer You my prayers, hurts, wishes and desires both in the morning and even in the evening at the end of my day. Thanks for giving me the opportunity to share with others on line, so that they may also reflect on Your Word and give You Worship by doing so.
10. Once a year Aaron shall perform the rite of atonement on its horns. Throughout your generations he shall perform the atonement for it once a year with the blood of the atoning sin offering. It is most holy to the LORD.
(Exodus chapter 30 verse 10)
Although the rite of atonement was to be performed once a year, we are never to stop offering our prayers to God, Moreover as in the case of the atonement of sins, we are to go regularly to confession in order to preserve the purity of our souls from sin and its ways, so that we will help to preserve our spiritual welfare. The Holy Spirit of God in us stimulates us to reconcile with God by means of confession.
11. The LORD spoke to Moses: 12. When you take a census of the Israelites to register them, at registration all of them shall give a ransom for their lives to the LORD, so that no plague may come upon them. 13. This is what each one who is registered shall give; half a shekel according to the shekel of the sanctuary (the shekel is twenty gerahs), half a shekel as an offering to the LORD. 14. Each one who is registered, from twenty years old and upward, shall give the LORD's offering. 15. The rich shall not give more, and the poor shall not give less, than the half shekel, when you bring this offering to the LORD to make atonement for your lives.
(Exodus chapter 30 verses 11 to 15)
According to verses 11 to 15, the value of a registered person was half a shekel which was a form of insurance policy that was to given to You in currency that was to be used in the temple of the meeting. It is also mentioned that the mentioned value was meant as a ransom of their lives to You Oh God, however on reflecting You love us so much that in Your passion You paid the price of the ransom of our salvation with Your own sacred blood which is surely worth more than half a shekel. Thanks for paying such a price for me oh God!
16. You shall take the atonement money from the Israelites and shall designate it for the service of the tent of meeting; before the LORD it will be a reminder to the Israelites of the ransom given for your lives.
(Exodus chapter 30 verse 16)
Oh father what you asked of the Israelites is nothing compared to the price that your paid for us, may I offer every day of my life as an offering to you, with all my ups and downs rewards and disappointments which, is worth more than any shekel or other currency. May it be Oh Father that when I die and appear before You I will not come empty handed but with my hands full of good deeds and acts.
17. The LORD spoke to Moses: 18. You shall make a bronze basin with a bronze stand for washing. You shall put it between the tent of meeting and the altar, and you shall put water in it; 19 with the water Aaron and sons shall wash their hands and their feet. 20. When they go into the tent of meeting, or when they come near the altar to minister, to make an offering by fire to the LORD, they shall wash with water so that they may not die. 21. They shall wash their hands and their feet, so that they may not die; it shall be a perpetual ordinance for them, for him and for his descendants throughout their generations.
(Exodus chapter 30 verses 17 to 21)
In order to appear pure and without sin before God, the High priest and his sons needed to perform ceremonial cleansing. As a practise during the act of baptism we are immersed in consecrated water in order to have us cleansed from original sins. On reflecting before a coffin is given to the ground it is also blessed with Holy Water, Such moments as in marriage or an ordination Holy Water is used, therefore this is very significant because nothing that is in a state of mortal sin can appear before God, because He is all good and purity itself. This is why on dying we are to undergo a process of purification in the stage of perfunctory before we can actually appear before God.
In order to view this bronze washing basin please click on the following link and slide the bar to 2:15 to 2:48.
The bronze basin
On reflecting although it was practical for means of hygiene for anybody to be clean physically, what is also important is that even on a spiritual level our souls are also kept as clean as possible, that is why God gave us the sacrament of reconciliation in order to renew our relationship with God through the confession of our sins.
22. The LORD spoke to Moses: 23. Take the finest spices of liquid myrrh five hundred shekels, and of sweet-smelling cinnamon half as much, that is two hundred fifty and two hundred fifty of aromatic cane, 24. and five hundred of cassia measured by the sanctuary shekel-and a hin of olive oil; 25. and you shall make of these a sacred anointing oil blended as by the perfumer; it shall be a holy anointing oil.
(Exodus chapter 22 to 25)
In order to view the anointing oil please click on the following link:
The anointing oil
Although in our spiritual walk we may not have this form of anointing oil in all its splendour and perfumery, our oil can be be made of acts of charity that compel us to go against our carnal sinful nature, time of praise and worship to God and even donating monetary gifts to people who are in need or visiting elderly people in homes or even hospital and spending time with them. This is also an anointing of fragrance to God.
26. With it you shall anoint the tent of meeting and the ark of the covenant, 27. and the table and all its utensils, and the lampstand and its utensils, and the altar of incense, 28 and the altar of the burnt offering with all its utensils, and the basin with its stand; 29. You shall consecrate them, so that they may be the most holy; what ever touches them will become holy.
(Exodus chapter 30 verses 26 to 29)
As much as the utensils of the temple were consecrated to God by being anointed to Him, as sons and daughters of God we are also anointed to Him in an everlasting priesthood. Although we are sinners, God gave us the opportunity to share of this priesthood.
30. You shall anoint Aaron and his sons and consecrate them, in order that they may serve me as priests. 31. You shall say to the Israelites, "This shall be my holy anointing oil throughout your generations. 32. It shall not be used to any ordinary anointing of the body, and you shall make no other like it in composition: it is holy, and it shall be holy to you.
(Exodus chapter 30 verses 30 to 32)
God made it as a rule that being of a holy nature, the oil of consecration was to be strictly used for that purpose. Even though we may not understand the meaning of certain rites and practises in the Church Oh God we are to accept them for what they are and show our respect to them, because if they were given by You they are Holy and worthy to be obeyed and practised.
33. Whoever compounds any like it or whoever puts any of it on unqualified person shall be cut off from the people."
(Exodus chapter 30 verse 33)
Verse 33 is enough proof my God to take You seriously and obey Your Will for there is no greater penalty than that of being cut of from the Roman Catholic Church or even from any other church even for non Christians or people of other religions who consider their spiritual life as being of great value. Oh God I cannot ever live without You and Your presence. May it never be that we are separated from each other.Please keep me and my family and all my friends on G+ and elsewhere under You protection so that we may remain forever in Your Holy presence amen!
In a spirit of praise and worship I invite you all to click on this link and join me in a spirit of praise and worship
In Your presence Oh God
34. The LORD said to Moses: Take sweet spices, stacte, and onycha, and galbanum, sweet spices with pure frankincense (an equal part of each), 35 and make an incense blended as by the perfumer seasoned with salt, pure and holy; 36 and you shall beat some of it into powder, and put part of it before the covenant in the tent of meeting where I shall meet with you; it shall be for you most holy.
(Exodus chapter 30 verses 34 to 36)
God may not ask us to prepare such preparations in which He finds pleasure, in fact He might ask of us different tasks that also give Him pleasure, such as loving somebody who makes our life really difficult.
37. When you make incense according to this composition, you shall not make it for yourselves; it shall be regarded by you as holy to the LORD, 38. Whoever makes any like it to use as perfume shall be cut off from the people.
(Exodus chapter 30 verses 37 to 38)
According to verses 37 to 38 which bring us at the end of this chapter, we are not to mix or misuse what is holy for worldly purposes. Practises that are used in spiritual rites such as the breaking of bread in the sacrament of the Eucharist are not to be used during black masses. The same means of worship that were planned to worship God are not to be used to worship pagan cults.
I wish to end this chapter with a prayer for Priests, monks and all spiritual people. During this time oh God your servants are undergoing many torments and tribulations, In Malta and in other places throughout the world there have been cases of physical abuse of minors and even others. Priests are being accused of child molestation among other accuses. The Church is being portrayed as a human and corrupt organisation that is anything but holy. I am aware that the devil is trying to hurt the Roman Catholic Church were it hurts most. These events are causing many people to lose faith in the Roman Catholic Church and even in You oh God.
Therefore I pray Oh father that You protect Your Priests and ministers against the attacks of the devil and deliver them from any form of temptation and immoral scandals that they may be tempted by. Help them to be diligent in their prayers and pray for Your Divine help. Bless them with the power of Your Holy Spirit and cleanse them with Your Blood.
Please click on the following link and recite the following prayer that is especially planned as a prayer for priests who are in constant need of our prayers:
Prayer for priests
(Exodus chapter 30 verses 1 to 6)
The altar of incense was a device on which incense was burnt before God along with prayers on behalf of the High Priest himself and on behalf of the people. This was a very special place. May I also have a special place of worship for You in my heart oh God! As much as the altar was portable and could be moved from one place to another, in the same way we can offer you praise and worship on the altar of our hearts. When we join together in prayer as a congregation or simply as friends interceding for others our prayers become like burned incense of perfect odour that rises before God as an offering.
In order to view the altar of incense or maybe what it may have looked like please click on the following link:
The Altar of Incense
7. Aaron shall offer fragrant incense on it every morning when he dresses the lamps he shall offer it, 8. and when Aaron sets up the lamps in the evening, he shall offer it, a regular incense offering before the LORD throughout your generations. 9. You shall not offer unholy incense on it, or a burnt offering, or a grain offering; and you shall not pour a drink offering on it.
(Exodus chapter 30 verses 7 to 9)
Throughout the years as we grow in our relationship with You Oh Father our praise and worship becomes more precious. In the times of your people who were still being grounded in the discipline of worship by means of sacrificial offerings there was the need for them to make offerings according to these instructions, however in our every day life, are not constrained by rules in order to worship You because I can turn to you any time any day in praise and worship and open my heart to You. Thank You my God for giving me a prayer corner and time and an opportunity of worshipping You even during my break time at work, because this helps me in always keeping You in my heart and mind all day.
As in the case of Aaron who lit the Menorah every morning and every evening and offered You burnt incense of fragrant quality likewise I shall offer You my prayers, hurts, wishes and desires both in the morning and even in the evening at the end of my day. Thanks for giving me the opportunity to share with others on line, so that they may also reflect on Your Word and give You Worship by doing so.
10. Once a year Aaron shall perform the rite of atonement on its horns. Throughout your generations he shall perform the atonement for it once a year with the blood of the atoning sin offering. It is most holy to the LORD.
(Exodus chapter 30 verse 10)
Although the rite of atonement was to be performed once a year, we are never to stop offering our prayers to God, Moreover as in the case of the atonement of sins, we are to go regularly to confession in order to preserve the purity of our souls from sin and its ways, so that we will help to preserve our spiritual welfare. The Holy Spirit of God in us stimulates us to reconcile with God by means of confession.
11. The LORD spoke to Moses: 12. When you take a census of the Israelites to register them, at registration all of them shall give a ransom for their lives to the LORD, so that no plague may come upon them. 13. This is what each one who is registered shall give; half a shekel according to the shekel of the sanctuary (the shekel is twenty gerahs), half a shekel as an offering to the LORD. 14. Each one who is registered, from twenty years old and upward, shall give the LORD's offering. 15. The rich shall not give more, and the poor shall not give less, than the half shekel, when you bring this offering to the LORD to make atonement for your lives.
(Exodus chapter 30 verses 11 to 15)
According to verses 11 to 15, the value of a registered person was half a shekel which was a form of insurance policy that was to given to You in currency that was to be used in the temple of the meeting. It is also mentioned that the mentioned value was meant as a ransom of their lives to You Oh God, however on reflecting You love us so much that in Your passion You paid the price of the ransom of our salvation with Your own sacred blood which is surely worth more than half a shekel. Thanks for paying such a price for me oh God!
16. You shall take the atonement money from the Israelites and shall designate it for the service of the tent of meeting; before the LORD it will be a reminder to the Israelites of the ransom given for your lives.
(Exodus chapter 30 verse 16)
Oh father what you asked of the Israelites is nothing compared to the price that your paid for us, may I offer every day of my life as an offering to you, with all my ups and downs rewards and disappointments which, is worth more than any shekel or other currency. May it be Oh Father that when I die and appear before You I will not come empty handed but with my hands full of good deeds and acts.
17. The LORD spoke to Moses: 18. You shall make a bronze basin with a bronze stand for washing. You shall put it between the tent of meeting and the altar, and you shall put water in it; 19 with the water Aaron and sons shall wash their hands and their feet. 20. When they go into the tent of meeting, or when they come near the altar to minister, to make an offering by fire to the LORD, they shall wash with water so that they may not die. 21. They shall wash their hands and their feet, so that they may not die; it shall be a perpetual ordinance for them, for him and for his descendants throughout their generations.
(Exodus chapter 30 verses 17 to 21)
In order to appear pure and without sin before God, the High priest and his sons needed to perform ceremonial cleansing. As a practise during the act of baptism we are immersed in consecrated water in order to have us cleansed from original sins. On reflecting before a coffin is given to the ground it is also blessed with Holy Water, Such moments as in marriage or an ordination Holy Water is used, therefore this is very significant because nothing that is in a state of mortal sin can appear before God, because He is all good and purity itself. This is why on dying we are to undergo a process of purification in the stage of perfunctory before we can actually appear before God.
In order to view this bronze washing basin please click on the following link and slide the bar to 2:15 to 2:48.
The bronze basin
On reflecting although it was practical for means of hygiene for anybody to be clean physically, what is also important is that even on a spiritual level our souls are also kept as clean as possible, that is why God gave us the sacrament of reconciliation in order to renew our relationship with God through the confession of our sins.
22. The LORD spoke to Moses: 23. Take the finest spices of liquid myrrh five hundred shekels, and of sweet-smelling cinnamon half as much, that is two hundred fifty and two hundred fifty of aromatic cane, 24. and five hundred of cassia measured by the sanctuary shekel-and a hin of olive oil; 25. and you shall make of these a sacred anointing oil blended as by the perfumer; it shall be a holy anointing oil.
(Exodus chapter 22 to 25)
In order to view the anointing oil please click on the following link:
The anointing oil
Although in our spiritual walk we may not have this form of anointing oil in all its splendour and perfumery, our oil can be be made of acts of charity that compel us to go against our carnal sinful nature, time of praise and worship to God and even donating monetary gifts to people who are in need or visiting elderly people in homes or even hospital and spending time with them. This is also an anointing of fragrance to God.
26. With it you shall anoint the tent of meeting and the ark of the covenant, 27. and the table and all its utensils, and the lampstand and its utensils, and the altar of incense, 28 and the altar of the burnt offering with all its utensils, and the basin with its stand; 29. You shall consecrate them, so that they may be the most holy; what ever touches them will become holy.
(Exodus chapter 30 verses 26 to 29)
As much as the utensils of the temple were consecrated to God by being anointed to Him, as sons and daughters of God we are also anointed to Him in an everlasting priesthood. Although we are sinners, God gave us the opportunity to share of this priesthood.
30. You shall anoint Aaron and his sons and consecrate them, in order that they may serve me as priests. 31. You shall say to the Israelites, "This shall be my holy anointing oil throughout your generations. 32. It shall not be used to any ordinary anointing of the body, and you shall make no other like it in composition: it is holy, and it shall be holy to you.
(Exodus chapter 30 verses 30 to 32)
God made it as a rule that being of a holy nature, the oil of consecration was to be strictly used for that purpose. Even though we may not understand the meaning of certain rites and practises in the Church Oh God we are to accept them for what they are and show our respect to them, because if they were given by You they are Holy and worthy to be obeyed and practised.
33. Whoever compounds any like it or whoever puts any of it on unqualified person shall be cut off from the people."
(Exodus chapter 30 verse 33)
Verse 33 is enough proof my God to take You seriously and obey Your Will for there is no greater penalty than that of being cut of from the Roman Catholic Church or even from any other church even for non Christians or people of other religions who consider their spiritual life as being of great value. Oh God I cannot ever live without You and Your presence. May it never be that we are separated from each other.Please keep me and my family and all my friends on G+ and elsewhere under You protection so that we may remain forever in Your Holy presence amen!
In a spirit of praise and worship I invite you all to click on this link and join me in a spirit of praise and worship
In Your presence Oh God
34. The LORD said to Moses: Take sweet spices, stacte, and onycha, and galbanum, sweet spices with pure frankincense (an equal part of each), 35 and make an incense blended as by the perfumer seasoned with salt, pure and holy; 36 and you shall beat some of it into powder, and put part of it before the covenant in the tent of meeting where I shall meet with you; it shall be for you most holy.
(Exodus chapter 30 verses 34 to 36)
God may not ask us to prepare such preparations in which He finds pleasure, in fact He might ask of us different tasks that also give Him pleasure, such as loving somebody who makes our life really difficult.
37. When you make incense according to this composition, you shall not make it for yourselves; it shall be regarded by you as holy to the LORD, 38. Whoever makes any like it to use as perfume shall be cut off from the people.
(Exodus chapter 30 verses 37 to 38)
According to verses 37 to 38 which bring us at the end of this chapter, we are not to mix or misuse what is holy for worldly purposes. Practises that are used in spiritual rites such as the breaking of bread in the sacrament of the Eucharist are not to be used during black masses. The same means of worship that were planned to worship God are not to be used to worship pagan cults.
I wish to end this chapter with a prayer for Priests, monks and all spiritual people. During this time oh God your servants are undergoing many torments and tribulations, In Malta and in other places throughout the world there have been cases of physical abuse of minors and even others. Priests are being accused of child molestation among other accuses. The Church is being portrayed as a human and corrupt organisation that is anything but holy. I am aware that the devil is trying to hurt the Roman Catholic Church were it hurts most. These events are causing many people to lose faith in the Roman Catholic Church and even in You oh God.
Therefore I pray Oh father that You protect Your Priests and ministers against the attacks of the devil and deliver them from any form of temptation and immoral scandals that they may be tempted by. Help them to be diligent in their prayers and pray for Your Divine help. Bless them with the power of Your Holy Spirit and cleanse them with Your Blood.
Please click on the following link and recite the following prayer that is especially planned as a prayer for priests who are in constant need of our prayers:
Prayer for priests
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