Exodus 19:16-25
Wednesday, 9 April 2008
Although it is a fad among church people to do so, I have never been a fan of proclaiming that "God told me" this or "Thus saith the Lord" that. Don't get me wrong, I do sometimes think that God talks to me, but I have enough respect for and even fear of God that I am careful not to take God's name in vain or attribute to God those things that I suspect may be a figment of my own imagination.
Having prepared themselves for an encounter with God, the Israelites are encamped near the mountain on the third day of consecration, when the earth begins to quake, the thunder rolls, and a dense cloud of darkness descends. God has shown up for the scheduled meeting and announced the divine presence with fanfare fit for the Lord of Hosts. Moses the leader recognizes the signal that it is time for the people to meet their God. As usual, God is the first to arrive at the meeting point, both because God is first in everything and because God wants Moses to have a chance to set forth the boundaries of the encounter before some unwitting Israelite accidentally approaches God in the wrong way. You see, as loving as God is, God has boundaries.
Because God is so kind and has extended the divine hand toward us, we sometimes act as if we forget that God is God. Leaders and people have to learn how to recognize the presence of God in our midst by bringing the right kind of consecrated spirit and observing the boundaries. The word and presence of the Living God are never anything to take for granted or to behave haphazardly around. When we come into God's presence, the proper posture is humility and the proper activity is worship and obedience.
Sing, "O Worship the King"
Let us pray:
Almighty God, we acknowledge and give thanks for the privilege of being in your presence. We thank you for arranging for and showing up first to the meeting places in our lives. As we seek to know you more intimately, grant us the grace of consecrated lives that observe the boundaries you set. Help us to lead others to meaningful encounters with you, in Jesus' name. Amen
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