
π July 5, 2025
π DAILY BIBLE READING
β¨ Exodus 30 β God Is a God of Order and Intimacy
βΊ Holiness, Responsibility, and the Invitation to Maintain Godβs Presence
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π Bible Text β Exodus 30 (KJV)
1 And thou shalt make an altar to burn incense upon: of shittim wood shalt thou make it.
2 A cubit shall be the length thereof, and a cubit the breadth thereof; foursquare shall it be: and two cubits shall be the height thereof: the horns thereof shall be of the same.
3 And thou shalt overlay it with pure gold, the top thereof, and the sides thereof round about, and the horns thereof; and thou shalt make unto it a crown of gold round about.
4 And two golden rings shalt thou make to it under the crown of it, by the two corners thereof, upon the two sides of it shalt thou make it; and they shall be for places for the staves to bear it withal.
5 And thou shalt make the staves of shittim wood, and overlay them with gold.
6 And thou shalt put it before the vail that is by the ark of the testimony, before the mercy seat that is over the testimony, where I will meet with thee.
7 And Aaron shall burn thereon sweet incense every morning: when he dresseth the lamps, he shall burn incense upon it.
8 And when Aaron lighteth the lamps at even, he shall burn incense upon it, a perpetual incense before the Lord throughout your generations.
9 Ye shall offer no strange incense thereon, nor burnt sacrifice, nor meat offering; neither shall ye pour drink offering thereon.
10 And Aaron shall make an atonement upon the horns of it once in a year with the blood of the sin offering of atonements: once in the year shall he make atonement upon it throughout your generations: it is most holy unto the Lord.
11 And the Lord spake unto Moses, saying,
12 When thou takest the sum of the children of Israel after their number, then shall they give every man a ransom for his soul unto the Lord, when thou numberest them; that there be no plague among them, when thou numberest them.
13 This they shall give, every one that passeth among them that are numbered, half a shekel after the shekel of the sanctuary: (a shekel is twenty gerahs:) an half shekel shall be the offering of the Lord.
14 Every one that passeth among them that are numbered, from twenty years old and above, shall give an offering unto the Lord.
15 The rich shall not give more, and the poor shall not give less than half a shekel, when they give an offering unto the Lord, to make an atonement for your souls.
16 And thou shalt take the atonement money of the children of Israel, and shalt appoint it for the service of the tabernacle of the congregation; that it may be a memorial unto the children of Israel before the Lord, to make an atonement for your souls.
17 And the Lord spake unto Moses, saying,
18 Thou shalt also make a laver of brass, and his foot also of brass, to wash withal: and thou shalt put it between the tabernacle of the congregation and the altar, and thou shalt put water therein.
19 For Aaron and his sons shall wash their hands and their feet thereat:
20 When they go into the tabernacle of the congregation, they shall wash with water, that they die not; or when they come near to the altar to minister, to burn offering made by fire unto the Lord:
21 So they shall wash their hands and their feet, that they die not: and it shall be a statute for ever to them, even to him and to his seed throughout their generations.
22 Moreover the Lord spake unto Moses, saying,
23 Take thou also unto thee principal spices, of pure myrrh five hundred shekels, and of sweet cinnamon half so much, even two hundred and fifty shekels, and of sweet calamus two hundred and fifty shekels,
24 And of cassia five hundred shekels, after the shekel of the sanctuary, and of oil olive an hin:
25 And thou shalt make it an oil of holy ointment, an ointment compound after the art of the apothecary: it shall be an holy anointing oil.
26 And thou shalt anoint the tabernacle of the congregation therewith, and the ark of the testimony,
27 And the table and all his vessels, and the candlestick and his vessels, and the altar of incense,
28 And the altar of burnt offering with all his vessels, and the laver and his foot.
29 And thou shalt sanctify them, that they may be most holy: whatsoever toucheth them shall be holy.
30 And thou shalt anoint Aaron and his sons, and consecrate them, that they may minister unto me in the priest’s office.
31 And thou shalt speak unto the children of Israel, saying, This shall be an holy anointing oil unto me throughout your generations.
32 Upon man’s flesh shall it not be poured, neither shall ye make any other like it, after the composition of it: it is holy, and it shall be holy unto you.
33 Whosoever compoundeth any like it, or whosoever putteth any of it upon a stranger, shall even be cut off from his people.
34 And the Lord said unto Moses, Take unto thee sweet spices, stacte, and onycha, and galbanum; these sweet spices with pure frankincense: of each shall there be a like weight:
35 And thou shalt make it a perfume, a confection after the art of the apothecary, tempered together, pure and holy:
36 And thou shalt beat some of it very small, and put of it before the testimony in the tabernacle of the congregation, where I will meet with thee: it shall be unto you most holy.
37 And as for the perfume which thou shalt make, ye shall not make to yourselves according to the composition thereof: it shall be unto thee holy for the Lord.
38 Whosoever shall make like unto that, to smell thereto, shall even be cut off from his people.
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π΅ Introduction
In Exodus 30 we find ourselves in the heart of the tabernacleβs descriptionβthe holy place where God desires to dwell among His people. But this text is far more than a set of building instructions. Itβs a theological mirror that reveals the depths of Godβs heart: His holiness, His nearnessβand His invitation to fellowship.
Every element carries symbolism: an altar for incense, a bronze basin, the sacred anointing oil, and the special incense blend. Nothing is accidental; everything points beyond itself to a holy God who seeks to meet peopleβbut on His terms.
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π‘ Commentary
1.The Altar of Incense (Verse 1β10)
The golden incense altar was small, yet its significance was immense. Morning and evening Aaron was to offer incenseβan image of ongoing prayer (cf. Rev. 8:3β4). This was not optional but a daily, deliberate habit before the Lord.
β οΈ No foreign incense was allowedβa reminder that we must approach God not according to our own tastes but in reverence and purity.
2.The Head Tax (Verse 11β16)
The βatonement offeringβ of half a shekel was not a charitable donation but an expression of responsibility and belonging. Every person counted, yet no one could buy their way out with extra wealth.
π A powerful message: rich and poor stand equal before Godβsalvation is not a transaction but pure grace.
3.The Bronze Basin (Verse 17β21)
Before a priest served, he had to wash. A clear sign that pure service before God demands inner cleansing. God is holyβand any ministry in His presence requires personal purity.
π§Ό This points us to spiritual cleansing through Godβs Word (cf. John 15:3; Eph. 5:26).
4.The Holy Anointing Oil (Verse 22β33)
This oil was uniqueβcarefully crafted, consecrated exclusively for the tabernacle. It was never to be used for ordinary purposes.
π’οΈ Anointing symbolizes calling and separation. Serving God means belonging wholly to Him, reserved for His service.
5.The Sacred Incense Blend (Verse 34β38)
Likewise, this incense was holy, representing prayer and worship as a pleasing fragrance to God. Private imitation was forbidden.
π Itβs not about empty ritual but genuine devotion. God desires a pure heart, not religious formality.
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π’ Summary
Exodus 30 vividly portrays Godβs holiness alongside His closeness and care. He gives precise instructions for worshipβrich in meaning, depth, and consequence. Every detail underscores that God desires fellowship with usβbut on holy ground. Prayer, purity, obedience, responsibility: these all belong to a life lived in Godβs presence.
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π’ Message for Us Today
We too are called to serve Godβnot by external rituals, but through a life set apart. God invites you into His holy people, which also means being cleansed, consecrated, and meeting Him daily.
Though we no longer live under the law, its spirit still teaches us:
π God is holy.
π And He wants to dwell in you.
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π‘ Reflection Questions
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What βforeign fragrancesβ sneak into your life that arenβt pleasing to God?
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Do you pray daily, like the morning and evening incense, or only occasionally?
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Are you willing to be cleansed before you serve?
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Have you grasped that you are holyβset apart for Godβs presence?
~~~~~βΊ~~~~~
π June 28 – July 05, 2025
π WEEKLY SPIRIT OF PROPHECY READING
π Ellen G. White β Patriarchs and Prophets β Chapter 14
β¨ Destruction of Sodom
π Read online here
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π΅ Introduction
Sodom was beautiful, wealthy, and culturedβyet it was lost in guilt, sin, and ultimately in Godβs judgment.
The story of Lot and the destruction of Sodom is more than a historical event.
It is a warning, an invitation, and a mirror for our own time.
Amid prosperity, pleasure, and religious indifference, we still hear Godβs voice today:
βFlee for your life! Donβt look back.β (Genesis 19:17)
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π‘ Commentary
1. The Allure of Sodom β Outward Wealth, Inward Decay
Sodom was βlike the garden of the Lordβ (Genesis 13:10)βfertile, beautiful, and convenient. But:
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Abundance led to pride.
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Idleness corrupted character.
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Wealth fueled selfishness and moral decay.
Sodom was prosperousβbut spiritually dead.
2. Godβs Warning β Grace Before Judgment
God sent angels to rescue Lot.
Lot was righteous, but hesitant.
His family was attached to comfort and possessions.
Godβs grace is realβbut it has a window of opportunity.
3. Lotβs Wife β A Heart in Sodom
She was on the path of rescue, but her heart looked back.
One last glance cost her life.
Itβs not about where your feet areβbut where your heart is.
4. The Consequences of Wrong Choices
Lotβs descendants (the Moabites and Ammonites) became enemies of God.
One wrong step led generations into ruin.
Personal decisions can have consequences that span generations.
5. The Contrast: Abraham and Lot
Abraham lived by faith as a stranger and pilgrim.
Lot sought comfortβand nearly lost everything.
Faith chooses what is eternal, even when it is hard today.
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π’ Summary
The downfall of Sodom is:
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a testimony to Godβs patienceβbut also His justice,
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a mirror of todayβs moral condition,
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a call to repentance,
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a reminder: wealth without God is dangerous,
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a warning: do not delay when God calls!
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π’ Message for Us Today
We live in a world like Sodomβmarked by prosperity, selfishness, and moral relativism.
Godβs grace still calls todayβnot to condemn, but to save.
Donβt delay when God callsβthe time of grace is limited.
Your choices affect your family, your descendants, and your eternity.
Seek the better homelandβthe city whose builder and maker is God.
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π¬ Reflection Question
Where is my βSodomβ? Where do I choose comfort over obedience?
Do I hesitate like Lotβeven though I know Godβs voice?
Is my heart more attached to possessions, career, and securityβor to Godβs will?
Do I live like Abrahamβa guest in this world, waiting for the heavenly?