In this section we have the detailed description of the altar and the basin to be used for scarifices, along with the recipe for preparation of the anointing oil to be used in consecrating the sacred objects.  Interwoven with these are some small, and interesting, details.

The Census

I can honestly say I had never before noticed the reference to a census in Hebrew/Israelite practice, yet here we find a description of the offerings to be made based on the results of the census.

There was a time, and the last vestiges still remain, when 'per capita' levies were made by church and other organisations, a time when, as per what it says in Exodus, rich or poor would be required to make the same absolute level of gift.  In some older churches memories remain of 'pew rents' (which to at least some degree predated 'free will offerings' as we now know them) with sometimes differential charges being made based on where a pew was located.  The fact that many churches fill up from the back may relate to the fact that the pews at the back were usually cheaper.

Every year the Baptist Unions require member churches to submit a whole raft of numbers... formal membership, numbers of children, of young adults, of ethnic minorities, of people with disabilties and so on.  This data is meant to inform thinking on aspects of mission and evangelism, disicpleship, justice and so forth.  Whether we like to admit it or not, there are endless 'books of numbers' recording stuff about us.

So interesting, to me anyway, to see just how far back this originates.

Named Craftsmen

In the course of the narrative, two craftsmen, Bezalel and Oholiab, are named.  They are chosen by God to employ the gifts and skills uniquely theirs.

Recently I read something online that ran roughly thus, "God looked at all that had been made, the stars and planets, the oceans and mountains, the plants and animals, and saw that it was wonderful... but something was still missing, so God made you because creation needed a 'you.'"

The idea that God makes us with a purpose in mind has the potential to lead us to an unhelpful form of Calvinism that renders us as puppets in a cosmic play.  The idea that God has uniquely gifted each of us because each of us has the potential to add to the goodness, beauty, wonder, truth, justice, peace, etc. of creation, without predetermining what that might mean, is surely mind-blowing and wonderful?  Creation 'needed' a Catriona, with all her failings and faults, her insecurities and anxieties because she alone also had something unqiue and precious to contribute to the created order.  The same is so for you, for everone.

Sometimes we feel desperately insignificant or hopelessly inadequate or probably both, but we are reminded as it says elsewhere "do not be afraid, for I have  redeemed you, I have called you be name, you are mine."

I will never know the names of most people who read this stuff, but God does, and God has made each one with unique and essential qualities.

The Sabbath - Again

I have clearly never before read Exodus sufficiently closely to realise just how many references are made to Sabbath-keeping.  It almost feels as if this was written for me, with my tendency to workaholism.  A constant reminder that rest is needed.  A reminder that we have to work at not working, that Sabbath has to be consciously chosen, not drifted into or out of.

Being forced to slow down for a few weeks has been, and continues to be, challenging.  Yesterday, for very good reasons, and mostly down to choices I've made, I was actively 'doing' stuff for twelve hours.  This is not a boast, it is a kind of confession, that for people like me it is actually easier to 'do' than to 'not do'.

If nothing else has really struck me in the last fortnight, it is the centrality of Sabbath - something I really need to get my head around as I move forward and return to a more active life again.

Two Tablets

The chapter, and the section, ends with Moses receiving the two stone tablets.

During my teens we would joke about Moses being handed a couple of aspirins because leading the Israelites was such a headache.  I guess nowadays children and teens will hear the words and automatically think of hand held digital devices... ipads or similar.  In a sense we've come full circle I suppose.

The whole of the Law condensed into something that could be carried by an old man as he descended a mountain path through cloud.  Jesus said, more or less, "Love the LORD your God with all your mind, with all your  hearts, with all your soul and with all your strength.  And love you neighbour as you love yourself.  This is the Law and the Prophets, all the rest is commentary".

Whatever the tablets may have looked like, and whatever was inscribed on them, these were the essentials for God's people to hold on to.  Small enough to be carried, fragile enough to be destroyed, significant enough to shape history... God's will entrusted to human hands.

Moses will begin his walk down the mountain, but meanwhile we wait to see what happens next...

It is clear that my recent post regarding a sermon preached at The Gathering Place was deemed inappropriate and/or offensive by at least one reader.  I apologise for the offence caused and am willing to have 'real world' or 'email' conversations with anyone who feels that way.

I contemplated writing a longer piece here, but feel that could make things worse. 

All I will do is to remind you that this is clearly identified (in the left side bar) as a personal blog and I take responsibility for whatever I say, right or wrong, good or bad.  Opinions are my own, not those of the church or denomination.

This pair of chapters is pretty much taken up with the description of the priestly clothing to be made for Aaron (and his successors) to wear when undertaking priestly duties, and of the seven day ritualised ordination of Aaron and his sons.  If the Tabernacle was IKEA, I'm not quite sure what this outift relates to, but the instructions are every bit as complex, detailed and precise.

The striking aspect of the garments, apart from their function as a "glorious adornment" is their symbolic function, exemplified by the ephod, decorated with twelve stones, each with the name of one of the tribes carefully engraved/inscribed upon it.  Clearly graven writing came in a different category from graven images...

Remembrance

The twelve stones on the breastplate were to serve as a reminder to the priest, Aaron and his successors, of who it was they were representing.  They could not enter God's presence without carrying close to their hearts, literally and metaphorically, the  twelve tribes of Israel.  The priest needs to remember what it is they are about, that they are the 'bridge', the 'intercessor', the 'go-between' linking earth and heaven, humanity and God.  Never forget who it is you serve/represent and what is entrusted to you.

Close to the Heart

The urim and thummim, the dice used for decision making, a practice that seems to us impossibly unreliable, were to be kept close to the priest's heart.  Decisions were serious matters, not simply (even if it may seem so to us) a roll of the dice to determine the fate of another.  There should be a heart element to the decision making, not a cold, callous appraisal and a detatched decision.  A call to love those who come seeking guidance, compassion for and empathy with those whom the priest serves.

Bells and Pomegranates

The idea of a deity who needs to be alerted to the arrival of a priest by the jingling of bells is hilarious and bemusing.  The idea that sneaking up on God unwares puts the priest in danger is as terrifying as it is ridiculous.  Yet this, it seems is the primary purpose of the bells.

It seems crazy, and yet... perhaps there is something about preparing oneself to approach God, about due humility, about taking seriously what is about to be enacted.  Perhaps it is a helpful corrective to the casual, chummy way that prayer and praise are sometimes approached and expressed in our own time... the careless language of extempore prayers that open with phrases such as "... yes 'n' God...".  Perhaps, too, a reminder, were one needed, of the sacred responsibility of intercession, of carrying to God prayers for others and for each other... that this is huge matter.  I am always impressed by the seriousness with which those on our Prayers Rota take this task, the careful choice of words, the pacing of delivery, the selection of topics.

The purpose of the pomegranates is less clear, but whenever I read this verse, and indeed whenever I preach around Pentecost, I am reminded of words I first heard more than half a lifetime ago thay suggested that the bells and pomegranates could be seen as symbolising the balancing of the 'gifts of the Spirit' with the 'fruit of the Spirit'... the one noisy, the other silent yet each necessary.  I've always felt that was a helpful interpretation, hence why I share it every time it comes to mind!!

Sacred Vestments

When I was on my student placement with a Roman Catholic priest, he took me into the Sacristy and showed me the contents of the press where the vestments were stored... chasubles and copes, tabbards, manacles, stoles, and so on.  Thousands of pounds worth of richly decorated garments, colour coded to match the liturgical year, and sized to fit no-one in particular and anyone in general.

These were not his vestments, aside from some clerical shirts, he had a couple of black cassocks edged in red (he was a Monsignor) and a couple of alb-cassocks (white/off white pull on over the head things).  These vestments belonged to the church and were for the use of whichever priest needed them.  So if Father Paul had a day off and Father John led Mass, the same garments would be worn... and given Father Paul was skinny and Father John tubby, the one size fits all nature of the clothes was clearly demonstrated!!

Joking aside, there was something important being expressed here, and very different from the practices in Anglican and non-Conformist churches where clergy do robe, and wear vestments created specifically for them.  Check out the websites of any clerical outfitter and you will see the huges range of possibilities.

In the Roman Catholic tradition, as in ancient Israel, it is the role that attracts the outfit, not the individual.  There are certain roles for which I choose to wear a clerical shirt.  The origins of why I do so are not especially honourable, but in the practices of the Roman Catholic church, and in the robes of Israelite Priests, I find a justifiable and helpful meaning: as I put on the shirt, so I 'put on' the Church, I become a symbolic representative not of myself (though of course who I am shapes everything I do or say) but of 'us', of Body of Christ.  I have no desire to dress up in robes or stoles, see no purpose for them in my own ministry, but as I re-read Exodus, I am reminded that others may legitimately think differently.

I wonder, what are the symbols, literal or otherwise, that serve to remind what it is I am called to do and to be?  What might form my 'ephod' take, were I to have one?  What might be on yours...?

Last week's service, to which I have just listened saw the preacher facing a huge challenge: it was Valentine's Day and it was the first Sunday of Lent, which in the lectionary focusses on the Temptations of Jesus.  Deciding how, if at all, to combine such seemingly disparate themes, is far from easy, and I would have made very different choices had it been me preaching.  There is no one 'right' way to approach such challenges, and only experience of that which doesn't work out, as well as that which does, enables us to find our own way through such challenges.

So, in reflecting on this sermon I remind myself of my self-imposed guidelines...

• We come to worship not to be entertained or to be educated but in the hope of encountering God
• In every service there is a nugget to be found and cherished
• Love is not selfish but seeks to build up the other

As the sermon ended, I detected a sense of disappointment, possibly even defeat, in the voice of the preacher - whatever he had hoped and dreamed of, it hadn't worked out and he knew it.  The last thing he needed, the last thing he needs, is criticism.  He had worked hard and dilgently, identifed lots of ideas and tried to make links between the diverse themes of "romantic love" and "temptation" as well as exploring the dangers of proof-texting and what the narrative might suggest about Jesus' nature.

There were at several great ideas in there, any of which I would love to hear as a sermon in its own right, as each had important stuff to ponder.  And there were important themes that need to be explored, but which could not be adequately handled in the time available.  What follows are some thoughts on the themes/ideas I noted...

Great Idea No. 1: The Nature of Temptation

The preacher noted that for something to be a temptation, and not merely a crazy idea, we must first consider it to be credible.  As a result, we won't be tempted to jump off buildings to prove we can fly, but we might be tempted to behave in ways that we hope will make others admire us.  Not rocket science, but I've never actually heard a preacher say it, and certainly not then extend that the temptations Jesus faced... for them to be real temptations, he had to believe them to be credible.

It was also noted that temptation is rarely blatant but instead is usually subtle, developing over time, as something which is innocuous and even potentially good becomes distorted.  Bread to feed the body is a good thing, but obsession with self-gratification is not.  The slide from feeding hunger/serving need to gluttony/greed/etc can be subtle and pernicious.

Great Idea No. 2: The Dark Side of Romantic Love

In what I am sure was a determined effort to link the theme of temptation to Valentine's Day, the preacher spoke about the risks and realities of sexual affairs, often starting out quite innocently but, if unchecked, starying into dangerous territory. 

It takes courage to speak of such things from the pulpit, and what was said was important.  Unfortunately in the context of the wider sermon, I felt it jarred slightly.

There are topics that visiting preachers can address that are not so 'easy' for resident preachers, and this might at first sight seem to be one such, but I'm not so sure... who knows what nerves might have been touched and pastoral conversations be needed?

Great Idea No 3: Gender Justice +/- Gender-based Violence +/- Sexual (and other) Abuse

One of the things I really admire about this preacher is his unabashed commitment to gender justice.  Almost every sermon he preaches either highlights something good about the women in the narrative or some way in which the church/society needs to learn to treat women better.  With such a passion, there really must be a superb sermon waiting to be 'birthed' and I'd love to hear it.

He also spoke about sexual abuse and gender-based violence, and the temptation to blame the woman for what she wore or where she was, as if the poor inncoent male could not help himself.  Abuse of power, of relationship, of strength...  the list is endless.

There is some superb BMS material on this complex topic (including also trafficking, prostituion etc.) that would enhance the knowledge base for such a sermon(s).

For all that, this is not an area in which I would choose to preach unless I was supremely confident that the necessary support was in place to manage any consequences... every church has among its members women, men and children who have been, or are being, abused physically, sexually or emotionally.  I think, and maybe it's a cop out, that I'd be more likely to explore this via a Bible Study group.

Great Idea No 4: Use and Abuse of Scripture

One of the threads in this sermon was around 'knowing the Word', by which usually what was meant was the scriptures of the Old and New Testaments.  The dangers of proof-texting, of taking verses out of context, the way words change their meaning, the choices made by translators... oodles of avenues to explore, and big questions to ponder about the link between the 'word' spoken by the preacher, the 'Word' which is the scriptures and the 'WORD' revealed in Christ.

Perhaps it's because I've preached such a sermon that this one appeals to me... a sermon that is more didactic than kerymatic, but one that helps others to recognise and reflect upon their own approach to the texts, hopefully allowing fresh insights to be uncovered.

Great idea No 5: The Temptations of Christ

There was an interesting, if not fully explored, idea around the three temptations recorded.  The first (bread) was related to Jesus' humanity, that it was clearly right to meet his material needs.  The second (power) to his divinity: clearly all creation should be at his feet.  The third to his relationship with YHWH/God: surely if God had sent him, God would save him.  These were, all to fleetingly, brought into conversation with aspects of the gospels, miracles, healings and ultimately the crucifixion.

I sense there was at least one, and potentially three, good sermons here.

Building Up One Another

There have been times, and there will continue to be times, when I reach the end of a sermon, my heart sinks and I feel that this has been a 'dog' of a sermon.  The ideas have not been communicated as I'd hoped, the 'feeling' was that people were not engaged or challenged or encouraged... All sorts of reasons.

All preachers have 'off days' and the best preachers sometimes deliver the 'worst' sermons.

We have to learn not to judge one another on the basis of performance or novelty or entertainment, and instead to encourage one another to keep on keeping.

This sermon has given me LOADS to think about, loads of ideas that will perculate in my mind and one day shape a sermon of my own, and that has to be very good.

Inexperienced preachers tend to try too hard, endeavour to include every idea they have, and cite lots of commentators, if only to demonstrate that they've done the work.  For experienced preachers, sometimes a little blase in preparation, this can be a reminder both of how far we have travelled, and also what we may have lost along the way.

L, please don't feel demoralised or defeated, I know that this sermon was the product of serious study, earnest prayer and dogged determination.  There was plenty to ponder and I am glad you made me ponder it, if only briefly.  Be encouraged, try to relax just a little, and enjoy continuing to prepare to lead people in worship.

EDIT Since I posted this it has become clear that at least one person felt I should not have done.  I have made a few alterations here and there, but the post is substantially as it began.  It has been a salutary reminder that words, once spoken cannot simply be retracted, and that no matter what the intent of the author/speaker, it is the reader/hearer who makes meaning of what is communicated.

Three chapters again today - once I realised what I was reading it seemd a mite daft to stop part way through.

Moses, up on the mountain for a very long time, is receiving detailed instructions for the 'flat pack' temple that is to serve as the centre for religious ritual for the foreseeable future.  The level of detail is incredible and allows artists and flim-makers alike to create replicas that almost certainly are a reasonable representation of what is described.

As I read the description of the tent and its frames, a rather mischievous thought came to my head of this as an IKEA product... read the numers of loops and fastenings, pegs and poles and you may see what I mean!  Almost more scary is this model making kit than can be purchased.

To what purpose this waste?

The descriptions are incredible - seemingly obscene amounts of precious metals and fine fabrics are to employed to create this tent and its contents.  How can this be justified?  Surely there are better, more practical uses to which these riches can be employed? 

Throughout history people have created vast, ornate, beautiful edifices dedicated to the glory of God.  Peasants offering, or having demanded from them, whatever they owned to further the endeavour.  And towns and cities vying with one another to have the tallest steeple, the most ornate altarpiece, the finest organ or whatever it may have been.

There is always the risk that beautiful buildings are dedicated "to the glory of NNN and in memory of God" as someone once said to me about a church I was visiting.

And yet... the story of the woman who annointed the feet of Jesus and prompted the question, "to what purpose this waste" always gives me pause.  Life is fleeting and fragile, in the medieval period, when many of the great cathedrals were emerging it, was often short and  brutal.  Maybe this was what people could do... they couldn't read or write, but they could carve stone or wood, could undertake practical tasks to make something beautiful for God.  Most of them would never see the end result, but I guess they would die knowing they had contributed to something greater.

I have to confess I struggle with beautiful buildings that seem to suck resources, human and financial, that could be more helpfully employed elsewhere.  I do tend to see church premises as 'plant' as something functional, where 'fit for purpose' is the primary aim.  And yet... there is something valid and vital about aesthetics... which is why I straighten table cloths, line up hymnbooks, and tweak the layout of chairs!!

One for me to wrestle with, I think.

"From those whose hearts prompt them"

Right at the start of this complex desciption, God asks that "those whose hearts prompt them..." give of their resources for the creation of the Ark, Tabernacle, Altar and associated accoutrements.

This is really important - not a levy, not a tax, not a membership fee or a service charge (though at least some of these will emrge later for other reasons) - a free will offering by those who feel they wish to give.

Experience shows me, both in the Gathering Place and in Dibley, that 'Gift Days' or 'Pledge Days' allow huge levels of generosity to be expressed by those who feel 'led' or 'called' or 'moved' so to do. 

Not everyone can give financially, and when we invited pledges a couple of years back, we deliberately included what we termed 'soft pledges' - offers of practical help and prayerful support, offers that were concrete and definable, offers that were nebulous and de facto unmeasureable.

The key was, and is the voluntary nature... which appears in the small print of this section of Exodus.

Graven Images?

When I first moved to Dibley someone asked me, in total seriousness, whether the wooden cross in the porch constituted a graven image.  I was a little thrown by this, since throughout most of my life protestant nonconformist churches had proudly boasted about their 'empty crosses.'

The commandments in Exodus 20 prohibit graven images to be made of anything in heaven, on earth or in the waters under the earth, yet now in the plans for the Temple we find golden cherubs, and lamp holders shaped like flowers... what is going on?

The commandment clearly refers to idols - objects made to be venerated in their own right - rather than to decorations.  But as I noted above, it is all to easy to slide into situations where servicing the ornament outweighs its original intent.

Early Baptists built plain chapels; by Victorian times geometic and abstract designs had appeared with a lick of gold paint here and there.  Nowadays banners and posters, photos and video screens are commonplace.  Notwithstanding anything I've already said, I think it's generally a good thing that we have learned to value and enjoy art and creativity rather than maintaining a stark puritanical approach.  At the same time, there does seem to be a fine line between valuing, appreciating, enjoying and even 'sanctifying' something and sliding into idolatry or even servitude of that same thing.

The Hebrew people were to create for themselves an amazing Tablernacle, a portable temple that would 'shout' the power and majesty of their God to anyone who cared to see them.  The contrast between their own nomadic, peasant existence and the esteem in which they were to hold their God is as challenging today as it was then.  Certainly it challenges me to evaluate how I employ the resources entrusted to me.