12 Therefore, with a hope like this, we are very open — 13 unlike Moshe, who put a veil over his face, so that the people of Isra’el would not see the fading brightness come to an end.
14 What is more, their minds were made stonelike; for to this day the same veil remains over them when they read the Old Covenant; it has not been unveiled, because only by the Messiah is the veil taken away. 15 Yes, till today, whenever Moshe is read, a veil lies over their heart. 16 “But,” says the Torah, “whenever someone turns to Adonai, the veil is taken away.”[
2 Corinthians 3:16 Exodus 34:34
] 17 Now, “Adonai” in this text means the Spirit. And where the Spirit of Adonai is, there is freedom. 18 So all of us, with faces unveiled, see as in a mirror the glory of the Lord; and we are being changed into his very image, from one degree of glory to the next, by Adonai the Spirit.
4:1 God has shown us such mercy that we do not lose courage as we do the work he has given us. 2 Indeed, we refuse to make use of shameful underhanded methods, employing deception or distorting God’s message. On the contrary, by making very clear what the truth is, we commend ourselves to everyone’s conscience in the sight of God.[Complete Jewish Bible]
---------------------What would it be like to be in the very presence of God? That was our question in Monday's devotion. One can only imagine, we said. But that was not quite true. Something has happened for us since the time of Moses who had to cover his face because of the powerful presence of God. And his name is Jesus. Paul tells us that in Christ Jesus the veil of God's presence has been set aside for good. In Christ we can know the new freedom that is ours through the power of the Spirit who dwells with us. Through the Spirit's presence we now see the glory of God as we are each day being transformed by the Spirit's work among us. To be confidently engaged in acts of mercy and forgiveness--these are the marks of God's true word in our ministry as God's people.
God of Mercy and Truth, we give thanks that you have revealed your presence and power in the gift of Jesus Christ, our Lord. May the power of his Spirit continue to transform our lives in love and service as images of your presence. Amen.
James L. Boyce
Emeritus Professor of New Testament and Greek, Luther Seminary
Master of Divinity , 1971
2 Corinthians 3:12 Since, then, we have such a hope, we act with great boldness,
13 not like Moses, who put a veil over his face to keep the people of Israel from gazing at the end of the glory that was being set aside.
14 But their minds were hardened. Indeed, to this very day, when they hear the reading of the old covenant, that same veil is still there, since only in Christ is it set aside.
15 Indeed, to this very day whenever Moses is read, a veil lies over their minds;
16 but when one turns to the Lord, the veil is removed.
17 Now the Lord is the Spirit, and where the Spirit of the Lord is, there is freedom.
18 And all of us, with unveiled faces, seeing the glory of the Lord as though reflected in a mirror, are being transformed into the same image from one degree of glory to another; for this comes from the Lord, the Spirit.
4:1 Therefore, since it is by God's mercy that we are engaged in this ministry, we do not lose heart.
2 We have renounced the shameful things that one hides; we refuse to practice cunning or to falsify God's word; but by the open statement of the truth we commend ourselves to the conscience of everyone in the sight of God.[New Revised Standard Version]
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The Luther Seminary of Saint Paul, Minnesota, United States for Tuesday, 2 February 2016 "God Pause Daily Devotional" Psalm 99
Psalm 99:1 Adonai is king; let the peoples tremble.
He sits enthroned on the k’ruvim; let the earth shake!
2 Adonai is great in Tziyon;
he is high above all the peoples.
3 Let them praise your great and fearsome name (he is holy):
4 “Mighty king who loves justice, you established
fairness, justice and righteousness in Ya‘akov.”
5 Exalt Adonai our God!
Prostrate yourselves at his footstool (he is holy).
6 Moshe and Aharon among his cohanim
and Sh’mu’el among those who call on his name
called on Adonai, and he answered them.
7 He spoke to them in the column of cloud;
they kept his instructions and the law that he gave them.
8 Adonai our God, you answered them.
To them you were a forgiving God,
although you took vengeance on their wrongdoings.
9 Exalt Adonai our God,
bow down toward his holy mountain,
for Adonai our God is holy![Complete Jewish Bible]
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"Our God is an awesome God, who reigns from heaven above!" The repeated refrain of Michael W. Smith's contemporary worship song has captured the hearts and voices of many of us. They certainly echo the sentiments of the psalmist who extols the wonder of God's awesome name. But the palmist's worship is not that of mindless emotion devoid of any touch of reality. The wonder of our God "who dwells in the heavens" is made real for us in the story of what God has done for God's people. Our God is one who listens and answers when we call, who has acted in justice and righteousness on behalf of God's people. Our God is one who has given us God's word and promise, commandments to live by each day. And our God is one who has acted in forgiveness and love that fittingly inspires our worship and awe.
Awesome God, though you dwell in the heavens, you have moved among us in justice and mercy, in forgiveness and love. Continue to inspire and sustain us in the wonder of your abiding presence among us. Amen.
James L. Boyce
Emeritus Professor of New Testament and Greek, Luther Seminary
Master of Divinity, 1971
Psalm 99:1 The Lord is king; let the peoples tremble! He sits enthroned upon the cherubim; let the earth quake!
2 The Lord is great in Zion; he is exalted over all the peoples.
3 Let them praise your great and awesome name. Holy is he!
4 Mighty King, lover of justice, you have established equity; you have executed justice and righteousness in Jacob.
5 Extol the Lord our God; worship at his footstool. Holy is he!
6 Moses and Aaron were among his priests, Samuel also was among those who called on his name. They cried to the Lord, and he answered them.
7 He spoke to them in the pillar of cloud; they kept his decrees, and the statutes that he gave them.
8 O Lord our God, you answered them; you were a forgiving God to them, but an avenger of their wrongdoings.
9 Extol the Lord our God, and worship at his holy mountain; for the Lord our God is holy.
[New Revised Standard Version]----------------------------
The Luther Seminary of Saint Paul, Minnesota, United States for Monday, 1 February 2016 "God Pause Daily Devotional" Exodus 34:29-35
Exodus 34:
29 When Moshe came down from Mount Sinai with the two tablets of the testimony in his hand, he didn’t realize that the skin of his face was sending out rays of light as a result of his talking with [Adonai]. 30 When Aharon and the people of Isra’el saw Moshe, the skin of his face was shining; and they were afraid to approach him. 31 But Moshe called to them; then Aharon and all the community leaders came back to him, and Moshe spoke to them. 32 Afterwards, all the people of Isra’el came near; and he passed on to them all the orders that Adonai had told him on Mount Sinai.
(Maftir) 33 Once Moshe had finished speaking with them, he put a veil on his face. 34 But when he went in before Adonai for him to speak, he would take the veil off until he came out; then, when he came out, he would tell the people of Isra’el what he had been ordered. 35 But when the people of Isra’el saw Moshe’s face, that the skin of Moshe’s face shone, he would put the veil back over his face until he went in again to speak with [Adonai].
[Complete Jewish Bible]
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What would it be like to be in the very presence of God? One can only imagine! That only happens in the stories of heroic leaders like Moses. We read that when he returned from his visits with God on Mt. Sinai his face was so glowingly radiant he had to put a covering over his face. Perhaps we too want to imagine just for a moment what it would be like to have the glow of being in God's presence.
And yet that's exactly what God promises. It's there in our hands all along. When Moses returns from the mountain, he brings with him God's word--the commandments--to be a sign of God's love and care for all God's people. The commandments are for us the daily mark of God's gift of life. As Moses says to the people of Israel elsewhere, just imagine, what people has a God who dwells so near that this God gives them these commandments to live by, and promises to listen whenever they call on that God in prayer? (Deuteronomy 4:7-8)
O God of Promise, you dwell so very near to us and yet it so easy to take the gift of your presence for granted. Help us to know more fully your presence in the words of your commandments that guide our daily life. Amen.
James L. Boyce
Emeritus Professor of New Testament and Greek, Luther Seminary
Master of Divinity, 1971
Exodus 34:29 Moses came down from Mount Sinai. As he came down from the mountain with the two tablets of the covenant in his hand, Moses did not know that the skin of his face shone because he had been talking with God.
30 When Aaron and all the Israelites saw Moses, the skin of his face was shining, and they were afraid to come near him.
31 But Moses called to them; and Aaron and all the leaders of the congregation returned to him, and Moses spoke with them.
32 Afterward all the Israelites came near, and he gave them in commandment all that the Lord had spoken with him on Mount Sinai.
33 When Moses had finished speaking with them, he put a veil on his face;
34 but whenever Moses went in before the Lord to speak with him, he would take the veil off, until he came out; and when he came out, and told the Israelites what he had been commanded,
35 the Israelites would see the face of Moses, that the skin of his face was shining; and Moses would put the veil on his face again, until he went in to speak with him.
[New Revised Standard Version]
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