Most Remarkable!

Read Proverbs 17:1-14

Read Exodus 24

This chapter from Exodus is one of the most remarkable in the Bible! At first glance, amazing words that hit the eye are verses 1o and 11. They "saw the God of Israel," and "they beheld God." For the sinner to see the holy God, Creator of all should mean death. But we see specifically that God "did not lay his hand" on the chief men of Israel who were up on the mountain. God here gives his covenant, and gives many laws. But it is obvious from these verses that he is a gracious God, pleased to dwell with sinners, establishing a covenant of grace.

Perhaps even more remarkable than those verses, however, is how the whole chapter points forward to Jesus Christ. In this chapter, God establishes his covenant with them, and commands that the blood of the sacrifice be sprinkled over them. Then they have a fellowship meal in the presence of God himself. Well, Jesus sets up a new covenant for the forgiveness of sins. (In fact, "New Testament" means "new covenant.") This is a blood covenant as well, as he shed his blood on the cross for the remission of our sins. And on the night before he was betrayed, the disciples "beheld God, and ate and drank," just as the chief men did in Exodus 24:11.

So we too have our fellowship meal, the Lord's Supper, in the presence of God. For Jesus is pleased to be with us, even in us. He delivers to us his own body and blood to give us new life.

Yes, me, you, sinners all of us, we eat and drink in the presence of God, receive the forgiveness of sins through the blood Jesus shed on the cross. And someday, we too will behold God with our own eyes and experience the perfect peace and fellowship of heaven. That's a promise. It's a promise foreshadowed in this remarkable chapter, Exodus 24. Thanks be to God!

Pray:

Lord Jesus Christ, You have prepared
This feast for our salvation;
It is Your body and Your blood,
And at Your invitation
As weary souls, with sin oppressed,
We come to You for needed rest,
For comfort, and for pardon.

We eat this bread and drink this cup,
Your precious Word believing
that Your true body and Your blood
Our lips are here receiving.
This Word remains forever true,
All things are possible with You,
For You are Lord Almighty.

Lord, I believe what You have said;
Help me when doubts assail me.
Remember that I am but dust,
And let my faith not fail me.
Your supper in this vale of tears
Refreshes me and stills my fears
And is my priceless treasure.

Grant that we worthily receive
Your supper, Lord, our Savior,
And, truly grieving for our sins,
May prove by our behavior
That we are thankful for Your grace
And day by day may run our race,
In holiness increasing.

For Your consoling supper, Lord,
Be praised throughout all ages!
Preserve it, for in ev'ry place
The world against it rages.
Grant that this sacrament may be
A blessed comfort unto me
When living and when dying.

(LSB 622:1, 4, 6-8)