The Night Light

“Aaron and his sons are to keep the lamps burning before the Lord from evening till morning.” Exodus 27:2

“Give me oil in my lamp; keep me burning, burning, burning.  Give me oil in my lamp, I pray. (Hallelujah!)   Give me oil in my lamp, keep me burning, burning, burning; keep me burning till the break of day.”

If you ask how many times I’ve sung that song, I’ve lost count because the catchy kids tune was a favorite at children’s choir, VBS, and music time at school, but if you ask when the words clicked in real life, I’ll tell you right now.  Finally, after over forty years of smiling and singing, the message makes sense because of today’s scripture.  It’s a reference to the directive God gave His people when they built His special tent—keep the lamps lit all night long.

Actually the lights were never to go out— “Command the Israelites to bring you clear oil of pressed olives for the light so that the lamps may be kept burning continually”(Ex 27:20).  The priests were told to “tend the lamps in the morning”(Ex 30:7), but specific instruction was given to Aaron and his sons to “keep the lamps burning before the Lord from morning until evening”(Ex 27:21).  Why? Since the tabernacle had no windows, it made sense to keep the lamps lit during the day to give light for the priests to do their work of worship and offerings, but why have them burn bright at night when no one was around to see?

Perhaps the never-ending night light was a symbol of God’s never-failing love.  Maybe the always-burning, golden lamps were signs of God’s always abiding presence—even in our darkness.  It could be God knew that right now as you read this, you might need the reminder that no tragedy, no transgression, no devil, and no despair can dim His brilliant grace. 

In heaven there will be no need for night lights, for eternity is one long, glorious day where “the glory of God gives it light, and the Lamb is its lamp”(Rev 21:23), but until then, keep your wick trimmed by being in His Word and let the oil of His Spirit shine brightly in your life—even in the darkness.

Sometimes the night is long, but God’s supply never runs short.

His grace will “keep me burnin’ till the break of day!”

Tent Talk

“Have them make a sanctuary for me, and I will dwell among them.”  Exodus 25:8

Many years ago, a few weeks before Christmas, my husband came home sporting a smug smile.  When asked the reason for his joy, he said he had just purchased my Christmas present.  Not always being the patient sort, I asked what it was, but, of course, he would not tell.  He did, however, give one hint:  “It’s bigger than a microwave and smaller than a microwave.”  I’ve never told him until now, but those few words were enough to figure it out—I was getting a tent.

I can’t truthfully tell you I was delighted.  In fact, I called my sister and bemoaned the fact that while on Christmas morning she would be tearing into beautiful baubles or fun outfits, I would be unwrapping an aluminum a-frame waiting to be shakily assembled and loosely draped with a somewhat-waterproof canvas—and faking excitement while doing so.

But you can guess the rest—the lamented gift turned into a big blessing.  In the years that followed, we had a blast tossing our tent in the truck and heading out on overnight adventures in campgrounds, state parks, forests far and near, and even an evening in the woods across the street.  We look back and laugh at the windstorm in the Keys, the monsoon on the coast, the robber raccoon who ate all the cough drops and Pepto-Bismol, and our often leaky air mattress crowded to the corner by pallets and portable baby beds for three little girls.  Something about the tent brought us closer.  Ordinary distractions were discarded, regular responsibilities were delayed, and we simply focused on fun together.

Maybe that’s why when God decided to dwell with man, He chose to live in a tent.

Please don’t think our two tents were anything alike.  God’s was much bigger than mine and way nicer.  Instead of flimsy canvas, His boasted “ten curtains of finely twisted linen and blue, purple and scarlet yarn, with cherubim woven into them by a skilled worker”(Ex 26:1).  No surplus store tarp protected His top from the elements, but layers of goat’s hair, ram’s skins, and dyed manatee hides did the trick.  Aluminum brackets weren’t nice enough to hold the divine dwelling together—only gold hooks, silver bases, and bronze pegs would do.  

God’s tent would take up more than several modern campsites these days.  The main structure was about 15 feet wide and 45 feet long, and the linen-enclosed courtyard was 150 by 75, but the entire operation was a lot like mine—packable, portable, and serving one purpose—to be together.  When God’s people came to the tabernacle, ordinary distractions were to be discarded, regular responsibilities delayed, and they were to simply focus on being close to Him.    

I know today is different.  I know that the church is just a brick and mortar building no more sacred on its own than the nearby mall.  I know that worship can and should take place in all kinds of places on all kinds of days.  I know that the children of God are now the temple of God and that by His grace we live in His presence instead of having to wait for a special occasion to come near. But, no matter the location or the situation, the truths of the tent are still timely—nothing is too good for God; He deserves our best in every area, even down to the “tent pegs” of our lives; His Presence is what makes something special; and being close to Him is the most beautiful place we could ever be.

Never get to busy to “camp out” with God.  

Sometimes life’s least anticipated surprises turn out to be the best!

The Standing Invitation

“Come up to the Lord, you and Aaron, Nadab and Abihu, and seventy of the elders of Israel.”  Exodus 24:7

The invitation was astounding—“Come spend time with God.”  

Surely Israel’s seventy elders and four leaders could hardly believe their ears or their eyes.  They had been summoned to see the One no one could look at, and yet, ^“Moses and Aaron, Nadab and Abihu, and the seventy elders of Israel went up and saw the God of Israel”(Ex 24:9). 

In an aura of blue brilliance they beheld the Almighty Sovereign of the universe, but it was more than just glance and go; they stayed for supper!  “Under God’s feet was something like a pavement made of lapis lazuli, as bright blue as the sky. But He did not raise his hand against these leaders of the Israelites; they saw God, and they ate and drank”(Ex 24:11).

How cool is that??  And how incredibly revealing for it reminds us that worship is not a spectator sport but an engaging encounter.  It shows us that our God desires relationship—the kind of being together where we sit and talk and share a meal.  Growing up as a pastor’s kid, I spent many Saturday and Sunday evenings “going visiting.”  Often our family was ushered into formal living rooms where we sat stiffly and made small talk, but sometimes we were invited to stay for supper.  Around tables large and small in crowded kitchens or spacious dining rooms, over simple sandwiches or fancy feasts, real fellowship took place.  We listened, laughed, shared, prayed, and just enjoyed spending time with folks who also loved the Father. 

That’s why God had those guys hang around and eat.  He wanted them (and us) to understand that to really know Him, we have to do more than occasionally glance His way or swing by for a quick chat.  We need to “stay for supper”—to let Him open the crammed cupboard of His Word and feed us all its rich delights.  We need to treat the Bible not as a convenient drive-thru menu but as the fixed courses of delicious dinner prepared by a simply Divine chef.  

“Behold! I stand at the door and knock. If anyone hears my voice and opens the door, I will come in and eat with him, and he with me”(Rev 3:20)  This verse is often repeated as a call to salvation, but that’s not its true context.  The words were spoken to believers who had gotten so busy collecting the stuff of this world that they failed to realize their real hunger.  The remedy for the lukewarm church at Laodicea was to spend time with the Savior.

It’s the same for us. We need to realize that God’s invitation isn’t for a “come and go” but for a “sit and stay.”  Yes, we all have crowded schedules, countless demands, and pressing responsibilities, but the best way to do what we need to do and do it well is to regularly accept the open invite to “come up to the Lord.”

The astounding invitation still stands.

Come on in and be filled up.