| “… On the first day of the first month…” |
As we are entering the New Year let us look into the few Biblical New Year passages and learn what God has in store for us and prepare ourselves for 2012.
1. God’s Time
“When Noah was 601 years old, on the first day of the first month, the water was gone. Noah removed the covering of the boat, looked around, and saw that the ground was getting dry” - Gen 8:13.
Noah had a command to go into the ark, and he would wait for a command to go out of it again. Noah was willing to follow God’s direction and submit to Him. We must in all our ways acknowledge God. “God consults our benefit, rather than our desires; he knows what is good for us better than we do for ourselves, and how long it is fit our restraints should continue, and desired mercies should be delayed. We would go out of the ark before the ground is dried; and perhaps, if the door, is shut, are ready to thrust off the covering, and to climb up some other way; but God's time of showing mercy is the best time” (Mathew Henry).
“On the first day of the first month set up the Tent of the LORD's presence” – Ex. 40:2.
“So on the first day of the first month of the second year after they left Egypt, the Tent of the LORD's presence was set up” - Ex. 40:17.
The book of the Exodus gives us the clear instructions on each and every details of the Tabernacle. God clearly gave the instruction about the measurements, materials, men that need to work for setting up of the Tabernacle.
"But the Most High God does not live in houses built by human hands; as the prophet says” (Acts 7: 48). New Testament Clearly teaches us that our body is the temple of God. In the Book of Exodus, God was very particular and very specific for each and every minute detail of the Tabernacle where He would dwell; and how much more He would be serious about our Bodies where he promised to indwell. Know ye not that ye are a temple of God, and that the Spirit of God dwelleth in you? If any man destroyeth the temple of God, him shall God destroy; for the temple of God is holy, and such are ye. (I Cor.3:16 & 17). God will not be taking it lightly whenever we defile our bodies because “… ye are not your own; for ye were bought with a price: glorify God therefore in your body. (I Cor. 6:19 & 20)
Moses reared up the tabernacle just as God commanded him (Ex. 40:17). Then the cloud covered the tent of meeting, and the glory of Jehovah filled the tabernacle. And Moses was not able to enter into the tent of meeting, because the cloud abode thereon, and the glory of Jehovah filled the tabernacle (Ex. 40:34 & 35). In the same way when we keep our bodies holy, people can see the glory of God in us and we will be having the clear direction for our lives just as Israelites were directed by the Cloud (Ex. 40:36-38)
Is your body a happy home for Jesus??? Let us make our bodies and our hearts a happy place for Jesus to stay home at our hearts.
3. God’s Temple and Worship
The work was begun on the first day of the first month, and by the eighth day they had finished it all, including the entrance room to the Temple. Then they worked for the next eight days, until the sixteenth of the month, preparing the Temple for worship - 2Ch 29:17.
When Hezekiah came to the crown, he applied at once to reform the religious system. Those who begin with God begin at the right end of their work, and it will prosper accordingly. Those that turn their backs upon God's ordinances may truly be said to forsake God himself. Following the example of his ancestor King David, he did what was pleasing to the LORD. In the first month of the year after Hezekiah became king, he reopened the gates of the Temple and had them repaired. (II Chr.29:2&3)
Salivation, Righteousness and worship are the three most important things and for a Christian these three are to be in the right order. One cannot be righteous if he is not saved and one cannot worship the Lord if he is not righteous. That is why first he redeemed Israelites then He give them the Law and then He gave the tabernacle to Worship.
II Chr. 29 is a beautiful chapter to read and meditate. After cleansing the temple atonement was made, they offered sacrifices and they sang praises to God. And Hezekiah rejoiced, and all the people, because of that which God had prepared for the people (V. 36). King and all the people rejoiced and worshipped the Lord. It is not just enough to be in the place where the worship takes place. It is very important that each individual worships the Lord heart fully.
On the New Year day we must make resolution to repair God’s Temples (our bodies) and restore the Altar and worship. This is the high time for us to repair the temples and restore the true worship.
4. God’s Word
On the New Year day Ezra arrived in Jerusalem and “set his heart to seek the law of Jehovah, and to do it, and to teach in Israel statutes and ordinances. We see three verbs here; seeking, doing and teaching (V. 10). It is not just enough to read the Bible, we must put the things into practice what we read. Obedience to the known revelation is very important. When we obey God’s word we can teach others also the same.
On the New Year Day let us make resolution to read the God’s Word more systematically and practice God’s Word. Let us give the quality of time for studying God’s word and increase the quantity of daily portion. It is a blessing to read God’s Word (Rev. 1:3).
We all know that Jesus overcame Satan with the God’s Word and the power of the scriptures is awesome.
J.C. Ryle wrote, “To the influence of the Bible we owe nearly every humane and charitable institution in existence. The sick, the poor, the aged, the orphan, the lunatic, the idiot, the blind, were seldom or never thought of before the Bible leavened the world. You may search in vain for any record of institutions for their aid in the histories of Athens or of Rome. Alas, many sneer at the Bible, and say the world would get on well enough without it, who little think how great are their own obligations to the Bible”.
Some people like to read so many [Bible] chapters every day. I would not dissuade them from the practice, but I would rather lay my soul asoak in half a dozen verses all day than rinse my hand in several chapters. Oh, to be bathed in a text of Scripture, and to let it be sucked up in your very soul, till it saturates your heart! --C H Spurgeon
5. God’s Command
The Sovereign LORD said, "On the first day of the first month you are to sacrifice a bull without any defects and purify the Temple- Eze. 45:18.
Here we see the similar action that we have seen in II Chr. 29. God is giving a command to offer the sacrifice and cleanse the temple. Jesus was our Passover lamb and He shed His blood and redeemed us from Sin and Condemnation.
We also need to offer ourselves to God and cleanse our bodies and offer our bodies as a living sacrifice to God.
I beseech you therefore, brethren, by the mercies of God, to present your bodies a living sacrifice, holy, acceptable to God, which is your spiritual service.
And be not fashioned according to this world: but be ye transformed by the renewing of your mind, and ye may prove what is the good and acceptable and perfect will of God. (Rom 12: 1 &2)
New Year day is the day we make new resolutions. We need to serve the Lord better than the year before. We need to spend the time in His presence better than the year before. We need to read, study and meditate the Word of God better than the year before. We need to pray better than the year before. We need to offer ourselves to God better than the year before.
May God bless you and make 2012 a blessed year in your lives.
