I don't know about you, but I have decided that I am just not very good at this diagram drawing stuff. I get lost in the description and start feeling so overwhelmed that it paralyzes me! I can't do a thing! So I'm taking a cue from my good friend and posting a picture of the tabernacle proper to help with the visualization process (would it be considered cheating, do you think, if I just printed this off and put it in my book instead of drawing it myself?? Hmmm......)
One of the things I am loving about our study of how the tabernacle was constructed is how incredibly intricate the instructions God laid out for them were - no detail was overlooked or without significance! And I never cease being thrilled every time I get a glimpse of God's larger plan at work in the Old Testament.
But I think what stood out to me the most in today's study was this:
But I think what stood out to me the most in today's study was this:
He will cover you with His feathers, and under His wings you will find refuge; His faithfulness will be your shield and rampart. Psalm 91:4
Isn't that amazing? Isn't that something we all long for? To be sheltered and protected....to find refuge? My daughter spends most of her day with her beloved blankie wrapped around her - it's her buffer from the outside world, offering her protection and security from whatever scary things she may have to confront at any given moment. This is what I picture in my mind when I try to visualize this: God as our heavenly security blankie - can you imagine? He covers us with His life! Incredible!
What about you? How have you learned to experience "the warmth and protection of life beneath the wings of the Almighty"?
Isn't that amazing? Isn't that something we all long for? To be sheltered and protected....to find refuge? My daughter spends most of her day with her beloved blankie wrapped around her - it's her buffer from the outside world, offering her protection and security from whatever scary things she may have to confront at any given moment. This is what I picture in my mind when I try to visualize this: God as our heavenly security blankie - can you imagine? He covers us with His life! Incredible!
What about you? How have you learned to experience "the warmth and protection of life beneath the wings of the Almighty"?
6 comments:
the study so far has been amazing, but it seems like this week, today, it is really starting to open up! isn't it like our walk w/ the Lord? the closer we get to God--to His dwelling place--the more it opens up, the more we see of Him, the more we know Him!!! today's study was just awesome! that's what stuck out the most to me.. and then that little illustration about the hen at the end.... to think on a much grander scale what Christ has done for us--not only has He covered us and saved us, but He took upon our sin--took the punishment for what we had done... many would die for a good man, Scripture says, and most of us would die for our children or husbands! but how many of us would die for ungodly, unlovely people, some of which would never acknowledge it! wow... and to learn more and more about what God offers to those who choose to follow Him--to be covered by His wings... what a sweet, wonderful place to be!!!
i know we will get into this more as the study goes on, but i think what is so amazing to me also is the fact that we now ALL have access to enter into the "tabernacle proper"--it is our own heart, our own lives where God dwells through His Spirit!! how awesome!! this study brings out just how amazing and awesome it truly is that we have His Spirit living in us!!!
on a side note, i too get a little overwhelmed almost with the details of the tabernacle and trying to draw it... you were much more ambitious than me to find a nice diagram!! i just drew what i thought was the description... not so sure i understood entirely... but i suppose we'll draw it again and again, right?....
The whole "better is one day in your courts" psalm really takes on new significance after this and, though I have heard it before, I am almost overwhelmed by the hen illustration--and you are so right, Sara, about it being paltry compared to Christ's sacrifice. It really hits home here, doesn't it?
By the way girls, there's a nice rendition of a tabernacle drawing in teh back of your book if you're interested.
I feel that each day God is unveiling my eyes more and more.
Sara - I felt the hen story was amazing. I couldn't help but think that I would die for my children & husband in a heart beat. So, why is it so hard to comprehend what a sacrifice made for each and every one of us - his children. When you said, "How many of us would die for ungodly, unlovely people, some of which would never acknowledge it" I just sat back in my chair and tought about that for a minute. That makes his sacrifice even that much sweeter!
As I have stated before I am person who thinks I can do things all on my own - my way. I'm learning now more than ever that this is not the case. I am learning to turn things over to Him, so that he can take me under his wing. And I do feel a nice sense of warm satisfaction that comes with doing this. I loved it when Beth said, "In his perfect parenting God is both paternal and maternal, both the loving disciplinarian and the nurturing protector who covers His children with His life!"
Upon reading Matthew 23:37 I glance down at the footnotes in my Bible. (This is where I feel like I get a deeper understanding of the scripture.) Here is what it said, "Jesus wanted to gather his people together as a hen protects her chicks under her wings, but they wouldn't let him. Jesus also wants to protect us if we will just come to him. Many times we are hurt and don't know where to turn. We reject Christ's help because we don't think he can give us what we need. But who knows our needs better than our Creator? Those who turn to Jesus will find that he helps and comforts as no one else can." (NIV - Life Application Study Bible)
Kista! Thank you for pointing that out! It is a lovely rendition of the tabernacle and actually much clearer and better than the one I found on the internet! I guess it's now very obvious that I haven't looked too far ahead in our book....oops:)
It IS so amazing to think about the fact that because Jesus was willing to sacrifice himself for us on the cross we get to live. And Sarah, I can completely relate because I am also a person who likes to do all things on my own - I think I can handle everything by myself at all times. It's like breathing a big sigh of relief to come under the shelter of His wings and turn everything over to Him. He does know our needs better than we do - He who created us! I think sometimes the issue for me is that what I'm considering a "need" maybe isn't really a need after all. I get selfish and the blinders come on, and I ignore the possibility that maybe I've been living outside of God's will for my life and that's why things haven't been happening. So for me, it's like I start having a distorted perspective. Instead of turning to Jesus and prayerfully asking for help and clarity, I turn away upset because He isn't giving me what I feel I need - forgetting that He sees everything and knows what I TRULY need! Crazy, crazy, crazy....
kista, i agree about "better is one day in your courts." i was actually thinking as i was looking at the cool picture of the tabernacle w/ all the tents encamped around it that 'better to be camped just outside the tabernacle knowing that you're just inside the inside of the tent next to me." but how He longs to draw us to Himself--He is continually inviting us! and we have access today that only a few privileged people had in the OT. how awesome!
sarah, the notes in your study Bible were great!! it's always awesome when the Scriptures are opened up and we gain a better understanding of just what the author was intending to convey! i love the idea that God is both maternal and paternal--it reiterates the need for the presence of both in the lives of children, but it's wonderful that God covers where our own parents and we ourselves as parents lack! He is awesome--a true Father, Mother, Friend...
meghan, what a great insight... perspective is key in SO many areas, isn't it?!... it is hard to give up and surrender anything, but especially when it comes to our needs, i think. and you're right, i do the same thing, thinking i need something done a certain way or that i need certain something. but God knows best, and not only that, He loves and cares for me more than i can comprehend (His love is perfect). so, i must trust Him, I MUST!!!! i also often ask for eyes to see Him--in whatever ways i need to see Him. whether it's how He is fulfilling a need of mine, how He is guiding me, where He is working around me... i pray earnestly for eyes to see Him!!!
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