Appear Before The Lord (Exodus 23:17)

 


Friday, May 9, 2025


Psalm 22:1-22

Exodus 23:4-17

John 10:19-30


Appear Before The Lord (Exodus 23:17)


Three times in the year shall all your males appear before the Lord God.


How are we to live our lives as physical and material beings, while still acknowledging the reality of the spiritual and supernatural? Today’s text from Exodus really brings this tension to our attention.


We have been given a whole load of test cases which teach us some helpful principles to guide how we ought to treat one another in general. Avoid bribes; treat people fairly; if you see someone who hates you struggling, then go and help them. Now God is saying that there also needs to be times when we down tools and go and worship him, which means we have to trust that the things we leave behind will be safe. Three times in the year all the males had to leave their properties, entrusting their safety to the Lord, while worshipping him at the place of meeting. Two aspects of life have been given: we have to actually, physically participate in God’s justice and love amongst ourselves; and we also have to trust that God will look after those things for us.


Again, there is wonderful symmetry with Jesus’ words. None of his people will be snatched from him; all his people are safe in his hands. If we are looking for repetition in the Bible (because repetition suggests importance) then trusting in God for our safety seems to hold greater weight.


It reminds one of Jesus’ words elsewhere when he says that we ought to seek first the kingdom of God, and then all the other things will be added to us. Anyone can, in general, act with kindness and justice. But for the Christian, we acknowledge that everything comes from God, and so we feel the need to worship God for this. Worship takes time, and it takes trust – and God is glorified when we sacrifice our time and our worries for the sake of worshipping him.


It takes a lot to be able to let go of our worries over our responsibilities. But there is one thing that is worth releasing them for: worshipping God. God knows this, and tells us that he will reward our trust by looking after our responsibilities in his supernatural providence.


What do you find gets in the way of your worship? What of God’s promises to protect you might allow you to worship him more whole-heartedly?


God of justice and love, who covers us with your loving providence: release us from our worldly concerns, that we may worship you totally in spirit and in truth.

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