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The Pillar of “Tell”in the Judeo-Christian Faith

March 5th, 2009

“You shall tell your son on that day, ‘It is because of what the Lord did for me when I came out of Egypt'”

(Exodus 13:8)

The commandment (mitzvah) to make sure to tell your people’s narrative (Haggadah, recital) to their children is expressed in Exodus 13:8.  The specific expression in Hebrew is vehigadeta labincha, translated “…tell your son…” Reflecting on this command, one can readily assess its importance in communication and transmission of the facts to the formation of faith for each generation. This telling, as commanded by the LORD, is prompted by repeatable questions, which each generation is encouraged to make (see Exodus 12:26,27).  What do you mean is the right attitude toward divine religion.  It is cognitive, factual, and understandable.  The obligation of  arents to transmit the gospel message, today, is a priority with a powerful design.  Of course, the Christian’s Red Sea-Exodus experience is from the  bondage of sin, not Egypt (Rom. 6:15-23).

The New Testament, too, carries on this same communication-transmission of facts, which leads to faith formation.  Several New Testament passages which convey vehigadeta  labincha (the telling) include, Ephesians 6:4 and 2 Tim. 3:14,15.   “O will you not tell it today?  Will you not tell it today?  If the light of his presence has brightened your way, O will you not tell it today? (Jesse Brown Pounds, 1887).  Let the pillar stand.  When we sing it-we tell it; when we pray it-we tell it;  when we read it-we tell it; and, when we preach it we tell it. Will you not tell it today?

-Robert M. Housby

The Blue Ephod in the Service of Worship

March 13th, 2005

“And they shall make the ephod of gold, of blue, and purple and scarlet yarns, and of fine twined linen, skillfully worked.”

(Exodus 28:6)

The Old Testament priest wore a sacred vestment called an ephod. This ephod was very colorful (Exodus 28:6). The colors which God here specified, are colors well known to artists as the primary colors (red, yellow, and blue). The Bible tells us why these colors were used: “And you shall make holy garments for Aaron your brother, for glory and for beauty” (Exodus 28:2,40). Three reasons are suggested: sacredness, dignity, and the unmistakable importance of the priestly service of worship. Exodus 28:31 infers that the robe of the ephod was “all of blue,” perhaps suggesting it as the dominant color. We may also note that these colors are the colors of the fourth day of creation (Genesis 1:14- 17), namely, the blue heavens and the golden sun. The tabernacle, itself, was comprised of these same colors (Exodus 35-36), and, notably, so also was “the veil” (Exodus 36:35-38; see also Hebrews 6:19; 9:3; 10:20; 4:14).
Today, all believers who are “in Christ” (Eph. 1:3, 10, 11,12,13), through baptism (Acts 19:5), are also priests under the New Testament (Rev. 1:6). As such, they “worship by the Spirit of God” (Philippians 3:3; Jude 20), in the “temple of the Holy Spirit” (1 Corinthians 6:19,20). Their worship and service to God are, therefore, of the highest dignity, sacredness, and importance; no less than the sons of Aaron (1 Peter 2:9).
When Christians worship today, it is worship of great importance (John 4:23,24). It is worship offered in the blue ephod. Make God primary in your life today.

– Robert M. Housby

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