January 28, 2026 - Exodus 24-27

God covenanted with his people and, with each succeeding generation, he reaffirmed his covenant promises.  Moses, Aaron, Nadab, Abihu, and the seventy elders went up on the mountain.  Moses alone, then, came near to the Lord and then related God’s words to the people, “And all the people answered with one voice and said, ‘All the words that the LORD has spoken we will do’” (24:3).  Of course, they didn’t.  Well, from time to time, especially when the Lord threatened discipline, they did better.  But they, so much like us, struggled to obey as they should.  But they did make contributions for the building of the Tabernacle, the Ark, and the various furnishings: the table for bread, the golden lampstand, the bronze altar, oil for the ever burning lamp, etc.  Sometimes faithful, sometimes not.  Isn’t that a good description of us?  Our devotion to the Lord, sometimes, seems like the morning dew that quickly burns away (see Hosea 6).  Aren’t we glad the Lord’s love toward us is not like that; rather, with Jeremiah we can testify, “The steadfast love of the Lord never ceases; his mercies never come to an end; they are new every morning; great is your faithfulness” (Lamentations 3:22-23).

New ev’ry morning is the love

our waking and uprising prove;

through sleep and darkness safely brought,

restored to life and pow’r and thought.

New mercies, each returning day,

hover around us while we pray;

new perils past, new sins forgiv’n,

new thoughts of God, new hopes of heav’n.   --John Keble (1822)