When the Stiff-necked Bow

May we begin our worship of God by singing to him and sing Psalms 30.

Sing Psalms 30 on page 34 of the Blue Book.

Sing Psalms, Psalm 30. We'll sing from the beginning of that psalm.

O Lord, I will exalt your name, for you have rescued me.

You did not let my foes rejoice and gloat triumphantly.

Lord God, in need I cried to you, and you restored my health.

O Lord, you brought me from the grave and saved my soul from death.

You holy ones, sing to the Lord. Sing out with joyful voice.

When you recall his holy name, then praise him and rejoice.

His anger but a moment lasts. Lifelong his favour stays.

Though tears may last throughout the night, joy comes with morning rays.

I never shall be moved, I said, in my prosperity.

You made my mountain firm and strong when you, Lord, favoured me.

May we lift our voices to God and praise, singing these verses.

O Lord, I will exalt your name.

O Lord, I will exalt your name.

O Lord, I will exalt your name.

For you have rescued me.

JOHN 2- Cour Courts, build my foes rejoice and gloat triumphantly.

For God did me die, I cried to you, and you restored my health.

O Lord, you brought me from the grave, and saved my soul from death.

You only want to sing to the Lord, sing and with joyful voice.

When you re-hold this holy name, then praise him and rejoice.

Till anger felt amoled last, like all his paper stays.

Though tears may last throughout the night, joy comes with morning's rays.

I never shall be moved, I said, in my prosperity.

You made my mountain firm and strong, when you more favoured me.

I'd ask if you could turn with me together to the book of Exodus.

Exodus chapter 33.

Exodus 33 · chapter mention

And we'll join in prayer afterwards.

Exodus chapter 33.

Exodus 33 · chapter mention

And I want to just read a short passage from verse Mark 3.

And in the morning service we were asked, if we were honest with ourselves,

and looked at our hearts, the question was put to us,

which one of our hearts does not need changed?

And what I want us to look at tonight is, look at the people of Israel,

and look at the heart they had in building the first tabernacle.

And in order to really grasp what heart they had, we need to look back and look at the stages to their own preparation.

They were people who were far from perfect, they were people who were far from perfect, as we know,

and they were ones who so easily built the golden calf.

They were people that angered Moses, and they angered God.

And there were people that said to them, you have sinned a great sin.

So with that in mind, let us read from verse 3.

And I want you to do so to note God's reaction to their sin,

and their own reaction to their sin.

This is the Lord's word to Moses.

Go up to a land flowing with milk and honey,

but I will not go up among you,

lest I consume you on the way,

for you are a stiff-necked people.

When the people heard this disastrous word,

they mourned,

and no one put on his ornaments.

For the Lord had said to Moses,

say to the people of Israel,

you are a stiff-necked people.

If for a single moment I should go up among you,

I would consume you.

So now take off your ornaments,

that I may know what to do with you.

Therefore the people of Israel stripped themselves of their ornaments

from Mount Horeb onwards.

Now Moses used to take the tent,

and put it outside the camp,

far off from the camp.

And he called it the tent of meeting.

And everyone who sought the Lord

would go out to the tent of meeting,

which was outside the camp.

Whenever Moses went out to the tent,

all the people would rise up,

and each would stand at his tent door,

and watch Moses until he had gone out into the tent.

When Moses entered the tent,

the pillar of cloud would descend,

and stand at the entrance of the tent,

and the Lord would speak with Moses.

And when the people saw the pillar of cloud

standing at the entrance of the tent,

all the people would rise up and worship,

each at his tent door.

Thus the Lord used to speak to Moses face to face,

as a man speaks to his friend.

When Moses turned again into the camp,

his assistant Joshua, the son of Nun,

a young man,

would not depart from the tent.

Amen.

Let us pray.

Let us pray.

Let us pray.

Let us pray.

Let us pray.

Let us pray.

Let us pray.

Let us pray.

Let us pray.

Let us pray.

Let us pray.

Our Father in heaven,

we ask that you,

we would have stilled hearts

as we come before you this evening.

Lord, we have people

who when we look at the children of Israel

find so many similarities.

And when we look at our heart,

we know the deceit that is in it

and how prone we are

to wander from your ways and your word.

And Lord, may we confess these things tonight.

May we be like the people

who would stand at the door of their tent

and know the sin that we had sinned,

a great sin,

and call upon the one

that would go for us.

In our case, it is Christ.

Lord, we ask

that you would be the one to go for us

and that you would be the one

that would intercede for us

before God

because we cannot approach God ourselves.

We are filthy and staked.

We are full of sin.

But in the light of Christ,

we can approach you, God,

because he has taken that sin away from us.

And it is only through him

that we can receive life

in the true sense of the word

and to know life.

And so, Lord,

we draw near to you.

May each of us in our hearts

meditate upon you

and forget

what lies

in our own lives,

what is within the tent of our lives,

but cast our eyes to you,

O God.

You are the one

that can save us from our sins.

You are the one

that would consume us

otherwise.

Lord,

may these things

be a reality

to us.

May we know

the sin

that is harbored

within our hearts.

And that

may we know

of the freedom

that can be found

in Christ Jesus.

So, Lord,

we pray

that your spirit

would be with us,

guiding our minds

and thoughts

as we come to your word

and ponder over it.

We pray

that we would

be free

from distraction.

And, Lord,

we ask that you would be

with all efforts

that are made this evening

in sharing

the gospel message.

May it go with power

throughout our land.

May it not return

unto you void.

May you

water these seeds

that are sown

with faithfulness

week after week.

May they

take root

and grow

within the hearts

of the believer,

the hearts

of your people.

Lord,

we do not know

where the spirit

comes

or where it should go.

And in many ways,

your ways

are mysterious

to us.

We do not

understand you.

And sometimes

we are

prone

to

understand

things ourselves

and in our own ways.

Keep us from doing this,

O Lord.

But let us be guided

by your word.

Let us be people

that are faithful

to your word.

And every day,

and even in the difficulties

of these things,

that when the world

and the things

of the world

press upon us,

that we would not

put the simple

reading

and praying

to you

behind us.

Let that be a priority

to us

as we devote

ourselves to you

morning and evening.

As we find

guidance from you

morning and evening

and that we

have

and give you

thanks

as we do so.

We pray

this week

a week of

thanks

that many

people would

see

what has been

done for them

and that

they realise

that the things

that have been

given to them

are not of

themselves.

And that many

who do not

know of a God

in heaven

or do not

believe in a God

of heaven,

we pray

that in your

mysterious ways

and in their

misunderstanding

of how

and where

they would

return their

thanks to

for all

that they

have

and every

breath

that they

are given.

Lord,

give them

understanding

that it is

all from

your hand

and that

they may

seek to

reason

their lives

in the light

of God.

Lord,

we pray

this evening

for all

people that

are gathered

here in

person

and online

and we

pray

that you

would meet

us at

the point

of our

need.

We are

people of

varied

circumstances

and situations

but Lord,

you are one

that knows

the hairs

on our

heads

and you

are the

one that

knows how

to direct

us in

the best

of ways.

You are

the greatest

comforter

of broken

hearts

and so

Lord,

we pray

that we

would

commit

each other

in prayer

to you.

Let us

be mindful

of one

another,

having a

concern

for one

another,

that we

would bear

one another

burdens

and that we

would work

with one

another

for the

building

of your

name

and your

kingdom.

Change

our hearts,

O Lord.

We pray

for our

nation.

We pray

for those

who are in

leadership

over us,

that you

would work

in their

lives equally.

Lord,

let us not

be afraid

of asking

big things

from your

hand,

that you

would do

mighty works

amongst our

people in

Scotland.

Lord,

we pray

with confidence

in your

name and

in your

name only.

And it is

in your

name only

that we

have any

confidence.

It is of

no confidence

of our

own.

when we

look at

ourselves,

we feel

so weak

to be

able to

do the

things that

is asked

of us.

But Lord,

let us be

people of

faith,

relying upon

you to be

our strength

and our

guide,

even when

things are

so uncertain

and the way

before us

is clouded

and kept

from us.

Let us

walk in

faith,

even if it

be through

the valley

of the

shadow

of darkness,

it is

always

through

that you

will take

us.

You will

not leave

us nor

forsake

us.

And it

is not

in any

valley you

leave us.

You take

us upon

great mountains

to Mount

Zion where

your glory

will descend

and where

you will

welcome

the faithful

believers in

your name.

As good as

a faithful

service.

Lord,

what a wonder

it is and

what a

mystery it

is when we

consider the

glorious nature

of heaven

and what it

means for us.

We struggle

to comprehend

it.

But Lord,

enable us to

understand it

in measure,

that we

may see

the beauty,

that we

our eyes

shall behold,

and the

things that

we shall

gaze upon.

Lord,

it is such

wondrous and

so sweet

a taste to

our hearts.

Let us not

forget the

inheritance that

has been

set aside

for us.

But it is

all through

Christ and

all through

his redeeming

power and

of his

blood,

shed at

the cross

of Calvary

for our

sins,

that he

may redeem

his people.

What

wondrous love

he showed

to those

who are in

need,

and we

are who

are in

need,

and there

are still

many in

need.

So may

the compassion

of Christ

Jesus rest

in our

hearts as

we go out

into the

world in

the week

ahead.

may you

reside in

our hearts.

May our

hearts be

a hearts

where you

may dwell,

and our

hearts be

changed for

you and

your cause.

May all

these things

be, we

ask and

bring to

you in

your name.

Be with

us, we

ask.

Open our

minds to

understand

your

word, guide

our

thoughts, and

fill us

with your

power, and

your spirit, and

your nourishment.

All these

things, in

the name of

Christ we

ask.

Amen.

If I

could ask

you to

turn to

Exodus

Exodus 35 · chapter mention

chapter 35

now.

Exodus

Exodus 35 · chapter mention

chapter 35,

and we

read this

chapter.

this is

where the

people of

Israel begin

to build

the

tabernacle,

and the

order that

has been

given to

them from

Moses.

So as we

read through

this passage,

take note

of the

heart that

the people

now have.

Let us

read God's

word.

Exodus

35.

verse 36,

Moses

assembled

all the

congregation

of the

people of

Israel, and

said to

them,

these are

the things

that the

Lord has

commanded

you to

do.

For

six days

work

shall be

done,

but on

the seventh

day you

shall have a

Sabbath of

solemn rest,

holy to

the Lord.

Whoever

does any

work on it

shall be

put to

death.

You

shall

kindle no

fire in

all your

dwelling

places on

the Sabbath

day.

Moses

said to

all the

congregation

of the

people of

Israel,

this is

the thing

that the

Lord has

commanded.

Take

from among

you a

contribution

to the

Lord.

Whoever

is of a

generous

heart,

let him

bring the

Lord's

contribution,

gold,

silver,

and bronze,

blue and

purples,

and scarlet

yarns,

and fine

twined

linen,

goats

hair,

tanned

rammed

skins,

and goat

skins,

oil for

the

light,

spices for

the anointing

oil,

and of

the fragrant

incense,

and onyx

stones,

and stones

for setting,

for the

ephod,

and for

the

breastpiece.

Let

every

skillful

craftman

among

you come

and make

all that

the Lord

has

commanded.

The

tabernacle,

its

tents,

its

covering,

its

hoots,

and its

frames,

its

bars,

its

pillars,

its

bases,

the

ark with

its

poles,

the

mushy

seat,

and the

veil of

the

screen,

the table

with its

poles,

and all

its

utensils,

and the

bread of

the

presents,

the

lampstand

also,

for the

light with

its

utensils,

and its

lamps,

and the

oil for

the

light,

and the

altar for

incense,

with its

poles,

and the

anointing

oil,

and the

fragrant

incense,

and the

screen for

the door,

and the

door of

the tabernacle,

the altar of

burnt offering,

with its

grating of

bronze,

and its

poles,

and all its

utensils,

the basin,

and its

stand,

the hangings of

the court,

its pillars,

and its bases,

and the screen of

the gate of the

court,

the pegs of the

tabernacle,

the pegs of the

court,

and their

cords,

the finely

worked garments

for ministering

in the holy

place,

the holy

garments of

Aaron,

the priest,

and the

garments of

his sons,

for their

service as

priests.

Then all the

congregation of

the people

of Israel

departed from

the presence

of Moses,

and they

came,

everyone whose

heart stirred

him,

and everyone

whose spirit

moved him,

and brought

the Lord's

contribution,

to be used

for the

tent of

meeting,

and for

all its

service,

and for

the holy

garments.

So they

came,

both men

and women,

all who

were of a

willing heart,

brought

brooches

and earrings,

and signet

rings and

armlets,

all sorts

of gold

objects,

every man

dedicating an

offering of

gold to

the Lord,

and everyone

who possessed

blue or

purple or

scarlet yarns,

or fine

linen or

goat's hair,

or tanned

ram skins,

or goat skins,

brought them.

Everyone who

could make a

contribution of

silver or

bronze,

brought it as

the Lord's

contribution,

and everyone

who possessed

Asia wood,

of any use

in the use

in the work,

brought it,

and every

skillful woman

spun with

her hands,

and they all

brought what

they had

spun in

blue and

purple and

scarlet yarns,

and fine

twined linen.

All the

people whose

hearts stirred

them to

use their

skill spun

the goat's

hair,

and the

leaders brought

onyx stones

and stones to

be set for

the ephod and

the breast

piece,

and the

spices and

oil for the

light,

and for the

anointing oil,

and for the

fragrant incense,

all the men

and women,

the people of

Israel,

whose heart

moved them

to bring

anything for

the work

that the

Lord had

commanded by

Moses to

be done,

brought it

as a free

will offering

to the

Lord.

Then Moses

said to the

people of

Israel,

see the

Lord has

called by

name

Bezalel,

the son of

Uri,

the son of

Hur,

from the

tribe of

Judah,

and he

has filled

them with

the spirit

of God,

with skill,

with intelligence,

knowledge,

and with

all craftsmanship,

to devise

artistic designs,

to work gold

and silver

and bronze,

in cutting

stones for

setting,

and in

carving wood

for work

in every

skilled craft,

and he

has inspired

them to

teach both

him and

Holiab,

the son of

Achimach,

of the

tribe of

Dan.

He has

filled them

with skill

to do

every sort

of work

done by

an engraver

or by

a designer

or by

an embroiderer

in blue

and purple

scarlet

yarns

and fine

twine

linen,

or by

a weaver,

by any

sort of

workman

or skill

designer.

Bezalel

and

Oliab,

and every

craftsman

in whom

the Lord

had put

skill

and

intelligence

to know

how to

do any

work in

the construction

of the

sanctuary,

shall work

in accordance

with all

that the

Lord has

commanded.

May the

reading of

God's

word be

a blessing

to each

of us.

May we

continue in

praise by

singing in

Psalm 30

again of

the Sing

Psalms.

Following on

from where we

left off,

Sing

Psalms,

Psalm 30.

Midway through

verse Mark

7.

Psalm 30.

Turned my

wailing into

dance.

No longer

was I

sad.

My sack

was gone.

You gave

me clothes

of joy

and I

was glad.

Therefore

my heart

will sing

to you

and never

cease to

praise.

To your

great name,

O Lord

my God,

I will

give thanks

always.

Let us

stand together

and sing

to God's

praise.

But when

you hid

your face

from me,

my heart

was terrified.

but when

you hid

your face

from me,

my heart

was terrified.

To you,

O Lord,

I got the

loud,

for mercy,

Lord,

I cry.

What

thing will

my

discussion

be,

if I

descend

to death,

will

just

proclaim

your

faithfulness

or

praise

you

with

this

prayer.

And

till

last

I

cry,

O

Lord

my

God,

and

listen

to

my

plea.

Come to

my

aid,

in

my

distress,

have

mercy,

Lord,

on

me.

You

turn

my

way

in

to

dance,

no

longer

was

I

sad,

my

sack

of

God,

you

gave

me

hope

of

joy,

and

I

was

glad.

But

for

my

heart

will

sing

to

you,

and

never

cease

to

praise,

to

you

bring

near,

O

Lord,

my

God,

I

will

give

thanks

always.

we

could

turn

back

to

the

passage

we

read

together

in

Exodus

35.

I

didn't

give

a

text

for

my

sermon

tonight

in

the

notices,

but

it

would

be

verse

29.

All

the

men

and

women,

the

people

of

Israel,

whose

heart

moved

them,

to

bring

anything

for

the

work

that

the

Lord

had

commanded

by

Moses

to

be

done,

brought

it

as

a

free

will

offering

to

the

Lord.

The

psalm

that we

sung

there

sort

of

echoes

the

sentiment

of what

we'll

be

looking

at

people

that

says

there,

but

when

you hid

your

face

from

me,

my

heart

was

terrified.

That's

almost

what we

see at

the

beginning

with

these

people.

And

we

looked

at

chapter

33.

the

thought

of

God

not

being

with

them

put

terror

in

their

heart.

But

now we

see

them

as

people

with

totally

different

hearts.

And

they

are

ones

that

could

say,

therefore

my

heart

will

sing

to

you

and

never

cease

to

praise

to

you

your

great

name,

O

Lord

my

God,

I

will

give

thanks

to

you

always.

I

want

us to

look at

the

heart

that the

people

had in

chapter

35.

Look at

the

change

that

has

happened

in

these

people.

They

put a

wholehearted

devotion

to

God

when

not

so

long

ago

their

hearts

were

elsewhere

in

making

their

own

gods

of

gold.

What

a

change.

And

we

could

focus

on

so

many

points

in

this

passage,

but

really

what I

want

to

do

is

have

an

overview

of

this

congregation

of

people

as it

were,

Israel.

And

what

they

had

become

and

what

can

we

learn

from

where

they

came

and

what

God

did

with

them.

And

in

doing

that

we'll

learn

about

the

character

of

God

also.

Now

if

you

had

to

decide

or

if

you

had

decided

to

build

yourself

a

new

home

you

would

not

just

go

ahead

and

do

whatever

you

felt

like.

You

wouldn't

just

make

it

up

as

you

would

go

along

using

what

you

would

find

as

you

went.

To

do it

effectively

you

would need

to have

a plan.

You

would need

to work

out what

you wanted

to begin

with.

You

would need

to work

out what

materials

you would

require.

You

would need

to arrange

men

capable

of the

work.

and

you

would need

to

adhere

to

certain

requirements

and

certain

laws.

And

when the

plans are

all done

the right

time comes

when you

can start

building.

And this

is in a

sense

what we

have here

in the

passage.

The plans

have been

given

to Moses.

When

Moses was

up on

Mount

Sinai

receiving

the commandments

of God

and all

these

plans

God

had

for

the

tabernacle

the

people

at the

base

thought

Moses

had

died

and

they

started

doing

it their

own way

and making

their own

gods.

God

had given

various laws

on that

mountain

and God

had said

to Moses

that he

wanted

them to

build them

a home

basically

on earth.

He said

to Moses

let them

make me

a sanctuary

that I

may dwell

in their

midst.

And isn't

it so

strange

that God

said this

while the

hearts of

the people

were in

such

so

distracted

in so

many different

ways.

And they

were beginning

to form

this other

gods.

and it's

a reminder

to us

that you

know

we are

the people

and we

do not

know God's

ways

nor

understand

how

God's

works.

But we

are called

to be

faithful.

So the

plans are

there.

Moses

had the

plans

and the

people

had gone

off course.

And I

suppose

what we

have here

in chapter

35 is

Moses

delivering

these plans

to the

people.

You could

maybe compare

it to a

contractor

being handed

plans to

form this

new building.

Moses

stands in

front of the

people,

the congregation

of Israel

and saying

this is what

the Lord

has commanded.

Relaying all

the information

he had

received on

Mount Sinai.

And the

commands there

come down

to verse 19

in the passage.

And then from

verse 20 in

the passage,

that is the

people then

going forth

to work.

You can

see it

clearly there

in the

congregation

of the

people of

Israel

in verse

20,

departed

from the

presence

of Moses.

They got

their

instructions

and they

obeyed

that

instruction.

So in

looking at

these

people,

I want

us to

look at

the hearts

of them

and beginning

with the

heart of

reverence

they had

to this

God.

And what

is the

first thing

that God

commands them

to do

in this

passage?

Regarding

this

tabernacle,

you may

think,

well,

in verse

4,

Moses said

to the

congregation

of Israel,

this is the

thing that

the Lord

has commanded.

But it

is not

from verse

4 where

the command

and directions

and his

plans come

from.

It's from

verse 1.

Moses

assembled

all the

congregation

of the

people of

Israel

and said

to them,

these are

the things

that the

Lord has

commanded

you to

do.

For

six days

work shall

be done

and on

the seventh

day you

shall have

a Sabbath

of solemn

rest,

holy to

the Lord.

Whoever

does any

work on

it shall

be put

to death.

You

shall

kindle no

fire in

your dwelling

places

on the

Sabbath

day.

The

first

thing

in their

instruction

was to

keep

the

Sabbath

day.

This

was the

most

important

thing

that

God

commanded

them to

do.

A day

where you

can rest

and it

would be

solemn

rest

because it

is a

day that

is holy

to the

Lord.

This

was also

emphasized

when Moses

was up the

mountain

receiving all

these

instructions

and plans.

God

emphasized

this to

Moses that

the people

would remember

the Sabbath

day and so

Moses delivers

this instruction

to them.

And you

think well

would the

children of

Israel,

would they

not have

kept the