Things to ponder

Ten Bibles laid open, sprawled out around the table. Conversation, laughter and the sweet sound of turning Bible pages filled the room. Some scribbled their notes down on their handouts while others squeezed them into the margins of their Bible. It was Friday night. Bible Study night!

I love Bible study.

We are currently (and have been for almost 6 months) studying the tabernacle. Wow. Amazing stuff. I know I have studied the tabernacle before but never in such depth or detail. There is so much there and everything has a reason and represents something - it is amazing and I sometimes struggle to fully comprehend it all. We started with an overview of the tabernacle and then moved on to studying it part by part from the outside in.

The past few weeks, we have been studying the furniture in the Holy of Holies. How often have you spent 90 minutes studying the table of shewbread? I know I never have spent that much uninterrupted time on the subject. But it was really good! I am amazed at how detailed and specific the Lord is with everything and in awe of seeing how it is so connected with Christ!

Last Friday we were studying the candlestick. It was pure gold. It symbolizes Christ - He's the "light of the world" and He was pure. But as we read in Exodus the description and dimensions of the candlestick, there was a word that stuck out in my mind as we read Exodus 25: 31

"And thou shalt make a candlestick of pure gold: of beaten work shall the candlestick be made: his shaft, and his branches, his bowls, his knops and his flowers shall be of the same."

"of beaten work" Why would it be described as a "beaten" work? What?

Luckily, we discussed it.

Since the candlestick is a symbol of Christ, "beaten" is a perfect word - especially when you consider what Isaiah 53 says and how it depicts the agony Christ went through.

Wow.

I love studying some of those deep things in the Bible. I can take those nuggets and ponder on them for days.

While I love the deep things of God, I also love the simple things.

Saturday morning a group from church got up and went to a local nursing home to sing a few songs to them. One of songs was "Jesus Loves Even Me" by Phillip Bliss. As we were singing the words of this song, I was struck at the simplicity of it, the wonder that it is that Jesus loves me.

I can also ponder that thought for days.

I love studying out the Bible and seeing the complexity of some of the things God has in there and yet, I love the simple things He has in there as well.

What has God given you to ponder lately?