​Vindicate me, O God, and defend my cause  against an ungodly people, from the deceitful and unjust man deliver me! 2 For you are the God in whom I take refuge;  why have you rejected me? Why do I go about mourning because of the oppression of the enemy? 3 Send out your light and your truth; let them lead me;

let them bring me to your holy hill  and to your dwelling!

4 Then I will go to the altar of God, to God my exceeding joy, and I will praise you with the lyre, O God, my God. 5 Why are you cast down, O my soul, and why are you in turmoil within me? Hope in God; for I shall again praise him, my salvation and my God.
 
Meditation
God gives faith in the core of our being so our soul can sing in suffering and struggle.
 
The conclusion of today’s Psalm is a refrain cascading through Psalm 42 and 43: “Why are you cast down, O my soul… hope in God; for I shall again praise Him, my salvation and my God.” (42:5, 11; 43:5) Faith fortifies God’s promises in our inner-being when the world is falling apart.
 
From a strengthened core within, the Psalmist empowers God’s people to look up to the Lord by offering lyrics for powerful petition: “Vindicate me!... Defend my cause!... Deliver me!” (1-2) The focus of our faith is God- He is our refuge. God alone sends light and truth (3). God will strengthen our soul as He bring serenity to our situations.
 
Questions abound- Why does it look like the perpetrators always win? Why do I feel rejected by both people and God (2-3)? God is big enough for our questions and frustrations. God welcomes our interrogations. But in His goodness, God does not leave us in limbo. God’s sovereign grace frees us from the prison of personal pain to praise with exceeding joy (4).
 
Christians know God gives faith to strengthen our soul with gospel hope because Jesus gave up His soul for us. Without defense and deliverance, the Light of the world was snuffed out in death so the light of His love could be ignited inside of believers, fueled with God’s promises when the world around us seems to grow darker and darker. God is our salvation! And our souls must hope in Him.
 
Richly Dwelling
-What stands out to you from today’s reading, especially the cascading call for the Psalmist to hope in God, strengthening His soul with the promises of God?
 
-Why is it easier to allow the darkness to lead our soul to be downcast rather than strengthen our soul with faith God gives in the promises God assures?
 
-How does the finished work of Jesus give you security to fuel the light of hope in your heart, preaching the promises of God to your weary soul? Where (specifically) do you need to do this?
 
Key Verse
5 Why are you cast down, O my soul, and why are you in turmoil within me? Hope in God; for I shall again praise him, my salvation and my God.

​The word of the Lord that came to Hosea, the son of Beeri, in the days of Uzziah, Jotham, Ahaz, and Hezekiah, kings of Judah, and in the days of Jeroboam the son of Joash, king of Israel.

Hosea's Wife and Children
2 When the Lord first spoke through Hosea, the Lord said to Hosea, “Go, take to yourself a wife of whoredom and have children of whoredom, for the land commits great whoredom by forsaking the Lord.” 3 So he went and took Gomer, the daughter of Diblaim, and she conceived and bore him a son.

4 And the Lord said to him, “Call his name Jezreel, for in just a little while I will punish the house of Jehu for the blood of Jezreel, and I will put an end to the kingdom of the house of Israel. 5 And on that day I will break the bow of Israel in the Valley of Jezreel.”

6 She conceived again and bore a daughter. And the Lord said to him, “Call her name No Mercy, for I will no more have mercy on the house of Israel, to forgive them at all. 7 But I will have mercy on the house of Judah, and I will save them by the Lord their God. I will not save them by bow or by sword or by war or by horses or by horsemen.”

8 When she had weaned No Mercy, she conceived and bore a son. 9 And the Lord said, “Call his name Not My People, for you are not my people, and I am not your God.”
10 Yet the number of the children of Israel shall be like the sand of the sea, which cannot be measured or numbered. And in the place where it was said to them, “You are not my people,” it shall be said to them, “Children of the living God.” 11 And the children of Judah and the children of Israel shall be gathered together, and they shall appoint for themselves one head. And they shall go up from the land, for great shall be the day of Jezreel.
 
Meditation
The security in the Lord’s steadfast love is beyond comprehension. God displays the richness of His covenant love through the living parable of Hosea’s life. God gives mercy and makes family through His covenant love.
 
Hosea was a prophet to the Northern Kingdom, just before Assyria took Israel into exile. Gomer was a prostitute, a woman of ill repute. To illustrate God’s covenant love for an unfaithful people, God called Hosea to speak first with his life by marrying Gomer. The prophet’s life put flesh on the message of God’s covenant love.

Hosea married Gomer and they had three children; Jezereel, No Mercy, and Not My People. These unconventional names illustrated an ancient covenant truth: If Israel rejected God to worship other gods, they would give birth to violence, judgment, and exile. BUT GOD is rich in mercy; slow to anger and abounding in steadfast love (Exodus 34:6, also Nehemiah 9:17; Psalm 86:15; Joel 2:13; and Jonah 4:2). God’s covenant faithfulness is greater than the failure of His people!
 
The security of God’s steadfast love transforms “not my people” into “children of God,” “Jezreel” into a place of reconciliation, and “no mercy” into receiving mercy (10-11). Transformation is possible because a greater prophet put flesh on the word of God, Jesus Christ the Bridegroom for believers (Mark 2:19).  Jesus received no mercy so believers can experience mercy, reconciled to God through His work to become children of God. Jesus was rejected so believers can be secure in God’s steadfast love- dirty, unfaithful, enemies of God welcomed into God’s family.
 
Richly Dwelling
-What stands out to you from today’s reading, especially the revelation of God’s radical love for His people?
 
-God’s love is greater than your sin, rebellion, and rejection of Him. Do you know the security of His love? Or do you look for security in your performance or other people?
 
-How does the finished work of Jesus help you see the security you have in God’s steadfast love? Where do you (specifically) need to embrace this reality?
 
Key Verse
10 Yet the number of the children of Israel shall be like the sand of the sea, which cannot be measured or numbered. And in the place where it was said to them, “You are not my people,” it shall be said to them, “Children of the living God.”

​Then he said to Moses, “Come up to the Lord, you and Aaron, Nadab, and Abihu, and seventy of the elders of Israel, and worship from afar. 2 Moses alone shall come near to the Lord, but the others shall not come near, and the people shall not come up with him.”

3 Moses came and told the people all the words of the Lord and all the rules. And all the people answered with one voice and said, “All the words that the Lord has spoken we will do.” 4 And Moses wrote down all the words of the Lord. He rose early in the morning and built an altar at the foot of the mountain, and twelve pillars, according to the twelve tribes of Israel. 5 And he sent young men of the people of Israel, who offered burnt offerings and sacrificed peace offerings of oxen to the Lord. 6 And Moses took half of the blood and put it in basins, and half of the blood he threw against the altar. 7 Then he took the Book of the Covenant and read it in the hearing of the people. And they said, “All that the Lord has spoken we will do, and we will be obedient.” 8 And Moses took the blood and threw it on the people and said, “Behold the blood of the covenant that the Lord has made with you in accordance with all these words.”

9 Then Moses and Aaron, Nadab, and Abihu, and seventy of the elders of Israel went up, 10 and they saw the God of Israel. There was under his feet as it were a pavement of sapphire stone, like the very heaven for clearness. 11 And he did not lay his hand on the chief men of the people of Israel; they beheld God, and ate and drank.

12 The Lord said to Moses, “Come up to me on the mountain and wait there, that I may give you the tablets of stone, with the law and the commandment, which I have written for their instruction.” 13 So Moses rose with his assistant Joshua, and Moses went up into the mountain of God. 14 And he said to the elders, “Wait here for us until we return to you. And behold, Aaron and Hur are with you. Whoever has a dispute, let him go to them.”

15 Then Moses went up on the mountain, and the cloud covered the mountain. 16 The glory of the Lord dwelt on Mount Sinai, and the cloud covered it six days. And on the seventh day he called to Moses out of the midst of the cloud. 17 Now the appearance of the glory of the Lord was like a devouring fire on the top of the mountain in the sight of the people of Israel. 18 Moses entered the cloud and went up on the mountain. And Moses was on the mountain forty days and forty nights.
 
Meditation
Biblical covenants are sovereignly administered, sealed in blood, and celebrated with a meal. Prior to the fall, Adam and Eve ate in the presence of the Lord. After the curse, sin separated God and His people (Isaiah 59:2). Covenant is God’s gracious move to restore relationship, binding Himself and His promised blessings to His people who respond in faith by obligating themselves to keep His law. 
 
God had bound Himself to Israel through covenant with Abraham (Genesis 15, 17) and God had  redeemed Israel from slavery (Exodus 12). In today's reading we see slaves whose faces had been beat down into the mud looking up and behold the glory of God. Covenant relationship moves believers from slavery to celebration.
 
Moses acted as Israel’s representative by approaching God (1-2, 12-18) and sharing the laws of God with Israel (3-4). Responding in faith, the people promised to keep God’s covenant (4). Moses made sacrifice to seal the covenant renewal, casting blood on the people saying “behold the blood of the covenant the Lord has made with you…” (5-8). Covenant renewal was celebrated with a meal, God nourishing His people with His promised presence (9-11).
 
Covenant relationship finds fullness in the person and work of Jesus Christ. Jesus was sovereignly sent as God’s representative, from love to restore relationship. Jesus kept every covenant obligation before dying as the sacrifice to atone for our sins, taking the curse we deserve (Galatians 3:10-14). Jesus’ blood seals a new covenant (Luke 22:20; Hebrews 9:15-28) and the Lord’s Supper is the covenant meal where believers feast on His grace (1 Corinthians 11:23-25).

Richly Dwelling
-What stands out to you from today’s reading, especially the specifics of covenant represented in the reading?
 
-The blood of the covenant covers God’s people so we can enter into God’s presence. The sacrifice of Jesus for our sin is complete. How can gratitude and generosity grow from this grace in your heart?
 
-What does it look like for you to feast with the Lord? Do you need to move something from your schedule, add something (like a time of solitude) into your schedule, or miss a meal to be with Jesus in fellowship?
 
Key Verse
11 And he did not lay his hand on the chief men of the people of Israel; they beheld God, and ate and drank.

​Let every person be subject to the governing authorities. For there is no authority except from God, and those that exist have been instituted by God. 2 Therefore whoever resists the authorities resists what God has appointed, and those who resist will incur judgment. 3 For rulers are not a terror to good conduct, but to bad. Would you have no fear of the one who is in authority? Then do what is good, and you will receive his approval, 4 for he is God's servant for your good. But if you do wrong, be afraid, for he does not bear the sword in vain. For he is the servant of God, an avenger who carries out God's wrath on the wrongdoer. 5 Therefore one must be in subjection, not only to avoid God's wrath but also for the sake of conscience. 6 For because of this you also pay taxes, for the authorities are ministers of God, attending to this very thing.7 Pay to all what is owed to them: taxes to whom taxes are owed, revenue to whom revenue is owed, respect to whom respect is owed, honor to whom honor is owed.

Fulfilling the Law Through Love
8 Owe no one anything, except to love each other, for the one who loves another has fulfilled the law. 9 For the commandments, “You shall not commit adultery, You shall not murder, You shall not steal, You shall not covet,” and any other commandment, are summed up in this word: “You shall love your neighbor as yourself.” 10 Love does no wrong to a neighbor; therefore love is the fulfilling of the law.

11 Besides this you know the time, that the hour has come for you to wake from sleep. For salvation is nearer to us now than when we first believed. 12 The night is far gone; the day is at hand. So then let us cast off the works of darkness and put on the armor of light. 13 Let us walk properly as in the daytime, not in orgies and drunkenness, not in sexual immorality and sensuality, not in quarreling and jealousy. 14 But put on the Lord Jesus Christ, and make no provision for the flesh, to gratify its desires.

Meditation
The word of God transforms. In 386 Augustine was seeking freedom from the bondage of sexual pleasures when he asked God in prayer, “How long!?!” Augustine heard a voice say, “Tolle Lege” (“Take up and read”). Understanding this to be direction from God, Augustine took up and read verses from this chapter (13-14).  In faith, Augustine put on Jesus Christ, made no provision for the flesh, and eventually become one of the most influential people in history.
 
Faith responds to God’s grace by taking up God’s word in obedience. Christians will, therefore, love enemies and overcome evil with good, honor governing authorities, and sacrificially love the world as Jesus loved us. 
 
Christians are citizens of Heaven (Philippians 3:20) and our lives are marked with honor of authority and love for neighbor. Love is the fulfillment of God’s law, both positive and prohibitive. Positively believers “put on the Lord Jesus” and the “amor of light.” Prohibitively we “cast off the works of darkness” and “make no provision for the flesh.” The obligation of love for neighbor is opportunity to embody God’s authority by fulfilling God’s law with love.
 
Tolle Lege: “Take up and read” is God’s gracious invitation. God’s Spirit uses God’s word to transform God’s people more into God’s image that we may live more fruitfully for God’s glory. Obedience is the mark of a person transformed by God’s grace, someone who embraces our true citizenship in Heaven. Free from deeds of darkness and sexual depravity, obedience will flood lives with the love and light of Jesus.
 
Richly Dwelling
-What stands out to you from today’s reading, especially the direction to live lives of worship through honoring authority and loving our neighbor?
 
-Where do you see the beauty in this direction? Where do you struggle to uphold the burden of the teaching?
 
-How does the finished work of Jesus empower you to (positively) “put on Christ” and (prohibitively) “cast off works of darkness” in your life and love? Be specific, knowing the Spirit of God uses the word of God so the power of God is available to/ for you!
 
Key Verse
13 Let us walk properly as in the daytime, not in orgies and drunkenness, not in sexual immorality and sensuality, not in quarreling and jealousy. 14 But put on the Lord Jesus Christ, and make no provision for the flesh, to gratify its desires.

Now Absalom, David's son, had a beautiful sister, whose name was Tamar. And after a time Amnon, David's son, loved her. 2 And Amnon was so tormented that he made himself ill because of his sister Tamar, for she was a virgin, and it seemed impossible to Amnon to do anything to her. 3 But Amnon had a friend, whose name was Jonadab, the son of Shimeah, David's brother. And Jonadab was a very crafty man. 4 And he said to him, “O son of the king, why are you so haggard morning after morning? Will you not tell me?” Amnon said to him, “I love Tamar, my brother Absalom's sister.” 5 Jonadab said to him, “Lie down on your bed and pretend to be ill. And when your father comes to see you, say to him, ‘Let my sister Tamar come and give me bread to eat, and prepare the food in my sight, that I may see it and eat it from her hand.’” 6 So Amnon lay down and pretended to be ill. And when the king came to see him, Amnon said to the king, “Please let my sister Tamar come and make a couple of cakes in my sight, that I may eat from her hand.”
 
7 Then David sent home to Tamar, saying, “Go to your brother Amnon's house and prepare food for him.” 8 So Tamar went to her brother Amnon's house, where he was lying down. And she took dough and kneaded it and made cakes in his sight and baked the cakes. 9 And she took the pan and emptied it out before him, but he refused to eat. And Amnon said, “Send out everyone from me.” So everyone went out from him. 10 Then Amnon said to Tamar, “Bring the food into the chamber, that I may eat from your hand.” And Tamar took the cakes she had made and brought them into the chamber to Amnon her brother. 11 But when she brought them near him to eat, he took hold of her and said to her, “Come, lie with me, my sister.” 12 She answered him, “No, my brother, do not violate me, for such a thing is not done in Israel; do not do this outrageous thing. 13 As for me, where could I carry my shame? And as for you, you would be as one of the outrageous fools in Israel. Now therefore, please speak to the king, for he will not withhold me from you.” 14 But he would not listen to her, and being stronger than she, he violated her and lay with her.
 
15 Then Amnon hated her with very great hatred, so that the hatred with which he hated her was greater than the love with which he had loved her. And Amnon said to her, “Get up! Go!” 16 But she said to him, “No, my brother, for this wrong in sending me away is greater than the other that you did to me.” But he would not listen to her. 17 He called the young man who served him and said, “Put this woman out of my presence and bolt the door after her.” 18 Now she was wearing a long robe with sleeves, for thus were the virgin daughters of the king dressed. So his servant put her out and bolted the door after her. 19 And Tamar put ashes on her head and tore the long robe that she wore. And she laid her hand on her head and went away, crying aloud as she went.
 
20 And her brother Absalom said to her, “Has Amnon your brother been with you? Now hold your peace, my sister. He is your brother; do not take this to heart.” So Tamar lived, a desolate woman, in her brother Absalom's house. 21 When King David heard of all these things, he was very angry.[d] 22 But Absalom spoke to Amnon neither good nor bad, for Absalom hated Amnon, because he had violated his sister Tamar.
 
Absalom Murders Amnon
23 After two full years Absalom had sheepshearers at Baal-hazor, which is near Ephraim, and Absalom invited all the king's sons. 24 And Absalom came to the king and said, “Behold, your servant has sheepshearers. Please let the king and his servants go with your servant.” 25 But the king said to Absalom, “No, my son, let us not all go, lest we be burdensome to you.” He pressed him, but he would not go but gave him his blessing.26 Then Absalom said, “If not, please let my brother Amnon go with us.” And the king said to him, “Why should he go with you?” 27 But Absalom pressed him until he let Amnon and all the king's sons go with him. 28 Then Absalom commanded his servants, “Mark when Amnon's heart is merry with wine, and when I say to you, ‘Strike Amnon,’ then kill him. Do not fear; have I not commanded you? Be courageous and be valiant.” 29 So the servants of Absalom did to Amnon as Absalom had commanded. Then all the king's sons arose, and each mounted his mule and fled.
 
30 While they were on the way, news came to David, “Absalom has struck down all the king's sons, and not one of them is left.” 31 Then the king arose and tore his garments and lay on the earth. And all his servants who were standing by tore their garments. 32 But Jonadab the son of Shimeah, David's brother, said, “Let not my lord suppose that they have killed all the young men, the king's sons, for Amnon alone is dead. For by the command of Absalom this has been determined from the day he violated his sister Tamar. 33 Now therefore let not my lord the king so take it to heart as to suppose that all the king's sons are dead, for Amnon alone is dead.”
 
Absalom Flees to Geshur
34 But Absalom fled. And the young man who kept the watch lifted up his eyes and looked, and behold, many people were coming from the road behind him by the side of the mountain. 35 And Jonadab said to the king, “Behold, the king's sons have come; as your servant said, so it has come about.” 36 And as soon as he had finished speaking, behold, the king's sons came and lifted up their voice and wept. And the king also and all his servants wept very bitterly.
 
37 But Absalom fled and went to Talmai the son of Ammihud, king of Geshur. And David mourned for his son day after day. 38 So Absalom fled and went to Geshur, and was there three years. 39 And the spirit of the king longed to go out to Absalom, because he was comforted about Amnon, since he was dead.
 
Meditation
The tragedy of Tamar is a disturbing fulfillment of Nathan’s prophecy for David’s house (2 Samuel 12:10-11), a warning and reminder of the destructive power of a self-serving manhood.
 
The words of Tamar offer orientation for the tragedy- “…such a thing should not be done in Israel!...” (12) Tamar’s truth is lost in violations against her- she is trapped (5-11), ignored (14, 16), raped (14), despised (15), banished (17), and ruined (18-20).  We must lament the lack of men honoring God with their life choices.
 
David is pictured as a weak man, easily manipulated and too distant from his family to protect or execute justice. David’s poor example with Bathsheba and Uriah is devastatingly repeated by Amnon and Absalom respectively.
 
Amnon is vividly portrayed as lustful without self-control, displaying the devastating nature of unaccountable manhood.
 
Jonadab is a manipulator who is more concerned with currying favor with authority than treating people with dignity. Jonadab uses Tamar as a pawn for potential power found in favorable proximity to the potential future king.
 
Absalom is a cold revelation of self-control with an evil, calculated trajectory that perpetuates destruction and devastation. The vengeance of Absalom validates the dysfunction of mis-directed men who tolerate evil in the houses of God’s people.
 
The true picture of manhood is found in Jesus Christ. Jesus’ work offers the protection, justice, and the vengeance for which we hunger. Believers who know Jesus’ grace must seek to imitate Him, walking in love as He loved us- with resolute determination to not allow immature manhood to devastate God’s people.
 
Richly Dwelling
-Which part of Tamar’s troubling narrative impacts you the most?
 
-Which man represented in the narrative characterizes the lamentable reality of the state of manhood today? Why?
 
-How does the true man, Jesus Christ, offer hope to the devastation of our rebellion and restoration to men who need a redeemed trajectory of our lives?
 
Key Verse
12 She answered him, “No, my brother, do not violate me, for such a thing is not done in Israel; do not do this outrageous thing. 

“You shall not spread a false report. You shall not join hands with a wicked man to be a malicious witness. 2 You shall not fall in with the many to do evil, nor shall you bear witness in a lawsuit, siding with the many, so as to pervert justice, 3 nor shall you be partial to a poor man in his lawsuit.
​
4 “If you meet your enemy's ox or his donkey going astray, you shall bring it back to him. 5 If you see the donkey of one who hates you lying down under its burden, you shall refrain from leaving him with it; you shall rescue it with him.
6 “You shall not pervert the justice due to your poor in his lawsuit. 7 Keep far from a false charge, and do not kill the innocent and righteous, for I will not acquit the wicked. 8 And you shall take no bribe, for a bribe blinds the clear-sighted and subverts the cause of those who are in the right.
9 “You shall not oppress a sojourner. You know the heart of a sojourner, for you were sojourners in the land of Egypt.

Laws About the Sabbath and Festivals
10 “For six years you shall sow your land and gather in its yield, 11 but the seventh year you shall let it rest and lie fallow, that the poor of your people may eat; and what they leave the beasts of the field may eat. You shall do likewise with your vineyard, and with your olive orchard.
12 “Six days you shall do your work, but on the seventh day you shall rest; that your ox and your donkey may have rest, and the son of your servant woman, and the alien, may be refreshed.
13 “Pay attention to all that I have said to you, and make no mention of the names of other gods, nor let it be heard on your lips.

14 “Three times in the year you shall keep a feast to me. 15 You shall keep the Feast of Unleavened Bread. As I commanded you, you shall eat unleavened bread for seven days at the appointed time in the month of Abib, for in it you came out of Egypt. None shall appear before me empty-handed.16 You shall keep the Feast of Harvest, of the firstfruits of your labor, of what you sow in the field. You shall keep the Feast of Ingathering at the end of the year, when you gather in from the field the fruit of your labor. 17 Three times in the year shall all your males appear before the Lord God.
18 “You shall not offer the blood of my sacrifice with anything leavened, or let the fat of my feast remain until the morning.
19 “The best of the firstfruits of your ground you shall bring into the house of the Lord your God.
“You shall not boil a young goat in its mother's milk.

Conquest of Canaan Promised
20 “Behold, I send an angel before you to guard you on the way and to bring you to the place that I have prepared. 21 Pay careful attention to him and obey his voice; do not rebel against him, for he will not pardon your transgression, for my name is in him.
22 “But if you carefully obey his voice and do all that I say, then I will be an enemy to your enemies and an adversary to your adversaries.

23 “When my angel goes before you and brings you to the Amorites and the Hittites and the Perizzites and the Canaanites, the Hivites and the Jebusites, and I blot them out, 24 you shall not bow down to their gods nor serve them, nor do as they do, but you shall utterly overthrow them and break their pillars in pieces. 25 You shall serve the Lord your God, and he will bless your bread and your water, and I will take sickness away from among you.26 None shall miscarry or be barren in your land; I will fulfill the number of your days. 27 I will send my terror before you and will throw into confusion all the people against whom you shall come, and I will make all your enemies turn their backs to you.28 And I will send hornets before you, which shall drive out the Hivites, the Canaanites, and the Hittites from before you. 29 I will not drive them out from before you in one year, lest the land become desolate and the wild beasts multiply against you.30 Little by little I will drive them out from before you, until you have increased and possess the land.31 And I will set your border from the Red Sea to the Sea of the Philistines, and from the wilderness to the Euphrates, for I will give the inhabitants of the land into your hand, and you shall drive them out before you. 32 You shall make no covenant with them and their gods. 33 They shall not dwell in your land, lest they make you sin against me; for if you serve their gods, it will surely be a snare to you.”
 
Meditation
God’s steadfast love offers rest for former slaves. God’s covenant faithfulness offers signs and seals to mark His people’s “engagement to be the Lord’s.” (WSC Q 94) Like a wedding ring, sabbath rest seals God’s covenantal vows and points to the reality of God’s people exclusively belonging to Him. 
 
After the Lord redeemed Israel from slavery, He promised and provided rest. Sabbath (10-19) is a seal of God’s future promises and a sign of Israel’s exclusive commitment to the Lord (Ezekiel 20:12; Deuteronomy 31:13).  Practicing Sabbath shows God’s people are set apart, trusting God and His promises more than working for empty promises of the world. Jesus is Lord of the Sabbath, reminding believers the Sabbath is a gift of grace (Mark 2:27-28). Relationship with the Lord is marked with intimacy, “making no mention of the names of other gods” (13). Sabbath is what former slaves practice to reveal total trust in God’s covenant care.
 
The festivals were celebrations of love like engagement parties with friends and family. Together God’s people celebrated God’s faithfulness, trusting Him to lead into the fullness of His promises (20-33).
 
God’s proposal to trust Him and His love is the theme of Scripture, His pursuit of His people fully revealed in the person and work of Jesus. Jesus was abandoned on the cross so believers can be received as God’s beloved. God’s “brazen grace” pursues His people for the purpose of participation in relationship, a proposal to rest His exclusive love by faith- God’s Spirit sealing our engagement to be His (Ezekiel 16). 
 
Richly Dwelling
-Does the rhythm of your life include sabbath rest, revealing you are engaged and committed to the Lord?  Do you find deep rest through Sabbath?
 
-Sabbath and festivals are a sign and celebration of God’s covenant commitment to us. When we celebrate Sabbath and festivals of the Lord we are declaring we love Him and belong to Him more than we belong to the economy, social calendars, and school. How can you wear the sign of your relationship with God more faithfully, trusting the promises of His sovereign grace more fully?
 
-Jesus is Lord of the Sabbath and gives us Sabbath. How does His finished work free you to say “yes!” to His invitation to rest in Him and His steadfast love?
 
Key Verse
13 “Pay attention to all that I have said to you, and make no mention of the names of other gods, nor let it be heard on your lips.