Grab a Stone

Grab A Stone

Introduction

On the day of my installation service at Golden Hill Missionary Baptist Church in Hallsville, 30 years ago, there are several things that I remember…

· It was a festive occasion…

· The deacons and their wives walked in behind us…

· They had all kinds of good food…

· Choirs were singing to the glory of God…

· Our families were present…

· Charges to the church and to the pastor were given…

· But the one thing that stands out in mind is when the Chairman of Deacons – the late Deacon L.W. (Lloyd Wayne) Lewis came forth and presented me the keys to the church!

“Construction of the Ark. According to , , and 37, the ark was made of acacia wood and overlaid with gold. There were also rings connected to the chest where carrying poles could be inserted. The cover was called the mercy seat. The mercy seat was a solid piece of gold with two affixed cherubim. The ark was instructed to be two and a half cubits (approximately 4.5 feet) long, one and a half cubits (2.25 feet) wide, and one and a half cubits tall. While no weight is listed in the Bible, the ark has been estimated to weigh as much as 288 pounds (Derby, “The Gold of the Ark,” 253–56).”

Ark of the Covenant (אֲרוֹן בְּרִית, aron berith). A golden chest that contains the covenant tablets. It served both a practical and a symbolic purpose, and was instrumental in both rituals and miracles. The Israelites believed the ark of the covenant was symbolically Yahweh’s throne—representing His very presence on earth.

“TO remember God’s mercies to us, and to transmit the remembrance of them to future generations, is a solemn duty imposed upon us, especially where the mercies are of such a nature as to involve the welfare of our posterity as well as our own.”

TO remember God’s mercies to us, and to transmit the remembrance of them to future generations, is a solemn duty imposed upon us, especially where the mercies are of such a nature as to involve the welfare of our posterity as well as our own

Construction of the Ark. According to , , and 37, the ark was made of acacia wood and overlaid with gold. There were also rings connected to the chest where carrying poles could be inserted. The cover was called the mercy seat. The mercy seat was a solid piece of gold with two affixed cherubim. The ark was instructed to be two and a half cubits (approximately 4.5 feet) long, one and a half cubits (2.25 feet) wide, and one and a half cubits tall. While no weight is listed in the Bible, the ark has been estimated to weigh as much as 288 pounds (Derby, “The Gold of the Ark,” 253–56).

“The Mercy-seat was a solid sheet or slab of pure gold. Though a separate and distinct article in itself, it formed the lid of the Ark, being placed “above upon the Ark”; whose “crown of gold round about” (forming the top of its sides) would support and prevent it from slipping off. The Mercy-seat differed from the Ark in that no wood entered into its composition.”

“The Mercy-seat, or better, the Propitiatory, derived its name from the blood of propitiation which was sprinkled thereon. It was the same length and breadth as the Ark, being two and a half by one cubit and a half. At either end of it was a cherub, not fastened thereto, but beaten out of the same one piece of gold of which the Mercy-seat was formed. These symbolic figures had their wings outstretched, thus overshadowing the Mercy-seat, with their faces looking down upon it.”

The Mercy-seat was a solid sheet or slab of pure gold. Though a separate and distinct article in itself, it formed the lid of the Ark, being placed “above upon the Ark”; whose “crown of gold round about” (forming the top of its sides) would support and prevent it from slipping off. The Mercy-seat differed from the Ark in that no wood entered into its composition.

“Propitiation. Turning away of anger by the offering of a gift.”

The Mercy-seat, or better, the Propitiatory, derived its name from the blood of propitiation which was sprinkled thereon. It was the same length and breadth as the Ark, being two and a half by one cubit and a half. At either end of it was a cherub, not fastened thereto, but beaten out of the same one piece of gold of which the Mercy-seat was formed. These symbolic figures had their wings outstretched, thus overshadowing the Mercy-seat, with their faces looking down upon it.

Propitiation. Turning away of anger by the offering of a gift.

Elwell, Walter A., and Barry J. Beitzel. “Propitiation.” Baker encyclopedia of the Bible 1988 : 1784. Print.

Pink, Arthur Walkington. Gleanings in Exodus. Chicago: Moody Press, 1962. Print.

Pink, Arthur Walkington. Gleanings in Exodus. Chicago: Moody Press, 1962. Print.

Sarlo, Daniel, and John T. Swann. “Ark of the Covenant.” Ed. John D. Barry et al. The Lexham Bible Dictionary 2016 : n. pag. Print.

Simeon, Charles. Horae Homileticae: Numbers to Joshua. Vol. 2. London: Samuel Holdsworth, 1836. Print.

Sarlo, Daniel, and John T. Swann. “Ark of the Covenant.” Ed. John D. Barry et al. The Lexham Bible Dictionary 2016 : n. pag. Print.

Remember Where God Brought You From (19-20)

JORDAN RIVER The river that runs from Mt. Hermon S to the Dead Sea, thus separating the W part of ancient Palestine (West Jordan, “Canaan,” “the promised land” [; ]) from the E part (Transjordan, East Jordan, “East Palestine”[Glueck 1968]).

JORDAN RIVER [Heb yardēn (יַרְדֵּן)]. The river that runs from Mt. Hermon S to the Dead Sea, thus separating the W part of ancient Palestine (Cisjordan, West Jordan, “Canaan,” “the promised land” [; ]) from the E part (Transjordan, East Jordan, “East Palestine”[Glueck 1968]).

S south (ern)

The Stones remind them that God brought them through what separated them!

W west (ern)

The Stones - Probably to render them more conspicuous, they might be raised on a foundation of earth or turf. The pile was designed to serve a double purpose—that of impressing the heathen with a sense of the omnipotence of God, while at the same time it would teach an important lesson in religion to the young and rising Israelites in after ages.

Probably to render them more conspicuous, they might be raised on a foundation of earth or turf. The pile was designed to serve a double purpose—that of impressing the heathen with a sense of the omnipotence of God, while at the same time it would teach an important lesson in religion to the young and rising Israelites in after ages.

E east (ern); or “Elohist” source

Jamieson, Robert, A. R. Fausset, and David Brown. Commentary Critical and Explanatory on the Whole Bible. Vol. 1. Oak Harbor, WA: Logos Research Systems, Inc., 1997. Print.

Thompson, Henry O. “Jordan River.” Ed. David Noel Freedman. The Anchor Yale Bible Dictionary 1992 : 953. Print.

Remember to Tell the Generations Who Brought You Over (21-23; cp. v18)

The Ark of the Lord’s Covenant

“Ark of the Covenant (אֲרוֹן בְּרִית, aron berith). A golden chest that contains the covenant tablets. It served both a practical and a symbolic purpose, and was instrumental in both rituals and miracles. The Israelites believed the ark of the covenant was symbolically Yahweh’s throne—representing His very presence on earth.”

“Construction of the Ark. According to , , and 37, the ark was made of acacia wood and overlaid with gold. There were also rings connected to the chest where carrying poles could be inserted. The cover was called the mercy seat. The mercy seat was a solid piece of gold with two affixed cherubim. The ark was instructed to be two and a half cubits (approximately 4.5 feet) long, one and a half cubits (2.25 feet) wide, and one and a half cubits tall. While no weight is listed in the Bible, the ark has been estimated to weigh as much as 288 pounds (Derby, “The Gold of the Ark,” 253–56).”

“The Mercy-seat was a solid sheet or slab of pure gold. Though a separate and distinct article in itself, it formed the lid of the Ark, being placed “above upon the Ark”; whose “crown of gold round about” (forming the top of its sides) would support and prevent it from slipping off. The Mercy-seat differed from the Ark in that no wood entered into its composition.”

“The Mercy-seat, or better, the Propitiatory, derived its name from the blood of propitiation which was sprinkled thereon. It was the same length and breadth as the Ark, being two and a half by one cubit and a half. At either end of it was a cherub, not fastened thereto, but beaten out of the same one piece of gold of which the Mercy-seat was formed. These symbolic figures had their wings outstretched, thus overshadowing the Mercy-seat, with their faces looking down upon it.”

“Propitiation. Turning away of anger by the offering of a gift.”

So, to say that God was the One Who brought them…the Ark of the Covenant is saying that GOD WAS PRESENT, and GOD’S MERCY WAS PRESENT!

Elwell, Walter A., and Barry J. Beitzel. “Propitiation.” Baker encyclopedia of the Bible 1988 : 1784. Print.

Pink, Arthur Walkington. Gleanings in Exodus. Chicago: Moody Press, 1962. Print.

Pink, Arthur Walkington. Gleanings in Exodus. Chicago: Moody Press, 1962. Print.

Sarlo, Daniel, and John T. Swann. “Ark of the Covenant.” Ed. John D. Barry et al. The Lexham Bible Dictionary 2016 : n. pag. Print.

Sarlo, Daniel, and John T. Swann. “Ark of the Covenant.” Ed. John D. Barry et al. The Lexham Bible Dictionary 2016 : n. pag. Print.

Remember Why God Brought You Through (24)

“This was so that everybody on earth would recognize how strong/mighty God’s rescuing hand is and so that you would hold God in solemn reverence always.” (Message Bible)

Recognition of God

This was so that everybody on earth would recognize how strong God’s rescuing hand is and so that you would hold God in solemn reverence always.”

Reverence for God

Peterson, Eugene H. The Message: The Bible in Contemporary Language. Colorado Springs, CO: NavPress, 2005. Print.

Conclusion

King James Version (KJV)

8 Then Peter, filled with the Holy Ghost, said unto them, Ye rulers of the people, and elders of Israel,

9 If we this day be examined of the good deed done to the impotent man, by what means he is made whole;

10 Be it known unto you all, and to all the people of Israel, that by the name of Jesus Christ of Nazareth, whom ye crucified, whom God raised from the dead, even by him doth this man stand here before you whole.

11 This is the stone which was set at nought of you builders, which is become the head of the corner.

12 Neither is there salvation in any other: for there is none other name under heaven given among men, whereby we must be saved.

I call those born from 1965 to the Present (Busters, Millennials, iGen/Generations X, Y, & Z)

I’m calling you to GRAB a STONE!