Exodus 16:32-34, Deuteronomy 8:1-3, Hebrews 9:4 – gold jar of manna, John 6:31-33, 48-51 – Jesus came down from heaven - the bread of life, Matthew 4:4, Revelation 2:17, Psalm 31:23, Psalm 36:6, Psalm 41:2, Psalm 66:9, Psalm 119, Proverbs 3:21, Proverbs 5:1-2

One of my breakfast favorites is apricot preserves on wheat toast. Hum…toast, bread, Jesus, the Bread of life, man does not live by bread alone but by the Word, bread from heaven, manna, manna preserved in the Ark of the Covenant in a gold jar, preserving God’s Word, hiding it in our hearts…food for thought.

David, in Psalm 119, asked God to preserve his life according to His Word, according to His promise, according to His laws, according to His love, and in His righteousness. Psalm 119 is an acrostic using the Hebrew alphabet. Each group of eight lines begins with a certain Hebrew letter. The first set of eight lines begins with the aleph, the first letter of the Hebrew alphabet. The last set of eight lines begins with the tav, the last letter of the Hebrew alphabet. These scripture’s recorded by David are poetic and inspirational for our reading today. They reveal the heart of David for the Lord and give us encouragement and hope. The time and effort David dedicated to these writings were effective in committing them to memory and to hiding them in his heart.

Recording information through the writing process is a “left-brain” activity. The process of creating the acrostic engages the “right-brain”. David’s creative whole brain activity is a tool used by teachers and students today for learning, retaining, and using information in a meaningful way. For many of us learning initially is not a problem. Our problem is recalling what we have learned or taking ownership of it by using it purposefully. Some of the tools we use to record, recall, and pass on information include art, music, dance, literary works, and memorabilia. We preserve the things that are important to us and that we want to pass on to others.

The Israelites preserved three sacred emblems in the Ark of the Covenant, Aaron’s rod that budded, the tablets of stone containing the ten commands, and the gold jar of manna. Moses said to Aaron, “Take a jar and put an omer of manna in it. Then place it before the LORD, to be kept for the generations to come.” (Exodus 16:33, NIV) An omer is about a half gallon or a little more than two liters. An omer was preserved because that is the amount God commanded the Israelites to gather per person five days of each week.  Manna means, “What is it?” Manna came down out of heaven. It was provided by God to preserve His people as He tested their faithfulness in the wilderness. If the people gathered more than God said to gather or if they tried to save it for the next day it would ruin. God ask His people to trust Him on a daily basis to provide for them.

Jesus came down from heaven to fulfill God’s plan to redeem man from sin. Jesus is our manna, our messiah. Jesus was born of a virgin, lived a sinless life, was crucified to bear the sin of the world, was buried in a tomb for three days, arose from the dead, and reigns in heaven as the King of all kings. Before Jesus was crucified, he left his disciples a memorial. At the Passover feast Jesus took the bread and after blessing it He broke it saying to his disciples, “Take it; this is My body.” (Mark 14:22) After giving thanks he took the cup and gave it to them saying, “This is My blood of the covenant, which is poured out for many.” In Matthew’s account scripture says, “…poured out for many for forgiveness of sins.” (Matthew 26:28) Then they all sang a hymn. We use these same emblems today to remind us of our savior, Jesus, who came down from heaven to preserve mankind.

The word “preserve” reminds me of a time I decided to make some peach preserves. When I was a teenager I loved spiced peaches. I decided one summer to find someone who grew peaches and buy a bushel so I could preserve them for the rest of the year. After the peaches had been prepared and then cooked with the sugar and spices they were added to the jars. The canning lids and seals were placed on the jars and the jars were placed in a water bath to set the seal. After the jars were removed from the water bath the canning lids would make a popping noise. This indicated that the seal was good and the peaches were preserved. Sharing these wonderful spiced peaches with friends and family who loved them made it worth the time to preserve them. Some of you may have preserve stories of your own and can relate this story to preserving God’s word. Here is my analogy for those of you with and without such experience. The jars are all of us. The peaches are God’s Word, Jesus. Only perfect fruit without impurities can be put into the jar in order for it to be preserved. The cooking of the peaches with the sugar and spices is the Holy Spirit preparing the Word in us for preservation. The canning lids with seals are the broken body of Jesus. The red seal around the edge of the lid is a reminder of the blood Jesus shed to redeem all mankind. The water bath is baptism in water sanctifying us for a holy purpose. The popping of the lids is the joyful noise we raise to God in thanks and praise. Opening the jar is us opening our mouths to share the Word of God with others. Those who hear and receive the Word will be filled.

What are we preserving for our children, for our children’s children? Let’s imitate David and create an acrostic. Let’s preserve God’s word for the generations to come. Let’s hide God’s word in our hearts every day and share the goodness of it with others.

Activity

Preserve God’s word in your heart and for the generations. Write verses on strips of paper. Put these verses into a jar and re-visit them throughout the week. You might want to include songs or hymns along with the verses. Writing, singing, and praying His word will write them on your heart. You might want to develop a theme. For example: God’s promises, praise, miracles, healing, or the Messiah. Give the jar as a gift to a friend or a family member.

PRAISE acrostic

Jar Label:  “Enter His gates with thanksgiving and his courts with praise; give thanks to him and praise his name.” Ps 100:4

P Present your bodies a living sacrifice - Rom 12:1

R Raise your hands and bless the Lord - Ps 134:2

A Approach the throne of grace with confidence – Heb 4:16

I  Imitate those who inherit the promises – Heb 6:12

S Sing a new song - Ps 96:1

E Express spiritual truths in spiritual words – I Cor 2:13

 

Hebrew Alphabet Advent - 22 Days Proceeding Christmas Day

Jar label: “Preserve my life according to your promise.” Psalm 119:154b

Aleph – Psalm 62:5-6

Bet – Is 11:1-2

Gimmel – Is 42:1, 5-6

Dalet – Daniel 9:24-27

Hey – Gal 4:4-5

Vav – Num 24:17, 19

Zayin – Mal 3:1

Chet – Micah 5:2-5

Tet – Is 40:1-5, 9-11

Yod – Luke 1:11-25

Kaf – Luke 1:26-38

Lemed – John 1:1-9

Mem – Is 40:31

Nun – Jer 23:5-6

Samekh – Is 60:1-3, 19-22

Ayin – Eph 1:9-12

Pey – Rev 22:16

Tsade – Luke 1:67-79

Qof – Hebrews 10:23

Resh – 2 Pet 1:19

Shin – Is 26:3

Tav – Luke 2:1-14,

 

Example Prayer

Begin the prayer with thanksgiving, “Thank you for preserving my life according to your promise, according to your word, and according to your love.”

Continue with praise, “Your word opens my mind to understanding. You are God. The Great, Almighty, God of all creation. Your promise fills me with hope. Your Spirit fills me with peace, comfort, and joy. Your Spirit guides me and leads me to your truth. You seal me with the blood of Jesus. You preserve me with your love, your mercy, and your grace. ”

Petition the Lord on your behalf, “I trust you to provide for me daily as you provided for the Israelites in the desert. Open my heart to receive all that you desire to show me. Fill me with your Spirit. Reveal your truth as I read from your word. Seal your word in my memory so I may share it with others. Preserve my life for your service.”

Make requests on behalf of others, “Open the eyes of the unbeliever to see your truth. Open their ears to hear your truth. (Job 33:15-16) Fill them with your Holy Spirit so they might understand and receive your truth. Seal them with the redeeming blood of Jesus as they believe and confess His name. Preserve them in your love.”

Confirm your faith, “Lord, because you are a God who does not change, James 1:17, I expect your loving favor on this petition. Because you are faithful in your promises I believe you will do even more than I ask (Ephesians 3:20). Because of your love I trust your perfect timing and your excellent way.” 

Close your prayer, “In the name of Jesus I pray. Amen.”

Follow-up Activity

When you pray throughout the week, use the jar as a reminder to let God fill your heart and mind through His Word. Philippians 4:7, “And the peace of God, which surpasses all comprehension, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus.” Trust God daily to provide for your needs. Trust Him to lead you as you study His word. Trust Him to reveal truth to you through His Spirit. Read His word daily. Write scriptures down and commit them to memory. Let God seal you through the blood of Jesus by believing in Him. Believe Jesus is the Manna sent from heaven. Believe Jesus is the Messiah. Preserve the Word of God in your heart. Share God’s word with others. Rev. 22:10

Materials

Jars – small 4 oz. canning jars with lids

Paper or Material cut in a circle to cover the lid

Paper strips to write scripture on, or use a computer with a printer

Permanent markers

Labels for jars

Ribbon for decoration

Music - create an atmosphere for reflection and prayer during the activity, Gateway Worship CD, “Wake Up”

 

Resources

http://www.biblicalhebrew.com/alphabet.htm  - Hebrew alphabet

http://convert-to.com/dry-volume.html - omer to gallon and liter dry volume conversion

Matthew Henry's Concise Commentary - An omer of manna to be preserved

Psalm 119 verse references to “preserve”

25 – I am laid low in the dust; preserve my life according to your word.

37 – Turn my eyes away from worthless things; preserve my life according to your word.

40 – How I long for your precepts! Preserve my life in your righteousness.

50 – My comfort in my suffering is this: Your promise preserves my life.

88 – Preserve my life according to your love, and I will obey the statutes of your mouth.

93 – I will never forget your precepts, for by them you have preserved my life.

107 – I have suffered much; preserve my life, O Lord, according to your word.

149 – Hear my voice in accordance with your love; preserve my life, O Lord, according to your laws.

154 – Defend my cause and redeem me; preserve my life according to your promise.

156 – Your compassion is great, O Lord; preserve my life according to your laws.

159 – See How I love your precepts; preserve my life, O Lord, according to your love.

 

 

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