Exodus 29:9 – “Consecrate Aaron and his sons” – The margin has, ‘fill the hand of’ Aaron and his sons. A priest in the service of the Father was to always have his hands full with the service of the Truth. As the people brought forth their tithe offerings, so the priests had opportunity to look after the poor and the needy as they too came to the Tabernacle. The abundance given by God to His people, reflected in the tithe offerings, was able to support the priesthood, who having no inheritance in the land, were not able to grow their own crops or herds.

Exodus 29:45 – “And I will dwell among the children of Israel” – Why would God want to dwell among this people? They were an uncouth lot, always murmuring and complaining, wishing that they had stayed in Egypt. Why would God want to dwell among them? Answer – He called them out of Egypt to be His Family on earth. He was their Father. And as a Father He wants to dwell with His children, to experience their growth, watch their “first steps,” hear their “first words,” attend to their education and schooling, provide for their needs. Without saying so in so many words, God is telling Israel that He wants to move in with them, just as any parent likes to be in touch with their children and to experience the joys that raising a family can bring – 2 Corinthians 6:17.

Yesterday’s "thought" of consecrating all gifts, is extended in today’s chapter to making human priests acceptable to God.  Seven days of consecration had to be observed for Aaron and for his sons. The point is obvious, that however "special" Moses’ brother might have appeared, he still could not approach to God without being consecrated for seven days Exo 29:35

29:7     Moses anointed Aaron – but was not anointed himself! Moses was called of God, Aaron’s office was by descent. Moses was the basis for ‘that prophet’ – Messiah.

It is interesting to notice the order of events in this chapter for the priests to be consecrated:  firstly they must be washed v4, secondly they must be clothed v5-6, then a series of sacrifices are to be made confirming them in service to the LORD. After this they are to share a meal v31,32 with the 'ram' that sealed their service to God. This sequence of events is very similar to how a disciple enters a relationship with God. Firstly the physical act of baptism is essential followed by the spiritual 'putting on the whole armour of God' Eph 6:11 and 'walking in love' Eph 5:2 as Christ did as a sacrifice to God. Following our calling we are commissioned to partake of the Lords feast Luke 22:19. In these events we are totally dependant on Christ, just as Moses was needed to perform the acts on his brethren. The many aspects of the law are extremely relevant today we should not neglect it, as we are to be priests with him in that day.

29:42The continual burnt offering was to teach that service to God was not to be spasmodic or intermittent. Each day the offering was to be made. In like manner we wake to each new day to service to our God. Not simply in going to the meeting or ding the readings but in total commitment to doing His will.

29:45    That God would ‘dwell among’ Israel is a foretaste of His involvement in the ecclesia – see 2Cor 6:16

The order of sacrifices is:

Sin offering

Burnt offering

Peace Offering

The sin offering must be given first, for, without the forgiveness of sins, nothing else matters.   And so it is for Christians.  Forgiveness of sins must first be obtained before salvation can be contemplated.  The prescribed way is belief in the Gospel (The Kingdom of God and the Name of Jesus Christ  (Acts 8:12)), and baptism (Mark 16:16). Any of the following: erroneous beliefs; lack of baptism; reliance on good works alone, would make salvation unobtainable.

V.6 The crown was a chaplet, a wreath-like adornment that circled the head, placed over Aaron’s turban.

One of the reasons the 5 books of Moses seem so long is that there is repetition. First God tells Moses how to carry out His wishes, then later the actual event is recorded. So in actual fact there's less law than we might think.

In this particular chapter, Moses is still on Sinai (see 24:15-18, 25:1) receiving God's instructions. So by the time of the golden calf incident (chapter 32), Aaron wasn't a priest yet. This happened later in Lev 8 & 9. So what do you think Aaron thought about while waiting 7 days outside the tent?

Psalm 86 - In this Psalm David cries to God that He might hear him - :1, 2, 3, 6, 7,16, 17. But it not simply a call for God to answer him. Rather David is concerned that God will 'teach' him His ways [v11]. It is so easy for us to just pray for what we want with no regard to trying to understand God's desire. We must realise that if we ask 'according to His will' [1 John 5:14] He will hear us.

85:2-3 Notice the progression
forgive
covered
taken away

86 - Even though David is willing to call on God (:1-7) he is not above asking God to 'teach' him (:11) We should be like this. Realising that we have to call on God but not being so arrogant as to think that we do not need God's instruction when we are in trouble. As if we think we can sort things out ourselves.

Psalm 85 – begins “A Psalm for the sons of Korah.”

Psalm 85:10 – “righteousness and peace have kissed each other” – It is not usual for those who are ‘incompatible’ to spend time kissing. Truly God’s righteousness and His attendant peace are greatly compatible. The peace that the world seeks is not based on God’s righteousness, therefore mankind will wear himself out trying to devise ways to create compatibility – but to no avail. Only when God’s righteousness is in the earth will this world enjoy the Peace that the prince of Peace will then share.

Psalm 86:11 – “unite my heart to fear thy name” -  Make my heart one, is the plea of David in this Psalm. How often do we find that we too, possess a double heart? Because of our nature, we tend to be so duplicitous. But David’s prayer should be our prayer too – create within me, O God, ONE heart, for you are ONE, your purpose is ONE, your spirit is ONE, everything about you is united and focused – ARE WE?

85:10 The way that ‘mercy and truth’ ‘kissed’ shows that there is no conflict between mercy and truth. Truth must be the touchstone in any Ecclesial matter. Once the truth has been established then the ‘mercy’ of God can be shown correctly.

86 - Whilst  David calls on God it is not from the position of strength notice
:1  ‘I am poor and needy’
:2 ‘thou hast forgiven’
:2 ‘thou hast covered …’
:3 ‘thou hast taken away’
Whilst we have bold access to the father (Heb 4:16) it is still in a position of need.

Psalm 85  This Psalm is one of thanksgiving after the return from the exile in Babylon.It would have been written possibly during the time of the rebuilding of the temple, under the leadership of Haggai and Zechariah.

Psalm 86  A Psalm of David showing his personal faith in God's present and future blessings.

The application of the ear, as we saw in Exodus 29 (see my note) is evident in these two psalms. 85:8 demonstrates  willingness to listen (incline the ear) to Yahweh's instruction. 86:1,6 makes the appeal to Yahweh to incline His ear (be merciful).

85:11    Truth and righteousness appearing in the earth are ideas which are presented together in Isa 45:8.

86:12-17 - Perhaps this has a Messianic application: v12 Jesus glorified the name of his Father forever and this was the dominant theme in his ministry; v13 Christ was delivered from not only death but all the misery of the crucifixion; v14 violating the Sabbath, the Sanhedrin were "enlightened" rejectors of God's Law and Jesus, and demanded the violent crucifixion; v15 without the sacrifice of Jesus there would be no ultimate true mercy for mankind; v16 Jesus, who was strengthened in Gethsemane (Luke 22:42-43) was clearly the son of the Lord's only true handmaid, Mary (Luke 1:38,48); v17 the token or sign for good was the radiant Glory or countenance in the face of Jesus causing those who came to arrest him to stumble back and fall (John 18:6; Psa 27:1-2; 42:11).

Much of the above was gleaned from Psalms Studies Vol.2 by George Booker

Ps. 85 might be referring to the time after the Babylonian exile.  The captivity of v.1 could be speaking of this, although  restoration of Israel's fortunes could be applied to other times also.

85:8 speaking peace is one of the characteristics of Jesus – Zech 9:10 – showing that this Psalm is messianic.

85:12 The land providing her increase is a picture of the kingdom when the earth will bring forth bountiful crops – Psa 72:16

Mark 14:3 – “And being in Bethany in the house of Simon the Leper” – Here Jesus is once more among friends. Judas’ father is named as Simon, and Judas was the only disciple of the twelve to domicile in or around Jerusalem. All the other disciples were Galilean. Is it possible that Mary, Martha and Lazarus were Judas Iscariot’s siblings? Judas certainly felt as though he could speak freely in regard to Mary pouring out the ointment at this time. Was Judas watching a family treasure being used on the Lord, as Mary poured out her love for Him? Judas certainly knew how much that vase of ointment was worth – more than 300 pence!! Now at a penny a day for the common wage, that would be equivalent to 1.5 years wages in our terminology. In Australia, 300 pence today would be worth about $50,000Aus. To make the conversion, it would be about $29,500 American or £16,300 English pounds.

Mark 14:5 – “For it might have been sold for more than 300 pence, and have been given to the poor” – The companion records state that Judas is leading the discussion. He was the “poor” that he had in mind. His companion disciples had no idea that he had his hand in the bag and was purchasing a retirement home for himself with the proceeds. But Jesus knew. And yet He continued to trust Judas with the common bag, AND He did not tattle on Judas to the other disciples. Indignant as Judas is here about the 300 pence, ultimately he betrayed the Lord (for He was never ‘his Lord’ to Judas) for just 30 pieces of silver – the price of a Jewish slave on the open market. Or was 30 pieces of silver a down payment, a deposit, for a greater sum of money to be handed over when the deed was fully done?

Mark 14:44 – “Whomsoever I shall kiss” – How wonderfully the readings tie together. We have just read in our Psalms reading, that there must needs be compatibility before a genuine kiss is exchanged. How hypocritical of Judas to kiss Jesus – he and Jesus are incompatible – yet our Lord graciously allowed Judas to take his part in this dastardly deed, that the thoughts of his heart might be made fully manifest to his fellows who had worked and walked with him for 3.5 years.  Notice Judas, in kissing the Lord, addresses Him as “Master, Master?”  Never does Judas ever address Jesus as Lord – Luke 6:46.

How would the disciples know which man to follow? (v.13).
The custom was that women were the ones who bore the pitchers of water, and so a man doing it would stand out.
 
V.24 says that the sacrifice of Jesus was for many not all. This dispels the notion that He was a substitutive sacrifice for all men and women.
 
The Lord's enemies had nothing with which to convict Him. If He  had continued to hold His peace (v.61), He could not have been condemned.  But He knew that scriptures had to be fulfilled, and so he gave His enemies an opening in v.62.

V.17 Before the betrayal of Judas, Jesus had some precious hours with the disciples, it was of utmost importance that they should not be disturbed, so once again we see his love to those who followed him. As he prepared them secretly for the events of the next few hours. The same love is available to each one of us to day. Love to the uttermost.

14:7      in saying 'you have the poor with you always' Jesus is not expressing a selfish sentiment. Rather he is stating a Divine truth for he is quoting Deut 15:11. Wickedness and poverty go hand in hand. Not that poor people are wicked. Rather the behaviour of mankind generates poverty in some through the greed of others.

14:3  Mark along with Matt 26:7 speak of Mary anointing Jesus’ head. However John says it was his ‘feet’ - John 12:12 – there is no discrepancy. John focuses upon the feet because he then goes on to talk about Jesus washing the disciples ‘feet’ – John 13:5.

14:10 That Judas went to the chief priests means that he walked from Bethany into Jerusalem which is quite a walk, down into the Kidron valley and up the steep slope into the city and then to the palace of the high priest.

The ruling council of the Jews (the Sanhedrin) was made up seventy-one of the richest, most powerful elite of society. They were mainly Sadducees, although some prominent Pharisees were among them.  Under the direction of the high priest, they unanimously condemned Jesus to death (v.64), although they were not allowed to execute anyone (John 18:31).  Joseph of Arimathea (Mark 15:43) and Nicodemus (John 3:1) were members of the Sanhedrin.  However, they must have proclaimed their faith in Jesus before this event otherwise they would have been counted in the unanimous decision of the council.  They would have given up great wealth and power to follow their master, and would have certainly been shunned, and probably persecuted by the council.  Their faith is recorded as they cared for the body of the Lord (John 19:38-40).

14:26The singing of a hymn at this point is the same time as John 14:31when Jesus said ‘arise let us go hence’.