A Prayer for the Day of Preparation

Life during the week can be full of stress and strain. It is great to pause to break and imbibe God's Sabbath rest. With that in mind, a famous request of Moses came to mind. He uttered it at Mount Sinai out of longing for revelation. It seemed nothing mattered more to the prophet than the presence of the LORD. His words are recorded in Exodus 33.18:

"Moses said 'Please show me your glory'"

The disclosure that God gave as a response to Moses' request was both glorious and good. We read in 33.19:

"And He said 'I will make all my goodness pass before you and will proclaim before you my name 'The LORD'. And I will be gracious to whom I will be gracious, and will show mercy on whom I will show mercy.'"

The petition of Moses was answered. Later the hand of God hid him safe while His divine presence passed. The Law was given again then Moses descended from the Mount. He hadn't even realised that his face was all aglow, such had been the brightness of the revelation of the glory of God, with whom he had just spoken, as Exodus 34.30 notes:

"Aaron and all the people of Israel saw Moses, and behold the skin of his face shone, and they were afraid to come near him."

When the prophet had finished talking, and the people had calmed down, a veil was placed on his face to conceal the glory that would fade.

Such was the prayer of Moses for the glory of the Old Covenant - but as Paul reminds believers, each week as we come to church, in the reading and preaching of Christ, we should anticipate and seek something even better and brighter. The apostle mentions this greater Gospel glory in 2 Corinthians 3.10:

"Indeed, in this case, what once had glory has come to have no glory at all, because of the glory that surpasses it ...and we all, with unveiled face, beholding the glory of the Lord, are being transformed into the same image, from one degree of glory to another."

What we really need, as we make our way to church, is a soul-transforming view of Jesus through His Word!

So before you go to sleep, or as your rise to greet the dawn, be full of glory hopes as you breathe this prayer for light - framed according to these texts - crave such surpassing understanding and illumination of heart, with the goodness and grace of God, in the face of Jesus Christ.

Will you join with me brothers and sisters, as the Word is read and taught, in petitioning your King?

Our Father, in grace, by your Spirit, be pleased to show your face in Christ!