Sunday, November 12, 2023
Waiting on God
Music
Introit
Hymn #4
Hymn #508
Communion Liturgy
Hymn #791
Hymn #717
Sermon Notes
By Jeff Gilstrap
Scripture:
Exodus 32:1-14Theme:
When we sense God has abandoned us, we turn to our worldly idols for comfort instead of seeking God. We must learn to be patient because God does not abandon us.
Reflections:
Moses has been gone a long time and the people have become restless and concerned. Is he dead? Will he never return? They worry and wonder. Because of what God has done for the people through the hand of Moses, he represents the presence of God among the people. He is their leader, and they fear not having his leadership. So, they turn to Aaron and ask him to fashion them a new God, a Golden calf and Aaron succumbs to their demands and makes them a Golden calf to lead them. This request violates the second commandment, “You shall not make for yourselves an idol, nor any image of anything that is in the heavens above, or that is in the earth beneath, or that is in the water under the earth: you shall not bow yourself down to them, nor serve them.” This worship of false idols displeases God. Then the scene shifts to God and Moses. God is not happy about what the people have done and threatens to destroy them, but Moses convinces God to change his mind and let the people live.
Sometimes, we feel as if God has abandoned us and as a result, we seek out our own idols to worship. Instead of being patient for the faithfulness of God, we turn to our own worldly idols – drugs, alcohol, sex, work, etc. We attempt to fill our lives with these idols that only bring temporary relief and long-term pain. In the end, these idols or gods, destroy our life. We must remember that God is faithful. We must remain faithful and know that God will walk with us through our good and bad times, even if we do not sense the presence of God.
Questions/Thoughts:
- Why do the people turn to Aaron and demand a new God?
- God has been faithful to them up to this point. Why do you think the people do not believe God will continue to be faithful?
- Why do we find it hard to trust God when we need help with a life struggle?
- What can we do to learn to listen to God and be patient knowing God knows what is best?
Music Notes
By Kenneth Jones
Reflections:
Introit: There are no hymns based directly on our scripture, so the selections are based mostly around the theme of “Waiting for God”. We being with the first verse of a paraphrase of Psalm 40, “I Waited Patiently for God”.
Opening Hymn: The opening hymn is the exeception, coming from the suggested hymns for the week. “Holy God, We Praise Your Name”, based on the 5th century Latin hymn “Te Deum Laudamus”.
Special Music: I will be singing a solo titled “I Will Wait For You”; words and music by Matthew Merker, Keith Getty, Jordan Kauflin, and Stuart Townsend.
Communion Hymn: Our preparation hymn for the year, “Come to the Table”
Sending Hymn: “For You, My God, I Wait”, a paraphrase of Psalms 130 and 131.
Benediction: Our benediction for the rest of November, the season of thanksgiving, is “For the Life That You HAve Given”.