2025-07-27 Sermon Notes1
| Series | Location | Subjects | Takeaways | Sermon Link |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Allison on the Psalms | Emmaus Orthodox Presbyterian Church | - |
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💡Big Idea
Takeaways and Next Steps
📖Bible Passage
He spread a cloud for a covering, fire to give light in the night.
Points
- God sent many examples of Jesus Christ several times throughout the Old Testament before Jesus was born as a man.
- He sent many prophesies
- He sent many types and shadows of Christ
- Here in our text in Psalm 105:39, the Lord shows yet another example of Christ in the Old Testament
- "He spread a cloud for a covering, fire to give light in the night."
- This recounts the story in Exodus 13:20-22 They took their journey from Succoth, and encamped in Etham, in the edge of the wilderness. Yahweh went before them by day in a pillar of cloud, to lead them on their way, and by night in a pillar of fire, to give them light, that they might go by day and by night: the pillar of cloud by day, and the pillar of fire by night, didn't depart from before the people.
- When the Israelites left Egypt, freed by God from slavery, God sent a cloud of covering and a pillar of fire for them.
- What is the significance of this pillar of cloud and fire?
- Isaiah 4:5-6 Yahweh will create over the whole habitation of Mount Zion and over her assemblies, a cloud and smoke by day, and the shining of a flaming fire by night, for over all the glory will be a canopy. There will be a pavilion for a shade in the daytime from the heat, and for a refuge and for a shelter from storm and from rain.
- The pillar of cloud and fire points forward to Christ. It foreshadows how Christ protects us and guides us by light
- Jesus promised in Hebrews 13.5 Be free from the love of money, content with such things as you have, for he has said, "I will in no way leave you, neither will I in any way forsake you."
- Revelation 10.1 I saw a mighty angel (messenger) coming down out of the sky, clothed with a cloud. A rainbow was on his head. His face was like the sun, and his feet like pillars of fire.
- What does the pillar of fire reveal to us about Jesus?
- We notice that this pillar of fire had a unique connection to God.
- Exodus 13.21 Yahweh went before them by day in a pillar of cloud, to lead them on their way, and by night in a pillar of fire, to give them light, that they might go by day and by night:
- ⭐: Did God just provide the pillar or was God Himself the pillar? Yes. Both.
- Jesus is with God and Jesus is God.
- He is Emmanuel, "God is with us".
- Jesus is with God and Jesus is God.
- There is something supernatural and extraordinary about the pillar of cloud.
- It is not common or ordinary. Likewise, Jesus' coming on earth is not ordinary. Everything about Jesus is a miracle.
- John 1:29-31 The next day, he saw Jesus coming to him, and said, "Behold, the Lamb of God, who takes away the sin of the world! This is he of whom I said, 'After me comes a man who is preferred before me, for he was before me.' I didn't know him, but for this reason I came baptizing in water: that he would be revealed to Israel."
- Luke 1.35 The angel answered her, "The Holy Spirit will come on you, and the power of the Most High will overshadow you. Therefore also the holy one who is born from you will be called the Son of God.
- The men on the boat were in awe of Jesus and said "Who is this man that even the wind and waves obey Him?"
- There were two elements that appeared:
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- A pillar of fire
- This represents God. So often when God represents Himself He reveals Himself in fire. As He did on Mount Sinai and as He did in the burning bush.
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- A cloud
- A cloud is water. The opposite of fire.
- And so in the same way Jesus, the God man, also has two natures. He is fully God and fully man.
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- God spoke to them through the pillar.
- Hebrews 1:1-2 God, having in the past spoken to the fathers through the prophets at many times and in various ways, has at the end of these days spoken to us by his Son, whom he appointed heir of all things, through whom also he made the worlds.
- Jesus is more than a prophet. He speaks as God speaks
- The pillar represents the offices of Christ: prophet, priest and king.
- As prophet Jesus spoke the word of God
- Psalm 99.7 He spoke to them in the pillar of cloud. They kept his testimonies, the statute that he gave them.
- As priest Jesus offered a suitable sacrifice to God, Himself.
- In the temple, the smoke arises as a pillar from the fire altar and it is an aroma sweet and pleasing to God. That is Christ.
- The cloud of incense also arises from the temple to God.
- Ephesians 5.2 Walk in love, even as Christ also loved us and gave himself up for us, an offering and a sacrifice to God for a sweet-smelling fragrance.
- As king, Jesus subdues His enemies.
- Exodus 14:23-25 The Egyptians pursued, and went in after them into the middle of the sea: all of Pharaoh's horses, his chariots, and his horsemen. In the morning watch, Yahweh looked out on the Egyptian army through the pillar of fire and of cloud, and confused the Egyptian army. He took off their chariot wheels, and they drove them heavily; so that the Egyptians said, "Let's flee from the face of Israel, for Yahweh fights for them against the Egyptians!"
- Jesus came to assert His holy rule and dominion.
- As prophet Jesus spoke the word of God
- The pillar is always with God's people, by day and by night.
- While monuments, like statues are stationary, the pillar is not stationary.
- Christ isn't just with us. He goes with us.
- While monuments, like statues are stationary, the pillar is not stationary.
- The pillar was wonderful in it's helpful work for His people.
- In the night darkness, it provides light for us.
- In the cold night the fire provided warmth.
- It leads ahead of us and we follow
- The cloud also covered them. It sheltered and protected them from the heat of the sun.
- In the night darkness, it provides light for us.
- The pillar did not depart from them in the wilderness. No it provided for them for over 40 years in the wilderness.
- Nehemiah 9.19 yet you in your manifold mercies didn't forsake them in the wilderness. The pillar of cloud didn't depart from over them by day, to lead them in the way; neither did the pillar of fire by night, to show them light, and the way in which they should go.
- This pillar was the glory of Israel and of God.
- Exodus 16.10 As Aaron spoke to the whole congregation of the children of Israel, they looked toward the wilderness, and behold, Yahweh's glory appeared in the cloud.
- Jesus Himself is the glory of the Lord.
- He is the beauty of God.
- We notice that this pillar of fire had a unique connection to God.
Application
- Jesus is our pillar.
- Scripture speaks not of multiple pillars but only 1 pillar. That is Christ.
- There is only one pillar, one Christ, one Savior.
- He is the only one to whom we can go.
- A pillar is firm, strong, immovable, powerful. It stands tall so that people can see it from far.
- Revelation 1.15 His feet were like burnished brass, as if it had been refined in a furnace. His voice was like the voice of many waters.
- Christ's legs are firm pillars.
- Revelation 1.15 His feet were like burnished brass, as if it had been refined in a furnace. His voice was like the voice of many waters.
- Christ leads us, and prepares the way for us, and protects us from danger, anticipating our every need.
- Mark 1.17 Jesus said to them, "Come after me (follow me), and I will make you into fishers for men."
- Christ cannot be blown away, and therefore nothing can separate us from the love of God through Christ Jesus our Lord. Romans 8.39
- the pillar was with them at the very beginning of the journey and the very end. Christ is the first and the last.
- The cloud brings showers of blessing and it is Jesus who brings those blessings.
- Acts 2.33 Being therefore exalted by the right hand of God, and having received from the Father the promise of the Holy Spirit, he has poured out this, which you now see and hear.
- Christ is the pillar
- A pillar of cloud
- However depressing and hopeless it may seem, the pillar of cloud is still there. Christ is still there because the pillar does not fail them.
- Christ is also the pillar of fire.
- The fire shows His majesty.
- The fire brings light into the dark world.
- The fire also brings activity. It is a consuming fire.
- Psalm 69.9 For the zeal of your house consumes me. The reproaches of those who reproach you have fallen on me.
- Jesus can warm our hearts when we are in grief, bring us to life when we are dead.
- Just as the best thing we can do in a cold camp is gather around the warm fire, the best thing we can do is gather around Jesus, our warm fire.
- Christ is condemnation to unbelievers.
- The Egyptians found judgment as the pillar of fire destroyed them.
- A pillar of cloud
- He is the light of life that never ends.
Further Study
💬Discussion Questions
2025-07-27 Sermon Notes1
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On this page
💡Big Idea
Takeaways and Next Steps
📖Bible Passage
Points
Application
Further Study
💬Discussion Questions