Voice: Hali
Today is Wednesday, 29th of April. We start by praying the Collect for Purity:
Almighty God,
to whom all hearts are open,
all desires known,
and from whom no secrets are hidden:
cleanse the thoughts of our hearts
by the inspiration of your Holy Spirit,
that we may perfectly love you,
and worthily magnify your holy name;
through Christ our Lord. Amen.
Psalm 135:13-21.
Your name, O Lord, endures forever,
your renown, O Lord, throughout all ages.
14 For the Lord will vindicate his people
and have compassion on his servants.
15 The idols of the nations are silver and gold,
the work of human hands.
16 They have mouths, but do not speak;
they have eyes, but do not see;
17 they have ears, but do not hear,
nor is there any breath in their mouths.
18 Those who make them become like them;
so do all who trust in them.19 O house of Israel, bless the Lord!
O house of Aaron, bless the Lord!
20 O house of Levi, bless the Lord!
You who fear the Lord, bless the Lord!
21 Blessed be the Lord from Zion,
he who dwells in Jerusalem!
Praise the Lord!
Glory to the Father, and to the Son,
and to the Holy Spirit:
as it was in the beginning, is now,
and shall be forever. Amen.
Today’s passage is from Exodus 33:12-23
12Moses said to the Lord, “See, you say to me, ‘Bring up this people,’ but you have not let me know whom you will send with me. Yet you have said, ‘I know you by name, and you have also found favor in my sight.’ 13Now therefore, if I have found favor in your sight, please show me now your ways, that I may know you in order to find favor in your sight. Consider too that this nation is your people.” 14And he said, “My presence will go with you, and I will give you rest.” 15And he said to him, “If your presence will not go with me, do not bring us up from here. 16For how shall it be known that I have found favor in your sight, I and your people? Is it not in your going with us, so that we are distinct, I and your people, from every other people on the face of the earth?”
17And the Lord said to Moses, “This very thing that you have spoken I will do, for you have found favor in my sight, and I know you by name.” 18Moses said, “Please show me your glory.” 19And 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. 20But,” he said, “you cannot see my face, for man shall not see me and live.” 21And the Lord said, “Behold, there is a place by me where you shall stand on the rock, 22and while my glory passes by I will put you in a cleft of the rock, and I will cover you with my hand until I have passed by. 23Then I will take away my hand, and you shall see my back, but my face shall not be seen.”
This is the Word of the Lord
Thanks be to God
The Cleft of the Rock
Moses pleaded for God’s presence to go with him, that he might be able to lead the people. For His presence is the sure sign of His favour. “How will the nations know that we are distinct?” Moses asked.
To be the people of God is indeed a special calling. But this is more than identity—as a race, a nation, or even a church. It is about experiencing His presence and favour. From the very beginning of the Gospel, we are given this promise in Jesus Christ—Emmanuel, God with us. It is the promise that God is not distant, but near; not absent, but present with His people.
Moses’ request was reasonable. Yet he went further—he asked to see God’s glory.
It is an audacious request. Perhaps he longed for deeper assurance. But no mortal can see God’s glory and live.
Then came this astonishing grace:
“While my glory passes by, I will put you in a cleft of the rock, and I will cover you with my hand until I have passed by.”
God made a way for Moses to draw near—yet be shielded.
A cleft in the rock. A place of refuge. A covering.
This points us to the cross.
For in the cross, God does not merely hide us—He brings us near through the saving work of Christ. What Moses could only glimpse from behind, we now behold in the face of Jesus Christ. The glory of God, once too overwhelming for sinful man, is now revealed in grace and truth.
On another occasion, after the confession of Peter the Apostle, Jesus said:
“You are Peter, and on this rock I will build my church, and the gates of Hades shall not prevail against it.” (Matthew 16:18)
Again, the image of the rock appears.
Not merely stone—but a confession. A trust in Christ.
It is upon this rock—the confession that Jesus is Lord—that we stand secure. It is here that His presence goes with us. And it is here that the powers of the world will not prevail against the people of God.
So today, take your place in the cleft of the rock.
Draw near—not in your strength, but under His covering.
For in Christ, we are not consumed by His glory—
we are welcomed into it.
For prayer: Occasionally, we like to introduce prayer items from some of our parishes in our diocese. Marine Parade Christian Centre is celebrating her 50th Anniversary this year. Will you pray that she will experience afresh His presence and favour?
The Lord’s Prayer:
Our Father in heaven,
hallowed be your name,
your kingdom come,
your will be done,
on earth as in heaven.
Give us today our daily bread.
Forgive us our sins
as we forgive those who sin against us.
Lead us not into temptation
but deliver us from evil.
For the kingdom, the power, and
the glory are yours
now and forever. Amen
Be blessed by this old hymn inspired by this passage from Exodus, He hideth my soul, sung by Fountainview Academy.
A wonderful Savior is Jesus my Lord,
A wonderful Savior to me;
He hideth my soul in the cleft of the rock,
Where rivers of pleasure I see.
He hideth my soul in the cleft of the rock
That shadows a dry, thirsty land;
He hideth my life in the depths of His love,
And covers me there with His hand,
And covers me there with His hand.
A wonderful Savior is Jesus my Lord,
He taketh my burden away;
He holdeth me up and I shall not be moved,
He giveth me strength as my day.
With numberless blessings each moment He crowns,
And, filled with His fulness divine,
I sing in my rapture, oh, glory to God,
For such a Redeemer as mine!
When clothed in His brightness, transported I rise
To meet Him in clouds of the sky,
His perfect salvation, His wonderful love,
I’ll shout with the millions on high.
Link to today’s Morning Office
About This Daily Devotion
This weekday devotion is drawn from the Morning Office and is part of a project initiated by Revd Canon Terry Wong, with contributions from clergy and members across various parishes. Each entry includes selected readings from the appointed Psalm and another Scripture passage, accompanied by a reflection and prayer. An audio option is also available, often ending with a hymn or song. We encourage you to both read and listen.
Our aim is to help Anglicans engage more deeply with our rich liturgical tradition, while meeting the devotional needs of today’s believers. This project began on Ash Wednesday 2025 and is offered on weekdays only.
For feedback, please write to us at terrywong@anglican.org.sg
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