March 11, 2010, Numbers 15:17-16:40, Mark 15:1-47, Psalm 54:1-7, Proverbs 11:5-6

Holy Father; You have provided the Lamb laying your claim in Love on all of your creation.  Help us to see the power of that Gift today and honor you with our thoughts and words of thanksgiving and praise.  May the lights of our lives bring glory to you.

Response to Numbers 15:17-16:40

The Passover marked the Exodus from Egypt.  Eventually, it would mark the first celebration of the Israelites as they crossed the Jordan River.  Joshua 5:10-12 marks that event-filled day.  "On the evening of the fourteenth day of the month, while camped at Gilgal on the plains of Jericho, the Israelites celebrated the Passover. The day after the Passover, that very day, they ate some of the produce of the land: unleavened bread and roasted grain. The manna stopped the day after they ate this food from the land; there was no longer any manna for the Israelites, but that year they ate of the produce of Canaan." 

That day marked a day of celebration!  The beginning of the next chapter of their journey.  In looking forward to this day, Moses - perhaps with the knowledge from the 12 spies, set apart this special offering of course grain as a memorial of their coming accomplishment (Numbers 15:17-21)

His call to the people to not forget the ritual honor to God will be a constant theme as we continue on through the book of Numbers and especially Deuteronomy.  There would be continued blessing if the people would seek after God through their worship and ceremony, but if they would forsake this law, their unique blessing and protection would be removed.  This strict adherance would have to be a community wide event.  There was a peer pressure to follow after the Lord their God so that they would remain a Holy people, bringing honor to a Holy God before all peoples.  The law would be the same for God's chosen people and the sojourners who resided in their midst.  Today, God's people are represented by different ethnic and religious cultures worldwide.  You don't have to go far to find religion, and you can never escape the Kingdom of God.  This call to virtue, honor, and celebration is to every man.  Some just need an invitation to participate as they do not feel worthy.  Check it out! The desire for Love and acceptance is common to mankind.

Even the best among us make mistakes.  Let me pick on King David.  Revered by many worldwide as a man after God's own heart from of old; the Lord has sought out a man after his own heart and appointed him leader of his people." (I Samuel 13:14).  However, this same David, King David, violated Numbers 15:30.  Through his power, David had Uriah the Hittite die by the sword so that He could take Uriah's wife as his own.  His sin was pre-meditated and high handed.  Numbers 15:30 stated; "'But anyone who sins defiantly, whether native-born or alien, blasphemes the Lord, and that person must be cut off from his people."  So, you may ask, what was David's punishment?  Our answer comes from the prophet Nathan who was presented before David in II Samuel 12:9-11a to pronounce the Lord's judgement.

"Why did you despise the word of the Lord by doing what is evil in his eyes? You struck down Uriah the Hittite with the sword and took his wife to be your own. You killed him with the sword of the Ammonites.  Now, therefore, the sword will never depart from your house, because you despised me and took the wife of Uriah the Hittite to be your own."
      "This is what the LORD says: 'Out of your own household I am going to bring calamity upon you. Before your very eyes I will take your wives and give them to one who is close to you,"  One might wonder if this was enough compared to our reading in Numbers - "you shall be cut off from your people."

If this punishment was not enough, perhaps David received a painful redemption through the loss of his firstborn son by Bathsheba, Uriah's wife.  As Solomon, their next son eventually became King over all Israel, this son, Solomon's older brother, quite probably would have been King had he lived.  And yet, seven days after his birth, this firstborn son of David and Bathsheba was taken from them in death - perhaps with redemptive qualities - allowing David to remain in power and protect the Kingdom.  Guilt and separation through a high - handed sin, substitutionary atonement through a firstborn son, and yet a life requiring honor and repentance including a patient acceptance of the real consequences of one's sin through the remainder of his life on this earth.

As we know from our reading of Exodus, Leviticus, and now Numbers, God required these people to be holy because He is holy.  They could not be conformed to the pattern of this world, but were required to be transformed by the renewal of their minds so that they could exemplify the will of God, what was good, and acceptable and perfect.  Anything less was not acceptable.  Thus, a man collecting sticks on the Sabbath was stoned by the entire congregation.  They must remove the yeast - all infection - from their presence.  They were treading on Holy ground.  Not only would they enter the promised land through the mighty strength of the Lord, but they would concieve and bear a Son whose name would be called Emmanuel - which is, "God with us". 

Numbers 15:37-41 speaks of the tassels.  While they roamed the desert, they learned the law of the Lord.  They wore remembrance on their clothing.  Their young men took the vow of a Nazirite and devoted themselves to the Lord.  They memorized scripture and took God - their God - seriously!  Moses would add to this lifestyle in Deuteronomy 6:4-9; Hear, O Israel: The Lord our God, the Lord is one. Love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your strength. These commandments that I give you today are to be upon your hearts. Impress them on your children. Talk about them when you sit at home and when you walk along the road, when you lie down and when you get up. Tie them as symbols on your hands and bind them on your foreheads. Write them on the doorframes of your houses and on your gates.  They were being disciplined in righteousness and strength in preparation of the coming day of the Lord as they would enter the promised land.  What remembrance do you surround yourself with to give the glory and honor to God for His blessings in your life?

On March 2, as we studied Psalm 45:1-17, we first looked at the "Sons of Korah.  Today, we were able to read this story of Korah, Dathan, and Abiram.  What child does not rebel against discipline?  Numbers 15 was all about discipline in the Lord, and now Numbers 16 will speak of rebellion.  I cannot help but think of the rebellion of our cultures against our leaders as we read this passage.  I trust we can take some lessons from this reading on the importance of trusting that God is in control and has chosen our leaders for a reason.  I am reminded of Jesus stern warnings against blaspheming the Holy Spirit when the religious leaders of his day questioned whether the Spirit He received power from was actually the devil.  He said this blaspheme was an unpardonable sin.  We must be extremely cautious not to slander our leaders - not only for our own spiritual health, but for the reputation we place on the church and our God.  Hate talk and dissension must not be found within the children of God.  If you don't like it, get involved and attempt to change it. If you can't, accept it.  Now, let's look at Korah, Dathan, and Abiram.

Of the four mentioned in Numbers 16:1, only Korah is of the tribe of Levi.  The other three are from the tribe of Reuben.  I can imagine, having the pride of the oldest brother's tribe, there must have been some jealousy! If you are like me, On has been the forgotten man in this story.  These men appeared justified in their accusations as well respected people and strengthened in numbers (250 leaders).  Kohath was the second son of Levi and Izhar was the second son of Kohath (see Exodus 6:21 and Numbers 3:19).  Korah is put forward as the leader of this rebellion - well chosen by a seemingly righteous group of God's chosen people. 
Moses initially calls Korah and his representatives from the Levite clan.  He challenges them for seeking the priesthood, reminding us and them that the Levites have been called by God as servicer bearers for the Tabernacle, and not as Priests.  He reminds them that the call to the Priesthood (whatever office) is a call by God himself, so that their rebellion has nothing to do with Aaron, but with God himself. Here are some passages regarding the honor required by a child of God:

Ecclesiastes 8:2; "Obey the king's command, I say, because you took an oath before God."

Daniel 2:20b-21; "Praise be to the name of God for ever and ever; wisdom and power are his. He changes times and seasons; he sets up kings and deposes them. He gives wisdom to the wise and knowledge to the discerning.

John 19:2; "You would have no power over me if it were not given to you from above" do we, as children of God, have faith that He is still in control and has placed our leaders? Or are they so powerful as to have thwarted the will of God Himself?

Romans 13:1-7; "Everyone must submit himself to the governing authorities, for there is no authority except that which God has established. The authorities that exist have been established by God. Consequently, he who rebels against the authority is rebelling against what God has instituted, and those who do so will bring judgment on themselves. For rulers hold no terror for those who do right, but for those who do wrong. Do you want to be free from fear of the one in authority? Then do what is right and he will commend you. For he is God's servant to do you good. But if you do wrong, be afraid, for he does not bear the sword for nothing. He is God's servant, an agent of wrath to bring punishment on the wrongdoer. Therefore, it is necessary to submit to the authorities, not only because of possible punishment but also because of conscience. This is also why you pay taxes, for the authorities are God's servants, who give their full time to governing. Give everyone what you owe him: If you owe taxes, pay taxes; if revenue, then revenue; if respect, then respect; if honor, then honor."

Titus 3:1-2; "Remind the people to be subject to rulers and authorities, to be obedient, to be ready to do whatever is good, to slander no one, to be peaceable and considerate, and to show true humility toward all men."

look up I Peter 2 in the Bible Gateway tool to the right - it is great reading for the child of God. I will quote only verses 13-17 as it pertains to this subject; "Submit yourselves for the Lord's sake to every authority instituted among men: whether to the king, as the supreme authority, or to governors, who are sent by him to punish those who do wrong and to commend those who do right. For it is God's will that by doing good you should silence the ignorant talk of foolish men. Live as free men, but do not use your freedom as a cover-up for evil; live as servants of God. Show proper respect to everyone: Love the brotherhood of believers, fear God, honor the king."

So, it would appear He places our leaders in our midst to perform His will.  We must be involved in the political process as servants to God and our fellowman, but once the vote is counted, we must accept our Lord's design and have the faith to know He is not far from us.  We must honor our leaders in our honor before God.  If they ask us to go against our faith to the point of death, we must be willing to die at their hand.  If we are sent to prison because of our worship, we must worship in prison.  We do not need to be showy, but we must walk with integrity and honor.  Now, back to our story to show what may happen to righteous men who fail to follow this principle...

Having scolded Korah - an administer of God's house among the people, Moses now called Dathan and Abriram from the tribe of Reuben before him (Numbers 12-14).  However, they mocked Moses leadership and authority and refused to present themselves before their leader or their God for that matter! It would appear they are afraid that Moses will injur them (Will you put out the eyes of these men? (vs. 14)), but Moses confessed before God and the people; "I have not harmed one of them." (vs. 15).  He then turns back to Korah who had presented their case before Moses and calls them to put the Lord to the test the next morning to choose between them.

The next day, these 250 men presented themselves before the Lord.  Korah, in a position of leadership of the rebellion, called all the people to the assembly in what they felt was a righteous challenge to the authority and leadership of this prophet and priest whom God Almighty had placed in authority to lead them out of the land of Egypt.  Their anger and frustration, having been cut off from the blessings of God due to their continual complaining and slander, had finally reached an impass.  This was nothing less than mutiny.  By filling their censers, each was presenting their case before God - and Moses humbled himself before the will of the Lord.

Moses was indeed a prophet of God.  He instilled a fear in the Lord that has not been witnessed since his day, yet still affects the world's understanding of Him in our time.  The leaders of the rebellion, Korah, Dathan, and Abiram, and the 250 leaders of the rebellion with much of their families were swallowed up by the earth or burned.  The people witnessed God's wrath and committed their way to the Lord.

However, a greater prophet than Moses has ministered before God Almighty to men on earth.  The focus of his ministry took place within this same people group, but was given for the whole world.  Moses lived and died as a man.  He led the children of God through this time of rebellion to the very gates of the promised land.  This second prophet, Jesus Christ, fulfilled the multitude of prophecies and case studies given through this people of Israel in their writings captured in our Old Testament today.  He provided sacrifical atonement through His death on the cross.  He died that we might have life!  God Himself looked down and destroyed the people of rebellion before the prophet Moses, but He healed their wounds and diseases and promised a Kingdom of Peace for all men through the life and sacrifice of this man, Jesus Christ.  He looked upon Him before the assembly and said, "This is my Son in whom I am well pleased. Listen to Him! 

Hebrews 3:1-14 says it this way; "Therefore, holy brothers, who share in the heavenly calling, fix your thoughts on Jesus, the apostle and high priest whom we confess. He was faithful to the one who appointed him, just as Moses was faithful in all God's house. Jesus has been found worthy of greater honor than Moses, just as the builder of a house has greater honor than the house itself. For every house is built by someone, but God is the builder of everything. Moses was faithful as a servant in all God's house, testifying to what would be said in the future. But Christ is faithful as a son over God's house. And we are his house, if we hold on to our courage and the hope of which we boast.
     So, as the Holy Spirit says: 'Today, if you hear his voice, do not harden your hearts as you did in the rebellion, during the time of testing in the desert, where your fathers tested and tried me and for forty years saw what I did. That is why I was angry with that generation, and I said, 'Their hearts are always going astray, and they have not known my ways.' So I declared on oath in my anger, 'They shall never enter my rest.' (Psalm 95:7-11)
     See to it, brothers, that none of you has a sinful, unbelieving heart that turns away from the living God.  But encourage one another daily, as long as it is called Today, so that none of you may be hardened by sin's deceitfulness. We have come to share in Christ if we hold firmly till the end the confidence we had at first."

Do not get caught up in the things of this earth.  Trust in the Love of God.  Understand it through the life and ministry of Jesus Christ.  He indeed is the way, the truth, and the life - our only safe passage back to the Father.

There is a final message in this story from Numbers 16:36-40 that is often missed.  After the destruction of these men, Moses declared them Holy.  They had acted according to what they felt was right.  Their memory was remembered before the Lord as the very bronze of the censers they had presented in worship became a memorial covering for the altar.  The sacrifices of the people of Israel would from that day forward be offered not only in memory of of the sins of the present day, but in memory of the sins of their fathers at a time of great rebellion as they had struggled with God in the wilderness.

God understands our pain and accepts our weakness.  Not even death - not even His wrath and discipline shall separate us from His love.  It is through the pain and stories of our lives that He chooses to build His Kingdom of Peace bringing together all of His children from the four corners of the earth and encompassing all of it's rich history.  What story do you have to add to the pain of our understanding?  Jesus' story too, involved pain.

Response to Mark 15:1-47

Today's reading of Jesus presentation before Pilate in the praetorium through His death and burial is also shared in the other three accounts of His life as recorded in our present day Bible.  (see Matthew 27:11-61, Luke 23:3-56, and John 18:29-19:42).  Luke adds a visit with Herod, governor of Galilee, where most of Jesus ministry had taken place.  Much of the story took place outside of the building as the people could not go into a Gentile building as they were in the midst of a passover celebration.  This was a high Holy Day, and in honor to the religious leaders, the people joined in the accusation against this man who had turned out to be a rebel against the Jewish faith and had no intention of granting them freedom from Roman oppression.

A great crowd had gathered in religious celebration and this showcase of a crucifiction became a focal point of their festivities.  Perhaps many did not even realize who it was standing condemned before them as the slaughter had already begun with floggings and beatings.  This man would not even speak up in his own defense and few of his followers were even aware of what had happened the night before.  Most of them were back home with families in Galilee celebrating the Passover and the 7 day feast of unleavened bread.

By reading the 4 accounts of this story, we can understand a bit more of the conversation between Pilate, Jesus, and the religious leaders present that day outside the praetorium;

"Then the Jews led Jesus from Caiaphas to the palace of the Roman governor. By now it was early morning, and to avoid ceremonial uncleanness the Jews did not enter the palace; they wanted to be able to eat the Passover. So Pilate came out to them and asked, "What charges are you bringing against this man?" (John 18:28-29) "And they began to accuse him, saying, "We have found this man subverting our nation. He opposes payment of taxes to Caesar and claims to be Christ, (or Messiah) a king." (Luke 23:2-3). "If he were not a criminal,...we would not have handed him over to you." (John 18:30). 
     Pilate said, 'Take him yourselves and judge him by your own law.' (stoning Lev.24:16) "But we have no right to execute anyone," the Jews objected. (John 12:31-32) All of this was according to the will of God so that prophecy might be fulfilled! (Deuteronomy 21:22-23, Isaiah 52:13-14, Isaiah 53, Matthew 20:18-19, John 12:32,)
     Pilate then went back inside the palace, summoned Jesus and asked him, "Are you the king of the Jews?"

"Is that your own idea," Jesus asked, "or did others talk to you about me?"
     "Am I a Jew?" Pilate replied. "It was your people and your chief priests who handed you over to me. What is it you have done?"
     Jesus said, "My kingdom is not of this world. If it were, my servants would fight to prevent my arrest by the Jews. But now my kingdom is from another place."
     "You are a king, then!" said Pilate.
     Jesus answered, "You are right in saying I am a king. In fact, for this reason I was born, and for this I came into the world, to testify to the truth. Everyone on the side of truth listens to me."
     "What is truth?" Pilate asked.  (John 18:33-38) Then Pilate announced to the chief priests and the crowd, "I find no basis for a charge against this man."
     But they insisted, "He stirs up the people all over Judea by his teaching. He started in Galilee and has come all the way here." On hearing this, Pilate asked if the man was a Galilean. When he learned that Jesus was under Herod's jurisdiction, he sent him to Herod, who was also in Jerusalem at that time.
     When Herod saw Jesus, he was greatly pleased, because for a long time he had been wanting to see him. From what he had heard about him, he hoped to see him perform some miracle. He plied him with many questions, but Jesus gave him no answer. The chief priests and the teachers of the law were standing there, vehemently accusing him. Then Herod and his soldiers ridiculed and mocked him. Dressing him in an elegant robe, they sent him back to Pilate. That day Herod and Pilate became friends - before this they had been enemies.
     Pilate called together the chief priests, the rulers and the people, and said to them, "You brought me this man as one who was inciting the people to rebellion. I have examined him in your presence and have found no basis for your charges against him. Neither has Herod, for he sent him back to us; as you can see, he has done nothing to deserve death. Therefore, I will punish him and then release him."
     Now he was obliged to release one man to them at the Feast. With one voice they cried out, "Away with this man! Release Barabbas to us!"(Luke 23:4-18)
    
Mark's account of this story is the shortest and most precise.  Therefore, as each of us can read these stories for ourselves, perhaps I should take his lead.  Mark shares that Pilate released Barrabas, scourged Jesus and released Him to be crucified.  Because of the large crowd (enjoined by the Passover celebration), a full battalion was committed to Jesus.  They joined in the mocking and jearing with a crown of thorns and a purple robe.  They revelled in this idea of "King of the Jews" as they beat him and spat before leading him out to be crucified.

Bloodied and defeated, Matthew, Mark, and Luke claim that Jesus could not bear his cross and that the Roman battalion made Simon of Cyrene carry the cross for him.  Perhaps, like me you wonder who this was.  My guess is he was there for the Passover celebration from Cyrene Lybia;

  http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Simon_of_Cyrene "Cyrene was a Jewish community where 100,000 Judean Jews had settled during the reign of Ptolemy Soter (323-285 BC). They had a synagogue in Jerusalem, where many went for annual feasts"

David, from his viewpoint a thousand years before, described the scene at Golgatha that day through Jesus eyes in Psalm 22:6-21; "But I am a worm and not a man, scorned by men and despised by the people. All who see me mock me; they hurl insults, shaking their heads: 'He trusts in the Lord; let the Lord rescue him.
Let him deliver him, since he delights in him.' Yet you brought me out of the womb; you made me trust in you
even at my mother's breast. From birth I was cast upon you; from my mother's womb you have been my God.  Do not be far from me, for trouble is near and there is no one to help. Many bulls surround me; strong bulls of Bashan encircle me. Roaring lions tearing their prey open their mouths wide against me. I am poured out like water, and all my bones are out of joint. My heart has turned to wax; it has melted away within me.
My strength is dried up like a potsherd, and my tongue sticks to the roof of my mouth; you lay me (I am laid) in the dust of death. Dogs have surrounded me; a band of evil men has encircled me, they have pierced my hands and my feet. I can count all my bones; people stare and gloat over me. They divide my garments among them and cast lots for my clothing. But you, O Lord, be not far off; O my Strength, come quickly to help me. Deliver my life from the sword, my precious life from the power of the dogs. Rescue me from the mouth of the lions; save me from the horns of the wild oxen.

Mark 15:34; "And at the ninth hour Jesus cried out in a loud voice, "Eloi, Eloi, lama sabachthani?"—which means, "My God, my God, why have you forsaken me?" We can hear the echo from David in Psalm 22:1.
as those words ring through the ages from the hearts of man.

"Answer me, O Lord, out of the goodness of your love; in your great mercy turn to me. Do not hide your face from your servant; answer me quickly, for I am in trouble. Come near and rescue me; redeem me because of my foes. You know how I am scorned, disgraced and shamed; all my enemies are before you.
Scorn has broken my heart and has left me helpless; I looked for sympathy, but there was none, for comforters, but I found none. They put gall in my food and gave me vinegar for my thirst." Psalm 69:16-21.

As Jesus died, great stormclouds had gathered and there was a great earthquake.  The curtain within the temple separating the people from the mercy seat of God was torn in two.  Upon the hill of Golgatha, before the cross of Jesus, the Roman centurian, a Gentile, uttered those words God desires to pass all of our lips; "
"Surely this man was the Son (a son) of God!" Mark 15:39.

According to Jewish law, "If a man guilty of a capital offense is put to death and his body is hung on a tree,  you must not leave his body on the tree overnight. Be sure to bury him that same day, because anyone who is hung on a tree is under God's curse. You must not desecrate the land the Lord your God is giving you as an inheritance. (Deuteronomy 21:22-23)

This man, Joseph of Arimathea, a member of the council who saw beyond the Kingdom of the Jews toward the Kingdom of God became the good Samaritan of the day and took the body of this man, Jesus, and laid it in his own tomb.  The women who had followed the events of that day held vigil until the very end.

Response to Psalm 54:1-7

Having shared the atoning sacrifice of Passover and the sacrificial offering of Jesus Christ and witnessed the wrath of God against self-righteousness, this Psalm fits right in.  We can hear David's cry for vindication against his enemies! we can imagine Christ's cry against man's rebellion against God which in itself led to his own death!  We can recite these words ourselves as we fight both our physical earthly enemies, and the warring spiritual nature of our ideologies within. 

Today, we can claim victory with Christ!  Through his freewill offering, our access back to the Father was complete!  Death holds no victory!  We have been delivered from every trouble and share in devine victory over the evil in our lives.  We need only to claim it and believe it and leave it behind.  He has made it possible to experience Love, Joy, and Peace through perseverance amidst our earthly trials with our eyes focused on that greatest prize.  Dwelling on the negative from here on out will only be by personal choice.

Response to Proverbs 11:5-6

Through Christ, we have overcome.  Through righteousness, we can enjoy our freedom.  However, the fallout of bad choices will continue to plague our lives.  Release your entrapments which hold you back.  Focus on the fruits of the tree of life and leave that other tree beyond ancient memory.

Live a life of true Love and laughter!

Until tomorrow

Rick