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Response to Numbers 22:21-23:30
What an interesting story we read in Numbers 22:22-41! Balaam not only speaks one on one with God, but even his donkey speaks and reasons with him. Perhaps this speech from the donkey is in the mind of the seer as the story does not mention any others hearing the dialogue.
The commentary of the Harper Study Bible, Revised Standard Version, by Zondervan Bible Publishers for Numbers 22:22 states: "adversary, in Hebrew satan. I think there is something very strong being said here about our God.
Genesis 22:1-2 "Some time later God tested Abraham. He said to him, "Abraham!" "Here I am," he replied. Then God said, "Take your son, your only son, Isaac, whom you love, and go to the region of Moriah. Sacrifice him there as a burnt offering on one of the mountains I will tell you about."
Genesis 32:24; "So Jacob was left alone, and a man wrestled with him till daybreak...(vs.30) Jacob called the place Peniel, saying, "It is because I saw God face to face, and yet my life was spared."
Exodus 4:24 states: "At a lodging place on the way, the Lord met Moses and was about to kill him."
I Chronicles 21:16; "David looked up and saw the angel of the Lord standing between heaven and earth, with a drawn sword in his hand extended over Jerusalem."
Job 1:6-7; "One day the angels (sons of God) came to present themselves before the Lord, and Satan (Hebrew the adversary or accuser) also came with them. The Lord said to Satan, "Where have you come from?" Satan answered the Lord, "From roaming through the earth and going back and forth in it."
It feels wonderful to talk about our guardian angels, doesn't it! Have you ever considered that God might also send his angels to test you - that Satan exists because man chose to know the evil as well as the good? Will you respond with grumbling, mumbling, and hatred - or will you respond with love, joy, peace, thanksgiving, and praise? There are two main tests all of us must take. The first is "Will you Love the Lord your God with all your heart, with all your soul, and with all your mind?" The second is like unto it; "Will you love your neighbor as yourself?" These are the two big tests in all of our lives! I expect God cares more about how we act out our belief than just in exactly what we believe! Perhaps that's why there is so much confusion in the world. Everybody's so concerned about what everybody else believes, they forgot how they were suppose to act to people who believed differently than they did. Tricky!
In considering how "real" all this is, consider that nearly every story we tell or watch on TV has these elements of the Good and the evil and the evil never wins! This concept is just part and parcel of who we are and what we do! Perhaps we need to understand this "Satan" concept beyond a faith that he's God's enemy and he's thwarting God's good plan in our lives and realize the power we truly have over the evil in our lives! Pass the test with the evil (d'evil) and get on with living with Good (G'od)! Perhaps this is why in the movies, no matter how many times the evil shoots at the good, they can never kill the hero! Good is on your side!
This anger of the Lord was common in Moses day also. When Moses lost his temper with the people, he always imagined the anger (wow, one letter off angel(r)) of the Lord was about to wipe the people out. Whenever he had compassion on the people, the evil stopped. Perhaps he was not even aware of the power of emotion he had over the people being the spokesman for God as the chosen leader of the people.
As children of God, we too have been given this power! Matthew 18:18; "I tell you the truth, whatever you bind on earth will be bound in heaven, and whatever you loose on earth will be loosed in heaven." Our battle is not with flesh and blood, but with these very angels and principalities - these ideologies and attitudes of right and wrong within our own heads. Our judgemental attitudes about our fellow men.
http://www.wikipediaondvd.com/nav/art/a/c/o.html
So, why this huge discussion from this story of Balaam? This man heard directly from God! His blessings and curses carried tremendous weight! God reminded him that this people had divine purpose! God made sure this man knew that he must not curse the Jewish people. Balaam was of the line of Shem, most blessed on the face of the earth. These people were amassing against the descendants of Ham, most accursed on the face of the earth. This was all part of a divine plan and a story for all of us to understand. Good and Evil were on parade and the power of a man to carry out that plan with his words and attitudes! The ass spoke! That should not have detracted our attention from the much larger picture of what was taking place. All creation was involved in the progress of the divine story that day. Balaam knew what He had to do. Do you?
Balak, king of Moab also worships God as he understands him. Balak honors this man, Balaam, who has a reputation as a man of God who's blessings and curses carry great weight. Baal worship was the main religious practice of the region. As we looked at Mount Zaphron on March 5, we considered Baal as the "Storm God." However, according to the following link, there were many forms of Baal worship. This became one of the common stumbling blocks for the Israelites as God desired a pure and holy people with a pure and holy worship.
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Baal
As Balaam set up the scene to honor the God of Heaven in Numbers 23:1, it is interesting to note his use of "seven". Seven altars and seven bulls and seven rams (we will visit the history of his religious faith tomorrow). Balak and all the princes of Moab were united as they desired the Lord's blessing upon them and His curses upon Israel. Upon receiving word from the Lord, Balaam proclaims his first oracle, beginning with utterance of his homeland 300 miles away in Aram (see the blog from March 14). Balaam was an honest man. He had told Balak what to expect and He spoke the word of the Lord - regardless of what might happen to him at the hand of the Moabites.
A second oracle from Mount Pisgah, (Mount Nebo) with a similar setup. Apparently, Balak felt if Balaam could not see as many of the people, the blessing of God might not be as strong and perhaps Balaam would find he could pronounce a curse. Balaam senses that there is enchantment he can bring against the Israelites within the will of God. He sees only blessing. Therefore, Balak asks Balaam to be quiet and not to utter blessings nor curses until they could overlook the people from mount Peor. There again, they sacrifice 7 bulls and 7 rams on 7 altars.
In investigating maps, I find Mount Bamoth-baal may be a sister peak to Mount Pisgah (Mount Nebo) slightly to the southwest close to Keriathaim with Mount Peor being much further south between Kerioth and Jahaz.
http://www.precept.org/site/DocServer/PFL_SC_Jeremiah2_MAP.pdf?docID=2602
http://maps.google.com/?q=31.65609931945801,35.71186828613281%20%28Beth-peor%29&t=h&z=8 Beth Peor
Response to Luke 1:57-80
The birth of John is celebrated by many on June 24, 6 months before Christmas. When he was 8 days old, he was circumcised as the Lord had instructed Abraham in Genesis 17:12 and the law as was given to Moses in Leviticus 12:3. It was then, upon presentation to God at the temple that he received the name John and his father, Zechariah, received his speech and hearing back.
As we read in Luke 1:20, Zechariah was told "you will be silent and not able to speak until the day this happens". Few translations mention deafness for the word "silent", but the people make signs to him in verse 62 leading to the understanding he had lost his hearing as well as his speech. This miraculous healing before the people was a great omen giving John a reputation from infancy.
In thanksgiving, Luke records the Benedictus in honor of Zechariah in Luke 1:68-79 http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Benedictus_(Song_of_Zechariah)
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=jBA1uLu4ZhY
68 "Praise be to the Lord, the God of Israel, because he has come and has redeemed his people.
Isaiah 43:1; "O Israel: "Fear not, for I have redeemed you; I have summoned you by name; you are mine."
69 He has raised up a horn of salvation for us in the house of his servant David
Psalm 18:2; "He is my shield and the horn of my salvation, my stronghold."
70 (as he said through his holy prophets of long ago),
II Samuel 22:3; "my refuge and my savior - from violent men you save me."
71 salvation from our enemies and from the hand of all who hate us -
Isaiah 52:10 "all the ends of the earth will see the salvation of our God.
72 to show mercy to our fathers and to remember his holy covenant,
Numbers 6:24-25 "The Lord bless you and keep you; the Lord make his face shine upon you"
73 the oath he swore to our father Abraham:
Genesis 43:29; "God be gracious to you, my son."
74 to rescue us from the hand of our enemies, and to enable us to serve him without fear
Zephaniah 3:15 "The Lord, the King of Israel, is with you; never again will you fear any harm."
75 in holiness and righteousness before him all our days.
Psalm 45:7 "You love righteousness and hate wickedness; therefore God, your God, has set you above your companions by anointing you with the oil of joy.
76 And you, my child, will be called a prophet of the Most High;
Isaiah 40:3 A voice of one calling: "In the desert prepare the way for the Lord; make straight in the wilderness a highway for our God.
for you will go on before the Lord to prepare the way for him,
Isaiah 57:14 "Build up, build up, prepare the road! Remove the obstacles out of the way of my people."
77 to give his people the knowledge of salvation through the forgiveness of their sins,
II Chronicles 6:27; "hear from heaven and forgive the sin of your servants, your people Israel. Teach them the right way to live,
78 because of the tender mercy of our God, by which the rising sun will come to us from heaven
Lamentations 3:22-23; "Because of the Lord's great love we are not consumed, for his compassions never fail. They are new every morning; great is your faithfulness.
79 to shine on those living in darkness and in the shadow of death, to guide our feet into the path of peace."
Nahum 1:15; "Look, there on the mountains, the feet of one who brings good news, who proclaims peace!
As John, we too must become strong as we experience life in this wilderness where God does not always seem close until that day when He provides us the opportunity to bring the good news to someone who needs peace.
Response to Psalms 58:1-11
The heading for Psalm 58 is the same as Psalm 57. A Miktam of David according to Do Not Destroy (perhaps the same tune). However, the text has a very different feel and I have no doubt they are separate songs.
In observing the various translations of verse 1, the word for "rulers" is often translated "gods". Although I cannot read Hebrew, I am guessing the same word is used in Psalm 82:1 and 6. I am assuming the term "gods" is correct in the english understanding of the word and that it refers either to the angelic host mentioned in Balaam's story above or to mankind. My consideration that it references mankind is that Jesus referred to this term by stating we are gods in reference to Psalm 82. This reference was made in John 10:34-36 as Jesus was defending himself against charges of blasphemy. Consider these quotes as we seek to understand this Psalm
Psalm 82; "God presides in the great assembly; he gives judgment among the "gods": "How long will you (plural) defend the unjust and show partiality to the wicked? Defend the cause of the weak and fatherless;
maintain the rights of the poor and oppressed. Rescue the weak and needy; deliver them from the hand of the wicked. "They know nothing, they understand nothing. They walk about in darkness; all the foundations of the earth are shaken.
(vs.6) "I said, 'You are "gods"; you are all sons of the Most High.' But you will die like mere men; you will fall like every other ruler."
Rise up, O God, judge the earth, for all the nations are your inheritance.
Isaiah 3:13-15; "The Lord takes his place in court; he rises to judge the people. The Lord enters into judgment against the elders and leaders of his people: "It is you who have ruined my vineyard; the plunder from the poor is in your houses. What do you mean by crushing my people and grinding the faces of the poor?" declares the Lord, the Lord Almighty.
John 10:34-36; "Jesus answered them, "Is it not written in your Law, 'I have said you are gods' (Psalm 82) If he called them 'gods,' to whom the word of God came - and the Scripture cannot be broken - what about the one whom the Father set apart as his very own and sent into the world? Why then do you accuse me of blasphemy because I said, 'I am God's Son'?
Matthew 16:19; "I will give you the keys of the kingdom of heaven; whatever you bind on earth will be bound in heaven, and whatever you loose on earth will be loosed in heaven."
Matthew 18:18; "I tell you the truth, whatever you bind on earth will be bound in heaven, and whatever you loose on earth will be loosed in heaven" (continue with Matthew 18:21-35!!!)
Matthew 6:15; "But if you do not forgive men their sins, your Father will not forgive your sins." (see also Mark 11:26, Matthew 18:21-35)
Isaiah 58:5-12; "Is this the kind of fast I have chosen, only a day for a man to humble himself? Is it only for bowing one's head like a reed and for lying on sackcloth and ashes? Is that what you call a fast, a day acceptable to the Lord?
"Is not this the kind of fasting I have chosen: to loose the chains of injustice and untie the cords of the yoke, to set the oppressed free and break every yoke? Is it not to share your food with the hungry and to provide the poor wanderer with shelter - when you see the naked, to clothe him, and not to turn away from your own flesh and blood?
Then your light will break forth like the dawn, and your healing will quickly appear; then your righteousness (or your righteous one) will go before you, and the glory of the Lord will be your rear guard. Then you will call, and the Lord will answer; you will cry for help, and he will say: Here am I. "If you do away with the yoke of oppression, with the pointing finger and malicious talk, and if you spend yourselves in behalf of the hungry and satisfy the needs of the oppressed, then your light will rise in the darkness, and your night will become like the noonday. The Lord will guide you always; he will satisfy your needs in a sun-scorched land and will strengthen your frame. You will be like a well-watered garden, like a spring whose waters never fail. Your people will rebuild the ancient ruins and will raise up the age-old foundations; you will be called Repairer of Broken Walls, Restorer of Streets with Dwellings.
Matthew 18:21-35; "21Then Peter came to Jesus and asked, "Lord, how many times shall I forgive my brother when he sins against me? Up to seven times?" Jesus answered, "I tell you, not seven times, but seventy-seven times. (or seventy times seven - sounds devine compounded!)
"Therefore, the kingdom of heaven is like a king who wanted to settle accounts with his servants. As he began the settlement, a man who owed him ten thousand talents (that is millions of dollars) was brought to him. Since he was not able to pay, the master ordered that he and his wife and his children and all that he had be sold to repay the debt. The servant fell on his knees before him. 'Be patient with me,' he begged, 'and I will pay back everything.' The servant's master took pity on him, canceled the debt and let him go.
But when that servant went out, he found one of his fellow servants who owed him a hundred denarii. (that is a few dollars) He grabbed him and began to choke him. 'Pay back what you owe me!' he demanded. His fellow servant fell to his knees and begged him, 'Be patient with me, and I will pay you back.' But he refused. Instead, he went off and had the man thrown into prison until he could pay the debt. When the other servants saw what had happened, they were greatly distressed and went and told their master everything that had happened.
Then the master called the servant in. 'You wicked servant,' he said, 'I canceled all that debt of yours because you begged me to. Shouldn't you have had mercy on your fellow servant just as I had on you?' In anger his master turned him over to the jailers to be tortured, until he should pay back all he owed. 'This is how my heavenly Father will treat each of you unless you forgive your brother from your heart.'"
With those verses in mind, Consider Psalm 58 again. If you consider yourself a child of God - chosen and blessed - he has given you the power to judge, but He is watching! As a sinner on earth, how will you judge your fellow man? Will you take the time to understand your neighbor's difficulty? Will you lift him up and bandage his wounds? When he spits in your face, will you kick him in the teeth? Will you kick the dust off your feet up into his face, or will you turn the other cheek and try again and pray to your Father for help and for a heart of forgiveness and another opportunity? God is watching!
Psalm 58:4 says "Their venom is like the venom of a snake, like that of a cobra that has stopped its ears,"
Luke 3:7 "John said to the crowds coming out to be baptized by him, "You brood of vipers!"
Jesus refined the Levites like silver and gold.
The wicked are not the men out there! They are the ideologies within. Break their teeth and seek peace!
Response to Proverbs 11:12-13
Does this Proverb speak to today's lesson? Speak peace to your neighbor. Do not let anger or judgement get the better of you, but hold your tongue. Allow your neighbor the opportunity to confess his needs for healing to you and be sure to honor his confidence. God is watching!
Until tomorrow;
Rick
Monday, March 15, 2010
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