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Lord, grant us thy blessing as we devote ourselves once again to your purposes on this earth as we seek to Love one another. We thank you and praise your name for the heritage you have promised to those who choose to honor you here on earth. Prolong our lives and allow us to make a lasting impression on our children and our children's children.
Response to Numbers 26:52-28:15
The numbers of this census of Numbers 26 was critical as God told Moses to alot the land to the tribes based on the numbers which had been counted. Thus, Judah got the lion's share as one of the larger tribes. However, in observing maps of their eventual land assignments, Issachar received less than Ephraim although they had twice as many people. This is explained here as the tribes were first split into larger and smaller tribes and then the land was "alotted" by casting (Leviticus 16:8, Acts 1:26) or drawing lots which will take place in Joshua 13:1-21:45.
The Levites were also counted a second time, the first having been in Numbers 3-4. The total number of Levite men older than one month in Numbers 3:39 was 22,000. That number was up to 23,000 in Numbers 26:62. More history of the Levitical tribe is recorded in Numbers 26:57-62 as well as Exodus 6:16-25. Moses asserts his place with his siblings as children of Amram and Jochebed. Although the lines are drawn, the lineage for the 400 years in Egypt is spotty as there is no record of ancestry between Kohath and Amram that I have found. This has led many men to spend a tremendous amount of time speculating about the inerrancy of the Bible and how geneologies are figured. This leads again to my concern that we take every word of the Bible so seriously and miss the greater message being revealed. For more discussion on geneologies and lineage and the debate, feel free to check http://www.theskepticalreview.com/tsrmag/954far.html in debating the truth of the Bible, this author makes a good claim that it would be an error to try "to prove inerrancy by assuming inerrancy."
Of the earlier census in Numbers 1, 40 years before, only three who had been grown men then survived until the second census. Those men were Moses, Joshua, and Caleb. Their faith provided blessings for long life. and their old age again showed the power of the will of the Lord as they had fulfilled the prophecy of Numbers 14:28-30.
Numbers 27:1-11 As Leviticus appeared to be in many ways the evolving of a constitution of law for the Israelite community as they survived as a nation in the wilderness, so Numbers 27 shares the legal parameters of what to do with an inheritance if a man were to die with no sons. The case of Zelophehad's daughters will be revisited numerous times in scripture as they are inscribed on the anals of their history here in Numbers 27:1-11. They were first mentioned in Numbers 26, again exemplifying that these writings reflect a history that may not necessarily be written in a chronological order. To assume otherwise creates debates and blinds the reader from the importance of the big picture.
The remembrance of a good man's name within Israel was of critical importance in this culture. As the world was being populated, each man's name was remembered and was used to describe a people group. As Zelophehad had no sons, his 5 daughters challenged the leadership for the opportunity to carry on his name. Although this would create a ripple affect of laws (next to be addressed in Numbers 36), these women's rights were granted and these laws of inheritance would govern societies for centuries to come. The difficulties created by veering from a male dominated society has often resulted in unfair treatment of women and an unfortunate superiority complex among men throughout cultures. It is critical to remember that the structure of society must be built on honor between all members regardless of sex or race and that such relational lines must exemplify man's relationship between one another and to God.
Numbers 27:12-23; Perhaps you are confused as a third name has been given to the mountain where Moses would be buried by the Lord. I commented on this mountain complete with maps on March 14 and 15 as we discussed Numbers 21-23. However, as it is now referred to as Mt. Abarim, the following study is insightful; http://www.guidedbiblestudies.com/topics/mount_abarim.htm "The LORD GOD told Moses to go up to Mount Abram, to the top of Pisgah one of the summits of Mount Nebo." Moses lived to an unusually old age in that era of about 120. It is stated that he would not pass over to the promised land as a punishment for his actions at the waters of Meribah when he struck the rock in anger (Numbers 20:12), but don't you think it was fitting that Moses was allowed to die before the coming wars and would be remembered whenever the people look upon this mountain? New leadership for the next cycle of life is always a good thing. The torch has now passed from Moses and Aaron to Joshua and Eleazar. And yet, the book of Deuteronomy is still to come and serves as a farewell letter from Moses to the people of Israel as they prepare to enter the promised Land. Moses has brought them to the very threshold and His name is memorialized with Adam, Abraham, Isaac and Jacob as one of the most faithful men of God for all time.
Before we move on to Numbers 28, allow me to reflect on a powerful verse in Numbers 27:15-18a; "May the LORD, the God of the spirits of all mankind, appoint a man over this community to go out and come in before them, one who will lead them out and bring them in, so the Lord's people will not be like sheep without a shepherd." So the Lord said to Moses, 'Take (Yeshua), son of Nun'"
Numbers 28 reflects many of the sacrificial offerings related in Exodus 29, Leviticus 3, Numbers 10, and Numbers 15. These perpetual sacrifices and the associated blowing of the horn created set times for worship for the people of Israel. Few of them had any means other than to look toward the tabernacle and participate in worship as a community through prayer. Today, many people pray when they have their cereal in the morning. They pray before they lay down at night. The Muslim prays at set times throughout each day. Many of us attend worship on the Lord's day and many even go throughout the week. We make worship a traditional part of our lives so that we can devote all that we are to our Father in Heaven.
Deuteronomy 11:16-21 carries this theme of the benefits of these perpetual offerings of rememberance; "Be careful, or you will be enticed to turn away and worship other gods and bow down to them. Then the Lord's anger will burn against you, and he will shut the heavens so that it will not rain and the ground will yield no produce, and you will soon perish from the good land the Lord is giving you. Fix these words of mine in your hearts and minds; tie them as symbols on your hands and bind them on your foreheads. Teach them to your children, talking about them when you sit at home and when you walk along the road, when you lie down and when you get up. Write them on the doorframes of your houses and on your gates, so that your days and the days of your children may be many in the land that the Lord swore to give your forefathers, as many as the days that the heavens are above the earth."
Hear the words of the Father from Proverbs 6:20-23; "My son, keep your father's commands and do not forsake your mother's teaching. Bind them upon your heart forever; fasten them around your neck. When you walk, they will guide you; when you sleep, they will watch over you; when you awake, they will speak to you. For these commands are a lamp, this teaching is a light, and the corrections of discipline are the way to life"
Response to Luke 3:1-22
The Jewish Historian, Josephus, wrote of the ministry of John the Baptist during the time of Herod in Antiquities of the Jews - Book XVIII Chapter 5:2. http://www.earlyjewishwritings.com/text/josephus/ant18.html "commanded the Jews to exercise virtue, both as to righteousness towards one another, and piety towards God, and so to come to baptism." The ministry of John the Baptist is also found in Matthew 3:1-12, mark 1:1-8, John 1:6-8, 19-28. Some question whether Luke was written after Josephus, but most scholars believe Luke was an older man and wrote his gospel about 10 years before the fall of Jerusalem. One factor for an early writing is that the second book, Acts, appears to have been written several years before the death of Paul at the hands of Nero.
Needless to say, it is quite clear that John the Baptist is a legitimate character in history. Each of the 4 gospel writers quote Isaiah 40:3 concerning the ministry of John the Baptist, but only John 1:23 puts the words into John's mouth as a personalized claim. Luke quotes more than his contemporaries to include Isaiah 40:5; "And the glory of the LORD will be revealed, and all mankind together will see it." This leads into our focus verse of this commentary "Before me every knee will bow; by me every tongue will swear. " Isaiah 45:23.
As the people came to John to be baptised, he told them to repent of their sins. He appears to question as I do our ideologies regarding a God of wrath! He calls these people coming for baptism a brood of vipers! He asks them "Who told you to flee from the wrath to come?" Avoid self righteousness - the thinking that as I carry a name - child of Abraham - Christian - Jew - Muslim - Mormon that this in itself might save me! John either claims that we should preach a better message, or show the affects of repentance in our lives. If our repentance does not change our lives towards our fellowman, John claims it is worthless. He challenges the people to love their neighbor as themselves through observance and solution of their needs as each is able. He mentions basic commandments from the law in fair treatment of our fellowman.
Regarding the subject of the coming Christ the people were expecting, John made it clear He was preparing the way for someone greater. As all of us are capable of good and evil, He who comes shall baptise with "a refiner's fire or a launderer's soap" (Malachi 3:2-3) as removing the dross in the purification of Silver. He who comes shall gather us like sheaves to the threshing floor (Micah 4:12) removing the chaff to expose the good grain within. He who comes shall fulfill Psalm 51:7 "Cleanse me with hyssop, and I will be clean; wash me, and I will be whiter than snow.
And so, John preached the good news of the coming Messiah! Not a God of wrath, but a God of Love who would cleanse the repentant heart. This did not mean John did not preach against sin! He was not afraid to confront even Herod who sought out this man in the wilderness. And for this, John was put in prison and beheaded. The story of John's death will be told in Luke 9:7-9. It was told in Matthew 14:1-12, Mark 6:14-29, and Josephus XVIII chapter 5:2
The events of the baptism of Jesus as reflected in Luke 3:21-22 are reflected in Matthew 3:13-17 and Mark 1:9-11. Luke not only reflects the baptism, but portrays Jesus as praying as the Holy Spirit descends upon him as a dove and the voice from heaven proclaims those words from Psalm 2:7 "You are my Son; today I have become your Father."
Isaiah 42:1 "Here is my servant, whom I uphold, my chosen one in whom I delight; I will put my Spirit on him and he will bring justice to the nations."
Response to Psalm 61:1-8
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=n64pQlDbZWM
Hear our prayer O God; From the ends of the earth we cry to thee for our hearts are failing. Lead us back into your Love that is beyond our understanding for you are our hope against our spirits of diversity. Help us to seek thy Kingdom on earth as it is in Heaven. Overwhelm us with your joy as we experience your compassion and forgiveness and as we return to thy everlasting Love.
Lord, grant us thy blessing as we devote ourselves once again to your purposes on this earth as we seek to Love one another. We thank you and praise your name for the heritage you have promised to those who choose to honor you here on earth. Prolong our lives and allow us to make a lasting impression on our children and our children's children.
We submit unto your Lordship the purpose of our lives and we seek to serve in your everlasting Kingdom in thankfulness for your steadfast love and faithfulness through our rebellion here on earth. Thus, we offer unto you alone our praise and thanksgiving in worship and song from this day on and forevermore.
Response to Proverbs 11:16-17
Wealth is fleeting and judged by men and women, but respect and honor are often remembered for generations.
Until tomorrow
Rick
Thursday, March 18, 2010
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