Isaiah 64

WEEK  13                                           Isaiah 64

SATURDAY  Reflections

Even as Isaiah calls out to God to come down and make things right, he realizes the problem of their sins. When confronted with their disobedience he asks the question, “How then can we be saved?” (verse 5, NIV).

 

The answer is found in verse 8, God is our Father and the potter (the one who fashions us). It is by calling on his mercy and submitting to his shaping that anyone can be saved.

 

Seeing the world from the author’s perspective it seems all is lost. The question is asked if they will be punished beyond measure (no hope of being saved) and this is how the chapter ends. This isn’t how the book ends, nor is it how life ends. There are times we may feel like Isaiah, that we are going to be utterly destroyed, yet hope is found in God.  

Isa 64:1-12
(1)  Oh that thou wouldest rend the heavens, that thou wouldest come down, that the mountains might flow down at thy presence,
(2)  As when the melting fire burneth, the fire causeth the waters to boil, to make thy name known to thine adversaries, that the nations may tremble at thy presence!
(3)  When thou didst terrible things which we looked not for, thou camest down, the mountains flowed down at thy presence.
(4)  For since the beginning of the world men have not heard, nor perceived by the ear, neither hath the eye seen, O God, beside thee, what he hath prepared for him that waiteth for him.
(5)  Thou meetest him that rejoiceth and worketh righteousness, those that remember thee in thy ways: behold, thou art wroth; for we have sinned: in those is continuance, and we shall be saved.
(6)  But we are all as an unclean thing, and all our righteousnesses are as filthy rags; and we all do fade as a leaf; and our iniquities, like the wind, have taken us away.
(7)  And there is none that calleth upon thy name, that stirreth up himself to take hold of thee: for thou hast hid thy face from us, and hast consumed us, because of our iniquities.
(8)  But now, O LORD, thou art our father; we are the clay, and thou our potter; and we all are the work of thy hand.
(9)  Be not wroth very sore, O LORD, neither remember iniquity for ever: behold, see, we beseech thee, we are all thy people.
(10)  Thy holy cities are a wilderness, Zion is a wilderness, Jerusalem a desolation.
(11)  Our holy and our beautiful house, where our fathers praised thee, is burned up with fire: and all our pleasant things are laid waste.

(12)  Wilt thou refrain thyself for these things, O LORD? wilt thou hold thy peace, and afflict us very sore?

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Numbers 27

God never gagged women!

WEEK    13                                           Numbers 27

FRIDAY  Reflections

The world in which the Bible was written in was strongly patriarchal. Women we see are under the protection of men, though God gave many protections for women as we have seen in other places. This chapter begins with another example.

 

Zelophehad had no sons and it would seem no one to carry on his lineage. Yet his daughters had the courage to come before Moses and not let this happen. God answered that if a man has no sons, contrary to other patriarchal societies, the daughters would inherit everything. The daughters would inherit and carry the name of their father. A man marrying into this would then be taking on the wife’s family name if they wished to keep the inheritance.

 

Only if there were no daughters did the inheritance pass on to other family members. This was unprecedented power given to women in this patriarchal system. It was all God’s plan. It’s a reminder even then, women were not to be put in a second class. Unfortunately, people haven’t always listened to God.

Num 27:1-23
(1)  Then came the daughters of Zelophehad, the son of Hepher, the son of Gilead, the son of Machir, the son of Manasseh, of the families of Manasseh the son of Joseph: and these are the names of his daughters; Mahlah, Noah, and Hoglah, and Milcah, and Tirzah.
(2)  And they stood before Moses, and before Eleazar the priest, and before the princes and all the congregation, by the door of the tabernacle of the congregation, saying,
(3)  Our father died in the wilderness, and he was not in the company of them that gathered themselves together against the LORD in the company of Korah; but died in his own sin, and had no sons.
(4)  Why should the name of our father be done away from among his family, because he hath no son? Give unto us therefore a possession among the brethren of our father.
(5)  And Moses brought their cause before the LORD.
(6)  And the LORD spake unto Moses, saying,
(7)  The daughters of Zelophehad speak right: thou shalt surely give them a possession of an inheritance among their father's brethren; and thou shalt cause the inheritance of their father to pass unto them.
(8)  And thou shalt speak unto the children of Israel, saying, If a man die, and have no son, then ye shall cause his inheritance to pass unto his daughter.
(9)  And if he have no daughter, then ye shall give his inheritance unto his brethren.
(10)  And if he have no brethren, then ye shall give his inheritance unto his father's brethren.
(11)  And if his father have no brethren, then ye shall give his inheritance unto his kinsman that is next to him of his family, and he shall possess it: and it shall be unto the children of Israel a statute of judgment, as the LORD commanded Moses.
(12)  And the LORD said unto Moses, Get thee up into this mount Abarim, and see the land which I have given unto the children of Israel.
(13)  And when thou hast seen it, thou also shalt be gathered unto thy people, as Aaron thy brother was gathered.
(14)  For ye rebelled against my commandment in the desert of Zin, in the strife of the congregation, to sanctify me at the water before their eyes: that is the water of Meribah in Kadesh in the wilderness of Zin.
(15)  And Moses spake unto the LORD, saying,
(16)  Let the LORD, the God of the spirits of all flesh, set a man over the congregation,
(17)  Which may go out before them, and which may go in before them, and which may lead them out, and which may bring them in; that the congregation of the LORD be not as sheep which have no shepherd.
(18)  And the LORD said unto Moses, Take thee Joshua the son of Nun, a man in whom is the spirit, and lay thine hand upon him;
(19)  And set him before Eleazar the priest, and before all the congregation; and give him a charge in their sight.
(20)  And thou shalt put some of thine honour upon him, that all the congregation of the children of Israel may be obedient.
(21)  And he shall stand before Eleazar the priest, who shall ask counsel for him after the judgment of Urim before the LORD: at his word shall they go out, and at his word they shall come in, both he, and all the children of Israel with him, even all the congregation.
(22)  And Moses did as the LORD commanded him: and he took Joshua, and set him before Eleazar the priest, and before all the congregation:
(23)  And he laid his hands upon him, and gave him a charge, as the LORD commanded by the hand of Moses.

Mark 13

WEEK   13                                                Mark 13

THURSDAY  Reflections

Here is chapter 13 Jesus begins with the statement that the center of the Jewish people’s religion, the temple, is going to be utterly destroyed. This causes the questions when will this happen and when will all be fulfilled. These are very different questions.

 

Within forty years, the world would see the temple and all of Jerusalem destroyed. This fulfilling Jesus' promise that everything they saw would be thrown down. However, this wasn’t the end of the story. Jesus hasn’t returned and when he does there will be no doubt.

 

There have been some arguments over what everything Jesus says means. I want to point out what Jesus begins and ends the chapter with, a warning to watch. Ignoring the arguments over when the end of the world is going to take place, the more important issue Jesus is teaching is to watch out so we are not deceived. Are you following Jesus faithfully? If you aren’t the rest of the chapter is worthless.

Mar 13:1-37
(1)  And as he went out of the temple, one of his disciples saith unto him, Master, see what manner of stones and what buildings are here!
(2)  And Jesus answering said unto him, Seest thou these great buildings? there shall not be left one stone upon another, that shall not be thrown down.
(3)  And as he sat upon the mount of Olives over against the temple, Peter and James and John and Andrew asked him privately,
(4)  Tell us, when shall these things be? and what shall be the sign when all these things shall be fulfilled?
(5)  And Jesus answering them began to say, Take heed lest any man deceive you:
(6)  For many shall come in my name, saying, I am Christ; and shall deceive many.
(7)  And when ye shall hear of wars and rumours of wars, be ye not troubled: for such things must needs be; but the end shall not be yet.
(8)  For nation shall rise against nation, and kingdom against kingdom: and there shall be earthquakes in divers places, and there shall be famines and troubles: these are the beginnings of sorrows.
(9)  But take heed to yourselves: for they shall deliver you up to councils; and in the synagogues ye shall be beaten: and ye shall be brought before rulers and kings for my sake, for a testimony against them.
(10)  And the gospel must first be published among all nations.
(11)  But when they shall lead you, and deliver you up, take no thought beforehand what ye shall speak, neither do ye premeditate: but whatsoever shall be given you in that hour, that speak ye: for it is not ye that speak, but the Holy Ghost.
(12)  Now the brother shall betray the brother to death, and the father the son; and children shall rise up against their parents, and shall cause them to be put to death.
(13)  And ye shall be hated of all men for my name's sake: but he that shall endure unto the end, the same shall be saved.
(14)  But when ye shall see the abomination of desolation, spoken of by Daniel the prophet, standing where it ought not, (let him that readeth understand,) then let them that be in Judaea flee to the mountains:
(15)  And let him that is on the housetop not go down into the house, neither enter therein, to take any thing out of his house:
(16)  And let him that is in the field not turn back again for to take up his garment.
(17)  But woe to them that are with child, and to them that give suck in those days!
(18)  And pray ye that your flight be not in the winter.
(19)  For in those days shall be affliction, such as was not from the beginning of the creation which God created unto this time, neither shall be.
(20)  And except that the Lord had shortened those days, no flesh should be saved: but for the elect's sake, whom he hath chosen, he hath shortened the days.
(21)  And then if any man shall say to you, Lo, here is Christ; or, lo, he is there; believe him not:
(22)  For false Christs and false prophets shall rise, and shall shew signs and wonders, to seduce, if it were possible, even the elect.
(23)  But take ye heed: behold, I have foretold you all things.
(24)  But in those days, after that tribulation, the sun shall be darkened, and the moon shall not give her light,
(25)  And the stars of heaven shall fall, and the powers that are in heaven shall be shaken.
(26)  And then shall they see the Son of man coming in the clouds with great power and glory.
(27)  And then shall he send his angels, and shall gather together his elect from the four winds, from the uttermost part of the earth to the uttermost part of heaven.
(28)  Now learn a parable of the fig tree; When her branch is yet tender, and putteth forth leaves, ye know that summer is near:
(29)  So ye in like manner, when ye shall see these things come to pass, know that it is nigh, even at the doors.
(30)  Verily I say unto you, that this generation shall not pass, till all these things be done.
(31)  Heaven and earth shall pass away: but my words shall not pass away.
(32)  But of that day and that hour knoweth no man, no, not the angels which are in heaven, neither the Son, but the Father.
(33)  Take ye heed, watch and pray: for ye know not when the time is.
(34)  For the Son of man is as a man taking a far journey, who left his house, and gave authority to his servants, and to every man his work, and commanded the porter to watch.
(35)  Watch ye therefore: for ye know not when the master of the house cometh, at even, or at midnight, or at the cockcrowing, or in the morning:
(36)  Lest coming suddenly he find you sleeping.

(37)  And what I say unto you I say unto all, Watch.

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Psalm 50

God doesn't need feed.

WEEK  14                                    Psalm 50          

WEDNESDAY  Reflections

The Psalmist makes it very clear that sacrifice isn't what makes God happy. God wants a relationship with His people which is more than just offering the right sacrifice for their sins. He wants a people who live right. To sum up what God wants is found in the greatest commandment, to love God with all of who you are and love your neighbor as yourself. 

 

The psalmist is reproving the people on God's behalf because though they offer sacrifice, it is done more as a duty to feed a hungry child, then it is out of love. They were giving to God because they thought God needed it, which He denies.

 

This psalm reinforces my conviction the sacrificial system was not set up to please God but to transform men. God wanted to teach them obedience, character, and love.

Psa 50:1-23
(1)  A Psalm of Asaph. The mighty God, even the LORD, hath spoken, and called the earth from the rising of the sun unto the going down thereof.
(2)  Out of Zion, the perfection of beauty, God hath shined.
(3)  Our God shall come, and shall not keep silence: a fire shall devour before him, and it shall be very tempestuous round about him.
(4)  He shall call to the heavens from above, and to the earth, that he may judge his people.
(5)  Gather my saints together unto me; those that have made a covenant with me by sacrifice.
(6)  And the heavens shall declare his righteousness: for God is judge himself. Selah.
(7)  Hear, O my people, and I will speak; O Israel, and I will testify against thee: I am God, even thy God.
(8)  I will not reprove thee for thy sacrifices or thy burnt offerings, to have been continually before me.
(9)  I will take no bullock out of thy house, nor he goats out of thy folds.
(10)  For every beast of the forest is mine, and the cattle upon a thousand hills.
(11)  I know all the fowls of the mountains: and the wild beasts of the field are mine.
(12)  If I were hungry, I would not tell thee: for the world is mine, and the fulness thereof.
(13)  Will I eat the flesh of bulls, or drink the blood of goats?
(14)  Offer unto God thanksgiving; and pay thy vows unto the most High:
(15)  And call upon me in the day of trouble: I will deliver thee, and thou shalt glorify me.
(16)  But unto the wicked God saith, What hast thou to do to declare my statutes, or that thou shouldest take my covenant in thy mouth?
(17)  Seeing thou hatest instruction, and castest my words behind thee.
(18)  When thou sawest a thief, then thou consentedst with him, and hast been partaker with adulterers.
(19)  Thou givest thy mouth to evil, and thy tongue frameth deceit.
(20)  Thou sittest and speakest against thy brother; thou slanderest thine own mother's son.
(21)  These things hast thou done, and I kept silence; thou thoughtest that I was altogether such an one as thyself: but I will reprove thee, and set them in order before thine eyes.
(22)  Now consider this, ye that forget God, lest I tear you in pieces, and there be none to deliver.
(23)  Whoso offereth praise glorifieth me: and to him that ordereth his conversation aright will I shew the salvation of God.

Numbers 26

WEEK   13                                        Numbers 26

TUESDAY  Reflections

Once again we come to a chapter that some might like to skip. Yet even here there are gems for those who aren’t fascinated by how large Israel was. The gem for me was found in verses 8-11.

 

Korah leads a rebellion against Moses and Aaron. From what you read, you could assume all of his family was destroyed (Numbers 16). The rest of the story is some of the sons of Korah didn’t participate in their father’s rebellion. They survived because they separated themselves from the actions of their father.

 

This brings hope to those whose families have been less than honorable. Not only were they saved but even in this study, we have heard from them again. In Psalms, the sons of Korah are part of the Levitical choir. Some of their songs are some of our favorites (Psalms 42.44-49, 84, 85, 87, 88).

 

This also is a reminder not to discount the children of scoundrels. Contrary to what many say, sometimes the apple really does fall a long way from the tree.

Num 26:1-65
(1)  And it came to pass after the plague, that the LORD spake unto Moses and unto Eleazar the son of Aaron the priest, saying,
(2)  Take the sum of all the congregation of the children of Israel, from twenty years old and upward, throughout their fathers' house, all that are able to go to war in Israel.
(3)  And Moses and Eleazar the priest spake with them in the plains of Moab by Jordan near Jericho, saying,
(4)  Take the sum of the people, from twenty years old and upward; as the LORD commanded Moses and the children of Israel, which went forth out of the land of Egypt.
(5)  Reuben, the eldest son of Israel: the children of Reuben; Hanoch, of whom cometh the family of the Hanochites: of Pallu, the family of the Palluites:
(6)  Of Hezron, the family of the Hezronites: of Carmi, the family of the Carmites.
(7)  These are the families of the Reubenites: and they that were numbered of them were forty and three thousand and seven hundred and thirty.
(8)  And the sons of Pallu; Eliab.
(9)  And the sons of Eliab; Nemuel, and Dathan, and Abiram. This is that Dathan and Abiram, which were famous in the congregation, who strove against Moses and against Aaron in the company of Korah, when they strove against the LORD:
(10)  And the earth opened her mouth, and swallowed them up together with Korah, when that company died, what time the fire devoured two hundred and fifty men: and they became a sign.
(11)  Notwithstanding the children of Korah died not.
(12)  The sons of Simeon after their families: of Nemuel, the family of the Nemuelites: of Jamin, the family of the Jaminites: of Jachin, the family of the Jachinites:
(13)  Of Zerah, the family of the Zarhites: of Shaul, the family of the Shaulites.
(14)  These are the families of the Simeonites, twenty and two thousand and two hundred.
(15)  The children of Gad after their families: of Zephon, the family of the Zephonites: of Haggi, the family of the Haggites: of Shuni, the family of the Shunites:
(16)  Of Ozni, the family of the Oznites: of Eri, the family of the Erites:
(17)  Of Arod, the family of the Arodites: of Areli, the family of the Arelites.
(18)  These are the families of the children of Gad according to those that were numbered of them, forty thousand and five hundred.
(19)  The sons of Judah were Er and Onan: and Er and Onan died in the land of Canaan.
(20)  And the sons of Judah after their families were; of Shelah, the family of the Shelanites: of Pharez, the family of the Pharzites: of Zerah, the family of the Zarhites.
(21)  And the sons of Pharez were; of Hezron, the family of the Hezronites: of Hamul, the family of the Hamulites.
(22)  These are the families of Judah according to those that were numbered of them, threescore and sixteen thousand and five hundred.
(23)  Of the sons of Issachar after their families: of Tola, the family of the Tolaites: of Pua, the family of the Punites:
(24)  Of Jashub, the family of the Jashubites: of Shimron, the family of the Shimronites.
(25)  These are the families of Issachar according to those that were numbered of them, threescore and four thousand and three hundred.
(26)  Of the sons of Zebulun after their families: of Sered, the family of the Sardites: of Elon, the family of the Elonites: of Jahleel, the family of the Jahleelites.
(27)  These are the families of the Zebulunites according to those that were numbered of them, threescore thousand and five hundred.
(28)  The sons of Joseph after their families were Manasseh and Ephraim.
(29)  Of the sons of Manasseh: of Machir, the family of the Machirites: and Machir begat Gilead: of Gilead come the family of the Gileadites.
(30)  These are the sons of Gilead: of Jeezer, the family of the Jeezerites: of Helek, the family of the Helekites:
(31)  And of Asriel, the family of the Asrielites: and of Shechem, the family of the Shechemites:
(32)  And of Shemida, the family of the Shemidaites: and of Hepher, the family of the Hepherites.
(33)  And Zelophehad the son of Hepher had no sons, but daughters: and the names of the daughters of Zelophehad were Mahlah, and Noah, Hoglah, Milcah, and Tirzah.
(34)  These are the families of Manasseh, and those that were numbered of them, fifty and two thousand and seven hundred.
(35)  These are the sons of Ephraim after their families: of Shuthelah, the family of the Shuthalhites: of Becher, the family of the Bachrites: of Tahan, the family of the Tahanites.
(36)  And these are the sons of Shuthelah: of Eran, the family of the Eranites.
(37)  These are the families of the sons of Ephraim according to those that were numbered of them, thirty and two thousand and five hundred. These are the sons of Joseph after their families.
(38)  The sons of Benjamin after their families: of Bela, the family of the Belaites: of Ashbel, the family of the Ashbelites: of Ahiram, the family of the Ahiramites:
(39)  Of Shupham, the family of the Shuphamites: of Hupham, the family of the Huphamites.
(40)  And the sons of Bela were Ard and Naaman: of Ard, the family of the Ardites: and of Naaman, the family of the Naamites.
(41)  These are the sons of Benjamin after their families: and they that were numbered of them were forty and five thousand and six hundred.
(42)  These are the sons of Dan after their families: of Shuham, the family of the Shuhamites. These are the families of Dan after their families.
(43)  All the families of the Shuhamites, according to those that were numbered of them, were threescore and four thousand and four hundred.
(44)  Of the children of Asher after their families: of Jimna, the family of the Jimnites: of Jesui, the family of the Jesuites: of Beriah, the family of the Beriites.
(45)  Of the sons of Beriah: of Heber, the family of the Heberites: of Malchiel, the family of the Malchielites.
(46)  And the name of the daughter of Asher was Sarah.
(47)  These are the families of the sons of Asher according to those that were numbered of them; who were fifty and three thousand and four hundred.
(48)  Of the sons of Naphtali after their families: of Jahzeel, the family of the Jahzeelites: of Guni, the family of the Gunites:
(49)  Of Jezer, the family of the Jezerites: of Shillem, the family of the Shillemites.
(50)  These are the families of Naphtali according to their families: and they that were numbered of them were forty and five thousand and four hundred.
(51)  These were the numbered of the children of Israel, six hundred thousand and a thousand seven hundred and thirty.
(52)  And the LORD spake unto Moses, saying,
(53)  Unto these the land shall be divided for an inheritance according to the number of names.
(54)  To many thou shalt give the more inheritance, and to few thou shalt give the less inheritance: to every one shall his inheritance be given according to those that were numbered of him.
(55)  Notwithstanding the land shall be divided by lot: according to the names of the tribes of their fathers they shall inherit.
(56)  According to the lot shall the possession thereof be divided between many and few.
(57)  And these are they that were numbered of the Levites after their families: of Gershon, the family of the Gershonites: of Kohath, the family of the Kohathites: of Merari, the family of the Merarites.
(58)  These are the families of the Levites: the family of the Libnites, the family of the Hebronites, the family of the Mahlites, the family of the Mushites, the family of the Korathites. And Kohath begat Amram.
(59)  And the name of Amram's wife was Jochebed, the daughter of Levi, whom her mother bare to Levi in Egypt: and she bare unto Amram Aaron and Moses, and Miriam their sister.
(60)  And unto Aaron was born Nadab, and Abihu, Eleazar, and Ithamar.
(61)  And Nadab and Abihu died, when they offered strange fire before the LORD.
(62)  And those that were numbered of them were twenty and three thousand, all males from a month old and upward: for they were not numbered among the children of Israel, because there was no inheritance given them among the children of Israel.
(63)  These are they that were numbered by Moses and Eleazar the priest, who numbered the children of Israel in the plains of Moab by Jordan near Jericho.
(64)  But among these there was not a man of them whom Moses and Aaron the priest numbered, when they numbered the children of Israel in the wilderness of Sinai.
(65)  For the LORD had said of them, They shall surely die in the wilderness. And there was not left a man of them, save Caleb the son of Jephunneh, and Joshua the son of Nun.

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