Numbers 28

WEEK  14                                          Numbers 28

MONDAY  Reflections

There is a due season. A time when things are supposed to be done and God required the children of Israel to offer sacrifices when they were supposed to be offered. He did not ask for them early or late (except in rare circumstances). God said do what is called for at the right time.

 

Anyone who expected to be paid on a certain day understands the disappointment when the boss gives an excuse why he can't pay you. Sometimes the reasons are valid, you can sympathize and show patience. However, more often than not the boss isn't prepared or worse spent the money on something else. The latter is a complete disrespect for the employee. Now imagine doing that to the God who made everything and has given you all you have.

 

Another observation, if you are willing to put God on hold (as it were), how much more would you be willing to treat other people that way. This is why I believe God's commands and specifically about sacrifices had a deeper work than appeasing God.

 




Num 28:1-31
(1)  And the LORD spake unto Moses, saying,
(2)  Command the children of Israel, and say unto them, My offering, and my bread for my sacrifices made by fire, for a sweet savour unto me, shall ye observe to offer unto me in their due season.
(3)  And thou shalt say unto them, This is the offering made by fire which ye shall offer unto the LORD; two lambs of the first year without spot day by day, for a continual burnt offering.
(4)  The one lamb shalt thou offer in the morning, and the other lamb shalt thou offer at even;
(5)  And a tenth part of an ephah of flour for a meat offering, mingled with the fourth part of an hin of beaten oil.
(6)  It is a continual burnt offering, which was ordained in mount Sinai for a sweet savour, a sacrifice made by fire unto the LORD.
(7)  And the drink offering thereof shall be the fourth part of an hin for the one lamb: in the holy place shalt thou cause the strong wine to be poured unto the LORD for a drink offering.
(8)  And the other lamb shalt thou offer at even: as the meat offering of the morning, and as the drink offering thereof, thou shalt offer it, a sacrifice made by fire, of a sweet savour unto the LORD.
(9)  And on the sabbath day two lambs of the first year without spot, and two tenth deals of flour for a meat offering, mingled with oil, and the drink offering thereof:
(10)  This is the burnt offering of every sabbath, beside the continual burnt offering, and his drink offering.
(11)  And in the beginnings of your months ye shall offer a burnt offering unto the LORD; two young bullocks, and one ram, seven lambs of the first year without spot;
(12)  And three tenth deals of flour for a meat offering, mingled with oil, for one bullock; and two tenth deals of flour for a meat offering, mingled with oil, for one ram;
(13)  And a several tenth deal of flour mingled with oil for a meat offering unto one lamb; for a burnt offering of a sweet savour, a sacrifice made by fire unto the LORD.
(14)  And their drink offerings shall be half an hin of wine unto a bullock, and the third part of an hin unto a ram, and a fourth part of an hin unto a lamb: this is the burnt offering of every month throughout the months of the year.
(15)  And one kid of the goats for a sin offering unto the LORD shall be offered, beside the continual burnt offering, and his drink offering.
(16)  And in the fourteenth day of the first month is the passover of the LORD.
(17)  And in the fifteenth day of this month is the feast: seven days shall unleavened bread be eaten.
(18)  In the first day shall be an holy convocation; ye shall do no manner of servile work therein:
(19)  But ye shall offer a sacrifice made by fire for a burnt offering unto the LORD; two young bullocks, and one ram, and seven lambs of the first year: they shall be unto you without blemish:
(20)  And their meat offering shall be of flour mingled with oil: three tenth deals shall ye offer for a bullock, and two tenth deals for a ram;
(21)  A several tenth deal shalt thou offer for every lamb, throughout the seven lambs:
(22)  And one goat for a sin offering, to make an atonement for you.
(23)  Ye shall offer these beside the burnt offering in the morning, which is for a continual burnt offering.
(24)  After this manner ye shall offer daily, throughout the seven days, the meat of the sacrifice made by fire, of a sweet savour unto the LORD: it shall be offered beside the continual burnt offering, and his drink offering.
(25)  And on the seventh day ye shall have an holy convocation; ye shall do no servile work.
(26)  Also in the day of the firstfruits, when ye bring a new meat offering unto the LORD, after your weeks be out, ye shall have an holy convocation; ye shall do no servile work:
(27)  But ye shall offer the burnt offering for a sweet savour unto the LORD; two young bullocks, one ram, seven lambs of the first year;
(28)  And their meat offering of flour mingled with oil, three tenth deals unto one bullock, two tenth deals unto one ram,
(29)  A several tenth deal unto one lamb, throughout the seven lambs;
(30)  And one kid of the goats, to make an atonement for you.
(31)  Ye shall offer them beside the continual burnt offering, and his meat offering, (they shall be unto you without blemish) and their drink offerings.

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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.