Friday, February 21, 2025

Isaiah 58


WEEK  7                                                Isaiah 58   


SATURDAY  Reflections

Israel was fasting, hoping God would bless them though they were not living as God wanted them to. They thought they were being cheated by God, but it was they who were cheating.

God wanted them not just to fast but to live right. A fast without right living to God is just a diet.

Fasting is not a diet!

Fasting is supposed to be a time of voluntarily giving up what we would enjoy in order to focus on God. In the Bible, food was the thing people normally refrained from for short periods of time. Short times of public fasting(food) were part of the Jewish religion. However, at other times it was done privately. Even today fasting is considered by most a spiritual discipline to change/prepare the disciple, as it does not change the mind of God. 

Fasting is designed to help focus the disciple, not manipulate God. Fasting was never and is never to be done when it could hurt you. Since fasting is not supposed to hurt the person physically, children, teens, and those in poor health should NOT be fasting from food or water. I want to repeat do NOT fast from food or water. If you want to give up something else so that you can focus on God that is good, maybe social media, sugary treats, a favorite video game, or your phone.



Isa 58:1-14
(1)  Cry aloud, spare not, lift up thy voice like a trumpet, and shew my people their transgression, and the house of Jacob their sins.
(2)  Yet they seek me daily, and delight to know my ways, as a nation that did righteousness, and forsook not the ordinance of their God: they ask of me the ordinances of justice; they take delight in approaching to God.
(3)  Wherefore have we fasted, say they, and thou seest not? wherefore have we afflicted our soul, and thou takest no knowledge? Behold, in the day of your fast ye find pleasure, and exact all your labours.
(4)  Behold, ye fast for strife and debate, and to smite with the fist of wickedness: ye shall not fast as ye do this day, to make your voice to be heard on high.
(5)  Is it such a fast that I have chosen? a day for a man to afflict his soul? is it to bow down his head as a bulrush, and to spread sackcloth and ashes under him? wilt thou call this a fast, and an acceptable day to the LORD?
(6)  Is not this the fast that I have chosen? to loose the bands of wickedness, to undo the heavy burdens, and to let the oppressed go free, and that ye break every yoke?
(7)  Is it not to deal thy bread to the hungry, and that thou bring the poor that are cast out to thy house? when thou seest the naked, that thou cover him; and that thou hide not thyself from thine own flesh?
(8)  Then shall thy light break forth as the morning, and thine health shall spring forth speedily: and thy righteousness shall go before thee; the glory of the LORD shall be thy rereward.
(9)  Then shalt thou call, and the LORD shall answer; thou shalt cry, and he shall say, Here I am. If thou take away from the midst of thee the yoke, the putting forth of the finger, and speaking vanity;
(10)  And if thou draw out thy soul to the hungry, and satisfy the afflicted soul; then shall thy light rise in obscurity, and thy darkness be as the noonday:
(11)  And the LORD shall guide thee continually, and satisfy thy soul in drought, and make fat thy bones: and thou shalt be like a watered garden, and like a spring of water, whose waters fail not.
(12)  And they that shall be of thee shall build the old waste places: thou shalt raise up the foundations of many generations; and thou shalt be called, The repairer of the breach, The restorer of paths to dwell in.
(13)  If thou turn away thy foot from the sabbath, from doing thy pleasure on my holy day; and call the sabbath a delight, the holy of the LORD, honourable; and shalt honour him, not doing thine own ways, nor finding thine own pleasure, nor speaking thine own words:
(14)  Then shalt thou delight thyself in the LORD; and I will cause thee to ride upon the high places of the earth, and feed thee with the heritage of Jacob thy father: for the mouth of the LORD hath spoken it.





Thursday, February 20, 2025

Numbers 9

Where do we go?

WEEK   7                                          Numbers 9      

FRIDAY  Reflections

This chapter shows God’s mercy in allowing people who through no fault of their own are given a second opportunity to celebrate Passover. There is also another reference that there was to be no difference in how the stranger or the Israelite was to be treated, one law for both (no prejudice). However, the last part of this chapter is what has caught my attention, as it answers the question about when do we move.

 

In verses 21-22, you get the idea that no matter how soon, how early or late, or how long, when God decided it was time to move the people moved. In our world, people tend to fit into two categories: those that are always ready to go and those who are fine where they are. The first group looks around and see nothing changing and want to do something even if it’s wrong. The latter don’t want to move even if it means survival (okay, those are over-generalizations I know, but that is normally how the extreme on either side sees the other). In this chapter, the children of Israel see God not taking one extreme or the other. He works on His own timetable and the children of Israel are expected to respond. This is also how it needs to work in our lives.

 

The key is to move when God moves and to stay put when God isn’t ready to move. For me, I have times where I am ready to change and don’t find it easy to leave things alone, yet there are some things which don’t need to be changed. At other times, I catch myself sliding into being comfortable with things as they are.

 

The difficulty, for me at least, is to know for certain if I am doing my own thing or God’s. To keep in tune with God, I try to stay active in worship, prayer, Bible reading and seek Godly counsel. These are amazingly accurate detectors of whether or not the cloud is moving. For the New Testament believer, worship, prayer, Bible reading, and seeking Godly counsel are the best ways to know if you need to move or stay.



Num 9:1-23

(1)  And the LORD spake unto Moses in the wilderness of Sinai, in the first month of the second year after they were come out of the land of Egypt, saying,
(2)  Let the children of Israel also keep the passover at his appointed season.
(3)  In the fourteenth day of this month, at even, ye shall keep it in his appointed season: according to all the rites of it, and according to all the ceremonies thereof, shall ye keep it.
(4)  And Moses spake unto the children of Israel, that they should keep the passover.
(5)  And they kept the passover on the fourteenth day of the first month at even in the wilderness of Sinai: according to all that the LORD commanded Moses, so did the children of Israel.
(6)  And there were certain men, who were defiled by the dead body of a man, that they could not keep the passover on that day: and they came before Moses and before Aaron on that day:
(7)  And those men said unto him, We are defiled by the dead body of a man: wherefore are we kept back, that we may not offer an offering of the LORD in his appointed season among the children of Israel?
(8)  And Moses said unto them, Stand still, and I will hear what the LORD will command concerning you.
(9)  And the LORD spake unto Moses, saying,
(10)  Speak unto the children of Israel, saying, If any man of you or of your posterity shall be unclean by reason of a dead body, or be in a journey afar off, yet he shall keep the passover unto the LORD.
(11)  The fourteenth day of the second month at even they shall keep it, and eat it with unleavened bread and bitter herbs.
(12)  They shall leave none of it unto the morning, nor break any bone of it: according to all the ordinances of the passover they shall keep it.
(13)  But the man that is clean, and is not in a journey, and forbeareth to keep the passover, even the same soul shall be cut off from among his people: because he brought not the offering of the LORD in his appointed season, that man shall bear his sin.
(14)  And if a stranger shall sojourn among you, and will keep the passover unto the LORD; according to the ordinance of the passover, and according to the manner thereof, so shall he do: ye shall have one ordinance, both for the stranger, and for him that was born in the land.
(15)  And on the day that the tabernacle was reared up the cloud covered the tabernacle, namely, the tent of the testimony: and at even there was upon the tabernacle as it were the appearance of fire, until the morning.
(16)  So it was alway: the cloud covered it by day, and the appearance of fire by night.
(17)  And when the cloud was taken up from the tabernacle, then after that the children of Israel journeyed: and in the place where the cloud abode, there the children of Israel pitched their tents.
(18)  At the commandment of the LORD the children of Israel journeyed, and at the commandment of the LORD they pitched: as long as the cloud abode upon the tabernacle they rested in their tents.
(19)  And when the cloud tarried long upon the tabernacle many days, then the children of Israel kept the charge of the LORD, and journeyed not.
(20)  And so it was, when the cloud was a few days upon the tabernacle; according to the commandment of the LORD they abode in their tents, and according to the commandment of the LORD they journeyed.
(21)  And so it was, when the cloud abode from even unto the morning, and that the cloud was taken up in the morning, then they journeyed: whether it was by day or by night that the cloud was taken up, they journeyed.
(22)  Or whether it were two days, or a month, or a year, that the cloud tarried upon the tabernacle, remaining thereon, the children of Israel abode in their tents, and journeyed not: but when it was taken up, they journeyed.
(23)  At the commandment of the LORD they rested in the tents, and at the commandment of the LORD they journeyed: they kept the charge of the LORD, at the commandment of the LORD by the hand of Moses.




Wednesday, February 19, 2025

Mark 7

Good idea, but not the problem.

WEEK 7                                              Mark 7      
   

THURSDAY  Reflections

Eating with unwashed hands might make you sick but it isn't what makes you a bad person. God placed much of the Old Testament Law in place to not just make the Children of Israel separate but also to keep them healthy. 

 

The problem was many of the leaders of Jesus' time kept the ceremonial cleansing laws but broke the moral laws. They not only emphasized the ceremonial laws they added to what God had said in the law and made those rules equal to God's law.

 

Jesus laid out the truth. The real problem with man isn't what he puts into his body for eventually, it will come out, but what is on the inside. To say it another way, it isn't what you eat it's who you are. This is also the reason we need a Savior. The source of our problem is what is on the inside, not what we are doing on the outside.



Mar 7:1-37
(1)  Then came together unto him the Pharisees, and certain of the scribes, which came from Jerusalem.
(2)  And when they saw some of his disciples eat bread with defiled, that is to say, with unwashen, hands, they found fault.
(3)  For the Pharisees, and all the Jews, except they wash their hands oft, eat not, holding the tradition of the elders.
(4)  And when they come from the market, except they wash, they eat not. And many other things there be, which they have received to hold, as the washing of cups, and pots, brasen vessels, and of tables.
(5)  Then the Pharisees and scribes asked him, Why walk not thy disciples according to the tradition of the elders, but eat bread with unwashen hands?
(6)  He answered and said unto them, Well hath Esaias prophesied of you hypocrites, as it is written, This people honoureth me with their lips, but their heart is far from me.
(7)  Howbeit in vain do they worship me, teaching for doctrines the commandments of men.
(8)  For laying aside the commandment of God, ye hold the tradition of men, as the washing of pots and cups: and many other such like things ye do.
(9)  And he said unto them, Full well ye reject the commandment of God, that ye may keep your own tradition.
(10)  For Moses said, Honour thy father and thy mother; and, Whoso curseth father or mother, let him die the death:
(11)  But ye say, If a man shall say to his father or mother, It is Corban, that is to say, a gift, by whatsoever thou mightest be profited by me; he shall be free.
(12)  And ye suffer him no more to do ought for his father or his mother;
(13)  Making the word of God of none effect through your tradition, which ye have delivered: and many such like things do ye.
(14)  And when he had called all the people unto him, he said unto them, Hearken unto me every one of you, and understand:
(15)  There is nothing from without a man, that entering into him can defile him: but the things which come out of him, those are they that defile the man.
(16)  If any man have ears to hear, let him hear.
(17)  And when he was entered into the house from the people, his disciples asked him concerning the parable.
(18)  And he saith unto them, Are ye so without understanding also? Do ye not perceive, that whatsoever thing from without entereth into the man, it cannot defile him;
(19)  Because it entereth not into his heart, but into the belly, and goeth out into the draught, purging all meats?
(20)  And he said, That which cometh out of the man, that defileth the man.
(21)  For from within, out of the heart of men, proceed evil thoughts, adulteries, fornications, murders,
(22)  Thefts, covetousness, wickedness, deceit, lasciviousness, an evil eye, blasphemy, pride, foolishness:
(23)  All these evil things come from within, and defile the man.
(24)  And from thence he arose, and went into the borders of Tyre and Sidon, and entered into an house, and would have no man know it: but he could not be hid.
(25)  For a certain woman, whose young daughter had an unclean spirit, heard of him, and came and fell at his feet:
(26)  The woman was a Greek, a Syrophenician by nation; and she besought him that he would cast forth the devil out of her daughter.
(27)  But Jesus said unto her, Let the children first be filled: for it is not meet to take the children's bread, and to cast it unto the dogs.
(28)  And she answered and said unto him, Yes, Lord: yet the dogs under the table eat of the children's crumbs.
(29)  And he said unto her, For this saying go thy way; the devil is gone out of thy daughter.
(30)  And when she was come to her house, she found the devil gone out, and her daughter laid upon the bed.
(31)  And again, departing from the coasts of Tyre and Sidon, he came unto the sea of Galilee, through the midst of the coasts of Decapolis.
(32)  And they bring unto him one that was deaf, and had an impediment in his speech; and they beseech him to put his hand upon him.
(33)  And he took him aside from the multitude, and put his fingers into his ears, and he spit, and touched his tongue;
(34)  And looking up to heaven, he sighed, and saith unto him, Ephphatha, that is, Be opened.
(35)  And straightway his ears were opened, and the string of his tongue was loosed, and he spake plain.
(36)  And he charged them that they should tell no man: but the more he charged them, so much the more a great deal they published it;
(37)  And were beyond measure astonished, saying, He hath done all things well: he maketh both the deaf to hear, and the dumb to speak.

Psalm 47



WEEK 8                                                Psalm 47   

WEDNESDAY  Reflections

Can we clap our hands in church?

According to this scripture, we certainly can. The psalmist calls for people/nations to clap their hands to God. Yes, clapping can be done in ways that don't glorify God, but anything can be turned into something which doesn't worship God if done incorrectly. I remember a pianist bragging that he snuck The Old Gray Mare into his playing at church. In this, the people listening might have been thinking about God and praising him but I doubt the pianist was. However, when it comes to clapping the action itself is not wrong.

Does this mean if your church doesn't clap you should do it? No, as Paul teaches we shouldn't offer offense in matters that aren't important (Romans 14). If some do, then rejoice with them. If you're uncomfortable then don't clap because at the end of the day if we aren't doing it for God it doesn't matter.

Outside of the teaching on clapping, this psalm is a beautiful song of praise to God, who is king over ALL the earth.




Psa 47:1-9
(1)  To the chief Musician, A Psalm for the sons of Korah. O clap your hands, all ye people; shout unto God with the voice of triumph.
(2)  For the LORD most high is terrible; he is a great King over all the earth.
(3)  He shall subdue the people under us, and the nations under our feet.
(4)  He shall choose our inheritance for us, the excellency of Jacob whom he loved. Selah.
(5)  God is gone up with a shout, the LORD with the sound of a trumpet.
(6)  Sing praises to God, sing praises: sing praises unto our King, sing praises.
(7)  For God is the King of all the earth: sing ye praises with understanding.
(8)  God reigneth over the heathen: God sitteth upon the throne of his holiness.
(9)  The princes of the people are gathered together, even the people of the God of Abraham: for the shields of the earth belong unto God: he is greatly exalted.


Photo by Anna Louise on Unsplash

Monday, February 17, 2025

Numbers 8 Who will carry water...

Who will carry water...



WEEK  7                                             Numbers 8

TUESDAY  Reflections

Years ago I heard a Christian group sing Who Will Carry Water. The song tells the story of an aging Elijah asking the question, "Who will carry water to a dry and thirsty land...?" This came to mind as I read the retirement age from practical ministry for Levites. 

God recognized there comes a time when our bodies cannot handle the hard physical labor they once could. God doesn't throw them out of ministry but tells them to let others carry on the heavy labor. Even for us, we need to realize we do not fail God if we are unable to physically do work in the church we might have done in the past. This doesn't mean we lose our vote, or what we say doesn't matter, it means it time's for someone else to, as the song says, "carry water to a dry and thirsty land..."




Num 8:1-26
(1)  And the LORD spake unto Moses, saying,
(2)  Speak unto Aaron, and say unto him, When thou lightest the lamps, the seven lamps shall give light over against the candlestick.
(3)  And Aaron did so; he lighted the lamps thereof over against the candlestick, as the LORD commanded Moses.
(4)  And this work of the candlestick was of beaten gold, unto the shaft thereof, unto the flowers thereof, was beaten work: according unto the pattern which the LORD had shewed Moses, so he made the candlestick.
(5)  And the LORD spake unto Moses, saying,
(6)  Take the Levites from among the children of Israel, and cleanse them.
(7)  And thus shalt thou do unto them, to cleanse them: Sprinkle water of purifying upon them, and let them shave all their flesh, and let them wash their clothes, and so make themselves clean.
(8)  Then let them take a young bullock with his meat offering, even fine flour mingled with oil, and another young bullock shalt thou take for a sin offering.
(9)  And thou shalt bring the Levites before the tabernacle of the congregation: and thou shalt gather the whole assembly of the children of Israel together:
(10)  And thou shalt bring the Levites before the LORD: and the children of Israel shall put their hands upon the Levites:
(11)  And Aaron shall offer the Levites before the LORD for an offering of the children of Israel, that they may execute the service of the LORD.
(12)  And the Levites shall lay their hands upon the heads of the bullocks: and thou shalt offer the one for a sin offering, and the other for a burnt offering, unto the LORD, to make an atonement for the Levites.
(13)  And thou shalt set the Levites before Aaron, and before his sons, and offer them for an offering unto the LORD.
(14)  Thus shalt thou separate the Levites from among the children of Israel: and the Levites shall be mine.
(15)  And after that shall the Levites go in to do the service of the tabernacle of the congregation: and thou shalt cleanse them, and offer them for an offering.
(16)  For they are wholly given unto me from among the children of Israel; instead of such as open every womb, even instead of the firstborn of all the children of Israel, have I taken them unto me.
(17)  For all the firstborn of the children of Israel are mine, both man and beast: on the day that I smote every firstborn in the land of Egypt I sanctified them for myself.
(18)  And I have taken the Levites for all the firstborn of the children of Israel.
(19)  And I have given the Levites as a gift to Aaron and to his sons from among the children of Israel, to do the service of the children of Israel in the tabernacle of the congregation, and to make an atonement for the children of Israel: that there be no plague among the children of Israel, when the children of Israel come nigh unto the sanctuary.
(20)  And Moses, and Aaron, and all the congregation of the children of Israel, did to the Levites according unto all that the LORD commanded Moses concerning the Levites, so did the children of Israel unto them.
(21)  And the Levites were purified, and they washed their clothes; and Aaron offered them as an offering before the LORD; and Aaron made an atonement for them to cleanse them.
(22)  And after that went the Levites in to do their service in the tabernacle of the congregation before Aaron, and before his sons: as the LORD had commanded Moses concerning the Levites, so did they unto them.
(23)  And the LORD spake unto Moses, saying,
(24)  This is it that belongeth unto the Levites: from twenty and five years old and upward they shall go in to wait upon the service of the tabernacle of the congregation:
(25)  And from the age of fifty years they shall cease waiting upon the service thereof, and shall serve no more:
(26)  But shall minister with their brethren in the tabernacle of the congregation, to keep the charge, and shall do no service. Thus shalt thou do unto the Levites touching their charge.