A Boomer in the Pew

Bible in a Year Series: Israel Leaves Sinai Following God's Shekinah Glory

Bible in a Year Series - Day #58 -This post is part of a year-long series where we are reading chronologically through the Bible.  Click here to learn more.  You are most welcome to join along at any time.

Today's text from the ESV Study Bible: Numbers 8-10.

The Israelites have been camped at Mount Sinai for nearly a year.  During that year, we have witnessed God communicating his Law to Israel through Moses.

Further, God has now set up his theocracy, and is ready to take his chosen people to his promised land.

What a day this must have been.  The silver horns sound, the twelve tribes move to their appointed positions, the tabernacle is dismantled as carefully instructed by God, and off they go to the wilderness of Paran with God's shekinah glory before them.

What must it have looked like to see 2,000,000 marching in a row through this wilderness with God's cloud guiding them.

Can you see it in your mind?

You would think that every single person witness to all these things would forever be changed, but as we shall very soon see, it is going to get ugly real quick.

Ah, the fallen nature of us all.

Note:  some very early artwork shows Moses with horns on his head.  Evidently, in early translations of the Bible, they were confused with the text and interpreted Moses' shining faces as Moses growing horns from his head.  Thus, many early works will portray Moses with horns.

Bible in a Year Series: Wagons Ho! Israel Prepares to Leave Mount Sinai

Bible in a Year Series - Day #57 -This post is part of a year-long series where we are reading chronologically through the Bible.  Click here to learn more.  You are most welcome to join along at any time.

Today's text from the ESV Study Bible: Number 7.

When I started reading today's narrative, I found myself instantly confused as it seemed we had somehow gone back in time.  Shouldn't this chapter have been earlier, I wondered.

Here is the ESV Study Bible's explanation:

"If the opening chapters of Numbers had not been placed first, it would have been more difficult to grasp the significance of what is described in this chapter. Numbers 3–4 describes the duties of the priests and Levites; ch. 7 shows how the other tribes supported them. First, they supplied wagons and oxen to help the Levites carry the tabernacle. The Gershonites, carriers of the tabernacle curtains and hangings, were given two wagons and four oxen (4:25–26; 7:7). The Merarites—carriers of the poles, frames, and bases—were given four wagons and eight oxen (4:31–32; 7:8). The Kohathites, who carried the tabernacle furniture on shoulder poles, received none (v. 9)."

Ah...got it!

Here are my favorite verses from today's reading:

"And when Moses went into the tent of meeting to speak with the Lord, he heard the voice speaking to him from above the mercy seat that was on the ark of the testimony, from between the two cherubim; and it spoke to him." (Numbers 7:89)

I still can't get over the fact that God actually dwelt with Israel in a physical kind of way.  I often wonder if my life would somehow be different if God were here in that way now.  And then, when I do have this thought, I am reminded that there is still much for me to understand about the Holy Spirit, Christ's body the church, and how to more fully be in relationship with him now indwelt in his church.

I am hoping to better understand once we get to the New Testament, and are solely focused on one chapter at a time.

As you meditate on the remarkable things that have occurred thus far, are you marveled at it all?

Bible in a Year Series: Aaron's Blessing Found on 7th Century BC Silver Scrolls

Bible in a Year Series - Day #56 - This post is part of a year-long series where we are reading chronologically through the Bible.  Click here to learn more.  You are most welcome to join along at any time.

Today's text from the ESV Study Bible: Numbers 5-6.

Listen to this choral rendition of Aaron's Blessing while you read this article:

Aaron's Blessing:

"The Lord bless you and keep you;
the Lord make his face to shine upon you and be gracious to you;
the Lord lift up his countenance upon you and give you peace" . (Numbers 6:24-26)

This photograph is of the famous "Silver Scrolls" found in a Judean tomb dating back to 700 BC:

"Excavations in Jerusalem in 1979–80 by Gabriel Barkay turned up two amulets dating from the late seventh century BC. They were found in the fourth of several burial caves he discovered on an escarpment known as Ketef Hinnom, which overlooks the Hinnom Valley (Gehenna) just opposite Mt. Zion. Each amulet contained a rolled-up sheet of silver which, when unrolled, revealed the Priestly Benediction inscribed on them."

From the late archaeologist Kathleen Kenyon:

"This [the Silver Scrolls] is now the earliest occurrence of a Biblical text in an extra-Biblical document, significantly predating the earliest of the Dead Sea Scrolls. It is also the oldest extra-Biblical reference to YHWH, the God of Israel."

From Michael D. Coogan, professor of religious studies at Stonehill College in Massachusetts:

"The two amulets are evidence of the antiquity of traditions preserved in the Bible; it also provides indirect evidence, as do the Dead Sea Scrolls and other manuscripts from the Second Temple period, of the accuracy of scribes who for centuries copied sacred texts."

How beautiful that God has preserved for us 2,800 year old evidence that his words are accurate for us today.

Bible in a Year Series: The Levites Instructions for the Disassembly of the Holy Tabernacle

Bible in a Year Series - Day #55 - This post is part of a year-long series where we are reading chronologically through the Bible.  Click here to learn more.  You are most welcome to join along at any time.

Today's text from the ESV Study Bible: Numbers 3-4.

As I read today's narrative, I am once again amazed at the order that God reveals about his character.

We saw impeccable details from Yahweh in the construction of the tabernacle, and here we again are exposed to God's minute details in the deconstruction of the tabernacle so that it might be moved from place to place.

Notice too that God instructs them that this is no ordinary camping gear that they are transporting, but the holy dwelling of God on earth, and certain death is found for those who might disrespect his instruction.

It shouldn't surprise us that God is a person of detail.  All we have to do is look around us.  His created universe is held together by an infinite, indescribable precision. 

Another thing that comes to mind is that the Israelites, now under a high priest, are a "type" of the church.  As we see God's detailed instructions for the Levites, so too must we, as Christians, be using our gifts in the service of our Great Priest.

Lastly, as I read these verses, I find my mind wandering to our final promised land.  I don't imagine there will be billions of us simply floating around on clouds playing harps.

Clearly, God is a person of structure and order.  This was even evident in the Garden of Eden. 

Surely then, we will have cities, perhaps varying countries, states, government of some kind, work to do, places to see, songs to hear, all in the service and presence of our Creator Father.

What a day that will be.  No longer wandering as aliens in a strange land, but home with Abba, doing the things that Abba is preparing for us. 

I am certain that today's 3D IMAX movies are mere child's play compared to what God has in store for us.

Bible in a Year Series: Beginning our Journey Through the Book of Numbers

Bible in a Year Series - Day #54 - This post is part of a year-long series where we are reading chronologically through the Bible.  Click here to learn more.  You are most welcome to join along at any time.

Today's text from the ESV Study Bible: Numbers 1-2.

Today we begin the fifth book in our chronological series, and the fourth book of the Bible:  Numbers.

The title of the book comes from the Greek Septuagint translation, but as Dr. Gordon J. Wenham explains, in my ESV Study Bible notes, the Hebrew title "bemidbar" (in the wilderness) gives us a better description of the book.

The book of Numbers is largely narrative, historical (records actual history), and also contains more of God's Law to his people.

Here is the theme of Numbers (ESV Study Bible):

"The theme of Numbers is the gradual fulfillment of the promises to Abraham that his descendants would be the people of God and occupy the land of Canaan. The book shows the reality of God's presence with Israel in the cloud of fire over the tabernacle, but the repeated displays of unbelief by Israel delay the entry into Canaan and cost many lives. Nevertheless, by the end of the book, Israel is poised to enter the land."

Here is the purpose of Numbers (ESV Study Bible):

"Jews refer to the first five books of the Bible as “the Law” (Torah), and Christians call them the “Pentateuch” or “The Five Books of Moses.” Numbers is the fourth volume in this series and relates Israel's journey from Mount Sinai to the borders of the Promised Land, summarizing some 40 years of the nation's history. The book begins with Israel making final preparations to leave Sinai. It then records their triumphal setting out, before relating a series of disasters in which the people grumbled about the difficulty of the journey and the impossibility of conquering Canaan. This response leads to God delaying the entry to Canaan by 40 years. The closing chapters of the book tell how the people at last set out again and reached the banks of the Jordan, poised to cross into the land promised to their forefathers."

In today's reading we find God instructing Moses to number the tribes of Israel.  After completing the census, we find 603,550 men capable of armed service, with the total Israel population likely totaling over 2,000,000.

That is a LOT of people wandering around in the desert!

Also, after the census, God instructs Israel how to camp around his tabernacle, with the Levites' camps completely surrounding the tabernacle as God's priests.

It will take eight more chapters of instruction from God before Israel actually starts moving, and I am looking forward to another journey through this book of Numbers.

We are going to see a lot of excitement, and a great deal of heartbreak in the book of Numbers.  As we together join to read this book, let us keep in the forefront of our minds that God desires to instruct us, and reveal more of his character through these pages.

Are you ready for the journey? 

Bible in a Year Series: The Mosaic Covenant, Blessings, Curses, and God as Holy King not a Co-Pilot

Day #53 - This post is part of a year-long series where we are reading chronologically through the Bible.  Click here to learn more.  You are most welcome to join along at any time.

Today's text from the ESV Study Bible: Leviticus 26-27.

We have now reached the end of the book of Leviticus, and have witnessed a very important covenant in God's plan of redemption:  the so-called Mosaic Covenant.

God has divinely given five covenants to his chosen over the course of the Scriptures:

• the covenant with Adam (the promised seed)
• the covenant with Noah ( re-creation of earth)
• the covenant with Abraham ( the promise of seed and land)
• the covenant with Moses (making of a nation, giving of the law, holy set apart chosen people, beginning of redemption through the sacrificial system)
• the covenant with David - (establish his throne forever)
• the New Covenant - (Messiah as Great High Priest, leading his elect to a promised new heavenly kingdom)

As I was thinking about our incredible journey through the book of Exodus and Leviticus, I found myself wondering exactly how I should define the word covenant.  Here is the definition from Dr. Wayne Grudem's Systematic Theology:

"A covenant is an unchangeable, divinely imposed legal agreement between God and man that stipulates the conditions of their relationship".

Interestingly, Grudem continues:

"Although this definition includes the word agreement in order to show that there are two parties, God and man, who must enter into the provisions of the relationship, the phrase "divinely imposed" is also included to show that man can never negotiate with God or change the terms of the covenant:  he can only accept the covenant obligation or reject them".

We clearly, and with great trepidation, see this displayed in today's reading.  God says:

• I am God.  I am your God.  You will honor my Holy Name.
• If you do, then he lists great blessings.
• If you don't, then he lists five horrible curses.
• If you do fail, then, If you confess, then God will remember his covenant.

We have a long, long journey to tread in our journey through the Bible.  However, God desires that we understand the relationship.  He is Sovereign, we are his vassals.  Our fallen flesh would prefer that we are sovereign, and that God might be our genie in a bottle.

God has made it plain in these chapters: God is NOT our co-pilot.  He is Sovereign King, and we are his subjects, with the ability to inherit "sonship" through the coming covenant of Messiah.

Do you see that?  Did I get it right?

Bible in a Year Series: A Man Stoned for Blasphemy?

Day #52 - This post is part of a year-long series where we are reading chronologically through the Bible.  Click here to learn more.  You are most welcome to join along at any time.

Today's text from the ESV Study Bible: Leviticus 24-25.

We are on our second to the last day in the book of Leviticus.

I found it interesting that in today's reading we find God changing gears to a little narrative passage today tucked inside his holy directives to Moses.

First, we saw Nadab and Abihu nuked by God for disrespecting God's holiness, and here we have a man being stoned for blaspheming "the Name".

To our modern minds, this seems an excessive punishment.  But we must fight, it seems, to understand, rather than allow our finite minds to make a judgment against God.

First of all, it seems to be a far more foolish offense when you realize that God's presence is among these people.  Couple that with the fact that God has already destroyed the high priest's sons for being disrespectful, and you begin to wonder how big a fool this blasphemer must have been.

For us, this side of the cross, Leviticus should serve to instruct us that God is very serious that we understand who he is, and who we are. 

We no longer live under the Law, but this episode can certainly teach us of the honor that God requires of his holy name. 

Even when I type these words, I feel an inner rebellion to the thought.  Do you feel that too?  Or am I the only one with a rebellious fallen nature?