A Boomer in the Pew

Bible in a Year: Moses Begins His Great Sermon to the People of Israel

Bible in a Year Series - Day #70 -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: Deuteronomy 1-2.

The book of Deuteronomy is one of my favorite books of the Bible.  It is essentially a series of sermons, and a restating of the Law by Moses to the people of Israel before they enter into their Promised Land.

I enjoyed this explanation from the ESV Study Bible Notes:

"The book of Deuteronomy could be subtitled “farewell instructions for a nation.” Two major events form the substance of Deuteronomy: (1) the long speech that Moses delivers, effecting a renewal of the covenant, and (2) the passing of the leadership from Moses to Joshua, thereby making the book a succession narrative. The book thus forms the final volume in the biography of Moses, which begins with his birth in Exodus 2 and ends with his death in Deuteronomy 34.

Like the preceding books of the Pentateuch, Deuteronomy mingles narrative with instructions and laws by which God wanted his covenant people to live. Deuteronomy differs from the preceding books because it is cast as a farewell discourse in which Moses is speaking to the nation. The repeated formula in the preceding three books is “the Lord spoke to Moses,” but in Deuteronomy the rhetorical stance is that Moses speaks to the people. Because the law-giving is phrased as Moses' words to his nation, the effect is that of an extended exhortation to covenant faithfulness. Moses makes a passionate appeal to his followers as they are about to enter the Promised Land. Deuteronomy contains less narrative material than the three preceding books, but occasionally the speeches of Moses are placed into their narrative context. Late in the book, two formal discourses are cast in poetic form (the “Song of Moses,” 31:30–32:47; and Moses' pronouncement of blessing on the nation, 32:48–33:29).

It is likely that the literary form of the suzerainty treaty of the ancient Near East lurks in the background. In a suzerainty treaty, a king or suzerain rehearsed what he had done for his nation and stipulated what he required in response. There is also an incipient note of anticipation, as it is understood that the instructions are given to a people on the verge of setting up a utopia—a good society governed by identifiable institutions and practices—in a promised land."

The Hebrew name for this book of Deuteronomy is Debarim; lit., “The words”.  I, for one, intend to listen in rapt attention to what this great prophet of God has to say to Israel, and work hard to learn how I might apply these instructions to my life.

Bible in a Year: Israel's Wilderness Experience = God's Moving, Israel's Unbelief, Israel's Disobedience, God's Judgment, and God's Grace

Bible in a Year Series - Day #69 -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 35-36.

The very last word in the book of Numbers is: Jericho.  To the right is a Google Map with the Jordan River and the modern city of Jericho.

In my mind, I try to image a million Israelites camped to the right of the river, set to make the city of Jericho their first confrontation.

Before considering where we are going, I thought it important that we take a bird's eye view of where we have traveled in this book of Numbers.

This from the New Dictionary of Biblical Theology:

"The theological pattern which emerges in Numbers, i.e. harmony between God and Israel, followed by unbelief and disobedience, followed by God’s judgment, followed by God once again working graciously with Israel to fulfil his promises to them, repeats itself over a much longer time frame in the subsequent history of Israel. Samuel and Kings, and Amos, Micah, Isaiah, Jeremiah and Zephaniah tell a story of harmony followed by disobedience and then judgment; Isaiah 40–66, Ezekiel 24–48 and Haggai, and Chronicles, Ezra and Nehemiah tell of how God did not abandon his people but once again began to pursue his purpose of blessing them. So the theological themes of Numbers are attested throughout the OT. 

Both Matthew (4:1–11) and Luke (4:1–13) saw a parallel between Jesus’ forty days in the wilderness and Israel’s forty years in the desert. The temptations Jesus faced were almost identical, relating to food, protection and idolatry. But Jesus did not give in to the temptations. His replies to the devil were quotations from Deuteronomy, which originally referred to the wilderness experience recorded in Numbers. Jesus was the new Israel who succeeded where the old Israel failed (Wenham [1981], p. 51)."

What a journey this has been.  I am looking forward to Moses' last words in the book of Deuteronomy, which we will begin tomorrow.

Bible in a Year: Borders of the Promised Land Defined

Bible in a Year Series - Day #68 -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 33-34.

I wonder what the mood of the Israelite camp is as they are parked at the Jordan awaiting God's instructions to move forward.

Two and one-half of the tribes have been given their land possession east of the Jordan, and are perhaps busying themselves in settlement.

Meanwhile, all twelve of the tribes understand that these lands are not vacant.  God has required: 

"When you pass over the Jordan into the land of Canaan, 52 then you shall drive out all the inhabitants of the land from before you and destroy all their figured stones and destroy all their metal images and demolish all their high places. 53 And you shall take possession of the land and settle in it, for I have given the land to you to possess it."  (Numbers 33:51-53)

Even though they have just witnessed a miraculous victory over the Midianites, without the loss of one man, are they afraid of what might lie beyond the Jordan? 

For forty years, God has provided a physical presence with his chosen people in the form of the cloud.  Do they believe?  Will they obey God's explicit commands when they cross this most famous river?

There are pagans living in these lands who perform the most disgusting of rituals, and worship false gods.  The One True God intends to cleanse the land and make it holy.  Will Israel obey?

The book of Deuteronomy stands before our view of Israel's entry of the Promised Land.  Think of Mel Gibson, as William Wallace, riding his horse before the troops and giving them his famous speech before they attack their oppressors.

That is exactly the book of Deuteronomy.  Moses will deliver a series of speeches, and recount for Israel where God has brought them, and how they are to live as God's chosen people in this their Promised Land.

All Israel needs to do is obey God.  Will they?  Better yet, will we?

Bible in a Year: Coming to Grips With God's Righteous Vengeance

Bible in a Year Series - Day #67 -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 31-32.

Our fallen nature detests judgment.

I see it displayed all the time as I have interacted with various people over the past year on this website over sensitive issues. 

It is very common for people to say, "who are you to judge?"

First of all, I don't judge, and I am not the judge.

When we get to the book of Joshua, we are going to see God's judgment, vengeance, and holy wrath in great display.

Here, with the destruction of these Midianites, we are for the first time graphically introduced to God's vengeance, and the subsequent division of the spoils of war.

The natural mind recoils at such a thing, and perhaps even the milk-fed Christian is likely to join the chorus.

We must remember that God's holy word to us is a story of redemption, a love story, a story of God saving his chosen from the second death.

God has taken Israel as his bride, and through Balaam's suggestion, the Midianites had caused the Israelites to "whore" after other gods.

Therefore, here we see God's retribution in the complete, and total destruction of these people from the face of the earth.

God desires that we understand his character.  Here, we see that a part of his character is to have vengeance against, and to utterly destroy those opposed to him.

Our nature's tendency is to question God's actions.  But we must push back on this inner rebellion against God, and instead ask the Holy Spirit to instruct us.

God is sovereign...right?  God is the Creator of all...right?  Then it is wrong for us to question him in any way.

I am not suggesting that these things are simple, and easily digested.  I am, however, suggesting that this is where we put down our milk, and begin to ask God for meat, and to give us the ability to understand.

In coming chapters, we are going to see God utterly destroy whole civilizations, and we must make our first desire to understand God's character, rather than succumbing  to our temptation to wag our self-righteous fingers in his face.

From the New Bible Commentary:

"The wrath and vengeance of God are offensive ideas to many modern people, largely because they assume that God’s wrath and vengeance is irrational, capricious, out–of–control. But Scripture teaches that God’s wrath is revealed against man’s sin (Rom. 1:18), and, ‘vengeance is mine, I will repay’ says the Lord (Rom. 12:19; (AV KJV)). His wrath and ‘vengeance’ manifest his righteous indignation, and are not the result of bad temper."

If someone were to attack my bride, I would put forth every effort to kill them.  God has chosen a bride (his church), and we should be thankful that our Husband will defend us, and slay those who would desire to slay us (his church/bride).

Bible in a Year Series: Contemplating God's Desire for Sabbath

Bible in a Year Series - Day #66 -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 28-30.

As we read Israel's instructions for the sacrifice, convocations, and Sabbath, I wonder if my life exhibits a proper reverence for God's holiness.

I understand that Messiah fulfilled the Law, and therefore perfectly replaced the sacrificial system, but I wonder about God's desire for Sabbath?

Am I keeping God's desired Sabbath?

No, I am not talking about a particular day of the week.  I also understand the Christian celebration of the "Lord's Day" on Sunday.

I wonder if I am keeping God's desire for a Sabbath in my life?  Do I set aside a day that is a pleasing aroma to him?

No, I understand what Christ said about the Sabbath, and his chastising of the Pharisee's.

But, is there a special holy part of my week set aside to provide a pleasing aroma to God?

I am pretty confident that I need to improve this part of my life.

How about you?  How do you bring a pleasing aroma to God on Sabbath?  I would love to hear your thoughts on this.

Bible in a Year Series: Joshua Becomes the Leader of Israel

Bible in a Year Series - Day #65 -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 26-27.

God instructs Moses to conduct another census.  In this census, we learn that Israel's numbers have changed very little from the time they left Egypt in the Exodus (contrary to my statement yesterday which I corrected).

It is also noteworthy that not one of the original Israelites remains alive except Moses (who will soon die), Joshua, and Caleb.  Remember that the whole reason for the wandering was Israel's sin, and God's vow that none of those alive would live to see the Promised Land.

This census is also important because they will use it to determine how the land in Canaan is to be divided amongst the twelve tribes.  First by lot (God's sovereign choosing), and then by the size of the individual tribes.

We also see that God has chosen Joshua to lead his people upon the death of Moses.  It is interesting to see that God's communication will be different for Joshua as he will receive "some" of Moses' authority.  Instead, Joshua is to stand before Eleazar the priest who will inquire before God on his behalf, and also we see that the Urim and Thummim (some sort of holy lot device kept in the breastplate of the priest) will have a large role in the life of Israel.

Although we are standing near the banks of the Jordan, we still have a ways to go before we see Joshua leading the people across.  The book of Deuteronomy stands before us, which is a collection of Moses' reminders/sermons to the people before they enter Canaan.

These last 40 years, that God has chosen to reveal to us, contain a great many things for us to understand. It is here that we can begin to understand the role that Messiah will play in God's promise of a final Promised Land.

Like the Israelites of old, we are sojourners in a foreign land, and await our call to enter in.

This is frightening to our natural minds, requires faith to believe, and is the Christian's great hope.

Come Messiah, come!

Bible in a Year Series: Balaam's Curses Foiled, Israel's Oft-Repeated Apostasy, and God's Determination to Keep Abraham's Covenant

Bible in a Year Series - Day #64 -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 23-25.

Israel is now camped at the north end of the Dead Sea, and is now 4-5 months from crossing the Jordan and entering their long promised land.

Certainly word had gotten around as God was performing miraculous things with Israel over the years.

Seeing Israel's recent defeat over Sihon and Og, Balak, the king of Moab, was wetting his pants over what Israel might to to him.

Therefore, he hires Balaam, a famous diviner to place a curse on Israel.  However, most surprisingly, God has other plans and actually chooses to speak in remarkable ways through this pagan man, and makes it clear that He has blessed this nation of Israel.

Meanwhile, just like at Sinai, while God is doing powerful things, the Israelites have once again turned away from God by whoring it up with the local Baal prostitutes, and worshiping their gods.

In spite of this most recent apostasy, this time God has new leaders in the midst with Joshua and Phineas, and will shortly be parting the waters of the Jordan.

As I reflect back on Israel's 40 year journey, I find it easy to be judgmental.  However, if I am honest with myself, I can certainly look back on my journey in the wilderness and find certain apostasy as well.

Although the New Testament is a long ways off, I find myself this morning grateful for three words uttered by Messiah on the cross:  "It is finished". 

No more, as God's elect, must we go through our lives in fear of God's holy wrath.  This has been born by Messiah, our perfect sacrifice, and now I await my own future crossing into Jordan.

Are there any others, of God's elect, who might say amen to that?

Bible in a Year Series: Bronze Serpent on a Pole as a Type of Christ

Bible in a Year Series - Day #63 -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 21-22.

It seems to me that we must stop to dwell on this brazen serpent on a pole, as Jesus Christ himself referred back to it when he was telling Nicodemus how he could obtain eternal life:

"And as Moses lifted up the serpent in the wilderness, so must the Son of Man be lifted up, 15 that whoever believes in him may have eternal life." (John 3:14-15)

The statue pictured here does a fare job of helping us to understand what is going on here.  

Jesus Christ became the curse (the snakes in our story), and bore upon himself the curse of God so that we might look upon the brazen staff (Christ's sacrifice) and be healed (new birth/eternal life).

Take some time to observe this cross.  See how the snake is representative of Christ, and the snake's head it tilted to represent death?  It seems horrific to compare Christ to the snake, but Christ himself spoke these words, and there is infinitely precious understandings here.

To more fully understand, here is Dr. John Piper explaining in video, or text.

I highly recommend you find time to listen, and understand the "type of Christ" used here by Messiah.  Once you understand, then perhaps you, like me, will be unable to gaze upon this scene without a deep stirring in your soul.

Bible in a Year Series: Moses Blows his Cool and is Subsequently Banned From the Promised Land

Bible in a Year Series - Day #62 -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 18-20.

We have just fast-forwarded 39 years, and we find that most of the adults forbidden to enter the promised land have now died.

Sadly, we now find that Moses and Aaron are now banned from entry as well because of Moses' striking the rock, rather than speaking to it.

I found my fingers unwilling to type as I was trying to understand this scene.  The Israelites have been driving this man crazy for decades, and now, because he responded out of clear disrespect to Yahweh, he is banned from the Promised Land.

Certainly, a man of Moses stature, and many years of walking with God, understands that God's precepts are to be followed to the letter.

I suppose, after scratching my head for a good while, this is an example for us that the Law is completely unlivable.  The whole purpose of the Law was to point out the sin in people's lives, and point to their desperate need of Messiah.

Perhaps, God is showing us that even His man Moses couldn't keep in his favor.

I think of Moses standing on a hill in Moab looking at the Promised Land.  What must have gone through his mind?

I then reflect on my life, and wonder what good gifts God has forbidden of me because of my conscious acts of rebellion.

It's nothing to keep me from moving forward in my sanctification journey, but it is something to ponder.

Bible in a Year Series: 100 Year Old Aaron Stands Before the Angel of Death Swinging his Censer

Bible in a Year Series - Day #61 -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 16-17.

Boy, what a day Moses and Aaron have had. 

First we are witness to an outright coup attempt from Korah and his gang, which God settles by swallowing them up in the earth, and now we see that the very next day a massive mob is poised to overthrow Moses and Aaron.

The grumbling Israelites have turned to violence against their own.  Some are still complaining about being in the wilderness, but the major rift is that some feel that Moses and Aaron have lifted themselves above the people. 

They don't understand that God has set up a priesthood, and designated Moses as God's prophet.

Unbelievably, after Korah is swallowed up by the earth, the next day the massive mob comes to accuse Moses and Aaron of killing these people. 

God gets very angry and sets his Angel of Death to work intent on killing them all.  Amazingly, Moses tells Aaron to get his censer, and the 100+ year old Aaron runs to confront the Angel of Death with the possible loss of his own life.

After 14,500 are dead, God rewards Aaron's faith, his love of Israel in spite of their attacks on him, and commands the angel to cease the slaughter.

There is so much to consider here.  I can't even begin to scratch the surface in the format I have created here.  This morning, what strikes me most is the old man Aaron swinging his censer in front of the Angel of Death. 

Clearly, as Spurgeon teaches, Aaron is a "type" of Messiah, and we all do well to understand the seriousness of sin/evil, God's total hatred of sin, and the infinite value of our intercessory High Priest.