“The Song of Moses”
BIBLE READING: Numbers 14-15; Psalm 90 DISCUSSION The book of Psalms is simply a collection of songs that were penned primarily by David. However, the reading today has the unique designation to be attributed to Moses. This song was written as a lament of how the children of Israel had failed in the first quest of Canaan because of their lack of faith (the reading for the day in Numbers. …
“Kindling the Anger of the Lord”
DISCUSSION Why do we generally think that the grass is always greener on the other side? In Numbers 11-13, the Israelites should have things pretty much going their way; they are getting close to the Promise Land, they are enjoying manna every morning and they know that God is on their side. However, contentment has never been one of their strong points. They have begun to grow tired of the manna and now…
“Should’ve, Would’ve, Could’ve”
DISCUSSION Do you have any regrets? Maybe you had an offer to do something, buy something or invest into something; when in the moment you say no, but wished you would’ve said yes? I wonder if that is how Hobab must have felt? Hobab was the son of Reuel the Midianite, making him Moses’ brother-in-law. When the nation of Israel was making their final preparations for leaving Mount Sinai, on their…
“Bringing Your Offering”
DISCUSSION Numbers 7 is second, only to Psalm 119, in the longest chapter category. Within these 89 verses we have a lengthy description of the dedication of the Tabernacle. During this festival, each tribe was responsible for bringing an offering for use in the Tabernacle. There were 12 tribes, so the festival lasted 12 days. The offerings were given to the Tabernacle, but in essence they were given to God. They…
“PROTECTING AGAINST OUTSIDERS”
DISCUSSION In Numbers 3-4, Moses, Aaron and Aaron’s sons were to camp on the east of the tent of meeting to guard the sanctuary. If an outsider came near to the sanctuary they were put to death (Numbers 3.38-39). Why would God want the stranger to be put to death? Because not only would the stranger be a threat to spy out or take advantage of camp, they were also seen as…
”Which Way Are You Facing?”
DISCUSSION Billy loved the game of basketball, so when he heard that his elementary school was organizing a youth league he was all in. It didn’t take long before Billy became one of, if not the best basketball players in his class. When it came time for his first game, he could hardly control his excitement. As the game began, the ball was tipped into the air…
”The Use of Vows”
DISCUSSION Facing death, even hardened atheists are known to pray. Throughout human history, when men have found themselves in dire straits they have prayed for deliverance and made vows to God, promising to do something for God if He rescued them. The Old Testament gives a number of examples of men making vows in such circumstances. Jacob, fleeing from his brother, offered to tithe his goods if God brought him home safely (Genesis 28:20ff). …
”Return Every Man His Possession”
DISCUSSION This took place during the year of Jubilee. Every 50th year all land was given back to its original owner. If a man had to sell his land or himself to pay debts, all was returned at the year of Jubilee. Every Israelite would be returned to his ancestral lands which belonged to his forebears. God was the actual owner of all the land, and any Israelite in possession of it was…
”What of the Deformed?”
DISCUSSION Chapters like Leviticus 22 and 23, and many others in this book, form the background to much New Testament teaching. Christ is both the perfect priest and the perfect victim. His bride is the church, whom he is sanctifying to make her “without spot or wrinkle or any such thing, that she might be holy and without blemish” (Ephesians 5:27). We see here that the demand for holiness…
”Be Holy Unto The Lord”
DISCUSSION “You must be holy, for I am the Lord your God am holy” could be described as the motto of Leviticus. This motto reminds Israel of its fundamental calling to be a “holy nation” (Exodus 19:6). The people of Israel are to imitate God, whose essential nature is holiness. Holiness is thus not so much an abstract or a mystic idea, as a principle that regulates everyday life. Holiness is thus attained not…
”Handling Disease”
DISCUSSION Leviticus 14-15 deals not with the cure of leprosy, but with the ceremonies affecting the reception of the healed person back into the communion with the covenant people and his re-admission to the status that he formerly held in the community and within his family. These complicated rituals are admittedly very ancient and their appearance here is altogether consistent with their having been included here, at God’s command, by Moses himself. Medical knowledge was…
”What shall we eat?”
DISCUSSION Have you ever wondered how people learned what they could and couldn’t eat? Some animals are poisonous while others are harmless. The same is true with plants. I have often thought that people ate things then others saw their reaction to it and knew not to eat that plant or animal. In our Leviticus 11-13 we see that God did list clean and unclean animals for the Jews. Even today there are…