Blessings

O. T. #310  "Blessings"
June 26, 2014
Numbers 6-Part 2
The Lord bless and keep thee.  Numbers 6:24

LET IT GLOW

Who doesn't want the blessings of the Lord? Yet there are responsibilities that go along with receiving those blessings. Are we willing to be faithfully sold out to God? The Israelites were given the choice.

Previously we discussed the Nazarite vow which the Israelites could choose to commit to the Lord. We read in verses 22-27 a beautiful benediction. If Israel was obedient, organized and consecrated to the Lord , they would be recipient of God's blessings (His favor) pronounced by the priests.

The Lord's blessing is described as God shining His face upon His people (verse 25), and His looking at them (verse 26).

The result of God's blessings were:

• His preservation of Israel (keep),
• His kindness toward her (be gracious, verse 25),
• her total well-being (peace, verse 26).

The name of the Lord represented His person and character. The priests were to call for God to dwell among His people and meet all their needs.


LET IT GROW

This was probably the blessing the people were waiting to hear the priest Zechariah utter (Luke 1:21-22) when he was struck mute by the angel Gabriel. (Falwell)

Clarke's Commentary says this about the prayer:

• May God speak good unto thee, by giving thee His excellent promises! May He preserve thee from all evil.
• May the Holy Trinity illuminate thy heart, pardoning thy sins.
• May God commune with thee and prosper thee.

Christians are to be separated from the world, dedicated solely to the service of God. We are to live a life of self-denial, obedient to the Holy Spirit, denounce the sinful lusts of the flesh, and walk in the same all the days of our life.

Are we that committed? How much do we want the blessings of God?


LET IT GO

Follow the Lord Jesus and His teachings.

Keep any vows made unto the Lord.

Thank and bless the Lord for all He has done for me.

Vows

O. T. #309  "Vows"
June 25, 2014
Numbers 6
Speak unto the children of Israel, and say unto them, When either man or woman shall separate themselves to vow a vow of a Nazarite, to separate themselves unto the LORD...
Numbers 6:2


LET IT GLOW

Are you keeping your wedding vows? Did you dedicate your children unto the Lord? Is there a vow you promised to fulfill unto the Lord Jesus? We find out more about taking vows in this chapter.

We read the last chapter which dealt with the cleansing of the camp by dealing with the unclean and sinful. In this chapter, we read about the consecration to the Lord was possible for all Israelites.

Although only the family of Aaron could be priests, any man or woman could be "priestly" (dedicated to God's service) for a time (from a month to a lifetime) by means of the vow of a Nazarite. Such a vow was made by people usually devout toward God and dedicated to His service.
(MacArthur)

In verse 2, the first vow, nadir (pronounced naw-dar') in Hebrew, means to promise (to do something to God); make a vow.
The second vow, neder (pronounced nay'-der) in Hebrew, means a promise (to God), also a thing promised.
It sounds like the difference between the two words is that the first one is a verb and the second is a noun.

According to The MacArthur Bible Commentary, the word Nazarite transliterates a Hebrew term meaning dedication by separation.
The Nazarite separated himself to the Lord by separating himself from:

1. grape products (verses 3,4)
2. the cutting of one's hair (6:5)
3. contact with a dead body (verses 6,7).

The priest was also forbidden:

1. to drink wine while serving in the tabernacle (Lev. 10:9) and
2. to touch dead bodies (Lev. 21:11).

Both the high priest's crown (Ex.29:6) and the Nazarite's head (verses 9,18) are referred to by the same Hebrew word. The Nazarite's hair was like the high priest's crown. Like the high priest, the Nazarite was holy to the Lord (verse 8) all the days (verses 4-6,8) of his vow. (MacArthur)


LET IT GROW

Liberty Bible Commentary explains the meanings of those three prohibitions in the Nazarite vow:

1. He was prohibited from drinking any fruit of the vine (verse 3). Wine was the symbol for joy (Ps. 104:15), but the Nazarite was to receive his joy from God alone.
2. He was not to cut his hair (verse 5). In the New Testament (1 Cor.11:14) Paul states that long hair for a man was a shame and disgrace. It may be that by this method the Nazarite male could both understand and demonstrate the reproach of the Lord.
3. He was not to come into contact with a dead body (verse 6). Physical death, of course, was a direct result of Adam's rebellion against God (Gen. 2:17). The Nazarite vow was so binding that one could not attend the funeral even of a loved family member.

Verses 9-12 give instructions on what the Nazarite was to do if he broke his vow. Verses 13-21 discuss the procedures to be followed by the Nazarite upon completion of his vow.

There were several well-known biblical Nazarites. Samson is, perhaps, the most famous (Judges 13:5,7; 16:17). It would appear the prophet Samuel also became one (1 Sam. 1:11-28). In the New Testament,  John the Baptist immediately comes to mind (Luke 1:15), and the Apostle Paul (Acts 18:18).

Is there something that we consider such a serious thing, so important that we would take the Nazarite vow for a given time? God would bless our commitment. We will find out tomorrow about it.
Do we take seriously our vows which we hold make unto the Lord?

Deuteronomy 23:21 states, when thou shalt vow a vow unto the LORD thy God, thou shalt not slack to pay it: for the LORD thy God will surely require it of thee; and it would be sin in thee.


LET IT GO

Keep the vows I make unto the Lord God.

Follow the Holy Spirit's leading and obey.

Look for His blessings.

Silly Things

O. T. #308  "Silly Things"
June 24, 2014
Numbers 5
Abstain from all appearance of evil. 1 Thessalonians 5:22

LET IT GLOW

I like to do silly things. When pictures are taken of me, I realize people everywhere can possibly see them. I have posed in a swinging tree vine, on a toy motorcycle, a cardboard roller coaster, and riding on a luggage cart. However, I am careful not to compromise my Christian testimony.
Just a warning to you and me, there are folks out there who take joy in a Christian falling into a sinful lifestyle. There are people who want to tempt us to sin. There are others who wait to spread gossip about us. Some even make up lies to spread. So keep your radar up, eyes open. Be careful where you walk and with whom you walk. We should always honor the Lord Jesus with our life.

Cleansing, consecration, and commission are covered in chapters 5-10. In this chapter, we read about the purity to be established in the camp of the Israelites. They were told to "be holy for God is holy" over a dozen times in the previous book of Leviticus. Now this admonition is put into effect. There were three types of individuals who were to be put out of the camp in order to assure the purity of the people:

1. the leper, which pictures the awfulness and ugliness of sin;
2. the one with a running issue, reminded the people of sin unhealed and taking its toll;
3. the one defiled by the dead, was a reminder of the ultimate result of sin, eternal death.

[Resources: Liberty Bible Commentary, Irving Jensen's Journey to God's Rest-Land]

The first four verses deal with the outward, visible defects, the leper, discharge, and corpse. All of these prohibitions had sensible health benefits as well as serving to illustrate the need for moral cleanliness when approaching God. god's holy presence in the cloud in the tabernacle demanded cleanness. Therefore, all the unclean were barred from the encampment of Israel.

The next six verses, deal with personal sins, which are not as outwardly visible as the uncleanness in the previous four verses. A sin committed against God's people was considered a sin committed against God Himself. There was a need for confession and restitution in addition to the trespass offering (Lev. 5:14-6:7). (MacArthur)

LET IT GROW

The sin of adultery and jealousy due to suspicion of such is dealt with in these verses. Both the man and woman involved in adultery were to be put to death, according to Leviticus 20:10. However, when there was no proof of such happening, the woman was to be tested to reveal her guilt or innocence. Could this be the first lie detector test?

If the woman's belly swelled after drinking the holy water mixed with dust from the tabernacle floor, the woman was proven guilty of adultery. Both the man and woman's names were blotted out of the priest's book which was written of curses and offenders.

1 Thessalonians 5:22 says, Abstain from all appearance of evil.

Does this chapter not show us the importance of our actions? Even the appearance of evil or sin is to be avoided. We should always be on guard for what others might think of us or what we are doing, so it does not hurt our reputation. People are watching us. Some want to point fingers in judgment. Others scheme to cause us to fall into sin. Beware!

 LET IT GO

Watch what I say and do, so it does not appear to be sin, and dishonor my Lord Jesus.

Beware of traps to cause me to sin.

June 23, 2014

Good morning Friends,

Thank you for your prayers, dear friends. We are back home, safe and sound after spending a week on a mission trip in the Dominican Republic. However, due to a lightning storm Friday in Miami, we missed our flight and had to spend the night in the airport in Chicago. So I am still trying to catch up on my sleep and laundry. I will post a lesson on Tuesday.

So here is a summation of our trip:

• I taught 22 children in Sunday School and my husband preached the morning worship service.
• Monday-Wednesday mornings, I taught Vacation Bible School to 43 children each morning.
• There were 10 children saved.
• We had preschool, children, and youth classes.
• In the afternoons, our team made reading glasses for the adults at the church.
• There were 11 adults saved.
• After 2 attempts, we showed the "Jesus" film on a basketball court to the community.
• The little church was packed for Wed. night commencement with parents and children. 
• The people and children were very receptive of us this year. Last year was our first time to be in Monte Christi, so they were skeptical.
• On Wed. afternoon, we got to spend some time at the beautiful beach, r and r.
• Three of us flew back home, while the husband of one joined the team for one more week of the same mission work in another town 3 hours away.

Please pray for our mission team this week. Most of the were sick last week, but continued to serve. The weather there is very hot. Please pray for rain in the D.R. It has been months since they had any.

 Also, remember (Daniel)'s father who is very ill. They are our contact in the D.R.. Daniel serves as Hispanic missionary in our association. It is very difficult for them to leave family to serve the Lord in the USA.

I tried to send a picture while there, but it must have gotten lost. You can see me on Facebook.

Return tomorrow as we pick up in Numbers.

In His Service,
Linda Robins

Friends,
Please pray for us this week. We fly out early this morning to the Dominican Republic on a mission trip. We are returning to the same city as last year. I will be teaching the children's Sunday School class and then VBS Monday -Wednesday mornings.

Our team will be preaching in worship services, making glasses to give away, and showing the Jesus film in evenings. We will be sharing the gospel every day.

My husband and I will be returning next Friday, but the rest of the team will go to another city to minister the gospel for that week.
I especially need your prayers for my health during this time.

Thanks so much, sweet ones.

In His Service,
Linda

Moving

O. T. #307  "Moving"
June 12, 2014
Numbers 4
From thirty years old and upward even until fifty years old, all that enter into the host, to do the work in the tabernacle of the congregation.  Numbers 4:3

LET IT GLOW

I can't count the number of times we have moved on my fingers and toes. The hardest part was not physically moving the heavy furniture, but leaving behind those whom we developed relationships.

Here is the second census taken of the tribe of Levi. All the Levites from 30-50 years old in service added up to 8,580. It determined who would carry the Tabernacle on the coming journey to Canaan. Only those between the ages of thirty and fifty were called by the Lord for this task. (MacArthur)

Kohath, son of Levi, carried the furnishings of the Tabernacle only after they were covered by Aaron and his sons. This responsibility was passed down to his sons.
The sons of Kohath were given the most important task in the care of the Tabernacle. It was the sacred furniture and vessels which they were responsible for, since Moses and Aaron were of that tribe.
When moving the Tabernacle furniture, the Kohathites bore (carried) it on their shoulders, with poles. They bore the weight between them. They were to not touch anything holy.

Some four centuries later King David would transgress this law with dire consequences when he attempted to bring the Ark of the Covenant into Jerusalem on a new cart instead of the Levites carrying it with poles upon their shoulders between them (2 Sam.6).

Full grown men who were stout and strong so they could easily carry the heavy furniture.

Do we bear the weight of the gospel, sharing it with others?
Do we follow God's instructions for our life?
 

LET IT GROW

Jesus was age thirty whenever He began His ministry. Luke 3:23 records Jesus' baptism at age thirty.
Of course, we know that His ministry only lasted three years before He died on the cross. But oh the influence and deeds He did in only three years.

What would we do if we knew we only had three years to live?

LET IT GO

Carry the gospel where Jesus leads.

Move when He says move.

Live for Jesus now.
 

Patriarchal or Matriarchal?

O. T. #306  "Patriarchal or Matriarchal?"
June 11, 2014
Numbers 3-Part 2
Moses took the redemption money of them that were over and above them that were redeemed by the Levites.  Numbers 3:49

LET IT GLOW

I don't know about your family, but mine is a patriarchal. After my grandfather passed away, my dad, the oldest son, took over as leader. Now that they are gone, my only uncle seems to be the leader of our family. I think it is a good system to have for families. We were not meant to be a matriarchal society. I don't think women are meant to be leaders in our government nor family. Let the men step up to lead us, and the women submit to them.

What do we learn about the Levite family?

• The three sons of Levi were Gershon, Kohath, and Merari. (verse 17)
• Aaron, Miriam, and Moses were descendants of Levi through his son Kohath. (1 Chr. 6:1-2; 23:13)
• The Gershonites were responsible for the tent and coverings of the Tabernacle; they numbered 7,500.
• The Kohathites were responsible for the furniture and vessels of the Tabernacle; they numbered 8,600.
• The Merarites were in charge of the frames, boards, pillars, and sockets of the Tabernacle; they numbered 6,200.
• They were appointed to set up and take down the Tabernacle when it was moved.
• The total number of the descendants of Levi's three sons was 22,300 of the first-born males age 1 month and up. (verse 39,43)
• Eleazar, the son of Aaron the high priest, became chief of the Levites. Later, he became the second high priest, replacing Aaron (20:25).

LET IT GROW

What was the importance of the Levites?

•  All the first-born man and beast of Israel belonged to the LORD. (verse 13)
• The Levites became a substitute for them. They were servants in the Tabernacle instead of the first-born males of all the tribes. The Levites redeemed and liberated those from their special relationship and responsibility toward the Tabernacle.
• One Levite was accepted for one of the first-born. Since there were 273 more first-born than Levites, money was given for this number. (verses 46-47) This was accordance to the law found in Leviticus 27.
• The redemption money was given to Aaron and his sons (verses 49-51).

As I have said before, Jesus is our Redeemer. He took our place as He died on the cross in payment for our sins. He knew no sin, so Jesus was the perfect Sacrificial Lamb of God.
Is He your Redeemer? Have you asked Him to be? To forgive you of your sins?


LET IT GO

Sing praises to my Redeemer.

Share the redemption story with my family and others.

Be submissive to the men leading my family.