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Numbers 28-31
Festivals, Vows,
and Vengeance
Psalm 25:14-22 Trusting God To Fix Our Troubles
14.The friendship of Yahweh is with those who fear him. He will show them his covenant/loyalty.15.My eyes are ever on Yahweh, for he will pluck my feet out of the net.16.Turn to me, and have mercy on me, for I am desolate and afflicted.17.The troubles of my heart are enlarged. Oh bring me out of my distresses.18.Consider my affliction and my travail. Forgive all my sins.19.Consider my enemies, for they are many. They hate me with cruel hatred.20.Oh keep my soul, and deliver me. Let me not be disappointed, for I take refuge in you.21.Let integrity and uprightness preserve me, for I wait for you.22.Redeem Israel, God, out all of their troubles."Observations
25:14-18.If you want to be friends with God you must be careful to do what is right in His sight (fear of the Lord). If you act loyally towards God, He will act loyally towards you. If you are unfaithful or disloyal to God, He will still be faithful to His Word (covenant promises) and discipline as appropriate (2Timothy 2:11-14). It's much better to be a faithful friend of God rather than the recipient of His wrath or discipline.
25:19-22.
David laments the affliction from his many enemies. However since he has sought forgiveness for his sins, and vowed to walk uprightly, he expresses hope and confidence in God's help and deliverance (which He gives to those who fear Him). He waits patiently for God to act, and asks God to redeem the nation out of their troubles.
Application
If we've sought God's forgiveness, we are in a position to seek His help in fixing the mess we've gotten ourselves into.
Prayer
God, You are so wonderful in forgiving sin and fixing lives which we've messed up with our sin; help me walk in integrity, and trust You for Your protection. Amen.Proverbs 7:6-9 On the Trail to Trouble
6.“For at the window of my house, I looked out through my lattice.7.I saw among the simple ones. I discerned among the youths a young man void of understanding,8.passing through the street near her corner, he went the way to her house,9.in the twilight, in the evening of the day, in the middle of the night and in the darkness.”Observations
7:6-7.David had been exhorting Solomon (7:1-5) to embrace Truth rather than trouble.
The “simple/naive” (Hebrew=open minded, empty headed), is void of understanding because he hasn't developed Biblical prejudices of what he will and won't do.
7:8-9.
Rather than planning to avoid trouble, the simpleton stupidly “marches” into it, “thinking” no one will notice in the night.
Application
If we're purposefully pursuing and practicing Truth, we will avoid a lot of trouble.
Prayer
God of Truth, order my steps so they are in the light, and give me a distaste for the dark. Amen.
Numbers 28-31 Festivals, Vows, and Vengeance
Numbers 28 Review of Festivals
1.Yahweh spoke to Moses, saying,2."Command the children of Israel, and tell them, "My offering, My food for My offerings made by fire, of a sweet savor to Me, shall you observe to offer to Me in their due season."3.You shall tell them, "This is the offering made by fire which you shall offer to Yahweh: he-lambs a year old without blemish, two day by day, for a continual burnt offering.4.The one lamb shall you offer in the morning, and the other lamb shall you offer at evening.9.On the Sabbath day two he-lambs a year old without blemish, and...11.In the beginnings of your months you shall offer a burnt offering to Yahweh:15.One male goat for a sin-offering to Yahweh; it shall be offered besides the continual burnt offering, and the drink-offering of it.16.In the first month, on the fourteenth day of the month, is Yahweh`s Passover.17.On the fifteenth day of this month shall be a feast: seven days shall unleavened bread be eaten.18.In the first day shall be a holy convocation: you shall do no servile work;19.but you shall offer23.You shall offer these besides the burnt offering of the morning, which is for a continual burnt offering.25.On the seventh day you shall have a holy convocation: you shall do no servile work.26.(Pentecost) Also in the day of the first-fruits, when you offer a new meal-offering to Yahweh in your [feast of] weeks, you shall have a holy convocation; you shall do no servile work...""Numbers 29 Festival Review Continued
1."In the seventh month, on the first day of the month, you shall have a holy convocation; you shall do no servile work: it is a day of blowing of trumpets to you.2.You shall offer a burnt offering for a sweet savor to Yahweh...5.and one male goat for a sin-offering, to make atonement for you;6.besides the burnt offering of the new moon, and...7.(Day of Atonement) On the tenth day of this seventh month you shall have a holy convocation; and you shall afflict/humble/consider your souls: you shall do no manner of work; 8 but you shall offer a burnt offering to Yahweh for a sweet savor: one young bull, one ram, seven he-lambs a year old; they shall be without blemish...11.one male goat for a sin-offering; besides the sin-offering of atonement, and the continual burnt offering, and the meal-offering of it, and their drink-offerings.12.On the fifteenth day of the seventh month you shall have a holy convocation; you shall do no servile work, and you shall keep a feast to Yahweh seven days:13.and you shall offer a burnt offering...thirteen young bulls, two rams, fourteen he-lambs a year old; they shall be without blemish;14.and their meal-offering, fine flour mingled with oil, three tenth parts for every bull of the thirteen bulls, two tenth parts for each ram of the two rams,15.and a tenth part for every lamb of the fourteen lambs;16.and one male goat for a sin-offering, besides the continual burnt offering, the meal-offering of it, and the drink-offering of it.17.On the second day20.On the third day23.On the fourth day26.On the fifth day29.On the sixth day32.On the seventh day seven bulls, two rams, fourteen he lambs a year old without blemish;33.and their meal-offering and their drink-offerings for the bulls, for the rams, and for the lambs, according to their number, after the ordinance;34.and one male goat for a sin-offering; besides the continual burnt offering, the meal-offering of it, and the drink-offering of it.35.On the eighth day you shall have a solemn assembly: you shall do no servile work;36.but you shall offer...39.These you shall offer to Yahweh in your set feasts, besides your vows, and your freewill-offerings, for your burnt offerings, and for your meal-offerings, and for your drink-offerings, and for your peace-offerings."40.Moses told the children of Israel according to all that Yahweh commanded Moses.Observation
29:1-40.God places the same festival and memorial requirements upon the new generation, so they would be mindful of what He had done for them, and what He required of them. The sacred takes priority over the secular. We need to arrange our lives around Him. Nothing new here.
Numbers 30 Vows and Consent
1.Moses spoke to the heads of the tribes of the children of Israel, saying, "This is the thing which Yahweh has commanded.2.When a man vows a vow to Yahweh, or swears an oath to bind his soul with a bond, he shall not break his word; he shall do according to all that proceeds out of his mouth.3.Also when a woman vows a vow to Yahweh, and binds herself by a bond, being in her father`s house, in her youth,4.and her father hears her vow, and her bond with which she has bound her soul, and her father holds his peace at her; then all her vows shall stand5.But if her father disallow her in the day that he hears, none of her vows, or of her bonds with which she has bound her soul, shall stand: and Yahweh will forgive her, because her father disallowed her."Observation
30:2.Since God does not go back on His word, His people may not either. A father or husband may over-ride a “rash” vow of a daughter or wife, if he does so the day he hears it. Otherwise it stands. Silence is assent.
Application
Keep your word, and Yahweh's word.
Prayer
Lord, may I always follow through on whatever I've promised to You, knowing that You are always true to Your word. Amen.
Numbers 31 Holy War
1.Yahweh spoke to Moses, saying,2."Avenge the children of Israel of the Midianites: afterward shall you be gathered to your people."3.Moses spoke to the people, saying, "Arm men from among you for the war, that they may go against Midian, to execute Yahweh`s vengeance on Midian.4.Of every tribe one thousand, throughout all the tribes of Israel, shall you send to the war.5....twelve thousand armed for war."6.Moses sent them...and Phinehas the son of Eleazar the priest, to the war, with the vessels of the sanctuary and the trumpets for the alarm in his hand.7.They warred against Midian, as Yahweh commanded Moses; and they killed every male.8.They killed the kings of Midian...also Balaam the son of Beor they killed with the sword.9.The children of Israel took captive the women of Midian and their little ones; and all their cattle, and all their flocks, and all their goods, they took for booty.10.All their cities in the places in which they lived, and all their encampments, they burnt with fire.13.Moses, and Eleazar the priest, and all the princes of the congregation, went to meet them outside of the camp.14.Moses was angry with the officers of the army, the captains of thousands and the captains of hundreds, who came from the service of the war.15.Moses said to them, "Have you saved all the women alive?16.Behold, these caused the children of Israel, through the counsel of Balaam, to commit trespass against Yahweh in the matter of Peor, and so the plague was among the congregation of Yahweh.17.Now therefore kill every male among the little ones, and kill every woman who has known man by lying with him.18.But all the girls, who have not known man by lying with him, keep alive for yourselves.19."Encamp outside of the camp seven days: whoever has killed any person, and whoever has touched any slain, purify yourselves.21.Eleazar the priest said to the men of war who went to the battle, "This is the statute of the law which Yahweh has commanded Moses:22.the gold, and the silver, the brass, the iron, the tin, and the lead,23.purify with fire (or water), and it shall be clean...24.Yahweh spoke to Moses, saying,27."divide the booty into two parts: between the men skilled in war, who went out to battle, and all the congregation.28.Levy a tribute to Yahweh of the men of war who went out to battle: one of five hundred, both of the persons, and animals29....give it to Eleazar the priest, for Yahweh's wave offering.30.Of the children of Israel's half, you shall take one drawn out of every fifty...give them to the Levites, who perform the duty of the tabernacle of Yahweh."31.Moses and Eleazar the priest did as Yahweh commanded Moses.32.Now the booty, over and above the booty which the men of war took, was 675,000 sheep, 72,000 head of cattle, 61,000 donkeys, 32,000 persons in all, of the women who had not had sex with a man.36.The half, which was the portion of those who went out to war, 337,500 sheep:37.and Yahweh's tribute of the sheep was six hundred seventy-five.38.The cattle were thirty-six thousand; of which Yahweh's tribute was seventy-two.39.The donkeys were thirty thousand five hundred; of which Yahweh's tribute was sixty-one.40.The persons were sixteen thousand; of whom Yahweh's tribute was thirty-two persons.41.Moses gave the tribute, which was Yahweh's wave offering, to Eleazar the priest, as Yahweh commanded Moses.42.Of the children of Israel's half...48.The officers49.said to Moses, "Your servants have taken the sum of the men of war who are under our command, and there lacks not one man of us.50.We have brought Yahweh's offering, what every man has gotten, of jewels of gold, armlets, and bracelets, signet rings, earrings, and necklaces, to make atonement for our souls before Yahweh."51.Moses and Eleazar the priest took the gold of them, even all worked jewels.52.All the gold of the wave offering that they offered up to Yahweh, of the captains of thousands, and of the captains of hundreds, was 16,750 shekels.54.Moses and Eleazar the priest took the gold of the captains of thousands and of hundreds, and brought it into the Tent of Meeting, for a memorial for the children of Israel before Yahweh.Observations
31:5-7.Led by Phinehas the priest and the vessels of the sanctuary, the Israelites follow Yahweh's instructions to engage in “holy” war against the pagans who led Israel astray in immoral “worship” (Num 25). Not one Israelite dies in battle!!! Clearly a sign of God's protection and direction. See Psalm 44 at the top of the post.
31:14. Initially they failed to utterly destroy the women and male children, which seems harsh unless understood in the context of eliminating the seed dedicated to Baal-peor.
31:28. The tribute to Yahweh recognizes Him as the source of the victory in which no Israelite died (31:49).
Application
Complete obedience in completely destroying the source of sin, results in complete blessing.
Prayer
God of Victory and Vengeance, may I be ruthless in eliminating both sin and its causes from my life, so I may enjoy Your blessings and protection. Amen.
Digging Deeper
God in a nutshell: God requires complete obedience, and provides complete protection for those who obey completely. He punishes both His privileged people and pagans for their failure to honor Him as the One Holy Creator God. He mandates reminders that we owe Him our best, and He blesses obedience.Us in a nutshell: We need to arrange our lives around God's plan for us, regardless of the cost. We can occasionally get it right, although not perfectly at first. Faithfully following through on all that God commands is the path to enjoyment of His benefits. We need to be ruthless in rooting sin out of our lives, and cut off association with anything or anyone that tempts us to disloyalty.
Where to go for more
Truthbase.netBible Version: Daily Truthbase Version © 2012 WF Cobb Truthbase.net. Used with permission.
Commentary: Daily Truthbase Commentary © 2012 WF Cobb Truthbase.net. Used with permission.