MARCH 8- Numbers 10-11:23; Mark 14:1-21; Psalm 51:1-19; Proverbs 10:31-32
OLD TESTAMENT READING: Numbers 10- 11:23
It may seem as if we were on hold in the plains of Sinai for over a month of reading (from Exodus 19, through the Book of Leviticus, up until today’s readings in Numbers 10). Today we return to the forward movement of the drama. Although the action slowed down at Sinai, where the Israelites camped for almost two full years, all the details of God’s commands, the moral, civil and ceremonial code, significantly inform the remaining narrative of the Bible.
PREPARATION FOR THE JOURNEY
The Lord has made it known that He is a holy God. He holds the people of Israel in a merciful covenant of self-disclosure. He will be their God and they will be His people, His treasured possession (Exodus 19:5). Through them and their Seed, His promise of redemption will be advanced, transmitted to all nations and ultimately fulfilled.
The first part of the Law spoke of the demands of God’s Holiness (Exodus 20-24). The second part of the Law spoke of how those demands will be fulfilled in the Tabernacle (Exodus 25-31:18; 35:1-3). The Law points us to our need for grace. In the provision of His grace, the law is fulfilled.
The Tabernacle represents the perfect life and ministry of our Great High Priest, the mediator of the New Covenant, Jesus Christ. In Him, God finds the Holy Place He is looking for in humanity. In Him God finds a new man. God’s redemptive work is accomplished in the Holiest of All, the Son of God, the Word made flesh who would tabernacle among us and manifest His glory (John 1:14).
The Tabernacle in the Wilderness is set up on the first day of the first month of the second year. Offerings for the altar are received for 12 days. (Numbers 7:78) and on the 14th day the nation celebrates the Second Passover in history, the first as a memorial to the actual event.
On the first day of the second month, God initiates a plan to organize and prepare His people for their advance into the Promised Land. The first census begins (Numbers 1:1) numbering the fighting men. The second census numbers the Levites and organizes the tribes of Gershon, Kohath and Merari (Numbers 3:16). A third census was taken of the firstborn of the people of Israel to assure that an appointed substitute from among the Levites was standing in for each one (Numbers 3:40).
God is able to mold the mob into a well organized congregation, with each member knowing their place and duties when the time came for the march. Particular duties for the dissembling, portage, and assembly of the Tabernacle were assigned to the tribes of Kohath, Gershon, and Merari. The Tabernacle was central and first in their considerations when the time came to move or camp. No one would camp until the Tabernacle was assembled. In the procession the Ark, carried on the shoulders of the Kohathites would lead the way following the cloud (Numbers 10:33).
The Ark is the chest made of acacia wood (uncorrupted humanity) covered with gold (deity) that carried the testimony of the Unbroken Tables of Stone (Matt 5:17- the Law Fulfilled), the Manna (the Bread from heaven- John 6:35), and later, the Rod that Budded (The Resurrection and the Life - John 11:25).
Unlike the other sacred items of the Tabernacle which had the blue cloth underneath the goat skin, the Ark of the Covenant had the veil and goatskin underneath and the blue cloth on the outside. Blue represents heaven. Jesus is the only man since Adam with an open heaven. Like the ark, He leads us as the Pioneer of the Heavenly Way.
THE LAST DETAIL: THE SILVER TRUMPETS
The Lord is preparing His people for the challenges ahead. Clear communication is of great importance. More than 600, 000 men, plus women and children and some others, known as “a mixed multitude” (Exodus 12:38) who had come from Egypt were to be mobilized quickly and in an orderly fashion.
To assure that they would understand their marching orders and the intended purpose of their movements, clear signals would be given on silver trumpets.
"Make yourself two trumpets of silver, of hammered work you shall make them; and you shall use them for summoning the congregation and for having the camps set out.
(Numbers 10:2;(NASB)
(Numbers 10:2;(NASB)
The word for ‘trumpets’ here is ‘chatsotrah’- which indicated a long straight narrow trumpet with an expanded mouth. (There is another word for trumpet in the Old Testament, shofar, which is a ram’s horn, but it is not the ram’s horn that is used here.) The trumpets were to be of beaten silver. Silver, as we have seen, is a consistent symbol of redemption in the Bible, in that it was the silver shekel that was used “to redeem” the sons of Israel (Numbers 3:46).
If only one trumpet sounded, it would be a call for the leaders to assemble.
If the two trumpets sounded together, it was a call to all the people.
The children of Israel were all instructed as how to distinguish and recognize the different meanings of the trumpet blasts.
The trumpet alerted the people for the following redemptive purposes:
1. TO ASSEMBLE together as a congregation (Numbers 10:2) (Hebrews 10:25)
2. TO ADVANCE; Setting out under the leadership of the cloud (Numbers 10:2) (Matt 28:19-20)
3. TO BATTLE. It is an alarm signaling an attack; “an enemy oppressing you;” It is a cry of prayer (Numbers 10:9) (Eph. 6:18)
4. TO CELEBRATE. This is a signal of your desire to show joyful gratitude to God for your days of gladness and at times when you make offerings at appointed feasts and New Moon festivals. It is a cry of praise (Numbers 10:10)
THE STORYLINE ADVANCES
With the last instruction pertaining to the trumpets given to the people, the cloud moves on the twentieth day of the second month or the second year after the Exodus. The people set out for the first time with the tabernacle!
11 Now in the second year, in the second month, on the twentieth of the month, the cloud was lifted from over the tabernacle of the testimony; 12 and the sons of Israel set out on their journeys from the wilderness of Sinai. Then the cloud settled down in the wilderness of Paran. 13 So they moved out for the first time according to the commandment of the LORD through Moses.
THE SETTING OUT (Numbers 10:11-28)
It could have been a chaotic mess if it had not been for the law of God and the specific instruction pertaining to tribal leadership, banners, signals, encampments and procession order.
However when the time came to set out, the procession went smoothly. The tribe of Judah set out first, with the rest of the encampment on the eastern side following; the tribes of Issachar and Zebulun. Then, the tabernacle fabrics and framework were packed up by the Gershonites and Merarites who carried their cargo on the carts that had been given them by the other tribe’s leaders (Numbers 7:1-8). The Southern flank under the standard of Reuben followed, with the tribes of Simeon and Gad behind them. Then came the Kohathites carrying the sacred objects of the Tabernacle on wooden staves covered with gold. (It was forbidden to carry them any other way but on the shoulders of the Kohathites (Numbers 7:9).
The marching of the Kohathites with the sacred objects of the Sanctuary on their shoulders is a picture of the privilege and responsibility of believer-priests to personally shoulder the cross, our identification with Christ, and thereby bear His presence in the wilderness of this world--- His exchanged life (the altar), the water of His Word (the laver), His Light, as the Light of the World (the lampstand), His fellowship with and in His people (the table of showbread), His perfect worship and prayer before the Father (The Altar of Incense), and the merits of His perfect finished work of redemption that brings us the witness of His glorious presence (the ark of the covenant).
The Camp of Ephraim on the West followed, with the tribes of Manassah and Benjamin following. Finally, the rear guard for all the unites, the northern flank under the standard of the tribe of Dan, set out, with tribes of Asher and Naphtali following.
The Kohathites, carrying the ark of the covenant, must have made their way to the front.
Thus they set out from the mount of the LORD three days' journey, with the ark of the covenant of the LORD journeying in front of them for the three days, to seek out a resting place for them. (Numbers 10:33; NASB)
The Headship, leadership and pioneering of Christ is seen in the preeminence given to the ark
.
In verse 35, the ark is identified with the movement of the cloud. Whenever the ark set out, Moses said,
“Rise up, O LORD! May your enemies be scattered!”
Whenever the ark came to rest, Moses said,
“Return, O LORD to the countless thousands of Israel.” (Numbers 10:36)
We will hear these phrases repeated again in future generations as we travel through the Old Testament.
1 Let God arise, let His enemies be scattered, And let those who hate Him flee before Him. (Psalm 68:1 (NASB)
Moses invites his Midianite brother-in-law, Hobab, to join the journey. At first, Moses invites him to come with him and assures him that he would do him good, for that is what the Lord has promised Israel. But Hobad refuses, preferring his own land and people. Moses repeats the invitation challenging Hobad to put his knowledge to good use. Hobad was familiar with the land and could tell them where to camp and be “as eyes” for them. It was a call to service, to sacrifice, and to use his gifts to help others, more akin to the call of Jesus to His disciples. It would appear that Hobad finally responded to this call and joined the journey for we read of his descendants in Judges 4:11.
The wisdom of Moses extending this invitation is debated. Was Moses forgetting that it was the Lord who would be the eyes of Israel and that it was the cloud that would determine where to camp?
THE TABERAH FIRE- THE MURMURING THAT CAUSES GOD’S ANGER TO BURN
Some people don’t travel well. The children of Israel long were complaining within three days after miraculously crossing the Red Sea. They had complained about the water at Marah (Exodus 15:22- 26). Two years later, they are found complaining once again. On the heels of a triumphant march with the supernatural manifestation of the Presence of the Lord in the pillar of cloud and fire, the Lord detects their “heart murmur”.
It is important to note that all of our complaints, no matter how private, are within the Lord’s hearing (Numbers 11:1). Our words reflect our thoughts, preoccupations and perspectives.
The Lord mercifully warns them of His anger at their unbelief by consuming the outskirts of the camp.
The rabble (mixed multitude, those foreigners who came with them from Egypt- Exodus 12:38) who had “greed desires” and the sons of Israel stirred up strife with their complaints. These become the “rabble-rousers” in the community. Sins of the tongue spread like wildfire. God’s warning of the wildfire did not curtail the griping. Instead of setting their affections and minds on things above and the miraculous provisions and sure promises of God, they fanaticized about Egypt. Saying nothing of the slavery, the lashes and beatings they endured under their task masters there, they reflected on the salad bars in the slaves’ canteen with free fish, and a choice of five sides: cucumbers, melons, leeks, onions and garlic!
The manna is a picture of Christ, the living bread from heaven (John 6:51). But the people complained. “Now our strength is dried up, and there is nothing at all but this manna (Christ) to look at.” (Numbers 11:6).
How sad it is to know that we can become familiar with the miraculous presence of Christ in our lives. Hearts can turn cold. They can refer to the manna. They look at the manna, but their diseased appetites no longer hunger to partake of Him.
It is when our strength is dried up that we need to look to Christ, our bread from heaven and partake of Him. We should know where our strength comes from.
The heart murmuring now turns to a roar with people weeping at the doors of their tents (11:10). Moses is so discouraged by the burden of leadership that he asks the Lord to either help him or kill him (11:15).
THE PROPHESYING OF THE SEVENTY
How was Moses to encourage the troops whose minds were set on things below and could not see the good of what God had done or was doing in their midst?
The Lord asked Moses to gather seventy elders so that they could encourage the people with their words which would come from the same Spirit that inspired Moses. As soon as the Spirit rested on them, the seventy began to prophecy which must have provided some encouragement to the people. Sadly, the seventy did not continue doing it. (Numbers 11:25).The Scriptures do not tell us why, but the overall message of the remaining chapters hint that it was a resistance in their hearts to believe the Word of God. You cannot prophecy the Spirit-wrought encouragement of the Lord through the spoken word very long if you don’t have a heart to believe it.
NEW TESTAMENT READING: MARK 14
SHE HAS DONE WHAT SHE COULD
Jesus said that “wherever the gospel is preached in the whole world”, the story would also be told of what Mary did when she was with Jesus in the house of Simon the Leper in Bethany. She broke the alabaster box of perfume and anointed his head with the costly ointment of spikenard.
This statement is amazing as we consider that Jesus prophesies with confidence that His message would be preached “in the whole world” and that Mary of Bethany would be spoken of in the context of telling the story. Her act, so highly praised and considered a suitable adjunct to the gospel, is not one of contributing to some social work among the needy, or even a display of love for neighbor, as admirable as that might be. It is an act of pouring out all that she had, while given the opportunity, in devotion to Christ. It must have been her most costly possession (it was a hope chest of sorts) and she voluntarily expended it all upon Jesus. No other day in her life, no other person, no other work, no other cause or investment was more worthy than this one, Jesus.
Jesus’ own disciples were indignant at her deed. They scolded her. But Jesus saw it as a praise-worthy act of worship reflecting true spiritual discernment. The disciples protested: “To what purpose is this waste?” (Mark 14:4; 26:8). The Gospel of John tells us that it was Judas who said “Why was this perfume not sold for 300 denarii and given to the poor?” The apostle John indicates that Judas said this not because he was concerned for the poor, but because he was in charge of the money and helped himself to it as he pleased (John 12:6). But Mark and Matthew point out that ALL the disciples were bewildered and bothered by Mary’s extravagant worship and thought of it as being ‘excessive’.
Jesus does not discourage us from giving to the poor. He explains:
"For you always have the poor with you, and whenever you wish you can do good to them; but you do not always have Me. 8 "She has done what she could; she has anointed My body beforehand for the burial. (Mark 14:7-8, NASB)
We don’t know how many opportunities we will have to show our love to Jesus in this world. Let’s seize the moment and give Him our all while we can.
JUDAS’ BETRAYAL
Jesus announces that one of His disciples would betray Him. You can feel a heaviness of sorrow come upon each disciple as your read Mark’s brief account of the Last Supper. We can understand. Our own hearts are capable of treachery. “Lord, is it I?” (Matthew 26:22)
But Jesus would go to the cross to deal with treacherous hearts.
“For the Son of Man is to go just as it is written of Him.” Jesus rests in what the Word says about the necessity of His atoning sacrifice to bring a rescue to the human race.
The next line is a sober reminder of the reality of hell. If hell did not exist this sentence would not make sense:
“But woe to that man by whom the Son of man is betrayed! It would have been good FOR THAT MAN if he had not been born.” (Mark 14:21)
If there were nothing beyond this life it would not make sense that it would be better FOR JUDAS himself, had he not been born.
PSALM 51- THE PSALM OF REPENTANCE
I remember meeting Bahkt Singh, who was used of God to spearhead a church planting movement throughout India. He told me that Psalm 51 is a good psalm to read on your knees. I have done so many times. It is David’s psalm of repentance and we all need to exercise the gift of turning to the Lord.
There is no real joy without repentance.
Blessed are those who mourn (their sin), for they shall be comforted. The poor in spirit will put all their trust in the One who bore their sins upon the cross and offers a new life, with a new heart, through the gospel.
"Create in me a clean heart, O God, And renew a steadfast spirit within me. Do not cast me away from Your presence And do not take Your Holy Spirit from me. Restore to me the joy of Your salvation And sustain me with a willing spirit." (Psalm 51:10-12; NASB)
"The sacrifices of God are a broken spirit; A broken and a contrite heart, O God, You will not despise." (Psalm 51:17; NASB)
Pastor David
So, naturally, we proclaim Christ! We warn everyone we meet, and we teach everyone we can, all that we know about him, so that, if possible, we may bring every man up to his full maturity in Christ. (Colossians 1:28, J.B. Phillips paraphrase)
New Life Community Church, Concord, MA 10742
Meeting Sundays at 10:30 AM at the Emerson Umbrella for the Arts, 40 Stow Street, Concord MA
Mailing Address: Post Office Box Five, Concord, MA 01742
Church Offices: 35 Bypass Rd. Lincoln, MA 01773 978-369-0061
Home Office: 978-371-3176
New Life Fine Arts
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