LET US SING

 Bill Fitzhenry's Thoughts For Today…

Understanding important truths from the Bible…. 

LET US SING            

 

Deuteronomy 31:30    NKJV

Then Moses spoke in the hearing of all the assembly of Israel the words of this song until they were ended:

Revelation 15:3

 They sing the song of Moses, the servant of God, and the song of the Lamb, saying: 

There are 237 references to song and singing in the Scriptures.  These references are so frequent and plain that the Reformers, Zwingli, Luther, and Calvin saw a return to congregational singing to be a necessity for the Church.  They differed as to content and accompaniment, but not the need for this benefit of worship in the church. 

The Song in Deuteronomy 32 is the second Song of Moses.  The difference in the songs does not lie in the theology of the content but the subjects with which they are concerned. 

The first song in Exodus 15 is one of victory.  Egypt is defeated.  God has triumphed gloriously and He gives the same victory to His people.  This song in chapter 32 is about God’s faithfulness, His longsuffering, Israel’s apostasy, and the judgment which results from that apostasy. 

The song of Moses is mentioned again.  In Revelation 15:3 the heavenly martyrs are viewed in victory singing the song of Moses, the servant of God, and the  ”song of the Lamb”.  We are not told which of Moses’ songs are intended.  That in itself is of no consequence.  It is important that the New Testament writer understood that Moses wrote songs. 

George Eldon Ladd wrote, “In this time of great tribulation when the beast seemed to have unlimited power to enforce his demonic purpose upon man and persecute the saints – in the darkest hour of human history when it truly seemed that Satan was the God of this age…The martyrs sing a hymn of praise to God, recognizing that He is the true and living God.  They exalt the name of God because, contrary to outward appearances, He is indeed the King of all the ages, including the time of martyrdom.  This song is one of the most moving expressions of faith in the entire biblical literature.”  Revelation, Ladd, pg 205

A Song To The Lamb 

O could I speak the matchless worth,

O could I sound the glories forth which in my Savior shine,

I’d soar, and touch the heav’nly strings and vie with Gabriel,

While he sings in notes almost divine.

I’d sing the precious blood He spilt,
My ransom from the dreadful guilt of sin, and wrath divine;
I’d sing His glorious righteousness, in which all perfect, heavenly dress
My soul shall ever shine, my soul shall ever shine.

I’d sing the characters He bears,
And all the forms of love He wears, exalted on His throne;
In loftiest songs of sweetest praise, I would to everlasting days
Make all His glories known, make all His glories known.

Soon, the delightful day will come
When my dear Lord will bring me home, and I shall see His face;
Then with my Savior, Brother, Friend, a blessèd eternity I’ll spend,
Triumphant in His grace, triumphant in His grace.

Application:

1.  Singing allows emotions in worship.
2. The content of our singing is dictated by Scripture.

COVENANT JUDGMENT

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COVENANT JUDGMENT                

Deuteronomy 28:64-64 WITH CHAPTER 27-28 NKJV

⁶⁴ “Then the Lord will scatter you among all peoples, from one end of the earth to the other, and there you shall serve other gods, which neither you nor your fathers have known—wood and stone.

⁶⁵ And among those nations you shall find no rest, nor shall the sole of your foot have a resting place; but there the Lord will give you a trembling heart, failing eyes, and anguish of soul. 

The Bible teaches God’s judgment on the nations.  The first occurrence of this was “the flood”.  Another illustration is the destruction of Sodom and Gomorrah.  The destruction of Egypt and the overthrow of the nation in Canaan are also lessons of the consistency of this judgment. 

There appears to be a gradation in depravity before God exercises judgment.  There is first the condition of little or no civilization.  This is the condition that prevailed before and at the time of “the flood”.  Judgment was slow in coming and there was ample warning but destruction was complete. 

Again there is the condition of civilization.  Sodom and Gomorrah were organized and civilized entities.  They had the leadership and trappings of an organized society.  When judgment came it was swift and thorough.  There was no preaching in Sodom and no time for repentance. 

There is a third grade of judgment.  That is when it applies to those in Covenant with God.  Israel qualified for this.  It is necessary to realize no catastrophe has happened to Israel that they have not had ample forewarning. 

Moses states plainly to Israel that they have the rich blessing of God by being in covenant with him.  Along with the promised blessings come the uncompromised curses that will result from disobedience to the Covenant which they entered at Horeb. 

There are no other statements so overwhelming in their graphic description of the judgment Israel will face for departure from Covenant obedience as that in Deuteronomy 27-28.  They are so overwhelming they are difficult to read.  They are so true to the experience of Israel that liberal Bible scholars claim they were written around 200 BC.  But that doesn’t help answer for their accuracy.  These curses continue on Israel to the present day. 

A careful study of Jewish history Post-AD should convince the Bible student of the judgment pronounced by Moses on this people.  This judgment they cannot escape. 

Political correctness cannot exonerate them or provide relief for their misery.  The only hope for relief for a Jew is repentance and faith in Christ, not as the Savior of Israel, but as the only Savior of poor lost sinners. 

Application:

1. We are no better than they.
2. What a great judgment is due a Gospel-enlightened western civilization.

SHARING WITH THE POOR

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SHARING WITH THE POOR                       

Deuteronomy 23:24-25; 24:19-22 Mark 2:23 NKJV

²⁴ “When you come into your neighbor’s vineyard, you may eat your fill of grapes at your pleasure, but you shall not put any in your container.

²⁵ When you come into your neighbor’s standing grain, you may pluck the heads with your hand, but you shall not use a sickle on your neighbor’s standing grain.

Deuteronomy 24

¹⁹ “When you reap your harvest in your field, and forget a sheaf in the field, you shall not go back to get it; it shall be for the stranger, the fatherless, and the widow, that the Lord your God may bless you in all the work of your hands.

²⁰ When you beat your olive trees, you shall not go over the boughs again; it shall be for the stranger, the fatherless, and the widow.

²¹ When you gather the grapes of your vineyard, you shall not glean it afterward; it shall be for the stranger, the fatherless, and the widow.

²² And you shall remember that you were a slave in the land of Egypt; therefore I command you to do this thing.

Mark 2:23

²³ Now it happened that He went through the grain fields on the Sabbath; and as they went His disciples began to pluck the heads of grain 

Moses gave Israel many simple laws for daily living.  They had directives for the whole of their lives, for their possessions, and for incidentals which overall made them different from the nations around them.  Above all other concerns was their responsibility to show care for and provide for their fellow countrymen.

Calvin wrote about Deuteronomy 23:24-25.  “This, then, is the sum, that is not accounted a theft, if a traveler, in order to relieve his hunger, should gather ears of corn or grapes for his necessary wants, until he should arrive at this resting place where he may buy bread and wine.”  Commentary Vol. III, page 151, Harmony of Exodus, Leviticus, Numbers, Deuteronomy, Baker book House. 

Calvin has missed the intention of Moses.  For Moses is not talking about a traveler, but it is the same concern as Deuteronomy 24:19-22.  The poor, the weak, and the helpless were to be remembered and provided for in every instance of available supply.  The only limit placed on the person who takes is that it be for their immediate need. 

The one who picked from his neighbors vineyard or field was not allowed to bring with him any means of harvest.  He was to have neither “bag” nor “sickle”.  When his interest went further than his immediate appetite it became theft. 

When the disciples of Christ in Mark 2:23 pulled the grain there was no accusation of theft.  The accusation against them was Sabbath breaking.  The responsibility of provision for the hungry person remained a part of the Jews recognized religious responsibility. 

Both the Old Testament and the New Testament are replete with admonitions of responsibility of God’s people for the poor.  It is a travesty to the Scriptures to spiritualize these statements to mean anything other than those who have great economical need of food, clothing, and shelter through no fault of their own. 

Do not mistake what I am saying.  It is not the organized church’s responsibility to heal social ills or to affect the culture in other ways than to bring the Law and Gospel to bear upon it.  But it is the responsibility of every believer to consider the indigent to provide for them to the full extent their worldly goods will allow. 

Application:

1.  Worldly goals are never to be considered separate from others.
2. Giving is to be done knowing that all is received as a gift from God.

JUDGING THE PROPHETS

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JUDGING THE PROPHETS

Deuteronomy 13:1-3; 18:15, 20-22;  Galatians 1:6-9; II Peter 2:1 NKJV 

“If there arises among you a prophet or a dreamer of dreams, and he gives you a sign or a wonder,

² and the sign or the wonder comes to pass, of which he spoke to you, saying, ‘Let us go after other gods’—which you have not known—‘and let us serve them,’

³ you shall not listen to the words of that prophet or that dreamer of dreams, for the Lord your God is testing you to know whether you love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul.

Deuteronomy18

¹⁵ “The Lord your God will raise up for you a Prophet like me from your midst, from your brethren. Him you shall hear,

²⁰ But the prophet who presumes to speak a word in My name, which I have not commanded him to speak, or who speaks in the name of other gods, that prophet shall die.’ ²¹ And if you say in your heart, ‘How shall we know the word which the Lord has not spoken?’—

²² when a prophet speaks in the name of the Lord, if the thing does not happen or come to pass, that is the thing which the Lord has not spoken; the prophet has spoken it presumptuously; you shall not be afraid of him. 

God has given preachers and prophets to the church throughout its history.  And there is a sense in which none in the church have more authority nor are to be more respected.  Therefore to judge a prophet sounds presumptuous.  Yet God, very early in the life of the organized church, gives His people the responsibility of “judging prophets”. 

In Deuteronomy 13 and 18 the rules governing this responsibility are given to Israel.  They are there for Israel as the church and not for some special instruction to rulers.  It is the peoples’ responsibility to hear or forebear a prophet’s message. 

In Deuteronomy 13:1-3 there are three important principles for people and prophets.

A.     No miracle can authenticate idolatry or false teaching.  Vss. 2-3

B.     False prophets are sent to test believers, Vs. 3 “For the Lord your God is testing you.”

C.     Believers are identified as those who love God. 

 Additional information is given in Deuteronomy 18 to complete the requirements for prophets.

a.       A prophet is to speak only that which the Lord gives him in his prophecies.  He has the responsibility to add nothing of his own commentary.

b.      Any prophecy which has information concerning the future must furnish a control.  That control is an event that is a fulfillment of the forecast of the prophet.  If he cannot do this he spoke “presumptuously” and no one was required to recognize him.

It is with this information we come to the New Testament.  II Peter 2:1 states the inevitability of the false teacher in the church.  After he finishes describing their activity and identifying them he states a controlling fact of false teachers.  They always act according to their nature.

II Peter 2:22 But it has happened to them according to the true proverb: “A dog returns to his own vomit,” and, “a sow, having washed, to her wallowing in the mire.” 

Paul, in Galatians 1:6-9, gives two additional truths about false teachers in the church.

A.     Vs. 7  They distort the Gospel of Christ.  That is to change into something of an opposite nature.  Paul, in Vs. 6 is astonished that has happened to Galatians and that so easily.

B.     Vss. 8-9  The message authenticates the messenger -  never the messenger the message.  The works, reputation, and accomplishments should never cause the believer to receive a false gospel.  Gulls eating -even miraculously eating locust- cannot make Mormonism true.

Application:

1.       The gospel message is to be received with charity always remembering the messenger is an earthen vessel.

2.      Credentials cannot make a false messenger acceptable.

THE SABBATH

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THE SABBATH 

Deuteronomy 5:12 NKJV

¹² ‘Observe the Sabbath day, to keep it holy, as the Lord your God commanded you. 

Christians differ in their understanding and application of the Sabbath.  There is nothing new in this difference.  This has caused persecution at some times and always ridicule.  The confession written in England for Reformed and Calvinistic churches had a broad explanation of it and a quite elaborate application.  But the understanding of the Sabbath has never, in general, been very complete.  A look at the Sabbath as it was instituted will help in understanding the origin of it and its use in Israel.

1. The seventh day of the week was determined for Israel by the beginning of the manna, Ex. 16:22-26, 29-30.  In Deuteronomy 5:17 and vs. 15D, the command God had given must include that in Exodus 16 as well as Exodus 20.  When the law was given in the ten words on Sinai, Israel already had the Sabbath as an institution.  The institution and origin date from the first giving of the manna.  The justification is begun in Exodus 20 and completed in Deuteronomy 5.
2.  The Sabbath was peculiarly a sign of the covenant.  In Exodus 31:12-17 it is described as “covenant” and as a sign.  This sign had a threefold significance.

A.     It was to be a sign that Israel was separated to God throughout the generations of Israel.  This was not the only sign, but it was to be an enduring one, vs. 13.

B.     It was to be in its origin and Israel’s obedience the covenant between them and God, vs. 16.

C.     It was to be for them a reminder of the creature in its entirety being the handiwork of God.  He “made heavens and earth.”  In a world of creature worship this was and is the Divine apologetic, vs. 17

3. The Sabbath was made for man, not man for the Sabbath.  It was never intended to be taken to the silly and frivolous extent to which the Jews required, Mark 2:27.  There was always the intent that piety, necessity, and mercy was above the Sabbath requirement.
4. The Sabbath law is subservient to Christ, Mark 2:28.  Jesus determines the use of the law by Christians. This is done in the Scriptures as they are given to us in the New Testament.

The understanding of the Sabbath must ever bear in mind there are Ten Commandments not nine, that the supreme love of God demanded by Scripture includes the Fourth Commandment.  

It seems to me the Puritans in their zeal were bound to a legal understanding of the Sabbath that went further than the New Testament supports.  It also seems as if Calvin’s exposition of the Sabbath comes closer to the New Testament understanding than the Puritan view. 

The continuous stream of industry and society has placed Christians in difficult positions.  Our service and worship of God, our necessary vocations, and our personal use of our time are a continual source of  conflict.  The fact of the use of the Sabbath as sanctification in our lives requires that we understand the principle of separation and witness.  We are not of this world.  Our use of time in the worship of God must declare that to the society in which we live. 

Application:

1.  Worship of God requires time as well as possessions.
2. Commitment to your church requires a time commitment.

JUDGING RIGHTEOUSLY

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JUDGING RIGHTEOUSLY 

Deuternomy 1:16-17C NKJV

¹⁶ “Then I commanded your judges at that time, saying, ‘Hear the cases between your brethren, and judge righteously between a man and his brother or the stranger who is with him.

¹⁷ You shall not show partiality in judgment; you shall hear the small as well as the great; you shall not be afraid in any man’s presence, for the judgment is God’s. The case that is too hard for you, bring to me, and I will hear it.’ 

Justice in society is as rare as it is necessary.  An unjust society is both ugly and undesirable.  The society God enjoins on man is to be just. 

In God’s directions to Moses justice begins with righteous judges making impartial decisions.  This requirement of impartial decisions is to have two material bases. 

A.     The decisions made are to be made regardless of the position in society held by those being judged.  Whether small or great they are to receive equal justice.  The noble, wealthy, and politically elevated are to have no favor because of their position.  The weak, poor, and disenfranchised are not to be pitied so that justice is denied their adversary.  This requirement of equal treatment to ”the small and great alike,” is foundational to an equable society.

We live in a society where favor is determined by the legal genius that can be hired or by the social deprivation experienced.  Justice is on a pendulum that seldom if ever reaches the mean of impartiality. 

B.     Secondly justice is not to be administered in either fear or favor.  The judgment is not to be a result of intimidation.  Honest judgment with the discipline that results has been intimidated from the parent-child relationship to the highest courts.  I say this as an observer of daily life around me. 

Parents are forbidden to discipline their children in any meaningful manner but are held responsible in both criminal and civil courts for the ill-behavior of their children. 

Judges are elected and appointed on the basis of political commitments.  They make many, if not most, of their decisions according to party correctness.  Rarely is there a judge who is both fair and fearless. 

The results are evident in the society in which we live.  The courts are dreaded by any but the legal profession.  Judges once elected assume an authority which goes far beyond anything that was ever intended by their office, and instances with which most of us are familiar become Lords rather than judges who “judge righteously”.

Application:

A.     As each has requirements to judge, righteousness is the only accepted results.

B.     There is a judgment for each of us that will meet all the requirements of righteousness.

CREATION'S STORY

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CREATION’S STORY 

PSALM 8:3-4 NKJV

When I consider Your heavens, the work of Your fingers,
The moon and the stars, which You have ordained,
⁴ What is man that You are mindful of him,
And the son of man that You visit him?
⁵ For You have made him a little lower than the angels,
And You have crowned him with glory and honor. 

The Psalmist individually and as a whole teach that nothing in the universe can be understood separate from a right knowledge of God.  Psalms 8, 19 and 139 when read together are an indescribably great help in this right knowledge of God. 

The intelligence of mankind is to say the least amazing.  That which in the past was fantasy is now reality.  In all fairness it must be said this is only the tip of the iceberg. 

But man’s creative intelligence pales in comparison to his arrogance.  Scientists can state the boundless infinity of the universe filled with millions of galaxies which can be observed.  And each galaxy has billions of stars in them.  They acknowledge that which is observable is only a small part of that which extends to unknown distances in all directions.  They recognize both “dark space”, and “dark energy” about which they really know nothing. 

Having described this small part of the universe with its near infinite content, and having acknowledged there are mysteries in it about which they really know nothing they in the same breath can attribute all this which is seen along with the vastness far exceeding the observable to a “big bang” origin. 

This is the theory (and nothing more) that all which is seen and all that is unseen derives from a small ball of very hot, very dense matter.  This ball may have been as small as the head of a pin. 

This is so illogical that though the mouth may say it, the mind cannot accept it.  This theory with all its disclaimers remains an unbelievable excuse for the ignorant rejection of God,  the maker of heaven and earth. 

“Look Ma, the Emperor ain’t got no clothes on.”

Application:

A.     Terminology and complexity do not equal truth.

B.     The ancient truth of the Scriptures is “true truth”.  The stars in the heavens are truly comparable to the sand on the sea shore.

DYING IN THE WILDERNESS

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DYING IN THE WILDERNESS 

Numbers 26:63-65 NKJV

⁶³ These are those who were numbered by Moses and Eleazar the priest, who numbered the children of Israel in the plains of Moab by the Jordan, across from Jericho.

⁶⁴ But among these there was not a man of those who were numbered by Moses and Aaron the priest when they numbered the children of Israel in the Wilderness of Sinai.

⁶⁵ For the Lord had said of them, “They shall surely die in the wilderness.” So there was not left a man of them, except Caleb the son of Jephunneh and Joshua the son of Nun. 

The Bible is not a book of happy endings.  Any hope for that died with the entrance of sin.  Sin has entered to taint the best of God’s creation.  A creation that was judged to be good by God Himself, that still retains great beauty, and where there is always cause of joy fell into chaos which continues to worsen with time. 

The people of Israel who came out of Egypt had one thing common to them.  They all had been in houses which had a lamb sacrificed and blood put on the door-post.  Other than that they could be divided into three groups.  First was the congregation made up of all the tribes with the exception of the tribe of Levi.  The tribe of Levi was the second group.  This tribe was divided into priests, Aaron with his descendants, and Levites, who were the remaining descendants of Levi.  The Levites included all who were not priests.  The third group were those designated as “the mixed multitude.”  These people were non-Israelites and were probably Egyptians and others who were servants or slaves to the Egyptians.  They were always, as far as they are traced in the Scriptures, at the best a thorn in the side of Israel. 

With this brief background, let us try to determine who was under God’s judgment and what that judgment represents to the Church.  In both I Corinthians and Hebrews the experiences of those who died in the wilderness are given as a lesson to Christians. 

The judgment was plainly upon the ten spies who died immediately and it seems this was extended to all “those who despised me.”  Numbers 14:28.  All who, other than the ten spies, are included are not described.  They could have been from all three groups and probably were. 

The judgment that was to extend for forty years and named a particular classification included all those in Numbers 1:2-3.  These in this classification were to die in the wilderness.  There is no reason to believe that all these who died were unbelievers or for a fact that any were without grace.  We do not know this one way or another. 

The classification of priests and Levites are not included under the judgment being considered.  They were not a part of those numbered so the judgment as a group did not extend to them.  They entered the promised land without respect to age.  The mixed multitude is a mystery, but as they were probably assimilated into the ten tribes they were likely included in the judgment. 

What did the judgment on those who didn’t not enter the promised land represent?  The writer of Hebrews uses the experience of Israel as an illustration of God’s continuing judgment on unbelief.  In Hebrews 3:12-4:13 the writer is pointing to the sin of unbelief, that this sin is disobedience,  Hebrews 3:18, and God’s rest is unavailable to unbelief.

There are two ways that “rest” is used in Hebrews.  One is the rest from all work, as God rested from His works, and to receive Christ by faith as salvation.  The other use of “rest” is an extension of the first use and is the full assurance of salvation that every believer can experience. 

Those of Israel who did not enter the promise did have the full benefits of their escape from the bondage of Egypt.  They died as free men but they died without receiving the full inheritance that was God’s gift to his people. 

A great privilege that Christ has for His people is this “full assurance”, which is the full inheritance.  Many believers die in the waste howling wilderness without ever entering ‘rest” that is their privilege.  The 17^th century Confessional writers realized this and put a chapter in their Confession titled, Of Grace and Salvation,  chapter 18.  It is worth noting that this comes after Perseverance of the Saints, and before The Law of God.  You will profit greatly by reading this chapter in The Westminster Confession, The Savoy Confession, or Philadelphia Confession of Faith. 

Application: 

A.     As a believer you must be aware of what sin does to you and your relationship with God.

B.     It is your privilege and responsibility to have this assurance of salvation.

BALAAM: THE MYSTERY MAN

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BALAAM, THE MYSTERY MAN

Numbers 22:15-19 NKJV

¹⁵ Then Balak again sent princes, more numerous and more honorable than they.

¹⁶ And they came to Balaam and said to him, “Thus says Balak the son of Zippor: ‘Please let nothing hinder you from coming to me;

¹⁷ for I will certainly honor you greatly, and I will do whatever you say to me. Therefore please come, curse this people for me.’”

¹⁸ Then Balaam answered and said to the servants of Balak, “Though Balak were to give me his house full of silver and gold, I could not go beyond the word of the Lord my God, to do less or more.

¹⁹ Now therefore, please, you also stay here tonight, that I may know what more the Lord will say to me.” 

Balaam is a man of mystery.  His familiarity with God, his ability to use the Covenant name, and God’s conversation with him sets him apart.  It is not as if nothing is known about him.  He is mentioned nine times beside the account of him in Numbers 22-25.  He is never mentioned favorably.  He is cunning, self-serving, deceitful, and always greedy.  Anything he said was suspect.  He manipulated his host to get the last cent he could.  He tried to deceive God.  He suborned the faith of Israel.  And he was always as Peter described him, “The way of Balaam…, who loved gain for wrongdoing.  II Peter 2:15. 

The mystery of Balaam is his relationship with the true God.  How did he come to know him?  And what was the nature of this relationship?  These are questions for which we will not find a final answer.  There are choices offered to us of his background that could account for his knowledge of God.   

He could have been of the same lineage as Abraham and the remnants of the true knowledge of God were in his family.  He could, though probably not, have been a descendant of either Ishmael or Esau.  In either family there could have been Covenant knowledge.  But more likely to me he was a descendant of Abraham through his concubine Keturah, Genesis 25:1-6.  Because of God’s promise to Abraham that his descendants would be blessed, it is most reasonable to think that these offspring of Abraham knew the true faith for a period of time.  That it had become confused and that there was such a great apostate as Balaam is the way of religion in the Scriptures.  We can see this in both the descendants of Seth and those of Shem. 

As mysterious as his background was, the character of Balaam is to the same degree clear.  The truth about Balaam becomes evident in Numbers 22:19.  His understanding of God was no different than his understanding of man.  God was to him a mighty powerful force or person.  But He was one who could change His mind and He was open to negotiation. 

Balaam was for sale.  His protestations to the side, they were never more than negotiations.  As a dealmaker, he never considered Yahweh as more than one of the factors in his negotiation and he never intended to honor his word to either Yahweh or Balak. 

He would accommodate Yahweh’s instructions to his advantage and leverage Balak to the maximum honor.  The results were he suborned Israel’s faithfulness to God, brought about the destruction of the Amorites, and lost his life.  And further he became the poster boy of a religious leader for sale.  The lesson to be learned is that a man who is completely without worth or character can become a great cause for sin in the church.  What they present to the church may be ever so appealing and it may reach to the highest level of leadership, cf Numbers 25:1-18 and as you read give special attention to vss 14-15.  The responsibility of the church is to confront this apostasy for what it is and completely destroy it.  Numbers 25:16-18

Revelation 2:14   But I have a few things against you, because you have there those who hold the doctrine of Balaam, who taught Balak to put a stumbling block before the children of Israel, to eat things sacrificed to idols, and to commit sexual immorality. 

Application:

A.     You must beware of any seduction away from the holiness required in the Scriptures.

B.     Remember the church has always been and will continue to under spiritual attack.

THE PRIEST'S PORTION

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THE PRIEST’S PORTION 

Numbers 18:20 NKJV

²⁰ Then the Lord said to Aaron: “You shall have no inheritance in their land, nor shall you have any portion among them; I am your portion and your inheritance among the children of Israel. 

The High-Priest, the first of whom was Aaron, and his descendants had their office as an appointment and a gift from God.  The position was not earned.  It was inherited.  All priests were such by descent.  They were the descendants of Levi out of the particular family of Aaron. 

All Levites, descendants of Levi, were not priests buy they did have a particular relationship to God, to the temple ministry, and to Israel.  They were to guard the Tabernacle, to do whatever service that was required to transport it, and to serve the priests as the requirement might be.  But they were not priests and would never be. 

The priest’s portion in Numbers 18:20 is strictly defined.  God is his portion.  As the Mosaic system is explained this portion was that which was sacrificed or dedicated to God.  The sacrifices, offerings, and Levitical tithes were God’s.  The priest’s portion was to come from these.  He was to have no other vocation.  He could not provide for himself from another jobs.  All his provision must come from the Tabernacle.  

This tells us a number of things.  First his provision for himself and his family was holy.  Strict rules would determine their participation in the holy offering made to God.  As you read through the Old Testament and find the particular responsibility of the priest and his family these must be remembered.

Secondly, the priests were never expected to be more wealthy than the national average.  The High-priest and the priests who served with him were special not in their wealth but in their privilege of proximity to the holy place, the place of God’s presence.  Their vocation was to set them apart not their wealth. 

The question arises for us, “how does this apply today?”  We are “a kingdom of priests” Revelation 1:6.  If we are priests, and this seems to be so, how does the priestly privilege apply to us?  It is evident that it is not in the Levitical sense.  It must have a spiritual application. 

This must at least mean that every believer must take seriously the petition, “give us this day the bread we need.”  God is our portion.  He is the source of all our supply.  We must acknowledge that our daily supply, less or great, is from His hand. 

Secondly, our supply will be in relation to the condition of the land around us.  In a time of prosperity, we will find more likelihood of prosperity.  In a time of famine, Christians will suffer also. 

Thirdly, there is spiritual prosperity that is the true concern for every believer. In 3 John 2 soul prosperity to be the single determining condition necessary for believers. 

Application:

A.     Realize your invitation in the holy presence of God through Christ.  This is the privilege of the High-Priest

B.     As priests you have different requirements than the people around you,

Colossians 3:9-10  ⁹ Do not lie to one another, since you have put off the old man with his deeds, ¹⁰ and have put on the new man who is renewed in knowledge according to the image of Him who created him, “

THE TWELVE SPIES

Bill Fitzhenry's Thoughts For Today…

Understanding important truths from the Bible…. 

THE TWELVE SPIES 

Numbers 13:1-3 ESV

¹ The LORD spoke to Moses, saying,

² “Send men to spy out the land of Canaan, which I am giving to the people

 of Israel. From each tribe of their fathers you shall send a man, every one a chief among them.” ³ So Moses sent them from the wilderness of Paran, according to the command of the LORD, all of them men who were heads of the people of Israel.

Deuteronomy 1:21-24

²¹ See, the LORD your God has set the land before you. Go up, take possession, as the LORD, the God of your fathers, has told you. Do not fear or be dismayed.’

²² Then all of you came near me and said, ‘Let us send men before us, that they may explore the land for us and bring us word again of the way by which we must go up and the cities into which we shall come.’

²³ The thing seemed good to me, and I took twelve men from you, one man from each tribe.

²⁴ And they turned and went up into the hill country, and came to the Valley of Eshcol and spied it out.

These twelve men furnish Christians with a great lesson.  This is, “our service for God must be according to the instructions He gives us.” 

The two accounts of Moses sending the spies differ enough that they have given rise to interesting explanations.  Liberal Bible scholars see this as another example of the different authors and traditions that are found in the Pentateuch.  While some conservative teachers emphasize the account in Deuteronomy and claim Moses listened to the people rather than God.  By doing this he made the mistake which results in the “bad report” and God’s judgment which follows. 

It is simpler to see that God uses the influence that Moses recognized as a way of communicating with him.  The sending of the spies was by God’s direction and Moses acted obediently to the instructions he received. 

In Numbers 13:17-20 the twelve men are commissioned.  They have seven specific characteristics of the land and people they are to note and report on to Moses.  They are:

A.  The fertility and production of the land

B.  The number and battle readiness of the people

C.  The kind of cities in which they dwelt and the defenses they would have in battle

 It is worth understanding here that they had no responsibility to determine Israel’s strength relative to that land nor were they to determine whether the inhabitants were militarily strong or weak.  This responsibility lay with Moses. 

In Numbers 13:25-33 the spies make their report.  In Numbers 13:25-29 their report is factual and complete.  They need say no more.  If they would have stopped here we would have heard nothing more about them.  But they do not stop.  They are neither obedient to the commission they received nor are they faithful to God’s presence with them. 

In Numbers 13:31-33 they spread their unbelief, discourage the nation, and provoke God to judgment.  It cannot be overemphasized they knew their responsibility, knew the report they were to give, and yet they gave a majority report - 10 against 2 -  that was wicked in its disobedience and filled with craven fear for which there was no excuse. 

Their experience was no different from Joshua and Caleb.  Yet Joshua and Caleb saw the land as an opportunity.  Their only concern is stated by both, “If the Lord delights in us he will bring us into the land and give it to us.” 

Two men took their instructions seriously.  Ten didn’t.  The loss, judgment of God, and tragedy which followed is a consequence of disobedience and disastrous results. 

How the church of today needs to study and give its attention to what is there.  In I Corinthians 10:5 and Hebrews 3:16-19 this experience of Israel is pointed out for particular consideration. 

God requires honest faithful messengers and obedient devoted hearers.  We can see how necessary Isaiah 8:20 is for every believer.  ^“20 To the teaching and to the testimony! If they will not speak according to this word, it is because they have no dawn.” 

Application:

A.     The problem is never the giants in the land but having the faith to defeat them.

B.     No matter how bleak the complaints of others maybe there is always a “good report.”

ISRAEL'S REST AND SAFETY

Bill Fitzhenry's Thoughts For Today…

Understanding important truths from the Bible…. 

ISRAEL’S REST AND SAFETY 

Numbers 10:35-36 ESV

³⁵ And whenever the ark set out, Moses said, “Arise, O LORD, and let your enemies be scattered, and let those who hate you flee before you.”

³⁶ And when it rested, he said, “Return, O LORD, to the ten thousand thousands of Israel.” 

In the Scriptures there are valuable lessons for the Bible Student.  But it is interesting that it is a prayer of Moses repeated on the occasion of Israel’s journey as they began and as they rested.  The repetitions should make us aware of the lessons in Moses’ call upon Yahweh. 

Moses’ petition included the need for safety,” let your enemies be scattered, and let those that hate you flee before you.”  God’s enemies were Israel’s enemies.  When God’s enemies were scattered Israel was safe. 

When Moses petitioned God for His presence, “Arise, O Lord,” and “Return, O Lord,” he not only requested safety but true rest for Israel.  In the wilderness and surrounded by enemies Israel encamped in safety free from fear and rested because God was with them. 

What was involved in them having safety and rest?  There were three experiences for them which explained their privileges. 

1.   They had regular communication.  Read Number 10:10.  The trumpets were humanly sounded but they had God’s authority and were sounded only at His command.  They gave the command to journey and the order of the march, Number 10:5-6.  The trumpets were the means of communicating God’s direction for Israel Numbers 10:1-2.  Just as they gave directions to Israel, God assured Israel of His covenant faithfulness with them.  Paul writing to the Corinthians and Thessalonians gives us the same assurance, I Corinthians 15:52  “in a moment, in the twinkling of an eye, at the last trumpet. For the trumpet will sound, and the dead will be raised imperishable, and we shall be changed.”   I Thessalonians 4:16-18 “ For the Lord himself will descend from heaven with a cry of command, with the voice of an archangel, and with the sound of the trumpet of God.  And the dead in Christ will rise first. ¹⁷ Then we who are alive, who are left, will be caught up together with them in the clouds to meet the Lord in the air, and so we will always be with the Lord. ¹⁸ Therefore encourage one another with these words”
2. Cross references:Israel had human guides.  Numbers 10:29-32.  Moses sought the help of Hobab, who appears to be either his father-in-law or his brother-in-law, because of his familiarity with the wilderness.  The usefulness of Hobab in Israel’s travel is not questioned and his payment is a share in Israel’s reward.  Moses states that he would have, “whatever good the Lord will do.”. There is no reason to think that Moses is making the request and promise without the authority he had as God’s inspired leader.  Read Ephesians 4:11-13.  Paul states the divine principle of human guides to help in the task of bringing the Church to its resting place.
3.  Israel has divine leadership.  Numbers 9:15-23.  The prayer of Moses is recognition of this.  It is a promise and a certainty but Moses prays for it daily.  The cloud and the fire were tokens of God’s spirit with Israel.  The Spirit of God is the safety, defense, and guide for God’s people.  Jesus’ admonition to His people in Luke 11:9-13, is best understood in the light of Romans 8:14   “For all who are led by the Spirit of God are sons of God.”   We are promised the Spirit’s presence and guaranteed His leadership but as Moses prayed daily so are we to ask for him as our gift daily.  Paul can tell us the whole of Israel’s experience is a lesson for us.  I Corinthians 10:11.  What a great blessing is Israel’s rest and safety.

Application:

1.  You are guaranteed leadership of God’s Spirit.  Put your trust in that.
2.  Your safety is not in your strength but in the One who protects you.