The LORD bless you and keep you; the LORD make his face to shine upon you and be gracious to you; the LORD lift up his countenance upon you and give you peace. So shall they put my name upon the people of Israel, and I will bless them.”

Numbers 6:22-27

The LORD bless you and keep you; the LORD make his face to shine upon you and be gracious to you; the LORD lift up his countenance upon you and give you peace. So shall they put my name upon the people of Israel, and I will bless them.” Numbers 6:24-27

I continue my study of Numbers, and in the text today, 6:22-27, we see the Lord give Moses instructions to pass on to Aaron and his sons to bless Israel - the Aaronic Blessing.  With assistance from RC Sproul/Ligonier Ministries, here are my observations using the Sword Bible Study Method.

• What do we learn from the text about God?: God wants to remind us that He alone is the source of all good things - hence His Name is mentioned three times in four verses - each time He is the subject of the verse as one should read these verses as a statement just as much as one would a prayer and blessing over people. The Lord: blesses and keeps us, He makes His face shine upon us and be gracious to us, lifts up His countenance upon us and gives us peace.  The Lord does and shall do ALL of these things.  His name is also upon the people of Israel and He will (promise) bless them.  See also James 1:17 where the text reminds us of how God gives us every good and perfect gift.  Deuteronomy 28:1-14 lists in details specifically many of the blessings He pours out for us if we obey His Words.  God is SO good - all the time!  The blessing includes an incredible and hopeful wish that one day, all of us will see His face and it will "shine upon you and be gracious to you."
• What do we learn from the text about people?: People often see their efforts as the fruit of their own labor and believers specifically should be very careful not to do this - God alone saves and provides ALL.  
• Is there anything from the text God wants us to obey (SPEC: Sins to avoid, Promises to claim, Examples to follow, Commands to obey?): Avoid seeing any blessings you experience as the fruit of your own labor.  Claim the promise that You will one day see God's face and that He will shine upon you.  Follow the example of Jesus who looked beyond the cross to Heaven.  Be humble and know that every good and perfect gift is from above. 

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My Prayer: Father God,You are an awesome God who loves and saves.  You bless daily and beyond what I deserve.  Thank You!  I am not deserving of how You love and save.  My sin is great and it continues...daily.  Please forgive me Jesus and help me overcome and turn from my sin towards You.  Help me love You with all of my heart, soul, and mind and love others as You love me. Help me grow in my faith.  Give Lisa and myself wisdom and strength.  Please continue to heal Lisa of her cancer and from the side effects of chemo.  Help us lead Zach and Dustin to You Jesus and for them to choose You as their Lord and Savior.  Please provide Godly friends and spouses to Zach and Dustin.  Help me serve You, my family, my church, and others.  Help me understand, be obedient to, and apply Your message for me today and every day.

And the LORD spoke to Moses, saying, “Speak to the people of Israel and say to them, When either a man or a woman makes a special vow, the vow of a Nazirite, to separate himself to the LORD...

Numbers 6:1-21

And the LORD spoke to Moses, saying, “Speak to the people of Israel and say to them, When either a man or a woman makes a special vow, the vow of a Nazirite, to separate himself to the LORD... Numbers 6:1-2

I continue my study of Numbers, and in the text today, 6:1-21, we see the Lord give Moses instructions for how to administer the Nazirite Vow.  With assistance from the Christ-Centered Exposition Commentary for Numbers, here are my observations using the Sword Bible Study Method.

• What do we learn from the text about God?: God calls all of us to put our relationship with Jesus as our highest priority (even above earthly family per Luke 14:26) and to serve Him and others. The Nazirite vow is described as "a vow of separation and self-imposed discipline for the purpose of some special service, and the fact of the vow was indicated by special signs of abstinence."  While the Nazirite Vow primarily applied temporarily to those called to serve, others in the Old Testament took the vow for their entire life.  In the New Testament, God calls all believers to serve and we should not ignore this call - see Ephesians 4:16 where the text refers to "each part [of the body] is working properly."         
• What do we learn from the text about people?: God seeks for those in the church to be set apart - consecrated to God to serve.  There should be noticeable difference in how this appears to others both inside and outside the church.  We are to be examples and an encouragement in this service and a light to others.  
• Is there anything from the text God wants us to obey (SPEC: Sins to avoid, Promises to claim, Examples to follow, Commands to obey?): Avoid not obeying God's call to serve - all believers must serve. Claim the promise that those who are last shall be first - how our service to Him and others pleases and brings glory to Him.  Follow the example of so many from scripture and elsewhere who consecrated themselves to God in service to Him - follow Jesus' example and how He consecrated Himself to the Father. Love and serve Him as the most important relationship in your life. 

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My Prayer: Father God,You are an awesome God who loves and saves.  Thank You!  I am not deserving of how You love and save.  My sin is great and it continues...daily.  Please forgive me Jesus and help me overcome and turn from my sin towards You.  Help me love You with all of my heart, soul, and mind and love others as You love me. Help me grow in my faith.  Give Lisa and myself wisdom and strength.  Please continue to heal Lisa of her cancer and from the side effects of chemo.  Help us lead Zach and Dustin to You Jesus and for them to choose You as their Lord and Savior.  Please provide Godly friends and spouses to Zach and Dustin.  Help me serve You, my family, my church, and others.  Help me understand, be obedient to, and apply Your message for me today and every day.

This is the law in cases of jealousy, when a wife, though under her husband’s authority, goes astray and defiles herself, or when the spirit of jealousy comes over a man and he is jealous of his wife. Then he shall set the woman before the LORD, and the priest shall carry out for her all this law.

Numbers 5:11-31

This is the law in cases of jealousy, when a wife, though under her husband’s authority, goes astray and defiles herself, or when the spirit of jealousy comes over a man and he is jealous of his wife. Then he shall set the woman before the LORD, and the priest shall carry out for her all this law. Numbers 5:29-30

I continue my study of Numbers, and in the text today, 5:11-31, the Lord spoke to Moses and gave him instructions for how adultery is to be treated.  Here are my observations using the Sword Bible Study Method.

• What do we learn from the text about God?: God designed and created both man and woman and designed marriage as a lifelong commitment to both God and to each other.  Among the ten commandments, the seventh states "[y]ou shall not commit adultery."  The text here today provides instructions for how to treat a wife's adultery - Leviticus 20:10, Deuteronomy 22:22 describe the harsh penalty (death) that also applies to husbands.  The New Testament redefines - appropriately so - adultery to be a matter of the heart (see Matthew 5:27-28).  
• What do we learn from the text about people?: Sexual sin is the broad category that includes adultery - like anything else this brief post from DesiringGod.com points out how all such sin is the result of our (believers and non-believers alike) lack of satisfaction in God, so we seek satisfaction in earthly, flesh satisfying sin. God is always the answer to how we treat sin, repent and turn to Him.
• Is there anything from the text God wants us to obey (SPEC: Sins to avoid, Promises to claim, Examples to follow, Commands to obey?): Avoid growing comfortable with the world and gaining too much satisfaction from it.  Claim the promise that God is all we need.  Follow the example of many who lost everything - Joseph, Paul, etc. - yet with God were content in all things. Love God above all else.   

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My Prayer: Father God, You designed marriage and I am blessed in my marriage - thank You Jesus!  I am not deserving of my marriage nor any blessing You pour out for me.  My sin is great and it continues...daily.  Please forgive me Jesus and help me turn from such sin towards You.  Help me love You with all of my heart, soul, and mind and love others as You love me.  Help me grow in my faith.  Give Lisa and myself wisdom and strength.  Please continue to heal Lisa of her cancer and from the side effects of chemo.  Help us lead Zach and Dustin to You Jesus and for them to choose You as their Lord and Savior.  Please provide Godly friends and spouses to Zach and Dustin.  Help me serve You, my family, my church, and others. Help me understand, be obedient to, and apply Your message for me today and every day.

When a man or woman commits any of the sins that people commit by breaking faith with the LORD, and that person realizes his guilt, he shall confess his sin that he has committed. And he shall make full restitution for his wrong, adding a fifth to it and giving it to him to whom he did the wrong.

Numbers 5:5-10

When a man or woman commits any of the sins that people commit by breaking faith with the LORD, and that person realizes his guilt, he shall confess his sin that he has committed. And he shall make full restitution for his wrong, adding a fifth to it and giving it to him to whom he did the wrong. Numbers 5:6-7

I continue my study of Numbers, and in the text today, 5:5-10, the Lord spoke to Moses and gave him commands to give to the people for confession of sin and restitution.  Here are my observations using the Sword Bible Study Method.

• What do we learn from the text about God?:  God seeks confession - this is something consistent across all of scripture - Old and New Testament.  When we confess, we acknowledge that we are sinful and that we need forgiveness as a means to be reconciled with God.  We also need reconciliation with those whom we impact with our sin - restitution should be considered part of this reconciliation process.  This post from Ligonier Ministries shares that "[t]his aspect of restitution is important because it shows how repentance and conversion always produce tangible results," that such an act (restitution) is the fruit of faith, and "[w]henever possible, restitution follows repentance."      
• What do we learn from the text about people?: All sin and are in need of a Savior - this was apparent in the Old Testament and it remains in the New Testament (Romans 3:23, 1 John 1:8).  Also, sin impacts not just our relationship with God but also our relationship with others as people feel betrayed, wronged, etc. and forgiveness and restitution serves to restore these relationships.  On the flip side, we must forgive others who sin against us.  In particular, unity within the church is key so we are called to bear with one another in love (Colossians 3:13).   
• Is there anything from the text God wants us to obey (SPEC: Sins to avoid, Promises to claim, Examples to follow, Commands to obey?): Avoid arrogance and a hardened heart where we don't see the need for forgiveness.  Claim the promise that forgiveness is available to all through Christ. Follow the example of Paul who in humility saw righteousness through Jesus being of more worth than any righteousness through deeds or action - see Isaiah 64:6, Philippians 3:8-9. Confess and repent sin - make things right to be reconciled both with God and others.  

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My Prayer: Father God, You are an awesome God who loves and saves.  Thank You for the forgiveness only You offer.  I am not deserving.  My sin is great and it continues...daily.  Please forgive me Jesus and help me overcome and turn from my sin towards You.  Help me love You with all of my heart, soul and mind and love others as You love me.  Help me grow in my faith.  Give Lisa and myself wisdom and strength.  Please continue to heal Lisa of her cancer and from the side effects of chemo.  Help us lead Zach and Dustin to You Jesus and for them to choose You as their Lord and Savior.  Please provide Godly friends and spouses to Zach and Dustin.  Help me serve You, my family, my church, and others.  Help me understand, be obedient to, and apply Your message for me today and every day.

You shall put out both male and female, putting them outside the camp, that they may not defile their camp, in the midst of which I dwell.

Numbers 5:1-4

You shall put out both male and female, putting them outside the camp, that they may not defile their camp, in the midst of which I dwell. Numbers 5:3

I continue my study of Numbers, and in the text today, 5:1-4, the Lord spoke to Moses and gave him instructions that unclean people are to be put outside the camp so as to not defile them in the midst of where God dwells.  Here are my observations using the Sword Bible Study Method.

• What do we learn from the text about God?: While much of the Old Testament focuses on external cleanliness, this interview with John Piper clarifies that we should be careful not to make the mistake assuming that "in the Old Testament impurity was only external, while in the New Testament impurity is internal."  God cares about your heart - see Hosea 6:6,1 Samuel 15:22, and more directly when Samuel seeks a new king among Jesse's family and seeks someone with a righteous heart directed toward God - see 1 Samuel 16:7.  God has always been more concerned with an upright heart vs external action.  God also cares about those who, according to Old Testament law, are unclean.  One of the intents of ceremonial law was to set apart Israel from other nations.  Yet with the doing away of ceremonial law with the New Covenant based on Jesus' shed blood, we should no longer see any distinction between those deemed clean and unclean as all are unclean and only clean through confession and forgiveness in Christ. See Isaiah 64:6, Romans 3:23. 
• What do we learn from the text about people?: With the New Covenant, being set apart is through salvation and regeneration.  This means the church should not be shunning anyone based on any external appearances, etc.  God wants us to share the gospel with everyone. 
• Is there anything from the text God wants us to obey (SPEC: Sins to avoid, Promises to claim, Examples to follow, Commands to obey?): Avoid focus on external behavior.  Claim the promise that Jesus cleans both the heart and ultimately and for eternity our physical body. Follow the example of those in scripture (e.g. David per 1 Samuel 13:14, Acts 13:22) who had a heart for God.  Love God with all your heart, soul, and mind (Deuteronomy 6:5, Mark 12:30).

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My Prayer: Father God, You are an awesome God who loves and saves.  Thank You Jesus for cleansing me from the inside out.  I am not deserving.  My sin is great and it continues...daily.  Please forgive me Jesus and help me overcome and turn from my sin towards You.  Help me love You with all of my heart, soul and mind and love others as You love me.  Help me grow in my faith.  Give Lisa and myself wisdom and strength.  Please continue to heal Lisa of her cancer and from the side effects of chemo.  Help us lead Zach and Dustin to You Jesus and for them to choose You as their Lord and Savior.  Please provide Godly friends and spouses to Zach and Dustin.  Help me serve You, my family, my church, and others.  Help me understand, be obedient to, and apply Your message for me today and every day.

And they shall do all that needs to be done with regard to them....According to the commandment of the LORD through Moses they were listed, each one with his task of serving or carrying. Thus they were listed by him, as the LORD commanded Moses.

Numbers 4:21-49

And they shall do all that needs to be done with regard to them....According to the commandment of the LORD through Moses they were listed, each one with his task of serving or carrying. Thus they were listed by him, as the LORD commanded Moses. Numbers 4:26b,49

I continue my study of Numbers, and in the text today, 4:21-49, the Lord spoke to Moses and gave him instructions for a census among the sons of Gershon, Merari, and Kohath (from 30-50 years old) and then to give them duties for care of the tent of meeting.  Here are my observations using the Sword Bible Study Method.

• What do we learn from the text about God?: The tent of meeting (later tabernacle) is where the priest would meet with God and as such represented an important structure.  God provided for instructions with regard to care for the tent as a reflection of how Israel treasured Him as their God.   
• What do we learn from the text about people?: Similar to the tent of meeting, in today's church, many volunteer and serve behind the scenes with much detail as a reflection of their love and treasure of God.  God sees all of this and blesses those who serve in such ways based on the promise from Luke 13:30 that some "who are last will be first."  The focus should be to glorify God vs self and on eternal rewards.
• Is there anything from the text God wants us to obey (SPEC: Sins to avoid, Promises to claim, Examples to follow, Commands to obey?): Avoid focus on self.  Claim the promise that eternal rewards await those who put God first and self last.  Follow the example of Jesus who humbly took on flesh, suffered and died for all of humanity such that those who confess Him as Lord and Savior have live to the full now and for eternity.  Focus on glorifying God and treasuring Him above all, including self.  

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My Prayer: Father God You are awesome God worthy of all of my love, devotion, and service.  You save and bless beyond what I ever imagined.  I am not deserving.  My sin is great and it continues...daily.  Please forgive me Jesus and help me overcome and turn from my sin towards You.  Help me love You with all of my heart, soul, and mind and love others as You love me.  Help me grow in my faith.  Give Lisa and myself wisdom and strength.  Please continue to heal Lisa of her cancer and from the side effects of chemo.  Help us lead Zach and Dustin to You Jesus and for them to choose You as their Lord and Savior.  Please provide Godly friends and spouses to Zach and Dustin.  Help me serve You, my family, my church, and others.  Help me understand, be obedient to, and apply Your message for me today and every day.

Honor your father and your mother, that your days may be long in the land that the LORD your God is giving you.["]

Exodus 20:12

Honor your father and your mother, that your days may be long in the land that the LORD your God is giving you.["] Exodus 20:12

I pause this morning my study of Numbers to prepare for leading Sunday school as we discuss today's sermon on the fifth commandment - Exodus 20:12.  Here are my observations using the Sword Bible Study Method.

• What do we learn from the text about God?: We are commanded by God to honor our mother and father - with honor being defined generally as "respect that is given to someone who is admired."  Honor includes obedience, and how we treat someone not only when we are with them but also when we are not - upholding one's reputation.  We can only rightly do this from a biblical standpoint if we love God first and through our love of Him and in response to His love for us we love others because this pleases Him and we seek to please, honor and glorify Him.  Therefore, our love of others, including love for our mother and father, reflects our relationship with Jesus. God gives us a promise also - although we should understand that long life is not promised here but instead a general blessing of peace and satisfaction. 
• What do we learn from the text about people?: Often, people in teenage and young adult years seek independence from the path laid out by their parents and this sometimes manifests itself in rebellion.  This rebellion is often not just from the parent-child relationship, from the relationship with God.  Parents often feel that rebellion is a reflection upon them and to a certain extent it is, but largely it is not because there are plenty of Godly parents whose children are rebellious.  God is in control and we cannot engineer our children.  Prayer and leaning into God is the only proper response to rebellion.    
• Is there anything from the text God wants us to obey (SPEC: Sins to avoid, Promises to claim, Examples to follow, Commands to obey?): Avoid seeing parents as a burden.  Claim the promise of a blessed life upon honoring your father and mother.  Follow the example of Jesus who honored the will of His Father.  Love God first and in response, love, obey, and honor your mother and father. 

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My Prayer: Father God, You are an awesome Holy God that is approachable and accessible - You save!  Thank You Jesus!  I am not deserving of how You love and save.  My sin is great and it continues...daily.  Please forgive me Jesus and help me overcome and turn from my sin towards You.  Help me love You with all of my heart, soul, and mind and love others as You love me.  Help me grow in my faith.  Give Lisa and myself wisdom and strength.  Please continue to heal Lisa of her cancer and from the side effects of chemo.  Help us lead Zach and Dustin to You Jesus and for them to choose You as their Lord and Savior.  Please provide Godly friends and spouses to Zach and Dustin. Help me serve You, my family, my church, and others.  Help me understand, be obedient to, and apply Your message for me today and every day.