Day #56

Sermon - Audio
Num 5-6 - Audio
Num 5-6 - Daily Reading

Daily Insights - Please Comment

5

+ v1-5 = The unclean people were cast out because they didn't want to defile God's "holy place." It wasn't because of what the people's disease would necessarily do to them, but they needed to be quarantined for the sake of God's dwelling.

v5-10 = Confession of wrongdoing is to be done, and a financial restitution is to be made for any wrongdoing in the full amount plus a 1/5 more. If we recall the story of Zaccheus later on, he restores everything back to people 4-fold! Much more than the 1/5 restitution...just a thought.

v11-31 = Reminds me of "The Scarlett Letter." Basically, if there is a question whether or not a woman has cheated on her husband, there will be a way to sort this out. She will swallow some water that will either curse her or have no effect. This is how they will know whether she cheated or not.

She will not bear children, "makes your thigh fall away and your body swell" = "Most commentators take the expressions to be euphemisms for a miscarriage and/or stillbirth." -WBC-

In verse 31 we see that the man is free from guilt regardless of suspicion being unfounded...the woman is not if found at fault.

6

+ "In leading up to the directions for the dedication and purification of priests, the Lord gives instructions for the special Nazirite vow of the laity. Both males and females could enter into a prescribed period of special service dedicated to the Lord." -ASB-

+ Samson was a Nazirite (Jdg 13:3-5). Most times the vow was made voluntarily, but we see that Samson's mother took a vow before the birth of their son. You see this with Samuel as well.

+ Nazirite Vow - restrict from vineyard products (wine, grapes, etc.), No razor on heads, no contact with a dead body (remember samson didn't listen to this with the lion). The Nazirite vow was made to completely be given over for the LORD's service. These people were to remain clean and if they were defiled, they would need to go through a repurification process (10-12).

+ In Luke 9:23 we see that living for Christ requires a price. It requires us to leave some of the things we love in this world and choose Christ. When we decide to follow Jesus, we take a vow to take up our cross and follow Him each day. Much like the Nazirite, we are "set apart" for God's use and serve Him gladly.

+22-27 = The "Priestly Blessing" is given. The "Birkat Kohanim"

This blessing was a blessing straight from God, but was transmitted through the priests to God's people. This blessing would be given every morning. Many Jewish temples will still do this each day, and many churches, such as Evergreen, will use this as a benediction from time to time.

+ Achaeology Fact: Archaeologists found the words etched on silver scrolls found in tombs from the seventh century BCE. Some of the oldest manuscripts we have of any part of the Bible.