Day #58

Sermon - Audio
Num 8-10 - Audio
Num 8-10 - Daily Reading

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Numbers 8

8.1-4: The lamp stand (Menorah) is set up so that its light spreads over the showbread. Since the showbread represents the 12 tribes and the light represents God, the positioning of the Menorah shows God's presence with and over his people (once again we see that God's design of the tabernacle and even the placement of the furnishings tell a story).

8.1-4: As we heard in the last chapters of Exodus, when it comes to the temple everything is done exactly as God commands. This careful following of detail makes the tabernacle the one place in all the world where things are exactly as they should be. It is worth noting that in the book of Numbers one of the themes is: the people are given instructions on how to live, but they don't follow them and it lead to disaster. Sadly, they build the tabernacle as it should be, but they don't do the same with their lives.

8.6: The Hebrew word for cleanse or purify is used in Job 37.21, "But now, the sun cannot be looked at–it is bright in the skies–after a wind passed and swept the clouds away." Job gives us a picture of a sky filled with clouds that have been swept clean by the wind so one can see the sun. As we speak of cleansing of the Levites this is a useful picture of what is happening. Their lives are being swept clean of all clouds so that they can serve God.

8.7: The command to shave their bodies seems to be in contradiction with the worlds of Leviticus 19.27 "They shall not make bald patches on their heads, nor shave off the edges of their beards, nor make any cuts on their body." However, Leviticus 19 deals with using one's hair as a sacrifice to the dead, while this command is one of cleansing before God. This seeming contradiction is an important reminder to take context and culture into account so we don't misuse or misunderstand a text.

8.9-10: The purification of the priests is a whole community event since the Levites are serving God on behalf of the community and the community on behalf of God. They lay their hands on the Levites as a symbol of the Levites serving on their behalf.

8.16-17: Instead of the first born of each family serving in the temple, God choose the Levites for this task.

8.19: This is an interesting verse. The Levites are a people designed to serve Aaron and his sons in the tabernacle. They will forever have a behind the scenes role rather than an upfront one. This would rankle more than a few of us who are told that we can be whatever we want to be.

8.24 The age of twenty-five indicated in v. 24 should be compared with the age of thirty indicated in Num 4:3, 23, 30. In order to harmonize the numbers given in chapter 4 with the number given in Num 8:24 the LXX (and perhaps its Hebrew Vorlage) has thirty in all of these references. NET Bible

Numbers 9

9.5: "so the people of Israel did" The first 10 chapters of Numbers show the people of Israel living faithfully before God. They take the census, follow God's instructions, and listen to his rules for holy living. This a brief respite from all the complaining and murmuring. It will not last.

9.6-11: Instructions are given on keeping the Passover for those who can't celebrate it at the appointed time. Again, the desire of the people to follow God's commands and their desire to be part of the festival is emphasized.

9.14: This verse foreshadows God's promise of the gospel being for all people. It is also a fulfillment already of Abraham's offspring being a blessing to those around them.

9.15ff: These verses make it clear that God is the leader of his people and that they are following him wherever he leads. It is a brief time of things being the way they are supposed to be.

Numbers 10

• During the period of the wilderness wanderings, the tabernacle signified God’s presence as divine warrior. Numbers 2 presents a picture of the Israelite camp as it was on the march from Egypt to the Promised Land. The tabernacle is a tent pitched in the midst of the tribes. In other words, God’s tent occupies the place of the warrior–king in a battle camp. Thus it is not surprising that when the tabernacle was taken down, the ark, which was normally housed in the holy of holies, led the march, which began with the acclamation “Rise up, O LORD! May your enemies be scattered; may your foes flee before you” (Num 10:35 NIV). And when the ark comes to rest at a new encampment, the cry is “Return, O LORD, to the countless thousands of Israel” (Num 10:36 NIV).
  

10.2: The usual "trumpet" is the shofar i.e. a ram's horn. Here, however, God has two silver trumpets fashioned. Such trumpets were used in the Ancient Near East for both military and worship contexts. In this text, although we may not see it right away, the trumpets are being used in a military context (remember in chapter one the census is taken for military reasons).

10.5-6: Alarm is the Hebrew word for the alarm of war.

10.10: The reminder to God is a call to God to act on behalf of his people.

10.11-13: The people continue in their obedience.

10.14: Judah again takes the lead showing it has become the predominant tribe. The Bible does not tell us how this happens, just that it does.

10.14: We bump into Nahshon on several occasions. What is most memorable about him is that he is in the line of David and so in the line of Christ. We read in Ruth, 4:20 "Amminadab fathered Nahshon, Nahshon fathered Salmon, 21 Salmon fathered Boaz, Boaz fathered Obed, 22 Obed fathered Jesse, and Jesse fathered David."

10.15: We see the people setting out. In a world of chaos God's people set out tribe by tribe showing God's desire to overcome the chaos even as he did at creation.

10.29-32: The words of God that he will make Abraham one who blesses the nations is behind this exchange. If Hobab stays with God's people and blesses them with his skills and gifts he will find God's blessing. If he leaves them he will be on his own. We don't know what his final response was.

10.33-36: See opening comment.

10.33: The number 3 often indicates something is about to happen. Chapter 11 shows us that what is about to happen is not good.