Worship

Scripture

Scripture is an honored revelation of Truth and an inspirational source to the faithful.  Indeed, we find within the bible words of hope, encouragement, inspiration, instruction, the very words of life.  

But I must be honest about Numbers 30-32: after scouring the passage for hopeful thoughts or practical applications to my day-to-day, I struck out!  So much of the book’s liturgical and legal baggage seem strange to us in the Age of the Christian Church.

Does this seeming irrelevance suggest, however, that we should discount or discredit these ancient, often bloody and unseemly  annals of our Old Testament forebears?  Certainly not!  In fact, these passages provide an application from a lesson I recall as a college undergraduate in an Old Testament survey course where one of the assigned readings was a book, Is the Bible a Human Book?   Incredibly, that text was controversial among hard-line conservative students, because they believed dogmatically in the bible’s literally and inerrancy.  To them, considering the bible as human was blasphemous. 

I find, however, that the bible is a human book.  We can consider its humanity from three perspectives: Inspired by God, the bible was (1) penned by humans, (2) directed to humans, and (3) intended for humans to know God’s revealed truth and plan for redeeming His creative magnum opus: mankind (us!).  If we regard Numbers 30-32 through that lens, we understand its purpose is to teach us neither liturgy nor law

What we recognize in Numbers for our edification, then, is not day-to-day rules for living.  We recognize, instead, the common nature we share with those stumbling, faltering Old Testament pilgrims: an imperfect human nature begging for redemption.  Though we live under the liberating revelation of the Cross, we, like Moses’ people, relate in our humanity to the final stanza of  a classic hymn where the 18th century lyricist wrote, “Prone to wander, Lord I feel it / Prone to leave the God I love.”  

What a confession!  Like the Israelites of Moses, we are as easily distracted by circumstances, which cause us to lower our aim and wander in the prideful arrogance of our human nature.  We recognize that the Old Testament wanderings, temptations, grumblings and murmurings are akin to our own.  

So by that nature, we depend on grace.  May today’s reading remind us so! 

Prayer

HONOR GOD

Psalm147:5

How great is our God! There’s absolutely nothing His power cannot accomplish, and He has infinite understanding of everything. 

Thank you Lord, that I don’t have to understand every aspect of my situations. You understand it all when I do not, and are able to do what I can not.

ASK GOD

2 Samuel 22:7

I called to the Lord in my distress; i called to my God. From His temple He heard my voice, and my cry for help reached his ears. 

God is listening and hears every desperate cry.

SUBMIT TO GOD

Proverbs 3:5‭-‬6

Trust in the Lord with all your heart And do not lean on your own understanding. In all your ways acknowledge Him, And He will make your paths straight. 

 I relinquish all control to you Lord. Your path for my life will always be better than anything that I could do on my own.

CLOSING PRAYER

Lord, thank you for your abundant, abounding grace. Thank you that we don’t have to earn a drop of the mighty river of grace that flows freely for us today. Thank you for the unexpected, unmerited favor you’ve showered on my life. Help me put myself in the path of your love and grace. Help me not neglect the disciplines I need to meet with you regularly and to drink from the water of life. Thank you for your rich love.  In Jesus Name, Amen.