READINGS FOR OCTOBER 28, 2024: NUMBERS 32, HEBREWS 8, PSALM 112
Numbers 32
The tribes of Reuben and Gad ask to stay to the east of the Jordan River. There is a large amount of fertile land where the tribes can thrive. This area is the land where the Midianites have been removed.
Moses strikes a deal with the leaders of the tribe. If the men of Reuben and Gad will join in the conquest of the Promised Land, then they can settle in the land to the east of the Jordan River. Moses is afraid that if he allows the men of Reuben and Gad to not participate, that the rest of the tribes will lose their confidence and refuse to enter the land that God gave them. It would be a repeat of their parents refusal at the beginning of the Exodus.
At the end of the conquest, the tribes of Reuben, Gad, and half of the tribe of Manasseh take up residence to the East of the Jordan River.
Hebrews 8
The author quotes Jeremiah 31:31-34 to make the argument that Jesus is the mediator of a better new covenant. Just as the High Priest was the mediator between the Jewish people and God in the temple, Jesus is the one who goes before us in heaven. Jesus brought the sacrifice of himself before God to usher in the new covenant.
The temple in Jerusalem and the Tent of Meeting in the desert were copies of heavenly glory. The author states that they are a shadow of what exists in heaven. This implies that the temple and its worship is incomplete, a lesser experience. And by association, the covenant that is tied to the temple and worship is inferior than the relationship that exists in the new covenant.
Just as Jesus is the superior High Priest, so is the new covenant that he brought to us. The reasons for the new covenant’s superiority are: 1) God’s laws will become internalized enabling Christians to find joy in doing God’s will; 2) God and God’s people will have intimate fellowship; 3) sinful ignorance of God will be removed forever; 4) Forgiveness of sins will be an everlasting reality.
We no longer must go through priest (or pastor) to connect with God. Our prayers are heard. We can give a sacrifice of praise directly to God through Jesus Christ. The Son of God makes the connection for us. And we are blessed through our faith in Christ.
Psalm 112
Psalm 112 is a hymn that lifts up those who live in righteousness. Just like Psalm 111, Psalm 112 is a unique alphabetic acrostic poem. Each half-line advances through the Hebrew alphabet (i.e. Verse 1 begins with aleph (a) and the second line begins with bet (b)).
READINGS FOR OCTOBER 28, 2024 (CONTINUED): NUMBERS 32, HEBREWS 8, PSALM 112
The psalm cites several virtues of those who live in righteousness. They will fear the lord (V1); find great delight in God’s commands (V1); they are gracious and compassionate (V4); they are generous (v5); they are just (V5); they have freely given their gifts to the poor (V9). These line up very well with the list of fruits of the Holy Spirit in Galatians:
But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, forbearance, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, 23 gentleness and self-control. Against such things there is no law. (5:22-23, NIV)
Those who live righteously will be rewarded. Although the psalm lists monetary rewards in this life, we need to think of blessings that the world cannot see. Verses 6 & 7, tell us that in faith we will not be shaken. We will not be afraid of bad news. It will come. Life is full of set-backs, sickness, and death. But, when we know that our reward is everlasting life, we know that there is so much more than what this world has for us.
