READING FOR SEPTEMBER 24, 2024: NUMBERS 8, ACTS 12, PSALM 102:12-18 NUMBERS 8 We are still getting ready to utilize the tabernacle as God prescribed. At least from a reader’s perspective, it’s taken a long time to get ready. Perhaps that’s a typical human response when interacting with the eternal God. In this chapter, Aaron has to mount the lamps “at the front of the lampstand just as the Lord had commanded.”
We assume the tabernacle processes and fixtures had symbolic significance for Israel then and for the church today. It is not always easy to understand exactly what the significance is, but the New Testament often helps us. For example, we see the entire the system pointed to Jesus: “Therefore, brothers and sisters, since we have confidence to enter the holy place by the blood of Jesus, by a new and living way which He inaugurated for us through the veil, that is, through His flesh, and since we have a great priest over the house of God, let’s approach God with a sincere heart in full assurance of faith, having our hearts sprinkled clean from an evil conscience and our bodies washed with pure water” (Heb. 10:19-22). We read of lampstands in Rev. 1:20: “The seven lampstands are the seven churches.” And lamps: “Seven lamps of fire burning before the throne, which are the seven spirits of God” Rev. 4:5. May Yorktown Methodist serve as a lampstand by which the Spirit reveals the truth of Jesus.
It appears that the Levities belonged to the Lord and were obligated to serve tabernacle worship regardless of their personal inclinations. This is related to God’s insistence on claiming the first born male, going all the way back to the Exodus. Would we look at this as a blessing or a burden? Certain men of the Bible looked upon God choosing them with something less than enthusiasm initially: Moses, Zechariah, Gideon, and Jeremiah to name of few. Mary, the mother of Jesus, had the right response: “Behold, the bondslave of the Lord; may it be done to me according to your word” (Luke 1:38). Let’s go with her example for our lives moving forward. Individuals God chooses to serve in leadership in the church today no longer need to shave their whole body, but they do need to fulfill the requirements found in 1 Timothy 3 and Titus 1 “so that he will be able both to exhort in sound doctrine and to refute those who contradict it” (Titus 1:9).
It is interesting that Levites were commanded to retire from active service at 50. While there are lots of examples of older folks being used by God well past this age, there is truth that being able to step aside, especially in an official and full-time position, can be best for all concerned. There is no retirement from being active in the body of Christ. There may be a time to step aside if younger leaders are ready and willing to assume leadership. Regardless of one’s political views, most Americans were relieved when President Biden decided not to run.
ACTS 12 It appears a year had passed since Jesus was crucified. Some things had changed dramatically, and some things were the same. The resurrection and the coming of the Holy
READING FOR SEPTEMBER 24, 2024 CONTINUED: ACTS 12, PSALM 102:12-28 Spirit changed the equation for Jesus’s followers. Now Peter was both courageous and purposeful. Now the church knew the power of prayer, having seen countless answers. A year ago, Herod examined Jesus and found no reason to crucify him (Luke 23:15). Since then, Herod had James executed apparently because it pleased the Jewish leadership. This attitude of Herod to do what enabled him to stay in power rather than the “right” thing is one thing that hadn’t changed. Also, the Jewish leadership’s desire to squash this movement hadn’t changed.
Who was more powerful: the soldiers and the prison chains or the believers praying intensely? Let’s reconsider the resources at our disposal in the power of prayer. There are angels ready to help us break out of situations we assumed are forever locked in place. Let’s pray and allow them to act. Peter, who a year ago cowered before a young girl, bravely followed the angel out of jail even though he was half asleep. Rhoda was both a slave and part of the praying group. All the social implications aren’t clear and are likely complex, but we know she was quick to believe and was overjoyed. Peter, almost comically, had to keep knocking to get their attention. Then he asks that word be sent to James, who we assume is the Lord’s half-brother. Herod, like most leaders, needed someone other than himself to be held accountable and executed the guards. He, however, was held accountable by God when he did not disavow being worshipped as god.
The following is from Josephus’s Antiquities of the Jews: “[Herod’s] flatterers cried out, one from one place, and another from another, (though not for his good,) that he was a god ...Upon this the king did neither rebuke them, nor reject their impious flattery... A severe pain also arose in his belly, and began in a most violent manner... And when he had been quite worn out by the pain in his belly for five days, he departed this life, being in the fifty-fourth year of his age.”
PSALM 102:12-18 These verses confirm that if one’s underlying theology (or understanding of God) is correct, personal trauma will eventually lessen. The first 11 verses were completely depressing, although largely accurate about God and the world. Now the Psalmist sees that his current personal despair doesn’t discount God overarching faithfulness to His people. Even as he prays regarding his own pain, he reaffirms that God is compassionate to His people. He knows God will support His people against their oppressors--not only in the immediate future but for generations yet unborn. In fact, he is confident that other nations will eventually come to fear God based upon how He has established His people. It is interesting that as the Psalmist moves his focus away from his own concerns to identify more with the people of God, his confidence in God’s eventually deliverance grows. Let’s explore this approach to our problems by considering our identity within God’s people, both in Yorktown and globally.
