Numbers 4:1-5:31 + Mark 12:18-37 + Psalm 48:1-14 + Proverbs 10:26
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Old Testament – Today in Numbers chapter 4 we read about the duties of the Kohathites, Gershonites and the Merarites! Reading this chapter reminded me of the church where I used to work – where we had to set up and tear down the sanctuary each Sunday, because we were holding services in a rented community center building. And truly, most Sundays my days felt like verse 31 and the Merarites: “”Their duties at the Tabernacle will consist of carrying loads.” But, even though this task of carrying loads back then and today may seem “menial” at first glance, the task was of utmost importance for the community’s worship! So, I hope this chapter can be an encouragement to you if at times you feel like you are simply “carrying loads” at your church – keep in mind it is a holy task that the Merarites faithfully conducted before you in the time of Moses!
New Testament – I have heard Jesus’ teaching about the 2 greatest commandments in Mark chapter 12 verses 29-31 summarized as simply Love God & Love People: “Jesus replied, “The most important commandment is this: `Hear, O Israel! The Lord our God is the one and only Lord. And you must love the Lord your God with all your heart, all your soul, all your mind, and all your strength.’ The second is equally important: `Love your neighbor as yourself.’ No other commandment is greater than these.””
Here is a very interesting note about Jesus’ quote above from Deuteronomy 6:4 that starts ‘”Hear, O Israel!” – This verse begins what is known as the Shema – which was named after the first word in this verse and means “Hear.” The Shema became the Jewish confession of faith, which was recited by pious Jews every morning and evening and it is still recited in synagogue services today.
Psalms – Psalm 48 is a celebratory Psalm of Mount Zion in Jerusalem, as verse 8 reads: “We had heard of the city’s glory, but now we have seen it ourselves- the city of the LORD Almighty. It is the city of our God; he will make it safe forever.”
I like verse 10 a lot in this Psalm: “As your name deserves, O God, you will be praised to the ends of the earth.” I have had the good fortune to travel many places on this planet, and I will admit that it always encourages me to no end when I see God being praised and worshiped in other cultures. I always try to visit churches wherever I travel on Sundays, and I love seeing how different cultures worship God. One of the most memorable experiences was in the Dominican Republic in a very impoverished community. I honestly don’t know that I have ever seen a congregation worship God so wholeheartedly than I did that day in the DR. It was beautiful. The other thing I am reminded of when traveling is that when we are in relationship with Jesus, God is always with us no matter where we go. When we’re 35,000 feet above the ground in an airplane, God is with us. When we’re in the middle of nowhere that has no church – God is with us. So, no matter where we go, if God is with us, we have the opportunity to praise God’s name to the ends of the earth! Even if you’re traveling to some far off locale where no one else around you would praise God, will you?
Proverbs – Proverbs chapter 10 verse 26 teaches us: “Lazy people are a pain to their employer. They are like smoke in the eyes or vinegar that sets the teeth on edge.” I think this gives each of us a chance to reflect upon how diligently we work for our employers. I think about this a lot. I know there are friends of mine that surf the net at work or send personal emails or play video games. I suppose some of this is okay, if you really are counting it as “break time” and not letting it eat into the actual hours you are supposed to be working. I would simply say that I think this is a very slippery slope for each of us – wasting time at work on personal stuff or games on the computers. I pray that each of us are so diligent to not start down this slope at work… and if we are on this slope already, to get off of it immediately! Actually, while I’m going on this tangent, I’ll keep going… 🙂 A friend of mine once gave me some very wise advice. He was in a job that he really didn’t like. He knew he wouldn’t be there long, and he was looking for other jobs – outside of work time. But, when he was at this job he was still giving it 100% – he was working hard. I asked him why he was working so hard if he knew he was leaving soon. He simply said to me, “Mike, if you pick up bad habits in one job, let me guarantee you that you are going to carry forward those bad habits to your next job. Don’t kid yourself and think that you can turn those bad habits off overnight. You can’t. I don’t want to carry forward any bad habits when I land my dream job.” Wow… what amazing wisdom from my friend here! I also kind of wonder that if we have bad habits at work, if they will also carry over into our personal lives? I think they might… I think we’d all do well to meditate on this Proverb and ask ourselves are we really working an honest day’s work each and every day for our employer?
Worship Video: Today’s readings in Mark today about the Shema reminded me of this singing of the Shema in both Hebrew and English:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=CKIcvrMm8S8
Do you love the Lord your God? Click here and love Him forevermore!
Please join us in memorizing and meditating on three verses of Scripture today: “”The most important commandment,” answered Jesus, “is this: ‘Hear, O Israel, the Lord our God, the Lord is one. Love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your mind and with all your strength.’ The second is this: ‘Love your neighbor as yourself.’There is no commandment greater than these.” Mark 12:29-31 NIV
Prayer Point: Pray that you will love God today with all of your heart, soul, mind and strength. Pray that you will love your neighbor as much as you love yourself. Pray that God would show you today who your neighbor is and that you will love them.
Comments from You & Questions of the Day: Based on my reflections in the OT, have you ever had volunteer duties at your church that were less than glamorous duties? 🙂 Do you think that maybe these duties were actually very glamorous to God, even if they weren’t glamorous to the world? Do you make it a habit of volunteering at your church regularly? What are some volunteer things you do for your church to help “carry the load” of your church’s ministry? Also, what verses or insights stand out to you in today’s readings? Please post up by clicking on the “Comments” link below!
Love, Trust and Obey Jesus,
Mike
p.s. Download our monthly Small Group study notes for our Bible readings at this link.
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BLOG READERS HISTORICAL COMMUNITY COMMENTS:
(our Group Bible Study is below! : )
======= Ramona:
Loading in and breaking down, or striking, temporary church sanctuaries probably taught everyone who participated skills that have been transferred into every other area of your life and increased your value in the “market place.” God is kind of like that you know.
Numbers 4-5:31
“Aaron and his sons must always go in with them and assign a specific duty or load to each person,” thus begins a principal that is echoed throughout today’s reading. (Numbers 4:19; 27; 32). The children of Israel where directed to do an assigned job. Not only were they assigned a job, their placement to do that job was also directed. Are we willing to submit to leaderships direction or do we walk in telling the “pastor” what our gifts are and what we will do.
God is a God of order, not chaos. Paul echoes orderliness within Christian meetings in the 14th Chapter of first Corinthians, 40 But be sure that everything is done properly and in order. And it is also noted in the Book of James, that were there is disorder a certain “work of the flesh” is lurking about, 16 For where you have envy and selfish ambition, there you find disorder and every evil practice. (James 3:16)
Numbers, chapter 5, reminds us that God does not suggest purity within the “camp,” he requires it. The purity also includes marital fidelity. However, I still haven’t come to a full understanding regarding this ritual of drinking water with clay mixed in. I’m thinking that if I were faithful and I had a jealous husband on my hands and he made me drink some nasty water with dirt in it, the household would not need an air condition unity in the summer time.
Mark 12:18-37
Questions, questions, questions. I have learned in life that most questions are not asked by folks to get information. Most questions are asked to inform the questionee (is that a word) that the questioner is so far above the intelligence of the one being asked. Thus most questions are designed to be the one being asked, “In their Place.” So the religious leaders of Jesus’s day wanted to put Jesus in this place, and most thought His place was “dead.”
Psalm 48:1-14
I like the last half of the last verse in this Psalm,
“He is our God forever and ever, and he will be our guide until we die”
Whether we like it or not, whether we voluntarily Praise God or not or we are forced to bow down with an Angels foot on the back of our neck, God is our God forever and ever even if we shout at the top of our lungs, “There is no God!”
Proverbs 10:26
O, may the Holy Spirit check me if I’m like today’s Proverb. Not only is a lazy person a source of anguish to their employer, they cause everyone around them, friend, relatives, and foes to carry a unequal share of corporate responsibilities.
Grace and peace,
Ramona
======= Micah Girl:
All the attention God paid to the Ark of the Covenant and the tabernacle is so incredibly detailed. The holiness required to even look upon it or touch it is almost beyond belief. Since the Holy Spirit now lives in us as believers, we should now take care of our bodies with the same intentionality as the ancient Levites with their task. They cared only for a holy box made of acacia wood…our temples are flesh and blood.
1 Corinthians 6 18Flee from sexual immorality. All other sins a man commits are outside his body, but he who sins sexually sins against his own body. 19Do you not know that your body is a temple of the Holy Spirit, who is in you, whom you have received from God? You are not your own; 20you were bought at a price. Therefore honor God with your body.
Micah Girl
======= Rob:
i too have been in a church that met in a theatre where the carrying of loads was a weekly occurrence. one day, we found that the central heating was faulty and had to move back to the church building which planted us. the story is more complex than i am making it seem, but one year later we are still back at base. i would like to see us move out onto the edge again – if we can’t manage a bit of lugging stuff around then we are not exactly going to make waves for teh kingdom. Rob
Rob
======= Mark:
Mike,
Thank you for your “tangent” about your friend who continued to work 100% in his old job, etc. The carry over of either good or bad habits into the new. Caused me to think this morning about your questions and ask God to help me not to form bad habits and keep them. Great advice for us all, thanks!
In Christ:
Mark
======= Ramona:
Mike,
As to your tangent: It reminds me of a phrase I’ve heard several times and thought about often, especially when I want out of a situation, be it a place, relationship or a group: Entering is based on leaving. How you leave determines how you enter.
I think that is sort of a quote (can’t trust memory for the exact words) from the late, Ed Cole of the Christian’s Men Network.
Grace and peace,
Ramona
======= Roslyn:
The Saducees’ question on “whose wife will she be, when the seven were married to her?” referring to having been married in succession to her brothers-in-law and leaving no children after her husband’s death. Christ’s resposne is so simple yet so powerful: “Are you not in error because you do not know the Scriptures or the power of God? When the dead rise they will neither marry or be given in marriage; they will be like angels in heaven…
He is not the God of the dead, but of the living.”
To me the last statement is a most powerful one.
Christianity has been focusing on Christ’s
Crucifixion rather than on His Resurrection. We should not be stuck on death (sin) but rather on a life filled with hope and promise (Resurrection).
Again, when Jesus responded to the question on the most important law— “To love Him with all your heart, with all your understanding, and with all your strength, and to love your neighbor as yourself is most important than all burnt offerings and sacrifice.” Burnt offerings refer to our broken sinful selves and it is for us with God’s grace to transcend our sinfulness (death) and focus on love (resurrection) instead.
I’ve been re-reading Thomas Merton’s New Seeds of Contemplation which I have had for years on my bookshelf. For some reason, the Spirit lead me to it when my friend with whom I share posts practically everyday based on our readings, he brought out basically the same thought: the focus on death rather than on the resurrection.
Roslyn
======= Betty:
Mike, I loved those moving images of the men carrying the board and turning pages at a desk! The readings really blessed me today! A lightbulb went on in my head when I realized I don’t have to like everything I do in my work, but still need to give it my 100% anyway. I am presently learning a new career and I hate change. It has been a daily facing of the “lions” because I fear failure. However, I believe this is where God has placed me and need to be faithful. So your images today are good humorous pictures of what I need to do, take it one step at a time, honor God with discipline, faithfulness, and not be “sloth”! Certainly the last verses in today’s Psalm reading encouraged me as a see God, our strong tower, our refuge, an ever present time of help in time of need, and our God forever! He indeed is our guide. Thanks Mike for your post….it came just when I needed it!
Betty
======= Beryl:
hello,
this is beryl with a note of heart-felt thanks for all your prayers and loving support.
I am out of hospital after only a 24 hour stay, needing almost no painkillers and feeling quite well enough to go to church this morning as a testimony to answered prayer and gods loving-kindness.
I am amazed at support from all over the world. thank you.
I love todays reading from deut. about the duties assigned to people. Our church hires a school and we share the duties of setting up and taking down. This is a reminder of the importance of each task done for the lord, no matter how seemingly unimportant.
Beryl
======= Laura:
Beryl: Glad to see that you are okay and our prayers for you have been answered. I’m very thankful for our virtual community. In can seem at times, very impersonal to study the bible this way. But all your comments, concerns, prayers and answered prayers bring us back to reality.
Laura
======= Anka:
Hi Beryl,good to see your post and see God’s faithfuless at work.Welcome back and may God continue to strengthen you…..
Anka
======= Luch:
beryl
It’s wonderful to see the good hand of the Lord in your life.
I was totally ambused this morning by mark 13:1 “As Jesus was leaving the Temple that day, one of his disciples said, “Teacher, look at these tremendous buildings! Look at the massive stones in the walls!” Jesus replied, “These magnificent buildings will be so completely demolished that not one stone will be left on top of the another.” While I know this passage has a specific context, it does reflect the values of Jesus. Whereas in mark 12:38-44 He gave a perspective on what really matters, here he gives us a perspective on ‘brick and mortar’. thank God for the nice facilities that I’m sure many of us are able to worship in, but I take from this passage that I/we should never become preoccupied with ‘size or square footage or real estate as it relates to our places of worship. In a day where churches especially in North America are into the ‘building edifice complex’ it’s wise to exercise some restraint when we set out to do a ‘building campaign’and consider Jesus’ word. Which brings me to another word of Jesus, “Heaven and earth will disappear, but my words will remain forever.” Matthew 24:35
Luch
======= Peggy:
I enjoyed the reading to day, but I was puzzled about Numbers 5:30 If the husband was guility of being jelous and the wife had not made herself unclean, why does the law only appply to the wife? Why is he not guility of being jelous?
Have a blessed day.
Peggy
======= John:
Peggy,
Separation from the suspicion of sin.
Maybe reading this section of the commentary from Enduring Word might help.
======================================================
What I have gleaned from other hardback commentaries:
Man is guilty of jealousy, that is why there is an offering and a method to resolve the issue.
Other nations at the time would allow the husband to divorce his wife, or have her killed – just on the suspicion of infidelity.
God’s way of dealing with this issue may seem strange to us, but at least was more merciful than above. Remember God has been visiting Moses and travelling with the Nation. His power and authority has been demonstrated often to the Jewish nation. They would and should take this ceremony seriously.
From the link above:
“This ceremony only dealt with an adulterous wife and not a husband because for the most part, the Mosaic Law was “case law” – not meant to anticipate every potential situation, but to give examples that will set precedence for other cases. It is likely that the same ceremony would be practiced if a wife became suspicious of a husband’s adultery.”
The plausible reason for the example given this way in Numbers (and not vice versa)is:
the “case of jealousy” is a picture of Christ and the Church. There is no questioning the fidelity of Christ, but the church (body of Christ) often strays. God is a jealous (zealous)God – He loves us and wants our Love in return.
Pure conjecture here: If we (the Church body) stray with our affections – the mixture of our faith efforts (worship, prayer, etc.) and our sins will cause a bitter water to exist that will have a “sickening effect” on our lives (body). Perhaps a bit much, but remember it is pure conjecture.
John
======== Jenny:
Numbers. I didn’t understand the woman’s punishment for cheating on her husband…I read the evidence of guilt wrong the whole way through the first time, haha. I read it: the water would cause her abdomen to swell and her thigh to be waist–wide! I thought hmm, she’d be made very overweight? then I read it right, abdomen would swell, her thigh would waste away. So I got out my study Bible and it said the penalty would be death. that makes sense, the abdomen swells when u die n you waste away. Ok, got it. Now what about the man that commits adultery?
The parable of the 7 brothers, 1 wife…wouldn’t the brothers catch on that they probly shouldn’t marry this woman? :p
But interesting when it said the Sadducees “(who say that there is no resurrection)”….
We got this very same thing going on today! Tonight the discovery Channel aired which I’m sure most of us heard about, the Jesus Tomb which is on now. I have no desire to watch it, but I’m gonna tape it for my dad. But we as Christians should all be ready to give an answer if people have questions. This film/documentary is claiming to have found the bones of Jesus. Pure hogwash as we all know. Finding Jesus’ bones would disprove the validity of Christ and the entire Bible. It would prove Jesus was a fraud. We who know Him have His spirit in us and that is a testimony to us. Unfortunately til Jesus returns, the attacks via movies, books, etc will continue as they have since the beginning. Interesting whenever the Bible/Christ is scrutinized, it’s all the hype, but it doesn’t seem to be the case with the other religions of the world. Why is Christ and Christians so attacked? Hmm, could it be because Jesus truly is the way the truth and the life and no one shall come to the Father but by Him.? (John 14:6) and because ‘The world hates light and loves darkness, lest their deeds be exposed’. (John 3:20)
There is also a new ruling underway to make it a “hate crime” if Christians say homosexuality is a sin. True genuine believers aren’t going around hating, we are to love others, but hate sin. Interesting, that we are told to shush about sin, yet they badmouth Christ and Christianity, anything referring to God is an offense and they can judge slander and hate Him.
“Woe to those who call evil good, and good evil!!” (Isaiah 5:20).
I know what you mean about traveling and wherever you go, you know Jesus is right there beside you! I think of that when I travel. Anywhere I go on earth (even if I went to the moon!), when I fly, He is in that plane with me. When I went skydiving and bungee jumping, I had a peace that He would catch me!
When you travel its like you left all you ‘know’ behind, but I know the Lord is with me always, as close as my heartbeat, but closer. Its such an awesome comfort! And think we will NEVER be separated from Him, ever! As soon as we close our eyes in this world and step into eternity we are in His presence immediately! theres no lapse, we just move from our tents to our heavenly bodies, we are sealed in Christ. That’s just incredible! Thank you Jesus for being our WAY our TRUTH our LIFE! Thank you for the promise You will be with us always!! NOTHING can ever separate us from His love!!! =))
Jenny
======= Mae:
Verses that stood out for me today:
Mark 12:27 “So he is the God of the living, not the dead”.
Mark 12:30 “And you must love the Lord your God with all your heart, all your soul, all your mind, and all your strength”.
Psalm 48:11 “As your name deserves, O God, you will be praised to the ends of the earth. Your strong right hand is filled with victory”.
Psalm 48:14 “For that is what God is like. He is our God forever and ever, and he will guide us until we die”.
As for Proverbs … well, I give myself 100% when I’m at work. To make it worth my while AND for my managers. It’s a 2 way-street, you know what I mean? If I don’t give myself 100%, I can’t expect 100% from them. Like next summer, I’ll have 5 weeks off of work, no problem. This week I was suppose to work extra shifts as well, but since Jaden isn’t doing well, I wanted to work my regular hours, even though I knew this big project started recently. My manager didn’t make a point, it was okay. However … my work isn’t my biggest priority. My family is .1, always and always!!!!!! I’m a mother and wife first!
Mae
====== Pat:
My thoughts on the punishment of women in today’s reading from Numbers 5:11-31. It reads like a method that would have used to test for witches during the last few centuries. However, I need to remember that this law of jealousy was God’s law and not one dreamed up by man. If the woman was innocent, the bitter water would not make her sick. If the woman was guilty, the bitter water would make her instantly sick. It’s as simple as that because God said so! I keep thinking about all the women that were accused unjustly. This would not only prove the wife’s innocence to her husband, but I image the clan members would learn of the test result. All it would cost the husband materially was 1/10 an ephah of barley (about 2 quarts) for the grain offering that the priest received when his wife was presented for testing. However, I wonder if it didn’t really cost him a lot more if she was innocent, as it seems it would result in him losing some respect within the clan.
God Bless!
Pat
======= Laverne:
Numbers chapter 4 reminds me of something Bishop T.D.Jakes said that I have in my office visbile to only me: “This is my provision until the promise” and I am ok with that because I know right now I am the best person for this job, and when the time comes for something different God will move me on. Until then I will do the best I can do.
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I use to be very busy at church because we had a small congregation at my old church. I was ok with the size I never attend church for the #’s. At my old church we were stewards inside of another church where we rented space for worship service & bible study. We didn’t have alot of space for our stuff so we carried many boards back & forth twice a week. Along with the necessities I always brought a jar of candy.
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Today Psalm 48; 9-10 really hit home for me.
9We have thought on your steadfast love, O God,
in the midst of your temple.
10As your name, O God,
so your praise reaches to the ends of the earth.
I love how connected I feel to God while in church. When we are listening to the sermon,singing praise & worship, in prayer in our seats or at the alter. It really comes together for me and the Christ in me and everyone else is magnified I like that. I can truly feel His steadfast LOVE. When its time to go after 2 hours it ALWAYS seem like 10 minutes….
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Laverne
======= Katie:
This is a good word for me. My husband is the asst pastor/worship leader/ youth pastor at our small church… meaning he does A LOT!!!!! And as his wife, sometimes I feel called to be involved and part of things that I wish we weren’t….
But this has opened my eyes, has opened my heart, to the special calling that this is.
Thank You Lord for the honor…
Amen
======= Edward:
Mark 12:33-34 – What so special about the scribe’s answer that made him wise and not far from the kingdom of God and that no one dared to ask Jesus further questions after that? It seemed that the scribe only repeated Jesus’ answer earlier when he asked Jesus the same question, so what did Jesus noticed? Application: What the scribe basically added was loving God and loving your neighbour as yourself is more important than sacrifices. In OT, when a person sins against God or his neighbour, he is breaking the laws, he then has to offer up burnt sacrifices as a form of repentance. However as much as God desires a person repentance, nothing pleases God more if a person truly loves God and truly love and care for others around him. If a person can truly love, he will have fulfilled all the Lord’s commandments.
Mark 12:35-37 – Jesus the Christ is not just the Son of David, He is the Lord God Himself. It reveals the duality of God that He is both the Lord of heaven and earth, and the Lord Messiah who shall rule over all His enemies at the end.
Edward
======= Gina:
We used to do the same thing in our church when we were meeting in an elementary school gymnasium…set up chairs! Our life groups would rotate the task each Saturday night. It was boring and not a lot of fun, but with a group of friends, we could make anything fun! When we moved into our new building, my husband and I worked on the stage set up. We have 3 services each Sunday morning and there were a lot of different things that needed moved around. I wasn’t fond of moving big props either…I’m not very strong :)…then I went into life group ministry…helping people get connected in small groups. It was right up my alley but I still felt like something was missing. I was always in prayer about where God wanted me to serve but I felt like I was just moving around aimlessly until I attended a conference in Chicago. It was supposed to teach about small groups, and it did, however, I found myself dealing with the fact that we have lost people out there and we did not have a ministry set up for them to find out more about a relationship with Jesus. When I got back, as God would have it perfectly planned, I received a call from a staff member asking if I would like to help with praying with people who have accepted Jesus. Bingo! A new ministry began called “Say Yes” – now, 4 years later, my team and I have the wonderful privledge of praying and following up with those who accept Jesus each Sunday! When I look back on all the other things I did before I found my “place”, I know now that God was preparing me for this ministry. The other things were just stepping stones that I needed to step on to get me where I am today. :0) I’m thankful for that!
I can’t imagine not serving in church. It’s sooooo rewarding! But sadly, probably like in most churches, it is usually about 20% of people doing all of the work. Our church has grown a lot in the past 10 years, but sometimes finding volunteers it the bigest challenge we face!
Proverbs today….I soooo needed to hear that! Thanks for the commentary!
Gina
======= Angie:
actually to be honest here again, (oh boy, i feel like a really rotten person here) but the only time i ever volunteered at church was for summer bible school which was only a week every summer. and some years i helped and some i didn’t. i was always more involved in girl scouting then i was with my church volunteering. so i would always be working at the camp or had a summer job that prevented me from doing the volunteer work. and now that i’m out on my own and married, never. we dont’ even go to church and i’m ashamed to even say that. my church that i was brought up in has had many conflicts the last 6 or so years and we quit going. we didn’t want to join another church but didnt’ want to quit the one we had grown up in. so in time, we just quit going altogether, not knowing really what to do. every time we thought about going, we always had to end up working that morning or day and didnt’ go. we had to pay be able to pay our bills and thought that work was way more important and our bills came first. and it is. money here is really tight for us still so every bit helps. especially since we are probably going to be buying a new truck this week or next, due to my stepson’s complete stupidity. and thats one thing i’m trying to get past here lately, is all this anger towards him. everyone tells me that i shouldn’t hold a grudge over this truck that my husband will be in a better and more reliable vehicle. and i know they are right. but i still have all this anger in me, and lord only knows me best that i will have it for a very very long time and yet, i’m trying to not get mad at seeing this truck in my driveway everyday. right now, its just going to be a constant reminder of what he did to me, my husband, and my family and it makes me so angry it makes me sick to my stomache. but maybe this is something that god is doing to help me get over my anger, to move on, and trust in him. and in time, that i’ll trust him enough to go back to church again. right now, i’m still on rocky road here so please bear with me. this is all very new to me and i still have a lot of anger issues i’m trying to sort all out. even with god himself. but he knows that.
Angie
======= Luch:
I love this focus on the Shema. A great companion resource to this teaching is Scott Mcknight’s book ‘The Jesus Creed’ which is all based on this teaching.
I would like to offer this video piece from New Testament scholar Scott McKnight. Here’s an introduction to his book ‘the Jesus Creed’ where he also addresses the need to bring the Shema into our daily lives in a new testament kind of way. Only about 3 minutes in length.
enjoy
https://www.youtube.com/embed/OfveyGofEy0?version=3&rel=1&showsearch=0&showinfo=1&iv_load_policy=1&fs=1&hl=en-US&autohide=2&wmode=transparent
Thank you for helping us all to ‘jump start’ our days with the most important teaching Jesus ever gave. The piece he added was ‘to love our neighbour as ourselves which was also talked about in Leviticus.
Luch
======= Chris:
Love both the Shema and the Jesus Creed. Hope to return to the Shema chant frequently enough to commit it to memory, as it will serve me well in some visitation I do. And the Jesus Creed–especially if I can put it to music–will be wonderful food for mouth and soul. Thanks to Mike & Luch for the links.
Chris
========= Nick:
Bad after-work habits can also have a negative affect. If we come home from work, eat, then plop down in front of the television, it seems that ‘good works’ have been postponed.
Instead I think we need to eat the ‘bread’ that sustains us, and pray to our Lord, who gives us life. With the distractions of work gone, we can then take advantage of the valuable time we have to get closer to God.
Nick
======= Elizabeth:
Hello Everyone,
Lily, I must agree with your comment on Numbers from yesterday—Numbers is certainly s-l-o-w starting, though I do recall that it picks up speed and relevance once we get past the census and duties of the Levites.
Mike, I noticed you didn’t touch Numbers 5–can’t say I blame you. What a bizarre little chapter that is! It reminds me of all of the weird superstitious things people have done throughout history (i.e., Salem Witch Trial kind of stuff). Sometimes I get perplexed about the Israelites when it comes to casting lots and such–even passages like where Gideon asks for a sign (dry fleece/wet fleece). The Jews/Middle Eastern culture strikes me as very prone to superstitious thinking, and sometimes the Lord seems to work within their mentality, yet other times NOT!
I have a brother-in-law who is Lebanese and his entire family is exceedingly superstitious. I am amazed at how “old world” some of their thinking is. Some of this I believe goes way WAY back to this early culture, and I imagine that’s part of why the Lord was clear about how much He detests fortune telling, mediums and such.
Anyway…I DO think chapter is nothing short of bizarre—pronouncing curses and a woman drinking water with dust from the temple floor in it! It is strange to think how far removed our culture is from our own. Can you imagine a modern day wife being asked to do something like this?
And touching back to my confusion about modern-day Judaism–how do modern Jews make sense of and apply a passage like this?
********************
On an entirely different topic…
With regard to work habits, I agree with everything that Mike & Nik have said. From a practical standpoint, poor work ethics are detrimental, but even more, I always think about how we are working unto the Lord and not unto men:
“Whatever you do, work heartily, as for the Lord and not for men, knowing that from the Lord you will receive the inheritance as your reward. You are serving the Lord Christ.” -Colossians 3:23-24
I like to think (and believe there is scriptural precedence too) that the Lord gets greater glory and delights even more when we are doing the menial tasks, the less glamorous jobs….at home, work, or for ministry.
Also, I think of the passage where Paul speaks of the body having some parts that are “weaker” or less “presentable” than others, but how instrumental those parts are:
On the contrary, the parts of the body that seem to be weaker are indispensable, and on those parts of the body that we think less honorable we bestow the greater honor, and our unpresentable parts are treated with greater modesty, which our more presentable parts do not require.” 1 Corinthians 12:22-24
I like this commentary on it:
“Some members of the body … seem to be weaker than others. The kidneys, for instance, don’t seem to be as strong as the arms. But the kidneys are indispensable whereas the arms are not. We can live without arms and legs, or even without a tongue, but we cannot live without heart, lungs, liver, or brain. Yet these vital organs never put themselves on public display. They just carry on their functions unostentatiously. ” -Believer’s Bible Commentary
I believe the Lord delights in those members of the church, His body, who serve in ordinary everyday ways—ways that are essential to the health of the body but don’t earn people a lot of pats on the back.
As a homemaker and mother, the bread and butter of what I do every day is this kind of work–repetitive, monotonous, and most of it not inherently interesting. BUT, if it doesn’t get done, our entire family would not function in good health, so I believe it is vital work! I think it’s a very modern and secular idea that our work should be “interesting” and “worthy” of our attention.
Anyway…..sorry to chew your ear off this morning! ; )
Elizabeth
======= Bobbie:
May I always Love the Lord w/ all my heart and w/ all my soul and w/ all my mind and w/ all my strength. Thank you for being my God even if I always falter to your standard but you have always giving me the chance to correct all my mistakes. Your so good and your love is a never ending love. Help me that I am in align to your will and may I always recognize that wherever I am and wherever I go you are always with me. Thank so much for giving the opportunity to read your words everyday.
Bobbie
======= Steve:
Proverbs 10:26 As vinegar to the teeth and smoke to the eyes, so are sluggards to those who send them.
I chose this verse because I’ve retired and sometimes feel like I’m not contributing as much as I should. Before retirement it would have been hard for many to keep up with me, I was very driven, I couldn’t help it as that’s just the way my father raised me. Now that I’m retired and no longer have the structure that a 9-5 job provides, it seems to take longer for me to do the same things that I once just effortlessly blew through. The other side of the coin is that those hurried feelings (always being on a mission) and feeling like a participant on the game show “Beat the Clock” are peeling off a layer at a time.
The nine to five working day structure is now gone but it’s slowly being replaced by the structure and balance that comes from reading and studying my bible. My priorities are shifting and a new path full of adventure is beginning to unfold. If I had a Time Machine and could return to that crazy/busy driven time in my life I would never have become a life contestant of “Beat the Clock”.
Steve
======= Debbie:
Proverbs 10:26 goes with the OT reading. What if someone assigned one of the duties was a lazy person. The whole system would suffer. I didn’t grow up in an environment where everyone had a job and duty. My life was unstructured and I find structure difficult. I am content to find a place that needs help and pitch in. I’m annoyed with the attitude, “that’s not my job.” But I see in this OT passage where jobs and duties are vital – if someone is not doing their “job” a leader needs to hold them accountable or find someone else who will do the job. I lived in some campus dorms that had a resident assistant who was responsible to keep the hallways clean but they never did and no one held them responsible. Everyone suffered.
This passage is a good passage on leadership for the church, isn’t it?
Debbie
========= Robert:
Psalm 48
Jerusalem
It was great this morning I read the Psalm to my son and when I got to the part about telling people about Jerusalem, I had the opportunity to tell him a little bit about the city.
“12 Walk about Zion, go around her,
count her towers,
13 consider well her ramparts,
view her citadels,
that you may tell of them
to the next generation. ”
I have been there twice in 40 years and I haven’t seen a lot of change from my perspective. I told him about the 4 religions that each lived in a quarter of the city and how interesting it was to walk through each part and experience this balance of war and peace between them. I hope one day he gets to see the Dome, the Wall, the 8 Gates, Mount of Olives and best smorgasborg at the King David Hotel.
Mark
Mark 12
The Shema
I think this is the first time I have ever has a chance to ponder these verses and really enjoy them. It is so interesting to remember standing at the Temple Wall in Jerusalem with many people reciting the Shema in many cases. The words certainly echo what is said in the commentary today ( What is behind the most famous Jewish prayer?) about God’s unity, God’s love and Jewish unity.
Little aside note my wife told me about why the Jewish people sort of rock when they stand and read or recite text. Its because it mimics the action of a candle and can be a helpful spiritual connection with God.
Ramona, good insight into what do “questions” really mean?
Robert
======== MItch:
NT – Greatest commandments? Love God with everything you’ve got, and love your neighbor as yourself. Why the greatest? Because if you love like that (and maintain it) you will not sin against God nor your neighbor. (Note; Good Samaritan parable defined neighbor as everyone.)
Why did Jesus bring up the conundrum of Messiah being son of David, yet David called Messiah “Lord”? Once again in a different way Jesus is trying to illuminate His deity. Like a lawyer with a leading question – if OT is true and Messiah is son of David, then how can David call Messiah -Lord?
Because the Messiah is both – Jesus is the God Man.
Mitch
======= Dee:
There is alot of references in Number 4-5:31 where God spoke to either Moses and Aaron or spoke into Moses:
4:1 Then the Lord said to Moses and Aaron..
4:17 The the Lord said to Moses and Aaron..
4:21 And the Lord said to Moses
5:1 The Lord gave these instructions to Moses
5:5 Then the Lord said to Moses..
5:11 And the Lord said to Moses..
That brings me to the thoughts of: To whom much is given, much is required. Moses was a leader, so was his brother Aaron. Whether they wanted to be, it was upon them. We have to learn to rise to the occasion if we are called to this positioning in our life from God, which I believe God calls all people into leadership in some respect, but then don’t get me wrong, if you are the behind the scenes man or not the lead in something, where it be at work or church or family..God calls us to many different positions and orderliness which he has displayed and he is not an author of confusion or chaos, but of order and love and not a respector of persons, He loves all of us..
I am like Ramona on the questioning in Mark..how dare they, the saduccees question or put on an act to be seen, Oh Teacher..tell us this one thing, they couldn’t give flippity squat what the Lord had to say as being knowledgable and sowing into the seed of the heart, they were out to sow discord, and Christ saw their evil hearts..its sad to say that there are people out there within churches that are just that pious, snooty, hi-falutent(I know my spelling is wrong) and think they are above the Laws of God Himself, and they are so wrong..God will reward the diligent and curse the ones who use His temple as anything but pure, holy, and just..
I remember looking back at my old life and working at an office where I used to surf internet on what I thought should be my “free” time or breaks in between work, which I know is wrong now looking back at that. Right now I am a stay at home mom and a full time online student, so now my employer is my family so to speak. and I pray that I always serve my home well and give God the Glory within it each and every day.
God Bless each and every one)~~
Dee
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