April 24

Numbers 1; Psalm 35 ; Ecclesiastes 11; Titus 3

Daily Catechism

QUESTION 80: WHICH IS REQUIRED IN THE EIGHTH COMMANDMENT?
Answer: The eighth commandment requires that we pursue lawful and useful work to provide for our needs and for those unable to provide for themselves.
Scripture: Ephesians 4:28; Proverbs 27:23; Leviticus 25:35; Deuteronomy 15:10; 22:1-4.

Numbers 1

This chapter simply brings my mind back to the golden calf episode in Exodus 32:26 where Moses, after making the Israelites drink the ground up idol then called out “Who is on the LORD’s side? Come to me.”  Only the Levites, his own tribe, came to him.  Here the Levites were charged with the holy task of killing all the idol worshipers they could find from among their people, the Israelites (Ex 32:27).  3,000 men were killed that day and the Levites were consecrated into the LORD’s service (Ex 32:28-29) and it would later be explained that they replaced the first-born of all Israel (Num 3:11-13) that would have been tasked with the priesthood of caring for and guarding the Tabernacle.  So the Levites are here in Numbers 1:53 tasked with keeping the people away from the tabernacle that they might not be killed by the wrath of God as they were at the base of Sinai following the golden calf incident. 

Psalm 35

This psalm never has a conclusion where it is obvious that the Lord answered his prayer, as is the case with some others.  In this case David is string out and asking that the Lord take action.  It seems that he is growing impatient and that God seems to not be intervening and the circumstances are not improving.  Through verse 8 David is basing his request upon his own protection and based upon wanting to be delivered.  At verse 9 he begins to relate it to the glory of God and the purposes of God in the world.  David speaks of his personal reaction that would take place inwardly verses 9-10.  In verses 11-16 he goes back to explaining why he feels this frustration and we learn that he had been compassionate toward these people who now are ruthlessly against him.  From verse 17 to the end he alternates from voicing his concern to crying for intercession to explaining how it will result in praise and thanks to God.  Most notably in verse 24 he asks that the LORD vindicate David according to the LORD’s righteousness and not because of David specifically deserving to be delivered!  Here he is appealing purely to the character of God and looking for the glorification of God and the exalting of his name.  From this point on he is pretty well focused on making the case of how the LORD will be lifted up and shown to be glorious by the rescue of David.  This is a good lesson in prayer and in appealing to God not based on our merit or our comfort, but based on his glory and his purposes among the peoples of the world and among his sheep.  Hallowed be thy name!  My prayers should not be so focused upon my comfort and my protection that I am not thinking of my purpose here and his purpose here.  Thy kingdom come, thy will be done!  Will my rescue magnify his name or just keep me from losing money or something else I idolize?

Ecclesiastes 11

Over-all, and captured well in verse 5, it sounds like Solomon is saying to invest one’s self broadly because we do not know what will happen and where there will be success or failure.  He suggests in verse 6 to be busy about laboring to sow and to work hard.  This seems and encouragement to not lose heart when things are not going our way and to continue on and to trust that the Lord will bring the growth and the return in his timing.  Verse 8 seems to suggest that there will be dark days so rejoice when things are good.  Knowing, however, that there will be a judgement and that we are all accountable to God he warns that we are mindful of honoring God in our rejoicing and our enjoying of prosperity.  So the close in verse 10 is to remove vexation (frustration) from the heart and to put away evil from the body.  Perhaps this is a picture of the double mindedness (James 1:8, 4:8) that can befall us if we are trying to enjoy both the world (and the sin that comes with that) and God.  The heart will surely be troubled and frustrated since we know that we cannot serve both God and money (Matt 6:24) and we cannot love the world and claim to love God (1 John 2:15).

Titus 3

Titus is facing some hard people within these churches.  Paul is really hitting him with some hard things and some real corrections.  Paul references how everyone was at one point led by the flesh but that now, as believers, we should know the power of the goodness and loving kindness of our great God.  Now we should experience the washing of the Spirit in new birth and the renewal of our minds by the Spirit.  We have been made right with God and are heirs hoping now for an eternal redemption.  So how can we still behave as we did before?  Paul urges Titus to insist on this and that they be devoted to good works and that they drop their arguments and quarrels about things that do not matter.  He suggests that two times is enough when dealing with someone decisive in the congregation and then they should simply be put out.  Disagreement is one thing, but divisiveness and failure to submit to the authority within a church body is not to be tolerated.  Paul finally urges Titus to be sure that the people are fruitful and are looking to be generous and help others who are in need.  It sounds like Titus is dealing with a tough crowd!


Soli Deo Gloria!