May 13

Numbers 22; Psalms 62-63; Isaiah 11-12; James 5

Daily Cateshism

QUESTION 95: WHAT ARE THE OUTWARD AND ORDINARY MEANS BY WHICH CHRIST COMMUNICATES TO US THE BENEFITS OF REDEMPTION?
Answer: The outward and ordinary means by which Christ communicates to us the benefits of redemption are his ordinances, especially the Word, Baptism, the Lord’s Supper and Prayer; all of which are made effectual to the elect for salvation.
Scripture: Romans 10:17; James 1:18; 1 Corinthians 3:5; Acts 14:1; 2:41, 42.

Numbers 22

Here is the infamous speaking donkey.  Balaam seems to be a man who has had influence on others and has been a non-Israelite prophet of sorts.  Although he worshiped other gods, it seems that he had demonstrated some kind of “power” in his blessing or cursing of others.  Here he prays to the living God and asks permission to curse this people who came out of Egypt and is denied.   The strange back and forth of his welcoming the messengers and going with them after first declaring that he would not in response to God’s direction seems reconciled by Peter in 2 Peter 2:15 where he makes it clear that Balaam was interested in the money more than in following God’s direction.  So we have someone who has a front of submission and or prayerful engagement with God but down deep he is motivated by greed.  Verse 20-22 are hard to reconcile because it seems that God gives his direction to go (odd in itself) and then judges him for going immediately.  So is God tricking Balaam?  No.  God does not tempt us (Jas 1:13).  Taking scripture as unified we must find another answer to this paradox.  “Go…I am angry that you went?”  Remember the directions in verse 20…”If the men have come to call you, rise, go with them; but only do what I tell you.”  Perhaps Balaam set out with a mindset not of doing the LORD’s bidding but of obtaining the price that was being offered.  Ultimately God makes it clear to Balaam that he has been blinded by greed (Can’t see the angel) and he was nearly killed if it were not for the Donkey’s sense of survival that saved him.  God uses many means to accomplish his will and he does not need anything more than a rock to sing his praises or a Donkey to reveal his will.  Balaam needed a heart check in order to keep him from falling to the greed that was in his heart.  Praise God that he sends hardship or other things into our lives in order to keep us from making dumb errors as well.  Praise God that he knows our hearts and he trains us if we will just see and hear and surrender.  If we wait until times get tough to be in a habit of listening and meeting with God then it may take a donkey to get our attention. 

Psalms 62-63

The psalmist in these two psalms waits upon the LORD in his distress.  He does not depend upon his strength or cunning but he waits upon the LORD and focuses and setting his heart to worship.  He feels battered and attacked by the lies of those who would want to throw him down from his rule.  He is relying on God to be his rock and the foundation, not his own righteousness.  He urges the people of God to trust the LORD even in circumstances like this.  He warns against becoming comfortable and putting stock in riches if they come by the grace of God.  Psalm 63:1 is a great picture of the heart of a man who loves God and knows that he alone can satisfy.  Ps 63:3 establishes a foundation for Paul to say in Philippians 1:21 “For me to live is Christ, and to die is gain.”  Restated it might be said like this- "There is nothing life can give me and nothing death can take from me that is more valuable than the steadfast love of the LORD!”  The psalmist wants to feast upon the LORD (Ps 63:5; John 6:54-56).  He meditates upon the LORD in the watches of the night!  There is no time that it is inconvenient for his to seek the LORD.  He does not have trouble finding time to meet with God because his soul clings to him as his very life.  In the end he returns to his troubles and he expresses assurance that the LORD will claim victory over David’s enemies and that their lying mouths will be stopped. 

Isaiah 11-12

11 is a difficult chapter in many ways and the prophecy can be understood as fulfilled and yet to be fulfilled or it can be taken very broadly as Calvin takes it in his commentary on Isaiah.  The dispensational view of Dallas (BKC) suggests certainly a pure national Israel view of this prophecy and speaks mainly of past events in the return of Israel and the unification of the northern and southern tribes.  Yet then a future return in the beginning of the millennium.
     v1-5. So a shoot from the stump of Jesse probably speaks of David (shoot) and Jesus being the branch from his roots (Jesse's root being Abraham).  Israel is the root and so salvation is only found here in this family.  We must become Jews by inward circumcision of the heart!  This branch, unlike any other, will bear fruit because it abides and it does not dry up.  However the imagery is specifically seen, the idea is doubly presented that David will come and that Christ will come.
     v 2-5 seem primarily to apply to Christ as it mentions judging not by what he sees or hears and that the rod of his mouth shall strike the earth and such.  Here the armor of God that Paul visualizes in Eph 6 is partially revealed in the belt of his waist and the belt of his loins.  Righteousness rests upon faithfulness in this imagery as the breastplate of righteousness rests upon the belt of truth by Paul.  There is no mention of armor that is faithfulness in the NT so perhaps truth is a restatement of what is here faithfulness.  Rom 15:8 says that Jesus came as a servant of the jews to show God's truthfulness.  His truthfulness is here reference to him keeping his promises.  This can easily be equated to faithfulness and certainly faithfulness rests on the concept of truth.
     v6-9.  Here some imagery is presented that can represent actual animals maybe in the new heaven and earth or perhaps nations in the millennial kingdom.  Either way the point is clear for our use today…Jesus changes everything!  He indeed is the prince of peace.
     v10.  Here Jesus is setup as a signal for all of salvation and people from all nations come to him.  He draws his sheep from the whole world.  Jn 3:16.
     v11.  He extends his hand a second time…perhaps this is reference to the first extension being declined by his people and thus their sin resulted in salvation coming to the gentiles (Rom 10:21, 11:11).  This second time perhaps is specifically for the remnant and is effectual as was his drawing of the elect from the gentiles and Israel (Rom 11:7).  This can be a full saving of Israel as in Rom 11:26.  Here he refers to the remnant that remains of his people.
     v12-16.  He speaks of a return and a unification of the tribes and of nothing stopping this and yet Christ is setup as the force brining them together so perhaps it is accurately taken by Calvin as working across time and ages rather or if I had to choose then I would put it future since Christ was not a signal to the OT jews who returned from exile.  He speaks of assembling the banished of Israel and this could easily be the "rejected" in Rom 11:15 are here accepted and this is ushering the resurrection from the dead in the coming of judgement day now that the sons of God have been fully revealed (Rom 8:19) and now the creation is ready to be freed from bondage and obtain the freedom of the glory of the children of God (Rom 8:21).  The reference of Israel leaving Egypt is more telling of complete salvation than crossing the Jordan similarly on dry land as some tribes did not enter the promised land but remained transjordanian.

Chapter 12  picks up in that day where they are delivered across the river and God is their deliverance and they will give thanks.
     v1.  We will recognize that God was rightfully angry but that he has turned his anger away in order to comfort me. 
     v2.  Behold, this great God who holds me accountable for my sin has now become my salvation!  I need not be afraid if I will but trust him because he is my strength and my song.  He is my rock and my joy.  He is my foundation and my hope. 
     v3.  With joy will I draw from the wells of salvation!  I will receive from the endless provision of this great God. 
     v4.  Then I will say again to all who will listen…give thanks to the LORD all you who fear and are weighted with sin.  For you can call upon him now in your despair.  I shall make known his deeds in how he has delivered me from my sin and from hopelessness.  I will proclaim that his name is exalted!  Yes, he is trustworthy and true and powerful and he is a God of action. 
    v5.  I will praise him because he has done glorious things and he has shown us his power and his love.  Let us take this message and create worshipers across this world!
    v6.  Shout and sing for you are now citizens in the City of God as members if his family by gracious adoption.  And you are near, not far…you have been brought near to the Holy One of Israel by the blood of the lamb (Eph 2:13)!

James 5

A few points made here about riches and suffering and faith and about restoration.  There is the famous verse about Elijah being a man of our same nature and yet his prayer was powerful.  Also the slightly difficult verse about the prayer of a righteous person is powerful as it is working.  Hmmm…as it is working.  Also here is let your yes be yes and do not swear on anything.  However there are places elsewhere where it is clear that this is a general thing and not an absolute command against all oaths…but against false oaths for sure.  There is also the bit about returning a sinner form his wandering and how his soul is saved from death and a multitude of sins are covered.  We must come back from our wandering because in the end our faith must prevail since the love of God has been poured into our hearts…if the love of God has been poured into our hearts (Rom 5:5; 8:9).

Soli Deo Gloria!