Numbers 32; Psalm 77; Isaiah 24; 1 John 2
Daily Catechism
QUESTION 100: WHAT IS BAPTISM?
Answer: Baptism is a holy ordinance, in which immersion in the water in the name of the Father, the Son and the Holy Spirit, signifies our being joined to Christ and our sharing the benefits of the covenant of grace, and our engagement to be the Lord’s.
Scripture: Matthew 28:19; Romans 6:3-5; Colossians 2:12; Galatians 3:27.
Numbers 32
This chapter seems to be a near tragedy that is resolved by the heads of Gad, Rueben, and Manasseh agreeing to fight with the rest of the nation when they cross the Jordan but they have requested the land on the east side of the river due to it being excellent land for livestock. Moses explains to the men that the same trouble plagued the nation 40 years ago and was the cause of their wandering and he warns them that “If you turn away from following him, he will again abandon them in the wilderness…”. This puts responsibility on the shoulders of the people to keep their part of the covenant but the unilateral nature of this covenant from Gen 15 comes out when Jer 32:40 is considered and we see that God intends to put in them a fear that will indeed keep the true Jews (circumcised of heart- the remnant within) faithful. In the end Moses agrees to the plan and the three tribes (two and one-half) will return to this land and meet up with their wives and children after Canaan is conquered and the rest of the nation receives their inheritance.
Psalm 77
Asaph looks to recall the mighty works of God recorded in his Word when he feels a sense that God is quiet and that he is not currently seeing his hand at work. Perhaps at the end of the Psalm he realizes that God is at work but his footprints are not seen right now…though he leads even now by the hand as he did in the days of Jacob and Moses and Aaron.
Isaiah 24
A picture of the last days where God judges the world and all his creation, including the angels. He speaks of them being shut up in a prison before being punished as in the millennial description. So are they shut up in prison for many days now? Is it yet to come? In what sense are they shut up? There are a number of views here regarding end times and the ESVSB summarizes them (including diagrams) in the introduction to Revelation.
1 John 2
Sometimes making a brief outline of a chapter may help us to rephrase the teaching and to consider the relationships of the statements and may instigate some reflection and further searching of the scriptures. Here is such an outline for 1 John 2 from today...
- Do not sin. (v1)
- Christ is our advocate (representative) and our propitiation (peacemaker) when we (all believers, not just Jews) do sin. (v1-2)
- Those who know him long to keep his commands from an obedience of faith…a love for our king. (v3-6)
- If Christ is in you, you will love your brothers…we are one body (v7-11)
- Spiritual teaching from youth to the end of life (v12-14)
- Milk for children is knowing the Father loves them and has forgiven them… and not based on their own merit
- Strength for life and growth is abiding in the Word and standing firm in holiness
- The end state of fathers is resting in the knowledge of God and his redemption, planned from the beginning, that came from the Father, was accomplished by the Son, and was applied by the Spirit. I am thinking a big picture understanding of where we fit in God's grand story.
- The child of God cannot love the world, rather he does the will of God (v15-17)
- True children remain and false are exposed in time…enter by the gate! (v18-19)
- The Father and Son are one and the Son cannot be denied (trinity) without denying the Father (v20-23)
- Abide in the Father and in the Son for eternal life (v24-25)
- You have what you need in his Word and you need no teacher to tell you other than what has been revealed (v26-27)
- Children…abide and grow strong that you will not shrink back and that you will have no reason for shame at his coming…for his children practice righteousness. (v28-29)
Soli Deo Gloria!
