Numbers 6 - 7.16.24

SCRIPTURE:  Numbers 6:22 – 27

22 The Lord said to Moses, 23 “Tell Aaron and his sons, ‘This is how you are to bless the Israelites. Say to them:

24 “‘“The Lord bless you
    and keep you;

25 the Lord make his face shine on you
    and be gracious to you;

26 the Lord turn his face toward you
    and give you peace.”’

27 “So they will put my name on the Israelites, and I will bless them.”

OBSERVATION

Verses 22 – 27 is called a Priestly Blessing. The blessing comes after a lengthy outline in verses 1 – 21 on how a Nazirite is to live their life. I wasn’t aware of a Nazirite but found it’s a Jewish man or woman who takes a vow to consecrate their life to the Lord for a period of time. There were several people in the Bible who were considered to possibly be a Nazirite based on the vow or dedication they showed in their life:

Sampson, Samuel, Paul and John the Baptist

Although 21 verses are devoted to the Nazirite’s vow and what that entails, the Lord ends up blessing all Israelites and not just the Nazirites. He’s a gracious and loving God who wants to bless all who follow Him.

God’s blessing goes deeper to also “keep us.” This is a way of protection and watching over us in our life. His eyes are upon us to keep us from harm. I feel special knowing His love and care goes so deep.

The blessing goes further into showing how God is pleased with those who follow Him by shining his face towards us. My heart is so full knowing He looks upon me with a shining face and is gracious. How special we are to Him!

By turning His face towards us, this is an act of acceptance, love and pleasure with us. He then also extends peace. I’m so thankful He doesn’t turn His head away but towards me and the blessing of peace is given.

Another take away is this Scripture uses the word “you” six times. God is in the details of us personally. In Psalm 139 (which is my favorite life scripture) God says He’s intimately acquainted with each of us, knew us before we were born, knows when we sit down, lay down, and even what we will speak before anything is said. You are important to God and His blessings flow in abundance. God’s perfect peace flows when reading this Blessing.

APPLICATION

I need to remember this Scripture and commit it to memory for those times I’m feeling low or discouraged. The reminder of how God wants to bless us, love us, is gracious, shines his face of acceptance and light upon us, is gracious, and extends peace ultimate causes me to feel so special and at peace within Him. God is so good and worthy of all praise!

Hearing the worship song set to this Scripture is the icing on the cake. Receive the blessing God wants to give you and His peace in this worship song: 

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Zp6aygmvzM4

PRAYER

Lord, I am so thankful for your blessings. You love us so much! You have always loved your chosen people – the Nation of Israel - and I also care about Israel. I pray and lift them up now and always. I also pray this blessing to the United States that this nation turns back to you. Help us to consecrate each day to you and receive the blessings you freely and graciously give to those who follow you.  In Jesus name… amen!

- Mary Oberg

Psalm 3 - 7.15.24

Scripture

Psalm 3:3-6

3 But you, Lord, are a shield around me,
    my glory, the One who lifts my head high.

4 I call out to the Lord,
    and he answers me from his holy mountain.

5 I lie down and sleep;
    I wake again, because the Lord sustains me.

6 I will not fear though tens of thousands
    assail me on every side.

Observation 

This Psalm was written by David and apparently, he wrote it when he was fleeing from his own son, Absalom.

“King David's son, Absalom, had killed his brother Amnon for raping his sister Tamar. Then he led a rebellion against the king and drove him out of Jerusalem.” (John Piper on desiringgod.org)

“David complains to God of his enemies, and confides in God. (1-3) He triumphs over his fears, and gives God the glory, and takes to himself the comfort. (4-8)…David's faith became triumphant. He began the psalm with complaints of the strength and malice of his enemies; but concludes with rejoicing in the power and grace of his God, and now sees more with him than against him.” (Matthew Henry commentary on Christianity.com)

King David recognizes that God is his shield, the lifter of His head and his sustainer. As a result, he does not fear his enemies, which in this Psalm, was his own son. 

Application

Use our trials to draw us closer to the Lord, not further away. 

I’m reading this book called, “The Gospel for Disordered lives” and loved this quote in it:

“Quite often Western Christians believe that God is good because their circumstances are good. Their experiences become their authority over the Word of God. This wrong thinking may not even be recognizable until negative experiences arise to test them.” (pg. 313)

Maybe you’re not going through enemies pursuing you, just like King David was, but rather trials of a health issue with yourself or a loved one; marriage trials; a loved one passing; financial/work trials; family or other relationship issues, etc. Whatever it may be for each of us, continue to draw close to the Lord. 

Right now, we are in the 5th day of our Rooted prayer and fasting challenge. If you haven’t joined us yet, it is not too late! Continue to press into the Lord, especially when going through trials! He is the lifter of our head and sustains us with His strength. When we call out to Him, He will answer us through prayer and His Word.  “Blessed are those who hunger and thirst for righteousness, for they shall be filled.” -Matthew 5:6

Prayer

Dear Jesus,

Thank You for being my sustainer and the lifter of my head. Thank You that no matter what circumstance is going on, You remain good and the same. I pray that I would continue to press into You through this time of prayer and fasting and that You would reveal Yourself to me. May my focus shift from my problems and circumstances to You alone. Amen. 

-Michelle Gaddi

This is my favorite worship song to listen to to shift my focus away from myself to Him: “High Above” by Parachute Band. 

https://youtu.be/ploAkX4pzGA?si=QwUnq5EMFCuF_bZW

Numbers 4 - 7.12.24

Scripture: Numbers‬ ‭4‬:‭46‬-‭47‬, ‭49‬ ‭NIV‬‬

”So Moses, Aaron and the leaders of Israel counted all the Levites by their clans and families. All the men from thirty to fifty years of age who came to do the work of serving and carrying the tent of meeting At the Lord’s command through Moses, each was assigned his work and told what to carry. Thus they were counted, as the Lord commanded Moses.“

‭‭ Observations:

These observations are coming from chapters 1-4 as I was impressed with how detailed God was in ordering how the Israelites traveled and then in this chapter assigning the care and traveling of the tabernacle. 

• God cares about the details and the journey. He gave each tribe a position to travel in. 

• The amount of people traveling was massive!  What a site they must have been.  How difficult to manage-hence God giving the specific order. 

• He appointed leaders of each group.  God chose them himself.  He gave Moses the names. 

• Each person had an important task. Today each of us do too.

• It took a tremendous amount of work to move from one spot to another on their journey to the promise land.  When God calls us it will take a lot of work too. 

In college I had to memorize the travel order for a test. When my friends and I were studying we sang it to the intro of Rudolf because Asher reminded me of Dasher. It worked! In fact I remembered it for years to come.  I also memorized who carried what in the tribe of the Levites by making a jingle: Kohath Furnishing, Gershon Tapestries, and Merari Hardware, which I remember to this day. 

One would ask why is this important?  Believe me we questioned the importance of know this for the test. As the memories flooded back I was impressed with how God took care of the Israelites doing all the things I’ve mentioned. 

His presence was represented here and how the tabernacle was packaged for travel was vitally important. 

The tribe of Kohath was responsible for carrying items that they were not allowed to see.  I can imagine the curiosity.  Yet, not seeing the items, saved their lives.  

• God’s holiness is to be revered and it is work to preserve it. 

What an incredible testimony of being faithful to God and following His instructions. 

Application:

When making plans I should first seek God. He has a perfect order to everything. I need to remember how much He cares about every detail!

What a perfect time, at the beginning of the Rooted Challenge to be reminded that God’s dwelling with us is not to be taken for granted. Look at all the Israelites had to go through.  

I am so thankful for Jesus paying the price for us. The curtain to the tabernacle ripped symbolizing God’s presence is available to all and we can experience His holiness when it used to be only available to select priests. Matthew 27:51

Prayer:

Father God,

Thank you for the incredible way you have created and ordered everything.  My life being one of those things. Nothing happens by chance. You even use my mistakes.  Please help me follow all the directions you give me just as Moses and the Israelites did.  At times they had to wait. Although, seeing all it required to move, waiting was easier. Please help me be willing to not just sit, but do the work. 

Thank you for your Word and the many ways you reveal yourself as I enjoy your creation and fellowship with your people. 

Amen

- Cindy Howard