Today’s reading: Num 35:1–36:13, 1 Cor 16:1–24, Ps 30:1–12

Today’s theme: Love is imperative

Today we learn that we are called upon to grow up and live in love before God and each other.

Numbers 35:1–36:13

A holy nation

All the cities that you give to the Levites shall be forty-eight, with their pasturelands. Numbers 35:7 (ESV)

The cities of the Levites were to be spread out across the land and serve as a reminder to the people of their calling to be a holy nation before God.

Our city of refuge

For he must remain in his city of refuge until the death of the high priest, but after the death of the high priest the manslayer may return to the land of his possession. Numbers 35:28 (ESV)

We thank God that Jesus is both our city of refuge and our great High Priest. We run to Jesus our city of refuge and know we can stay under his protection for eternity because He lives as our High Priest forever as stated in Hebrews 4:14-15 and Hebrews 7:26-28.

Five wise virgins

The inheritance of the people of Israel shall not be transferred from one tribe to another, for every one of the people of Israel shall hold on to the inheritance of the tribe of his fathers. Numbers 36:7 (ESV)

The case of these 5 daughters of Zelophehad reminds us of the parable Jesus taught in Matthew 25:1-13. The five wise and five foolish virgins (Mahlah, Tirzah, Hoglah, Milcah, and Noah are the wise ones). The foolish virgins wanted to borrow oil from the wise but the oil was not transferable, they had to go and get their own. In the same way our inheritance in Jesus can not be transferred or imparted to someone else but belongs to us. Each person must pursue and maintain their own inheritance before God.

1 Corinthians 16:1–24

We have always met on Sunday

On the first day of every week, each of you is to put something aside and store it up, as he may prosper, so that there will be no collecting when I come. 1 Corinthians 16:2 (ESV)

Further evidence that from the earliest days of the church, the body of Christ would meet for corporate worship on the first day of the week rather than the 7th day in honour of the resurrection of Jesus Christ as is also noted in Acts 20:7.

An open door for the gospel

for a wide door for effective work has opened to me, and there are many adversaries. 1 Corinthians 16:9 (ESV)

When Paul mentions the great and effective open door he is pointing to the great reception his preaching and the gospel message has found as mentioned in 2 Corinthians 2:12, Colossians 4:3 and Acts 14:27.

However as we know the gospel message always meets with resistance as it challenges the pride of man. It causes many adversaries to rise up, see Philippians 1:28 and 1 Thessalonians 2:2. We give thanks to God that hostility is no real hindrance to the gospel as Paul mentions in Philippians 1:12–14.

Grow up and live in love

Be watchful, stand firm in the faith, act like men, be strong. Let all that you do be done in love. 1 Corinthians 16:13–14 (ESV)

In Paul’s conclusion to this letter he summarises the practical imperatives he has been talking about throughout the letter. He calls the people of Corinth to be watchful which is a call to holiness and sanctification.

To stand firm in the faith is to uphold the gospel message as first preached and the godly traditions handed down to them. To act like men and be strong is to be mature in their thinking and behaviour.

The call for everything to be done in love reminds us of the overarching love theme of the letter outlined back in chapter 13. We are called to grow up and live out the faith in love.

Love is imperative

If anyone has no love for the Lord, let him be accursed. Our Lord, come! 1 Corinthians 16:22 (ESV)

Love is not an option for us as Christians but an imperative command given by the Lord Jesus Himself in John 13:34.

Psalm 30:1–12

Angry for a moment

For his anger is but for a moment, and his favor is for a lifetime. Weeping may tarry for the night, but joy comes with the morning. Psalm 30:5 (ESV)

God is always displeased with sin and can never be indifferent to it. He judges sin with a holy anger. However for His people, God’s judgments and anger are short-lived and pass quickly while his favour lasts for our lifetime and on into eternity. We should be grateful today that God’s mercy, grace and love towards us outweighs His anger through Jesus.

Most of the above post is a copy of the original notes from the same date in 2014.

Additional resources

The Gospel Coalition on 1 Corinthians 16

Today’s reading: Num 33:50–34:29, 1 Cor 15:35–58, Ps 29:1–11

Today’s theme: Our coming resurrection

We learn many lessons about the reality, nature, hope and sanctifying power of our coming resurrection which will happen for all believers when the King returns.

Numbers 33:50–34:29

Kill sin and cast it out

then you shall drive out all the inhabitants of the land from before you and destroy all their figured stones and destroy all their metal images and demolish all their high places. Numbers 33:52 (ESV)

God calls on Israel to not only drive the people out of the land but to destroy their idols as well. The main reason these people needed to be driven from the land was because of their idolatry.

Idolatry brings demonic bondage to the idol worshipper. God wanted these false gods/demons cast out of the land so that the trap and alluring temptation of idolatry would be removed from his people. It would allow them to worship the true God without distraction.

We can apply this to our lives by killing sin wherever it is found in us and casting it out, see Galatians 3:5-6.

Deal firmly with sin (including your own)

But if you do not drive out the inhabitants of the land from before you, then those of them whom you let remain shall be as barbs in your eyes and thorns in your sides, and they shall trouble you in the land where you dwell. Numbers 33:55 (ESV)

When we do not firmly deal with sin in our lives, the compromise we make will become like torment for us. We can not serve two masters (Matthew 6:24).

God’s abundant provision

Moses commanded the people of Israel, saying, “This is the land that you shall inherit by lot, which the LORD has commanded to give to the nine tribes and to the half-tribe. Numbers 34:13 (ESV)

God made abundant provision for Israel. Although they possess much of the land they never possess all of it. Not even in the times of David and Solomon. This points to God’s abundant provision for us in hearing and answering our prayers beyond what we requested, and providing abundantly more than we need or use. See Ephesians 3:20, Romans 8:32 and James 1:5.

Jesus said He has come that we should have an abundant life (John 10:10).

1 Corinthians 15:35–58

Our coming resurrection

It is sown a natural body; it is raised a spiritual body. If there is a natural body, there is also a spiritual body. 1 Corinthians 15:44 (ESV)

Our future resurrection is not just an idea, it is a reality! We will be raised to life, our new bodies will be empowered by the life giving Spirit of Jesus who was the first to rise from the dead eternally. We will never die again but will become immortal. This is a great hope and we should believe and look forward to it with firm and solid faith.

We won’t just float around as disembodied spirits, no, we will have life. Physical yet spiritual life that will never end. John mentions that this hope will keep us walking in purity in 1 John 3:3.

The Lord’s return

in a moment, in the twinkling of an eye, at the last trumpet. For the trumpet will sound, and the dead will be raised imperishable, and we shall be changed. 1 Corinthians 15:52 (ESV)

Those of us who are alive when Jesus returns will have our bodies transformed from mere human bodies to our new resurrected bodies that are immortal. We will then join the Lord along with the saints who will be raised when the Lord returns.

An interesting note is that when we die our spirits go to be with the Lord straight away. When He returns we will all receive the new, eternal resurrection bodies we have longed for.

The sanctifying power of the resurrection

Therefore, my beloved brothers, be steadfast, immovable, always abounding in the work of the Lord, knowing that in the Lord your labor is not in vain. 1 Corinthians 15:58 (ESV)

Our belief in the resurrection and the rewards that will be given to us in Heaven should spur us on and make us firm in our faith. We should be encouraged in our work for the Lord.

We have assurance that the sacrifices and work done for God and His kingdom are not done in vain and will be richly rewarded. So let’s abound in our work for the Lord and not grow weary in doing well. See Galatians 6:9, 2 Thessalonians 3:13 and Hebrews 12:3.

Psalm 29:1–11

The voice of the Lord

The voice of the LORD is over the waters; the God of glory thunders, the LORD, over many waters. Psalm 29:3 (ESV)

Jesus is the voice of the Lord, see John 1:1.

King over the storm

The LORD sits enthroned over the flood; the LORD sits enthroned as king forever. Psalm 29:10 (ESV)

Jesus sits as king, enthroned over every storm and flood. God is sovereign over everything and is still in control in the midst of the storms of life.

Most of the above post is a copy of the original notes from the same date in 2014.

Additional resources

The Voice of the Lord