In the book of Numbers, chapter 1 deals with the first census. All tribes were divided by their clan name and then counted.
All men twenty years of age or older, who were fit for military service, were to be included.
All except those from the clan of Levi. They were put in charge of God's Tent--an early form of secret service or personal bodyguard, so to speak.
In chapter 2, the clans--or tribes--were partnered up in threes (there were twelve, not including the clan of Levi, so there were four groups altogether).
In chapter 3, Aaron's sons were annointed as priests and the Levites were appointed to serve the priests. This was their only duty. Then, God ordered the Levites to partake in their own census, enrolling every male one month old and older. The Levites were divided into three separate clans, and given their own duties--which I will share in the next blog post.
Sunday, October 28, 2012
Sunday, October 21, 2012
Psalms 8 - The Greatness of God
Psalm 8 is a short psalm, only 9 verses, yet is not short on praises.
It praises God in all of His glory, all of His greatness. It praises all that He has made, and has set all of the stars and moon in their places.
Then it is asked, "what is man, that you think of him."
God created man only to be inferior to God Himself.
God created man to be superior over all of His creation, appointing him to be the ruler over all--except God.
It praises God in all of His glory, all of His greatness. It praises all that He has made, and has set all of the stars and moon in their places.
Then it is asked, "what is man, that you think of him."
God created man only to be inferior to God Himself.
God created man to be superior over all of His creation, appointing him to be the ruler over all--except God.
Sunday, October 14, 2012
More Laws Presented In Leviticus
Leviticus is almost entirely a set of statutes God set up for his people. I will not go into detail on any of this, as they are meticulous and specific, and much of which we do not do in today's world, thanks to the coming and sacrifices of Jesus.
Starting with chapter 1, verse 1, through the end of chapter 7 are full of specific laws concerning offerings and sacrifices.
Chapter 8 deals with the ordination of Aaron and his sons as priests, in strict detail on offerings and sacrifices. In chapter 9, Aaron offers sacrifices to the Lord, ending with the Lord's dazzling presence appearing before all of the people and those people bowing in deep reverence.
Chapter 10 begins with a brief account of two men who failed to heed some of these laws and were burned to death. The rest of chapter 10 deals with the rules priests must obey.
The rest of the chapters and verses are broken down into specific sets of laws, from forbidden sexual practices and the treatment of slaves to a list of all their holidays and laws concerning gifts to the Lord.
The most famous passage is chapter 19, verse 18, which states: "Love your neighbor as you love yourself."
One may wonder why God created so many laws for these people. The answer may be as simple as this: they were given a few simple commands before and what did they do? They messed up. Remember the golden calf they made while Moses was recieving the Ten Commandments? They obviously needed more laws to live by.
And they got it.
Starting with chapter 1, verse 1, through the end of chapter 7 are full of specific laws concerning offerings and sacrifices.
Chapter 8 deals with the ordination of Aaron and his sons as priests, in strict detail on offerings and sacrifices. In chapter 9, Aaron offers sacrifices to the Lord, ending with the Lord's dazzling presence appearing before all of the people and those people bowing in deep reverence.
Chapter 10 begins with a brief account of two men who failed to heed some of these laws and were burned to death. The rest of chapter 10 deals with the rules priests must obey.
The rest of the chapters and verses are broken down into specific sets of laws, from forbidden sexual practices and the treatment of slaves to a list of all their holidays and laws concerning gifts to the Lord.
The most famous passage is chapter 19, verse 18, which states: "Love your neighbor as you love yourself."
One may wonder why God created so many laws for these people. The answer may be as simple as this: they were given a few simple commands before and what did they do? They messed up. Remember the golden calf they made while Moses was recieving the Ten Commandments? They obviously needed more laws to live by.
And they got it.
Sunday, October 7, 2012
The Finale of Exodus
From Exodus, chapter 33 deals with God ordering Moses and the Israelites to leave Mount Sinai and go to the land He had promised Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob.
At first, the Lord told Moses that He would send an angel to accompany the people and that He would not go with them. But Moses convinces God that He must go with them, for that is the only to distinguish God's people from everyone else they'll encounter.
God agreed.
In chapter 34, Moses cuts a second set of stone tablets on which the Ten Commandments will be written. Moses then went up to the top of Mount Sinai, where he stayed for forty days and nights, eating and drinking nothing. When he came down, his face "shone" and had to wear a veil.
Starting with chapter 35 and going through the end of the book in chapter 40, much of the same laws spelled out before were repeated, with the most skilled laborers assigned to construct the Tent for the Lord. Inside the Tent was the Ark of the Covenent, in which lied the stone tablets Moses had cut earlier with the Ten Commandments.
At first, the Lord told Moses that He would send an angel to accompany the people and that He would not go with them. But Moses convinces God that He must go with them, for that is the only to distinguish God's people from everyone else they'll encounter.
God agreed.
In chapter 34, Moses cuts a second set of stone tablets on which the Ten Commandments will be written. Moses then went up to the top of Mount Sinai, where he stayed for forty days and nights, eating and drinking nothing. When he came down, his face "shone" and had to wear a veil.
Starting with chapter 35 and going through the end of the book in chapter 40, much of the same laws spelled out before were repeated, with the most skilled laborers assigned to construct the Tent for the Lord. Inside the Tent was the Ark of the Covenent, in which lied the stone tablets Moses had cut earlier with the Ten Commandments.
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