Thoughts on the readings for March 28th (Numbers 10, Proverbs 6, Luke 20)

Numbers 10 describes the purpose of the silver trumpet. It was blown as an alarm when it was time to break camp. The order for marching is told. A different sound was made to call the nation to an assembly. Sometimes the assembling of the tribes was to muster them for war. Also at the joyous festival in the seventh month the trumpet was sounded. The trumpet blast accompanied the offerings that signaled the start of the month, at the new moons. Verses 11 to 36 tell of Israel's departure from Mount Sinai. The packing up the Tabernacle, its furnishings and the marching order of Israel is outlined. Notice in verses 33 to 36 the ark of the covenant had the role of leading the nation. These verses and the original context are quoted in Psalm 68:1; indeed the entire Psalm draws on the Sinai experiences. When it came to rest there the nation also rested. Our Lord Jesus Christ leads us toward the rest in the Promised Land - the Kingdom of God. Proverbs 6 verses 1 to 35 gives illustrations of folly. Verses 1 to 5 tell of the folly of going guarantor for another person. Verses 6 to 11 warns against sloth. Look says the wise father at the diligent ants. Failure to act with diligence will lead to poverty. Indolence and laziness will lead to poverty. Verses 12 to 15 tells us that slothfulness is in fact a form of wickedness. Verses 16 to 19 describe 7 things that our God hates. The language here of 6, in fact more than 6 ie 7 is in the Hebrew language what is called "ascending numeration". It is a device that is used for emphasis. Read these verses aloud slowly and let each of us think about our behaviour. Are we guilty of any of these practices. Notice that the list begins with pride. This characteristic is, perhaps, our greatest challenge and our Sovereign's biggest obstacle to bringing us into His kingdom - see 1 Peter 5 verses 5 to 7; James 4 verses 6 to 8. The list concludes with those who cause dissension in the ecclesia. What wretched people are they who engage in gossip or slander. What untold damage do they cause. The 6th chapter finishes by telling us in verses 20 to 35 about the folly of immorality. The antidote to immorality is to keep the commandments of the LORD as frontlets before our eyes. God's Word will preserve us from walking in wicked ways. The writer speaks of the evils of prostitution and the weakness that vulnerable men show in this way. The wise father describes the disastrous impact and destruction of the lives of those who become so entangled. In Luke 20 Jesus' authority to preach is challenged by each of the main religious parties of the time. The Lord's rebuttals are both masterful and examples of how to clearly understand and apply the Scriptures. Firstly the priests and scribes came with a question regarding the authority of John the Baptist - was it endorsed by God, or not? Our Lord turned the question back on his adversaries. The priests and scribes refuse to answer our Lord's question knowing that they would be undermined whichever answer they provided. So, Jesus likewise says if you cannot decide on John's authority you are not competent to decide on my authority to preach. So neither will I answer you on the source of my authority. Jesus put to them a parable about the wicked tenants which was designed to show that our Lord was describing his enemies. This was proven by their reaction and demonstrated that they knew Jesus is the Son of God. And for that reason our Lord's foes sought to put him to death. Then the Herodians with the Pharisees came to him with a question about taxes - they were political pragmatists, who were advanced because of Rome's favour. Their trick question was: "Should tribute be paid, to Caesar or not?" A yes answer from Jesus was sure to alienate him from the Jewish people. An answer of no would amount to a charge of treason against Rome. How masterfully Christ answers: "Bring me a denarius. Whose is the image and superscription?" The coin bore Caesar's image - so, says our Lord, pay Caesar what is his. But our Lord Jesus is making a stronger point that we are made in the image and likeness of God. So everything else belongs to our LORD. Next the Sadducees came with a hypothetical question about the resurrection. They thought, once again, that whichever way Jesus answers the answer would make the resurrection farcical. The Lord's masterful answer was that, they were clearly wrong on two counts - one being a failure to understand the Scriptures; and, secondly, a denial of the power of the Almighty. Jesus answers them by quoting from the Book of Moses (Exodus 3 verse 15). If it could be said 500 years after Abraham's death that Yahweh IS Abraham's God, then Abraham's future is assured since the Scriptures only speak of one path to immortality ie through resurrection and subsequently glorification. Our hope is that in the kingdom we will be as the angels are now. Jesus then poses to them a question about Psalm 110 - "If Messiah is David's son then why does David call him 'My Lord'?" The obvious answer being that not only is Christ David's son, but more importantly he is also the Son of God. His enemies were utterly silenced. The chapter concludes with a denunciation of the scribes. Penned by Warwick Rosser and his team, produced by Christadelphianvideo.org See more Thoughts from the Christadelphian Dialy Bible Reading Planner (By R.Roberts) here... https://christadelphianvideo.org/thoughts-on-the-readings-for-march-28th-numbers-10-proverbs-6-luke-20/?feed_id=88608&_unique_id=67e4f47c66425