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Day 52 – Thru the Bible
Today we wrap up Numbers and continue in Psalms. Here’s a video to help you recount where we are in the story.
Video – Torah: Numbers
How does this video help you understand the larger story taking place?
Numbers 35 – The Levites received no land inheritance, as the Lord himself was their inheritance. Therefore, every tribe was to allot cities within their various territories for the Levites, some of which were also to be designated as cities of refuge for those guilty of unpremeditated murder. Like salt, the Levites were sprinkled about the Promised Land as a reminder to the rest of God’s people of their high and holy calling, that the Lord was their refuge, and that, ultimately, all land belonged to the Lord who dwelled in their midst.
Knowing that, through Christ, God Himself is our inheritance, we, like the Levites of old, live in this world without being of it. What future inheritance do we look forward to enjoying? Hint: Revelation 21:22–22:5.
The high priest’s last act of atonement was his own death, bearing the bloodguilt of accidental manslaughter away so that the one who killed without intent was finally freed to leave the city of refuge and return home. This law is significant inasmuch as Moses’ death appears to reflect something of this pattern in Deuteronomy (as we’ll soon see): God’s people cannot enter the Promised Land until after Moses dies.
Even more meaningful for us, Jesus Christ the Mediator and High Priest of the new covenant ushers us into the heavenly presence of God, ultimately in the new creation. How does Jesus accomplish this? Hint: Hebrews 10:19–22.
Numbers 36 – This is the second episode with the daughters of Zelophehad, bracketing the final major section of Numbers (27:1–10; 36:1–13). This passage functions not only as another assurance that entry into the Promised Land is imminent; it functions primarily to underscore that this land inheritance will be a lasting inheritance for the people of God—not to be transferred. This is a fitting note with which to conclude a book about life in the wilderness.
How do we know that when we finally exit the wilderness of this age and enter into the joys of our Promised Land, that those joys amid the presence of God, His angels, and His people will last forever and ever? Hint: Rom 6:23; John 3:16-17; Revelation 22:17.
Psalm 52 – God’s steadfast love (grace) endures longer than the worst evil, even the insidious betrayal of Doeg (the one who betrayed David), and David’s blessed life proves that God’s love is more trustworthy than wealth.
God’s love is enduring and trustworthy because its promises are founded on His character, which is absolute truth as personified in Jesus Christ (John 1:1-2, 14; 17:17). As such, God’s steadfast love stands in contrast to human devotion, which is fallible even when presented with the best appearances. The believer should be comforted to know that God will prove the truthfulness of His love, not least by destroying the deceitfulness of the wicked (2 Thessalonians 1:5-12).
God displays the superior nature of His love by the fruit it produces in a believer’s life. Love then produces courage instead of panic, contentment rather than avarice, vitality in place of death, and joy as opposed to bitterness. Jesus was eventually revealed to be the true “olive tree,” which gives life to everyone grafted into Him by faith (John 15:1; Romans 11:17). The psalmist’s establishment “in the house of God” reminds us that ultimately Jesus’ love will make each believer a pillar there (Revelation 3:12).
How does this Psalm bring you comfort and a sure hope for your future?
What other thoughts or questions does today’s reading bring up?
Some of these notes are from the ESV Gospel Transformation Bible study notes. We highly recommend this study Bible.
Videos produced by www.TheGospelProject.com.
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