Bibledoorajar: On the Plains of Moab

     This morning my congregation sang the song Stand up, stand up for Jesus. The song was written in 1858 by George Duffield Jr. He was prompted to write the words following the death of a fellow minister who supposedly told those by his deathbed to continue to stand up for Jesus. We sang the stanza below which alludes to enduring the strife and to seeking the crown of life (inheritance).

"Stand up, stand up for Jesus,
The strife will not be long;
This day the noise of battle,
The next the victor's song.
To those who vanquish evil
A crown of life shall be;
They with the King of Glory
Shall reign eternally".

But there is a stanza that Duffield wrote that is usually omitted in hymnals. It speaks of "each soldier to his post and closing up the broken column; to make good the loss so heavy in those that still remain". He wrote this stanza thinking of his dead fellow minister and how the deceased wanted the work to go on by those that could close ranks and continue to stand up.

     After the plague, God had Moses and Eleazer the priest number the fighting men of Israel. It was time to close the broken columns. Many had died since leaving Egypt and more recently in the plains of Moab following the plague. They were numbered according to their clans and the number reached would not only make clear how many could bear the noise of battle but it would also determine their land inheritance in the Promised Land. The larger the clan the greater apportionment of land.  601730 was the total number reached. It was not that different from where they were 38 years before as they left Egypt.

Bibledoorajar: A New Attitude

     After the "Bael-Peor" matter, God spoke to Moses and told him to develop a new attitude or state of mind among the Israelites toward the Midianites. From now on they were to consider them as enemies because they had lured them into idol worship and lust. It was imperative that the Israelites be convinced of the degree of this evil. For them, it was not to be just a matter of harassment and revenge against the Midianites, but a continuing state of mind that would find their actions hated and despised.
     The apostle Paul in writing to Timothy ( a young man who desired to be a representative of God) encouraged him to "FLEE YOUTHFUL LUST". (2 Timothy 2:22) and to "follow righteousness, faith, charity, peace, with them that call on the Lord out of a pure heart." ... And they that are Christ's have crucified the flesh with the affections and lusts." He urged this as a constant state of mind so as  not to become trapped in a similar matter as the Israelites were. Temptation is to be viewed as an enemy and the degree of its' evil to be understood realistically. The psalmist put it this way; "Flee as a bird to your mountain, o thou who art weary of sin". (Psalm 22). When temptations come our way we are reminded that we have a mountain where we can continue to worship and serve Him. We serve from a place of strength but the state of mind has to be maintained.

"And though this world, with devils filled,
Should threaten to undo us,
We will not fear, for God hath willed
His truth to triumph through us:
The Prince of Darkness grim,
We tremble not for him;
His rage we can endure,
For lo! his doom is sure,
One little word shall fell him."

Stanza 3, A  Mighty Fortress is our God, Martin Luther

      

   

Bibledoorajar: Take Care

"I'm on my way to Canaan's land, where the soul never dies..."
                                                      William Golden

When the children of Israel disobeyed the demands of the Torah (Law) they were very near to the Promised Land. But choosing acts of lewdness associated with idol worship stopped that near entrance immediately. Instead, death by plague swept through the camp killing all that had been involved in the terrible acts. The fact that God recognized Phineas for fighting back and awarded him a priesthood forever is very instructive for today's believer.

In Colossians 3:17, we see where the apostle Paul instructs the church this way:

"And whatever you do or say, do it as a representative of the Lord Jesus, giving thanks through Him to God the Father."

All aspects of our public and private worship are to take place as a representative of the Lord Jesus. We are His ambassadors to the world and it is our responsibility to arrive in Canaan Land having brought others with us through appropriate actions here on earth. Having been risen with Him, we seek only those things above. We cannot dare make the mistake that the children of Israel made. There are many "Bael-Peors" in this world and we must take them down one by one by doing all in the name of Jesus. Stay focused.

"A love light beams across the foam,
Where the soul never dies;
It shines to light the shores of home,
Where the soul never dies."

Bibledoorajar: Wrong Yokes

     As the men of Israel became more and more involved with the women of Moab they began to sacrifice to the god, Bael-Peor. Soon they found themselves yoked inappropriately. From God's point of view, this yoking in both respects (women and god) is described as whoring. It may be an old term for today's society, but I think most people understand it, especially if the accusation is hurled in anger. Well, God was a bit angry about the matter too. After all, the whole reason for earth's creation with all its' benefits and comforts was made in order that God might have a family devoted to Him.

     Jesus spoke about being yoked to Him and Him only. He did not do it selfishly. He observed that the religious leaders of the day were placing horrible yokes on the people of God. In Matthew 11:29 Jesus' desire for them to be freed from inappropriate yokes is recorded this way:

"Take my yoke upon you. Let me teach you, because I am humble and gentle at heart, and you will find rest for your souls." (New Living Translation)

     One major key to this passage is the phrase "let me teach you".  Jesus knows  how to teach us in ways of light. Light exposes darkness. Once exposed it can be rejected. Once rejected life is not lost but found. Life goes better. It does not profit a man in the long run to be inappropriately yoked. He exchanges his soul and profits nothing. ( quoted from Jesus as recorded in Matthew)

     We are living in a culture that desires that Christians acknowledge any and all means of whoredom as appropriate activities or ways of life. It takes courage to stand strong and explain our yoke. Many Christians give in and choose to do as the men did with the women of Moab. Today resolve to follow the teaching of Christ. Accept His yoke and His alone.

Bibledoorajar: Let Nature Take It's Course

     After Balaam realized that seeking information for Balak through divinations was only leading to God's interference, he did not seek further divination. He fell into what seems a trance given by God and God revealed what He wanted him to tell Balak. Balak objected, telling Balaam that he had wanted to enrich him for providing an ultimate solution to his power problem, but he only told him of the mighty things God would do both then and in the future.  Finally, Balaam advised that they should both just go home. However, this was not until after he had delivered a subtle message. The message was to let nature take its course. Leave the people alone and they will be attracted to your god, Bael-peor, and will commit immoral acts with your people. And sure enough, that is what happened. And, it did not just happen with the people, it happened among the leadership as well. On one occasion a leader from the tribe of Simeon was seen taking a Midianite woman PAST THE TENT OF MEETING to his tent to engage in forbidden acts. The wrath of God inspired one of the pious priests and he took venegeance by killing the two who were so bold to carry out their acts of unrighteousness before the Living God. This priest, Phineas, was rewarded by God for standing up for righteousness.
      In Bible Class yesterday, we were speaking of how our culture is pressing in on every side to entreat the church of Christ to engage inappropriately in ungodly acts. At minimum, if we do not engage, we are at least being pressured to accept the unrighteous acts as acceptable behavior. The church must remember that we are challenged to purity by God and that he blesses righteousness. It is in Christ that we receive the power to stand strong and the withstand the temptations that come with letting nature take its' course. How great is this power? In Daniel 2:34 it is described this way.
 
 "While you were watching, a rock was cut out, but not by human hands. It struck the statue on its feet of iron and clay and smashed them.  Then the iron, the clay, the bronze, the silver and the gold were all broken to pieces and became like chaff on a threshing floor in the summer. The wind swept them away without leaving a trace. But the rock that struck the statue became a huge mountain and filled the whole earth."

The church is built on this rock and He is great and can lead us all the way home unstained through His blood. Our hope can be built on nothing less.

Bibledoorajar: Acts of Devotion

Balaam, at no expense of his own, had Balak build seven altars for bull and goat sacrifices for him. He then boasted of it as if he had done a great religious thing. 
He seemed to be totally out of touch with the fact that the God approved altar at this point in history rested within the Israelite camp. He then had the audacity to insist that God curse Israel because of the fact that he had carried out such an act of devotion to Him. In fact, he told God that he had built the altars and therefore was assured of God's answer in the way in which Balaam wished. 

God was not impressed with the veracity of Balaam's and Balak's actions but He did use Balaam to deliver the message to Balak that He wished delivered. God was not his debtor and was not beholden to him for sacrifices made without sincerity and devotion to Him.

This reminds us of the story in Luke 18 where the Pharisee went up to the temple and boasted of his religious superiority. His comments reflected an insincere appreciation for what he had in God. He and Balaam were far from what God says he requires, a humble and contrite heart.

"Humble thyself in the sight of the Lord

Humble thyself in the sight of the Lord

And He shall lift you up (higher and higher)

And He shall lift you up"

Lyrics by Bob Hudson

  

BibIedoorajar: I shall see Him, but not now

Before Balaam left to go home, he gave several more prophecies to Balak. By the time he left, Balak would have gotten the Big Picture indeed. Balaam called him aside and said let me advise you on what this God intends to do with this people.The "movie" he narrated for Balak started with God's provision in the wilderness, took in the impending conquest of the land; told of thecoming greatness of God's people over their enemies, and concluded with a view of the Champion of the end of days. One might say it was a panoramic movie! He spoke of the One who would be present in the end:

"I shall see him, but not now, I shall look at him, but it is not near. A star has issued from Jacob and a scepter-bearer has risen from Israel, and he shall pierce the nobles of.......Oh! Who will survive when He imposes these." Numbers 24: 17-23

Most Jewish scholars agree that the star refers to their coming Messiah. Christians agree that the One with this kind of power is surely the Jewish Messiah, our Jesus Christ who came to save the lost and is returning to manage the end of days. Our belief in this is bolstered by His reference to Himself as a fulfillment of Balaam's prophecy. He referred to Himself as the Bright and Morning Star in both Matthew( chapter 2) and again in Revelation. "I, Jesus, have sent My angel to testify to you these things for the churches. I am the root and the descendant of David, the bright morning star." (chapter 22).