NUMBERS 8:1-9:23
The Lampstand and the Levites: The Lampstand at the entrance to the Holy Place emphasizes the need for the Holy Spirit at the entrance to the Wilderness journey. Also at the entrance, the cleansing of the Levites symbolized putting off the old man and putting on the new man.
RESPONSE: I love how the Holy Spirit led them through the Wilderness. Of course, there were no roads in the desert. But that's par - I can't always see a road before me either. But the Spirit also determined the timing of the Lord. It says that it could be two days or even a month before they moved on. The Holy Spirit was their Light, their Guide, their Direction, their Protection, their Shelter. It was the Spirit's job to prepare them for the Land. It's His job to prepare me for the Presence of God. "For as many as are led by the Spirit of God, they are the sons of God." (Rom 8:14)
MARK 13:14-37
Jesus was asked two questions: (1) When would the Temple be destroyed? (2) When would He return and the age come to an end? And, believe it or not, there are two different answers! To get the complete picture, you would really have to read Matthew 24 and Luke 21 with this. But let's just stay in Mark for now:
The first question that is answered about the destruction of the Temple was that there would be signs. This is because the destruction of the Temple accompanies "unequaled distress", "never to be equaled again". Josephus, writing at the time, describes the destruction of Jerusalem, the Temple and the Jewish nation in his Wars of the Jews. I already quoted some of it. The distress is compared to the destruction of Babylon: Sorry - no literal stars falling out of the sky then either:
"For the stars of heaven and the constellations thereof shall not give their light: the sun shall be darkened in his going forth, and the moon shall not cause her light to shine." (Isa 13:10)
"I saw in the night visions, and, behold, one like the Son of man came with the clouds of heaven, and came to the Ancient of days, and they brought him near before him. And there was given him dominion, and glory, and a kingdom, that all people, nations, and languages, should serve him: his dominion is an everlasting dominion, which shall not pass away, and his kingdom that which shall not be destroyed."
This is described as being immediately after the destruction - Jesus "coming in clouds of heaven". But, what direction is He "coming"? He is ascending to His throne to judge, and that is when He is fully vindicated - AFTER the current "power-that-be" are eradicated. And, not only that, but once the Old Covenant is replaced with the New Covenant, Jesus will send "angels" - otherwise translated "messengers" to gather the elect - to gather them into His nets through evangelism, from all four corners of the earth - to every creature, Jew and Gentile alike. Jesus told them, "when you see the signs", these things are at the door. In fact, they had only 40 years to work. The signs were the destruction of the Temple - run for your lives! Jesus proved He was totally justified in forming a NEW COVENANT with a NEW NATION "bringing forth the fruits thereof." (Matt 21:43)
Now, this is the part that is distinctive: At verse 32 He begins talking about the end of the AGE and His actual return. The AGE is the "age of the Gentiles", when those "messengers" are out there bringing people to Jesus. There are no signs for when Jesus will return at the end of the AGE (not "world"). Not even Jesus knows when it will be. It could be any time of day or night. His return isn't local, like with the destruction of Jerusalem. It is universal and everyone will see it.
RESPONSE: Only in American would anyone believe that we will escape by the skin of our teeth. That the Gospel doesn't have the power to change anything. That's not the Gospel I serve and love. What we "escape" is living life according to lies and deception. What we "escape" is living for ourselves and what we think we want. We get to live by faith, not really knowing what the future holds, except that Jesus is in it and in charge of the nations. That we each have a part in God's purpose to bring His Kingdom on earth. Just don't go to sleep! That's what He said. Don't be robbed of your vigor and vitality. Keep working and keep expecting.
PSALM 50:1-23
Asaph, David's music director, wrote 12 Psalms: 50, 73-83. He was also a prophet and a poet. Here he gives the True Nature of Worship. And here let me warn you: It is a dangerous thing to have unresolved issues with the Holy Spirit. God's Presence is stormy and violent! Everything we bring to Him came from Him in the first place, so our sacrifices don't obligate Him in any way. Outward worship, while we are breaking His commands, is unacceptable. Here is what does please God: thanksgiving, keeping our word, and trusting Him. V.22 says, "This is your last chance!" Some worship-leader, huh? Praise and thanksgiving AND walking before God in truth glorify God - THEN you will be spared if your worship is genuine.
PROVERBS 10:29-30
The Way of Yahweh: Protects the upright, and destroys the lawless. The lawless not only will NOT inherit the earth, they shall not even inhabit the earth! Lawlessness carries with it a restlessness that does not allow a person to "settle down" and rest. RESPONSE: Would God tell me if He were hungry? Jesus said He thirsted (John 4:7) when He was actually talking about worship (John 4:20ff). Outward praise without it coming from our heart is flattery and it insults the Living God, especially when it comes from the same mouth that is deceptive and covering up stuff. Just because God hasn't said anything yet, doesn't mean that He approves. I have discovered that when I worship with the idea in mind that I will satisfy God's thirst first, then I never leave off worshipping dissatisfied or frustrated or disappointed. My first and only motive is to give HIM pleasure, then He pours Himself out on me. I don't stop until I am completely satisfied either. So, Jesus, tell me when You are hungry.
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