HIS MAJESTY EXTENDS

HIS MAJESTY EXTENDS

Psalms 148 NET.

¹ Praise the LORD! Praise the LORD from the sky! Praise him in the heavens! ² Praise him, all his angels! Praise him, all his heavenly assembly! ³ Praise him, O sun and moon! Praise him, all you shiny stars! ⁴Praise him, O highest heaven, and you waters above the sky! ⁵ Let them praise the name of the LORD, for he gave the command and they came into existence. ⁶ He established them so they would endure; he issued a decree that will not be revoked. ⁷ Praise the LORD from the earth, you sea creatures and all you ocean depths,⁸ O fire and hail, snow and clouds, O stormy wind that carries out his orders, ⁹ you mountains and all you hills, you fruit trees and all you cedars, ¹⁰ you animals and all you cattle, you creeping things and birds, ¹¹ you kings of the earth and all you nations, you princes and all you leaders on the earth, ¹² you young men and young women, you elderly, along with you children! ¹³ Let them praise the name of the LORD, for his name alone is exalted; his majesty extends over the earth and sky. ¹⁴ He has made his people victorious, and given all his loyal followers reason to praise — the Israelites, the people who are close to him. Praise the LORD!

We are now into our eleventh month of reading through the Scriptures, two chapters a day. So far, we have encountered four main types of literature. We have read about the history of God’s people starting in Genesis and continuing through the historical books, ending with Esther. Along the way, we have read some of God’s instructions for his people. The LORD has taught his people how to live rightly and how to worship appropriately. In Job, we got a glimpse of another type of biblical writing: wisdom literature. Now that we are nearly finished with the Psalms, we have sampled the poetry of the Old Testament.

The author of Hebrews wrote that God spoke long ago “in various portions and in various ways” (Hebrews 1:1). We should not be surprised that he did so. We learn different things through different teaching methods.

Some things are best learned through experience, but that doesn’t mean we have to have the experience. We can learn from other people’s experiences. That is what history is for. We should not all have to experience loss to know that loss is painful. The lessons of the past are there to help us in the future. Learning history is not like doing an autopsy, where all you can do is discover why the death happened. Learning history teaches us how to live today, without making the mistakes of the past. It helps us make wise choices. We imitate the best options and avoid the worst choices.

However, God has not given us a mere history book in the Bible. He has also taught us principles to help us live right and doctrines to help us think right. He has taught his people how to live rightly and how to worship appropriately. He has done this in the instructional and wisdom literature portions of the books we have read so far.

Some of you have struggled with what we have been reading for the past seventy-four days. Like me, you don’t read a lot of poetry, so it is hard to figure out what is being said and why. But I hope we all have learned to appreciate the creative way the biblical poets have communicated God’s truth. Like songs, poetry is designed to help us feel what we are learning. Poems make it easier to remember the things that we are being taught.

The Hebrew poetry of the Old Testament used repetition. It said the same thing in two or three different ways to ensure that the message sinks in. It painted pictures with words to give its readers images in their minds. It took some of those same historical stories taught in earlier passages of the Bible and poetically restated them. So, we relived the crossing of the Red Sea and the conquest of Canaan through the words of the psalmist.

It took some of the same doctrines taught in the Torah and expressed them using word pictures to help us apply them to our own lives. It taught us not the mere fact that God is everywhere. It expressed that truth by talking about the feeling of having nowhere to hide from the presence of God’s Spirit.

It took some of the wisdom literature and enabled us to understand not just the fact that we should live right, but the reasons we should. It taught us that living according to God’s truth would make us like a well-watered tree that never stops producing fruit.

The poetry in the Psalms has a variety of styles. We have listened to the psalmists complain, train, and explain. We have read the Psalms of Lament and the Psalms of Ascent. Many of the Psalms in this final book (107-150) are songs of praise. They are designed to incite believers to worship and praise God for who He is and what he has done. That is what today’s Psalm is doing. Psalm 148 focuses on the majesty of Almighty God.

The LORD’s MAJESTY extends from the sky (1-6).

The poet encourages his readers to go out and look up into the sky. He is encouraging praise from God’s people, but he is not saying that if they go out and look hard enough at the sky, then they will see God. No, notice that the phrase is “Praise the LORD from the sky!” Here is what the psalmist is doing. He is telling us that a praise concert is going on right now, and it is going on in the sky and in the heavenly assembly.

Who is praising God? All God’s angels are praising him. The sun and moon are praising him. The shiny stars are praising him. The waters above the sky are praising him.

Why is this concert going on in the sky and in heaven? Because he gave the command, and they came into existence. He established them so they would endure; he issued a decree that will not be revoked.

In Genesis 1, we read that God created this expanse, which he called the “sky.” But it was empty, so he filled up all the empty spots with lights, planets, suns, moons, and flying creatures. We read elsewhere that the highest heaven is filled with angelic beings who serve the Lord and minister in his name. What we are seeing here is a picture of all these created things and created beings breaking out in song and praising their creator.

This dark world in which we live often forgets to praise God. But if we could only look up and realize that praising God is not an unnatural thing that only the intensely religious fanatics do. Praise is the regular, ordinary, typical activity of the sky and its inhabitants.

Worship is going on in the sky right now. Praise is regular for the sky beings because they recognize that their creator is worthy of that praise. The majesty of our LORD extends from the sky. His throne is there, so it is understandable that he is exalted there.

Now, the poet who wrote this Psalm is telling us that we, creatures of the land, are lagging. The LORD is our creator as well, and we should join in the celebration that began out in the sky.

The LORD’s MAJESTY extends from the land (7-14).

The poet introduces a new praise celebration. Its choir consists of the sea creatures, fire, hail, snow, clouds, storm wind, mountains, hills, trees, animals, kings and princes, young men and women, older people, and children. Everything and every person on this planet should join in the praise for the LORD.

The same creator who made an empty sky and then filled it with wonders also created an empty land and filled it with amazing things and wonderful beings. The psalmist urges all of us who are part of that creation to praise the name of the LORD, for his name alone is exalted; his majesty extends over the earth and sky.

The poet includes a final line in his writing, aimed at the people of Israel. His purpose is to add just one more thought. He reminds the Israelites that they have all the more reason to praise God, because they are the people who are close to him. Other nations hear about God’s miracles, but the Israelites have experienced those miracles. They of all people should be leading the praise celebration.

But this Psalm is for us as well. Each of us can look up and see a sky full of reasons to praise our creator. Each of us can look around at the fantastic world we were born into and find a reason to be grateful to its maker. But we must also ask the question of personal application:

Does the LORD’s MAJESTY extend to your life?

God lovingly created you, but he did not go on vacation afterward. He stayed around and taught you a few things. But he was not satisfied with even that. He saw you at your worst—after sin had turned you into someone repulsive and degenerate. He could have turned his back on you and abandoned you to the repercussions you deserved. But our great God decided to redeem you.

He sent his only Son, unspoiled, untouched by sin himself. God sacrificed the life of his Son to pay the debt that you owed. Through the shed blood of Christ, you had access to the miracle of the ages – forgiveness. God, your creator, became God, your redeemer. He decided to extend his majesty to bless you in your lowliness and lift you into his greatness.

But our heavenly Father is a perfect gentleman. He will not force forgiveness on anyone who does not ask for it, and He will withhold His blessing from anyone who refuses to approach His throne in repentance. The ground is level at the foot of the cross. We all need Christ’s atoning work, but the time to come to Him and request it is drawing to a close.

That is why my final point for today’s sermon is a question. I cannot answer the question for you. God is a God of glory whose majesty extends over the earth and sky. He is also a God of grace who has made forgiveness possible for whoever asks for it. But the sand in the hourglass is running out. The tickets to the great party in eternity are getting scarce.

Does the LORD’s Majesty extend to your life? It can. All that God has in store for you is available. You only have to come to him once. He is near, right now, even at the door. Will you open that door today?

Numbers 25

Numbers 25

Numbers 25:1 While Israel stayed in Shittim, the people began to prostitute themselves with the daughters of Moab.

Numbers 25:2 These invited the people to the sacrifices of their gods, and the people ate and bowed down to their gods.

Numbers 25:3 So Israel yoked himself to Baal of Peor. And Yahveh’s nose was ignited against Israel.

Numbers 25:4 And Yahveh said to Moses, “Take all the leaders of the people and hang them in the sun in the sight of Yahveh, that the fierce anger of Yahveh may turn away from Israel.”

Numbers 25:5 And Moses said to the judges of Israel, “Each of you kill those of his men who have yoked themselves to Baal of Peor.”

Numbers 25:6 And notice, one of the people of Israel came and brought a Midianite woman to his family, in the sight of Moses and the sight of the whole congregation of the people of Israel, while they were weeping in the entrance of the conference tent.

Numbers 25:7 When Phinehas the son of Eleazar, son of Aaron, the priest, saw it, he stood up and left the congregation and took a spear in his hand

Numbers 25:8 and went after the man of Israel into the chamber and pierced both of them, the man of Israel and the woman, through her belly. This is how the plague on the people of Israel was stopped.

Numbers 25:9 Nevertheless, those who died by the plague were twenty-four thousand.

Numbers 25:10 And Yahveh said to Moses,

Numbers 25:11 “Phinehas, the son of Eleazar, son of Aaron, the priest, has turned back my wrath from the people of Israel, in that he was jealous with my jealousy among them so that I did not consume the people of Israel in my jealousy.

Numbers 25:12 Therefore say, ‘notice, I give to him my covenant of peace,

Numbers 25:13 and it will be to him and his seed after him the covenant of the permanent priesthood because he was jealous for his God and made atonement for the people of Israel.'”

Numbers 25:14 The name of the slain man of Israel, who was killed with the Midianite woman, was Zimri, the son of Salu, leader of a father’s house belonging to the Simeonites.

Numbers 25:15 And the name of the Midianite woman who was killed was Cozbi, the daughter of Zur, who was the tribal head of a father’s house in Midian.

Numbers 25:16 And Yahveh spoke to Moses, and this is what he said

Numbers 25:17 “Attack the Midianites and strike them down,

Numbers 25:18 because they attacked you treacherously when they deceived you in the matter of Peor, and in the matter of Cozbi, the daughter of the leader of Midian, their sister, who was killed on the day of the plague on account of Peor.”

Numbers 25 quotes:

“This story thus serves as a prologue and a warning for all that is to follow. As great as the trials and temptations of the wilderness may be, they are always and ever minor in comparison to the major temptations of “settled” life. At the beginning of this story, Israel got into major trouble when they became a little too “settled” while waiting for Moses to come down from Mount Sinai (read the story of the golden calf in Exod. 32). For the rest of Israel’s story (beginning in Joshua), sins of the “settled” will be the focus of the tirades of Israel’s prophets and the tears of Israel’s God. This is what all the testing and preparation of Leviticus and Numbers is getting Israel ready for, and here at almost the end (as at the beginning and the rest of the way through), Israel fails. This too then becomes a sharp word and a critical story for any people or congregation whose leading verb becomes “to dwell.””

Boyce Richard Nelson. Leviticus and Numbers. 1st ed. Westminster John Knox Press 2008. p. 228.

“While these sordid events took place in the Moabite camp, the Lorp’s anger burned against them (3). The Israelite men had offended his holiness, ignored his word, dishonoured his name, marred his testimony and incurred his wrath. Moses was told to act in judgment towards the leaders whose clansmen had participated in this outrage, presumably because they had not used their influence to restrain them. Those who had joined in worshipping the Baal of Peor (5) were to be executed. The offence was such a public act of apostasy that it could not possibly be overlooked. Along with the golden-calf incident, with which it has many parallels,’ it went down in Israelite history as one of their worst acts of idolatrous behaviour, an ugly stain impossible to obliterate from their corporate memory.”

Brown Raymond. The Message of Numbers : Journey to the Promised Land. InterVarsity Press 2002. p. 230.

“There comes a time when the person who is obedient to God must act in judgment on that which is evil. The time when acceptance of evil is widespread is a call for someone to rise up from the ranks and openly do what God wants done.”

Gutzke, Manford George. Plain Talk on Leviticus and Numbers. Zondervan Pub. House., 1981. p. 121.

“It is a sad scene pictured in the first three verses of this chapter. Here was the nation which had been chosen of God, and destined for high purposes, though just on the border of the Promised Land, lapsed into idolatry and abominations worse than those of Egypt. No wonder the anger of the Lord was kindled, and at God’s command all the men who were joined unto Ballpeor are slain by the judges of Israel.

How God’s dealings with this nation remind us of a parent’s dealings with a child. In our last lesson we saw that when an enemy came against the people, God stepped in front of them, as it were, and would not allow a hair of their head to be touched, or a word to be spoken against them by an outsider. But He must train the nation aright, both for His own glory and their highest good ; and in this lesson we see Him chastising them severely for their faults.”

Saxe, Grace. Studies in Leviticus, Numbers and Deuteronomy. Grace Saxe, 1921. p. 51.

Numbers 25 links:

a jealous walk
gateway drug
the attack at Peor
this has to stop

Maranatha Daily Devotional – Friday, May 5, 2023

The NUMBERS shelf in Jeff’s library

Numbers 24

Numbers 24

Numbers 24:1 When Balaam saw that it pleased Yahveh to bless Israel, he did not go, as at other times, to look for omens but set his face toward the open country.

Numbers 24:2 And Balaam lifted his eyes and saw Israel camping tribe by tribe. And the Breath of God came upon him,

Numbers 24:3 and he took up his parable and said, “The oracle of Balaam, the son of Beor, the oracle of the man whose eye is opened,

Numbers 24:4 the oracle of him who hears the words of God, who sees the vision of the Almighty, falling with his eyes uncovered:

Numbers 24:5 How lovely are your tents, O Jacob, your encampments, O Israel!

Numbers 24:6 Like palm groves that stretch afar, like gardens beside a river, like aloes that Yahveh has planted, like cedar trees beside the water.

Numbers 24:7 Water will flow from his buckets, and his seed will have much water; his king will be higher than Agag, and his kingdom will be exalted.

Numbers 24:8 God brings him out of Egypt and is for him like the horns of the wild ox; he will eat up the nations, his adversaries, and will break their bones in pieces and pierce them through with his arrows.

Numbers 24:9 He crouched, he lay down like a lion and like a lioness; who will rouse him up? Blessed are those who bless you, and cursed are those who curse you.”

Numbers 24:10 And Balak’s anger was kindled against Balaam, and he struck his hands together. And Balak said to Balaam, “I called you to curse my enemies, and notice, you have blessed them these three times.

Numbers 24:11 Therefore, now run away to your place. I said, ‘I will certainly reward you,’ but Yahveh has held you back from any reward.”

Numbers 24:12 And Balaam said to Balak, “Did I not tell your agents whom you sent to me,

Numbers 24:13 ‘If Balak should give me his house full of silver and gold, I would not be able to go beyond the word of Yahveh, to do either good or bad of my own will. What Yahveh speaks, that I will speak’?

Numbers 24:14 And now, notice, I am going to my people. Come, I will let you know what this people will do to your people in the latter days.”

Numbers 24:15 And he took up his parable and said, “The oracle of Balaam, the son of Beor, the oracle of the man whose eye is opened,

Numbers 24:16 the oracle of him who hears the words of God, and knows the knowledge of the Highest, who sees the vision of the Almighty, falling with his eyes uncovered:

Numbers 24:17 I see him, but not now; I notice him, but not near: a star will come out of Jacob, and a scepter will rise out of Israel; it will crush the forehead of Moab and break down all the sons of Sheth.

Numbers 24:18 Edom will be dispossessed; Seir also, his enemies, will be dispossessed. Israel is doing valiantly.

Numbers 24:19 And one from Jacob will exercise dominion and exterminate the survivors of cities!”

Numbers 24:20 Then he looked on Amalek and took up his parable and said, “Amalek was the firstfruits among the nations, but its end is utter destruction.”

Numbers 24:21 And he looked on the Kenite, and took up his parable and said, “Enduring is your staying place, and your nest is set in the rock.

Numbers 24:22 Nevertheless, Kain will be burned when Asshur takes you away captive.”

Numbers 24:23 And he took up his parable and said, “Alas, who will live when God does this?

Numbers 24:24 But ships will come from Kittim and will discipline Asshur and Eber, and he too will come to utter destruction.”

Numbers 24:25 Then Balaam rose and went back to his place. And Balak also went his way.

Numbers 24 quotes:

“Though all we may have to offer is words, the right words are often enough. Words of proclamation rather than propaganda. Words of witness rather than willfulness. Words of the sermon and words of the benediction. Words in the anthem and words in the aisle. Words offered in the hospital and the classroom and the office, by those who are ordained, nonordained, or not even in the family. When words are preceded by earnest listening to the Lord and followed by faithful proclamation, they do not return void but accomplish the things for which they are purposed (Isa. 55:11).”

Boyce Richard Nelson. Leviticus and Numbers. 1st ed. Westminster John Knox Press 2008. p. 224.

” … it is a future hope. Inevitably, at that time, Israel’s gaze was focused on the conquest of Canaan. Balaam’s concluding message transferred their thinking from the present to the future, from the immediate to the ultimate. No worthwhile community can live merely for today. It needs noble ambitions to lure it on to better things.”

Brown Raymond. The Message of Numbers : Journey to the Promised Land. InterVarsity Press 2002. p. 222.

“What a faithful preacher he was, yet he served the pagan king! It is sobering to realize that I can have my way if I insist upon it, but I will forfeit God’s blessing. In that case I will not be able to accomplish anything, because God sets limits upon what I am allowed to do.”

Gutzke, Manford George. Plain Talk on Leviticus and Numbers. Zondervan Pub. House., 1981. p. 119.

“The next oracle of the seer was considerably shorter than the others, and he repeated his common introduction. Balaam described the bleak fortunes of Moab and Edom going against Israel. From Jacob would come a star and a scepter. The star (Heb. Kokab), once used by Isaiah to describe the king of Babylon whom some say represented Satan (Isa. 14:12), also depicted the “Root and the Offspring of David” (Rev. 22:16). Such a “ruler will come out of Jacob” and “rule in the midst of” her enemies (Ps. 110:2).”

Martin, Glen, and Max E. Anders. Exodus, Leviticus, Numbers. Broadman & Holman, 2002. p. 343.

“See the progress of thought in these four prophecies. In the first one the main thought is separation. “The people shall dwell alone, and not be reckoned among the nations” (23:9). In the next one, the particular thing is God’s presence: “The Lord his God is with him” (23:21). In the third prophecy, Israel is a channel of blessing to others: “He shall pour the water out of his buckets, and his seed shall be in many waters” (24:7) ; and in the fourth prophecy, we have a prediction of Christ: “There shall come a Star out of Jacob” (24:17). So in these four prophecies we see Israel, first, a separated people; second, a people among whom God dwelt; third, a people who are to be God’s channel of blessing; and fourth, a people through whom the Deliverer of the race is to come.

What could be more magnificent than that? How such a future stretching out before them should have aroused and inspired them to high and noble ideals ! But we, as Christians, have a still more glorious outlook. Why does it not lift us above the things that would discourage and drag us downward, and Inspire us to holy noble living every day?”

Saxe, Grace. Studies in Leviticus, Numbers and Deuteronomy. Grace Saxe, 1921. p. 49.

Numbers 24 links:

a realistic walk
introducing the breath of God
utter destruction

Maranatha Daily Devotional – Friday, May 3, 2019
Maranatha Daily Devotional – Wednesday, May 5, 2021

The NUMBERS shelf in Jeff’s library

Numbers 23

Numbers 23

Numbers 23:1 And Balaam said to Balak, “Build for me here seven altars, and prepare for me here seven bulls and seven rams.”

Numbers 23:2 Balak did as Balaam had said. And Balak and Balaam offered on each altar a bull and a ram.

Numbers 23:3 And Balaam said to Balak, “Stand beside your ascending offering, and I will go. Perhaps Yahveh will come to meet me, and whatever he shows me I will tell you.” And he went to a bare height,

Numbers 23:4 and God met Balaam. And Balaam said to him, “I have arranged the seven altars and I have offered on each altar a bull and a ram.”

Numbers 23:5 And Yahveh put a word in Balaam’s mouth and said, “Return to Balak, and this is what you will speak.”

Numbers 23:6 And he returned to him, and notice, he and all the princes of Moab were standing beside his ascending offering.

Numbers 23:7 And Balaam took up his chant and said, “From Aram, Balak has brought me, the king of Moab from the eastern mountains: ‘Come, curse Jacob for me, and come, denounce Israel!’

Numbers 23:8 How can I curse whom God has not cursed? How can I denounce whom Yahveh has not denounced?

Numbers 23:9 Because from the top of the crags, I see him, from the hills I notice him; notice, a people staying alone, and not counting itself among the nations!

Numbers 23:10 Who can count the dust of Jacob or number the fourth part of Israel? Let my soul die the death of the upright, and let my end be like his!”

Numbers 23:11 And Balak said to Balaam, “What have you done to me? I hired you to curse my enemies and notice you have done nothing but bless them.”

Numbers 23:12 And he answered and said, “Must I not be careful to speak what Yahveh puts in my mouth?”

Numbers 23:13 Then Balak said to him, “Please come with me to another place, from which you may see them. You will see only a fraction of them and will not see them all. Then curse them for me from there.”

Numbers 23:14 And he took him to the field of Zophim, to the top of Pisgah, and built seven altars and offered a bull and a ram on each altar.

Numbers 23:15 Balaam said to Balak, “Stand here beside your ascending offering while I meet Yahveh over there.”

Numbers 23:16 And Yahveh met Balaam and put a word in his mouth and said, “Return to Balak, and thus will you speak.”

Numbers 23:17 And he came to him, and notice, he was standing beside his ascending offering, and the princes of Moab with him. And Balak said to him, “What has Yahveh spoken?”

Numbers 23:18 And Balaam took up his chant and said, “Rise, Balak, and listen; give ear to me, O son of Zippor:

Numbers 23:19 God is not human, that he should lie, or a son of a human, that he should change his mind. Has he said, and will he not do it? Or has he spoken, and will he not fulfill it?

Numbers 23:20 notice, I received a command to bless. He has blessed, and I cannot revoke it.

Numbers 23:21 He has not envisioned misfortune in Jacob, nor has he seen trouble in Israel. Yahveh, their God, is with them, and the shout of a king is among them.

Numbers 23:22 God brings them out of Egypt and is for them like the horns of the wild ox.

Numbers 23:23 Because no magic would work against Jacob, no divination against Israel; now it will be said of Jacob and Israel, ‘Look what God has done!’

Numbers 23:24 notice, a people! As a lioness, it rises, and as a lion, it lifts itself; it does not lie down until it has devoured the prey and drunk the blood of the slain.”

Numbers 23:25 And Balak said to Balaam, “Do not curse them at all, and do not bless them at all.”

Numbers 23:26 But Balaam answered Balak, “Did I not tell you, ‘All that Yahveh says, that I must do’?”

Numbers 23:27 And Balak said to Balaam, “Come now, I will take you to another place. Perhaps it will please God that you may curse them for me from there.”

Numbers 23:28 So Balak took Balaam to the top of Peor, which overlooks the desert.

Numbers 23:29 And Balaam said to Balak, “Build for me here seven altars and prepare for me here seven bulls and seven rams.”

Numbers 23:30 And Balak did as Balaam had said and offered a bull and a ram on each altar.

Numbers 23 quotes:

“Balaam now opens his mouth and sings a song that would be music to Moses’ ears, but is a nightmare come true for Balak. First, he sets in contrast King Balak, who has brought him from the east, and King Yahweh, who alone has the power to curse or denounce (v. 7). If the Lord has not cursed or denounced Israel, Balaam declares, then neither can he (v. 8). This battle is over before it’s even started; Israel’s enemies had best get out of the way. Next, Balaam makes clear that this is indeed a nation like no other nation; a nation set apart and thus holy, consecrated by God (v. 9). This is truly a peculiar people, resident aliens, marked by “the loneliness of election” (Mays, Leviticus-Numbers, 124), not counting itself as just one nation among others (note the ambiguity of Israel’s “aloneness,” which can denote the isolation of the leper [Lev. 13:46]; the burden of the prophet [Jer. 15:17]; or the security of God’s people [Deut. 33:28]). It is a people “in whose existence the government of God is hidden” (Mays, 124) and from whom shall one day come a person in whom this same government will become clearer. They are indeed passing through this valley and through this world, and those who bless them will be blessed, and those who curse them will be cursed (Gen. 12). Therefore, finally, by God’s promise, they are and will be like the dust of this earth, spreading and swirling where it will. Those who are wise, like Balaam, will long to be part of this parade (Num. 23:10). Those who are fools, like Balak, will find Israel to be a stumbling block in their path, revealing their true faith and loyalty, and marking them as in opposition to the growth of God’s kingdom in the world. Like another child to follow, this child, Israel, “is destined for the falling and the rising of many . . . , a sign that will be opposed so that the inner thoughts of many will be revealed” (Luke 2:34-35).”

Boyce Richard Nelson. Leviticus and Numbers. 1st ed. Westminster John Knox Press 2008. p. 218.

“In the context of threatened cursing they were reminded of promised blessing. This first oracle’s language, graphic wordpictures and leading ideas deliberately echoed the great patriarchal stories in Genesis about the blessing of Abraham and his family. Like themselves, Abraham was on pagan territory when God told him to embark on a journey into the land now confronting the travellers. He too was a pilgrim, with limited physical resources, but the Lord promised this elderly, childless man that from his eventual family would emerge a ‘great nation’. The travellers were unaware of the threat of intimidating curses, but God was renewing the Abrahamic promise of undeniable blessing, and using familiar words and phrases to do so. The patriarch had been firmly assured: ‘I will bless those who bless you, and whoever curses you I will curse.’”

Brown Raymond. The Message of Numbers : Journey to the Promised Land. InterVarsity Press 2002. p. 211.

“When Balak asked Balaam to curse Israel, Balaam opened his mouth and pronounced great blessing upon Israel. The king said, “That is not what I asked you to do.” But Balaam again pronounced great blessing upon Israel, finally saying, “Let me die the death of the righteous, and let my last end be like his” (Numbers 23:10). Balak understood that Balaam was actually blessing Israel, when Balaam told the king, “God is not a man, that he should lie; neither the son of man, that he should repent” (Numbers 23:19). Then Balaam told Balak again, “I have received commandment to bless: and he hath blessed; and I cannot reverse it” (Numbers 23:20). And again Balaam said, “All that the Lord speaketh, that I must do” (Numbers 23:26).”

Gutzke, Manford George. Plain Talk on Leviticus and Numbers. Zondervan Pub. House., 1981. p. 119.

“Balak was probably accustomed to convincing people to change their minds. As king he could employ any methods he chose, such as bribery or threat of force, to achieve his sinful aims. But now he sought to move the hand of God. But with God, “who does not change” (Vas. 1:17) and “who does not lie” (Titus 1:2), no amount of human persuasion can force his hand. And God did constrain Balaam to speak and act accordingly. Other nations, such as Egypt, mounted great offenses against Israel to no avail. Furthermore, no amount of sorcery against Jacob could succeed. Balaam compared Israel to a lion known for its courage and strength. He knew God’ protecting hand was on the nation.”

Martin, Glen, and Max E. Anders. Exodus, Leviticus, Numbers. Broadman & Holman, 2002. p. 342.

“From these last passages we gather that Balaam had failed to get Balak’s gold by cursing the people, but yet he was determined to have it. So, back from his far-off northern home he comes, and counsels Balak to cast a stumbling block before the children of Israel, by inviting them to join in the worship of their gods, which worship was accompanied by vile and obscene practices. Of course, if Israel had joined the Moabites and Midianites in worship, there was no fear of hostilities, and this is what Balak sought to avoid. So the women of these heathen tribes beguile the Israelites, and we read in Numbers 25:1, 2 and 31 :15, 16 the sad result. Balaam perishes with these people who have hired him against Israel (Numbers 31 :8). Poor, wretched, self-willed, covetous Balaam! He said in one of his parables: “Let me die the death of the righteous.” Many others would like to die the death of the righteous; but they forget that the way to die the death of the righteous is to possess and exhibit the life of the righteous.”

Saxe, Grace. Studies in Leviticus, Numbers and Deuteronomy. Grace Saxe, 1921. p. 48.

Numbers 23 links:

a realistic walk
Dead souls, dying souls
have you been listening-
look what God has done
withholding judgment

The NUMBERS shelf in Jeff’s library

Numbers 22

Numbers 22

Numbers 22:1 Then the people of Israel advanced and camped in the plains of Moab beyond the Jordan at Jericho.

Numbers 22:2 And Balak, the son of Zippor, saw all that Israel had done to the Amorites.

Numbers 22:3 And Moab was very afraid of the people because they were many. Moab was overcome with fear of the people of Israel.

Numbers 22:4 And Moab said to the elders of Midian, “This congregation will now chew up all that is around us, as the ox chews up the grass of the field.” So Balak, the son of Zippor, who was king of Moab at that time,

Numbers 22:5 sent messengers to Balaam, the son of Beor at Pethor, which is near the River in the land of the people of Amaw, to call him, and this is what he said: “notice, a people have come out of Egypt. They cover the face of the land, and they are staying just opposite me.

Numbers 22:6 Come now, curse this people for me, since they are too mighty for me. Maybe I will be able to defeat them and drive them from the land because I know that he whom you bless is blessed, and he whom you curse is cursed.”

Numbers 22:7 So the elders of Moab and the elders of Midian departed with the fees for divination in their hand. And they came to Balaam and gave him Balak’s message.

Numbers 22:8 And he said to them, “Lodge here tonight, and I will bring back word to you, as Yahveh speaks to me.” So, the princes of Moab stayed with Balaam.

Numbers 22:9 And God came to Balaam and said, “Who are these men with you?”

Numbers 22:10 And Balaam said to God, “Balak the son of Zippor, king of Moab, has sent to me, and this is what he said,

Numbers 22:11 ‘notice a people have come out of Egypt, and it covers the face of the land. Now come, curse them for me. Maybe I will be able to fight against them and drive them out.'”

Numbers 22:12 God said to Balaam, “You will not go with them. You will not curse the people because they are blessed.”

Numbers 22:13 So Balaam rose in the morning and said to the princes of Balak, “Go to your land because Yahveh has refused to let me go with you.”

Numbers 22:14 So the princes of Moab got up and went to Balak and said, “Balaam refuses to come with us.”

Numbers 22:15 Once again Balak sent princes, more in number and higher ranking than these.

Numbers 22:16 And they came to Balaam and said to him, “This is what Balak the son of Zippor says: ‘Let nothing keep you from coming to me,

Numbers 22:17 because I will indeed treat you with great honor, and whatever you say to me, I will do. Come, curse this people for me.'”

Numbers 22:18 But Balaam answered and said to the servants of Balak, “Though Balak was to give me his house full of silver and gold, I could not go beyond the command of Yahveh my God to do less or more.

Numbers 22:19 So you, too, please stay here tonight, that I may know what more Yahveh will say to me.”

Numbers 22:20 And God came to Balaam at night and said to him, “If the men have come to call you, rise, go with them; but only do what I tell you.”

Numbers 22:21 So Balaam rose in the morning and saddled his donkey and went with the princes of Moab.

Numbers 22:22 But God’s anger was kindled because he went, and the agent of Yahveh took his stand in the way as his adversary. Now, he was riding on the donkey, and his two servants were with him.

Numbers 22:23 And the donkey saw the agent of Yahveh standing in the road, with a drawn sword in his hand. And the donkey turned aside out of the road and went into the field. And Balaam struck the donkey to turn her into the road.

Numbers 22:24 Then the agent of Yahveh stood in a narrow path between the vineyards, with a wall on either side.

Numbers 22:25 And when the donkey saw the agent of Yahveh, she pushed against the wall and pressed Balaam’s foot against the wall. So, he struck her again.

Numbers 22:26 Then the agent of Yahveh went ahead and stood in a narrow place, where there was no way to turn either to the right or to the left.

Numbers 22:27 When the donkey saw the agent of Yahveh, she lay down under Balaam. And Balaam’s anger was kindled, and he struck the donkey with his staff.

Numbers 22:28 Then Yahveh opened the mouth of the donkey, and she said to Balaam, “What have I done to you that you have struck me these three times?”

Numbers 22:29 And Balaam said to the donkey, “Because you have made a fool of me. I wish I had a sword in my hand because then I would kill you.”

Numbers 22:30 And the donkey said to Balaam, “Am I not your donkey, on which you have ridden all your life long to this day? Is it my habit to treat you this way?” And he said, “No.”

Numbers 22:31 Then Yahveh opened the eyes of Balaam, and he saw the agent of Yahveh standing in the way, with his drawn sword in his hand. And he bowed down and fell on his face.

Numbers 22:32 And the agent of Yahveh said to him, “Why have you struck your donkey these three times? Notice, I have come out to oppose you because your way is perverse in the sight of me.

Numbers 22:33 The donkey saw me and turned aside at my face these three times. If she had not turned aside from me, surely just now, I would have killed you and let her live.”

Numbers 22:34 Then Balaam said to the agent of Yahveh, “I have sinned because I did not know that you stood in the road against me. Now, therefore, if it is evil in your sight, I will turn back.”

Numbers 22:35 And the agent of Yahveh said to Balaam, “Go with the men, but speak only the word that I tell you.” So, Balaam went on with the princes of Balak.

Numbers 22:36 When Balak heard that Balaam had come, he went out to meet him at the city of Moab, on the border formed by the Arnon, at the extremity of the border.

Numbers 22:37 And Balak said to Balaam, “Did I not send to you to call you? Why did you not come to me? Am I not able to honor you?”

Numbers 22:38 Balaam said to Balak, “Notice, I have come to you! Do I now have any power of my own to speak anything? I have to speak the word that God puts in my mouth.”

Numbers 22:39 Then Balaam went with Balak, and they came to Kiriath-huzoth.

Numbers 22:40 And Balak sacrificed oxen and sheep and sent for Balaam and for the princes who were with him.

Numbers 22:41 And in the morning Balak took Balaam and brought him up to Bamoth-baal, and from there he saw a fraction of the people.

Numbers 22 quotes:

“Little do they know … that the biggest battle of the first five books of the Bible (excluding the victory at the Red Sea) is staring them dead in the face—closer than Jericho, indeed as close as the hills above their heads. While their journey has been continually jeopardized by threats within, and while the chapters preceding and following this story provide practice skirmishes regarding threats without, the Mother of All Battles now looms in these hills so peaceful in appearance (“Is that smoke, or just fog on that peak toward Bamoth-baal?” see Num. 22:41); yet all they, their leaders, and Moses do (for the next three chapters!) is “camp” (22:1). We enter now one of Scripture’s grandest stories of the providential care and protection of our God. “O the depth of the riches and wisdom and knowledge of God! How unsearchable are his judgments and how inscrutable his ways!” (Rom. 11:33).”

Boyce Richard Nelson. Leviticus and Numbers. 1st ed. Westminster John Knox Press 2008. p. 203.

“It was not the most comfortable of journeys either for the animal or for its passenger. On three occasions an angel blocked their path. Each time, the donkey, aware of this divine messenger brandishing a sword, kept turning aside, and during one encounter Balaam’s foot was badly crushed against a wall. Not knowing why the animal was being so extraordinarily stubborn, Balaam struck her with his staff. Annoyed by this unjustified beating, the donkey suddenly provided a unique contribution to the story by making a strident vocal protest. Astonished to be in the company of a talking donkey, Balaam suddenly saw the angel for himself and promptly realized why his normally compliant animal had been so difficult. The angel told him that the awkward donkey had saved his life, and but for her repeated refusal to go ahead God’s messenger would have killed him.”

Brown Raymond. The Message of Numbers : Journey to the Promised Land. InterVarsity Press 2002. p. 205.

“Here is a grave warning for all preachers, teachers, and parents: If we get our desire without God’s blessing, His purpose will be accomplished in spite of us. Each attempt by Balaam to do the king’s wishes resulted in the prophecy of blessing upon Israel.”

Gutzke, Manford George. Plain Talk on Leviticus and Numbers. Zondervan Pub. House., 1981. p. 119.

“Meet Balaam, a prophet for hire. His focus on the almighty dollar, metaphorically speaking, was known by God and by the king of the Moabites, Balak. Would Balaam compromise principle to gain wealth? Was Balaam’s conscience so seared that he would sell out God’s people for advancement? And what would God think of all this? The story of Balaam is a picture of many people in this world who are caught between desire and faithfulness to God.”

Martin, Glen, and Max E. Anders. Exodus, Leviticus, Numbers. Broadman & Holman, 2002. p. 339.

“When studying any character or subject in the Bible, one should first gather together and consider all that Scripture says about it, and then draw conclusions. Regarding Balaam, first look at 2 Peter 2:15,16. Here we learn that Balaam “loved the wages of unrighteousness.” Then see Jude 11, which tells us that Balaam was in error regarding this reward. Now read Numbers 25:1-3, in connection with Revelation 2:14 and Numbers 31:15,16.
From these last passages we gather that Balaam had failed to get Balak’s gold by cursing the people, but yet he was determined to have it. So, back from his far-off northern home he comes, and counsels Balak to cast a stumbling block before the children of Israel, by inviting them to join in the worship of their gods, which worship was accompanied by vile and obscene practices. Of course, if Israel had joined the Moabites and Midianites in worship, there was no fear of hostilities, and this is what Balak sought to avoid. So the women of these heathen tribes beguile the Israelites, and we read in Numbers 25:1, 2 and 31 :15, 16 the sad result. Balaam perishes with these people who have hired him against Israel (Numbers 31 :8). Poor, wretched, self-willed, covetous Balaam! He said in one of his parables: “Let me die the death of the righteous.” Many others would like to die the death of the righteous ; but they forget that the way to die the death of the righteous is to possess and exhibit the life of the righteous.”

Saxe, Grace. Studies in Leviticus, Numbers and Deuteronomy. Grace Saxe, 1921. p. 48.

Numbers 22 links:

a dangerous walk
bless or suppress?
crisis of confidence
enough rope
what the donkey saw

Maranatha Daily Devotional – Thursday, May 2, 2019

The NUMBERS shelf in Jeff’s library