"In the second year after Israel's departure from Egypt, on the twentieth day of the second month, the could lifted from the Tabernacle of the Covenant."
Numbers 10:11
My Take-Aways:
Something Old:
I loved loved loved the priestly blessing.
May the LORD bless you and protect you.
May the LORD smile on you and be gracious to you.
May the LORD show you His favor and give you His peace.
Read it in the Amplified. As my friend Erin says, "It's a gooder!"
Something New:
The chant as they depart and the chant as they stop. I love it!
"Arise O, LORD, and let our enemies be scattered! Let them flee before you!"
"Return of LORD, to the countless thousands of Israel!"
Something to Do:
Learn all that I can learn from God in the wait/wilderness periods of my life so I can be prepared for what He wants me to do next.
Numbers 10:11
My Take-Aways:
Something Old:
I loved loved loved the priestly blessing.
May the LORD bless you and protect you.
May the LORD smile on you and be gracious to you.
May the LORD show you His favor and give you His peace.
Read it in the Amplified. As my friend Erin says, "It's a gooder!"
Something New:
The chant as they depart and the chant as they stop. I love it!
"Arise O, LORD, and let our enemies be scattered! Let them flee before you!"
"Return of LORD, to the countless thousands of Israel!"
Something to Do:
Learn all that I can learn from God in the wait/wilderness periods of my life so I can be prepared for what He wants me to do next.
30 Comments:
Good Monday all,
Prayers are being said for Lyn's friends (Dave and Faye), for Wendy and family, for thanks and praise for Amy Jane's confirmation experience, and for all husbands and families on the list.
For those of you who asked about the color resource, I combined information from a couple of sites and also from some of the comentaries. Here are the links to a couple of the sites I really liked.
http://www.ridingthebeast.com/articles/colors/
http://www.revelation-today.com/A1Bible%20Symbols.htm
http://www.biblenews1.com/docs/colors.htm
Today I loved the benediction: Numbers 6: 24-27
24 ‘May the Lord bless you
and protect you.
25 May the Lord smile on you
and be gracious to you.
26 May the Lord show you his favor
and give you his peace.’
27 Whenever Aaron and his sons bless the people of Israel in my name, I myself will bless them.”
I especially love Numbers 6:27! This benediction is said every Sunday in my church and to think that when it is say, God himself blesses me gives me holy goosebumps!
So; May the Lord bless you and keep you;
My He make His face shine upon you and be gracious unto you;
May He look upon you with favor and grant you His peace!
Amen
Good morning,
I second the motion on Karen's prayers, and also for Nancy (job contract not renewed) and Tom (newly diagnosed with MS). Lifting them all to be filled with the peace that passes all understanding.
My old/new today: The trumpets - while I knew how important these were to the Israelites, today I could really see in my mind's eye the trumpets calling to the tribes.
New - Why did Hobab, Moses' brother-in-law, want to leave the journey just as they were getting on the move finally?
My to do--Make sure I do not leave my journey. Wait on the Lord.
"Those who hope in the Lord will renew their strength." Isaiah 40:31
Peace,
Michelle in New England
good morning FIGs!
my take away today was
Numbers 6:21 '...be careful to do whatever you vow...'
wow...ouch... what do i vow, and not follow through on? healthy eating jumps to mind...probably many more things if i wait on the Lord...
hmmm... i'll have to think on that.
thank you for all your prayers and praise for our confirmation retreat... one more point on that: near the end, the leader asked the children to come to the altar and talk to Jesus. he said it was ok to say 'i'm not so sure about all of this', or 'my mom is making me do this'. but if they were ready to commit their lives to the Lord to come up, get rid of things that could keep you from God, and kneel before the altar, fully accepting and committing to Christ.
well, of 70 kids, my tess (who we call 'sister mary tessa'!) was #66 to get up...
after about 20 kids went up and she was still in the pew, i started to take notice... my mind was racing...i know her heart (don't i??), she loves the Lord (doesn't she??)...what is taking her so long?? WHY IS SHE NOT GETTING UP??? i was getting silently panicky & emotional, and all of a sudden the guestions in my heart were huge...
FINALLY, she got up...big sigh of relief, but so many guestions in my head, pounding heart beat....
on the way home i (non-threatingly) asked what she thought of the whole retreat...'it was cool'... she answered in her normal tone of voice, not in a 'i know i'm going to break your heart by telling you i don't believe in God' voice....
how about the altar call? i was happy everyone (eventually!) went up.... pause....
you know what she said?? 'mom, he didn't say the part about asking forgiveness for our sins first. aren't they supposed to do that? i was praying for forgiveness, and thanking God for my blessings, before i went to the altar'...
at this point i pulled the car over to the side of the road and gave thanks!!
i was floored at her heart, which thank God i was correct about! and after pondering the events, i am so moved for families who's children are NOT saved... i was crushed when i uncorrectly doubted for 5 minutes!! i cannot imagine the heartache of those who continue to have unsaved children, so i am taking on a new VOW to pray for those children and for their mother's/parent's hearts while they wait...
praise the Lord, thank You my Jesus!
amy jane
me again!
of note, john the baptist was a nazirite (numbers 6). i thought this chapter gave interesting insight into his appearance and actions in the Gospels.
have a great day,
amy jane
Amy Jane, My heart is swelling with love for your little Tessa, thank you for sharing! I stand with you that have lifted up prayer's this morning.
“Blow the trumpet…at the beginning of each month” (10:10). Aahh, Happy March 1st Dear Friends!
My Old:
Regardless, how far away the Israelites were from the Tabernacle, they could still hear the sound of the trumpets communicating the different messages. Whether they were praising, going to battle, in-transit, their every move was to be in obedience to the different tones of the trumpets.
My New: The two sliver trumpets represent the truth of God’s Word and they remind us that both the Old and the New Testaments are each a part of the whole Word of God. (Bible Pathways)Just as the Israelites relied on the trumpet sound we are to be fully waiting upon the will of God as shown to us through His Word. “Silver is used also in a figurative or symbolic sense for something refined and pure, free from dross. “The words of the Lord are pure words; as silver tried in a furnace of earth, purified seven times” (Ps. 12:6). (Zondervan Pictorial Bible Dictionary).
To Do: Help me dear Lord, to keep my heart trained to hear the true silver trumpet, Your sweet voice, through Your Word. I desire to listen as the Holy Spirit prompts me to what you want me to do, and to trust and act in obedience. Thank you, dear Lord for your living and active Word. In Jesus Name I pray, Amen. Lori
Happy Monday all!
I did a little searching on the Nazirite vow. These vows were usually for 30 to 100 days and involved three things: no alcohol or anything from the grapevine; no cutting of hair; and no contact with the dead. John the Baptist, Samuel and Samson took this vow from birth to death. Even the apostle Paul took occasional Nazirite vows.
This was a form of dedication to the Lord - kind of like fasting.
I always love reading about the trumpet call in the Bible because I played trumpet in high school band. Here we read how the trumpets were used to call the people to gather at the tabernacle. In the NT we learn how the trumpet call will again gather us to God. Oh that blessed day and oh how fantastic that sound will be!
Learning from Him through you,
Morgen
I have been sidetracked for awhile now but I am happy to say I am finally caught up with my reading.
I loved the Lord's blessing. He wants to smile on us, be gracoius to us, protect us, and give us peace.
I also love how ordered the Lord is as he assigned each tribe with a specific spot and responsibility. The Tabernacle was already set up by the time the sacred objects arrived. "This was the order in which the Israelites marched, division by division."
Have a blessed Monday!
Meredith in OK
Hope everyone had a refreshing weekend.
Silver trumpets, aren't they beautiful to hear as they praise our Lord? One time our S.S. teacher had our trumpet player sound the blast. It was heard throughout our building. What a sound. We thought the Lord was coming. That was the point-are you ready for His return? It stick in my memory.
Other scriptures concerning the trump- I Cor.15:52 In a moment, in the twinkling of an eye, at the last trump: for the trumpet shall sound, and the dead shall be raised incorruptible, and we shall be changed.
IThess. 4:16 For the Lord himself shall descend from heaven with a shout with the voice of the archangel, and with the trump of God: and the dead in Christ shall rise first.
What a sight to see-be at the cemetery when the blast is sounded and Christians come out of the graves!
Question: Did Mariam marry a Midianite? Wasn't this forbidden?
To do: I must take seriously any vows made to God, and I must fulfill them.
Please pray for my son to return to the Lord. I asked for a son, which is 31, and told the Lord he was His for His service, as Samuel's mother did. My son was raised in church and the Word,a Christian, but is doing his own thing. I pray daily that his heart will be turned to God, to do His Will.
Keep trusting in Jesus,
Linda from Ark.
Hi Everybody…..So nice to flip up the calender to March 1. The month Spring truly arrives. “Talk about being in the waiting.” We have some pretty long winters where I live.
My nugget: I was camped in on the Nazirite. In the footnotes in The New American Bible Saint Joseph Edition this was put before me: From the Hebrew word nazir, meaning ‘set apart as sacred, dedicated, vowed.” The nazirite vow could be either for a limited period or for life. Those bound by this vow had to abstain from all the products of the grapevine, from cutting or shaving their hair, and from contact with a corpse. They were regarded as men of God like the prophets.
* Am 2:11, I who raised up prophets among your sons, and nazirites among your young men.
Examples of lifelong nazirites were:
Samson.
-Jgs 13:4-5 The Birth of Samson…..4 Now then, be careful to take no wine or strong drink and to eat nothing unclean. As for the son you will conceive and bear, no razor shall touch his head, for this boy is to be consecrated to God from the womb. It is he who will begin the deliverance of Isreal from the power of the Philistines.
-Jgs 7:16-17 He divided the three hundred men into three companies, and provided them all with horns and with empty jars and torches inside the jars. 17 “Watch me and follow my lead,” he told them. “I shall go to the edge of the camp, and as I do, you must do also.
Samuel.
-1 Sm 1:11 and she made a vow, promising: “O LORD of hosts, if you look with pity on the misery of your handmaid, if you remember me and do not forget me, if you give your handmaid a male child, I will give him to the LORD for as long as he lives; neither wine nor liquor shall he drink, and no razor shall ever touch his head.”
And John the Baptizer.
-Lk 1:15 for he will be great in the sight of the lord. He will drink neither wine nor strong drink. He will be filled with the holy Spirit even from his mother’s womb.
The footnote in Luke stated this: John is to be consecrated by Nazirite vow and set apart for the Lord’s service.
Morgen, it looks like we camped out together:)
To Do: Keep in his word and keep searching ….after I put these footnote together on paper. Wow the resemblances.
Leave you today with one more footnote:
Numbers 6:25: Let his face shine: A Hebrew idiom for “SMILE.”
Have a blessed Monday
Rhonda
Karen, thank you for those websites. I'll visit them later today.
Linda, I'll be praying for your son as I run this morning. Thank you for letting us pray for him.
Amy Jane, thank you for sharing the beautiful story of your weekend and your daughter's comments! I love how the Lord works.
Wendy, I'll be praying for you and your family this weekend. Can't wait to hear about how God will use you in Wisconsin! Take lots of warm clothes, girl!!
I loved this reading today. It's "almost always" exciting to prepare for a trip. There's usually a little stress involved. I can just imagine the tribes and the banners and the children and animals and the moms! With that many folks leaving and watching the cloud of God's Presence over the ark...wow! What a picture!
Have a great day!
Hugs!
Susan
Good Morning All, As I pray for all intentions I ask; Lord, I lift up our families & friends to You Lord. Protect them from evil, grant them health, guide them in their lives, show Your love to them, let them have the peace & joy that comes from knowing You! Amen
My son is getting married next year & I have been praying Lord give me a scripture to pray at the reception. Well praise the Lord, for Numbers 6:24-26. I can't describe the feeling at reading this blessing! Peace, joy, I want to do a happy dance kinda feeling! It is perfect!
Enjoy your day & the week to come
Blessings & Peace, Mary
Good morning all! Wow it is so great to be back on line! Our computer crashed for a second time and it was out for the count, so we had to replace it. We decided to go with a laptop and I am loving it! I can set here in my big comfy chair, read the reading for today and go right on line to the group! No more carrying all my "stuff" upstairs to the study. :)
Wendy, I will be praying and thinking of you this week as you travel. God speed to you! Your comment about the waiting period with the Lord really touched me and encouraged me. It is so very true that we need to just settle in where we are and grow where we are planted. I don't know about you all, but I seem to always be looking ahead to the future and planning, which is okay to a degree, but sometimes it takes away from what is going on today....God is teaching me to "Take in what He has for me TODAY"....Today is the day that the Lord has made so rejoice and be glad in it! AMEN
God Bless you and keep you all today.
Happy March 1st! The birds are really singing this morning even though there is snow on the ground. They know spring is coming.
I loved all your comments about the trumpets. As I thought about the Israelites always being in ear shot of the trumpets, I was thinking of how we keep an ear tuned to things that are important to us. As mothers, we can hear the quiet breathing of our children and hear the first whimper in their sleep. We are listening even as we do other things. We are to be keeping an ear tuned to hear the trumpet call, but aren't we blessed that we can also keep our ear tuned to hear the still small voice of the Holy Spirit throughout the day? May His words give you peace and joy. Kathy in Indy
Amy V. here,
Wendy, my prayers are with you and since I'm in WI-in Waukesha, actually, DRESS WARMLY!!! :) It's actually been ok here, but the wind-wow-that's been tough.
I wish I could be at that church to hear you speak.
**What really jumped out at me from today's reading was the part about the Nazarites. Num 6:7 talks about their instructions and that "...the hair on their head is the symbol of their separaton to God." WOW--that made me think: "what is my outward symbol of my separation to God? How would others tell that I'm a Christian?-or COULD they tell? All Christian symbols aside (jewlery, books, bumper stickers, etc) HOW would they know I'm a Christian--WITHOUT words. Girls, that REALLY worried me. I hate to admit this, but at times, too many in fact, I don't think anyone would know.
So that's what I'm going to ask God to work with me on. Giving Him my first fruits and saying NO to my flesh. Truthfully, all the christian jewlery in the world and great bumper stickers won't do any good at all if I'm losing my patience behind the wheel or standing in line at a grocery store with a slow cashier, or getting frustrated with things that don't go my way....hmm I think I see a pattern here-I don't like waiting! One more thing God is molding me to do-trust Him. So because of my issue with waiting, I also understand that it's how I respond/react in the season of waiting that often determines how long I'm "in the wilderness".
-Amy
I love walking through the Word with y'all! I don't comment very often, but do keep up with you and am caught up in my readings, (though sometimes it's a few days at a time.) I love getting to know you through your blogs. I also LOVED the blessing!! New to me: Though I know this prayer, did not know it was the Lord's instruction and His promise to bless them!! My to do: Pray this often, for Israel, as well as my Christian family!! Another is in Num 10:9-10, when the Lord said to blow the trumpets when at war, as well as times of gladness, I am to praise him during the hard times, as well as the good.
Nancy in TX
Brandee, from this weekend I forgot to say Yay! for you for saying no to Old Navy and other spending temptations. God will certainly honor that.
Amy Jane, I love, love, love your Tessa's heart. She gets what that sacrament really means. Bless her and bless you!
Linda in Ark, praying for your son. (((HUGS)))
Mary, Numbers 6:24-26 is an awesome blessing to use for your son's wedding. When Gayle Erwin was at our church, he told us that since as believers we are part of the royal priesthoold, whenever we say that blessing to anyone we put the stamp of God on them. So now I use that as whenever I say goodnight or goodbye to my sons. I actually laid hands on my DS1 and said this blessing multiple times before we flew back home yesterday. And tonight when I visit my Dad to say have a safe trip I will lay hands on him and pronounce this blessing on him as well.
What I learned from Courson re this very same blessing was that it says "LORD" 3x. And he said it is a suggestion of the Trinity:
"In verse 24, we see God the Father as the Giver,
In verse 25, we see God the Son as the Revealer,
In verse 26, we see God the Holy Spirit as the Soother."
He also talked about the trumpets: "There are only 3 trumpets of God: the 1st trump and the last trump. The 1st trump was sounded in Exodus 19, when God gathered His people at the base of Mt. Sinai and gave them the 10 commandments. It was during that convocation that Israel became a nation. But there is a 2nd trumpet, called the last trump. And it has not yet been heard. When it is, even as Numbers 10 illustrates, it will signal a grand convocation as the dead in Christ shall rise - and as we who are alive will be caught up - or raptured - to meet the Lord in the air.
He says further that when we hear the last trump, "we'll leave the snares and entanglements of this world behind as we pull up stakes, pack up our tents, and move on to heaven."
As to Hobab, Courson said that refers to the person who doesn't want God. In essence Moses was telling him "Come with us. You gotta be part of this company because if youre not, you're headed for destruction."
That kinda stuck out to me because of the recent events in the world - from this weekend alone! The earthquake in Chile, then Japan. My thoughts turned to those around me who are not believers and do not know the saving grace of Jesus. I need to mobilize those Hobabs in my life.
Wendy, may the Lord bless you and keep you, may the Lord make his face shine up on you and be gracious to you, may the Lord lift up His countenance toward you and give you peace.
Edit paragraph 7: there are only 2 - not 3 trumpets of God. Sorry.
Hey GIG,
Isn't it great to be marching into March with the armies that protected the Tabernacle and the Ark of the Covenant so that we would be able to study and have knowledge of God's leadership during that time.
I haven't written in a week or so because I spent so much time studying about vows, spiritual prostitution, etc. I took over 30 pages of notes during last week. I wanted to respond to several things, but I would have written a book, and I already feel as if I bore my GIG with my "running on". I also wrote so late at night that I doubt anyone read my comments but a few night owls. I am trying to do this in the a.m. now.
However, I have grown so much and my life is so different since this Bible study. I have learned so much from the Lord through Wendy and through you special GIG---thank you, thank you, thank you to the Lord for placing you in my life through a computer. ;)
My take away: Just as the Nazirites had a symbol of the long hair separating them so I've thought...do I have a symbol that sets me apart for the Lord; I pray that my witness does that.
Old but new: I love anytime that God is referred to as our Rear Guard. I used that analogy with notes to my son when he played football in high school and college...that God was his rear guard...my Brian understood then what I was referring to. So in v.25 "Dan's troops went last...serving as the rear guard for all the tribal camps." May I be a rear guard for my God in serving Him. I love that in Isaiah 58:8, it states,",,,the glory of the Lord will be your rear guard (protect me from behind, after you)." This scripture takes me to:
My to do: Let God be my El Roi as well as my Rear Guard as He continues to take me on this journey with Him. He is El Shaddai!!!
Marching in His Glory,
Jeanne
Wendy,
I never received the Open Blog on my email account over the week-end. I'll use the side bar tricky, but I didn't know if there was a glitch or something as I never got it.
Thanks,
Jeanne
Karen, thank you for the sites you posted. Can't wait to visit them.
Had a lot to think about today. About the Nazirite laws, my commentary said that wine in the scriptures is a symbol of earthy joy, and to bring cheer to the heart. If they weren't relying on the wine to bring them joy, they had to depend on the Lord for their joy. Who do we depend on???
Now about the trumpets. Christ leads His church through the wilderness of the world, just as the trumpets led the Israelites. The ark is a picture of Christ. They followed the ark, and we follow Christ.
In addition to the references about the trumpets at the rapture, which I thought were really good, in Revelations there are 7 trumpets, too. They are connected with the children of Israel. During the Tribulation the 7 trumpets will move the children of Israel from all cornets of the earth back into their land.
Can't wait...in a moment in the twinkling of an eye, at the last trump...I just can't wait! I Cor. 15:52 The Lord Himself shall descend from heaven...and the last trump of God...I Thess. 4:16...I JUST CAN'T WAIT!!!
Jan TN
Something I dug into today that I've noticed before but didn't investigate further was the reference to Moses' father-in-law, Reuel, in Numbers 10:29. I thought Moses' father-in-law was Jethro. After looking at various sources, they are the same. People back then were known by several names.
I am always saddened when I see people with talent in the church not using it because of fear or a feeling of inadequacy. Due to those feelings, God's people do not receive the blessing. "As we have the opportunity, let us do good to all people, especially those who belong to the family of believers." Gal. 6:10
I loved how Moses encouraged Hobab to come along with him and encouraged him to use his special talent. The study note in my Bible says: "By complimenting Hobab's desert skills, Moses let him know he was needed. People cannot know you appreciate them if you do not tell them how important they are to you. Complimenting those who deserve it builds lasting relationships and helps people know they are valued."
hmmmmm......that's a really important principle to apply.....I need to encourage all those talented Hobab's I know with the precious truth that God wants to use their unique talents and abilities for His purposes!
I also was so blessed by the fact that the benediction is said it is as if God himself said it. It makes you realize how close He is to us when we worship. Awesome!!!!
God bless you fellow travelers,
Kim in IL
Kim in IL,
Love your illistration about Hobab's.
I need to do the same.
So many days though I feel like a Hobab.
Thanks Kim
Rhonda
Grace and Peace,
Thank you so much for sharing how you bless your friends and family with the Priestly blessing in Numbers. I do that sometimes with residents in nursing homes when I leave, and I'd like to start doing that with my family- to bless them with the stamp of God. I just asked my husband to pray that blessing over me.
Love your sharing--
Lyn
Hey Everyone, I have been BUSY today! Trying to get this house back in order after all the germs that have been around the past two weeks :) I did want to hop on here real quick and say to Amy V, I am right there with you sister! That is EXACTLY where I was led to when I read and I wrote a note in the margin of my Bible, "Am I set apart?" Can people really tell besides the cross necklace and Jesus fish on my car that I am a follower of Christ? I know all of you don't read my blog that I post on daily for our unsaved. I want to ask you to read tomorrow's post if you get a chance. It is about something that Dr. James Dobson said in our last class of Bringing Up Boys yesterday. It is a sad statistic and I pray that we are all in the 38% and not the 62%.
Got to get my son to karate. I have made notes on all the prayer requests and am praying.
Have a blessed evening GIG~
Brandee, TN
PS Thanks G&P :) I got some more catalogs in the mail today. Ugh! I love all the new spring shoes so much :) I need to just THROW THEM AWAY!
Hi FIGS! What a blessing you all are to me! Thank you!
Like several of you, I too, dug in on being "set-apart". I wrote in my notes (and in my Bible) "As Christians, we (I) need to be set-apart from the world, consecrated to God." Now I ask myself, am I set apart from the world- what do others see when they see me?
Have a great Monday!
Gaylene
Quick Update my friend Faye called Dave had the Quadruple By-Pass and is now done. He did good and they will be taking him to ICU shortly. Thanks for your continued prayers for his health and salvation.
Lynn - OR
Loved the blessing also. I want to memorize it and pray it to others. It has been prayed over me in the pass.
Lynn, we are praying.
Linda from Ark.and other GIG who have grown children not walking with the Lord as they did as a child:
Linda,I was reading through the comments for today (again ;)). Your request for prayer for your son touched my heart as I have two grown,married children, who also were saved at a young age, grew up in church, mission trips,etc., but don't have a relationship and commitment to Him now.They come to church with me on special occasions, but I do not beg. They know my heart for their need to be close to God. I pray and pray, but I feel that my prayers may be ineffective because I say the same thing over and over...pleading and pleading with the Lord!!!! Brandee has a prayer blog for those who do not believe yet, and she has sent me some of the scripture she uses for that. I want to use God's Word in my praying, too!!!! I am going to order from P31 Ministry book shop: Divine Prayers for Despairing Parents: Words to Pray When You Don't Know What To Say, written by Susanne Scheppmann, and then from another site, I want to order Stormie Omarian's: The Power of Praying for Your Adult Children. Wouldn't it be great if we could get us praying ( and others who are in this situaiton) for our children in the way that God intends for us to pray??? What do you think???? I feel that time is so short, and I truly look forward to Heaven, but my heart stays heavy for my own loved ones who aren't in line with His Will for their life. I pray for Him to please wait for them. I suppose that is selfish, but it's true.
My heart breaks,
Jeanne
Jeanne I am reading the book The Power of Praying for your Adult Children by Stormie Omartian and it is amazing! I too have 2 sons who are just like yours. I want them so bad to walk and be close to God at an earlier age than I did. All I can do is pray! I am so with you and I have no one to talk to that is in the same situation! Maybe we should call each other and talk?!?
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