Year 1, Week 19, Day 2 Bible Reading Observations

Year 1, Week 19, Day 2

I have a brief observation for today’s reading of Numbers 29-30.

Today’s reading builds on the previous day’s reading as it explores Israel’s worship calendar. Numbers 29 adds to Numbers 28 as it discusses the annual feasts that occurred in the second half of the year. Numbers 30 revisits earlier discussions concerning vows. One of the new features of today’s reading on vows addresses a distinction in vows made by certain women. Fathers could override vows made by their daughters; while husbands could override vows made by their wives. The rationale surrounding these overrides was not capricious but to provide protection and guidance concerning foolish vows.

One of the things that struck me from today’s reading was the LORD’s continued provision for preparing His people to live in the land: “So he brought his people out with joy, his chosen ones with singing. And he gave them the lands of the nations, and they took possession of the fruit of the peoples' toil,  that they might keep his statutes and observe his laws.” (Psalm 105:43-45). It would be the good Hand of God that would place Israel in the Promised Land, and it would be the good Heart of God that would place statutes before Israel so that they would know how to live the good life: “Therefore choose life, that you and your offspring may live, loving the LORD your God, obeying his voice and holding fast to him, for he is your life and length of days, that you may dwell in the land that the LORD swore to your fathers, to Abraham, to Isaac, and to Jacob, to give them.” (Deuteronomy 30:19b-20).

A key component for Israel to experience the good life promised in the Land, was a grasp of their calendar. All of life, that is every aspect of life, every single day of life, for the entirety of life. Broadly considering the calendar requirements laid out for Israel, it is easy to discern that sacrifice was at the heart of Israel’s focus in worship. Where there were elements of fellowship, praying, singing, and even instruction in the Word, it was sacrifice that was at the heart of worship. The sacrifices required of Israel consisted of daily, weekly, monthly, and annual sacrifices which were accumulative and added up to the minimum yearly totals of 37 rams, 113 bulls, and 1,086 lambs, not to mention tons of flour and over 1,000 containers of oil and wine. But these costly arrangements were the necessary requirement for privilege of worshipping in the presence of God. All of the many days as well as all of the expenses associated with faithful worship in the Old Covenant, stressed the extensiveness and costliness of living in devotion to the LORD. Worship arrangements in the New Covenant start with the one sacrifice of Jesus: “you were ransomed from the futile ways inherited from your forefathers, not with perishable things such as silver or gold, but with the precious blood of Christ, like that of a lamb without blemish or spot.” (1 Peter 1:18-19). The completed sacrifice of Jesus qualifies all followers of Christ to pursue a comprehensive life of costly devotion: “I appeal to you therefore, brothers, by the mercies of God, to present your bodies as a living sacrifice, holy and acceptable to God, which is your spiritual worship.” (Romans 12:1). Sacrifice is still at the heart of worship—on the basis of Jesus’ sacrifice, we can now offer ourselves as sacrifices of service.

That fathers could void vows made by their daughters and husbands could void vows mad by their wives is not to suggest inferiority in any way. However, it does stress that there was a hierarchy or structure of authority within the Israelite community. This arrangement was part of the LORD’s will, not only in the design found in creation and the nature order that flows out of creation; but it is also found in the good statues that God gave to His people. The LORD designed and legislated fathers and husbands with authority and headship. Fathers and husbands were central to promoting a life that was lived in devotion to the LORD. The onus was on fathers and husbands to faithfully serve those to whom they were given charge, neither using their role in an abuse of their authority, but also neither in abdication of their authority. As it pertains to the matter of vows, the role of the father and husband was not for the purpose of overriding obedience to the Law of God. But since vows were never a requirement of the LORD, always a voluntary choice, fathers and husbands had a responsibility before the LORD to provide the necessary guidance to prevent foolish vows. But husbands and fathers could not be vacillating, they must quickly veto any foolish vows or let them stand: “If she marries a husband, while under her vows or any thoughtless utterance of her lips by which she has bound herself, and her husband hears of it and says nothing to her on the day that he hears, then her vows shall stand, and her pledges by which she has bound herself shall stand.” (Numbers 30:6-7). While these statues were Old Covenant statues, the New Covenant keeps in place matters of hierarchy and headship: “Wives, submit to your husbands, as is fitting in the Lord. Husbands, love your wives, and do not be harsh with them. Children, obey your parents in everything, for this pleases the Lord. Fathers, do not provoke your children, lest they become discouraged.” (Colossians 3:18-21).

What struck you in today’s reading? What questions were prompted from today’s reading?

Pastor Joe