NUMBERS 1:
Numbers is the 4th of Moses' 5 books. In this book we will see that unbelief hinders God's blessings for Israel. HC Mears says, "Numbers might be called the Wilderness Wanderings," because it chronicles the journey. And "Numbers might be called the book of the March and the Roll Call. ... It might, too, be called the Book of Murmurings, because from beginning to end it is filled with the spirit of rebellion against God."

"Leviticus dealt with the believers' worship— Numbers deals with

the believer's walk. In Leviticus we see the believer's privileges— in Numbers the wilderness is the drill field."

Important lessons from the Book of Numbers:

1. We must trust God, not people.
2. God will supply all we need, including food, meat, water, leaders, and land.
3. We must worship God according to his instructions.

PSALM 25:
Psalm 25 is the first acrostic poem we encounter in the psalms. An acrostic poem is one where every line starts with a new letter of the Hebrew alphabet.

In older translations which followed the KJV, verse 14 contains the word 'secret', but that word is better translated as 'friendship/friend'. Here we read of the privilege of an intimate relationship with the Lord. I am reminded of a few years ago when things were not going well for me in relation to the leaders of my organization. Psalms like this were very comforting to me.

LUKE 17b:

Yesterday in Luke 17a Jesus taught about the importance of forgiving others, the importance of believing fully and being humble servants. Then we heard of the healing of 10 men who had a contagious/dreaded skin disease.

LEVITICUS 26-27:
Yesterday in Leviticus, we heard about the Sabbath year and the year of Restoration/Jubilee. Before the Year of Restoration, property could be bought back//redeemed. In the Restoration year property was returned to the original owners and poor people who had become enslaved were set free. I suspect these laws were never done in all of Israel's history. If they were, perhaps only once— fifty years after Israel entered the land of Canaan. In the final two chapters of Leviticus which we read today, we hear the LORD's prophecy that the people of Israel would fall into sin and rebellion against God. They would be warned many times and be sent into exile. In exile, God said that they would repent and God would still remember his covenant with the people of Israel. The book ends with a list of regulations.

PSALM 24:
Today we read one of the most majestic psalms, Psalm 24! This ends with the song for welcoming the triumphant Messiah into Jerusalem.

The words of the fourth and final section of Psalm 24 are sung in Handel's Messiah, "Lift up your heads, you gates; be lifted up, you ancient doors, that the King of glory may come in. Who is the King of glory? The Lord strong and mighty, the Lord mighty in battle."

In the first line, "Lift up your heads, you gates," we have a poetic personification of the gates. This has been translated in the NET as "Look up, you gates." But gates don't have heads and they can't look up. I like the GNT in that verse: "Fling wide the gates, open the ancient doors, and the great king will come in."

LUKE 17a:
Yesterday in chapter 16 we heard two longer parables— both very insightful: The parable of the shrewd manager, and the one about the rich man and Lazarus. Both of them show this lesson:

Use your worldly resources to benefit others and make friends. Then, when your earthly possessions are gone, they (those friends) will welcome you to an eternal home.

LEVITICUS 25:
Yesterday in Leviticus we heard about the seven important yearly celebrations of the Jewish religion. Then we heard about oil and bread for the tabernacle. Following that, we heard about the example of a law-breaker who was stoned to death for his crime of blasphemy.

PSALM 23:
Today we read the most famous psalm of all. My wife has often said: Psalm 23 is so often quoted at funerals, but this is a psalm about living, not dying!

LUKE 16:
Yesterday in Luke 15, we heard the three-part parable of the lost sheep, lost coin, and lost son. There is much treasure to dig for there! Consider taking some time to reflect on that wonderful chapter.

LEVITICUS 21-22:
In yesterday's reading in Leviticus, we heard various laws that are for preserving the holiness of God's people, and various kinds of punishment for disobedience.

PSALM 21:
Psalm 21 is a companion to yesterday's psalm, which was for the nation and the king in time of war. Today's poem is the corresponding victory song.

I have made a comment about the psalmists switching back and forth between seeming to pray to God, and then speak about God. I said that in Hebrew, many parts where the psalmist seems to speak about God can still be understood as praying to God.

In Psalm 21, not only does David pray to God using the 3rd person, but he speaks of himself also in the 3rd person.

Let me show you what I mean. The NLT gives the ancient title, "For the choir director: A psalm of David

Verse 1, "How the king rejoices in your strength, O Lord!"

David being the writer, but talking about himself as 'the king' can be considered ungrammatical in today's English, and translating literally here may prevent readers from seeing this Psalm as a very personal prayer. I will read several verses adapted from the GNT to show you how I wish this psalm was translated.

21:1 O LORD, I— the king you have chosen, am so glad
because of the strength you have given me.
2 You have given me my heart's desire;
you have answered [my//his] request.
3 You came to me with great blessings
and set a crown of gold on my head.
4 I asked for life, and you gave it,
a long and lasting life.
5 My kingly glory is great because of your help;
you have given me fame and majesty.
6 Your blessings are with me forever,
and your presence fills me with joy.

Luke 14:
As we heard yesterday, Luke chapter 13 contains 4 parables. Jesus sternly warned the people to repent, and he grieved for the persistent stubbornness and hardness of heart of the people of Jerusalem. In both that chapter and today's chapter, Jesus healed people on the Sabbath, using those occasions as opportunities to teach and rebuke his enemies.

LEVITICUS 19-20:
Yesterday in Leviticus we learned about the rule that all sacrifices must be done at the tabernacle, also the prohibitions of eating anything containing animal blood, and forbidden sexual practices.

PSALM 20:
Today we will read Psalm 20, which is a prayer for the nation of Israel and their king, asking for national security in a time of war.

LUKE 13:
In the second half of Luke 12, Jesus taught about being ready for his return, and to be ready for the division that would come about because of Jesus himself.

LEVITICUS 17-18:
Yesterday in Leviticus we learned about regulations concerning uncleanness caused by bodily discharges of all kinds. Then we heard the procedures for the high priest to perform yearly on the day of atonement.

PSALM 19:
Today's Psalm— Psalm 19, is a famous poem celebrating the heavens and God's creation, and secondly celebrating the perfection of God's Word.

LUKE 12b:
In yesterday's reading in the first half of Luke 12, Jesus warned about hypocrisy, and one of our biggest fears— fearing what other people will think of us. Here is a clear translation of two important verses from that part:

Luke. 12:8 PET "I tell you the truth, everyone who says publicly here on earth, 'I am a follower of Jesus', I, the Son of Man, will also acknowledge them as my followers in the presence of God's angels.

9 But those who deny me here on earth, saying they are not my disciples, I will also say that they are not my disciples in the presence of God's angels.