Psalm 56 Numbers 33-36 Titus 1-3
David shows us that when we place
our trust in God it is his Word we can trust. The truly faithful will always be
surrounded by those that lack character and integrity and spreading falsehoods
is only an attempt to destroy their life. David, the Lord’s anointed king, had
to hide from the one in power and those that supported him because David was a
threat to his power. We must remind ourselves that this song writer had the life
of the king, Saul, in his hands but honored God’s timing by trusting that God would
take care of bringing Saul and his followers down in his time.
The song is one that shows that
even when surrounded by enemies, that at times made him hide for his life,
David put his trust in God and his vows, his word, would be good and he would
uphold his word even when it was difficult. We live in a world where truth seems
to have so little meaning, even to church leaders, and they do all they can to
destroy those that get in the way of them holding on to power. Our call is to
put or trust in God and let God worry about their place and accountability.
We must remember that in Jesus,
through death on the cross, delivered our souls from death wo that we may walk
uprightly before God and people, in the light of the day.
In the last four chapters of
Numbers Moses records the stops on the journey from Egypt to being on the edge
of the promised land once again. They are reminded that Aaron died in the
wilderness and now they are about to cross the Jordan river. God instructs them
o drive out the inhabitants of they land they are about to enter, and they are
to destroy all the places and symbols of worship to other gods. They are to be assigned
their areas to live by lot, that God can put them in the places he wants them
to go. He also warns them if they fail to drive out those that live there, they
will pay a heavy price for their disobedience. They will suffer the fate of what
God had plan to do them. This is always a part of these promises we don’t want
to remember. There is a cost for disobedience.
God gives them the boundaries of
the land they are going to possess. In that land they are to set up cities of
refuge for those that accidently kill someone. It is outlined how to decide the
level or guilt and the punishment to be given out. One of the most interesting
parts of this is that for those guilty of murder they are to be put to death by
an avenger of the family that suffered the loss. They are to be tried and
convicted by at least two witnesses.
Lastly, the rules of inheritance
are laid out for them including the requirements to keep the land within the family.
Throughout Numbers we have listen to God outline the expectations of the people
of Israel when they enter the land that had been promised to them so long ago.
In Paul’s letter to Titus, we see
instructions to a younger man that would have to take over responsibility for
the church and to carry on the work they had started. Paul instructs Titus to
be careful when the churches were selecting leaders that they were above
reproach and a good witness to faith in Christ. He calls for those that wonder
away from the faith to be reproved severely that they might return to the way
of Jesus. Even then there was too many professing to know God, but their deeds
said it was not true.
Titus is instructed on how to lead
and the responsibilities of the different ages and genders. He also reminds
them that they are all to show good faith by reflecting their Lord, Jesus. They
are to be obedient to their leaders. He reminds him that once they were
disobedient fools and practiced evil things. But Jesus saved them, and they had
much to praise God for. Their faith will show through in the way they work
together for the good of the Kingdom.
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