Thoughts on the readings for April 10th (Numbers 28, Proverbs 20, John 1)

Numbers 28 and 29 record the offerings of the LORD. Chapter 28 verses 1-8 speak of the daily offerings. Lambs were offered every morning and every evening accompanied by grain and and drink offerings. These were the continual burnt offerings of the LORD. Israel's Sovereign smelled a sweet aroma as the smoke from the sacrifice ascended to Him. Verses 9-10 speak of the Sabbath offerings, which were identical to the morning and evening sacrifices and were offered additionally to the continuing burnt offerings of each morning and evening. Verses 11-15 tell of the monthly offerings of the new moon at the start of each month, which commenced with each new moon. These were a multiplication of animal offerings of bulls and lambs; and grain and drink offerings. A goat was offered for a sin offering as well as the burnt offerings. Verses 16-25 describe the Passover offerings. The Passover was called Yahweh's Passover and celebrated Israel's deliverance from Egypt. The offerings were made on the 14th day of the first month and the slain lambs were eaten on the 15th day of that month - Abib. Verses 26-31 outline the offerings for the Feast of Weeks, which was commemorated 7 weeks, ie 50 days after the Passover. This Feast coincided with the giving to Israel of the Ten Commandments. It is called the Feast of Pentecost in the New Testament and spoke of the going forth of the Word of the LORD that was accompanied by the outpouring of the Holy Spirit on the Apostles of our Lord Jesus Christ. Every part of the nation's worship was designed to teach them what was being called for every day in each of their lives in the eyes of their Sovereign. Proverbs 20 is about wise judgment brought about by heeding the counsel of the Almighty. Verses 1-11 speak of avoiding destructive influences and hearkening to our Sovereign's enlightened advice. The behaviour of wise people keeps them from strife; not so the fools who create difficulties in their own lives and those lives of everybody who encounters them. These maxims are true for the king and commoner alike. The wise, verse 5, will not be deceived by fool. Controlling our actions by walking with integrity will confer blessings on the families of those who walk uprightly (v7). God weighs in His balance the lives of all who deal justly, or unjustly, with others (v10). The standards of fairness are seen in children who have been trained in the ways of the LORD. Verses 12-23 teach us that He who has made every part of us discerns and weighs our every action. Verse 23 repeats the message of verse 10. And although the examples of these verses differ from those at the start of the chapter the lessons are the same. Don't try to deceive, because those who cheat destroy themselves and all who they encounter. Verses 24-30 outline how the LORD directs the path of the wise. Yahweh our God discerns our every thought and act (v27). Stedfast faithfulness will preserve the king's throne (v28). And through discipline wisdom is learnt and lived (v30). The gospel record of John was most likely the last of the four written. Nor is it a summary of the ministry of the life of our Lord Jesus Christ. There are many more references to people discovering that Jesus was the Christ. Its theme is stated in chapter 20:31 "These things are written that you may believe that Jesus is the Christ, the Son of God, and that believing you might have life through his name." It records 8 signs, which are emphatic proofs of the stated theme. Chapter 1 is deliberately a parallel to Genesis 1. For just as Genesis 1 described the natural creation, which came into being through the Word of God in six days. Two groups of three repeated - LIGHT, WATER, LIFE; days 1-3 are paralleled and duplicated in days 4-6.; so too with the new spiritual creation in Christ. Jesus is declared to have come to his own (by ellipsis- people ) and failed to be accepted. This was not the case among believers. What a lofty theme. Jesus was the Word of God in the flesh ie one of us in nature and passions; and yet without sin totally revealing the Father's character to humanity. Read aloud verses 14-17 - Pause and Ponder. John was the disciple who rested on Jesus' bosom during the Last Supper and surely he writes with a measure of understanding his comments in chapter 1:18. The record of Jesus' baptism followed with John the Baptist's announcement of verse 29 "Behold, the Lamb of God who takes away the sin of the world." From verses 35-42 we have the earliest call of the first four of Jesus' disciples (later to become his Apostles) Andrew and John, Peter and James. From verses 43-51 we have the call of Philip and Nathanael. The latter convinced by our Lord's ability to reveal what Nathanael was thinking that Jesus must be the Son of God and the King of Israel. Twice in the chapter we are told that these men had found the Messiah ie the Christ - first by Andrew (v41) and then Nathanael (v49). But the reality was he had found them and extended to them the authority to become 'the sons of God' (verses 12-13). Penned by Warwick Rosser and his team, produced by Christadelphianvideo.org See more Thoughts from the Christadelphian Dialy Bible Reading Planner (By R.Roberts) here... https://christadelphianvideo.org/thoughts-on-the-readings-for-april-10th-numbers-28-proverbs-20-john-1/?feed_id=89248&_unique_id=67f629766c311