Comments for March 27

Update on back ground to Numbers chapters 8 & 9.

When the construction of the Tabernacle was completed 1^st day, 2^nd month, 2^nd year (Exodus 40:17). Moses was not able to enter the Tabernacle because the cloud of the LORD filled it (Exodus 40:33-35). At that time the Tabernacle altar and vessels had not been anointed and sanctified for the LORD’s service.

The Tabernacle had not yet been dedicated with offerings from the Tribes of Israel, see, Numbers chapter 7.  Only when this work anointing, cleansing and dedication, was completed that Moses was able to enter the Tabernacle. Then the LORD spoke to him from between the two cherubims over the mercy seat (Numbers 7:89). What a wonderful provision of the LORD’s mercy for His people. Dwelling among them, leading, caring, providing for them for their journey to the promised land. This is the same LORD who is our Father in heaven.

Numbers chapter 8

This was a new beginning for the children of Israel. The LORD was among His people and access to the LORD was possible through their mediator Moses and offerings through the Priesthood. 

Numbers 8:1-2 - The first command given in the Tabernacle by the LORD to Moses was that Aaron was to light the lamps.

This new beginning for Israel reminds us of the new beginning for the world when, “God said, Let there be light and there was light (Genesis 1:1-4). 

Through baptism we have associated ourselves with a new beginning when the light of the world was revealed through Jesus, “the Word became flesh and dwelt among us, and we beheld His glory, the glory as of the only begotten of the Father, full of grace and truth....” (John 1:14).

Number 8:6-10 - The Levites were sprinkled and cleansed with water and clothes washed before they were able to officiate in sacrifices. We are washed by the work of our Lord Jesus Christ. 

^“Therefore, brethren, having boldness to enter the Holiest by the blood of Jesus, by a new and living way which He consecrated for us, through the veil, that is, His flesh, and having a High Priest over the house of God, let us draw near with a true heart in full assurance of faith, having our hearts sprinkled from an evil conscience and our bodies washed with pure water. Let us hold fast the confession of our hope without wavering, for He who promised is faithful. And let us consider one another in order to stir up love and good works,” (Hebrews 10:19-24).

We should do our best to present our bodies as a living sacrifice, holy, acceptable to God, which is your reasonable service.” (Romans 12:1).

ADULTERY
It is dark and no one can see. The door is shut and no one can get in. A man and a woman are alone in the room, hearts beating and allowing themselves to get carried away. Her husband and his wife have no idea what is going on. For the moment it is exciting as passions are aroused, but afterwards it will be bitter. It will change the relationship between the husbands and the wives, it will fill them with an overwhelming sense of guilt and they will carry the secret with them for the rest of their lives, burdened by the knowledge of their unfaithfulness and sin.
When Joseph was tempted like this, his reply was "How can I do this and sin against God?" Then he fled from the situation.
David fell into a similar temptation with Bathsheba and the consequence of that followed him for the rest of his life.
Samson was also tempted by Philistine women. Eventually they cost him his eyes and his life.
So let us follow the wisdom given to us by Solomon and follow the example of Joseph to stay faithful to our God, our husbands and wives. Be captivated by the love of your own wife. Our ways are in full view of the LORD and wicked ways lead to death.
Stay Faithful.

The interdiction against physical adultery is clearly posted in the Law of Moses (Exo 20:14), and refined by Christ (Matt 5:27,28).  But what this chapter of Proverbs is addressing is the danger of idolatry.  The juxtaposition of wisdom, as the virtuous woman; and idolatry, as the strange woman, is a theme which plays throughout Proverbs.  The LORD points to wisdom as true religion which brings life, while the strange woman, idolatry, brings death.  He urges us to keep our doctrine pure and not be seduced by the peddlers of falsehood. 

1. There are literal, metaphorical, and spiritual lessons in Proverbs 5: The literal lesson is that physical adultery leads to disease and death. The metaphorical lesson is that all sin leads to death. The spiritual lesson is that wisdom is the ecclesial "wife" who keeps/protects us from immorality and false doctrine represented by the strange woman who eventually leads to death.

2. Prov 5:1-2 - the Son of God fully attended to verses 1-2: "wisdom"<2451>, "ear" (<241> note prior mention Prov 4:20), "understanding"<8394>, "lips" (note prior mention Prov 4:24), "knowledge"<1847>.

3. Prov 5:3 - "lips"<8193>, "strange woman" (<2114> - she is not the faithful bride of Christ), "her 'mouth' (<2441> note former mention Prov 4:24) is smoother than oil" (Isa 30:10 - "speak unto us smooth things").

4. Prov 5:4 - "her 'end' (<319> - the end of the unfaithful woman or unfaithful/apostate church - Prov 5:11;14:12;16:25;19:20;20:21;23:18,32,33;24:14,20;25:8;29:21) is bitter as 'wormwood' (<3939> - Deut 29:18;Jer 9:14-16)".

5. Prov 5:5 - the walk of the unfaithful woman or unfaithful/apostate church leads to "death"<4194>, "hell" (<7585> means "grave or pit").

6. Prov 5:7 - the request to listen changes to "ye children" from "My son" (v1) to not depart from the words of the father's mouth.

7. Prov 5:10 - "strangers"<2114>, "stranger"<5237> - one's "wealth"<3581> and "labours"<6089> going to the house of a stranger (the unfaithful/apostate).

8. Prov 5:11 - "thou mourn at the last when thy flesh and thy body are consumed" - this could have a more immediate meaning of the unfaithful dying from a transmitted disease or a last days rejection at the judgment (Dan 12:2;Luke 13:28) after having sold a born into the new creation birthright (Heb 12:15-16).

9. Prov 5:12 - "hated 'instruction'<4148>...despised 'reproof'<8433>" - when remorse/repentance comes too late.

10. Prov 5:13 - "not obeyed...'teachers' (<3384> - teaching is like flowing water and the Word of God is living water)...'instructed'<3925>" - this refers to the disobedient who rejected instruction.

11. Prov 5:14 - "I was almost all evil in the midst of the 'congregation'<6951> and 'assembly'<5712>" - could this refer to those within a house of worship who recognize they are hypocritical or evil (2Pet 2:10-18)?

12. Prov 5:15 - perhaps this figuratively refers to remaining 'at home', being faithful to your spouse, the 'ecclesia'<1577>, and to not be seduced by false teachers or wander off to ungodly paths.

13. Prov 5:16 - could it refer to blessings that stream out in the children and influences of a true family -or- does "rivers of waters in the streets" have a figurative application to the millenial river of life (Rev 22:1-3) -or- might the verse mean why should you beget children with women in the street?

14. Prov 5:20 - changes back to "my son" from "ye children" (v7); "ravished"<7686>; "stranger"<5237> - it was easier for Solomon to define right doctrine than to follow it.

15. Prov 5:21 - our actions cannot be hid from God (our lives are not our own 1Cor 6:19-20; Eph 5:5).

16. Prov 5:23 - "instruction"<4148>; "folly"<200>; "go astray"<7686> - (Prov 5:23 - Prov 10:21;Job 4:21;Hos 4:14;Eph 4:17-19).

A relationship built on sand

Have you noticed how well this chapter applies to the story of Samson and Delilah? Delilah lived in an area near to Philistine territory, so she may either have been an Israelitess or a Philistine woman. In any case, their union wasn't right, because unlike everywhere else in scripture where a man and woman come together, there is no mention of marriage or the usual phrase "he took her to wife". Thus this relationship was like so many relationships in today's society, built only on a shaky foundation of affection but nothing deeper or more permanent:

"he loved a woman in the valley of Sorek, whose name was Delilah" Judg 16:4

Notice how weak Samson is when he is under the power of Delilah. At no point is he able to escape. At no point does his internal logic overrule his heart. This is the same for any man in this kind of relationship. Solomon so rightly warns that the only way to come out unscathed from a relationship like this is to avoid it in the first place.

If we can see Samson's fate in the following passage, let's see ourselves in there too and take the lesson:

"Remove your way far from her, And do not go near the door of her house, Lest you give your honour to others, And your years to the cruel one; Lest aliens be filled with your wealth, And your labours go to the house of a foreigner; And you mourn at last, When your flesh and your body are consumed, And say:

"How I have hated instruction, And my heart despised correction!"