ADVENT Day 3...Day 92...(Numbers 36; Psalm 92)..."Numbers Ends Without DramaThe Righteous Will Flourish"

The Book of Numbers ends without drama. We begin Deuteronomy tomorrow. Psalm 92 has another fruitful image around righteousness. Again this sounds like Jesus' teaching with the vine and branches in John 15.

"The righteous will flourish like a palm tree,
they will grow like a cedar of Lebanon;

planted in the house of the LORD,
they will flourish in the courts of our God.

They will still bear fruit in old age,
they will stay fresh and green

they will flourish in the courts of our God.

They will still bear fruit in old age,
they will stay fresh and green"

Advent Day 2 Day 91...(Numbers 34,35; Psalm 91) ..."How to Get a Great Night of Rest"

A great tip from the Psalmist in Psalm 91 today..."dwell in God and find rest." The dwelling in God brings not only sleep but rest. I once had a respected friend (Don Lehman) who slept through Hurricane Ivan. He did it because he knew he was in the "Good Lord's" Hands. Here is the passage.

"He who dwells in the shelter of the Most High
will rest in the shadow of the Almighty."

ADVENT DAY 1 DAY 90...(Numbers 33,34; Psalm 90)..."Who had no Father in the Bible?"

Forgive me for this pun..."who has no father in the Bible." The answer is Joshua. Why? Here is the passage that gives the answer... " The LORD said to Moses, "These are the names of the men who are to assign the land for you as an inheritance: Eleazar the priest and Joshua son of Nun." Joshua is the Son of Nun.

On an inspirational note. My favorite passage in the Psalms is in today's text.

"For a thousand years in your sight are like a day that has just gone by, or like a watch in the night."

As I heard Rabbi Elias Chaccour say this means "Jesus was born day before yesterday."

ADVENT To Begin Day 89...(Numbers 31,32; Psalm 89)..."From the Iron Bowl to Advent"

Yesterday brought everyone together for the "Iron Bowl" and "Black Friday." We now move into a more important time of year..."Advent" which begins Sunday. The descriptions of Moses and Israel dividing spoils does not sound like an Advent passage but Psalm 89 does.

"Blessed are those who have learned to acclaim you, who walk in the light of your presence, O LORD. They rejoice in your name all day long; they exult in your righteousness. For you are their glory and strength"

May the glory and strength of God be with you all this journey of Advent!

Day 88...(Numbers 29,30; Psalm 88)..."A Passage for When Life is the Pits"

Ever feel like life is the pits? The Bible does express words for those low moments too. In case you needed a passage when life is the pits, Psalm 88 fits to a tee. Here is the passage...

"O LORD, the God who saves me,day and night I cry out before you. May my prayer come before you;turn your ear to my cry. For my soul is full of trouble and my life draws near the grave. I am counted among those who go down to the pit;I am like a man without strength."

Hoping your life is out of the pits!

Day 87...(Numbers 27,28; Psalms 87)... "Orderly"

As chaotic as some of the trials through the wilderness seemed, God's order prevails. In preparation of the next season, Joshua is identified as the successor of Moses. Leadership is an intangible issue for people to succeed then and now. Today, leadership is still the primary key to make it out of the wilderness to the promised land.

Happy Thanksgiving!

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Day 86...(Numbers 24,25; Psalm 86)..."More Numbers...Great Thoughts"

The Book of Numbers lives up to the name again. Look at all the headcounts. After the Baal worship, counts were made anew. The integrity of worship created a need to determine who followed the first commandment. I am intrigued by how they made accurate counts back then without ushers!

The Psalmist offers words in which to aspire...

"In the day of my trouble I will call to you,
for you will answer me."

"Teach me your way, O LORD,
and I will walk in your truth;
give me an undivided heart,
that I may fear your name." (E. Stanley Jones used to teach about the danger of
divided loyalties)

"But you, O Lord, are a compassionate and gracious God,
slow to anger, abounding in love and faithfulness."

Day 85...(Numbers 22,23; Psalm 85)..."What is an Oracle"

There are five oracles in the reading today. What is the world is an oracle? An oracle is a writing to seek wisdom about the future from a wise person. These oracles are directed from Balaam to God.

In the fourth oracle we see this form displayed..."Who has knowledge from the Most Hight, and who has vision form the Almighty, who falls prostrate, and whose eyes are open."

In this week of Thanksgiving, we read that righteousness precedes harverst according to the Psalmist. Our obedience is required to bear fruit for the Kingdom. In the Gospel of Luke (10:2)
Jesus speaks of the "harvest is plentiful but the laborers are few." Is there not a connection of righteousness to prepare for the Lord's harvest? Could we not connect Balaam's oracles seeking God's counsel, as a model to prepare for harvest? Are we obedient to God's higher purposes?

Day 84...(Numbers 21,22; Psalm 84)..."A Talking Donkey!"

The Bible is amazing! Along with the inspiration, meditation, law, history, truth, and stories comes a surprise...a talking donkey! How about this story?

Then the LORD opened the donkey's mouth, and she said to Balaam, "What have I done to you to make you beat me these three times?"

If God can make a donkey speak, can He not change our lives? How wonderful that God would use humor to convey His power. Awesome!

The Psalmist, on the other hand speaks so eloquently... "Better is one day in your courts than a thousand elsewhere; I would rather be a doorkeeper in the house of my God than dwell in the tents of the wicked." As we approach Thanksgiving, we have so much to be thankful for in the courts of the Lord! Whomever, however, wherever, and whatever our circumstances!

Day 83...(Numbers 19,20; Psalm 83)..."Keeping the Ego of Leaders in Check"

The 20th chapter of Numbers is exciting as "water gushes out of the rock" but then there is a sad development. Moses is told he did not trust God enough and will not make it to the promised land.

" But the LORD said to Moses and Aaron, "Because you did not trust in me enough to honor me as holy in the sight of the Israelites, you will not bring this community into the land I give them."

This chapter lays out the lack of ego needed by great leadership. Moses, the leader among leaders, will not finish the final steps of the journey. Leadership is not always about finishing but aligning for the next leader. A healthy ego and trust of the Lord is at a great premium then and now.

One other sad note is the death of Aaron. Aaron, too, would not see the promised land. His ego and trust of the Lord also had to stay in check.

Day 82...(Numbers 17,18; Psalm 82)..."A Sign for Leaders"

In today's passage from Numbers, we have a sign for leaders..a budding staff. What bishop, superintendent, senior pastor or church leader would not love such a symbol of leadership! How wonderful to have a tangible sign...a staff that blooms before the people. In our culture today, leadership is really at a premium. Leaders must find ways to claim the role to lead the people. Symbols speak powerfully to people then and now. Here is the text...

"The next day Moses entered the Tent of the Testimony and saw that Aaron's staff, which represented the house of Levi, had not only sprouted but had budded, blossomed and produced almonds. Then Moses brought out all the staffs from the LORD's presence to all the Israelites. They looked at them, and each man took his own staff. The LORD said to Moses, "Put back Aaron's staff in front of the Testimony, to be kept as a sign to the rebellious. This will put an end to their grumbling against me, so that they will not die." Moses did just as the LORD commanded him."

As a District Superintendent, I too am looking for the symbolic "budding staff" to lead in our conference under the bishop, with the cabinet, and for all in our district. I too pray to the Lord for the symbols that will inspire the people. As then and now symbols are powerful!

Day 81...(Numbers 15,16; Psalm 81)..."Tough Laws"

A Sabbath breaker today may have a guilty conscience. In the day of Moses, people were put to death. The text today says matter of factly...

"and they kept him in custody, because it was not clear what should be done to him. "While the Israelites were in the desert, a man was found gathering wood on the Sabbath day. Those who found him gathering wood brought him to Moses and Aaron and the whole assembly, Then the LORD said to Moses, "The man must die. The whole assembly must stone him outside the camp." So the assembly took him outside the camp and stoned him to death, as the LORD commanded Moses."

This text reminds me of the Story of Ananias and Sapphira in the Book of Acts when they struck down suddenly for not telling the truth. In some portions of Scripture there seems to be either high holiness or quick consequences. Such is this text.

Day 80...(Numbers 13,14; Psalm 80)..."Just Do It!...says Caleb"

One of the most inspiring scriptures in the Bible is also so realistic about human nature. Twelve spies were sent to see the promised land. Only two brought back a good report. The others felt overwhelmed by the size of the people occupying the land..."like grasshoppers!" Ten did not see the power of God like Joshua and Caleb. Caleb is a real visionary and is ready to go!

"Then Caleb silenced the people before Moses and said, "We should go up and take possession of the land, for we can certainly do it."

Believe it or not the people are so negative about the bad report they are ready to "go back to Egypt." How revealing this is of human nature. Some are ready to charge the hill and others are ready to go back to Egypt. Are we any different today?

Day 79...(Numbers 11,12; Psalm 79)..."The Lord sets Moses Apart"

Is there any greater commendation than the Lord gave Moses. Notice these words..." "When a prophet of the LORD is among you, I reveal myself to him in visions, I speak to him in dreams. But this is not true of my servant Moses; he is faithful in all my house. With him I speak face to face, clearly and not in riddles; he sees the form of the LORD. Why then were you not afraid to speak against my servant Moses?"

Notice how this follows a time of Moses feeling overwhelmed in chapter 11. Moses executes a strategy of delegating burdens to 70 elders. This is not a bad strategy for leadership development.
Can we imagine how burdened Moses must have felt at times? And how great the relief to gain the help of seventy? Finally, how awesome to received a commendation of the Lord for his faithfulness. This is about as good as it gets!

Day 78...(Numbers 9,10; Psalm 78)..."Recalling Victories!{

One of the ways the Scripture inspires through adversity is to recall victories! Psalm 78 is a great example of this form. In this very long Psalm, Israel's victories are recalled. This is also practical to employ today. When facing a test, struggle, challenge or outright opposition, remember God's faithfulness. God is able and the story of the Bible reminds us of His faithfulness!

Day 77...(Numbers 7,8; Psalm 77)..."Twelve Straight Days of Offerings!"

When I read Numbers chapter 7 I laugh out loud, when I remember all the people who have said the "church talks to much about money." Notice how Moses leads twelve straight days of offerings. The offerings are also the focal point of each day. Wow! How about that for a foundation of offerings! Seriously, maybe this text does give some insight into how the traditions of offerings have always been part of the worship and journey of God's people. We should never be timid with offerings as long as the Kingdom is our motive and aim!

Day 76...(Numbers 5,6; Psalm 76)..."The Grand Benediction"

In Numbers, among all the counting is a beautiful benediction used frequently today. Who would have guessed we would have found the prayer in Numbers? Here are the words...

" ' "The LORD bless you
and keep you;

the LORD make his face shine upon you
and be gracious to you;

the LORD turn his face toward you
and give you peace." '

Sure sounds better tonight than ever after spending a day moving into a new house!

Day 75...(Numbers 3,4; Psalm 75)..."More Counting"

Numbers is still living up to the name...more counting of people. Head ushers would have loved the opportunity to count all these people.

Speaking of counting...we are half-way through the Psalms. The Psalms offer good company for 150 days...especially when reading the Pentateuch. We have much more inspiration ahead!

Day 74...(Number 1,2; Psalm 24)..."A Book that Lives Up to the Name"

We begin Numbers today. If there is one Book that lives up to the name it would be this one. How does it begin? How about an accounting of the numbers. I am fascinated they could give an account back all systems of registration were in place. This makes Charge Conference look pretty simple. One observation in looking at these large numbers of people...Abraham did produce a people as numerous as the stars!

How about the Psalmist and creation reflections?

"It was you who opened up springs and streams;
you dried up the ever flowing rivers.

The day is yours, and yours also the night;
you established the sun and moon.

It was you who set all the boundaries of the earth;
you made both summer and winter."

God is the awesome creator of fall, winter, spring and summer. God is the God of order including the seasons.

Day 73...(Leviticus 27; Psalm 73)..."Keeping Good Footing"

The Psalmist's almost wants to take the path of the arrogant but maintains footing just in time. He is pure in heart but wondering about the prosperity of the arrogant. Here is the passage...


Surely God is good to Israel,
to those who are pure in heart.

But as for me, my feet had almost slipped;
I had nearly lost my foothold.

Is this not a great image repeated in the Sermon on the Mount..."Blessed are the poor and in spirit."

Is this not the human condition? One eye toward God and the other toward the arrogant?

Day 72...(Leviticus 26; Psalm 72)..."God blesses the Faithful"

I had another miscount and blogged the wrong passage yesterday. Oh well...I still like the idea of Jubilee!

Today, we read of those who live against the Lord will reap the results and those who live with the Lord will find favor. Images of rain and plenty are projected for the obedient.

These passages seem to make it simple... honor God and have a blessed life and dishonor God and have a life of curse. Is this works righteousness? No. This is a theology in which obedience brings blessing and disobedience opens the door for the wrong consequences. We do reap what we sow!

Day 71...(Leviticus 24; Psalm 71)..."In this Economy Would a Jubilee Help?"

Given the state of the economy would a Jubilee help? A Jubilee wipes the slate clean of debts every fifty years. What do you think? Is a Jubilee and option for turning around an economy? I doubt it would ever be considered but it does not hurt to imagine a new start! Here is what Leviticus says...

" 'Count off seven sabbaths of years—seven times seven years—so that the seven sabbaths of years amount to a period of forty-nine years. Then have the trumpet sounded everywhere on the tenth day of the seventh month; on the Day of Atonement sound the trumpet throughout your land. Consecrate the fiftieth year and proclaim liberty throughout the land to all its inhabitants. It shall be a jubilee for you"

What do you think about a Jubilee?

Day 70...(Leviticus 24; Psalm 70)..."An Eye for an Eye"

Jesus in the Sermon on the Mount referred to Lex talionis or a Jewish law which meant "an eye for an eye and a tooth for a tooth." Jesus said instead we should instead "turn the other cheek" and forgive. Here is the text...

"'If anyone takes the life of a human being, he must be put to death. Anyone who takes the life of someone's animal must make restitution—life for life. If anyone injures his neighbor, whatever he has done must be done to him: fracture for fracture, eye for eye, tooth for tooth. As he has injured the other, so he is to be injured. Whoever kills an animal must make restitution, but whoever kills a man must be put to death. You are to have the same law for the alien and the native-born. I am the LORD your God.' "

Which is more prevalent today? Jesus' "Sermon on the Mount" or Lex talionis?

Day 69...(Leviticus 23; Psalm 69)..."A Way to Feed Everyone"

In the Leviticus reading today, I wondered why we do not apply this Old Testament principle today. We could feed the world if we left some of our abundance for the poor. Here is the verse...

" 'When you reap the harvest of your land, do not reap to the very edges of your field or gather the gleanings of your harvest. Leave them for the poor and the alien. I am the LORD your God.' "

What do you think? (metaphorically speaking) Could we feed the world if everyone left an edge on their field?

Day 68...(Leviticus 22; Psalm 68)..."Majestic God!"

God's attributes are abundant Psalm 68. Among the traits...He provides for the fatherless and the poor. Salvation comes from Him. He is more majestic than 10's of thousands of chariots. What an image for worship!


The mountains of Bashan are majestic mountains;
rugged are the mountains of Bashan.

Why gaze in envy, O rugged mountains,
at the mountain where God chooses to reign,
where the LORD himself will dwell forever?

The chariots of God are tens of thousands
and thousands of thousands;
the Lord has come from Sinai into his sanctuary.

Day 67...(Leviticus 21; Psalm 67)..."Short Prayers"

Where did the prayer often said at the end worship come from? How about Psalm 67? Who said prayers have to be long to be meaningful!


"May God be gracious to us and bless us
and make his face shine upon us"

Day 66...(Leviticus 20; Psalm 66)..."A Great Psalm for 66"

Well there had to be a Psalm 66. Sixty-Six is considered a threatening number and associated with the mark of the beast number of 666. I know of buildings that will not have a room 66. No one wants the curse. It just so happens that in Psalm 66, the power of the Lord triumphs over evil and puts that issue to bed. Here is the passage...

"Shout with joy to God, all the earth! Sing the glory of his name;make his praise glorious! Say to God, "How awesome are your deeds! So great is your power that your enemies cringe before you."

I can see the number "66" cringing with good news of God's awesome deeds!

Day 65...(Leviticus 19; Psalm 65)..."Overwhelming Sin Amazing Grace!"

The Psalm today speaks of amazing grace for overwhelming sin. This has to be good news for those overwhelmed for sins and transgressions. As the prodigal returned home to find a awaiting Father ready to throw a celebration, so our Father's grace is sufficient for us. Here is the verse...

"When we were overwhelmed by sins, you forgave our transgressions"...Thanks be to God!

Day 64...(Leviticus 18; Psalm 64)..."Sharp Tongues"

Are you ready to get out of Leviticus? We still have a ways to go.

In today's reading Leviticus outlines more specifics of prohibitions of sexual relations. Again, these passages will make you blush. By the very mention of some of these regulations indicates the sexual conduct of Israel was out of control. Has the human condition changed that much?

Also, the tongue will get you into trouble and some persons intentionally bring harm to others with their words. David, in Psalm 64, indicates such persons will be judged. Jesus says it also in Matthew..."that by your words you will be justified and by your words condemned." (Matthew 12:37)

Day 63...(Leviticus missed; Psalm 63)..."Catch up Day"

Well, in reviewing my blog work, somehow I missed Leviticus 12. Sorry for the confusion. When errors are made, I will just call a catch up day to keep the schedule of readings correct. I am going to focus on Psalm 63 today and resume Leviticus, on schedule, tomorrow.

One of the greatest worship passages in all the Bible is in Psalm 63. God's love is better than life. Why? God's love is the reason we live. We live for God's love. Like a spark we find life in God's love! I don't know if this has ever been put to music but this would be an outstanding chorus!

"Because your love is better than life,my lips will glorify you."