Numbers 4, Psalm 38, Song of Solomon 2, Hebrews 2

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Numbers 4               Then the Lord spoke, “Take a census of the sons of Kohath, Gershon, Merari, Levites, … all who enter the service to do the work … but they shall not touch any holy thing, lest they die.”

             You know me, Lord. I am never hidden from Your sight. You number my days. You have prepared me to do service for You. I am to commit my way to You so You will do the blessing through me.

            Working for You can be “deadly” if I ever take the glory because it is only due to You. No compliment, no esteem, no honor, no whatever can I accept without internally submitting that to You, Lord Jesus Christ. It is only under Your Authority and by abiding in You, that any eternal good can ever be accomplished.

            Lord Jesus, keep my mind and heart fresh to hear Your thoughts as my first priority whenever anyone appreciates me. I want to hear You praised and glorified within my own heart, my Savior and Lord! That is my reward!

Psalm 38                   O Lord, do not rebuke me in Your wrath, Nor chasten me in Your hot displeasure! There is no soundness in my flesh Because of Your anger, Nor any health in my bones Because of my sin. For my iniquities have gone over my head; I go mourning all the day long.

            The price of sin is Enormous! The pain it causes far outweighs and outlasts any moment of illicit pleasure.  When I harden my heart, becoming stubborn in believing that “I deserve my unlawful pleasure rights” – I cause greater harm to myself and to those whom I say with my lips that I love; You Lord, my relatives, friends, and those who need Jesus yet may be led astray by witnessing an unfaithful Christ follower. 

For in You, O Lord, I hope; You will hear, O Lord my God. For I am ready to fall, And my sorrow is continually before me. For I will declare my iniquity; I will be in anguish over my sin. – O my God, be not far from me! Make haste to help me, O Lord, my salvation!

             Lord Jesus, I have sinned against You only – and gravely. My fear of man, distrust of Your Word, and attitude of self-will all speak loudly against You, Holy One. I choose to turn away, this moment, from “my rights” and submit to Your Rights, LORD. Take this situation which is before me, give me Your Word Perspective, fill me with Your Holy Spirit wisdom and power. See – I shall turn away from my familiar pattern and do Your counsel for You, Lord Jesus Christ!   

Song of Solomon 2             The man about the woman, “Like a lily among thorns, So is my love among the daughters.”                           

            Imagery – Imagine – Christ with His Bride, the Church, the Body of Christ! Thorns are those who are still Jesus’ enemy. I am a lily among those who are thorns. I am Your Love! What an honor to be loved and cherished by You, my Savior! My heart melts!

            The woman about the man, “I sat down in his shade with great delight, And his fruit was sweet to my taste. … He brought me to the banqueting house, And his banner over me was love….  My beloved spoke, and said to me: ‘Rise up, my love, my fair one, And come away.’”

            By Your Lovingkindness You draw me into Your Presence! Your unconditional Love overshadows all the ills in my life and overwhelms me. You always call me to stay in Your Presence. ~ ~ I rest in You, Lord Jesus. You refresh me like no other. I ponder Your Word privately, intimately, vulnerably. Your Holy Spirit gives me comfort, wisdom and holy perspective. Your Sweet Fruit I desire above all – the Fruit of the Holy Spirit and Your work.

            I shall be faithful to You, Lord Jesus, my Betrothed. You are always beneficially honest with me for Your glory! Your everlasting love binds my heart, mind and all to You, my Beloved King!

My beloved is mine, and I am His. v.16

Hebrews 2                How shall we escape if we neglect so great a salvation, which at the first began to be spoken by the Lord, and was confirmed to us by those who heard Him, God also bearing witness both with signs and wonders, and gifts of the Holy Spirit …?

             No adultery! No neglecting the Great Salvation which the Lord Jesus paid for me! No betraying or rejecting the One Love that can save me and fill me with healing and wholeness!

           But how am I unfaithful to my first Love? Who or what do I run to when I am upset, bothered and wanting to escape even minor “moody pain”? how many times have a failed? and harmed others in my wake? Do I first run to Jesus, the Word of God, and stay there? For Good counsel, comfort and wisdom to change my perspective and situation? Do my reactions have Jesus being the Fragrance people smell, instead of my own odorous ways?

     Through death He might destroy him who had the power of death, that is, the devil, and release those who through fear of death were all their lifetime subject to bondage. …For in that He Himself has suffered, being tempted, He is able to aid those who are tempted.

I am free and empowered, indeed, to live for You! Thank You Lord Jesus!

“I will declare Your name to My brethren; In the midst of the assembly I will sing praise to You. I will put My trust in Him.” v.13

Crystal (PsalmThirty4)

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Song of Solomon 4, Song of Solomon 5, Acts 7:22-43

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Song of Solomon 4            Behold, you are fair, my love! … You have ravished my heart, My sister, my spouse… How fair is your love, …How much better than wine is your love … A fountain of gardens, A well of living waters,

            The Song of Solomon tells of the intimate love God has for His people and their love in response. In the Old Testament, Israel was set apart for God. After the second covenant of Jesus’ Blood, God’s covenant of love is for His Church, the Body of Christ, which contains all followers of the Lord Jesus Christ. (1)   

              Lord God, so often You have shown me immeasurable love within my soul. No one can penetrate my innermost being except You! (Psalm 51:6 ) In this world of fleeting emotions and harmful controllers, You Lord Jesus are the One True Love. You heal me, correct & teach me, protect and bind me to Yourself by Your Word and Your Holy Spirit. You never leave or forsake me because You dwell within me. I will praise You for You are my salvation! (2)

Song of Solomon 5              I have come to my garden, my sister, my spouse; I have gathered my myrrh with my spice… His mouth is most sweet, Yes, he is altogether lovely. This is my beloved, And this is my friend,

            Intimacy with God is for all who trust the Lord God Almighty because of Jesus’ blood covenant. The marriage is consummated by the Lamb of God. Heaven is our paradise home. (6)

              Lord God, You provide all that is needed to live with You in sweet unity. When we seek Your face and righteousness, You reveal Yourself ever more clearly and closely. Your love for me compels me to love and trust You more deeply. The love You give in Spirit and Truth transforms me to be what You desire. Father, I am grateful that You will complete the work You began in me because I want to see Your glory here and in heaven! (3)  (4)

Acts 7:22-43             When forty years had passed, and the Angel of the Lord appeared to him in a flame of fire in a bush … the voice of the Lord came to him,  saying, …I have heard their groaning and have come down to deliver them.” … He brought them out, after he had shown wonders and signs in the land of Egypt, and in the Red Sea, and in the wilderness forty years.”

Yet “… our fathers would not obey, but rejected. And in their hearts they turned back to Egypt… offered sacrifices to the idol, and rejoiced in the works of their own hands. Then God turned and gave them up … ‘And I will carry you away beyond Babylon.’

              The Lord Jesus Christ, the Angel of the Lord, brought His people out of slavery, releasing them from evil gods and evil rulers in Egypt. Yet the people rejected God’s mighty cleansing love. Instead they sought idols and “rejoiced in the works of their own hands.” So God brought them what they wanted, bondage again.

             The people wanted painful patterns of sin rather than pure love and freedom for Joy in God. How can this be? How filled with self-hatred is that? This is a daily reality today. Hell is a viable choice. To choose captivity now and for eternity, or to flee self-rule and idolatry in exchange for worship of the One Who is worthy, the Creator and Savior, the Lord Jesus Christ.

               The Song of  Solomon displays paradise heaven and sweet communion with God. Acts 7 shows the choice of bondage to sin, separation from God and a bent towards hell. This only magnifies the clarity of daily choices – for heaven or hell? To live with and for God or against God? To live as a lover or as a hater of God?  

              It’s not about me and my pleasures and pleasing me, it’s only about the Lord God Almighty and what brings Him pleasure and glory! God’s goal is to love each person actively, to magnify His Name for the salvation of souls, and for each person’s personal relationship with God based upon the Lord Jesus Christ’s atonement. 

              Which shall it be my dear soul, my heart, my mind, my emotions? Choose this moment Who You shall serve. Choose again, and again. Don’t forget Who drew You in His loving kindness. Who changed You into His image and made You His bride.  Choose to live abiding in the intimacy of God’s Holy Word and Spirit! Rejoice in all things, for the Lord God goes before you for His Good purposes alone! Don’t cause yourself harm, but life everlasting! (5) 

Bible insights –

1          John 15, Revelation 7:9, Romans 9:25

2          Deuteronomy 31:8, Hebrews 13:5, Ephesians 1:13, 1 John 4:4, John 15:1-11, Psalm 50:23, Psalm 118:21, John 7:38, John 4:10-11

3          John 17,  Ephesians 1, Philippians 1:6, 1 Corinthians 9:24

4          Proverbs 18:24, Exodus 33:11, John 3:29, John 15:13-15,  James 2:23, James 4:4, Matthew 12:50, Mark 3:35, Mark 10:29, Hosea 3:1, Revelation 21:2,9, Revelation 22:17, Matthew 25:1-13, Matthew 25:31-46

5          2 Cor 5:17, James 4:4, Psalm 36:7, Jeremiah 31:3, Romans 12:1-2, Philippians 4:4, Exodus 3:2, Romans 8:28

6          John 1:29, 36 ; Revelation 5:6, Revelation 5:12, Revelation 13:8

Crystal (PsalmThirty4) 

Numbers 7, Psalm 42, Psalm 43, Song of Solomon 5, Hebrews 5

Pain is the price – sacrifice is the offering.

 As the deer pants for streams of water, so my soul pants for You, O God. … I go and meet with God…  Put your hope in God, for I will yet praise Him, my Savior and my God. By day the LORD directs His love, at night His song is with me —  a prayer to the God of my life. Psalm 42

Send forth Your light and Your truth, let them guide me; let them bring me to Your holy mountain, to the place where You dwell. Psalm 43:3

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Numbers 7, Psalm 42, Psalm 43 –           Costly offerings – material wealth offered to the Lord God Almighty – the Holy One. We give from our excess – but You want from what we think we need. You are pleased with what is valuable to us. You want us stripped from even the smallest idol. You want complete devotion and allegiance – for You alone are Worthy!

            Pain is the price – sacrifice is the offering. Living life consciously that all is Yours, nothing is mine. All is for Your glory, nothing is to my credit. (Punny!!)  Paramount, You want a heart desirous to do Your will. (Hebrews 10:8-10, Psalm 51:17, Psalm 37:4) You gave us the example: This is love: “He loved us and sent His Son as an atoning sacrifice for our sins.” 1 John 4:10   We are to love as You have loved us! (1 John 4:19, Revelation 2:4, Ephesians 3:14-21)

            Being recently sick, yet without pain, You were close. I had nothing, no energy, no ability, and no squirming. Just peaceful joy knowing I can’t and You can. I wasn’t even conscious of this, for it was all that I could do. Love, appreciate, and yearn for more intimacy with You, the Holy God. You overly filled my longings and needs. Now as I am well, may I love with that deep sense of dependence upon You permeating. Prayerful powerfully for You to Do, Be, and Magnify Yourself in my heart and in others’!! I rejoice in You Jesus!

Song of Solomon 5            You call me Your bride, Your beloved, cherished treasure! You possess me, You bought me at Your most personal cost – Yourself. You write this song of love for me, and for all who belong to You, my Saviour. Revelation 19:7; Revelation 21:9; Deuteronomy 7:6; Zephaniah 3:17

            You pursued me with gentleness and understanding. You drew me to Yourself, You were the lure. I caught Your glimpse and saw my defilement. You loved me as I was, cleansing me by Your Sacrifice. You changed me into Your image of righteousness in Your sight. I am forever Yours!

Isaiah 1:18, Psalm 51, 1 Peter 1:23, 2 Corinthians 5:17, Romans 3:22, 1 Corinthians 1:30, Philippians 3:9, Philippians 1:9-11

Hebrews 5 –              Christ Jesus, You are the high Priest forever. There is no other. While Your Word says all regenerated persons are the royal priesthood, with no hierarchy between us- You, Lord Jesus Christ, are THE High Priest, forever!   

2 Corinthians 5:17, 1 Peter 2:9; 1 Corinthians 12:13; Galatians 3:28; Colossians 3:11; Jeremiah 31:33; Ezekiel 36:25-27; Ezekiel 11:19-20; Jeremiah 31:33-34

            Lord Jesus, You are “the source of eternal salvation for all who obey” You. Cause Your Body to yearn and mature, living live for You, Righteousness!! Have us desirous of solid food, training ourselves to distinguish good from evil during these dangerous times. Isaiah 26:3, John 16:33, 1 John 4:4

            I am weak in many moments. When I am filled with your Holy Spirit, Your power is great. Sin, worry and fear disrupt the flow of Your Spirit. Distrust of You is wrong. You carefully and diligently teach me Your Ways to keep me on Your Path so as to bring Yourself Praise and Glory. I am grateful! Thank You for dealing gently with me when I am ignorant or going astray. I am amazed and humbled that You subjected Yourself to weakness to make me strong. I worship You Lord Jesus! Amen!

Crystal (PsalmThirty4)