The Urim and Thummim

I find it interesting about the Urim and Thummim were used to determine the will of God in matters where the decision was difficult for the High Priest. As we know there are examples throughout the scriptures that uses lots to make decisions that Jesus wanted done.  Some of the main examples were division of land between the tribes, individuals responsibilities and who will be the 12 Apostle. By casting lots, this was the only way Israel and the Apostles knew what Jesus will was.  When the Priests used the Urim and Thummim, they had to know what Jesus will was, especially after Moses when they’re very few individuals that talked face to face with God.  Below is just a few places.    Blessing

Stephen

(Acts 1:24-26 NIV)  Then they prayed, "Lord, you know everyone's heart. Show us which of these two you have chosen {25} to take over this apostolic ministry, which Judas left to go where he belongs." {26} Then they cast lots, and the lot fell to Matthias; so he was added to the eleven apostles.

(Josh 14:2 NIV)  Their inheritances were assigned by lot to the nine-and-a-half tribes, as the LORD had commanded through Moses.

See Josh 18:11; 19:1,10,17,24,32,40,51;  21:4,10

(1 Chr 25:8 NIV)  Young and old a like, teacher as well as student, cast lots for their duties.

(1 Chr 26:13 NIV)  Lots were cast for each gate, according to their families, young and old alike.

(1 Chr 24:31 NIV)  They also cast lots, just as their brothers the descendants of Aaron did, in the presence of King David and of Zadok, Ahimelech, and the heads of families of the priests and of the Levites. The families of the oldest brother were treated the same as those of the youngest.

What do I think the "Glory of God" looked like.

The Glory of God or the Shekinah in the Old Testament is mention at least two times.  Moses while in the wilderness with the tabernacle and after the Temple was completed, wrote in Ex 40 about how the tabernacle had a cloud settled upon it and said the glory of the Lord filled the tabernacle.  Same way when Solomon finished the Temple, the cloud filled the temple of the Lord and the priests could not perform their service because of the cloud, because the Glory of God filled Jesus Temple.

The Glory of God looked like a cloud and filled the Tabernacle and Temple.

Likewise, are we not the Temple of the Holy Spirit.  Paul tells us from 1 Cor 3 that we are the Temple of God and that the Holy Spirit lives in us.  Yes, the Shekinah lives in us, the Temple, just like Solomon Temple and Moses tabernacle.

This brings us to the final Temple, the Millennium Temple.  We find from Ezek 43, that Millennium Temple will be filled with the Glory of God, the Shekinah.  Then Jesus said, this is the place of my throne.

We have covered 4 inspiring examples of the Glory of God, Holy Spirit or the Shekinah.  Blessing

Stephen

(Exo 40:35 NIV)  Moses could not enter the Tent of Meeting because the cloud had settled upon it, and the glory of the LORD filled the tabernacle.

(1 Ki 8:10-11 NIV)  When the priests withdrew from the Holy Place, the cloud filled the temple of the LORD. {11} And the priests could not perform their service because of the cloud, for the glory of the LORD filled his temple.

(2 Chr 7:1-2 NIV)  When Solomon finished praying, fire came down from heaven and consumed the burnt offering and the sacrifices, and the glory of the LORD filled the temple. {2} The priests could not enter the temple of the LORD because the glory of the LORD filled it.

(1 Cor 3:16 NIV)  Don't you know that you yourselves are God's temple and that God's Spirit lives in you?

(Ezek 43:5 NIV)  Then the Spirit lifted me up and brought me into the inner court, and the glory of the LORD filled the temple.

(Ezek 43:7 NIV)  He said: "Son of man, this is the place of my throne and the place for the soles of my feet. This is where I will live among the Israelites forever. The house of Israel will never again defile my holy name--neither they nor their kings--by their prostitution and the lifeless idols of their kings at their high places.

How are pastors like, or unlike, the priests of the Old Testament?

We know that one of the main things that the priests of the Old Testament were responsible for was teaching the children of Israel the Words (law) of God.  So, from Deut 17, they teach according to the law.  From Neh 8, we find they were instructing the people. 

Are we not also, those of us who has the Holy Spirit living in us, priest of the High God and Creator.  Peter tells us that we to be a holy priesthood.  So, a priest are to teach the Words of the Law.  Paul tells us in Eph 4 that pastors and teachers are to do the following:

1.     For the perfecting of the saints

2.    for the work of the ministry

3.    for the edifying of the body of Christ:

Yes, our Pastors are supposed to be doing this and we also are to be doing this in our lives for other individuals by teaching those things which concern the Lord Jesus Christ.  So, we are very much like the priests of the Old Testament.

Blessing

Stephen

(Neh 8:9 NIV)  Then Nehemiah the governor, Ezra the priest and scribe, and the Levites who were instructing the people said to them all, "This day is sacred to the LORD your God. Do not mourn or weep." For all the people had been weeping as they listened to the words of the Law.

(Exo 19:5-6 NIV)  Now if you obey me fully and keep my covenant, then out of all nations you will be my treasured possession. Although the whole earth is mine, {6} you will be for me a kingdom of priests and a holy nation.' These are the words you are to speak to the Israelites."

 (Deu 17:11 NIV)  Act according to the law they teach you and the decisions they give you. Do not turn aside from what they tell you, to the right or to the left.

(1 Pet 2:5 NIV)  you also, like living stones, are being built into a spiritual house to be a holy priesthood, offering spiritual sacrifices acceptable to God through Jesus Christ.

(Eph 4:11-12 KJV)  And he gave some, apostles; and some, prophets; and some, evangelists; and some, pastors and teachers; {12} For the perfecting of the saints, for the work of the ministry, for the edifying of the body of Christ:

(Acts 28:31 KJV)  Preaching the kingdom of God, and teaching those things which concern the Lord Jesus Christ, with all confidence, no man forbidding him.

What dangers can come from administering the Lord's Supper?

Administering the Lord’s Supper (communion) or as Jesus calls it, Passover.  This is something that should not be taken casually in how we take it or how to handle the left overs that was blessed.  I covered a part of this in a prior DQ when I talked about Honey.  As was brought out in the lecture, this service is very important and I really believe many Christians do not take it seriously.  Paul tells us to examine ourselves and we are to realize that we are sinners and need this communion with our Lord before we take of the Passover. 

As Paul tells us, without mincing words, if we do not examine ourselves, we shall be guilty of the body and blood of the Lord and will eat and drink damnation to ourselves, not discerning the Lord's body and we will be guilty of sinning against the body and blood of the Lord.  What is the penalty, Paul tells us “for this cause many are weak and sickly among you, and many sleep.” 

We all are unworthily to take of the Passover and when we realize this, then that is when we need to take the Passover, because we have examine ourselves and realize we are sinners against God.  We need to examine ourselves before taking of the Lord’s Supper.

Blessing

Stephen

 (1 Cor 11:23-30 KJV)  For I have received of the Lord that which also I delivered unto you, That the Lord Jesus the same night in which he was betrayed took bread: {24} And when he had given thanks, he brake it, and said, Take, eat: this is my body, which is broken for you: this do in remembrance of me. {25} After the same manner also he took the cup, when he had supped, saying, This cup is the new testament in my blood: this do ye, as oft as ye drink it, in remembrance of me. {26} For as often as ye eat this bread, and drink this cup, ye do show the Lord's death till he come. {27} Wherefore whosoever shall eat this bread, and drink this cup of the Lord, unworthily, shall be guilty of the body and blood of the Lord. {28} But let a man examine himself, and so let him eat of that bread, and drink of that cup. {29} For he that eateth and drinketh unworthily, eateth and drinketh damnation to himself, not discerning the Lord's body. {30} For this cause many are weak and sickly among you, and many sleep.

Unworthily:  371. anaxios, an-ax-ee'-oce; adv. from G370; irreverently:--unworthily.

An Aroma pleasing to God

What is the aroma pleasing to God but for the prayers of the saints.  We, who have the Holy Spirit living in us, are saints to the High Creator God.  Paul called those who are sanctified in Jesus are called to be saints from 1 Cor 1.  Paul in Phil 4 said to greet all the saints in the Messiah, Jesus.  The Paul tells us in Eph 4 to pray for all the saints. 

The Greek word for saint is hagios and means blameless, holy or consecrated.

John in Rev 5 tells us that the golden bowls full of incense, which are the prayers of the saints.  The John continued in Rev 8 that God was given much incense to offer, with the prayers of the saints and the smoke of the incense, together with the prayers of the saints went up before God. 

Interesting, only the prayers of the saints are considered aroma pleasing to God.  According to this, all prayers to the One, True, Creator God will be heard from the prayers of others, are not considered an aroma pleasing to God.  When the individuals repent of the sin and become a saint, then there prayers would become a pleasing aroma.  Something to think and mediate on. 

Blessing

Stephen

(1 Cor 1:2 KJV)  Unto the church of God which is at Corinth, to them that are sanctified in Christ Jesus, called to be saints, with all that in every place call upon the name of Jesus Christ our Lord, both theirs and ours:

(Phil 4:21-22 NIV)  Greet all the saints in Christ Jesus.  The brothers who are with me send greetings. {22} All the saints send you greetings, especially those who belong to Caesar's household.

(Eph 6:18 NIV)  And pray in the Spirit on all occasions with all kinds of prayers and requests. With this in mind, be alert and always keep on praying for all the saints.

 (Rev 8:3-4 NIV)  Another angel, who had a golden censer, came and stood at the altar. He was given much incense to offer, with the prayers of all the saints, on the golden altar before the throne. {4} The smoke of the incense, together with the prayers of the saints, went up before God from the angel's hand.

(Rev 5:8 NIV)  And when he had taken it, the four living creatures and the twenty-four elders fell down before the Lamb. Each one had a harp and they were holding golden bowls full of incense, which are the prayers of the saints.

40. hagios, hag'-ee-os; sacred, blameless, consecrated, (most) holy (one, thing), saint.

Sins of the Congregation

I found that the sins of the congregation are very interesting in how it applies to a church congregation and to an individual.  The individual will sin, but we have a High Priest to plead our case to the Father and our individual sins will be forgiven.  Whereas, a congregation will sin according to Lev 4, unaware of the matter, they are guilty, but their sin can be forgiven as a group. 

What happens is that the liberal churches are not teaching the Word of God to the congregation and Paul in 1 Cor 5 is very strong on what we are to do.  Paul said, “must not associate with anyone who calls himself a brother but is sexually immoral or greedy, an idolater or a slanderer, a drunkard or a swindler.”  Paul also said, "Bad Company corrupts good character" in 1 Cor 15.  Prov 24 tells us to not desire wicked men company.  John tells us from Rev 18, “Come out of her, my people, so that you will not share in her sins.”  These words from the scripture say we are not to stay in a liberal church or organization or a church that is not teaching the Word of the scriptures.   

How can we witness to these organizations when we know that bad company corrupts good character.  Maybe, we have the character as Christians, but what about our children being taught wrong things from the scriptures.  Yes, we are to come out of the sinful world so we do not share in her sins.  All I know that by the grace of God we are what we are.  Follow the Way of Life that our Lord, Jesus taught and lived and to Love the Lord our God with all our heart and with all our soul and with all our mind and with all our strength.' We are to Fear God and keep his commandments, for this is the whole duty of man.

Blessing 

Stephen 

(Lev 4:13 NIV)  "'If the whole Israelite community sins unintentionally and does what is forbidden in any of the Lord's commands, even though the community is unaware of the matter, they are guilty.

(1 Cor 5:11 NIV)  But now I am writing you that you must not associate with anyone who calls himself a brother but is sexually immoral or greedy, an idolater or a slanderer, a drunkard or a swindler. With such a man do not even eat.

(1 Cor 15:33 NIV)  Do not be misled: "Bad company corrupts good character."

(Prov 24:1 NIV)  Do not envy wicked men, do not desire their company;

(Rev 18:4-5 NIV)  Then I heard another voice from heaven say: "Come out of her, my people, so that you will not share in her sins, so that you will not receive any of her plagues; {5} for her sins are piled up to heaven, and God has remembered her crimes.

Drink Offering

The Drink offering was somewhat surprise that it was not in Leviticus 2 or 3, but in Deut 15:1-11.  This drink offering is done with strong wine from Num 28:7.  We find that the word for wine is shekar, which means an intoxicant, intensely alcoholic liquor.  This cannot be grape juice.  

In Numbers 15:5, 7, the word for wine, is yayin, means wine (as fermented), intoxication.  This wine is very strong wine and looking at it a little closer, we find from verse 7, the word sweet means “delight, pleasant” and the word savour means “scent, smell”.  This tells me that this strong wine used in the drink offering is a delight, pleasant smell to our Lord, Jesus.  This same drink offering will also be offered during the rule of Jesus during the millennium.  Strong Drink, now, this is a discussion that causes many heated discussions.  Is it wine or grape juice? 

Blessing

Stephen

(Num 28:7 KJV)  And the drink offering thereof shall be the fourth part of an hin for the one lamb: in the holy place shalt thou cause the strong wine to be poured unto the LORD for a drink offering.

Wine:  7941. shekar, shay-kawr'; from H7937; an intoxicant, i.e. intensely alcoholic liquor:--strong drink, + drunkard, strong wine.

(Ezek 45:17 KJV)  And it shall be the prince's part to give burnt offerings, and meat offerings, and drink offerings, in the feasts, and in the new moons, and in the sabbaths, in all solemnities of the house of Israel: he shall prepare the sin offering, and the meat offering, and the burnt offering, and the peace offerings, to make reconciliation for the house of Israel.

(Num 15:5 KJV)  And the fourth part of an hin of wine for a drink offering shalt thou prepare with the burnt offering or sacrifice, for one lamb.

Wine:  3196. yayin, yah'-yin; from an unused root mean. to effervesce; wine (as fermented); by impl. intoxication:--banqueting, wine, wine [-bibber].

(Num 15:7 KJV)  And for a drink offering thou shalt offer the third part of an hin of wine, for a sweet savour unto the LORD.

sweet:  5207. niychowach, nee-kho'-akh; or  niychoach, nee-kho'-akh; from H5117; prop. restful, i.e. pleasant; abstr. delight:--sweet (odour).

Savour:  7381. reyach, ray'-akh; from H7306; odor (as if blown):--savour, scent, smell.

Insight into the Sacrifices and Passover or Communion

The greatest insight that stood out to me in this week’s lesson was found in Leviticus 2:11, we are not to burn any yeast (leaven) or honey in an offering made to the Lord by fire.  Honey, I have never notice it before about using Honey.  Leaven, yes, I do understand, but Honey.  As was brought out in the lecture, that Honey was forbidden because it turns to sourness and leads to fermentation.  Lev 2:12 points out that both leaven and honey can be used for Pentecost, but not for the other Feast Days. 

Now, what made me think about Honey.  The Lord’s Passover or as some say, communion, we observe when we observe it.  Since we have the Holy Spirit living in us, we are according to 1 Cor 3:16, we are God’s Temple and sacred, then Peter tell us we are a royal Priesthood of God, with the privilege of offering spiritual sacrifices.  When we take of the bread at the Passover or communion, we know that it is to be unleavened, but I did not realize it should also not have honey in it.  After we pray over the bread for the Passover or communion, we realize it represents the broken body of our Lord, Jesus.  Any leftover bread should be burned (Ex 12:10) with fire instead of thronging it away into the trash (not discerning the Lord's body).  Very strong symbolism with the sacrifices describes in Leviticus and the Passover or communion service.  Does your worship place, burn the left over bread?  They should, Interesting.

Blessing

Stephen

(Lev 2:11-12 NIV)  "'Every grain offering you bring to the LORD must be made without yeast, for you are not to burn any yeast or honey in an offering made to the LORD by fire. {12} You may bring them to the LORD as an offering of the firstfruits, but they are not to be offered on the altar as a pleasing aroma.

1 Cor 3:16-17 NIV) Don't you know that you yourselves are God's temple and that God's Spirit lives in you? {17} If anyone destroys God's temple, God will destroy him; for God's temple is sacred, and you are that temple.

 (1 Pet 2:9 NIV) But you are a chosen people, a royal priesthood, a Holy nation, a people belonging to God, that you may declare the praises of him who called you out of darkness into his wonderful light.

(Exo 12:10 NIV)  Do not leave any of it till morning; if some is left till morning, you must burn it.

Apostles journey to the Israelites will be added to the Book of Acts. " What do you base this on?

This is a very shorten answer, because some do not accept what the scriptures say, but go by what someone tells them.

First and foremost, what is the name of the Book:  the Acts of the Apostles.  This is very minor.  We know Peter has minor parts and John has a very minor part in the Book of Acts.

Do we know where the 12 Apostles went and what were their instructions from Jesus.  Jesus commissioned the Apostles to only go to the lost sheep of the house of Israel

(Mat 10:5-6 KJV)  These twelve Jesus sent forth, and commanded them, saying, Go not into the way of the Gentiles, and into any city of the Samaritans enter ye not: {6} But go rather to the lost sheep of the house of Israel.

Paul was commissioned to bear the gospel to the Gentiles. kings and the children of Israel. 

(Acts 9:15 KJV)  But the Lord said unto him, Go thy way: for he is a chosen vessel unto me, to bear my name before the Gentiles, and kings, and the children of Israel:

We notice Paul was to go to the Gentiles, kings and children of Israel.  Acts cover Gentiles, kings, but not children of Israel.  You noticed that Luke doesn’t finish the life of Paul after imprisonment.

I have already covered that Josephus know where the children of Israel were located when he wrote his works.  Surprising, how individuals believe the works of Josephus, but do not believe this.

James epistle was to the 12 tribes of Israel. He knew where they were Have you notice that the Book of James ends abruptly, like the book of Acts, without the normal salutation and amen.

(James 1:1 NIV)  James, a servant of God and of the Lord Jesus Christ, To the twelve tribes scattered among the nations: Greetings.  Paul never spoke in these parts except for the southern part of Asia.  He was not allowed to go north Asia.

Notice Peter letter was address to strangers scattered.  Peter was to go to children of Israel, not Gentiles.  He would not have called Jews strangers.

(1 Pet 1:1 NIV)  Peter, an apostle of Jesus Christ, To God's elect, strangers in the world, scattered throughout Pontus, Galatia, Cappadocia, Asia and Bithynia,

Remember, the Apostles were to go to the the lost sheep of the house of Israel.  There was a Greek and Latin works, called Ecclesiasticae Historiae.  It was translated into English, called Antiquities Apostolicae, by William Cave.  This work covers the Apostles and where they went and a very interesting read.  I think you would enjoy it.    Out of words

Blessing

Stephen