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Num. 6
I had a couple of quick thoughts while reading through this chapter this morning. The first came from the instructions for when someone suddenly and unexpectedly died next to a Nazirite. Through absolutely no fault of his own, such a death defiled the Nazirite and his vow. These instructions, then, laid out a path to, “make atonement for him concerning his sin because of the dead person.” (Num. 6: 11b). My thought on reading that was how unavoidable sin is. I’m not saying that being in the presence of dead people is a sin. But, to me, these laws demonstrate the degree of impossibility of human holiness.
The other thought came from the instructions for the completion of the Nazarite’s vow. He was to shave his head and burn the hair under his sacrifice of peace offerings. I’ve caught enough of a whiff to know that burning human hair stinks! This made me think of something Isaiah said. “For all of us have become like one who is unclean, and all our righteous deeds are like a filthy garment” (Is. 64:6a). Quite frankly, whatever we have of ourselves to offer God stinks to high heaven, just like that burning hair. Yet because of, and only because of, Jesus’ sacrifice for us, that stench becomes a pleasing aroma to God. Talk about a miracle!
Ps. 40-41
“All who hate me whisper together against me; against me they devise my hurt, saying, A wicked thing is poured out upon him, that when he lies down, he will not rise up again.’ Even my close friend in whom I trusted, who ate my bread, has lifted up his heel against me.” (Ps. 41:7-9). This is all about Jesus. Such prophecies continue to amaze me. Here are some of the specific things I see:
- “A wicked thing is poured out upon him…” – Indeed, the sins of the entire world over all of time were poured out on our innocent Lord.
- “…when he lies down, he will not rise up again.” – This was the futile hope of the evil one. Or it was at least the lie that great deceiver sold to his seed. Thankfully, however, it was a lie, because He most certainly did rise up again.
- “…my close friend…who ate my bread” – When John asked Jesus which of them would betray Him, “Jesus then answered, ‘That is the one for whom I shall dip the morsel and give it to him.’ So when He had dipped the morsel, He took and gave it to Judas” (Jn. 13:26). Judas didn’t just dine with Jesus. He literally ate His bread.
SoS. 4
“You are altogether beautiful, my darling, and there is no blemish in you.” (SoS 4:7). I will one day hear these words from my Savior because He has removed every blemish from me.