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But the Levites shall camp around the tabernacle of the testimony, so that there may be no wrath on the congregation of the people of Israel. And the Levites shall keep guard over the tabernacle of the testimony.” Numbers 1:53 (ESV)

The Levites were not included in the main census as it was concerned with fighting men. The Levites had a special charge over the Tabernacle, to carry it, set it up and guard it. They guarded it from anyone approaching it wrongly. We should still approach God in holiness and reverent fear.

Thus did the people of Israel. According to all that the LORD commanded Moses, so they camped by their standards, and so they set out, each one in his clan, according to his fathers’ house. Numbers 2:34 (ESV)

The camps formation had the tabernacle at the centre, God dwelt in the midst of his people as their King. Jesus came and tabernacled with us as the Word become flesh. He is now in the midst of the church leading his army through the wilderness.

The man who had died came out, his hands and feet bound with linen strips, and his face wrapped with a cloth. Jesus said to them, “Unbind him, and let him go.” John 11:44 (ESV)

Don’t read this lightly, this was an awesome miracle performed by Jesus. It points forward to a day when all who are in the graves will hear his voice. It also shines a light on the way we who are dead in sin are called into life by God.

and not for the nation only, but also to gather into one the children of God who are scattered abroad. John 11:52 (ESV)

Jesus died to make one new people for God consisting of Jews and Gentiles all united by their faith in God through Jesus. One new man. The Church.

I will tell of the decree: The LORD said to me, “You are my Son; today I have begotten you. Psalm 2:7 (ESV)

This whole psalm points forward to the Jesus, the incarnate son of God and the one true King. This points to both Jesus 1st and 2nd coming.

from Judah, Nahshon the son of Amminadab; Numbers 1:7 (ESV)

These two show up in the genealogy of Jesus in Matthew

those listed of the tribe of Judah were 74,600. Numbers 1:27 (ESV)

Judah’s numbers were the largest, making them the most significant and reflecting their role of leadership. This points forward to the fact that Jesus will come from this tribe

But when Jesus heard it he said, “This illness does not lead to death. It is for the glory of God, so that the Son of God may be glorified through it.” John 11:4 (ESV)

This sickness would be used to display Gods glory through Jesus

Jesus said to her, “I am the resurrection and the life. Whoever believes in me, though he die, yet shall he live, and everyone who lives and believes in me shall never die. Do you believe this?” John 11:25–26 (ESV)

Without Jesus, resurrection unto eternal life is not possible, he is the only way. We have a great hope for our final resurrection and eternal life in Jesus. Our eternal life starts now!

but his delight is in the law of the LORD, and on his law he meditates day and night. Psalm 1:2 (ESV)

We should enjoy (delight) in God’s word the bible and think about it all day long.

He is like a tree planted by streams of water that yields its fruit in its season, and its leaf does not wither. In all that he does, he prospers. Psalm 1:3 (ESV)

When a tree bears fruit it is not for it’s own benefit but for the benefit of others, I’ll lives will be a great blessing to others when we feed on the constant supply of God’s word

“If you walk in my statutes and observe my commandments and do them, Leviticus 26:3 (ESV)

God’s blessings are conditional

then I will walk contrary to you in fury, and I myself will discipline you sevenfold for your sins. Leviticus 26:28 (ESV)

Although the blessings are conditional, the relationship of God to his chosen people is not, this is why the curses are spoken of as discipline for sin, they are not simply cut of, the same applies to us.

Jesus answered them, “I told you, and you do not believe. The works that I do in my Father’s name bear witness about me, John 10:25 (ESV)

Jesus has already made clear that he is the Messiah

I give them eternal life, and they will never perish, and no one will snatch them out of my hand. John 10:28 (ESV)

We have eternal security in Jesus

The Jews answered him, “It is not for a good work that we are going to stone you but for blasphemy, because you, being a man, make yourself God.” John 10:33 (ESV)

Jesus said he and the Father are one, this makes Jesus equal to God

In the first month, on the fourteenth day of the month at twilight, is the LORD’s Passover. Leviticus 23:5 (ESV)

Jesus was the fulfilment of the Passover being the true Passover Lamb

And you shall not do any work on that very day, for it is a Day of Atonement, to make atonement for you before the LORD your God. Leviticus 23:28 (ESV)

We are atoned for, not by any work we can do but by what Jesus did on the cross on the ultimate day of atonement

And speak to the people of Israel, saying, Whoever curses his God shall bear his sin. Whoever blasphemes the name of the LORD shall surely be put to death. All the congregation shall stone him. The sojourner as well as the native, when he blasphemes the Name, shall be put to death. Leviticus 24:15–16 (ESV)

The consequences of sin are very real and God is a righteous judge which is why we are called to walk in holiness. This is why we so desperately need God’s mercy, grace and Holy Spirit

You shall not wrong one another, but you shall fear your God, for I am the LORD your God. Leviticus 25:17 (ESV)

We should be honest in business

“The land shall not be sold in perpetuity, for the land is mine. For you are strangers and sojourners with me. Leviticus 25:23 (ESV)

The land of Israel belongs to God in a special way

or his uncle or his cousin may redeem him, or a close relative from his clan may redeem him. Or if he grows rich he may redeem himself. Leviticus 25:49 (ESV)

Jesus became a man in order to redeem us

To him the gatekeeper opens. The sheep hear his voice, and he calls his own sheep by name and leads them out. John 10:3 (ESV)

God knows who his sheep are and has called each do us personally through the Gospel.

The thief comes only to steal and kill and destroy. I came that they may have life and have it abundantly. John 10:10 (ESV)

Jesus mentions the thieves as those who came before him (verse 8), these are likely false Messiahs and we still see them today in false religions and humanist politicians who are in a sense false Messiahs. They all are representatives of the true thief Satan. Jesus is the only one who truly cares for the sheep and seeks their greatest joy, we should trust him as our good shepherd that he has the best for us.

I am the good shepherd. I know my own and my own know me, just as the Father knows me and I know the Father; and I lay down my life for the sheep. John 10:14–15 (ESV)

Jesus has an intimate relationship specifically with his sheep who are the elect. His love for the sheep is demonstrated in him laying his life down for them. The relationship is a to way one where we know him intimately
Book cover

I am the good shepherd. I know my own and my own know me, just as the Father knows me and I know the Father; and I lay down my life for the sheep. John 10:14–15 (ESV)

Jesus knows who his sheep are intimately, they are his elect and he demonstrates his love for them in particular by laying down his life for them. This is a two way relationship as we know him intimately because he loved and choose us.

“Say to the people of Israel, Any one of the people of Israel or of the strangers who sojourn in Israel who gives any of his children to Molech shall surely be put to death. The people of the land shall stone him with stones. Leviticus 20:2 (ESV)

This still happens today and even in the sanitised west we sacrifice our children by exposing them to evil in the media and sacrificing them on the altar of our careers or convenience

“If a man commits adultery with the wife of his neighbor, both the adulterer and the adulteress shall surely be put to death. Leviticus 20:10 (ESV)

This shows that in the case when the woman was caught in the act of adultery the man was allowed to escape because the leaders was just trying to catch Jesus out and had themselves fallen away from keeping the law in truth

If a man lies with a male as with a woman, both of them have committed an abomination; they shall surely be put to death; their blood is upon them. Leviticus 20:13 (ESV)

God always speaks of Homosexuality in the strongest terms

“The priest who is chief among his brothers, on whose head the anointing oil is poured and who has been consecrated to wear the garments, shall not let the hair of his head hang loose nor tear his clothes. Leviticus 21:10 (ESV)

The high priest broke this law in the mock trial of Jesus

And when anyone offers a sacrifice of peace offerings to the LORD to fulfill a vow or as a freewill offering from the herd or from the flock, to be accepted it must be perfect; there shall be no blemish in it. Leviticus 22:21 (ESV)

This (and all references like it) points forward to Jesus as our perfect sacrifice without blemish and to the Holiness of God

He said, “Lord, I believe,” and he worshiped him. John 9:38 (ESV)

Jesus as God incarnate receives this worship

Jesus said, “For judgment I came into this world, that those who do not see may see, and those who see may become blind.” John 9:39 (ESV)

Jesus is the light of the world, by virtue of the light coming in darkness, those in spiritual blindness will see. Light brings judgment, I can not discern where I am or what I should do without light. Jesus by virtue of bringing the light of the Gospel brings clear judgment to those who choose to reject the light a cleave to the dark. Also the light coming on shows up those who claim to have sight but really don’t.