Today’s reading: Num 3:1–39, John 12:1–19, Ps 3:1–4:8

Today’s theme: God is our shield

We are called to be God’s special guards like the Levities defending the faith once, for all time delivered to the Saints. In this we can rejoice that our God who puts joy in our hearts is our shield and reward too

Numbers 3:1–39

Guard the faith

They shall keep guard over him and over the whole congregation before the tent of meeting, as they minister at the tabernacle. Numbers 3:7 (ESV)

Throughout this chapter we read about the Levites duty to guard the tabernacle and kill offenders as well as carrying, dismantling and building it. As Christians we are a royal priesthood to God. We must defend the faith, killing all false teachings etc and minister in the body of Christ (Jude 3, Phil 1:27, 1 Peter 2:9).

John 12:1–19

Worship and justice

For the poor you always have with you, but you do not always have me.” John 12:8 (ESV)

We should never allow ourselves to exchange extravagant devotion and worship to Jesus with the pursuit of social justice. Instead one should not be done without the other.

Psalm 3:1–4:8

God is our shield

But you, O LORD, are a shield about me, my glory, and the lifter of my head. Psalm 3:3 (ESV)

In the middle of hostility we can take comfort in remembering that God is our shield, protecting us from the enemy. We can also be glad that God is our treasure and great reward.

Joy from and in God

You have put more joy in my heart than they have when their grain and wine abound. Psalm 4:7 (ESV)

There is a lot of good to think over in this Psalm. Verse 3 reminds us that God has set us apart while verse 4 reminds us not to sin when we are angry.

This verse reminds us that our true joy is to be found in God. He puts more satisfaction and joy in our hearts than anything of this world. Jesus said He wanted our joy to be full.

Most of the above post is a copy of the original notes from the same date in 2014.

Additional resources

The Gospel Coalition on John 12

Today’s reading: Num 1:47–2:34, John 11:28–57, Ps 2:1–12

Today’s theme: The King in the midst of His people

One of God’s great purposes is to be The King in the midst of His people. We see this in today’s reading and experience it today in the body of Christ and as believers through God the Holy Spirit. One day we will experience it in a richer way at the second coming when God Himself will dwell with His people.

Numbers 1:47–2:34

Approach God in holiness

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.

The King in the midst of His people

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.

John 11:28–57

An amazing supernatural miracle

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.

One new man

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.

Psalm 2:1–12

Jesus in the Psalms

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

Most of the above post is a copy of the original notes from the same date in 2014.

Additional resources

The Gospel Coalition on John 11

Today’s reading: Num 1:1–46, John 11:1–27, Ps 1:1–6

Today’s theme: Enjoy God’s Word

There are lots of good lessons today and each can be learned with joy if we remember to delight in (enjoy) God’s law and think over it all day long. Make today a checkpoint for yourself with the bible reading plan, ask yourself if you are enjoying God’s word, if not then ask God to work on the desires of your heart and show you what needs to change.

Numbers 1:1–46

Jesus’ family line

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

These two show up in the genealogy of Jesus in Matthew.

Judah the tribe of leadership

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.

John 11:1–27

Sickness, to the glory of God

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.

The resurrection and the life

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!

Psalm 1:1–6

Enjoy God’s Word

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.

A fruitful tree

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. Our lives will be a great blessing to others when we feed on the constant supply of God’s word.

Most of the above post is a copy of the original notes from the same date in 2014.

Additional resources

Desiring God on John 11

Today’s reading: Lev 26:1–27:34, John 10:22–42, Song 8:10–14

Today’s theme: Jesus, equal to God

Today’s theme looks at the conditional promises found in God’s word and His desire to preserve covenant relationship. However, the most important lesson is that Jesus declares Himself as both Messiah and as equal to God.

Leviticus  26:1–27:34

Conditional blessings

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

God’s blessings are conditional (notice the word “if”).

Covenant relationship

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 with His chosen people, is not. This is why the curses are spoken of as discipline for sin, they are not simply cut off – the same applies to us.

John 10:22–42

Jesus the Messiah

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.

Eternal security

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.

Jesus, equal to God

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.

Most of the above post is a copy of the original notes from the same date in 2014.

Additional resources

Desiring God on John 10

Today’s reading: Lev 23:1–25:55, John 10:1–21, Song 8:6–9

Today’s theme: Jesus, Lamb and Shepherd

Today we read about Jesus as our Passover Lamb and then we go on to read about Him as the Good Shepherd, who effectually calls and cares for His own elect sheep, saving us from the thief and giving us eternal security though the laying down of His own life for us.

Leviticus 23:1–25:55

Jesus, the Passover Lamb

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.

Atoned by the work of Jesus

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.

The seriousness of sin

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. We so desperately need God’s mercy, grace and Holy Spirit.

God’s plan for business

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.

God’s own land

“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.

Jesus, incarnate to redeem us

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 (the incarnation of God the Son) in order to redeem us, by becoming our relative in the family of humanity.

John 10:1–21

God’s effectual call

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 He has called each of us personally, through the Gospel. God’s call is not a gentle whisper or general in anyway, it is firm, strong, powerful, personal and irresistible, or to summarise it; His call is effectual in making His chosen sheep alive and leading them forward.

The thief

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 in humanist politicians who are in a sense, false Messiahs.

They are all 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, believing that He has the best for us.

The Good Shepherd

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 intimately knows who His sheep are, they are His elect and He demonstrates His love for them by laying down His life for them. This is a two way relationship, we know Him intimately because He loves us and chose us.

Most of the above post is a copy of the original notes from the same date in 2014.

Additional resources

The Gospel Coalition on John 10