"This is what the LORD commands concerning the daughters of Zelophehad, 'Let them marry whom they think best, only they shall marry within the clan of the tribe of their father.'" (Numbers 36:6)
Numbers 36. We come to the conclusion of the book of Numbers. Congratulations on reading this far! Related to the issue of land inheritance for daughters (see Num 27), is the decision that land cannot be transferred outside of the tribe to whom it was designated. The wording of v 8 reminds us of Paul's words: "A wife is bound to her husband as long as he lives. But if her husband dies, she is free to be married to whom she wishes, only in the Lord" (1 Cor 7:39). Marrying within the tribe and preserving the inheritance continue in principle in the New Testament as marrying "in the Lord". Believers and unbelievers represent two different tribes (2 Cor 6:14), with two different destinies and two different inheritances (Rev 21:7-8).
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Psalm 80.
"Restore us, O God; let your face shine, that we may be saved!" (Psalm 80:3)
RESTORE US, O LORD. Several of Asaph's psalms (e.g., 74, 77, and 79) are called "laments of the community", including this one. Many of David's laments are individual, regarding his reign as king of Israel, but these psalms express sorrow for the condition of God's people at the time of writing. Three times Asaph uses the phrase, "restore us" (vv 3, 7, 19). This word means to bring something back to its proper condition, its place, its glory, or its rightful position. It is also used in the sense to revive or recover. We all love seeing old homes renovated, old cars restored, and old works of art being returned to their first beauty. The psalmist longs for Israel to be restored to her first glory and to become what God has called her to be. Asaph asks the Lord himself to turn back (another form of the word) to the people (v 15) in order to do this.
A VINE AND A SON. The nation was like a vine planted in God's vineyard (vv 8-15) and like a son to him (vv 15, 17; cf Hos 11:1). But there is a true vine that will succeed where Israel has failed (John 15:1). He will be the Son at God's right hand (Ps 110:1), who is also called the Son of Man (Dan 7:13). He will bring the restoration needed. After the resurrection Jesus' disciples asked, "Lord, will you at this time restore the kingdom to Israel?" (Acts 1:6) But the restoration that people need -- whether Jew or Gentile -- is the spiritual transformation that comes with the new birth (John 3:5; Jer 32:40).
PRAYING FOR RESTORATION. These community lament psalms should stimulate us to pray for the completion of God's work among his people. We should pray for the peace of Jerusalem. Israel needs to come to faith in her Messiah (Rom 11; Zech 9). The gospel needs to be proclaimed to all the world. We should pray for the persecuted church. And the church needs to be transformed into the image of Christ by the Holy Spirit. There have been many ups and downs for the church through history. We are in continual need for reviving, as the old hymn says...
"Revive us again;
Fill each heart with Thy love;
May each soul be rekindled
With fire from above."
(William P. Mackay, 1863)
Image credit: Photo by Naassom Azevedo on Unsplash
We are following the Robert Murray M'Cheyne (RMM) two-year reading schedule, as arranged by D. A. Carson.
Scripture quotations, unless otherwise noted, are from The ESV® Bible (The Holy Bible, English Standard Version®), copyright © 2001 by Crossway, a publishing ministry of Good News Publishers. Used by permission. All rights reserved.
The NET Bible is a free, online resource, and a ministry of bible.org.
Scripture quotations, unless otherwise noted, are from The ESV® Bible (The Holy Bible, English Standard Version®), copyright © 2001 by Crossway, a publishing ministry of Good News Publishers. Used by permission. All rights reserved.
The NET Bible is a free, online resource, and a ministry of bible.org.
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