I found a couple quotes to be helpful to me in my reading today. I share them with you as well. No further comment from me is necessary. So, on with the study...
Read Numbers 4
"The Lord calls the Levites to complete specific tasks. Great care is taken to protect items used in worship within the tent of meeting. Failure to respect items God had declared holy would result in immediate death (v 15). Today, God entrusts us with His Gospel message of reconciliation through His Son, Jesus Christ. That message must be kept undefiled (Gal 1:8) by proper training for ordained ministers of the Gospel (2Tm 2:2) and for all believers. Those whom the Lord calls, He also equips by grace." (TLSB p. 222)
Read Psalm 81
"The 81st psalm is a psalm of prayer. It is a song sung and preached in the harvest season at the Festival of Tabernacles, calling the people back to the First Commandment, that they should have only one God - He who had brought them out of the land of Egypt - and should praise and call on no other...This psalm teaches us to believe in Christ and cling to Him alone and never commend any work as righteous before God. We also should have our mouth full of Christ, yet we do not do this. Each one follows his own self-conceit and idol." (Reading the Psalms with Luther, p. 194).
Ok, I will add one thing so that we don't end on such a negative note. Though we have self-conceit and idols, Jesus came and gave his life for us anyway. We are forgiven our idolatry, and empowered by the Spirit to keep the 1st Commandment, that is, to fear, love, and trust in God above all else.
Pray:
"O Lord, God of all grace, anoint us with the oil of joy, causing Your Holy Spirit to dwell in our hearts, that he may teach us to worship You in spirit and in truth. And whenever we enter Your courts, let it be done with a joyous heart, to give glory to You, and to praise Your holy name, through Jesus Christ, our Lord. Amen." (Reading the Psalms with Luther, p. 196)
Study with me tomorrow,
Pastor Jon
Soli Deo Gloria!
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