The Park Forum

Links for today’s readings:

Read: Numbers 30 Listen: (2:20) Read: 1 Corinthians 4 Listen: (3:15)

Scripture Focus: Numbers 30:2, 9

2 When a man makes a vow to the Lord or takes an oath to obligate himself by a pledge, he must not break his word but must do everything he said.

9 “Any vow or obligation taken by a widow or divorced woman will be binding on her.

Reflection: Weighing In but No Way Out

By Erin Newton

During the final weeks of each academic year, I contemplate quitting the program. The hours of reading, stress of studying and writing, and the financial burdens tempt me to give it all up. Then some dear friend reminds me of why I started in the first place. As most attest, those in seminary generally feel “called” to be there. So, instead of giving up, I hunker down and finish the term.

Numbers 30 speaks of vows made to God by both men and women. In the context of the preceding chapters that spoke of festivals, feasts, and offerings, it’s likely that these vows are offerings of sorts, usually with some economic importance tied to them. Numbers 30 reminds the people that what they have vowed to give to God they must see to completion.

Of course, there are some caveats with the vows—as we read that some vows could be reversed depending on the decision by a woman’s new husband or existing father, a.k.a. head of household. To our modern ears, this sounds rather patriarchal and antiquated, but what is fascinating here is the clear and unabashed freedom women could have over finances (at least in some circumstances). Such insight is a welcomed relief to many today.

Apart from these few exemptions, Numbers 30 sets forth the rule: give what you said you’d give to God. The people are said to be bound by these vows. They are seen as more than suggestions. They are not empty words dumped in a fit of brainstorming.

The binding nature of the vows also meant that the people should be careful with their words. It would not do to quickly pledge a large sum or valuable resource to God without understanding its impact on one’s personal life.

Such a vow was both a barrier to impulsivity and a motivator in times of weariness. People would need to think about their resources and their current life situation and then follow-through despite what the future may actually hold.

As Christians today, we also make vows to God, all the time. We tell him that we will devote our lives, time, money, or energy to him—if he will grant us some blessed measure to do so. But we are also tempted to give up and look for a way out.

Let us bind ourselves to our vows after taking the time to weigh the costs.

Divine Hours Prayer: The Call to Prayer

Let us make a vow to the Lord our God and keep it; let all around him bring gifts to him who is worthy to be feared. — Psalm 76.11

– Divine Hours prayers from The Divine Hours: Prayers for Springtime

 by Phyllis Tickle

Read more: Called to More

Beware rash vows, but consider: Is the Holy Spirit stirring you to something “more?” Is there a “vow” you are called to?

Read more: Your Net Worth

All of our lives, the work of our hands, the proportion of our gifts are dearly valued by God.

Links for today’s readings:

Read: Numbers 28 Listen: (3:51) Read: 1 Corinthians 2 Listen: (2:26)

Scripture Focus: Numbers 28.1-2

1 The Lord said to Moses, 2 “Give this command to the Israelites and say to them: ‘Make sure that you present to me at the appointed time my food offerings, as an aroma pleasing to me.’

Reflection: A Life’s Liturgy

By John Tillman

God prescribes scheduled offerings for the community—a liturgy of life.

Daily offerings are in the morning and evening. Weekly offerings are made on the Sabbath when no other work was to be done. Monthly offerings were made at the beginning of each month. Then there were the festival offerings. Beginning with Passover at the start of the year, each season’s festival reminded the people of the story of God’s love, mercy, and provision for them.

One practical purpose of these offerings was a steady supply of food for the priesthood and Levites. The people’s sacrifices were part of God’s provision for Levite families who would not own land as other tribes would. The spiritual purpose was a constant reminder and acknowledgment of important truths for God’s people, including us.

God is our provider. In the desert, it was hard to forget God’s provision. With no land to farm, they depended on the Lord’s miraculous supply of manna. But once they were established in the land and prospering, they often forgot God and his providence. We too, forget God’s provision when we are prospering.

Sin is serious and grace is costly. God’s grace is not “cheap grace” that pats us on the back and says, “It’s okay.” Sin is not okay. The sacrifices were a repeated reminder that sin was costly and our efforts to atone are insufficient. Jesus’ sacrifice on the cross fulfills and completes the promises made by the Tabernacle and Temple sacrifices.

The promises of Eden will be fulfilled. The Tabernacle and Temple were artistic and ceremonial depictions of the Garden of Eden. God killed animals to cover Adam and Eve’s naked shame and promised Eve a snake-crushing seed to end sin’s shame forever. (Genesis 3.15, 21) Jesus’ naked shame on the cross clothes us in his righteousness. His death and resurrection crush the power of the serpent both now and in the future.

Because of Jesus, we don’t need sacrifices, but we need reminders. We must live relying on God, not human power or wealth. We must not downplay sin’s seriousness and show contempt for Jesus’ sacrifice. We must anticipate and participate in Jesus’ ultimate fulfillment of Eden’s promises.

What is your life’s liturgy? Are you reminding yourself of these things regularly? What are you doing daily, weekly, monthly, and at special times of the year to remember these things?

Divine Hours Prayer: The Call to Prayer

Bless the Lord, O my soul, and all that is within me, bless his holy Name.

Bless the Lord, O my soul, and forget not all his benefits. — Psalm 103.1-2

– Divine Hours prayers from The Divine Hours: Prayers for Springtime

 by Phyllis Tickle

Read more: Style Versus Substance

Paul didn’t mean that when he was last in Corinth he spoke poorly, abandoned using rhetoric, eschewed wisdom, and forgot all his knowledge.

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Links for today’s readings:

Read: Numbers 25 Listen: (2:20) Read: 2 Thessalonians 2 Listen: (2:32)

Links for this weekend’s readings:

Read: Numbers 26 Listen: (7:47) Read: 2 Thessalonians 3 Listen: (2:16)
Read: Numbers 27 Listen: (3:08) Read: 1 Corinthians 1 Listen: (4:03)

Scripture Focus: Numbers 25.3, 10-13

3 So Israel yoked themselves to the Baal of Peor. And the Lord’s anger burned against them.

10 The Lord said to Moses, 11 “Phinehas son of Eleazar, the son of Aaron, the priest, has turned my anger away from the Israelites. Since he was as zealous for my honor among them as I am, I did not put an end to them in my zeal. 12 Therefore tell him I am making my covenant of peace with him. 13 He and his descendants will have a covenant of a lasting priesthood, because he was zealous for the honor of his God and made atonement for the Israelites.”

Reflection: Seduced by Corn Kings

By John Tillman

In his book, Miracles, C.S. Lewis described a type of deity: “the corn king.” Corn kings, were gods, like Adonis or Osiris, who died and were reborn, personifying the cycle of life and death in human and agricultural fertility and fruitfulness. Corn kings promised profit and growth through fertility and harvest. Baal is a god of this type.

Numbers 25 is the first time Israel falls into sin by worshiping Baal. The fall is hard and the consequences harsh. Many Israelites worshiped Baal in this incident, but one man flagrantly brought a shrine prostitute into the camp to have ritual sex with her. A priest, Phinehas, used a spear to stop them. This violence shocks modern readers, but there are important details we might miss. Baal worship didn’t show up by accident. This was a coordinated attack from Israel’s enemies.

Balaam and Balak, who failed to curse Israel in the previous chapters, introduced Baal worship to entice Israel to sin. (Numbers 31.16; Revelation 2:14) This wasn’t mere temptation, it was an act of war. They sought to strip Israel of their identity and force conformity to the Canaanite culture. Giving in to this temptation, wasn’t just moral weakness, it meant rebellion against God.

Phinehas’ zeal was not a zeal against mere sexual sin. Prostitution was a side-dish of sin, not the main course. Worshiping Baal showed flagrant disregard and disrespect for God, his community, and his glory. Siding with a “corn king” for provision and growth, and the enemies of Israel for safety and protection, was a far worse offense than any mere sexual act.

This temptation in the desert is like the temptation of the serpent in the Garden. That temptation and the fall of Adam and Eve was also an act of war. (Genesis 3.1-6; Revelation 12.9)

This war still rages and we are still tempted. Corn kings promise growth, profit, protection, security if only we will do homage, shift our identity, and conform to a few minor moral sacrifices. Corn kings don’t care about exclusivity. They encourage you to worship them right alongside Jesus.

Jesus will not share his glory. With the sword of his word, he is zealous to cleanse the temple of our hearts from other kings. (John 2.15-17; Psalm 69.9) Satan sends corn kings who promise the world. Jesus says, “What profit is that if you lose your soul?” (Mark 8.36) Don’t be seduced. We cannot serve both God and the corn kings of this world. (Matthew 6.24)

Divine Hours Prayer: The Request for Presence

I call with my whole heart; answer me, O Lord, that I may keep your statutes. — Psalm 119.145

– Divine Hours prayers from The Divine Hours: Prayers for Springtime

 by Phyllis Tickle

Read more: Balaam’s Success

Israelite culture was susceptible to sexual temptations of ancient fertility cults. Greed is the fertility god of our age and our culture is addicted to it.

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