Author: John Tillman

Links for today’s readings:

Read: Numbers 9 Listen: (3:20) Read: James 4 Listen: (2:25)

Links for this weekend’s readings:

Read: Numbers 10 Listen: (4:11) Read: James 5 Listen: (3:01)
Read: Numbers 11 Listen: (5:22) Read: Galatians 1 Listen: (3:05)

Scripture Focus: Numbers 9.4-11

4 So Moses told the Israelites to celebrate the Passover, 5 and they did so in the Desert of Sinai at twilight on the fourteenth day of the first month. The Israelites did everything just as the Lord commanded Moses. 6 But some of them could not celebrate the Passover on that day because they were ceremonially unclean on account of a dead body. So they came to Moses and Aaron that same day 7 and said to Moses, “We have become unclean because of a dead body, but why should we be kept from presenting the Lord’s offering with the other Israelites at the appointed time?” 8 Moses answered them, “Wait until I find out what the Lord commands concerning you.” 9 Then the Lord said to Moses, 10 “Tell the Israelites: ‘When any of you or your descendants are unclean because of a dead body or are away on a journey, they are still to celebrate the Lord’s Passover, 11 but they are to do it on the fourteenth day of the second month at twilight. They are to eat the lamb, together with unleavened bread and bitter herbs.

Reflection: Second Passover

By John Tillman

“We’ve had one Passover. But what about second Passover?”

Lord of the Rings jokes aside, Numbers 9 tells us about the second Passover Israel celebrated in the desert and a “second chance” Passover for those unable to celebrate.

The first Passover in the desert went perfectly. This time, there were problems. A group of people was ceremonially unclean because of a dead body. Being ceremonially unclean was not sinful. The most likely cause was that a relative had died, and they buried them. However, to celebrate Passover, one had to be ceremonially clean.

The people brought the problem to Moses. Moses took the problem to God. God’s solution was a “second chance” holiday.

Many of us have probably had “second chance” holidays. When we can’t be with family on the exact day of Christmas, an anniversary, or a birthday, we commonly celebrate a second time when the family can see one another. We’ll celebrate a “birthday week” or even a “birthday month.” God instituted a “Second Passover.” This was a delayed celebration, one month past the original date, for those traveling too far away or those ceremonially unclean and unable to celebrate.

We don’t have a cultural concept similar to being ceremonially unclean because of outer things. No one would bar you from Easter services for having buried your family member. In fact, we’d be likely to encourage you more than anyone else to be there.

However, our inner lives often make us feel unable or unworthy to celebrate or participate in worship as expected. Our feelings of “uncleanness” are related to our inner emotional state. We don’t feel happy, blessed, or peaceful, so we shut down and hope no one notices.

When you feel like you are in the desert, unclean, unhappy, unable to connect to worship, God’s word, or the Holy Spirit, remember these things:

Do not call unclean what God calls clean. (Acts 10.14-16) Your emotions, whether caused by outer things, like a financial loss or physical trauma, or inner things, like depression or anxiety, do not make you unclean in God’s eyes.

Take a second chance to celebrate when you can. When healing, cleansing, or recovering takes time, there is grace for you. Celebrate when you recover. Worship on your way to healing and when injuries are behind you, leap for joy.

Our God is a merciful, problem-solving God. He’ll be there for you at your “Second Passover.”

Divine Hours Prayer: A Reading

Jesus taught us, saying: “In truth I tell you, no one can see the kingdom of God without being born from above.” — John 3.3

– Divine Hours prayers from The Divine Hours: Prayers for Springtime by Phyllis Tickle.

Read more: Reaching Untouchables

She is often called the “woman with an issue of blood,” yet might be more accurately named the “woman with an issue of faith.”

Read more: Testify to Ultimate Healing

Christ is the bird that dies in our place. We are the living bird, baptized into water and Christ’s blood and then set free.

Links for today’s readings:

Read: Numbers 8 Listen: (3:27) Read: James 3 Listen: (2:38)

Scripture Focus: Numbers 8.16

16 They are the Israelites who are to be given wholly to me. I have taken them as my own in place of the firstborn, the first male offspring from every Israelite woman.

Reflection: Becoming Firstborns

By John Tillman

Levites were set apart among those set apart. God makes covenants, within covenants, within covenants.

God promised Eve, and all humanity, that her son, the snake-crushing savior, would come. (Genesis 3.13-15) Within that covenant, God promised Abraham that his children, the Israelites, would bless the entire world (Genesis 12.2-3), becoming a priestly nation. (Exodus 19.5-6) Within that covenant, God set apart the Levites.

God chose the entire tribe of Levi as the “firstborn” of Israel to be dedicated to him. Dedicating the firstborn to the Lord was common. Usually, an animal was sacrificed and the family would take the child home as normal. But two things are unusual. Levi was not Israel’s firstborn—Reuben was. Also, life for the tribe of Levi does not go on as normal. They serve and are set apart in a unique way.

God routinely calls those born out of order or in the wrong family to be his and act as his firstborn. Hannah’s firstborn son, Samuel, was not a Levite (1 Samuel 1.24-28) but he served in the Tabernacle for life and God called him by name. (1 Samuel 3.10) Mary’s firstborn son, Jesus, was not a Levite but he was God’s son (Luke 9.35) and was made a priest for eternity. (Hebrews 6.19-20) Jesus sacrificed himself to create a new Tabernacle into which all of us are called. (John 2.19-22; 1 Peter 2.4-5)

Jesus, our high priest, is the “firstborn” of creation and from among the dead. (Colossians 1.15-18) He is the one at the center of all of the covenants. God’s covenants narrowed, becoming more and more exclusive, until Jesus. Then the covenant exploded in exponential expansion.

In Jesus, we join a ministry greater than the Tabernacle of Moses or the Temple of Solomon or the Temple of Jesus’ day. All can now enter because the way has been opened. Despite being born in the wrong order and the wrong family, we are adopted through Jesus. Despite being unworthy, we are judged by the worth of Jesus. Despite being sinful, we are seen as sinless in Jesus.

Jesus makes us his Levites—his priests and ministers. We are set apart in a unique way. Life does not go on as normal for us.

As servants of the snake-crushing priest, we have no battle to fight—only a victory to announce.  We have no enemies to defeat—only conscripted soldiers to set free.

We are set apart to proclaim that outsiders can become insiders and orphans can become firstborns.

Video: “The Last Will Be First” — The Bible Project

Divine Hours Prayer: The Greeting

Your testimonies are very sure, and holiness adorns you house, O Lord, forever and forevermore. — Psalm 93.6

– Divine Hours prayers from The Divine Hours: Prayers for Springtime by Phyllis Tickle.

Read more: Christ’s Body is Not God’s Army

Beware those using “spiritual warfare” language…Our weapons are the gifts of the Holy Spirit not any spear, club, or sword. Our enemies are not flesh and blood.

Read more: God’s Movers

Jesus is still “tabernacled” with us through the Holy Spirit and we are still “God’s movers.”

Links for today’s readings:

Read: Numbers 6 Listen: (4:04) Read: James 1 Listen: (3:26)

Scripture Focus: Numbers 6.1-4

1 The Lord said to Moses, 2 “Speak to the Israelites and say to them: ‘If a man or woman wants to make a special vow, a vow of dedication to the Lord as a Nazirite, 3 they must abstain from wine and other fermented drink and must not drink vinegar made from wine or other fermented drink. They must not drink grape juice or eat grapes or raisins. 4 As long as they remain under their Nazirite vow, they must not eat anything that comes from the grapevine, not even the seeds or skins.

Reflection: Called to More

By John Tillman

Anyone, male or female, could take Nazarite vows.

Nazarites under vows were limited in many ways, usually for a short period. Their hair went uncut. They abstained from grape-related products, whether seed, oil, vinegar, or wine. They followed purity laws, such as not being near dead bodies, more strictly than others. Becoming ceremonially unclean in any way, would mean shaving their head and restarting the period of their vow. The limitations on the Nazarites made the vow costly and difficult. Perhaps this was to dissuade rash vows. Making a vow to God is serious.

The Bible’s most famous Nazarite is also the worst. From birth, Samson was called to be a Nazarite for life. God used Samson despite constant violations of his vows. He kept the most obvious one of not cutting his hair. But he drank, touched dead bodies (including the bodies of animals and people he killed), and was sexually promiscuous and impure. Only when his head was shaved, did God leave him to be captured and humiliated.

Jesus was a Nazarene but not a Nazarite. Nazarenes were from Nazareth. Nazarites made a vow to God. The village and the vow have nothing in common, other than their similar sound.

Jesus’ cousin, John the Baptizer was probably a Nazarite from birth, like Samson. (Luke 1.11-17) Luke does not explicitly mention the Nazarite vow, but John’s and Samson’s stories are similar. They are both miracle children promised to barren couples. Both are to abstain from the fruit of the vine. Both are tasked to begin something new—Samson began throwing off the yoke of the Philistines and John called people to throw off the yoke of sin, returning to the Lord in repentance. Both ended their lives as captives to the oppressive government they lived under.

Paul also fulfilled and paid the cost of vows that were probably Nazarite vows. (Acts 18.18; 21.22-24)

Christians are set apart not by Nazarite vows but by following Jesus the Nazarene. Jesus paid our vow’s cost and completed its work. All that is left for us to do is follow him. Yet, as we follow, we may be 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? When we have been given much, more is expected. When we are faithful in a little, more will be given.

Divine Hours Prayer: A Reading

Jesus said: “In all truth I tell you, whoever welcomes the one I send, welcomes me, and whoever welcomes me, welcomes the one who sent me.” — John 13.20

– Divine Hours prayers from The Divine Hours: Prayers for Springtime by Phyllis Tickle.

Read more: A Rebellion of Repentance

Rebellion out of hate only destroys. John’s rebellion of repentance is motivated by love that longs to restore what is right.

Read more: Praying Priestly Blessings

As followers of God today, a part of our identity is as carriers of the blessings of God that are intended for the world.

Links for today’s readings:

Read: Numbers 2 Listen: (3:47) Read: Acts 25 Listen: (4:40)

Links for this weekend’s readings:

Read: Numbers 3 Listen: (6:01) Read: Acts 26 Listen: (5:17)
Read: Numbers 4 Listen: (6:11) Read: Acts 27 Listen: (6:09)

Scripture Focus: Numbers 2.32-34

32 These are the Israelites, counted according to their families. All the men in the camps, by their divisions, number 603,550. 33 The Levites, however, were not counted along with the other Israelites, as the Lord commanded Moses. 34 So the Israelites did everything the Lord commanded Moses; that is the way they encamped under their standards, and that is the way they set out, each of them with their clan and family.

Reflection: Christ’s Body is Not God’s Army

By John Tillman

Israel counted the males over 20 years old who were fit for war. These were their “divisions” and God described in detail where each would camp, encircling the Levites who encircled the Tabernacle.

Armies of the day would have camped in a similar manner, with the king’s tent at the center, special guards around him, and the other divisions of the army surrounding them.

In modern armies, “divisions” are self-sustaining warfighting groups led by a general and capable of operating independently. But within the larger force each division may develop unique reputations or be designed for different specialties. In the United States armed forces, the 101st Airborne division is legendary for its role in critical battles of World War II. The 10th Mountain division specializes in rugged terrain and cold-weather engagement.

Later in the Old Testament, men from every tribe join David in the wilderness and Chronicles describes some specializations of the “divisions” of the Israelites. Gad’s mountain warriors were “swift as gazelles in the mountains.” Issachar’s wise leaders “understood the times and knew what Israel should do.” Zebulun’s warriors were experienced with “every type of weapon.” Benjamites were ambidextrous sword wielders and stone slingers. (1 Chronicles 12.23-37)

Nations need armies. Israel had armies because they were a nation with human enemies. The church faces different dangers than the desert-dwelling nation state of ancient Israel. The strongholds we must tear down (2 Corinthians 10.4-5; Daniel 2.34-35) cannot be damaged with human weapons and the kingdom we must build is not built by human hands. (John 18.36; 2 Corinthians 5.1-4) Our weapons are the gifts of the Holy Spirit not any spear, club, or sword. Our enemies are not flesh and blood. (Ephesians 6.12)

This is a one-way biblical metaphor from martial to spiritual. It doesn’t go the other direction. Beware those using “spiritual warfare” language to manipulate you into fleshly fights. One day, Christ will come as conqueror. He doesn’t need help with that. (Revelation 19.11-21) Until then, our orders remain those given to Peter: “Put away your sword, feed my lambs, care for my sheep.” (John 18.10-11; 21.15-17)

We are members of Christ’s body not units of God’s army. Our “divisions” are not sword-wielders and stone-slingers. We don’t set out to war becaue the victory is won. Jesus is tabernacled in our midst. Our divisions distribute his gifts, specializing in prophesying, teaching, serving, encouraging, giving, leading, and showing mercy. (Romans 12.4-8) Let us become legendary for our role in spreading the good news of Jesus.

Divine Hours Prayer: The Call to Prayer

Search for the Lord and his strength; continually seek his face. — Psalm 105.4

– Divine Hours prayers from The Divine Hours: Prayers for Springtime by Phyllis Tickle.

Read more: Unprecedented Peace

“Beat your plowshares into swords” is not a call for God’s people to answer…Isaiah and Micah both reverse [it], making it a promise of peace

Read more: Where Would the Body Be?

In God’s design, when the body of Christ is functioning properly, we share burdens and we share joys. In God’s body, every part needs the others.