The Park Forum

April 29, 2025April 27, 2025

Called to More

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.

Who Drinks the Curse?

Links for today’s readings:

Read: Numbers 5 Listen: (4:39) Read: Acts 28 Listen: (4:56)

Scripture Focus: Numbers 5.12-17

12 “Speak to the Israelites and say to them: ‘If a man’s wife goes astray and is unfaithful to him 13 so that another man has sexual relations with her, and this is hidden from her husband and her impurity is undetected (since there is no witness against her and she has not been caught in the act), 14 and if feelings of jealousy come over her husband and he suspects his wife and she is impure—or if he is jealous and suspects her even though she is not impure—15 then he is to take his wife to the priest. He must also take an offering of a tenth of an ephah of barley flour on her behalf. He must not pour olive oil on it or put incense on it, because it is a grain offering for jealousy, a reminder-offering to draw attention to wrongdoing. 16 “ ‘The priest shall bring her and have her stand before the Lord.

John 8.2-11

2 At dawn he appeared again in the temple courts, where all the people gathered around him, and he sat down to teach them. 3 The teachers of the law and the Pharisees brought in a woman caught in adultery. They made her stand before the group 4 and said to Jesus, “Teacher, this woman was caught in the act of adultery. 5 In the Law Moses commanded us to stone such women. Now what do you say?” 6 They were using this question as a trap, in order to have a basis for accusing him.

But Jesus bent down and started to write on the ground with his finger. 7 When they kept on questioning him, he straightened up and said to them, “Let any one of you who is without sin be the first to throw a stone at her.” 8 Again he stooped down and wrote on the ground.

9 At this, those who heard began to go away one at a time, the older ones first, until only Jesus was left, with the woman still standing there. 10 Jesus straightened up and asked her, “Woman, where are they? Has no one condemned you?”

11 “No one, sir,” she said.

“Then neither do I condemn you,” Jesus declared. “Go now and leave your life of sin.”

Reflection: Who Drinks the Curse?

By John Tillman

The “jealousy sacrifice” is uncomfortable to read. It seems like a double standard. The “adulterous woman” is held accountable, but what about the unknown adulterer? Also, why is there no test for the unfaithfulness of a man suspected by his wife? Could this ceremony be performed if suspicions were reversed?

Struggling with difficult parts of the Bible is a necessary part of faith. Pretending the Bible is easy to understand is a denial of truth. There is no satisfactory explanation we can reach in a 400-word devotional. But here are a few practical and symbolic things to reflect on.

The sacrifice tests the couple, not just the woman. The sacrifice’s lack of oil addresses the marriage’s lack of trust and joy. Distrust is based on jealous “feelings,” not evidence. The woman’s faithfulness and man’s unsubstantiated suspicions are tested. The ceremony’s primary purpose seems to be restoring trust by proving the wife’s innocence rather than punishing her guilt.

The curse would vindicate the innocent. The Tabernacle’s dust was holy and only harmed the unholy. The ink of the written curse would be washed off the scroll into the water and reveal the truth. Shame would fall on the guilty party. Either secret adultery or public jealousy would be shamed. An unharmed woman would be shown to be holy.

Some Mosaic laws were allowances for hard hearts. (Matthew 19.7-9; Mark 10.4-9) Jesus prioritized Edenic ideals over Mosaic commands, saying “Moses allowed” things God did not intend from the beginning. Mosaic law was how God dealt with the people where they were.

Jesus redeems sinners and the law. Everything in the Old Testament is about Jesus. (Luke 24.25-27) Jesus seemed to subtly reference this curse when the “adulterous woman” was brought before him in the Temple. The differences are that neither her husband nor the adulterer are with her. How can someone be caught “in the act” without the partner being there?

Jesus stooped to the dust of the Temple floor as the priest would in the Tabernacle. Jesus wrote in the dust just as the priest wrote the curse. What Jesus wrote in the dust surely exposed the jealousies and sins of those standing there, as the curse would expose the truth behind the accuser’s suspicions.

Satan accuses us not with “feelings” but facts. We are guilty. Yet, Jesus defends us. He drinks our curse and bids us “sin no more.”

Let us say, “Amen. So be it.” (Numbers 5.22b)

Divine Hours Prayer: A Reading

Jesus said to us: “Everything now covered up will be uncovered, and everything now hidden will be made clear. What I say in the dark, tell in the daylight; what you hear in whispers, proclaim from the housetops.” — Matthew 10.26-27

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

Christ’s Body is Not God’s Army

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.

God’s Movers

Links for today’s readings:

Read: Numbers 1 Listen: (6:21) Read: Acts 24 Listen: (4:11)

Scripture Focus: Numbers 1.47-51

47 The ancestral tribe of the Levites, however, was not counted along with the others. 48 The Lord had said to Moses: 49 “You must not count the tribe of Levi or include them in the census of the other Israelites. 50 Instead, appoint the Levites to be in charge of the tabernacle of the covenant law—over all its furnishings and everything belonging to it. They are to carry the tabernacle and all its furnishings; they are to take care of it and encamp around it. 51 Whenever the tabernacle is to move, the Levites are to take it down, and whenever the tabernacle is to be set up, the Levites shall do it. Anyone else who approaches it is to be put to death.

Reflection: God’s Movers

By John Tillman

Leviticus focused on organizing how people worshiped within the Tabernacle. Numbers begins by organizing how people lived surrounding the Tabernacle.

In one sense, the Levites were God’s movers. When the camp moved, only the Levites could carry God’s “tent” and the holy things within. In another sense, they were defenders just like the “fighting men” counted among the other tribes.

Those counted for military duty waged battles against physical threats from outside the camp. Those counted among the Levites waged battle against spiritual threats from inside the camp.

Imagine living in a tent-city with God’s presence at its center. The physical presence of God is beautiful but powerful. He is holy, which means set apart and pure. He is glorious, which means heavy or weighty. For the sinful and prideful, experiencing the unleashed, unfiltered holiness and glory of God ends earthly life. (Leviticus 10.1-2) His holiness is a fire we can’t pass through. His glory is a weight we can’t bear. This is not because God is malevolent but because we are. Yet, God provides multiple means of grace to allow his people into his presence.

He hid Moses in a cleft of rock and showed him his back instead of his face. (Exodus 33.21-23) He “made holy” the priests, so that they could approach him in ways others couldn’t. (Leviticus 20.8; 21.23) He set apart and made pure the Levites to care for the holy items of the Tabernacle that others were unable to touch.

John’s Gospel says Jesus “tabernacled” with us. (John 1.14) Jesus moved into the “tent-city” of humanity as the final means of grace to bring people to God’s presence. All the other means, including the Levites, the priests, the ceremonies, the sacrifices, Aaron’s priestly prayers, and Moses’ glowing face, (Exodus 34.29-30) were just shadows and hints pointing to Jesus.

Jesus is still “tabernacled” with us through the Holy Spirit and we are still “God’s movers.” We dwell in a “tent-city” (2 Corinthians 5.1-4) with God’s presence at its center, but one day we will dwell in a real city prepared for those who are in Jesus. The only ones excluded from this city will be those who reject Jesus. (Revelation 21.22-27)

Jesus is God’s ultimate means of grace, supplanting all others and removing all limits to who can approach God. It is our holy and glorious duty to carry the presence of Jesus and invite others to meet him through the scripture, our words, and our actions.

Divine Hours Prayer: The Greeting

Your testimonies are very sure, and holiness adorns your house, O Lord, forever and forevermore. — Psalm 118.26

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

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April 23, 2025May 1, 2025

Your Net Worth

Links for today’s readings:

Read: Leviticus 27 Listen: (4:45) Read: Acts 23 Listen: (5:15)

Scripture Focus: Leviticus 27:8

8 If anyone making the vow is too poor to pay the specified amount, the person being dedicated is to be presented to the priest, who will set the value according to what the one making the vow can afford.

Reflection: Your Net Worth

By Erin Newton

I look in the mirror and see a tired face, wrinkles setting in on a furrowed brow. Clothes disheveled, uncertain of when I last did laundry. I wonder if I did enough today, if my kids are bored, or if I forgot something that was due yesterday.

What are my efforts worth?

The bank account is low, and the bills are running high. The jar of change echoes a little more. I hope the banker sees our hard work and diligence; we just need a little loan to fix the house.

What is my value in the eyes of the world?

The world calculates manhours and paychecks, zeros and commas, potential and power. Worth is defined by bank accounts and popularity. What can you do for me? What can you do for us? (Are you going to pay taxes? Are you always going to need help?)

When will I be “worth my weight in gold”?

I’m destined to never be on a Forbes list or in the museum’s platinum donor column. Making ends meet is all that we call success these days. But of all the prized possessions and bountiful crops and perfect livestock, my life itself is of greatest worth—at least from a divine perspective.

My life is worth more than my accomplishments.

There was a provision for people to be dedicated to God, a living sacrifice so to speak. This wasn’t servitude or enslavement. The person would go away and return to his or her normal duties. It was a monetary gift to God symbolic of the potential value of one’s wages for many years. It was costly. It was precious. Because we are precious.

My devotion is not determined by my net worth.

The cost of such dedication was not hindered by one’s lack of wealth. A person could be dedicated with equal respectability and with equal expression of devotion but for a cost that was commensurate with one’s financial burdens. Being low-income did not lower one’s dedication.

I can dedicate my life to God without being an employee of the church.

The temple had a prescribed group of workers: the Levites. Others who wanted to dedicate themselves to God could give financially and work in the outside world.

Such is the reality of many Christians today. All of our lives, the work of our hands, the proportion of our gifts are dearly valued by God.

Divine Hours Prayer: The Request for Presence

Be merciful to me, O Lord, for you are my God; I call upon you all the day long. — Psalm 86.3

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

Posts

Called to More

Links for today’s readings:

Scripture Focus: Numbers 6.1-4

Reflection: Called to More

Divine Hours Prayer: A Reading

Read more: A Rebellion of Repentance

Read more: Praying Priestly Blessings

Who Drinks the Curse?

Links for today’s readings:

Scripture Focus: Numbers 5.12-17

John 8.2-11

Reflection: Who Drinks the Curse?

Divine Hours Prayer: A Reading

Read more: Calluses Aren’t Forever

Read more: Are There Ashtrays in Your Elevators?

Christ’s Body is Not God’s Army

Links for today’s readings:

Links for this weekend’s readings:

Scripture Focus: Numbers 2.32-34

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

Divine Hours Prayer: The Call to Prayer

Read more: Unprecedented Peace

Read more: Where Would the Body Be?

God’s Movers

Links for today’s readings:

Scripture Focus: Numbers 1.47-51

Reflection: God’s Movers

Divine Hours Prayer: The Greeting

Read more: Winning People > Winning Arguments

Consider Supporting Our Work

Your Net Worth

Links for today’s readings:

Scripture Focus: Leviticus 27:8

Reflection: Your Net Worth

Divine Hours Prayer: The Request for Presence

Read more: Living Leviticus

Read more: God Makes the Disabled Holy