Rev. Don Campbell

Numbers 5-6

THOUGHT FOR TODAY, FEBRUARY 25, 2019

GOD BLESSES US THAT WE MIGHT BE A BLESSING

The tribe of Levi was privileged to minister the sacred things of God in the tabernacle and later in the temple. When privilege becomes proprietary, the blessings of the relationship are jealously guarded. Perhaps this is why the Lord instructed Moses to address Aaron and his sons: “Speak to Aaron and his sons, saying, Thus you shall bless the people of Israel: you shall say to them,

‘The Lord bless you and keep you;
the Lord make his face to shine upon you and be gracious to you;
the Lord lift up his countenance upon you and give you peace.’

“So shall they put my name upon the people of Israel, and I will bless them” (Numbers 6:23-27).

Part of the blessing was that God would be gracious to them and give them peace.

The phrase “Grace and peace” is used by Paul in all his epistles. Peter also uses it in his two epistles. It is a stylistic device, but I believe it is more. Jesus said, “Peace I leave with you; my peace I give to you. Not as the world gives do I give to you. Let not your hearts be troubled, neither let them be afraid” (John 14:27). Christ’s peace is not a fairytale world in which the sun always shines brightly just after the earth has received just the right amount of gentle rain.

Paul gives us the prescription for peace in Philippians 4:7-9: “Do not be anxious about anything, but in everything by prayer and supplication with thanksgiving let your requests be made known to God. And the peace of God, which surpasses all understanding, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus.”

All God’s blessings, including peace, are in Jesus Christ: “Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, who has blessed us in Christ with every spiritual blessing in the heavenly places, even as he chose us in him before the foundation of the world, that we should be holy and blameless before him. In love he predestined us for adoption to himself as sons through Jesus Christ, according to the purpose of his will, to the praise of his glorious grace, with which he has blessed us in the Beloved. In him we have redemption through his blood, the forgiveness of our trespasses, according to the riches of his grace, which he lavished upon us, in all wisdom and insight making known to us the mystery of his will, according to his purpose, which he set forth in Christ as a plan for the fullness of time, to unite all things in him, things in heaven and things on earth” (Ephesians 1:3-10).

The descendants of Aaron have been relieved of the office of high priest, which is now held by Christ. The priesthood of the Levites has been replaced by the priesthood of all believers. As with them, our priesthood is not to be jealously guarded, but used as a bridge from a sin-sick world to the Great Physician: “But you are a chosen race, a royal priesthood, a holy nation, a people for his own possession, that you may proclaim the excellencies of him who called you out of darkness into his marvelous light. Once you were not a people, but now you are God’s people; once you had not received mercy, but now you have received mercy” (1 Pet 2:9-10).

CONNECTIONS Hebrews 13:15-16, 1 Corinthians 10:14-22

1. As a holy priesthood, what two kinds of sacrifices does Hebrews 13:15-16 say we are to offer?

2. Of what sacrifice do believers partake when eating the Lord’s Supper? (1 Corinthians 10:14-22)

“Link to YouTube Video – Let There Be Peace on Earth”