SCRIPTURE: Numbers 5
OBSERVATION/APPLICATION:
Jesus said, the good man brings good things out of the good stored up in him, and the evil man brings evil things out of the evil stored up in him. But I tell you that men will have to give account on the day of judgment for every careless word they have spoken. [Matthew 12:35-36]
One day there will be a time for judgment.
One day our impure hearts will be exposed, we will have to give an account for our wrongs, and we will be forced to face the consequences of our actions.
What the Lord speaks to Moses about in this historical context, is an anticipation of the day when we will stand before the judge and face the music.
What comes out of us in what is in us; everything, even our words, reveals our heart. And when we stand before the Judge, it will all be revealed for what it is.
In today’s reading, the Lord is describing an ancient ‘lie detector’ test.
The suspect (in this case a woman suspected of adultery, without proof) stands before the priest and will state her innocence before the Lord.
If she is innocent, she need not fear.
But if she is guilty, then her own conscience and fear will cause her bitter suffering.
Like swearing on a bible, this oath is intended to expose the heart, the good or evil stored within.
There’s no sense in hiding from the truth.
In fact, the truth will set us free.
Deception, denial will only make things worse.
The best thing we can do is fall on our knees and sincerely plead for mercy!
The final judgment will not be arbitrarily imposed on us, it will fit the crime!
In fact, hell (bitter suffering) is the natural consequence of sin.
We taste it here in part (the guilt and suffering that results from committing a crime), but the final judgment will be the full experience of the ugliness of our sin.
I believe that hell will involve experiencing fully the horror of our sin against God and others.
Hitler did not face the horror of his guilt fully until he came to stand before Jesus.
Repentance involves facing it now.
Not just saying sorry, its admitting the ugliness of my deception, cruel, selfish, judgmental, greedy, lusting heart.
Its standing before the judge NOW and not hiding anything, but coming clean.
Admitting the impurity, admitting the wrong, admitting the unfaithfulness.
Don’t wait until the final day, do it now!
If you do, the Lord promises mercy!
PRAYER:
Lord, I have tasted in small ways the ugliness of my sin. Help me to feel it more, that I may deeply repent, hate the sin, and strive for what is good!
The first part of the reading describes purity in the camp. Purity among God’s people. Purity in the ‘church.’ God’s people must be holy because He is holy and they must wholly serve Him.
The second part describes the relationship in a marriage. It describes the law of jealousy in the marriage and that reminds me that my God is a jealous God in our relationship. My relationship to the Lord is like that of a marriage. How do I keep my way pure that I serve Him only and no other gods? Today God Is First as He needs to be every day. That is exercising the love I have for Him. Love God is the fulfillment of the law – of my relationship with Him. He sees and knows all and my life is an open book to Him. And what is in my heart will come to expression in what I do.
The woman is cleared, made clean when she remains faithful. I too need to remain faithful through the blood of Christ today and all my tomorrows. Help me Lord on my way serving You daily in all I do and say putting You first. Always.
As thirst the hart for water brooks,
So thirsts my soul, O God, for Thee;
It seeks for God, and ever looks,
And longs the living God to see,
And longs the living God to see.
Far from the courts of God, my tears
Have been my food by night and day,
While constantly with bitter sneers,
Where is thy God? the scoffers say,
Where is thy God? the scoffers say.
With grief I think of days gone by,
When oft I trod the hallowed way
To Zion, praising God on high
With throngs who kept the holy day,
With throngs who kept the holy day.
O why art thou cast down, my soul,
And why so troubled shouldst thou be?
Hope thou in God, and Him extol,
Who gives His saving help to me,
Who gives His saving help to me.