February 24 Readings

Numbers 7-8; Mark 4.21-41
The Back to the Bible OT and NT Together Reading Plan

Numbers 7 This was a big day for Israel! The tabernacle was set up and Moses anointed and consecrated it. There was the delegation of the leaders of Israel, the head of families, made offerings to the Lord. Everyone turned out in their best clothes for the day. They brought their gifts before the Lord, six covered carts and twelve oxen-an ox from each leader and a cart from every two- God told Moses to accept the gifts which would be used for work in the tabernacle.

Moses gave two carts and four oxen to the Gershonites and the Merarites received four carts and eight oxen but the Kohahthites did not receive any oxen nor carts. The Kohahtites had to carry the tabernacle furniture on their shoulder (Num 3.30-31, 4.15). According to Warren Wiersbe's With the Word Commentary "Everybody but the Kohathites could use the carts for their work. The sons of Kohath had to carry the tabernacle furniture on their shoulders (Num 3:30–31;4:15). Although there are some burdens others can help us bear, “each one shall bear his own load” (Gal. 6:1–5). David disobeyed this law and brought judgment from God (2 Sam. 6:1–15). Don’t refuse the burdens; God will enable you to carry them."

Please note that a leader from each tribe brought an offering every day for twelve consecutive days. They offered the BEST that they had. This continued for twelve days. As Christians we should remember to bring our offering, our bodies, our lives (Rom 12.1) to God everyday to worship and to fellowship with him.

Numbers 8 spoke about the setting up of the lamps. See link
The Levites were consecrated in a ceremony. They purified themselves with water, washed their clothes. Aaron then presented them as a wave offering before the Lord, and made an atonement for them so they could be a holy people. After that they went to work in the tabernacle under the direction of Aaron and his sons. Men twenty-five or older would take part in the work at the Tabernacle.
God had chosen the Levites and no longer require the giving of the the first-born sons of Israelite women as was done in Egypt.


Numbers 7 with Commentaries, verse by verse
Numbers 8 with Commentaries, verse by verse

Other Links
Dr. Thomas Constable Study Notes is a PDF file, open with Adobe Acrobatic Reader
Calvin Harmony of the Law Volume 1 Search for the chapter you want with (CTRL F)
Calvin Harmony of the Law Volume 2 Search for the chapter you want with (CTRL F)
Calvin Harmony of the Law Volume 3 Search for the chapter you want with (CTRL F)
Calvin Harmony of the Law Volume 4 Search for the chapter you want with (CTRL F)

Mark 4.21-41 with Commentaries, verse by verse
In Mark 4.26-32, Jesus spoke of two parables about the Kingdom, the first was the parable of the seed, where when the seeds were planted and grew and the man who planted it could explain how they grew. That is the way it is in the Kingdom, it is natural growth, provided that the seeds are rooted in good soils and have water, sunlight and nourishment. The second parable is about the mustard seed, which is the smallest seed but when planted and fully grown is the largest plant. This is a spiritual lesson to be learnt here, that there is paradoxes in the Christian life, that the smallest will be the largest, the first shall be last, the humble shall be lifted and so on.
In Mark 4.35-41, the disciples and Jesus got caught in a furious squall and the disciples were afraid. Jesus was asleep in the boat! They waked Him and asked Him if He did not care if they drowned. What a question they asked the Lord!! He calm the waters and said to them "Why are you afraid, where is your faith?" When we tend to doubt God in the storm of life, let us remember how Jesus rescued them in this squall!

Stedman-Why are you afraid

More Links in Mark
Dan Hill on Mark
Ray Stedman on Mark
Jeff Miller on Mark
Chadwick on Mark
Dr. Thomas Constable Study Notes is a PDF file, open with Adobe Acrobatic Reader
Sermons on Mark by Ryle, Spurgeon, and Whitefield
John Piper Sermon's on Mark

Jesus Saves
This Posting is NOT a commentary of the passages read today but it is a devotional. Please send a comment if something spoke to you today from the passages, links or thoughts that I have shared with you.