Day 90 - Numbers 26-27 & Psalm 90

 Julie

Today's reading was more census taking. I did not really see anything that stood out specifically was they talked about how many were in each clan.

Today's Psalm is seeking God's blessing on all things within a community.

 

Michelle

The first chapter in today's reading was a second census for this book.  It seems it is another generation of the chosen people as they seem to refer to the previous as if they are now gone.  As you read on there is reference to when God told the people that their generation would die and would not see the promised land but that their descendants would.  That seems to be the case in these chapters.  The second chapter is what I found interesting as it is a group of daughters of Zelophehad who are asking Moses to give them their father's share of the inheritance as he had no son's.  God agrees and then instructs how the inheritance is to go if this is the case in the future.  I find this significant as in these times women don't seem to have authority over anything and don't own anything but are themselves "owned" by their father, husband, brother or some male family member and thus don't have a say in how their life goes.  At least that is what I have understood so far and what I know from learning about this region in history and how it is even to this day in some countries.  The fact that God acknowledges that the females in the line shall inherit their father's portion is a big deal.  

Moses is now being replaced and asks God to appoint a suitable replacement to lead the people as God has told him he will die soon.  Joshua becomes his successor and is anointed before the assembly.  

The psalm seems to be asking for God's favor on the people and to open their eyes to how short life is and "establish the work of our hands".  I am not quite sure what that last bit means but it really stands out to me.   

Day 89 - Numbers 25 and Psalm 89

 Julie

Today's reading seemed out place to me. I did not really understand the meaning behind it and how it fit with the switch that happened yesterday. I may revisit in the morning and see if anything new arises.

Psalm 89 is a rather long one, however this is seems to be a Psalm of praise and worship to God. This was seems to be a prayer and I am sure one that could be useful to us all.

Michelle

So yeah this is confusing, we are back with Moses.  And the Israelites are straying and bowing before other gods and God is mad.  Then one of the priests kills the man who brought the foreign woman, and the woman was killed as well. Which then is considered atonement and a plague is stopped. I didn’t realize there was a plague going on. 

The psalm does appear to be remembering all that God has done for him and then towards the end it sounds like he feels like God has  left him and he is asking to be remembered.  

Day 88 - Numbers 22-24 & Psalm 88

 Julie

I have to admit that I get a little bit confused with who is who...so if I get it a bit mixed up I apologize now. This reading was about the king wanting to curse the Israelites and not being able to. I was a bit confused by the interaction with the angel. It said that Balaam was told by God to go, but then God got mad. If we told him to go, why was he mad?

Psalm 88 seems to be a lament for someone that has a lot of troubles going on and is being shunned by all. This might sound bad, but it almost sounds like someone feeling sorry for themselves. Maybe I am reading too much into that though...

Michelle

Ok who are these people in these passages?  I am completely lost on how we got to new names from Moses. I understood the same that the king wants to curse the Israelites but Balaam follows Gods command only. I was also perplexed by God playing the donkey as he told Balaam to go to the place. It seems to have been a test but it doesn’t make sense. I didn’t really understand the end with all the messages. He basically seems to be saying God will not curse his people and Balak needs to stop. 

I can see how you would interpret this psalm as pitying themselves. The writer seems to be calling out to the Lord but seems to be living in a cloud of darkness. 

Day 87 - Number 20-21 & Psalm 87

 Julie

My lack of sleep did not help with my interpretation or understanding of today's reading. It seems that they are still struggling with the fact that they have not arrived where they are supposed to. Somewhere in all of this Aaron died and I am going to have to come back to that, because I did not see that at all. I will revisit later when the world is a bit quieter.

Psalm 87 is said to be a celebration of Zion. Nothing really stood out from that.

Michelle

I seems the people have forgotten why they have gone this direction and they are once again complaining about what they have been given. In writing that I realize that he may be teaching them contentment. Although they don’t seem to be learning it at all. Aaron does die and at first I wasn’t sure why but I have reread it 3 times now and it seems to be due to the way that he and Moses followed gods direction that wasn’t in a way that honored him and God says that shows distrust in him. Then after take over some areas, they complain yet again and God smites them with some snakes. This part confused me though as God has Moses make a bronze snake so they can touch it and live. I don’t understand this for some reason. It makes me think of idols even though I know that’s not what it is. The people then move on to defeat the Amorites and take over their territory. 

Where is Zion?  The psalm talks of the city of God being Zion and I don’t understand if this is a place on earth or his heavenly home. 

Day 86 - Numbers 18-19 & Psalm 86

 Julie

Today's reading was a reiteration of what they need to do to make reparations, how to cleanse after being around the dead. I was always curious about why this was important and I realize now that chapter 19 is actually literal. There were so many people dying at the time and they way the dealt with them wasn't the most sanitary so if someone was around the dead then they really were unclean and needed to take the time to cleanse thoroughly.

Today's Psalm asks for God's help with a difficult situation and also praises him for being a good and faithful God.

Michelle

I had not thought of it being so literal but more ceremonial in nature. It makes sense though what you say. Maybe that’s where the saying “cleanliness is next to godliness” comes from. I don’t understand the significance of reiterating these instructions again other than so much time has passed that the new generation needs to be told.  

The psalm is a prayer of David. It seems to be a prayer asking for Gods help and praising him for all he’s done before. 

Day 85 - Numbers 16-17 & Psalm 85

 Julie

In today's reading I interpreted that Korah thought that he deserved more and it seemed was jealous of what Moses and Aaron have with God. He accuses them of wrongdoing and of bringing them out of the land of milk and honey instead of into it. He also complains that they have received nothing of God's promises. So God smites him. The explanation was a little different in that it said that they wanted to enter the tabernacle of God and were smited. That is not really how I read that, but I guess I could have missed that. It did seem like they were still complaining and not trusting.

Psalm 85 sounds like a prayer that Moses would have made during his time and with what he was experiencing in chapters we have been discussing. He seems to always be asking for God to have mercy in his anger and to forgive them for their grumbling. 

Michelle

I don’t understand why Korah  is questioning but yes it seems he harbors some jealousy and has rallied others to his cause. How far ahead have we jumped cuz we just had Gods wrath against these people and here we are again. They should have learned by now. Something I am wondering about too is the incredible things that happen to these people who are smited by God. In this time they would be unbelievable as they may have been them too. But to be standing in judgment before the masses and see someone swallowed up by the earth as Gods punishment I feel like this should be proof enough. Or even what happened before should have been proof enough. Believing is not easy and it is a choice allowed us so I understand the difficulty and questioning some of the things we read. But actually standing in the presence of these things, to me, would be enough to make me stop grumbling. Or so I think. What in this time has been by Gods hand that we do not realize is his will and power being presented to us?

The psalm does seem to be asking God to forgive and restore his people. It makes me think about what would it have looked like it God had just kept doling out punishment over and over. Would it be more like now?  It seems like the world we live in has strayed so much and that bad after bad thing happens to people all around the world in various ways. Could this be punishment and redemption all happening together like in this days passages?  

Day 84 - Numbers 15 & Psalm 84

 Julie

Today's reading was mostly atonements and offerings for sins. The most telling part of today's reading was the end where God reminds them that he is Lord and the one that removed them from Egypt and give them a way to remember that they should follow him not their own desires.

It's interesting that they call Psalm 84 a hymn because I recall singing a song in church that is apparently written from this Psalm. As I was reading I was reminded of the words and how much I enjoyed singing it. I like this Psalm and think that it is a great reminder for us to praise God for what he does and to believe that being with him and in his presence, even if for a short time, is better than anything else. 

Michelle

I found that interesting as well.  We should all have something to remind us if we need it.  I’m not sure why the offerings are changing a bit as it spoke of these offerings previously. I found it interesting that God had the people stone the man gathering wood on the sabbath. That the people had to carry out the punishment as instructed by God. 

The psalm speaks of Gods house being the ideal place to dwell.  I’m not familiar with the song you speak of.