The Lord is awe-inspiring, fearsome, fascinating, intriguing, majestic, and full of splendor: breathtaking! Here is what I saw of him today and what came to my heart and mind in Numbers 29:39,
"In addition to what you vow and your freewill offerings, offer these to the Lord at your appointed festivals: your burnt offerings, grain offerings, drink offerings and fellowship offerings."
This chapter provides this new generation of Israelites instructions for various festivals that were to be marked on their calendar. The chapter begins with instructions on the Festival of Trumpets, followed by the Day of Atonement and Tabernacles. The previous chapter provides instructions for additional festivals to be observed. All of them speak to or picture the coming Son of God as an aid to help the recognition of him when he was to arrive.
As the other feasts and festivals, the Lord makes clear the purpose for these was worship of the heart. In verses 2, 6, 8, 13 and 36 the Lord speaks of the offerings by the people as that which would be a "pleasing aroma" to him. This speaks to me of heartfelt sincerity and devotion the Lord was looking for from his people.
The observance of these festivals was not to be of a private nature, but communal. The Asbury Bible Commentary makes an interesting observation about them, "And here Israel's life is to be permeated by public worship. But such worship must be neither purely formal nor primarily aesthetic nor cerebral. At the heart of worship is offering."
"In addition to what you vow and your freewill offerings, offer these to the Lord at your appointed festivals: your burnt offerings, grain offerings, drink offerings and fellowship offerings."
This chapter provides this new generation of Israelites instructions for various festivals that were to be marked on their calendar. The chapter begins with instructions on the Festival of Trumpets, followed by the Day of Atonement and Tabernacles. The previous chapter provides instructions for additional festivals to be observed. All of them speak to or picture the coming Son of God as an aid to help the recognition of him when he was to arrive.
As the other feasts and festivals, the Lord makes clear the purpose for these was worship of the heart. In verses 2, 6, 8, 13 and 36 the Lord speaks of the offerings by the people as that which would be a "pleasing aroma" to him. This speaks to me of heartfelt sincerity and devotion the Lord was looking for from his people.
The observance of these festivals was not to be of a private nature, but communal. The Asbury Bible Commentary makes an interesting observation about them, "And here Israel's life is to be permeated by public worship. But such worship must be neither purely formal nor primarily aesthetic nor cerebral. At the heart of worship is offering."
How about our worship today? Is it driven by heartfelt sincerity and devotion? Is it purely formal or is it grounded in personal and corporate gratitude? Does it express our hearts beyond the confines of liturgy, rituals and the trappings of stained glass windows, vestments and the like?
Anything of the Lord capture your heart from Scripture today? Share what moved you about him from your Bible reading today. I'd love to hear from you!
If you have someone you would like to receive these ruminations, send me their email address. I'm happy to add them to the list. If you are receiving this and would like to be removed from the list, just reply and let me know.
Anything of the Lord capture your heart from Scripture today? Share what moved you about him from your Bible reading today. I'd love to hear from you!
If you have someone you would like to receive these ruminations, send me their email address. I'm happy to add them to the list. If you are receiving this and would like to be removed from the list, just reply and let me know.
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