Thoughts on the readings for April 15th (Numbers 34, Proverbs 25, John 7)

Numbers 34 describes the boundaries of the land Israel were to conquer and possess. The southern border was perpendicular to the lowest southern point of the Dead Sea. The western border was the Mediterranean Sea. The northern border was marked by a horizontal line from Mount Hor, believed by some to be near Hadrach, to the Mediterranean Sea. And the eastern border was marked by the Jordan River starting from Galilee at the Sea of Chinnereth, which is shaped like a harp and is so-called in the Hebrew language. Verses 16-29 describe the tribal chiefs, who would lead their tribe in the taking of their lands assigned by lot.

Chapters 25-29 contain the proverbs of king Solomon which were transcribed by Hezekiah’s scribes, as verse 1 of chapter 25 tells. Verses 2-7 are proverbs which instruct kings in their behaviour. Deuteronomy 17 verses 18-20 commands kings to make their own personal copy of the Law – possibly a transcription by the king of the book of Deuteronomy. Having copied that Law the king was to read from his book every day of his life. Verses 2-7 contain a cluster of proverbs to guide the king in ruling wisely. Verse 2 tells that God has concealed treasures in His Word for kings to unravel. We as prospective monarchs must apply our minds to this task. It will not only help us in ruling our own lives, but will assist others in understanding the keys to the Kingdom of our Sovereign, when He sends His Son to rule upon the earth. Verse 7 onwards contain many proverbs quoted in the New Testament. We have selected only a handful including one quoted quoted by our Lord Jesus Christ in one of his parables to the Pharisees when he had beef an invited guest. Verses 8-26 are proverbs about behaving in humility and avoiding the pitfalls of pride. Verses 8-10 advise agreeing with our neighbour speedily, which our Master addresses in his sermon on the mount. Verse 15 advises a patient use of the tongue if we are to be persuasive. Verses- 21 is a proverb that is used by the Apostle Paul in Romans 12:19-21. Verse 24 advises great care in the choice of a lifelong marriage partner. The chapter concludes with an appeal for self control.

John 7 records an unannounced visit of Jesus to Jerusalem at the Feast of Booths ie Tabernacles. There was a division among the people, as to whether our Lord was a good man, or a deceiver of the people. Jesus arrives in the middle of the feast. Many were convinced that he was the Christ. Although officers from the Sanhedrin were sent to arrest Jesus they could not do so because his time had not yet come. Jesus prophesied to them of his ascent to heaven and the giving of the Holy Spirit. Some said that this was the prophet like Moses. Others rejected this idea just because our Lord was from Galilee. Jesus just like Jonah, also from Gath-Hepher in Galilee told his audience to consider the sign of the prophet Jonah. We have seen in our earlier studies that the sign had many levels of significance, but chiefly spoke of Jesus’ resurrection.