Numbers 7:66-9:14
Those imposters in Mexico may have tried to claim it as their own but the truth is layed out here in black and white - the so-called-Mexican wave was, in fact, the “Levitical wave” that Aaron instigated way back at the dedication of the tabernacle. How else could Aaron have presented the Levites as a wave offering if not through the sea-like raising of their arms one after the other? I even suspect that these enrobed, hairless priests would have whooped and hollered as they celebrated their dedication to I AM WHO I AM in much the same way that the football fans cheered in support of their own national team. This setting-apart of the priests is not only critical for understanding the mechanics of Old Testament worship - so the subsequent books should make better sense - but is also, as we have said before, a powerful indicator of the character of our God. God is not content to watch from the sidelines and cheer us on. He wants people to give him specific, constant and particular attention, to continually recognise his importance and to order their lives and their community around the worship of him. And, as we do that, we see again here the remarkable paradox that people and things and time that are set apart for him, that are given to him, he then gifts back to his people. The Levites were God’s own and the gives them as gifts to Aaron and his sons. That is why we can celebrate when we set things apart to God (by wave offering or otherwise); not only are we pleasing the heart of God but also we are freeing up gifts to be given to our fellow believers.
Luke 2:41-52
Here’s a question to ponder on; as Jesus sat there in the temple at the age of 12 did he already know that he was going to come back and sack it 20 years later? And, more than that, did he already know that this passover festival was going to be given a dynamic new twist through the shedding of his own blood? At what point, if any, did Jesus go from muddling through life, seeing in part, doing his best to discover the rest, to being a fully-clued up, all seeing, all knowing master of his surroundings? I think there is room for debate in this issue but consider this - Jesus was both causing amazement with his understanding and sitting and asking questions to the temple teachers. Jesus was both certain of who his Father was and was obedient to Mary and Joseph. Wherever you land on the first question (and I think it is an important one to think through) you can’t get away from the fact that any inkling about his identity that Jesus did have led him not to arrogance but to humility. It is extraordinary that God would be asking questions to seek to learn from his people and that he would submit himself to following the instruction of first-time parents. Luke, draws us into these early years of Jesus as no other gospel-writer does. And, in doing so, he lifts the lid on the awe-inspiring way in which Jesus grew in wisdom and stature. As we look, surely we can’t help but find Jesus growing in our favours and our affections? How could he have trodden the tricky path of life quite so well? How I wish I could be more like him in each and every way.
Psalm 33:11-18
For all that I’ve bleated on about David verbally ravaging his enemies in these psalms, for all I’ve baulked at how David has called down all kinds of hellish calamities on his opponents, it is interesting to see that David was, in practice, so committed to his enemies good that he would mourn, fast and weep for them. Suddenly I don’t feel so smug about the more restrained nature of my prayers...
