Numbers 35:1-36:13
So Numbers closes with a passage of bureaucracy. But any former civil servant like myself would tell you that bureaucracy reflects values and the value being enshrined in this particular piece of paperwork is that of fairness - of justice. Although this justice does prescribe severe punishment for an act of murder, the main thrust of it seems to be towards mercy and restraint. Anyone has the mercy of a city of refuge to flee to if they fear their own life. Anyone has the right to inherit some land to live in and to harvest. These are profound and robust principles that demonstrate God’s desire to see people prosper and society operating in a loving and orderly manner. God deeply desires to see each person respecting the value of their neighbours and giving them the opportunity to pursue their desires in life. But this is not just communism. The song of justice is not about freedom from oppression and prosperity in the land, no, the song of justice has a rhythm and a melody of worship. Justice is about acknowledging that God dwells among us and respecting the awesome privilege of that. Justice is about love of God and love of those around us. Justice is pure devotion to Yahweh and care for the people whom He has placed on this earth.
Luke 9:28-56
The Jesus journey is reaching a critical point; patterns have been set, eyes have been opened, hearts have been captured. And so it is the time for the lightening fire of pure revelation to be injected into the mix. It is not the lightening fire of judgement as Israel may have expected - judgement of the Romans, judgement of the corrupt members of Jewish society - but the lightening fire of the identity of a single man and the news of his departure. Often it is entrances that are glorious, it is arrivals that stir the crowds. But with Jesus it is his departure that excites figures no less great than Moses and Elijah. The glorious splendour of Jesus is not that he comes with a sword but that he departs to leave his Spirit. His desire, at this stage in proceedings, is not to establish an earthly power that draws lines around itself and calls down fire on all those who fall outside. His desire is to depart so that he house can be opened to all, so that service and downward mobility, welcome and permission can be released in and through the work of his Holy Spirit. This is the time in which we live and this is the glorious inheritance that we have received - a departed king and yet experience of his releasing, empowering presence.
Psalm 40:9-17
David’s enemies really need to get a better insult. If the best they can do is “aha! aha!” then they really need to go back to evil school.
