  *NOTE: In 2025, Wednesdays will celebrate "Walking in the Word" through application of Biblical doctrine. Biblical doctrine fuels doxology, delight in Jesus, and gospel centered discipleship. Today we begin "Walking in the Word" by celebrating the sovereignty of God.
Key Verse: "In him we have obtained an inheritance, having been predestined according to the purpose of him who works all things according to the counsel of his will." Ephesians 1:11 As a new year begins, we would be wise to realize that life often unfolds in ways we don’t expect. In 2021, Callan Brown and I celebrated the work of John Newton through this Scripture and Song reflection. As 2025 begins, I want to celebrate God’s sovereignty through reflecting on a ministry transition for Jonathan Edwards. In 1750, after 21 years of faithful ministry, Edwards was dismissed from his church in Northampton, Massachusetts. Edward’s congregation voted for his removal (230 to 23) because of his position on regenerate church membership- an experience that must have left Edward’s feeling crushed. Edwards loved the people of Northampton, but in hindsight this painful moment of fracturing from his long-time church family was part of God’s sovereign plan to fertilize kingdom fruitfulness through Edwards in ways he couldn’t have imagined. Edwards’ dismissal led him to the mission field in Stockbridge where he ministered to the Delaware Indians. What seemed like a setback became a stepping stone to bring the gospel to those on the margins of society, participation in God’s purposes to gather His people from every tribe and tongue (Revelation 7:9). Through this redirection, God not only multiplied His mission but also used Edwards’ time serving the Delaware Indians to produce enduring theological works such as The End for which God Created the World. After eight years in Stockbridge, Edwards was invited to be the president of Princeton. Psalm 33:11 reminds us, “the plans of the Lord stand firm forever, the purposes of his heart through all generations.” Whatever surprises come your way in 2025, you can trust that God’s purposes are never thwarted. Even in seasons of disappointment or loss, suffering or trials- God is working for your good and His glory (Romans 8:28-31). In God's sovereignty, our struggle is never the end of the story. What might feel like failure in your life could be God’s way of leading you into new opportunities to glorify Him. As Edwards himself modeled, God is glorified when His people are dependent on Him, satisfied in Him and His sovereignty through trusting His providential leading. Let this be a year of leaning fully on God’s sovereignty, trusting that He is at work in unexpected ways to accomplish His eternal purposes in and through you. Key Verse: "In him we have obtained an inheritance, having been predestined according to the purpose of him who works all things according to the counsel of his will." Ephesians 1:11
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 Key verses
2 “The people of Israel shall camp each by his own standard, with the banners of their fathers' houses. They shall camp facing the tent of meeting on every side. Meditation The centrality of King Jesus defines and unites His people who respond to His grace by living under His reign and for His glory. Historical records recount the Egyptian military formation under Pharaoh Ramses II (1279–1213 BC), organized with the king’s tent at its center. This arrangement symbolized the king’s authority and presence, directing and empowering his army. In today’s reading, Moses conveyed God’s instructions to Israel roughly a century after Ramses II. The original audience would have understood the significance of their own camp’s organization. God, the true King, dwelled in their midst through the tabernacle, the tent of meeting (2, 5:3). His presence was central, embodying His covenantal promises to be with His people and lead them for His glory. God sovereignly arranged His people by tribe and family, each with a designated role and position surrounding the tabernacle. Judah, the leading tribe, took its place at the front of the march (4-9). This divine ordering foreshadowed the coming of Christ, the Lion of the tribe of Judah (Genesis 49:10; Revelation 5:5 ), who fulfills God’s covenant promises and reigns as the Head of His people (Colossians 1:18). Through Christ’s presence, God’s people are empowered to fulfill their roles within His kingdom (Matthew 28:18-20). As the church, Christ’s body, each member has a purpose, contributing to a well-functioning whole with Jesus at the center (1 Corinthians 12:12-26). King Jesus dwells among His people, uniting us through His work and sustaining us by His Spirit, empowering our participation in His kingdom purposes to the glory of God. Today’s Reading The Lord spoke to Moses and Aaron, saying, 2 “The people of Israel shall camp each by his own standard, with the banners of their fathers' houses. They shall camp facing the tent of meeting on every side. 3 Those to camp on the east side toward the sunrise shall be of the standard of the camp of Judah by their companies, the chief of the people of Judah being Nahshon the son of Amminadab, 4 his company as listed being 74,600. 5 Those to camp next to him shall be the tribe of Issachar, the chief of the people of Issachar being Nethanel the son of Zuar, 6 his company as listed being 54,400. 7 Then the tribe of Zebulun, the chief of the people of Zebulun being Eliab the son of Helon, 8 his company as listed being 57,400. 9 All those listed of the camp of Judah, by their companies, were 186,400. They shall set out first on the march. 10 “On the south side shall be the standard of the camp of Reuben by their companies, the chief of the people of Reuben being Elizur the son of Shedeur, 11 his company as listed being 46,500. 12 And those to camp next to him shall be the tribe of Simeon, the chief of the people of Simeon being Shelumiel the son of Zurishaddai, 13 his company as listed being 59,300. 14 Then the tribe of Gad, the chief of the people of Gad being Eliasaph the son of Reuel, 15 his company as listed being 45,650. 16 All those listed of the camp of Reuben, by their companies, were 151,450. They shall set out second. 17 “Then the tent of meeting shall set out, with the camp of the Levites in the midst of the camps; as they camp, so shall they set out, each in position, standard by standard. 18 “On the west side shall be the standard of the camp of Ephraim by their companies, the chief of the people of Ephraim being Elishama the son of Ammihud, 19 his company as listed being 40,500. 20 And next to him shall be the tribe of Manasseh, the chief of the people of Manasseh being Gamaliel the son of Pedahzur,21 his company as listed being 32,200. 22 Then the tribe of Benjamin, the chief of the people of Benjamin being Abidan the son of Gideoni, 23 his company as listed being 35,400. 24 All those listed of the camp of Ephraim, by their companies, were 108,100. They shall set out third on the march. 25 “On the north side shall be the standard of the camp of Dan by their companies, the chief of the people of Dan being Ahiezer the son of Ammishaddai, 26 his company as listed being 62,700. 27 And those to camp next to him shall be the tribe of Asher, the chief of the people of Asher being Pagiel the son of Ochran, 28 his company as listed being 41,500. 29 Then the tribe of Naphtali, the chief of the people of Naphtali being Ahira the son of Enan, 30 his company as listed being 53,400. 31 All those listed of the camp of Dan were 157,600. They shall set out last, standard by standard.” 32 These are the people of Israel as listed by their fathers' houses. All those listed in the camps by their companies were 603,550.33 But the Levites were not listed among the people of Israel, as the Lord commanded Moses. 34 Thus did the people of Israel. According to all that the Lord commanded Moses, so they camped by their standards, and so they set out, each one in his clan, according to his fathers' house. Richly Dwelling -What stands out to you about the formation of God’s people in the wilderness? Why? -Why is it significant that God has prioritized the centrality of His presence for generations, and how does this help you understand the roles and places people have had appointed by the Lord in His Body, the Church? -Why is it empowering to have God’s presence promised, our King in our midst, as we navigate the wilderness of the world and participate in His mission to the world? Key verses 2 “The people of Israel shall camp each by his own standard, with the banners of their fathers' houses. They shall camp facing the tent of meeting on every side.  Key Verse
25 When the disciples heard this, they were greatly astonished, saying, “Who then can be saved?” 26 But Jesus looked at them and said, “With man this is impossible, but with God all things are possible.” Meditation God’s grace liberates us from striving for a righteousness we can never attain on our own. In today’s reading, Jesus reveals that the standard for righteousness before God is impossibly high for fallen humanity. Yet, in His mercy, the perfect work of Jesus Christ provides all we need for a secure relationship with Him now and forever. As large crowds followed Jesus (1-2), the Pharisees sought to test Him, framing a question about divorce to uncover the minimum one must do to be deemed righteous. Jesus elevated the discussion beyond human tradition and Mosaic law, pointing instead to God’s original design in creation (1-12). True righteousness is not found in lowering the standard but in conforming to God’s holy will—a standard no one can meet apart from divine grace. When a rich young man asked Jesus about the requirements to inherit eternal life, Jesus exposed his idolatrous attachment to wealth, revealing that true righteousness demands an undivided heart that treasures God above all (16-30). Jesus’ words highlight that no human effort, whether moral or religious, can secure status of eternal life. Only a heart renewed by God's Spirit evidences true love for God over possessions, people, or personal comfort. Shocked, the disciples asked, “Who then can be saved?” Jesus responded, “With man this is impossible, but with God all things are possible” (25-26). Salvation is entirely of the Lord. Through Christ’s substitutionary death, He took our sin and gives believers His righteousness through the great exchange, fully justifying His people. By grace alone, believers rest in the steadfast love of our Savior, assured of our status as His children and secure eternally through His unshakable covenant promise. Today’s Reading Now when Jesus had finished these sayings, he went away from Galilee and entered the region of Judea beyond the Jordan. 2 And large crowds followed him, and he healed them there. 3 And Pharisees came up to him and tested him by asking, “Is it lawful to divorce one's wife for any cause?” 4 He answered, “Have you not read that he who created them from the beginning made them male and female, 5 and said, ‘Therefore a man shall leave his father and his mother and hold fast to his wife, and the two shall become one flesh’? 6 So they are no longer two but one flesh. What therefore God has joined together, let not man separate.” 7 They said to him, “Why then did Moses command one to give a certificate of divorce and to send her away?” 8 He said to them, “Because of your hardness of heart Moses allowed you to divorce your wives, but from the beginning it was not so. 9 And I say to you: whoever divorces his wife, except for sexual immorality, and marries another, commits adultery.” 10 The disciples said to him, “If such is the case of a man with his wife, it is better not to marry.” 11 But he said to them, “Not everyone can receive this saying, but only those to whom it is given. 12 For there are eunuchs who have been so from birth, and there are eunuchs who have been made eunuchs by men, and there are eunuchs who have made themselves eunuchs for the sake of the kingdom of heaven. Let the one who is able to receive this receive it.” Let the Children Come to Me 13 Then children were brought to him that he might lay his hands on them and pray. The disciples rebuked the people,14 but Jesus said, “Let the little children come to me and do not hinder them, for to such belongs the kingdom of heaven.”15 And he laid his hands on them and went away. The Rich Young Man16 And behold, a man came up to him, saying, “Teacher, what good deed must I do to have eternal life?” 17 And he said to him, “Why do you ask me about what is good? There is only one who is good. If you would enter life, keep the commandments.” 18 He said to him, “Which ones?” And Jesus said, “You shall not murder, You shall not commit adultery, You shall not steal, You shall not bear false witness, 19 Honor your father and mother, and, You shall love your neighbor as yourself.” 20 The young man said to him, “All these I have kept. What do I still lack?” 21 Jesus said to him, “If you would be perfect, go, sell what you possess and give to the poor, and you will have treasure in heaven; and come, follow me.”22 When the young man heard this he went away sorrowful, for he had great possessions. 23 And Jesus said to his disciples, “Truly, I say to you, only with difficulty will a rich person enter the kingdom of heaven.24 Again I tell you, it is easier for a camel to go through the eye of a needle than for a rich person to enter the kingdom of God.” 25 When the disciples heard this, they were greatly astonished, saying, “Who then can be saved?” 26 But Jesus looked at them and said, “With man this is impossible, but with God all things are possible.” 27 Then Peter said in reply, “See, we have left everything and followed you. What then will we have?” 28 Jesus said to them, “Truly, I say to you, in the new world, when the Son of Man will sit on his glorious throne, you who have followed me will also sit on twelve thrones, judging the twelve tribes of Israel. 29 And everyone who has left houses or brothers or sisters or father or mother or children or lands, for my name's sake, will receive a hundredfold and will inherit eternal life. 30 But many who are first will be last, and the last first. Richly Dwelling -What stands out to you from today’s reading, especially the ways Jesus raises the bar of expectations for righteousness? -Where do you identify in falling short, trying to gauge your righteous performance before the Lord to earn a righteous place before Him and secure His favor and blessing? How is that working for you? -Christ alone takes our sin, makes us righteous, gives us a new heart, and empowers us to embrace God’s Garden design. What specific ways can you respond to God’s grace through celebrating God’s design, prioritizing loving Jesus more than anything else? Be specific. Key Verse 25 When the disciples heard this, they were greatly astonished, saying, “Who then can be saved?” 26 But Jesus looked at them and said, “With man this is impossible, but with God all things are possible.”  Key Verse
4 For when Solomon was old his wives turned away his heart after other gods, and his heart was not wholly true to the Lord his God, as was the heart of David his father. Meditation God’s love captures hearts so He Himself is our greatest treasure. Jesus teaches, “Where your treasure is, there your heart will be also” (Matthew 6:21). Through His love and work, Christ frees us to identify the idols of our heart so we can whole heartedly return to the open arms of our loving heavenly Father. Solomon’s downfall was not his wealth, success, or influence, but his wayward heart. In today’s passage, the word “heart” is repeated six times in the first nine verses, emphasizing the root of Solomon’s sin. Solomon gave his heart to unbelieving women, who turned his heart toward false gods, leading Solomon to do evil in the Lord’s sight (vv. 4–8). God’s anger burned against Solomon but His steadfast love restrained full judgment. God declared Solomon's kingdom would be divided (vv. 9–13), raised up adversaries like Hadad (vv. 14–22) and Rezon (vv. 23–25), and promised Jeroboam the northern tribes (vv. 26–40). Yet even in judgement, God’s covenant promises to Solomon's father David remained firm. The “lamp” of David (v. 36) points forward to Jesus, the Light of the world (John 8:12). Jesus, the greater King than Solomon (Matthew 12:42), bore God’s wrath for sin so that believers might be forgiven and begin again. By grace, God gives new hearts to love Him. Through His Spirit, Christians are freed to identify the idols of our hearts, remove them, and worship our true King through by loving Him with whole heart and loving our neighbors as ourselves. Today’s Reading Now King Solomon loved many foreign women, along with the daughter of Pharaoh: Moabite, Ammonite, Edomite, Sidonian, and Hittite women, 2 from the nations concerning which the Lord had said to the people of Israel, “You shall not enter into marriage with them, neither shall they with you, for surely they will turn away your heart after their gods.” Solomon clung to these in love. 3 He had 700 wives, who were princesses, and 300 concubines. And his wives turned away his heart. 4 For when Solomon was old his wives turned away his heart after other gods, and his heart was not wholly true to the Lord his God, as was the heart of David his father. 5 For Solomon went after Ashtoreth the goddess of the Sidonians, and after Milcom the abomination of the Ammonites. 6 So Solomon did what was evil in the sight of the Lord and did not wholly follow the Lord, as David his father had done. 7 Then Solomon built a high place for Chemosh the abomination of Moab, and for Molech the abomination of the Ammonites, on the mountain east of Jerusalem. 8 And so he did for all his foreign wives, who made offerings and sacrificed to their gods. The Lord Raises Adversaries 9 And the Lord was angry with Solomon, because his heart had turned away from the Lord, the God of Israel, who had appeared to him twice 10 and had commanded him concerning this thing, that he should not go after other gods. But he did not keep what the Lord commanded. 11 Therefore the Lord said to Solomon, “Since this has been your practice and you have not kept my covenant and my statutes that I have commanded you, I will surely tear the kingdom from you and will give it to your servant. 12 Yet for the sake of David your father I will not do it in your days, but I will tear it out of the hand of your son.13 However, I will not tear away all the kingdom, but I will give one tribe to your son, for the sake of David my servant and for the sake of Jerusalem that I have chosen.” 14 And the Lord raised up an adversary against Solomon, Hadad the Edomite. He was of the royal house in Edom. 15 For when David was in Edom, and Joab the commander of the army went up to bury the slain, he struck down every male in Edom 16 (for Joab and all Israel remained there six months, until he had cut off every male in Edom). 17 But Hadad fled to Egypt, together with certain Edomites of his father's servants, Hadad still being a little child. 18 They set out from Midian and came to Paran and took men with them from Paran and came to Egypt, to Pharaoh king of Egypt, who gave him a house and assigned him an allowance of food and gave him land. 19 And Hadad found great favor in the sight of Pharaoh, so that he gave him in marriage the sister of his own wife, the sister of Tahpenes the queen. 20 And the sister of Tahpenes bore him Genubath his son, whom Tahpenes weaned in Pharaoh's house. And Genubath was in Pharaoh's house among the sons of Pharaoh. 21 But when Hadad heard in Egypt that David slept with his fathers and that Joab the commander of the army was dead, Hadad said to Pharaoh, “Let me depart, that I may go to my own country.” 22 But Pharaoh said to him, “What have you lacked with me that you are now seeking to go to your own country?” And he said to him, “Only let me depart.” 23 God also raised up as an adversary to him, Rezon the son of Eliada, who had fled from his master Hadadezer king of Zobah.24 And he gathered men about him and became leader of a marauding band, after the killing by David. And they went to Damascus and lived there and made him king in Damascus.25 He was an adversary of Israel all the days of Solomon, doing harm as Hadad did. And he loathed Israel and reigned over Syria. 26 Jeroboam the son of Nebat, an Ephraimite of Zeredah, a servant of Solomon, whose mother's name was Zeruah, a widow, also lifted up his hand against the king. 27 And this was the reason why he lifted up his hand against the king. Solomon built the Millo, and closed up the breach of the city of David his father. 28 The man Jeroboam was very able, and when Solomon saw that the young man was industrious he gave him charge over all the forced labor of the house of Joseph. 29 And at that time, when Jeroboam went out of Jerusalem, the prophet Ahijah the Shilonite found him on the road. Now Ahijah had dressed himself in a new garment, and the two of them were alone in the open country. 30 Then Ahijah laid hold of the new garment that was on him, and tore it into twelve pieces.31 And he said to Jeroboam, “Take for yourself ten pieces, for thus says the Lord, the God of Israel, ‘Behold, I am about to tear the kingdom from the hand of Solomon and will give you ten tribes 32 (but he shall have one tribe, for the sake of my servant David and for the sake of Jerusalem, the city that I have chosen out of all the tribes of Israel), 33 because they have forsaken me and worshiped Ashtoreth the goddess of the Sidonians, Chemosh the god of Moab, and Milcom the god of the Ammonites, and they have not walked in my ways, doing what is right in my sight and keeping my statutes and my rules, as David his father did. 34 Nevertheless, I will not take the whole kingdom out of his hand, but I will make him ruler all the days of his life, for the sake of David my servant whom I chose, who kept my commandments and my statutes. 35 But I will take the kingdom out of his son's hand and will give it to you, ten tribes. 36 Yet to his son I will give one tribe, that David my servant may always have a lamp before me in Jerusalem, the city where I have chosen to put my name. 37 And I will take you, and you shall reign over all that your soul desires, and you shall be king over Israel. 38 And if you will listen to all that I command you, and will walk in my ways, and do what is right in my eyes by keeping my statutes and my commandments, as David my servant did, I will be with you and will build you a sure house, as I built for David, and I will give Israel to you. 39 And I will afflict the offspring of David because of this, but not forever.’” 40 Solomon sought therefore to kill Jeroboam. But Jeroboam arose and fled into Egypt, to Shishak king of Egypt, and was in Egypt until the death of Solomon. 41 Now the rest of the acts of Solomon, and all that he did, and his wisdom, are they not written in the Book of the Acts of Solomon? 42 And the time that Solomon reigned in Jerusalem over all Israel was forty years. 43 And Solomon slept with his fathers and was buried in the city of David his father. And Rehoboam his son reigned in his place. Richly Dwelling -What stands out to you from today’s reading, especially the narrator’s emphasis on Solomon’s heart inverses 1-9? -Are you surprised by the consequences of Solomon’s sin? Where do you identify, seeing consequences of you giving your heart to idols of this world? -Jesus absorbed the anger of God against sin so you can be forgiven, repentant, removing the idols of your heart in order to return to the open arms of our Father with all your heart. Where do you need to repent and remove the idols of your heart, returning to Jesus with all your heart? Be specific. Key Verse 4 For when Solomon was old his wives turned away his heart after other gods, and his heart was not wholly true to the Lord his God, as was the heart of David his father.  Key Verse
The Lord spoke to Moses in the wilderness of Sinai, in the tent of meeting, on the first day of the second month, in the second year after they had come out of the land of Egypt… Meditation God meets His people in the wilderness, guiding us by His Word and sustaining us by His sovereign grace. In seasons of wilderness struggle, God’s shepherding care invites His people to trust Him by hoping in His word and His promises. The Hebrew title for the book of Numbers, In the Wilderness (1:1, 19), reflects Israel’s journey from Egypt to the Promised Land. More than a geographic and genealogical record, Numbers reveals the spiritual state of God’s people. God’s Word, central to Israel's wilderness journey (1:1, 19, 54), remains the guide through every trial. Hymns like Guide me oh Thou Great Jehovah echo this truth for God's people throughout history, reminding us that God leads His children through hardship to hope. Paul draws from Numbers to warn believers against wilderness unfaithfulness: craving evil, testing the Lord, or failing to trust His provision. Instead, God uses wilderness seasons to reveal Jesus Christ, the true source of life and strength (1 Corinthians 10:1-13). The opening chapter of Numbers offers at least three encouragements for weary souls:
Today’s Reading The Lord spoke to Moses in the wilderness of Sinai, in the tent of meeting, on the first day of the second month, in the second year after they had come out of the land of Egypt, saying, 2 “Take a census of all the congregation of the people of Israel, by clans, by fathers' houses, according to the number of names, every male, head by head. 3 From twenty years old and upward, all in Israel who are able to go to war, you and Aaron shall list them, company by company. 4 And there shall be with you a man from each tribe, each man being the head of the house of his fathers. 5 And these are the names of the men who shall assist you. From Reuben, Elizur the son of Shedeur; 6 from Simeon, Shelumiel the son of Zurishaddai; 7 from Judah, Nahshon the son of Amminadab; 8 from Issachar, Nethanel the son of Zuar; 9 from Zebulun, Eliab the son of Helon; 10 from the sons of Joseph, from Ephraim, Elishama the son of Ammihud, and from Manasseh, Gamaliel the son of Pedahzur;11 from Benjamin, Abidan the son of Gideoni; 12 from Dan, Ahiezer the son of Ammishaddai; 13 from Asher, Pagiel the son of Ochran;14 from Gad, Eliasaph the son of Deuel; 15 from Naphtali, Ahira the son of Enan.” 16 These were the ones chosen from the congregation, the chiefs of their ancestral tribes, the heads of the clans of Israel. 17 Moses and Aaron took these men who had been named, 18 and on the first day of the second month, they assembled the whole congregation together, who registered themselves by clans, by fathers' houses, according to the number of names from twenty years old and upward, head by head, 19 as the Lord commanded Moses. So he listed them in the wilderness of Sinai. 20 The people of Reuben, Israel's firstborn, their generations, by their clans, by their fathers' houses, according to the number of names, head by head, every male from twenty years old and upward, all who were able to go to war: 21 those listed of the tribe of Reuben were 46,500. 22 Of the people of Simeon, their generations, by their clans, by their fathers' houses, those of them who were listed, according to the number of names, head by head, every male from twenty years old and upward, all who were able to go to war: 23 those listed of the tribe of Simeon were 59,300. 24 Of the people of Gad, their generations, by their clans, by their fathers' houses, according to the number of the names, from twenty years old and upward, all who were able to go to war:25 those listed of the tribe of Gad were 45,650. 26 Of the people of Judah, their generations, by their clans, by their fathers' houses, according to the number of names, from twenty years old and upward, every man able to go to war: 27 those listed of the tribe of Judah were 74,600. 28 Of the people of Issachar, their generations, by their clans, by their fathers' houses, according to the number of names, from twenty years old and upward, every man able to go to war: 29 those listed of the tribe of Issachar were 54,400. 30 Of the people of Zebulun, their generations, by their clans, by their fathers' houses, according to the number of names, from twenty years old and upward, every man able to go to war: 31 those listed of the tribe of Zebulun were 57,400. 32 Of the people of Joseph, namely, of the people of Ephraim, their generations, by their clans, by their fathers' houses, according to the number of names, from twenty years old and upward, every man able to go to war: 33 those listed of the tribe of Ephraim were 40,500. 34 Of the people of Manasseh, their generations, by their clans, by their fathers' houses, according to the number of names, from twenty years old and upward, every man able to go to war: 35 those listed of the tribe of Manasseh were 32,200. 36 Of the people of Benjamin, their generations, by their clans, by their fathers' houses, according to the number of names, from twenty years old and upward, every man able to go to war: 37 those listed of the tribe of Benjamin were 35,400. 38 Of the people of Dan, their generations, by their clans, by their fathers' houses, according to the number of names, from twenty years old and upward, every man able to go to war: 39 those listed of the tribe of Dan were 62,700. 40 Of the people of Asher, their generations, by their clans, by their fathers' houses, according to the number of names, from twenty years old and upward, every man able to go to war: 41 those listed of the tribe of Asher were 41,500. 42 Of the people of Naphtali, their generations, by their clans, by their fathers' houses, according to the number of names, from twenty years old and upward, every man able to go to war: 43 those listed of the tribe of Naphtali were 53,400. 44 These are those who were listed, whom Moses and Aaron listed with the help of the chiefs of Israel, twelve men, each representing his fathers' house. 45 So all those listed of the people of Israel, by their fathers' houses, from twenty years old and upward, every man able to go to war in Israel— 46 all those listed were 603,550. Levites Exempted 47 But the Levites were not listed along with them by their ancestral tribe. 48 For the Lord spoke to Moses, saying, 49 “Only the tribe of Levi you shall not list, and you shall not take a census of them among the people of Israel. 50 But appoint the Levites over the tabernacle of the testimony, and over all its furnishings, and over all that belongs to it. They are to carry the tabernacle and all its furnishings, and they shall take care of it and shall camp around the tabernacle. 51 When the tabernacle is to set out, the Levites shall take it down, and when the tabernacle is to be pitched, the Levites shall set it up. And if any outsider comes near, he shall be put to death. 52 The people of Israel shall pitch their tents by their companies, each man in his own camp and each man by his own standard. 53 But the Levites shall camp around the tabernacle of the testimony, so that there may be no wrath on the congregation of the people of Israel. And the Levites shall keep guard over the tabernacle of the testimony.” 54 Thus did the people of Israel; they did according to all that the Lord commanded Moses. Richly Dwelling -What stands out to you from today’s reading, especially the Lord speaking to His people in the wilderness, His faithfulness to His word, care in counting, and preparing His people to engage His promises? -Which of the ways Paul used numbers (in the meditation) do you most identify with, and why? -Jesus entered into the wilderness faithfully as our representative, so through His work we can be secure in God’s covenant care. Where do you need to trust God’s presence, promises, and power as you wander in the wilderness of our fallen world? Be specific. Key Verse The Lord spoke to Moses in the wilderness of Sinai, in the tent of meeting, on the first day of the second month, in the second year after they had come out of the land of Egypt, saying…  Key Verse
10 Let the righteous one rejoice in the Lord and take refuge in him! Let all the upright in heart exult! Meditation Prayer transforms problems into praise by directing our hearts to God’s sovereign power and covenant faithfulness. In today’s psalm, David prays for deliverance from the schemes of evildoers seeking to overthrow him (vv. 1–2). The wicked, armed with sharp tongues, believed their slander and deceit were hidden from God (vv. 3–6). David, however, entrusted himself to the Lord, praying for divine justice—that the wicked’s plots would reverse upon them. While the wicked use words to destroy, the righteous use words to petition God in prayer, trusting in His righteous rule. Faith in God’s promises enables the righteous to journey from problems to praise, from pain to joy. David’s confidence that God would swiftly turn the tide of his enemies’ attacks (vv. 7–9) culminates in an invitation for all who trust in the Lord to rejoice in His salvation (v. 10). God’s covenant faithfulness guarantees His protection for His people and judgment upon their enemies. This journey finds ultimate fulfillment in Jesus Christ. The religious leaders of Jesus’s day mirrored the enemies described in this psalm. But unlike David, Jesus was not spared; He was delivered into their hands, bearing the full weight of their wickedness and God’s wrath for our sins. Through Jesus’ resurrection, God decisively turned the tide of the enemy’s assault, offering salvation to all who trust in Him. Faith in Jesus manifests in prayer, relying on His promises and power to transform every trial into a testimony of His sovereign grace, leading His people to praise our God who works all things for His glory and our good. Today’s Reading Hear my voice, O God, in my complaint; preserve my life from dread of the enemy. 2 Hide me from the secret plots of the wicked, from the throng of evildoers, 3 who whet their tongues like swords, who aim bitter words like arrows, 4 shooting from ambush at the blameless, shooting at him suddenly and without fear. 5 They hold fast to their evil purpose; they talk of laying snares secretly, thinking, “Who can see them?” 6 They search out injustice, saying, “We have accomplished a diligent search.” For the inward mind and heart of a man are deep. 7 But God shoots his arrow at them; they are wounded suddenly. 8 They are brought to ruin, with their own tongues turned against them; all who see them will wag their heads. 9 Then all mankind fears; they tell what God has brought about and ponder what he has done.10 Let the righteous one rejoice in the Lord and take refuge in him! Let all the upright in heart exult! Richly Dwelling -What stands out to you from today’s reading, especially how the problems David prays about are transformed to praise by the end of the psalm? -When problems come, where is your faith? That is, who or what do you trust to defend you or rescue you from difficulties or devastating attacks from others? -How does the work of Jesus both give you security and strengthen you to trust in Him, praying to Him and meditating on His promises? Take a moment to do that- pray to Jesus for your problems to be transformed by His power, and feast on His promises as your heart moves to praise. Key Verse 10 Let the righteous one rejoice in the Lord and take refuge in him! Let all the upright in heart exult! |
AuthorMitchell celebrates twenty-six years of marriage with Lisa & together they have four fantastic children. Archives
February 2026
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