Conference yukon::christian_v7

761.0. "Commentary: Num. 27:12-23, Jer. 1:4-10, Matt. 3:13-17" by CPCOD::JOHNSON (A rare blue and gold afternoon) Mon Jul 24 1995 18:03

    Each week at my congregation's worship service, we have readings
    from three different Scripture passages, each of which is read
    by a different person from the congregation.  This is usually
    followed by a brief commentary given by another member of the
    congregation.  The readers and commentator know ahead of time
    that they will be doing this so they can be prepared.  It is con-
    sidered an honor to be asked to do this, and often a person will
    be asked to read when something special is going on in their life,
    for example, a couple getting married would be invited up to the
    reading the week prior to their wedding.  This past week was the 
    first time I have done the commentary portion of the service, and 
    I thought I'd share what I said in here.  The passages that were
    read were Numbers 12:12-23, Jeremiah 1:4-10, and Matthew 3:13-17.

    Leslie








    Introduction

    In these passages we read about the ordination of three individuals
    to specific tasks.  These are all very special appointments because
    it is the Lord God who has chosen them, and not a delegation of men.

    Numbers 12:12-23

    In the Numbers passage, Joshua is appointed as the successor to Moshe.
    There are four points in this passage to consider this morning.

    1. We begin with God and Moshe viewing the Promised Land.  God reviews
       with Moshe the reason he will not be the one to lead the Israelites
       into the Land: because Moshe dishonored God before the people when
       he struck the rock to bring forth water instead of speaking to it as 
       God had told him.

       From this we see the immense responsibility a leader has to cleave
       unwaveringly to the One Whom he serves.

    2. Secondly Moshe's response is to acknowledge how easily and quickly 
       the people will stray without a shepherd to guide them.  He also
       recognizes that God will choose the best shepherd.

    3. God's choice is Joshua.  Now God, being God, did not have to justify
       or explain His choice, but He does.  Joshua is a man "in whom is the
       Spirit".  We should understand from this that Joshua is a man whose
       heart cleaves to the Lord -- he has trust and confidence in God.

    4. Finally, God has made the choice, but He also makes provision for all
       the people to know His choice in a way that will enable them to will-
       ingly accept Joshua's leadership.

       Joshua is officially ordained before Eleazar the priest, adn all the
       people.  Starting then, there is a gradual transition of leadership
       from Moshe to Joshua.

    Summary

    In Joshua's appointment we saw an over-riding concern for humanity.
    Joshua is chosen because of his personal qualities.  He is commissioned
    in an official ceremony visible to all the people, and there is a 
    gradual transition from the leadership of Moshe to that of Joshua so that
    the people can see his authority and willingly follow him.

    Jeremiah 1:4-10

    In the commissioning of Jeremiah as the Lord's spokesperson or prophet,
    the emphasis is on God's sovereignty.

    1. The first key to this is the phrase, "The word of the Lord came".  This
       phrase is used to introduce oracles - divine revelation from God.  It is
       used here, in Ezekiel, Haggai, Zechariah, and other prophetic books.

    2. Secondly, God's sovereignty is emphasized in the way He calls Jeremiah
       to his task of prophet:

       "Before I formed you in the womb"
         - God is the Creator, and Jeremiah's Maker
       "I knew you"
         - Before Jeremiah's conception, God already knew him;
           his talents, gifts, and unique personality
       "Before you were born, I set you apart"
         - God chose Jeremiah
       "I appointed you as prophet to the nations."
         - God prepared Jeremiah's task, and Jeremiah for his task
           before the situation and times in which Jeremiah found
           himself had their beginnings.

    3. Jeremiah, like Moshe, protests that he is not a good speaker, but for
       a different reason.  He is young, therefore inexperienced and without
       authority, but again God declares His sovereignty by telling Jeremiah
       that his own abilities or lack of abilities are not matters of concern
       because He, the Lord, will always be with Jeremiah, and will and can
       rescue him from any situation.

    4. Furthermore, God will supply Jeremiah with the words to speak, and 
       will give Jeremiah authority over kings and kingdoms, to build them 
       up or overturn them.

    Summary

    God is in control, and therefore His spokesperson, Jeremiah, can speak 
    and do what the Lord commands in complete confidence.

    Matthew 3:13-17

    In the Matthew passage we see Yeshua innaugerate His ministry by entering
    the waters of the mikveh (baptism).  Like Joshua's commisioning before
    Eleazar the priest and all the people, the Messiah is publically annointed
    before Yochanon (John) and the people gathered around him, but there are
    unique points to consider.

    Unlike Joshua and Jeremiah, there are no passages describing how God
    reveals or calls Yeshau to the task that is His.  There is no need, for 
    Yeshua's task is part of His identity, *His appointment is Who He is*,
    evidenced by the events which occured at His birth and His own deeds and
    words at His Bar Mitzvah when He said, "Didn't you know I had to be in
    my Father's house?"

    As Yeshua comes up dripping wet from the waters of the mikveh, instead of 
    instruction, he receives a benediction, a barucha which centers on Who
    He is: "This is my beloved Son in Whom I am well pleased."
    
    Summary

    Thanks be to God that He appointed Joshua to lead us into the Promised
    Land, Jeremiah to prophecy to the nations, and most of all, that He
    gave us the Messiah, His beloved Son, Who came into the world and gave
    Himself that whomsoever believes in Him would not perish, but have
    eternal life.

    What I thought was neat was that the message (sermon) that followed
    was a study on the concept of eternal life as presented throughout
    Scripture.  So my ending words were a direct lead-in to the message,
    without my having known what the subject of the message was going to be.

    Leslie

      Thanks Leslie, I very much appreciated reading your entry!!
    
    						Tony

    Hi Leslie,
    
    I always enjoy your commentaries!!! :-)  Whether formal or impromptu...
    
    I will extract this and read it later.
    
    Thanks,
    Nancy