One Story That Leads to Jesus, Day 42
Numbers 8
8The LORD said to Moses,H3068H1696H4872H5592"Give Aaron the following instructions: When you set up the seven lamps in the lampstand, place them so their light shines forward in front of the lampstand."H1696H175H559H5927H5216H7651H5216H215H6440H4136H45013So Aaron did this. He set up the seven lamps so they reflected their light forward, just as the LORD had commanded Moses.H175H6213H5927H5216H4136H6440H4501H3068H6680H48724The entire lampstand, from its base to its decorative blossoms, was made of beaten gold. It was built according to the exact design the LORD had shown Moses.H4639H4501H4749H2091H3409H6525H4749H4758H3068H7200H4872H6213H45015Then the LORD said to Moses,H3068H1696H4872H5596"Now set the Levites apart from the rest of the people of Israel and make them ceremonially clean.H3947H3881H8432H1121H3478H28917Do this by sprinkling them with the water of purification, and have them shave their entire body and wash their clothing. Then they will be ceremonially clean.H6213H2891H5137H4325H2403H8593H5674H1320H3526H899H28918Have them bring a young bull and a grain offering of choice flour moistened with olive oil, along with a second young bull for a sin offering.H3947H1121H1241H6499H4503H5560H1101H8081H8145H1121H1241H6499H3947H24039Then assemble the whole community of Israel, and present the Levites at the entrance of the Tabernacle.H7126H3881H6440H168H4150H6950H5712H1121H3478H695010When you present the Levites before the LORD, the people of Israel must lay their hands on them.H7126H3881H6440H3068H1121H3478H5564H3027H388111Raising his hands, Aaron must then present the Levites to the LORD as a special offering from the people of Israel, thus dedicating them to the LORD's service.H175H5130H3881H6440H3068H8573H1121H3478H5647H5656H306812"Next the Levites will lay their hands on the heads of the young bulls. Present one as a sin offering and the other as a burnt offering to the LORD, to purify the Levites and make them right with the LORD.H3881H5564H3027H7218H6499H6213H259H2403H259H5930H3068H3722H388113Then have the Levites stand in front of Aaron and his sons, and raise your hands and present them as a special offering to the LORD.H5975H3881H6440H175H6440H1121H5130H8573H306814In this way, you will set the Levites apart from the rest of the people of Israel, and the Levites will belong to me.H914H3881H8432H1121H3478H388115After this, they may go into the Tabernacle to do their work, because you have purified them and presented them as a special offering.H310H3881H935H5647H168H4150H2891H5130H857316"Of all the people of Israel, the Levites are reserved for me. I have claimed them for myself in place of all the firstborn sons of the Israelites; I have taken the Levites as their substitutes.H5414H8432H1121H3478H6363H7358H1060H1121H3478H394717For all the firstborn males among the people of Israel are mine, both of people and of animals. I set them apart for myself on the day I struck down all the firstborn sons of the Egyptians.H1060H1121H3478H120H929H3117H5221H1060H776H4714H694218Yes, I have claimed the Levites in place of all the firstborn sons of Israel.H3947H3881H1060H1121H347819And of all the Israelites, I have assigned the Levites to Aaron and his sons. They will serve in the Tabernacle on behalf of the Israelites and make sacrifices to purify the people so no plague will strike them when they approach the sanctuary."H5414H3881H5414H175H1121H8432H1121H3478H5647H5656H1121H3478H168H4150H3722H1121H3478H5063H1121H3478H1121H3478H5066H694420So Moses, Aaron, and the whole community of Israel dedicated the Levites, carefully following all the LORD's instructions to Moses.H4872H175H5712H1121H3478H6213H3881H3068H6680H4872H3881H6213H1121H347821The Levites purified themselves from sin and washed their clothes, and Aaron lifted them up and presented them to the LORD as a special offering. He then offered a sacrifice to purify them and make them right with the LORD.H3881H2398H3526H899H175H5130H8573H6440H3068H175H3722H289122After that the Levites went into the Tabernacle to perform their duties, assisting Aaron and his sons. So they carried out all the commands that the LORD gave Moses concerning the Levites.H310H935H3881H5647H5656H168H4150H6440H175H6440H1121H3068H6680H4872H3881H621323The LORD also instructed Moses,H3068H1696H4872H55924"This is the rule the Levites must follow: They must begin serving in the Tabernacle at the age of twenty-five,H3881H6242H2568H8141H1121H4605H935H6633H6635H5656H168H415025and they must retire at the age of fifty.H1121H2572H8141H7725H6635H5656H564726After retirement they may assist their fellow Levites by serving as guards at the Tabernacle, but they may not officiate in the service. This is how you must assign duties to the Levites."H8334H251H168H4150H8104H4931H5647H5656H6213H3881H4931
Numbers 9
9A year after Israel's departure from Egypt, the LORD spoke to Moses in the wilderness of Sinai. In the first month of that year he said,H3068H1696H4872H4057H5514H7223H2320H8145H8141H3318H776H4714H5592"Tell the Israelites to celebrate the Passover at the prescribed time,H1121H3478H6213H6453H41503at twilight on the fourteenth day of the first month. Be sure to follow all my decrees and regulations concerning this celebration."H702H6240H3117H2320H6153H6213H4150H2708H4941H62134So Moses told the people to celebrate the PassoverH4872H1696H1121H3478H6213H64535in the wilderness of Sinai as twilight fell on the fourteenth day of the month. And they celebrated the festival there, just as the LORD had commanded Moses.H6213H6453H702H6240H3117H7223H2320H6153H4057H5514H3068H6680H4872H6213H1121H34786But some of the men had been ceremonially defiled by touching a dead body, so they could not celebrate the Passover that day. They came to Moses and Aaron that dayH582H2931H5315H120H3201H6213H6453H3117H7126H6440H4872H6440H175H31177and said, "We have become ceremonially unclean by touching a dead body. But why should we be prevented from presenting the LORD's offering at the proper time with the rest of the Israelites?"H1992H582H559H2931H5315H120H1639H7126H7133H3068H4150H8432H1121H34788Moses answered, "Wait here until I have received instructions for you from the LORD."H4872H559H5975H8085H3068H66809This was the LORD's reply to Moses.H3068H1696H4872H55910"Give the following instructions to the people of Israel: If any of the people now or in future generations are ceremonially unclean at Passover time because of touching a dead body, or if they are on a journey and cannot be present at the ceremony, they may still celebrate the LORD's Passover.H1696H1121H3478H559H376H376H1755H2931H5315H1870H7350H6213H6453H306811They must offer the Passover sacrifice one month later, at twilight on the fourteenth day of the second month. They must eat the Passover lamb at that time with bitter salad greens and bread made without yeast.H702H6240H3117H8145H2320H6153H6213H398H4682H484412They must not leave any of the lamb until the next morning, and they must not break any of its bones. They must follow all the normal regulations concerning the Passover.H7604H1242H7665H6106H2708H6453H621313"But those who neglect to celebrate the Passover at the regular time, even though they are ceremonially clean and not away on a trip, will be cut off from the community of Israel. If they fail to present the LORD's offering at the proper time, they will suffer the consequences of their guilt.H376H2889H1870H2308H6213H6453H5315H3772H5971H7126H7133H3068H4150H376H5375H239914And if foreigners living among you want to celebrate the Passover to the LORD, they must follow these same decrees and regulations. The same laws apply both to native-born Israelites and to the foreigners living among you."H1616H1481H6213H6453H3068H2708H6453H4941H6213H259H2708H1616H249H77615On the day the Tabernacle was set up, the cloud covered it. But from evening until morning the cloud over the Tabernacle looked like a pillar of fire.H3117H4908H6965H6051H3680H4908H168H5715H6153H4908H4758H784H124216This was the regular pattern—at night the cloud that covered the Tabernacle had the appearance of fire.H8548H6051H3680H4758H784H391517Whenever the cloud lifted from over the sacred tent, the people of Israel would break camp and follow it. And wherever the cloud settled, the people of Israel would set up camp.H6310H6051H5927H168H310H1121H3478H5265H4725H6051H7931H1121H3478H258318In this way, they traveled and camped at the LORD's command wherever he told them to go. Then they remained in their camp as long as the cloud stayed over the Tabernacle.H6310H3068H1121H3478H5265H6310H3068H2583H3117H6051H7931H4908H258319If the cloud remained over the Tabernacle for a long time, the Israelites stayed and performed their duty to the LORD.H6051H748H4908H7227H3117H1121H3478H8104H4931H3068H526520Sometimes the cloud would stay over the Tabernacle for only a few days, so the people would stay for only a few days, as the LORD commanded. Then at the LORD's command they would break camp and move on.H3426H6051H4557H3117H4908H6310H3068H2583H6310H3068H526521Sometimes the cloud stayed only overnight and lifted the next morning. But day or night, when the cloud lifted, the people broke camp and moved on.H3426H6051H6153H1242H6051H5927H1242H5265H3119H3915H6051H5927H526522Whether the cloud stayed above the Tabernacle for two days, a month, or a year, the people of Israel stayed in camp and did not move on. But as soon as it lifted, they broke camp and moved on.H3117H2320H3117H6051H748H4908H7931H1121H3478H2583H5265H5927H526523So they camped or traveled at the LORD's command, and they did whatever the LORD told them through Moses.H6310H3068H2583H6310H3068H5265H8104H4931H3068H6310H3068H3027H4872
Numbers 10
10Now the LORD said to Moses,H3068H1696H4872H5592"Make two trumpets of hammered silver for calling the community to assemble and for signaling the breaking of camp.H6213H8147H2689H3701H4749H6213H1961H4744H5712H4550H42643When both trumpets are blown, everyone must gather before you at the entrance of the Tabernacle.H8628H2004H5712H3259H6607H168H41504But if only one trumpet is blown, then only the leaders—the heads of the clans of Israel—must present themselves to you.H8628H259H5387H7218H505H3478H32595"When you sound the signal to move on, the tribes camped on the east side of the Tabernacle must break camp and move forward.H8628H8643H4264H2583H6924H52656When you sound the signal a second time, the tribes camped on the south will follow. You must sound short blasts as the signal for moving on.H8628H8643H8145H4264H2583H8486H5265H8628H8643H45507But when you call the people to an assembly, blow the trumpets with a different signal.H6951H6950H8628H73218Only the priests, Aaron's descendants, are allowed to blow the trumpets. This is a permanent law for you, to be observed from generation to generation.H1121H175H3548H8628H2689H2708H5769H17559"When you arrive in your own land and go to war against your enemies who attack you, sound the alarm with the trumpets. Then the LORD your God will remember you and rescue you from your enemies.H935H4421H776H6862H6887H7321H2689H2142H6440H3068H430H3467H34110Blow the trumpets in times of gladness, too, sounding them at your annual festivals and at the beginning of each month. And blow the trumpets over your burnt offerings and peace offerings. The trumpets will remind the LORD your God of his covenant with you. I am the LORD your God."H3117H8057H4150H7218H2320H8628H2689H5930H2077H8002H2146H6440H430H3068H43011In the second year after Israel's departure from Egypt—on the twentieth day of the second month—the cloud lifted from the Tabernacle of the Covenant.H6242H8145H2320H8145H8141H6051H5927H4908H571512So the Israelites set out from the wilderness of Sinai and traveled on from place to place until the cloud stopped in the wilderness of Paran.H1121H3478H5265H4550H4057H5514H6051H7931H4057H629013When the people set out for the first time, following the instructions the LORD had given through Moses,H7223H5265H6310H3068H3027H487214Judah's troops led the way. They marched behind their banner, and their leader was Nahshon son of Amminadab.H7223H5265H1714H4264H1121H3063H6635H5177H1121H599215They were joined by the troops of the tribe of Issachar, led by Nethanel son of Zuar,H6635H4294H1121H3485H5417H1121H668616and the troops of the tribe of Zebulun, led by Eliab son of Helon.H6635H4294H1121H2074H446H1121H249717Then the Tabernacle was taken down, and the Gershonite and Merarite divisions of the Levites were next in the line of march, carrying the Tabernacle with them.H4908H3381H1121H1648H1121H4847H5265H5375H490818Reuben's troops went next, marching behind their banner. Their leader was Elizur son of Shedeur.H1714H4264H7205H5265H6635H6635H468H1121H770719They were joined by the troops of the tribe of Simeon, led by Shelumiel son of Zurishaddai,H6635H4294H1121H8095H8017H1121H670120and the troops of the tribe of Gad, led by Eliasaph son of Deuel.H6635H4294H1121H1410H460H1121H184521Next came the Kohathite division of the Levites, carrying the sacred objects from the Tabernacle. Before they arrived at the next camp, the Tabernacle would already be set up at its new location.H6956H5265H5375H4720H6965H4908H93522Ephraim's troops went next, marching behind their banner. Their leader was Elishama son of Ammihud.H1714H4264H1121H669H5265H6635H6635H476H1121H598923They were joined by the troops of the tribe of Manasseh, led by Gamaliel son of Pedahzur,H6635H4294H1121H4519H1583H1121H630124and the troops of the tribe of Benjamin, led by Abidan son of Gideoni.H6635H4294H1121H1144H27H1121H144125Dan's troops went last, marching behind their banner and serving as the rear guard for all the tribal camps. Their leader was Ahiezer son of Ammishaddai.H1714H4264H1121H1835H5265H622H4264H6635H6635H295H1121H599626They were joined by the troops of the tribe of Asher, led by Pagiel son of Ocran,H6635H4294H1121H836H6295H1121H591827and the troops of the tribe of Naphtali, led by Ahira son of Enan.H6635H4294H1121H5321H299H1121H588128This was the order in which the Israelites marched, division by division.H428H4550H1121H3478H6635H526529One day Moses said to his brother-in-law, Hobab son of Reuel the Midianite, "We are on our way to the place the LORD promised us, for he said, 'I will give it to you.' Come with us and we will treat you well, for the LORD has promised wonderful blessings for Israel!"H4872H559H2246H1121H7467H4084H4872H2859H5265H4725H3068H559H5414H3212H2895H3068H1696H2896H347830But Hobab replied, "No, I will not go. I must return to my own land and family."H559H3212H3212H776H413831"Please don't leave us," Moses pleaded. "You know the places in the wilderness where we should camp. Come, be our guide.H559H5800H3651H3045H2583H4057H586932If you do, we'll share with you all the blessings the LORD gives us."H3212H2896H3068H3190H289533They marched for three days after leaving the mountain of the LORD, with the Ark of the LORD's Covenant moving ahead of them to show them where to stop and rest.H5265H2022H3068H7969H3117H1870H727H1285H3068H5265H6440H7969H3117H1870H8446H449634As they moved on each day, the cloud of the LORD hovered over them.H6051H3068H3119H5265H426435And whenever the Ark set out, Moses would shout, "Arise, O LORD, and let your enemies be scattered! Let them flee before you!"H727H5265H4872H559H6965H3068H341H6327H8130H5127H644036And when the Ark was set down, he would say, "Return, O LORD, to the countless thousands of Israel!"H5117H559H7725H3068H7233H505H3478
Psalms 42
42[For the choir director: A psalm of the descendants of Korah.] As the deer longs for streams of water, so I long for you, O God.H5329H4905H1121H7141H354H6165H4325H650H6165H5315H4302I thirst for God, the living God. When can I go and stand before him?H5315H6770H430H2416H410H935H7200H6440H4303Day and night I have only tears for food, while my enemies continually taunt me, saying, "Where is this God of yours?"H1832H3899H3119H3915H3117H559H4304My heart is breaking as I remember how it used to be. I walked among the crowds of worshipers, leading a great procession to the house of God, singing for joy and giving thanks amid the sound of a great celebration!H2142H8210H5315H5674H5519H1718H1004H430H6963H7440H8426H1995H22875Why am I discouraged? Why is my heart so sad? I will put my hope in God! I will praise him again—my Savior andH7817H5315H1993H3176H430H3034H3444H64406my God! Now I am deeply discouraged, but I will remember you—even from distant Mount Hermon, the source of the Jordan, from the land of Mount Mizar.H430H5315H7817H2142H776H3383H2769H2022H47067I hear the tumult of the raging seas as your waves and surging tides sweep over me.H8415H7121H8415H6963H6794H4867H1530H56748But each day the LORD pours his unfailing love upon me, and through each night I sing his songs, praying to God who gives me life.H3068H6680H2617H3119H3915H7892H8605H410H24169"O God my rock," I cry, "Why have you forgotten me? Why must I wander around in grief, oppressed by my enemies?"H559H410H5553H7911H3212H6937H3906H34110Their taunts break my bones. They scoff, "Where is this God of yours?"H7524H6106H6887H2778H559H3117H43011Why am I discouraged? Why is my heart so sad? I will put my hope in God! I will praise him again—my Savior and my God!H7817H5315H1993H3176H430H3034H3444H6440H430
Dublin, OH
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