Day 75 One-Year Daily Bible Passages – Numbers 24:1–25:18; Luke 2:1-35; Psalm 59:1-17; Proverbs 11:14
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There Shall Come a Star Out of Jacob
I shall see him, but not now: I shall behold him, but not nigh: There shall come a Star out of Jacob, And a Sceptre shall rise out of Israel, And shall smite the corners of Moab, And destroy all the children of Sheth. – Numbers 24:17
Phinehas Rose Up from Among the Congregation
And, behold, one of the children of Israel came and brought unto his brethren a Midianitish woman in the sight of Moses, and in the sight of all the congregation of the children of Israel, who were weeping before the door of the tabernacle of the congregation. And when Phinehas, the son of Eleazar, the son of Aaron the priest, saw it, he rose up from among the congregation, and took a javelin in his hand; and he went after the man of Israel into the tent, and thrust both of them through, the man of Israel, and the woman through her belly. So the plague was stayed from the children of Israel. And those that died in the plague were twenty and four thousand. – Numbers 25:6-9
Phinehas was Zealous for His God
And the LORD spake unto Moses, saying, Phinehas, the son of Eleazar, the son of Aaron the priest, hath turned my wrath away from the children of Israel, while he was zealous for my sake among them, that I consumed not the children of Israel in my jealousy. Wherefore say, Behold, I give unto him my covenant of peace: and he shall have it, and his seed after him, even the covenant of an everlasting priesthood; because he was zealous for his God, and made an atonement for the children of Israel. – Numbers 25:10-13
A plague was on the people because the Israelites had begun having relations with other people, which God had forbidden. Twenty-four thousand had died. One of the men brought a Midianite woman and flaunted her before the Children of Israel as they wept before the Lord. Aaron’s son saw this and immediately killed the Israelite man along with this woman. The plague ceased. God hates mixture!
Phinehas, Aaron’s son, was the man who brought this plague to a halt, and the Lord was very pleased with him for taking these two out because it shows that Phinehas was zealous for God’s sake!
Can that be said of me? Am I zealous to invest myself in those things that please the Father? Am I just as zealous to quickly destroy the things (in my world) that God hates? Am I zealous for these things simply because He is God, and I serve Him and Him alone? Am I zealous for God’s sake?
Zealous – fervor for a person, cause, or object; eager desire or endeavor; enthusiastic diligence.
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God is My Defense and My Refuge
But I will sing of thy power; yea, I will sing aloud of thy mercy in the morning: for thou hast been my defence and refuge in the day of my trouble. Unto thee, O my strength, will I sing: for God is my defence, and the God of my mercy. – Psalm 59:16-17
Defense – resistance against attack; protection; the defending of a cause or the like by speech, argument, etc.
Refuge – Shelter or protection from danger, trouble, etc.; anything to which one has recourse for aid, relief, or escape
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The Holy Ghost is My Counselor
Where no counsel is, the people fall: but in the multitude of counsellors there is safety. – Proverbs 11:14
I believe in seeking Godly counsel from those the Lord has placed over me. That being said, no earthly counselor can ever take the place of the Holy Ghost that lives inside of me and guides and directs me daily. Where would I be had I not learned to seek His direction before and after others have spoken their piece?
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She Brought Forth Her Firstborn Son
And it came to pass in those days, that there went out a decree from Cæsar Augustus, that all the world should be taxed. (And this taxing was first made when Cyrenius was governor of Syria.) And all went to be taxed, every one into his own city. And Joseph also went up from Galilee, out of the city of Nazareth, into Judæa, unto the city of David, which is called Bethlehem; (because he was of the house and lineage of David:) to be taxed with Mary his espoused wife, being great with child. And so it was, that, while they were there, the days were accomplished that she should be delivered. And she brought forth her firstborn son, and wrapped him in swaddling clothes, and laid him in a manger; because there was no room for them in the inn. – Luke 2:1-7
There Were Shepherds Abiding in the Field
And there were in the same country shepherds abiding in the field, keeping watch over their flock by night. And, lo, the angel of the Lord came upon them, and the glory of the Lord shone round about them: and they were sore afraid. And the angel said unto them, Fear not: for, behold, I bring you good tidings of great joy, which shall be to all people. For unto you is born this day in the city of David a Saviour, which is Christ the Lord. And this shall be a sign unto you; Ye shall find the babe wrapped in swaddling clothes, lying in a manger. – Luke 2:8-12
There was with the Angel a Multitude of Heavenly Host
And suddenly there was with the angel a multitude of the heavenly host praising God, and saying, Glory to God in the highest, And on earth peace, good will toward men. – Luke 2:13-14
They Found Mary, Joseph, and the Babe Lying in a Manger
And it came to pass, as the angels were gone away from them into heaven, the shepherds said one to another, Let us now go even unto Bethlehem, and see this thing which is come to pass, which the Lord hath made known unto us. And they came with haste, and found Mary, and Joseph, and the babe lying in a manger. And when they had seen it, they made known abroad the saying which was told them concerning this child. And all they that heard it wondered at those things which were told them by the shepherds. – Luke 2:15-18
Mary Kept All These Things and Pondered Them
But Mary kept all these things, and pondered them in her heart. And the shepherds returned, glorifying and praising God for all the things that they had heard and seen, as it was told unto them. And when eight days were accomplished for the circumcising of the child, his name was called JESUS, which was so named of the angel before he was conceived in the womb. – Luke 2:19-21
As was Written in the Law of the Lord
And when the days of her purification according to the law of Moses were accomplished, they brought him to Jerusalem, to present him to the Lord; (as it is written in the law of the Lord, Every male that openeth the womb shall be called holy to the Lord;) and to offer a sacrifice according to that which is said in the law of the Lord, A pair of turtledoves, or two young pigeons. – Luke 2:22-24
This passage struck me because we have recently read about all of the laws God set forth through Moses. Here we have Mary, the young mother of Jesus, obeying those very same laws concerning the birth of God’s Son. It says every male that openeth the womb (every firstborn son shall be called Holy to the Lord) and presented to the Lord along with a sacrifice. How much that must have meant to Mary and Joseph to present the Son to His Father! How blessed that they were obedient in every way.
There was A Man Whose Name was Simeon
And, behold, there was a man in Jerusalem, whose name was Simeon; and the same man was just and devout, waiting for the consolation of Israel: and the Holy Ghost was upon him. And it was revealed unto him by the Holy Ghost, that he should not see death, before he had seen the Lord’s Christ. And he came by the Spirit into the temple: and when the parents brought in the child Jesus, to do for him after the custom of the law, then took he him up in his arms, and blessed God, and said, Lord, now lettest thou thy servant depart in peace, According to thy word: For mine eyes have seen thy salvation, Which thou hast prepared before the face of all people; A light to lighten the Gentiles, And the glory of thy people Israel. And Joseph and his mother marvelled at those things which were spoken of him. – Luke 2:25-33
Simeon Blessed Them
And Simeon blessed them, and said unto Mary his mother, Behold, this child is set for the fall and rising again of many in Israel; and for a sign which shall be spoken against; (yea, a sword shall pierce through thy own soul also,) that the thoughts of many hearts may be revealed – Luke 2:34-35
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