17-8-13, Numbers 6:22-27, God Gives Peace
CeaseFire: 7 Insights to Make Your Home a Place of Peace • Sermon • Submitted
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Introduction:
Introduction:
Today we are starting a new series called, Cease Fire: Seven Insights to Make Your Home a Place of Peace
We are going to be talking about our quarrels.
Do any of you have quarrels in your households?
I think I can safely say that no home is exempt from quarreling to some degree.
I mean everything from being snippy with one another to outright violence which tragically is in so many our homes.
We quarrel because we all carry expectations, wants, agendas, and pride.
While there will always be the need to work through problems, we have a hard time doing this without becoming ugly toward one another.
If you are like me, you often say and do things you regret and you wish it were another way. No matter how hard you try, you can’t seem to escape the getting angry and fighting.
The quarreling probably causes two emotions inside of you.
#1 Frustration because your family can’t seem to overcome the fighting.
#2 Fear because you are afraid the fighting is going to cause your family to break up.
There will always be conflict in life, but making your home a place of peace means learning to handle conflict consistently in a calm, cool, and respectful way with one another.
So, how do you get to this? This is what we are going to talk about in this series.
They had a fight.
I want to tell you about a husband and wife driving in the car together to a party.
Over the next several weeks we are going to explore passages, principles and practices from the Bible that can help your family to have peace.
Their tension started with his wife’s constant over-reaction to his driving.
Right now I want you to know you can call on the Lord for help
She keeps grabbing for the imaginary brake lever on her door.
He interprets it as criticism about his driving.
He snaps at her just to relax.
He explains that he’s been driving for several decades and has never gotten into an accident.
A little later he makes a hurtful comment about her outfit.
He thinks he’s being helpful, but he explains that outfit makes her look like her mother.
She hears this to mean he doesn’t think she is pretty and that she looks old.
Her confidence sinks because she can’t very well change outfits before the party.
Hurt, she bites back, “Well maybe I just need to go shopping, we both know I bring home the bigger paycheck, so I should be able to go out and buy what I want.”
This cuts deeply into her husband’s pride.
He glares at her and mutters something wicked under his breath. In earlier years, when his temper was shorter, he would yelled at her.
Now he just stonewalls.
The rest of the drive was quiet as they both smoldered.
Yet, when they arrive at the party, they suppress the fight, get into character, and act like their marriage is perfect.
But they both know there is not enough peace in their home.
Transition
Transition
Sound familiar? Maybe at least a portion?
You want love and peace, but it always degenerates into fights, yelling, manipulations, a win-lose outcome, or God-forbid violence.
You hate it when this ugliness shows up, but your family can’t help it.
You all just can’t make peace work for long.
You all just can’t make peace work for long.
In your heart you are afraid.
“What if this fighting keeps escalating to the point that my marriage or my family breaks up?”
“What if we divorce or the kids runaway, or my adult children become estranged?”
What can you do?!
You’re at your wit’s end.
You’ve not been able to fix things.
You’ve read all the books.
You’ve not been able to fix things.
You can call on the Lord for help
The good news, He does family renovations. He can help you and your family.
Have you surrendered yourself completely to Him?
Have you gone to see the Lord about it? Sure you’ve prayed, but have you prayed? Have you surrendered yourself completely to Him?
The good news, He does family renovations. He can help you and your family.
If you trust Him, He will get you on the path to peace at home.
If you trust Him, He will get you on the path to peace at home.
Today, I want to share with you God’s basic desire for you.
God wants to bless your home with refreshing peace.
God wants to bless your home with refreshing peace.
Today I hope this fundamental fact is a big encouragement to you in the midst of your family turmoil.
Context: What’s Going On Behind This Passage
Context: What’s Going On Behind This Passage
Today, we will see this in
22 The Lord spoke to Moses, saying, 23 “Speak to Aaron and his sons, saying, Thus you shall bless the people of Israel: you shall say to them,
24 The Lord bless you and keep you;
25 the Lord make his face to shine upon you and be gracious to you;
26 the Lord lift up his countenance upon you and give you peace.
27 “So shall they put my name upon the people of Israel, and I will bless them.”
Context: What’s Going On Behind This Passage
Context: What’s Going On Behind This Passage
Numbers is in the first five books of the Bible.
This section is called the Pentateuch.
The Pentateuch is a narrative with episodes of law giving (ESVSB, 35).
The Pentateuch is a narrative with episodes of law-giving.
The Pentateuch is a narrative with episodes of law-giving.
(ESVSB, 35).
(ESVSB, 35).
2. through takes place at Mt. Sinai. The rest of the Book of Numbers tells about the journey of Israel from Sinai to the Plains of Moab. It details their time in the wilderness.
through takes place at Mt. Sinai.
through takes place at Mt. Sinai.
The rest of the Book of Numbers tells about the journey of Israel from Sinai to the Plains of Moab.
It details their time in the wilderness.
Therefore, our passage this morning is near the end of the law-giving at Sinai and it is tucked in between God’s rules for a pious group of Jews named Nazirites (6:1-21) and instruction regarding offerings for the tabernacle (7:1-89).
is a priestly blessing that echoes God’s promises to Israel.
Promise #1, They would have a land to call their own ().
It is tucked in between God’s rules for a pious group of Jews named Nazirites (6:1-21) and instruction regarding offerings for the tabernacle (7:1-89).
is a priestly blessing. This benediction echoes God’s promises to Israel.
is a priestly blessing that echoes God’s promises to Israel.
Promise #1, They would have a land to call their own ().
Promise #2, They would become too many to count, a great nation ().
Promise #3, They would be God’s own people (); they would have special covenant with the living God.
Promise #4, They would be a blessing to the nations ().
reflects God’s earnest desire to lavish blessings on His own people.
Numbers 6:22-27 reflects God’s earnest desire to lavish blessings on His own people.
Interestingly enough, the earliest archeological discovery containing the name for God, YWHW, was found in Jerusalem on a silver amulet which had this priestly blessing inscribed on it, 600-500 B.C. (ESVSB 275).
Interestingly enough, the earliest archeological discovery containing the name for God, YWHW, was found in Jerusalem on a silver amulet which had this priestly blessing inscribed on it, 600-500 B.C. (ESVSB 275).
Let’s Look At The Passage
Let’s Look At The Passage
22 The Lord spoke to Moses, saying, 23 “Speak to Aaron and his sons, saying, Thus you shall bless the people of Israel: you shall say to them,
24 The Lord bless you and keep you;
25 the Lord make his face to shine upon you and be gracious to you;
26 the Lord lift up his countenance upon you and give you peace.
27 “So shall they put my name upon the people of Israel, and I will bless them.”
24 The Lord bless you and keep you;
25 the Lord make his face to shine upon you and be gracious to you;
26 the Lord lift up his countenance upon you and give you peace.
22 The Lord spoke to Moses, saying, 23 “Speak to Aaron and his sons, saying, Thus you shall bless the people of Israel: you shall say to them,
Numbers 6
At the end of the corporate worship time, Aaron and his sons would have spoken this blessing over the people.
At the end of the corporate worship time, Aaron and his sons would have spoken this blessing over the people.
They had morning worship and evening worship.
The Rabbis said that Aaron only gave this blessing at the conclusion of the morning worship because they anticipated the Messiah to come at the end of the age and give the great evening benediction to His people. (The Metropolitan Tabernacle Pulpit Sermons, Vol. LIX Two Choice Benedictions (No. 3,371).
Skip this note
Skip this note
The New American Commentary: Numbers (6) The Sacred Nazirite Vow (6:1–21)
The conclusion to the first cycle of the Book of Numbers, and the purification and priestly section of the cycle, is an anticipatory benediction to be pronounced by Aaron and his sons over the people of Israel.
The Metropolitan Tabernacle Pulpit Sermons, Vol. LIX Two Choice Benedictions (No. 3,371)
It is said by the Rabbis to have been only spoken at the morning sacrifice, and not in the evening; because, say some, the old faith of the few gave them the early blessing. But it remained for Christ to come in the eventide of the world, at the end of time, to give us the evening blessing, the blessing of the great, eternal, evening Sacrifice.
24 The Lord bless you and keep you;
The New American Commentary: Numbers (6) The Sacred Nazirite Vow (6:1–21)
Blessing in the Pentateuch and more particularly in the Book of Numbers includes numerous descendants, fruitful land, good health, long life, protection from enemies, and God’s abiding presence. The people also lived under the protective umbrella of his mighty hand and outstretched arm.
This is the first of three statements of the blessing.
Three times, God’s name YHWH is used, but each time,the name has different accents in the Hebrew differentiating the three.
We are not sure why, but some have speculated this is an early allusion to the trinity- The Lord, the Father, The Lord, the Son, and The Lord, the Holy Spirit.
In the first line there is the Lord’s first actions: The Lord bless you.
This blessing refers to favorable situations, conditions, and experiences enjoyed by the person or group being blessed: numerous descendants, fruitful land, good health, long life.
In the context of the first covenant, these blessings in this context include numerous descendants, fruitful land, good health, long life.
Thus, the second action is: The Lord keep you
Thus, the second action is: The Lord keep you
To keep means to guard (ESVSB, 275).
In my family, as our oldest prepares for full day school, we realize there is going to be a large span of time when we don’t see him. There will be this time we cannot influence him. This causes us angst. So one of our prayers for him is that the Lord will keep him.
In my family, as our oldest prepares for full day school, we realize there is going to be a large span of time when we don’t see him. There will be this time we cannot influence him. This causes us angst. So one of our prayers for him is that the Lord will keep him.
To keep means to guard (ESVSB, 275).
In my family, as our oldest prepares for full day school, we realize there is going to be a large span of time when we don’t see him. There will be this time we cannot influence him. This causes us angst. So one of our prayers for him is that the Lord will keep him.
Do not read notes
Lexham Theological Wordbook Blessing
Blessing pertains to favorable situations, conditions, and experiences enjoyed by the person or persons to whom the blessings belong. It can either refer to pronouncements intended to bring about these beneficial circumstances, or to the resulting circumstances themselves.
Mathews, J. G. (2014). Blessing. D. Mangum, D. R. Brown, R. Klippenstein, & R. Hurst (Eds.), Lexham Theological Wordbook. Bellingham, WA: Lexham Press.
ep means to guard (ESVSB, 275).
Keep means to guard (ESVSB, 275).
The New American Commentary: Numbers (6) The Sacred Nazirite Vow (6:1–21)
Blessing in the Pentateuch and more particularly in the Book of Numbers includes numerous descendants, fruitful land, good health, long life, protection from enemies, and God’s abiding presence. The people also lived under the protective umbrella of his mighty hand and outstretched arm.
God’s blessings for His chosen people were instrumental.
God’s blessings for His chosen people were instrumental.
The blessings were to equip the Jews to be a blessing to the nations.
3 I will bless those who bless you, and him who dishonors you I will curse, and in you all the families of the earth shall be blessed.”
The blessings were to equip the Jews to be a blessing to the nations.
1 Now the Lord said to Abram, “Go from your country and your kindred and your father’s house to the land that I will show you. 2 And I will make of you a great nation, and I will bless you and make your name great, so that you will be a blessing. 3 I will bless those who bless you, and him who dishonors you I will curse, and in you all the families of the earth shall be blessed.”
1 May God be gracious to us and bless us
and make his face to shine upon us, Selah
2 that your way may be known on earth,
your saving power among all nations.
Genesis 12:
Do not read note
Do not read note
The New American Commentary: Numbers (6) The Sacred Nazirite Vow (6:1–21)
Yahweh’s blessing upon his faithful people Israel was in turn to be an instrument of blessing upon the nations of the world (Gen 12:3; 22:18).
1 May God be gracious to us and bless us
and make his face to shine upon us, Selah
2 that your way may be known on earth,
your saving power among all nations.
25 the Lord make his face to shine upon you and be gracious to you;
The Lord make his face to shine upon you...
The metaphor here is a picture of God turning His face to His people Israel.
Turning one’s face to another is an action of acknowledgement and friendship.
The metaphor here is a picture of God turning His face to His people Israel. Turning one’s face to another is an action of acknowledgement and friendship. Contrast it to looking away from someone in disgust or shame.
Contrast it to looking away from someone in disgust or shame.
Not only does He turn to them, but He shines upon them; He turns His glory and majestic light upon them. God’s presence is like sunshine ()
This means He turns His glory and majestic light upon them. God’s presence is like sunshine ()
A shining face is a smiling face, a pledge of God’s good favor (ESVSB, 275).
A shining face is a smiling face, a pledge of God’s good favor (ESVSB, 275).
…and be gracious
…and be gracious
The blessings of the Lord in the direction of His people are determined by His grace.
A common definition of grace is unmerited favor.
Humanity cannot earn God’s grace. God’s grace cannot be annulled by our sin.
Humanity cannot earn God’s grace. God’s grace cannot be annulled by our sin.
If God decides to give you grace, it is based on His independent decision to give it to you.
19 And he said, “I will make all my goodness pass before you and will proclaim before you my name ‘The Lord.’ And I will be gracious to whom I will be gracious, and will show mercy on whom I will show mercy.
He gives it to you because He loves you.
Do not read note
The New American Commentary: Numbers (6) The Sacred Nazirite Vow (6:1–21)
Humanity cannot earn his grace by obedience; that would be a form of compensation. Nor can God’s grace be annulled by one’s unfaithfulness. God extends his graciousness out of his steadfast covenant love (ḥesed) and self-determined will to bless whom he desires (Exod 33:19).
19 And he said, “I will make all my goodness pass before you and will proclaim before you my name ‘The Lord.’ And I will be gracious to whom I will be gracious, and will show mercy on whom I will show mercy.
26 the Lord lift up his countenance upon you and give you peace.
The New American Commentary: Numbers (6) The Sacred Nazirite Vow (6:1–21)
Wenham notes that “as the lines of the blessing lengthen, their content becomes richer, producing a crescendo that culminates in the word peace (26)
In this benediction, “as the lines of the blessing lengthen, their content becomes richer, producing a crescendo that culminates in the word peace.”
Yet, this time, in clarification of His grace toward us, the verse says He gives us peace.
Yet, this time, in clarification of His grace toward us, the verse says He gives us peace.
The word for peace is Shalom- It literally means, “lack of war”
Shalom- Involves more than the English sense, “lack of war”; it means total well-being
The word for peace is Shalom- It literally means, “lack of war”; it means total well-being
The New American Commentary: Numbers (6) The Sacred Nazirite Vow (6:1–21)
Wenham notes that “as the lines of the blessing lengthen, their content becomes richer, producing a crescendo that culminates in the word peace (26)
Shalom- Involves more than the English sense, “lack of war”; it means total well-being
The New American Commentary: Numbers (6) The Sacred Nazirite Vow (6:1–21)
This peace can be described variously as completeness, unity, well-being, prosperity, health, security, and wholeness.
Do not read note
Do not read note
The New American Commentary: Numbers (6) The Sacred Nazirite Vow (6:1–21)
Wenham notes that “as the lines of the blessing lengthen, their content becomes richer, producing a crescendo that culminates in the word peace (26)
Matthew Henry describes peace as: All that it takes to make a man happy.
27 “So shall they put my name upon the people of Israel, and I will bless them.”
The name of the Lord seals this blessing upon His people.
Transition
Transition
What is the transferable principle of this passage?
Hopefully, you see the intense desire God has to bless His people.
Through Christ, you are His people .
The culmination of God’s blessing is peace.
The culmination of God’s blessing is peace.
The culmination of God’s blessing is peace.
The culmination of God’s blessing is peace.
I don’t think it stresses the passage at all to assert that:
As this blessing culminates as
God wants to bless your home with refreshing peace.
Peace is His will for us.
12 But to all who did receive him, who believed in his name, he gave the right to become children of God,
The Metropolitan Tabernacle Pulpit Sermons, Vol. LIX Two Choice Benedictions (No. 3,371)
He blesses us in our very creation, and much more in our new creation. It is a blessed thing to be born, but a much more blessed thing to be born again. He blesses us in our food, and much more in giving us Christ, who is the bread to keep alive and nourish our soul’s best life. We are blessed in being clothed, but infinitely more blessed in being wrapped about in the righteousness of our Lord Jesus Christ. It is a blessing to be a member of a kind, loving, happy family; but it is an unspeakable blessing to be a member of the family of Christ, and adopted into the family of God.
God still has every desire to bless us in every way.
9 But, as it is written,
“What no eye has seen, nor ear heard,
nor the heart of man imagined,
what God has prepared for those who love him”—
Peace with God and peace with one another.
The culmination of God’s blessing is peace. Peace with God and peace with one another. Peace is His will for us and He is the source of it.
It all comes from Him.
Peace with God and peace with one another. Peace is His will for us. It comes from Him. The greatest expression of peace for us is heaven. Yet we know that God desires earthly peace for us too.
It comes from Him.
When you think about your home and the warring we do with one another, you can know for certain it is not what God wants for your family.
As we will see more next week, fighting is the result of the flesh acting unchecked.
He wants us to love one another.
My prayer in this series is that if your home is hot with conflict, then the principles of God’s word will cool things down and help you to turn toward one another with the same love and grace God gives us.
34 A new commandment I give to you, that you love one another: just as I have loved you, you also are to love one another.
Transition
Transition
My prayer in this series is that if your home is hot with conflict, then the principles of God’s word will cool things down and help you to turn toward one another with the same blessing, love, and grace God gives us.
My prayer in this series is that if your home is hot with conflict, then the principles of God’s word will cool things down and help you to turn toward one another with the same love and grace God gives us.
So to begin with, lock in on this first principle:
God wants to bless your home with refreshing peace.
We can rest in the hope of this truth.
We can rest in the hope of this truth.
We can rest in the hope of this truth.
Truth Calls for Action
Truth Calls for Action
1. We should worship God because He is the God of peace.
1. We should worship God because He is the God of peace.
God is the God of peace, and it is the culmination of creation’s story.
Can you imagine what the world would be like if peace was not one of God’s chief characteristics. It would be hell.
Can you imagine what the world would be like if peace was not one of God’s chief characteristics. It would be hell.
Can you imagine what the world would be like if peace was not one of God’s chief characteristics. It would be hell.
We should be thankful that God is who He is. We give this thanks in worship
Can you imagine what the world would be like if peace was not one of God’s chief characteristics. It would be hell.
We should be thankful that God is who He is. We give this thanks in worship
2. Pray for peace in your family and realize you are praying the will of God.
2. Pray for peace in your family and realize you are praying the will of God.
Praying for God’s will to be done is effective and powerful prayer.
We are on God’s team when we want peace.
14 And this is the confidence that we have toward him, that if we ask anything according to his will he hears us.
Lay your strategy down and pick up God’s plan for peace.
You’ve probably read all the books and have formulated your own strategy to have peace in your home.
Instead, Become His student.
5 Trust in the Lord with all your heart,
and do not lean on your own understanding.
6 In all your ways acknowledge him,
and he will make straight your paths.
Proverbs
Prverbs
3. Envision peace for your family.
3. Envision peace for your family.
Dream about what peace looks like in your home and hold on to this vision.
Create the picture.
Proverbs
You might even write it down and keep it in your wallet or in your purse.
When the time is right, you might gain input from others in your home.
“What kind of family do you want us to be?”
4. Start with peace with God.
4. Start with peace with God.
No Jesus, No Peace; Know Jesus, Know Peace
The reason for fighting in your family is sin in your life and in your family members.
Sin is also the reason for your warring with God.
Yes scripture says you are an enemy with God because of your sin ().
With every sinful attitude and action you offend Him and earn for yourself His wrath on the day of judgment.
Yet, your destruction is not His desire for you, rather your reconciliation and peace.
10 For if while we were enemies we were reconciled to God by the death of his Son, much more, now that we are reconciled, shall we be saved by his life.
1 Therefore, since we have been justified by faith, we have peace with God through our Lord Jesus Christ.
R
Admit, Believe, Confess
Once there is peace with Him, God will give you His power to make peace with others in your life.
But the first step is to swallow your pride and trust in Christ to save you.
Once there is peace there, God will give you His power to make peace with others in your life. As you’ll see in this series, He will change you from a warring person to a person who longs for peace with everyone. But the first step is to swallow your pride and trust in Christ to save you.