God's Presence

The Aim: Remember the Gospel, Remain faithful, and Pray for revelation.

Structure of the Sermon

Structure of the Sermon

What Event Was Remembered?

Why Was It Remembered?

What Comes Into View When Its Remember?

Introduction

Last week we celebrated the most important weekend in the life of the church. God the son died, was buried, and then rose from the dead! You can not begin to understand the church-us Christians until you begin to grasp this event. This event has affected every dimension of Christian life and practice.

In a similar way, you have experienced defining moments. Experiences that have colored you. They have shaped you.

My memory calls to mind several of these.

Honey-moon wreck.

Certain experiences have a way of shaping us. They affect the way you see yourself. The way you feel about something. They move you. They alter your perspective, your feelings, and ultimately your behavior. When we recall those types of events we often say something like "after that things were never the same."

To really understand Numbers 7-8, we must see that the author is recalling one of these pervasively transforming events in the history of the Israelites. So far, Numbers has carried on the narrative that ended in Exodus 40. Between Exodus 40 and Numbers 1, one month had passed. Exodus ends on the first day of the first month of the second year since the Israelites came out of Egypt. Numbers begins with what happened on the first day of the second month of the same year.

From Numbers 1:1-6:27, the author recorded God's instruction concerning the arrangement of the camp, those eligible for war, the Levites and the ongoing care of the tabernacle, the Nazirite, and how to deal with matters of sin. In these text we find God speaking from the tent of meeting to Moses for the people in order to prepare them for movement.

The people had been out of Egypt for a year and God was about to commence their march to Canaan from Sinai. This journey will begin in Numbers 10:11 and will be studied throughout the remainder of the book.

Surprisingly we find that in Numbers 7 the author does not simply continue the narrative. Instead he pauses the narrative to remember.

What Event Was Remembered?

He wants us to remember what happened in Exodus 40. How do we know this? He give us the date.

Numbers 7:1 ESV

1 On the day when Moses had finished setting up the tabernacle and had anointed and consecrated it with all its furnishings and had anointed and consecrated the altar with all its utensils,

“The first day of the first month of the second year.” We might just keep reading and not catch the significance of this, but be sure those who first read this would have been provoked to remember certain events and details.

You can relate to this. Dates do the same thing to us. Consider a few.

September 11, 2001

December 25th

July 4th, 1776

I believe something similar is happening in our text. The author gives us a date and that date is meant to call to mind something magnificent and transforming.

The transforming event is recorded in Exod. 40.

Exodus 40:34–35 ESV

34 Then the cloud covered the tent of meeting, and the glory of the Lord filled the tabernacle. 35 And Moses was not able to enter the tent of meeting because the cloud settled on it, and the glory of the Lord filled the tabernacle.

There God's glory descended on the tent. God actually came and dwelled in the midst of the people. Now before we yawn at this as old news, let me remind you why this was astounding.

Before God descended on the tent, He descended on Mt. Sinai.

God rescued the Israelites from Egypt in dramatic and glorious fashion. He led them through the Red Sea and to the foot of MT. Sinai. And there on Mt. Sinai in the sight of Israel God descended on the mountain. In Exodus 19:16-25 we find what took place.

Exodus 19:16–17 ESV

16 On the morning of the third day there were thunders and lightnings and a thick cloud on the mountain and a very loud trumpet blast, so that all the people in the camp trembled. 17 Then Moses brought the people out of the camp to meet God, and they took their stand at the foot of the mountain.

Here we find God high and lifted above the Israelites. He is on top the mountain. They cannot come near him or they will die! He is covered in a thick cloud of smoke and thunder and lightning fill the sky and shake the earth. God is up there on the mountain and the Israelites are down there at the base of the mountain. Geographically there is distance. A giant mountain stands between them. There is distance relationally, fear stand between them. God is to be dreaded.

Something amazing happens though in Exodus 40. Moses finished the construction of the “tent of meeting” with all of its furnishings. Everything in all their details were done just as God instructed. Then it happened. The unthinkable. The glory of God came down from the mountain and took residence in the tent of meeting - the tent right in the midst of God’s people.

This is astounding. Yes, the people had encountered God in a way at Mount Sinai. They had seen him from a distance. But now God was moving in.

I imagine although on a much lesser scale this would be akin to watching a celebrity or a famous athlete from a distance. You can be impressed from a distance. You can learn something of them from watching from a far. But, to have that athlete or that one you admire from a distance move in to your house. To become your roommate. That would be something. An occasion to mark. The new proximity would allow for a relationship, an intimacy, a connection, a fellowship that was not possible from a distance. You would get to know that celebrity in a way others who only know this person from a distance never will.

This is the memory the author calls to mind in Number 7:1. This is the day we are talking about. The day the God who was far off and unapproachable came near and set up his residence with them.

God comes to man throughout the bible

This is a major theme throughout all the Bible.

The Garden

In Genesis 1-3, we see the opposite progression. God was near to man. He dwelled with man in the garden. But man rebelled. They offended God with their sin, and God kicked them out of the garden. He kicked them out of His presence and set up guards with flaming swords to keep man from entering again.

Mt. Sinai

As we just saw, Exodus tells us how this unapproachable God came to dwell and live with a particular chosen people - namely the descendants of Abraham.

Jesus

But as we read further through the Bible, we come to find out that God's relationship with Israel was built on a more fundamental and more glorious act. Namely the descending of God's own Son from the glory of His throne to non-glorious dwelling of man. God came and dwelled with man. He took on flesh. He walked with us. He cried with us. He rejoiced with us. He has suffered with us. We have seen him. We have touched Him. This alone is glorious but it gets better.

The Spirit

God in flesh among us lasted just 33 years. But those years ended with His body being broken and His blood being shed. Through His death all barriers between the Holy God and His people have been removed. Believers have been reconciled and united to God. This means for us that God - the Father, the Son, and the Spirit- right now dwell with us. We cannot see Him with our physical eyes but we know him. We cannot touch Him as Thomas did, BUT we love Him. We commune with Him. We Know His fellowship. With our sins forgiven and the distance removed, we draw near to God. We approach the unapproachable.

The New Jerusalem

Believe it or not this gets even better. One day him we know now by faith we will know by sight. God will one day descend again. He will again dwell with us bodily! We will see Him as He is! He will dwell with us and we with Him. He will be our God and we will be His people! Oh the day! Come Lord quickly!

I remind you of the whole narrative of Scripture so you may see is that what we find in Numbers 7-9 is the OT gospel. God came to dwell with them. The author is reminding them of this important day when their relationship with God changed. It changed in a good way!

Why does the author stop to remember?

This prompts me to ask why? why does the author remind Israel of the gospel? I believe the answer is two-fold.

Gospel memories provide context for the present.

One of the shows Jess and I have enjoyed watching together is This Is Us. This Is Us tells the story of thePearson family. Jack and Rebecca Pearson had three children - bio-logical twins Kevin and Kate and an adopted son Randall was born on the same day. The show tells the story of the three children in their late 30's through the lens of their childhood. Each episode contains multiple flashbacks to the 80's and 90's. These flashbacks, these memories explain in someway what is going on in the lives of Kate, Kevin, and Randal. They tell us, the audience, why Kate is insecure, why Kevin struggles with alcohol, why Randall battles perfectionism, why all three make a holiday out of watching the Super Bowl. Seeing the present in light of the past provides clarity. This is true in This Is Us, it is true for us, and it was true for the Israelites.

Why are the people now standing in the dessert? Why are they counting their men for war? Why are they meticulous in preparing and keeping all the furnishings of the tent? why are they arranged in the camp a certain way? Why does it matter what type of clothing they where? Why does it matter when and where they are sexually active? All of those why questions are answered in this, "YAHWEH dwells among them!"

I imagine the people needed this reminder for the same reason I do. I easily forget what is important. I have spiritual amnesia. I imagine that just as I oft forget why it is I study this Bible, sit in a service like this week in and week out, why we sing, why we drop the largest portion of our income other than our mortgage into the offering each month, why we get up off our couch on Sunday afternoon to greet others into our home - I imagine the Israelites often forgot why they observed the Sabbath, why they slit the throat of many animals, why they kept the leaven out of their bread, and why were not suppose to eat bacon.

Gospel memories align our affections with reality.

Once we forget why it is we do what we do, it will not be long before the glory of the gospel ceases to shape our present. For awhile we will carry on the actions. We will continue to sing. Give our tithe and show up for Missional Community. But our actions will be hallow. What we do will be inconsistent with what we feel. I don't want to sing but I sing anyway. I don't want to gather in Missional Community but I go. I don't want to study God's Word but I will so I don't embarrass myself at Cell Group. I don't feel like acting in these ways but I know their good so I do team.

Eventually this to will erode if the gospel is not remembered. First, I lose my desire to act rightly. Then, I lose my perspective. It is not just that I do not want to do what I ought, but now I do not even think what I ought to do is good. I look at the corporate gathering of believers and decide in my mind something else is better, more right, more worthy to receive my energy and time. I look at God's sexual ethic and say, no, there is a better way! Sure, for a time I press on doing what I've been told, doing what is Christian but my inner self is in conflict. I force my hands and feet to do what my heart does not desire and my head does not deem best. Eventually my actions will slip too. I will eventually-if I forget the gospel- I will like the Israelites on many occasions throw in the towel and set my mind to return to Egypt.

We get a reminder of the gospel here in Numbers 7 because the author knows that unless the people remember that all their doing, all the activity, every aspect of their present is affected and defined by this glorious reality-this good news- God the Holy One is Your God and You are His people; He dwells with you and you with Him!

What Comes into View when We Remember the Gospel?

Our Joy and Love

Numbers 7:1–11 ESV

1 On the day when Moses had finished setting up the tabernacle and had anointed and consecrated it with all its furnishings and had anointed and consecrated the altar with all its utensils, 2 the chiefs of Israel, heads of their fathers’ houses, who were the chiefs of the tribes, who were over those who were listed, approached 3 and brought their offerings before the Lord, six wagons and twelve oxen, a wagon for every two of the chiefs, and for each one an ox. They brought them before the tabernacle. 4 Then the Lord said to Moses, 5 “Accept these from them, that they may be used in the service of the tent of meeting, and give them to the Levites, to each man according to his service.” 6 So Moses took the wagons and the oxen and gave them to the Levites. 7 Two wagons and four oxen he gave to the sons of Gershon, according to their service. 8 And four wagons and eight oxen he gave to the sons of Merari, according to their service, under the direction of Ithamar the son of Aaron the priest. 9 But to the sons of Kohath he gave none, because they were charged with the service of the holy things that had to be carried on the shoulder. 10 And the chiefs offered offerings for the dedication of the altar on the day it was anointed; and the chiefs offered their offering before the altar. 11 And the Lord said to Moses, “They shall offer their offerings, one chief each day, for the dedication of the altar.”

Something strange happens in these verses. Not just these verses, but in the whole of chapter 7. On that day when the Lord entered the tent of meeting, the people brought gifts. We are told that the gifts were meant to help the priests do the services of the tent. The gifts varied from wagons and oxen meant for assisting the priests in transporting the tent and its furnishings to silver plates, basins, fine flour, golden dishes, and incense to bulls, lambs and goats for offerings.

Each day after the Lord’s glory filled the temple, the leaders of the tribes took a turn bringing their gifts to the priests. One Tribe each day for 12 days. The same gifts they brought.

What is strange about the activities of chapter 7 is that the people come and give uninstructed. What we have seen and will continue to see is this pattern:

The Lord spoke to Moses saying, “Tell the people to ............”

So Moses told the people to ...

And the people did all that the Lord commanded.

This is what we find in the majority of the book, but not here. Here we find the people giving freely, willingly.

Why is that?

I believe the answer lies in the Bible’s understanding of Love and Joy and its connection to service and sacrifice. Without Love and Joy, one must be coerced to obey to serve. If I want someone who does not love me, someone who does not find great delight in me - If I want that person to obey me I must do one of two things. I must threaten them. I must compel them to serve and obey through fear. Or, I must offer them something they love and in which they delight. I must promise them what they desire. I must compel them to serve with the hope of reward.

However, Christian service and sacrificial giving is unique. God does not compel our service, our obedience, our giving by fear nor by promising to give us all the earthly things we desire. Instead, God transforms us with love. We know and experience love of God and joy in God and the overflow is serving, giving, worshiping.

As the author recalls the day God moved in to dwell with Israel in a very close and intimate way, the people being filled with love and joy they gave!

Has your love of God and joy in God ever waned? Have you ever gone through a dry season in which you were less than passionate about God? Has your service ever been compelled by fear or in hopes that it might pay off down the road?

To guard the people from service void of love and joy in God, the author calls the minds back to that day when their hearts burst with love and joy spilling over into willing service.

It is amazing how this works. I have seen this often in marriage counseling. When a couple goes through a rocky season. When the love seems to have run dry and the two just can’t find any joy in one another, one of the exercises the counselor will ask the couple to do is remember. They will instruct the couple to write down five things they are thankful for about their spouse. Or they will ask the couple to write out those things they first loved about their spouse. The idea of this exercise is to expand their view. To remind them of those days when their hearts burst with love and joy. This memory is powerful because in an amazing way the recalling of times past stirs our hearts again. We are moved.

Often I am served well by remembering December 30, 2007. God had used the greatest heartbreak I had ever experienced to show me that if I continued to live my life the way that I wanted by my own wisdom this pain and heartbreak I felt would be repeated over and over again. He used the sadness of my soul to show me that the little gods I had could not deliver for me. He broke me and he showed me my emptiness. But he did not stop there. In the emptiness stood Christ. Christ was the answer. I had known much about Christ but I had never experienced such over whelming love for Christ. I wept there by my bed in my parents’ house but joy filled my heart. My circumstances did not change that day. The thing that led to my heart break remained. But there in that empty place I encountered the glory of God. Love and joy were there. And do you know what I did? I surrendered. I cried out to God, “Please take charge of my life! Take it. I am yours. I want to do whatever you say. I’ll be whatever you want me to be. I’ll do whatever.”

The offering of myself flowed from genuine love and joy in God. I encountered God, the glory of God, my heart was filled and willing offering of myself overslowed.

Oh how often I need this reminder, when my love and joy are barely identifiable. They are long gone. I am going through the motions.

What about you? Did you start out with your love tank full

God’s Light and Life

Numbers 8:1–4 ESV

1 Now the Lord spoke to Moses, saying, 2 “Speak to Aaron and say to him, When you set up the lamps, the seven lamps shall give light in front of the lampstand.” 3 And Aaron did so: he set up its lamps in front of the lampstand, as the Lord commanded Moses. 4 And this was the workmanship of the lampstand, hammered work of gold. From its base to its flowers, it was hammered work; according to the pattern that the Lord had shown Moses, so he made the lampstand.

Christ’s Substitution and Atonement

Numbers 8:5–26 ESV

5 And the Lord spoke to Moses, saying, 6 “Take the Levites from among the people of Israel and cleanse them. 7 Thus you shall do to them to cleanse them: sprinkle the water of purification upon them, and let them go with a razor over all their body, and wash their clothes and cleanse themselves. 8 Then let them take a bull from the herd and its grain offering of fine flour mixed with oil, and you shall take another bull from the herd for a sin offering. 9 And you shall bring the Levites before the tent of meeting and assemble the whole congregation of the people of Israel. 10 When you bring the Levites before the Lord, the people of Israel shall lay their hands on the Levites, 11 and Aaron shall offer the Levites before the Lord as a wave offering from the people of Israel, that they may do the service of the Lord. 12 Then the Levites shall lay their hands on the heads of the bulls, and you shall offer the one for a sin offering and the other for a burnt offering to the Lord to make atonement for the Levites. 13 And you shall set the Levites before Aaron and his sons, and shall offer them as a wave offering to the Lord. 14 “Thus you shall separate the Levites from among the people of Israel, and the Levites shall be mine. 15 And after that the Levites shall go in to serve at the tent of meeting, when you have cleansed them and offered them as a wave offering. 16 For they are wholly given to me from among the people of Israel. Instead of all who open the womb, the firstborn of all the people of Israel, I have taken them for myself. 17 For all the firstborn among the people of Israel are mine, both of man and of beast. On the day that I struck down all the firstborn in the land of Egypt I consecrated them for myself, 18 and I have taken the Levites instead of all the firstborn among the people of Israel. 19 And I have given the Levites as a gift to Aaron and his sons from among the people of Israel, to do the service for the people of Israel at the tent of meeting and to make atonement for the people of Israel, that there may be no plague among the people of Israel when the people of Israel come near the sanctuary.” 20 Thus did Moses and Aaron and all the congregation of the people of Israel to the Levites. According to all that the Lord commanded Moses concerning the Levites, the people of Israel did to them. 21 And the Levites purified themselves from sin and washed their clothes, and Aaron offered them as a wave offering before the Lord, and Aaron made atonement for them to cleanse them. 22 And after that the Levites went in to do their service in the tent of meeting before Aaron and his sons; as the Lord had commanded Moses concerning the Levites, so they did to them. 23 And the Lord spoke to Moses, saying, 24 “This applies to the Levites: from twenty-five years old and upward they shall come to do duty in the service of the tent of meeting. 25 And from the age of fifty years they shall withdraw from the duty of the service and serve no more. 26 They minister to their brothers in the tent of meeting by keeping guard, but they shall do no service. Thus shall you do to the Levites in assigning their duties.”

Love’s Supremacy and Eternality

Conclusion: Remember God Is Near, Remain faithful in Obedience, and Prayer for Revelation.