Sun.’s Devo- Revealing the Truth

Read: Numbers 4:1-5:31; Mark 12:18-37; Psalm 48:1-14; Proverbs 10:26 The Levites were divided into three groups. The Kohathites were in charge of the most sacred objects. Aaron and his sons would dismantle the Holy of Holies and cover the ark with blue cloth, then fine goatskin leather. They were to carry the Ark with poles. They were to cover the table where the shewbread was with blue cloth then place the bowls and utensils and cover that with scarlet cloth. On top of that they were to put the same leather goatskin. The lampstand and the incense altar was to be covered with blue cloth, then leather. The incense altar was to be carried with poles. They were to remove the ashes from the brazen altar then it was to be covered with purple cloth. All its utensils were put over the cloth and the whole thing covered with goatskin leather. It was carried with poles also. The Kohathites would carry all these things once covered. Eleazar, the high priest would carry the oil, incense, and grain offering. The Gershonites responsible for carrying all the things pertaining to the Tabernacle itself like the curtains and ropes. The Merarite division was responsible for carrying the frames and everything that had to do with structure. The blue cloth signified that this was a replica of what was in heaven. The goatskin kept the general people from seeing the sacred things of God. The brazen altar was covered with a purple cloth which is a mixture of red and blue. The red represented the blood and the blue represented heaven. Jesus’ blood cleansed the altar in heaven and on earth. God have them instructions how to make restitution when anyone wronged another person. They were to confess their sin and make all restitution adding an additional 20%. We call that ‘pain and suffering’. God gave them a test if a husband suspected his wife of unfaithfulness. The priest was to take holy water and dust from the tabernacle floor and put it in a clay jar. The accused wife was to stand with her hair unbound (totally exposing her) and drink the bitter water. If she was guilty then her womb would shrink and her belly would swell. When she drank it there would be and immediate response of suffering and infertility if she was guilty. This was a warning to Israel of what would happen if they were unfaithful to the Lord. They would have to drink the bitter waters of oppression to test them. If they were guilty then they would appear to be fruitful when they had no fruit. The woman appeared pregnant all the while her womb was shriveled, never to bear fruit again. In Mark, Jesus was asked a masked question by the Sadducees about resurrection. Jesus cut all their pretense and went straight to the point. There was a resurrection. God was not the God of the dead, but the living. One of the teachers thought his answer was so good, he had a question, himself. He asked which of the commandments was the most important. Jesus answerd to love the Lord with all your heart, soul and mind; the second most important was to love your neighbor as yourself. The man agreed with his answer and said these things were more important than burnt offerings and sacrifices required by the law. Jesus recognized that this man ‘got it’ and wasn’t far from the Kingdom of God. Jesus also pointed out another teaching they misinterpreted. The Messiah was not the son of David. The Messiah was David’s Lord. Lord, thank you for revealing yourself to us as or Messiah. May we be representatives of your kingdom.