Justin Houtz

Hi. I’m Justin, but enough about that…

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  • Daily Bible Study

    Numbers 19, 1 Corinthians 3

    DateVersionReading Plan
    May 16, 2025ESV (2016)OT/NT Plan 2025 – 2027

    Numbers 19

    Observation & Interpretation

    The LORD gave instruction to Moses on Aaron regarding the sacrifice and burning of a red heifer along with the disposing of its ashes (Num. 19:10). The FSB describes the process:

    the red heifer procedure [was] designed to produce a substance that restores ritual purity to someone contaminated through contact with a corpse.” The heifer was slaughtered outsides the camp…First, the heifer is slaughtered outside the camp. Second, the priest sprinkles some of the blood toward the tent of meeting seven times (compare Lev 4:6). Third, all of the animal is burned up. While it burns, the priest adds cedarwood, hyssop, and scarlet yarn to the fire. Finally, the ashes are stored for later use in removing corpse contamination. Numbers 19:11–22 describes certain scenarios related to corpse contamination and explains the proper usage of the ashes to bring about purification. The purification ritual involved mixing the ashes with fresh water and sprinkling the mixture on whatever was contaminated by a corpse (vv. 17–19).

    Moses and Aaron are then given direction as to what was to be done someone touched a dead body. Such a person was to be unclean seven days and had to cleanse himself on the third and seventh day in order to be clean. Whoever did not cleanse himself defiled the tabernacle and was to be cut off from Israel (Num. 19:11-13).

    Then is given what was to be done if someone died in a tent. Everyone who came into a tent of someone who died and all its open vessels were unclean. For those unclean, the purification ritual described in the above quote was to be performed (Num. 19:17-19).

    It is then restated that anyone who does not cleanse himself was to be cut off from the midst of the assembly (Num. 19:20). “Punishment was inevitable for an unclean person who did not use the water of purification. Also, God decreed that anyone who touched or sprinkled the water was unclean until evening, and anyone he touched was also unclean for the remainder of the day.” (BBC)

    Application

    The repetition and severity of the consequences that came from failing to cleanse oneself serves to underscore its importance. It was no light matter that one needed to be clean in order to come to the tabernacle. In much the same way, the defiling nature of our sin makes us entirely absent of worthiness to be in God’s presence apart from its complete eradication. The dilemma is that we are unable to achieve an effective and permanent cleansing of sin through any means of our own. Only by a work of God who is Himself holy and righteous can this be done. This indeed has He accomplished in the most profound act of grace in the sending and sacrifice of His Son. Exclusively in Christ—His sinless life, sacrificial death, resurrection and ascension—are we given the everlastingly efficacious cleansing that restores to us right relationship with our Creator.

    1 Corinthians 3

    Observation & Interpretation

    In 1 Cor. 3:16-17, speaking to believers at Corinth, Paul reminds them through rhetorical question that they are the temple of God and that the Spirit dwells in them. He explains that God will destroy anyone who destroys God’s temple for it is holy and they are that temple. The BBC explains this section by saying, “It is true that every individual believer is also a temple of God indwelt by the Holy Spirit, but that is not the thought here. The apostle is looking at the church as a collective company, and wishes them to realize the holy dignity of such a calling…[v. 17] is speaking of false teachers who are not true believers in the Lord Jesus.”

    Application

    These verses struck me in particular and that believers are to understand themselves as temples of the Holy Spirit. Combined with the previous reflection on the cleanliness required to approach the tabernacle, we see the reverent disposition we are to have toward the temple. This, due not to any qualities contained of the structure itself, but as the place within which our God has chosen to dwell. With what great diligence should we then care for this place within us where the Holy Spirit resides, earnestly seeking to preserve its sanctity and to extend such protection to others among the household of faith.

    Prayer

    Heavenly Father, thank You for Your Son and that by the blood He shed You have made me clean. Father, help me to never grow weary of the immeasurable riches of Your grace. Father, help me to care for the temple of Your Holy Spirit, both of myself and my brothers and sisters in Christ.

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