Numbers 7, Psalms 42–43, Song of Songs 5, Hebrews 5

Date	Version	Reading Plan
@April 30, 2024	ESV (2016)	M’Cheyne Plan 2024

Numbers 7

Numbers 7:1–3 (ESV) 7 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.

Upon completion and anointing of the tabernacle, the chief from each tribe of Israel brought offerings before the LORD in dedication of the altar. This harkens back to Exod. 40:17 in which the tabernacle was erected and, as the CSB Notes states “is the first day of the month of the second year, nearly a year after the exodus from Egypt.” The LORD told Moses that the offerings were to be accepted and used in the service of the tent of meeting. Worth noting was that every offering from among the tribal leaders was identical, demonstrating uniform generosity among the tribes despite any differences in affluence.

Psalms 42–43

Psalm 43:3–4 (ESV) 3 Send out your light and your truth; let them lead me; let them bring me to your holy hill and to your dwelling! 4 Then I will go to the altar of God, to God my exceeding joy, and I will praise you with the lyre, O God, my God.

The psalmist asks the LORD to send out his light and truth that they may lead him and bring him to His holy hill of dwelling. The true light came into the world in the person Christ Jesus and, to all who did receive Him and believed in His name, were given right to become His children and granted access to His dwelling. Let His sons and daughters then go to the altar with exceeding joy, giving Him praise for His bountiful grace.

Song of Songs 5

Song of Solomon 5:16 (ESV) 16 His mouth is most sweet, and he is altogether desirable. This is my beloved and this is my friend, O daughters of Jerusalem.

The woman speaks with deep affection of her man, calling him not only her beloved but also her friend. What a gift it is to have such a spouse, one you can look upon with fondness and with whom you can share the trials and celebrations of life. Admittedly, I do miss this; the closeness, the intimacy and the companionship. However, it is important to see that these are but a shadow of what we have in Christ and the fullness of satisfaction found only in Him.

Hebrews 5

Hebrews 5:12–13 (ESV) 12 For though by this time you ought to be teachers, you need someone to teach you again the basic principles of the oracles of God. You need milk, not solid food, 13 for everyone who lives on milk is unskilled in the word of righteousness, since he is a child.

The author admonishes the Hebrews that they should have been teachers by this point. Instead, they need milk rather than solid food, requiring the basic tenets of the faith. As the Believer’s Bible Commentary makes clear, teaching is a crucial element among all believers at some level and not reserved for only those specifically gifted:

God’s order is that every believer should mature to the point where he can teach others. Each one teach one! While it is true that certain ones have a special gift of teaching, it is also true that every believer should engage in some teaching ministry. It was never God’s intention that this work should be limited to a few.”

Carson on Psalm 42

The deer is not sidling up to the stream for the regular supply of refreshment; it is panting for water…The psalmist is thinking of a deer panting for refreshing streams of water during a season of drought and famine (as in Joel 1:20). In the same way, he is hungry for the Lord, famished for the presence of God, and in particular hungry to be back in Jerusalem enjoying temple worship, “leading the procession to the house of God, with shouts of joy and thanksgiving among the festive throng” (42:4).

I had never thought that the panting of the dear was the effect of a season of drought or famine and a great thirst for the presence of God. Often, it is in the times of despair and utter depletion that we run to Him for refreshment and restoration. Praise be to God that He allows such seasons in order that we may reach new level of appreciation and realization of our need for Him.

Justin Houtz