Numbers 10, Psalms 46–47, Song of Songs 8, Hebrews 8

Date	Version	Reading Plan
@May 3, 2024	ESV (2016)	M’Cheyne Plan 2024

Numbers 10

Numbers 10:1–2 (ESV) 10 The LORD spoke to Moses, saying, 2 “Make two silver trumpets. Of hammered work you shall make them, and you shall use them for summoning the congregation and for breaking camp.

The LORD told Moses to make two silver trumpets that were to be blown individually or together in specific situations. There were five scenarios in which the trumpets were blown:

Assembling the congregation
Giving signal to march forward
Assembling the leaders (one trumpet blown)
Sounding an alarm in time of war
Announcing special days such as feasts

The Believer’s Bible Commentary provides context on the origins of these trumpets: “According to the Jewish historian Josephus, Moses invented the form of these trumpets. He describes them as a narrow tube just over a foot long that ended in a bell-shape (Ant. 3.291). Unlike the shofar (the ram’s horn), these trumpets were made out of metal and only used by priests (Num. 10:8).”

Psalms 46–47

Psalm 47:1–2 (ESV) 1 Clap your hands, all peoples! Shout to God with loud songs of joy! 2 For the LORD, the Most High, is to be feared, a great king over all the earth.

The psalmist calls for the peoples to shout to God with loud songs of joy because He is to be feared. In this context, it was a response of celebration during the coronation of a new king. As we live in a democratic culture, it is difficult to grasp the idea of a kingdom and the close association of joy and fear—perhaps even viewing the two concepts as antithetical—but it is entirely appropriate with regard to God. Our Lord and King reigns supreme over all. He is to be feared but is also benevolent, supplying every need for those under His dominion. The apex of His might and goodness was demonstrated in the fulfillment of our greatest need: restoring communion with Himself through the sending and sacrifice of His Son. At His power we fear and tremble and for His grace we give Him praise.

Song of Songs 8

Song of Solomon 8:6 (ESV) 6 Set me as a seal upon your heart, as a seal upon your arm, for love is strong as death, jealousy is fierce as the grave. Its flashes are flashes of fire, the very flame of the LORD.

The woman expresses her desire to be set as a seal upon the heart of her husband, a love and jealousy as permanent as death, a flame that cannot be extinguished. These are strong words to be aimed at another human being, making it challenging to conceive that anyone other than the Lord would be deserving of this degree of loyalty. As devout as this woman is shown to be toward her husband, it is revealing that an even greater devotion to be shown toward our Lord.

Hebrews 8

Hebrews 8:11 (ESV) 11 And they shall not teach, each one his neighbor and each one his brother, saying, ‘Know the Lord,’ for they shall all know me, from the least of them to the greatest.

Quoting Jeremiah 31:34, the author of Hebrews affirms the universal knowledge of the Lord during His glorious reign. There will be no need to teach of Him because He will be self-attesting. As the Believer’s Bible Commentary says, “Everyone will have an inward consciousness of Him, from the least … to the greatest: ‘The earth shall be full of the knowledge of the LORD as the waters cover the sea’ (Isa. 11:9).”

Carson on Psalm 46

….one of the entailments of monotheism is that God is the God of all, whether acknowledged as such or not. And one day he will be acknowledged by all; in many cases such acknowledgment will be accompanied by worship and adoration, as the nobles of the nations assemble before God exactly as do the people of the God of Abraham.

We are in a time where God can be denied but a time is coming where this will no longer be possible. It will be a day in which “at the name of Jesus every knee should bow, in heaven and on earth and under the earth, and every tongue confess that Jesus Christ is Lord, to the glory of God the Father.” (Phil. 2:10-11). What amazing opportunity we have to begin today the everlasting worship and praise of our God.

Justin Houtz