Justin Houtz

Numbers 29, 1 Corinthians 13

DateVersionReading Plan
May 26, 2025ESV (2016)OT/NT Plan 2025 – 2027

Numbers 29

Observation & Interpretation

Continuing from the last chapter, the LORD gave Moses instruction regarding offerings for the Feast of Trumpets, Day of Atonement and the seven-day Feast of Booths. A couple of interesting details are worth noting. First is that while other times where offerings were made in which no ordinary work was to be done, the direction on the Day of Atonement with respect to work is absent the “ordinary” qualifier. As the FSB states, “On the Day of Atonement, all work is to cease, which is in contrast to the other stipulations that prohibit only normal, day-to-day work.” The next detail is pertaining to the Feast of Booths, namely that the number of bulls given as offering decreases through the progression of days, starting with thirteen bulls on the first day down to seven bulls on the seventh day. It is interesting that the seventh day of the Feast had a coinciding number of bulls for offering (seven being the number of completeness and perfection), but I was not able to find anything among the commentaries I have that describe why this was the case.

Application

The OT offerings and feasts all forecast the promised, perfect, one-time offering in Christ and to the joyous, celebratory nature with which we are to respond to the news that He has come. One can only imagine how the OT sacrificial system served to build-up Messianic anticipation for the people of Israel. For those of us on the other side of the cross, our hearts should rejoice as we read of this time of expectation, responding in utmost gratitude that the Lord has manifested His glory in its fulfillment.

1 Corinthians 13

Observation & Interpretation

Paul speaks of the supremacy of love, its qualities, expressions and never-ending nature. In 1 Cor. 13:10, he describes how the partial will pass away when the perfect comes. The FSB provides comment what is meant by “the perfect”:

The Greek word used here, teleios, refers to the fullness of God’s salvation that will come at the second coming of Jesus Christ…The eschatological context of 1 Cor 13:8–13 implies this “perfection” relates to the arrival of the “end,” not some humanly attainable “perfection” in the present age.

Application

It is helpful to be reminded of the state of partiality in which we live and the perfection to come in the return of Christ. Similar to the previous reflection in Numbers 29 and the anticipation among the Israelites for the Messiah, we await His second coming with eager longing to make all things right and new. It is difficult to imagine what this will be like, having only known a sinful, fallen world of incompleteness. Seeing for now in a mirror dimly and knowing only in part, we will one day know fully and be face-to-face with our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ.

Prayer

Heavenly Father, how abounding is Your grace to provide Your Son in sacrifice to wash away all sin, that in Him we can be rendered spotless and blameless before You. Father, help me to live out this beautiful truth of Your immeasurable love every day. Father, by Your Spirit, keep me grounded in Your sure promises and my eyes fixed on what is ahead, the Day on which our Beloved returns.

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