Biblical Numbers

The meaning of the number eleven in Jewish thought is important as it can symbolise disorder, chaos and judgment. Coming after 10 (which symbolises law and responsibility), eleven (11) represents the opposite, and is indicative of irresponsibility, of breaking the Law, leading to disorder and judgment.

In Genesis 11, we find humankind rebelling against God and building the tower of Babel. The result we find is a confusion of languages, resulting in chaos. So, most often, eleven has negative connotations. Stories with this number often revolve around rebellion, disorder, judgment, betrayal, idolatry, bribery, lack of trust in God. This results in a sense of being incomplete, or a sense of false authority r government.

The Old English form of eleven has close Norse association derived from early German, sometimes connected with leik or leip meanin that which is left or remaining, with the implicit meaning that "one is left" after counting to ten.

In Matthew 5:17-18 we find Jesus saying, “Do not think that I have come to abolish the Law or the Prophets; I have come not to abolish but to fulfil. For truly I tell you, until heaven and earth pass away, not one letter, not one stroke of a letter, will pass from the law until all is accomplished.”

Jesus lived in such a way that the words of the scriptures came to life. Let us  think of how the scriptures come to life in me by what I do and what I say and that there is no need for me to add or subtract anything from God's living word.

Dear Lord, I thank you for your promise that you did not come to destroy the law or the prophets, but to fulfil them. I claim this promise today and ask that you help me to understand and follow your teachings. May your word be a lamp to my feet and a light to my path. Help me to live a life that is pleasing to you and in accordance with your will. Thank you for your faithfulness and for the gift of salvation through your son, Jesus Christ. Amen.

Biblical Numbers

When exploring the number 10 in the context of the bible, an obvious passage would be that of the 10 commandments given to Moses on Mount Sinai. But today I want to look at the significance of a tenth and particularly the notion of tithing. Tithing in the Bible refers to giving 10% of one’s annual earnings, productions, or possessions to the Lord.

Through the years this has come to mean that the tithe is given to the church. But I wish to argue, giving to the Lord may not be necessarily be solely to the church and I would even question, is a tenth enough?

The guideline for tithing and offering today is vastly different, from that aptly explained by Paul. “Whoever sows sparingly will also reap sparingly, and whoever sows generously will also reap generously. Each of you should give what you have decided in your heart to give, not reluctantly or under compulsion, for God loves a cheerful giver.” (2 Corinthians 9:6-7)

Yet, let me change the paradigm by using the words of Frances Ridley Havergal where she begins to contemplate her ownership of the many aspects in her life.  She writes Take my life, my moments and my days, my hands, my feet, my voice, my lips, my silver and my gold, my intellect, my will, my heart, my love, myself and in the end gives it all to God.

So, far from a tenth, is the right faith offering 100% of all that God has given us. This change of ownership aligns with much of Jesus teaching and the notion of stewardship, our responsibility for that which he is placed in our hands. John Wesley puts it starkly when he says, “. Do you not know that God entrusted you with that money (all  above what buys necessities for your families) to feed the hungry, to  clothe the naked, to help the stranger, the widow, the fatherless; and,  indeed, as far as it will go, to relieve the wants of all mankind? How  can you, how dare you, defraud the Lord, by applying it to any other  purpose?“

May we well pray in the words of Brindley Boon

Time, health and talents presenting,
All that I have shall be thine;
Heart mind and will consecrating,
No longer shall they be mine.

O for a heart of compassion,
Moved at the impulse of love,
Lost ones to bring to thy footstool,
Thy gracious riches to prove!

Take thou my life, Lord,
In deep submission I pray,
My all to thee dedicating,
Accept my offering today. Amen

 

Daily Devotions

With today’s exploration of 9 I home into Luke 17 where we find Jesus, in the early part of 30 A.D., traveling south through Samaria when he runs into ten leprous men. After the men cry out to be healed, they are sent to show themselves to the priests. On their journey they are miraculously healed of their wasting disease! Yet of the ten men only one of them returned to thank the Lord.

“Then one of them, seeing that he was healed, turned back, glorifying God with a loud voice. . . Jesus said, "Were not ten cleansed? But where are the other nine? Are not any found returning to give glory to God except this stranger?" (Luke 17:15, 17 - 18).

Just imagine this scene? Ten miserable individuals have to call on Jesus from a distance for fear of contaminating him. Think about what is going on in them? Then consider what happens?

Someone contemplating this scene wrote this 

“I have done it myself, Lord. I go looking for something, advertising my need, seeking sympathy. And when somebody helps me, part of me is muttering He was only doing his job, or what you'd expect of a neighbour. I take kindness for granted, and do not bother to say Thank you. It was the stranger, the Samaritan, who took the trouble to go back to Jesus and became an icon of gratitude. The other nine went for a drink, feeling - Sure that's only what the priests/doctors/healers are there for.”

Yet in my minds eye I also see the one who returned to Jesus praising him. Do we too praise God for al that he has done for us. Our daily prayer at its best includes praise of God – for who God is and for what God does for us. Jesus often praised God himself, and asked others to do the same. He highlights here that a foreigner was the one to return in praise. Praising God is not limited to any one people or religion. We all share our faith in the God who creates us and the world day by day. We share faith too in the God who helps us in life, regardless of creed or colour. 

Ever-present God 

you meet us in the borderlands,

in places neither here nor there, 

at times when we are well out of our comfort zone; 

even if we don't know where we're going,

when we feel most lost, 

you are there: 

Thank you, God. 

You meet each of us where we are,

and many of us in our need, 

people marginalised by illness,

not wanting to be a burden, 

those who see their poverty or problems as unacceptable – 

feeling rejected – with faltering self-worth. 

It was in the borderlands that Jesus met a band of lepers, 

whose livelihood was begging,

whose status was untouchable, 

and touched their lives with hope. 

And it was the Samaritan,

the one most of all an outsider, 

who turned back to give thanks. 

We thank you for all we can learn 

from our sisters and brothers who live on the edge, 

in poverty, in the borderlands: 

about gratitude, grace and healing hope. 

Thank you, God. Amen.

Daily Devotions

In contemplating the many reference to the figure 8 in scripture, today I want to centre our thinking on the 8 Beatitudes of “the poor in spirit”, “those who mourn”, “those who are meek”, “those hungering and twisting after righteousness”, “those who are merciful”, “the pure in heart”,”the peacemakers”, and “those persecuted”.

It is so easy to become so familiar with this crucial teaching of Jesus, that raw truths no longer really feature in our day to day discipleship. C. S. Lewis describes Christian faith as admitting the bankruptcy of all our efforts to live properly. Faith kicks in when we have tried and failed to live for God on our own. Augustine presents the eight Beatitudes as a ladder by which we can climb step-by-step to God. Unsurprisingly, he sees the first Beatitude as showing the need for humility. 

Someone has suggested one way to have a renewed is to pray the beatitudes. Another suggests that we should become the beatitudes. In this way we avoid selective reading and living the beatitudes. As Charles R. Swindoll states, “The eight character traits listed in The Beatitudes are not a multiple-choice list where we pick our favourites.”

There are perhaps 3 significant ways of interpreting the 8 beatitudes.

1. First, these are eight character traits that identify true servanthood. 
2. Second, these traits open the door to inner happiness. 
3. Thirdly attached to each character trait is a corresponding promise.

There is perhaps a fourth benefit from praying and being the beatitudes for we read in the gospels, “When Jesus had finished these words, the crowds were amazed at His teaching; for He was teaching them as one having authority, and not as their scribes.”

Never before had His audience heard such marvellous truths presented in such an interesting and meaningful manner. I wonder, did they long to have those promises incarnate in their lives? Perhaps just as importantly do we desire to have those porticoes evident inner lives?

Lord Jesus, you said,

"Blessed are the poor in spirit,

for theirs is the kingdom of heaven."

Keep us from being preoccupied with money and worldly goods,

and with trying to increase them at the expense of justice.

Lord Jesus, you said,

"Blessed are the gentle,

for they shall inherit the earth."

Help us not to be ruthless with one another,

and to eliminate the discord and violence

that exists in the world around us.

Lord Jesus, you said,

"Blessed are those who mourn,

for they shall be comforted."

Let us not be impatient under our own burdens

and unconcerned about the burdens of others.

Lord Jesus, you said,

"Blessed are those who hunger and thirst for justice,

for they shall be filled."

Make us thirst for you, the fountain of all holiness,

and actively spread your influence in our private lives and in society.

Lord Jesus, you said,

"Blessed are the merciful,

for they shall receive mercy."

Grant that we may be quick to forgive

and slow to condemn.

Lord Jesus, you said,

"Blessed are the clean of heart,

for they shall see God."

Free us from our senses and our evil desires,

and fix our eyes on you.

Lord Jesus, you said,

"Blessed are the peacemakers,

for they shall be called children of God."

Aid us to make peace in our families, in our country,

and in the world.

Lord Jesus, you said,

"Blessed are those who are persecuted for the sake of justice,

for the kingdom of heaven in theirs."

Make us willing to suffer for the sake of right

rather than to practice injustice;

and do not let us discriminate against our neighbours

and oppress and persecute them. Amen

Daily Devotions

Seven is a foundational number in scripture as It derives much of its meaning from being directly tied to creation and symbolises completeness and perfection (both physical and spiritual).

In the gospel of John we find a sevenfold revealing of who Jesus is through his 7 signs or miracles closely linked with his 7 “I am” sayings, the bread of life, the light of the world, the door , the good shepherd, the resurrection and the life, the way the truth and the life and the true vine.

We also find in the gospels Jesus last words from the cross where again the significance of completeness is seen with Christ’s penultimate acclamation, “It is Finished” John R.W. Stott notes the phrase comes from the Greek ["tetelestai"] meaning, "it has been and will for ever remain finished." Jesus did not only finish the work but it never needs repeating or improvement.

But what do these words from the cross mean for us when Jesus declared, “It is finished.” Surely it means that no matter who you are, what you have done, or what you have failed to do, Jesus’ death is enough. Though we can never do enough good to to earn God’s favour, Jesus has done it for us. It is finished.

Paul witness to the Colossians 2-9-10 affirms this when he says, “Yet it is in him that God gives a full and complete expression of himself (within the physical limits that he set himself in Christ). Moreover, your own completeness is only realised in him, who is the authority over all authorities, and the supreme power over all powers.” J B Phillips paraphrase.

The good news is that Jesus is enough. No matter your story, he is enough to make you right with God and to assure your place at his side. Because of Jesus, you can have full life forever with him.

Lord, let the fullness of your finished work be realised in my life in Jesus name! Amen

Daily Devotions

Similar to yesterday in respect of the number 6, I want to home into an incident that could almost have been overlooked in our reading of Jesus 1st recorded Miracle - the marriage at Cana and the changing of water into wine.  We read in John 2:6-7 “Nearby stood six stone water jars, the kind used by the Jews for ceremonial washing, each holding from twenty to thirty gallons. Jesus said to the servants, “Fill the jars with water”; so they filled them to the brim.

It is not so much the number of jars but more the reason for Jesus to act, the lack of wine. The host had failed order sufficient supplies. Did this oversight highlight the host’s lack of forethought, his lack of preparedness in fact his feeble attempt to foresee what was actually required? We could surmise that his weak humanity was  on display. 

 I know it may seem tentative  was there a link here between the creation narrative  were read “Now let Us conceive a new creation—humanity—made in Our image, fashioned according to Our likeness. And let Us grant them authority over all the earth…..And it happened just as God said. Then God surveyed everything He had made, savouring its beauty and appreciating its goodness. Evening gave way to morning. That was day six.” Genesis 1 (The Voice)

In this miracle we see that Christ’s uses six earthen vessel filled with clean water and transforms it into new wine, an unfolding parable of his saving action for humanity. We may ask why this incident is recorded as the first ‘sign’ of Christ’s ministry? The answer comes from the Old Testament picture of wine as a symbol of God’s blessing. Wine is often used to represent God’s abundant provisions for his people.

In this scene, Jesus has chosen to demonstrate the blessings of his coming kingdom by blessing a wedding celebration with this sign. The wine serves as a symbol of God’s provision in Jesus and of the generous love he will put on display.

Signs like this are meant to build up his followers’ faith and help them to trust in Jesus. How is God demonstrating his abundant love for you, in your life today? How has God been providing for you, as a sign that you belong to him?

Father, help me to trust and believe that I am loved by you, and to see the ways you have been providing for me in my life. Amen.

Daily Devotions

When it comes to the number 5 in the bible we could talk about the Pentateuch the first 5 books of the bible or about the the fact the ten commandments are divided into two groups of 5. The first five commandments are related to our treatment and relationship with God with the remaining one concerned with our relationship with others humans. We could explore the fact the Book of Psalms is subdivided into 5 sections. But I want to centre todays thinking on an almost incidental fact found in John 6:9 “Here is a boy with five small barley loaves and two small fish, but how far will they go among so many?”

In actual fact the significance lies not in the actual number, but in the fact that loaves of bread were smaller in Bible days, with three loaves being about the right amount for one man’s meal (Luke 11:5,6). This means that the boy who shared the five loaves and two fishes (John 6:9) had packed just enough to feed himself, with a little left over to share with another. But it also means that he was willing to share his provisions even when it became evident that sharing them among so many would likely mean that he himself would go hungry.

The young boy had enough food only for himself; the food was the food of the very poor - the barley loaf. Given with love, it seemed to multiply. Whatever the meaning of this miracle, one of its lessons is that God can make much of what we offer. Our attempts to live in his love and follow him are nothing without him. The small offering of the young man fed the people; we never know where our efforts to love, to help, to support others may bear fruit. 

On my own

what I have to give

doesn't amount to much

in the light of all you have given to me

and in the face of so much need.

Put together as a congregation,

what we offer you here in love

becomes more,

not simply added together,

but somehow multiplied in its usefulness.

We ask you to bless our gifts

and with the addition of your blessing,

just as it was with the loaves and fishes,

there is enough for all.

Amen