5 July 2010
Psalm 1, 2, 3; Num. 32:1-6,16-27; Rom. 8:26-30; Matt. 23:1-12

The Reubenites and the Gadites find good grazing land before they come into the land. They aren’t going to join their brothers in the Promised Land, the first division of the people. The land was a conquest and therefore a gift of God to the people but it was not within the boundaries of the Promised Land. There doesn’t seem to be any particular condemnation attached to the request and Moses grants it with the provision that they must go up with their brothers into the Land and take part in the conquest. They are not allowed to remain behind and force the other tribes to fight “short-handed” in order to gain their own portions. This they willingly do.

Jesus affirms that the scribes and Pharisees are the inheritors of the “seat of Moses.” In that role, they judge according to the law between the people but the problem is that they have made the law a great burden to the people and are doing nothing to help with the burden. They love the recognition and honor that comes with their position but they do not use their position rightly in the service of the people and of God. Jesus says that in the kingdom to come there will be a different order of ministry, exalting those who serve rather than those who would be served. He hints at the reality of the presence of the Spirit in the church with the sayings about their lack of need for instructors in a way that would surely have been confusing.

Paul speaks of the intercession of the Spirit in our prayer lives. To see the fruit of this promise we need to persevere in prayer rather than hurriedly rushing through our time with the Lord. Generally we come before Him, pour out the things that are on our hearts and then a quick, “In the Name of Jesus, Amen” and off we go to the next thing. Taking time to be present to the Lord, waiting upon Him and being still before Him are important to us and to Him. Paul goes on to the promise that all things are working together for those who are called according to His purpose. It is important that Paul remind both his readers and us of this reality as many times it looks as though God isn’t in charge and the path of our lives isn’t headed in the right direction. Paul reassures us that in spite of outward appearances God is sovereign and that His will is being done. Just as the cross looks for all the world as though God’s will was not being done, so sometimes in our lives we judge by what we would prefer rather than what God would have.

Happy are those
who do not follow the advice of the wicked,
or take the path that sinners tread,
or sit in the seat of scoffers;
but their delight is in the law of the Lord,
and on his law they meditate day and night.
They are like trees
planted by streams of water,
which yield their fruit in its season,
and their leaves do not wither.