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RETURN TO SYLLABUS
NUMBERS 5
LESSON #06
CLEANSING THE CAMP OF SIN
v MEMORY VERSE: PSA 32:5
v REVIEW: STEPS IN BECOMING A MOVE-ER SO THAT YOUCAN STAND UP AND BE COUNTED:
Ø #1 KNOW YOUR IDENTITY IN RELATIONSHIP TO GODAND THE CROSS OF JESUS CHRIST. NUM 2
Ø #2 KNOW YOUR PLACE IN THE BODY OF CHRIST. NUM3-4
v SO FAR IN THE BOOK OF NUMBERS, WE HAVE SEEN GODPREPARE HIS PEOPLE TO MOVE TOWARD THE PROMISED LAND. NOW WE WILL SEE THE REQUIREMENTS FORKEEPING THE CAMP CLEAN OF ANYTHING THAT WOULD DEFILE THE PEOPLE.
v READ NUM 5:1-10
Ø THE CLEANSING OF THE CAMP
§ GOD TOLD THE PEOPLE TOREMOVE 3 KINDS OF PEOPLE FROM THE CAMP: EVERYLEPER, EVERY ONE WHO HAS BLEEDING, EVERY ONE WHO HAS TOUCHED ANYTHING DEAD. THISRESTRICTION MAY SEEM UNUSUALLY CRUEL, HOWEVER THERE ARE REASONS:
· LEPROSY WAS CONTAGIOUS. WE,THEREFORE, SEE GODS MERCY AND PROTECTION FOR THE REST OF THE PEOPLE.
¨ GOD INTENDED LEPROSY TO BE A SYMBOL OFSIN–AND SPECIFICALLY, A SYMBOL OF SINS OF THE FLESH NATURE, WITH WHICH WE ARE ALL BORN.THE BOOK OF LEVITICUS TALKS A LOT ABOUT LEPROSY AND THE MANY LAWS OF DEALING WITH PEOPLEWHO HAD IT.
Ø FROM THE BOOK OF LEVITICUS WE SEE THATLEPROSY, LIKE SIN, IS:
§ CONTAGIOUS.
· SIN PATTERNS ARE CONTAGIOUS INTHAT MANY ARE LEARNED FROM PARENTS.
· SIN ACTIONS ARE OFTEN CONTAGIOUSIN THAT WE ARE PERSUADED AND TEMPTED INTO SIN BY OTHERS.
§ DEBILITATING ANDDESTRUCTIVE.
· SIN RUINS MANY LIVES.
§ EATS AWAY THE FLESH.
· SIN EATS THE SOUL.
§ SUBTLE AND PERVASIVE.
· SATANS WAYS ARE SUBTLE INPERSUADING MAN INTO SIN.
· SIN IS PERVASIVE IN THAT HUMANNATURE RATIONALIZES SIN BY SAYING THAT EVERYONE DOES IT.
· GOD HAD SAID THAT LIFE IS IN THEBLOOD. (GEN 9:4 LEV 17:14 DEU 12:23)
¨ GOD STRESSED MANY TIMES THE IMPORTANCE OF THEBLOOD TO MANS PHYSICAL LIFE. IT IS INTERESTING THAT IN THE EARLY PRACTICE OFMEDICINE DOCTORS USED TO BLEED PEOPLE WHO HAD SOME KINDS OF ILLNESSES AND FEVERS. SOME OFTHE EARLY PRESIDENTS OF THE UNITED STATES DIED UNNECESSARILY BECAUSE DOCTORS BLED THEM. WHILE IT IS TRUE PHYSICALLY THAT LIFE IS IN THEBLOOD, IT IS ALSO TRUE SPIRITUALLY. GOD INTENDED THAT MAN UNDERSTAND THE IMPORTANCE OFBLOOD TO PHYSICAL LIFE SO THAT WHEN JESUS CAME AND DIED ON THE CROSS, MAN WOULD SEE THEIMPORTANCE OF CHRISTS SHED BLOOD TO MANS SPIRITUAL LIFE.
Ø THE BIBLE SAYS THAT WITHOUT THE SHEDDING OFBLOOD THERE IS NO REMISSION OF SINS (HEB 9:22).
¨ BECAUSE OF THIS LAW IN NUM 5, EVERY HEALTHYWOMAN WOULD SPEND ONE WEEK OF EVERY MONTH OUTSIDE THE CAMP.
Ø IF LIFE IS IN THE BLOOD PHYSICALLY ANDSPIRITUALLY, THEN DEATH MUST ALSO RELATE SPIRITUALLY TO THIS LAW AS WELL AS PHYSICALLY.
§ IF WE HAVE ETERNAL LIFETHROUGH THE SHED BLOOD OF JESUS, THEN WITHOUT HIS SHED BLOOD THERE IS SPIRITUAL DEATH.
§ IF THE PEOPLE UNDERSTOODTHE IMPORTANT CONTRAST GOD MADE BETWEEN LIFE AND DEATH PHYSICALLY, THEY COULD BETTERUNDERSTAND THE SPIRITUAL DIFFERENCE BETWEEN SPIRITUAL LIFE WITH JESUS AND SPIRITUAL DEATHIN THE LAKE OF FIRE FOR ETERNITY.
· EVERY PERSON IN THE CAMPOF ISRAEL WOULD HAVE TO SPEND TIME OUTSIDE THE CAMP AT SOME TIME OR OTHER BECAUSE OFBLEEDING OR BECAUSE OF TOUCHING SOMETHING DEAD–A DEAD ANIMAL, BURYING A DEAD RELATIVE,ETC.
§ THESE THREE LAWS REGARDINGLEPROSY, BLOOD, AND DEATH, THEREFORE, WERE ACTED OUT PHYSICALLY BY THE ISRAELITES TO PROVETHAT EVERY PERSON IS AFFECTED BY SIN AND DEATH.
· THEREFORE, THEY ARE TO INSTRUCTUS SPIRITUALLY THAT LIKE THEM, EVERY PERSON IS AFFECTED BY SIN AND FACES ETERNAL DEATH.HOWEVER, GOD, IN HIS MERCY HAS PROVIDED SPIRITUAL LIFE THROUGH THE SHED BLOOD OF JESUS.
§ OUTSIDE THE CAMP
· REMEMBER THE ARRANGEMENT OF THECAMP. THE TABERNACLE WAS IN THE MIDDLE OF THE CAMP. THE TABERNACLE WAS WHERE GODMANIFESTED HIS PRESENCE. THEREFORE, THE LOCATION OUTSIDE THE CAMP WAS AWAY FROM GODSPRESENCE.
¨ IT TELLS US THAT TO BE IN GODS PRESENCEWE MUST BE FREE FROM OUR SINS, COVERED BY THE SHED BLOOD OF CHRIST.
v READ NUM 5:5-7
Ø RESTITUTION FOR SIN WAS REQUIRED.
§ THIS IS WHAT ZACCHAEUS DIDIN THE NEW TESTAMENT WHEN HE FIRST CAME TO JESUS (LUK 19:8).
· RESTITUTION IS TO MAKETHINGS RIGHT. IF YOU HAVE WRONGED A BROTHER OR SISTER, YOU SHOULD ASK FORFORGIVENESS FROM GOD AND FROM THE PERSON. IF THE SIN INVOLVES MONEY, YOU SHOULD PAYRESTITUTION.
¨ THE JEWISH LAW SAID YOU SHOULD ADD 1/5 MORETO WHAT YOU OWE THE PERSON.
¨ TODAY, IN NEW TESTAMENT TIMES, WE DO NOT HAVETO BE LEGALISTIC ABOUT THE AMOUNT. HOWEVER, THE PRINCIPLE OF RESTITUTION IS THE SAME. LETTHE HOLY SPIRIT TELL YOU THE AMOUNT.
¨ SOMETIMES REPENTANCE OF SIN INVOLVES MORETHAN SIMPLY, IM SORRY.
v READ NUM 5:11-15, 18-19, 24 THE TRIAL OF THE UNFAITHFUL WIFE
Ø THIS PASSAGE DEALS WITH AN UNFAITHFUL WIFEAND A JEALOUS HUSBAND. YOU WILL NOTICE THAT BOTH UNFAITHFULNESS AND JEALOUSY ARECONSIDERED SIN HERE.
§ THE TRIAL PERMITS GOD TODECIDE THE WIFES INNOCENCE OR GUILT.
· THE OFFERING:
¨ NOTICE THAT THE PURPOSE OF THE OFFERING ISTO BRING INIQUITY TO REMEMBRANCE(15)
Ø IN OTHER WORDS, AS A MARRIED COUPLE THEY WERENOT TO KEEP ON FIGHTING ABOUT GUILT OR INNOCENCEAND NEVER ARRIVING AT THE TRUTH. THIS COUPLE WAS ALWAYS LIVING WITH SUSPICIONS ANDACCUSATIONS. GOD PROVIDED A WAY TO RESOLVE THE SITUATION.
§ 1/10 MEASURE OF BARLEY (ANOFFERING OF SACRIFICE)
§ NO OIL (A SYMBOL OF THEHOLY SPIRIT)
§ NO FRANKINCENSE (A SYMBOLOF A SWEET SMELL TO GOD TO COVER THE BAD SMELL OF DEATH)
¨ THE BITTER WATER:
Ø THE WOMAN, WHETHER INNOCENT OR GUILTY WAS TODRINK THE BITTER WATER. IF SHE WAS GUILTY, SHE WOULD BECOME SICK AND DIE. IF SHE WASINNOCENT, NO HARM WOULD COME TO HER.
· THE MEANING:
¨ THIS PASSAGE SHOWS THE IMPORTANCE TO GOD OFFAITHFULNESS AND TRUST BETWEEN HUSBANDS AND WIVES.
¨ THIS PASSAGE SHOWS US GODS MERCY TOWARDWOMEN WHO WERE CONSIDERED SECOND CLASS CITIZENS AT THAT TIME. THIS WAS GODS WAY OFPROTECTING AN INNOCENT WOMAN FROM A MANS UNJUSTIFIED WRATHFUL ANGER.
Ø REMEMBER THAT THE PUNISHMENT FOR A PERSONCAUGHT IN ADULTERY WAS STONING THROUGH THE OLD TESTAMENT AND UP INTO THE NEW TESTAMENT.
¨ THIS PASSAGE ALSO SHOWS GODSRELATIONSHIP TO ISRAEL. ISRAEL IS CONSIDERED BY GOD, FIGURATIVELY SPEAKING, TO BE GODSWIFE (ISA 54:4-6).
Ø HOWEVER, ISRAEL WAS NOT FAITHFUL TO GOD BUTALWAYS FOLLOWED OTHER GODS AND IDOLS. THEREFORE, ISRAEL DEPICTS THE UNFAITHFUL WIFE, ANDGOD DEPICTS THE JEALOUS HUSBAND.
§ WE SEE THIS DEMONSTRATED INTHE LIFE OF HOSEA, THE PROPHET, WHO WAS MARRIED TO A PROSTITUTE. GOD TOLD HOSEA THAT HISLIFE WAS JUST LIKE ISRAELS RELATIONSHIP TO GOD. (HOS 4)
§ GOD TOLD ISRAEL IF SHE WASNOT FAITHFUL TO GOD, THE NATION WOULD DRINK OF THE BITTERNESS OF GODS WRATH. (JER2:19) ISRAEL HAS CONTINUED TO REAP BITTERNESS AND PERSECUTION DOWN THROUGH HISTORY BECAUSESHE HAS NEVER ACKNOWLEDGED GOD AND HIS SON, JESUS CHRIST.
v SUMMARY RELATING TO OUR THEME:
Ø STEP #3 IN BECOMING A MOVER-ER SO YOUCAN STAND UP AND BE COUNTED:
§ MAKE SURE YOU HAVE REPENTEDOF YOUR SINS, PAID ANY RESTITUTION, AND ARE DETERMINED TO BE FAITHFUL TO HIM.
· GODS PRESENCE CANNOTTOLERATE THE PRESENCE OF SIN. THEREFORE, WE MUST CLEAN UP OUR LIVES.
v HOMEWORK
v NUMBERS6
THIS IS A SELF-STUDY.PLEASE DO NOT SEND HOMEWORK ANSWERS TO THE TEACHER.
v APPLICATION OF NUM 5
Ø WHAT PARTS OF YOUR LIFE NEED CLEANING?
Ø IN PRAYER, REPENT OF ANY SINS GOD BRINGS TOYOUR MIND. THANK HIM FOR HIS FORGIVENESS. (1JOH 1:9)
Ø ASK HIM TO HELP YOU TO BE FAITHFUL.
v PREPARATION FOR NUM 6
Ø READ NUM 6
§ WHAT WERE THE RESTRICTIONSOF THE NAZARITE VOW?
§ WHAT DO YOU THINK IS THEMEANING OF THE NAZARITE VOW TO THE CHRISTIAN? (READ ROM 1:1 AND JAMES 1:1)
§ WHAT IS GODS ATTITUDETOWARD THE VOWS THAT YOU MAKE TO HIM?
§ LOOK FOR REFERENCES TO THETRINITY (GOD, THE FATHER; JESUS, THE SON; AND THE HOLY SPIRIT) IN NUM 6:22-27
v MEMORY VERSE: 2COR 4:5
