Tag: speak to the people

“Speak to the people of Israel”

 

Lev 4:2  “Speak to the people of Israel, saying, If anyone sins unintentionally in any of the LORD’s commandments about things not to be done, and does any one of them,

Lev 4:13  “If the whole congregation of Israel sins unintentionally and the thing is hidden from the eyes of the assembly, and they do any one of the things that by the LORD’s commandments ought not to be done, and they realize their guilt, when the sin which they have committed becomes known, the assembly shall offer a bull from the herd for a sin offering and bring it in front of the tent of meeting.

Lev 4:22  “When a leader sins, doing unintentionally any one of all the things that by the commandments of the LORD his God ought not to be done, and realizes his guilt, or the sin which he has committed is made known to him, he shall bring as his offering a goat, a male without blemish

Lev 4:27  “If anyone of the common people sins unintentionally in doing any one of the things that by the LORD’s commandments ought not to be done, and realizes his guilt, or the sin which he has committed is made known to him, he shall bring for his offering a goat, a female without blemish, for his sin which he has committed.

And the Lord spake unto Moses, saying. Continued to speak to him, or, after some pause made, proceeded to speak to him, and give things in commandment concerning the sin offering, what it should be, and for whom. (Gill)

Unintentional “Sins” of ignorance – 

Unknowingly  – being unaware  – unconscious – blind to sin – deaf to sin – insensitive to sin – uninformed – unsuspecting – oblivious – and not being perceptive to committing sin can or do manifest in the lives of Christians. As a person grows and matures in the knowledge and understanding of God and things of God they will become more sensitive to God’s Word, His holiness, their thoughts, words, and actions, and the quiet whispers of the Holy Spirit’s conviction and leading them to repentance.  The problem so often is that the “Christian” is content, neglectful, complacent, and luke warm towards their growth and maturity in the Word of God and things of God. They become stagnate and continue to eat baby food. There is no maturing in their lives. The heart deep desire to know God’s Word and things of God is not there. Their lives have become a blend of mostly worldly thoughts and minimal God honoring and glorifying actions. Their lives are full of unconscious sin and oblivious to it. Though they are content with their spiritual life they are unsatisfied, anxious, worrying, and never finding deep down peace, joy, and rest in their soul. 

How many people are living shallowly committed to growth and maturity in God’s Word and things of God? How many weeks go by where thoughts of honoring and glorifying Jesus Christ don’t even register in their minds? How many weeks go by with no desire to be led by the Holy Spirit? How many weeks go by without wanting to be made aware of the unknowing sin in their lives? Far too many I fear. 

David put it this way: O Lord, you have searched me and known me! You know when I sit down and when I rise up; you discern my thoughts from afar. You search out my path and my lying down and are acquainted with all my ways. Even before a word is on my tongue, behold, O Lord, you know it altogether. How precious to me are your thoughts, O God! How vast is the sum of them! Search me, O God, and know my heart! Try me and know my thoughts! And see if there be any grievous way in me, and lead me in the way everlasting.

1.n. “It is more blessed to give than to receive.’”

1 Chronicles 29:6  Then the leaders of fathers’ houses made their freewill offerings, as did also the leaders of the tribes, the commanders of thousands and of hundreds, and the officers over the king’s work. They gave for the service of the house of God 5,000 talents and 10,000 darics of gold, 10,000 talents of silver, 18,000 talents of bronze and 100,000 talents of iron. And whoever had precious stones gave them to the treasury of the house of the Lord, in the care of Jehiel the Gershonite. Then the people rejoiced because they had given willingly, for with a whole heart they had offered freely to the Lord. David the king also rejoiced greatly.

2 Corinthians 9:7-8   Each one must give as he has decided in his heart, not reluctantly or under compulsion, for God loves a cheerful giver.  And God is able to make all grace abound to you, so that having all sufficiency in all things at all times, you may abound in every good work.

1 Kings 8:61    Let your heart therefore be wholly true to the LORD our God, walking in his statutes and keeping his commandments, as at this day.”

Exodus 25:2     “Speak to the people of Israel, that they take for me a contribution. From every man whose heart moves him you shall receive the contribution for me.

Luke 12:48    Everyone to whom much was given, of him much will be required, and from him to whom they entrusted much, they will demand the more.

Exodus 35:5    Take from among you a contribution to the LORD. Whoever is of a generous heart, let him bring the LORD’s contribution: gold, silver, and bronze;

Proverbs 22:9    Whoever has a bountiful eye will be blessed, for he shares his bread with the poor.

Acts 20:35    In all things I have shown you that by working hard in this way we must help the weak and remember the words of the Lord Jesus, how he himself said, ‘It is more blessed to give than to receive.’”

For they had given willingly and with a whole heart they offered freely.  This must have been a great day to be part of and witness the hearts of all men freely giving and rejoicing.  This was not a tax by the King but an offer to the people to freely give toward the work that was to begin.  Gold, refined sliver, iron, bronze, precious jewels were all given freely for the work that for the house of the Lord.   

Presently giving is something that appears to be an afterthought rather than a forethought or something predetermined and purposed in and from the heart.  That is where giving takes root, is in the heart.  Out of the heart will a person freely give.  Out of the heart will a person greedily withhold.

Scripture is full of examples of being greedy to the detriment of the person.  To those who freely give they will have an abundance and to those who greedily hoard will never be satisfied.  They will be forever trying to satisfy the craving for more.  They will have no joy from it and it will become a burden to them.  Withholding from fellow man is one thing but withholding from God is totally another level of neglect.  A cheerful and generous giver has reason to rejoice and give thanks because they have shared what God has given to them.  This is the point we all need to take to heart – we own nothing – we deserve nothing – what we have has been given and entrusted to us by God – It is not ours but we have been given free will to choose what we do with it.  We can choose to be greedy and hoard or to be generous and freely give.  Spending all we have so that we have nothing to give is robbing God.  Be mindful of what He has entrusted with you.