1 00:00:14,119 --> 00:00:17,339 Welcome to the Lansdale Life Church podcast. 2 00:00:18,379 --> 00:00:24,100 If you're seeking a closer relationship with Jesus Christ, this podcast is for you. 3 00:00:24,940 --> 00:00:26,839 Thank you for joining us today. 4 00:00:34,780 --> 00:00:42,240 We are blessed and thankful to be here and Lord, we want to praise you tonight, God. 5 00:00:42,439 --> 00:00:44,740 We want to give you the glory tonight, Lord. 6 00:00:44,960 --> 00:00:52,000 We want to have your spirit fill this place, Lord, and fill our hearts and our minds, 7 00:00:52,000 --> 00:00:57,320 Lord, and just really come into a deeper knowledge of you, Lord. 8 00:00:57,980 --> 00:01:04,879 We pray, Lord, for wisdom and discernment, God, as we dig into your scripture, Lord, 9 00:01:05,000 --> 00:01:11,519 and just reveal, God, your goodness to us through it, Lord, your truth through it. 10 00:01:11,540 --> 00:01:12,819 In Jesus' name we pray. 11 00:01:13,420 --> 00:01:13,620 Amen. 12 00:01:13,620 --> 00:01:13,760 Amen. 13 00:01:15,500 --> 00:01:15,739 All right. 14 00:01:15,959 --> 00:01:21,799 Hey, and just as a forewarning, we are, we're not, we're not going to break into 15 00:01:21,799 --> 00:01:33,239 groups tonight, so I, um, yeah, I'm just, just as a free warning, I, I got on a roll 16 00:01:33,239 --> 00:01:39,739 with this and, um, I have a little bit longer than, than, than normal, uh, 17 00:01:39,739 --> 00:01:46,599 presentation on it and, um, you know, God just last week started to open up a 18 00:01:46,599 --> 00:01:54,799 whole color palette in this book, so I'm really very, very excited to, to teach it. 19 00:01:55,379 --> 00:02:02,079 So, um, so just as a recap from, we're today, tonight we're going over numbers 20 00:02:02,079 --> 00:02:10,240 35, and as a recap from last week, you know, the, the land that, that the 21 00:02:10,240 --> 00:02:14,939 Israelites are inheriting is not just merely a territory or land. 22 00:02:14,939 --> 00:02:21,080 It's, it's a, it's a holy gift, uh, from God and he's, he's outlined the boundaries 23 00:02:21,080 --> 00:02:28,340 of it, he's broken it up into tribes and pointed leaders to, to oversee this. 24 00:02:29,060 --> 00:02:35,979 And he's, he's really projecting this, this new and vibrant future for, for 25 00:02:35,979 --> 00:02:40,939 Israel built around obedience and stewardship in this new, new covenant that 26 00:02:40,939 --> 00:02:47,340 he has and, and, and last week's chapter really kind of frames up, um, this, 27 00:02:47,520 --> 00:02:53,639 this 35 is this idea of this sacred holy nation and this people. 28 00:02:53,639 --> 00:02:56,099 Um, it really kind of sets the stage. 29 00:02:56,099 --> 00:03:01,879 So as an overview for, for 35, you know, you know, God opens with this, this, 30 00:03:01,879 --> 00:03:08,960 this profound revelation, you know, of, of his heart for both, both justice 31 00:03:08,960 --> 00:03:10,979 and mercy for his people. 32 00:03:11,099 --> 00:03:17,680 And he's, he's designing this, this, this new kind of society where his, his 33 00:03:17,680 --> 00:03:23,620 presence is there in the people and it's shaping, um, every day life, you 34 00:03:23,620 --> 00:03:28,219 know, he's establishing now these in this chapter, these Levitical cities 35 00:03:28,939 --> 00:03:33,960 and these cities of refuge, which is something new where a worship and 36 00:03:33,960 --> 00:03:39,120 law and compassion are going to be the fabric of, of these, these communities. 37 00:03:39,759 --> 00:03:41,159 So let's, let's start out. 38 00:03:41,300 --> 00:03:47,599 I'm going to read, um, verses one through eight on the planes of Moab 39 00:03:47,599 --> 00:03:49,960 by the Jordan across from Jericho. 40 00:03:50,680 --> 00:03:55,259 The Lord said to Moses, command the Israelites to give the Levites 41 00:03:55,760 --> 00:04:02,780 towns to live in from the inheritance of the Israelites in with will, 42 00:04:03,099 --> 00:04:07,419 that the Israelites will possess and give them pasture lands around the towns. 43 00:04:07,860 --> 00:04:12,479 Then they will have towns to live in and pasture lands for their cattle. 44 00:04:12,620 --> 00:04:17,620 They own and their other animals, the pasture lands around the towns that 45 00:04:17,620 --> 00:04:22,819 you give the Levites will extend a thousand cubics from the town wall outside 46 00:04:22,819 --> 00:04:28,920 the town, measure 2000 cubics on the East and 2000 cubics on the South side. 47 00:04:29,199 --> 00:04:34,920 2000 cubics on the West, 2000 cubics on the North with the town in the center. 48 00:04:36,259 --> 00:04:40,720 So they, they will have this area for pasture lands from the town. 49 00:04:41,879 --> 00:04:47,360 Six of the towns you give the Levites will be cities of refuge to which a 50 00:04:47,360 --> 00:04:50,199 person who has killed someone may flee. 51 00:04:51,160 --> 00:04:54,939 In addition, give them 42 other towns. 52 00:04:57,280 --> 00:05:02,500 In all, you must give the Levites 48 towns together with their pasture lands. 53 00:05:03,019 --> 00:05:08,779 The towns you give the Levites from the land the Israelites possess are to be 54 00:05:08,779 --> 00:05:13,060 given in the proportion, the inheritance of each tribe. 55 00:05:14,139 --> 00:05:20,680 Take many towns from a tribe that has many, but few from one that has few. 56 00:05:21,459 --> 00:05:30,519 So these are, let's take a, let's take a, um, oops, where am I at here? 57 00:05:30,639 --> 00:05:31,220 Okay, here we go. 58 00:05:34,379 --> 00:05:40,060 So we have here, you know, the Levitical cities and, and, and God is now 59 00:05:40,060 --> 00:05:46,879 among the people and in the, they're, he's giving the, the, the Levites 48 of 60 00:05:46,879 --> 00:05:48,980 these, um, of these cities. 61 00:05:49,300 --> 00:05:54,639 So, so remember, this is going back, I don't know, probably like five or 62 00:05:54,639 --> 00:05:59,139 so chapters when, when, when God was originally breaking up and dividing 63 00:05:59,139 --> 00:06:03,800 the lands, the Levites had no tribal inheritance, right? 64 00:06:03,959 --> 00:06:07,959 Cause they weren't, they're not considered one of the tribes of, of Israel. 65 00:06:07,959 --> 00:06:12,420 So they didn't really, they weren't part of that, that dividing of the land. 66 00:06:12,480 --> 00:06:17,720 Their role is spiritual and legal and structural and guiding, you know, for 67 00:06:17,720 --> 00:06:22,319 the people, you know, they taught, you know, they, they were, they were God's, 68 00:06:22,819 --> 00:06:23,300 God's representatives. 69 00:06:23,480 --> 00:06:25,040 So they were, they were different. 70 00:06:25,300 --> 00:06:29,379 So now we're getting to the point where, okay, so these are, this is what 71 00:06:29,379 --> 00:06:31,420 God's establishing now for the Levites. 72 00:06:31,500 --> 00:06:34,420 Cause we were probably all wondering, I know I was wondering, it's like, okay, 73 00:06:34,579 --> 00:06:37,720 well, all these Levites are just going to like live in the temple. 74 00:06:37,720 --> 00:06:38,600 What's happening here? 75 00:06:39,120 --> 00:06:44,819 So he's given him not just land, but this really good land, this really fertile land 76 00:06:44,819 --> 00:06:49,199 for agriculture and the pasture lands and, and, and all of this. 77 00:06:49,740 --> 00:06:53,319 And let's take a look at this by. 78 00:06:56,379 --> 00:07:02,000 So here, here, here are the four, here are the 48 cities, you know, and 79 00:07:02,000 --> 00:07:04,399 you can see, it's kind of hard to see on this map. 80 00:07:04,399 --> 00:07:09,319 By another map, I'm going to bring up, bring up in a minute where we're 81 00:07:09,319 --> 00:07:15,720 talking about the, or we're talking about the, the, the refuge cities. 82 00:07:15,879 --> 00:07:21,980 But, you know, these are, these are, these are scattered throughout the 83 00:07:21,980 --> 00:07:27,819 nation and, and you can, they're very strategic in, in, in where, in where they 84 00:07:27,819 --> 00:07:33,139 are. So this is positioning of the Leelites all throughout, all throughout the land. 85 00:07:33,659 --> 00:07:39,199 And, you know, this is, this is a nation now. 86 00:07:39,660 --> 00:07:44,040 So think about, think about how, how, how, how things are, are positioned here 87 00:07:44,040 --> 00:07:45,439 with, with the Promised Land. 88 00:07:45,540 --> 00:07:49,120 In a minute, I'm going to pull up another map that makes it just a little 89 00:07:49,120 --> 00:07:50,660 bit, a little bit clearer. 90 00:07:51,060 --> 00:07:57,860 They're basically surrounded by, by these, these pagan nations. 91 00:07:57,860 --> 00:08:03,740 So, so God is saying that, that, that Israel, the Promised Land, the people of 92 00:08:03,740 --> 00:08:10,579 God, they're going to be this living model for God's presence amongst all of 93 00:08:10,579 --> 00:08:15,319 this. And what he's doing is he's establishing this, this different kind 94 00:08:15,319 --> 00:08:17,100 of, of, of kingdom. 95 00:08:17,899 --> 00:08:18,300 All right. 96 00:08:18,360 --> 00:08:24,060 One where, where justice is, is, is, is brought into play, where mercy is. 97 00:08:24,060 --> 00:08:30,199 It's not driven by power and money and revenge or, you know, tyrannical 98 00:08:30,199 --> 00:08:32,379 leaders that, that were there. 99 00:08:32,679 --> 00:08:38,080 The, the Eastern world in and of itself, and really the world as a whole at, at 100 00:08:38,080 --> 00:08:42,419 this time was dominated by tribal warfare. 101 00:08:43,279 --> 00:08:45,100 I mean, warfare was a way of life. 102 00:08:45,580 --> 00:08:49,539 I mean, you know, think about even conquering was a way of life, even 103 00:08:49,539 --> 00:08:51,940 up till a few hundred years ago. 104 00:08:51,940 --> 00:08:54,580 I mean, it's just how, how the world was. 105 00:08:54,700 --> 00:08:59,100 But these were, these were ruler centered, you know, laws. 106 00:08:59,340 --> 00:09:06,139 They were militarized, pagan nations, you know, human sacrifice, slavery, 107 00:09:06,759 --> 00:09:13,600 self-mutilation, false Gods, you know, all types of, of, of just, you 108 00:09:13,600 --> 00:09:17,200 know, just horrible, horrible stuff that was going on. 109 00:09:17,200 --> 00:09:22,120 And in this slide, you can see a little bit, a little bit clearer that all 110 00:09:22,120 --> 00:09:25,679 of these various nations, and you know, you can go in, some of these 111 00:09:25,679 --> 00:09:31,580 nations were even long descendants from, from Abraham, but they 112 00:09:31,580 --> 00:09:34,840 were all bad, bad nations. 113 00:09:35,019 --> 00:09:40,679 And we're not talking about small, you know, unsophisticated tribes. 114 00:09:41,320 --> 00:09:48,700 These were organized, powerful kingdoms who lived in an opposite 115 00:09:48,700 --> 00:09:52,340 manner of what God was teaching Israel. 116 00:09:52,759 --> 00:10:00,980 Now, God was doing something completely new and he was using Israel 117 00:10:00,980 --> 00:10:07,500 as this, this beacon, kind of this, you know, this metaphor is this light 118 00:10:07,500 --> 00:10:11,700 on a hill showing these surrounding nations because the reputation of 119 00:10:11,700 --> 00:10:15,500 God, you know, of the God of Israel had spread. 120 00:10:16,580 --> 00:10:20,879 So, so these other nations, they knew, but he's showing these nations 121 00:10:20,879 --> 00:10:27,759 what it looks like to live under the one and only true God in 122 00:10:27,759 --> 00:10:32,320 righteousness and with compassion and with love and with structure in, 123 00:10:32,320 --> 00:10:37,179 in society, you know, they back in Exodus, remember, God 124 00:10:37,179 --> 00:10:41,580 said that, that Israel, you're going to be a kingdom of priests. 125 00:10:42,259 --> 00:10:48,080 You're going to be a holy nation in Exodus 9, 8, 9, 8, 19, 6. 126 00:10:48,600 --> 00:10:54,580 So it wasn't just about, Hey, this is our God and we're 127 00:10:54,580 --> 00:11:01,379 worshiping privately, but this is a public demonstration of who God is. 128 00:11:01,600 --> 00:11:06,399 We've been learning all throughout Leviticus and numbers about what 129 00:11:06,399 --> 00:11:08,299 God is instituting here. 130 00:11:08,720 --> 00:11:11,740 And this is something new and revolutionary. 131 00:11:15,799 --> 00:11:19,720 I, I even, I, I'm going out on a limb here. 132 00:11:19,879 --> 00:11:24,419 I mean, I think it's, it's really about proclaiming the good news. 133 00:11:25,340 --> 00:11:32,320 I mean, they were literally proclaiming the good news of Adonai, their God 134 00:11:32,320 --> 00:11:37,919 on display in what he was doing in this, in this society. 135 00:11:38,759 --> 00:11:42,379 And, and this is the message of Jesus, right? 136 00:11:42,820 --> 00:11:48,100 Jesus was bringing this, this gospel message, this, this good news. 137 00:11:48,259 --> 00:11:50,340 It was, it was a new kingdom. 138 00:11:50,940 --> 00:11:52,940 It was a new way of living. 139 00:11:53,139 --> 00:11:58,659 It was a better way, a holy way, a truer way with meaning and purpose. 140 00:11:58,659 --> 00:12:00,759 And he was bringing this to the Jews. 141 00:12:01,679 --> 00:12:08,600 And, and, and just like with, with Israel here, it was counterintuitive 142 00:12:08,600 --> 00:12:09,860 to what was happening. 143 00:12:10,960 --> 00:12:15,659 So everything around them was well, this isn't really the way it's supposed 144 00:12:15,659 --> 00:12:18,240 to be when Jesus was bringing his message. 145 00:12:18,379 --> 00:12:20,039 This isn't really what we were taught. 146 00:12:20,659 --> 00:12:27,759 And as Israel is being established now as this nation and this beacon for God, 147 00:12:27,759 --> 00:12:34,120 it is completely and utterly counterintuitive, the opposite of what's 148 00:12:34,120 --> 00:12:36,559 happening all around them. 149 00:12:38,139 --> 00:12:47,980 So this is a radical, radical new way of governance that Israel has on display 150 00:12:47,980 --> 00:12:52,059 here for the surrounding, surrounding nations. 151 00:12:52,740 --> 00:12:59,639 And when you think about this idea of, of, of God, you know, embodying Israel 152 00:12:59,639 --> 00:13:03,299 here, Jesus was the fulfillment. 153 00:13:05,120 --> 00:13:10,120 He was the fulfillment of God dwelling amongst his people. 154 00:13:11,379 --> 00:13:16,659 So it was on display with Israel, but it came into full 155 00:13:16,659 --> 00:13:19,779 fruition with, with, with, with Jesus. 156 00:13:20,940 --> 00:13:22,419 But make no mistake about it. 157 00:13:22,460 --> 00:13:30,340 It started back here with Israel as he was shaping justice and worship 158 00:13:30,340 --> 00:13:32,740 and a code for morality. 159 00:13:33,220 --> 00:13:37,879 How many times have we, have I, have I mentioned that many of these, these, 160 00:13:38,039 --> 00:13:44,200 these ways of governance have, have translated and transcended thousands 161 00:13:44,200 --> 00:13:49,100 and thousands of years into our own justice system here. 162 00:13:51,120 --> 00:14:00,519 So it was on display for the world to see, but Israel, they couldn't really 163 00:14:00,519 --> 00:14:06,019 see it like that and they didn't see it like that because at, at the time 164 00:14:09,259 --> 00:14:13,899 it, it was, they were an ethnic, what you would call an ethnic religion. 165 00:14:13,899 --> 00:14:17,320 So I mean, God was the God of Israel, right? 166 00:14:17,820 --> 00:14:21,000 So he wasn't the God of, of, of the Canaanites. 167 00:14:21,120 --> 00:14:22,620 He wasn't the God of Moab. 168 00:14:22,740 --> 00:14:23,879 He was the God of Israel. 169 00:14:24,000 --> 00:14:27,259 So they very much looked at their God as an ethnic God. 170 00:14:27,580 --> 00:14:28,600 He's our God. 171 00:14:29,399 --> 00:14:36,080 There was no, Hey, Hey guys, I'm, I'm a pagan and guess what? 172 00:14:36,620 --> 00:14:39,940 I've just been saved and I want to become an Israelite. 173 00:14:40,940 --> 00:14:41,820 It didn't happen. 174 00:14:42,480 --> 00:14:43,580 There was none of that. 175 00:14:44,139 --> 00:14:44,679 Happening. 176 00:14:45,720 --> 00:14:48,480 It was the Israelites religion. 177 00:14:49,259 --> 00:14:51,840 The God of Israel was the God of Israel. 178 00:14:52,960 --> 00:14:58,600 Now that would change over time as they went through, you know, their series of 179 00:14:58,600 --> 00:15:05,279 captivities, you know, with, with, with Babylonian, Syrian, Persian, and you 180 00:15:05,279 --> 00:15:08,779 know, Alexander the great, when he came in, all of these things, you know, 181 00:15:09,120 --> 00:15:13,299 would they, Hellenism kind of got, got ahold of it and they would begin to 182 00:15:13,299 --> 00:15:19,000 change their perspective that you could, you know, convert into, into Judaism. 183 00:15:19,220 --> 00:15:21,720 It wasn't by any means how we look at it. 184 00:15:21,879 --> 00:15:24,960 Like now it's like, you know, we're just, you know, we're, we're bringing 185 00:15:24,960 --> 00:15:29,860 as many, as many people into this, but they didn't, they didn't see it like 186 00:15:29,860 --> 00:15:35,220 that and it wasn't like that, but this was God's, God's was, this is the 187 00:15:35,220 --> 00:15:43,059 beginning of God's master plan to be that light and to show people, 188 00:15:43,059 --> 00:15:46,820 hey, this is the way, this is the true way. 189 00:15:47,100 --> 00:15:54,580 So he was designing in Israel for them to be carriers of his presence so 190 00:15:54,580 --> 00:16:00,740 that other natures, other nations could see it, not just consumers of it. 191 00:16:02,100 --> 00:16:07,519 So at the time they viewed themselves as just consumers of what God 192 00:16:07,519 --> 00:16:10,240 was providing and that would eventually change. 193 00:16:10,240 --> 00:16:18,220 And it's very, very much like what Jesus was doing with his disciples 194 00:16:18,879 --> 00:16:20,320 and with his teachings. 195 00:16:22,980 --> 00:16:30,340 Everything that the Jews thought was right was wrong. 196 00:16:31,600 --> 00:16:32,639 Not that it was wrong. 197 00:16:32,840 --> 00:16:34,799 They were looking at it wrong. 198 00:16:34,980 --> 00:16:36,340 They saw it wrong. 199 00:16:36,340 --> 00:16:40,940 They, they saw it through the lens of the law instead of through the 200 00:16:40,940 --> 00:16:43,940 heart of what God is trying to teach them. 201 00:16:44,259 --> 00:16:49,899 Everyone who they thought was in, wasn't in the Sadducees. 202 00:16:50,179 --> 00:16:52,179 These guys were not in the religious leaders. 203 00:16:52,379 --> 00:16:54,779 They were not, they thought they were in, but they really weren't. 204 00:16:54,919 --> 00:16:57,580 And Jesus is saying, no, these other people are in. 205 00:16:57,879 --> 00:17:02,320 So he was showing them a completely different way. 206 00:17:02,320 --> 00:17:05,099 And it was a painful, painful process. 207 00:17:05,619 --> 00:17:10,420 Like for instance, you know, this idea of, of, of, of, of ceremonial 208 00:17:10,420 --> 00:17:15,059 washing and the washing of feet, these things had become religious rituals. 209 00:17:15,480 --> 00:17:19,680 And Jesus turned the tables and said, I'm going to wash your feet. 210 00:17:21,359 --> 00:17:27,500 I'm going to wash your feet with a heart, with a humble heart of serving, 211 00:17:28,500 --> 00:17:33,539 not with a ritualistic heart of, okay, this is a cleansing thing. 212 00:17:34,059 --> 00:17:39,539 He, he, he told the disciples, you know, basically, we're not going to stay 213 00:17:39,539 --> 00:17:42,500 within the safety umbrella of Galilee. 214 00:17:44,620 --> 00:17:50,380 We're going out to the Decapolis and to the gates of hell, to all of these 215 00:17:50,380 --> 00:17:56,799 pagan places, and we're going to talk to them about God and we're not going 216 00:17:56,799 --> 00:17:58,380 to do it just to Jews. 217 00:17:58,380 --> 00:18:03,380 We're going to do it with Gentiles and even worse yet, Samaritans. 218 00:18:05,700 --> 00:18:12,359 So Jesus was bringing this completely different type of kingdom, a kingdom 219 00:18:12,359 --> 00:18:21,220 where serving and mercy and love and justice and freedom were, were part of it. 220 00:18:23,059 --> 00:18:28,440 He was teaching Israel to be carriers of his presence. 221 00:18:30,980 --> 00:18:34,920 And he says to us in, in, in Matthew, you are the light of the world. 222 00:18:35,480 --> 00:18:38,980 A town built on a hill cannot be hidden. 223 00:18:39,740 --> 00:18:42,980 Neither do people lay a lamp and put it under a bowl. 224 00:18:43,359 --> 00:18:49,940 Instead, they put it on its stand and gives light to everyone in the house. 225 00:18:50,580 --> 00:18:56,180 In the same way, let your light shine before others that they may see your 226 00:18:56,180 --> 00:19:00,920 good deeds and glorify your father in heaven. 227 00:19:02,099 --> 00:19:06,880 This is what he was doing with Israel at the time. 228 00:19:07,279 --> 00:19:14,700 He was teaching them to be carriers of his presence, just like he is doing in us. 229 00:19:16,019 --> 00:19:27,619 I can't possibly, I can't possibly tell someone about the goodness and the grace 230 00:19:27,619 --> 00:19:34,460 and the love and the mercy of Jesus unless I have experienced it myself. 231 00:19:35,279 --> 00:19:38,380 I can't possibly do it. 232 00:19:39,460 --> 00:19:41,680 And that's what he was doing with Israel. 233 00:19:41,680 --> 00:19:46,440 He was saying, this is the society that we're creating. 234 00:19:46,680 --> 00:19:49,680 This is the culture that we're creating it. 235 00:19:50,119 --> 00:19:53,779 And you are going to experience it amongst yourself. 236 00:20:00,439 --> 00:20:07,119 The Levites, where they mean that the Israelites were, were, were a nation of 237 00:20:07,119 --> 00:20:09,460 priests, a holy nation. 238 00:20:10,039 --> 00:20:21,119 And we now, we now, as followers of Jesus, function as spiritual Levites that are 239 00:20:21,119 --> 00:20:27,599 scattered throughout our communities, that are scattered throughout the workplace, 240 00:20:28,279 --> 00:20:35,799 that are scattered all throughout society, very strategically by God, just like these 241 00:20:35,799 --> 00:20:42,640 Levitical cities were scattered because we're to reflect the kingdom of Jesus, 242 00:20:43,160 --> 00:20:45,160 just like they were reflecting. 243 00:20:47,720 --> 00:20:48,839 Let's move on. 244 00:20:49,420 --> 00:20:51,119 Verses nine through 15. 245 00:20:52,799 --> 00:20:58,319 Then the Lord said to Moses, speak to the Israelites and say to them, when you 246 00:20:58,319 --> 00:21:04,599 cross the Jordan into Canaan, select some towns to be your cities of refuge. 247 00:21:05,799 --> 00:21:11,039 To which a person who has killed someone accidentally may flee. 248 00:21:13,480 --> 00:21:20,799 They will be places of refuge from the Avenger so that anyone accused of murder 249 00:21:22,159 --> 00:21:26,000 may not die before they stand trial before the assembly. 250 00:21:27,440 --> 00:21:34,559 These six towns, these six towns you give will be your cities of refuge. 251 00:21:35,799 --> 00:21:42,579 Give three on the side of the Jordan, three in Canaan, the cities of refuge. 252 00:21:43,279 --> 00:21:48,460 These six towns will be places of refuge for Israelites and for foreigners 253 00:21:48,460 --> 00:21:56,119 residing among them so that anyone who has killed another accidentally can 254 00:21:56,119 --> 00:21:57,619 flee to there. 255 00:21:58,099 --> 00:22:00,319 So let's take a look at this. 256 00:22:00,319 --> 00:22:07,039 So now you can see, you know, these were strategically the stars is where the 257 00:22:07,039 --> 00:22:15,380 cities of refuge were scattered amongst them, evenly, evenly distributed there. 258 00:22:16,240 --> 00:22:27,380 And this idea of mercy kind of woven into this system of justice. 259 00:22:27,380 --> 00:22:33,160 These were these were set aside as safe havens for someone who had killed 260 00:22:33,160 --> 00:22:41,640 someone accidentally and protecting them from revenge until due process was done. 261 00:22:41,779 --> 00:22:47,380 And this is this is one of those things that you can just kind of read over 262 00:22:47,380 --> 00:22:50,880 and just not really fully understand what's happening here. 263 00:22:50,880 --> 00:22:58,000 But in the Eastern culture, this idea of family based justice, this system of 264 00:22:58,000 --> 00:23:00,799 justice was very, very common practice. 265 00:23:01,259 --> 00:23:06,460 So when they talk about the Avenger or the Avengers blood, it was this legitimate 266 00:23:06,460 --> 00:23:12,839 role that someone would play that if if if someone in my family was killed, 267 00:23:13,220 --> 00:23:19,480 regardless of how they were killed, I could go and avenge them and kill 268 00:23:19,480 --> 00:23:28,039 someone. Now, you think that that seems kind of wild, but think back just a 269 00:23:28,039 --> 00:23:34,039 couple hundred years ago in the United States, you know, if if if if someone 270 00:23:34,039 --> 00:23:41,359 offended, even just offended someone's honor, you could you could you could 271 00:23:41,359 --> 00:23:42,819 kill them fair and square in a fight. 272 00:23:42,819 --> 00:23:49,779 I mean, even back, you know, in in in the wild west, these things these things 273 00:23:49,779 --> 00:23:57,559 were happening. So it's not that out of out of place that that families and 274 00:23:57,559 --> 00:24:02,839 people and friends would be seeking their own retribution through this. 275 00:24:03,000 --> 00:24:08,460 And that's exactly what was was happening, is that that that that if 276 00:24:08,460 --> 00:24:13,259 someone was killed, regardless of how they were killed, or if someone was done 277 00:24:13,259 --> 00:24:22,240 wrong, regardless of of the intent that was happening, this person could seek 278 00:24:22,240 --> 00:24:27,019 seek revenge. So what what God is doing here is he's establishing these safe 279 00:24:27,019 --> 00:24:34,519 havens. So something happens, you can go here and you are safe and you are are 280 00:24:34,519 --> 00:24:40,500 protected. This is a radical, radical thing that he's doing, and it interrupts 281 00:24:40,500 --> 00:24:48,779 this this revenge cycle that was very common back then. And he is he's 282 00:24:48,779 --> 00:24:55,779 instituting something very different, a justice system, a sanctuary, you know, 283 00:24:56,140 --> 00:25:01,599 where where he's saying that that that human anger and the emotion that's all 284 00:25:01,599 --> 00:25:06,779 tied up in when someone dies or someone gets killed does not justify vengeance, 285 00:25:07,160 --> 00:25:13,319 is what he's saying. God alone is the final judge, and his justice, as we've 286 00:25:13,319 --> 00:25:20,519 learned through the lidikis and numbers, his justice is not reactive, his justice 287 00:25:20,519 --> 00:25:32,039 is is redemptive. And there's there's there's justice behind it. I love this 288 00:25:32,039 --> 00:25:38,740 scripture that God is our sanctuary. If you say the Lord is my refuge and you 289 00:25:38,740 --> 00:25:46,380 make the most high your dwelling, no harm will overtake you, no disaster will come 290 00:25:46,380 --> 00:25:48,140 near your tent. 291 00:25:58,480 --> 00:26:06,540 And I look at Jesus as my ultimate refuge. So God was establishing these places of 292 00:26:06,799 --> 00:26:18,900 refuge, but when I was guilty, I found my freedom in Jesus. When I was burdened 293 00:26:18,900 --> 00:26:27,259 down and overwhelmed with with sin, I found my forgiveness in Jesus. When I was 294 00:26:27,259 --> 00:26:36,000 under judgment from the life I had led, I found grace in Jesus and he was my 295 00:26:36,000 --> 00:26:43,640 refuge. Let's keep going here. This is going to be a long segment. This is a 296 00:26:44,559 --> 00:26:49,539 16 through through 28, so I might have to take a couple breaths through through 297 00:26:49,539 --> 00:26:58,279 this. If anyone strikes someone, a fatal blow with an iron with an iron 298 00:26:58,279 --> 00:27:05,660 object, that person is a murderer. The murderer is to be put to death, or if 299 00:27:05,660 --> 00:27:12,839 anyone is holding a stone and strikes someone, a fatal blow with it, that person 300 00:27:12,839 --> 00:27:19,220 is a murderer. The murderer will be put to death, or if anyone holding a wooden 301 00:27:19,220 --> 00:27:27,660 object and strikes someone, a fatal blow with it, that person is a murderer. The 302 00:27:27,660 --> 00:27:33,100 murderer is to be put to death. The avenger of blood shall put the 303 00:27:33,240 --> 00:27:40,279 murderer to death. When the avenger comes upon the murderer, the avenger shall put 304 00:27:40,279 --> 00:27:49,259 the murderer to death. If anyone with malice, a forethought, shoves another or 305 00:27:49,779 --> 00:27:57,740 throws someone, something at them intentionally so that they die, or if out 306 00:27:57,740 --> 00:28:04,200 of amenity, one person hits another with their fists so that the other dies, that 307 00:28:04,200 --> 00:28:09,880 person is to be put to death. That person is a murderer, and the avenger of blood 308 00:28:09,880 --> 00:28:18,079 shall put the murderer to death when they meet. But if without anonymity 309 00:28:18,079 --> 00:28:26,000 someone suddenly pushes another or throws something at them unintentionally, 310 00:28:26,720 --> 00:28:33,960 or without seeing them, drops on them a stone heavy enough to kill them and they 311 00:28:33,960 --> 00:28:43,779 die, then since that other person was not an enemy and no harm was intended, the 312 00:28:43,779 --> 00:28:49,160 assembly must judge between the accused and the avenger of blood according to 313 00:28:49,259 --> 00:28:56,440 those regulations. The assembly must protect the one accused of murder from 314 00:28:56,440 --> 00:29:01,400 the avenger of blood and send the accused back to the city of refuge to 315 00:29:01,400 --> 00:29:08,200 which he fled. The accused must stay there until the death of the high priest who 316 00:29:08,200 --> 00:29:14,779 was anointed with holy oil. But if the accused ever goes outside the limits of 317 00:29:14,779 --> 00:29:20,660 the city of refuge to which they fled, the avenger of blood finds them outside 318 00:29:20,660 --> 00:29:24,880 the city of the avenger of blood may kill the accused without being guilty 319 00:29:24,880 --> 00:29:30,700 of murder. The accused must stay in the city of refuge until the death of the 320 00:29:30,700 --> 00:29:38,039 high priest, only after the death of the high priest may they return to their 321 00:29:38,039 --> 00:29:43,700 own property. Some pretty weird stuff, right? I mean that's just, there's just 322 00:29:43,700 --> 00:29:49,400 some really odd things in there. But what's very clear in here, and I'm going 323 00:29:49,400 --> 00:29:56,519 to try to clear up some of the weirdness, what's very clear is God is 324 00:29:56,519 --> 00:30:02,400 distinguishing between accidental death and murder. He's saying there is a big 325 00:30:02,400 --> 00:30:11,339 difference. So what is it? God cares about intent. So he's defining very clear and 326 00:30:11,339 --> 00:30:18,900 legal standards for what qualifies murder versus an accidental killing. So 327 00:30:18,900 --> 00:30:27,880 another kind of little tidbit on ancient culture is ancient laws typically, they 328 00:30:28,540 --> 00:30:36,519 typically focused on outcomes only. So what that means is, you know, justice was 329 00:30:36,519 --> 00:30:44,859 based primarily on the result of an action. So if someone died, regardless of 330 00:30:44,859 --> 00:30:51,539 how they died, punishment had to follow, okay? And often without looking at or 331 00:30:51,539 --> 00:30:57,700 considering intent or motive. It's just the way that it was. So God is 332 00:30:57,700 --> 00:31:06,160 introducing this better way of doing it, and he's saying motives matter, intent 333 00:31:06,160 --> 00:31:16,079 matters. What does that mean? That means the heart matters, okay? The heart of what 334 00:31:16,079 --> 00:31:24,380 what someone goes into. So God is not just giving this rigid framework for law, 335 00:31:24,380 --> 00:31:31,240 but he wants to make sure that that the Israelites are examining the heart of 336 00:31:31,440 --> 00:31:42,940 what's happening here. And from my perspective, nobody defined this more 337 00:31:42,940 --> 00:31:52,460 than Jesus did. He was constantly, constantly referencing the law and 338 00:31:52,460 --> 00:32:00,400 delineating between this is the heart of the law. This is what it's really 339 00:32:00,400 --> 00:32:06,440 meant. This is what it was intended to mean. You guys look at it like this, but 340 00:32:06,440 --> 00:32:13,339 this is what it really means. Jesus, we're just, I'm just reading a little snippet. 341 00:32:13,559 --> 00:32:18,160 I would encourage you to read this whole, whole verse here, but do not think 342 00:32:18,160 --> 00:32:24,839 that I came to abolish the law or the prophets. I have not come to abolish them, 343 00:32:24,839 --> 00:32:33,059 but to fulfill them. And then he goes into this long laundry list of, you've 344 00:32:33,059 --> 00:32:52,460 heard it said that murder, you know, is this. Part of it, yes, yeah, yeah, yeah. So 345 00:32:52,460 --> 00:32:59,099 he's, he goes into this whole laundry list of, you know, you've heard it said 346 00:32:59,099 --> 00:33:05,900 about murder, but I'm telling you that murder is in your heart. And if you're a 347 00:33:05,900 --> 00:33:11,160 murderer in your heart, you're a murderer. So he's getting to the heart of this. 348 00:33:11,400 --> 00:33:15,920 You've heard it said about adultery, but I tell you this, you've heard it said 349 00:33:15,920 --> 00:33:20,180 about divorce, but I tell you this, you've heard it said about oath, you've 350 00:33:20,180 --> 00:33:27,099 heard it said about an eye for an eye, but I tell you this, that it's the heart that 351 00:33:27,099 --> 00:33:35,539 matters. That he was so clearly delineating between the legality of the 352 00:33:35,539 --> 00:33:41,859 laws and the things that, that the Jewish culture was so fixated on, on, on 353 00:33:41,859 --> 00:33:47,240 this hyper sensitized to this law and, and doing this law. And he was 354 00:33:47,240 --> 00:33:55,380 constantly coming back to this idea of, yeah, the law says this, but the heart of 355 00:33:55,380 --> 00:34:06,079 it is this. The original intention of this law was this. And he was teaching it and 356 00:34:06,079 --> 00:34:15,940 modeling it, loving your enemies. Crazy, crazy stuff like that, that was just not 357 00:34:15,940 --> 00:34:23,139 at all even close to being in, in their culture. Jesus was just turning it upside 358 00:34:23,139 --> 00:34:31,820 down. And in every respect, he would look at the law and say, you look at it like 359 00:34:31,820 --> 00:34:41,539 this, but the heart of it is this. And that is exactly what God is doing in 360 00:34:41,539 --> 00:34:49,179 this instant. Our hearts matter. Their hearts mattered, Israel, and he was 361 00:34:49,179 --> 00:34:54,960 communicating that very clear. He was also talking about the role of the 362 00:34:54,960 --> 00:35:04,920 community and the role of the church, so to speak. So that justice in a sense 363 00:35:04,920 --> 00:35:11,219 within this community that God was creating, justice isn't just a private 364 00:35:11,219 --> 00:35:19,940 thing. It impacts all of, of society. So the congregation or the grouping of people, 365 00:35:20,159 --> 00:35:26,059 they were responsible for, responsible for judging these cases. Not the 366 00:35:26,059 --> 00:35:31,119 individuals, not just the Avengers, not just the accused, but the overall 367 00:35:31,119 --> 00:35:40,940 situation. So Israel was this covenant society, not an individualistic one. They 368 00:35:40,940 --> 00:35:47,460 were in it together, and they knew, and God knew, and God communicated this over 369 00:35:47,460 --> 00:35:54,860 and over again that sin affects the community as a whole. It's not just one 370 00:35:54,860 --> 00:36:03,480 person that's sinning. It impacts everything. And this idea of justice that 371 00:36:03,480 --> 00:36:09,519 he's instituting again, just, and keep in mind that this was just something so new 372 00:36:09,519 --> 00:36:19,139 to the culture back, back then. Justice was this act of worship to God in many 373 00:36:19,139 --> 00:36:24,280 ways. Think about, you know, you know, verse in Mike Rick, I can't think of, I 374 00:36:24,280 --> 00:36:31,500 can't think of the numbers off the top of my head, but to act justly, and to love 375 00:36:31,500 --> 00:36:46,400 kindly, and to walk humbly before God. How we treat others is at the epicenter of 376 00:36:46,400 --> 00:37:06,480 the whole body of Scripture. I want to read this, Matthew 18, 15 through 17. If 377 00:37:06,480 --> 00:37:13,099 your brother or sister sins, go and point out their fault just between the two of 378 00:37:13,099 --> 00:37:20,800 you. If they listen to you, you have won them over. But if they will not listen, 379 00:37:22,059 --> 00:37:28,619 take one or two others along so that every matter may be established by the 380 00:37:28,619 --> 00:37:35,500 testimony of two or three witnesses. If they still refuse to listen, tell it to 381 00:37:35,500 --> 00:37:42,880 the church. And if they refuse to listen, even to the church, treat them as 382 00:37:42,880 --> 00:37:56,420 you would a pagan or a tax collector. If Jamie Alabak was advising Jesus on this 383 00:37:56,420 --> 00:38:12,860 particular piece of Scripture, I would have said, hey Jesus, why don't you just 384 00:38:12,860 --> 00:38:23,780 remember how I treated pagans and tax collectors? Because you could read that 385 00:38:23,780 --> 00:38:29,280 and say, yeah, that's right. They don't listen. We're gonna treat them like the 386 00:38:29,280 --> 00:38:40,699 pagans and the tax collectors. But Jesus in true iconic rabbinic form just leaves 387 00:38:40,699 --> 00:38:52,019 it hanging there because He wants them to have that revelation of how did my 388 00:38:52,019 --> 00:38:57,800 rabbi teach? How did my rabbi treat tax collectors? Because there's one among us 389 00:38:57,800 --> 00:39:10,679 here, Matthew. How did our rabbi treat the pagans? He healed them and he 390 00:39:10,679 --> 00:39:16,840 showed them love. But we want to so quickly show the judgment of, well, if 391 00:39:16,840 --> 00:39:20,059 they're not gonna listen, if they're not gonna follow the rules, if they're not 392 00:39:20,059 --> 00:39:26,659 gonna play by the same playbook that we're playing by, then, well, we got to 393 00:39:26,659 --> 00:39:29,420 treat them like pagans and tax collectors, right? They're out the door. 394 00:39:30,099 --> 00:39:35,679 It's not at all. That is not at all what Jesus was saying here. Jesus was 395 00:39:35,679 --> 00:39:43,139 saying in rabbinic form, treat them with love, treat them with grace, treat them 396 00:39:43,139 --> 00:39:49,559 with mercy. Galatians 6 1 through 2. Brothers and sisters, if someone is 397 00:39:49,559 --> 00:39:55,619 called in sin, you who live by the Spirit should restore that person 398 00:39:55,619 --> 00:40:04,399 gently. But watch yourselves or you also might be tempted. Carry each other's 399 00:40:04,400 --> 00:40:15,320 burdens. Carry them and in this way you will fulfill the law of Christ. Mercy and 400 00:40:15,900 --> 00:40:33,280 grace. Now, in 25 and 27 of Numbers 35 here, we also see that mercy has 401 00:40:33,280 --> 00:40:41,119 boundaries, right? There are boundaries within this system that God has. So with 402 00:40:41,119 --> 00:40:49,239 this idea of the accused, if they remain in the city, the protection exists for 403 00:40:49,239 --> 00:40:57,500 them, but only within those boundaries. Leaving removes this protection. And is 404 00:40:57,500 --> 00:41:02,199 it really that different, you know, when we think about our walk of faith, you 405 00:41:02,199 --> 00:41:10,980 know, God pours grace upon us. Abundantly pours grace on us. But that's not a license 406 00:41:10,980 --> 00:41:18,539 just to sin and to live this unfettered life and to just do whatever we want. 407 00:41:20,699 --> 00:41:27,980 Mercy and forgiveness is there for us, but not without consequences, right? 408 00:41:29,460 --> 00:41:37,860 Refuge does not allow us to escape accountability or ramifications of things. 409 00:41:38,340 --> 00:41:44,320 So there's boundaries even in this walk of grace and there was boundaries back 410 00:41:44,320 --> 00:41:53,579 then within this this format that he was showing. And then this idea of the high 411 00:41:53,579 --> 00:42:03,179 priest, this was just kind of like, what in the world does this even mean? And listen, if I've 412 00:42:03,179 --> 00:42:11,480 kind of jumped the track on this one, I just, you know, chalk it off. 413 00:42:12,139 --> 00:42:19,239 But I'm looking at this as the high priest's death is this symbol of 414 00:42:19,320 --> 00:42:29,619 atonement. And I think that there's some level of hidden theology in here where the 415 00:42:29,619 --> 00:42:35,239 person that you fled and who's taking refuge in this city, he must stay there 416 00:42:35,239 --> 00:42:42,219 until the high priest dies and then he's free to go. And I ask myself, why is 417 00:42:42,219 --> 00:42:49,360 this release tied to the high priest's death? And I believe that it's because the 418 00:42:49,360 --> 00:42:55,980 high priest is the representative of God in the nation, the representative of Jesus. 419 00:42:56,239 --> 00:43:03,639 And I see this profound symbol in that the death of this representative of 420 00:43:03,639 --> 00:43:10,179 God's representative brings freedom to the one bound by the blood guilt. So 421 00:43:10,179 --> 00:43:17,159 this idea of substitutionary release, we understand that, right? Because it's what 422 00:43:17,159 --> 00:43:23,579 Jesus did for us, it's what he modeled for us. Life is restored through blood, 423 00:43:24,139 --> 00:43:31,699 through death, through the loss. You know, guilt is lifted through this 424 00:43:31,699 --> 00:43:37,199 priesthood's mediation. So the priest was the representative of God and he was the 425 00:43:37,199 --> 00:43:41,260 guy that guided them too. And when this death happened it was almost like this 426 00:43:41,260 --> 00:43:49,260 this sacrifice. So Hebrews 4.14 tells us that Jesus is our great high priest. 427 00:43:49,920 --> 00:43:57,760 Hebrews 9.11-15 says his death brings eternal redemption. And Romans 8.1 says 428 00:43:57,760 --> 00:44:03,900 there is now no condemnation. And I think that this in numbers here is this 429 00:44:03,900 --> 00:44:12,099 this hidden nugget of prophetic foreshadowing of what Jesus was doing for us. 430 00:44:12,719 --> 00:44:22,099 We are not released from our sin and our guilt by time. We're not released by our 431 00:44:22,099 --> 00:44:30,239 effort. We are released by what our high priest did for us, dying on that cross 432 00:44:30,239 --> 00:44:39,300 and his shed blood for us. So again, you know, if you feel like I kind of jumped 433 00:44:39,300 --> 00:44:44,079 the track on that one, that's okay. It's just something that kind of kind of came 434 00:44:44,079 --> 00:44:51,600 to me as this symbolism through through Scripture. Let's wrap things up here with 435 00:44:52,159 --> 00:45:06,780 verses 29 to 34. This is to have the force of law for you throughout generations to 436 00:45:06,780 --> 00:45:13,699 come wherever you live. So that single statement there is God is saying I am 437 00:45:13,699 --> 00:45:20,059 laying this foundation that is going to be there for thousands and thousands of 438 00:45:20,059 --> 00:45:27,139 years. Anyone who kills a person is to be put to death as a murderer only on the 439 00:45:27,139 --> 00:45:33,480 testimony of witnesses. But no one is to be put to death on the testimony of 440 00:45:33,480 --> 00:45:38,159 only one witness. This was even being applied in Jesus' time. It's written in 441 00:45:38,159 --> 00:45:44,460 Scripture. Do not accept the ransom for the life of a murderer who deserves to 442 00:45:44,460 --> 00:45:50,900 die. They are to be put to death. Do not accept the ransom for anyone who has 443 00:45:50,900 --> 00:45:57,099 fled to a city of refuge, so allowing them to go back and live there on their 444 00:45:57,099 --> 00:46:05,260 own land before the death of the high priest. Do not pollute the land where 445 00:46:05,260 --> 00:46:13,519 you are. Bloodshed pollutes the land. An atonement cannot be made for the land 446 00:46:13,519 --> 00:46:20,420 on which blood has been shed except by the blood of the one who shed it. Do not 447 00:46:20,420 --> 00:46:30,420 defile the land where you live and where I dwell, for I the Lord dwell among the 448 00:46:30,420 --> 00:46:38,179 Israelites. Wow. That is a powerful, powerful statement. He's basically saying 449 00:46:38,179 --> 00:46:47,300 that shed blood defiles this land and he's saying, do not defile this holy 450 00:46:47,300 --> 00:46:56,480 land that I have given you. Only justice can cleanse that. This new land, it wasn't 451 00:46:56,480 --> 00:47:03,300 just territory, it wasn't just property, it was this sacred space where God was 452 00:47:03,300 --> 00:47:12,480 dwelling with the people. And he's saying here that murder is an assault upon this 453 00:47:12,480 --> 00:47:19,760 holiness and his covenant. He describes it as spiritual pollution. That's the 454 00:47:19,760 --> 00:47:23,820 first time I ever heard that word. I mean that was, I must not have read that 455 00:47:23,820 --> 00:47:30,219 too closely the last time I went through this. So again, sin doesn't just 456 00:47:30,740 --> 00:47:37,019 individually, it affects the community, the nation, the spiritual environment. And 457 00:47:37,019 --> 00:47:43,579 this correlates perfectly with what Paul writes in 1 Corinthians 6, 19, 20 458 00:47:43,579 --> 00:47:53,159 where he says, you know, our bodies are God's dwelling place. And then he 459 00:47:53,159 --> 00:47:59,519 makes the other correlation in 1 Corinthians 12 where the body of Christ 460 00:47:59,519 --> 00:48:07,460 is made up of different parts. So when you think about this idea of, you know, how 461 00:48:07,460 --> 00:48:13,219 can my sin just affect me when I'm part of the larger body? I'm just one part of 462 00:48:13,219 --> 00:48:18,159 the larger body, it affects everything. And this is, it was a really 463 00:48:18,159 --> 00:48:24,940 important conclusion here that he's bringing. See, do not defile the land 464 00:48:24,940 --> 00:48:31,619 where you live and where I dwell, for I the Lord dwell among your people. And 465 00:48:31,619 --> 00:48:39,079 that's why he's bringing this system of justice and say these things have to be 466 00:48:39,079 --> 00:48:52,360 treated right. Some concluding thoughts. The guilty don't escape justice in this 467 00:48:52,360 --> 00:49:00,720 system. They don't escape and run away from it. They run towards the mercy of 468 00:49:01,260 --> 00:49:07,739 God. And in the New Testament, the New Covenant is described as sinners don't 469 00:49:07,739 --> 00:49:15,800 run from God, they run to Christ and to his mercy. So before Israel fully 470 00:49:15,800 --> 00:49:22,280 settles in the land, God is teaching them how to protect it spiritually, how to 471 00:49:22,280 --> 00:49:30,800 protect themselves spiritually, how to institute this system of justice, saying 472 00:49:30,800 --> 00:49:40,280 that murder and these things aren't just a crime, they defile God. So the key, you 473 00:49:40,280 --> 00:49:49,000 know me, I like my key takeaways. Life is sacred to God. Murder is a violation 474 00:49:49,000 --> 00:50:00,420 against him. But intent matters. You know, justice should not just, you know, be 475 00:50:00,420 --> 00:50:06,460 so rigid that it doesn't examine the heart and what's going on. 476 00:50:07,539 --> 00:50:11,880 You know, community guards righteousness. So righteousness isn't just an individual 477 00:50:11,880 --> 00:50:20,000 thing. And vengeance should play no part in that. Mercy has structure in 478 00:50:20,000 --> 00:50:30,019 and of itself. Grace has structure. God's presence is in us. And justice can 479 00:50:30,019 --> 00:50:38,119 preserve that holy dwelling for us. So again, Israel wasn't just inheriting a 480 00:50:38,119 --> 00:50:49,619 land. They were modeling a society that would really have impact on not just 481 00:50:49,619 --> 00:50:56,800 generations to come, but the world to come. I mean, I've heard it said 482 00:50:56,800 --> 00:51:11,320 that, you know, how society is today was shaped by what God instituted 483 00:51:11,320 --> 00:51:17,659 throughout the Old Testament and into the New. There are the cornerstones of 484 00:51:17,659 --> 00:51:25,079 society. The cornerstones of the judicial system. Cornerstones of morality. 485 00:51:25,079 --> 00:51:31,579 The cornerstones of all of these things come right from the essence of what we're 486 00:51:31,579 --> 00:51:39,320 learning here. And the Israelites were learning it firsthand from God, direct 487 00:51:39,320 --> 00:51:46,920 source. And it wasn't happening anywhere else in the world around them. And 488 00:51:46,920 --> 00:51:52,420 that's an incredible thing. When you think about this small little area in 489 00:51:52,420 --> 00:51:59,599 the Middle East and where it grew from worldwide, I mean, Western civilization 490 00:51:59,599 --> 00:52:02,039 was built around this. 491 00:52:05,960 --> 00:52:11,059 Thanks for joining us at Lansdale Life Church as we praise God and discuss His 492 00:52:11,059 --> 00:52:16,239 word. Don't forget to join us for worship live Sunday mornings at 10 a.m. 493 00:52:16,500 --> 00:52:20,659 Eastern on YouTube. Be blessed and have a great day.