Numbers

Numbers:  Desultory Musings and Notes.  (1) Living in the Wilderness and (2) Sometimes, with difficult choices, one must be different than parents, living by faith and embracing Divine Promises when they don’t.  In such a case, "live the faith and respect them," despite parental unbelief, failures, and/or disorders.  See the Heidelberg Catechism on the 5^th commandment for moral orientation.  Now, to the book itself.

1.      Mosaic authorship based upon internal testimony from the Pentateuch (argued and defended elsewhere)

2.      Mosaic authorship based upon “clear witness” of the Old and New Testaments ascribing these books to Moses (argued and defended elsewhere)

3.      Moses was engaged in “literary activity,” e.g. Numbers 33.1-2 (inter alia): 

These are the journeys of the children of Israel, who went out of the land of Egypt by their armies under the hand of Moses and Aaron.  Now Moses wrote down the starting points of their journeys at the command of the Lord. And these are their journeys according to their starting points. 

4.      Numbers was written late in the wilderness wandering, but before Moses’ death 

5.      Preps for journey, experiences in wilderness, the failure of the first generation (= don’t be like your unfaithful parents), preparations for conquest, and implicit warning to second generation—faith, fidelity and perseverance 

6.      God is the ever-faithful Covenant God, comforting, keeping, saving, and delivering His people according to His infallible and sure promises 

7.      By contrast to God’s faithfulness, there is substantial failure.  Even Moses is not permitted to enter Canaan.  See 20.9-11; 27.12-14.  Even the big guys—the celebs—the bishops—including the Romanist popes—are sinners.  Salvation is always by grace alone, by faith alone, and by Christ alone. 

8.      God’s sovereignty is always all-sufficient for everything and every obstacle, danger and failure…including profound generational failures.  We live in such times.  

9.      Chaps 1-10: Journey through the desert.  Chaps 10.11-22: Sinai to Moab.  Chaps 22-25.18: Balaam, the Talking Ass, and God’s Sovereign Promises.  Chaps 26-36: Preps to Enter the Land

Larger Catechism, week 31 « Daily Confession: 127-133

Larger Catechism, week 31 « Daily Confession

Golden. The Westminster divines, "Precisians" as some of the fuzzy-minded (also some Anglicans) called them, were thinkers. Anti-intellectuals or mind-haters they were not. This is golden. Additional comments follow the citation of Q/A 127-133.

Q. 127. What is the honour that inferiors owe to their superiors?
A. The honour which inferiors owe to their superiors is, all due reverence in heart,[658] word, [659] and behaviour;[660] prayer and thanksgiving for them;[661] imitation of their virtues and graces;[662] willing obedience to their lawful commands and counsels;[663] due submission to their corrections;[664] fidelity to,[665] defence,[666] and maintenance of their persons and authority, according to their several ranks, and the nature of their places;[667] bearing with their infirmities, and covering them in love,[668] that so they may be an honour to them and to their government.[669]

Q. 128. What are the sins of inferiors against their superiors?
A. The sins of inferiors against their superiors are, all neglect of the duties required toward them;[670] envying at,[671] contempt of,[672] and rebellion[673] against, their persons[674] and places,[675] in their lawful counsels,[676] commands, and corrections;[677] cursing, mocking[678] and all such refractory and scandalous carriage, as proves a shame and dishonour to them and their government.[679]

Q. 129. What is required of superiors towards their inferiors?
A. It is required of superiors, according to that power they receive from God, and that relation wherein they stand, to love,[680] pray for,[681] and bless their inferiors;[682] to instruct,[683] counsel, and admonish them;[684] countenancing,[685] commending,[686] and rewarding such as do well;[687] and discountenancing,[688] reproving, and chastising such as do ill;[689] protecting,[690] and providing for them all things necessary for soul[691] and body:[692] and by grave, wise, holy, and exemplary carriage, to procure glory to God,[693] honour to themselves,[694] and so to preserve that authority which God hath put upon them.[695]

Q. 130. What are the sins of superiors?
A. The sins of superiors are, besides the neglect of the duties required of them,[696] and inordinate seeking of themselves,[697] their own glory,[698] ease, profit, or pleasure;[699] commanding things unlawful,[700] or not in the power of inferiors to perform;[701] counseling,[702] encouraging,[703] or favouring them in that which is evil;[704] dissuading, discouraging, or discountenancing them in that which is good;[705] correcting them unduly;[706] careless exposing, or leaving them to wrong, temptation, and danger;[707] provoking them to wrath;[708] or any way dishonouring themselves, or lessening their authority, by an unjust, indiscreet, rigorous, or remiss behaviour.[709]

Q. 131. What are the duties of equals?
A. The duties of equals are, to regard the dignity and worth of each other,[710] in giving honour to go one before another;[711] and to rejoice in each others’ gifts and advancement, as their own.[712]

Q. 132. What are the sins of equals?
A. The sins of equals are, besides the neglect of the duties required,[713] the undervaluing of the worth,[714] envying the gifts,[715] grieving at the advancement of prosperity one of another;[716] and usurping pre-eminence one over another.[717]

Q. 133. What is the reason annexed to the fifth commandment, the more to enforce it?
A. The reason annexed to the fifth commandment, in these words, That thy days may be long upon the land which the Lord thy God giveth thee,[718] is an express promise of long life and prosperity, as far as it shall serve for God’s glory and their own good, to all such as keep this commandment.[719]

Many Anglicans will say, "Far too restrictive and little elbow-room for thinking." Then, contradictorily (and this includes old Jim Packer), they will prescibe a restrictive Prayer Book and worship pattern (an excellent one too).

Many Confessional Presbyterians will say, "Far too restrictive in these conformist prayers imposed on all...away with it." Then, contradictorily, they will prescribe a restrictive Confession of Faith (an excellent one too).

Lutherans have both tight Confessions and Prayer Books, to their credit.

Anabaptists, Revivalists, Pentecostalists and other enthusiasts celebrate "autonomy uber alles," freedom from guidance, thinking, direction, counsel, prudence and godly restraint. We'll do "as we're led." It's the old Anabaptistic impulse of sectarianism, schismaticism, and irresponsible freedom. We'll have nothing to do with them.

Most Calvinistic Anglicans will say, trumping the inconsistent Anglicans and Presbyterians, "Give me the Reformed Confessions and the good old BCP." I find them biblical, intelligent, godly, instructive, directive, wise, and most prudent.