May 4 ▪ Day 124

Scripture Readings

Proverbs 16:32
Leviticus 24–25
Acts 21
Psalms 124

Verse Focus (Proverbs 16:32)

Better a patient person than a warrior,
      one with self-control than one who takes a city.

Meditation

Proverbs 16:32 says, in the ESV, “Whoever is slow to anger is better than the mighty, and he who rules his spirit than he who takes a city.” I also like the way the NIV translates the proverb: “Better a patient person than a warrior, one with self-control than one who takes a city.”

This proverb offers Biblical wisdom. It is almost the antithesis of what we would naturally believe. We trust strength. We trust those who fight for us, those who protect us, and those who gain redemption or wealth for us by their actions. In the natural order of things, we feel secure when physical strength is on our side. So, of course we honor those who are strong. We honor our warriors.

Yet this proverb tells us that there is something better than what we think is the epitome of security. Patience, the ability to control your temper, self-control and discipline — character. This is more important than strength. Patience and self-control are both fruits of the Spirit. We are not surprised that one who is slow to anger is one who demonstrates godly character. And when you put it in terms of the connection to God the Creator we understand even better why one with self-control is better than a strong warrior.

When we trust in our own strength, or in the strength of warriors, we are relying on ourselves. And our strength is an illusion. It seems trustworthy; it seems like it will bring us security and peace. But the true source of peace, security, strength, and even wealth is from God. So let us place our trust in God. And may we value those who demonstrate godly character above those with physical or worldly power.

Father God, help us always to see the truth. Keep us from idolizing our own strength. Fill us with your Holy Spirit and transform our characters so that we display patience and self-control. Through Jesus Christ, Amen.

Leviticus 24 commands that light be kept burning continually in the Tabernacle. Additionally, there are always to be loaves of bread set before the LORD in the sanctuary — 12 loaves of bread, symbolizing the 12 tribes of Israel. Fresh bread is put out every Sabbath and the bread is made from the finest flour. The priests — but only the priests — may eat of this “most holy portion out of the LORD’s food offerings (v. 9).”

The chapter also offers the well-known and important Biblical principle of an eye for an eye (v. 20). Those who cause injury shall suffer the same consequences. Whoever kills an animal must make restitution, but whoever kills a human is to be put to death. The Israelites and all who live in their land — “the sojourner as well as the native” — are bound by these same rules.

Leviticus 24 also records one of the first instances of blasphemy. There was a fight between an Israelite and one who was of mixed race — his mother was a Hebrew, but his father was Egyptian. The child of mixed heritage “cursed and blasphemed the Name (v. 11).” He was put into custody while Moses consulted with the LORD as to what should be done. The LORD decreed that whoever blasphemes the name of the LORD must be put to death (v. 16). I was especially struck by verse 14, which tells us that those who heard the blasphemy must lay their hands on the head of the blasphemer before (or while) he is stoned to death by the community. This is very personal and intimate. The witnesses of the blasphemy cannot stand apart. Their condemnation is not theoretical or intellectual or impartial — it is firsthand and close. Very sobering.

Leviticus 25 gives regulations for a Sabbath year for the land, for the year of Jubilee, and for redemption of property. Verse 2 tells us that “the land shall keep a Sabbath to the LORD.” Indeed, science has taught us the wisdom of letting land lie fallow, but these laws predated that knowledge by thousands of years.

But it would definitely take faith to trust God for the land’s sabbath year! God promises in verse 21, “I will command my blessing on you in the sixth year, so that it will produce a crop sufficient for three years.” They were not allowed to plant or harvest during that seventh year, although they could eat of what the land produced naturally. Farming is a difficult life — so having a rest every seven years would make the hardship much more bearable. But having a bumper crop in the sixth year would also be extremely tempting — riches and wealth suddenly seems within your grasp! — so it would be all that much harder not to sow during the seventh year.

The year of Jubilee is completely revolutionary. If only we had laws like this — a year for canceling debts and setting prisoners free! The practice of Jubilee would keep a society healthy. Yes, there are always poor and impoverished people. But with Jubilee, things get re-balanced. No ultra rich or uber poor. No permanent enslavement of the Israelites. And most people would experience a Jubilee at least once in their lifetime.

The reason why property and land got returned in the year of Jubilee is because the land belongs to God (v. 12). “For you are strangers and sojourners with me,” God tells the Israelites. This is a radically different view of wealth and property than most of Western culture. We struggle to be good stewards for the LORD, but deep down we believe the property belongs to us. How would we change our behavior if we truly believed that God was the real owner of our things?

As I was reading this chapter, I was thinking about the year of Jubilee happening in the 50th year, just like the Feast of Weeks happens on the 50th day after Passover. And it seems to me that the giving of the Holy Spirit is the ultimate gift of emancipation — freedom for the captives. Unmerited favor. God dwelling among us.

In Acts 21, Paul completes his journey to Jerusalem. At every step along the way, those who have the gift of prophecy warn Paul that imprisonment awaits him. Yet Paul is very certain of his course. At one point, Paul speaks with those urging him not to go to Jerusalem. “What are you doing, weeping and breaking my heart?” he asks in verse 13, “I am ready not only to be imprisoned but even to die in Jerusalem for the name of the Lord Jesus.”

Luke and the other believers recognize that Paul will not be persuaded to stay away from Jerusalem. So they stop trying to get him to change his mind. “Let the will of the Lord be done,” they conclude in verse 14.

I struggle to make sense of these events. Paul knew his course was to go to Jerusalem. He knew the dangers. The Holy Spirit had warned him already that he would face distress and imprisonment. So why does Paul keep going? And why do the prophets keep giving him this message? Why do the believers who surround Paul urge him not to go? Was the point of the prophecy for everyone else? All the other believers needed to know what danger Paul was heading into, so that they would continue to pray for him? So that they would be encouraged when they saw Paul’s resolution?

In some ways, I am reminded of Jesus in the Garden of Gethsemane. Jesus knew that the crucifixion awaited him in Jerusalem. He knew the cost. He struggled with his mission, but submitted to God’s will.

I see this same resolution in Paul. He knew going to Jerusalem would cost him dearly. But he also knew that this was what he was meant to do. What I don’t get is why the Holy Spirit communicated this danger to everyone around Paul. Obviously, the other believers thought that it meant Paul shouldn’t go. Or maybe they just didn’t want to lose him. The spirit of prophecy told the believers of the danger awaiting Paul.

Perhaps, in the end, the point of the prophecy is for the glory of God. Everyone who heard these prophecies saw these events play out. They saw the truth of the prophecies, and thus knew the truth of the spirit they had received. They saw God’s hand in being able to tell the future. And eventually they also saw how Paul’s imprisonment spread the gospel to Rome and beyond.

There is much irony in how the chapter ends. The leaders in Jerusalem suggest that Paul take some men with him to be purified at the temple, reasoning that this will show the Jews that Paul lives “in observance of the law (v. 24).” Yet the very practice intended to show that Paul is devout is what sparks the trouble. In another irony, it is Jews from Asia, not Jerusalem, who see Paul in the temple and assume that he has brought Gentiles into the temple — so they start an uproar.

Verse 30 tells us, “They seized Paul and dragged him out of the temple, and at once the gates were shut.” Having the gates of the temple shut seems extreme to me. Perhaps it was because of the confusion. Or perhaps the gatekeepers believe the charges being laid against Paul. Yet this is the last irony, that the temple of the LORD God — the God Paul loves — has its gates shut against him to deny him access. Paul is thus rejected in a manner similar to what Christ endured when he was rejected by the people of Israel.

Psalm 124 is another pilgrimage song written by David. “If the Lord had not been on our side,” the psalm begins. This is repeated in verse 2. “If the Lord had not been on our side.…” We would have been destroyed. We would have been lost. But the LORD is on our side, and so we have escaped.

The final verse says it all: “Our help is in the name of the LORD, the Maker of heaven and earth.”

Father God, we are so grateful that you are on our side. Thank you for creating us. Thank you for saving us, and for how you will you save us. Thank you for redeeming us. Thank you also for Christ Jesus, and for Paul, both of whom were resolute in the face of suffering. Thank you for their examples of perseverance, and for the cloud of witnesses that is cheering us on to do the things you call us to do. May your Holy Spirit strengthen us and work through us what is pleasing to you. Amen.