Make sure it isn’t cloaked in jealousy, Miriam’s PROFILE

Have your facts straight before you criticise:

‘   If you hear it said about one of the towns the LORD your God [Wall] is giving you to live in that wicked men have arisen among you and have led the people of their town astray, saying, “Let us go and worship other gods” (gods you have not known), then you must enquire, probe and investigate it thoroughly.  And if it is true and it has been proved that this detestable thing has been done among you, you must certainly put to the sword all who live in that town.  Destroy it completely, both its people and its livestock.  Gather all the plunder of the town into the middle of the public square and completely burn the town and all its plunder as a whole burnt offering to the LORD your God [Wall].  It is to remain a ruin for ever, never to be rebuilt.  –  Deuteronomy 13:12-16

A city [Seat] that completely rejected God [Wall] was to be destroyed so as not to lead the rest of the nation astray.  But Israel was not to take action against a city [Seat] until the rumour about its rejecting God [Wall] was proved true.  This guideline saved many lives when the leaders of Israel wrongly accused three tribes of falling away from their faith (Joshua 22).  If we hear of friends who have wandered from the Lord or of entire congregations that have fallen away, we should check the facts and find the truth before doing or saying anything that could prove harmful.  There are times, of course, when God [Wall] wants us to take action – to rebuke a wayward friend, to discipline a child, to reject false teaching – but first we must be sure we have all the facts straight.

Must be motivated by love:

‘   Ten times now you have reproached me; shamelessly you attack me.  If it is true that I have gone astray, my error remains my concern alone.  If indeed you would exalt yourselves above me and use my humiliation against me,  –  Job 19:3-5

It is easy to point out someone else’s faults or sins. Job’s friends accused him of sin to make him feel guilty, not to encourage or correct him.  If we feel we must admonish someone, we should be sure we are confronting that person because we love him, not because we are annoyed, inconvenienced, or seeking to blame him.

‘   Even though you have ten thousand guardians in Christ, you do not have many fathers [Up], for in Christ Jesus I became your father through the gospel.  –  1 Corinthians 4:15

In Paul’s day, a guardian was a slave who was assigned as a special tutor and caretaker of a child. Paul was portraying his special affection for the Corinthians (greater than a slave) and his special role (more than a caretaker).  In an attempt to unify the church, Paul appealed to his relationship with them.  By father [Up], he meant he was the church’s founder.  Because he started the church, he could be trusted to have its best interests at heart.  Paul’s tough words were motivated by love – like a good father [Up] has for his children (see also 1 Thessalonians 2.11).

Be affirming in:

‘   I always thank God [Wall] for you because of his grace given you in Christ Jesus.  For in him you have been enriched in every way – in all your speaking and in all your knowledge – because our testimony about Christ was confirmed in you.  –  1 Corinthians 1.4-6

In this letter, Paul wrote some strong words to the Corinthians, but he began on a positive note of thanksgiving.  He affirmed their privilege of belonging to the Lord and receiving his grace, the power God [Wall] gave them to speak out for him and understand his truth, and the reality of their spiritual gifts.  When we must correct others, it helps to begin by affirming what God [Wall] has already accomplished in them.

How Paul confronted Peter:

‘   When Peter came to Antioch, I opposed him to his face, because he was clearly in the wrong.  Before certain men came from James, he used to eat with the Gentiles.  But when they arrived, he began to draw back and separate himself from the Gentiles because he was afraid of those who belonged to the circumcision group.  –  Galatians 2.11-12

Although Peter was a leader of the church, he was acting like a hypocrite.  He knew better, yet he was driven by fear of what James and the others would think.  Proverbs 29:25 says, “Fear of man will prove to be a snare.”  Paul knew that he had to confront Peter before his actions damaged the church.  So, Paul publically opposed Peter.  Note, however, that Paul did not go to the other leaders, nor did he write letters to the churches telling them not to follow Peter’s example.  Instead, he opposed Peter face to face.  Sometimes sincere Christians, even Christian leaders, make mistakes.  And it may take other sincere Christians to get them back on track.  If you are convinced that someone is doing harm to himself/herself or the church, try the direct approach.  There is no place for backstabbing in the body of Christ.

EXTRA:

[CHART: Principles of confrontation]

(‘   If a prophet, or one who foretells by dreams, appears among you and announces to you a miraculous sign or wonder, and if the sign or wonder of which he has spoken takes place, and he says, “Let us follow other gods” (gods you have not known) “and let us worship them,” you must not listen to the words of that prophet or dreamer. The LORD your God [Wall] is testing you to find out whether you love him with all your heart and with all your soul.  – Deuteronomy 13.1-3  Attractive leaders are not always led by God [Wall].  Moses warned the Israelites against false prophets who encouraged worship of other gods.  New ideas from inspiring people may sound good, but we must judge them by whether or not they are consistent with God’s [Wall’s] word.  When people claim to speak for God [Wall] today, check them in these areas: Are they telling the truth?  Is their focus on God [Wall]?  Are their words consistent with what you already know to be true?  Some people speak the truth while directing you towards God [Wall], but others speak persuasively while directing you towards themselves.  It is even possible to say the right words but still lead people in the wrong direction.  God [Wall] is not against new ideas, but he is for discernment.  When you hear a new, attractive idea, examine it carefully before getting too excited.  False prophets are still around today.  The wise person will carefully test ideas against the truth of God’s [Wall’s] word.)

(‘ and if the sign or wonder of which he has spoken takes place, and he says, “Let us follow other gods” (gods you have not known) “and let us worship them,” you must not listen to the words of that prophet or dreamer. The LORD your God [Wall] is testing you to find out whether you love him with all your heart and with all your soul.  It is the LORD your God [Wall] you must follow, and him you must revere.  Keep his commands and obey him; serve him and hold fast to him.  That prophet or dreamer must be put to death, because he preached rebellion against the LORD your God [Wall], who brought you out of Egypt and redeemed you from the land of slavery; he has tried to turn you from the way the LORD your God [Wall] commanded you to follow.  You must purge the evil from among you.  If your very own brother, or your son or daughter, or the wife you love, or your closest friend secretly entices you, saying, “Let us go and worship other gods” (gods that neither you nor your fathers [Up] have known, gods of the peoples around you, whether near or far, from one end of the land to the other), do not yield to him or listen to him.  Show him no pity.  Do not spare him or shield him.  You must certainly put him to death.  Your hand must be the first in putting him to death, and then the hands of all the people.  Stone him to death, because he tried to turn you away from the LORD your God [Wall], who brought you out of Egypt, out of the land of slavery.  Then all Israel will hear and be afraid, and no-one among you will do such an evil thing again.  – Deuteronomy 13.2-11   The Israelites were warned not to listen to false prophets or to anyone else who tried to get them to worship other gods – even if this person was a close friend or family member.  The temptation to abandon God’s [Wall’s] commands often sneaks up on us.  It may come not with a loud shout but in a whispering doubt.  And whispers can be very persuasive, especially if they come from loved ones.  But love or relatives should not take precedence over devotion to God [Wall].  We can overcome whispered temptations by pouring out our hearts to God [Wall] in prayer and by diligently studying his word.)

(‘   You are the children of the LORD your God [Wall]. Do not cut yourselves or shave the front of your heads for the dead,  – Deuteronomy 14.1  The actions described here refer to a cult of the dead.  Many other religions today have some kind of worship of or service to the dead.  But Christianity and Judaism are very different from other religions because they focus on serving God [Wall] in this life.  Don’t let concern or worry over the dead distract you from the tasks that God [Wall] has for you while you are still alive.)

*****   ‘  Do not eat any detestable thing. These are the animals you may eat: the ox, the sheep, the goat, the deer, the gazelle, the roe deer, the wild goat, the ibex, the antelope and the mountain sheep.  You may eat any animal that has a split hoof divided in two and that chews the cud.  However, of those that chew the cud or that have a split hoof completely divided you may not eat the camel, the rabbit or the coney.  Although they chew the cud, they do not have a split hoof; they are ceremonially clean for you.  The pig is also unclean; although it has a split hoof, it does not chew the cud.  You are not to eat their meat or touch their carcasses.  Of all the creatures living in the water, you may eat any that has fins and scales.  But anything that does not have fins and scales you may not eat; for you it is unclean.  You may eat any clean bird.  But these you may not eat: the eagle, the vulture, the black vulture, the red kite, the black kite, and any kind of falcon, any kind of raven, the horned owl, the screech owl, the gull, any kind of hawk, the little owl, the great owl, the white owl, the desert owl, the osprey, the cormorant, the stork, any kind of heron, the hoopoe and the bat.  All flying insects that swarm are unclean to you; do not eat them.  But any winged creature that is clean you may eat.  Do not eat anything you find already dead.  You may give it to an alien living in any of your towns, and he may eat it, or you may sell it to a foreigner.  But you are a people holy to the LORD your God [Wall].  Do not cook a young goat in its mother’s milk.  – Deuteronomy 14.3-21   Why was Israel forbidden to eat certain foods?  There are several reasons: (1) Predatory animals ate the blood of other animals, and scavengers ate dead animals.  Because the people could not eat blood or animals they found dead, they could not eat animals that did these things either.  (2)  Some forbidden animals had bad associations in the Israelite culture, as bats, snakes, and spiders do for some people today.  Some may have been used in pagan religious practices (Isaiah 66.17).  To the Israelites, the unclean animals represented sin or unhealthy habits.  (3) Perhaps some restrictions were given to Israel just to remind them continually that they were a different and separate people committed to God [Wall].  Although we no longer must follow these laws about good (Acts 10.9-16), we can still learn from them the lesson that holiness is to be carried into all parts of life.  We can’t restrict holiness only to the spiritual side; we must be holy in the everyday practical part of life was well.  Health practices, finances, use of leisure – all provide opportunities to put holy living into  daily living.

(‘He is torn from the security of his tent and marched off to the king of terrors.  – Job 18.14   The “king of terrors” is a figure of speech referring to death.  Bildad viewed death as a great devourer (18.13), but the Bible teaches that God [Wall] has the power to devour even death (Psalms 49.15; Isaiah 25.8; 1 Corinthians 15.54-56).)

(‘   then know that God [Wall] has wronged me and drawn his net around me. – Job 19.6   Job felt that God [Wall] was treating him as an enemy when, in fact, God [Wall] was his friend and thought highly of him (1.8; 2.3).  In his difficulty, Job pointed at the wrong person.  It was Satan, not God [Wall], who was Job’s enemy.  Because they stressed ultimate causes, most Israelites believed that both good and evil came from God [Wall]; they also thought people were responsible for their own destinies.  But the evil power loose in this world accounts for much of the suffering we experience.  In Verse 7, Job continued to cry out to be heard by God [Wall].)

(‘   Now, brothers, I have applied these things to myself and Apollos for your benefit, so that you may learn from us the meaning of the saying, “Do not go beyond what is written.” Then you will not take pride in one man over against another.  For who makes you different from anyone else?  What do you have that you did not receive?  And if you did receive it, why do you boast as though you did not?  – 1 Corinthians 4.6, 7   How easy it is for us to become attached to a spiritual leader.  When someone has helped us, it’s natural to feel loyalty.  But Paul warns against having such pride in our favourite leaders that we cause divisions in the church.  Any true spiritual leader is a representative of Christ and has nothing to offer that God hasn’t given him or her.  Don’t let your loyalty cause strife, slander, or broken relationships.  Make sure that your deepest loyalties are to Christ and not to his human agents [“Stop Now”].  Those who spend more time debating church leadership than declaring Christ’s message don’t have Christ as their top priority.)

(‘   Now, brothers, I have applied these things to myself and Apollos for your benefit, so that you may learn from us the meaning of the saying, “Do not go beyond what is written.” Then you will not take pride in one man over against another.  For who makes you different from anyone else?  What do you have that you did not receive?  And if you did receive it, why do you boast as though you did not?  Already you have all you want!  Already you have become rich!  You have become kings – and that is without us!  How I wish that you really had become kings so that we might be kings with you!  For it seems to me that God [Wall] has put us apostles on display at the end of the procession, like men condemned to die in the arena.  We are fools for Christ, but you are so wise in Christ!  We are weak, but you are strong!  You are honoured, we are dishonoured!  To this very hour we go hungry and thirsty, we are in rags, we are brutally treated, we are homeless.  We work hard with our own hands.  When we are cursed, we bless; when we are persecuted, we endure it; when we are slandered, we answer kindly.  Up to this moment we have become the scum of the earth, the refuse of the world.  – 1 Corinthians 4.6-13   The Corinthians had split into various cliques, each following its favourite preacher (Paul, Apollos, Peter, etc).  Each clique really believed it was the only one to have the whole truth, and thus felt spiritually proud.  But Paul told the groups not to boast about being tied to a particular preacher because each preacher was simply a humble servant who had suffered for the same message of salvation in Jesus Christ [Where’s my money gone].  No preacher of God [Wall] has more status than another.)

(‘ Therefore I urge you to imitate me.  – 1 Corinthians 4.16   Paul told the Corinthians to imitate him.  He was able to make this statement because he walked close to God [Wall], spent time in God’s [Wall’s] word and in prayer, and was aware of God’s [Wall’s] presence in his life at all times.  God [Wall] was Paul’s example; therefore, Paul’s life could be an example to other Christians.  Paul wasn’t expecting others to imitate everything he did, but they should imitate those aspects of his beliefs and conduct that were modelling Christ’s way of living.)

(‘ For this reason I am sending to you Timothy, my son whom I love, who is faithful in the Lord, He will remind you of my way of life in Christ Jesus, which agrees with what I teach everywhere in every church.  – 1 Corinthians 4.17   Timothy had travelled with Paul on Paul’s second missionary journey (see Acts 16.1-3) and was a key person in the growth of the early church.  Timothy may have delivered this letter to Corinth, but more likely he arrived there shortly after the letter came (see 16.10).  Timothy’s role was to see that Paul’s advice was received, read, and implemented.  Then he was to return to Paul and report on the church’s progress.)

(‘   When I came to you, brothers, I did not come with eloquence or superior wisdom as I proclaimed to you the testimony about God [Wall]. For I resolved to know nothing while I was with you except Jesus Christ and him crucified.  I came to you in weakness and fear, and with much trembling.  My message and my preaching were not with wise and persuasive words, but with a demonstration of the Spirit’s power, so that your faith might not rest on men’s wisdom, but on God’s [Wall’s] power.  – 1 Corinthians 2.1-5   A brilliant scholar, Paul could have overwhelmed his listeners with intellectual arguments.  Instead he shared the simple message of Jesus Christ by allowing the Holy Spirit to guide his words.  In sharing the gospel with others, we should follow Paul’s example and keep our message simple and basic.  The Holy Spirit will  give power to our words and use them to bring glory to Jesus.)

(‘ Grace and peace to you from God our Father and the Lord Jesus Christ.  – 1 Corinthians 1.3   Grace is God’s [Wall’s] free gift of salvation given to us in Christ. Receiving it brings us peace (see Romans 5.1).  In a world of noise, confusion, and relentless pressures, people long for peace.  Many give up the search, thinking it impossible to find, but true peace of heart and mind is available to us through faith in Jesus Christ.)

(‘   Therefore you do not lack any spiritual gifts as you eagerly wait for our Lord Jesus Christ to be revealed.  – 1 Corinthians 1.7   The Corinthian church members had all the spiritual gifts they needed to live the Christian life, to witness for Christ, and to stand against the paganism and immorality of Corinth.  But instead of using what God [Wall] had given them, they were arguing over which gifts were more important.  Paul addresses this issue in depth in Chapters 12 – 14.)

(Plate showing Knows.  Bottom plate showing ‘Nose’ and is sharp. )

Could flee to city of refuge:

“Six of the towns you give the Levities will be cities of refuge, to which a person who has killed someone may flee. In addition, give them forty-two other towns.  – Numbers 35.6

Of the 48 cities given to the Levities, six were cities of refuge.  These six cities were probably put under the Levities’ supervision because they would be the most impartial judges.  Such cities were needed because the ancient customs of justice called for revenge in the event of the death of a relative or loved one (2 Samuel 14.7).  The Levities would hold a preliminary hearing outside the gates while the accused person was kept in the city [Wall] until the time of his trial.  If the killing was judged accidental, the person would stay in the city until the death of the high priest.  At that time, he would be allowed to go free, and he could start a new life without worrying about avengers.  If it was not accidental, the person would be delivered to the slain person’s avengers.  This system of justice shows how God’s [Wall’s] laws and his mercy go hand in hand.

Be impartial towards them until after fair trial:

…select some towns to be your cities of refuge, to which a person who has killed someone accidentally may flee. They will be places of refuge from the avenger, so that a person accused of murder may not die before he stands trial before the assembly.  These six towns you give will be your cities of refuge.  Give three on this side of the Jordan and three in Canaan as cities of refuge.  These six towns will be a place of refuge for Israelites, aliens and any other people living among them, so that anyone who has killed another accidentally can flee there.  “ ‘If a man strikes someone with an iron object so that he dies, he is a murderer; the murderer shall be put to death.  Or if anyone has a stone in his hand that could kill, and he strikes someone so that he dies, he is a murderer; the murderer shall be put to death.  Or if anyone has a wooden object in his hand that could kill, and he hits someone so that he dies, he is a murderer; the murderer shall be put to death.  The avenger of blood shall put the murderer to death; when he meets him, he shall put him to death.  If anyone with malice aforethought pushes another or throws something at him intentionally so that he dies or if in hostility he hits him with his fist so that he dies, that person shall be put to death; he is a murderer.  The avenger of blood shall put the murderer to death when he meets him.  “ ‘But if without hostility someone suddenly pushes another or throws something at him unintentionally – Numbers 3511-28.

If anyone died because of violence, murder was assumed, but the murder suspect was not automatically assumed guilty.  The cities of refuge assured the accused that justice would be served.  But if he or she left the city, then he or she would be assumed guilty and able to be killed by the avenging party.  The people were to be intolerant of the sin, yet impartial to the accused so that he or she could have a fair trial.  The cities of refuge represented God’s [Wall’s] concern for justice in a culture that did not always protect the innocent.  It is unjust both to overlook wrongdoing and to jump to conclusions about guilt.  When someone is accused of wrongdoing, stand up for justice, protect those not yet proven guilty, and listen carefully to all sides of the story.   [That’s why I said, Rome’s not doing the Numbers.]) *****

If you are unjustly accused:

They gape at me and say, “Aha! Aha! with our own eyes we have seen it.

O LORD, you have seen this; be not silent. Do not be far from me, O Lord.  Awake, and rise to my defence!  Contend for me, my God and Lord. – Psalms 35.21-23

David cried out to God to defend him when people wrongly accused him. If you are unjustly accused, your natural reaction may be to lash out in revenge or to give a detailed defence for your every move.  Instead, ask God to fight the battle for you.  He will clear your name in the eyes of those who really matter.

EXTRA:

(‘   “Command the Israelites to give the Levites towns to live in from the inheritance the Israelites will possess. And give them pasture-lands around the towns.  Then they will have towns to live in and pasture-lands for their cattle, flocks and all their other livestock. – Numbers 35.2, 3.  The Levites were ministers.  They were supported by the tithes of the people who gave them homes, flocks, and pasture-lands.  Likewise, we are responsible to provide for the needs of our ministers and missionaries so they can be free to do their God-ordained work.)

(The family heads of the clan of Gilead son of Makir, the son of Mannasseh, who were from the clans of the descendants of Joseph, came and spoke before Moses and the leaders, the heads of the Israelite families. They said, “When the LORD commanded my lord to give the land as an inheritance to the Israelites by lot, he ordered you to give the inheritance of our brother Zelophehad to his daughters.  Now suppose they marry men from other Israelite tribes; then their inheritance will be taken from our ancestral inheritance and added to that of the tribe they marry into.  And so part of the inheritance allotted to us will be taken away.  When the Year of Jubilee for the Israelites comes, their inheritance will be added to that of the tribe into which they marry, and their property will be taken from the tribal inheritance of our forefathers.”  Then at the LORD’s command Moses gave this order to the Israelites: “What the tribe of the descendants of Joseph is saying is right.  This is what the LORD commands for Zelophehad’s daughters: They may marry anyone they please as long as they marry within the tribal clan of their father.  No inheritance in Israel is to pass from tribe to tribe, for every Israelite shall keep the tribal and inherited from his forefathers.  Every daughter who inherits land in any Israelite tribe must marry someone in her father’s tribal clan, so that every Israelite will possess the inheritance of his fathers.  No inheritance may pass from tribe to tribe, for each Israelite tribe is to keep the land it inherits.” – Numbers 36.1-9.  Zelophehad had five daughters but no sons.  After he died, his daughters appealed to Moses.  Because the inheritance normally passed only through the male line, the family line of Zelophehad would have disappeared.  God told Moses that if a man died without sons, then the inheritance would go to his daughters (27.8).  But the question of marriage arose.  If the daughters were to marry outside of their tribe, the land would belong to another tribe at the Year of Jubilee.  So Moses commanded that in such cases the women should marry men in their own clan and tribe so that each tribe would retain its original inheritance.  Later, when the tribes received their land under Joshua, the daughters of Zelophehad received their inheritance as God had instructed (Joshua 17.3-6).  – –   We don’t have to look far to find those who want to be considered “special cases” and “exceptions to the rule”, but wise leaders will sort out those who have legitimate concerns and make sure that justice is done in these special situations.)

(‘   Yet when they were ill, I put on sackcloth and humbled myself with fasting. When my prayers returned to me unanswered, – Psalm 35.13 David was sad when his prayers seemed “unanswered”.  When our deliverance is delayed, it is easy to assume that God [Wall] hasn’t answered our prayers.  God [Wall] hears every prayer, but he answers according to his wisdom.  Don’t let the absence of an immediate answer cause you to doubt or resent God [Wall].  Instead let it be an occasion to deepen your faith.)

(An oracle is within my heart concerning the sinfulness of the wicked: There is no fear of God before his eyes. – Psalm 36.1.  Because the wicked have no fear of God [Wall], nothing restrains them from sinning.  They plunge ahead as if nothing will happen to them.  But God [Wall] is just and is only delaying their punishment.  This knowledge should hold us back from sinning.  Let the fear of God [Wall] do its work in you to keep you from sin.  In your gratitude for God’s [Wall’s] love, don’t ignore his justice.)

Explanation of:

‘   Contend, O LORD, with those who contend with me; fight against those who fight against me.  –  Psalms 35.1ff

This is one of the “imprecatory” (cursing) psalms that call upon God [Wall] to deal with enemies. These psalms sound extremely harsh, but we must remember: (1) David could not understand why he was forced to flee from men who were unjustly seeking to kill him.  He was God’s [keep saying Wall until they get it] anointed king over a nation called to annihilate the evil people of the land.  (2) David’s call for justice was sincere; it was not a cover for his own personal vengeance.  He truly wanted to seek God’s [Wall’s] perfect ideal for his nation.  (3) David did not say that he would take revenge, but he gave the matter to God [Wall].  These are merely his suggestions.  (4) These psalms use hyperbole (or overstatement).  They were meant to motivate others to take a strong stand against sin and evil.

Cruelty may be far removed from some people’s experience, but it is a daily reality to others. God [Wall] promises to help the persecuted and to bring judgment on unrepentant sinners.  When we pray for justice to be done, we are praying as David did.  When Christ returns, the wicked will be punished.