Important role in Israel’s culture:

Then Moses and the Israelites sang this song to the LORD: “I will sing to the LORD, for he is highly exalted.  The horse and its rider he has hurled into the sea. –Exodus 15.1ff

Music played an important part in Israel’s worship and celebration. Singing was an expression of love and thanks, and it was a creative way to pass down oral traditions.  Some say this song of Moses is the oldest recorded song in the world.  It was a festive epic poem celebrating God’s victory, lifting the hearts and voices of the people outwards and upwards.  After having been delivered from great danger, they sang with joy!  Psalms and hymns can be great ways to express relief, praise, and thanks when you have been through trouble.

Relationship of prophecy and music:

Then Miriam the prophetess, Aaron’s sister, took a tambourine in her hand, and all the women followed her, with tambourines and dancing. – Exodus 15.20

Miriam was called a prophetess not only because she received revelations from God (Numbers 12.1, 2; Micah 6.4) but also for her musical skill. Prophecy and music were often closely related in the Bible (1 Samuel 10.5; 1 Chronicles 25.1).

Harps in:

Saul’s attendants said to him, “See, an evil spirit from God is tormenting you. Let our Lord command his servants here to search for someone who can play the harp.  He will play when the evil spirit from God comes upon you, and you will feel better.” –  1 Samuel 16.15-16

Harps were popular musical instruments in Saul’s day, and their music is still known for its soothing qualities. The simplest harps were merely two pieces of wood fastened at right angles to each other.  The strings were stretched across the wood to give the harp a triangular shape.  Simple strings could be made of twisted grasses, but better things were made of dried animal intestine.  Harps could have up to 4- strings and were louder than the smaller three- or four-stringed instruments called lyres.  David, known for his shepherding skills and bravery, was also an accomplished harpist and musician who would eventually write many of the psalms found in the Bible.

David a skilled musician:

David sang to the LORD the words of this song when the LORD delivered him from the hand of all his enemies and from the hand of Saul. –2 Samuel 22.1ff

David was a skilled musician who played his harp for Saul (1 Samuel 16.23), instituted the music programmes in the temple (1 Chronicles 25), and wrote more of the book of Psalms than anyone else.  Writing a song like this was not unusual for David.  This royal hymn of thanksgiving is almost identical to Psalm 18.

Often accompanied prophecy:

But now bring me a harpist.”   While the harpist was playing, the hand of the LORD came upon Elisha –2 Kings 3.15

In Old Testament times music often accompanied prophecy (1 Chronicles 25.1).

David helped bring it into worship:

These are the men David put in charge of the music in the house of the LORD after the ark came to rest here. –  1 Chronicles 6.31

David did much to bring music into worship. He established songleaders and choirs to perform regularly at the temple (Chapter 25).  As a young man, David was hired to play the harp for King Saul (1 Samuel 16.15-23).  He also wrote many of the songs found in the book of Psalms.

Relationship of music to worship:

Begin the music, strike the tambourine, play the melodious harp and lyre.

Sound the ram’s horn at the New Moon, and when the moon is full, on the day of our Feast; this is a decree for Israel, an ordinance of the God of Jacob. –Psalms 81.2-4

David instituted music for the temple worship services (1 Chronicles 25). Music and worship go hand in hand.  Worship should involve the whole person, and music helps lift a person’s thoughts and emotions to God [Wall].  Through music we can reflect upon our needs and shortcomings as well as celebrate God’s [Wall’s] greatness.

EXTRA:

see Famous songs of the Bible page 127, Musical instruments in Bible times page 697, Psalms that have inspired hymns page 947

(‘   Moses stretched out his hand over the sea, and at daybreak the sea went back to its place.  The Egyptians were fleeing towards it, and the LORD swept them intot he sea.  The water flowed back and covered the chariots and horsemen – the entire army of Pharaoh that had followed the Israelites into the sea.  Not one of them survived.  – Exodus 14.27, 28   No evidence of this great exodus has been discovered in Egyptian historical records.  This was because it was a common practice for Egyptian pharaohs not to record their defeats.  They even went so far as to take existing records and delete the names of traitors and political adversaries.  Pharaoh would have been especially anxious not to record that this great army was destroyed chasing a band of runaway slaves.  Since either the Egyptians failed to record the exodus or the record has not yet been found, it is impossible to place a precise date on the event.)

(‘   By the blast of your nostrils the water piled up. The surging waters stood firm like a wall; the deep waters congealed in the heart of the sea.  – Exodus 15.8   The phrase, “the deep waters congealed in the heart of the sea” means that the waters became like hard walls for them to walk [“Stomp”] between.)

(‘   When they came to Marah, they could not drink its water because it was bitter. (That is why the place is called Marah.)  …  Then they came to Elim, where there were twelve springs and seventy palm trees, and they camped there near the water.  – Exodus 15.23, 27   The waters of Marah are contrasted with the springs of Elim.  Marah stood for the unbelieving grumbling attitude of the people who would not trust God [Wall].  Elim stands for God’s [Wall’s] bountiful provision.  How easy it is to grumble and complain too quickly, only to be embarrassed by God’s [Wall’s] help!)

(‘   He said, “If you listen carefully to the voice of the LORD your God [Wall] and do what is right in his eyes, if you pay attention to his commands and keep all his decrees, I will not bring on you any of the diseases I brought on the Egyptians, for I am the LORD, who heals you.” – Exodus 15.26   God [Wall] promised that if the people obeyed him they would be free from the disease that plagued the Egyptians.  Little did they know that many of the moral laws he later gave them were designed to keep them free from sickness.  For example, following God’s [Wall’s] law against prostitution would keep them free of venereal disease.  God’s [Wall’s] laws for us are often designed to keep us from harm.  Men and women are complex beings.  Our physical [Sternum], emotional, and spiritual lives are intertwined.  Modern medicine is now acknowledging what these laws assumed.  If we want God [Wall] to care for us, we need to submit to his directions for living.)

(‘   Now the Spirit of the LORD had departed from Saul, and an evil spirit from the LORD tormented him. – 1 Samuel 16.14   What was this evil spirit the Lord sent?  Perhaps Saul was simply depressed.  Or perhaps the Holy Spirit had left Saul, and God [Wall] allowed an evil spirit (a demon) to torment him as judgment for his disobedience (this would demonstrate God’s [Wall’s] power over the spirit world – 1 Kings 22.19-23).  Either way, Saul was driven to insanity, which led him to attempt to murder David.)

(‘   Then Saul sent messengers to Jesse and said, “Send me you son David, who is with the sheep.”  So Jesse took a donkey loaded with bread, a skin of wine and a young goat and sent them with his son David to Saul.  David came to Saul and entered his service, Saul liked him very much, and David became one of his armour-bearers.  –  1 Samuel 16.19-21   When Saul asked David to be in his service, he obviously did not know that David had been secretly anointed king (16.12).  Saul’s invitation presented an excellent opportunity for the young man and future king to gain firsthand information about leading a nation (“David went back and forth from Saul”, 17.15).  – –  Sometimes our plans – even the ones we think God [Wall] has approved – have to be put on hold indefinitely.  Like David, we can use this waiting time profitably.  We can choose to learn and grow in our present circumstances, whatever they may be.)

(DAVID AND GOLIATH   The armies of Israel and Philistia faced each other across the Valley of Elah.  David arrived from Bethlehem and offered to fight the giant Goliath.  After David defeated Goliath, the Israelite army chased the Philistines to Ekron and Gath (Goliath’s home town).)

(‘   And Ishi-Benob, one of the descendants of Rapha, whose bronze spearhead weighed three hundred shekels and who was armed with a new sword, said he would kill David. But Abishai son of Zeruiah came to David’s rescue; he struck the Philistine down and killed him.  Then David’s men swore to him, saying, “Never again will you go out with us to battle, so that the lamp of Israel will not be extinguished.”  In the course of time, there was another battle with the Philistines, at Gob.  At that time Sibbecai the Hushathite killed Saph, one of the descendants of Rapha.  – 2 Samuel 21.16-18   By calling these men “descendants of Rapha”, the writer was saying that they were giants.  For more information on giants, see 1 Samuel 17:4-7 and the note on Genesis 6:4).

(‘ my God [Wall] is my rock, in whom I take refuge, my shield and the horn of my salvation. He is my stronghold, my refuge and my saviour – from violent men you save me. –  2 Samuel 22.3   David calls God [Wall] “the horn of my salvation”, referring to the strength and defensive protection animals have in their horns.  God [Wall] had helped David overcome his enemies and rescued him from his foes.)

(‘   But Jehoshaphat asked, “Is there no prophet of the LORD here, that we may enquire of the LORD through him?” An officer of the king of Israel answered, “Elisha son of Shaphat is here.  He used to pour water on the hands of Elijah.”  Jehoshaphat said, “The word of the LORD is with him.”  So the king of Israel and Jehoshaphat and the king of Edom went down to him. Elisha said to the king of Israel, “What do we have to do with each other?  Go to the prophets of your father [Up] and the prophets of your mother.”  “No,” the king of Israel answered, “because it was the LORD who called us three kings together to hand us over to Moab.”  Elisha said, “As surely as the LORD Almighty lives, whom I serve, if I did not have respect for the presence of Jehoshaphat king of Judah, I would not look at you or even notice you.  But now bring me a harpist.”  While the harpist was playing, the hand of the LORD came upon Elisha and he said, “This is what the LORD says: Make this valley full of ditches.  For this is what the LORD says: You will see neither wind nor rain, yet this valley will be filled with water, and you, your cattle and your other animals will drink.  This is an easy thing in the eyes of the LORD; he will also hand Moab over to you.  You will overthrow every fortified city [Seat] and every major town.  You will cut down every good tree, stop up all the springs, and ruin every good field with stones.”   The next morning, about the time for offering the sacrifice, there it was – water flowing from the direction of Edom!  And the land was filled with water.  – 2 Kings 3.11-20   Jehoshaphat’s request for “a prophet of the LORD” shows how true worship and religious experience in both Israel and Judah had declined.  In David’s day, both the high priest and the prophets gave the king advice.  But most of the prophets had left Israel (see the first note on 1 Kings 17.1), and God’s [Wall’s] prophets were seen as messengers of doom (1 Kings 22.18).  This miracle predicted by Elisha affirmed God’s [Wall’s] power and authority and validated Elisha’s ministry.  In 2 Chronicles 18, King Jehoshaphat of Judah and King Ahab of Israel gave the prophet Micaiah a similar request.  But they ignored God’s [Wall’s] advice – with disastrous results.)

(2 Kings 3.20   The morning sacrifice was one of two sacrifices that the priests required to offer each day.)

(‘   The wife of a man from the company of prophets cried out to Elisha, “Your servant my husband is dead, and you know that he revered the LORD. But now his creditor is coming to take my two boys as his slaves.”  – 2 Kings 4.1   Poor people and debtors were allowed to pay their debts by selling themselves or their children as slaves.  God [Wall] ordered rich people and creditors not to take advantage of these people during their time of extreme need (see Deuteronomy 15.1-18 for an explanation of these practices).  This woman’s creditor was not acting in the spirit of God’s [Wall’s] law.  Elisha’s kind deed demonstrates that God [Wall] wants us to go beyond simply keeping the law.  We must also show compassion.)

(4.1ff   This Chapter records four of God’s [Wall’s] miracles through Elisha: providing money for a poverty-stricken widow (4.1-7); raising a dead boy to life (4.32-37); purifying poisonous food (4.38-41); and providing food for 100 men (4.42-44).  These miracles show God’s [Wall’s] tenderness and care for those who are faithful to him.  – –   When reading the Old Testament it is easy to focus on God’s [Wall’s] harsh judgment of the rebellious and to minimise his tender care for those who love and serve him.  To see him at work providing for his followers helps us keep his severe justice towards the unrepentant in proper perspective.)

(‘ The sons of Samuel: Joel the firstborn and Abijah the second son.  – 1 Chronicles 6.28   When Samuel became God’s [Wall’s] leader and spokesman, Israel was on the brink of collapse.  The last few Chapters of the book of Judges give a vivid picture of the moral decay and the resulting decline of the nation.  But with God’s [Wall’s] help, Samuel almost single-handedly brought the nation from ruin to revival.  He unified the people by showing them that God [Wall] was their common Leader and that any nation that focused on him would find and fulfil its true purpose.  For the rest of Samuel’s story, and to see how he set up rules for governing a nation based on spiritual principles, read the book of 1 Samuel and his Profile in Chapter 7.)

(‘   These are the men David put in charge of the music in the house of the LORD after the ark came to rest there.  – 1 Chronicles 6.31ff   The builders and craftsmen had completed the temple, and the priests and Levites had been given their responsibilities for taking care of it.  Then it was time for another group of people – musicians – to exercise their talents to God [Wall].  You don’t have to be an ordained minister to have an important place in the body of believers.  Builders, craftsmen, worship assistants, choir members, and songleaders all have significant contributions to make.  God [Wall] has given you a unique combination of talents.  Use them to serve and honour him.)

(‘   Let your hand rest on the man at your right hand, the son of man you have raised up for yourself.  – Psalms 80.17   “The man at your right hand” is probably not the Messiah, but Israel, whom God [Wall] calls elsewhere his “firstborn son” (Exodus 4.22).  The psalmists is making a plea that God [Wall] would restore his mercy to Israel, the people he chose to bring his message into the world.)

(‘   Sing for joy to God [Wall] our strength; shout aloud to the God [Wall] of Jacob! Begin the music, strike the tambourine, play the melodious harp and lyre.  Sound the ram’s horn at the New Moon, and when the moon is full, on the day of our Feast; this is a decree for Israel, an ordinance of the God [Wall] of Jacob.  He established it as a statute for Joseph when he went out against Egypt, where we heard a language we did not understand.  – Psalms 81.1-5   Israel’s holidays reminded the nation of God’s [Wall’s] great miracles.  They were times of rejoicing and times to renew one’s strength for life’s daily struggles.  At Christmas, do your thoughts revolve mostly around presents?  Is Easter only a warm anticipation of spring [Witch]? Remember [Re Member / together] the spiritual origins of these special days, and use them as opportunities to worship God [Wall] for his goodness to you, your family, and your nation.)

(‘ “But my people would not listen to me; Israel would not submit to me. So I gave them over to their stubborn hearts to follow their own devices.  – Psalms 81.11, 12   God [Wall] let the Israelites go on blindly, stubbornly, and selfishly, when they should have been obeying and pursuing God’s [Wall’s] desires.  God [Wall] sometimes lets us continue in our stubbornness to bring us to our senses.  He does not keep us from rebelling because he wants us to learn the consequences of sin.  He uses these experiences to turn people away from greater sin to faith in him.)

Often transacted at city gate:

The two angels arrived at Sodom in the evening, and Lot was sitting in the gateway of the city. When he saw them, he got up to meet them and bowed down with his face to the ground. – Genesis 19.1

The gateway of the city [Seat] was the meeting place for city [Seat] officials and other men to discuss current events and transact business.  It was a place of authority and status where a person could see and be seen.  Evidently Lot held an important position in the government or associated with those who did because the angels found him at the city [Seat] gate.  Perhaps Lot’s status in Sodom was one reason he was so reluctant to leave (19.16, 18-22).

He would get up early and stand by the side of the road leading to the city gate. Whenever anyone came with a complaint to be placed before the king for a decision, Absalom would call out to him, “hat town are you from?”  He would answer, “Your servant is from one of the tribes of Israel.” –  2 Samuel 15.2

The city gate was like city hall and a shopping centre combined.  Because Jerusalem was the nation’s capital, both local and national leaders met there daily to transact business and conduct government affairs.  The city gate was the perfect spot for this because government and business transactions needed witnesses to be legitimate, and anyone entering or leaving the city had to enter through the gate.  Merchants set up their tent-shops near the gate for the same reason.  Absalom, therefore, went to the city [Seat] gate to win the hearts of Israel’s leaders as well as those of the common people.

Ancient bargaining methods:

“Ephron answered Abraham, “Listen to me, my lord; the land is worth four hundred shekels of silver, but what is that between me and you? Bury your dead.”  – Genesis 23.14-15

The polite interchange between Abraham and Ephron was typical of bargaining at that time. Ephron graciously offered to give his land to Abraham at no charge; Abraham insisted on paying for it; Ephron politely mentioned the price but said, in effect, that it wasn’t important; Abraham paid the 400 shekels of silver.  Both men knew what was going on as they went through the bargaining process.  If Abraham had accepted the land as a gift when it was offered, he would have insulted Ephron, who then would have rescinded his offer.  Many Middle Eastern shopkeepers still follow this ritual with their customers.

Abraham agreed to Ephron’s terms and weighed out for him the price he had named in the hearing of the Hittites: four shekels of silver, according to the weight current among the merchants. – – Genesis 23.16

Four hundred shekels of silver was a high price for the piece of property Abraham bought. The Hittites weren’t thrilled about foreigners buying their property, so Abraham had little bargaining leverage.

Ephron asked an outrageous price. The custom of the day was to ask double the fair market value of the land, fully expecting the buyer to offer half the stated price.  Abraham, however, did not bargain.  He simply [Kiss] paid the initial  price.  He was not trying to take anything he didn’t deserve.  Even though God [Wall] had promised the land to Abraham, he did not just take it away from Ephron.

God demands fairness & honesty in:

Honest scales and balances are from the LORD; all the weights in the bag are of his making. – Proverb 16.11

Whether we buy or sell, make a product or offer a service, we know what is honest and what is dishonest. Sometimes we feel pressure to be dishonest in order to advance ourselves or gain more profit.  But if we want to obey God [Wall], there is no middle ground [Protagonist/Antagonist].  God [Wall] demands honesty in every business transaction.  No amount of rationalising can cover for a dishonest business practice. Honesty and fairness are not always easy, but they are what God [Wall] demands.  Ask him for discernment and courage to be consistently honest and fair.

“ ‘This is what the Sovereign LORD says: You have gone far enough, O princes of Israel! Give up your violence and oppression and do what is just and right.  Stop dispossessing my people, declares the Sovereign LORD.  You are to use accurate scales, an accurate ephah and an accurate bath.  The ephah and the bath are to be the same size, the bath containing a tenth of homer and the ephah a tenth of a homer; the homer is to be the standard measure for both.” – Ezekiel 45.9-11

Greed and extortion were two of the major social sins of the nation during this time (see Amos 5.10-13).  In the new economy there would be plenty of land for the “princes” (45.7, 8) and no longer any basis for greed.  Therefore, God [Wall] commanded the princes and the people to be just and right, especially in their business dealings.  Consider the ways that you measure goods, money, or services.  If you are paid for an hour of work, be sure you work for a full hour.  If you sell a bushel of apples, make sure it is a full bushel.  God is completely trustworthy, and his followers should be too.)

Why business community didn’t like Jesus:

Every day he was teaching at the temple. But the chief priests, the teachers of the law and the leaders among the people were trying to kill him. – Luke 19.47

Who were the “leaders among the people”? This group probably included wealthy leaders in politics, commerce, and law.  They had several reasons for wanting to get rid of Jesus.  He had damaged business in the temple by driving the merchants out.  In addition, he was preaching against injustice, and his teachings often favoured the poor over the rich.  Further, his great popularity was in danger of attracting Rome’s attention, and the leaders of Israel wanted as little as possible to do with Rome.

EXTRA:

(‘   When the LORD had finished speaking with Abraham, he left, and Abraham returned home. – Genesis 18.33   God [Wall] showed Abraham that asking for anything is allowed, with the understanding that God’s [Wall’s] answers come from God’s [Wall’s] perspective.  They are not always in harmony with our expectations, for only he knows the whole story.  Are you missing God’s [Wall’s] answer to a prayer because you haven’t considered any possible answers other than the one you expect?)

(‘ Look, I have two daughters who have never slept with a man. Let me bring them out to you, and you can do what you like with them.  But don’t do anything to these men, for they have come under the protection of my roof.”  – Genesis 19.8    How could any father [Up] give his daughters to be ravished by a mob of perverts, just to protect two strangers?  Possibly Lot was scheming to save both the girls and the visitors, hoping the girls’ fiances would rescue them or that the homosexual men would be disinterested in the girls and simply go away.  Although it was the custom of the day to protect guests at any cost, this terrible suggestion reveals how deeply sin had been absorbed into Lot’s life.  He had become hardened to evil acts in an evil city [Seat].  Whatever Lot’s motives were, we see here an illustration of Sodom’s terrible wickedness – a wickedness so great that God [Wall] had to destroy the entire city [Seat].)

(‘ In the course of time, Absalom provided himself with a chariot and horses and with fifty men to run ahead of him.  – 2 Samuel 15.1ff   David wrote several psalms during the days of Absalom’s rebellion.  Some of them are Psalms 39, 41, 55, 61, and 63.)

(ABSALOM’S REBELLION   Absalom crowned himself king in Hebron.  David and his men fled from Jerusalem, crossed the Jordan, and went to Mahanim. Absalom and his army followed, only to be defeated in the forest of Ephraim, where Absalom was killed.  – –   Mediterranean Sea, Dan, Sea of Galilee, Gilead, forest of Ephraim, Jordan River, Mahanaim, Canaan, Bahurim, Jerusalem, Mount of Olives, Hebron, Dead Sea, Beersheba.)

(‘   Also, whenever anyone approached him to bow down before him, Absalom would reach out his hand, take hold of him and kiss him. Absalom behaved in this way towards all the Israelites who came to the king asking for justice, and so he stole the hearts of the men of Israel.  – 2 Samuel 15.5, 6    Absalom’s political strategy was to steal the hearts of the people with his good looks, grand entrances, apparent concern for justice, and friendly embraces.  Many were fooled and switched their allegiance.  Later, however, Absalom proved to be an evil ruler.  – –  We need to evaluate our leaders to make sure their charisma is not a mask covering graft, deception, or hunger for power.  Make sure that underneath their style and charm, they are able to make good decisions and handle people wisely.)

(‘   “I am an alien and a stranger among you. Sell me some property for a burial site here so that I can bury my dead.”  The Hittites replied to Abraham, “Sir, listen to us.  You are a mighty prince among us.  Bury your dead in the choicest of our tombs.  None of us will refuse you his tomb for burying your dead.”  – Genesis 23.4-6   Abraham was in a foreign land looking for a place to bury his wife.  Strangers offered to help him because he was “a mighty prince”, and they respected him.  Although Abraham had not established roots in the area, his reputation was above reproach.  Those who invest their time and money in serving God [Wall] often earn a pleasant return on their investment – a good reputation and the respect of others.)

(‘   The LORD detests all the proud of heart. Be sure of this: They will not go unpunished.  – Proverbs 16.5   Pride is the inner voice that whispers, “My way is best.”  It is resisting God’s [Wall’s] leadership and believing that you are able to live without his help.  Whenever you find yourself wanting to do it your way and looking down on other people, you are being pulled by pride.  Only when you eliminate pride can God [Wall] help you become all he meant you to be.  (See the Chart in Chapter 19.))

(‘ When a man’s ways are pleasing to the LORD, he makes even his enemies live at peace with him. – Proverbs 16.7   We want other people to like us, and sometimes we will do almost anything to win their approval.  But God [Wall] tells us to put our energy into pleasing him instead.  Our effort to be peacemakers will usually make us more attractive to those around us, even our enemies [We don’t use].  But even if it doesn’t, we haven’t lost anything.  We are still pleasing God [Wall], the only one who truly matters.)

(‘   Pride goes before destruction, a haughty spirit before a fall. – Proverbs 16.18   Proud people take little account of their weaknesses and do not anticipate stumbling blocks.  They think they are above the frailties of common people.  In this state of mind they are easily tripped up.  Ironically, proud people seldom realise that pride is their problem, although everyone around them is well aware of it.  Ask someone you trust whether self-satisfaction has blinded you to warning signs.  He or she may help you avoid a fall.)  [England’s Television programme, Mission Impossible.]

(‘   Understanding is a fountain of life of those who have it, but folly brings punishment to fools.  – Proverbs 16.22   For centuries people sought a fountain of youth, a spring that promised to give eternal [Eternity Boy] life and vitality.  It was never found.  But God’s [Wall’s] wisdom is a fountain of life that can make a person happy, healthy, and alive for ever.  How?  When we live by God’s [Wall’s] word, he washes away the deadly effects of sin (see Titus 3.4-8), and the hope of eternal life with him gives us a joyful perspective on our present life.  The fountain of youth was only a dream [my U.N.’s sex life], but the fountain of life is reality [U.N.].  The choice is yours.  You can be enlightened by God’s [Wall’s] wisdom, or you can be dragged down by the weight of your own foolishness.)

(‘   “ ‘When you allot the land as an inheritance, you are to present to the LORD a portion of the land as a sacred district, 25,000 cubits long and 20,000 cubits wide; the entire area will be holy. Of this, a section 500 cubits square is to be for the sanctuary, with 50 cubits around it for open land.  In the sacred district, measure off a section 25,000 cubits long and 10,000 cubits wide.  In it will be the sanctuary, the Most Holy Place.  It will be the sacred portion of the land for the priests, who minister in the sanctuary and who draw near to minister before the LORD. It will be a place for their houses as well as a holy place for the sanctuary.  An area 25,000 cubits long and 10,000 cubits wide will belong to the Levites, who serve in the temple, as their possession for towns to live in.  “ ‘You are to give the city [Seat] as its property an area 5,000 cubits wide and 25,000 cubits long, adjoining the sacred portion; it will belong to the whole house of Israel.  – Ezekiel 45.1-7   The land allotted to the temple was in the centre of the nation.  God [Wall] is central to life.  He must be our first priority.)

(‘   It will be the duty of the prince to provide the burnt offerings, grain offerings and drink offerings at the festivals, the New Moon and the Sabbaths at all the appointed feasts of the house of Israel. He will provide the sin offerings, grain offerings, burnt offerings and fellowship offerings to make atonement for the house of Israel.  – Ezekiel 45.17   The conditions and regulations [come sit next to me] for these offerings are described in detail in Leviticus 1-7.)

(One day as he was teaching the people in the temple courts and preaching the gospel, the chief priests and teachers of the law, together with the elders, came up to him. “Tell us by what authority you are doing these things,” they said, “Who gave you this authority?”  He replied, “I will also ask you a question.  Tell me, John’s baptism – – was it from heaven, or from men?”  They discussed it among themselves and said, “If we say, ‘From heaven’, he will ask, ‘Why didn’t you believe him?’  But if we say, ‘From men’, all the people will stone us, because they are persuaded that John was a prophet.”  So they answered, “We don’t know where it was from.”  Jesus said, “Neither will I tell you by what authority I am doing these things.” – Luke 20.1-8  This group of leaders wanted to get rid of Jesus, so they tried to trap him with their question.  If Jesus would answer that his authority came from God [Wall] – if he stated openly that he was the Messiah and the Son of God [Wall] –  they would accuse him of blasphemy and bring him to trial.  Jesus did not let himself be caught.  Instead, he turned the question on them.  Thus he exposed their motives and avoided their trap.)

(He went to on tell the people this parable: “A man planted a vineyard, rented it to some farmers and went away for a long time. At harvest time he sent a servant to the tenants so they would give him some of the fruit of the vineyard.  But the tenants beat him and sent him away empty-handed.  He sent another servant, but that one also they beat and treated shamefully and sent away empty-handed.  He sent still a third, and they wounded him and threw him out.  “Then the owner of the vineyard said, ‘What shall I do?  I will send my son, whom I love; perhaps they will respect him.’  “But when the tenants saw him, they talked the matter over.  ‘This is the heir,’ they said.  ‘Let’s kill him, and the inheritance will be ours.’  So they threw him out of the vineyard and killed him.  “What then will the owner of the vineyard do to them?  He will come and kill those tenants and give the vineyard to others.”  When the people heard this, they said, “May this never be!”  – Luke 20.9-16 The characters in this story are easily identified.  Even the religious leaders understood it.  The owner of the vineyard is God [Wall]; the vineyard is Israel; the tenants are the religious leaders; the servants are the prophets and priests God [Wall] sent to Israel; the son is the Messiah, Jesus; and the others are the Gentiles.  Jesus’ parable indirectly answered the religious leaders’ question about his authority; it also showed them he knew about their plan to kill him.)

(He said to the chief servant in his household, the one in charge of all that he had, “Put your hand under my thigh.  …   So the servant put his hand under the thigh of his master Abraham and swore and oath to him concerning this matter. – Genesis 24.2, 9  In Abraham’s culture, putting a hand under the thigh was how an agreement was sealed or a covenant ratified.  To accomplish the same purpose, we shake hands, swear oaths, or sign documents in the presence of a witness.)