 |  |
Psalm 90: 3-15.
A | 3. Return. Spoken in wrath.
B | 4. 1,000 years are but as yesterday and as a watch in the night.
C | 5. Carried away as with a flood.
D | a | 6. In morning flourish. In evening cut down.
b | 7, 8. Consumed by Thine anger . . . . . wrath.
C | 9, 10. Passed away as a tale told.
D |
b | 11. Power of Thine anger . . . . . wrath.
a | 12. Teach us to number our days.
A | 13. Return . . . . . repent.
B | 14, 15. According to the days of affliction. Satisfy us in the morning.
It is not our present purpose to give an exposition of these Psalms, but they have been
quoted here because of the light they throw upon the lessons of the Book of Numbers.
Psa. 95: also makes pointed reference to the Book of Numbers and is, in turn, quoted at
length in the Epistle to the Hebrews. Chapters 2: and 4: of that Epistle particularly
allude to Israel's failure in the wilderness. In them Joshua's leadership is used as a type
of the great Captain Who shall yet lead many sons to glory, "Jesus" in Heb. 4: 8 being
not the Lord, but Joshua.
Closely associated with the numbering of Israel and their failure in the wilderness is
the appointment of the Levites, the rebellion of Korah, and the inability of the priesthood
to lead the people. All this, as Hebrews teaches, reveals the need of Christ, the one true,
perfect High Priest.
What we must keep in mind as we seek the typical lesson of the Book of Numbers, is
that this people, rebellious though they were, suffering loss as they did, were nevertheless
a redeemed people. The truth is summed up in the words of I Cor. 3: 15: "If any man's
work shall be burned, he shall suffer loss: but he himself shall be saved; yet so as by
fire."
The wilderness journeyings of Israel fall into two parts. The first of these was
according to divine purpose. It commenced at the shores of the Red Sea, led through
Marah and Elim to Sinai, and thence to Kadesh Barnea. From the 1st of Abib, in which
the Exodus commenced, to the time of the arrival at Kadesh Barnea was sixteen months.
As we have said, this period of Israel's wilderness experiences was of divine purpose,
and in it were taught them many precious lessons, as at Marah, Elim, and again in
connection with Amalek. During that period the law was given from Sinai and the
tabernacle built. The forty years' wandering, however, was a result of unbelief and we
must be careful to keep these two periods distinct. Some having seen the forty years of
unbelief have said, "There is no wilderness experience for the believer to-day", and so
become an easy prey to those who would urge them to act as though heavenly places
were already attained, and reigning a present reality. We would urge any such to
consider the fact that the earlier part of Israel's wilderness experiences was by
God's ordering for their teaching and profit; like Abraham, their father, they did not
enter immediately into possession of the land, but became strangers and pilgrims,