We finally made it through the Book of Numbers! While it was tedious at times, there was plenty of great information and even some drama and action. Ultimately, the book of Numbers is about provision. Throughout the book, God ensures His people are taken care of; they are fed, protected, and are prepared to take possession of their promised land. The lesson from this book is that God is more concerned with us than we are of ourselves. The moment we realize how much He wants to do what is best for us, the better off we will be. The book of Numbers, along with the rest of the Bible, should remind us of God’s perfect plan for our lives.

In Psalm 35 you can hear David’s cry for vindication. He is begging God to step in and help him to punish his enemies. This can be very confusing to think it is ok to ask these things of God, but the reality is God is the only one who can step in and judge and punish our enemies. It is never our place to do it. What surprised me was how freely God allowed David to make his petition for exacting revenge. I think this shows that anger is an acceptable emotion, but we must be careful to understand that vengeance is God’s right, not ours.

What stood out to me in today’s reading was how much the passages in Exodus and Psalm 23 fit together. Whenever I read Psalm 23 I find it to be very calming. I figured the best thing to do is share the entirety of Psalm 23:

1 The Lord is my shepherd, I shall not be in want.
2 He makes me lie down in green pastures,
he leads me beside quiet waters,
3 he restores my soul.
He guides me in paths of righteousness
for his name’s sake.
4 Even though I walk
through the valley of the shadow of death,
I will fear no evil,
for you are with me;
your rod and your staff,
they comfort me.

5 You prepare a table before me
in the presence of my enemies.
You anoint my head with oil;
my cup overflows.
6 Surely goodness and love will follow me
all the days of my life,
and I will dwell in the house of the Lord
forever.