Sabbath School Commentary: Oct 10-16: Worship and Dedication

Teaching Points

1. Read Numbers 7. What thoughts come to your mind as you read about the offerings given during this solemn ritual?

ANSWER:

A same exact offering for every tribe – The way of salvation is the same for everyone. Since animal sacrifices represent the death of Jesus, the only way to salvation is through the cross of Jesus.

SPIRITUAL APPLICATION:

Meat offering – (Lev. 2:1) fine flour, this means to strip – Jesus was stripped or humiliated before He went to the cross
Burnt offering – (Lev. 1:4-6) flay the offering, this means to spread out – Jesus’ arms were spread out on the cross
Sin offering – (Lev. 4:3-7) in this offering, the blood is taken into the sanctuary – Jesus shed His blood on the cross for the work of mediation in the heavenly sanctuary
Peace offering – peace offering means a (voluntary) sacrifice in thanks – Jesus willingly died for us on the cross

APPLICATION QUESTION:

How often do you talk about the cross of Jesus in your family circle? In what way has the conversation on the cross of Jesus has helped your family?

2. Read Num. 7:89, what does the Bible say about the “One speaking…from between the two cherubims”?

ANSWER:

Ex. 25:22 And there I will meet with thee, and I will commune with thee from above the mercy seat, from between the two cherubims which are upon the ark of the testimony, of all things which I will give thee in commandment unto the children of Israel.
Psa. 80:1 Give ear, O Shepherd of Israel, thou that leadest Joseph like a flock; thou that dwellest between the cherubims, shine forth.
Psa. 99:1 The LORD reigneth; let the people tremble: he sitteth between the cherubims; let the earth be moved.
Is. 37:16 O LORD of hosts, God of Israel, that dwellest between the cherubims, thou art the God, even thou alone, of all the kingdoms of the earth: thou hast made heaven and earth.

OBSERVATION:

APPLICATION QUESTION:

How do you help yourself to be reverent when you come into the presence of God?
Is there a danger of making spiritual things too light or viewing God as a “buddy”?
Why is God speaking to His people above the mercy seat?

3. Read Num. 8:1-4. What spiritual applications do you see in the verses?

SPIRITUAL APPLICATION:

Lamp is the word of God (Ps. 119:105), candlestick is the church (Rev. 1:20), light is the Holy Spirit, since you need oil to give light (Zech. 4:1-6), gold is faith (1 Pet. 1:7), and beaten means molded by hammering, and hammer is the word of God with fire (Jere. 23:29).
The church begins to shine the light of God when it upholds the word of God high above the church, not when the church is above the word of God.
In order to give light you need to have the lamp and oil, therefore you need to have both the truth and the spirit in order to give the light of God.
Lamp is the word of God but it is made by gold. Therefore, an understanding of God’s word without faith cannot lead us to experience the presence of the Holy Spirit.
Sometimes God uses the word to hammer us into His pattern so that we can shine to the world with the glory of God. We just need to be willing to be humbled by His truth.

4. Read Num. 8:5-26 and make an outline of these verses.

OUTLINE:

Num. 8:7 – Cleansing of the body and the clothing of Levites.
Num. 8:9-11 – Aaron and the children of Israel recognized the dedication of Levites.
Num. 8:12 – Making atonement for the Levites.
Num. 8:13-18 – The dedication of the Levites. “Thus shalt thou separate the Levites from among the children of Israel”
Num. 8:19 – The reason for the dedication for the service: “that there be no plague among the children of Israel, when the children of Israel come nigh unto the sanctuary.”
Num. 8:20-23 – The dedication was carried through.
Num. 8:24-25 – The age for the service for the sanctuary is from 25 years to 50 years old.

OBSERVATION:

Num. 8:7-12 – Levites were dedicated for the service physically (washing their body), socially (other people were witnessing and participating the dedication), and spiritually (offering a sin offering for the Levites).
Num. 8:13-18 – Levites were set a side for the sanctuary service.
Num. 8:19 – Levites work as a mediator for the people that come to the sanctuary. They were helping to protect the people from Divine wrath.
Num. 8:24-25 – The prime age is between 25 to 50 years old.

DISCUSSION QUESTIONS:

5. Read Num. 8:19 and compare with Rev. 14:9-11.

Rev. 14:9 And the third angel followed them, saying with a loud voice, If any man worship the beast and his image, and receive his mark in his forehead, or in his hand,
Rev. 14:10 The same shall drink of the wine of the wrath of God, which is poured out without mixture into the cup of his indignation; and he shall be tormented with fire and brimstone in the presence of the holy angels, and in the presence of the Lamb:
Rev. 14:11 And the smoke of their torment ascendeth up for ever and ever: and they have no rest day nor night, who worship the beast and his image, and whosoever receiveth the mark of his name.

OBSERVATIONAL QUESTION:

Is it possible to think that these people receive the wrath of God because there is no mediator for them, and they refused to have Jesus as their heavenly High Priest during the time of the investigative of judgment?

CONCLUSION:

1Pet. 2:5 Ye also, as lively stones, are built up a spiritual house, an holy priesthood, to offer up spiritual sacrifices, acceptable to God by Jesus Christ.
1Pet. 2:9 But ye are a chosen generation, a royal priesthood, an holy nation, a peculiar people; that ye should shew forth the praises of him who hath called you out of darkness into his marvellous light

APPLICATION QUESTIONS:

What does it mean to be a “royal priesthood” today?
Does your church encourage your young people to enter into full time ministry?

Sabbath School Commentary