Select: First Reading Second Reading Bible Background
First Reading: Numbers Chapter 27 and 28Numbers 27
27:1 The daughters of Zelophehad son of Hepher, the son of Gilead, the son
of Makir, the son of Manasseh, belonged to the clans of Manasseh son of Joseph.
The names of the daughters were Mahlah, Noah, Hoglah, Milcah and Tirzah. They
approached 2 the entrance to the Tent of Meeting and stood before Moses, Eleazar
the priest, the leaders and the whole assembly, and said, 3 "Our father
died in the desert. He was not among Korah's followers, who banded together
against the LORD, but he died for his own sin and left no sons. 4 Why should
our father's name disappear from his clan because he had no son? Give us property
among our father's relatives."
5 So Moses brought their case before the LORD 6 and the LORD said to him, 7
"What Zelophehad's daughters are saying is right. You must certainly give
them property as an inheritance among their father's relatives and turn their
father's inheritance over to them.
8 "Say to the Israelites, 'If a man dies and leaves no son, turn his inheritance
over to his daughter. 9 If he has no daughter, give his inheritance to his brothers.
10 If he has no brothers, give his inheritance to his father's brothers. 11
If his father had no brothers, give his inheritance to the nearest relative
in his clan, that he may possess it. This is to be a legal requirement for the
Israelites, as the LORD commanded Moses.'"
12 Then the LORD said to Moses, "Go up this mountain in the Abarim range
and see the land I have given the Israelites. 13 After you have seen it, you
too will be gathered to your people, as your brother Aaron was, 14 for when
the community rebelled at the waters in the Desert of Zin, both of you disobeyed
my command to honor me as holy before their eyes." (These were the waters
of Meribah Kadesh, in the Desert of Zin.)
15 Moses said to the LORD, 16 "May the LORD, the God of the spirits of
all mankind, appoint a man over this community 17 to go out and come in before
them, one who will lead them out and bring them in, so the LORD's people will
not be like sheep without a shepherd."
18 So the LORD said to Moses, "Take Joshua son of Nun, a man in whom is
the spirit, and lay your hand on him. 19 Have him stand before Eleazar the priest
and the entire assembly and commission him in their presence. 20 Give him some
of your authority so the whole Israelite community will obey him. 21 He is to
stand before Eleazar the priest, who will obtain decisions for him by inquiring
of the Urim before the LORD. At his command he and the entire community of the
Israelites will go out, and at his command they will come in."
22 Moses did as the LORD commanded him. He took Joshua and had him stand before
Eleazar the priest and the whole assembly. 23 Then he laid his hands on him
and commissioned him, as the LORD instructed through Moses.
Numbers 28
28:1 The LORD said to Moses, 2 "Give this command to the Israelites and
say to them: 'See that you present to me at the appointed time the food for
my offerings made by fire, as an aroma pleasing to me.' 3 Say to them: 'This
is the offering made by fire that you are to present to the LORD: two lambs
a year old without defect, as a regular burnt offering each day. 4 Prepare one
lamb in the morning and the other at twilight, 5 together with a grain offering
of a tenth of an ephah of fine flour mixed with a quarter of a hin of oil from
pressed olives. 6 This is the regular burnt offering instituted at Mount Sinai
as a pleasing aroma, an offering made to the LORD by fire. 7 The accompanying
drink offering is to be a quarter of a hin of fermented drink with each lamb.
Pour out the drink offering to the LORD at the sanctuary. 8 Prepare the second
lamb at twilight, along with the same kind of grain offering and drink offering
that you prepare in the morning. This is an offering made by fire, an aroma
pleasing to the LORD.
9 "'On the Sabbath day, make an offering of two lambs a year old without
defect, together with its drink offering and a grain offering of two-tenths
of an ephah of fine flour mixed with oil. 10 This is the burnt offering for
every Sabbath, in addition to the regular burnt offering and its drink offering.
11 "'On the first of every month, present to the LORD a burnt offering
of two young bulls, one ram and seven male lambs a year old, all without defect.
12 With each bull there is to be a grain offering of three-tenths of an ephah
of fine flour mixed with oil; with the ram, a grain offering of two-tenths of
an ephah of fine flour mixed with oil; 13 and with each lamb, a grain offering
of a tenth of an ephah of fine flour mixed with oil. This is for a burnt offering,
a pleasing aroma, an offering made to the LORD by fire. 14 With each bull there
is to be a drink offering of half a hin of wine; with the ram, a third of a
hin; and with each lamb, a quarter of a hin. This is the monthly burnt offering
to be made at each new moon during the year. 15 Besides the regular burnt offering
with its drink offering, one male goat is to be presented to the LORD as a sin
offering.
16 "'On the fourteenth day of the first month the LORD's Passover is to
be held. 17 On the fifteenth day of this month there is to be a festival; for
seven days eat bread made without yeast. 18 On the first day hold a sacred assembly
and do no regular work. 19 Present to the LORD an offering made by fire, a burnt
offering of two young bulls, one ram and seven male lambs a year old, all without
defect. 20 With each bull prepare a grain offering of three-tenths of an ephah
of fine flour mixed with oil; with the ram, two-tenths; 21 and with each of
the seven lambs, one-tenth. 22 Include one male goat as a sin offering to make
atonement for you. 23 Prepare these in addition to the regular morning burnt
offering. 24 In this way prepare the food for the offering made by fire every
day for seven days as an aroma pleasing to the LORD; it is to be prepared in
addition to the regular burnt offering and its drink offering. 25 On the seventh
day hold a sacred assembly and do no regular work.
26 "'On the day of firstfruits, when you present to the LORD an offering
of new grain during the Feast of Weeks, hold a sacred assembly and do no regular
work. 27 Present a burnt offering of two young bulls, one ram and seven male
lambs a year old as an aroma pleasing to the LORD. 28 With each bull there is
to be a grain offering of three-tenths of an ephah of fine flour mixed with
oil; with the ram, two-tenths; 29 and with each of the seven lambs, one-tenth.
30 Include one male goat to make atonement for you. 31 Prepare these together
with their drink offerings, in addition to the regular burnt offering and its
grain offering. Be sure the animals are without defect.
Romans 12
12:1 Therefore, I urge you, brothers, in view of God's mercy, to offer your
bodies as living sacrifices, holy and pleasing to God-this is your spiritual
act of worship. 2 Do not conform any longer to the pattern of this world, but
be transformed by the renewing of your mind. Then you will be able to test and
approve what God's will is-his good, pleasing and perfect will.
3 For by the grace given me I say to every one of you: Do not think of yourself
more highly than you ought, but rather think of yourself with sober judgment,
in accordance with the measure of faith God has given you. 4 Just as each of
us has one body with many members, and these members do not all have the same
function, 5 so in Christ we who are many form one body, and each member belongs
to all the others. 6 We have different gifts, according to the grace given us.
If a man's gift is prophesying, let him use it in proportion to his faith. 7
If it is serving, let him serve; if it is teaching, let him teach; 8 if it is
encouraging, let him encourage; if it is contributing to the needs of others,
let him give generously; if it is leadership, let him govern diligently; if
it is showing mercy, let him do it cheerfully.
9 Love must be sincere. Hate what is evil; cling to what is good. 10 Be devoted
to one another in brotherly love. Honor one another above yourselves. 11 Never
be lacking in zeal, but keep your spiritual fervor, serving the Lord. 12 Be
joyful in hope, patient in affliction, faithful in prayer. 13 Share with God's
people who are in need. Practice hospitality.
14 Bless those who persecute you; bless and do not curse. 15 Rejoice with those
who rejoice; mourn with those who mourn. 16 Live in harmony with one another.
Do not be proud, but be willing to associate with people of low position. Do
not be conceited.
17 Do not repay anyone evil for evil. Be careful to do what is right in the
eyes of everybody. 18 If it is possible, as far as it depends on you, live at
peace with everyone. 19 Do not take revenge, my friends, but leave room for
God's wrath, for it is written: "It is mine to avenge; I will repay,"
says the Lord. 20 On the contrary:
"If your enemy is hungry, feed him; if he is thirsty, give him something
to drink. In doing this, you will heap burning coals on his head."
21 Do not be overcome by evil, but overcome evil with good.
THE TABERNACLE AND ITS FURNISHINGS
Part 2 of 2
Within the Tabernacle were certain furnishings prescribed by God. The Ark of the Covenant was in the Most Holy Place. The cover of it was pure gold and the forms of cherubim were on it. This was known as the "mercy seat." Within the Holy Place was found the lampstand, the table of show bread, and the incense altar. Outside in the courtyard was the bronze altar for the sacrifices.
Select: First Reading Second Reading Bible Background