BBC Sermon Cast

Numbers matter. Literally. They are essential for sound engineering, accurate accounting, measuring health, and a host of other disciplines. The book of Numbers also matters. The book of Numbers matters, and the numbers in the book matter, for they instruct us about divine faithfulness. Numbers teaches us that, with God’s grace, we can do better. In this study, we will seek to understand the purpose and plan of Numbers as we view its broad structure.

1. God Prepares His People: Sinai (chapters 1–10)

2. God Punishes His People: Kadesh (chapters 11–16)

3. God Preserves His People: Moab (chapters 17–36)

One of the interpretive challenges of Job is discerning the tone of the speakers. Many interpreters assume that Elihu was an angry young man who vomited anger all over Job. I believe, in fact, that Elihu spoke carefully, if straightforwardly, to help Job. He had the last (human) word as he proclaimed God’s truth, which served to prepare Job to meet his God. As we consider the second part of Elihu’s extended speeches, we do so under the theme of preparing to meet your God, following the following outline.

1. Elihu’s Conviction (35:1–16)

2. Elihu’s Comprehension (36:1–33)

3. Elihu’s Conclusion (37:1–24)

God’s favoured ones don’t always respond with immediate, unshakeable faith, but we are all on a journey that should culminate in submissive faith, even if it starts with consternation and confusion.

Doug addresses some lessons for discipleship arising from a consideration of Zelophahad’s daughters.

The primary thrust of Peter’s closing burden is that humility in suffering is the path to exaltation. Rather than vindicating ourselves by fighting back, we should embrace a posture of humility as we trust God to vindicate us in his own time. We will consider this theme in these closing verses under four broad headings:

1. The Plea for Humility (v. 6)

2. The Practice of Humility (vv. 7–9)

3. The Promise of Humility (vv. 10–11)

4. The Partners in Humility (vv. 12–14)

Though Elihu was at times a bit bombastic and perhaps a little harsh, his intensity stemmed from reverent concerned that Job was attacking God’s integrity. Ultimately, God did not rebuke Elihu—perhaps because he recognised Elihu’s desire to be a true friend by speaking truth to help a brother who was sinning in his suffering. For simplicity’s sake, we will consider the text before us under three broad headings:

1. Elihu Introduced (32:1–22)

2. Elihu Initiates (33:1–33)

3. Elihu Instructs (34:1–37)

Those who are forgiven are changed people. Those who have been forgiven much—namely, every son or daughter of Adam who has come to Christ—love much. Their lives are characterised by actions that display their love for Christ and his body, the church. Their appetites are changed and they look different. As you evaluate your life, do you see a love for Christ, which spills over from the heart in actions?

As he begins to wrap up his first epistle, Peter writes words of exhortation to the shepherds (pastors or elders) of the various flocks in what is today Turkey. He does so with the theme of suffering still in his mind. In 5:1–5, he gives instructions to suffering shepherds who are overseeing the welfare of their suffering sheep. We will study these five verses under two major headings:

1. The Responsibility of Shepherds (vv. 1–4)

2. The Responsibility of Sheep (v. 5)

In chapters 29–31, Job has his final say in his argument against both his friends and his God. He recounts all the Lord had blessed him with (chapter 29), recalls all the Lord had taken from him (chapter 30), and testifies to a life of integrity that pointed to the blessed name of the Lord (chapter 31). He remembers his happy past, laments his humiliating present, and concludes uncertain about his future. We will consider these chapters under the following headings:

1. Job Happy and Hopeful (29:1–25)

2. Job Humiliated and Helpless (30:1–31)

3. Job Holy and Hurting, chapter (31:1–40)

When your expectations are unfulfilled, and you are tempted to turn your back on your God and your faith, respond instead with devotion, with service, with prayer, and with obedience, trusting the wisdom and the power of God.