Fire
5 min read
34 So the Israelites did everything the LORD commanded Moses; that is the way they encamped under their standards, and that is the way they set out, each of them with their clan and family.
Numbers 2:34
There must have been some reason that God had the Israelites encamp and set out in the order that they did. Some reasons may not be apparent, but other reasons are very apparent.
The company of Levites set out right in the middle of the army with the tabernacle. The tabernacle was the institution that God had ordained for the expression of God’s covenant with His people and by His people. It had to be protected at all costs by both the forward and rear flanks.
The tribe of Judah went out first, and that is significant too. Judah means “praise.” Spiritually, the praise of God is the weapon that the people of God use to defeat the enemies of God (Psalm 8:2).
Those spiritual principles are still very important for us today with respect to the church. Every church has been bought by the blood of Christ (Acts 20:28). Every church has been ordained by God for the expression (manifestation, outworking) of God’s covenant with us and by us in Christ Jesus. We must protect the church at all costs. And the primary weapon we have is praise that is ignited by faith. And I am not just talking about singing a few catchy tunes on Sundays.
True praise is a sacrifice that we are to continually offer to God—”the fruit of lips that openly profess His name” (Hebrews 13:15). In the temple of God, the fire at the altar was constantly burning, and sacrifices were offered every day, morning and evening.
True praise is the fruit of understanding that “If God is for us, who can be against us?” (Romans 8:31).
I was at the pastors’ prayer breakfast this morning for the Long Beach association that we belong to. And one of the brothers there was telling us about the struggles that his church was having to fix a wall that had been damaged and leaking every time it rained. There are only six members left, and the church is only sustained by renting their facility to a Hispanic church and by renting out their parsonage. But every time my friend tries to bring up the need to fix the wall, none of the six other members want to spend the money to get it done. My heart was broken for my friend and for their church. There is a church that does not praise God.
We spent the morning encouraging our brother—encouraging him to help ignite true praise in his church. True praise in a church will always burn off the chaff. No pastor ever wants the chaff of his church to burn off. True praise can also transform chaff into fruitful kernels that in turn offer true praise.
Father, If it breaks our hearts to see churches struggle and suffer, how much more so does Yours. There is still life in my brothers church, Lord. Be merciful and restore Your praise in the hearts of those remaining. Open their eyes and ears. Open their hearts to be fertile soil for Your word, so that they may offer true praise with the fire of faith. In Jesus’s name. Amen.
