Reading, Reflection & Prayer

+ In the name of the Father, and the Son, and the Holy Spirit. Amen!

Opening – (Northumbria Community)

One thing I have asked of the Lord, this is what I seek: that I may dwell in the house of the Lord all the days of my life; to behold the beauty of the Lord and to seek Him in His temple.

Praise to You, Lord Jesus Christ, King of endless glory.

Please Read: Numbers 5-8 (NLT) – click here

Reflection & Prayer

Nazirite Laws

Numbers 6 :2-3 (NLT) – “If any of the people, either men or women, take the special vow of a Nazirite, setting themselves apart to the Lord in a special way, they must give up wine and other alcoholic drinks….”

Numbers 6:5-8 (NLT) – “They must never cut their hair throughout the time of their vow, for they are holy and set apart to the Lord. Until the time of their vow has been fulfilled, they must let their hair grow long. And they must not go near a dead body during the entire period of their vow to the Lord. Even if the dead person is their own father, mother, brother, or sister, they must not defile themselves, for the hair on their head is the symbol of their separation to God. This requirement applies as long as they are set apart to the Lord….”

The Priestly Blessing

Numbers 6:23-27 (NLT) – “Tell Aaron and his sons to bless the people of Israel with this special blessing:

‘May the Lord bless you and protect you. May the Lord smile on you and be gracious to you. May the Lord show you his favor and give you his peace.’

Whenever Aaron and his sons bless the people of Israel in my name, I myself will bless them.”

Offerings of Dedication

Numbers 7:1-2 (NLT) – On the day Moses set up the Tabernacle, he anointed it and set it apart as holy. He also anointed and set apart all its furnishings and the altar with its utensils. Then the leaders of Israel—the tribal leaders who had registered the troops—came and brought their offerings….”

Numbers 7:89 (NLT) – Whenever Moses went into the Tabernacle to speak with the Lord, he heard the voice speaking to him from between the two cherubim above the Ark’s cover—the place of atonement—that rests on the Ark of the Covenant. The Lord spoke to him from there.

The Levites Dedicated

Numbers 8:6, 9-11 (NLT) – “Now set the Levites apart from the rest of the people of Israel and make them ceremonially clean…..  Then assemble the whole community of Israel, and present the Levites at the entrance of the Tabernacle. When you present the Levites before the Lord, the people of Israel must lay their hands on them. Raising his hands, Aaron must then present the Levites to the Lord as a special offering from the people of Israel, thus dedicating them to the Lord’s service….”

Numbers 8:24-26 (NLT) – “This is the rule the Levites must follow: They must begin serving in the Tabernacle at the age of twenty-five, and they must retire at the age of fifty. After retirement they may assist their fellow Levites by serving as guards at the Tabernacle, but they may not officiate in the service. This is how you must assign duties to the Levites.”

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Lord God: You alone are the source of all goodness in our lives; our peace, our prosperity, our children, our security, our property, our happiness, our health – all good things come from You.

+ It’s by Your grace that we receive Your good gifts – thank You Lord.

+ And, it’s by Your grace that we long for that day when we shall see You face-to-face smiling upon us.

Set us apart as a holy people, a people who belong to You, that we might love and serve you, and show others Your goodness to us through Jesus Christ our Savior, who has called us out of darkness into His wonderful light. In His name, we pray. Amen.
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“Aaronic Benediction” – Joshua Aaron & Misha Goetz

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Blessing – (Northumbrian Community)

May the peace of the Lord Christ go with you, wherever He may send you. May He guide you through the wilderness, protect you through the storm. May He bring you home rejoicing at the wonders He has shown you. May He bring you home rejoicing once again into our doors.
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+ In the name of the Father, and the Son, and the Holy Spirit. Amen!