Numbers

Numbers 29: God calls His people to worship

Begin in prayer

Before hearing the trumpets that called Israel to gather, let us bring God our thankful attention. Please ask Him for humble hearts and joy in the saving work of Jesus.

Let’s come before his presence with thanksgiving. Let’s extol him with songs!

Psalm 95:2

Father in heaven, please open our eyes as we read Your Word. Teach us to worship with humble and thankful hearts, and show us the peace Jesus secured by His sacrifice. Make us more like Jesus. And please bless our family as we worship You together. In Jesus' name, Amen.

See where we're going

God appoints a gathering with trumpets on the first day of the seventh month, with rest and sacrifices. On the tenth day, Israel must humble themselves, do no work and bring the offerings for the day of atonement. From the fifteenth day, a seven-day feast brings a great number of offerings before the Lord. The bulls decrease each day, while the rams, lambs and sin offering continue as commanded. An eighth day ends the feast with a solemn gathering and further offerings. All these sacrifices stand alongside the daily offering and the people’s vows and freewill gifts.

As you read Numbers 29, look for the answers:

Reflect together

Key truth

God gathers His people to worship with humble hearts and thankful joy.

The seventh month brings Israel together for three appointed occasions before the Lord. Trumpets call them to a holy gathering, followed by a day when they must humble themselves for atonement. Then the feast of shelters fills a whole week with worship. Living in shelters recalls God’s care during the wilderness journey, as Leviticus 23 verses 42 and 43 explains. The many sacrifices express the whole people’s offering of thanks, while a sin offering remains part of every day. Even at the joyful feast, they need the atonement God provides. Their regular daily offerings continue throughout, so special occasions deepen the worship already marking their lives.

How does Numbers 29 show us that God gathers His people to worship with humble hearts and thankful joy?

God gathers His people to give Him their time and attention.

Trumpets announce a day set apart for the Lord. The people stop regular work and gather for the worship He appoints. Their time belongs to the God who has made them His people.

God’s people must come humbly because they need atonement.

On the tenth day they must afflict their souls, humbling themselves before the Lord. The day includes a sin offering beyond the offering of atonement. God’s forgiveness must be sought with hearts that take guilt seriously.

God receives thankful worship through the sacrifices He provides.

The feast brings a whole week of offerings, followed by an eighth day of gathering. Each day includes a sin offering alongside the burnt offerings. Their thanksgiving rests on the atonement God appoints, even while they remember His generous care.

Memorise

“‘On the fifteenth day of the seventh month you shall have a holy convocation. You shall do no regular work. You shall keep a feast to Yahweh seven days.

Numbers 29:12

Looking to Jesus in my life

Ask yourself in your heart, what do I enjoy more than coming to Jesus with thanks and repentance?

God says, “You shall offer these to Yahweh in your set feasts”. The trumpets, the humbling and the feast all call Israel to come before Him. Joy and the need for atonement belong together in their worship.

Our sin makes us guilty before the God we are called to praise. Jesus carried the sin of His people and died under their judgment. He rose from the dead, having made the sacrifice that brings them near once for all. Hebrews 10 verses 19 and 20 says that His blood gives His people confidence to approach God.

So turn from sin and trust the risen Jesus. Those who come through His completed sacrifice receive forgiveness, and His work is enough for their welcome. Please bring Him both your guilt and your thanks. The Savior who has dealt with sin gives His people reason to worship with joy.

Parent's note

Tell your children that thankful worship needs a humble heart, and Jesus has offered the sacrifice His people need to approach God. Please do not tell them they are saved just because they grew up in a Christian home. Call each child to turn from sin and trust Jesus, and pray that God would give them a new heart.

Pray together

Now please close your time together in prayer. Thank God for gathering His people to worship with humility and thanks, and bring the heart question to Him. Every child can pray, so let each one say a short prayer if they want to.

They worshiped him, and returned to Jerusalem with great joy,

Luke 24:52

Father, thank You for calling Your people to gather, remember Your care and seek Your mercy. Please turn us from sin and give each of us faith in Jesus. Teach us to come with humble hearts and thankful joy. Help us give You our time and attention this week. Amen.