Reformed Doctrine Daily Devotions

Today’s devotion comes from Numbers 29:1-11.  Here is a link to this Scripture – https://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=Numbers%2029&version=NASB1995

I quote only the following verses.

“‘Now in the seventh month, on the first day of the month, you shall also have a holy convocation;  you shall do no laborious work.  It will be to you a day for blowing trumpets.  You shall offer a burnt offering as a soothing aroma to the LORD:  one bull, one ram, and seven male lambs one year old without defect;  also their grain offering, fine flour mixed with oil:  three-tenths of an ephah for the bull, two-tenths for the ram, and one-tenth for each of the seven lambs.  Offer one male goat for a sin offering, to make atonement for you, besides the burnt offering of the new moon and its grain offering, and the continual burnt offering and its grain offering, and their drink offerings, according to their ordinance, for a soothing aroma, an offering by fire to the LORD.

‘Then on the tenth day of this seventh month you shall have a holy convocation, and you shall humble yourselves;  you shall not do any work.”  Numbers 29:1-7.

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It is interesting to compare the first day with the tenth day as highlighted in bold italic font above.  The first day is described as “a day for blowing trumpets” which seems to be a day of pride, and the tenth day is described as a day to “humble yourselves” which is clearly a day of humility.

At first thought, they may seem to be inconsistent.  But, as we meditate on these activities, we can believe that the “day for blowing trumpets” is to exalt God which is certainly not inconsistent with a day to “humble yourselves”.  

“2 My soul will make its boast in the LORD;
The humble will hear it and rejoice.
3 O magnify the LORD with me,
And let us exalt His name together.” Psalm 34:2-3.

“Thus says the LORD, “Let not a wise man boast of his wisdom, and let not the mighty man boast of his might, let not a rich man boast of his riches;  but let him who boasts boast of this, that he understands and knows Me, that I am the LORD who exercises lovingkindness, justice and righteousness on earth;  for I delight in these things,” declares the LORD.”  Jeremiah 9:23-24.

“For consider your calling, brethren, that there were not many wise according to the flesh, not many mighty, not many noble;  but God has chosen the foolish things of the world to shame the wise, and God has chosen the weak things of the world to shame the things which are strong, and the base things of the world and the despised God has chosen, the things that are not, so that He may nullify the things that are, so that no man may boast before God.  But by His doing you are in Christ Jesus, who became to us wisdom from God, and righteousness and sanctification, and redemption, so that, just as it is written, “LET HIM WHO BOASTS, BOAST IN THE LORD.”  1 Corinthians 1:26-31.