Num 31:54 | KingComments | STEP | A spontaneous action of the officers and captains takes place out of gratitude. They are impressed by the fact that no one has died. They do not attribute this to their own competence. Many have perished in Numbers 25 because of their unfaithfulness. Now that no one has perished, they give God the honor for it. The Lord Jesus will also make sure that not one of them who belongs to Him will perish ( ). No one will be missed in eternal glory from all those who have fought for the Lord on earth. All who abide by the Word of God attain salvation. We see this in picture in Acts 27, which concludes with: “And so it happened that they all were brought safely to land” ( ). The Lord Jesus will be praised for this for all eternity. This certainty will lead us now to worship Him in “the tent of meeting” ( ). From spiritual leaders it may be expected to have more understanding of God’s goodness. Here it is even mentioned that these things are given to make atonement. It is exceptional that atonement is attributed to materials. This is always reserved for the blood. However, there are exceptions. Atonement is also done in Numbers 16 by incense, although there is connection with the altar where the fire comes from ( ). In Exodus 30, atonement takes place through silver ( ). In order to exist before God, a price must be paid. Then someone becomes one of the numbered. Atonement means covering. Normally atonement has to do with sins, that they are covered. Here it is about God’s glory covering His people after they have failed. This is about acknowledging that it is only His glory that matters and that we want to hide in it, even if it is due to causes we ourselves are to blame for. The gold is brought by Moses and Eleazar into the tent of meeting (cf. ; ). All experiences should enrich our meetings. Every meeting should reflect all the experiences we have had over the past week that have impressed us with God’s goodness and faithfulness and glory. In the history of this chapter we see an illustration of Samson’s riddle: here something to eat comes out of the eater and something sweet comes out of the strong ( ). What the enemy (the eater, the strong) wants to do to destroy the people, works out for the glory of God and blessing for His people (something to eat and something sweet).

‏ Numbers 31:54

The Voluntary Gift of the Spoils

A spontaneous action of the officers and captains takes place out of gratitude. They are impressed by the fact that no one has died. They do not attribute this to their own competence. Many have perished in Numbers 25 because of their unfaithfulness. Now that no one has perished, they give God the honor for it.

The Lord Jesus will also make sure that not one of them who belongs to Him will perish (Jn 17:12). No one will be missed in eternal glory from all those who have fought for the Lord on earth. All who abide by the Word of God attain salvation. We see this in picture in Acts 27, which concludes with: “And so it happened that they all were brought safely to land” (Acts 27:44b). The Lord Jesus will be praised for this for all eternity. This certainty will lead us now to worship Him in “the tent of meeting” (Num 31:54).

From spiritual leaders it may be expected to have more understanding of God’s goodness. Here it is even mentioned that these things are given to make atonement. It is exceptional that atonement is attributed to materials. This is always reserved for the blood.

However, there are exceptions. Atonement is also done in Numbers 16 by incense, although there is connection with the altar where the fire comes from (Num 16:46-48). In Exodus 30, atonement takes place through silver (Exo 30:11-16). In order to exist before God, a price must be paid. Then someone becomes one of the numbered. Atonement means covering.

Normally atonement has to do with sins, that they are covered. Here it is about God’s glory covering His people after they have failed. This is about acknowledging that it is only His glory that matters and that we want to hide in it, even if it is due to causes we ourselves are to blame for.

The gold is brought by Moses and Eleazar into the tent of meeting (cf. 1Chr 18:11; 2Chr 15:18). All experiences should enrich our meetings. Every meeting should reflect all the experiences we have had over the past week that have impressed us with God’s goodness and faithfulness and glory.

In the history of this chapter we see an illustration of Samson’s riddle: here something to eat comes out of the eater and something sweet comes out of the strong (Jdg 14:14). What the enemy (the eater, the strong) wants to do to destroy the people, works out for the glory of God and blessing for His people (something to eat and something sweet).