Boundaries and Places

Day 32: Numbers 33–36; Psalms 145–150; Acts 1–3


Have you ever poured a glass of water on a table or kitchen counter?  It's a mess isn't it?  The water runs every which way and falls tot he floor in puddles.  But take a plate or saucer and pour water into it.  The water conforms the the shape of the plate without making a mess.  The water maintains a circular shape from the plate until you overfill the plate and the water runs over the edges.

Boundaries in geography or society or relationships also shape the land, communities and individuals.  As I complete the books of Numbers and the Book of Psalms, I recognize I have reached an end... a boundary.  And as I read the first two chapters of Acts (short for the Acts of the Apostles) I realize there are boundaries to the new community in Christ.

Numbers ends with a chapter summarizing the journey through the wilderness and a chapter on the boundaries of the portions of land given as inheritance to the twelve tribes of Israel.  Each region is bounded by cities or geographical markers like desert or mountains, rivers and seas. 

Another chapter describes how each tribe is to provide out of their portion (much like the holy portions shared with priests and Levites) cities for Levities to live in and fields to pasture their livestock.  The people are also to provide cities of refuge for those who kill someone by accident.   These safe zones are within the Levite cities.  If there are those who are angry wand wish to kill the one who killed the other, they are to respect the boundaries of the cities of refuge.  An "avenger of blood" shall not enter the city of refuge to take the life of the one who has hidden there for protection.  The refugee is to be safe within the boundaries of this safe place.  But should they choose to leave the city of refuge before the current high priest dies, they are not protected.  An avenger may kill them outside the boundaries of the city and not bear any guilt.

Finally there are economic boundaries for those special conditions in which fathers have no sons.  Their inheritance goes to the daughters, but the daughters must marry inside her fathers tribal clan so as to keep the inherited land in the confines of the tribe.  Property is not to be transferred to another tribe through marriage of the these daughters.  The inheritance for the tribe is to stay with the tribe as God desired.

The Psalms end in mighty praise! Psalm 146-150 all begin and end with the word "Hallelujah" which means "Praise Yahweh!"  How fitting to mark the end of this book of prayers and liturgical poetry with high praise!  The boundary markers on these psalms are praises to the Lord and in the midst of each is all praise.  It summons joy and celebration for the God who hears all the anguished cries for justice and deliverance, healing and help in much of the book's content. Not only does God hear, He acts to save, redeem, heal, provide, rescue and redeem.  He is worthy to be praised.

And the community of early Christians under the leadership of the apostles are filled with the Holy Spirit and break out into praise declaring the "magnificent acts of God (Acts 2:11)."  The people learn that God had exalted Jesus and made Him "both Lord and Messiah (Acts 2:36)."  The people want to know what they must do in order to be saved.  In other words they realized that Israel's rejection of Jesus put them outside the boundaries of God's mercy.  They were "under deep conviction." 

Praise be to God for His love in Jesus Christ.  Salvation is a gift for all who will repent of their sin (especially unbelief) and be baptized into the authoritative realm of the Christ.  It is one thing to get wet.  It is another thing entirely to make a choice to turn away from sin and turn toward God and submit to His Christ as your Master and Savior.  Life is now lived differently, shaped by the boundaries of the new community in Christ.

These bounds are marked by

1) Devotion to the Apostles' teaching
2) Fellowship
3) Breaking Bread (a sign of friendship with Christ and one another. We call it Holy Communion)
4) Prayers
5) Holy Awe or Reverent Fear for God working among them
6) Signs of the Spirit's power among them in healing and liberation, providence and power
7) No claim to personal possession or property, a redistribution of wealth
8) Generosity to the poor
9) Joy
10 Humility
11 Favor of God and neighbor
12) Growth

One might suggest the practices shape the community to reflect the Spirit or character of Christ.  Study, Fellowship, Sacrament and Prayer produce in the community reverence, generosity, humility and joy.  God responds by healing, freeing and providing.  The world responds by wanting to be a part of this blessed community.

Oh my Lord, may I always realize that it isn't silver or gold the church carries, but the power of life eternal in Jesus Christ we offer to the lame and blind. May we all find a fuller life through Christ's healing presence among us and leap about praising God.  Amen