March 3

NT – Mark 11:1-25
Here it is again, the poor fig tree episode. This time around (and this is its last mention as it is not in Luke or John), I found a great commentary:
http://www.christiancourier.com/articles/646-why-did-jesus-curse-the-fig-tree

What is particularly interesting to me is his final comment in the Note. Go read it and let me know what YOU think.

Psalm 46:1-11
This is another that has many versions of hymns including one by my least favorite classical composer, Mozart. As someone with hyperactivity issues, the frenzy in his music is almost intolerable. However, this hymn is different and I would like you to hear it.
Mozart wrote this piece when he was 9 years old and in England. It is presumably his first piece of choral work. It is his piece number 20 and the original was presented to the British Museum that same year. It is there still.
http://www.mozartforum.com/VB_forum/showthread.php?t=1109


OT: Leviticus 27:14- Numbers 1:54
Thankfully, we finish Leviticus today. If you want to try your hand at it, I have placed a quiz on Leviticus in another post.
Numbers begins with a census. We will also have loads of names and descendents and who belonged to whom. My Stone Chumash says that the reasons for the census are three-fold. #1 the miraculous growth of the nation. You recall (from Genesis 46:27) that when Jacob came to Egypt, there were 70 of his descendents there (didn’t count the sons’ wives….) By the time they get to Numbers, there were 603,550 NOT COUNTING THE LEVITES! #2 each member of the nation had a right to benefit from the personal attention of Moses and Aaron and the census was a great opportunity for every Jew who came before ‘the father of the prophets and his brother, the holy one of God’. #3 since the people were about to go directly into Israel (the infamous whine happens in chapters 13-14) a census was needed to determine fighting strength. Stone Chumash p. 726

Proverbs 10:23
Love the verb ‘delight’!

Happy anniversary to my parents! Many more years of health and happiness to you both!