Let Me Die The Death Of The Righteous

Numbers 23: 1-12 10 Let Me Die the Death of the Righteous

Balaam was a Gentile prophet, who lived at Pethor in Mesopotamia

He was hired by Balak, a Moabite king, who urged him to “curse” the Israelites. (Failed)

The children of Israel were seduced to commit fornication by the women of Moab. As a consequence, some 24,000 of them were slain (Numbers 25).

Rev 2:14 But I have a few things against thee, because thou hast there them that hold the doctrine of Balaam, who taught Balac to cast a stumblingblock before the children of Israel, to eat things sacrificed unto idols, and to commit fornication.

Num 24:3 And he took up his parable, and said, Balaam the son of Beor hath said, and the man whose eyes are open hath said:

BALAAM SAW:-

1. THE REALITY OF DEATH. 10 Let me die the death of the righteous,

(a) The Certainty Of Death - Rom 5:12 Wherefore, as by one man sin entered into the world, and death by sin; and so death passed upon all men, for that all have sinned:

(b) The Complexity Of Death - Death can come anytime -infancy, adolesence, etc.

"Death may come with a leap or a crawl. It comes, though, and it comes to all!"

(c) The Cruelty Of Death 10 Let me die the death

James 2:26 For as the body without the spirit is dead, so faith without works is dead also.

Separation of the body and spirit (that part of man that is in the image of God [Gen 1:26]

(d) The Continuity After Death Job 14:14 If a man die, shall he live again? all the days of my appointed time will I wait, till my change come.

No change in the human spirit.- Luke 16 concerning Lazarus and the rich man. The one was comforted and the other was in anguish

2. THE RESPONSIBILITY TO DEATH. 10 Let me die the death of the righteous,

He Wanted To Die The Death, But He Didn’t Want To Live The Life

A. He had the Wish, but not the Will

B. He had the Desire, but not the Determination

C. He wanted to be a saint in heaven, but didn’t want to live as a saint on earth.

D. He prayed for the reward of the righteous, but “loved the wages of unrighteousness”

E. He prayed for riches in heaven, but his eyes were on the riches of the world

F. He prayed that in death he might be counted with the righteous, but in life, he was willing to be numbered with the wicked.

G. He prayed for himself to be saved, but caused others to be lost

Balaam Saw:- (a) Their Protection

23 Surely there is no enchantment against Jacob, neither is there any divination against Israel: Rom 8:33 Who shall lay any thing to the charge of God‘s elect? It is God that justifieth. 34 Who is he that condemneth? It is Christ that died, yea rather, that is risen again, who is even at the right hand of God, who also maketh intercession for us.

(b) Their Promise 24 Behold, the people shall rise up as a great lion, and lift up himself as a young lion: he shall not lie down until he eat of the prey, and drink the blood of the slain (c) Their Prosperity ch. 24:5-6. How goodly are thy tents, O Jacob, and thy tabernacles, O Israel! 6 As the valleys are they spread forth, as gardens by the river’s side, as the trees of lign aloes which the LORD hath planted, and as cedar trees beside the waters. (d) Their Presence 23 according to this time it shall be said of Jacob and of Israel, What hath God wrought! (e) Their Peace 10 Who can count the dust of Jacob, and the number of the fourth part of Israel? Let me die the death of the righteous, and let my last end be like his!

3. THE REMEDY TO DEATH

10 Let me die the death of the righteous, and let my last end be like his!

Balaam Knew There is a :-

(a) CONTRAST In Death

“Precious in the sight of the Lord is the death of his saints” (Psalm 116:15).

On the other hand: Ezekiel 33:11 Say unto them, As I live, saith the Lord GOD, I have no pleasure in the death of the wicked; but that the wicked turn from his way and live: turn ye, turn ye from your evil ways; for why will ye die, O house of Israel?

(b) CONSOLATION In Death

For the righteous, death brings fellowship with Christ. Luke 23:43 And Jesus said unto him, Verily I say unto thee, To day shalt thou be with me in paradise.

Paul in (Philippians 1:23), For I am in a strait betwixt two, having a desire to depart, and to be with Christ; which is far better: “very far better”