Warts and All

O. T. #280  "Warts and All"
May 1, 2014
Leviticus 13
And the LORD spake unto Moses and Aaron, saying, when a man shall have in the skin of his flesh a rising, a scab, or bright spot, and it be in the skin of his flesh like the plague of leprosy: then he shall be brought unto Aaron the priest, or unto one of his sons the priests. 
 Leviticus 13:1-2

LET IT GLOW

What woman likes to have spots? I'm talking about those ugly brown age spots, those icky warts, pimples, or even red spots from the heat or sun. I think I can safely say none of us do. I recently have a wart return again, on the same finger, mind you. It went away for a while. What an ugly thing! Guess I will have to wrap electrical tape around it for a week or two. (old remedy that works) Did you know that warts are caused by a virus? Oh, you got to love me, warts and all.
Some Israelites had something worse than a small virus on their finger, it was white spots on their face and limbs called leprosy. Don't leave me now. There was hope for them.

In chapters 13 and 14, we read about leprosy, which pictures sin. Also, they illustrate what Jesus Christ has done to cleanse sinners. Leprosy was and is a disease in which white patches appeared on the skin, with runny sores, that could result in the loss of fingers and toes. If any Israelites thought they had leprosy, they were required be examined by the priest.

How does leprosy picture sin?
Wiersbe's Expository Outlines on the Old Testament explains more:

• It is deeper than the skin. (verse 3) Leprosy was under the skin and had erupted the skin's surface. Our sin problem is not on the surface, but is in the heart, with the old sin nature surfacing.
• It spreads. (verse 7) Leprosy is not an isolated sore on one part of the body; it had a way of spreading and defiling the whole body. Sin also spreads: it begins as a thought, then follows a desire, then an act, then the terrible results (James 1:13-15).
• It defiles. (verses 44-46) Lepers were not allowed to participate in the religious services, due to ceremonial defilement. they were forced to mark themselves and cry out "Unclean!" to warn people. Anyone who touched a leper was also defiled. Similarly, sin defiles the mind, heart, the body, and all that it touches.
• It isolates. (verse 46) Lepers were forced to live outside the camp, dwelling alone. Sin isolates people. Sin takes us away from family, friends, and ultimately, from God.
• It destines things for the fire. (verse 52) Garments defiled with leprosy had to be burned. There is one place for sin, that is in the fires of judgment. spiritual lepers will be consigned to the eternal fires of judgment if they have never trusted Christ as their Savior.

LET IT GROW

People may laugh at sin, excuse it, or try to explain it away, but God takes sin seriously.
We are not alone when it comes to being a sinner. To name a couple, David committed adultery and then murder (2 Sam. 11). Achan brought sin into the camp and judgment upon his family and nation when he disobeyed God's command to not take any of the spoils from the battle at Ai (Joshua 7).

Isaiah 64:6 tells us, But we are all as an unclean thing, and all our righteousnesses are as filthy rags...

We have all fallen short of God's standards. (Rom. 3:23) But we have hope, dear ones. It was us sinners that Jesus came to die for. He met the standards which God required for payment of our sins since we could not do, because our righteousness is as filthy rags. We are sinners in need of a Savior.

Such love that God has for us! Will you accept this free gift of salvation and eternal life? It is by grace that we are saved through faith, and that not of ourselves; it is the gift of God. (Ephesians 2:8)

*Next post describes the cleansing of the sinner and leper.

LET IT GO

Admit I am a sinner.

Believe Jesus died in my place.

Confess my sins and a need for a Savior.

Keep confessing, even after I am saved.

Just by Faith

O. T. #279  "Just by Faith"
April 30, 2014
Leviticus 12-Part 1
The just shall live by faith.  Hebrews 10:38

LET IT GLOW

What are we living by-the rules and regulations of the law or by faith? The Old Testament saints and prophets did not have the Word of God as we have, they only had the Mosaic Law and the Ten Commandments by which to live. Even with that, they failed to keep them and sinned. Therefore, God provided a way for their sins to be covered and be right with Him. Today, we have Jesus, the one who justifies us. It is our faith in Him that God sees, His righteousness, His blood that cleanses our soul from sin. Have you trusted in this One? It is just by faith, friend.

We learned about the ceremonial laws regulating the Israelites' diet in chapter 11. Now in chapter 12, we read about the ceremonial laws regulating the delivery of children.

Did you know that uncleanness is related to the mother's after birth, not the child? Also, did you know that mothers were unclean twice as long (80 days) after the birth of a daughter as a son (40 days)? It reflected the stigma on women for Eve's part in the Fall. This stigma is removed in Christ.
(John MacArthur)

On the eighth day, the Jewish baby boy was to be circumcised. Circumcision was the sign of the Abrahamic covenant (Gen. 17:9-14). This was done for cleanliness purposes and to prevent diseases back then. Also, it was the part of the covenant which Abraham and his descendants were to keep (verse 10).

Things to think about.

LET IT GROW

(Abraham) being fully persuaded that God had power to do what He had promised (a son through Sarah). This is why "it was credited to him as righteousness." (Romans 4:21-22,NIV)
He (Jesus) was delivered over to death for our sins and was raised to life for our justification. (Romans 4:25, NIV)

In Romans 3:29, Paul asks, Is God the God of Jews only? I he not the God of Gentiles too? Yes, of Gentiles too, since there is only one God, who will justify the circumcised by faith and the uncircumcised through that same faith.

So we Gentiles are justified by faith, faith in Jesus Christ.
The just shall live by faith. (Hebrews 10:38)

After the days of purification had passed, the mother was to make a burnt offering and sin offering unto the Lord.

The sin offering spoke of the sin nature with its original guilt and depravity being remembered and atoned for.  (Falwell)
 
Did you notice that when a woman that was poor was allowed to substitute a young pigeon or turtledove for the lamb. (verse 8) Such was the case of Mary and Joseph when they presented Jesus in the Temple on His forty-first day (Luke 2:22-24). The wise men arrived later with the gold after Joseph had secured a "house" (Matt. 2:11). Jesus may have been as old as two years.
(Thought I'd throw that in.)



LET IT GO

Live by faith.

Share my faith in Jesus with others.

Regulations

O. T. #278  "Regulations"
April 29, 2014
Leviticus 11-Part 2
For I am the LORD God: ye shall therefore sanctify yourselves, and ye shall be holy; for I am holy: neither shall ye defile yourselves with any manner of creeping thing that creepeth upon the earth.  Leviticus 11:44

LET IT GLOW

When people look at me, they might judge me as different. The reason is that I wear long dresses or skirts to worship services. I think the Lord deserves our best, and that includes looking like a lady. Also, I have let my hear grow out. It is down to my waist now. Few women turning 60 do that. I hope to get it cut soon and give it to an organization which makes wigs for cancer victims. So please don't judge me as strange without knowing my reasoning. My nails or hair aren't painted in various bright colors, nor do I wear a ring in my nose, nor do I have tattoos. Now that is what I consider weird.
In America, we are free to dress and look like we desire. the Israelites had restrictions, regulations by which they were to live. Read on.

The Israelites would be tempted to follow the filthy customs of their pagan neighbors. The basis of these laws was centered around the holiness of God. Verse 44 is the key verse of the Book of Leviticus.
God identifies Himself as the LORD, stands for Jehovah (Jewish national name of God), means Self-Existent or Eternal.
What is God telling His people?

• sanctify yourselves (sanctify means to be clean, purify);
• be holy, for God is holy (holy refers to be sacred ceremonially or morally);
• do not defile themselves with creeping things (defile is to be foul, contaminated, polluted, be or make unclean)

The last two verses summarize the basic idea of the chapter. God desires our conduct to exhibit His nature, because we are His children.  (Falwell)

Wiersbe's Expository Outlines on the Old Testament explains this:

Moses gives three motives for purity on the part of the Jewish nation. They would motivate them to obey the Lord and refrain from defilement.

1. God is a holy God. It is mentioned 9 times in this book, and is quoted in 1 Peter 1:15-16. These dietary laws reminded the Jews to be a separated people, a holy people. If we are God's people, then it's logical that we live holy lives.

2. God redeemed us for Himself. The Jews were a redeemed people. they were rescued by His grace and power, otherwise they would still be slaves in Egypt. The Exodus is a picture of the redemption we have in Jesus Christ, for He is the Passover Lamb. If we are redeemed, then we ought to live holy lives to please the God who set us free.

3.God wants His people to be different. They were a special people to the Lord and were supposed to be different from the nations around them. Today, believing Jews and Gentiles are all one in Christ Jesus. (Gal. 3:26-29)

Are we living as a holy people?
Have you been set free from the price of sin?
Can others see that we are different by our words, actions, and looks?


LET IT GROW

God's people are to be set apart unto Him. We can now disregard all of these regulations because Christ nailed them to His cross. (Falwell)

Colossians 2:14 says, Blotting out the handwriting of ordinances that was against us, which was contrary to us, and took it out of the way, nailing it to His cross.

The hand written document consisting of ordinances, was wiped away, erased, cancelled. The bond here is the instrument of condemnation, the certification of debt, the indictment drawn up against a prisoner, and a signed confession of indebtedness.
These ordinances had a valid claim against us, and we could not meet the claim. Our bond was once for all removed when Jesus was nailed on the cross. (2 Cor. 5:21). In the East, a bond is cancelled by nailing it to the post. Our bond of guilt was nailed to His cross. (Falwell)

1 Timothy 4:4-5 states, For every creature of God is good, and nothing to be refused, if it be received with thanksgiving. For it is sanctified by the word of God and prayer.

The foods mentioned previously in this chapter and yesterday's post are those which have been declared all right to eat by Christians.

We should be encouraged to be a holy people, a grateful people, and a people set apart from the world  as we observe the Lord's Supper. The question is, are we?

LET IT GO

Treat God as being a Holy God.

Live a holy life, and wholly unto the Lord.

Be different from the world in my attitudes, words, and ways.

Share His redemption with others.

Thank the Lord for setting me free from all those laws and regulations.

O. T. #277  "Diets can be Good"
April 28, 2014 
Leviticus 11-Part 1
The voice spoke to him a second time, "Do not call anything impure that God has made clean."  Acts 10:15

LET IT GLOW

I do like sitting down to eat fried frog legs, rabbits, squirrels, shrimp, ham, sausage, or bacon. Any one of them is good. However, when my bad cholesterol numbers kept climbing up, I knew something had to be about it. Taking a pill wasn't helping. Having inherited it from both parents was not on my side either. So I stopped eating those animals/foods. Such sacrifices proved to be beneficial, with my blood test showing improvement and I expect the next test to be even better. Diet along with exercise, hopefully, will help me avoid a heart attack or a stroke, which runs in my dad's family. Diets can be good.
Did you know that the Israelites had forbidden food for eating?

In chapters 11-15 and 17-22, Moses teaches his people the difference between the clean and the unclean in the areas of food, birth and death, diseases and personal relationships, with the theme of defilement.  (Wiersbe)

God simply indicated which animals were good to eat and which were not. He wanted them to avoid parasitic and contagion diseases, so He laid down some guidelines. Even touching one of these unclean animals rendered one unclean until evening (11:25) and required the washing of one's clothes, and sometimes a sin offering. (Falwell)

What were these guidelines? In contrast to those permitted to be eaten and those not permitted, we read:

• clean land animals must have split hooves and chew the cud: cattle, sheep, and goats; those not having split hooves and not chew the cud: camels, rock badgers, swine (verses 3-8);
• marine life were required fish to have fins and scales, considered clean to eat; unclean were catfish and various form of shell-fish, oysters, lobsters, shrimp, frogs, squid (verses 9-12);
•  of the bird family, doves, pigeons, quails, chickens, turkeys, and smaller birds probably allowed to be eaten since they were not on the forbidden list; unclean were birds of prey, such as eagles, vulture, raven, owl, stork, heron, and bat (verses 13-19)
• four legged insects with jumping legs, such as katydid, cricket or grasshoppers 4 kinds of locusts) were permissible to eat; other insects walking were forbidden to be eaten (verses 20-23);
• animals with four paws were forbidden to be eaten, such as the dog and cat families, and certain reptiles, weasels, rats, lizards, gecko, skink and chameleon (verses 27-31);
• all reptiles were unclean, those which move on the belly or walk on all fours, such as snakes and alligators (verses 41-43).

Contact between any unclean creatures, and garments, vessels, sacks, clothes made them unclean, so appropriate action was required.

[References: Liberty Bible Commentary, New International Version of the Bible]

Do we watch what we eat so we can have a healthy body?

LET IT GROW

Acts 10 tells us about Peter up on the roof of Cornelius' house praying and fell into a trance. Then he saw a sheet kit at the four corners, let down from heaven. Within it was unclean animals, birds, and reptiles. A voice told Peter to kill them and eat them, but he refused. Peter had learned that these were unclean animals, which the Jews were forbidden to eat.
In verse 15, Peter heard the voice a second time, instructing him, Do not call anything impure (unholy) that God has made clean.
This happened three times, and then the sheet was taken back to heaven.

The dietary restrictions of the Law was now nilled, not required to be followed by Christians.

With the coming of the New Covenant and the calling of the church, God ended the dietary restrictions (Mark 7:19)  (MacArthur)

By the sacrifice of the blood of Jesus, we are set free from the Law. It is our righteousness, not the keeping of rules. However, the Law is useful for convicting us of our sins, for guidelines for our life and society. I am not saying that the Ten Commandments and the Jewish Laws should be done away with. We serve a Savior who came to fulfill the Law by offering Himself as a perfect sacrifice.

In Matthew 6:17, Jesus said, Think not that I am come to destroy the law, or the prophets: I am not come to destroy, but to fulfill.

Love fulfills the Law. We do things because we love God and others, not to keep a law for our righteousness or a way to get to heaven.

LET IT GO

Love God, love others.

Take care of my body so it will honor God.

Don't criticize others for what they eat.

Total Obedience

O. T. #276  "Total Obedience"
April 25, 2014
Leviticus 10-Part 1
And there went out fire from the LORD, and devoured them, and they died before the LORD.
Leviticus 10:2

LET IT GLOW

Obedience-I demanded it from my children and from the children in my classroom at school. If they disobeyed, there were consequences to reap. Partial obedience was not acceptable. It had to be total obedience before it was acceptable. Isn't it that way with God?

The laws were written in stone for the Israelites to obey. If they obeyed, they received blessings from the Lord. If they disobeyed, they were to offer sacrifices for their sins. The sacrificial system and priesthood were in place and functioning. Then it happened. Two of Aaron's sons, who were doing their priestly duties, violated the order and procedure established by God. What they did didn't please God, so fire from the Lord killed these two priests. God had laid down the Law. Those sacrifices and offerings were to be done God's way, not man's way. God wanted everyone to know the seriousness of disobedience. What an example of its results to warn others.

The MacArthur Bible Commentary explains it this way:

The vessel in which the incense was burned in the Holy Place was to be used only for holy purposes. Though the exact infraction is not detailed, in some way they violated the prescription for offering incense (Ex. 30:9, 34-38), probably because they were drunk (see verses 8-9). Instead of taking the incense fire from the brazen altar, they had some other source for the fire, and thus, perpetrated an act, which, considering the descent of the miraculous fire they had just seen and their solemn duty to do as God told the, betrayed careless, irreverence, and lack of consideration for God. Such a tendency had to be punished for all priests to see as a warning.

Nadab and Abihu were not ignorant of God's rules when they offered strange (unauthorized by the Word of God) fire, failing to use the fire from the altar, so God couldn't accept their worship. (Wiersbe)

In verse 3, the LORD had said, I will be sanctified in them that come nigh me, and before all the people I will be glorified."

Hebrews 12:29 states, For our God is a consuming fire.

The priests were the ones referred to as "them that come near Me." They had the privilege of ministering in the tabernacle where God dwelt in the Holy of Holies. Privilege always brings responsibility, but Nadab and Abihu proved themselves to be irresponsible.  (Wiersbe)

Do we take seriously our service and obedience to the Lord God?

LET IT GROW

What happened in the remainder of this chapter?

• Moses had two guys remove the bodies of the two disobedient dead priests. (Aaron and his other two sons were not allowed to be near dead bodies lest they become ceremonially unclean.
• The LORD spoke directly to Aaron prohibiting the priests from drinking wine or strong drink when they went into the tabernacle, or they would die.
• They were to distinguish between holy and common, clean and unclean.
• They were to teach the children of Israel all the statutes.

It is possible that the two priests sinned as a result of being intoxicated. The same restriction is placed upon God's kings (Prov. 31:4-5). God refers to New Testament believers as kings and priests
(1 Peter 2:9; Rev. 5:10). Surely we are to be above reproach at all times in this matter. We are to abstain from all appearance of evil  (1 Thess. 5:22).

Moses told Aaron's two remaining sons to continue the sacrifices and offerings. The priests were given a certain portion of some of the sacrifices and were to eat this food at the tabernacle. However, the family of Aaron's had not been allowed to mourn over the sudden loss of two sons, so they had fasted instead and did not eat the meat of the sin offering. So Moses rebuked them, but Aaron spoke up in their defense, because their hearts would not have been in it.
Would God want that kind of service? He wants obedience, not sacrifice (1 Sam. 15:22) and hearts that are right with Him. Our worship must show the praises of God (1 Peter 2:9) and be acceptable to God (1 Peter 2:5).
[Reference: Wiersbe' Expository Outlines on the Old Testament]

Moses sympathized with Aaron's grief, however, and having made his point, dropped the issue. (MacArthur)

I think we see God showing grace and mercy.

Is our giving, tithing from the heart or routine?
Is our obedience partial or total?

LET IT GO

Love God with all my heart.

Obey God whole heartedly.

Glorify Him in all I do.

Dancing in the Rain

O. T. #275  "Dancing in the Rain"
April 24, 2014
Leviticus 9-Part 2
And there came a fire out from before the LORD, and consumed upon the altar the burnt offering and the fat; which when all the people saw, they shouted, and fell on their faces.
Leviticus 9:24

LET IT GLOW

It was a hot and dry month without rain two years ago. The fields and yard were covered with yellow, dry, crunchy grass. Leaves were beginning to fall like it was autumn. Creeks were going dry. I had never seen such a drought. I prayed and prayed for rain to fall. In God's time, it fell. When it fell, I ran outside, looking up to the sky, arms up, and praised my Lord with thanksgiving for His mercy and rain. I was so excited that I was dancing in the rain. I didn't mind getting soaked in my clothes that day. Thank You, Jesus!
The Israelites were excited in this chapter. Continue on to find out the reason why.

Moses, Aaron, and the priests followed God's directions for the sacrificial system, offering the first sacrifices. They had concentrated themselves and served the Lord and brought offerings to Him. They blessed the people.

It is supposed that Moses accompanied Aaron into the tabernacle to show him how to offer the incense, prepare the lamps and the perfume, adjust the shew-bread, etc.  (Clarke's Commentary)
Then...
The glory of the LORD appeared unto all the people.

The MacArthur Bible Commentary says the Bible speaks often of the glory of God-the visible appearance of His beauty and perfection in blazing light. His glory appeared to Moses:

• in a burning bush in Midian (Ex. 3:1-6),
• in a cloud on Mt. Sinai (Ex. 24:15-17),
• in a rock on Mt. Sinai (Ex. 33:18-23).

The glory of God also:

• filled the tabernacle (Ex. 40:34),
• led the people as a pillar of fire and cloud (Ex. 40:35-38),
• filled the temple in Jerusalem (1Kings 8:10-11)
• was perfectly expressed in His Son, the Lord Jesus Christ (John 1:14).

When Aaron made the first sacrifice in the wilderness, as a priest, the "glory of the Lord appeared to all the people." In these manifestations, God was revealing His righteousness, holiness, truth, wisdom, and grace-the sum of all He is. It will be seen on earth again when He returns (Matt. 24:29-31; 25:31).  (MacArthur)

Fire came out and consumed (ate up) the burnt offering on the altar. This signifies that God had accepted their offerings. (1 Kings 18:38-39)
This signified that God's wrath turned from the Israelites, and that God entered into covenant and communion with them. (Matthew Henry)

Did you know there were other times in which this occurred? We read of it happening in the case of:

• Abel (Gen. 4:4),
• Aaron (verse 24),
• Gideon (Judges 6:21),
• Manoah and his wife (Judges 13:19-23),
• David dedicating the threshing floor of Ornan (1 Chron. 21:28),
• Solomon dedicating the temple (2 Chron. 7:1),
• Elijah (1 Kings 18:38). (Clarke's Commentary)

God's glory was the manifest excellence of His divine character, and at times it shone forth in a bright and shining magnificence. (Falwell)

Do others see God shining in us and through us?
Is He pleased with our life as a sacrificial offering?
Do we anticipate a visit from God?

LET IT GROW

When all the people saw, they shouted and fell on their faces (verse 24b).

In Acts 2:3, we read of the Spirit descended upon the apostles in fire.

1 John 14:13 assures us, Hereby we know that we dwell in God, and God in us, because He hath thus given us of His Spirit.

We must have grace, that holy fire, from the God of grace, else we cannot serve Him acceptably (Heb. 12:28). (Henry)

The people fell on their faces, in humility and adoration before a holy God. Fear of God should drive us to our knees.
There were shouts of joy because God accepted their offerings. Do we joyfully shout to God in praise?
Shout, ranan in Hebrew, means to cry aloud, sing.

Now, I ask you again, do you joyfully shout to God in praise?

David told us, in Psalm 132:9b, let the saints shout for joy.

Do you have anything to shout about? Are you saved? Are you blessed of God? Are you His child?Are you breathing today?

LET IT GO

Sing and shout with joy unto my Lord Jesus!

Bow before Him in worship.

Jehovah sits on His throne on high.

The Man with the Gun

O. T. #274  "The Man with the Gun"
April 23, 2014
Leviticus 9-Part 1
And Aaron lifted up his hand toward the people, and blessed the, and came down from offering of the sin offering, and the burnt offering, and peace offerings.  Leviticus 9:22

LET IT GLOW

Sorry if this story is gruesome. There was one time that we were going to send a steer to be butchered as beef for our family to eat. I remember that the guys separated the large calf from the rest of the herd, put it into the pen, and waited for the man with the gun to come. (I thought he was coming to pick it up, then kill the animal at the slaughtering house.) Well, he came, walked out into the cow lot with his gun. He walked right up to the calf.  That was when the calf became restless and called out. He could sense something was going to happen, I just know it. No one had ever pointed a gun at him before. Then it happened, the gun was shot, and down went the calf. It was over. Why did I watch that scene? It was harsh to see an innocent animal penned up and killed, drop dead before my eyes. I knew what was going to happen. I stood there watching helplessly, doing nothing to rescue the animal from its death. I was silent after the scene took place. The calf gave its life for me to have meat to eat. You know, Jesus gave His life so you and I could have eternal life.

I wonder if the crowd, the disciples, the family of Jesus felt as helpless when they saw their Beloved Jesus handing on the cruel cross, suffering in pain, waiting for His death. Such a harsh scene for them to watch. An innocent man paid the price for their sins, for our sins. He was pierced for our transgressions. By His wounds we are healed.

The priests had a gruesome job, killing beautiful young animals because of the sinful people. Read on, friend.


John Phillips wrote in 100 Old Testament Sermon Outlines:

Israel had no priest in Egypt. The Priesthood is introduced only after the people had been redeemed. The Aaronic priesthood primarily illustrates the priesthood of the Lord Jesus Christ and, in a lesser way, the priesthood of the New Testament believer today. Christ functions as a Priest for His own people. The sinner does not need a priest, he needs a Savior. The Lord Jesus never needed cleansing. We, as priests, of course do.

He continues to mention this about Aaron's priesthood as a high priest:

• the calling (Exodus 28:1-2; Lev. 8:1)
• the cleansing (Ex. 29:4; Lev. 8:6)
• the consecration (Ex. 29:7; Lev. 8:12)
• the clothing (Ex. 28:2; Lev. 8:7-9)
• the commission (Lev. 9:22-24)
• the communion (Lev. 21:16-22:16)
• the conduct (Lev. 21:1-15)

Has the Lord called you from your work, out of your home, away from your life as usual, and into His service?

Again, the congregation of Israel were told to assemble before the Tabernacle. The Lord was going to appear to them.
Notice that the priests were to first offer the sin and burnt offerings for themselves before offering for the congregation. I wonder if every time Aaron offered a calf, that he thought of the golden calf he made for the Israelites to worship while Moses was up on Mt. Sinai receiving the Ten Commandments and sacrificial instructions from God. Surely it stabbed Aaron in the heart as he remembered his own sins back in Exodus 32 as he stabbed the calf.

When we see a cross, are we stabbed in our heart because of our sins Jesus endured the cross?
Glory to His name!


LET IT GROW

After the offerings were made for the sins of the people of Israel according to God's instructions and Moses' commands, we read in verse 22:

• Aaron lifted up his hand toward,
• he blessed them,
• came down from the offering of the sin, burnt, and peace offerings.

The priest was to give a blessing at the conclusion of his ministration. Contrast this with the speechless Zechariah in Luke 1:22 who had no blessing to impart. But at the conclusion of His earthly ministry, Christ, our great High Priest, ...lifted up His hands and blessed them (Luke 24:50); and as He was doing so, He ascended back up to heaven (Luke 24:51). (Falwell)

Jesus Christ is our High Priest, who sits at the right hand of God, interceding for us. He presents our praise and prayers to the Father on our behalf. We are talking about the sacrificial Lamb of God, who takes away the sins of the world, our sins. What a loving Savior!

Can we lift our hands in praise to the Father and Savior?

LET IT GO  ...of those sins that have me bound.

Lift up my head and hands in praise to my Living Savior, Messiah, High Priest.

Give Him the praise, glory, and honor which He deserves.
                                  

An Ordination Service

O. T. #273  "An Ordination Service"
April 21, 2014
Leviticus 8-Part 1
And he poured of the anointing oil upon Aaron's head, and anointed him to sanctify him.
Leviticus 8:12

LET IT GLOW

I recall the time leading up to my husband's ordination as a deacon of our home church. Several men, at the same time, were set aside to be observed in their walk of life. Then they were questioned as to their doctrinal beliefs. When they were approved worthy to hold the office, there was a special ordination service in which these men became set apart as a deacon to serve in the church.
Aaron and his sons were set apart, with a special sort of ordination. God had ordained them to serve Him and the Israelites in the office of priests. Shall we look into the details?

In chapters 8-10, we see the beginning of the Aaronic priesthood, put into service before God and the people. God had established specific sacrifices for certain purposes. We have previously discussed them on other posts. God gave the Ten Commandments and the instructions for Israel to obey. However, because of their sin nature, these individuals could not keep them all. Like us, they would sin daily. Therefore, God provided a way for their sins to be covered by sacrificing a perfect animal according to what pleased Him. (So grateful to Jesus for being my perfect, blood sacrifice for my sins.)

Before the time of Aaron, the patriarchs (Gen. 4:3-4) and the fathers (Job 1:5) had offered sacrifices to God, but with Aaron came the fully prescribed priestly service. 
The Hebrew word for offering is derived from the verb to bring near and literally means that which one brings near to God. The fact that the Israelites could approach to present their gifts to God reveals His mercy. Even though the people were sinful and rebellious, God instituted a sacrificial system in which they could reconcile themselves to Him. (MacArthur)

The common person could not offer his own sacrifices. The priest served as a mediator between God and the individual to do such. The congregation was gathered at the door of the tabernacle.
What does this chapter say happened?

• First the consecration or ordination of the priests is observed. Aaron and his sons were washed with water, a symbol of cleansing. This would typify salvation in the order of events which followed.
• Aaron, the high priest, was clothed in specific garments, picturing the New Testament believer clothed in the righteousness of Christ (Rev. 7:14; 19:8).
• Moses poured oil on the tabernacle, its furniture, the brazen altar, and laver outside in the courtyard. This showed these objects were set apart for God's use. 
•  Moses anointed Aaron to sanctify him, set him apart for God's service. (Each of God's children are sanctified for God's service, honor, and glory with their life.)
• Next, the sin offering was offered by Moses, Aaron and his sons.
• The burnt offering was given after the sin offering of a bull.
• A second ram was lain as a ram of consecration and an unleavened loaves. Applying its blood to Aaron, signified that he should hear God's Word, do God's work, and walk in God's ways.
• Aaron's hands were filled with the pieces of these offerings, indicating his hands were to be filled with the service of God, as our should be, also.
• Aaron and his sons were sprinkled with anointing oil and with blood. They partook of the sacrificial meal of the ram and unleavened loaves, and the wave offering.
• These men spent 7 days in the tabernacle before going forth to serve. There must be adequate time spent alone with God before one rushes out to serve Him.

[Resources: Liberty Bible Commentary, The MacArthur Bible Commentary]

Do we take time to consecrate ourselves for God's service?

LET IT GROW

In Ephesians 6, Paul tells us to put on the whole armor of God so we can stand against the schemes of the devil. It includes spiritually putting on the:

• helmet of salvation (in Jesus)
• breastplate of righteousness (which Jesus' blood provides)
• belt of truth (Jesus is the Way, the Truth, and the Life)
• shoes of peace (ready to go and share the gospel of peace)
• sword of the Spirit (God's Word)
• shield of faith (trusting in Jesus for all things).

By way of application, some of the work of the high priest pictures what we must do today as believer-priests (Rev. 5:9-10).

Are we willing to hear God's Word, do God's work, and walk in God's ways?

LET IT GO

Thank the Lord Jesus for all He has provided for me.

Surrender to my Master's will; living to please Him, not myself.

Wear my spiritual armor daily.

Waving Praises

O. T. #272  "Waving Praises"
April 21, 2014
Leviticus 6-7 Part 2
His own hands shall bring the offerings of the LORD made by fire, the fat with the breast, it shall he bring, that the breast may be waved for a wave offering before the LORD. 
 Leviticus 7:30

LET IT GLOW

As I look around, our farm is almost surrounded by trees. These trees have branches pointing up to the sky, waving in the breeze or wind. I wonder if they were made to do that, to point us to God, wave to Him. Can we do any less? As I sing to my Lord and Savior, I often lit up my hands, waving praise to Jesus, though I am a Baptist. The Israelite priests did as they offered the wave offering unto the LORD. Want to read more about it?
(Be the way, did you worship the Risen Savior on the Lord's Day, Sunday?)


We read in chapters 6 and 7 further instructions about the offerings for the sins of the Israelites and the legislation for the priesthood. They were given to Moses while on Mount Sinai in the wilderness.
What are some main points found here?

• Priests were to maintain a continual burnt offering on the brazen altar, even at night. It signified Israel's devotion to God and a continual atonement.
• Aaron's male children and decendents were to be future priests. 
• The priests were allowed portions of offerings as a way of provision of food for them. 
• Eating blood and fat were forbidden. They belonged to the Lord.
• The motions which the officiating priest made while making a wave offering and heave offering unto the Lord, was vertically and horizontally moving the bread or meat in the sign of the cross.

LET IT GROW

What do we learn from these two chapters?

• The love which Jesus has for us never ends, it is continuous.  Does my love for Jesus burn continuously in my heart?
• Before the perfect sacrifice of Jesus on the cross, it was impossible to perfectly complete the offerings. (Guzik) Our salvation does not depend upon our works, but faith in Jesus, the one who was the sacrifice for our sins.
• Paul tells us that the Lord has commanded that those who preach the gospel should receive their living from the gospel. (1 Cor. 9:14) Are we supporting our pastor so he can live in the like manner in which we live?
• Chapter 9:21 and 10:15 gave instructions for waving the offering before the LORD. When Jesus, our High Priest, left Bethany and the disciples after His resurrection, Jesus lifted up His hands and blessed them. Do we wave an offering before the Lord Jesus, lifting up our hands of praise to Him?

LET IT GO

Let the love of Jesus burn continuously in my heart.

Lift my hands up to Jesus in praise.

Show and tell others of His love for them.

Have a Blessed Resurrection Sunday!

April 19, 2014

Happy Easter, dear friends!

It is a beautiful day here on my farm. Leaves are budding out, flowers are blooming, grass is green, and the breeze is chilly this morning. Time to get my worship on. Come on, let's go for a walk down my country road of faith and talk about Jesus. Hasn't He done so much for us!

I hope you are planning a wonderful celebration of our Savior's victory over death. I pray that across America there will be songs of praise to King Jesus this Sunday and Jesus smiles down on us. He did not stay dead in the tomb, but arose, providing us with eternal life. As believers in Jesus, we have the hope of living after our old and hurting body dies, too. And to think, we will soon be with Him and our loved ones forever and ever in heaven. Isn't that the icing on the cake? We get to enjoy abundant life while here on earth, walking with Jesus, and for eternity to come. We can enjoy fellowship with this One, the Lamb of God.

Come, join me as I walk on this country road of faith. There is so much to say, so much to share. The Word of God is True and a Living Word, Jesus. I do enjoy so much getting to study His Word with you, dear ones.
I wonder where He will lead me today, as I live by faith in Jesus Christ. Isn't life exciting? If not for you, you can have it by surrendering to Jesus as the King and Lord of your life.

Hey, I will be listening for your voice of praise tomorrow. If Jesus comes back Sunday, then we will meet in the air. Then come on over and introduce yourself. I can't wait to meet you.

All right, enough talking, I'm getting my walkin' worshipin' shoes on. There's a song in my heart that must get out. Maybe the cows will join me in praising our Creator!
Praise You Lord Jesus! 

Have a blessed Resurrection Day!
Linda

Good Friday

O. T. #271  "Good Friday"
April 18, 2014
Leviticus 5-6 Part 1
It is a trespass offering: he hath certainly trespassed against the LORD.  Leviticus 5:19

LET IT GLOW

Today is Good Friday. Today is a sad day, yet a good day of which we Christians acknowledge the death of our Savior, Jesus Christ. However, on Sunday, we celebrate His resurrection from the dead.
I wondered what the world had to say about such an event, so I looked in my encyclopedia. Here's what I found.

"It is the Friday before Easter, a time set apart to mourn the death of Christ on the cross. It was set apart as a holy day as long ago as the 300's, in the time of Constantine." (The World Book Encyclopedia)

No, the world cannot deny that there was such a man named Jesus Christ, who lived over 2,000 years ago. History records the birth, life, and death of this man. Will they believe now that He was more than a good man or prophet, but God in the flesh, born of a virgin, lived a perfect life, died on a cross, and rose from the dead on the third day, just as He had said He would do? It was because of God's love for us that He did all of this. Will you believe He is the Messiah of the Old Testament and the Savior of the New Testament and the King of Heaven?He is the only way to God?
I hope you will continue to read about the Old Testament sacrifices which God required for the Israelites to give so their sins could be covered.

Today we will discuss the fifth of the sacrifices for the sins of the Israelites which God established for them while in the wilderness. We discussed the first four already, so if you missed them, you can still read about them on previous posts. They were the Burnt Offering, the Meal Offering, the Peace Offering, and the Sin Offering. The last of this chapter describes the requirements for the trespass offering.

In Hebrew, the word for trespass means treachery, falsehood, sin, transgression.

The Trespass Offering, which is to atone for specific acts of sin, through ignorance, such as:

• failure to give God His proper tithes, offerings, first fruits, first-born, etc.; (verses 14-16)
• when a person did forbidden things as God commanded; (verses 17-19)
• sin against one's neighbor. (6:1-3)

How was the trespass offering to be given?

• If the offense was against the Lord, a restitution of 20% penalty besides what was owed was required before a sacrifice was offered for atonement. It was according to the priest's judgment as to the value of the trespass.
• A ram was to be offered as restitution, also.
• To the offended neighbor, an additional 20% was to be given plus the reimbursement; then a ram was sacrificed. (Falwell)

The trespass offering symbolized an atonement for sin unknowingly committed, where restitution was possible. Like the sin offering, this one was compulsory. For sins against the Lord's property, restitution was made to the priest, while restitution was made to the person who suffered loss in other instances.

Have we offended another or the Lord today?
Have we withheld our tithe to the Lord?
Do we pay our debts?
Do we stop to consider the debt we owe to Christ?


LET IT GROW

It is interesting that Warren Wiersbe points out the significance of the order in which the sacrifices are listed in the Bible.

Wiersbe's Expository Outlines on the Old Testament states:

God begins with the burnt offering, the complete consecration of His son to the work of redemption, for this is where the plan of salvation begins in eternity past. From man's point of view, the order is reversed. First, we see ourselves having committed various sins and in debt to God and man. This is the trespass offering. but as the work of conviction continues, we realize we are sinners. This is the sin offering. Then the Spirit reveals Christ to us, the One who made peace by the blood of His cross, and we discover the peace offering. As we grow in grace, we come to understand the perfections of our Lord, and that we are "accepted in the Beloved"; this is the meal offering. The result of all of this must be our complete consecration to the Lord-the burnt offering. 

Today, we do not need any sacrifices of animals. Hebrews 10:14 tells us, For by one offering He has perfected forever those who are being sanctified.

We can see Christ in the Levitical offerings:

1. He provided atonement for our sins; He was the sinless sacrifice (burnt offering).
2. He was wholly devoted to the Father's purposes, as dedication/consecration (grain offering).
3. Christ was at peace with God, providing reconciliation/fellowship for us with God.
4. Christ's substitutionary death in our place was our propitiation (sin offering).
5. He paid it all for redemption through our repentance (trespass offering). (MacArthur)

 Jesus Christ willingly sacrificed His body and blood for us because He loved/loves us. He knew the requirement for sin to be covered was by the blood. And to think, all of this was planned out before God created anything. He became man in the flesh for this purpose, to take our place of dying for our sins.
Hallelujah! What a Savior Jesus my Lord is!

We can't leave Him hanging on the cross, friend. On the first day of the week, Jesus arose from the dead. During the 40 days between His resurrection and ascension He appeared to at least 557 people:

• Mary Magdalene and other women at the tomb (Matt. 28:9-10)
• followers on the road to Emmaus (Luke 24:13-32)
• Peter (Luke 24:34)
• 10 of the disciples (John 20:19-25)
• 11 disciples (John 20:26-29)
• 7 disciples by the Sea of Galilee shore (John 21:1-23)
• 11 disciples on a mountain in Galilee (Matt. 28:16-20)
• 500 at one time (1 Cor. 15:6)
• James in Jerusalem and Bethany (1 Cor. 15:7)
• John on the Island of Patmus (Rev. 1:10-19)
• the apostles when He ascended into heaven (Acts 1:3-11)
• Paul, in the temple (Acts 22:17-19), at the stoning of Stephen (Acts 7:55) near Damascus after His ascension (Acts 9:1-9)

Jesus Christ is alive, friend! Will you believe in Him and ask Him to be your Savior? Will you ask Jesus to forgive you of your sins? Will you ask Him to come into your heart as Lord? It takes faith to believe all of this.

The next time Jesus appears will be when He comes in all His glory. (Matt. 24:29-31) Are you ready to meet God? I pray you are or will be today. Will you be worshiping the Risen Savior on Sunday?

LET IT GO

Bless the Lord! Praise His holy name!

My sins are covered with the precious blood of Jesus!

HE IS ALIVE!!

I Didn't Mean to Say It

O. T. #270  "I Didn't Mean to Say It"
April 17, 2014
Leviticus 4-Part 1
Speak unto the children of Israel, saying, If a soul shall sin through ignorance against any of the commandments of the LORD concerning things which ought not to be done, and shall do against any of them.  Leviticus 4:2

LET IT GLOW

Aren't there times that we sin unintentionally? We do or say something we wish we had not. We don't do what we should do. Often we sin without thinking about it, that is, until we come to the end of the day and reflect upon it. (I really should say "I" instead of we.) We don't plan to say a critical word or gossip about someone. It just comes out of our (my) mouth. And there goes sin, traveling through the sound waves in the air. I can't reach out and grab it, putting it back into my mouth. It flies too fast for me to catch it. It lands on the hearer's ears and goes inside to the eardrum by the time I realize what I had said. My heart pounds. Do I ask for forgiveness? I didn't mean to say and do it.
What about the unintentional sins of the children of Israel? How did they get forgiven?

The first three of the sacrificial offerings for sin were the sweet savor offerings-the burnt, meal, and peace offerings. We talked about how Jesus fulfilled those offerings by being our sacrifice. He was the perfect sacrifice and His blood was the atonement for our sins. As the meal was cooked and offered without leaven, so Jesus was without sin. Jesus provided the peace offering, blood and body dying on the cross so we can enjoy fellowship with the Father.

Now we are ready to study about the two non-sweet savor offerings-the sin offering and the trespass offering. In contrast, the sweet savor offerings spoke of the honor of God and the non-sweet offerings emphasized the judgment of God.

The Sin Offering was:

• not a voluntary sacrifice, as the three previous ones were;
• commanded of all, priests(verses 3-12), congregation as a whole (verses 13-21), rulers (verses 22-26), and common individuals (verses 27-35);
• an atonement for the sins done in ignorance, unwittingly, unintentionally, or inadvertently-the sin of ignorance.

The Priests' Sin Offering:
The priests' sin offering must used a young bullock, bull. This perfect animal's blood was to be sprinkled seven times before the LORD, before the veil of the sanctuary (verse 6). The priest is seen as defiling the tabernacle where he served and it must be cleansed. Seven refers to completeness. All fat and the kidneys, including a lobe of the liver, were burned on the altar, like the peace offering was. The other edible parts were boiled and eaten by the males of the priestly family in the holy part of the tabernacle. The remaining skin, head, legs,entrails, etc. were carried outside the camp and deposited along with the ashes. (Falwell)

The Whole Congregation's Sin Offering:
The whole congregation's sin offering required the same animal and the same procedure as the offering for the priests' sins.

The Ruler's Sin Offering:
The ruler was ordained of God for his position and had civil authority. He might not be aware of his sin immediately. When he became aware of his sin, the ruler's sin offering was made from a male kid goat. As did the others, the ruler placed his hands on the animal's head, as identification and representation of his sin to the animal. Its blood was applied to the horns of the altar, which signified power. The power to make atonement was in the application of the blood. After the fat was burned, and the priest got his portion, it was disposed of as the priests' offering.

The Common People's Sin Offering:
The common people's sin offering due to ignorance, was made from a female goat. Its blood was applied in the same manner as that of the ruler's sin offering. The offering could be a female lamb, as verses 32-34 speak of, with the manner of its offering following the established pattern.

[Reference: Liberty Bible Commentary]

Did you notice that everyone was provided a way of sacrificing for their sins of ignorance?

Even the poorest offender could give a sin offering.

Do we realize that we sin every day, whether it be intentional or unintentional?


LET IT GROW

All of these transactions were done for the purpose of atonement, (kapar in Hebrew), was a covering over of the sin. The priest mediating was always required.

Romans 3:23 states, for all have sinned, and fall short of the glory of God. (NIV)

The unintentional sin was covered by the blood of the perfect animal sacrificed.

Hebrews 13:11-14 tells us, The high priest carries the blood of animals into the Most Holy Place as a sin offering, but the bodies are burned outside the camp. And so Jesus also suffered outside the city gate to make the people holy through His own blood. Let us, then, go to Him outside the camp, bearing the disgrace He bore. For here we do not have an enduring city, but we are looking for the city that is to come.

The typology of this practice is noted in the above verses. Jesus suffered outside the gate, on the cross, between two thieves. He was rejected by Israel as the Messiah. The whole of sin is put away as with the scapegoat on the Day of Atonement. That was the one day a year when the high priest made the offering for the nation.

2 Corinthians 5:21 states, God made Him who had no sin to be sin for us, so that in Him we might become the righteousness of God.

1 Peter 2:24 tells us, He Himself bore our sins in His body on the tree, so that we might die to sins and live for righteousness; by His wounds you have been healed.

Daily, I must thank Jesus for taking my place in payment for my sins.
He shows us such love, grace, and mercy!


LET IT GO

Admit that I am a sinner, in need of a Savior daily.

As Jesus to forgive me of my sins, and to cleanse me of all my unrightousness.

Thank and praise the One who knew no sin, became sin for me.

Glory to His Name, Jesus, the Christ, the son of the Living God, my Messiah and Savior!!!

Are You at Peace?

O. T. #269  "Are You at Peace?"
April 16, 2014
Leviticus 3-Part 1
And he shall offer of the sacrifice of the peace offering an offering made by fire unto the LORD...  Leviticus 3:9a

LET IT GLOW

Isn't it wonderful to have peace in our home? Isn't it sweet when husband and wife are in agreement and at peace with each other? What about being at peace with our children, or is there turmoil and disagreement? Are we at peace with ourselves and with God? Or is there bitterness, hurt, unsettled matters in your life? Isn't it time to resolve them?

I found several definitions for the word peace in Webster's Dictionary, with one being a state of tranquility or quiet. Other words mentioned were freedom, security, order, harmony, silence, calm, end hostility.  
Yes, I enjoy the times when my home has peace, harmony, in agreement, quietness within it. I also enjoy it within my soul. When it is missing, I cry out to God in repentance, for I realize that my sin has removed the peace of God within me.
Did you know that the Israelites could give a peace offering to God? Read on, friend.

We are continuing with the third of the five sacrifice requirements told to the Israelites. We have read about the burnt offering, which was the atonement made for their sins whenever the Israelites failed to keep the Law. The burning meat gave a pleasant smell which signified the sacrifice of obedience that pleased the Lord. The first three sacrifices were to be freewill offerings. The grain offering signified the homage and thanksgiving one made to God.

MacArthur Bible Commentary informs us that:

The third offering, the peace offering, expressed fellowship and peace between God and the one offering. There were three types:

1. A thank offering express gratitude for an unexpected blessing or deliverance.
2. A votive offering expressed gratitude for a blessing or deliverance granted when a vow had accompanied the petition.
3. A freewill offering expressed gratitude to God without regard to any specific blessing or deliverance. 

What were the requirements of the peace offering?

• According to the wealth of the Israelite, it was a male or female without blemish from the herd (cattle) or from a flock (sheep or a goat).
• The blood was sprinkled upon the altar and the fat and the kidneys of the animal was burned on the altar of burnt offerings. This signified that the blood and fat belonged to God.
• The offering was so the Israelites could enjoy peace with God, not to make peace with God.
• The difference between the burnt offering and the peace offering was that the peace offering's meat of the breast and right thigh was given to the priests to eat and the rest of the meat could be eaten in the court by the one offering it and his family (except the kidneys).

In the peace offering, God and His people would feast together as a token of friendship. If a man was in pursuit of any mercy, he would add a peace-offering to his prayer for it. This offering was offered by way of thanksgiving for some mercy received. (Matthew Henry)

The largest peace offering, history's greatest barbecue was given by Solomon when he dedicated the temple, offered 22,000 cattle and 120,000 sheep (1 Kings 8:63). Hezekiah gave a festival of 2,000 bulls and 17,000 sheep were given for peace offerings (1 Chr. 30:24). (Guzik)

By Israel not eating the fat of the animals, their controlled their cholesterol and heart disease. Tapeworms were often found in fatty tissue.

Do we seek peace with God? Are we at peace with God? Are we obedient to God's Word and His will?


LET IT GROW

Christ is peace, our Peace-offering; for through Him alone it is that we can obtain an answer of peace to our prayers. (Henry)

Hebrews 13:15-16  refers to Jesus, By Him therefore let us offer the sacrifice of praise to God continually, that is, the fruit of our lips giving thanks to His name. But to do good and to communicate forget not: for with such sacrifices God is well pleased.

Hebrews 10:3 reminds us, But those sacrifices are annual reminder of sins, because it is impossible for the blood of bulls and goats to take away sins.

Again in reference to Jesus, in Hebrews 10:10 it is And by that will, we have been made holy through the sacrifice of the body of Jesus Christ once for all.

Hebrews 9:22b says, Without shedding of blood is no remission. (NIV says forgiveness.)

Through Christ the believer is reconciled to God in his heart. (M. Henry)

This offering pictures the fellowship we enjoy with the Lord on the basis of His sacrifice for us. The offering was brought because of the thankfulness of the grateful worshiper.  (Falwell)

Are we continually giving thanks and praise to God? If we know Jesus as our Savior, we can.
Jesus came to be our peace offering to God. He gave His blood and body as a sacrifice for us sinners.
Especially this week leading up to Easter do we consider all that Jesus did for us when He died on the cross.

LET IT GO

Continually give thanks and praise to my Lord Jesus for all He has done for me.

Thank Him for the peace that I have knowing Him as my Savior.

Bread, Pancake, Cookie, or Cake

O. T. #268  "Bread, Pancake, Cookie, or Cake"
April 15, 2014
Leviticus 2-Part 1
When someone brings a grain offering to the LORD, his offering is to be of fine flour.  He is to pour oil on it, put incense on it and take it top Aaron's sons the priests.  Leviticus 2:1-2a NIV 

LET IT GLOW

I am a bread eater. I must have it with my meal or as dessert. Of course, I can make the flour into all sorts of things-biscuits, pancakes, a cookie or cake (crackers, too). It doesn't matter to me the form of it. I just enjoy eating it, plain or with jelly, honey, or icing. Whatever I have available. Baked, fried, or boiled as dumplings. All is good to me. Hum.Which shall I have for lunch?
Did you know that one of the offerings which pleased the Lord Jesus was made of flour? Pour you some coffee or tea and sit with me while I explain. I'll even get some cookies out of the freezer for us.

The five offerings or sacrifices mentioned in the early chapters of Leviticus included the burnt, meal, peace, sin, and trespass offerings. Chapter 1 told us about the requirements for the burnt offering. Chapter 2 tells us about the meal offering. The word meat is used in reference to meal.

How was the meal offering to be prepared so it pleased God?

• It was brought voluntarily.
• It was a valuable food, vital to life.
• It was a grain offering ground into fine flour, made into unleavened cakes/wafers.
• It was mixed with oil and frankincense.
• It was offered by fire.
• It could be cooked three ways: in an oven (verse 4), in a pan (verse 5), or in a frying pan, which was a large cooking pot with a lid on it (verse 7).
• The amount of flour used was between 2 and 3 quarts.
• A handful of flour was used when offered as a memorial of a sweet savor to the Lord. (verse 2)
• It could not contain any leavening nor any honey. (Both yeast and honey induced fermentation, which symbolized sin.)
• The abundant amount left over became property of Aaron and his sons, priests.
• This was the most holy of the offerings.
• It was to be seasoned with salt. It symbolized permanence or loyalty to the covenant.
• It was from the first fruits of their harvest, which were just barely ripe and would not burn easily. So it could be waved before the Lord (23:10-12) or dried by the fire (verse 14) before the offering. (Referring to green ears of corn)

The word oblation is found 78 times in Leviticus and Numbers and occurs only twice elsewhere in the Old Testament and once as "gift" in Mark 7:11. It is the regular word used for offering, but is sometimes translated "oblation" simply for variety.

Three types of the grain offerings consisted of fine flour, cakes, and green heads of roasted grain, all of which were mixed with oil, and/or frankincense. It signified one's homage and thanksgiving to God.

[Reference: Liberty Bible Commentary, MacArthur Bible Commentary]


LET IT GROW

The meal offering pictured the finely ground humanity of our Lord in all He perfections. It was offered with a blood sacrifice, even though it is presented separately here (see Numbers 15:1-16), even as Christ's perfect life is not to be isolated from His sacrificial death. The oil most naturally symbolizes the Holy Spirit's ministry in the life of Christ (Zech. 4:3-6), and the frankincense typifies our Lord's prayer life (Rev. 8:3-4).
No leaven nor honey were allowed to be mixed with the cereal offering. Leaven no doubt would picture sin, and Christ is without sin. (Falwell)

Wiersbe explains more of the symbolism:

• The fine flour speaks of Christ's perfect character and life-nothing rough or uneven in Him.
• The oil symbolizes the Spirit of God.
• Frankincense added a wonderful fragrance to the offering, illustrating the beauty and fragrance of Christ's perfect life here on earth.
• The offering had to go through the fire, just as Christ had to endure the fire of Calvary.
• Salt symbolizes purity and absence of decay, for there was no corruption of any kind in Christ.
• Leaven symbolizes sin, for there was no sin in Christ.
• No honey, the sweetest thing nature has to offer, was used. There was nothing of "human natural sweetness" in Christ; He was divine love in the flesh.

May the Spirit of God so work in us that we might become more like the perfect Christ-balanced, even, fragrant, pure.

The five special sacrifices illustrate to us the various aspects of the Person and work of our Savior. (Wiersbe)

Does life have to grind us down before we come to Jesus?
Do we have to go through the fire of troubles or persecution so we fall at the Lord's feet?
Are we seasoned with salt?
Are we a sweet smelling fragrance to the Lord?
Have you trusted Jesus as your Savior?


LET IT GO

Give my All

O. T. #267  "Give my All"
April 14, 2014
Leviticus 1-Part 2
He is to wash the inner parts and the legs with water, and the priest is to burn all of it on the altar. It is a burnt offering, an offering mad by fire, an aroma pleasing to the LORD. 
 Leviticus 1:9  NIV

LET IT GLOW

I recall a time when my country road led me down the mountain and to one of the cities of our state. Before I attended the meeting, I had almost made up my mind to resign my position due to some issues and decisions which I disagreed. However, I realized that the Lord had me there for a purpose and I should fulfill my commitment. I need to give my all in His service, no matter where it is and what it is doing. I am to serve and honor Him. After all, the animals sacrificed were all burnt up.


Failure to keep the moral law exposed the Israelite to punishment and death. The ceremonial law made provision for failure to keep the moral law. It is important to observe that the offerings did not cancel sin, they covered it until such time as the offering of Christ at Calvary could provide true cleansing.  (John Phillips)

We will see throughout the Old Testament that three kinds of Quadrupeds were commanded to be sacrificial:

1. a bull or ox, the cow or heifer, and the calf
2. he-goat, she-goat, and the kid
3. ram, ewe, and lamb (Adam Clarke)

We have previously discussed that these animals had to meet the requirements of God-a male one year old, spotless without blemish; it was a voluntary sacrifice, one on which the owner placed his hands as a symbol of transferring his sin to the animal; its blood was sprinkled upon the altar.

Reading back through this chapter and David Guzik's Commentary, I realized:

• The priest burnt all of the animal on the altar. (verse 9) What happens in Leviticus happens before the LORD, including all the sacrifices made.
• All of the animal, after it was washed, was burnt on the altar.
• It was a sweet aroma before God's throne.
• Nothing was held back when everything was burnt before the LORD on the altar.
• There was an order to the sacrifices God wanted respected. It was not a "do your own thing" matter.

Would our sacrifices given to God change if we understood that we were "doing it before the LORD"?

God looks at our heart as we give. The burnt offering was a reflection upon the heart of the person giving it, sacrificing it.

Is my attitude one of "I surrender all?" Am I holding back?
Are my offerings just anyway that I want or the way God wants me to so I please Him?
How about my service done for Him as an offering? Is it in accordance to His will for my life?

These directions were given so the people would know what was best pleasing in God's sight and thus worshipping Him, they might have confidence that they pleased Him, everything done according to God's own directions. A consciousness of acting according to the revealed will of God gives strong confidence to an upright mind.  (Adam Clarke)

How is our conscience in relation to our sacrifices and offerings to God?

LET IT GROW

Ephesians 5:2 states, And walk in love, as Christ also hath loved us, and hath given Himself for us an offering and a sacrifice to God for a sweetsmelling savour.

In John 1:29 John said as he saw Jesus, Behold the Lamb of God, which taketh away the sin of the world.

Many verses in the Book of Revelation refers to Jesus as the Lamb of God.

In accordance with chapter 1 of Leviticus, we recognize Jesus as our Sacrificial Lamb without spot or blemish, which was offered unto God for the our sins. Jesus willingly offered Himself.
The only thing we can offer unto Him is our soul to be cleansed by His blood, spiritually speaking. It is the only way we can be acceptable to God. When God sees Jesus' blood covering our sins, we can come before His throne and He will hear our requests. (God cannot look upon sin.)

Are we offering, dedicating our whole body, soul, and substance to our Creator and Savior?

LET IT GO

Glory, honor, and praise be to the Lamb of God who takes away my sins when I ask.

Thank Jesus for completing the sacrificial requirements for me.

Praise Him for His never ending love.

Surrender to do all of His will, His way today.

Share the good news!

Steaks on the Grill

O. T. #267  "Steaks on the Grill"
April 11, 2014
Leviticus 1-Part 1
Be ye therefore followers of God, as dear children; And walk in love, as Christ also hath loved us, and hath given himself for us an offering and a sacrifice to God for a sweetsmelling savour. 
Ephesians 5:2 KJV


LET IT GLOW

Nothing smells more luscious than a steak on the grill, to me. My mouth waters when I drive by the local steakhouse. I resist the urge to pull into the parking lot of that place and eat what I am smelling.
However, the best steak in the state is cooked by our son on his grill. Those are home grown on the farm. Apparently, the Lord likes the smell of cooking meat. How does He get it? Read on to find out.


The Book of Leviticus starts out describing the five sacrifices/offerings which God accepts:

1. The Whole Burnt offering
2. The Meal offering
3. The Peace offering
4. The Sin offering
5. The Trespass offering.

The first three offerings mentioned are sweet savor offerings (1:1-3:17).The last two listed above are the non-sweet savor offerings (4:1-6:7). (Falwell)


LET IT GROW

The Whole Burnt Offering

Requirements for the animal include:

• a male
• without blemish (perfect inside and outside)
• a voluntarily offered
• owner put his hand on the animal's head, transferring his sin and guilt to the animal)
• its blood was collected and sprinkled on the Brazen Altar by the priest
• it was skinned and burnt completely on the altar
• it was offered by fire, as a sweet smelling savor, fragrance. (verse 9)

Sweet smelling savor pictures Christ in all His perfections offering Himself entirely to God in our place. Christ's death was voluntary (John 10:17-18) and was powerful enough to save sinners completely. (Heb. 7:25) the requirements were the same for all the animals. However, the bullock was the most expensive. Turtledoves and pigeons were acceptable offerings from the poorer people. God is no respecter of persons (Rom. 2:11).  (Falwell)

Do we give our best in our offerings? Do we daily offer ourselves as a living sacrifice to God for His glory and use? In Romans 12:1-2, Paul tells to do so.

Just as priests were to maintain a "continual burnt offering" (6:12-13), so we are to be constantly dedicated to the Lord for His glory.  (Wiersbe)

A continually burning fire on the altar was a sign of a continual atonement and a sign of Israel's devotion to God.

2 Corinthians 2:15 and Ephesians 5:2 explain our challenge.

LET IT GO

Offer myself unto Christ as an offering.

Be sweet today.

Walk in love as Christ love us.

Repetition

O. T. #265  "Repetition"
April 10, 2014
Introduction to Leviticus
And the LORD called unto Moses, and spake unto him out of the tabernacle of the congregation, saying...  Leviticus 1:1 KJV

LET IT GLOW

(Yeah! My computer is fixed and I am back full speed ahead. Maybe things can get back to normal around here. Thank you Jesus for your blessings! Please bless the guys who fixed it.)

One thing I learned as a teacher, repetition is how the children would learn and retain new skills. We would repeat the addition and subtraction facts in order for them to remember them, whether on paper or orally. So I think the best way for us to get an important point that God wants us to learn is to repeat the words, phrases, or lesson. It is this way in the Book of Leviticus.

Who wrote Leviticus?
Moses wrote the first five books of the Old Testament.

The fact that God gave these laws to Moses appears 56 times in Leviticus' 27 chapters. (MacArthur)

When did it take place?
The Exodus of Israel happened in 1445 B. C. and the tabernacle was finished one year later. Leviticus picks up the record at that point, probably in the first month of the second year after the Exodus.  (MacArthur)

What happened?
Leviticus begins with God calling Moses from the tabernacle and ends with God's commands to Moses in the form of binding legislation. Chapters 1-16 explain how to have personal access to God through appropriate worship, while chapters 17-27 detail how to be spiritual acceptable to God through an obedient walk. (MacArthur)

God dwelled in the Holy of Holies, where the Mercy Seat on the Ark of the Covenant was located, inside the Tabernacle. While in the midst of His people, this is where God abode. Verse 1 says that God spoke to Moses from there with some instructions.

From this sacred tent God is said to have spoken audibly with Moses and may indicate God's coming in a human form to communicate with Moses as He explains in Numbers 12:8 indicates. (Falwell)

So was God in the human form of Jesus  as He spoke to Moses? Good question. That's one we can ask Moses, but it sounds like that was how it happened, to me, that is. You can form your own opinion.

More important is, are we listening when God speaks to us?


LET IT GROW


Words repeated in Leviticus:

• holy or holiness-more than 80 times
• blood-88 times
• atonement (to cover)-45 times
• it shall be forgiven-10 times
• I am the LORD your God-23 times.  (Wiersbe)

Was God trying to get the point across to them and us? How important were the sacrifices for the peoples' sins? As important as eternity, for the blood of the animal meant they did not have to pay for their sins. The blood covered their sins, spiritually, because God cannot look upon sin. Jesus came to fulfill this law. His blood sacrifice covers our sins and makes us righteous in God's eyes, if we have asked Him to be our Savior. Have you, friend?


Israel's King (Jesus) had occupied His palace ( the Tabernacle), instituted His law, and declared Himself a covenant partner with His subjects. No geographical movement occurs in this book. The themes are the holy character of God and the will of God for Israel's holiness, mankind's sinfulness, and sacrifices. (MacArthur)

Do we recognize that God is holy? Do I seek God's will for our life? Are we ready, intending to do it when we know His will? Find it and do it.

Is the LORD your God?


LET IT GO

Pay attention to repeated words in God's Word.

Thank God that He provided a way for me to come to Him-His Son Jesus Christ.

Be grateful for Jesus taking my place, being my atonement, in payment for my sins.

Share this good news!

Outlaw or Inlaw

O. T. #264 "Outlaw or Inlaw"
Exodus Summary
April 9, 2014
The LORD is my strength and song, and He is become my salvation: He is my God, and I will prepare Him an habitation; my father's God, and I will exalt Him.  Exodus 15:2

Sometimes, it is good to look back over my life. I do that every now and then. Am I accomplishing my goals? Am I walking closer to God than last year? What trials have I come through? Is my faith growing, stagnate, dead or alive?
One year for our family reunion, we had the theme "Outlaws and Inlaws". We even made wanted posters with each of the family member's picture on it, known as the outlaw, but not their spouse, the inlaw. Since I married into the family, I was considered an inlaw. So I thought, in God's family, am I an outlaw or an inlaw? I am an inlaw-one of His children. Enough said. I don't know what that has to do with this lesson, just thought I'd throw that in. But let's go back and review the latter part of Exodus.

According to Wiersbe, the symbolism found in Exodus includes:

• Moses as a picture of Jesus Christ. Moses became a prophet, priest, servant, shepherd, mediator, and deliverer.
• Egypt is a type of world system.
• Pharoah is a type of Satan, "god of this world"
• Israel is the picture of the church, delivered from the world
• Crossing of the Red Sea pictures the resurrection 
• Manna is a symbol of Christ as the Bread of Life
• Amalek refers to the flesh, opposing believers in pilgrim journey
• Passover pictures the death of Christ, His shed blood for our sins, the Lamb of God.

The nation of Israel grew from 70 men to 603,550 men, aged 20 and up, with a total of 2 million which departed Egypt. God had kept His promise to Abraham.

Chapters 19-24: Covenant and Ten commandments; feasts, Sabbaths

Chapters 25-31: Tabernacle plans and priesthood established

Chapters 32-35: Apostasy of Israel and Moses' intercession

Chapter 35-40: Tabernacle built and dedicated.

Lesson I have learned from the book of Exodus:

• Faith and obedience please God.
• God is my Savior and Redeemer.
• He keeps His promises.
• He wants to meet my needs, as Provider.
• God wants to indwell me.
• He will act on my behalf as my Protector.
• He is merciful, gracious, forgiving, and loving.
• God's ways are the best ways.
• He won't accept second place in my life, only first place.
• God listens when I talk to Him.
• Trust God; wait upon Him.

Although Israel kept sinning, God warned them of the consequences, He still forgave them. Of course, we have an advantage of being able to look forward, past the time in Exodus. The Israelites kept going in cycles, sinning, repenting, punished, obeying. don't we seem to be stuck in that same cycle, too?

LET IT GO

Walk by faith, not by sight.

Obey the Word of God and His Spirit.

Keep Jesus first in my life.

Remember, God keeps His promises.

Exodus Summary

O. T. #263  "Summary of Exodus"
April 8, 2014
Exodus Summary

Moses is not dead at the end of Exodus. In face, the rest of the Pentateuch, first five books of the Old Testament, were written by him. Leviticus tells about the offerings and the laws for the Israelites to observe. Numbers tells of Israel's travels in the wilderness through the final year of Moses' life, the fortieth year after the Exodus; about Israel's relationship with the LORD; instructions for life in the new land; the change of leadership, and Moses' death.

The Temple was actually not constructed until 480 years after Israel exited Egypt, and was by Solomon.

Summary of Exodus

Chapter 1: Bondage in Egypt for Israel
Chapter 2-4: Moses' birth, homicide, flight, marriage, call by God at the burning bush
Chapter 5-7: Meeting Pharoah
Chapter 7-12: Passover and ten plagues
Chapter 12-15: The Exodus
chapter 15-18 Journey to Mt. Sinai


LET IT GO

Review my life and give God the glory.
Remember my life has a purpose. Seek it and do it.

His Presence

O. T. #262  "His Presence"
April 7, 2014
Exodus 40-Part 2
Then a cloud covered the tent of the congregation, and the glory of the LORD filled the tabernacle.   Exodus 40:34

LET IT GLOW

Moses finished the work and blessed it. the priest, Aaron and his sons, and Moses washed their hands and feet. Moses set up the curtain door. all was ready for the sacrificial system to begin.

Did it please God?
As a visible testimony of God's acceptance of their work-God's pillar cloud covered the tent of the congregation and His glory...filled the Tabernacle. the pillar of cloud was the visible indication of God's presence among His people. The glory was a bright resplendence of light difficult to look upon (Ex. 24:17; Ezk. 1:28)

God had kept His promise (33:14) and was certainly dwelling among His people. (verse 35)

No matter how expensive the Tabernacle was, with out the presence of God it was just another tent. The glory not resided in the Tabernacle, but it guided the Israelites on their pilgrim journey. When we speak of the shekina glory of God, we are referring to God's dwelling in the Tabernacle or temple. the Hebrew word, transliterated shekinah means dwelling of God, from the Hebrew word shakan whcih means to dwell.   (Wiersbe)

The glory and majesty of God is so great that the greatest and best men are unable to stand before Him. God is Light: our God is a consuming Fire. The Tabernacle was filled with these. Just as the burning bush wasn't consumed, so the curtains wee not consumed with this fire. yet so dazzling was the light, and so dreadful was the fire, that Moses was not aable to enter into the Tent of the congregation, at the door he was attending to, until the splendor and glory of the Lord retire within the veil. (verse 35)  Matthew Henry)


LET IT GROW

But what Moses could not do, in that he was weak through the flesh, our Lord Jesus has done, whom God caused to draw near and approach, and wh, as the Forerunner, is for us entered and has invited us to come boldly even to the Mercy-Seat. (Heb. 9:24; John 1:14)
Jesus is the true Tabernacle, filled with the glory of God. His Holy Spirit indwells us, believers, saved by His grace. We are to present our body as a living sacrifice, holy and acceptable unto god (Rom 12:1).


LET IT GO

Bow before the Lord Jesus as I pray.

Praise Him in all His holiness and glory.

Thank Him for His presence.

Movin' In

O. T. #261  "Movin' In"
April 4, 2014
Exodus 40-Part 1

LET IT GLOW

I can't count the number of times we have moved in the past 41 years on my fingers and toes. It was always an exciting time to move. However, in the past 16 years, we have moved twice. Oh, the stuff and junk we accumulate. I always feel at home whenever I get the kitchen settled in, everything put away and in its place. Movin' in can be a chore, but the excitement of a new house, new neighborhood, etc., what can compare? and so it was, I think, with the Israelites and Moses as they completed the making and building all that God wanted in the Tabernacle. Don't you think they took what would have been a chore and turned it into an exciting event? I do.

Can you believe we are in the last chapter of Exodus? Did you know it took us over 7 months to get here? What a long journey it must have been in the hot, dry desert. Do you recall that it had been a year since they left Egypt? Her it is 14 days prior to the Passover, and the Tabernacle was erected. Some had spent 6 months working on the furniture, curtains, and priests' garments. Now it was time to set up the tent and move it all in.

What did the movin' in involve?

• The frame, support, whatever it was called, and the curtains for the walls and door had to be put up in place, with the inner and outer courts established as directed by God, the Masterbuilder.
• The Holy Place was in the west and the courtyard entrance to the east. Pagan religions worshiped the sun god. All entered the courtyard and Israel's priests turned their backs to the rising sun as they came in to sacrifice and worship.(MacArthur)
• The Ark of the Testimony was specifically covered with a veil (verse 3). It was placed in the Holy of Holies room.
• Other furniture was placed inside (verse 3-5).

Moses was the chief overseer of building of the Tabernacle, since God gave him the blueprints and details.

With 22,000 Levites, (Num. 3:21-39) to help with the final erection, it was no doubt accomplished in less than a day. (verses 16-33)  (Falwell)

With everything in its proper place, Moses then anointed the structure and its contents and set it apart for the Lord. His final act of dedication was the consecration of Aaron and the priests (verses 13-16), which was followed by their presenting the sacrifices to the Lord (Lev. 8-9).  (Wiersbe)


LET IT GROW

Moses put the water in the Laver, bread on the Table of Showbread, oil in the Lamps before the Lord (verse 25). He lit the lamps before the Lord.

Moses, Aaron, and his sons (priests) washed their hands and feet. They washed whenever they entered the Tent of Meeting or approached the alter. (verse 32)

Then Moses hung up the curtain at the entrance to the courtyard. Moses had finished the work. (verse 33)

Do we wash, body and soul, before entering our place of sacrifice and worship? Jesus blood does that when we repent, confessing our sins, asking for forgiveness. (1 John 1:9)


LET IT GO

Watch my attitude.

Love Jesus and serve Him daily.