Vows and Tithes

O. T. #299  "Vows and Tithes"
May 30, 2014
Leviticus 27
And concerning the tithe of the herd, or of the flock, even of whatsoever passeth under the rod, the tenth shall be holy unto the LORD.  Leviticus 27:32

LET IT GLOW

Here we are in the final chapter, in which God gave Israel the laws regarding vows and dedications. Much of this book came while Moses was on Mt. Sinai the two times he spent 40 days with the Lord.
It concerns the presentation of non-sacrificial items to God, such as:

• persons (verses 3-8),
• animals (verses 9-13),
• houses (verses14-15),
• fields (verses 16-25).

We should take seriously what we dedicate to the Lord. Everyone can give their life to the Lord. None are too small, insignificant, or useless. God wants to use each and every one of us for His glory and purpose.

Ecclesiastes 5:4 -5 NIV says: When you make a vow to God, do not delay in fulfilling it. He has no pleasure in fools; fulfill your vow. It is better not to vow than to make a vow and not fulfill it.


LET IT GROW

This general tithe was given to the Levites. (Numbers 18:21-32) This is the only mention of tithe or ten percent in Leviticus. However, along with this offering, there were two other OT tithes which totaled about 23% annually (Deut. 14:22, 28-29) (MacArthur)

The tithe of the land belonged to God and was given to the Levite priests at the tabernacle, and later the Temple (Mal. 3:10).
Jesus noted that the Pharisees tithed even small seeds (Matt. 23:23) and all that they possessed (Luke 18:12).

But you  have neglected the more important matters of the law-justice, mercy and faithfulness.
(Matt. 23:23b NIV)

We take His commendation as an encouragement to tithe. Christians begin with the tithe of 10%. However, we don't have to stop there.

Giving today should be to and through the local church (Acts 4:34-37: 1 Cor. 16:2) for the purpose of spreading the gospel of Jesus Christ, the Risen Lamb of God.  (Falwell)

Do we give from the love of our heart?
We could never repay all that the Lord has done for us and give us, could we? Instead, He wants us to love one another.

LET IT GO

Be faithful in vows, dedications, and tithes.

Blue Hair, Tattoos, and Lip Earrings

O. T. #298  "Blue Hair, Tattoos, and Lip Earrings"
May 29, 2014
Leviticus 26-Part 2
And yet for all that, when they be in the land of their enemies, I will not cast them away, neither will I abhor them, to destroy them utterly, and to break my covenant with them: for I am the LORD their God. Leviticus 26:44

LET IT GLOW

Why do we think everyone should be like us? Why is our inner circle of friends similar to us? Why do we sit in judgment of those who have blue hair, tattoos, lip earrings? Sure those things seem to be a sign of  rebellion, rejecting God's standards. Maybe that is their way of getting attention when they need to feel loved. Aren't we all made in the image of God? Doesn't He look upon the heart, our inside, not the outside appearance? Where is the love? Can we love a person in spite of their quirks? Can we get beyond all that crazy outside stuff and look on the inside? Sure, they are different. Do we have limitations set? If a person does not reach our expectations, do we turn away, not loving them? Why?
I know I am guilty, friends. How do I overcome this judgmental attitude? Love as Jesus loved. Didn't He love the lepers? How about the woman caught in adultery? How about the sick? Those who failed Him? Those who turned away when He was on the cross?
God loves us with an everlasting love. Sure, He has standards set for us, but when we don't follow them, does He turn away from us? Does God cast us away? Continue for answers.

Previously we read what would happen if the Israelites would harken unto God's Word and if they disobeyed, walking contrary to His instructions.
There is another option to the if -what would happen if they confessed their iniquity.
Iniquities are sins, fault, perversities, moral evil. (Strong's Concordance)

What does the rest of the chapter say God will do if Israel will repent, humbly turning back to Him (verse 40)?

• God will remember His covenant with their fathers-Jacob, Isaac, Abraham, and the land.  (verse 42)
• He will not cast them away. (verse 44) Cast meant to spurn, to disappear, despise, refuse, reject.
• God would not abhor them. (verse 44) Abhor means to reject, to detest, fail.
• He would not  utterly destroy them. (verse 44)
• God says He would not break His covenant with them. (verse 44)

Sounds like a good option to me. Such promises.
Do we cast away or abhor people? Do we reject people because they are different from us?


LET IT GROW

Liberty Bible Commentary has this to say:

The Sinai covenant was a covenant of law, do this or else. But the Abrahamic covenant (Gen. 12:1-3) was completely of grace and can never be abrogated by God or terminated by the wicked conduct of His people. In God's providence, Israel will yet turn to the Lord when brought low by the Antichrist during the Tribulation period in the future. God will intervene at the Battle of Armageddon and spare His people Israel, the Jews, and establish the long awaited kingdom that Christ promised. See Matthew 19:28; 26:29; Luke 19:11; Acts 1:6-7; and Revelation 20:1-6.

Have you left God's will for your life? He is waiting for you to turn to Him and repent. He won't reject us nor caste us away. He loves us.

LET IT GO

Turn to God.

Ask forgiveness for my sins.

Love others with the love of Christ.

The Old Stores

O. T. #297 "The Old Stores"
May 28, 2014
Leviticus 26-Part 1
And ye shall eat old store, and bring forth the old because of the new.  Leviticus 26-10


LET IT GLOW

When I walk down Main Street of my hometown, I see in my mind what eating places existed when I was growing up here. Come go with me as I walk down memory lane. All these stores are long gone now, either torn down, replaced by another business, or used for storage.
There was the old filling station where dad got his flat tires fixed and I, as a preschooler, got a Butterfinger candy bar and Grapette. The old Center Café where we teenagers would congregate after school for a Coke and a song on the jute box. The grocery store stood in the middle of town, where I took a year's accumulation of pop bottles and cashed them. Oh, the corner drugstore was where my best friend and I stopped in to get malts and floats after junior high school classes. How could I leave out the Dairy Queen, where we ate hamburgers after the football games. Ah, such precious memories of the old stores where we ate while growing up.
Did you know that God told Israel that they would eat from the old store, which meant they would be eating last year's harvest, get rid of it, to make room for new food to eat? Blessed. Check it out.  

This chapter tells of the promises of blessing for obedience and chastisement for not keeping God's laws. Moses repeats some forty years later in Deuteronomy 28.

Israel is reminded to not worship idols or graven images, but to worship God alone; to keep the Sabbath; to reverence His sanctuary.

What are the promised blessings for Israel's obedience, by walking in God's statutes and keeping His commandments and doing them?

According to Liberty Bible Commentary, God will:

*provide proper rainfall and abundant harvests (verses 4-5);

          *peace in their land and easy victory over all enemies (verses 6-8);
          *many children (verse 9);
          *move out last year's harvest to make room for the new harvest (verse 10 NIV);
          *a perfect relationship with their covenant-keeping God, their Redeemer (verses 9-13).

What more could Israel want? What more could we want? Food, peace, offspring, and communion with our God. Does it get any better?

LET IT GROW

God broke the bands of Israel's yoke and made them go upright. They had been slaves in Egypt for 400 years and then God sent a deliver, Moses.
Israel was warned that if they did not hearken unto God, do all His commandments, despise His statues, judgments, then they would break God's covenant. (verses 14-15)
God's judgment of a wayward Israel was to take several forms:

• There would be disease, sorrow, foreign occupation, military defeat, rule by foreigners, and a preoccupation of fear (verses 16-17).
• The plagues would be multiplied in intensity (seven times more), and their efforts at producing will be fruitless, breaking the pride of their power (verse18-20).
• The plagues will intensify even more according to their sins (verse 21), and wild beasts would destroy both cattle and children (verses 21-22; 2 Kings 2:23-24).
• Continued disobedience would result in death to some by foreign swords, pestilence within population centers, defeat by their enemies, and near starvation (verse 23-26).
• Further disobedience, even after all these punishments, would yield starvation so severe that cannibalism would result (2Kings 6:25, 28-29, large scale death would ensue, and cities would be destroyed (verses 27-31).
• Israel would be scattered among the heathen Gentiles (verse 33).
• God would send fear among them (verse 37).
• Many would perish in foreign lands (verse 38).

[Resource: Liberty Bible Commentary]

Did you see God repeating the warnings that if Israel would not  hearken unto Him, walking contrary to Him, nor be reformed by Him such things would happen. And happen they did. we have the advantage of reading the rest of the story. Over and over again Israel would repent, then turn away. God would bring diseases, enemies, starvation, repeatedly.

Tomorrow, we will see what would happen if Israel would repent and turn back to God.

I wonder if Americans have deaf ears. Does God's warning fall on our deaf ears? Will we repent and stop killing unborn babies, stop living a homosexual lifestyle, stop bowing to and wasting our time in front of the television, being materialistic?
Pray for America, friends, for we are headed down the same road as Israel back in the Old Testament times. How it must sadden God's heart.

LET IT GO

Love God with all our heart, soul, mind, and strength.

Teach our children and grandchildren to do the same.

Hid the Word in my heart so I don't sin against God.

REPENT.

Pray for our country.

Do You Have a Redeemer?

O. T. #296  "Do You Have a Redeemer?"
May 27, 2014
Leviticus 25-Part 3
Being justified freely by His grace through the redemption that is in Christ Jesus.  Romans 3:24

LET IT GLOW

The other day, my sister in law and I were out shopping together and decided to have lunch. She lovingly paid for my lunch. I wonder if this would be an example of a redeemer.
This chapter mentions a kinsman-redeemer, yet in another way.
Someone wants to be your Redeemer. Read on, dear ones, to find out who.

We have studied Jewish laws concerning their Sabbatic year, which occurred every 7 years, and the Year of Jubilee, which was observed every 50 years. the land was to be given rest and no seeds were to be planted. It was like a sacrifice unto the Lord, who owns all the earth.

Shall we dig a little deeper and see what the rest of this chapter has to say?

The Care of the Poor (verses 25-55)

• These laws applied for all time, including the Sabbatic and Jubilee Years.
• First we read about the general principle in verses 25-28, and then how they are applied in specific situations.
• A person who had to sell property because of a financial need cold redeem it at any time, or a brother could redeem it for him. The price would be determined by the number of years remaining until the Year of Jubilee.

1. A house in a city (verses 29-34)
    The seller had one year in which to buy it back. After that, the owner held the property as long as
     he pleased; and it would not revert to the original owner during the Year of Jubilee. Levites were
     exempt.
2. A poor brother (verses 35-46)
     Jews were to no oppress one another or take advantage of another in financial matters. They were
      to loan money without interest. A Jewish slave could go free during this special year.
3. The Kinsman-Redeemer (verses 47-55)
     The redeemer could rescue a relative by paying his debts and recovering his land. Boaz redeemed
     Ruth and Naomi and their property.

Redeemer means to be the next of kin (and as such to buy back a relative's property, marry his widow); deliverer; purchase; ransom.

[Resource: Wiersbe's Expository Outlines on the Old Testament]

How much do we care for our family? Will we be a redeemer for them? Do we care about the poor?


LET IT GROW

This pictures our Lord Jesus as our Kinsman-Redeemer. He became our close relative when He became a man (John 1:14; Phil. 2:1-11). He paid the price for our redemption by dying on the cross. He was willing and able to save us.

Job said it in 19:25, For I know that my redeemer liveth, and that he shall stand at the latter day upon the earth.

Psalm 78:35 states, And they remembered that God was their rock, and the high God their redeemer.

Thus saith the LORD, your redeemer, the Holy One of Israel... (Isaiah 43:14)

Jeremiah 50:34 says, Their Redeemer is strong; the LORD of Hosts is His name...

Is Jesus your Redeemer? Have you asked Him to be?

How wonder it is to have Him pay the price for my salvation, offering it to me for free! How can we but love and praise Him!


LET IT GO

Help others.

Praise the Lord for being my Redeemer!

My Redeemer lives, and on the earth again shall stand.

Share the good news.

Memorial Day

Memorial Day
May 26, 2014

So many have laid down their life for their countrymen, family, and nation. We owe our freedoms to them-from the Revolutionary War soldiers to those fighting the hateful ones in present-day battles. We should pray daily for our soldiers and their families. Probably every family in our country has currently or has had in the past a family member serving in our military. It is such a sacrifice.

I am reminded of the verses in John 15:12-13 where Jesus said,
This is my commandment, That ye love one another, as I have loved you. Greater love hath no man than this, that a man lay down his life for his friends.

Are we living a sacrificial life? Are we laying down our life in love to serve our commander-in-chief, Jesus Christ? Are you paying the price as you stand up for Christian values and Biblical principles? Keep on dear friends. How else will the world see and feel the love of Jesus, if not through His followers. Let us continue to carry the sword, fighting against evil, until Jesus returns. We are soldiers of the One True King, Jesus.

Share and care.
Live and give.

Got to go put flowers on my hero's grave, my dad. As I have said before, he fought in WWII, stepped on a mine in France, lost a leg, while fighting for America's freedoms. Growing up I didn't realize what he had gone through for me. I didn't tell him that he was my hero. We should express our gratitude to people and the Lord for allowing us to live in a free nation. Others do not have that privilege. They are told to follow a certain religion.

Pray for our vets. They bring home with them emotional and physical problems.
Thank those who are serving in our military.

I will continue our study tomorrow in Leviticus.
Enjoy your free day.

Linda

Care of the Land

O. T. #295  "Care of the Land"
May 23, 2014
Leviticus 25-Part 2
The fiftieth year shall be a jubilee for you; do not sow and do not reap what grows of itself or harvest the untended vines.  Leviticus 25:11 NIV 

LET IT GLOW

I recall listening to my dad and his brothers and dad talk whenever we got together. They shared what they were doing on their farms. Most of the time it was the concern for more rain for the grass to grow, then a dry spell for them to cut it for hay and get it into the barn. Owning land and farming was a top importance in my family. They had cattle, which ate from the good of the land, were raised and sold for their living.
Do you own land? Are any of you farmers? Do you own a lot on which your house sits in the suburbs?
Did you know that God instructed the Israelites about the care of their land when they came into the Promised Land? Let me share what I found in this chapter about their land.

We found out in our previous study that the Sabbatic Year occurred every seventh year. Today we are going to talk about the special year called The Year of Jubilee.

Jubilee means acclamation of joy; blowing of trumpets; joyful sound; loud noise; rejoicing, shout; battle cry; alarm.

What do we learn about this special year of celebration for the Jews, The Year of Jubilee?

• It occurred after the seventh sabbatic year, every 50 years according to the Jewish calendar. (verse 8)
•  It was announced by the blowing of trumpets on the Day of Atonement. (verse 9)
• The year began with fasting and repentance of the nation confessing its sins to God. (Lev.16)
• Possessions of land which had been sold reverted back to its original owner, providing liberty of the land. (verse 10)
• Since the land was to lie fallow, no sowing or harvest of crops was to take place. (verse 11-16) The Israelites had to trust God to provide for their needs during the 49th, 50th, and 51st years.That's three years, if you are counting. 

In verses 8-17 and 23-24, we read of the special instructions concerning the land. The people did not own the land, for God had given it to them (Gen. 12:1-3; 15:7; 17:8; Deut. 5:16), permitting Israel to use it, yet He always had control of it.

God owns the earth and all that is in it (Ps. 24:1). The people of Israel were, in fact, only tenants on the land by the Lord's grace.Therefore, ownership of property was temporary, not permanent. (MacArthur)

His people were to walk in the fear of the Lord and not use their wealth to oppress one another. (Wiersbe)

Liberty Bible Commentary has this to say: 

Obedience is what God expects. Sadly enough, Israel soon departed from this Sabbath-for-the-land observance. thus, after 490 years of neglect God removed His people to captivity in Babylon in 606 B.C.and allowed the land to take all seventy missed Sabbaths at once! 

One way or the other, God will get what belongs to Him. I have experienced it in the area of tithing. If we lacked faith and did not give the Lord the ten percent that belonged to Him, something would happen that week and the money was gone. There were times that one in our family would get sick and need medicine. Tithing is only a small way we can learn to obey God and trust Him as we live by faith.

I wonder if we could take a year of vacation when we turn 50 years old. No, Christians have been set free from the Law; we follow Jesus' teachings.

Are we joyful? Do others see us so bogged down with stuff, working for it and maintaining it, that we have lost the joy of our salvation? Do we give our burdens to Jesus to bear?

LET IT GROW

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

The Year of Jubilee looks forward to the kingdom age when Jesus Christ will reign in glory and fulfill the promises made to the Jewish people. (See Isa. 61) In a spiritual sense, the Year of Jubilee also pictures our Christian life (Luke 4:16-21, which is quoted from Isaiah 61:1-2). In His reading of the OT in the synagogue that Sabbath in Nazareth, Jesus stopped with the acceptable year of the Lord, which refers to the Year of Jubilee. He did not read the day of vengeance of our God (Isa. 61:2); for that day of judgment will not come until after God has finished His present program of calling out a people for His name (Acts 15:14).

 Are you ready for the coming of Jesus?

LET IT GO

Hold my land loosely.

Be ready for the return of Jesus.

Don't hold things too tightly, for it will all be gone when the last trumpet sounds.

Be listening.

The Seventh Year

O. T. #294  "The Seventh Year"
May 22, 2014
Leviticus 25
Speak unto the children of Israel, and say unto them, When ye come into the land which I give you, then shall the land keep a Sabbath unto the LORD.  Leviticus 25:2

LET IT GLOW

Has our people, our nation, our economy fallen on hard times? Have we become so greedy that we don't share (time, money, materials, help) with our neighbors? Where is our faith in God's provision for us? Are we sacrificing our children for the almighty dollar? Where are our priorities? Do we have to keep up with the Jones, so to speak? Can we really get by with a smaller, used car rather than the big gas guzzlers? Can we live in a smaller house, or are we so prideful that we must have a bigger one than our neighbors? Do we stop worshiping on Sundays in order to catch up on chores around the house and yard?
Has modern technology taken away jobs? Have people learned to depend upon hand outs instead of working? Things to consider.
Forgive me for stepping up on my soap box. I think we would be better off with less material things and less debt. Experiencing the way others live in foreign countries has been an eye opener for me.
What do you think, friends? Stay with me in this chapter and see where I am coming from.

The economic system in Israel was based on three fundamental principles:

1. God owned the land and had a right to control it (verse 23);
2. God owned the people, because He had redeemed them from Egyptian bondage                (verses 38, 42, 55);
3. The Jews were a family and should care for each other (verses 25, 35-36, 39, 47). (Wiersbe)

In this last chapter of Leviticus, we read of the laws regarding the sabbatic years, outlined by Warren Wiersbe:

• The Sabbatic Year (verses 1-7, 18-22)
• The Year of Jubilee (verses 8-17, 23-24)
• The Care of the Poor (verses 25-55).

God was laying down the law, so to speak, before the Israelites went into the Promised Land. As we have previously read, the number seven appeared several times in the Old Testament Jewish calendar. The number seven refers to perfection.There was to be:

• the Sabbath, observed on the seventh day of the week,
• Pentecost came seven weeks after Passover,
• the seventh month introduced the Feast of Trumpets, the Day of Atonement, and the Feast of Tabernacles,
• every seventh year was a Sabbatic Year,
• after seven Sabbatic years came the Year of Jubilee.

Just as God provided a weekly Sabbath for His people, He provided a rest for the land. This law was for the future whenever Israel lived in the conquered land. What do we learn about this law?

• There was to be one year of rest after six years of production. The land would lie fallow and restore its fruitfulness. The land was keeping a Sabbath unto the LORD. (verse 2)
• God promised to provide abundant crops during the sixth year, so the Sabbatic Year was a test of faith for the people. He would supply double (two years worth) in the harvest in preparation of the sabbatic year. Also, God would supply triple (three years worth) in the 48th year. (verses 5-7, 20-21)
• There was to be neither the planting of grain nor the pruning of grape vines during that year. (verses 3-4)
• Whatever popped up from the ground, growing on its own, was free for all to eat-poor, rich, stranger, servant, cattle, and beasts. This was an expression of the love of God for the poor of the land. ((Ex. 23:10-12) All debts were to be remitted at the end of the 7th year.               (Deut. 15:1-11) Jewish servants were to serve only 6 years. (21:2)
• The Israelites were to spend some of this time teaching the law of Moses to their children. (Deut. 31:10-13) It would have like a week-long Bible conference reminding the people of what God had done and what He expected of them.

[Resources: Liberty Bible Commentary, Wiersbe's Expository Outlines on the Old Testament]

All prisoners and captives were set free, slaves released, and debtors absolved. All property reverted to original owners. This plan curbed inflation and moderated acquisitions. It also gave new opportunity to people who had fallen on hard times.  (MacArthur)

LET IT GROW

Is our society so busy working, that we do not rest? Stores used to be closed on Sundays when I was growing up.
Why does our land not get to rest a year? Instead, we use fertilizers to replenish the nutrients so it will keep on producing.
Has our faith in God's provision lingered, doing things our own way?

The Sabbath Year was an opportunity for a new beginning for those who had experienced difficulties financially. Unfortunately, there's no evidence that the nation ever faithfully obeyed this law
(2 Chron. 36:21). the prophets often condemned the Jewish leaders and wealthy people for their ruthless treatment of the poor. Had it been observed, the poor would not have lost their lands and the rich would not have had huge estates. (Wiersbe)

Are we teaching each new generation the Word of God? Are we reminding the older generation what it says?

LET IT GO

Rest.
Trust.
Read.
Teach.
Be grateful. 
Be content.

Precious Name

O. T. #293   "Precious Name"
May 21, 2014
Leviticus 24-Part 2
Thou shalt not take the name of the LORD thy God in vain: for the LORD will not hold him guiltless that taketh His name in vain.  Exodus 20:7

LET IT GLOW

If we told someone in this generation that they were blaspheming, would they understand what that meant? How often do we hear people say/take the precious name of our God and Savior in vain, using it as a curse word? Oh, how it saddens me! I tell them to not talk about my Father that way. Hopefully, it will bring to their attention what wrong they are doing. We are told to sing praises to our Holy God, honor His name, and thank Him for all He does for us. Precious Name, oh how sweet-Jesus!
This chapter mentions one who blasphemed the name of the LORD. Read on to find out what happened to him.

For the rest of the chapter (verses 10-23), we read about the laws for regulating conduct in the Israelite camp:

• stoning of the man who blasphemes God's name; to blaspheme means to speak with irreverence; the act of insulting or showing contempt or lack of reverence for God; the act of claiming the attributes of deity; irreverence toward something considered sacred or inviolable(Webster's Dictionary)
• two or three witnesses laid hands (on head) publicly as a testimony of one's guilt (Deut.17:6-7);
• congregation stoned guilty person because he had not only sinned against God but against community also;
• law of retaliation-a man kills another man, then the murderer was to be put to death;
• punishment of personal injury was restricted to that injury being returned to the guilty one, such as a fracture for a fracture, an eye for an eye, a tooth for a tooth, nothing more; this was not a command but a provision;
• when a beast was killed, the owner restored it; replacement or fine of damaged property.

Capital punishment was required for:

• murder;
• hitting or cursing parents (Ex. 21:15, 17);
• kidnapping (Ex. 21:16);
• violation of the Sabbath (Num. 15:32-36);
• blaspheming God's name (Lev. 24:16);
• any type of witchcraft (Lev. 20:27);
• various types of adultery and incest (Lev. 20:10-12).  (Falwell)

Wow! Wouldn't our society change if we followed and taught these laws of the Israelites?
Oh that we would repent and turn from our wicked ways, begging for God's mercy! 


LET IT GROW

What can we learn from David Guzik concerning this?

• Only the High Priest of Israel was allowed to pronounce the holy name of God (Yahweh)? That was only done once a year, on the Day of Atonement.
• The proper pronunciation was passed on to his processor with the passing priest's last breath.
• Jews did not write God's name because if  the paper was destroyed, it might be considered blasphemous. They would write Adonai (Lord) instead of Yahweh; instead of God, they'd write G-d; refer to God with names like the Name.

Jesus was accused of blasphemy when He said, I am the Son of God. (John 10:33-36)
False witnesses testified against Jesus, thus according to the Jewish law, Jesus should be put to death.
(Matt. 26:59-67) Of course, we know the outcome of the trial was death of our dear Savior.

Jesus warns us that blasphemy against the Holy Ghost shall not be forgiven unto men. (Matt. 12:31-32) For out of the abundance of the heart the mouth speaketh. (verse 34)

But those things which proceed out of the mouth come forth from the heart; and they defile the man. For out of the heart proceed evil thought, murders, adulteries, fornications, thefts, false witness, blasphemies.  (Matt. 15:18-19)

Our words indicate what is in our heart. It is the heart where Jesus looks and judges us. How important it is for us to watch our words.

What did Jesus teach us?

• Concerning the eye for an eye law, don't we humans tend to want to hurt our attacker worse than they hurt us? We are told to turn the other cheek and not retaliate with words or physical injury. (Matt. 5:39) 
• Forgiveness is hard, dear friends, but it is required of us. (Matt. 6-Model Prayer)
• Love, bless, do good to, and pray for your enemies. (Matt. 5:43-44)
• Be reconciled with our brother, then give our offerings to God. (Matt. 5:23-24)

Let us know of others that I have left out.


LET IT GO

Love God and love others.

Respect and love God's name. Teach others to do the same.

Confess our wrongs and ask forgiveness.

Oil for the Lanterns

O. T. #292  "Oil for the Lanterns"
May 20, 2014
Leviticus 24-Part 1
Command the children of Israel, that they bring unto thee pure oil olive beaten for the light, to cause the lamps to burn continually.  Leviticus 24:2

LET IT GLOW

On my rock fireplace, there are two red oil burning lanterns, empty. They are there mainly to enhance the country look of the room. However, I did purchase some oil to fill them, when I need lighting up the room and the electricity is off. It should last longer than candles, though I have yet to try it. So the oil is there when I need it, though it does me no good if I don't use it. I have to pour the oil into the lantern and cause it to burn before it does me any good. In the same way, the Holy Spirit is ready to fill me, waiting to be my light, showing me the way to live, lighting up my world for Him. Am I letting Jesus light up my life and my world? Or am I empty like the lanterns? How about you, friend?


So far, we have read in Leviticus about the laws which God gave to Israel pertaining to proper conduct concerning:

• sacrifices (chapter 17)
• moral conduct (chapter 18)
• priestly conduct (chapter 21)
• observation of the Lord's feast (chapter 23)
• conduct in the camp (chapter 24)
• sabbatic years (chapter 25)
• conditions for blessings or curses (chapter 26)
• vows and dedications (chapter 27)

[Resource: Liberty Bible Commentary]

In this chapter, we read about the laws for the Tabernacle service (verses 1-9). The Lord reminds Israel about the pure olive oil to be used as fuel in the golden lampstand, which was the source of light inside the tent. It was to continually burn, with the wicks always being trimmed.

Also,there were to be 12 loaves of bread on the Table of Showbread. Each loaf represented a tribe of Israel. Each loaf was to be made of about 6 quarts of flour. To put this in perspective for us, it would measure 12 cups of flour. That is a very large loaf of bread. (Whenever I bake homemade bread, that much flour would make 3 loaves.)

The 12 loaves were to be placed in 2 rows. Frankincense was placed either on the loaves, or possibly between the rows of bread, for later burning at the altar of incense. These loaves memorialized Israel continually before the Lord. Aaron and his son ate these large loaves each week, in the Holy Place, and then they were replaced with fresh bread each Saturday. (Falwell)


LET IT GROW

The light in the Tabernacle represented Christ. The oil stands for the Holy Spirit (Zech. 4:2-6).

Jesus never stopped being the Light of the world (John 8:12). Just as Jesus never took a break from being that light, so are we (Matt. 5:14). We can only do this if we are continually supplied with oil (Holy Spirit) and have our wicks trimmed (through trials and troubles).

The bread speaks of our fellowship (breaking bread with God) and communion continuously, like what God wanted with Israel.

Showbread (Ex. 25:30) means bread of the face in the sense of it being eaten in the presence or before the face of God.

God wanted the fellowship fresh (eaten the Holy Place). He didn't want a stale communion with His people, but a fresh, new relationship. (Guzik)

Is our light still burning for Jesus today? Or have we let it go out, snuffed by our sins?
How's our fellowship with God-fresh or stale?

LET IT GO

Let Jesus' light shine in and through me.

Let Him light up my world.

Set my soul afire for You, Lord; burn brightly within me.

Keep my fellowship with fresh and new every morning, guarding it from becoming stale with sin.

God is good, all the time.

Sounding of the Trumpet

O. T. #291  "Sounding of the Trumpet"
May 19, 2014
Leviticus 23-Part 2
We will not all sleep, but we will all be changed-in a flash, in the twinkling of an eye, at the last trumpet. 1 Cor. 15:51-52

LET IT GLOW

I remember one Sunday morning when a guy in our church went through the hall blowing his trumpet. We were studying that key verse in Sunday School. What a wake up call! What reality! One day that trumpet will sound and Christians will be taken to heaven. Are you ready?

This chapter tells about the seven feast which the Israelites were told to observe. We previously discussed the first four. Today we will look at the last three.

1. Passover
2. Unleavened Bread
3. Firstfruits
4. Pentecost

5. Feast of Trumpets (verses 23-25)

On the first day of the seventh Jewish month (Sept.-Oct.) was a time of the feast of trumpets. The Lord had given Israel instructions to follow whenever they heard the trumpets sound. It indicated a time for them to gather in an assembly and a time of war. This was a day of rest, intended to awaken Israel for preparing for the rest of the month's events.


6. Day of Atonement (verses 26-32)

Previously, this feast was discussed in chapters 16-17. It was to be observed on the tenth day of the seventh month. It was the day the high priest, Aaron went into the Holy of Holies, once a year, to offer the blood sacrifice for the removal, carried away, of the sins of the nation Israel. The blood was put on the Mercy Seat. These rituals did not remove the sins, since they were repeated year after year, but were covered with the blood. The Jews salvation came by faith in this process. Our comes by faith in the grace of God through Jesus' blood. His blood became an atonement for our sins. Have your sins been washed in the blood of the Lamb of God?

No work was to be done on that day from sundown on the ninth to sundown on the tenth, as Israel reckoned time. Instead, they were to see the work of the high priest. (Falwell)

7. Feast of Tabernacles (verses 33-44)

This feast was observed for eight days, from the 15-22 of the 7th month. On the first and last days of this feast, Israel was to observe a Sabbath of rest, in addition to the regular Saturday Sabbath.

This feast commemorated God's deliverance, protection, and provision during the wilderness wanderings of the Exodus. It was also known as the Feast of Booths and Feast of Ingathering. the people lived in booths or huts made from limbs, remembering their wilderness experience. It also celebrated the autumn harvest and will be celebrated in the Millennium. (MacArthur)

Has God delivered you from your wilderness.


LET IT GROW

How are these significant in the New Testament and today?

• The Feast of Trumpets illustrates the regathering of Israel when God's trumpets call them from the ends of the earth (Is. 27:12-13) and the words of Christ (Matt. 24:29-31). The church awaits the sound of the trumpet and the return of our Lord Jesus Christ in the air (1 Cor. 15:52; 1 Thess. 4:13-18). Once His children are off the earth, God will declare war on the nations. (Wiersbe)
• When God finally gathers the Jews together, He will reveal Christ to them. Israel's future Day of Atonement is described in Zech. 12:10-13:1). It will be a day of mourning for sin, a day of cleansing by the blood of the Lamb. Certainly at the Judgment Seat of Christ, the church will be cleansed of all defilement and be made beautiful for the marriage of the Lamb. (Wiersbe)
• The feast of Tabernacles speaks of the future millennial kingdom that God has promised the Jews. We don't know when the trumpets will sound, so we need to be ready for the coming of our Lord Jesus. 

Jesus attended the Feast of Tabernacles in John 7:2, 37). During this feast they brought water from the pool of Siloam and poured it out to remember how God supplied them with water in the wilderness.  Then, Jesus told men to come to Him and drink (John 7:37-39). Israelites lighted the area with torches to commemorate the fiery pillar in the wilderness. Jesus is the light of the world (John 8:12). (Falwell)

Are we ready for the final trumpet to sound and Jesus returns to take His children home?

LET IT GO

Be ready for the final trumpet.

Share the gospel of Jesus so others are prepared.

Keep praying for others.

Thank God for His deliverance from my wilderness wandering.

Fist Four Feasts

O. T. #290  "First Four Feasts"
May 16, 2014
Leviticus 23-Part 1
These are the feasts of the LORD, even holy convocations, which ye shall proclaim in their seasons.  Leviticus 23:4

LET IT GLOW

Here we have seven feasts, which were sacred to the Lord. They were given in order for the religious Jewish calendar, after the Sabbath. Not all of the Israelites were required to attend the seven festivals. The feasts of Unleavened Bread, Weeks, and Tabernacles required that all males gather in Jerusalem (Ex. 23:14-17; Deut. 16:16-17).

These seven feasts of the Lord were  holy convocations, which means a calling (together) in Hebrew. (verse 2) The people worked six days, then on the seventh day, Saturday, the Jews would do no work. This was their Sabbath of rest.

Christ's resurrection changed the day for weekly worship to Sunday, the first day of the week (Acts 20:7; 1 Cor. 16:2). The difference is, the Jews worked and rested at the end of the week, but Christians rest firsts and then go forth to serve the Lord on the remaining six days. (Falwell)

First came the observance of the Sabbath of solemn rest.
Then came the first four feasts, which took place during the first Jewish month:

1. Passover began on the 14th day of the first month (our March/April). Jewish months were determined by the moon, which varied the time of celebration. The Passover lamb was slain and eaten with bitter herbs and unleavened bread as a memorial of how God passed over the Israelites in Egypt when He saw the blood applied to the doorposts. Christ is our Passover Lamb. (Ex. 12; 1 Cor. 5:7)
2. Unleavened Bread lasted seven days, observed the 15th-21st of the month. It was eaten at the first Passover while Israel was awaiting deliverance from Egypt. Since leaven (yeast) in the bread represents sin, eating this feast represents God's people putting away sin out of their lives. We are first saved by the blood of the Lamb of God, Jesus Christ, then we put away our sinful habits. All Jewish men were required to be present at this feast.
3. Firstfruits feast was celebrated on the day after the Passover Sabbath, which was Sunday, the first day of the week. The priest would wave the sheaf of grain before the altar as a token that the whole harvest belonged to the Lord. It pictures our Lord's resurrection (1 Cor. 15:20-21 calls Jesus the first fruits). Because Christ, the Firstfruits, is alive, the entire "resurrection harvest" belongs to God. (Wiersbe)

          According to tradition, view of the crucifixion of Christ on Friday the fourteenth, He rose on   
          the sixteenth, a Sunday-the day of the Feast of First Fruits. Christ rose as the first fruits of them
          that sleep (1 Cor. 15:23). (Falwell)

LET IT GROW

      4. Pentecost, which means fifty, was celebrated seven weeks after the Feast of First Fruits, by
          counting 50 days beginning with the day of first fruits. The attendance of all Israelite males
          was required. A sheaf of the grain was waved on the first fruits, then the grains were united
          together into one loaf for this offering.

           Fifty days after Christ's resurrection, the Holy Spirit came to believers (Acts 2). For forty days,
           Christ had ministered to His disciples (Acts 1:3), and for another ten days they had prayed and
           waited for Pentecost to arrive. The new meal offering was composed of two loaves of bread,
           symbolizing Jews and Gentiles baptized into one body, the church, by the Holy Spirit
            (1 Cor. 12:13).  (Wiersbe)

Jesus observed these Jewish feasts.
Do you recognize Him as your Passover Lamb, so God's judgment and sentence of eternal damnation and separation from Him will pass over you?
Is Jesus your first fruit from the dead? So you believe He rose from the dead on the third day?
Does His Holy Spirit dwell within you, believer?
Do we give our first fruits to Jesus?

LET IT GO

Glorify Jesus Christ as my Passover Lamb, the Lamb of God who takes away the sin of the world.

Ask Jesus to remove my sins, and forgive me, naming them.

Give my offering and praise to the Risen Savior.

Watch the Holy Spirit working in lives; pray for my loved ones.

Give Jesus my everything.

Let It Go

O. T. #289  "Let It Go"
May 15, 2014
Leviticus 22
And the LORD spake unto Moses, saying,   Leviticus 22:1

LET IT GLOW

Have you seen the latest children's movie by Disney, called Frozen?
Our granddaughter has seen it so many times, by way of DVD, that she can sing the main character's song Let it Go. The song talks about letting her past go, leave it behind. Those words are easier said than done, huh? Jesus does it for us when we ask Him to forgive us of our sins. He washes them away and remembers them no more. So, we are the ones who need to let it go. Forgive and don't let those hard feelings come up again in your mind. (I have to work on it daily.)
Are you ready to look at this chapter?


Here we read of additional instructions on ceremonial cleanness for the priests, beginning with a death threat (verse 3) to those who might violate these rules.  (MacArthur)

The rest of the chapter (verses 17-30) deals with the acceptable and unacceptable sacrifices to be offered to God.
We see the tender heart of our Lord as the laws relate to the killing of the sacrifices:

• young animals (verses 27-28);
• mother birds (Deut. 22:6-7).

Did you know that the cutting down of fruit trees was forbidden because they provide the fruit for eating (Deut. 20:19-20). This was in reference to the time when the Israelites captured the enemies' cities.

The motive behind obedience to God was His holy nature and grace in delivering the nation. (MacArthur)

Clarke's Commentary says:

In the service of God, according to the law, neither an imperfect offering nor an imperfect offerer could be admitted. What need then of a mediator between a holy God and sinful men!  And can we expect that any of our services, however sincere, and well-intentioned, can be accepted, unless offered on that living Altar that sacrifices the gift? God. infinite in His own perfections, has no need of His creatures; but they need Him.

Jesus Christ is our perfect sacrifice for our sins. Do you know Him today? Is He your Mediator to God? We all need Him today.

LET IT GROW

We have been reading throughout the book of Leviticus that blemished or deformed animals were not acceptable sacrifices  unto the LORD.

In reading commentaries, I found David Guzik had this to say:
During the days of Jesus, priests would disqualify an animal for an insignificant reason, and then require them (owners) to purchase an approved sacrificial animal at an exorbitant price. (Matt. 21:12-13)
Jesus was our perfect sacrifice; perfect in His:

• nature as both God and man,
• motive,
• personality,
• obedience,
• sacrifice for sin on our behalf.

How is our motive, personality, and obedience stacking up here? Are we striving to be acceptable to God with our life? Of course, we fail, but Jesus is our perfect sacrifice and intercedes on our behalf to the Father. How grateful we should be!

We should honor God because of who He is (The LORD), what He is (holy), what He is doing (sanctify us), and what He has done (delivered us from our Egypt-world of sin). (Guzik)

Believers today don't bring animal sacrifices to God because that whole system was ended at the cross. Since nothing that we offer Him is perfect, we must offer our sacrifices through Jesus Christ so that they will be acceptable to God (1 Peter 2:5).
 But we can present to Him:

• our bodies (Rom. 12:1-2),
• the people we have won to Christ (Rom. 15:16),
• our good works (Heb. 13:16),
• a broken heart (Ps. 51:17),
• and our prayers (Ps. 141:2). (Wiersbe)

May I add to the list, our:

• praise (Heb. 13:15),
• thanksgiving (Heb. 13:15; Ps. 107:22),
• faith (Heb. 11:6),
• obedience (1 Sam. 15:22),
• love (Eph. 5:2),
• mercy (Hosea 6:6),
• sharing with others (Heb. 13:16),
• spirit of joy (Ps. 27:6),
• justice, mercy, faith (Matt. 23:23),
• doing His will (Heb. 10),
• a gentle, meek, and quiet spirit (1 Peter 3:4).

Can we let go of our need for approval?
Is our ambition to please God? (2 Cor. 5:9-10)
Can we let go of everything and cling to Jesus?
Do we serve Him in our wilderness and Promised Land?

God says in Isaiah 43:18-19:
Forget the former things; do not dwell on the past. See, I am doing a new thing! Now it springs up; do you not perceive it? I am making a way in the wilderness and streams in the wasteland.


LET IT GO
                     of pride;
                                 of control;
                                   of my way;
                                     of my fears;
                                        of the world and everything in it.
Let God give what He chooses to give because He only gives love.  (Ann Voskamp)

Standards

O. T. #288  "Standards"
May 14, 2014
Leviticus 21
Whatsoever ye do in word or deed, do all in the name of the Lord Jesus, giving thanks to God and the Father by him.  Colossians 3:17

LET IT GLOW

Are we lifting up, living by, loving in God's standards for our life? In order to know what pleases God, we have to study and read His Word. I know that takes time from one's schedule, but it is needful if we are to do our best for Him.

This chapter informs us of the highest standards of character and conduct required of the high priest and other priests. Holy character and conduct of God's servants as they minister to the Lord and His people is the main idea here. Mentioned in this chapter are the laws concerning their mourning for the dead, marriage, and conduct of family relationships.

Wiersbe's Expository Outlines on the Old Testament  gives this outline for chapter 21:

• Conduct of the priests (verses 1-19)
• Conduct of the high priest (verses 10-15)
• Characteristics of the priests (verses 16-24)

God gives specific details in these categories concerning the priests. You can read them in this chapter.
Do we hold our pastors/preachers to a higher standard? They are accountable to God for their ministry and conduct.

Laws for the priests are given, which demanded a higher standard of holly conduct than for the general Israelite. (MacArthur)

LET IT GROW

The high priest had higher standards placed upon him because of the nature of his office. People usually will not rise higher than their leader, so leaders must walk circumspectly. (Falwell)

God warns that, as we serve Him, we not profane:

• ourselves (verse 5),
• God's name (verses 6, 22:2),
• God's sanctuary (verse 120,
• our children (verse 15),
• any holy things that we handle in ministry (verse 15).  (Wiersbe)

As the priests were held to a higher standard of character and conduct, as well as the sacrifices offered, this pictures our Lord Jesus Christ. He is our perfect High Priest and perfect sacrifice
(Heb. 7:26-28; 10:1-4). God's people are priests (1 Peter 2:5,9) and our sacrifices are to be our best which we give to God (Rom. 12:1).

Are we heeding these? Do we live by the standards which God has for us?


LET IT GO

Honor and respect God's name and His sanctuary.

Teach our children to live by God's standards.

Live by these standards to please God.

Repetition

O. T. #287  "Repetition"
May 13, 2014
Leviticus 20
Ye shall therefore keep all...   Leviticus 20:22

LET IT GLOW

When we buy items that require assembly, we really should follow the directions. If we don't, there is a chance that it will not function or look right. Eventually, we go to the instructions for help if that happens. Am I the only one?

This chapter seems to be a repeat of the Laws. Repetition is how we learn, so God knew Israel would need them again and again so they would be sure to obey them.

With the faithfulness of the Israelites and separation from the pagans came the promises of God:

• inheritance of the Promised Land,
• which would be a land that flowed with mild and honey (representing sustenance and blessing) (verse 24).

They were told to keep all of God's statutes and judgments (verse 22).

Do we know the promises of God's blessings found in the Bible?


LET IT GROW

The regulations for the new nation of Israel is continuing in this chapter. It seems to be a repeat, which is how we learn things.
The children of Israel were forbidden to:

• worship false gods (verses 2-5),
• worship demons (verse 6),
• curse, dishonor father and mother (verse 9),
• commit adultery (verses 10-12),
• commit homosexual acts (verse 13),
• have sex with animals (verses 15-16),
• commit incest (verse 170,
• have sex with their wife while she was unclean monthly (verse18)

Did you notice that the punishment of the violator was death, mostly by stoning.
Are we loving God and loving our neighbor, as Jesus instructed?

LET IT GO

Love God, love my neighbors. (others).

Honor God with my life.

Make sure my ways are God's ways.

Convictions

O. T. #286  "Convictions"
May 12, 2014
Leviticus 19-Part 2
And ye shall be holy unto Me...   Leviticus 19:26

LET IT GLOW

Being separate from the worldliness can go from one extreme to another. Although I do wear long skirts to church, I wear jeans the rest of the time. My ears are not pierced, yet I do wear jewelry. My hear is long right now, but with summer coming, I will get it cut medium length. I think we should have individual convictions, with the Bible as our guide. Yet, we should avoid drawing attention to ourselves. Our goal is to honor Jesus. He has set us free from the Law, but given us the law of love to live by.


We are still reading about neighborliness, mandates for practical holiness.
What are the instructions given in the rest of this chapter?

• Keep the principle of separation. These mixtures may have been characteristic of some idolatrous practices. (verse 19)
• Do not lie with an engaged slave girl, there was punishment for the act. Offerings for the sin was to be given. (verses 20-22)
• Fruit and nut trees were dedicated to the Lord for the first four years. (verses 23-25)
• Do not eat anything with the blood. (verse 26)
• Enchantments, witchcraft, divination, soothsaying, and such were always punished by death. (Lev. 20:6, 27)
• Make no cuttings or markings on your body; no tattoos were allowed, which were connected to names of idols, and were permanent signs of apostasy. (verses 27-28)
• Do not prostitute your daughters. (verse 29)
• Keep the Sabbath; reverence God's sanctuary. (verse 30)
• Don't seek after wizards. the medium try to contact/communicate with the spirits of the dead, who are actually impersonated by demons.  (verse 31)
• show honor and respect to the older man, which acknowledges God's blessing of long life and the wisdom that comes with it. (verse 32)
• Befriend strangers who want to live among the nation. (verse 33-34)
• Be honest in business. (verses 35-36)
• Observe God's statutes and judgments. (verse 37)

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


LET IT GROW

This chapter gives some details concerning the superstitions of the Egyptian practices, the idolatry, and separation from the pagan ways and worship with which God was forbidding.
In his letter to the Galatians, Paul said in 6:17, Finally, let no one cause me trouble, for I bear on my body the marks of Jesus.
Paul endured many beatings and stoning for the preaching of Christ.

Do we have scars because we are a Christian? Are we standing up for Jesus and His teachings? Or do we fit in with the world and are unnoticeable?


LET IT GO

Follow Jesus' teachings and the Holy Spirit's leading.

Glorify God with my body, soul, and mind.

Happy Mother's Day to all you mothers.

I am so blessed to have a wonderful daughter and son, and in laws, too.

If your mother is still living, show her love, thank her for all she has done for you, be there with her.

Oh how I do miss my mother and mother in law! We were blessed!

I challenge us to have the faith of Rahab, sacrificial love of Hannah, submission of Mary.

Have a lovely day, gals.

Linda

Crumbs from the Table

O. T. #285  "Crumbs from the Table"
May 9, 2014
Leviticus 19-Part 1
Ye shall be holy: for I the LORD God am holy.  Leviticus 19:2

LET IT GLOW

Last weekend, we kept our granddaughter while her parents went off to celebrate their anniversary. Her inside dog came to our house before I swept the floor. Well, there was no need to sweep after Princess came. She cleaned it up, eating the crumbs. Aren't we that way, we feel like a dog, only deserving crumbs that fall from Jesus' table?

So far, with the mandates for practical holiness, we have covered the sacrifices and food (chapter 17) and the proper sexual behavior (chapter 18). Today we are discussing holy conduct in society, neighborliness, so we find:

• the phrase I am the LORD your God, is said 15 times in this chapter;
• the instruction, Be ye holy for I am holy (verse 2);
• the reminder to revere, respect their mother and father (verse 3);
• the commandment to observe God's Sabbaths (verse 3);
• the command to not turn to idols or make gods of cast metal (verse 4);
• no decay was allowed to enter the peace offering, so it had to be eaten within 2 days        (verses 5-8);
• provision for the poor, during harvest, they were to leave gleanings for them (verses 9-10); gleaning means to gather grain or other produce left by reapers. (Webster's Dictionary)
• once again to not steal, lie, or swear (verses 11-12);
• the promotion of economic fairness, respectfulness, justice of poor and mighty, truthfulness, and brotherly love (verses 13-18).

Those are some good principles for our society to practice, don't you agree?
Do we share with our neighbors in need?
Are they only getting spiritual crumbs from us or the meat of the Word?

Ruth met Boaz as she was gleaning in his field, picking up crumbs for supper. He provided for Ruth and her mother in law. We know the rest of the story. Ruth was a humble, believing lady. She was blessed with a son Obed, a grandson Jesse, and a great grandson David, who became king. What an influence of faith.


LET IT GROW

In Mark 7, we read of a woman bringing her demon-possessed young daughter to Jesus for healing. He was testing her faith when Jesus said, It is not right to take the children's bread and toss it to their dogs. To that, the woman replied, Yes, Lord, but even the dogs under the table eat the children's crumbs. Then Jesus sent her home because the He delivered the girl from the demon.

The "children's bread" refers to God's blessings offered to the Jews. this picture indicates that the "little dogs" (Gentiles) had a place in the household of God, but not the prominent one. (MacArthur)

Oh to eat the spiritual crumbs off of Jesus' table. I am so blessed.

LET IT GO

Share the meat of the Word of God with others.

Don't be satisfied with just crumbs from Jesus' table.

Where is Old Fashioned Purity?

O. T. #284 "Where is Old Fashioned Purity?"
May 8, 2014
Leviticus 18
Ye shall do My judgments, and keep mine ordinances, to walk therein; I am the LORD your God.  Leviticus 18:5

LET IT GLOW

Yes, I am old fashioned. I am so glad that my husband and I remained sexually pure for our wedding night. (I realize that not all couples can say that.) We can hold up God's standards today in a world that considers them old fashioned. We can teach purity as a blessed lifestyle which God established for us to live by today. What has happened to our society? Where is old fashioned purity?

We discussed the first of the mandates for Israel's practical holiness living when they get in the Promised Land.

The MacArthur Bible Commentary for the last section of Leviticus:

• Sacrifice and food (chapter 17)
• Proper sexual behavior (ch. 18)
• Neighborliness (ch.19)
• Capital/grave crimes (ch. 20)
• Instructions for priests (ch. 21)
• Religious festivals (ch. 23)
• The Tabernacle (24:1-9)
• An account of blasphemy (24:10-23)
• Sabbatical and jubilee years (ch. 25)
• Exhortation to obey the law: blessings and curses (ch.26)
• Redemption of votive gifts (ch.27

As God gave His children the moral regulations by which the were intended to live, He declares and instructs again:

•  I am the LORD your God. (verse 2) Over 50 times this is said, stating the uniqueness of the one true and living God who is holy and calls His people to be holy, also.
• Do not do as they did in Egypt, living like them (verse 3)
• Do not do as the Canaanites do, following their practices (verse 3)
• Obey My laws and follow my decrees, for the one who does will live by them (verses 4-5)
• Do not have sexual relations with any close relative, a woman while she is having her monthly period, nor with your neighbor's wife. (verses 6-19)
• Do not give any of your children to be sacrificed to Molech. (verse 21)
• Do not have sexual relations man with man, man with animals. (verses 22-23)
• Native-born and aliens living among the Israelites were forbidden to do such things, also. 

God warned the Israelites about these detestable acts which would defile them if they engaged in such sinful things. He explained that the nations which He was going to drive out of their land were doing them, and they defiled the land.

When God created Adam and Eve, He told them to be fruitful and multiply. Of course, we know how that took place, sex between a husband and wife, which was a man and a woman. This is the standard which He established for mankind. Sin and lust have changed sex into a detestable act in God's eyes. Oh that our nation would realize this and repent of their sins, returning to God's standards.

Are we holding up God's standards regarding sexual relations? Are we following them, also?

Did you catch the special blessing that was promised to the Israelites if they obey God's Law? These word have a higher reference to spiritual life as indicated by the Lord (Luke 10:28) and Paul (Rom. 10:5). Obedience does not save from sin and hell, but it does mark those who are saved (Eph. 2:8-9).  (MacArthrur)

LET IT GROW

Verse 29 tells us that Everyone who does any of these detestable things-such persons must be cut off from their people.

Israel was instructed to keep God's requirements and not follow any of the detestable customs that were practiced before they entered the land, and not defile themselves with them. Aren't Christians required to do the same?

I think about the harlot Rahab, who protected the Israelite spies in Jericho. She had faith in Israel's God and became the mother of Boaz, who was the husband of Ruth, the great-grandparents of David. What a turn around for Rahab's life. All things are possible with God.


LET IT GO

Determine in my heart to remain faithful to my husband, following God's standards.

Encourage unmarried people to stay sexually pure for their marriage partner.

Keep praying for those who have gone astray.

It's in the Blood

O. T. #284  "It's in the Blood"
May 7, 2014
Leviticus 17
The life of the flesh is in the blood...    Leviticus 17: 11, 14

LET IT GLOW

Whether it was a chicken, a hog, a calf, a rabbit, or a squirrel that we killed for us to eat when I was growing up, we did not consume the blood. At the time, I did not understand the reason, nor did I think to ask why. This chapter explains that blood is the life of an animal. Modern day medicine knows that diseases and infections are carried to another through the contaminated blood. Whether it is a physical or spiritual reason, this is one Jewish law that should be respected and obeyed, in my opinion. Do you want to find out more?

Stipulations for practical holiness, laws of sacrifices and food, and prohibition concerning blood are detailed in this chapter.
Among these various regulations dealing with sacrifices and food are:

• Killing an animal for food had to be done at the Tabernacle. A violator would be bare the consequences of either excommunication or death (Ex. 31:14).
• Sacrifices of animals were brought to the door of the Tabernacle, with only the appointed priests making the offering. This prevented sacrifices to devils, idols, (practice done by Egyptians) being done in the field.
• Animals killed by the priests at the tabernacle entrance would have their blood properly drained and poured out, not carelessly eaten.
• Eating an animal which died naturally or was killed by another, was permissible. The person had to go through the ritual cleansing process. (Liberty Bible Commentary)

What do we learn from these regulations?

• It was a serious violation of their sacrificial laws if a man killed the sacrificial animal himself. The Lord considered him guilty of bloodshed. (verse 4)
• The Israelites were prohibited from sacrificing to goat idols, to whom they prostituted themselves. (verse 7)
• Consuming blood was prohibited. God would be against that person.
• A hunter had to drain the blood of the bird or animal he killed for food, covering the blood with the dust.
• Eating a dead animal found dead by natural causes or torn by a wild animal was permitted, but the person had to go through the ceremonial cleansing process.

LET IT GROW

The life of the flesh is in the blood. (verse 11)
Its blood sustains its life. (verse 14)
From these two principles, we understand the importance of blood to a living person or animal.

Blood carries life-sustaining elements to all parts of the body; Therefore, it represents the essence of life. In contrast, the shedding of blood represents the shedding of life, death. Since blood (death) from a substitute atones for or covers the sinner, who is then allowed to live. (MacArthur)

There was only one price that God would accept for sin-the blood. There was only one place He would accept it-the door of the Tabernacle. So it is today. God accepts but one price for sin-the blood of His Son. And that blood was shed at the one place God appointed-Calvary's cross. To depend on any other sacrifice at any other place is to be rejected by God. He was not Christ the Example, or Christ the Teacher who saves us; it is Christ the Lamb of God, crucified for the sins of the world. (Wiersbe)

In Hebrews 9 NIV, we read how Christ is our High Priest, who entered the more perfect tabernacle not man-made, into the Most High Place, with His own blood, not of goats and calves, nor bulls. He obtained eternal redemption for us unclean. Christ offered Himself, unblemished, to God for the cleansing of our conscience from the acts that lead to death, so that we may serve the living God.
Christ is our mediator of this new covenant.

That is why Jesus Christ could say, while hanging on the cross, "It is finished." He fulfilled the requirement which God had for the redemption of our soul-the shedding of blood.

Have you asked Jesus to be your Savior, to cleanse your heart from you sins? Has He become your blood sacrifice? He is only a breath away.


LET IT GO

Praise the LORD Jesus!
Glory to God in the Highest!
Worship The King!

Two Special Days Verses One Special Day

O. T. #283  "Two Special Days Versus One Special Day"
May 6, 2014
Leviticus 16
And the LORD said unto Moses, Speak unto Aaron thy brother, that he come not at all times into the holy place within the vail before the mercy seat, which is upon the ark; that he die not: for I will appear in the cloud upon the mercy seat.  Leviticus 16:2

LET IT GLOW

As Christians, we celebrate Christmas and Easter as the two most important days of our year. We celebrate Christmas in recognition and honoring the birth of our Savior. Easter commemorates the death, and resurrection of our Savior as He purchased our salvation, taking our place as substitution for payment of our sins. Glory to the name of Jesus! We serve a Risen Savior!

The Day of Atonement was the most important day in the life of a Jew. They celebrate it as Yom Kippur. It was the day in which this Jewish nation was once again reconciled to God for another year. God dealt with Israel's sins which had not been covered during the year. It was the giving of the sin offering for the entire nation. We read in this chapter about such the sacrifice made. (It was within a 30-day period that the laws in Leviticus were given.)

According to Warren W.Wiersbe, in his book Wiersbe's Expository Outlines on the Old Testament, God gave these specific instructions to Moses for Aaron, the high priest:

• He had to be alone. (verses 1-2, 17)
• He laid aside his glorious garments. (verse 4)
• He washed. (verse 4)
• He offered a sin offering, a bull's blood, for himself and his family's sins. (verses 6-11)
• Aaron took the blood with him, placed hot coals from the brazen altar into the small portable golden censer, filled his hands with incense, and entered into the sacred presence of God behind the veil, where he stood before the Ark of the covenant with its Mercy Seat. There he filled the room with incense, which speaks of prayer, and sprinkled the bull's blood on the Mercy Seat seven times. (verses 11-14)  (Falwell)
• He entered the holy of holies. (verses 12-13) He entered three times-with incense, which pictures the glory of God; a blood sacrifice for himself; and blood shed for the people.

Two goats were considered one sin offering. (verse 5) Let me explain.
After the high priest had made the offering for himself and his family, it was time to do so for the entire nation of Israel. He took one goat, which met the requirements for acceptance, killed it, entered the Holy of Holies through the veil, with its blood, and sprinkled it upon the Mercy Seat. The blood of the sin offering reconciled the people and the tabernacle to God. (verse 20 and Heb. 9:23-24)

Then, upon the head of the second goat, the high priest laid his hands, and confessed the sins of the people, symbolizing a transfer of their guilt of sin to the innocent animal. This goat was sent away into the wilderness, never seen again. It was called the scapegoat, (azazel in Hebrew/ pronounced az-aw-zale') refers to goat of departure. This illustrated the removal of the nation's sins. (Ps. 103:12) However, these rituals did not actually remove sin, so it had to be repeated year after year.

Do we blame others for our sinning?

LET IT GROW

We realize that it is impossible for the blood of animals to take away sins, only cover them up.
In Hebrews 10, Jesus said that He came to do the Father's will.
By doing that will, we have been made holy through the sacrifice of the body of Jesus Christ once for all. (verse 10)
Jesus, our high priest offered for all time one sacrifice for sins, and now He sits at the right hand of God. His sacrificial work was complete.

Wiersbe makes a comparison of the high priest and Jesus Christ:

• Jesus, alone, paid the price for sin. Although His nation rejected Him, His disciples forsook Him and fled, and the Father turned from Him when He died on the cross, He settled the sin question once and for all.
• We see the picture of our Lord's coming to earth as a human being. He laid aside the garments of His glory and took upon Him the form of a servant. (Phil. 2:1-11)
• Christ sanctified Himself for our sake (John 17:19). He willingly dedicated Himself to the task of giving His life a ransom for many.
• Our Lord did not have to offer any sacrifices for Himself as the priest did. (Christ was the perfect sacrifice.)
• Jesus died not simply to save lost sinners and give them life, but that God might be glorified (John 17:1-5)
• The believing Israelite was saved by his faith, just the way people have always been saved.
• The resurrection and ascension of Christ is pictured when the priest laid aside his linen garments and put on his garments of glory. Jesus finished His work on the cross, then went back to His Father.
• Salvation is by faith, not by works. (Eph. 2:8-9)

If we have accepted this free gift of salvation in Jesus Christ, what are we to do?
Ephesians 2:10 tells us: For we are His workmanship created in Christ Jesus unto good works, which God hath before ordained that we should walk in them.

Let's bring to Him the sacrifice of praise (Heb. 13:15).
Praise the name of God and magnify Him with thanksgiving (Ps. 69:30)
Offer our body as a living, holy sacrifice (Rom. 12:1-2)
Serve and obey Christ. (Rom. 14:17-18)
Share salvation in Christ. (1 Cor. 1:21)
Live a life of love. (Eph. 5:2)
Show mercy. (Matt. 9:13)
Do good and share with others (Heb. 13:16)
Do justly, love mercy, walk humbly with our God. (Micah 6:8)
Pray. (Rev. 8:3)


LET IT GO

                                of  our sinful ways/lifestyle.
                                of things in our life which displease God.
                                of our will and let God have His will be done through and in us.
                                of our ways and let God have His way.

Her Sweet Touch

O. T. #282  "Her Sweet Touch"
May 5, 2014
Leviticus 15
And Jesus said, "Who touched me?" 
" Daughter, be of good comfort: thy faith hath made thee whole; go in peace." Luke 8:45, 48

LET IT GLOW

Each Sunday, if possible, Mrs. Bess and I hug each other at church. She is the mother of our song director and about the age my own mother would have been. I cherish her sweet touch, the motherly touch that I miss from my own mother. I feel her loving heart. What a blessing and uplifting her touch gives me. I hope my touch can do that to others.
Do you have a Mrs. Bess in your life? Are you a Mrs. Bess to someone?

So far in this Book of Leviticus, we have read about Israel's access to God maintained through ceremonial purity, with ceremonial laws:

• regulating diet (11:1-47),
• regarding delivery of children (12:1-8),
• regarding diseases (13:1-14:57). (Liberty Bible Commentary)

Today's chapter gives ceremonial laws relating to discharges (verses 1-33). Whether the issue of discharge is that of a man or woman, sexual or not, blood, pus, lesion, boil, from a wound, etc., the individual was considered unclean. Personal contact, a touch, with an object such as a bed or chair, or people, would make those unclean, also. There was a ritual of washing, a ceremonial bathing to be performed.

After the issue was healed, 7 days were counted; and then the ceremonial bathing performed. The next day 2 birds were offered to make an atonement, one for a sin offering and the other for a burnt offering. (verses 13-15) These are no longer in force in the New Testament. (Falwell)

I noticed the word toucheth occurred often in this chapter; in Hebrew, it means lay the hand upon (for any purpose).

Has your life been touching, involved with things that God forbids or is not pleased with-another's spouse, or another man or woman, or someone's money, or defaming another's character. Our lives touch so many people each day. Are we touching them in a God-honoring way, a loving way, a serving way? Or is our touch self-centered?

When one considers that God was training a people to live in His presence, it becomes apparent that these rules for the maintenance of personal purity, pointing to the necessity of purity in the heart, were neither too stringent nor too minute.  (MacArthur)

LET IT GROW

Jesus touched several people mentioned in the New Testament and healed them:

• the leper (Matt. 8:3)
• Peter's mother in law (Matt. 8:14-15)
• two blind men (Matt. 9:29)
• Peter, James, John of fear (Matt. 17:7)
• blind men (Matt. 20:34).

A woman touched the hem of Jesus' garment, and her faith made her well.
Do we have that much faith?
Do we want a touch from Jesus?

LET IT GO

Beware and be aware of whom I touch and who touches me.

Seek a touch from Jesus.

Have faith for His healing touch upon my sinful heart and life.

A Cancerous Spot

O. T. #281  "A Cancerous Spot"
May 2, 2014
Leviticus 14-Part 1
This is the law of him in whom is the plague of leprosy, whose hand is not able to get that which pertaineth to his cleansing.    Leviticus 14:32


LET IT GLOW

My husband had a spot on the upper check of his face, which was a common cancer. He went to a man who specialized in skin problems, a dermatologist. That doctor removed the spot. After weeks of following specific directions, he was considered healed. So far it has not returned. We are relieved,  happy, and grateful to the Lord Jesus about the results. In a similar way, a Hebrew leper had spots that needed removed. Continue reading as to how he was healed.  


After reading about the terrifying disease of leprosy, we know there is hope for the infected. Leprosy was a picture of sin.
This chapter explains the ritual for the ceremonial cleansing of lepers so that they might enter society again.
Wiersbe's Expository Outlines on the Old Testament tells us these rituals are:

• The priest goes to the leper. (Verse 3) since the leper was barred from coming into the camp, the priest had to go "outside the camp" to him.
• The priest offers the sacrifices. (verses 4-7) The priest placed a bird in an earthen vessel (clay jar), then killed it. the bird was killed over running water. Then the priest took a living bird, dipped it in the blood of the dead bird, and set it free. He sprinkled some of the blood on the leper.
• The leper washes and waits. (verses 8-9) The priest pronounce the leper clean, so he is accepted as far as the Lord was concerned, but he had to make himself ritually acceptable. He had to remain outside the camp for 7 days.
• The leper offers the sacrifices. (verses 10-13) On the eighth day, the former leper goes to the tabernacle with sacrifices to be offered for him.
• The priest applies the blood and oil. (verses 14-20)  The blood of the trespass offering was applied to the priest. Then he was sprinkled 7 times with the oil, then the oil was applied in the same manner as the blood. Finally, the rest of the oil was poured over the man's head.

The process for restoring the poor to cleanness was the same as the previous verses, except for certain different animals were allowed for the two final sacrifices. (Falwell)

How wonderful that the lepers were provided physical healing and spiritual cleansing. God provided it all. They were allowed back in their society and family.
Do we offer hope to those with serious illnesses-Jesus Christ?

LET IT GROW

Since leprosy was a picture of sin, this chapter illustrates what Christ has done to cleanse sinner:

• Christ who came to us, died outside the camp so we might be saved (Hebrews 13:10-13). He came to seek and to save the lost (Luke 19:10).
• Christ willingly left heaven, took upon Himself the a body, an earthen vessel, that He might die for us. The bird killed over running water pictures the Holy Spirit. The living bird illustrates the resurrection of Christ. Without the shedding of blood there is no remission of sin (Heb. 9:22).
• The former leper washing is a picture of the believer cleansing himself from filthiness of the flesh and spirit (2 Cor. 7:1). After we are saved, it is our responsibility to keep our lives blameless and holy for His sake.  Eight is the number of resurrection, the new beginning.
• The sin offering took care of the man's defilement; the burnt offering represented his renewed dedication to God. The trespass offering was his only way to repair the damage done by that wasted segment of his life. He had been unable to serve God while having leprosy.
• Now, as for the touching part of the ritual. He was to listen to God's Word, work for God's glory, and walk in God's ways. Where the blood is applied, the Spirit of God can work.

All of this is accomplished today through faith in Jesus as Savior. Our sins can be forgiven, His blood applied, the Holy Spirit abides and restores our fellowship with God.

In Mark 1:40-45, a leper told Jesus, If You are willing, You can  make me clean. Jesus  touched him, replied, I am willing; be cleansed.
Immediately the leprosy departed from him, and he was cleansed.

Jesus Christ is able and will to save, friend. Have you asked Him?
Do you need a touch from Jesus?
Like the leper in our key verse, we are not able to make our self clean, well, or whole.

LET IT GO

Go to my High Priest, Jesus Christ, for spiritual examination.

Ask for healing of my sin sick heart, willingly.

Receive a touch from Jesus today.

Be made whole.