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.