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)