Ezekiel 45:13-46:24 + 1 Peter 1:13-2:10 + Psalm 119:33-48 + Proverbs 28:11
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Old Testament – Ezekiel chapters 45 & 46 describe some new regulations on how offerings are to be done, when compared to the original Pentateuch regulations – primarily from Numbers chapter 28. Apparently these chapters in Ezekiel have created some reconciliation work for rabbis in the past to figure out the proper regulations. Chapter 45 verses 13 through 15 speak of taxes to the prince that must be brought and will be used as offerings for the people who bring them: “”This is the tax you must give to the prince: one bushel of wheat or barley for every sixty you harvest, one percent of your olive oil, and one sheep for every two hundred in your flocks in Israel. These will be the grain offerings, burnt offerings, and peace offerings that will make atonement for the people who bring them, says the Sovereign LORD.”
Verse 20 in chapter 46 did stand out at me in today’s readings: “He explained, “This is where the priests will cook the meat from the guilt offerings and sin offerings and bake the flour from the grain offerings into bread. They will do it here to avoid carrying the sacrifices through the outer courtyard and harming the people by transmitting holiness to them.” Per a previous chapter this goes along the lines of the priests needing to take off their clothes in a special room after being in the Temple, to avoid transmitting holiness. This is interesting to me because you would think that transmitting holiness would be a good thing. Apparently not in this case. This does remind me of when Moses was on the mountain receiving the Laws, he had to wear a veil over his face amongst the people when he came down from the mountain because his face was so radiant from being in the presence of God. I read a commentary that said this transmission of holiness, in this case in Ezekiel, was not something for the Israelites to concern themselves with, because this was a vision of a future temple. I read another commentary that made the interesting point that these passages in Ezekiel can help demonstrate the transmission of holiness from Jesus’ robe to the woman who suffered from bleeding for 12 years – see Mark 5:22-34. She was healed by reaching out and touching Jesus’ robe. Of course Jesus says that it was the woman’s faith that healed her – not her touching his robe. It is intriguing to think about the transmission of holiness via garments or sacrifices. I’ll need to do more study on the problem of “transmitting holiness” in this case in Ezekiel. If anyone has ideas about this, please post up in the comments section below. Thanks.
New Testament – Today in First Peter chapter 1 verse 15 we read: “But just as he who called you is holy, so be holy in all you do; for it is written: “Be holy, because I am holy.”” Do you believe that God is holy? Do you believe that you are called to be holy? Is this a goal in your life – to be holy? What are some ways you can move forward on this goal of being holy? Have you moved forward in holiness this year? Will you continue to move forward in holiness next year? What are some specific areas of your life that God is calling you to holiness in during this coming year?
1 Peter 2 verse 2 is awesome! “You must crave pure spiritual milk so that you can grow into the fullness of your salvation. Cry out for this nourishment as a baby cries for milk, now that you have had a taste of the Lord’s kindness.” Do you crave pure spiritual milk? What is pure spiritual milk? Could it be the Word of God, the Bible? Do you believe the Bible can help you grow into the fullness of your salvation? Do you cry out for this nourishment? Do you drink deeply of this nourishment? Daily?
Verse 5 is beautiful imagery: “And now God is building you, as living stones, into his spiritual temple. What’s more, you are God’s holy priests, who offer the spiritual sacrifices that please him because of Jesus Christ.” Do you believe that you are a living stone in God’s spiritual temple? Do you believe you are a holy priest of God? If realizing that you are a holy priest of God is something new for you, how might this change how you live your life?
Psalms – Today in Psalm 119 verses 47 & 48 we read – “I delight in your commands because I love them. I lift up my hands to your commands which I love, and I meditate on your decrees.” Do you believe it is possible to delight in God’s commands? Why might this be a good thing? Do you believe it is possible to actually love God’s commands? What are God’s commands? Where can we find them? (okay, I’ll give you a hint – the answer is all over Psalm 119 🙂 – God’s Word, the Bible is where we can find God’s commands) Do you meditate upon God’s decrees as found in the Bible? Do you love the Bible? This seems like a strange question to ask in some regards. . . but, maybe ask yourself this – do you love books in general? I think many of us would say we love books. (Maybe using the term loosely. . .) So, if we were to consider just one book that it would really make sense to invest our time in; to meditate upon; to read for all of our lives; to love – what would that book be? Why would it be that book? Are you a bookworm when it comes to the Bible?
Today in Psalm 119 verse 37 we read: “Turn my eyes away from worthless things; preserve my life according to your word.” Are there currently things in your life that you are spending time on – focusing your eyes on – that are worthless? What are these things? Do you want to turn your eyes away from these things? Will you? Do you believe that your life can be preserved by the Word of God – the Bible? How will you continue to preserve your life according to God’s Word on a daily basis next year? Do you consider the Bible literally to be a “life preserver” for you in the midst of the raging rivers of life? Will you hold onto this life preserver each and every day?
Proverbs – Proverb 28:11 today teaches us: “Rich people may think they are wise, but a poor person with discernment can see right through them.” This is a great reminder to not think of ourselves as being wise in our own eyes… others will see through our supposed “wisdom”! And yes, at this time I feel that it’s been a long time since I brought out the photo of the cute little monkey who some say is being “haughty” or wise in his own eyes. I say the monkey is just being cute! 🙂 (I really couldn’t find a good image for this proverb…. and it’s time for bed… so I punted and went with the monkey… please forgive… 🙂
Worship Video: Today’s readings remind me of Big Daddy Weave’s song “My Story:”
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-vZWWgYjjfA
What is your Story? Click here for your Story Maker!
Please join us in memorizing and meditating on two verses of Scripture today: “Like newborn babies, crave pure spiritual milk, so that by it you may grow up in your salvation, now that you have tasted that the Lord is good. “ 1 Peter 2:2-3 NIV
Prayer Point: Pray that you crave pure spiritual milk. Pray that you are growing up in your salvation. Pray that you have tasted that the Lord is good!
Comments from you – What verses or insights stand out to you in today’s readings? Please post up by clicking on the “Comments” link below!
God bless,
Mike
p.s. Download our monthly Small Group study notes for our Bible readings at this link.
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BLOG READERS HISTORICAL COMMUNITY COMMENTS:
====== Ramona:
Ezekiel 45:13-46:24.
Mike I never thought much of that 20th verse in the 46th chapter until you brought it up, hmmm. I went to my commentaries and I read the text, in context, in different translations and found the writers had not clear-cut explanation of this. Yes, I do think this command,
And he said to me, This is the place where the priests shall boil the guilt offering and the sin offering, and where they shall bake the [bloodless] meal offering, to prevent their having to bring them into the outer court, lest they should thereby wrongfully sanctify (separate and consecrate for holy service) the people who are there.
(Ezekiel 46:20 AMP)
has something to do with Ezekiel 44:19, not wearing the priestly garments when they are in the outer court. They would have to take off their garments to carry the sacrifice/offerings; however, out of their garments they could or were not suppose to perform their duties.
Also in thinking about human nature, the nature to identify oneself as being important based on where you’ve been, what you’ve seen and what you have, the people may begin to believe they were holy because they were next to, brushed by or actually came into contract with said sacrifices and or the priests and his garment. Just think of the people who press into the stage to “touch” a entertainer’s hand. We Christians are good for running from Convention to Convention to see and hear some great man or woman of God who we think preaches the best, heals the best or “operates in the gifts of the spirit” the best. We do this despite the Words of God that state,
But the word is very near you, in your mouth and in your mind and in your heart, so that you can do it. (Deuteronomy 30:14 AMP). According to John 1:1 the Word is Jesus Christ and it is He that we should be running after and seeking. The man or woman of God is just a vessel God is using to point us to Christ.
I don’t know if this is any help at all. Maybe your question, Mike, is one we will have to ask God when we get to heaven.
1 Peter 1:13-2:10
I’m going to string or connect two passages together, one is the first chapter and the other in the second. In my mind, and this doesn’t mean that anyone else should see this connection, the two are related and interlocked. This translation uses the word, self-control while others use the concept of preparing one’s mind only,
1:13 Therefore, prepare your minds for action; be self-controlled; set your hope fully on the grace to be given you when Jesus Christ is revealed, and 2:1 So get rid of all malicious behavior and deceit. Don’t just pretend to be good! Be done with hypocrisy and jealousy and backstabbing.
Self-control is something I’ve thought about for a long, long time. If one is self-controlled then they are who they are when no one is looking because that is really who they are, for good or bad. Most of us are “good” because of laws, edits, the threat or fear of shame, and or the fear of going to jail or winding up in hell. Negative motivation to behave rightly does nothing for the heart, where the problem is. I believe the condition of the heart is what truly controls our behavior, which can be suppressed by outside or external controls. That is why Jesus said if a man thinks about committing murder or other evil deed and/or adultery (Matt. 5:21-28) he has already committed it and is in danger.
So again, Mike thank you for beginning this Blog to encourage us all to read through the Bible yearly and to develop a relationship with the Word of God. The Word in our hearts is the only way we can develop true self-control as stated in the 119th Psalm.
Proverbs 28:11
I really like this Proverb as written in the New Living,
Rich people picture themselves as wise, but their real poverty is evident to the poor.
This confirms for me in my own mind that there is a “poverty” that has nothing to do with a lack of natural or monetary resources. In fact according to the Parable of The talents, everyone has been given a “talent” or gift to be used. Godly wisdom is free if one pursues God, yet many fail to pursue the One who is Wisdom how poor is that?
“Hey, all who are thirsty, come to the water! You who have no money, come! Buy and eat! Come! Buy wine and milk without money and without cost! Why pay money for something that will not nourish you? Why spend your hard-earned money on something that will not satisfy? Listen carefully to me and eat what is nourishing! Enjoy fine food! Pay attention and come to me! Listen, so you can live! Then I will make an unconditional covenantal promise to you, just like the reliable covenantal promises I made to David.
(Isaiah 55:1-3 NET.)
Grace and peace and Happy Thanksgiving Holiday, but us Christians know that for us everyday is a Thanksgiving Day!
Opps!
I had wanted to add the Hebrew word used behind the NLT’s word “holiness,” in the 20th verse of chapter 46 of Ezekiel.
It is: qâdash (6942 Strong’s Number)
kaw-dash’
A primitive root; to be (causatively make, pronounce or observe as) clean (ceremonially or morally): – appoint, bid, consecrate, dedicate, defile, hallow, (be, keep) holy (-er, place), keep, prepare, proclaim, purify, sanctify (-ied one, self), X wholly.
If someone who is morally “dirty” has holiness transmitted to him or her without taking care of the condition of their heart and repenting, changing directions, their would be no incentive to clean up their act, so to speak.
Ramona
======= Jeff:
On “transmitting holiness”:
My father took me on a short vacation to Philadelphia when I was about 9 years old. We entered an elevator in the downtown motel where we were staying. A man, who my father later told me was Billy Graham, placed his hand on my head for just a few seconds and closed his eyes. As you can see, I still remember that incident even until today. Was that “transmitting holiness”? I think so.
Now, I too like to touch someone on the shoulder and say a short, silent prayer for them–try it sometime!
Grace and Peace,
Jeff
======= Vance:
I just offer these verses. Having intimacy with our Father God in Jesus’ Name in the power of the Spirit depends on FORGIVENESS.
Matthew 6 (CEV – Contemporary English Version)
14
If you forgive others for the wrongs they do to you, your Father in heaven will forgive you.
15
But if you don’t forgive others, your Father will not forgive your sins.
Matthew 18 (CEV – Contemporary English Version)
An Official Who Refused To Forgive
21
Peter came up to the Lord and asked, “How many times should I forgive someone [a follower of Christ] who does something wrong to me? Is seven times enough?”
22
Jesus answered: Not just seven times, but seventy-seven times! [never stop forgiving another]
23
This story will show you what the kingdom of heaven is like: One day a king decided to call in his officials and ask them to give an account of what they owed him.
24
As he was doing this, one official was brought in who owed him fifty million silver coins.
25
But he didn’t have any money to pay what he owed. The king ordered him to be sold, along with his wife and children and all he owned, in order to pay the debt.
26
The official got down on his knees and began begging, “Have pity on me, and I will pay you every cent I owe!”
27
The king felt sorry for him and let him go free. He even told the official that he did not have to pay back the money.
28
As the official was leaving, he happened to meet another official, who owed him a hundred silver coins. So he grabbed the man by the throat. He started choking him and said, “Pay me what you owe!”
29
The man got down on his knees and began begging, “Have pity on me, and I will pay you back.”
30
But the first official refused to have pity. Instead, he went and had the other official put in jail until he could pay what he owed.
31
When some other officials found out what had happened, they felt sorry for the man who had been put in jail. Then they told the king what had happened.
32
The king called the first official back in and said, “You’re an evil man! When you begged for mercy, I said you did not have to pay back a cent.
33
Don’t you think you should show pity to someone else, as I did to you?”
34
The king was so angry that he ordered the official to be tortured until he could pay back everything he owed.
35
That is how my Father in heaven will treat you, if you don’t forgive each of my followers with all your heart.
Vance
====== Anka:
Well Happy Thanksgiving to everyone..It’s hard to believe we’re ending the year soon…I have to say that reading the bible daily has helped me remember when I’m being “unholy”…whether it’s a haughty thought,a selfish(move out of my way I’m in a hurry thought).I guess in the past I never really considered being Holy in ALL that I do,being a light to others.
I have to remember daily that I’m a stanger here and will give account for every action,word,thought etc….During a bible study a person once said that the goal of our salvation was reconciliation with God,eternity in heaven comes as a result of that…so we have to develop a deeper,more intimate relationship with our Father….Reading His word is one good way to do it…
God bless you all
Anka
======= Chris:
About the clothes transmitting holiness…it is a very interesting metaphor in the Bible, and one that is used again and again. I’m currently reading Zechariah, and in chapter 3 he has a vision of the high priest, Joshua, standing before the Lord and wearing filthy garments of sin, and of the Lord commanding the angels to remove his unclean garments and give him holy ones. I think it’s an excellent metaphor for how God removes our sin and clothes us with holiness each time we repent of our sins and turn to him.”
Chris
===== Mae:
Psalm 119:41 / May your unfailing love come to me, O LORD, your salvation according to your promise;
I hope it’s not getting old; me and my Psalms LOL! I can’t help it, I love them so much! Like the above verse … to receive the unfailing love, that’s just a wonderful thing! To expierence unfailing love will free you forever! With unfailing love we can do things that we’ve never thought we could do. I’ve had the chance to do something with the unfailing love that God gave me. And yes, it set me free! He actually set me free!!!! Or the healing I experienced … it’s the unfailing love …
Mae
===== Jenny:
I lov 1 peter again! its just full of wisdom! i undrestand craving spiritual milk. When i got out of the habit, my craving died…supressing the spirit. Now that i am back in the Word, i need it, daily, i crave it, i love it!! If you dont feed something or only occasionally…it will be weak and potentially wither and die…like our spiritual life. When we feed and nurture ourselves daily, we will be healthy and full of life. when u skip a meal…your body lets you know its hungry! If you starve yourself, your appetite will shrink and you will be weakened, physically and spiritually! i have always been a book worm! but the Word sure different from novels…its not a pretend world, its God speaking to me…its wisdom, it edifies, it builds, exhorts, grows us, I love it!
Some ppl like thinking Christianity is a bunch of don’ts. “God doesnt want us to have fun.” Well, God is our Father…like our earthly parents who taught us to look both ways wen crossin the street, dont touch the stove, dont stick keys inside electric outlets (haha…i did that as a kid)…dont light candles then put them under the mantle below a picture frame (i did that too as a kid, haha…almost burnt the house down). I, and we all, did all kinds of foolish things as a kid, we had to be instruced not to cause we didnt forsee the danger, but our parents did. How much more the Lord does! like, Dont have sex outside of marriage…People disobey this and suffer consequences, emotional pain, pregnacies, stds, abortions (then blame God for it!!!!). hmm…dont know where that tangent came from….oh yes, We should delight in His commands, not just the donts, but the do’s!, to love, forgive each other, etc. I mean, what a better world if we all practiced this!
Yes, the women with the 12 yr bleeding, very interesting. This woman was deemed “unclean” (I believe she was menstruating for 12 yrs :o)…so she had to sneak there, it was a bit of a risk for her to do so. Jesus was walking through a crowd of people, they were all grabbing for Him, it was a bit of a mob. Then He asked ‘Who touched Me?’ the discplies were like, ‘what do you mean, who knows, there are tons of people touching and reaching for you!’ But this woman was different, she knew if she could just TOUCH His robe, she’d be healed. When she touched Jesus’s robe, power went out from Him and was transfered to her…He felt the power leave Him, or be transfered to her. Of course He knew her condition, her faith made her well. Thats a beautiful story.
Great word! p.s., you’re forgiven for the cute monkey pic :p
Jenny
======= Becky:
I also wondered what Ezekiel 46:20 meant.
Matthew Henry wrote, “Let them not pretend to sanctify the people with this holy flesh… or let not the people imagine that by touching those sacred things they were sanctified, and made any better or more acceptable to God. It should seem (from Hag 2:12) that there were those who had such a conceit….”
Becky
====== Patsy Ray:
Mike,
Reading these chapters in Ezekiel always mess with my head. The one mile square temple described in these chapters has never been built therefore it does describe the great temple of the future. What messes with my head is the detail given to the burnt offerings and sacrifices that the priests are to offer in the temple on behalf of the people. I have always believed that Jesus made the final sacrifice and His blood did away with the need for burnt offerings and sacrifices. I believe that in the final temple the throne on which Christ sits will replace the altar that was in the old temples on which offerings where made. I would love to hear comments from you and the others participating in this one year Bible study pertaining to the offerings in the new temple.
God Bless!
Patsy Ray
====== Cynthia:
I also did not understand why the prince is offering sacrifices except that he is providing them. I remembered that in Saul one of the reasons he lost his kingship is because he tried to take on priestly
duties. What I did see in today’s reading was the whole theme of riches. All that I have is because of God’s mercy. In the Psalms it talks about how He teaches, He gives understanding, He directs, He turns my eyes from worthless things. Its my job to submit to His work in my life. The big thing is to trust in His goodness. All things He does is good, including any suffering I go through. Another way is to delight in HIM and not in those other things, like riches, or the body’s evil desires. That’s being self controlled, I think. Being motivated by the fact He came and died for me. It’s HIS blood that makes me accepted. All my deeds are filthy rags. Its HIS blood. It’s pretty humbling.
Cynthia
====== Doreen:
mike
thanks for the continous update to help us read the bible . God is holy and the bible says without holiness we cant see God .we need to seek for divine grace from God to walk in holiness and everyday we need to strive to walk in holiness if our desire is to see our precious king Jesus in the throne of grace .But just as he who called you is holy, so be holy in all you do; for it is written: “Be holy, because I am holy. we can do all things but without holiness it will all be in vain. may God help us in all .
Doreen
====== Cherry:
“Let them not pretent to sanctify the people with this holy flesh”
Holiness has began and is growing daily. We await the time when our flesh will be put to death, will be burried with all its uncleanness, aznd will come forth gloriously and arise to complete and perfect holiness in new, eternal life.
No one except God alone can separate the coruption of our nature from the nature itself. This will take place wholly by way of death in the resurrection. Then the nature which we now bear will arise and live forever, without original sin and completely separated and removed from it, as Job 19:26,27 asserts,” I shall be covered by this skin, and in my flesh I shall see God; him I shall see for myself, and mine eyes shall behold him.”
In eternal life we shall have and keep precisely this soul, although without sin.
Heb.2:14-17 Eph.5:30 – see also righteousness – see also Renewal;Sanctification
Be blessed!
Cherry
====== LaDene:
The woman’s healing required two things: her touching the garment, and her faith. Jesus felt her touch the garment, because He felt the power drain from Him. The crowd was pressing against Him, yet that didn’t drain His power. She had faith that if she touched His robe, she would be healed, and she was. Jesus could have healed her without touching her, as He did with the Centurion’s servant; but for her, she had to touch something connected with Him.
You have helped me think about so many different things in ways I haven’t thought of before. Thank You! LaDene
======= Julia:
Ezekiel 46:20 in The Message reads, “…so that they won’t have to do it in the outside courtyard and endanger the unprepared people out there with The Holy.” This rendering makes it seem like this was established so as to protect those not prepared for God’s holiness, so that God’s wrath would not come upon them for being in the presence of His holiness without proper preparation…
Julia
===== Henry:
I wish I could touch Jesus the way she touched his clothes.
I wish I had the faith she had and reach out.
I think I am the “monkey”.
Henry
======= David:
The real challenge for me is to be Holy. There are so many pleasurable things that are outside of holiness. An unholy Christian is bound to fall many times, over and over again. The testimony of an unholy christian is probably as good as the testimony of a hypocrite. When you are unholy, you are assessable to so many demonic forces, like a computer without virus protection and surfing the internet. How does one surf the internet and be Holy at the same time?
David
======== Sam:
Am I the only one here that feels uncomfortable with all of the perpetual aspects of the sacrifices and legalistic worship portrayed in these chapters of Ezekiel as being FUTURE? Is it possible that this temple was supposed to be built for Israel but because of their sin was never completed? or maybe a foreshadowing of Herod’s temple which we see in Jesus’ day? I guess all we can do is trust that God has this all figured out and our future life and worship in His Kingdom will be more and greater than anything we can ever imagine.
Sam
======= Bajo:
Yes, uncomfortable My jury is sill out on this.
Bajo
======== Kay:
v. 20. Care was taken that they should not bear them out into the outer court, to sanctify the people. Let them not pretend to sanctify the people with this holy flesh, and so impose upon them; or let not the people imagine that by touching those sacred things they were sanctified, and made any the better or more acceptable to God. It should seem (from Hag. 2:12) that there were those who had such a conceit; and therefore the priests must not carry any of the holy flesh away with them, lest they should encourage that conceit. Ministers must take heed of doing any thing to bolster up ignorant people in their superstitious vanities.
Henry, M. (1994). Matthew Henry’s commentary on the whole Bible: Complete and unabridged in one volume (Eze 46:19–24). Peabody: Hendrickson.
Kay
========== Debbie:
I enjoy reading the comment’s.. It helps me to get a better under standing of God’s word. Thank you so much Mike for taking your time out to help us grow in God’s word every day.
God bless
Debbie
====== Kim:
We humans are so egocentric. For example, we say, “the pool is cold!” because relative to our body temperature, it feels cool. Or “the bath water is hot!” because relative to our temperature, it is warmer. Therefore one must not make man the central judge of whether a thing is good or bad. You have to kind of take man out of the equation, which is difficult to do at best. But I will attempt to convey what I see. I think of the ‘transmission of holiness’ like electricity. Light and energy in a strong current. Picture lightning or a think of an electric transformer capable of producing high voltage. Could a human body withstand it and live? No! But does that make the energy, the light, inherently bad? Of course not. It’s just so “other” — so “holy” (in a sense– this is just a metaphor, mind you) that one couldn’t touch it and be full of it without dying. Feel free to allow your mind to toss in examples of instances in which individuals have been struck with lightning or electrocuted and lived. Obviously the Lord can do as he pleases… just a thought.
Kim
======= Joe:
Mike-
As it relates to the “transmission of holiness” via garments, perhaps Acts 19:11-12 is relevant. 11God did extraordinary miracles through Paul, 12so that even handkerchiefs and aprons that had touched him were taken to the sick, and their illnesses were cured and the evil spirits left them.
And while I’m posting, thank you so much for all the effort that you put into this blog!
Joe
======== Jane:
“Be holy, because I am holy.””What does that really mean? It means going to extra length to be like Christ and have The mind of Christ?. Is it easy? No. But it has to be intentional. Lately I feel God wanting me to clean my speech up. I guess I caught myself saying “holy crap” once around my granddaughter and I felt really convicted. I was raised not to even say ” Holy” except for Jesus our Lord. How many simple traps can we fall into? It sounds so easy but it’s complicated and hard. Pray for me so I can be concientous in all areas of my life to be more Christ like.
Jane
======= Murray:
I am convinced that outside of Christ, we cannot love holy lives in this fallen world. The best we can hope for is to be aware of the areas in our lives we fall short and with God’a Help through his Son and the Holy Spirit, strive to do better.
Murray
======== Borney:
The transmission of holiness and the five wise virgins not sharing their oil is the same. Jesus is saidto be separate from sinners while at the same time eating and drinking with them in their sins of drunkenness and gluttony. He knew when the next drink or bite was sin and stopped there. Cloths are character see see armor of God. Inward character before God. Don’t disclose your prayers that are without ceasing while talking with others . Nehemiah did but only a sentence or two. Hast thou intimacy with the Holy Spirit, have it to thyself before God.
Borney
======= Karen:
We are born again by the imperishable word and by the blood of Christ so that we can strive to be holy. Peter also asks if the believers crave pure milk. How eager am I to receive His word? How quick am I to accept godly rebuke? If we are to be holy just as He is holy, Lord help us to take You more seriously.
Karen
======= Mark:
Just like on the Holy Mountain, no one but Moses could go up upon it as God’s Holiness was there. Those outside were not sanctified and purified by the Blood of the atonement sacrifice. It comes down to Jesus; through HIS Blood, we can stand in the Presence of GOD. God’s HOLINESS is too powerful for us to stand in front of because of our fragile, sinful bodies, so GOD made a way. (by the way, I love your insight upon the daily readings}
Mark
====== Randy:
Ezekiel 46:20 ties with verse Ezekiel 44:19
Ceremonial consecration was transferable. If the priests garments came in contact with the people, then the people would become consecrated and the priests garments would become contaminated, making them unusable in the service to the Lord. As with the temple God wanted a clear distinction between the holy and the common.
See exodus 30:29, lev 6:18,27 and numbers 19:22
Randy
======== Nancy:
Regarding Ps 119.37 the thought came to me about the precious time we spend on our phones, mindlessly scrolling. That time could be used in better ways. It is addictive. I turned off my notifications for all but messages & email which helps somewhat. Am trying to spend less time on my phone. I do use it for Bible studies often. I deleted a bunch of saved items that I wasn’t using. Still more to do there. Work in progress.
Nancy