Leviticus 6:1-7:27 + Mark 3:7-30 + Psalm 37:1-11 + Proverbs 10:3-4
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Old Testament – Today in Leviticus we read about further instructions for offerings. Chapter 6 verse 13 I found interesting: “Remember, the fire must be kept burning on the altar at all times. It must never go out.” Commentaries state that the fire was never to go out because the fire was started by God. Humans were not to bring man-made fire to the altar, or they would die, as we will see Leviticus chapter 10 when we read about Nadab and Abihu. The only real “eternal flame” that I can think of in today, that was started by God, is the Holy Spirit. And this eternal flame of the Holy Spirit is made available to you and I through the life, death and resurrection of Jesus. Here’s an image of the burnt offering altar from the time of Leviticus:
And – here’s an image to make you think about the fire of the Holy Spirit available to you and I today through Jesus:
Can you relate to this image above? Can you imagine what this man in this image above is experiencing? Have you experienced this?
Leviticus chapter 7 verse 27 stands out: “Anyone who eats blood must be cut off from the community.” This was commanded for 3 reasons – 1. to separate the Israelites from the pagans who drank blood – the pagans drank blood in the hopes of gaining the attributes of the animals from the blood they drank (speed, strength, etc.). 2. the sin of the people was symbolically transferred to the animal before the offering, and the blood represents the life of that animal. 3. for sanitary reasons – blood can carry some nasty diseases.
New Testament – In Mark chapter 3 verses 7 & 8 show how Jesus’ ministry was quickly being noticed from all over Israel: “Jesus and his disciples went out to the lake, followed by a huge crowd from all over Galilee, Judea, Jerusalem, Idumea, from east of the Jordan River, and even from as far away as Tyre and Sidon. The news about his miracles had spread far and wide, and vast numbers of people came to see him for themselves.” And now today think about how far and wide Jesus’ ministry has gone. Worldwide. Why do you suppose Jesus’ ministry gained such notice during his lifetime? Why do you suppose that Jesus’ ministry continues to gain such notice today? Could it be that there is true power in Jesus’ ministry? Could it be that Jesus changes lives? Heals people – teaches people – loves people – forgives people…. Could it be that Jesus is the Savior of the World?
In Mark 3:28-29 we read about the unpardonable sin of blaspheming the Holy Spirit. A great website link with tons of great info about the context of these verses and what it means to us today is at this link:
https://www.gotquestions.org/unpardonable-sin.html.
Psalms – Today we read Psalm 37, which is most definitely a Wisdom Psalm! It’s like we are reading Proverbs! I love verse 5: “Commit everything you do to the LORD. Trust him, and he will help you.” Do you commit everything you do to God? EVERYTHING? Your waking life? Your sleeping life? Your job? Your relationships? Your family? Your finances? Your time? If so, do you trust that God will help you in everything you do in your life? Do you believe what verse 4 teaches? “Take delight in the LORD, and he will give you your heart’s desires.” I love that thought – take delight in God. Do you take delight in God each and every day? Do you believe that he will give you your heart’s desires? And for Psalm 37 verse 6 we have this lovely image below to meditate upon:
Proverbs – Proverbs chapter 10 verse 4 teaches us: “Lazy hands make a man poor, but diligent hands bring wealth.” This is certainly a good reminder to work hard!
Worship Video: All of our readings and reflections about the Holy Spirit today reminded me of the Francesca Battistelli song “Holy Spirit:”
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=BoZd7ZXh9yY
Do you know the Holy Spirit? Click here to Know Him!
Please join us in memorizing and meditating on a verse of Scripture today: “Lazy hands make a man poor, but diligent hands bring wealth.” Proverbs 10:4 NIV
Prayer Point: Pray that you will always have diligent hands. Pray that your hands are always working for the Lord. Pray for wealth in the Lord.
Comments from you & Question of the Day – Speaking of the Holy Spirit above in my OT reflections, a great overview of the Holy Spirit is at bible.org at this link. A good overview of the Holy Spirit in the Old Testament is at this link. And a great overview of the Holy Spirit in the New Testament is at this link. I don’t know if you’ve ever done much study on the Holy Spirit? If not, please do spend a good chunk of time at these 3 links above. Also, I mentioned this earlier this week – Francis Chan’s book “Forgotten God” is a great book about the Holy Spirit. Do you have any other Holy Spirit books or other resources recommendations? If so, can you post up in the Comments section below? Thanks. What does your relationship with the Holy Spirit look like these days? Also, what verses or insights stand out to you in today’s readings? Please post up by clicking on the “Comments” link below!
Love, Trust, and Obey Jesus,
Mike
p.s. Download our monthly Small Group study notes for our Bible readings at this link.
p.s. #2 – Download a schedule of our Bible readings for the year in PDF format at this link.
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BLOG READERS HISTORICAL COMMUNITY COMMENTS:
(Our Group Bible Study is below! : )
======= Ramona:
Leviticus 6:1-7:27
Yesterday I asked a question about intentional sin because all of the sacrifices mentioned in the previous five chapters deal with unintentional sin. Intentional sin requires restitution of the damaged good or stolen item plus twenty percent, along with guilt offering and probably a couple of the other offerings, like a fellowship or peace offering to get back into right relationship with God and man.
Interesting that one of the Proverbs we have read states that a thief if he is caught must restore seven times the value. Proverbs 6: 30 Men do not despise a thief if he steals to satisfy himself when he is hungry; 31 But if he is found out, he must restore seven times [what he stole]; he must give the whole substance of his house [if necessary–to meet his fine]. (AMP)
I wonder if the restoring seven times refers to the hidden costs not covered in the cost of the item plus twenty percent. There is a price to be paid beyond the value of the item and that represents the interest rate for intentional sin. Ouch!
O.K. something must have been lost in the translation. How does one do the following unintentionally:
If anyone sins and commits a trespass against the Lord and deals falsely with his neighbor in a matter of deposit given him to keep, or of bargain or pledge, or of robbery, or has oppressed his neighbor, Or has found what was lost and lied about it, or swears falsely, in any of all the things which men do and sin in so doing, Then if he has sinned and is guilty, he shall restore what he took by robbery, or what he secured by oppression or extortion, or what was delivered him to keep in trust, or the lost thing which he found,
(Leviticus 6:2-4 AMP)
If a guilt offering is offered for “unintentional” sin, how can what is being described in this above passage be considered unintentional? Something MUST have been lost/missed in translating the Hebrew to English. How can one be devious and not know that what you are doing is wrong? The mere fact that people cover up their deeds with lies and “smoke” and “mirrors” gives witness to the fact that they knew that what they did was wrong. Maybe the “unintentional” refers to unintentional until I am “busted” or caught by someone else or my conscience.
In reading several translations of Leviticus 5:14-19, which is right above the King James Translation makes a little more sense; however, the passage states that this “guilt” or trespass offering is for those who have “ignorance of the holy things.”
And the LORD spoke unto Moses, saying, If a soul commit a trespass, and sin through ignorance, in the holy things of the LORD; then he shall bring for his trespass unto the LORD a ram without blemish out of the flocks, with thy estimation by shekels of silver, after the shekel of the sanctuary, for a trespass offering: (Leviticus 5:14-15 KJV)
Yet, after hearing the Law, how can one plead ignorance? Beware OYB journeymen and women the more you read, the more you are held accountable for and the less you can claim “ignorance.”
While I chew on the above, I am pleasantly surprised to have confirmed for me that sin and trespass are not one and the same, a trespass is a sin but all sin is not a trespass. According to my friend, Mr/Dr. Strong the Hebrew word translated into our English is:
4604
מעל
ma‛al
mah’-al
From H4608; treachery, that is, sin: – falsehood, grievously, sore, transgression, trespass, X very.
Mark 3:7-30
Two things in the passage caught my attention verses eleven and twenty-one.
3:11 And whenever those possessed by evil spirits caught sight of him, they would fall down in front of him shrieking, “You are the Son of God!”
Verse eleven shows us that even demons possessed folk recognized Jesus and who He was, the Son of God. Then why is it so difficult for people who are supposed to be in their right mind to fail to recognize Jesus for who He is? Is it because we have consciously chosen to reject the Truth?
Today at work I wrestled with asking someone a question because I didn’t want to seem like one of those “crazy” bible thumpers folks talk about. But right here in verse twenty-one, it says that Jesus’ family; his “Peeps” (People) came to take him away ‘cause they said, “He’s out of his mind.” The students are going to be called the same thing as their teacher.
Psalm 37:1-11
4 Delight yourself in the LORD and he will give you the desires of your heart.
This is the first passage or verse that spoke to me powerfully when I first began my yearly reading through the bible over twenty years ago. My image, my idea of who God was changed when I read this verse and it began opening up too me. Because I had judged Jesus and His Father, God, by their disciples, or those who claimed to be their disciples, I had a messed up image of who God was. This verse began to change my perception of who God was and what He was to me. God wanted to give me my heart’s desire. He wasn’t looking to beat me up, crush me under his hand or even do me evil; this verse said He not only to meet my needs He wanted to take care of my wants.
A couple of years latter, this same verse popped up; however, I was in a struggle with God over what it meant. As I came to this verse as I read through the thirty-seventh chapter I heard a still small voice say, “Read it again you’re reading it wrong.”
First, who said that? And by the way God I know how to read and I have good reading comprehension. But every time I read and reread the passage I heard the same thing, “Read it again you’re reading it wrong.”
I’m not sure how long this struggle when on but I finally became exhausted and gave in though I was sarcastic in my surrender “Well I guess I can’t read so what does it say?” What I heard in my spirit stunned me. From that encounter I realized I still knew nothing about who God was and I understood that my knowledge of God had been obscured by my arrogance. Even though my surrender was not sincere God still dealt with me. In my sprit I heard, “Delight yourself in me and I will place within your heart the desires you are suppose to have.” Now I saw how I was reading it wrong. I thought I could dictate to God by taking my unredeemed dreams, visions and well yes, my lusts, and think He was going to give them to me. My image of God was still being rrworded and reshaped by God Himself.
Fast forward to three/four years ago and I’m back to the same verse but this time I hear, “Look up the Hebrew word translated “Delight.” This time there was no arguing so I pulled out my Strongs Concordance and “Got Busy.” What I found changed me again
In the edition that I had it stated that the Hebrew word translated Delight meant to be pliable and malleable. The Hebrew word transliterated `anag according to the Hebrew Lexicon that is on the WEB site CrossWalk.com also means to be soft, be delicate, be dainty.
To Delight meant that I was to soften myself and so that I could mold myself to the image of God and not the other way ‘round. I also learned that all revelation is progressive that the knowledge that comes from studying scripture will never be complete until we see Jesus face to face. I learned that the more I know the more I will understand that I really don’t know. I learned that God was changing me into His image because I was incapable of changing myself.
Proverbs 10:3-4
God takes care of those that are His. Even though we may know this by mental assenting, living it out without striving is another matter. Trusting to God, believing God will do what He says He do is something I still struggle with.
Grace and peace,
Ramona
======= John:
Ramona,
Best as I can tell regarding trespass offering is that it is a subset of Sin offering. there are two distinctions:
1)Trespass involves a sin against man (neighbor). The revelation from God is that a sin against a neighbor is a sin against God.
2) Restitution must be made first before there is an offering.
If I am wrong or off base here – someone please correct me.
John
======= Veronica:
Ramona,
Suppose you found something that belonged to someone and you had every intention to return it but it slipped your mind. At a later time it came to mind and you returned what you had to the someone who lost it.
Same situation you but someone asked did you find something that they lost and you say no because it slipped your mind. Then you remembered and returned the lost something to the someone.
Now what if in both situations a considerable amount of time passed?
Just a thought
Veronica
======= Ramona:
Thanks Guys, Veronica & John:
I understand that the “sin” is against a neighbor (Jesus asked the question, “Who is my/your neighbor?”) and that is why it is called trespass. But Veronica what is written in this passage is not about picking something up that you meant to return but forgot. “… Robbing or cheating or threatening him” (Lev 6:2 NLT) How do you do any of those three unintentional? “Excuse me sir or madam, I just need to rob you unintentionally, and by the way stick ‘um up.”
I’m not questioning God or saying that He is being “liberal” and very lenient. I’m questioning the translation or the translators. Unless you are sleep walking robbing or threatening someone is NOT AN UNINTENTIONAL ACT. I went looking up other translations to see how they translated the text. That is why I said the King James made a little more sense to me. I can be wrong, but I’ve noticed that anytime and every time I’ve wrestled with a passage, eventually God shows up and “bops me upside the head” with the answer.
John your response or confusion is an unintended or “unintentional” consequence of not making myself clear. In my younger days, before I walked away from anything and everything that smacked of religion, I was told that sin, iniquity and trespass were the same thing (They can’t be because they each are translated from three different Hebrew words.) So in thinking out loud, then writing my thoughts without the rest of the folks having that piece of background info, that which I wrote was a little out of context. You didn’t walk into a whole conversation, you only heard/read half of it. I apologize.
Ramona
======= Mick:
Psalm 37 has long been one of my favorites and I’ve found great comfort with God there. Yes, I’ve committed everything to God, but my battle is that it seems that my problems or worries sometimes come back, it’s like he is handing them back to me? Or is it just my lack of total, complete surrender to Christ? Either way, I pray and stay in the range of God’s grace and I hand everything back to him and find peace, it’s getting better and this Blog and my readings early in the morning in the bible are transforming my life!
Mick
======== Micah Girl:
I think, like Mick, most of us have that experience of surrender–but the worry, the sin, the problem returns. In light of all these Levitical sacrifices, I am reminded that in Romans 12:1 we are called to be “living sacrifices.” As the old pastor’s joke goes, living sacrifices keep getting off the table! So we keep bringing ourselves back, take up our cross daily, and work on living out the truth on a moment to moment basis.
I noticed in the reading, too, that the fire for the burnt offerings must never go out. It struck me that since the burnt offering is a freewill offering, a kind of worship, that God is always ready to ready to receive both our worship and our confession. The fire had to be kept burning so that it would never appear that God was not ready for relationship with us.
Finally, I also love the delighting yourself in God and Him granting the desires of your heart. The more we delight in him, the more are desires are transformed into worshipful, worthy desires and He delights in granting those!
Micah Girl
======= Rachelle:
michah girl … Romans 12:1 we are called to be “living sacrifices.” As the old pastor’s joke goes, living sacrifices keep getting off the table! – that is HUMOR!!!
i’ve never heard it – i guess i don’t know any old pastors!!!
thanks for the insight and sharing from both of you!
i too struggle with this complete surrender – sometimes from one moment to the next.
recently i’ve really been struggling with a friend who betrayed and lied to me, it really hurt me. one moment i’ll be in place of complete compassion and forgiveness of this friend – and the next moment i’ll get fired up at thier lack of acknowledgment/remorse or flat out caring about me or the relationship. which i think, if i still get fired up, even mildly, i’ve not truly forgiven.
it’s like i lie on the table as a ‘living sacrifice’, but then get up and pace around … lie back down … pace around some more … when does it end?
that’s why the journey is not a straight path!
peace!
Rachelle
======= Susan:
A great book on the Holy Spirit is Charles Stanley’s “The Wonderful Spirit-
Filled Life”
Susan
======= Isabella:
A powerful book on the Holy Spirit is “The Holy Sprit and You” by Dennis & Rita Bennett.
Isabella
======= Birdie:
The Bennett’s other book “Nine o’ Clock in the Morning” is another good book on the Holy Spirit.
Birdie
======= Joyce:
“Flying Closer To The Flame: A Passion For the Holy Spirit” by Chuck (Charles R.) Swindoll is the best I’ve read on our Holy Spirit…great insight, very helpful and a pleasure to read.
Joyce
======= Jim:
This whole sacrifice system seems so strange to me. Wouldn’t the priests be covered in blood from the slaughter? Are there any pictures that more accurately portray this? How does burning flesh and burning grain produce a good smell to God? Wouldn’t the continual killing and splattering of blood produce an awful smell?
Jim
======== Pat:
Jim, like you I have often cringed at the thought about the stench that would result from continually throwing sacrificial blood on top of more blood within the Tabernacle tent. I read somewhere that God insisted that the altar never be allowed to go out and there always be something burning on it because it was a pleasing aroma to the Lord, and we assume that the smell of meat being cooked and cakes being grilled accompanied with the burning of incense, which the Lord also found pleasing, would cover up the smell of blood. I realize that being a priest was the highest status position among the Israeli people, but the life of the shepherd or vineyard grower/wine maker would sure be a cleaner, nicer, easier and more appealing life in my opinion.
I noticed from today’s readings how God ordered that the best sanitation that was available at that time be observed. He ordered the priests to wash in the laver and to rinse out their garments if they got blood on them. They were ordered to change clothing during the preparation of the sacrifice and they were to take the waste outside of the tent to dispose of it. In addition, the meat and the unleavened bread sprinkled with oil were to be eaten only the day it was cooked but the bread made with yeast could be saved and eaten the next day. They were to eat nothing that was three days old, and that makes very good sense as they were in a hot climate without and means of refrigeration.
God also instructed the priests to provide food for their male descendents, and they in turn would provide food for the women and children that were considered their “property” in those days. We see the same thing when Jesus fed the thousands on two occasions with just a few fish and loaves of bread. When they counted how many they fed, they counted only the men and then said plus the women and children.
God bless,
Pat
======= Cheryl:
I have been struck by the verses that say not to eat the fat of the animals. This is a healthy diet to follow-not eating alot of fat. Maybe we should adhere to this law today and not eat so much fat-keep our arteries from getting all clogged up :). I also was struck by not drinking blood and understands the reasons that Mike posted. But Jesus instructed us at the Last supper to partake of His Body and Blood in remembrance of Him. I don’t get the why of that ?
Cheryl
======= John:
Jim,
Regarding the “smell” and how it is pleasing to God. In the Hebrew the word “aroma” as a metaphor means “delight”.
I don’t think the Leviticus passages have anything to do with the actual smell. (Consider this an anthropomorphism). But that God delights when the sacrifices are being done and His people are “truly” seeking His acceptance, joy, peace, forgiveness and restoration. (Outlined in previous two day’s of posts). It is not the actual sacrifices that are pleasing to God – it is the intention and desire of man with which they are doing the sacrifices that pleases God. They are being obediant and fulfilling the needs of man through God.
======================================================
Cheryl,
While it is probably good health-wise to not eat (too much) fat, I think there is some symbolism here.
fat – represented “the richness of life” in OT.
Blood – represented “life” itself.
Israelites were to partake of neither because they represented things that only God can provide. God provides life. God provides the “richness of life”. (All things come from God). I am sure the Israelites understood the symbolism – and that being the reason why these items were expended (consumed, sprinkled, poured out) on the altar. They were symbolically “of God”.
As to Last Supper. Drinking from a “cup” in Jewish custom is to be in agreement/acceptance wth the contents of the cup. Hence – cups were drunk to seal marriage arrangements, treaties, border disputes, etc. In Psalms it speaks of God’s “cup” of blessings and His “cup” of wrath. All thes examples indicate it is what the contents represent – not the actual contents that is of importance.
Jesus was saying to drink from the cup in “remembrance” of Him. To understand that His Blood was shed to permanently atone for sins – just like it was shed in Temple sacrifices. His shed blood was the establishment of a New Covenant. So the consumption of the wine at that table – and for us today – is symbolic of our acceptance of that content and the purpose for which it was done.
Since it was not actual “blood” and has never been so – it does not violate the concept of consuming “blood”.
John
======= Jenny:
In Mark 3:10-11 I was struck by all the people pressing toward Jesus,
“For He had healed so many that all who had distressing bodily diseases kept falling upon Him and pressing upon Him in order that they might touch Him. And the spirits, the unclean ones, as often as they might see Him, fell down before Him and kept screaming out, You are the Son of God”.
I picture a scene like that of Night of the Living Dead, all these zombie like ppl just scrambling after Him with outsretched arms. Must have been quite a sight!
very interesting how the demons were screaming out you are the Son of God! and He rebuked them. Also intersting how some of the people accused Him of being insane or the devil himself!
In v. 29 we see the unforgiveable sin. the one and only, denying the holy spirit. Its not a word you can speak, but coming to a place or saying no so much and so often that one’s heart is so hardened that they’ve said no too many times. it is impossible now to ever turn back. No doubt many of the pharisees had come to this place. wow, what a terrifying thought!
In Prov 29:1 it says: ‘A man who hardens his neck after much reproof will suddenly be broken beyond remedy”.
I admit, once i was confused by Ps 37:4 “Delight yourself also in the Lord, and He will give you the desires and secret petitions of your heart”.
I think I tried this backwards. how wrong of me! I had desires i wanted fulfilled so I sought to delight myself in the Lord in order to get my way. Isnt that in a way trying to manipulate God? How dare I! I was rebuked for this by someone, a stranger, and they were right. It was no doubt God rebuking me for my thoughts because this other person who rebuked me couldnt have known my motives. But God did.
It doesnt work this way, but many times i think i tried to do this and that hoping God would reward me with this of that. How very wrong of me, i hate to admit but i have a good feeling i’m not alone on this.
delighting yourself in the Lord is the reward in itself! secondly, the ‘hidden desires of our hearts’…these desires are hidden even by ourselves. I may think i know what i want (you know that feeling, if i ONLY had this or that…) but fortunately God knows us better and what we have need of. the things we often think we NEED, we dont. he will give us the ‘hidden desires’ of our hearts. we dont even know them til God gives them to us. Its truely amazing, i cant even tell you, but when i delight myself in the Lord because i just love him and want to bless Him, He gives unto me and reveals to me deep desires i didnt know i had need of, but once they are given i see, of course! I always desired that deep in my heart! But it was too deep for even me to see. Its just amazing how He works…i cant attempt to explain it.
i love v 7: “Be still in the presence of the Lord, and wait patiently for him to act. Don’t worry about evil people who prosper or fret about their wicked schemes..”
and v. 8 is so true: “Stop being angry! Turn from your rage! Do not lose your temper—it only leads to harm.” i have NEVER had good come from losing my temper…more like i’m ashamed and embarressed!
I believe a person who is angry, flies in to rages, loses their temper like this needs desperate help! seek the Lord, seek couseling. dont continue like this. if your own children are scared of you, you need help! I think it best if someone like this to NOT even have children!
i grew up in a home like this…let me tell you it was terrifying!! affected my sisters and i deeply and all our lives. My one sister who was most affected by this terrifying thing we witnessed kept finding herslef in relationships with men who had horribly violent, sickening tempers. Its just so awful! I myself avoided relationships all together, always having a deep fear in me of a man hurting me again. I spent a dozen yrs avoiding emotional intimacy/closeness with men because deep down i was that terrifyed lil girl, begging him not to hurt me anymore. It wasnt the physical as much as the emotional abuse from a out-of-control temper that destroyed me! seeing ppl i loved being physically abused, stop it!!!!!!!!!!…no dont hurt her! gosh…i didnt even realize i’m full on sobbing now.
but fortunately God is able to repair and these last few yrs of my life i have been getting healing regarding that…its not something i think of anymore, but wen i think of it, i see how God has healed me and restored the relationship between me and the man that once traumatized me…I dont see him as the same man he was. He is forgiven completely by myself and the Lord. but unfortunately, scars last longer then the actions.
But i thank God sooooo much for delivering me and giving me the gift of forgiveness that i too can forgive others, truley forgive, not just mask it so others think i have. No matter what we’ve been through God can heal us…i never in my wildest dreams thought God could do in my life what He has done. Ok, as always i’ve rambled excessively. but wen i think of all the ways God has changed ME, changed OTHERS, HEALED me, restored my inner turmoil, restored my relationships, mended my heart….wow!
then i hear a nonbeliver say, “How do you know a god even exists?” ahahahaha!! man, they just have nooooooo idea!!
Jenny
======== Nicole:
I think it is important for those who are sharing innermost feelings and experiences to know that it really does have an impact. At least for me, and I’m sure I’m not alone. I just wanted to thank Jenny and all of the others out there who are opening up to us and sharing such intimate details of their lives.
I am a new “old” Christian (as I like to consider it) – my faith has gone a little stale, but this one year bible blog and the stories and comments from you guys has been helping me to search out the spirit again in my life. Its not always an easy process. It is sitting in front of my computer each morning, but after that it gets a little harder…but, really I just wanted to say to everyone who shares a little bit of their life and struggles with the rest of us – thank you. It is encouraging to draw from your experiences and see how God is continually changing lives. And I believe through each of you he is working again in mine:)
Nicole
========== Ann:
Jenny and all, I think sharing your testimonies of God’s work in you is very important and will help others who read them. Sometimes a person feels they are alone in their bad experiences. God loves that you share what He can do when you think all is impossible. Nothing is impossible with God. Praise the Lord! He loves you and so do I.
Ann
======= Sarah:
V7 of the psalm stood out to me today “Don’t worry about evil people who prosper or fret about their wicked schemes”
Because I have a boss at the moment who is a bit of a bully and as my colleagues put it, doesn;t care who she climbs on to get to the top. I’ve felt a lot recently like she’s setting out a smear campaign against me whilst being nice as pie to my face (and i’m normally very trusting) I’ve prayed and worried too about what to do about her scheming withour resorting to that kind of behaviour myself and so this was a very timely verse to me. The Message puts it in an even clearer way for me “Don’t bother with those who climb the ladder who elbow their way to the top” so my action point for next week will be to not fret about it, or complain to my friends, to not try to make up for what she is saying to people, but to just do the right thing, keep Jesus in my mind and get on with getting on with God, and focus on him instead.
Sarah
======= Patty:
Leviticus and Numbers are the two books of the Bible that I have to actually force myself to read and not just scan over the words. Each time I read Leviticus it makes me feel so blessed that I was born after Christ walked on earth and died for my sins and not before. I think about how during the days of Moses only Moses and the priests actually had access to God and the people were forbidden from entering the Most Holy place in the tabernacle or contacting God directly. I think about all the rules and regulations surrounding animal and grain sacrifices and how simple Jesus made it all for us. He did away not with the Commandments given by God but with all these sacrificial rituals. Jesus made it possible for people to bond with God on a personal level. I feel so blessed to be a Christian and know Christ as my Lord and Savior. I feel so blessed that He was willing to suffer and die with my sins on His shoulders just so all I need to do it enter the Kingdom is to love Him with all my heart and accept Him as my savior. Praise the Lord!
God Bless,
Patty
======= Elizabeth:
Hello,
Just checking in…
Patty, I agree. There is MUCH to thank God for–particularly our instant and intimate access to the Father. Leviticus showcases a people distant from their God–who must approach Him meticulously. I thank God that He gives us grace to access His throne boldly! I worry that I sometimes take this access too much for granted.
I have been plugging away through the Bible.org commentary, which has been very helpful. So far I have read about the first three offerings:
burnt
grain
peace/fellowship
I’ve particularly enjoyed Deffinbaugh’s thoughts on the peace offering and how he believes it involved more of a festive meal than the other two offerings thus mentioned. Here’s his closing comment on that article:
“The dinner table has become much more secular to us than it ever was to the people of earlier times. I suspect that some of this is due to the pace of our lives, and to the instant “TV” dinners, which are eaten before the TV, rather than at the table, or which are gulped down at a “fast food” chain outlet. How much we can make of the meal table is suggested by the Peace Offering meal of the Old Testament, and by the Lord’s Table of the New. May God enable us to make more of the meal table, and to meditate more on the peace which Christ has won for us on the cross.” -Deffinbaugh
I agree with him…think that we have lost a lot of the fellowship and sense of community in our modern day meals. We feed our bodies, but do we feed our spirits with the company of our loved ones and appreciation of God’s gifts of abundance? Do we reflect frequently and deeply on the great peace He has made available to us?
Just reflecting,
Elizabeth
======== Evelyn:
Thanks Mike for posting that beautiful song! It moved me to tears!
Evelyn
======= Guy:
Hi Mike
I hope you read these comments Mike because there is something that I have to say. First off, my wife and I love your blog and enjoy reading it everyday but at times we need to discuss things you mention…like today. You mentioned that in todays scriptures, many people followed Jesus and they are continuing to follow Him today. I agree 100% but not in the way you make it to be. So called “Christians” today “follow” Jesus to have something from Him and not to give Him. They followed Jesus because he was healing people (to make a point) but that’s all they wanted from Him. Today is all for the same reason…”what can I get from Jesus…oh poor me!!”. A great example of this is when he fed the 5 thousand. What did they do…of course they followed him, so that they could get more (as the scriptures indicate). Today…same thing. I’ve been in big churches and see this time and time again. There is a reason why Jesus said “small is the gate and narrow the way that leads to life and but a few will find it”. Let’s go back to the depression days, or even present situation like Haiti…who will follow Jesus then. How many will show up the next day to worship Jesus in a field in 100 degree heat instead of their numerous programed and comfortable churches, go eat at Denny’s for lunch and return to their comfortable houses. When these worldly things are gone…the true Christians will worship and continue to follow Jesus because of who He is….God.
Guy
====== Johnny:
This may sound nitpicky, pedantic or as quibbling over semantics, but I’d like to make a point about:
‘”Anyone who eats blood must be cut off from the community.” This was commanded for 3 reasons…’
I think those are three purposes that were achieved by obeying that commandment. The REASONS for the commandment, though, actually were in the mind of the Lord and as He did not choose to explain His reasons for commanding what He did, we can only speculate. The real reason for following this or any other commandment was simply “Because God said so.” That’s still as valid a reason for obeying the commandments we’re subject to as it ever was. There’s a pitfall in trying to explain away various commandments in the Bible according the the reasons we think God gave them. If we decide that the reason he gave it was due to some local circumstance the Bible people were in, we may say “It’s not like that now,” so we don’t have to worry about following that one now. We’ve just put our judgment above God’s. That’s not good. Paul explained to us in Colossians 2:14 why we Christians don’t need to follow regulations such as this one today: “[Jesus] having canceled the written code, with its regulations, that was against us and that stood opposed to us; he took it away, nailing it to the cross.” In fact, there are a number of sects today that still believe that blood must not be eaten because of what was said in the letter from the Jerusalem Council to the believers in Antioch: “You are to abstain from food sacrificed to idols, from blood, from the meat of strangled animals and from sexual immorality. You will do well to avoid these things. Farewell.” (Acts 15:29) However, note that this originated in James’ personal judgment, as recorded in Acts 15:13-21.
At any rate, we need to be cautious about saying God commanded something “BECAUSE…”
Johnny
======= Jeanne:
I just want to share that when I read the Leviticus chapters last night, I was staggered by the amount of blood that had to be shed for the atonement of sins, and how difficult the priests’ work must have been, day in and day out, year in and year out. And then, when the Lord Jesus fulfilled His mission on earth, the sacrifice for the atonement of sins was completed and made perfect once and for all time. No more spilling of animal blood for sins, which the Israelites have been doing for generations and hundreds of years. The implications of it all just overwhelmed me, and without thinking about it I just went face down on the floor in worship to God.
And then, when I read the Leviticus reading for the day, I was struck by the part where the priest who offered the sin offering gets to eat the rest of the animal as his portion. It brought to my mind a part of the New Testament (I think it’s from the gospel of John chapter 6, sorry I’m getting way ahead of our readings) where the Lord Jesus said that He gives his flesh to eat, that his flesh is true food, but many of His disciples said it was hard teaching and left. I was wondering how the teaching could be hard, when it had already been foreshadowed by the priests for generations. But then it goes back to the gospel of Matthew which says that their hearts are hard, that they hear but do not listen. I hope and pray that we do listen, and that our hearts do turn to God.
Jeanne
======== Steve:
Psalm 37:1-11
This is such a wonderful Psalm, it’s all about surrender. The first 11 verses walk us through a snapshot of God’s plan for us. He doesn’t want us to worry or be anxious in this world even though it’s full of evil, greed and corruption, on the contrary, He wants us to realize that it will soon be gone because like grass it soon withers. This Psalm reminds us to put our trust in Him and live the way He has taught us through His word, resting in the fact that He will keep us safe. We are to abide, delight and trust in Him knowing that He will give us the desires of our heart.
We are to let Him shine through us, so that there is no darkness in us, just the wonderful light of His presence. He wants us to be still and patient and not worry when things don’t unfold right away as we think they should, He often takes us via the Scenic Tour. He wants us to be at peace with ourselves, not stressing over anything and not to fall into the trap of being angry because anger is just that, a trap. He will take care of all of those things for us, we are to cling to the fact that He is in control and will destroy evil and make things perfect. As we humble ourselves before Him, put our trust in Him, we are assured that peace and prosperity are our inheritance.
Steve
======= Frederick:
Re: Mike’s comment on Leviticus chapter 7 verse 27. Please also refer to Acts 15:24-29 (The Jerusalem Conference). The letter from Jerusalem confirmed that eating blood in NT time was also prohibited.
24 We have heard that some went out from us without our authorization and disturbed you, troubling your minds by what they said. 25 So we all agreed to choose some men and send them to you with our dear friends Barnabas and Paul— 26 men who have risked their lives for the name of our Lord Jesus Christ. 27 Therefore we are sending Judas and Silas to confirm by word of mouth what we are writing. 28 It seemed good to the Holy Spirit and to us not to burden you with anything beyond the following requirements: 29 You are to abstain from food sacrificed to idols, from blood, from the meat of strangled animals and from sexual immorality. You will do well to avoid these things.
Farewell.
Frederick
======= Bob:
Leviticus: Why does Leviticus show the worship rules as being so complex and so specific? If one considers the chaotic world around the Hebrews at the time it may show us the Lord’s reasoning. Such practices as witchcraft, astrology, magic, cult prostitution and Baal worship. Some people worshipped the moon or sun or graven images. Three aspects of Hebrew worship were instigated to overcome these foreign and tempting practices. (1)Remembrance of their deliverance from Egypt (especially in the Passover). (2)Atonement because when God draws near to us, we feel guilty and ashamed because of our sin and if we repress unresolved guilt, it will result in emotional, mental and social illness. (3)Thanksgiving by the offering of gifts to God and we see the outcome of the festival calendar of the Law which gives us Rosh Hashanah, Yom Kippur, Succoth, Passover and Pentecost. With what is happening in Leviticus we see God forming a nation that is different. He is instigating structure, boundaries and a sense of security and this sort of order gives people a feeling of belonging.
Bob
======= Gail:
I do not believe there is anything “lost” in the translation. I believe you have the definitions confused, Ramona, causing a misapplication.
There are two different offerings (Sin and Guilt), however, they are very closely related and intermingle throughout the passages.
SIN OFFERING – Leviticus 4:1 to 5:13 – To ask God to forgive you when you sinned by accident.
GUILT OFFERING – Leviticus 5:14-19 – To ask God to forgive you when you sinned against his holy things, or when you hurt somebody else.
Also, there are different kinds of guilt – legal and emotional:
Legal and emotional guilt may be paired in any one of four ways:
1. No legal guilt with no guilt feelings. This, of course, is where we would like to be all the time. I have neither broken a law nor do have any sense of conviction.
2. No legal guilt with guilt feelings. This can come about by a misunderstanding of the intent of a law, or it can be a sign of an overly sensitive conscience. A girl, raised with the teaching that make-up is of the devil, who tries a little blush, may feel guilty.
3. Legal guilt with no guilt feelings. On the good side, this comes from convicting an innocent person. On the serious side, this comes from the reprobate who feels bad for being caught in his or her law breaking, but has no sense of wrongdoing. As Proverbs 30:20 says, “This is the way of an adulterous woman: She eats and wipes her mouth, and says, ‘I have done no wrong.’”
4. Legal guilt with guilt feelings. Not the best place to be but it certainly presents cause for hope. It’s the stuff from which repentance comes.
Leviticus 5:5-6 When anyone is guilty in any of these ways, he must confess in what way he has sinned and, as a penalty for the sin he has committed, he must bring to the Lord a female lamb or goat from the flock as a SIN OFFERING; and the priest shall make atonement for him for his sin.
Leviticus 5:15 When a person commits a violation and sins unintentionally in regard to any of the Lord’s holy things, he is to bring to the Lord as a penalty a ram from the flock, one without defect and of the proper value in silver, according to the sanctuary shekel. It is a GUILT OFFERING.
Note the two passages. On the one hand, if a person is guilty he may need to bring a sin offering. On the other hand, if a person sins, he may need to bring a guilt offering. The two concepts are seemingly inseparable.
The Bible describes a number of occasions when guilt offerings were made. A guilt offering was part of the ceremonial cleansing of a leper. A guilt offering was required when a man or woman, under a Nazarite vow, came in contact with a dead animal or person and unintentionally broke their vow.
Leviticus 5:17-19 Now if a person sins and does any of the things which the LORD has commanded not to be done, though he was unaware, still he is guilty and shall bear his punishment. He is then to bring to the priest a ram without defect from the flock, according to your valuation, for a guilt offering. So the priest shall make atonement for him concerning his error in which he sinned unintentionally and did not know it, and it will be forgiven him. It is a guilt offering; he was certainly guilty before the LORD.
Unknown sin is a class of unintentional sin. A sin can be unknown because you didn’t know that an action violated the Lord’s command. It could also be because circumstances hid from you the sinful nature of your actions.
This is my personal speculation – no scripture to back up what I am about to say — just a thought — Maybe there were circumstances where you needed to bring BOTH – a sin and a guilt offering. You unintentionally sinned but are still guilty of committing that sin. I don’t know – except I am SO GLAD we don’t have to do or keep up with any of that anymore !!!
I hope this helps to clear things up for you.
Gail
======== Jane:
I’m Loving this firdt overview of the Holy
Spirit in the Bible you posted Mike. Wow so Many titles of the Holy Spirit. I’m
Just learning more of who He is. Part of the 3 in one. Trinity which in younger years wasn’t really talked about per say. Thx for sharing as a must read!!
Jane
======= Jeff:
Related to today’s reading, I found this commentary interesting:
Question:
Why did God tell the Israelites that they could only sacrifice bread that had been made without yeast at the altar of the temple?
Answer:
There are at least two reasons why God made the stipulation that bread intended for sacrifice at the altar had to be without yeast (or “unleavened”). We see one of the reasons in the depiction of the first Passover in Exodus 12:8: “That same night they are to eat the meat roasted over the fire, along with bitter herbs, and bread made without yeast.” You may recall that this final meal for the Israelites in Egypt was a meal made speedily, specifically because the Israelites were to leave Egypt immediately once the Pharaoh relinquished his hold on them. Roasting the meat was an efficient way to deal with the fat, the bitter herbs were symbolic of the bitterness of their captivity, and the unleavened bread symbolized the haste in which the flight from Egypt was to take place (in that there was to be no time taken to allow the bread to rise).
A few verses farther on (Exod. 12:15) we see another significant aspect of the symbolism of yeast as it relates to your question. As part of the observance of Passover, purification of the household was symbolized by the removal of all leaven from the house. (In fact, this is still observed in Jewish Passover observances today, often the duty of the children.) Leaven, thus, is frequently understood in Scripture to be symbolic of evil. Christ clearly alludes to this symbolism in Matthew 16:6 (“the yeast of the Pharisees and Sadducees”). The Apostle Paul in 1 Corinthians 5:6 extends and further illustrates the symbolism in saying, “Don’t you know that a little leaven works through the whole batch of dough?” in his instructions to expel from the Corinthian congregation a man who had a sexual relationship with his stepmother. The message is clear: Continued contact of this person with the congregation would spread the influence of evil throughout the church. See also the Q&A Yeast for further information.
As a side note, the Hebrew and Greek in these passages refer to “leaven” rather than to “yeast” (see the last paragraph of Do the Elements of Communion Matter? for the distinction between “leaven” and “yeast”).
=
Also, I was unclear on Jesus’ meaning in Mark 3:29 when He says: “anyone who blasphemes against the Holy Spirit will never be forgiven. It is an eternal sin.” I found this article very helpful for understanding:
https://www.gotquestions.org/blasphemy-Holy-Spirit.html
Jeff
======= Robert:
Mark 3:29 Unpardonable sin
This question comes up every once in awhile in my journey amongst friends. It is easy to take the verse out of context and think it pertains to us in some way. The gotquestions.org site referred to has a really good answer and takes into account the situation, place and time this was written. It’s interesting too how the “Pharisees knew that Jesus was the Messiah sent by God to save Israel. They knew the prophecies were being fulfilled. They saw Jesus’ wonderful works, and they heard His clear presentation of truth. Yet they deliberately chose to deny the truth and slander the Holy Spirit”. So this passage is to an ongoing willful rejection of Jesus. I might argue that we might see that attitude some places in the world today but I don’t want to go down that path. This was clearly a statement Jesus made against the Pharisees at that time.
John Piper has something to say about this: https://www.desiringgod.org/messages/beyond-forgiveness-blasphemy-against-the-spirit
Psalm 37:1-11 Feed my Soul
I needed this today. With Covid, my work, my family, I can definitely feel my emotional and spiritual reserves are draining me. This reading gave me strength in my challenges of life in a fallen world. Now Bob, “Be still before the Lord and wait patiently for him”. This waiting is often the highest way of doing God’s will. I’m going to have another cup Maxwell coffee, look at the snow covered shoreline and listen to the Battistelli Worship Video.
Ramona
Good debate there. It’s a real head and heart issue. What I got out of Leviticus was the one-fifth payment for restitution for stealing from another person in verse 6:5. Also that penalty to offer God. I know its Old Testament law but I think God may still honor this practice today? Again more a head and heart issue. If you are like me, this debate is going on all the time in my head.
Robert
======= Charles:
Ramona:
My reading of Leviticus 6:2-5 is that this is “intentional” sin. In the case of intentional sin, one must make full restitution plus 20% penalty (verse 5). Then one can make the guilt offering.
If one does not restore the wrong, then one cannot make the guilt offering in good conscience.
For “unintentional” sin, the guilt offering is sufficient payment.
In my mind, these are mostly minor offenses, perhaps like saying something offensive, without realizing it.
This “unintentional” sin offering further illustrates how bad a condition we are in. Many things we are unaware of that are sinful and hurt others.
Charles
======= Mitch:
To answer Ramona – my take would equate unintentional with “not premeditated (planned in advance)”. You did not plan the act one committed and in the heat of the moment did not think of it as sinning. Do we squelch the idea of sinning and justify our actions (rationalize) denying the Law? I have; what about you? And then later realize we stuffed it?
NT: If Mary was there to take Jesus away – I think the “he is out of his mind” was about how He conducted His ministry and put Himself at risk (in their eyes).
People ask why come back then and not now. Can you imagine Jesus showing up in some country (call it “X”), healing people right and left and not leaving that country. With mass media today – millions of people would descend on country “X”
Jesus is the stronger man when compared to Satan. Who is stronger than God’s former lead Angel, but God?
Psalm 37:
We are commanded not to worry here and in other places in Bible. Worrying is defined as dwelling on an issue in your mind. It is a waste of time (worrying never solved anything), and if done constantly can cause physical and emotional harm to a person. Have told youth you can be concerned or bothered by a situation, but take action and move on:
One may be concerned about walking down a dark street alone. Worrying will not stop any act from happening or not. Action: Turn around and go back, take a different route, get out your protective device, carry a flashlight etc..
Mitch
======= Nancy:
Excellent book by Robert Heidler
Experiencing the Spirit
Developing a living relationship with the Holy Spirit.
Regal Books from Gospel Light
Ventura, California USA
Easy to understand. It is also a testimony of how the Holy Spirit impacted a Baptist trained minister.
Nancy
======= Dee:
A good book on Holy Spirit, or being a prayer warror that I have and read on is: Derek Prince, Secrets Of A Prayer Warrior. Good read. I love being in Psalm 37 today. Good stuff..Our Pastor just did a series on the Psalm 37, about resting in the Lord! Are you resting, am I resting? Is resting important in the Lord and to the believer? I believe so..I often wandered about the section in NT where the disciples went to the garden to be “watchmen” while Jesus prayed in the Garden of Gethsemane. He kept telling the disciples to stay awake, to pray up, lest they be tempted, or give into temptation. They kept going to sleep. They didn’t understand or realize what Jesus was about to bear, or comprehend the cup of bitterness that Jesus was about to drink from, however, when in Jesus’ presence, His peace is on us. You can’t help but “rest” in the Lord. I think that is why the disciples kept nodding off. While Jesus was in turmoil with the decision he made to take our sins, nonetheless, Gods will and not his..the desciples still had the peace that surpasses all understanding amidst them because Jesus provided the peace on all that was amongst Him…He is Peace, Love, Rest!!! Praise ye to the One that gives us Rest and Calmness within the storm!!
Dee
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