Hebrews 2

Dear RTB’ers,

Why need we pay closer attention…? Sins under the Law, as delivered by angels, were justly punished. Now we have a greater salvation in Jesus, with Old Testament prophecy fulfilled in Jesus and witnessed by (1) His close associates during His earthly life, (2) signs and miracles; and (3) His gift of the Holy Spirit. If sins under the Law were justly punished, how much more serious might be our neglecting Jesus’ offer of salvation? How might we be neglecting Him?

Blessings!

Hebrews 1

Dear RTB’ers,

Welcome to Hebrews! Yeah, I know – it’s nice to be out of Leviticus!! Agreed!!

Question #1: List statements about Christ in verses 2-3. For the third time in a week or so my Study Bible has answered this question for me – with additional commentary much better than I could answer it. See imbedded below and attached.

Blessings!

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See also: December 25 (2023) / Hebrews 1-6

Leviticus 27

Dear RTB’ers,

Question: What can and can not be redeemed? For me this is a difficult chapter to understand. Presumably a person is making an offering to the Lord. One of my online references says that when someone makes an offering to the Lord, the Lord immediately accepts it. Then if that person changes his mind, he can buy it back (redeem it) according to the valuation set by God in verses 2-8 or by the priest in the rest of the chapter. However, there are certain offerings that can not be redeemed? The first is an animal that has been offered as a sacrifice (v. 10). The second is a field that has been sold to another man (v. 20). Finally, more confusing, the ?annual? tithe to the Levites of grain or fruit can be redeemed, but the tithe of an animal (the tenth animal) can not be redeemed (vv. 30-33).

So people can be redeemed (vv. 2-8), but animals and land cannot. Why not? Because they have been set aside as an offering to the Lord or to the Levites for their service…? I’m leaving it confused. Anyone out there got a better reply?

As to the question regarding verse 29 – Saul did not totally destroy the Amalekites (I Samuel 15:1-9) and was rejected as king by God. And Jesus was not redeemed – He was put to death.

A very confusing chapter! And that’s how we leave Leviticus!

Blessings!

Leviticus 26

Dear RTB’ers,

Question on spiritual blessings to obedient Christians… First, His blessings for the Israelites: Rains in their season (v. 4); peace in the land (v. 6); make you fruitful and multiply you (v. 9); make My dwelling among you and walk among you and be your God (vv. 11-12); and [broken the yoke and] make you walk erect. All of these blessings for the Israelites are also available to us, but with some caveats. Rain comes and the land produces, but we also have droughts and weather- and pest-related destructions. We have peace, mostly, in the most Christian lands – North and South America, Western and Central Europe, large parts of Africa – but we also see riots and discord between various factions and Islamic terrorism in Africa. We have been fruitful, both in numbers and in wealth, although our nation appears to be in the throes of spiritual decline. We are not enslaved, except to the evil in which we habitually engage. And finally, most importantly, God HAS made His dwelling among us, in the person of His Holy Spirit. He IS our God and Lord, to the extent that we seek Him. Yes, we are blessed with those Israelite blessings!

Blessings!

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See also: February 6 (2023) / Leviticus 25:35-27:34

Leviticus 25

Dear RTB’ers,

Question about the Year of Jubilee – its reckoning, its purpose, and spiritual blessings for us today. First, its calculation… Every seventh year the land was to lie fallow so that it could replenish its nutrients (somewhat similar to crop rotation today), then the Year of Jubilee was set at the 50^th year; after seven sets of seven years there would be one more fallow year, the 50^th year. As to its purpose, I see a couple of items. First, there is a constant reminder to the people that they are only “sojourners”, that the land belongs to the Lord and that He has given it to them to maintain, not to “own”. Inherent in this is something of a restriction against the accumulation of wealth – something our billionaires could learn from today. Also there is a concern for poverty and equity, than no person or family would become forever indebted to anyone else.

For spiritual blessings today, I see first and foremost God’s concern for the poor. He does not allow for permanent poverty. In the past the concern for poverty rested with the church, but beginning with welfare laws in England and the establishment of Social Security and welfare laws in the United States, taking care of the poor began to be a state function. I believe that we are spiritually blessed when we care for those less fortunate than ourselves – witness our church’s commitment to Avanza and those children’s families! And if you’re looking for someone to help outside of our church, check in with the Mission Committee!!

Blessings!

Leviticus 24

Dear RTB’ers,

Question #1, we’re asked to consider the words “pure” and “continually” in the first nine verses. I was quite surprised to see the word “pure” applied four times in these nine verses, to the oil, the gold lampstand, the gold table, and the frankincense. As for “continually”, the ESV uses the word “regularly” four times – in verses 2, 3, 4, and 8. (NOTE: The NASB uses “continually”.) Also, we see “every Sabbath” and “forever” in verse 8 and the word “perpetual” in verse 9. So, continually and forever…!

As to our own worship and service… I can understand continually and forever, but what does it mean for our worship and service to be “pure”? Certainly from a pure heart, not with mixed motives, all proceeded by prayer and repentance? What is pure worship? What is pure service?

Blessings!

Leviticus 23

Dear RTB’ers,

As was the case a few days ago, today’s first question asks us to make a list of the various feasts from today’s reading. Again, my Study Bible has a table of those feasts, so I took a picture of those pages and attached it to this note. John has reminded me that copyright laws prevent me from posting it online, but I reason that any one of you could take a picture of that table if we were together somewhere, so I don’t mind sharing it with the rest of you.

Blessings!

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See also: February 5 (2023) / Leviticus 23-25:34

Leviticus 21-22

Dear RTB’ers,

Words and phrases that appear frequently in today’s reading:

• Holy – 7 times in chapter 21, 14 times in chapter 22
• Unclean – 4 times in chapter 21, 7 times in chapter 22
• Offer/offering – 7 times in chapter 21, 15 times in chapter 22
• Priest – 5 times in chapter 21, 5 times in chapter 22
  • In addition to “Aaron” or “Aaron and his sons” 7 times in both chapters.

These two chapters are directed mostly to the priests, Aaron’s descendants, with a number of cleanliness rules, many related to ceremonial offerings. While clergy (and laity) today do not hold to these same principles and restrictions, we all still need to be aware of our own cleanliness – our own sinlessness – because we serve a holy God.

Blessings!

Leviticus 19-20

Dear RTB’ers,

God’s holiness is the attribute emphasized in these chapters. See Lev. 19:2, 20:3, 20:26 for God attributing holiness to Himself, and Lev. 19:2, 20:7, 20:26 for Him demanding holiness from the Israelites. That holiness is commanded by the Lord to the Israelites through keeping His commandments and staying away from idolatry.

Blessings!

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See also: February 4 (2023) / Leviticus 19-22

Leviticus 18

Dear RTB’ers,

Reasons and importance for obedience to these laws… First, If the Israelites do these things, “he shall live by them”: You shall therefore keep My statutes and My rules; if a person does them, he shall live by them: I am the LORD. (v. 5) My Study Bible had an interesting note for this verse: “The law was a way of life for the redeemed, not a way of salvation for the lost.” If Jesus is the Lord of our lives, then we are already living a heavenly existence! Also, verse 29: For everyone who does any of these abominations, the persons who do them shall be cut off from among their people. Being isolated from the community was one of the greatest punishments that could be levied against anyone. Obedience to these laws was important because disobedience meant that the offender became “unclean” and was thereby cut off from his (the community’s) relationship with God.

It would be great to discuss these questions face-to-face. We are gathering as an RTB group this coming Sunday, the 19^th. Come join us and “discuss these questions face-to-face”!

Blessings!