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!

Leviticus 17

Dear RTB’ers,

Question on killing of domestic animals and idolatrous worship. Verse 7a answers the second part of this question: So they shall no more sacrifice their sacrifices to goat demons, after whom they whore. If the Israelites kill their animals outside the tent of meeting, left to “themselves” or to the “inhabitants of the land” they could easily worship false gods or create their own “gods”, thanking those idols instead of the true God. The Lord God is a jealous God (Exodus 20:5, 34:14). He wants our exclusive worship; He does not want to share us with any other “gods”. Here is an item I read when I looked online:

…when I read Exodus 34:14, I think, not of pettiness, but of holy passion. God wants relationship with his people, including you and me. He will not share us with other “gods” because he loves us. This means, practically speaking, that God wants relationship with you and me today.

https://www.theologyofwork.org/the-high-calling/jealous-god/

Blessings!

Leviticus 16

Dear RTB’ers,

Question #1 asks us to sketch out the order of the ceremonies for the Day of Atonement. The text has instructional verses and summary verses intermixed with the actual events. Thankfully, my Study Bible did that very thing, sketching out the order of the ceremonies. I feel like I’m cheating, but I took a picture of their footnote for that ordering; it is attached and worth reading.

Blessings!

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See also: February 3 (2023) / Leviticus 15-18

Leviticus 14:33-15:33

Dear RTB’ers,

Question: Sin is defiling in God’s sight and prevents our acceptance before Him. How does today’s reading show this? If we presume (as STS does) that all the “leprosy” conditions from chapter 14 (and earlier chapters), together with the discharges in chapter 15 are metaphors for sin, then all the “protections” from disease (from sin) and the cleansings (confession and repentance) bring the defiled (sinful) person into a clean state (forgiveness). I think my answer today is pretty much the same as I gave yesterday, …confess your sins to one another and pray for one another, that you may be healed. (James 5:16a)

Blessings!

Leviticus 13:47-14:32

Dear RTB’ers,

A “leprous disease in a garment” and sin-contaminated habits and practices… First, the garment – show it to the priest who shuts it up for seven days. Then on the eighth day, if the disease has spread it is unclean and shall be burned. If the disease has not spread, the garment shall be washed and set aside for another seven days. Then again on the eighth day the priest shall examine the garment. If the disease has not spread, but the mark remains, the garment is unclean and shall be burned. But if the mark has faded, the priest shall tear the diseased area from the garment. Then if the disease returns, the garment is unclean.

How might we relate that to sin? We read in James 5:16a, …confess your sins to one another and pray for one another, that you may be healed. So first we acknowledge our sin and confess it to a priest or to one another. We pray and ask forgiveness and move on. Then over time we examine ourselves again with that priest or that brother/sister and see if that sin-habit remains or has gone away. If that sin-habit remains, we’ve got a problem and need to take more serious action. Possibly that sin-habit is still present, but has diminished, in which case more prayer and a stronger resolve is needed. Finally, if that sin-habit has gone away, we thank the Lord for His help and guidance, but we continue to monitor our behavior for a long, long time.

…confess your sins to one another and pray for one another, that you may be healed.

Blessings!

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See also: February 2 (2023) / Leviticus 13-14