Humble thoughts, reflections, and/or summaries from readings of God's word. "For if any one is desirous simply to know those things which it has pleased God to reveal, that is the man who accurately knows what it is to be truly wise. " Calvin
Sunday, March 21, 2010
Leviticus 2 gives details of how the Israelites were to bring grain offerings to the Lord. They were to be made from only "fine flour", with oil poured on it, but without any yeast. They were to be brought to the Lord as an offering of the firstfruits. The priest would burn "a handful of the fine flour and oil" as a memorial portion on the fire, producing an aroma pleasing to the Lord. The rest of the grain offering was given to Aaron and his sons as the "most holy part of the offering made to the Lord by fire".
Saturday, March 20, 2010
Leviticus is about holiness. The first part of the book is about worshiping our holy God and the second part is about living a holy life pleasing to Him. Leviticus 1 is about offering burnt offerings of animals sacrificed from the herds and flocks of the Israelites. Many details were given as guidance in how to do this properly and exactly in order for the Lord to accept the sacrifices as their substitute, making atonement for the Israelites. Whether a bull, male sheep, turtledove, or young pigeon, they were to be offered as a "whole burnt offering made by fire, very pleasing to the Lord". The animal sacrifices were offered from their own flocks and herds and only animals with no physical defects were to be chosen. Only the holy priests were to perform the sacrifices, sprinkling the blood, and placing the animal on the fire. The offering process demonstrated God's justice, holiness, and mercy; and it also demonstrated the Israelites' dependence, commitment, and submission to God's laws.
Friday, March 19, 2010
Exodus 35-40 The people brought to the Lord their offerings and materials for the Tabernacle construction and its furnishings and for the holy garments. They brought their offerings "if their hearts were stirred and they desired to do so", "both men and women came, all whose hearts were willing". Two craftsman, Bezalel and Oholiab, were gifted by the Lord with "wisdom, skill, and intelligence to construct an furnish the Tabernacle, just as the Lord has commanded". Gifts and materials were offered each morning and soon the craftsmen told Moses, "We have more than enough on hand now to complete the job", so Moses sent a message throughout the camp, "Bring no more materials!-You have already given more than enough." When the work was completed, Moses inspected everything and blessed the people because the work had been done just as the Lord commanded. "Then a cloud covered the Tabernacle, and the glorious presence of the Lord filled it." "Whenever the cloud lifted from the Tabernacle and moved, the people of Israel set out on their journey, following it." God's presence continued to guide the Israelites in their journeys as He remained faithful to His promises of provision and blessings.
Thursday, March 18, 2010
In Exodus 34, Moses brought the two newly chiseled stone tablets up Mount Sinai as the Lord had commanded him. When the Lord came to meet him, He said, "The Lord, the compassionate and gracious God, slow to anger, abounding in love and faithfulness, maintaining love to thousands, and forgiving wickedness, rebellion and sin, yet he does not leave the guilty unpunished." Moses bowed and worshiped the Lord and He said, "I am making a covenant with you , before all your people, ... Obey what I command you today... Do not worship any other god, for the Lord, whose name is Jealous, is a jealous God. Celebrate the Feast of Unleavened Bread at the appointed month which you came out of Egypt.. The first offspring of every womb belongs to me... Write down these words, for in accordance with these words I have made a covenant with you and Israel". Aaron and the Israelites were afraid when they saw Moses , since his face was radiant because he had spoken with the Lord, but Moses called them to him and he gave them the commandments of the Lord.
Sunday, March 14, 2010
In Exodus 33, the Lord told Moses to lead the people now up to the promised land and His Presence would go with them and give them rest. God said, " I will cause all my goodness to pass in front of you, and I will proclaim my name in your presence. I will have mercy on whom I will have mercy, and I will have compassion on whom I will have compassion."
Friday, March 12, 2010
In Exodus 32, the people gave up on Moses since he was up on the mountain so long and they turned to making idols as their gods. Even Aaron joined them and lead them to make a golden calf to worship with sacrificial offerings. God told Moses that He was going to destroy these "stiff-necked" people, but Moses asked God for mercy for them and the Lord relented. When Moses came down the mountain, he carried the two tablets engraved with the writings of God. When he saw the people running wild and dancing around their golden calf idol, he threw the tablets down , breaking them to pieces. Moses then said, "Whoever is for the Lord, come to me." All the Levites rallied to him and he told them that the Lord said "Each man strap a sword to his side and go back and forth through the camp from one end to the other, killing his brother, friend, and neighbor". Three thousand people died, but Moses said to them, "You have been set apart to the Lord today, for you were against your own sons and brothers, and He has blessed you this day." Moses told the people that they had committed a great sin against the Lord in worshiping idols, and he went to the Lord to ask for atonement for them. The Lord said he would not blot them out of His book, but "when the time comes for me to punish, I will punish them for their sin" and they were struck with a plague.
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