Wednesday, April 7, 2010

Leviticus 24-27 provides instructions regarding conversation and conduct in the promised land. Profanity is forbidden and dealt with severely, vows and freewill offerings to the Lord are to be carried out as promised. Also, rules are given regarding regular periods of rest for the land. Every seventh year there must be rest given without sowing or reaping, and every fiftieth year marks a jubilee when debts are cancelled and possessions go back to their original owners. God promises to bless in abundance the year prior to the Sabbath year and Jubilee years, just like He supplied the double portion of daily manna before each Sabbath. "These are the decrees, laws, and regulations that the Lord established on Mount Sinai between himself and the Israelites through Moses".

Tuesday, April 6, 2010

Leviticus 23 'When you reap the harvest of your land, do not reap to the very edges of your field or gather the gleanings of your harvest. Leave them for the poor and the alien. I am the LORD your God.' When we recognize and appreciate the mercies that we have received from God, it becomes easier and even natural to show mercy to others.

Monday, April 5, 2010

Leviticus 22
"Keep my commands and follow them. I am the LORD. Do not profane my holy name. I must be acknowledged as holy by the Israelites. I am the LORD, who makes you holy and who brought you out of Egypt to be your God. I am the LORD."

Sunday, April 4, 2010

Leviticus 21 is about the rules for priests..... "A priest must not make himself ceremonially unclean". God says, "I am the Lord, who makes them holy."

Saturday, April 3, 2010

Leviticus 20 describes the punishments for many "detestable" sins and God says again, "consecrate yourselves and be holy, because I am the Lord your God. Keep My decrees and follow them. I am the Lord, who makes you holy....and I have set you apart from the nations to be My own."

Friday, April 2, 2010

In Leviticus 19, the Lord says to the Israelites, " Be holy because I, the Lord your God, am holy." Then a bunch of laws and commandments are mentioned again... respect your parents, don't make idols, follow all the sacrifice regulations, don't steal or lie, love your neighbor as yourself, and others. After each set of commands, God says "I am the Lord". Then the Lord gives a few reminders of "due punishment" if sins are committed. The chapter concludes , "Keep all my decrees and all my laws and follow them. I am the Lord." You know that you better pay attention when God follows with "I am the Lord". It's like God is saying, "Hey! It's Me talking and you better listen. This is really important and there will be consequences if you don't obey." He says this phrase at least 15 times in this chapter alone. Maybe He's serious. I wonder if that might work with my kids? "Behave yourself. I am the Daddy." That might actually work if my kids saw that I always behaved perfectly. God says "Be holy because I am holy".

Thursday, April 1, 2010

In Leviticus 18, God tells Moses to instruct the Israelites not to do the wicked things that the Egyptians and the Canaanites practice, but rather obey God's decrees and laws. The Lord said, " Keep my decrees, for the man who obeys them will live by them. I am the Lord." God asks them not to defile themselves like those whom He is going to drive out of Canaan. "Everyone who does any of these detestable things--such persons must be cut off from their people... I am the Lord your God."