Leviticus 22:17-23:44
There
are many recurring phrases in the reading today, some of which actually show
the structure of the chapters. Keep your highlighter and pencil handy.
Leviticus
22:17-33
Vs.
17-25 We talked a little about this yesterday, that the people had to offer the
best animals for their sacrifices. We'll see the abuse of this in Malachi at
the end of the year. If the people looked at everything they had as God's
provision for them, it would make this easier; yet I'm sure there were
situations that arose that made giving one of these animals in sacrifice, a
real sacrifice.
V. 21
I never noticed this before, but animals offered for sacrifice couldn't be
branded or cut with some identifying mark of ownership. This means that people
had to be thinking in advance, at the birth of an animal, whether it would be
used for sacrifice or not. This would be another one of those customs that
would become a part of daily life and planning.
V. 23
For a freewill offering that had nothing to do with sin or guilt or repaying a
vow, only thanks and celebration to God, the animal could be a little off.
Vs.
26-28 This must have been a way for the Lord to give them a cultural object
lesson in propriety, respect and decency. This sounds very much like not
boiling a goat or lamb in its mother's milk.
Vs.
29-30 I think the reason for this was that the celebration was supposed to be
fully before the Lord with no thought of taking something home. If everything
was supposed to be eaten that day, it was an incentive to invite the poor, the
maimed, the blind and the lame.
Vs.
31-33 This is the summary that gives the statement of purpose for the passage.
The people were to sanctify God, that is, be separate to Him, and make Him
special; because God had done that for Israel by saving them and bringing them
out of Egypt. It was all based on the love of God and their love for Him.
Leviticus
23
Vs.
1-2 These feasts are more than religious events. They are feasts and
celebrations of God's salvation and grace to them. Instead of non-religious
holidays like New Year's, Valentine's Day, St. Patrick's, May Day, and
Halloween, all of the holidays of Israel pointed to God's mercy and their
salvation. Two of these feasts would be generational reminders of the flight
from Egypt and their salvation. Two of the feasts would remind them of the land
and provision being given to them. All of this was a fulfillment of the promise
to Abraham, as Israel fulfilled its mission to become a light and blessing to
the nations. And remember, they were feasts, fun times, to enjoy and celebrate
God's blessing to them. This is pretty cool to have this built into their
culture.
V. 3 It’s
funny that the Sabbath was mentioned first, because this was weekly; but the
interesting thing is that it is mentioned under "feasts." The Sabbath
was not a fast; it was a weekly rest of thanksgiving, remembering God's care.
It should have been a weekly celebration.
Vs.
4-8 There are two things here. First came the one day Passover celebration. On
the following day the week-long Feast of Unleavened Bread began. In the NT when
it says that Jesus went up to the "feast" or the "feast of the
Passover," this is what is being referred to. Notice that regardless of
when the Sabbath occurred during that week, both the first and last day of the
feast were to be regarded as Sabbath days; that is, on those two days they
could only celebrate.
This
yearly feast was to be attended by all the men in Israel to remind them of
God's salvation and the flight from Egypt. It was a celebration of their
salvation.
Vs.
9-14 During the Feast of Unleavened Bread, on the day after the Sabbath that
occurred in that week, or at the end of that week, came this very special
anticipation of the blessings of God. This was at the time of the barley
harvest, so barley was the sheaf that was being waved. What you have then is
three major events being clustered together: Passover-Unleavened
Bread-Firstfruits. It almost seems like a reminder of the salvation in
Egypt-salvation through the wilderness-the blessing of the land.
Notice
that v. 14 has one of those recurring phrases.
Vs.
15-21 So, once that sheaf was waved, you began counting and looking forward to
the next feast. You had all the males in Jerusalem for the Passover-Feast of
Unleavened Bread- Firstfruits of the barley harvest. This was linked to the
salvation from slavery, flight from Egypt and the anticipation of the coming
blessing in the land.
So,
the men would all go home. After the wheat harvest, 50 days after the Feast of
the Firstfruits, they would appear again for the Feast of Weeks, named for the
seven weeks after the firstfruits. This is Pentecost, when we celebrate the
birth of the church and the giving of the Holy Spirit.
Notice
that this feast was designed to signify fullness or completion of blessing.
This was the only feast where leavened bread was offered. This signified that
the flight was over and that the fullness of the promise was complete. You
realize that when the Lord instituted this day, linked to and following the
Passover, He already had the birth of the church and the giving of the Spirit
in mind.
V. 22
Since God has been talking about feasts and harvests, He reminds the people to
leave parts of their fields un-harvested, so as to provide for the poor.
Now
come the fall feasts. Just like the three feasts in March, these three feasts
in October are all clustered together.
Vs.
23-25 The Feast of Trumpets was a Sabbath beginning the three feasts. All of
the males in Israel were required to be at the Day of Atonement, so they
probably showed up here. This feast is the symbolic calling of the people to
come to receive forgiveness. It's a Sabbath, but it is a feast.
Vs.
26-32 Nine days later is the Day of Atonement. This day was not a feast; it
was a Sabbath and the only Sabbath in their year when they had to fast.
Vs.
33-44 Five days later was the Feast of Booths. This was a feast when all the
people had to make little huts to sleep in to remind them of their journey in
the wilderness to the promised land. Notice that they were to rejoice and
celebrate before the Lord all seven days.
What
hits me is that this looks like the covenant at Mt. Sinai, the trumpet sound
before the mountain calling the people, God making the covenant with them, and
then God carrying them through the wilderness.
Vs.
41-43 Notice the heart of God in giving this feast. He wanted the people to
celebrate His love for them. It appears that although Israel may have
celebrated this feast, they didn't do it consistently nor did they make the
little hand-made huts. Look at Nehemiah 8:14-17.
Both
the feasts in March and the feasts in October have to do with God saving,
calling, forgiving, and providing for the people. The reminder that I think is
interesting is the Feast of Booths. They needed to remember what it was like in
the wilderness with nothing but God to sustain them, over 2,000,000 of them.
Maybe
in the western world, we need reminders like this, too, something that helps us
appreciate that only God sustains us. It is interesting that most of the world
celebrates Christmas and Easter. But the main celebration the Lord has given
for His disciples in the harvest involves a loaf of bread and a cup of wine. If
you think about that celebration that coincides with the birth of the church
and the giving of the Spirit, we can get rid of those unleavened crackers and
go back to the warm loaf of bread that symbolizes the fulfillment of blessing.
Mark 9:30-10:12
Particularly
now, Jesus is using every incident as a teaching opportunity for His disciples.
As those who are now called to make disciples we should probably see this in
two ways. First, everything the Lord brings into our lives is designed to lead
us closer to Him in following Him in the harvest. Second, as we encourage and
mentor others, we should have that same sense of using the stuff of life as
opportunities to apply the Word and focus them on following the Lord.
Mark
9:30-50
Vs.
30-32 This shows that Jesus was now preparing them for the completion of His
mission and how that would affect them. They didn't understand at all. So why
didn't they ask Him? I remember in Algebra when the teacher explained something
to me in front of the class and then asked me if I understood. Of course I
said, "yes," but I really had no clue. Then I was afraid to ask for
fear of looking dumber than I already was.
Vs.
33-37 But they weren't afraid to talk about which of them would be the next in
command when He established His kingdom. They still did not believe He would
die. They still could only see the Kingdom being established. It was natural
for any leader to choose his "right-hand man" out of his immediate
group of followers. Jesus waited until they were settled at this house, most
likely Peter's, before approaching the subject.
It is
interesting that at first they didn't answer Him, but eventually they ask Him
(Matt. 18:1). So who was the kid? I'm thinking it wasn't a son of any of the
disciples. That would have been playing into their hand. But Jesus was followed
by lots of people and many women who supported them out of their means, and it
might have been from one of these women. Who knows?
Vs.
38-41 In answer to John's question in v. 38, Jesus says that no one who does a
mighty work in Jesus' name will be able to speak ill of Him. How do you balance
what Jesus is saying here to what He said in Matthew 7:21-23, “Not everyone who says to me, ‘Lord, Lord,’
will enter the kingdom of heaven, but the one who does the will of my Father
who is in heaven. On that day many will say to me, ‘Lord, Lord, did we not
prophesy in your name, and cast out demons in your name, and do many mighty
works in your name?’ And then will I declare to them, ‘I never knew you; depart
from me, you workers of lawlessness.’
Apparently,
motives matter. Doing a mighty work in Jesus' name and not "speaking
evil" of Him doesn't equal receiving Him as Savior and Lord. I think what
Jesus was aiming at here was that they thought Jesus was forming an exclusive
group.
Vs.
42-50 This is a very serious warning and aimed at the disciples. In this
context, I would suggest this meaning. Jesus knew there would be diversity
among those who would follow Him. Salt and light are important to Him, not
Jew/Gentile, educated/illiterate, spotless theology/flawed theology. At the end
of this, Jesus tells them to mind their own business and bear fruit (salt in
the world) and live at peace with others. To enter into theological or racial
conflict with other believers, causing them to stumble and become
"unsalt" (give up following) is absolutely wrong. The reality of life
is that some of us have spotless theology, yet reach few. Some, in China or in
Siberia or the Ukraine, are reaching people for Christ and risking their lives,
yet they have very spotty theology. Some of these people are so narrow, that
they wouldn't worship with us, and we wouldn't worship with them. Jesus says to
His disciples to watch out and be aware of pride and arrogance. Whatever causes
a disciple to feel superior and make the weaker brother stumble (read Rom.
14-15) needs to be "cut out" before it causes ruin.
I
don't think we can lose our salvation, but like some of the people mentioned in
Matthew 7:21, I don't think everyone I've met in church or in Christian service
is necessarily a believer. If we constantly are making others stumble and
lifting ourselves up, it might indicate that "Christianity" means
something other to us, than Christ alone.
V. 49
I think this is referring to the judgment seat of Christ where our work in
Christ will either survive or be burned away. (1 Cor. 3:12-15)
V. 50
We are to have salt in ourselves (following in the harvest making disciples)
and to live at peace with others who are following Christ in the harvest,
though perhaps not, in every detail, according to our particular denomination
or view of the rapture.
Mark
10:1-12
V. 2
The Pharisees were like fire ants in Texas, always everywhere and ready to
sting. There were two very different views of divorce built around two
different rabbis. One view was very liberal allowing divorce for everything and
the other view was conservative, allowing divorce only for unfaithfulness. What
the Pharisees were interested in was trying to find out which "rabbi"
Jesus held to.
Vs.
3-9 Jesus answered their question with a question about the Bible and then
taught them the Bible. What a great idea.
Vs.
10-12 In the house, the disciples ask Jesus and He tells them the awful truth.
In God's eyes a couple is still married after a divorce and when they remarry,
as they consummate the relationship with the new spouse, they both commit
adultery, breaking the covenant of their first marriage. This is messy business
in a dying world where hardness of heart keeps people from being unified in
God. God granted a certificate of divorce and laws regarding remarriage, but
only because sin keeps us in rebellion to God. The miracle and need for oneness
is built into our being, and even in rebellion to God its need for fulfillment
is irresistible.
Interesting
that Jesus taught them like this instead of giving a schedule and saying,
"Next week, Tuesday, 2 p.m., we'll meet at Peter's porch for a lecture on Scripture and Marriage." That might
have been forgettable, but this discussion, born out of conflict, would always
be remembered, and it has been. These are good lessons for us too, as we make
disciples in the harvest.
Psalm 44:1-8
Today
we only get the first eight verses of this 26-verse cry for help.
Vs.
1-3 The writer, like us, looks to the past and sees the power of God in saving
the people.
Vs.
4-8 Based on what he knows from the Bible, he has put his trust in the Lord.
Now
comes the real drawing near to God. We see this pattern so often in the psalms
and in our lives. God shows us truth and then allows us to suffer. In it all,
in a heart of faith, we draw even nearer and learn the truth even deeper.
We
live in this tension in following Christ. We "know" Him and we
"know" the Word. Yet it is so easy in all of what happens, subtly, to
think we are the ones opening doors and pushing everything forward. Then the
Lord leads us into a situation where doing everything we've done before doesn't
work. We can't even start gasoline on fire. And we realize it always was the
Lord. Sometimes the Lord needs to dry up the well, to make us realize the water
comes from Him. He alone is the One who brings fruit or success to working in
the harvest. We have to be willing to get involved, but then, it is really all
from Him.
Proverbs 10:19
I wish
I had learned this in my 20’s. Still, reading Proverbs like this, it makes you
wonder some days if the Spirit isn't giving you a warning. I've had many days
when something has come up unexpectedly, and this word of caution from the Lord
is exactly what I needed to remember, to honor Him and stay out of trouble.
If you’re reading along and don’t have a One Year
Bible, click on this link http://www.esvbible.org/devotions/every-day-in-the-word/. If that doesn't
work, go to http://www.esvbible.org/devotions/
and click on “Every
Day in the Word.”
I'm writing these comments to and for those who are
following a One Year Bible and interested in growing deeper as a disciple,
following Jesus in the harvest. My hope is to see the growth of a discipleship
culture in the church. Groups of 3-4 disciples, meeting weekly, encouraging
each other to follow Christ and work to reach out and make disciples who make
disciples. The Bible itself is the most universal manual we have and key to our
growth and service in Christ. Nothing keeps us more focused on why we are here
or what we are to be doing. My comments are only meant to provide some
explanation of the events or to show the flow of God's plan of redemption. My comments
are in no way exhaustive, but are designed to keep us focused on Christ and our
role in His harvest. My hope is that the people in these groups will grow in
Christ and be willing, after a year, to find 3 others to meet with and
encourage in their growth as disciples, disciples making disciples in the
harvest.
If you would like a complete description of this model
of being and making disciples you can find it in my book: Simply
Disciples*Making Disciples. http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B011WJIDQA?*Version*=1&*entries*=0
If you would like a more descriptive commentary that is
still readable and concise, I'd recommend the Bible Knowledge Commentary. It's
keyed to the NIV, so the result is the commentators are constantly telling you
what the Greek or Hebrew is. That never hurts.
I am not endorsing any particular One Year Bible; in
fact, I read something you don't, die revidierte Lutherbibel 1984.
Anyone reading along with us is welcome to do so and is
encouraged to take their own notes and make their own observations. If the
comments made do not agree with your particular tradition or understanding,
that's OK. Nothing I've written is meant to criticize any point of view, but
only to express the truth of what God has written to us, as I understand it.
Send comments or feedback to dgkachikis@gmail.com.
If you would like documents containing an entire month
of the Reading Notes, go to https://sites.google.com/site/dlkachikis/reading-notes. You can download
these to use on your computer or to print.
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