March 1, Reading Notes

Leviticus 24:1-25:46

Lev. 24:1-9

Along with the Feasts and Holy days, there were these two things mentioned. I guess you don't have to be Einstein to figure out the symbolic nature of these. The people knew there were two things the Lord always provided for them. The one thing not mentioned here that also stood in the Holy Place was the altar of incense. This was probably to signify the prayers of the people constantly coming before God in gratitude for His provision symbolized on the other tables.

Lev. 24:10-23

I don't think this guy said anything more than something you'd hear on TV or expect someone to say in a fight with emotions running high. God is a "good old boy" and just sort of shakes His head when we do this, right? Wrong. Here God is stressing the point of holiness among the people, that He is close and hears this stuff.

Some interesting things here:

First, the man's father was an Egyptian. This might have had something to do with the lack of respect or the cause of the fight.

Second, the tribe of Dan is mentioned. Dan was the first tribe to fall into total idolatry. Also, Dan is not listed among the tribes in the book of Revelation. This guy is the first person put to death for violating one of the 10 commandments.

Third, the repetition of "for I am the Lord your God."

Last, the people did as the Lord commanded Moses. Obedience, for now.

Lev. 25:1-46

Actually this will all flow into tomorrow's reading. This is an awesome chapter in that what is commanded here was never, ever, done in the land, not once. No king did it. The amount of dependence on God that this required was more than anyone could humanly muster up.

If we were doing a Bible study, I'd ask you to break this chapter into two main divisions and then each division into 2 parts. That's just an exercise to help people see the flow of a chapter (and keep them awake).

The main division is after verse 17. Verses 1-17 give a general description of the Sabbath year and the year of Jubilee, and verses 18-55 give specifics as to how to deal with various situations that might arise.

Verses 1-7 and 18-22 have to do with the sabbatical year. Everything else has to do with the year of Jubilee.

I won't make a lot of comments here. Your own observations will be better than anything I can say. Reading the verses on the sabbatical year and particularly 18-22, you understand that if the people couldn't trust God for this, they would never trust Him for the year of Jubilee.

Any of us would have been deeply challenged to do what they were asked to do. Thankfully, God no longer requires this. But, true obedience is always costly and radical, and I have a feeling that we're missing very obvious things related to the Great Commission and the harvest. Therefore, not as many prisoners and slaves of sin get set free.

Mark 10:13-31

Mark 10:13-16

The poor disciples. Where are all these kids coming from? This tells me that when Jesus taught or healed, the disciples did crowd control. The disciples had all these deeply needy people on deck, and then these moms showed up. This "kid" situation seemed low priority to them. They learned a lesson about needs and the value of simple wide-eyed faith and trust.

Mark 10:17-31

Again, what great training for the disciples. You could have a class on "the dangers of riches and idolatry" and never get the point across like here.

Somehow in this, Jesus actually communicated love so that Peter (Mark's source) noticed this. Then the guy leaves.

Now if verses 26 and 27 are a true picture of the reality, then "stuff" really is a problem. Money is bigger than we think. Being saved and being disciples doesn't shield us from this temptation and influence, any more than being a Christian keeps us from getting a cold. This "treasure in heaven" determines how we use our time and focus our lives. It determines our faith. Are we so secure with our holdings in heaven that we could pour out and "waste" our lives on earth for Christ, following Him in the harvest? The "acceptable" answer is "yes," but not many are doing it. Yeah, I feel bad, too, but that's why we're encouraging one another to go in the right direction together.

Psalm 44:9-26

Since this Psalm is from the sons of Korah, who were appointed by David to lead singing in the Tabernacle in Jerusalem, I wonder what the historical situation was. What hardship did Israel endure during the time of David? When you read that the people were following God, but being defeated by their enemies, it really makes me wonder when this Psalm was written.

Note verse 22. Paul quotes this verse in Romans 8 and ends it, "No, in all these things we are more than conquerors through Him who loved us."

In the context of Romans 8, we don't know why God does what He does, but we do know that God works for good with those who love Him, who are called according to His purpose. "For good" might be that we don't understand His purpose and die, but we trust that God knew what He was doing and used our death for His plan.

Many Christians in many times and many countries have endured deep oppression and injustice and cried out to God. Their only victory was Christ.

Revelation 12:11 And they have conquered him by the blood of the Lamb and by the word of their testimony, for they loved not their lives even unto death.

Proverbs 10:20-21

Just for fun, try to put these two Proverbs together. 20a and 21a / 20b and 21b

If you’re reading along and don’t have a One Year Bible, click on this link Every Day in the Word. If that doesn't work, go to http://www.gnpcb.org/esv/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 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.

February 28, Reading Notes

Leviticus 22:17-23:44

Lev. 22:17-33

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.

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, make Him special, because God had done that for Israel by saving them and bringing them out of Egypt.

Lev. 23:1-44

These feasts are more than religious events. They are feasts, they are 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. And 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.

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 thanksgiving and reminder of God's care.

Vs 4-8 are two things, the Passover for one day, followed the next day by the week-long Feast of Unleavened Bread. 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.

Vs. 9-14

This feast is thought to be held on the day after the Sabbath following the Feast of Unleavened Bread. This was at the time of the barley harvest, so barley was the sheaf that was being waved. What you have then is 3 major events being clustered together: Passover-Unleavened Bread-First Fruits. It almost seems like a reminder of the salvation in Egypt-Salvation through the wilderness-the Blessing of the Land.

Vs. 15-22

So you had all the males in Jerusalem for the Passover-Feast of Unleavened Bread-Feast of the First Fruits.

Then they go home. After the wheat harvest, 50 days after the Feast of the First Fruits, they appear again for the Feast of Weeks, for the 7 weeks after the First Fruits. This is Pentecost, where we celebrate the birth of the Church.

Note the warning given not to do a totally thorough job of harvesting the fields, so as to provide for the poor.

Now come the fall feasts. Just like the 3 feasts in March, these 3 feasts in October are all clustered together.

Vs. 23-25

The Feast of Trumpets was a Sabbath beginning the 3 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

Three 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.

What hits me, without reading anyone else, 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 Him carrying them through the wilderness.

Both the feast in March and the feast 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 we in the western world need reminders like this, too, something that helps us appreciate that only God sustains us. Only He is our salvation.

Mark 9:30-10:12

Both of these vignettes fit together nicely as the "in the house discourses."

You notice that Jesus has not only been focused on ministry and declaring his offer to the nation, but woven through all of this has been His training of the 12. For us as disciples, woven through everything we do should be encouraging & mentoring others, making disciples who will make disciples who will make disciples. Jesus focused on a small group of men, and within that group, He worked with 3. But what really made this work is what it says when Jesus called them in Mark 3:14…to be with them, to be sent out to preach, to have authority.

They had a job and a skill to develop, so this wasn't theoretical and academic. Their desire to learn was constant because they were constantly involved in ministry. They would have authority. But all of this only worked because they were constantly with Jesus. Jesus held "class" with them everywhere, all the time.

Practically speaking, we can't do this like Jesus did, but what it does say to us as disciples, is that the "classroom" might be an escape for us in terms of making disciples. Making disciples means spending lots of time with people. Now you can't spend time with everyone, but neither did Jesus. If we are too busy, it really means we might have other priorities. We always have enough time for what we really want to do. No exception to this rule. If we don't put time into this, it is because there are other things we think are more important for us. I'm speaking to myself here, too.

Mark 9:30-50

Notice that Jesus has already told them He would die and be raised, but they didn't understand. 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.

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. 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.

Verses 37 and 41 seem parallel and add to one another.

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,' shall enter the kingdom of heaven, but he who does the will of my Father who is in heaven. 22 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?' 23 And then will I declare to them, `I never knew you; depart from me, you evildoers.'"

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.

The warning in vs. 42-50 is very serious 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" 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 their pride and arrogance. Whatever causes them 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 Matt. 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. Have Salt in yourself, living before Christ as a disciple in the harvest, and live at peace with others who are following Christ, though not, in every detail, your creed.

Mark 10:1-12

The Pharisees were like fire ants in Texas, always everywhere and ready to sting.

Jesus answered their question with a question on the Bible, then taught the Bible. Great idea. In the house, the disciples ask Him 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. 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 the miracle and need for oneness is built into our being and because sin keeps us in rebellion to God.

Interesting that Jesus taught them like this instead of handing out a schedule and saying, "Next week Tuesday at 2pm we'll be meeting 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.

Psalm 44:1-8

We live in this tension between knowing we need to follow and "do" stuff, yet it is so easy in all of that to think we are the ones opening doors and pushing everything forward. Then the Lord leads you into a situation where doing everything you've done before doesn't work. You can't even start gasoline on fire. And you 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 20s. 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 honor Him and stay out of trouble.

If you’re reading along and don’t have a One Year Bible, click on this link Every Day in the Word. If that doesn't work, go to http://www.gnpcb.org/esv/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 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.

February 27, Reading Notes

A couple of notes before we begin today.

First, the wonderfulness of reading a One Year Bible (OYB). If you've been following from the beginning of the year, you have been building a great routine these two months. When I started reading like this I had always thought that I was pretty good about having my quiet times. As a pastor, I never have my QT as part of my workday. I thought I was pretty regular. Then I began with the OYB and I would sit down thinking I had missed, maybe a couple days, and found I was behind a week. I always mark my pages each day, so there was no mistake. I'd develop strategies to get caught up, slowly inching my way up to the current date, swearing (in a devout manner) that I wouldn't let that happen again. But it did. So I really concentrated on the time of the day and getting set up in the same spot, coffee prepared and ready to turn on. This was great for me. Now, after 17 years, I seldom, if ever, miss two days in a row, even on the road. As a result, my relationship with the Lord has never been stronger, even through very rough times.

Second, the joy of making your own observations and what this does for a discipleship group. So Laura comes into my office this morning with a smile. She found something in yesterday's reading. Now, to be fair, sometimes I don't mention stuff; but in that case, I'll make mention to look for something, repetitions of words, etc. I was not only happy for her, but it felt good to see something I had never noticed before. Yesterday (and today) in the OT reading, I never caught the repetition of, "I am the Lord," or "I am the Lord your God." How cool.

So, when you are discussing this with others in a group, there is that joy of seeing people finding stuff and getting into it. Then there is the application of that phrase for us as disciples. We are meant to help one another, strengthen and encourage one another as we follow Christ in the harvest, reaching out and making disciples who make disciples. We know who our Lord is, unlike everyone else. As our Lord, He lovingly guides and directs and protects us. As our God, He sustains us and makes our lives worth living on earth, and eternally, to live with Him in the future. And in a group, everyone would be adding to the encouragement and strength and security this phrase gives to us. Very cool.

Leviticus 20:22-22:16

Notice the repetition in this section. It isn't just "I am the Lord," but look at all the mentions of "holy." If I were to ask you at the end of Leviticus, what the point of the book was, these words would give you a very good idea.

Lev. 20:22-27

As you read and come to a section like this, that comes at the end of a chapter, you have to ask yourself what the purpose of this block is. It appears to be a summary. Summaries often contain purpose statements.

Notice again the mention of vomit. This is what would happen to the people in the land they were taking. Imagine, all the idolatry and sexual perversion we've just read about, was considered normal culture and everyday life in the land of Canaan.

So, why verse 27? How does it fit?

I'd suggest that the people were to be constantly coming to the Lord with questions. Answers could be found with the priest who carried the Urim and Thummim. Instead, they would be tempted to find answers closer to home. After all, Jerusalem was a long way away. Israel only had one God, one place to worship and one altar. Jerusalem was far away, but they had a God who would lead them and answer them. If the answer didn't come in prayer, it could be found in Jerusalem with the priest of God.

Where do you go? To a movie? Church? Chuck Swindoll? Mark Driscoll?  Charles Stanley?  John Piper?  Some blog? OR…..

http://www.growingchristians.org/mfgc/delivered/Wheredoi.html

Lev. 21:1-15

Look in this section and see if you can figure out where it is talking about a normal priest and about the high priest.

Notice that a priest can't have a Mohawk.

Verse 15 gets expanded upon in EZ. 44:22. A priest could marry the widow of a priest.

What observations do you have here? Do you think it is fair for God to have such high standards for the priests? Do you think that it is fair for God to have high standards of those who follow Christ? We are saved by grace, so why should there be any standards at all? Look at Eph. 4:1-6 and Phil 1:27-30.

Lev. 21:16-24

This portion seems hard. Unlike our situation as disciples, where some who have disabilities do a better job witnessing and representing God than those without disabilities, the priests had to be whole in every way.

I don't know, but I think it was God's way of saying that you offer the most healthy, the most robust, the sacrifice that costs you the most. In a sense, those with disabilities had been preselected by the Lord to not serve as priests, since God was responsible for the disability. With sacrifices, and this happened in Malachi's day, people thought that because times were tough it would be ok to offer a lamed animal in sacrifice. It wasn't good for anything anyway, so why not give it in sacrifice. I think the people eventually had the same thought toward the priests. They didn't really do anything all day except a couple of times. They really didn't bring anything to the table, so let anyone be a priest. Save the able bodied men to serve in the army, be movie stars, etc., and let the others be priests. I don't think they revered the priest like he was really important.

I've heard this said of people who have gone into full-time ministry who had very special talents and abilities or an amazing education. People say, "He became a missionary? What a waste."

Anyway, we can learn something about God in all of this, but we don't have to complain. In the grace of Christ, in our work in the harvest, all of us are used by the Lord. Some of the real heroes of faith, since Christ, have lived in mind-staggering poverty, been scarred or born with disability, and have had little or no education. They have defied death to share Christ. They have hidden with other Christians to entrust the truth and make disciples. They have died for Christ as martyrs, murdered without justice or discovery. And we won't even know their names until we meet them in heaven.

Lev. 22:1-16

There are lots of rules here that serve as "object" lessons. What do you see as the focus of this section? What are the key words?

For all of our rhetoric that our models should just be looked at like normal people and not held to a higher standard, we still want them to live to a higher standard. We subtly accept sin as normal by watching TV, but if a preacher or politician becomes guilty of it, we rightly draw the line. Those guys who represent people should live to a higher standard. I agree. God wanted the Priests of Israel to live to a higher standard, showing that it was possible to live completely for God, because they represented the people before God.

Mark 9:1-29

Mark 9:1-13

If you are ever on Millionaire and asked, "How many days was it, after Peter confessed that Jesus was the Christ, that Jesus was transfigured before them?" Mark gives you the answer.

Mark 9:14-29

We've seen this before in Matthew 17.

Note that when Jesus comes down the mountain, the disciples are in an argument with the Scribes, probably challenging their correctness and their authority. Paul tells Timothy, the disciple, to stay out of stupid, silly controversies. Arguments seldom settle anything, but you do walk away emotionally unsettled.

Notice that Jesus takes the boy by the hand. Very personal touch.

If you reread Matt. 17, Jesus says they failed to cast out the demon because of their lack of faith. Faith expressed how? In not praying. They were distracted by the crowd and the conflict with the Scribes, and didn't have the courage and presence of mind to huddle together, in front of all those people and detractors, and pray.

As disciples, if we become too "crowd" focused, we might lose the power and strength we have in the harvest, that only comes through faith and pounding on the door of heaven.

Psalm 43

There is no notation of who might have written this, but if you read yesterday's Psalm, you probably figured it out.

As a disciple, focusing on the hard work of following Christ in the harvest, your "enemies" often come more from inside the church than from outside…at least in the western world.

The cry for vindication is followed by the true desire to be close to God, sheltered and led by His light and truth, in His dwelling, before His altar. Nothing I've done gets closer to this than sitting before the Lord after someone has come to Christ. The bruises don't hurt as much; the voices of conflict and doubting become distant and without merit; the reality of the truth seems like a light; there is deep joy; and you're willing to offer even more.

So, I ask myself today, why are you cast down, oh my soul and why are you in turmoil within me? Hope in God, for I shall again praise Him, my salvation and my God. Keep going, keep praying, keep working, keep trusting, hold to what the Lord tells you to do, and the Lord will bring you there again.

Proverbs 10:18

Amen.

If you’re reading along and don’t have a One Year Bible, click on this link Every Day in the Word. If that doesn't work, go to http://www.gnpcb.org/esv/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 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.

February 26, Reading Notes

Leviticus 19:1-20:21

The nice thing about a section like this is that it seems so random, that you are constantly amazed at the next thing. Don't break your head always trying to find a connection; but the exercise will be good for you, and you might be surprised at what you find. These two chapters seem to aim at the 10 commandments with tangent, connecting laws brought in.

Lev. 19:1-8

Vs. 1-4 are a restating of the some of the commandments with the emphasis on the people being holy, that is, separated to God. The issue isn't "cleanness" as much as it is trust and full devotion.

Vs. 5-8 are a case in point of trusting and honoring God. The peace offering was to be eaten within two days. It was to be enjoyed and the time was to be given to God in enjoying Him and this food. If you were too busy or if you thought to keep some food for later, you were in trouble. A person was to give full attention and appetite and joy to this. This is where the cares of this world, or saving something for a rainy day, were in contrast to simply being fully there for God.

Lev. 19:9-18

All of these laws have to do with neighbor to neighbor relationships, again, mirroring some aspect of the last 6 commandments. You'll find the famous verses in this passage that actually fulfill the law, according to Jesus and Paul.

Lev. 19:19-37

Enjoy the randomness of this section. How many things do you find that surprise you? Most of these laws were for the nation of Israel and those who dwelt in Israel. Some of these laws seem to have a sense of being important for all people and times.

Lev. 20:1-21

There is a connection to idolatry and sexual perversion. The obvious connection is that both involve rejecting God as the creator and Lord of creation and man. The less obvious connection is that both have to do with a lack of loyalty driven by our desires. In 1 Corinthians 6:9-10, Paul says, "Do you not know that the unrighteous will not inherit the kingdom of God? Do not be deceived; neither the immoral, nor idolaters, nor adulterers, nor sexual perverts, nor thieves, nor the greedy, nor drunkards, nor revilers, nor robbers will inherit the kingdom of God.

Notice how Paul begins with immorality and goes on to idolatry and the sexual perversion. You see this same pattern in Romans 1:18. People gave up God for images and then polluted the relationship between man and wife and went on to perversion.

In the examples of "uncovering nakedness," again, this is willing sexual behavior between both parties.

Mark 8:11-38

Mark 8:11-21

One of the lessons of this story is that the disciples were blinded to spiritual truth because they were counting pennies. They were absorbed by practical matters and not focused on the issues. The cares of this world were choking them. As disciples, we need to be secure enough in God's care, to still see the spiritual matters that move around us.

Mark 8:22-26

Again, it is interesting that Jesus made this healing like a craft project. Since Jesus' power didn't need the spit to heal Him, I think this might have had to do with developing the faith of the disciples and the blind man.

This also makes me think how often God takes the long approach with us to do something that should have been very easy. The growth of our faith and our dependence on Him is important to Him.

It's interesting that Jesus told him not to enter the village from which He had led him out.

Mark 8:27-38

This is the Discipleship Manifesto. What is interesting to me in Mark's gospel, is verse 38. This definitely means that Jesus expects His disciples to live a "telling" life. Tradition says that Mark spent a lot of time with Peter and that Peter's memory was the basis for these facts. That might explain why Mark has verse 38. Mark 9:1 is connected to this verse to complete it.

Psalm 42

When you read this you might think that it was written by David, but it is written by the sons of Korah. Whatever the background of the writer, you can feel that he had known hard times. The Psalms, or Songs, of the sons of Korah, will have some other big hits, but this Psalm is the best known.

I don't know what the Lord took him through, but aren’t we happy He did? This range of emotion and need is what everyone goes through and the psalmist gives us hope and directs us to hope in, and wait on, the Lord.

It's interesting to be thankful that the Lord made this psalmist go through this despair, so that we benefit from the expression of his faith and hope in God. As disciples, God does the same with us, or should I say, to us, so that we can comfort others with the same hope and encouragement that helped us.

Today I received a call from one of my daughters who is in Germany serving with OM. When she began to tell me about some recent discouragement, almost involuntarily, I began to comfort her with things the Lord did, and has done in my life. The neat part is, He is the comfort. In some respect, what we share and suggest is how we found Him in the mess we were in. How we learned something about Him, that brought our hearts to a place of refocus and insight and peace and rest. The simple answer is, "Trust in the Lord," but each of us shares with others how God led us through the maze of our fear and discouragement or anger, to find Him again.

I know this song is sappy, but I always get this allergic reaction in my eyes when I hear it or sing it.

Proverbs 10:17

For a disciple, this is vital truth. Often in our arrogance, as we teach, we pass on our "attitude" rather than the love of Christ. Read Luke 6:37-42. This is written as a warning to disciples making disciples. The disciple maker needs to be the guy from the first part of this Proverb, not from the second part.

If you’re reading along and don’t have a One Year Bible, click on this link Every Day in the Word. If that doesn't work, go to http://www.gnpcb.org/esv/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 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.

February 25, Reading Notes

Leviticus 16:29-18:30

Lev. 16:29-34

It makes you wonder why this section wasn't included with the section from yesterday.

Israel's first month would have been March.

It is notable that this is the only Sabbath in Israel's year where the people had to fast during the Sabbath.

Can you understand that this event and the Passover were to be two of the main events of their year? All of the males in Israel were supposed to be on hand for both of these events.

Just think, God built many reminders into year and culture of the Jews. Reminders of what? As disciples, we have even more reminders and things to keep us focused. Reminders of what?

Lev. 17:1-9

Of all the existing religions of the world, the Jews were the only ones who could only offer on one altar. Why do you think that was? What was it meant to create?

There are a lot of things to observe in this section.

Lev. 17:10-16

We've talked about the theme of this section. God makes a big point about blood. It might also be that the drinking of blood was associated with pagan religion. In any case, blood was to be seen as precious.

Being cut off, meant being punished by death.

Lev. 18:1-23

After reading verses 1-5, it is probably a good idea to read 18:24-30. God was not speaking theoretically here. Notice what He says of Egypt in verse 3.

If you are interested in going further in Bible study, go through this section and write down the different relationships that are mentioned.

As you go through the list, you see that all of this had to do with sexual perversion. "Uncover the nakedness" was a figure of speech having to do with violating someone sexually/relationally. Where it talks about "your father's nakedness," or "your brother's nakedness," I think it is talking about the relational union that already exists between the guy and his father and his father and his father's wife. In this case, the guy would have been violating both of them. God might be pointing to the sanctity of that spiritual union as the main reason for not violating the relationship, but just from the standpoint of adultery or rape, it would have been wrong anyway.

Notice that both Abraham and Jacob would now be out-of-bounds.

Notice that homosexuality is forbidden.

So why do you have the mention of Molech in verse 21? This doesn't have anything to do with sexual behavior, right? Because of the very loose sexual behavior back then, because sex was a part of pagan worship (Baal, for example), there were a lot of unwanted kids. Figuratively speaking, in this society of perverted morality, where you also had the temple of Baal on one corner, you also had a temple to Molech. In Molech worship, you offered the baby in sacrifice, throwing it into the "mouth of Molech," which actually was a flaming pit with a fireplace, mouth-like opening. Even Solomon did this at the end of his life. They didn't have abortion back then, but they did have unwanted babies, so they needed Molech. He is also called Molech (Lev. 18:21 20:2-5) etc., Milcom (1Ki 11:5,33) etc., and Malcham (Zep 1:5) This god became Chemosh among the Moabites. Eaton Bible Dictionary

Lev. 18:24-30

These laws are more than ceremonial laws for Israel. There is a universality to all of them except, maybe, verse 19. That God allowed certain things in different cultures at different periods of time, does not mean He approved them. These laws tell you what He approves of. The fact that God adds words like perversion and abomination, show you that these are not "object lessons" for Israel, but real social and moral laws.

Mark 7:24-8:10

Mark 7:24-30

So why is this story here? It has a lot to do where Jesus is, where He is healing and what the response is.

Mark 7:31-37

Again, this story is important because of where Jesus is. This is the area that was prepared by that other disciple, who was not only clothed and in his right mind, but was glorifying God all over the place.

So, in this story, what questions do you have? I wonder why Jesus had to take the man away from the crowd. I also wonder why Jesus had to use the little ritual He did. I wonder if it was for the sake of the deafness of the man.

8:1-10

Jesus didn't have to feed large crowds twice to prove He could do it. And the gospel writers didn't have to mention Him feeding two large crowds. The difference, again, is where this happened. The people in all of these stories were Gentiles.

We didn't see it because we haven't read John 6 after the feeding of the 5000, but Jesus falls out of favor with the Jewish people. They are rejecting their Messiah. On the other hand, the Gentiles are coming to Jesus. Jesus is still making His offer to the Jews, but it is obvious already, that He is welcoming all nations to salvation.

Psalm 41

One of the verses here is an allusion to Jesus' betrayal. Can you find it?

Proverbs 10:15-16

Seems like a dark proverb unless the man is rich because of working in righteousness, and the poor man is in poverty because of pursuing gain from doing wrong.

If you’re reading along and don’t have a One Year Bible, click on this link Every Day in the Word. If that doesn't work, go to http://www.gnpcb.org/esv/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 involved in a discipleship cell.  The comments I'm writing are in no way exhaustive, but meant to give some leading thoughts on how the text applies to us as disciples and to encourage and stimulate our growth in reading the Bible, with the effect that we will grow as disciples and encourage the growth of others as disciples growing in the word. 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, no one in our church reads the version I do, die revidierte Lutherbibel 1984.

Anyone reading along with us is welcome to do so and 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.

February 24, Reading Notes

Leviticus 15:1-16:28

This is the chapter that we've all been waiting for…not. But hey, it does make you wonder a little, why we have it in the Bible. God is the one who told Moses to tell this to the people. There is a message in all of this. One message was for the nation, having to do with their view of their need. These things taught them what was holy and what was common, and what was clean and what was unclean. All of their lives and disciplines would have daily reminders of these. For us as disciples, the other message is that even though these "rules" don't apply to us, God still wants us to have a mindset that there is holiness and it is to be valued. There is a "cleanness" that is important that we should seek to maintain in behavior and attitude as we honor God. This mindset has nothing to do with "works" or earning God's love, but it has to do with a sober attitude toward where we live, and a grateful attitude toward whom we serve.

Chapter 15 follows a pattern: Man who is sick, man who is not sick, woman who is not sick, woman who is sick.

In the case of both sick people, after they were well, they were to go to the tent and make an offering of devotion and an offering for the cleansing of sin. This is easy for them to do now, since they are living around the Tabernacle, but later when they are in the land, this will mean taking a road trip (depending when they lived) to either Gilgal, then Shiloh, then Nod and finally Jerusalem. That would require obedience, but more importantly, gratefulness to God for their cure. I wonder if they ever obeyed this once they were in the land and the Tabernacle was harder to get to?

In the case of the well people, their normal bodily functions only made them "unclean." The passage of time and bathing made them clean again.

Lev. 15:1-15

This emission could have been due to disease or infection, but it is definitely sickness. One recurring thing in this section will be the seven days of cleansing followed by sacrifice.

As disciples, what is interesting to me is our response after we have recovered from something. We don't have to give an offering of devotion and an offering of cleansing and forgiveness. We offer up (if at all) a quick prayer, and we thank God that we can eat bratwurst again. Even though doctors and antibiotics are involved, we know that only God can cure. We should be grateful. This is what Israel was learning.

Lev. 15:16-18

Does this surprise you? The first part has to do with a wet-dream or masturbation. I get that. Any emission of semen made a man unclean until the evening. The second part has to do with making love, being one flesh. This is something good and, being mentioned here, was obviously in the context of marriage. This is something good and commanded and invented by God. So why the uncleanness? I think it is because of touching the semen. I think God is making a point, not because of it being "yucky," but because of it being special in some sense. As part of the reproductive process there is an aspect of the transfer of life, the transfer of sin, the fact that there is a divinely ordained miracle involved and maybe that in this miracle there is a measure of tragedy because of what is transferred along with the life.

Another thing that is interesting, is that the whole reason to be ceremonially clean, was to be wholly ready for God and to be able to receive His blessing. The "cleanness" was symbolic of total devotion and separation to God. There were times when God demanded that the people were to be clean and He gave the command (Exodus 19:15), "Be ready by the third day; do not go near a woman." It wasn't because women have cooties, it was because husband and wife were to appear before Him "clean," devoted, fully focused on Him and separated to Him. The NT version of this is, 1 Corinthians 7:5, "Do not refuse one another except perhaps by agreement for a season, that you may devote yourselves to prayer; but then come together again, lest Satan tempt you through lack of self-control."

Now this is not the case with us at all, but just think of the logistical ramifications there would be in our lives if we knew we couldn't go to church if we had done something the night before. It would keep our actions in the forefront of our thinking and planning. We would have to think, "Ok if I do that after 9pm, it will go into the next day so I'll be disqualified. So we'll have to do that earlier so we'll be cleansed by evening.

Since the real focus is being cleansed to stand before God, you would always be thinking about the events before you and your actions. In a positive way, it would keep your connection with God always at the top of your thinking and planning. I'm glad we don't have those laws, but I would probably benefit, as a disciple, from that kind of thinking.

Lev. 15:19-24

I just have a few notes here.

First, the reason for the longer time of cleansing here was because of the blood. Blood has a special character in the Bible, because Leviticus 17:11 says, "For the life of the flesh is in the blood…"

Second, "menstrual impurity" doesn't really appear in the Hebrew. The word is either "menstruation" or "separation," but it seems that the word "impurity" was added to the range of meaning because of this context, that is, menstruation causing ceremonial uncleanness. This is one place where you want to go with the KJV or NKJV. There is nothing impure about the process and impurity isn't necessary to the translation.

In verse 24, there is the case of a husband unwittingly making love to his wife at the beginning of her period. Since he touches the blood, he too is unclean for 7 days. In a couple of chapters (18:19) he will be commanded to leave his wife alone during her "separation," or "menstruation," not her "impurity."

As said before, these commands are object lessons for the Nation of Israel, not for anyone else. God is weaving the regard for His holiness and their separation to Him, into the fabric of all they do.

Without being legalistic or rigid, it is good for us as disciples, to have a high regard for God's holiness and our lives as being separated to Him. As we live for Christ every day, following Him in the harvest, Christ becomes woven into all we do.

Lev. 15:25-30

This is a sickness and therefore the healing was followed up by sacrifice. This is the woman we just read about with the issue of blood in Mark 5:25.

Lev. 15:31-33

I made this its own section because of verse 31, explaining the purpose of these laws. The real focus was that the people should know they need to be separated unto God, coming to Him with a sense of holiness and purity. God allowed exceptions, for example, in Mark 5:25, He allowed Himself to be approached and touched by an "unclean" woman.

Lev. 16:1-28

This chapter describes the day of atonement in October. The priest could only enter the Holy of Holies one time a year. Just as an exercise in Bible study, go slowly though the chapter and try to list the order of events.

The main purpose of this event was the yearly covering of the sins of Israel. Before this could happen, Aaron and the tabernacle had to be cleansed. Aaron needed cleansing from his own sin, and the Tabernacle needed cleansing because of the effects of being surrounded by sinful people. When all these were cleansed, then payment was made for the people.

Notice that the bull and goats had different purposes.

One of the goats, the scapegoat, had the sins of the people placed on it and was sent into the wilderness to Azazel. Azazel means removal. To get the best take on this, I'll give you a couple lines from Eaton's Bible Dictionary:

This word has given rise to many different views. Some Jewish interpreters regard it as the name of a place some 12 miles east of Jerusalem, in the wilderness. Others take it to be the name of an evil spirit, or even of Satan. But when we remember that the two goats together form a type of Christ, on whom the Lord "laid the iniquity of us all," and examine into the root meaning of this word (viz., "separation"), the interpretation of those who regard the one goat as representing the atonement made, and the other, that "for Azazel," as representing the effect of the great work of atonement (viz., the complete removal of sin), is certainly to be preferred. The one goat which was "for Jehovah" was offered as a sin-offering, by which atonement was made. But the sins must also be visibly banished, and therefore they were symbolically laid by confession on the other goat, which was then "sent away for Azazel" into the wilderness.

Pretty cool. God not only forgave, but gave them a visual aid of removing their sins. Psalm 103:12 As far as the east is from the west, So far has He removed our transgressions from us.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2oV4ndllEY8&feature=related

Hebrews 10:4 says, "For it is impossible for the blood of bulls and goats to take away sins." It is referring to this event that only covered their sins for a year. By contrast, the sacrifice of Christ covers our sin forever.

Mark 7:1-23

One of the things you wonder about is why Jesus was so hard with the Pharisees and Scribes. I don't think we appreciate how dangerous it is to substitute our traditions for God's Word. I don't think we fully grasp how easy it is to use the Word to justify our lack of mission or fruit. And what gets lost in all of our tweaking of the Bible to conform to our lifestyle, is our understanding of God and living in authentic relationship with Him. Jesus was God and could understand their hearts and the ramifications of what they were doing and teaching.

Honoring father and mother had a very strong financial component. Honoring meant caring for them as their age increased and their health declined. A son was to shape his life accordingly, to prepare for this coming event. "Corban" was a trick that neither honored God or family. I wonder if the opposite of "Corban" was "Nabroc," giving everything meant for God, to your parents?  

So what is the real point in all Jesus says about cleansing? Interesting that we're talking about cleansing here and in Leviticus. What really defiles us is within, that is, sin. Jesus makes this clear. So, what really cleanses us? That is what the Pharisees and Scribes wouldn't and couldn't find, because the answer wasn't a what, but a who. Who cleanses us is He who forgives us and then sends His Holy Spirit to live in us. Once we know Him, it is only by living in that close, daily connection in the Word and following the Spirit, that we can make sure that what comes out of us is honoring to our Father.

This is why for us as disciples, like the priest, the first order of business is to make sure we are close to Him, in love with Him, in His Word. It affects how we follow Him in the harvest, making disciples. This is why it is so important for us to be reaching out and making disciples, because without Christ, no one has a chance to be forgiven and to have the power of sin in their lives broken.

Psalm 40:11-17

I cling to verse 17.

Proverbs 10:13-14

Try putting the parallel parts together. The reason these are in couplets is because of the parallel ideas being woven together. To understand them better or see them clearer for a devotional or short lesson, sometimes rearranging them helps focus on the real comparison or contrast. Just a suggestion.

On the lips of him who has understanding, wisdom is found, but the mouth of a fool brings ruin near.

The wise lay up knowledge (to guide them?), but a rod is for the back of him who lacks sense (to guide him?).

If you’re reading along and don’t have a One Year Bible, click on this link Every Day in the Word. If that doesn't work, go to http://www.gnpcb.org/esv/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 involved in a discipleship cell.  The comments I'm writing are in no way exhaustive, but meant to give some leading thoughts on how the text applies to us as disciples and to encourage and stimulate our growth in reading the Bible, with the effect that we will grow as disciples and encourage the growth of others as disciples growing in the word. 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, no one in our church reads the version I do, die revidierte Lutherbibel 1984.

Anyone reading along with us is welcome to do so and 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.

February 23, Reading Notes

Leviticus 14

Lev. 14:1-32

I don't know what observations or thoughts you have regarding this section but a couple things stand out to me.

First, there is the same applying of blood to the right ear, right thumb and right big toe, that there was with Aaron and the priests. These two places are the only places in the Bible. So it makes me wonder about the connection. What did a priest and a cleansed leper have in common? The only thing I can come up with is that a leper was "dead" in a figurative sense, being a walking symbol of sin and separation from God. The healing and being made clean would symbolize life from the dead.

In the consecration of Aaron, the meaning of the blood seemed to be that all of his life, thoughts, doing, going were to be devoted to God in ministering the blood, or leading people to God for forgiveness and cleansing.

My sense is that the leper, now redeemed from death, was to be consecrated to God and was to live his life under the "direction" of that blood, giving testimony to lead others to the forgiveness and cleansing of God.

As a disciple, it seems to me that I've been a leper. I've been made alive and forgiven and cleansed by the blood. All my thoughts and doing and going should be led by that blood. And I should live to follow Christ and give testimony and lead others to the forgiveness and cleansing of God.

In Mark 1:40-45, Jesus told this leper, the first we ever know of (besides Miriam) to be healed, to go and present himself to the priest. The priest would have had to publicly pronounced this man "clean." This would have been a great public testimony by a priest that Jesus had done the work of God. The guy did his own thing and disobeyed.

I guess, sometimes it is best to obey God in the system, following Christ as He desires.

Lev. 14:33-57

Now, there is a lot in this section regarding cleansing and sacrifice and houses. I suppose the purpose is to show the people that all growing manifestations of rot and decay, physically and spiritual, are deadly and unclean. This clearly was an object lesson. When you read this section, pay attention to the beginning verses. They tell you that there must have been a purpose.

Mark 6:30-56

Mark 6:30-44

It's interesting that Jesus tries to teach the disciples the importance of getting into isolation after draining spiritual service. It's also interesting that it doesn't work. Instead of being able to relax, they are pursued; and Jesus, moved with compassion, teaches them. He probably did some healing as well, and the disciples probably helped organize the people into lines. The result was that this was not rest and relaxation for the disciples.

The disciples recognized the problem. Lots of people and they were in the middle of nowhere. (There is actually a small city in Texas called "in the middle of nowhere," Midlothian, Texas, which now has a Wal-Mart and no longer lives up to its name.)

When I think of the disciples here, it is really the same scenario as the first days of the exodus. How is God going to feed all these people in the middle of nowhere?

Imagine the disciples coming off of this spiritual victory, serving even more though they were tired, and now after hours of serving and hearing Jesus teach they are very, very tired. Then Jesus says, "You give them something to eat."

What is interesting is that there is a story in the OT of God doing something like this with Elisha the prophet.

So, what lesson do you think the disciples learned from this event?

Mark 6:45-52

Elsewhere we learn that Jesus sent the disciples away as a decoy. The people knew Jesus was still up on the mountain, and so they waited for Him in order to take Him captive and make Him king.

The disciples still haven't rested. Jesus tells them to get into the boat and they just do it, now fighting the wind.

The thing I get from all of this, is that there are times God pushes us, in our following, to exhaustion, to teach us in that tiredness, to exercise our faith. It is easy to follow and easy to have faith and easy to be joyful when you are well rested. You test the real depth of learning or training under duress.

So how do you explain the last part of this? They were terrified and astounded….because they did not understand about the loaves. What didn't they understand there, that led them to be terrified here?

I think it has to be some connection they missed to Jesus, who He was. And in that connection, something they missed with regard to the manna. Jesus' words in John 6 tie these together. Peter's words in that chapter give you the idea that they finally "got it."

Mark 6:53-56

It is amazing to think that many of these people who are pursuing Him, will turn from Jesus when He gets north to the outskirts of Capernaum. I guess the lesson is "do you want Him, or what He can give you." It's not the same thing.

Psalm 40:1-10

Again, this is a Psalm that my heart latches on to. This Psalm is "after the fact," in that David has already received the deliverance he cried out for. I like the crying out and waiting. You have to notice the frequency of these words in the Psalms and get the idea that that is what God wants us to do. "But things aren't that bad." Maybe in reality, things are always worse than they seem, considering that our planet is on course for a bad day.

Verses 6 and 7 have been applied to Jesus. It's interesting that we're reading so much about sacrifice and offering in Exodus and Leviticus, and here it says the opposite. Verse 7 is the answer, and was probably the answer back when Leviticus was penned.

Verses 9-10 are precisely why God allows us to get into bad scrapes, so He can deliver us, and so we can give genuine, heartfelt praise to God.

If you're interested, this link is to a Promise Keepers song based on this Psalm.

Proverbs 10:11-12

You can really see the design of these verses. The mouth of the righteous is a fountain of life that issues from a heart of love that covers sins. The mouth of the wicked conceals violence, motivated by a heart of hate that stirs up strife.

Do you recognize the second half of verse 12? You hear it all the time and it's quoted in 1 Peter. Maybe the way it is used here helps us understand 1 Peter.

If you’re reading along and don’t have a One Year Bible, click on this link Every Day in the Word. If that doesn't work, go to http://www.gnpcb.org/esv/devotions/ and click on “Every Day in the Word.” 

I'm writing these comments to and for those at New Song who are following a One Year Bible and involved in a discipleship cell. We're meeting weekly and discussing the texts, not necessarily my comments. We're growing together, learning to become and make disciples who make disciples. We will all be leading others in this process and training them to do likewise.

The comments I'm writing are in no way exhaustive, but meant to give some leading thoughts on how the text applies to us as disciples and to encourage and stimulate our growth in reading the Bible, with the effect that we will grow as disciples and encourage the growth of others as disciples growing in the word. 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, no one in our church reads the version I do, die revidierte Lutherbibel 1984.

Anyone reading along with us is welcome to do so and 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.

February 22, Reading Notes

Leviticus 13

Now, since I'm not a doctor, I won't be much help on this section, except, possibly, for comic relief.

It appears to me that this law for leprosy, really signifies that leprosy was being used by God as a kind of object lesson. Otherwise you would just say, "They didn't have a cure for leprosy like we do, and so God had to do something in the culture to make an issue about staying away from people with the disease." But the next chapter is all about leprosy, too. Why didn't God give them a chapter on cancer or heart disease? I think the reason leprosy is an issue is that God was using it as a way to visually show Israel what being "unclean" meant. He was also giving them an image of what the spread of sin looked like, physically, spiritually, or socially.

Even as disciples, we treat sin as a silly, 3-letter word "boogie man." Sin is the greatest destructive force on the planet. Paul/the Spirit says it is a spiritual force. Sin is not just "missing the mark," it is a power, pulsing in our souls that grows and creeps and infects. Leprosy is a fantastic picture. Without the indwelling Spirit and the cleansing agent of the Word, we would be absolutely "leprous;" and all that we touched would be unclean. We can still be that if we decide to ignore God enough. Look at 1 Corinthians.

What is interesting to me, and I'll probably say it tomorrow, too, that although there was a provision for being healed from leprosy, until Jesus, no Israelite was ever cleansed. Didn't the lepers come to God for healing? Maybe not. The first time Jesus gets thrown out of Nazareth, He says to the people there, "And there were many lepers in Israel in the time of the prophet Elisha; and none of them was cleansed, but only Naaman the Syrian." Luke 4:27 And the whole synagogue went crazy. Faith was only found in Naaman the Gentile, and that only because he had good servants.

Ok, I fully agree with verse 29. If a woman has a disease on her beard, there is definitely something wrong.

Whatever happened to "The verse of the day?" This custom has fallen on hard times today, whereas in days of yesteryear many a soul has been helped by the verse of the day appearing on doors or screen savers. Years ago, I swapped out the church secretary's verse for my own (I was a seminary student then, not the pastor) out of this chapter. I like it better in the RSV, and feel free to use this where appropriate.

Leviticus 13:40 "If a man's hair has fallen from his head, he is bald but he is clean.

I never understood this stuff about leprous material or a leprous house until I lived in Texas during all the black mold stuff in 2001 and we discovered it in our house. We didn't just have black mold, but yellow and red and green…pretty stuff, cough, cough, cough.

Again, in thinking about sin, as disciples, is it possible that the disease can spread to stuff? Can stuff be polluted by our sin and can we be polluted by stuff?

Mark 6:1-29

Mark 6:1-6

This was Jesus' second visit to Nazareth. The first was at the beginning of His ministry and now He was more popular than Justin Bieber. It was a gracious thing for Jesus to return, considering they tried to kill Him the first time. Now they are simply hardened by unbelief. They know His family, and now the religious authorities have "explained" Jesus. That Jesus could not heal many, doesn't mean that His power didn't work, like he could only get "one bar" of connection to God's power or that He had a slow download speed because of their dense hearts. It means that they didn't bring many to Him, to lay hands on.

Mark 6:6-13

Jesus had prepared the 12 to do this by example. This is a good discipleship principle. Show people how to do things by example, doing it with them. Don't just teach the concepts and let them go.

Mark 6:14-29

I don't know what lessons you get from this section, but I'm always struck that John's ministry might not have been as long as his imprisonment. It's hard to find dates, but the consensus is that John sat in prison a long time.

Today, we still look at success as a measure of blessing. I think as disciples, faithfulness is our real goal in following Christ in the harvest. John was faithful in service, and then faithful in prison.

Psalm 39

The two great things I get from this Psalm are the wisdom to keep one's mouth shut, except in crying out to God. The other is to know the shortness of our days. I think both of these have done something good for my walk with God.

Proverbs 10:10

After reading this, I really have a hard time winking at people, except to encourage them. Otherwise, it smacks of deceit and hiding.

If you’re reading along and don’t have a One Year Bible, click on this link Every Day in the Word. If that doesn't work, go to http://www.gnpcb.org/esv/devotions/ and click on “Every Day in the Word.” 

I'm writing these comments to and for those at New Song who are following a One Year Bible and involved in a discipleship cell. We're meeting weekly and discussing the texts, not necessarily my comments. We're growing together, learning to become and make disciples who make disciples. We will all be leading others in this process and training them to do likewise.

The comments I'm writing are in no way exhaustive, but meant to give some leading thoughts on how the text applies to us as disciples and to encourage and stimulate our growth in reading the Bible, with the effect that we will grow as disciples and encourage the growth of others as disciples growing in the word. 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, no one in our church reads the version I do, die revidierte Lutherbibel 1984.

Anyone reading along with us is welcome to do so and 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.

February 21, Reading Notes

Leviticus 11-12

Lev. 11:1-47

It might be a good idea to read the key verses of this section before you read the entire section. Skim the chapter looking for an explanation.

Also, look for repetition of words. There are some obvious ones like "detestable" and "unclean." Underline or highlight these. It not only sharpens your skills in Bible study, but it keeps your mind active and makes the reading less tedious.

So, in the list of what cannot be eaten, do you find anything that you like, besides pork? It looks to me like catfish and lobster, shrimp, etc., were out, too.

Looking at the explanation in vs. 44-47, you don't find anything said in terms of "health" considerations. A lot of people try to explain all of this saying that if they had eaten pork back then, they would have died because it was so diseased. Of course, everyone else ate it and they survived.

I wonder, as disciples, if we are so jaded by our culture, that we lose the distinction between "holy and unholy" and "clean and unclean." We don't like to look different from those around us anymore than the Israelites did. The Corinthians (who, by the way, were Jews and not Greeks) became overly engaged in their culture after they threw off Judaism for Christianity, and Paul had to go after them for their morality and idolatry. In Romans, the message of chapters 14-15 seems to be that if God touches us and says something is not for us personally, then we need to heed this. We just shouldn't make it a rule for everyone else. It seems to me that we have let the pendulum swing too far to the side of liberty and we've forgotten why we're here on this planet of death. A disciple is called to the side of Christ to work with Him in the harvest. We are called apart to Him. And Israel was also called apart to be the Nation of God, a light in the world.

So, here is the great object lesson in all of this. Every time the people ate, it reminded them that they were God's special possession on the earth and that they had a mission, carrying forth the promise to Abraham, which was an extension of the promise to Adam and Eve. Did that motivate them, or did they just gripe because they couldn't eat bacon?

Lev. 12:1-8

So, we know that there is nothing wrong with having kids, in fact it is a command given both to Adam and Eve and to Noah & Co.

Most of this, I think, has to do with God making a point of how Israel is different. You'll notice that blood is mentioned. It is not that childbirth or menstruation were bad or dirty, but that blood was to be seen as precious, since the "life is in the blood." Later, we'll hear that men were strongly forbidden to have sex with their wives during menstruation. I think this is God making a point for Israel, that doesn't apply to us unless God makes it a point for you personally. God was placing something in their everyday lives that drew their attention to their special status as His people.

That a woman was "unclean" longer for a male than for a female, doesn't seem to have any special reason other than that God is making a point. I've read people trying to explain this biologically, in my mind, to no avail. It was God's way of signifying a difference. It you want to try to suggest anything theological, it might be that there is a thought that the sin nature is passed on from the man; therefore, Jesus was sinless, since God was His Father. Mary was sinful since she was born of a woman and a man, but the egg, alone, doesn't appear to possess the same "personality" that the sperm does. Again, all speculation, but it could be a reason.

There are two offerings mentioned in verse 8. The burnt offering signified devotion to God and the other signified cleansing and forgiveness.

Again, in childbirth, God is giving Israel an object lesson pointing to the need for devotion and forgiveness, and the difference between the holy and the common, the clean and unclean. Their thoughts would always be directed to God and the eyes of the nations would look at them and say, "Whoa, dude!"

Mark 5:21-43

Since we discussed this story in Matthew, my comments will be brief.

But do you notice something "coincidental" in this reading? This is why I love the One Year Bible. It is usually so random, and then one day you go, "How did that work out?"

In Lev. 12:4, a woman after childbirth (or any woman who discharged blood) was unclean and shouldn't be touched and was not to touch anyone, or anything, else. This woman touched Jesus and they all knew it.

So, does the ruler of the synagogue still want the "unclean" rabbi to touch his daughter (who was also unclean if she was dead)? Notice that Jesus took her by the hand, something no rabbi would have done.

If Jesus heals you, you're clean. What an amazing thing we take to this dark world. His amazing treasure in earthen vessels.

Psalm 38

Do any of these verses speak to you? I'm really feeling vs. 6-10 and vs. 21-22.

Proverbs 10:8-9

Today, I want to receive the Lord's commandments. I'm thankful, if I can't say anything else, I have walked with integrity before Him. Some days, as a disciple, that is the best you can do.

If you’re reading along and don’t have a One Year Bible, click on this link Every Day in the Word. If that doesn't work, go to http://www.gnpcb.org/esv/devotions/ and click on “Every Day in the Word.” 

I'm writing these comments to and for those at New Song who are following a One Year Bible and involved in a discipleship cell. We're meeting weekly and discussing the texts, not necessarily my comments. We're growing together, learning to become and make disciples who make disciples. We will all be leading others in this process and training them to do likewise.

The comments I'm writing are in no way exhaustive, but meant to give some leading thoughts on how the text applies to us as disciples and to encourage and stimulate our growth in reading the Bible, with the effect that we will grow as disciples and encourage the growth of others as disciples growing in the word. 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, no one in our church reads the version I do, die revidierte Lutherbibel 1984.

Anyone reading along with us is welcome to do so and 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.

February 20, Reading Notes

Leviticus 9:7-10:20

Just as a note before we begin today. I've made a big deal about the Urim and the Thummim. Today I was reading my German Luther translation and Luther did something none of our English translations do (or the other German ones for that matter). He actually used the meaning of the words rather than simply pronouncing them. So when you read his translation, what it says is "light and truth." Now, going to the Greek translation in the Septuagint, the words are as follows. Urim means "bringing to light, manifesting" and Thummim means "Truth." These two things were sort of like dice and used to find answers, to manifest things, bringing them to light, in order to find the truth. I don't know what that does for you, but I think it's pretty cool. And once again, I'm thankful for my Lutherbibel.

Lev. 9:7-24

This is the public part of Aaron and Sons being consecrated to the priesthood.

Note that Aaron is doing the actions now, actually serving as a priest.

Laura brought to my attention how all of this is prefaced by words like, "as the Lord commanded." Unfortunately, these words are very important, as we're about to see.

Notice what happens after Aaron blessed the people. Very cool, but unfortunately we'll see this fire again, twice, and it will have a different meaning.

I'm going to make a bridge here into the next section by just saying that what God commanded here was not as tricky and unstable as making nitroglycerine. The commands were only dangerous if you didn't take God seriously. Sometimes, at the beginning of a new movement, God judges harshly in order to emphasize His holiness and to underscore obedience. (In Acts, you have the story of Ananias & Sapphira.) Later, you see all kinds of deviations and God doesn't judge immediately, but instead, lets sin build up until His judgment comes.

Lev. 10:1-7

The censers were to be filled with coal or fire from the altar. Nadab and Abihu must have filled their censers from their own personal fires (there were no space heaters in those days).

As disciples, it is good to remember that God doesn't play favorites, and He is not some fuzzy, forgetful grey bearded relative. He is God. I've done electrical work and I always fear the open breaker panel, knowing that if I stick my hand in there or even get careless, it's all over. God's power and presence would be lethal to us if not for His grace. To play fast and loose with God is wrong. He's like a zillion volts and a million amps.

Nadab and Abihu ate on the mountain with God. They saw stuff few people have ever seen. They were consecrated for 7 days in the Tabernacle and they saw holy fire come out of the Holy Place and consume the sacrifice. Being "cool with the old boy" didn't help them. That same fire came out now to punish their sin.

God may use us for big things and He may reveal Himself to us in ways that are breathtaking. But we need to remember, He will not be mocked, even by those He has chosen to use and bless.

Lev. 10:8-11

I know some people and groups will want to make rules regarding what God says about drinking. This only means that they couldn't drink just before, or on, duty. I like that rule for airline pilots, too.

Verses 10-11 are very important verses that indicate the purpose of this book and the purpose of God in teaching the people. Most of what God says in Leviticus after this will focus on this purpose. Many of these laws were only for Israel and, for this said purpose, "object" lessons. The people were to have an inner radar for "clean and unclean" and for "common and holy." In a way, it was like sending your class brat or your unruly child to a fine English finishing school. You don't just learn how to use a spoon, you learn the proper way a spoon should be held and the proper way a spoon should be moved to your mouth. You don't just get good, you get "proper."

I say this only to help us, as disciples, to understand what God is doing here. Israel couldn't eat pork. A priest could only marry certain women. And the list goes on. Things that only applied to them as a nation. Care obviously needs to be taken in understanding and applying these rules, in a couple of areas.

First, we should be careful how we apply, if at all, some of these things to ourselves or others. Some of these rules are still for time, and some, like eating pork, are not. Know the difference.

Second, since we are under grace, we need to be careful about throwing out the thought that God commanded these. This tells us something about Him. These people weren't strange because they wanted to be. They were strange because God wanted them to be. He wanted them to stand out. He has a sense of propriety and holiness. Even in our culture, where tolerance and freedom of custom and morals seem to be the rule, there might be things that, individually, are not for us. There may be something in our lives, where God makes the point that it is not for us, and it doesn't matter if it's ok for everyone else and if everyone is doing it. God still desires holiness and He desires a people who have a spiritual sense about them of what is proper conduct on this dying planet. Disciples live to serve Christ in the harvest, and if God points out something that is getting in our way, we need to get rid of it, even if it's sold at Wal-Mart or Best Buy. And if we find a disciple or routine that serves to keep us on target in following Christ, we need to hold to it.

Lev. 10:12-20

After Aaron and his "remaining sons" finish their first act of service for the people, Moses checks on them to see that they fulfilled the rite in detail. They didn't. They were supposed to eat the sin offering. Interestingly, they didn't obey because of mourning for Nadab and Abihu, and God allowed this. I wonder, too, if there had been "one thousand percent extenuating circumstances" forbidding Nadab and Abihu from getting coals from the altar, like a flood or a tornado, if God would have allowed them to use coals from their own fires. I think so. In any case, they had "Light and Truth" as a way to find out.

Mark 4:26-5:20

Here is another lesson in Bible study and disciple making. You have two parables and two stories. What points would you draw from each of these and pass on to those three other people who are arriving at your house for your discipleship cell meeting? Could you take them to the texts, discuss what Jesus is saying, and then conclude, "As disciples it is really important for us to understand that….?"

Mark 4:26-29

Lots of principles are here. The one I get is that the real work is done by God. The farmer acts at the beginning and at the end. The disciple is faithful to work and patient in waiting.

Mark 4:30-32

I guess what I'd say here, is that the kingdom, and our work in it, seems very small and invisible, but is growing larger than we know. That gives a disciple hope.

Mark 4:33-34

Just a tidy little summary. Again, the amount of time we spend trying to understand the parables shows us why He spoke in parables. Funny, huh?

Mark 4:35-41

After all of that heavy thinking, there's nothing to clear the mind and add vigor to the blood than a bracing voyage on the sea! Ahoy! O Weh!

So Jesus passes out into a deep sleep while these vintage seamen despair of life. When the text says, "that we are perishing" in verse 38, the word translated "that," has a different function in Greek. In English you shouldn't even pronounce the "that." It is more like yelling, "HEY!" and then yelling the words that follow as loudly as possible. Insert that in the sentence and see if it makes a difference. These guys are crazy with fear.

After all of that teaching and all of that conflict, it was good for them to refocus on who Jesus was and what He could do. Anything good here for the disciple? Amen! And are they going to need it.

Mark 5:1-20

This story speaks for itself. Jesus shows His disciples that He is not only Lord of nature, but also Lord of the spiritual world.

I always think this is funny. After what they just experienced, afraid for their lives, now afraid of Jesus (they were filled with fear realizing they were in the boat with a zillion volts and a million amps), they finally set foot on the safe, solid, secure shore, then, they hear a cry like a wild animal and look to see a frothing-at-the-mouth, crazy guy, nakedly running in their direction. If I'm there, I'm standing behind Jesus.

Verse 20 is Jesus setting a disciple loose. Why? His testimony, of course. But most likely, this guy was a Gentile. The offer of the Messiah was still being made to Israel and to have had a Gentile in the ranks would have been too much for the Jews, who were already frothing at the mouth. After His rejection after feeding the 5000, Jesus will tour the other side, the Gentile side, of the sea of Galilee, where he'll feed the 4000, many of whom were Gentiles and some of whom heard the testimony of this disciple. Someday we'll get to meet him.

Psalm 37:30-40

Notice how the "heart bone" is connected to the mouth and foot bone.

I love verse 34 and I cling to and hide in verses 39-40.

Proverbs 10:6-7

Amen! "On the head" probably means like an invisible crown or laurel. Interesting that both references to the righteous have to do with the head.

Do both references to the wicked have to do with the mouth? If so, we're dealing with some major bad breath and tooth decay. Selah!

If you’re reading along and don’t have a One Year Bible, click on this link Every Day in the Word. If that doesn't work, go to http://www.gnpcb.org/esv/devotions/ and click on “Every Day in the Word.” 

I'm writing these comments to become part of a discipleship manual and program for those at New Song who are following a One Year Bible and involved in a discipleship cell. We're meeting weekly and discussing the texts, not necessarily my comments. We're growing together, learning to become and make disciples who make disciples. We will all be leading others in this process and training them to do likewise.

The comments I'm writing are in no way exhaustive, but meant to give some leading thoughts on how the text applies to us as disciples and to encourage and stimulate our growth in reading the Bible, with the effect that we will grow as disciples and encourage the growth of others as disciples growing in the word. 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, no one in our church reads the version I do, die revidierte Lutherbibel 1984.

Anyone reading along with us is welcome to do so and 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.