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.