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.
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