FEBRUARY 16
Some congratulations
are in order. If you’ve been keeping up, you’ve now read three books of the
Bible. You’ve probably read more of The Psalms than you did last year, and
you’re making good headway into Proverbs. The point of all of this reading is
connection with God. Like in any relationship, you learn over time, through
constant contact and time together in different situations. As we seek to
follow Christ in the harvest and in all the changing circumstances of our
lives, we need the Word to be constantly flowing through us, to give the Spirit
the ability to apply God’s thoughts and wisdom to our hearts. Reading the Bible
is not a onetime deal, and it is not about learning content and remembering
stories. We are seeking God and wanting to know His heart and hear His Word.
Leviticus
1-3
Before I came
to Christ, my uncle suggested one time that I should read the Bible. I told him
I had tried but I died in the third book. He told me to start in the Gospels.
That helped. I relate that story only to say that Leviticus is where a lot of
well meaning people “bite the dust” in their effort to read the Bible through.
Hang in there. We’ll get through it together. If you want to make it more fun,
try finding repeated words or phrases to look for; and underline, for example, pleasing aroma to the Lord.
Leviticus 1
Vs. 1-2 So, now
that the tabernacle is set up, God will teach the people how to approach Him
and to live with Him in holiness. The word "holy" when applied to God
means both "totally pure and sinless" and "separated."
Holiness is what God will be teaching in Leviticus. By the sacrifices, the
minds and hearts of the people would be directed to the need for forgiveness
before a holy God. In all of the sacrifices and other laws and rituals, they would
be reminded that they were a people that God had set apart, separated, to be a
witness to the nations.
Vs. 3-17 These
burnt offerings had to do with the atoning for sin. This offering was to be
completely devoted to the Lord; and therefore, it was completely burned up.
This would look forward to Jesus' sacrifice for us for payment of sin and our
forgiveness. It is also symbolic of the sacrifice seen in Romans 12:1,
representing discipleship in following Jesus.
In this
offering a person met the priest outside of the tabernacle courtyard. The
priest examined the animal to make sure it qualified. Then the worshiper and
the priest went into the courtyard to the north side of the altar. There the
worshiper put his hand on the head of the animal and made a declaration of confession
of sin or desire to have his sin cleansed. Then the worshiper, not the priest,
killed the animal. The priest caught the blood in a bowl and sprinkled the
blood on the altar. As the worshiper skinned the animal and cut the sacrifice
into pieces, the priest arranged the wood on top of the grate of the altar. The
priest then put the pieces on the altar.
As you read
this, try to note things that seem interesting. Here are some of mine.
First, these
offerings could only be males (picking on males?).
Second, the
sacrifices could only be at the tabernacle. This meant if you lived far away,
you had to travel, which meant devotion and commitment. There would be no more
unrestrained sacrifice. This is why the tabernacle was also called the tent of meeting. It was here that they
met together with God.
Third, it was a pleasing aroma….if done in sincerity
for heartfelt forgiveness.
Fourth, the
very poorest of people could offer turtledoves or pigeons. You know what famous
couple offered this offering right? (Lk. 2:24) Also, Jesus was kind to the
pigeons. (John 2:14-16)
Fifth, the
entire animal was consumed in fire, meaning that nothing went to the priest for
supper.
Sixth, each man
had to know how to kill and prepare an animal.
Seventh, in
killing the animal a man had to place his hand on its head. That made the act
very personal because it showed that the price for the cleansing of sin was the
death of an animal that visually (though not really) took the place of the
sinner.
Leviticus 2
The grain offerings were also burnt offerings and often accompanied the sin offering.
It was a way of acknowledging God's provision and grace.
Vs. 1-15 The
priests seem to have been able to have some of this sacrifice for supper. The
frankincense was added only to that portion that would be burned.
Vs. 4-10 The
different ways this grain offering could be presented might suggest the
different economic levels of the people who brought them.
Vs. 11-13 These
offerings couldn’t have yeast since they were burnt offerings, but they all had
to have salt. A covenant of salt meant something like "perpetual witness.”
As the people expressed their thanks to God for His provision or forgiveness,
there was to be an element of this declaration that was outward to all people.
It is interesting to have Jesus say we are the salt of the earth. As disciples,
our thankfulness for our salvation needs to be offered with salt and declared
to others.
Leviticus 3
Vs. 1-17 This peace offering was also a burnt offering
of thankfulness for fellowship with God. Often after the sin offering and the
grain offering, there was this offering of communion with God. This offering
was accompanied by a feast afterward with the Levites and also with the poor or
anyone you wanted to invite. It was a sacrifice of joy and celebration, eaten
before the Lord and shared with others.
Notice that
this animal could be either male or
female, and only certain parts of the animal were sacrificed by burning.
This allowed for most of the animal to be cooked and eaten.
Vs. 3-4 I don’t
understand all of the detail here. It’s interesting that the people couldn’t
eat the fat that was attached to the entrails. Why would you want to eat that
anyway? I understand not eating raw blood, but they couldn’t eat fat that was
not on the cooked meat. Maybe among other things, God wanted them to stay
healthy.
When I think of
this offering I think of Jesus standing at the door knocking, wanting to eat
with us. It also makes me think that this isn't a private party. As disciples
we need to invite the poor, the maimed, the blind and the lame (especially
those who are spiritually so) to enjoy what the Lord has shared with us.
When we read
what Jesus said about taking up our cross and that unless we renounce
everything, we cannot be His disciples, we understand that Jesus is talking
about complete sacrifice to Him.
The disciple, Paul, said it best in Galatians 2:20, I
have been crucified with
Christ. It is no longer I who
live, but Christ who lives in me. And the life I now live in the flesh I
live by faith in the Son of God, who loved me and gave himself for me.
Mark
1:29-2:12
Mark 1:29-45
Vs. 29-31 I
always smile when I read this. I’m sure the image I have in my mind isn’t how
it happened; but I can see Jesus entering into the house, a little bit worn out
and hungry, and He says, “Peter, do you have anything to eat?” Peter says,
“Sure, but my mother-in-law is sick, so I’ll have to cook, but don’t worry.”
Jesus looks at Peter rolling up his sleeves and says, “Right. Where’s your
mother-in-law?”
Vs. 32-35 This
first flurry of activity in Capernaum ends with Jesus, basically, escaping.
Note that as exhausted as He was the night before, He got up early before
daylight to pray and to avoid the crowds looking for Him.
Vs. 36-37 Peter
and the others thought that meeting peoples' temporal needs was the mission.
Why would you leave this kind of a crowd?
Vs. 38-39
Notice why Jesus said that He came. The gospel and His mission were always
primary in His thinking. God didn't send Him to heal and provide food. The
spiritual need of mankind was what He came to meet.
Vs. 40-45
Interestingly, in Leviticus, we are about to read the requirements for the
cleansing of a leper. In all the history of Israel since they entered the land,
this is the first Israelite we know of who was ever cleansed. And he disobeyed
Jesus. You can imagine the historical event this would have been if the man had
obeyed Jesus. Even giving testimony to Jesus has to be done according to God's
will. This publicity, humanly speaking, hurt Jesus’ ministry of preaching in
the towns and cities He was sent to, mentioned in v. 38.
Mark 2:1-12
This is the
first of the public conflicts that Jesus had with the Jewish leaders. The other
Gospels tell us that the scribes and Pharisees who were there were also from
Jerusalem. If you want to see how important and memorable this conflict was,
read John 5. There are two things that link this passage to John 5. First, the
phrase, take up your bed and walk, is
very important. Also, Jesus refers to Himself there as the Son of Man.
As already noted,
Jesus' use of the title, Son of Man,
gave this conflict great intensity; because Jesus was calling Himself the
Messiah and eternal king from Daniel 7.
Psalm
35:17-28
When you think
of what David went through, you realize how deeply and desperately he needed
the Lord. The Lord led David through those hours of fear and years of
instability to equip him to write this. But there is more.
V. 17 This is
what God was leading David through.
V. 18 This is
what God was enabling David to do.
Vs. 19-26
Notice the use of let. Now notice how
this contrasts to the let in v. 27.
Vs. 27-28 This
is why the Lord led David through such a dangerous time, so that David could
proclaim this to us and so that we might have the steadfastness and
encouragement that he was given from God.
Proverbs
9:13-18
Well, we
managed to go a few days without this warning, but here it is again. Notice
that although this woman named Folly
is figurative and the opposite of lady Wisdom,
what is presented here still has the hint of sexual misadventure.
V. 17 The stolen water is in contrast to Proverbs
5:15-20.
V. 18 As the
Lord describes foolishness, He links it to a man's weakness to sexual
adventure. It seems inviting until God introduces Sheol (hell) into the fantasy. Even digitally, sexual silliness is
just as deadly. I guess the Lord knew we'd need these warnings against the
enticement of foolishness even in the digital age.
If you’re reading along
and don’t have a One Year Bible, click on this link http://www.esvbible.org/devotions/every-day-in-the-word/. If that doesn't work, go to http://www.esvbible.org/devotions/ and click on “Every Day in the Word.”
I'm writing these
comments to and for those who are following a One Year Bible and interested in
growing deeper as a disciple, following Jesus in the harvest. My hope is to see
the growth of a discipleship culture in the church. Groups of 3-4 disciples,
meeting weekly, encouraging each other to follow Christ and work to reach out
and make disciples who make disciples. The Bible itself is the most universal
manual we have and key to our growth and service in Christ. Nothing keeps us
more focused on why we are here or what we are to be doing. My comments are
only meant to provide some explanation of the events or to show the flow of
God's plan of redemption. My comments are in no way exhaustive, but are
designed to keep us focused on Christ and our role in His harvest. My hope is
that the people in these groups will grow in Christ and be willing, after a
year, to find 3 others to meet with and encourage in their growth as disciples,
disciples making disciples in the harvest.
If you would like a
complete description of this model of being and making disciples you can find
it in my book: Simply Disciples*Making Disciples.
http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B011WJIDQA?*Version*=1&*entries*=0
If you would like a more
descriptive commentary that is still readable and concise, I'd recommend the
Bible Knowledge Commentary. It's keyed to the NIV, so the result is the
commentators are constantly telling you what the Greek or Hebrew is. That never
hurts.
I am not endorsing any
particular One Year Bible; in fact, I read something you don't, die revidierte
Lutherbibel 1984.
Anyone reading along with
us is welcome to do so and is encouraged to take their own notes and make their
own observations. If the comments made do not agree with your particular
tradition or understanding, that's OK. Nothing I've written is meant to
criticize any point of view, but only to express the truth of what God has
written to us, as I understand it. Send comments or feedback to dgkachikis@gmail.com.
If you would like
documents containing an entire month of the Reading Notes, go to https://sites.google.com/site/dlkachikis/reading-notes. You can download these to use on your computer or to
print.
No comments:
Post a Comment