Leviticus 11-12
In
these following chapters it would be a good idea to keep the key verses of this
section in mind as you read. It will help you understand the point of what God
is doing here. These verses are very famous, and even Peter quotes them in 1
Peter 1:16. The verses I'm referring to are 11:44-45. This idea of being holy
because God is holy will be repeated four more times in Leviticus and then only
in 1 Peter. The rules that follow will be for ceremonial cleanness before God.
The regulations will be symbols of separation (holiness) to the service of God.
God is building this symbolism into very common, visible things in their lives.
They would be reminded every day that they were to live differently for God,
and the people around Israel would notice that these people were different. The
point for Israel to remember was that they were redeemed to be a witness for
the world.
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.
Leviticus
11
Vs.
1-8 These were land animals. The only animal that would affect any of us would
be the pig.
Vs.
9-12 It looks to me like catfish and lobster, shrimp, and crab were out, too.
Vs.
13-23 I don't see any great culinary losses here among the winged things.
Vs.
24-28 If they touched anything that was dead, they would be ceremonially
unclean. Usually taking a bath and waiting until evening made everything right.
Vs.
29-38 This would have been a reason to invest in pest control, or at least to
keep a very clean house. I wonder if "water" in vs. 34 and 38 means
something other than water?
Vs.
41-43 What is interesting in this part is the mention of the defiling of the
person. This seems to cross the line from object lesson to some things that God
definitely says should be avoided that were never intended for people to eat.
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 immorality 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 what He says. 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. Each 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 given 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?
Leviticus
12
Vs.
1-5 So, we know that there is nothing wrong with having kids; in fact, it is a
command given both to Adam & 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 female
baby than for a male baby doesn't seem to have any special reason other than
that God is making a point. God doesn't value men higher than women. In my
opinion, it was because the Savior of mankind, promised to Adam and Eve, would
be a male child. Interestingly, after Jesus, the law ended and so did the basis
for this law.
Vs.
6-8 There are two offerings mentioned in v. 8. The burnt offering signified devotion to God, and the sin offering
signified cleansing and forgiveness. If you want to read what happened on the
day of Mary's purification, read Luke 2:22-38. I'm sure God had that day in
mind when He gave Israel this symbol. Jesus, the Son of God, was actually part
of the festivities.
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. Sometimes the combinations of reading seem
random and disconnected, and then one day you go, "How did that work out
that these Scripture portions fit together?"
Vs. 21-34
In Leviticus 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. I wonder if part of her
fear and desire to hide was her guilt in having made Jesus unclean by touching
Him.
So,
does the ruler of the synagogue still want the "unclean" rabbi to
touch his daughter?
Vs.
35-43 In the delay, they all discover that the girl has died. It is interesting
to me that Jesus seems to be responding to these events as the Father is
revealing them to Him. He didn't know about the woman and responded to the
situation. Suddenly there is this unexpected turn of events. Now knowing that
the father will lose hope, He emotionally rallies everyone to move forward to
the glory the Father wants to reveal. As mentioned in Matthew, it seems to me
that Jesus is moving very quickly to try not to draw attention to what He is
about to do.
V. 41
Notice that Jesus took her (the corpse) by the hand, something no rabbi would
have done. It would have made Him unclean. One observation here is that the
woman had her flow of blood for twelve years and the little girl was twelve
years old. That may not be important but it is interesting.
If
Jesus heals you, you're clean. What an amazing truth we take into this dark
harvest. His amazing treasure is in those of us who were once separated from
God by our "uncleanness," who now, through His touch, have become
disciples separated unto God, following our Lord in the harvest to make disciples,
who make disciples. What amazing mercy and tenderness by the Son of God.
Psalm 38
Do any
of these verses speak to you? I'm really feeling vs. 6-10 and vs. 21-22.
It
would be interesting to know when David wrote this psalm. There are some clues
in this regarding the circumstances. Apparently David had done something wrong,
and at the same time he had enemies on his heels. It's enough to be in danger,
but also to have the guilt of having done something that has damaged your
relationship with God, well, that's really bad. If this is David's earlier
days, I would guess it is when David just started running, and the result of
his lying resulted in the deaths of the priests and their families at the hand
of Saul. That would have brought David a lot of guilt. And then, Saul and all
the leaders of Israel were after David to kill him.
Vs.
1-10 I'm amazed at the poetry and accuracy of this. This is how we feel before
God when our own sin and guilt overwhelm us.
Vs. 11-12
I don't know the historical situation, but I'll bet that the way Saul and his
men explained the massacre at Nod was that it was somehow David's fault or his
doing.
Vs.
13-14 This sounds like brokenness.
Vs.
15-22 Notice how David alternates between asking God's forgiveness and asking
for His help.
As
disciples we still slip and fall. Our sin is still very powerful. Yet, it seems
like the Lord is saying in this psalm that we are to use this as the model of
crying out to Him and seeking forgiveness and restoration. He forgave and
restored David and He is encouraging us to come to Him the same way.
Proverbs 10:8-9
Notice
that v. 8 is public and v. 9 is private. The wicked man is dishonest with
others and dishonest with himself. The person following the Lord listens in
public and speaks with wisdom. Privately, he is humbly examining his attitudes,
actions and motives.
If you’re reading along and don’t have a One Year
Bible, click on this link http://www.esvbible.org/devotions/every-day-in-the-word/. If that doesn't
work, go to http://www.esvbible.org/devotions/
and click on “Every
Day in the Word.”
I'm writing these comments to and for those who are
following a One Year Bible and interested in growing deeper as a disciple,
following Jesus in the harvest. My hope is to see the growth of a discipleship
culture in the church. Groups of 3-4 disciples, meeting weekly, encouraging
each other to follow Christ and work to reach out and make disciples who make
disciples. The Bible itself is the most universal manual we have and key to our
growth and service in Christ. Nothing keeps us more focused on why we are here
or what we are to be doing. My comments are only meant to provide some
explanation of the events or to show the flow of God's plan of redemption. My
comments are in no way exhaustive, but are designed to keep us focused on
Christ and our role in His harvest. My hope is that the people in these groups
will grow in Christ and be willing, after a year, to find 3 others to meet with
and encourage in their growth as disciples, disciples making disciples in the
harvest.
If you would like a complete description of this model
of being and making disciples you can find it in my book: Simply
Disciples*Making Disciples. http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B011WJIDQA?*Version*=1&*entries*=0
If you would like a more descriptive commentary that is
still readable and concise, I'd recommend the Bible Knowledge Commentary. It's
keyed to the NIV, so the result is the commentators are constantly telling you
what the Greek or Hebrew is. That never hurts.
I am not endorsing any particular One Year Bible; in
fact, I read something you don't, die revidierte Lutherbibel 1984.
Anyone reading along with us is welcome to do so and is
encouraged to take their own notes and make their own observations. If the
comments made do not agree with your particular tradition or understanding,
that's OK. Nothing I've written is meant to criticize any point of view, but
only to express the truth of what God has written to us, as I understand it.
Send comments or feedback to dgkachikis@gmail.com.
If you would like documents containing an entire month
of the Reading Notes, go to https://sites.google.com/site/dlkachikis/reading-notes. You can download
these to use on your computer or to print.
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