Bible Reading Reflection from Leviticus 11-16

[Originally posted in a WhatsApp group (PG), a reading update (reflection) from one chapter of the Bible a day]

𝕃𝔼𝕍𝕀𝕋𝕀ℂ𝕌𝕊 𝟙𝟙:𝟜𝟛-𝟜𝟝

"Do not render yourselves detestable through any of the swarming things that swarm; and you shall not make yourselves unclean with them so that you become unclean. For I am the LORD your God. Consecrate yourselves therefore, and be holy, for I am holy. And you shall not make yourselves unclean with any of the swarming things that swarm on the earth. For I am the LORD who brought you up from the land of Egypt to be your God; thus you shall be holy, for I am holy."

They can't afford to make themselves detestable by the food they eat, not because it's detestable to man but to God.

They say dogs are detestable. Well, they aren't gods. So, who cares? 😎 Go eat dogs! [North East Indians] 😂

God set aside for Israelites what food to be eaten and what not to be eaten. Till today God sets aside for Christian what to do and what not to do. We may not know the reason, but it's enough that He sets aside, and we must obey! We are servants to obey orders. Even the Servant Jesus obeyed to the point of death!

 

𝕃𝔼𝕍𝕀𝕋𝕀ℂ𝕌𝕊 𝟙𝟚:𝟚

"Speak to the sons of Israel, saying: ‘When a woman gives birth and bears a male child, then she shall be unclean for seven days, as in the days of her menstruation she shall be unclean.’"

Jesus was brought up exactly like this. His earthly parents being still young could not afford to bring animals for the sacrifice so they brought pigeons.

BTW, there is a distinction between a male and a female when it comes to purification. If male child, then 7 days unclean plus 33 days quarantine. If female child, then 14 days unclean plus 66 days quarantine. According to the good design of the all-wise God.

And good luck to all the feminists and egalitarians!

 

𝕃𝔼𝕍𝕀𝕋𝕀ℂ𝕌𝕊 𝟙𝟛:𝟜𝟞

"He shall remain unclean as long as he has the disease. He is unclean. He shall live alone. His dwelling shall be outside the camp."

Leprosy (a disease) made a person unclean. He must dwell outside the camp. He shall live alone.

The worst thing disease can do to a person is death.

Leprosy is contagious, but it doesn't spread to everyone. Not everyone gets leprosy. But he who gets leprosy is cast out from the camp to dwell alone. Leprosy is that serious. Even if the person would die, they let him die outside the camp.

Now, Sin is contagious and deadly. It spreads to everyone and everyone will die. However, the people of God are cured of sin. Now, why would God allow an unrepentant sinner to dwell in the camp? He shall be cast out into utter darkness where there shall be gnashing of teeth!

Sin is far serious than leprosy. An unrepentant sinner would be treated worse than a leper.

Reading this chapter enriches an understanding of God's desire for holiness!

 

𝕃𝔼𝕍𝕀𝕋𝕀ℂ𝕌𝕊 𝟙𝟜:𝟠

"And he who is to be cleansed shall wash his clothes and shave off all his hair and bathe himself in water, and he shall be clean. And after that he may come into the camp, but live outside his tent seven days."

Another chapter on cleansing a leper. I see a lot of similarities between cleansing a leper and cleansing a sinner.

First, let's set it straight. I don't think it's a typology. Nor do I think it to be an allegory, but a suitable analogy.

Leprosy is serious, excommunicable, lonely, dreadful, contagious, and deadly. Cleansing a leper, reconciling him to society, making him acceptable, declaring him clean [again] is a meticulous task requiring a lot of time, evaluation ceremonies, and the priest of God.

If so, why would the reconciliation of a sinner to God's fellowship be taken lightly? In actuality, it takes the death of The Eternal Priest of God, Jesus Christ, our Lord. In ceremonial practice, we are commanded to take water baptism once and communion as often as we can. In piety, we are to confess our sins and take up our cross.

It was real for the leper, why won't it be real for a sinner? What a joy it must be for a leper that was declared cleansed! He would not complain of these requirements because the state of being a leper is worse than the process of becoming cleansed. And I am sure the thought of freedom after the cleansing would fill his soul with delight. He must be very glad before, through, and after the procedure.

Christian living is much more so.

 

𝕃𝔼𝕍𝕀𝕋𝕀ℂ𝕌𝕊 𝟙𝟝:𝟛𝟙

"Thus you shall keep the sons of Israel separated from their uncleanness, so that they will not die in their uncleanness by their defiling My tabernacle that is among them."

To me, this is one of the most disgusting chapters in the entire Bible. I don't like to read it, but it's in the Bible. Bible, indeed, has sufficient instructions for everyone to live a holy life before man and God.

 

𝕃𝔼𝕍𝕀𝕋𝕀ℂ𝕌𝕊 𝟙𝟞:𝟙-𝟚

"Now the LORD spoke to Moses after the death of the two sons of Aaron, when they had approached the presence of the LORD and died. The LORD said to Moses: ‘Tell your brother Aaron that he shall not enter at any time into the holy place inside the veil, before the mercy seat which is on the ark, or he will die; for I will appear in the cloud over the mercy seat.’"

This account always fascinates me. God has just killed the sons of Aaron. Then Aaron was commanded to not mourn but to keep doing his priestly duties faithfully or else he too shall die.

A tyrant killed people and threatened to kill more. He is obeyed by force, torture, and fear. God is not a tyranny. God is a loving Father. He is a good God. And there's no fear in love. We want to serve God in delight. God wants us to enjoy Him. God even gives us a will, a choice, a free life. Moreover, God is long-suffering, compassionate, and gracious. Yet what He demanded of Aaron was very sobering.

Aaron must be extremely sad about the demise of his two sons (not only one). His reputation among the people was at stake. He wasn't even allowed to mourn. Moreover, God still demanded faithfulness.

God was not afraid to hurt Aaron. God was not afraid if Aaron would threaten to resign. God did not back down.

Indeed, what is of God is greater than anything of us.

Bible Reading Reflection from Leviticus 1-10

[Originally posted in a WhatsApp group (PG), a reading update (reflection) from one chapter of the Bible a day]

𝕃𝔼𝕍𝕀𝕋𝕀ℂ𝕌𝕊 𝟙:𝟛

"If his offering is a burnt offering from the herd, he shall offer a male without blemish. He shall bring it to the entrance of the tent of meeting, that he may be accepted before the LORD."

God demands the best and the choicest offering. King David was right to not offer unto God that didn't cost him anything!

I know many people who have the habit of giving their best currency note on Sunday Offering. Whenever they encounter a clean note, they would often say, "Oh! This one is for offering" and they would save it!

Apart from money, I am thinking about other things. Well, going to church should cost me (stretching David's philosophy): maybe an auto fare, my time, my energy to lay chairs, my vulnerabilities to open up, my comfort to get along with others, etc.

Worshipping God must cost us something. The choicest of the herd, the best of livestock given to God.

It costs the life of His most beloved Son for God to accept our worship!

 

𝕃𝔼𝕍𝕀𝕋𝕀ℂ𝕌𝕊 𝟚:𝟙𝟛

"You shall season all your grain offerings with salt. You shall not let the salt of the covenant with your God be missing from your grain offering; with all your offerings you shall offer salt."

Salt is that important, nay, necessary! Salt preserves, endures.

Maybe I should start enriching my vocabulary with this word. The covenant of salt!

"Is your relationship with God salted?" Something like that! 😅

 

𝕃𝔼𝕍𝕀𝕋𝕀ℂ𝕌𝕊 𝟛:𝟝

"Then Aaron's sons shall burn it on the altar on top of the burnt offering, which is on the wood on the fire; it is a food offering with a pleasing aroma to the LORD."

Sacrifices are to please God. It matters what and how offerings are made. God accepted Abel, but rejected Cain.

But what matters more than what one offers, is the theology behind the offering.

Well, I can think of three essential elements to make a right offering:

1. Right Material (goat, sheep, pigeon, etc.)

2. Right Theology behind the offering.

3. Right Attitude. It's thankfulness to God for His grace and mercy. Psalm 50 is rich in the doctrine of offering and sacrifice, BTW!

 

𝕃𝔼𝕍𝕀𝕋𝕀ℂ𝕌𝕊 𝟜:𝟚

"Speak to the people of Israel, saying, ‘If anyone sins unintentionally in any of the LORD's commandments about things not to be done, and does any one of them.’"

The Mosaic Law has two categories of sin: Intentional and Unintentional. In New Testament, Jesus talked about Unpardonable Sin and Pardonable Sin. Apostle John talks about Sin that leads to death and sin that doesn't lead to death. Interesting. They are different and similar in many ways.

But one thing is clear. God regards all sin to be serious. We can't afford to be self-righteous. The good news is that God offers forgiveness for all sins to those who would call upon His name!

If this is not a sobering yet comforting truth, I don't know what is!

 

𝕃𝔼𝕍𝕀𝕋𝕀ℂ𝕌𝕊 𝟝:𝟙𝟙

"But if he cannot afford two turtledoves or two pigeons, then he shall bring as his offering for the sin that he has committed a tenth of an ephah of fine flour for a sin offering. He shall put no oil on it and shall put no frankincense on it, for it is a sin offering."

The God of the Old Testament is a Gracious God. It's a false dichotomy to say that the Old Testament is Law and the New Testament is Grace. Everyone that is saved is saved by Grace both in the Old Testament and the New Testament, Now, and also in the Age to come.

Noah found Grace in the sight of God, remember?

If they couldn't afford a lamb for a sin offering, God allowed them two pigeons. If they can't afford even those, then a portion of flour.

Abraham tried to bargain with the Angel of the Lord not to destroy Sodom-Gomorrah. God was gracious to accept his bargain, except that there were none righteous. Abraham gave up!

Gracious God is Yahweh!

 

𝕃𝔼𝕍𝕀𝕋𝕀ℂ𝕌𝕊 𝟞:𝟝

"Or anything about which he has sworn falsely, he shall restore it in full and shall add a fifth to it, and give it to him to whom it belongs on the day he realizes his guilt."

Not just simply returning, but with a fine/interest of 20%

Zacchaeus’ restitution was 400%

Repentance changes from stealing to giving. Bad deeds to good deeds.

 

𝕃𝔼𝕍𝕀𝕋𝕀ℂ𝕌𝕊 𝟟:𝟚𝟘

"But the person who eats of the flesh of the sacrifice of the LORD's peace offerings while an uncleanness is on him, that person shall be cut off from his people."

Should we read this verse before the Lord's Table (Communion)? Should a person avoid Communion if he is convicted of any sin in his life?

Well, this is not about Christian Communion, but the principles are identical!

God is God; He is not a man. We can't treat God like us. I hate people who treated me like them. Years ago, I went to a high school reunion, and they expected (actually mandated) me to behave like them, take a bottle and drink like them. Well, I wasn't like them. They can berate me, undermine me, mock me, or hold me in contempt, I am not going to be like them.

I have another friend in Seminary, a godly man. One of our professors required us to read 7 books in a week and to write a review for each of them. He could have told us in advance. So, most of us decided to not comply and lose our grades. We thought my friend would also join us. He was not like us. He finished his assignments without a word of complaint. And it was stupid of me to consider him that he was just like me. He was not.

The book of Leviticus shows how God is holy. He is different. He is other. He must be treated, worshipped, adored, obeyed differently. So, it is full of regulations.

May we never bring God down to our casual level! He is holy, and demands holiness from every creature!

 

𝕃𝔼𝕍𝕀𝕋𝕀ℂ𝕌𝕊 𝟠:𝟞

"And Moses brought Aaron and his sons and washed them with water."

Priests are set apart from the congregation. High Priest is set apart even from the Priests.

Man always loves to rebel, to disregard authorities. Man wants to treat everyone as his equal at his best and abuse at other times! But we must be reminded that there's such thing as sacred and others as common. Some [stupid] person will say Monday to Saturday is as sacred as Sunday. If so, no day is sacred. Every day is common. Even a non-Christian psychologist, Jordan Peterson knows that well. If everything is valuable, nothing is valuable. If coal is as valuable as gold, there's no value of gold!

Even among people of God, the LORD demands that some people must be set apart among all!

 

𝕃𝔼𝕍𝕀𝕋𝕀ℂ𝕌𝕊 𝟡:𝟞

"And Moses said, "This is the thing that the LORD commanded you to do, that the glory of the LORD may appear to you."

Moses prayed, "Show me Your Glory" and God showed him the back part of God.

Aaron needed to see the glory of God, Moses instructed him carefully. We all need to see the glory of God. Isaiah, a young boy saw the glory of God and his life was never the same anymore.

We see the glory of God in His Son. We see the Son in His words and in the inner testimony of the Spirit. We see the glory of God in the fellowship of the saints.

It's there, we just need to see. Sometimes, we must pray like Moses!

 

𝕃𝔼𝕍𝕀𝕋𝕀ℂ𝕌𝕊 𝟙𝟘:𝟛

"Then Moses said to Aaron, "It is what the LORD spoke, saying, 'By those who come near Me I will be treated as holy, And before all the people I will be honored.'" So Aaron, therefore, kept silent."

God cares that people worship Him rightly, with honor and reverence, for He is a holy God. He struck the sons of Aaron dead. Aaron was told to not mourn but to live normal as a high priest.

Later on, God would strike Uzzah dead, David was afraid.

Centuries later, God would strike a couple dead, Ananias and Saphira.

Holy, Holy, Holy, Lord God Almighty🎼

My 2022 Bible Reading Plan

9 chapters a day from different genres (6 from OT and 3 from NT) 

Target Result: At least 2 times a year (OT twice and NT four times)

Old Testament Reading Plan

New Testament Reading Plan

Bible Reading Reflection from Exodus 31-40

 [Originally posted in a WhatsApp group (LRAU), a reading update (reflection) from one chapter of the Bible a day]

𝔼𝕏𝕆𝔻𝕌𝕊 𝟛𝟙:𝟜-𝟝

"To devise artistic designs, to work in gold, silver, and bronze, in cutting stones for setting, and in carving wood, to work in every craft."

Natural talents and skills also come from the Lord. God created us, so, everything in us is, actually.

Let's recognize God when we see and talk about skilful people. Some use them [skills and talents] for the glory of God. Others like Justin Bieber, Priyanka Chopra, almost all celebrities use them for their own glory!

Some do amazing things through the devil as well. So, there must be discerning between the two as well.

 

𝔼𝕏𝕆𝔻𝕌𝕊 𝟛𝟚:𝟚𝟙

"And Moses said to Aaron, ‘What did this people do to you that you have brought such a great sin upon them?’"

Tough God sought to wipe them off. Tough Leader Moses ordered a massacre. Faithful Remnants killed the ungodly.

Weak Leader Aaron compromised. Rebellious People want to have their own way. Aaron had no character to persuade the people or God. Aaron looked to be a devoted man of God, but people didn't trust nor fear him enough.

Perhaps Moses didn’t delegate enough authority and responsibility to Aaron. [Moses delegated authorities to the 70 only after the advice of Jethro]. However, Aaron is like the hireling, and Moses the shepherd.

Aaron was not rebuked by God nor by Moses. In fact, Moses asked Aaron what did the people made him do the unthinkable. Moses knew Aaron exactly. Moreover, God was angry with the people, so was Moses, and so was the faithful. Meanwhile, Aaron seems to express no anger. He seems to be a dispassionate cold guy.

But we can't expect a cricket star to play a football World Cup.

 

𝔼𝕏𝕆𝔻𝕌𝕊 𝟛𝟛:𝟚𝟛

"Then I will take away my hand, and you shall see my back, but my face shall not be seen."

Even the greatest theologian knows only the back part of God. Nobody can understand God fully. One day we shall see Him face to face, and shall not be dead, but be transformed into His likeness!

 

𝔼𝕏𝕆𝔻𝕌𝕊 𝟛𝟜:𝟚𝟠

"So he was there with the LORD forty days and forty nights. He neither ate bread nor drank water. And he wrote on the tablets the words of the covenant, the Ten Commandments."

Moses had to endure another 40 days and nights as a result of breaking the tablets. And the people had to be without Moses again.

But Moses seemed to enjoy it. He even had a shining face this second time!

 

𝔼𝕏𝕆𝔻𝕌𝕊 𝟛𝟝:𝟚𝟡

"All the men and women, the people of Israel, whose heart moved them to bring anything for the work that the LORD had commanded by Moses to be done brought it as a freewill offering to the LORD."

Have you ever been moved? Or have you been pressured, forced to? Distinguish the difference between the two questions.

 

𝔼𝕏𝕆𝔻𝕌𝕊 𝟛𝟞:𝟝-𝟟

"And said to Moses, ‘The people bring much more than enough for doing the work that the LORD has commanded us to do.’ So Moses gave command, and word was proclaimed throughout the camp, ‘Let no man or woman do anything more for the contribution for the sanctuary.’ So the people were restrained from bringing, for the material they had was sufficient to do all the work, and more."

When was the last time we had enough [forget about having more than enough]? When was the last time we gave enough? When was the last time ‘they’ stopped accepting? This account is amazing! 👍

 

𝔼𝕏𝕆𝔻𝕌𝕊 𝟛𝟟:𝟙

"Bezalel made the ark of acacia wood. Two cubits and a half was its length, a cubit and a half its breadth, and a cubit and a half its height."

So, the skilful man obeyed the Lord to render his service to God. God deserves the service of the most skilful people. He deserves the best of all things. But, how have we treated God?

 

𝔼𝕏𝕆𝔻𝕌𝕊 𝟛𝟠:𝟚𝟜

"All the gold that was used for the work, in all the construction of the sanctuary, the gold from the offering, was twenty-nine talents and 730 shekels, by the shekel of the sanctuary."

Not only skilful people were commissioned to work, but it was also an expensive project. God is worthy of such!

 

𝔼𝕏𝕆𝔻𝕌𝕊 𝟛𝟡:𝟜𝟚-𝟜𝟛

"So the sons of Israel did all the work according to all that the LORD had commanded Moses.  And Moses examined all the work and behold, they had done it; just as the LORD had commanded, this they had done. So Moses blessed them."

They did it! Indeed, physical work outside of us is easier than building the body.

The church is not just the physical building, but the spiritual body. Instead of building the body, people love to tear down with criticism, gossip, and slander.  Strive to build the body, not just the building.

 

𝔼𝕏𝕆𝔻𝕌𝕊 𝟜𝟘:𝟛𝟠

"For throughout all their journeys, the cloud of the LORD was on the tabernacle by day, and there was fire in it by night, in the sight of all the house of Israel."

The Lord was with them throughout their journey. Life is a journey, friends. God is with His people throughout life's journey.

God demonstrated with clouds. I like that. My village is full of clouds. God uses natural things like clouds to remind His people of His protection. Elsewhere He set up a rainbow to remind the inhabitants of the earth of His faithfulness.

Rainbow and Cloud will go on! Remember God [especially His faithfulness, protection, and promises], whenever you see clouds and rainbows!