FEB 18 - Today’s Reading in the One Year Bible
Leviticus 6-7:27; Mark 3:7-30; Psalm 37:1-11; Proverbs 10:3-4
TODAY’S READING- THE MEANING OF THE FIRE; THE ASHES; THE FOOD; AND THE UNPARDONABLE SIN
The sacrificial system in the Old Testament dramatically spells out what is required for our redemption. The worshiper needs a specific kind of intercession and atonement if they are to approach God, who is holy.
The priesthood and the sacrifices prescribed in the ceremonial law could not in themselves make the worshipers or the worship acceptable (Hebrews 7:11-10:4-6). Their effectiveness was in that they pointed the Israelites to God’s future grace- the provision of the perfect Intercession and Atoning Sacrifice that would be provided by Jesus Christ (Hebrews 10:7-14).
The Book of Leviticus helps us to understand this. We cannot offer any inherent righteousness of our own, for we are convicted as transgressors worthy of death according to God’s holy law. The good news is that God in His infinite grace has offered us the righteousness of Another, the absolute righteousness of Christ.
He is our Great High Priest, without sin and worthy of eternal life (Hebrews 4:14-15; 6:19-20; 7:25-26; 8:1; 9:11-15). He approaches God as our Representative, clothed in the beauty and glory of absolute holiness. He offers His merits in place of our demerits. These merits are seen in the three sweet-smelling sacrifices which exist as a lingering reminder of His standing in our place in the presence of God’s holiness. The perpetual fragrance of Christ is evident in:
· THE BURNT OFFERING (Leviticus 1) portraying HIS PERFECT SURRENDER.
· THE GRAIN (MEAL) OFFERING (Leviticus 2) portraying HIS PERFECT SERVICE, as His humanity is perfectly submitted to God on behalf of others;
· THE PEACE OFFERING (Leviticus 3) portraying HIS PERFECT SERENITY as He communicates and mediates the fellowship of the Godhead.
"Peace I leave with you; My peace I give to you; not as the world gives do I give to you. Do not let your heart be troubled, nor let it be fearful.” (John 14:27)
"Peace I leave with you; My peace I give to you; not as the world gives do I give to you. Do not let your heart be troubled, nor let it be fearful.” (John 14:27)
“ For He Himself is our peace, who made both groups into one” (Eph 2:14)
THE SIN OFFERING (Lev 4-5:13) and THE GUILT OFFERING (Lev 5:14-6:7) portray Jesus taking the punishment of God’s wrath against sin and putting away sin by the sacrifice of Himself (Heb 9:26). The sin offering was for those who offended God who were ignorant of it at the time. The Guilt offering was for sins against the holy things of the Lord (5:15) and against one’s neighbor (6:1-7). The offering involved confession of sin (Numbers 5:7) and restitution.
We have the repetition of the phrase “unintentionally” or “in ignorance” (4:2,13,22,27; 5:15) meaning that the violators were not aware that they were violating the law at the time.
There was no sacrifice for High-handed or deliberate sins (Numbers 15:30-36) and these transgressors had to cast themselves upon God’s mercy with the sacrifice of a broken spirit and contrite heart (Psalm 51).
Important concepts and themes that are introduced in the Book of Leviticus will be picked up in many other books in both the Old and New Testaments. You will be grateful that you did not skip reading this Book!
The priesthood and the tabernacle provide important insights into the ways of God that are made clear in the Book of Hebrews in the New Testament (Hebrews 9 and 10).
In Leviticus 6 and 7 we are introduced to more important facts.
THE SYMBOL OF FIRE
We have learned of the fire in the cloud that provided illumination and direction in the darkness (Exodus 13:21; 14:20). We have seen the role of fire as it consumes the sacrifices on the brazen altar. Fire releases the fragrance of the sweet-smelling sacrifices and destroys those that are not. Fire is used at the altar of incense.
In Leviticus 6 we learn the LAW OF THE BURNT OFFERING. This had to do with the maintenance of the fire (6:9,12) and the deposition of the ashes for the burnt offering sacrifices (6:10-11).
What strikes the reader are the words:
Fire shall be kept burning continually on the altar; it is not to go out. Leviticus 6:13 (NASB)
The fire speaks of the nature of God and His work in judgment and purification.
Deuteronomy 4:24 (NASB)
24 "For the LORD your God is a consuming fire, a jealous God.”
24 "For the LORD your God is a consuming fire, a jealous God.”
This is repeated in the New Testament:
Hebrews 12:29 (NASB)
29 for our God is a consuming fire.
29 for our God is a consuming fire.
The fire represents the holy nature of God and the activity of holiness in judgment and purification. We learn in a later chapter of Leviticus that the fire on the altar was a divine initiation. God started the fire.
Leviticus 9:24 And there came a fire out from before the Lord, and consumed upon the altar the burnt offering and the fat: which when all the people saw, they shouted, and fell on their faces.
Any fire in the Tabernacle that was not of divine origin is considered “strange fire”. Aaron’s son, Nabab and Abihu will be killed for the since of offering “strange fire” before the Lord (Lev. 10:1)
The presence of holy fire in the Tabernacle indicated that it was God Himself who would make the acceptable sacrifice. The fire of God's holiness consumes all that is contrary to Himself. It is God Himself who is the consuming fire. It is God who reduces to ashes that which represents sin. It is God who releases on behalf of the worshiper the fragrance of that which is pleasing to Himself in the burnt offering, the meal offering and the peace offering.
It is God who initiates and completes the work of salvation. It is God who makes holy. That fire is never to go out, day and night. The priests were to be sure that the fire was well fed. They were not to let it go out.
Man has no holiness in Himself. It all comes from the Lord.
The fire is to be maintained by the presentation of all that we are to God. Wood speaks of our humanity. We are to present things in our lives that are unworthy. They need to be surrendered for destruction. We are to present things in our lives that are worthy. They are to be handed over for purification. We should withhold nothing from the fire.
There is no moment of the day or night that our lives need not be presented to God, our holy fire.
THE ASHES- (Lev 6:10-11)
Ashes are an important symbol in the Old Testament. They are considered as evidence that a sacrifice has been fully consumed. The ashes serve as a witness of to what has taken place. There has been an accomplished act. An acceptable substitutionary sacrifice has been offered as a provision for redemption.
THE FOOD OF THE OFFERINGS
Jesus made reference to an incident when the Pharisees reprimanded him for plucking corn on the Sabbath. He said that David entered into the house of God and ate the showbread when he was hungry (Mark 2:25-26; 1 Samuel 21:6). We can see from Leviticus 6:16; 7:6 that only Aaron and his sons had permission to eat the bread from the grain offering, and from the table of Showbread (Lev. 24:5-9).
In pagan religions sacrifices are offered to appease or “feed” the gods. However the God of the Bible provides food for man (Gen 1:29). In the Tabernacle we see that it is God who feeds His people with the sacrifices. He provides a portion to the priests, and in some cases to the worshipers in front of the Tabernacle.
Some people see God as a vending machine. You put so much in and you get so much out. This is not the way of our God.
God does not need us to feed Him.
Psalm 50:10-12 (NASB)
10 "For every beast of the forest is Mine, The cattle on a thousand hills. 11 "I know every bird of the mountains, And everything that moves in the field is Mine. 12 "If I were hungry I would not tell you, For the world is Mine, and all it contains.
10 "For every beast of the forest is Mine, The cattle on a thousand hills. 11 "I know every bird of the mountains, And everything that moves in the field is Mine. 12 "If I were hungry I would not tell you, For the world is Mine, and all it contains.
The children of Israel were to eat of the Passover Lamb. The donors of an animal for the Peace offering were permitted to partake of its meat.
Only the priests could eat the grain offering, sin and guilt offerings and they had to eat it in a holy place. (Lev 6:16). They could eat the skin of the burnt offerings and breast and right thigh of the peace offerings.
NT READING: Mark 3:7-30
Once again we notice that the demons are quick to recognize Jesus as the Son of God:
Mark 3:11 (NASB) 11 Whenever the unclean spirits saw Him, they would fall down before Him and shout, "You are the Son of God!"
In the Book of Acts we realize that demons not only recognize Christ but those who have been born of His Holy Spirit.
Acts 19:15 (NASB) 15 And the evil spirit answered and said to them, "I recognize Jesus, and I know about Paul, but who are you?"
Are we sufficiently identified with Christ to be known by the forces of heaven and hell?
Jesus chooses 12 disciples. Soon we learn that others, including some of his friends, think Jesus is crazy. (John 10:20)
When His own people heard of this, they went out to take custody of Him; for they were saying, "He has lost His senses." The scribes who came down from Jerusalem were saying, "He is possessed by Beelzebul ," and "He casts out the demons by the ruler of the demons." (Mark 3:21-22)
Jesus answers critics picking up on the word ‘Beelzebul’ which means ‘master of the house’:
If a kingdom is divided against itself, that kingdom cannot stand. If a house is divided against itself, that house will not be able to stand.
If Satan has risen up against himself and is divided, he cannot stand, but he is finished! But no one can enter the strong man's house and plunder his property unless he first binds the strong man, and then he will plunder his house. (Mark 3:24-27)
Jesus makes it clear that He stands in opposition to Satan and that He is stronger than Satan. The evidence of this is that He cast out the demons.
Jesus then warns these Pharisees that they were in danger of committing an eternal and unforgiveable sin. (Mark 3:28-30)
The only unforgiveable sin is the rejection of His Son. The ministry of the Holy Spirit is to bring conviction of sin and the Word’s witness of the Savior to the heart. The religious leaders who had denied every overture from God, even being offered forgiveness by Jesus on the Cross, resisted the Spirit (Acts 7:51) and rejected Christ to their own destruction. Their willful, persistent and decisive verdict that the Holy Spirit’s witness about Jesus Christ is Satanic kept them from the Fount of Forgiveness.
Psalm 37:1-11
What a great Psalm to read today. Don’t waste emotional energy on worrying or reacting to others (v.1-2). Trust the Lord and respond to His grace (v 3-11)
Proverbs 10:3-4
A good admonition to be diligent while recognizing it is the Lord who feeds you!
PRAY TODAY FOR ARGENTINA (Prayer needs are listed on p. 109-112 of “Operation World”)
Currrent events should be triggering our prayers for the Gulf Region.
Pray for Bahrain (p. 130-131 of “Operation World”)
As Egypt and Tunisia are in transition, protests have spread to Libya, Iran, Yemen and Bahrain with disturbing incidents of violence. The uprising in Bahrain pits the ruling Sunni monarch against the protest movement composed mainly of Shiite Muslims.
Pray for restoration of peace and for good government in which the gospel can be preached (freedom of speech) and there will be freedom to worship.
1 Timothy 2:1-4 (NASB)
1 First of all, then, I urge that entreaties and prayers, petitions and thanksgivings, be made on behalf of all men, 2 for kings and all who are in authority, so that we may lead a tranquil and quiet life in all godliness and dignity. 3 This is good and acceptable in the sight of God our Savior, 4 who desires all men to be saved and to come to the knowledge of the truth.
1 First of all, then, I urge that entreaties and prayers, petitions and thanksgivings, be made on behalf of all men, 2 for kings and all who are in authority, so that we may lead a tranquil and quiet life in all godliness and dignity. 3 This is good and acceptable in the sight of God our Savior, 4 who desires all men to be saved and to come to the knowledge of the truth.
Here is a sample prayer from John Piper:
Father in heaven, and Lord of all nations, rule over the Middle East in these tumultuous days so that political leaders and laws and practices are established that support peace and freedom for the followers of your Son. We praise you that you are not a tribal deity, and that you desire people of all ethnic groups to be saved through the blood and righteousness of Jesus Christ. In ways we cannot imagine, O God, govern the minds and hearts and systems and regimes and authority structures and intrigues and revolutions and constitutions and localities and neighborhood networks so that your people have protection, provision, peace, and spiritual power to lead holy lives, filled with fruitful passion to reach millions with the gospel. In Jesus’ name, Amen.
Keep on reading, praying, loving, serving, rejoicing and reaching out in love as you abide in Christ!
Pastor David
So, naturally, we proclaim Christ! We warn everyone we meet, and we teach everyone we can, all that we know about him, so that, if possible, we may bring every man up to his full maturity in Christ. (Colossians 1:28, J.B. Phillips paraphrase)
New Life Community Church, Concord, MA 10742
Meeting Sundays at 10:30 AM at the Emerson Umbrella for the Arts, 40 Stow Street, Concord MA
Mailing Address: Post Office Box Five, Concord, MA 01742
Church Offices: 35 Bypass Rd. Lincoln, MA 01773 978-369-0061
Home Office: 978-371-3176
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