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Another Perspective

“When you make an agreement with your neighbor to buy or sell property, you must not take advantage of each other.”  (Leviticus 25:14, NLT)

Bible in a Year:  Leviticus 24-25

Growing up, my sister and I used to play Monopoly from time to time.  My memory gets a little fuzzy at this point, but I seem to remember making deals with her during the game that I knew (as an older brother) would eventually lead to world domination and financial conquest on my part.  I offered up some really bad deals for her, which she trustingly took from her “loving” (translation = devious) older brother.  Eventually, for some strange reason, I found she no longer wanted to play the game any more (if you’re reading this, I’m sorry sis!).

Now, decades later, I know taking advantage of others may

Experiencing God…Again

“…these are the Lord’s appointed festivals, the official days for holy assembly that are to be celebrated at their proper times each year.“  (Leviticus 23:4 NLT)

Bible in a Year:  Leviticus 22-23

In Leviticus 23, Moses lists all the regular celebrations the Israelites needed to observe.  Why did God set all these special days, feasts, and celebrations up?  Those who personally experienced the Passover would remember and appreciate all God did for them, but what about the following generations who never knew slavery or even what an Egyptian looked like?

Each generation must encounter the living God for themselves. 

Love Your Neighbor

“Do not seek revenge or bear a grudge against a fellow Israelite, but love your neighbor as yourself.”  (Leviticus 19:18, NLT)

Bible in a Year:  Leviticus 19-21

Great job, you’re almost through Leviticus!  Keep on going, keep on digging.  Leviticus can challenge the resolve of even the most determined who commit to reading through the Bible but, I encourage you to refocus those glassy eyes and hunt for the treasure, like the one found in today’s passage.

Nothing but the Blood

“It is the blood, given in exchange for a life, that makes purification possible.”  (Leviticus 17:11, NLT)

Bible in a Year:  Leviticus 16-18

“What can wash away my sins, nothing but the blood of Jesus.”  So goes a hymn written over 100 years ago.  If we get nothing else out of the book of Leviticus we need to understand and appreciate this;

The Holiness of God

“The following instructions are for those seeking ceremonial purification from a skin disease.”  (Leviticus 14:2, NLT)

Bible in a Year:  Leviticus 14-15

Some of the requirements listed in these chapters seem rather severe.  Does God really care about “ceremonial” uncleanness?  It’s one thing to view uncleanness that  comes from sinful actions, but ceremonial purification from leprosy?  As long as you don’t actually have leprosy anymore, that’s what really matters right?  Why go through all the ceremonies of cleansing?

I believe God places such an emphasis on the ceremonial to

That Which Defiles

“If you touch the carcass of such an animal, you will be defiled.”  (Leviticus 11:26, NLT)

Bible in a Year:  Leviticus 11-13

By living in a fallen world, we will encounter those and go through situations which will defile us.  The good news is the blood of Jesus cleanses us from all unrighteousness.  What we don’t want to do is keep living in that which defiles.  In one sense, just living in this world brings defilement.  I don’t mean for us to take a over a small country  and keep all the non-Christians out (I’m pretty sure Christians bring our own junk and baggage with us anyway).  We do, however, have choices in the specific activities and people we engage in or with on a regular basis.  Might I approach some sensitive areas for us to consider?  My desire is not to bring condemnation for taking part in any particular activity but to provoke thought and perhaps sensitivity to God’s Spirit living in us.

Ministers of Mercy

“Then Moses said to Aaron, “Come to the altar and sacrifice your sin offering and your burnt offering to purify yourself and the people. Then present the offerings of the people to purify them, making them right with the Lord, just as he has commanded.””  (Leviticus 9:7, NLT)

Bible in a Year:  Leviticus 8-10

In Leviticus 8, Moses presented Aaron and his sons as priests before God and the people.  Moses made a bloody mess (literally); slaughtering bulls and rams, cutting them up, and burning them…all to set Aaron and sons apart for the work of the High Priest.  Why go through this whole process, and before all the people no less (Leviticus 8:4)?

Right Relationships

“Through this process, the priest will purify you before the Lord, making you right with him, and you will be forgiven for any of these sins you have committed.”  (Leviticus 6:7, NLT)

Bible in a Year:  Leviticus 5-7

“For everyone has sinned; we all fall short of God’s glorious standard” (Romans 6:23, NLT).  Since the time of Adam (and with the one exception of Jesus), we know everyone sins, everyone falls short.  None are perfect in their relationship with God or others.  Part of God’s good news to man though, is we don’t have to continually live under the curse of broken relationships, guilt, and condemnation.  God provided a means to make us right with Him and with one another.  God made a way to make right broken relationships and set us free from guilt and condemnation.

So what is the process God set up to restore right relationships?

Pleasing Aroma

“It is a special gift, a pleasing aroma to the Lord.”  (Leviticus 1:13, NLT)

Bible in a Year:  Leviticus 1-4

Have you noticed how good aromas often (always?) bring great pleasure to our body, mind, soul, and spirit?  Imagine (or just go ahead and make) some fresh baked bread.

When I go running on the exercise path at the beach park I sometimes catch a whiff of someone barbecuing; and no matter how tired I am, when I inhale deeply, that wonderful aroma, the smell, literally lifts my spirits and keeps my body going.    I believe God wanted to

Good to Great

“Bezalel made the chestpiece with great skill and care.”  (Exodus 39:8, NLT)

Bible in a Year:  Exodus 39-40

Congratulations!  You finished Exodus and the first month of reading through the Bible in a Year!  As we head into the book of Leviticus, you can click here to get some assistance in reading through this book or any other book of the Bible.

Bezalel made the articles for the priest and the Tabernacle with great skill and care.  At the end of his book Good to Great (a highly recommended read by the way), Jim Collins addresses the question, “Why be great?”