O.T.
The Old Testament this week continues with Leviticus and then we begin Numbers.
Throughout Leviticus, Israel remains encamped at Mount Sinai while God appears in the Tent of meeting, dictating to Moses his specifications regarding the Jewish ceremonial laws.
God lists various types of forbidden sexual behavior and discusses foods and physical conditions that can make a person unclean. Uncleanliness can result from things such as bodily discharge or touching a dead carcass. An unclean person must leave the Israelite camp or undergo physical cleansing, waiting periods, and religious sacrifices. Typically, sexual sins are punishable by death, but God also instructs the Israelites to kill a man who blasphemes, or curses God’s name. Of all his restrictions, God places particular emphasis on the prohibition against eating meat with blood still in it: doing so will result in banishment, not only from Israel but from God’s graces as well.
In the end, God promises to give Israel great abundance and success if it obeys these laws.
Leviticus 26: 3-13 …….. “And I will walk among you, and will be your God, and you shall be my people”……
If Israel is disobedient, though, God will send destruction and famine and “and my soul will abhor you” ………………….. (26:14-33).
But the laws in Leviticus also set aside an annual Day of Atonement during which the priest is to offer sacrifices for the forgiveness of the entire nation. As long as the Israelites confess and repent for their sins, (26: 40-46) God promises to keep his covenant and never leave them.
And then we get to Numbers, and I think this is all making sense to me. Correct me if I am wrong here, but Moses was a Levite. Leviticus was all the rules and regulations for the Priests to become and remain holy. In numbers we are getting the results of a census that was done for the 12 tribes, excluding the Levites, who were now given the responsibility of to do the service and work in the tent of meeting. So, all of this was to keep the tent of meeting a holy place, free from sin. (And yes, Numbers 1, those numbers do all add up to 603,549)….
As Christians, this all hasn’t meant much to us. Jesus knew Leviticus well. As you now read the N.T., you will pick up some of the references to Leviticus. But the biggest reference to Leviticus that I can see, is the day of atonement, where Christ died on the cross for our sins. Just like Aaron took off his linens at the end of the day of atonement, Christ linens remained in the tomb.
Psalms:
46: God is our refuge and our strength, a very present help in trouble. Therefore we should not fear though the earth should change, though the mountains shake in the heart of the sea; though it’s waters roar and foam, though the mountains tremble with its tumult………
“Be still, and know that I am God”…….
Matthew Kelly talks about the need to just sit still and be silent. I love just sitting in church in the mornings and listening, saying nothing… letting my thoughts wander wherever he leads me. It centers my day.
47: …..For the Lord, the Most High is awesome, a great king over all the earth….
N.T.
I love Mark 1:21-31 First he teaches in the synagogue, removes an unclean spirit from a man, goes to Simon’s house and cues his mother-in-law and then spends the night curing people. Mark 1:40- He cures a leper after preaching all morning…….. His days were sooooo full, and the people searched him out, so he had no quiet time… (just kidding). Mark 1:35 “and in the morning, a great while before day, he rose and went out to a lonely place, and there he prayed”…. and if you follow in 36-37, “…..they followed him, and they found him……”……. That’s quite a day and a half!
Mark 2:17 “Those who are well have no need for a physician, but those who are sick; I came not to call the righteous, but sinners”
I heard an excellent homily this week. Stephen was stoned to death and his almost last words were “forgive them for they no not what they do”. The same words as Jesus when he died on the cross. The point of the homily was to reflect on, when people are doing bad things, and saying bad things about us, or hurting us or others, that God is calling them and inviting them, just as he is inviting us to him. We should be saying “forgive them, for they know not what they do. And remember Saul is right there at the stoning, and look what happened with him. Amazing things can happen.
Mark 3 – he appoints the disciples…. and cures more.
Mark 3 and 4 , Jesus starts telling parables, Calms the sea “Peace, be still”……..And then sends Legion into the swine and they all drown…..
Another great week of reading. We are in Numbers now in the Old Testament. I think I am starting to understand…..
The Journey Begins 
It was initially my responsibility to summarize this week’s readings. I got stressed out and mind-boggled. Thank you, Tim, for covering for me. I think your explanation and summary is a good one and has helped me get my mind around Leviticus. One thought I have had, actually for many years, is how God literally protected his people in blblical times from bacterial infections and disease. There were no microscopes, etc., no medical research on what causes disease. So, God ses up these guidelines, the most important being about cleanliness. EVERYTHING got washed! Good-bye, bacteria! Meat carried parasites, especially in the blood. Because His people obeyed his directives, they survived. I will say that it was sad that the poor women who were going through their monthly “discharge” had to deal with being isolated so fiercely. Thank goodness for Tampax.
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Hahahaha. Thanks Sharon. I like that thought about cleanliness. That didn’t occur to me
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I love that you highlighted the piece about Jesus seeking solitude. For a parent, especially, this quiet time can be hard (read: impossible) to find. Jesus sets a good example for us by actively seeking a lonely place out. Even when I know “they” will find me, I need to be making that effort to be quiet with God.
Mark 2:17 “Those who are well have no need for a physician, but those who are sick; I came not to call the righteous, but sinners”…my friend, Mary, loves to remind me of this verse when I start to beat myself up about my shortcomings in my faith. If I didn’t fail, if I didn’t sin, if I had no struggle, I would have no need for a savior. Consequently, the more in tune I am with my concupiscence, the deeper my relationship with him becomes, as I realize my complete dependence on the Divine Physician. I need healing and know the only One who can accomplish this in me.
Dad, thanks so much for all your thoughts. I love being a part of this and feel like this bible study has really given me a huge gift. These are conversations that we would have had over the dinner table…If we lived closer…and didn’t have a zillion interruptions. It’s a blessing in my life to have this time with you all.
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Thank you for the summary Tim. I too have really appreciated the daily reading and the summaries and comments. Thanks Team.
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