SCRIPTURE: Leviticus 25 OBSERVATION/APPLICATION: The Sabbath year and the Year of Jubilee both symbolically point to the Lord’s ultimate plan to restore liberation and celebration, once and for all. Everything is moving towards liberation and celebration. No matter what happens in this life, even when things go wrong and we lose our way or our place,…
Author: Norm
respect
SCRIPTURE: Leviticus 24 OBSERVATION/APPLICATION: After reminding Aaron to keep the symbols of Lord’s presence (the candle) and provision (the bread), the people discover the importance of RESPECT. The Lord uses this occasion where someone intentionally, brazenly curses Him before all the people, to teach them about respect. Not only for Him, for but for all people,…
the kingdom of God is a party!
SCRIPTURE: Leviticus 23 OBSERVATION/APPLICATION: 1. In this chapter the Lord mentions the many festivals the people were to commemorate. Weekly, monthly, and yearly the people were to enjoy rest, to be reminded of God’s mercy, and to celebrate His goodness. The Sabbath Day, Passover and the Feast of Unleavened Bread, Firstfruits, Feast of Weeks, Feast of…
serious, sincere worship
SCRIPTURE: Leviticus 22 OBSERVATION/APPLICATION: 1. Doing the right thing is not enough, doing it for the right reason matters too. The Lord challenges the people to do the right thing – that is, offer the sacrifices in a proper, honourable way – and to do it for the right reason – that is, to honour the…
set apart to serve
SCRIPTURE: Leviticus 21 OBSERVATION/APPLICATION: The Lord assigns a special role to the priests. They represent God among the people. In this role, they must be seen as “set apart”, different, holy. As God is perfect and holy, they must represent as much as possible that perfection and holiness. This was not because they were better than…
I do not condemn you
SCRIPTURE: Leviticus 20 OBSERVATION/APPLICATION: As I read this chapter, I think about the time when Jesus was asked about whether the adulterous woman should be stoned [John 8:2-11]. He said to them, ‘If any one of you is without sin, let him be the first to throw a stone at her.’ [John 8:7] According to this chapter, this…
they’re good for you!
SCRIPTURE: Leviticus 19 OBSERVATION/APPLICATION: 1. “I am the Lord”. This refrain seems to be saying: first, that the Lord is the powerful God that rescued them, so take His commands seriously; second, that this is how things work with the Lord, as opposed to the religious practices of neighbouring nations. 2. This mixed list of laws…
sexual inferno
SCRIPTURE: Leviticus 18 OBSERVATION/APPLICATION: 1. Sex, like fire, is a beautiful gift. In the fireplace, it provides warmth and comfort. But outside of healthy boundaries, that is, when it jumps from the fireplace to the curtains, we have disaster. Sex, like fire, causes a lot of damage when it is taken out of its safe, intended…
practicing the presence of Jesus
“Practicing the presence of Christ means being a living example of the life of Jesus. This raises the stakes enormously. It means that our lives need to become increasingly aligned with the example of Jesus. It doesn’t require sinless obedience – as if that’s possible anyway. It means, though, increasingly becoming people of justice, kindness,…
one with Jesus
SCRIPTURE: Leviticus 17 OBSERVATION/APPLICATION: 1. After 400 years exposed to a variety of Egyptian religious practices, the Israelites must now radically reform their own practices. Common to the religions of the day included regular sacrifices anywhere and everywhere to the multitudes of gods all around them, cultic sexual practices as well as blood drinking. The people…