Worship in the Wilderness #21: Higher Standards

 Read Leviticus 21

Background: Having discussed the way of holiness for His people, God turns to a fuller description of the standards required for the priests.  We have already seen that the priests were not sinlessly perfect, as they had to offer sacrifices for themselves before they could offer them for the people. We have also seen that they were capable of messing worship up, either by not doing what God had instructed or doing things He had not told them to do.  In this chapter we find the higher standard they were to live by as servants in God's Tabernacle.  First, they had standards to meet before they could become a priest.  It was not just because they were descendants of Aaron. They had more limitations as to who they could marry. They also had higher standards when it came to touching the bodies of the deceased, how they dressed, and even how they cut their hair.  Even higher standards were in place for the High Priest in each of these areas. He was not even free to go wherever he wanted to go. There was one reason:

Key Verse: 8 You shall sanctify him, for he offers the bread of your God. He shall be holy to you, for I, the Lord, who sanctify you, am holy.  

God's people were to "sanctify Him," hold him to a higher standard because of what he did. The priest still was not perfect or even "a better person." He was in God's house as God's representative, entrusted with the call to keep His house holy. 

Worship in the Wilderness #20: What if I do?

 Read Leviticus 20

Background: God has been giving all sorts of instructions about how worship is to be conducted as well as how life is to be lived under the banner of "Holiness to the Lord."  Included in that have been numerous prohibitions of what should by no means be done. In the last chapter we saw that for some of these infractions those who did so would be "cut off."  In this chapter we get a glimpse of what that involves.

Key Verses: 1 The Lord spoke to Moses, saying, 2 “Say to the people of Israel, Any one of the people of Israel or of the strangers who sojourn in Israel who gives any of his children to Molech shall surely be put to death. The people of the land shall stone him with stones. 3 I myself will set my face against that man and will cut him off from among his people, because he has given one of his children to Molech, to make my sanctuary unclean and to profane my holy name.

Thoughts: To be "cut off" could mean the death penalty for a number sins. Besides child sacrifice, God goes on to give more examples: turning to mediums, cursing one's parents, adultery, incest, homosexuality, beastiality. Such sins not only offended God's holiness; they destroyed the holiness of life in God's people. God then goes on to remind His people that they were not to be like the Egyptians they had just left or the Canaanites who were being displaced from the land they were going to; they were to be holy unto Him. These things do not fit with His presence. 

Worship in the Wilderness #19:Practical Holiness

 Read Leviticus 19

Background: God has been making it very clear how He wanted (and wants) His people to approach Him in worship: with Holiness. He had also shown how the priests could assist His people in worship and shown examples of how they could mess things up.  He next gave ways that keeping His law and worshipping Him appropriately intersect.  He began with a few of the Ten Commandments, pointing out that those who failed to keep them would be "cut off." (We'll see more on that tomorrow in chapter 20.) He then chose some specific examples of ways to practically show Holiness in how one lives. After talking about giving the poor opportunity to gain access to food, being honest in business, not oppressing one's neighbor, and making sure they did their part to make sure justice was served in court, He summarized things by making the statement from the Old Testament which is quoted more than any other in the New

Key verses:17 “You shall not hate your brother in your heart, but you shall reason frankly with your neighbor, lest you incur sin because of him. 18 You shall not take vengeance or bear a grudge against the sons of your own people, but you shall love your neighbor as yourself: I am the Lord.

Thoughts: Simply put: God's people were to show love toward one another: that is the mark of holiness.  God then goes on to give more examples of personal living: not mixing animals or materials, not abusing servants, making restitution, not turning to mediums, respecting elders, caring for strangers, not eating blood.  At the core of it all was this: "you shall love your neighbor as yourself: I am the Lord."

Worship in the Wilderness #18: The Morality of a Holy People

 Read Leviticus 18

Background:  God knew where Israel had been and where she was heading: the nation had been in pagan Egypt for over 400 years and was now heading to Canaan, where God was driving the people out due to their gross immorality. He wanted neither for His holy people.  He begins by making a big deal about any kind of incest.  The few quick pics we get of foreign palaces in scripture, as well as in secular writings, indicate all sorts of affairs went on among the royalty, which not only destroyed families, but brought down kingdoms. 

Key verses: 20 And you shall not lie sexually with your neighbor's wife and so make yourself unclean with her. 21 You shall not give any of your children to offer them to Molech, and so profane the name of your God: I am the Lord. 22 You shall not lie with a male as with a woman; it is an abomination. 23 And you shall not lie with any animal and so make yourself unclean with it, neither shall any woman give herself to an animal to lie with it: it is perversion.

Thoughts: The common citizen might not have the dramatic life of royalty, but they would be tempted to fall into sinful practices against God's design for their families.  Adultery, homosexuality, and bestiality have dangled their false promises in our own society today, and the acceptability of "sacrificing" children for personal, even deviant behavior is a tell-tale sign of our own decline.  God then closes by reminding us why He commanded all this:

30 So keep my charge never to practice any of these abominable customs that were practiced before you, and never to make yourselves unclean by them: I am the Lord your God.”

Worship in the Wilderness #17: The Holiness of Blood

Read Leviticus 17

Background: Over the last two weeks we have seen God describe this elaborate system of offerings overseen by the priests as part of God's organized system of worship.  The ultimate goal is having peace and fellowship with God.  Our last study covered the Day of Atonement dealt with any unconfessed sin which may have "slipped through the cracks."   Also, part of this big picture was the Tabernacle as the place God intended for this to take place.  Worshipping apart from God's plan and place could lead to distance from God and that is the last thing He wanted. 

Key Verses:  And the Lord spoke to Moses, saying, 2 “Speak to Aaron and his sons and to all the people of Israel and say to them, This is the thing that the Lord has commanded. 3 If any one of the house of Israel kills an ox or a lamb or a goat in the camp, or kills it outside the camp, 4 and does not bring it to the entrance of the tent of meeting to offer it as a gift to the Lord in front of the tabernacle of the Lord, bloodguilt shall be imputed to that man. He has shed blood, and that man shall be cut off from among his people. 5 This is to the end that the people of Israel may bring their sacrifices that they sacrifice in the open field, that they may bring them to the Lord, to the priest at the entrance of the tent of meeting, and sacrifice them as sacrifices of peace offerings to the Lord. 6 And the priest shall throw the blood on the altar of the Lord at the entrance of the tent of meeting and burn the fat for a pleasing aroma to the Lord. 7 So they shall no more sacrifice their sacrifices to goat demons, after whom they whore. This shall be a statute forever for them throughout their generations.

Thoughts: There is something to be said for not just "doing it anywhere."  Left to our own devices, sinful man tends to stray away from God and His plan.  Also, if we get "too used" to taking blood into our own hands, we lose that sense of value in "the life of the blood." The people of Israel were never to forget the great price, just as we as followers of Christ are to never forget the great price Christ paid for our forgiveness and salvation.  "The life is in the blood." Offering sacrifices, anywhere, anyhow, but anybody made the whole process less holy and of lesser importance and meaning. 

Worship in the Wilderness #16: The Day of Atonement

 Read Leviticus 16

Background: God had put in place a system of worship with everything possible to help his people willingly come to worship Him. He had given them instructions and the ongoing help of priests to be able to come in repentance, offer sacrifices, and make their peace with God.  There was only one flaw: man's ongoing love affair with sin.  Despite being open daily, having special Sabbath services, and giving special opportunities for worship and fellowship, day by day people "got dirty" with unconfessed sin. So God made a special day, the Day of Atonement, each year to deal with all the undealt with sin of the people.

Key Verses: 29 “And it shall be a statute to you forever that in the seventh month, on the tenth day of the month, you shall afflict yourselves and shall do no work, either the native or the stranger who sojourns among you. 30 For on this day shall atonement be made for you to cleanse you. You shall be clean before the Lord from all your sins. 31 It is a Sabbath of solemn rest to you, and you shall afflict yourselves; it is a statute forever. 32 And the priest who is anointed and consecrated as priest in his father's place shall make atonement, wearing the holy linen garments. 33 He shall make atonement for the holy sanctuary, and he shall make atonement for the tent of meeting and for the altar, and he shall make atonement for the priests and for all the people of the assembly. 34 And this shall be a statute forever for you, that atonement may be made for the people of Israel once in the year because of all their sins.” 

Thoughts: On this one day, and only this day of the year, the High Priest would make a special offering, cleanse everything, and enter the Holy of Holies to offer incense, sprinkle the blood, and give a unique sacrifice for the congregation.  The ceremony involved two goats - one to be offered as a sin offering, and the other to be the scapegoat, to carry the sins out of the camp and far away from God's people. After handling this sacrifice and scapegoat for sin, the High Priest and the handler of the goat had to go through more cleansing.  The picture was the removal of sin from every corner of the tabernacle and every heart in the congregation.  When Christ came and accomplished His work, He removed the necessity for both.  

Worship in the Wilderness #15: Those Nasty Discharges

 Read: Leviticus 15

Background: Having gone over issues of uncleanness from daily life (eating, dead bodies, childbirth, and skin disorders), God addresses other issues and illnesses which are somewhat observable to others: discharges that can be seen/heard/smelled, which may just be the natural elimination of fluids, or may indicate a brewing sickness.  Those issues that are just daily life just require washing of the body and any materials with which the person has come into contact, along with a separation from others until evening (which was the beginning of a new day).  Those that were more serious in nature requited a week-long separation period, along with a small offering at the end.

Key Verses: 31 “Thus you shall keep the people of Israel separate from their uncleanness, lest they die in their uncleanness by defiling my tabernacle that is in their midst.” 32 This is the law for him who has a discharge and for him who has an emission of semen, becoming unclean thereby; 33 also for her who is unwell with her menstrual impurity, that is, for anyone, male or female, who has a discharge, and for the man who lies with a woman who is unclean.

These concluding verses from the chapter remind us of the big picture here: Daily life gets us dirty. We are to examine all of life's interactions and activities to make sure we are pursuing purity so that when we do come to worship, we do not drag in our dirt with us.  We come to God to worship in sincerity and purity. 

Worship in the Wilderness #14: Leprosy, Part 2

 

Read Leviticus 14

As we read yesterday, another area of uncleanness under the care of the priests was skin diseases like leprosy.  Anyone suspected of having such a condition was to be brought to the priest for evaluation, and, if necessary, separation from the community to prevent its spread.  There was, however, always the hope, end even expectation, that the person would recover, be pronounced clean, and be restored to the worship of and fellowship with God.

Key verses: The Lord spoke to Moses, saying, 2 “This shall be the law of the leprous person for the day of his cleansing. He shall be brought to the priest, 3 and the priest shall go out of the camp, and the priest shall look. Then, if the case of leprous disease is healed in the leprous person, 4 the priest shall command them to take for him who is to be cleansed two live clean birds and cedarwood and scarlet yarn and hyssop. 5 And the priest shall command them to kill one of the birds in an earthenware vessel over fresh water. 6 He shall take the live bird with the cedarwood and the scarlet yarn and the hyssop, and dip them and the live bird in the blood of the bird that was killed over the fresh water. 7 And he shall sprinkle it seven times on him who is to be cleansed of the leprous disease. Then he shall pronounce him clean and shall let the living bird go into the open field. 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. 9 And on the seventh day he shall shave off all his hair from his head, his beard, and his eyebrows. He shall shave off all his hair, and then he shall wash his clothes and bathe his body in water, and he shall be clean. 10 “And on the eighth day he shall take two male lambs without blemish, and one ewe lamb a year old without blemish, and a grain offering of three tenths of an ephah of fine flour mixed with oil, and one log of oil. 11 And the priest who cleanses him shall set the man who is to be cleansed and these things before the Lord, at the entrance of the tent of meeting. 

Thoughts: God goes on to explain the carrying out of the offerings in accordance with things discussed in chapters 1 through 7, as well as instructions for cleansing a house wherein leprosy had been present.  Again, the big picture is keeping God's house and His worship pure.  Though there was always hope and even an anticipation that the leper would be healed and cleansed, we find that some lived as lepers on an ongoing basis.  This is not what God desired, just as one's living in sin and never coming to repentance and cleansing was never His desire.  Some just chose to accept it as a way of life.  

Worship in the Wilderness #13: Leprosy, Part I

Read Leviticus 13

Background: God continues to address issues of ceremonial uncleanness among the people of Israel. Though there are physical health benefits to many of the distinctions God makes between clean and unclean, there are far deeper concerns He has about the spiritual holiness of His people.  This chapter has a very detailed listing of examples of visible skin issues which are categorized as various kinds of leprosy.  The account begins this way:

1  The Lord spoke to Moses and Aaron, saying, 2 “When a person has on the skin of his body a swelling or an eruption or a spot, and it turns into a case of leprous disease on the skin of his body, then he shall be brought to Aaron the priest or to one of his sons the priests, 3 and the priest shall examine the diseased area on the skin of his body. And if the hair in the diseased area has turned white and the disease appears to be deeper than the skin of his body, it is a case of leprous disease. When the priest has examined him, he shall pronounce him unclean. 4 But if the spot is white in the skin of his body and appears no deeper than the skin, and the hair in it has not turned white, the priest shall shut up the diseased person for seven days. 5 And the priest shall examine him on the seventh day, and if in his eyes the disease is checked and the disease has not spread in the skin, then the priest shall shut him up for another seven days. 6 And the priest shall examine him again on the seventh day, and if the diseased area has faded and the disease has not spread in the skin, then the priest shall pronounce him clean; it is only an eruption. And he shall wash his clothes and be clean. 7 But if the eruption spreads in the skin, after he has shown himself to the priest for his cleansing, he shall appear again before the priest. 8 And the priest shall look, and if the eruption has spread in the skin, then the priest shall pronounce him unclean; it is a leprous disease.

Thoughts: The first role of the priest was an initial diagnosis.  As you work your way through the chapter there are several symptoms of possible skin diseases which have clear indicators of whether they are temporary reactions and rashes or more serious issues.  Almost all would require of period of one week for reexamination. If things then seemed to be under control, then all the person would have to do would be wash clothing and be pronounced clean.   If not, the person would be further secluded for another period of time.   In the worst case scenario, the person would be excluded from the camp.  As we will see tomorrow, this was usually not a permanent exclusion; there was hope of being healed. 

Like all of these issues, there was a constant reminder that "life can get dirty" and in daily living we can pick up things, physically or spiritually, which need to be cleansed.  These things should be checked and reevaluated to make sure the condition is not worsening and becoming a danger not only to ourselves, but to others.  

Worship in the Wilderness #12

Having spent the previous chapter on clean and unclean animals and the uncleanness of dead bodies, this short chapter talks about cleansing after childbirth.  It may seem unnecessary and extremely personal to have such guidelines, but that is in a sense, the point. Cleanness, holiness, has to do with every part of life.  Part of this is a thank offering, as there is no better gift that God can give of a child. The people of Israel were also always awaiting the Child to come, and there is a sense of anticipation here. But childbirth also was a reminder of the curse from Genesis 3 that since the Fall all are born sinners.  This purification ceremony is a reminder of the shedding of blood needed for forgiveness of sin until the One who would make such sacrifice once and for all. 
The Whole Passage: The Lord spoke to Moses, saying, 2 “Speak to the people of Israel, saying, If a woman conceives and bears a male child, then she shall be unclean seven days. As at the time of her menstruation, she shall be unclean. 3 And on the eighth day the flesh of his foreskin shall be circumcised. 4 Then she shall continue for thirty-three days in the blood of her purifying. She shall not touch anything holy, nor come into the sanctuary, until the days of her purifying are completed. 5 But if she bears a female child, then she shall be unclean two weeks, as in her menstruation. And she shall continue in the blood of her purifying for sixty-six days.  6 “And when the days of her purifying are completed, whether for a son or for a daughter, she shall bring to the priest at the entrance of the tent of meeting a lamb a year old for a burnt offering, and a pigeon or a turtledove for a sin offering, 7 and he shall offer it before the Lord and make atonement for her. Then she shall be clean from the flow of her blood. This is the law for her who bears a child, either male or female. 8 And if she cannot afford a lamb, then she shall take two turtledoves or two pigeons, one for a burnt offering and the other for a sin offering. And the priest shall make atonement for her, and she shall be clean.”
Thoughts: This offering/ceremony was the same one Mary went through after giving birth to the Christ Child.  Interconnected with this ceremony was circumcision of the sons, which was the identifying mark of the people of Israel. It marked them out as different, set apart, holy to the Lord.   Once again, every part of life comes under the call to holiness.  

Worship in the Wilderness #11: Those Unclean Animals!

 Read Leviticus 11

Background: As noted at the beginning of our study, there are two main questions answered in this book: 1)How can the priests assist God's people in worshipping Him?, and 2) How can God's people live holy lives pleasing to God? Much has been said in verses 8 through 10 about the priests.  God now turns to some more specifics about the second question.  The distinctions made here had also been made when God told Noah to take the animals on the ark, so it was nothing new.  The animals that were "clean" were good for both sacrifice and for food. In the second half of the chapter God also emphasizes the fact that dead bodies of all types were "unclean" - some more than others.

Key Verses:  And the Lord spoke to Moses and Aaron, saying to them, 2 “Speak to the people of Israel, saying, These are the living things that you may eat among all the animals that are on the earth. 3 Whatever parts the hoof and is cloven-footed and chews the cud, among the animals, you may eat. 4 Nevertheless, among those that chew the cud or part the hoof, you shall not eat these: The camel, because it chews the cud but does not part the hoof, is unclean to you. 5 And the rock badger, because it chews the cud but does not part the hoof, is unclean to you. 6 And the hare, because it chews the cud but does not part the hoof, is unclean to you. 7 And the pig, because it parts the hoof and is cloven-footed but does not chew the cud, is unclean to you. 8 You shall not eat any of their flesh, and you shall not touch their carcasses; they are unclean to you.

Thoughts:  For us as believers, we are released from all the laws concerning animals, but there are some definite benefits to consider about the foods described as clean versus unclean.  What is important is that every detail of life needs to be considered in living a holy life before God.  Worship of the true and living God is not just about a religion of ceremonies one day a week and on special occasions: It affects everyday life and every area of our lives. God put it this way: 44 For I am the Lord your God. Consecrate yourselves therefore, and be holy, for I am holy. You shall not defile yourselves with any swarming thing that crawls on the ground. 45 For I am the Lord who brought you up out of the land of Egypt to be your God. You shall therefore be holy, for I am holy.”

Worship in the Wilderness #10: How NOT to do it.

 Read Leviticus 10.

Background: Everything at theTabernacle was finally in place. The Priests had been fully installed and instructed as to their responsibilities and all of God's directives on how things were to be done. Shortly after it all began, some of Aaron's sons became lax - even disobedient - in carrying out their responsibilities.  God's response was quick and profound: those who had violated the holiness of worship were not only removed from their positions but from the congregation and life itself.

Key Verses: 1 Now Nadab and Abihu, the sons of Aaron, each took his censer and put fire in it and laid incense on it and offered unauthorized fire before the Lord, which he had not commanded them. 2 And fire came out from before the Lord and consumed them, and they died before the Lord. 3 Then Moses said to Aaron, “This is what the Lord has said: ‘Among those who are near me I will be sanctified, and before all the people I will be glorified.’” And Aaron held his peace.

16 Now Moses diligently inquired about the goat of the sin offering, and behold, it was burned up! And he was angry with Eleazar and Ithamar, the surviving sons of Aaron, saying, 17 “Why have you not eaten the sin offering in the place of the sanctuary, since it is a thing most holy and has been given to you that you may bear the iniquity of the congregation, to make atonement for them before the Lord? 18 Behold, its blood was not brought into the inner part of the sanctuary. You certainly ought to have eaten it in the sanctuary, as I commanded.” 

The first case was one where these too sons "took lightly" the instructions of the Lord.  Later verses indicate they may have been "drinking on the job." Whatever the unknown details, they did not regard their work or their God as Holy, and the House of the Lord and everyone in it was to reveal how Holy He is.  The second case made it seem to Moses that this disregard for God's Person and will was more deeply ingrained, and further discipline was warranted.  God, however, did not respond to it, and upon further investigation it appears that the misstep on the part of the younger priests was due to their grief over their brother's death and their going overboard in trying to NOT offend God.  All in all, the two successive events made their point: don't take the worship of  Holy God lightly. 

Worship in the Wilderness #9: Open for Business

 

Read Leviticus 9.

Background.  In chapter 8, God had Moses serve as temporary priest to ordain Aaron and his sons as the ongoing priesthood.  Here in chapter 9 Aaron carries out his first acts of service, sacrificing for His sons and the congregation as a whole.  Once again, he first had to offer sacrifice for himself. The ordination process had not turned him into a perfect man - just one called to serve God in this way.  How imperfect the priesthood was will become apparent very soon.  Aaron did everything as establish by God and told through Moses. 

Key Verses: On the eighth day Moses called Aaron and his sons and the elders of Israel, 2 and he said to Aaron, “Take for yourself a bull calf for a sin offering and a ram for a burnt offering, both without blemish, and offer them before the Lord. 3 And say to the people of Israel, ‘Take a male goat for a sin offering, and a calf and a lamb, both a year old without blemish, for a burnt offering, 4 and an ox and a ram for peace offerings, to sacrifice before the Lord, and a grain offering mixed with oil, for today the Lord will appear to you.’

Thoughts: The last statement of the passage above could almost be lost in all of the details, but it drives the event with anticipation.  After completing the sacrifices for himself and his sons, then the people as a whole, Aaron gives his first blessing on the congregation. Then after he and Moses enter the tent for the transfer of the priesthood, they both come out and bless the people together.  It is at that point that God does "appear" in a powerful way, with the cloud overwhelming them and the fire from the altar consuming all the sacrifices.  The people cry out with joy and at the same time fall in reverence before the Lord. That is what the job of the priests was: to assist people in coming to worship the Lord. 

Worship in the Wilderness #8: Ordination of Priests

 Read: Leviticus 8

Background: The Priesthood had been described earlier in Exodus 28,29, when it was announced that Aaron and his line would serve as priests on a permanent basis. Here in Leviticus 1-7 we have seen how they were to help the people with the bringing of their sacrificial offerings.  Now God has Moses ordain them into service so they can actually begin this ministry. After giving instructions to Moses, God has him serve as temporary priest for the priests.  Moses takes them through a cleansing ceremony, gives them their priestly garb, anoints them with oil, and offers a sin offering on their behalf. 

Key Passage: 22 Then he presented the other ram, the ram of ordination, and Aaron and his sons laid their hands on the head of the ram. 23 And he killed it, and Moses took some of its blood and put it on the lobe of Aaron's right ear and on the thumb of his right hand and on the big toe of his right foot. 24 Then he presented Aaron's sons, and Moses put some of the blood on the lobes of their right ears and on the thumbs of their right hands and on the big toes of their right feet. And Moses threw the blood against the sides of the altar. 25 Then he took the fat and the fat tail and all the fat that was on the entrails and the long lobe of the liver and the two kidneys with their fat and the right thigh, 26 and out of the basket of unleavened bread that was before the Lord he took one unleavened loaf and one loaf of bread with oil and one wafer and placed them on the pieces of fat and on the right thigh. 27 And he put all these in the hands of Aaron and in the hands of his sons and waved them as a wave offering before the Lord. 28 Then Moses took them from their hands and burned them on the altar with the burnt offering. This was an ordination offering with a pleasing aroma, a food offering to the Lord. 29 And Moses took the breast and waved it for a wave offering before the Lord. It was Moses' portion of the ram of ordination, as the Lord commanded Moses.

Thoughts: Moses then offered a second ram as a kind of peace offering, vowing the priests into service, along with a grain offering.  Since he served as priest for the priests, he shared in the offering. The passage goes on to give instructions for the priests to have a meal from the sacrifice as well. The next day they began their service.  

Everything God did had a "neat and orderly plan" ( see I Corinthians 14). It was meaningful and gave a reference point for both priests and people to say: "This is where it all began, and this is how it is to be done." 

Worship in the Wilderness #7: Kinds of Peace Offerings

 Read: Leviticus 7

Background: God had given instructions on the basic kinds of offerings to be brought to Him in worship, and then began to explain the place of the priesthood in assisting worshippers as they came. He now further explains more examples of when the Peace Offering would come into play.  

Key Verses: 12 If he offers it for a thanksgiving, then he shall offer with the thanksgiving sacrifice unleavened loaves mixed with oil, unleavened wafers smeared with oil, and loaves of fine flour well mixed with oil. 13 With the sacrifice of his peace offerings for thanksgiving he shall bring his offering with loaves of leavened bread. 14 And from it he shall offer one loaf from each offering, as a gift to the Lord. It shall belong to the priest who throws the blood of the peace offerings. 15 And the flesh of the sacrifice of his peace offerings for thanksgiving shall be eaten on the day of his offering. He shall not leave any of it until the morning. 16 But if the sacrifice of his offering is a vow offering or a freewill offering, it shall be eaten on the day that he offers his sacrifice, and on the next day what remains of it shall be eaten. 17 But what remains of the flesh of the sacrifice on the third day shall be burned up with fire. 18 If any of the flesh of the sacrifice of his peace offering is eaten on the third day, he who offers it shall not be accepted, neither shall it be credited to him. It is tainted, and he who eats of it shall bear his iniquity.

Thoughts: As mentioned on Day 3, these Peace Offerings were voluntary offerings which were often eaten with the priest.  Sometimes, they would be Thank Offerings for when God blessed them above and beyond anything they had asked or hoped for.  These were prepared as a meal to make it a celebration.  Other times a peace offering might be made is if a person was making a special committal vow before the Lord or praising Him "just because", of his own free will.  Finally, later verses go on to explain the Wave Offering, where the priest would receive the breast of the animal and "wave" it for all to see, showing that God had provided for him through this offering.

The peace offerings all celebrated relationships in order: between God and man and each other. They brought joy to the giver, to the Lord, and to those privileged to serve Him. 

Worship in the Wilderness #6: The Priests and the Offerings:

 

Read Leviticus 6

Background: This chapter finishes up what we were looking at yesterday about the Guilt or Trespass Offering, with more examples of the types of offences which would prompt it, and showing more the need for the restoration and restitution along with the offering.  In the middle of the chapter, we get more details as to how the Priests are involved in all five of the offerings.

Key Verses: 8  The Lord spoke to Moses, saying, 9 “Command Aaron and his sons, saying, This is the law of the burnt offering. The burnt offering shall be on the hearth on the altar all night until the morning, and the fire of the altar shall be kept burning on it. 10 And the priest shall put on his linen garment and put his linen undergarment on his body, and he shall take up the ashes to which the fire has reduced the burnt offering on the altar and put them beside the altar. 11 Then he shall take off his garments and put on other garments and carry the ashes outside the camp to a clean place. 12 The fire on the altar shall be kept burning on it; it shall not go out. The priest shall burn wood on it every morning, and he shall arrange the burnt offering on it and shall burn on it the fat of the peace offerings. 13 Fire shall be kept burning on the altar continually; it shall not go out. 

Thoughts: The last verse summarizes one major responsibility of the priests: "Keep the Fire Burning." The Lord is always "open for business," always ready for fellowship, always ready to forgive, always ready to listen.  We begin to get a clearer picture here of how the priests' job was to "assist the people in worship." They were not there as judges or to determine if offerings were to be accepted; they were helpers.  Their share in various offerings was not just their "pay" or support, it was also part of the fellowship they were  to enjoy as God's representatives.  

Many of these laws we are looking at may seem picky and "boring", but God was showing His character: Holy, but with open arms; omniscient of all our sins, yet forgiving; prone to detail, yet making it possible in every way for us to have fellowship with Him and give Him the worship He deserves. 

Worship in the Wilderness #5: Guilt or Trespass Offering

 Read Leviticus 5

Background: Many of the details of this offering will seem similar to those of the previous ones discussed: bringing the offering to the priest; having different prescribed offerings depending on financial circumstance; the promise of forgiveness, etc.  There are some distinct differences, however, especially in that the person can identify a specific sin that has been committed which God has clearly identified: not speaking up and telling the truth; not returning a lost article when one knows who it belongs to; oppressing one's neighbor - these are not the "unintentional" variety of sins covered by the sin offering.

Key verses: “If anyone sins in that he hears a public adjuration to testify, and though he is a witness, whether he has seen or come to know the matter, yet does not speak, he shall bear his iniquity; 2 or if anyone touches an unclean thing, whether a carcass of an unclean wild animal or a carcass of unclean livestock or a carcass of unclean swarming things, and it is hidden from him and he has become unclean, and he realizes his guilt; 3 or if he touches human uncleanness, of whatever sort the uncleanness may be with which one becomes unclean, and it is hidden from him, when he comes to know it, and realizes his guilt; 4 or if anyone utters with his lips a rash oath to do evil or to do good, any sort of rash oath that people swear, and it is hidden from him, when he comes to know it, and he realizes his guilt in any of these; 5 when he realizes his guilt in any of these and confesses the sin he has committed, 6 he shall bring to the Lord as his compensation for the sin that he has committed, a female from the flock, a lamb or a goat, for a sin offering. And the priest shall make atonement for him for his sin.

Thoughts: One key ingredient of this offering is "compensation" (see verse 6, 16), restitution, reparation for the injury caused either to one's neighbor or against the tabernacle itself.  It goes beyond admitting guilt to seeking to make restoration for any harm caused.

We often are so quick to forgive ourselves and excuse our actions, when it would be much more beneficial to us and glorifying to God to admit our guilt, come to Him, and make it right with others. 

Worship in the Wilderness #4: Sin Offering

 Read Leviticus 4

Background: The first three offerings we have examined all had a degree of being voluntary, but this one was required for one who had either "unintentionally" sinned or had become ceremonially unclean by touching dead animals or numerous other ways.  What is important to notice as you read through the chapter is that more was required of the priest than any other leader or citizen; the "cost" of his offering was greater because he had a greater responsibility to maintain the purity of worship; it was the same as if the whole nation sinned.  Something else of note is that very little of the sacrifice was actually offered on the altar: most was taken outside the tent to remove all impurity of sin from the tabernacle.  

Key verses: 1 And the Lord spoke to Moses, saying, 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, 3 if it is the anointed priest who sins, thus bringing guilt on the people, then he shall offer for the sin that he has committed a bull from the herd without blemish to the Lord for a sin offering... 8 And all the fat of the bull of the sin offering he shall remove from it, the fat that covers the entrails and all the fat that is on the entrails 9 and the two kidneys with the fat that is on them at the loins and the long lobe of the liver that he shall remove with the kidneys 10 (just as these are taken from the ox of the sacrifice of the peace offerings); and the priest shall burn them on the altar of burnt offering. 11 But the skin of the bull and all its flesh, with its head, its legs, its entrails, and its dung— 12 all the rest of the bull—he shall carry outside the camp to a clean place, to the ash heap, and shall burn it up on a fire of wood. On the ash heap it shall be burned up.

Thoughts: A case could be made that this offering would better be named "purification" offering than sin offering, as that is the ultimate goal: to purify the worship center from all sin. God wants nothing to get in the way of our fellowship with Him. 

Worship in the Wilderness #3: The Peace Offering

 Read: Leviticus 3

Background: The peace offering was totally optional, given by the person along with the burnt offering. We will see specific reasons on day seven, but in general it was a celebration of reconciliation - that he was "at peace with God". The giver was so overjoyed in His salvation and God's provision that He wanted to "give back more." To encourage this kind of giving the "restrictions" were somewhat less; the gift could be either male or female, and in certain cases, not "without blemish."

Key verses: 9 Then from the sacrifice of the peace offering he shall offer as a food offering to the Lord its fat; he shall remove the whole fat tail, cut off close to the backbone, and the fat that covers the entrails and all the fat that is on the entrails 10 and the two kidneys with the fat that is on them at the loins and the long lobe of the liver that he shall remove with the kidneys. 11 And the priest shall burn it on the altar as a food offering to the Lord.

Thoughts: The main feature of the peace offering was that it was a "food offering" - it was meant to be eaten. The picture presented is that of friends having a meal together - in particular, man in fellowship with God at the table, with no sin to separate them. Because of this, the priest would often eat the meal with the giver to demonstrate such fellowship.

God goes out of His way to encourage the giving of offerings - not because He needs them, but because He knows it is way for us to demonstrate faith and trust and to celebrate the fellowship of forgiveness.

Worship in the Wilderness #2: The Grain Offering

Read Leviticus 2

Background: The grain offering is listed second after the Burnt Offering, as it was often offered with it. Because one had received forgiveness from sin by God's gracious provision, they would also bring a grain offering to show thanksgiving and devotion.  Rather than there being and "either or" as with Cain and Abel's sacrifice, this was a "both and." As always, it was not just the ritual; God was looking at the heart.

Key verses: 1 “When anyone brings a grain offering as an offering to the Lord, his offering shall be of fine flour. He shall pour oil on it and put frankincense on it 2 and bring it to Aaron's sons the priests. And he shall take from it a handful of the fine flour and oil, with all of its frankincense, and the priest shall burn this as its memorial portion on the altar, a food offering with a pleasing aroma to the Lord. 3 But the rest of the grain offering shall be for Aaron and his sons; it is a most holy part of the Lord's food offerings.

Thoughts: The chapter goes on to tell of two other ways the offering could be given: in the form of a baked cake, or the grain itself.  There were two things mixed in with any form: salt, representing preservation or fidelity of the covenant relationship, and frankincense, representing the sweet aroma going up to God.  There was also one thing never to be a part of the offering: leaven, representing sin.  

God has many ways for us to show our love and commitment to Him.  Gratitude is important, especially when it comes to our salvation.  It shows the sincerity of our faith. 

Worship in the Wilderness #1: The Burnt Offering

Leviticus 1

Setting: After having His people complete the Tabernacle, God was now ready to have His people worship through a whole new system.  He chose to reveal what the people were to do before giving instructions to the priests about how to aid His people in worshipping Him.  He gave instructions about different offerings they were to bring to Him.  Though these offerings have been fulfilled in Christ, the truths about how God wants and deserves to be worshipped have not.  

Key verses: 1 The Lord called Moses and spoke to him from the tent of meeting, saying, 2 “Speak to the people of Israel and say to them, When any one of you brings an offering to the Lord, you shall bring your offering of livestock from the herd or from the flock. 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. 4 He shall lay his hand on the head of the burnt offering, and it shall be accepted for him to make atonement for him. 5 Then he shall kill the bull before the Lord, and Aaron's sons the priests shall bring the blood and throw the blood against the sides of the altar that is at the entrance of the tent of meeting. 6 Then he shall flay the burnt offering and cut it into pieces, 7 and the sons of Aaron the priest shall put fire on the altar and arrange wood on the fire. 8 And Aaron's sons the priests shall arrange the pieces, the head, and the fat, on the wood that is on the fire on the altar; 9 but its entrails and its legs he shall wash with water. And the priest shall burn all of it on the altar, as a burnt offering, a food offering with a pleasing aroma to the Lord.

Thoughts: The core offering of the system was the "burnt offering".  It was to be brought to God to show that they were sinners who needed and were willing to repent, and that the animal served as a substitute for the the death they deserved.  The following verses go on to give the same instructions for those who could only afford a lamb or bird) Each one, by laying his hand on the head of his offering demonstrated a transfer of sin.  The offering was killed, prepared, and totally consumed by the fire. Only the skin was kept back. (as was done in the garden after Adam sinned.) This represents that a person was totally surrendering to God, making fellowship with God possible.  

Conclusion: Christ's sacrifice, which we have just looked back upon on Good Friday, paid our price "once for all," so we no longer have animal sacrifice.  God accepted what He did in our place and wants us to accept Him through faith.  God hates sin but welcomes repentant sinners through Christ.

Getting to Know Jesus by Name #99: Word

 

John 1:In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God. 2 He was in the beginning with God. 3 All things were made through him, and without him was not any thing made that was made... And the Word became flesh and dwelt among us, and we have seen his glory, glory as of the only Son from the Father, full of grace and truth.

Alphabetically, Word is the last name for Jesus, but it is also the first name.  He was in the beginning, has been through all time, and will be there for the "end", which really is not the end.  This Greek word John uses for Jesus: logos means: " the divine wisdom manifest in creation; government and redemption of the world and identified as the second Person of the Trinity: Jesus."*  He is the one who spoke out at creation and He is the One Who has spoken out salvation. Throughout His time on earth He spoke nothing by truth, and that truth remains in effect today and forever. Today we celebrate the fact that when Satan thought he had shut Him up from speaking, Christ arose to speak again His new creation: man restored to God. 

*(Diann Cotton: 100 Days with Jesus)

Getting to Know Jesus by Name #98: Wonderful Counselor

Isaiah 9:6 For to us a child is born,
    to us a son is given;
and the government shall be upon his shoulder,
    and his name shall be called
Wonderful Counselor, Mighty God,
    Everlasting Father, Prince of Peace.

Once again, we come back to Isaiah 9 for a name of Jesus: Wonderful Counselor.  Wonderful is like it sounds: "exciting wonder: marvelous, astonishing, admirable", while a counselor is: "a person who gives advice or counselling; a person who listens to and give support or advice; to advise, counsel, admonish; to direct, to resolve, to decide; to devise, to plan, to purpose."*  These terms give us a big, big picture of God - both Father and Son. He is the One with the plan and purpose.  He devises, decides, and directs His plan. He then gives wisdom and counsel for the carrying out of this plan.  As it is accomplished, we are able to see how wonderful He really is. In a very real sense, His plan of salvation has been accomplished, but in our lives, we need counsel as to how to apply it to life here and now.  He sticks around to help us with that. 

*(Diann Cotton: 100 Days with Jesus)

Getting to Know Jesus by Name #97: Way

 John 14:“Let not your hearts be troubled. Believe in God; believe also in me. 2 In my Father's house are many rooms. If it were not so, would I have told you that I go to prepare a place for you? 3 And if I go and prepare a place for you, I will come again and will take you to myself, that where I am you may be also. 4 And you know the way to where I am going.” 5 Thomas said to him, “Lord, we do not know where you are going. How can we know the way?” 6 Jesus said to him, “I am the way,

For the third time we return to this passage for a name of Jesus: The Way.  It is the first in the list because it is in reply to Thomas' question: "How can we know the way?"  The term means: "a thoroughfare for travel or transportation from place to place; an opening for passage; the course traveled from one place to another; route; a course leading in a direction or toward an objective."* As the way, Jesus is much more than a pathway to walk on; He gives directions; He gives goals; there is an objective in view.  He calms us through dark tunnels and curvy roads; He provides light in dark places; He gives 24/7 roadside assistance. He travels with us the whole way and will stay with us (rather, us with Him) when we arrive at our destination.  Like with Thomas, Christ says to us: "I'm right  here."

*(Dianne Cotton: 100 Days with Jesus)

Getting to Know Jesus by Name #96: Unchangeable

 

Hebrews 13:8 Jesus Christ is the same yesterday and today and forever. 

The most succinct way to summarize this verse and all that has preceded it in the book of Hebrews is to say that Christ is Unchangeable: "not able to change or be changed; immutable."*  He is the most solid foundation we can find for truth and life.  One of the passages in this deep work of art that leads up to this statement is in chapter 6:

17 So when God desired to show more convincingly to the heirs of the promise the unchangeable character of his purpose, he guaranteed it with an oath, 18 so that by two unchangeable things, in which it is impossible for God to lie, we who have fled for refuge might have strong encouragement to hold fast to the hope set before us. 19 We have this as a sure and steadfast anchor of the soul, a hope that enters into the inner place behind the curtain, 20 where Jesus has gone as a forerunner on our behalf, having become a high priest forever after the order of Melchizedek.

Jesus, the most solid foundation for the soul we could have, has gone into the holiest of places for  us - into the very presence of God on our behalf, and He will be there forever.  Nothing will change His mind or His will to be there for us.  He is the solid anchor for our souls.

*(Diann Cotton: 100 Days with Jesus)

Getting to Know Jesus by Name #95: Truth

John 14:  6 Jesus said to him, “I am the way, and the truth, and the life. No one comes to the Father except through me. 7 If you had known me, you would have known my Father also. From now on you do know him and have seen him.”

Jesus is The Truth. In a world full of lies and error, it is a good thing to step back and remember what truth really is.  Diann Cotton defines it as "things that are true, fidelity, constancy; sincerity in action, character, and utterance; the quality or state of being true; actuality." (100 Days with Jesus) Since more than one of those descriptions includes the word "true", this also requires definition: "agreeing with the facts: not false; real or genuine: steadfast, loyal; honest, just; truthful: ideal; essential, consistent; legitimate; rightful, accurate."  Jesus is everything that really matters.  If we want to make an important decision; if our life really depends on it; if we want to know the way things really are, we turn to Jesus.  John had begun his Gospel telling us Jesus is "full of grace and truth." Pilate grunted "What is truth?" when He was standing right in front of Him.  If you want the truth, Jesus is your man.  When you want to know God and what He wants, there is no better place to turn, and you will find Truth.

Getting to Know Jesus by Name #94: True Vine

 John 15: “I am the true vine, and my Father is the vinedresser. 2 Every branch in me that does not bear fruit he takes away, and every branch that does bear fruit he prunes, that it may bear more fruit. 

Jesus is the True Vine.  Diann Cotton reminds us that something that is true is: "steadfast, real, loyal, genuine; honest, just, truthful; consistent, legitimate, right; accurate, authentic," while a vine is the stem or trunk of a plant; a plant whose stem requires support; and which climbs by tendrils or twining , or creeps across the ground."(100 Days with Jesus).  Beginning with the latter: we are the branches needing support; we need tending; we walk "close to the ground".  Jesus supplies everything we need, giving us the steadfast support and guidance necessary for staying on the right path. As He goes on to say later in this chapter "apart from Him we can do nothing."  The Father prunes us for our own good and for the fruitfulness He desires from our lives.  Often we do not like to be pruned: it is to inconvenient and may even seem "painful," but like a good haircut, we look and feel so much better when we stop and let Him do so.  May we stay fully connected to our True Vine today; He has what we need.

Getting to Know Jesus by Name #93: Teacher

 Mark 12:13 And they sent to him some of the Pharisees and some of the Herodians, to trap him in his talk. 14 And they came and said to him, “Teacher, we know that you are true and do not care about anyone's opinion. For you are not swayed by appearances, but truly teach the way of God. Is it lawful to pay taxes to Caesar, or not? Should we pay them, or should we not?” 15 But, knowing their hypocrisy, he said to them, “Why put me to the test? Bring me a denarius and let me look at it.” 16 And they brought one. And he said to them, “Whose likeness and inscription is this?” They said to him, “Caesar's.” 17 Jesus said to them, “Render to Caesar the things that are Caesar's, and to God the things that are God's.” And they marveled at him.

Jesus was the master Teacher.  Even His opponents came to Him to challenge His mind and methods, only to walked away marveling at His wisdom and ability.  One thing that sets humans apart from the animal kingdom is our ability, when open and willing, to learn.  That of course is the rub: we need to have a teachable spirit.  Even though Jesus was the master Teacher, these religious and political leaders were not willing to learn, grow wiser, and change their ways of thinking and acting.  The same is true today. If we are going to experience the salvation, change, and growth that Christ provides, we must be humble and receptive to Him as the Great Teacher. 

Getting to Know Jesus by Name #92: Sunrise

Luke 1:76 And you, child, will be called the prophet of the Most High;
    for you will go before the Lord to prepare his ways,
77 to give knowledge of salvation to his people
    in the forgiveness of their sins,
78 because of the tender mercy of our God,
    whereby the sunrise shall visit us from on high
79 to give light to those who sit in darkness and in the shadow of death,
    to guide our feet into the way of peace.”

As Zacharias was giving his song of praise at the birth of John, God used him to speak about not only what he would do, but also what the One to follow him would do.  John would prepare the way for the Lord, the Sunrise Who was coming to visit from on high. When we think about the sunrise, it is "the time when the sun appears above the horizon in the morning; dawn or daybreak; the colors that are in the sky when the sun slowly appears above the horizon."* That does describe the way Christ came at His first advent: quietly  and slowly growing from a baby to a man, gradually gaining followers - not with great fanfare or forcing people to follow Him.  Yet, he did shine gloriously in this dark world, beautifully showing us the goodness and glory of God, introducing a brand new day and way of life.  Even those of us who do not like "morning" love to see a beautiful sunrise.  It gives hope for that day and all days ahead. 

*(Diann Cotton: 100 Days with Jesus).  

Getting to Know Jesus by Name #91: Star and Scepter

 Numbers 24:17 I see him, but not now;
    I behold him, but not near:
a star shall come out of Jacob,
    and a scepter shall rise out of Israel;

Sprinkled among the earlier books of the Old Testament one finds several referrals to the coming Messiah centuries in advance. This one was made by Balaam as God used him to pronounce Israel's triumph over her enemies of that time.  As he said, this one was "not near," but far into the future.  He would be both a Star and a Scepter.  A star is "a natural luminous body visible in the sky especially at night," and a Scepter is "a staff or a baton borne by a sovereign as an emblem of authority; a long decorated stick that is carried by a king or queen."* These represent distinct but complimentary roles of Christ as the One Chosen by God for our salvation.  As the Star He shines brightly with God's glory to show the way to God and as the Scepter He is the One given authority to rule and to reign. Both aspects of the Person of Christ are shown throughout prophesies of his coming, but only in a few instances do we find them both pictured together like here.  What a glorious picture of our glorious Savior and King. 

*(Diann Cotton: 100  Days with Jesus)