• Leviticus 25:47-27:13
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    Today in Leviticus chapter 25 we finish up reading about the Year of Jubilee.  I don’t know what it is about the Year of Jubilee, but for some reason I really like the concept of it!  I actually read a commentary that said there is no evidence that the Year of Jubilee was actually ever carried out, which made me a bit sad.  However, that same commentary suggested that the Year of Jubilee was ultimately fulfilled through the life of Jesus, as Jesus himself quotes this very Year-of-Jubilee-ic 🙂 sounding verse from Isaiah in Luke chapter 4 verses 18-21: ““The Spirit of the Lord is on me, because he has anointed me to preach good news to the poor. He has sent me to proclaim freedom for the prisoners and recovery of sight for the blind, to release the oppressed, to proclaim the year of the Lord’s favor.” Then Jesus rolled up the scroll, gave it back to the attendant and sat down. The eyes of everyone in the synagogue were fastened on him, and he began by saying to them, “Today this scripture is fulfilled in your hearing.””  Whaddya think?  Think the concept of the Year of Jubilee was indeed fulfilled in the life of Jesus?  I do.  And we don’t need to count down 50 years from now until the next Year of Jubilee.  The Year of Jubilee is available to each of one of us today!  I came across this beautiful piece of artwork below called “Year of Jubilee” – see anything in this artwork that might be pointing toward Jesus?

    jubilee.jpg

    Leviticus chapter 26 is a great look at the blessings of obedience and punishments for disobedience.  As I read through the punishments for disobedience my mind instantly went to where, later in the Bible, Israel would indeed walk down the path of disobedience – and ultimately be punished with the destruction of Jerusalem and the exile into Babylon.  For those going through the One Year Bible for more than the first time, I am sure you probably recognized this as well.  What is interesting to keep in mind that these words of God were written by Moses nearly 1,000 years before the Babylonian exile.  This reminded me again of how powerful God’s Word truly is – and how true it really is.  And it reminded me that even in our modern times, the Bible is still truth, and the teachings of Jesus are still relevant now 2,000 years later…  Truth is truth.  We may be inconsistent, but God is not.  Are you walking in the path of obedience in your relationship with God?  Are you walking in Truth?

    Verses 44 & 45 in this chapter stood out to me as a reminder that even though God punishes disobedience, he leaves room for repentance and he allows for a remnant to carry on the covenant: ““But despite all this, I will not utterly reject or despise them while they are in exile in the land of their enemies. I will not cancel my covenant with them by wiping them out. I, the LORD, am their God. I will remember my ancient covenant with their ancestors, whom I brought out of Egypt while all the nations watched. I, the LORD, am their God.”  And verses 12 & 13 in this chapter are awesome: “I will walk among you; I will be your God, and you will be my people. I, the LORD, am your God, who brought you from the land of Egypt so you would no longer be slaves. I have lifted the yoke of slavery from your neck so you can walk free with your heads held high.”  Do you believe that God walks among us today?  Is God your God?  And are you His?  Has the yoke of slavery from sin been lifted from your neck?  Are you walking free today with your head held high?

    Worshiping

    Worship Video: Today’s readings reminded me of the fantastic song “True Love” by Phil Wickham. Here’s a great live version of the song. Make sure you watch past the short opening interview and worship to this powerful song:


    https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=SL7Uo__ss7g

    Do you know your True Love? Click here for Love Eternal!

    Comments from You:  What verses or insights stand out to you in today’s readings?  Please post up by clicking on the “Comments” link below!

    God bless,
    Mike

    p.s. I would greatly appreciate it if you would pray for this Bible Blog ministry today! Please also consider partnering with us by financially supporting this ministry. Thank you!

  • Leviticus 24:1-25:46
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    ~ Listen to today’s Scripture with The ESV Bible ~

    We begin month 3 of our One Year Bible readings today!  Whoo-hoo!  Congratulations!  Today in Leviticus chapter 24 we read the well known law of retaliation from verses 19 & 20: “Anyone who injures another person must be dealt with according to the injury inflicted– fracture for fracture, eye for eye, tooth for tooth. Whatever anyone does to hurt another person must be paid back in kind.”  I’ve read commentaries that say that this law of retaliation was actually compassionate for its time – in that it limited what one person could to another person in a very lawless age.  If you lost an eye, you could take an eye – but you could not kill in return, for example.  So, I see the logic behind saying that the law of retaliation limited punishments…. but, I also think we would do well to remember Jesus’ words in the Sermon on the Mount where he quotes from Leviticus 24 verse 20 in Matthew chapter 5 verse 38 & 39: “You have heard that it was said, ‘Eye for eye, and tooth for tooth.’ But I tell you, Do not resist an evil person. If someone strikes you on the right cheek, turn to him the other also.”  Jesus teaches that there is a higher law of love that is better than the law of retaliation. Commentary on Leviticus chapter 24 titled “The Lamp, the Loaves and The Loudmouth” 🙂 is at Bible.org at this link.  Commentary on Leviticus chapter 25 is at this link and at this link.

    Well, I learned something new!  This is pretty awesome – the Liberty Bell in Philadelphia is so named because this statement from Leviticus chapter 25 verse 10 is written on the bell: “Proclaim Liberty throughout all the land unto all the inhabitants thereof.”  (which you won’t be able to see well in this photo below – I believe the inscription is around the top of the bell, where you’ll see 2 lines near the top and can make out the word “Proclaim.”) 

    In Leviticus 25 verses 9 & 10 today we read: “Then on the Day of Atonement of the fiftieth year, blow the trumpets loud and long throughout the land. This year will be set apart as holy, a time to proclaim release for all who live there. It will be a jubilee year for you, when each of you returns to the lands that belonged to your ancestors and rejoins your clan.”

    Jubilee_

    Worship Video: My Leviticus reflections above, and particularly that eye photo, reminded me of the song “Open the Eyes of My Heart.”  Here’s Michael W. Smith’s live version.


    https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=yxq_6prPABs

    Are the eyes of your heart opened? Click here and open your eyes!

    Comments from You:  What verses or insights stand out to you in today’s readings?  Please post up by clicking on the “Comments” link below!

    God bless,
    Mike

    p.s. I would greatly appreciate it if you would pray for this Bible Blog ministry today! Please also consider partnering with us by financially supporting this ministry. Thank you!

  • Leviticus 22:17-23:44
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    Today in Leviticus chapter 23 we read about the Appointed Festivals!  The NIV Study Bible has a great chart summarizing the Old Testament Feasts and Other Sacred Days, which is significantly paraphrased below with just Name & Purpose:

    1. Sabbath – Rest for people and animals
    2. Sabbath Year – Rest for land.
    3. Year of Jubilee – Help for poor; stabilize society.
    4. Passover – Remember Israel’s deliverance from Egypt.
    5. Unleavened Bread – Remember how the Lord brought the Israelites out of Egypt in haste.
    6. Firstfruits – Recognize the Lord’s bounty in the land.
    7. Weeks (Pentecost or Harvest) – Show joy and thankfulness for the Lord’s blessing of harvest.
    8. Trumpets (Rosh Hashanah-New Year’s Day) – Present Israel before the Lord for his favor.
    9. Day of Atonement (Yom Kippur) – Atone for the sins of priests and people and purify the Holy Place.
    10. Tabernacles (Booths or Ingathering) – Memorialize the journey from Egypt to Canaan; give thanks for the productivity of Canaan.
    11. Sacred Assembly – Commemorate the closing of the cycle of feasts.
    12. Purim – Remind the Israelites of their national deliverance in the time of Esther.
    13. Hanukkah (Feast of Dedication or Festival of Lights) – Commemorated the purification of the temple and altar in the Maccabean period.
    14.  New moons were also often special feast days.
    (Above is from Zondervan’s “NIV Study Bible” pp. 176-177) Below is a Jewish calendar, which includes many of the feasts and sacred days listed above:

    jewish_calendar

    Bible.org’s commentary on Leviticus chapter 23 titled “The Lord’s Appointed Times” is at this link.

    Worship Video: Today’s readings reminded me of the Casting Crowns song “Nobody:”


    https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1yBzIt_z8oY

    Are you a Nobody? Click here to live for Nobody but Jesus!

    Comments from You:  What verses or insights stand out to you in today’s readings?  Please post up by clicking on the “Comments” link below!

    God bless,
    Mike

    p.s. I would greatly appreciate it if you would pray for this Bible Blog ministry today! Please also consider partnering with us by financially supporting this ministry. Thank you!

  • Leviticus 20:22-22:16
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    Today in Leviticus chapter 20 verses 23 & 24 we read – “Do not live by the customs of the people whom I will expel before you. It is because they do these terrible things that I detest them so much. But I have promised that you will inherit their land, a land flowing with milk and honey. I, the LORD, am your God, who has set you apart from all other people.”  These verses are another reminder that God’s laws to the Israelites were given to set them apart from the pagans surrounding them and in Canaan.  God’s laws were given to differentiate what is right and wrong, in comparison to the pagan immoral customs.  I wonder about this in our modern world today.  As followers of Jesus, do you think we should be “set apart” from what the modern world tells us to do & how to live?  Should we or should we not be living by the customs of our modern world?  How are you living your life today?  If someone examined your life, would they see that you are set apart from the customs of our modern world?  Bob Deffinbaugh’s commentary on Leviticus chapters 21 & 22 is at this link

    Set_apart

    Worship Video: Our readings today reminded me of Josh Wilson’s song “I Refuse:”


    https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6B1Lv8k5pEc

    Do you refuse to live a lukewarm life? Click here for the ultimate Yes to life!

    Comments from You – What verses or insights stand out to you in today’s readings?  Please post up by clicking on the “Comments” link below!

    God bless,
    Mike

    p.s. I would greatly appreciate it if you would pray for this Bible Blog ministry today! Please also consider partnering with us by financially supporting this ministry. Thank you!

  • Leviticus 19:1-20:21
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    Today in Leviticus chapter 19 we read about holiness!  What a tiny but powerful little word – holy.  This chapter is of interest to me in that I continue to struggle with the call to holiness in my life.  I understand grace.  I get grace.  I’m good at receiving grace…  🙂  But holiness?  Well, that’s a bit trickier for me personally.  I guess where I am at these days in my walk with the Lord is really trying to balance grace and holiness.  I know we are saved through grace, not works – but, I also believe there is a call to holiness in our lives once we have received that gift of grace.   You know I love Bob Deffinbaugh’s writings over at bible.org.  I think Bob’s writings on Leviticus chapter 19 titled “How to Spell Holy” at this link is up there with some of his best stuff.  Please check out this link, and make sure you scroll down to read about Bob’s take on “perversions of holiness” – 1. stained glass holiness 2. positional holiness 3. equating holiness with the miraculous 4. isolational holiness 5. holiness by redefinition.  Great stuff!

    holiness.jpg

    You’ll notice lately that I’ve been punting over to Bob on many of the Leviticus chapters.   I’m honestly not finding as much time as I’d like to spend on study & prep as I’d like lately. But, I also think Bob’s writings on Leviticus are powerful – and so here he is on Leviticus chapter 20 at this link.  Actually, one quick powerful note on Leviticus 19:18 – “Never seek revenge or bear a grudge against anyone, but love your neighbor as yourself. I am the LORD.”  Jesus quoted the underlined portion of this Leviticus verse as we see in Matthew 22:36-40: “”Teacher, which is the most important commandment in the law of Moses?” Jesus replied, ” `You must love the Lord your God with all your heart, all your soul, and all your mind.’ This is the first and greatest commandment. A second is equally important: `Love your neighbor as yourself.’ All the other commandments and all the demands of the prophets are based on these two commandments.”

    Love_thy_neighbor

    Worship Video:  Today’s readings reminded me of the song “Tear off the Roof” by Brandon Lake:


    https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=WQA6fbSoq-g

    Has Jesus torn off the roof for you? Click here!

    Comments from You: What verses or insights stand out to you in today’s readings?  Please post up by clicking on the “Comments” link below!

    God bless,
    Mike

    p.s. I would greatly appreciate it if you would pray for this Bible Blog ministry today! Please also consider partnering with us by financially supporting this ministry. Thank you!

  • Leviticus 16:29-18:30
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    Today we finish up Leviticus chapter 16 with a very simple but powerful statement in verse 34 – “Moses followed all these instructions that the LORD had given to him.”  Moses followed all of the instructions…  That sounds so simple, but think about really how amazing it is.  Moses did not veer to the left or the right.  He stayed on the narrow path.  He followed the instructions.  The Sermon on the Mount in Matthews 5-7 is a nice summary of some instructions to us from Jesus.  Can what was said of Moses be said of us today?  Are we following all of the instructions Jesus has given us?  Don’t beat yourself up over this if the answer is no.  Not one of us is perfect this side of heaven – except for Jesus.  Moses was not perfect either. But, I think we can hopefully learn something from Moses’ obedience to God’s instructions.  I do believe that each of us today can walk along the narrow path to follow Jesus in faith, follow his teachings in faith, and become more and more like Him as we go.  Even if we trip or stumble along the Way, if we continue in our faith in Jesus and who he truly is, we will indeed become more like Him as we follow Him.  How well are you doing at following Jesus’ instructions in your life today?

    Instructions_md_wht

    Bob Deffinbaugh at bible.org’s commentary on Leviticus chapter 17, “The Preciousness of Blood,” is at this link.   A quote from Bob from this link – “The Israelite of old learned from Leviticus, as nowhere else up to that point in time, the preciousness of blood to God. How much greater value does blood take on for the New Testament saint, whose blessings are all a result of the shed blood of Jesus Christ. As Harrison summarizes the matter, “The blood is the life of the flesh (Lev. 17:11), and it is through the atoning blood of Christ that the believer receives redemption (I Pet. 1:18-19), forgiveness (Eph. 1:7), justification (Rom. 5:9), spiritual peace (Col. 1:20), and sanctification (Heb. 13:12).”

    Jesus_cross_crucifixion

    Leviticus 18 is primarily a chapter about forbidden sexual practices.  However – before we get to those – I think verses 1-5 are incredibly powerful as God reminds the Israelites that he is their God – and that he has set them apart from the pagans surrounding them – and that his laws must be obeyed by the Israelites – “Then the LORD said to Moses, “Say this to your people, the Israelites: I, the LORD, am your God. So do not act like the people in Egypt, where you used to live, or like the people of Canaan, where I am taking you. You must not imitate their way of life. You must obey all my regulations and be careful to keep my laws, for I, the LORD, am your God. If you obey my laws and regulations, you will find life through them. I am the LORD.”  As I read this I see the compassionate nature of God throughout history.  The laws were so much better than the pagan ways of the nations surrounding Israel.  The laws were better.  More compassionate than immorality to be sure.  Check out again Bob Deffinbaugh on Leviticus chapter 18 verses 1-5 titled “Obedience—The Obligation of Being Owned” at this link.  And below is one of my favorite obedience cartoons… 🙂

    obedience

    For the rest of Leviticus chapter 18 I’m going to punt once again over to Bob Deffinbaugh at bible.org at this link.   Here’s a quote from Bob at this link – “Leviticus 18:6-29 has a very simple structure and message. Its intent is to define the boundaries of godly human sexual relationships. There are three of them, which I call the inner, middle, and outer boundaries of godly sexuality. Verses 6 through 18 define the “inner boundary,” prohibiting sexual relationships with close relatives. Verses 19 and 20 define the “middle boundary,” which limits sexual relations within marriage and prohibits them outside marriage. Verses 21 through 23 define the “outer boundary” of unnatural sexual relations. Verses 24 through 29 tell us about God’s judgment upon a nation that crosses these boundaries. They clearly tell us that God’s judgment for sexual sin is all nations, not just the covenant nation of Israel.”

    Worship Video:  Our readings reminded me of the Jon Reddick song “God, Turn It Around” sung live here with Matt Maher:


    https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=h7-IAFogxcM

    Has God turned it around for you? Click here and be turned around!

    Comments from You – What verses or insights stand out to you in today’s readings?  Please post up by clicking on the “Comments” link below!

    Love, Trust, and Obey Jesus,
    Mike

    p.s. I would greatly appreciate it if you would pray for this Bible Blog ministry today! Please also consider partnering with us by financially supporting this ministry. Thank you!

  • Leviticus 15:1-16:28
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    ~ Listen to today’s Scripture with The ESV Bible ~

    Today in Leviticus chapter 15 we read about bodily discharges…  Anyone want to be the guest blogger on this chapter today?  🙂  I am thinking today is a good day to share with you some of Bible.org’s essays on the topic of sex.  (though sex is only mentioned briefly in this chapter, still seems appropriate)  Check out Bob Deffinbaugh’s “Sex and the Spiritual Christian” at this link. (it’s not based on this chapter but 1 Corinthians 7)   Daniel Wallace with bible.org has comments on Biblical views of sex at this link.  And then Bob Deffinbaugh again at bible.org has commentary on the relationship between spirituality and sexuality at this link

    In Leviticus chapter 16 we read about the Day of Atonement.  Ever wonder where the term “scapegoat” came from?  Now you know!  This chapter.  Check out verses 20-23 about the scapegoat – “When Aaron has finished making atonement for the Most Holy Place, the Tabernacle, and the altar, he must bring the living goat forward. He is to lay both of his hands on the goat’s head and confess over it all the sins and rebellion of the Israelites. In this way, he will lay the people’s sins on the head of the goat; then he will send it out into the wilderness, led by a man chosen for this task. After the man sets it free in the wilderness, the goat will carry all the people’s sins upon itself into a desolate land.” There was also the other goat which was sacrificed.  I read a commentary that said that both of these 2 goats foreshadowed Jesus’ death – that Jesus was both sacrificed for atonement for our sins and Jesus is our permanent scapegoat.

     

    scapegoat.jpg

    In verse 34 we read – “This is a permanent law for you, to make atonement for the Israelites once each year.” You’ll notice the “once a year” wording in this verse. Contrast this with Jesus’ “once for all” sacrifice discussed in Hebrews chapter 10 verses 12 – 14 – “But when this priest (Jesus) had offered for all time one sacrifice for sins, he sat down at the right hand of God. Since that time he waits for his enemies to be made his footstool, because by one sacrifice he has made perfect forever those who are being made holy.” For further study on Jesus’ “once for all” sacrifice, please read Hebrews chapters 10 and 9. Bible.org’s commentary on Leviticus chapter 16 & “The Day of Atonement” is at this link

    Atonement

    Worship Video: Today’s readings reminded me of the song “Be Thou My Vision.” Here’s a great live version by Shane & Shane:


    https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=bgLHar8VWJI

    Who or what is your vision? Click here for your eternal vision!

    Comments from You & Questions of the Day –  Back to my reflections above on Jesus’ “once for all” sacrifice in the OT section above.  Do you believe that Jesus’ sacrifice was “once for all”? Do you believe that Jesus is your High Priest who has made Atonement for your sins? Do you believe that Jesus as your High Priest sits at the right hand of God? If so, how might fully realizing this change how you live? How you pray? Also, what verses or insights stand out to you in today’s readings?  Please post up by clicking on the “Comments” link below!

    Love, Trust, and Obey Jesus,
    Mike

    p.s. I would greatly appreciate it if you would pray for this Bible Blog ministry today! Please also consider partnering with us by financially supporting this ministry. Thank you!

  • Leviticus 14:1-57
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    ~ Listen to today’s Scripture with The ESV Bible ~

    Today in Leviticus chapter 14 we read about cleansing from skin diseases and treatment of contaminated houses.  I found the treatment of the mildew in the houses quite fascinating – with verse 45 telling us about the ultimatum for a house if the mildew reappears: “It must be torn down, and all its stones, timbers, and plaster must be carried out of town to the place designated as ceremonially unclean.”  This chapter again goes into the clean & the unclean.  If you didn’t get chance to read the Bible.org commentary on Clean & Unclean from Leviticus chapters 12 through 15, you may want to take a few minutes to read it at this linkVerses 52 & 53 today: “After he has purified the house in this way, he will release the living bird in the open fields outside the town. In this way, the priest will make atonement for the house, and it will be ceremonially clean.”

    Leviticus_bird

    Worship Video: Today’s readings reminded me of the Casting Crowns song “What If His People Prayed.” Here’s a great live version:


    https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=lF-lXgjEHo0

    Are you praying? Click here and pray!

    Comments from you:  What verses or insights stand out to you in today’s readings?  Please post up by clicking on the “Comments” link below!

    God bless,
    Mike

    p.s. I would greatly appreciate it if you would pray for this Bible Blog ministry today! Please also consider partnering with us by financially supporting this ministry. Thank you!

  • Leviticus 13:1-59
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    ~ Listen to today’s Scripture with The ESV Bible ~

    Today in Leviticus chapter 13 we read about contagious skin diseases and mildew.  Quite a chapter! It does make sense to me that this level of detail is given by God on these topics.  These instructions were health instructions for the community of Israel as a whole.  The NIV Study Bible notes that “the ceremonially unclean were excluded from the camp (the area around the tabernacle and courtyard), where the Israelites lived in tents.  Later, no unclean persons were allowed in the temple area, where they could mingle with others.”  I look at this from the standpoint that they did not have medicines back then to heal people of these contagious diseases – and as such, the only way to keep the diseases from spreading to the entire population was to isolate the sick.  I know this doesn’t sound compassionate on the surface… but was there a better option at that time?  In the New Testament we read about Jesus curing people of leprosy, which was a couple of thousand of years later.  It’s obvious that skin diseases were a major issue in Moses’ day and through Jesus’ day – as was mildew during Israel’s rainy season of October through March – particularly along the coast and by the Sea of Galilee where it is very humid.  Matthew Henry’s Concise Commentary on Leviticus chapter 13 begins at this link and you’ll see a few “Next Commentary” links at the bottom of each page to take you through the chapter.

    On a side note, leprosy, or Hansen’s disease, is still in existence in our world today, though at much lower incidence rates than ever before.  It is a sad disease to learn about…  I did a google image search on the word leprosy and was pretty shocked by the pictures.  The World Health Organization’s website says this – “Today, diagnosis and treatment of leprosy is easy. Essential work is being carried out to integrate leprosy services into existing, general health services. This is especially important for communities at risk for leprosy, which are often the poorest of the poor and under-served. Full control of leprosy has eluded mainly in some parts of Angola, Brazil, India, Madagascar, Mozambique, Nepal, and United Republic of Tanzania.”  More info on leprosy in our world today is at the World Health Organization’s website at this link.

    All of a sudden now these 3 verses about Jesus and leprosy in Matthew chapter 8 verses 1 through 3 really stand out to me… – “When Jesus came down from the mountainside, large crowds followed him. A man with leprosy came and knelt before him and said, “Lord, if you are willing, you can make me clean.”  Jesus reached out his hand and touched the man. “I am willing,” he said. “Be clean!” Immediately he was cured of his leprosy.”

    Jesus_leper

    Worship Video: Based on our Leviticus on clean and un-clean, and how Jesus is our only hope and salvation for eternal cleanliness, I’m reminded of Brandon Heath’s great song about being changed by Christ called “I’m not Who I Was”:


    https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=K1ZgtCRO-KY

    Are you who you were? Click here to be made clean!

    Comments from you:  What verses or insights stand out to you in today’s readings?  Please post up by clicking on the “Comments” link below!

    Love, Trust, and Obey Jesus,
    Mike

    p.s. I would greatly appreciate it if you would pray for this Bible Blog ministry today! Please also consider partnering with us by financially supporting this ministry. Thank you!

  • Leviticus 11:1-12:8
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    ~ Listen to today’s Scripture with The ESV Bible ~

    Today in Leviticus chapter 11 we read about ceremonially clean and unclean animals for the Israelites.  The One Year Bible Companion commentary on this chapter today states that “there were several reasons for this restricted diet – 1. to ensure the health of the nation.  The forbidden foods were usually scavenging animals that fed on dead animals; thus disease could be transmitted through them.  2. to visibly distinguish Israel from other nations. The pig, for example, was a common sacrifice of pagan religions. 3. To avoid objectionable associations.  The creatures that move about on the ground, for example, were reminiscent of serpents, which often symbolized sin.”

    Verses 20-22 mention of eating locusts reminded me of John the Baptist: “You are to consider detestable all swarming insects that walk along the ground. However, there are some exceptions that you may eat. These include insects that jump with their hind legs: locusts of all varieties, crickets, bald locusts, and grasshoppers. All these may be eaten.”  Commentary at bible.org on “The Clean & the Unclean” from Leviticus chapter 11 is at this link, and from chapter 12 is at this link.  And yes, in theory, this is a grasshopper in the image below.  It’s clean! 🙂

    Grasshopper

    Today in chapter 11 verse 44 we read: “After all, I, the LORD, am your God. You must be holy because I am holy.” How does this verse speak to you? Do you think about being holy? Do you want to be holy? Zondervan shares the following commentary on this verse – “Holiness is the key theme of Leviticus, ringing like a refrain in various forms throughout the book. The word “holy” appears more often in Leviticus than in any other book of the Bible. Israel was to be totally consecrated to God. Her holiness was to be expressed in every aspect of her life, to the extent that all of life had a certain ceremonial quality. Because of who God is and what he has done, his people must dedicate themselves fully to him.” Check out Peter quoting from this Leviticus verse in 1 Peter 1 verses 13-16 – “Therefore, prepare your minds for action; be self controlled; set your hope fully on the grace to be given you when Jesus Christ is revealed. As obedient children, do not conform to the evil desires you had when you lived in ignorance. But just as he who called you is holy, so be holy in all you do; for it is written: “Be holy, because I am holy.”” How do these verses speak to you? Do you think about being holy? Do you want to be holy?

    Holy

    Worship Video: Based on our Leviticus readings today about holiness, here’s an amazing live worship performance by Chris Tomlin of the song “Holy is the Lord.”  Enjoy!


    https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5jbSNwvMDz8

    Do you often cry “Holy?” Click here for Holiness!

    Please join us in memorizing and meditating on a verse of Scripture today: “For I, the Lord, am the one who brought you up from the land of Egypt, that I might be your God. Therefore, you must be holy because I am holy.” Leviticus 11:45 NIV

    Prayer Point: Pray for holiness in your life.

    Comments from you & Question of the Day: What verses or insights stand out to you in today’s readings?  Please post up by clicking on the “Comments” link below!

    Love, Trust, and Obey Jesus,
    Mike

    p.s. I would greatly appreciate it if you would pray for this Bible Blog ministry today! Please also consider partnering with us by financially supporting this ministry. Thank you!

Old Testament in a Year

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