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?

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).”

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… 🙂

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:

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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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.

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. 

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

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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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 link.  Verses 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.”

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

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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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.”

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”:

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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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! 🙂

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?

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!

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!

Leviticus 9:7-10:20
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Today in Leviticus chapter 9 we read about Aaron & his sons beginning their priestly ministry.  I liked verse 24 as a closing verse to this chapter: “Fire blazed forth from the LORD’s presence and consumed the burnt offering and the fat on the altar. When the people saw all this, they shouted with joy and fell face down on the ground.”  I think what this verse does for me is to really confirm that all of the Offerings we are reading about in Leviticus were ordained by God at that time and that what we are reading about in Leviticus is truly part of God’s story.  Not that I ever doubted this fact – but, when you read about God consuming the offering in fire in such a dramatic fashion, you realize that God was fully pleased with the priest’s and the people’s obedience.  The Offerings are part of God’s story – and are foreshadowing the final Offering of Jesus on the cross.  Do you believe the Offerings are a part of our spiritual history?

In Leviticus chapter 10 we read about the disobedience of Nadab and Abihu.  You’ll recall 2 days ago that we read in Leviticus Chapter 6 verse 13: “Remember, the fire must be kept burning on the altar at all times. It must never go out.”  Commentaries state that the fire was never to go out because the fire was started by God.   Humans were not to bring man-made fire to the altar, or they would die.  I realize that this can seem like a very harsh punishment for disobedience. Commentaries suggest that because Nadab and Abihu were in such high spiritual leadership positions, their disobedience carried the risk of leading many people astray.  One commentary at this link suggests that Nadab and Abihu may have been intoxicated on wine, based on God’s subsequent instruction for priestly worship in Leviticus 10:9 – “You and your descendants must never drink wine or any other alcoholic drink before going into the Tabernacle. If you do, you will die.” It may help to remember that we saw disobedience from others earlier in the Bible – and we’ll see disobedience again later in the Bible – without the consequence of immediate death.  But, in this case, disobedience brought death.  Think about the risk of disobedience in our lives today.   Yeah, sure, maybe we can get away with something dangerous/disobedient 9 times out of 10 – but, there is always the risk that perhaps the 10th time could prove lethal.  So – why take the risk of disobedience at all?  Is it worth it?  Ever?

Worship Video: Today’s readings reminds me of the song “Legacy” by Nicole Nordeman:

Do you know your eternal Legacy? Click here to meet your Legacy Maker!

Please join us in memorizing and meditating on a verse of Scripture today: “Fire blazed forth from the Lord’s presence and consumed the burnt offering and the fat on the altar. When the people saw this, they shouted with joy and fell face down on the ground.” Leviticus 9:24 NIV

Prayer Point: Pray that you will shout for joy for the Lord. Pray that you will humble yourself to fall before the Lord face down on the ground.

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 7:28-9:6
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I found Leviticus chapter 7 verse 36 to be powerful as we read about a portion of the offerings going to the priests: “The LORD commanded that the Israelites were to give these portions to the priests as their regular share from the time of the priests’ anointing. This regulation applies throughout the generations to come.” I think this is something for us to consider today – most of us realize that a portion of our tithes and offerings to our churches goes to support our pastors, priests, ministers, clergy.  And I believe this is rightly so.  These clergy are doing holy work in our churches today.  And I know from first hand experience from my past that church ministry work is not easy work.  Yes, oftentimes it is joyful work and the most amazing & fulfilling work you can imagine.  But, other times it can be really tough work as you can find yourselves on the front lines of spiritual warfare and working with people at very low points in their lives.  So – I guess I say all of this to encourage you to not begrudge your clergy in your church for getting paid for their work.  Aaron and his sons were “paid” here in Leviticus – and I think it is still proper for clergy to be paid today.  (and trust me – most clergy that I know do not get paid an exorbitant amount by a long shot… 🙂   I guess, while I am on this subject, I am also a bit familiar with the house church model today – and I do believe there are some leaders in this movement that are probably not getting “paid” financially.  And I think this is great if you can sustain the model.  But, personally, I wouldn’t fault house church leaders for receiving compensation either.  It is holy work that our clergy do. I think fair compensation for this work is fair.  What do you think?

Today in Leviticus chapter 8 we read about the Ordination of the Priests.  Many of you will recall that we read something very similar to this chapter earlier this year in Exodus chapter 29 – click on this link to review Exodus 29.  In verse 14 today we read: “Then Moses brought in the bull for the sin offering, and Aaron and his sons laid their hands on its head.”

Great commentary about Priesthood in the Old Testament is online at bible.org at this link.

Worship Video: Today’s readings reminded me of the Big Daddy Weave song “Redeemed:”

Have you been redeemed? Click here for Redemption!

Comments from You & Question of the Day – I realize that my reflections above in the OT section on clergy at churches receiving compensation might be controversial in some ways.  What are your thoughts on your clergy receiving compensation?  What are your thoughts on others in other types of ministry receiving compensation?   Where do we draw the line of when ministry should be done with compensation or without compensation?  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 6:1-7:27
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Today in Leviticus we read about further instructions for offerings.  Chapter 6 verse 13 I found interesting: “Remember, the fire must be kept burning on the altar at all times. It must never go out.”  Commentaries state that the fire was never to go out because the fire was started by God.   Humans were not to bring man-made fire to the altar, or they would die, as we will see Leviticus chapter 10 when we read about Nadab and Abihu.  The only real “eternal flame” that I can think of in today, that was started by God, is the Holy Spirit.  And this eternal flame of the Holy Spirit is made available to you and I through the life, death and resurrection of Jesus.  Here’s an image of the burnt offering altar from the time of Leviticus:

And – here’s an image to make you think about the fire of the Holy Spirit available to you and I today through Jesus:

Can you relate to this image above?  Can you imagine what this man in this image above is experiencing?  Have you experienced this?

Leviticus chapter 7 verse 27 stands out: “Anyone who eats blood must be cut off from the community.”  This was commanded for 3 reasons – 1.  to separate the Israelites from the pagans who drank blood – the pagans drank blood in the hopes of gaining the attributes of the animals from the blood they drank (speed, strength, etc.).  2.  the sin of the people was symbolically transferred to the animal before the offering, and the blood represents the life of that animal.  3.  for sanitary reasons – blood can carry some nasty diseases.

Worship Video: All of our readings and reflections about the Holy Spirit today reminded me of the Francesca Battistelli song “Holy Spirit:”

Do you know the Holy Spirit? Click here to Know Him!

Comments from you & Question of the Day – Speaking of the Holy Spirit above in my reflections, a great overview of the Holy Spirit is at bible.org at this link.  A good overview of the Holy Spirit in the Old Testament is at this link.  And a great overview of the Holy Spirit in the New Testament is at this link.   I don’t know if you’ve ever done much study on the Holy Spirit?  If not, please do spend a good chunk of time at these 3 links above.  Also, I mentioned this earlier this week – Francis Chan’s book “Forgotten God” is a great book about the Holy Spirit. Do you have any other Holy Spirit books or other resources recommendations?  If so, can you post up in the Comments section below?  Thanks.  What does your relationship with the Holy Spirit look like these days?  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 4:1-5:19
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Today in Leviticus we read about the Sin Offering and the Guilt Offering. Combine this with our readings from yesterday and we’ve covered the 5 major Old Testament sacrifices – which I’ll recap below from the NIV Study Bible.  I’d recommend taking a good mental note of these 5 Sacrifices, as we’ll keep reading about them this year in various capacities in the OT:

1. Burnt Offering – Voluntary act of worship; atonement for unintentional sin in general; expression of devotion, commitment and surrender to God.  Bull, ram or male bird is offered – wholly consumed no defect.

2. Grain Offering – Voluntary act of worship; recognition of God’s goodness and provisions; devotion to God. Grain, fine flour, olive oil, incense, baked bread, salt offered – accompanied burnt and fellowship offering.

3. Fellowship Offering – Voluntary act of worship; thanksgiving and fellowship as it included a communal meal.  Any animal without defect from herd or flock offered.

4. Sin Offering – Mandatory atonement for specific unintentional sin; confession of sin; forgiveness of sin; cleansing from defilement.  Young bull for high priest & congregation offered.  Male goat for leader. Female goat or lamb for common person.  Dove or pigeon for the poor.  Tenth of an ephah of fine flour for the very poor.

5. Guilt Offering – Mandatory atonement for unintentional sin requiring restitution; cleansing from defilement; make restitution; pay 20% fine.  Ram or lamb offered.
(above 5 points from the NIV Study Bible p. 151)

Chapter 4 verse 29 contains something new I learned recently, again from NIV Study Bible: “They are to lay a hand on the head of the sin offering and slaughter it at the place where burnt offerings are slaughtered.”  The sin offering included confession (see chapter 5 verse 5) and the symbolic transfer of guilt by laying hands on the sacrifice, as we see here in verse 29.  It’s only recently that I’ve understood that the laying on of hands on the offering symbolically transferred guilt to the offering.

Chapter 4 verse 21 foreshadows Jesus’ death on the cross outside the gates of Jersusalem at Golgotha: “The priest must then take what is left of the bull outside the camp and burn it there, just as is done with the sin offering for the high priest.” Here’s how Hebrews chapter 13 verses 11 through 14 looks back at this verse in Leviticus: “The high priest carries the blood of animals into the Most Holy Place as a sin offering, but the bodies are burned outside the camp. And so Jesus also suffered outside the city gate to make the people holy through his own blood. Let us, then, go to him outside the camp, bearing the disgrace he bore. For here we do not have an enduring city, but we are looking for the city that is to come.”

Bible.org’s commentary on Leviticus chapter 4 and the Sin Offering is at this link and commentary on chapter 5 and the Guilt Offering is at this link.

Worship Video: Today’s readings remind me of “Your Love, Oh Lord” by Third Day, and here’s a live version below. Enjoy!

Do you know the Love that reaches to the heavens? Click here and meet the One that created the skies!

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 1:1-3:17
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Learning to Love Leviticus! – This upcoming month of readings is what I call mission-critical. We’re beginning our journey through the book of Leviticus! As this is my 18th time leading a crew of people through the One Year Bible, I know that Leviticus is the book where we lose many people who started out so strong over the past 6 weeks. I want to let you know this in advance, so that if you feel like maybe not reading your Bible for even just one day this upcoming month, don’t do it!  You may find Leviticus “boring” on occasion, but there truly is a lot of depth to it. And if you stop reading the One Year Bible during Leviticus, you’ll miss out on so much more of the Bible coming up later this year – including Saul, David, Solomon, the prophets – and the list goes on.

If you read nothing else in this posting today, please take ten minutes or so to review the amazing reflection at the link below on the book of Leviticus by Bob Deffinbaugh over at Bible.org. The article at this link below titled “Learning to Love Leviticus” will bless you immensely before we embark on our study of Leviticus this week: https://bible.org/seriespage/learning-love-leviticus 

An excerpt from Bob at this link above – “Up to this point in time the Book of Leviticus has been the “liver and onions” book of the Bible to me. That is, I know that it must be good for me, but I just don’t seem to have a taste for the stuff. To others, the Book of Leviticus is something like camping – they tried it once and that was enough to last them a lifetime. Having briefly looked at the Book of Leviticus, let us get down to the issue of “taste” which must be settled before we will ever benefit from this portion of God’s word. The first thing we must seek to do is to identify the reasons why we tend to dislike and thus to avoid this book.”  Again, please please read “Learning to Love Leviticus” at this link before you read anything else in this blog posting today.

~Leviticus~
Author: Moses
Date: 1420 or 1220 B.C.
Content: The book of Leviticus was designed to be a handbook for the priests or Levites, hence the name Leviticus. It sets down the regulations that were to govern the life of Israel in general and specifically to give regulations concerning sacrifice and worship. All of the major sacrifices are described, as well as the way they were to be offered. All of the major festivals and holidays are discussed. There are also special sections devoted to the priesthood and regulations concerning ceremonial matters.
Theme: The central theme of this book is that God has provided a way for atonement to be made by the offering of sacrificial blood. This whole system found its fulfillment in the shedding of Christ’s blood as the one great sacrifice for the sins of the world. Leviticus also shows that worship is to be orderly and is to follow a regular pattern. (Above commentary is from Tyndale Publishers “The One Year Bible Companion” page 2) More commentary on Leviticus is at this link.

Commentary on Leviticus chapter 1 and “The Law of Burnt Offerings” is at this link.  Commentary on Leviticus chapter 2 and “The Grain Offering” is at this link.  Commentary on Leviticus chapter 3 and “The Fellowship Offering” is at this link.

Worship Video:  Our readings in today reminded me this terrific live Tauren Wells “Worship Medley:”

Have you worshiped Jesus? Click here and worship Him!

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!