365 Reflections

Leviticus 11:46–47 (ESV)   This is the law about beast and bird and every living creature that moves through the waters and every creature that swarms on the ground, 47 to make a distinction between the unclean and the clean and between the living creature that may be eaten and the living creature that may not be eaten. As is mentioned in the previous post, the laws of distinction for Israel's diet was instructive in nature to remind them of their special status before God, not necessarily a code for proper health.  Israel was to be a people of distinction among the nations. They are in history as well. Today the are still distinct in that most of the world is divided about their status as a sovereign nation. To this day God's electing choice of Israel has split the world in half.  Now when Christ comes these distinctions of diet are no longer in effect. The passage where we first realize this comes from the Gospel of Mark... Mark 7:14–23 (ESV) And he called...

Leviticus 11 is not scintillating reading. It is the division of clean and unclean animals, birds and insects. It does not grab your interest and it has been used to defend rejection of the Bible's standards on other moral issues such as homosexuality. Sometimes we may wonder why God put Leviticus 11 in the Bible. It's there for a very important reason. To be sure, all that God created was good in Genesis 1 and 2. He did not create "unclean" animals and after the resurrection of Jesus all animals are considered clean once again (see Acts 10). But for Israel, in their formative years as the people of God, there were to be distinctions for what they could and could not touch or eat. These are the laws of the clean and unclean. Now our modern sensibilities get twisted in a knot because God has the audacity to dole out these commands for Israel without explanation. Why not eat the pig? It's delicious! Why avoid shellfish? Isn't lobster a wonderful delicacy? ...

An odd exchange occurs between Moses and Aaron right after Nadab and Abihu are put to death for their strange fire. Leviticus 10:16–20 (ESV) 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.” 19 And Aaron said to Moses, “Behold, today they have offered their sin offering and their burnt offering before the LORD, and yet such things as these have happened to me! If I had eaten the sin offering today, would the LORD have approved?” 20 And when Moses heard that, he approved. Moses knows th...

Leviticus 10:1–2 (ESV)   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 . The Bible has these moments we recoil at. This is one of them. I can think of the Acts 5 moment with Ananias and Saphira and the Uzzah moment in 2 Samuel 6. God strikes down dead someone because of actions that we would normally not consider worthy of instant death. All three of these incidents happen when God has shown up powerfully among His people. The important word in this chapter is the first one: "Now." The connection from what comes in Leviticus 10 to what came before in Leviticus 9 illuminates the event. God's glory has come down. Fire from heaven consumes the burnt offering. It's a glorious sight and the people respond in worship. AT THAT TIME these two bo...

Hebrews 10:12–14 (ESV) But when Christ had offered for all time a single sacrifice for sins, he sat down at the right hand of God, 13 waiting from that time until his enemies should be made a footstool for his feet. 14 For by a single offering he has perfected for all time those who are being sanctified. Those words are never more wonderful than when you read Leviticus 8-9 and see what was required of the Levitical priesthood in order for the glory of the Lord to appear under the Old Covenant. After 7 days of preparation with cleansing, clothing, offerings and anointing, Aaron is now to prepare the people for the presence of God in Leviticus 9. Leviticus 9:1–4 (ESV) 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 ...

Leviticus 8 is the ordination ceremony for the High Priesthood of Israel. The order is important for us to see how it applies as the Priesthood of believers. First, Aaron and his sons are called before the congregation: Leviticus 8:3 (ESV) And assemble all the congregation at the entrance of the tent of meeting.” Second, they are cleansed from their outer filth Leviticus 8:6 (ESV) And Moses brought Aaron and his sons and washed them with water. Third, they are clothed in the garments made by the determination of God: Leviticus 8:7 (ESV) And he put the coat on him and tied the sash around his waist and clothed him with the robe and put the ephod on him and tied the skillfully woven band of the ephod around him, binding it to him with the band. Fourth, they are anointed : Leviticus 8:12 (ESV) And he poured some of the anointing oil on Aaron’s head and anointed him to consecrate him. Fifth, they are atoned for: Leviticus 8:14 (ESV) Then he brought the...

Leviticus 6:9 (ESV) “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. Leviticus 6:25 (ESV)  “Speak to Aaron and his sons, saying, This is the law of the sin offering. In the place where the burnt offering is killed shall the sin offering be killed before the LORD; it is most holy. Leviticus 7:1 (ESV) “This is the law of the guilt offering. It is most holy. Leviticus 7:11 (ESV) “And this is the law of the sacrifice of peace offerings that one may offer to the LORD. Leviticus 7:29 (ESV) “Speak to the people of Israel, saying, Whoever offers the sacrifice of his peace offerings to the LORD shall bring his offering to the LORD from the sacrifice of his peace offerings. Leviticus 7 has to be one of the most challenging portions of Scripture. How do these ancient laws regarding sacrificial procedures apply ...