February 16-22

Heart Preparation:

Take a moment each day to open your heart to Gods message to you.  Pray that these scriptures would lead you to a better understanding of Gods will for His people.  As you read this week, think of how God has shown you kindness and love throughout your life.


Weekly Reading:

• Sunday, February 16 - Leviticus 11-13
• Monday, February 17 -  Leviticus 14-15
• Tuesday, February 18 -  Leviticus 16-18
• Wednesday, February 19 -  Leviticus 19-21
• Thursday, February 20 -  Leviticus 22-23
• Friday, February 21 -  Leviticus 24-25
• Saturday, February 22 - Leviticus 26-27

What to Expect:
At the end of Exodus we saw that once God’s presence entered the tabernacle not even Moses of the tribe of Levi and the leader of the entire Nation who had already several times before been in the presence of God was able to enter.

In Leviticus we see what needed to be done to make it possible to do that and we pick up this week in the aftermath of some priests not following God’s instructions and continue looking at what God required of Israel to be able to come into his presence. 

As a result of this instruction we find, at the beginning of Numbers, Moses talking to God in the tabernacle.


Things to Look For:
Watch for the words and ideas like Holy, set apart, unique, no one like Him. Also the ideas of clean and unclean, in the camp and outside, in the land and in the wilderness.

Read for content. Later in scripture the reader will be assumed to have a knowledge of these things.

• 11-15 How can I be clean before the altar?
• 16 The day of Atonement - A covering for sin and sending it into the wilderness.
• 17-20 Don’t be like the nations around you. No. Really. Don’t do it!
• 21-22 The priests are held to a higher standard and are responsible to guard the quality of the offerings.
• 23-25 Keep Gods’ appointed feasts
• 26-27 Be faithful to your promises

Personal Insight:
As I was considering what to share about this weeks passage my analytical mind worked out frameworks for presentation and analysis of symbolism and parallels between Israel and us today and bits of observation such as how Uncleanliness is different from sin, that it was often unintentional and sometimes unavoidable. For example there is nothing inherently sinful about having a baby or contracting a skin disease.

Then I started thinking about the attitude of the Psalmist about the Law of which Leviticus is part. I kept thinking about Psalm one. 

O the happiness of that one, who has not walked in the counsel of the wicked. And in the way of sinners has not stood, And in the seat of scorners has not sat;

But -- in the law of Jehovah his delight, And in His law he does meditate by day and by night:

And he has been as a tree, Planted by rivulets of water, That gives its fruit in its season, And its leaf does not wither, And all that he does he causes to prosper.

Not so the wicked: But -- as chaff that wind drives away!

Therefore the wicked rise not in judgment, Nor sinners in the company of the righteous,

For Jehovah is knowing the way of the righteous, And the way of the wicked is lost!

And in song after song this sentiment is expressed. It was not the sentiment that I had as I was reading.

On reflection this part of the law was not burdensome or tedious but rather was what allowed the congregation to come and offer their sacrifices to God. Not even Moses was able to enter the tent once the presence of the Lord had descended on it. The people were already sinful but God in his provision and mercy said set yourself apart for me in this way and I will declare you clean and you can enter the tent.

Cleanliness is by provision and declaration of God. He has the authority. God is Holy so also set yourselves apart. 

And I’ll throw in a “compare this to the Vision God gave Peter described in Acts 10 in which he tells Peter to not call anything unclean which God has called clean.”, just to pacify the analytical mind.

Prayer:
This week, instead of having a guided prayer, take a minute or two and just reflect on who God truly is. His holiness, His majesty, His power, His love, His grace, all the aspects of God. Praise Him. Fix your mind on Him and His character. 


This weeks devotion was prepared by Karl Nelson. Karl has done extensive missionary work with his wife, Indigo, overseas and abroad.