One of the most fascinating commands in the Old Testament is the instruction for the Jewish people to observe the Year of Jubilee. Every 50th year the nation of Israel was to celebrate the Year of Jubilee as follows: “This fiftieth year is sacred--it is a time of freedom and of celebration when everyone will receive back their original property, and slaves will return home to their families. This is a year of complete celebration, so don't plant any seed or harvest what your fields or vineyards produce.” (Leviticus 25:11-12 CEV)
It was God’s ordained plan for the “slates” to be wiped clean every 50 years. All the Jewish people, who had sold their property or themselves into slavery as result of indebtedness, would be released of that debt during the year of Jubilee and restored to their original family status. Although it does not appear that the Jewish People observed this practice on a regular basis, we get a glimpse into the heart of God and His desire for people to experience freedom and celebration in their life!
Jesus arrived on the scene more than a thousand years after the introduction of the Year of Jubilee. And yet it is in Jesus Christ, that we can truly experience having our “slate wiped clean.” I am not suggesting that if you become a follower of Christ, that your credit card debt will all be automatically cancelled. And yet in responding to Christ’s invitation to a personal relationship, we find the promises of our sins being forgiven and our guilty consciences cleansed by his love and sacrifice. Now, I would call these promises a good reason to celebrate!
Corresponding Bible Reading: Leviticus 24:1-25:55
Wednesday, February 24, 2010
Thursday, February 18, 2010
Finding Inspiration in Unexpected Places
Is any body else out there tired of winter and snow? This is that time of the year, that it is easy to grow weary. During the month of February, we have seen more cloudy (and snowy) days than sunny ones (at least in Ohio). The novelty of listening to school cancelations/delays and being outside shoveling the driveway wore off some time ago. At least this year we have the Winter Olympics for a distraction from the cold days and the dreary gray skies. Can anybody say half-pipe?
For those of us who are reading through the Bible this calendar year, the month of February can be a challenging time period to persevere in our daily reading. The reading plan that I am following for this year, has a ten day stretch of daily Bible readings from the book of Leviticus. Leviticus is the third book of the Bible and can be the metaphorical equivalent of a snow drift that the Bible reader gets stuck. Following the fascinating history of the people of God in the book of Genesis (the story of Adam, Eve, Noah, Abraham, Sarah, Jacob, and Joseph) and the inspiration of God’s deliverance of the Israelites from Egyptian Slavery in the book of Exodus; we can get easily get bogged down with the readings found in Leviticus.
Leviticus is the portion of the Bible that records the specific instructions that were given to Moses and his brother Aaron (who were from the Jewish tribe of Levi). Aaron and his descendants were to serve as the Jewish Priests and are sometimes called the Levitical Priests (thus the name of the book). The theme of the book is found in the following instructions from God to Moses and Aaron, “For I am the Lord your God. You must consecrate yourselves and be holy, because I am holy. … 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 11:44-45 NLT).
Once the reader understands the theme of holiness in the book of Leviticus, then the detailed directions throughout the book make a lot more sense. It is obvious that the Lord wants believers to give careful attention to their worship of Him. A worship that leads the individual to draw near to a Holy God, and to be inspired to live an obedient life that is described as holy (or distinct).
Corresponding Bible Reading: Leviticus 11:1-13:46
For those of us who are reading through the Bible this calendar year, the month of February can be a challenging time period to persevere in our daily reading. The reading plan that I am following for this year, has a ten day stretch of daily Bible readings from the book of Leviticus. Leviticus is the third book of the Bible and can be the metaphorical equivalent of a snow drift that the Bible reader gets stuck. Following the fascinating history of the people of God in the book of Genesis (the story of Adam, Eve, Noah, Abraham, Sarah, Jacob, and Joseph) and the inspiration of God’s deliverance of the Israelites from Egyptian Slavery in the book of Exodus; we can get easily get bogged down with the readings found in Leviticus.
Leviticus is the portion of the Bible that records the specific instructions that were given to Moses and his brother Aaron (who were from the Jewish tribe of Levi). Aaron and his descendants were to serve as the Jewish Priests and are sometimes called the Levitical Priests (thus the name of the book). The theme of the book is found in the following instructions from God to Moses and Aaron, “For I am the Lord your God. You must consecrate yourselves and be holy, because I am holy. … 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 11:44-45 NLT).
Once the reader understands the theme of holiness in the book of Leviticus, then the detailed directions throughout the book make a lot more sense. It is obvious that the Lord wants believers to give careful attention to their worship of Him. A worship that leads the individual to draw near to a Holy God, and to be inspired to live an obedient life that is described as holy (or distinct).
Corresponding Bible Reading: Leviticus 11:1-13:46
Thursday, February 11, 2010
Determining the Lord's Will
One of the toughest questions posed is … “How do you determine God’s will for a particular area of your life?” Although the Bible gives some great direction for believers in the midst of life dilemmas, sometimes we face such tough questions and choices that it is difficult to discern the Lord’s will in a particular matter.
When the Lord gave Moses and the people of Israel His Law to govern them and lead them, He appears to have provided them with a path of Divine direction during difficult decisions. And His means of providing this guidance is fascinating. The High Priest (Aaron, Moses brother, was the original High Priest) was instructed to carry the Urim and Thummim in his priestly garments. These mysterious objects were described by the Lord as follows:
“Insert the Urim and Thummim into the sacred chestpiece so they will be carried over Aaron’s heart when he goes into the Lord’s presence. In this way, Aaron will always carry over his heart the objects used to determine the Lord’s will for his people whenever he goes in before the Lord.” (Exodus 20:30 NLT).
According to the Holman Illustrated Bible Dictionary, the Urim and Thummim “were two objects that served as sacred lots. That is they were used to determine God’s will or to receive a divine answer to a question.” Isn’t it amazing that the Lord worked through “dice like” objects to help guide His people three thousand years ago?
We don’t know what happened to the Urim and Thummim, nor am I recommending that you “roll the dice” or “flip a coin” in making a big decision in life. And yet this fascinating tidbit in Scripture demonstrates that the Lord does care about His people and that He is willing to intervene in our lives to give us direction and guidance.
If you are facing a big decision today or in the near future, then remember that the Lord cares for you and that if you seek His direction that He is willing to give it. Possibly He will guide us today … not through the “casting of lots,” but through one or all of the following: guidance found in His written word, the Bible; a clear specific answer given to a specific prayer; and/or the wise counsel of a trusted Christian friend.
Isn’t it good to know that God cares personally for you and me?
Corresponding Bible Reading: Exodus 28:1-29:46
When the Lord gave Moses and the people of Israel His Law to govern them and lead them, He appears to have provided them with a path of Divine direction during difficult decisions. And His means of providing this guidance is fascinating. The High Priest (Aaron, Moses brother, was the original High Priest) was instructed to carry the Urim and Thummim in his priestly garments. These mysterious objects were described by the Lord as follows:
“Insert the Urim and Thummim into the sacred chestpiece so they will be carried over Aaron’s heart when he goes into the Lord’s presence. In this way, Aaron will always carry over his heart the objects used to determine the Lord’s will for his people whenever he goes in before the Lord.” (Exodus 20:30 NLT).
According to the Holman Illustrated Bible Dictionary, the Urim and Thummim “were two objects that served as sacred lots. That is they were used to determine God’s will or to receive a divine answer to a question.” Isn’t it amazing that the Lord worked through “dice like” objects to help guide His people three thousand years ago?
We don’t know what happened to the Urim and Thummim, nor am I recommending that you “roll the dice” or “flip a coin” in making a big decision in life. And yet this fascinating tidbit in Scripture demonstrates that the Lord does care about His people and that He is willing to intervene in our lives to give us direction and guidance.
If you are facing a big decision today or in the near future, then remember that the Lord cares for you and that if you seek His direction that He is willing to give it. Possibly He will guide us today … not through the “casting of lots,” but through one or all of the following: guidance found in His written word, the Bible; a clear specific answer given to a specific prayer; and/or the wise counsel of a trusted Christian friend.
Isn’t it good to know that God cares personally for you and me?
Corresponding Bible Reading: Exodus 28:1-29:46
Monday, February 8, 2010
The Holiness of the LORD
Two months following their miraculous release from Egyptian captivity, the Israelites arrive at the foot of Mount Sinai. It is at this mountain that the Lord will reveal to Moses and the children of Israel, the Ten Commandments and the Law that will govern them for centuries. And yet prior to revealing His direction, the Lord first reveals His holiness.
Listen closely to the instruction from the Lord:
Then the Lord said to Moses, “I will come to you in a thick cloud, Moses, so the people themselves can hear me when I speak with you. Then they will always trust you.”
Moses told the Lord what the people had said. Then the Lord told Moses, “Go down and prepare the people for my arrival. Consecrate them today and tomorrow, and have them wash their clothing. Be sure they are ready on the third day, for on that day the Lord will come down on Mount Sinai as all the people watch. Mark off a boundary all around the mountain. Warn the people, ‘Be careful! Do not go up on the mountain or even touch its boundaries. Anyone who touches the mountain will certainly be put to death. No hand may touch the person or animal that crosses the boundary; instead, stone them or shoot them with arrows. They must be put to death.’ However, when the ram’s horn sounds a long blast, then the people may go up on the mountain.” (Exodus 19:9-13 NLT).
As I read these instructions this morning, I wrote in my study notes, “Wow!” I stand amazed at the holiness of the Lord. And His holiness brings two things to mind. The first is that I am extremely grateful that through Jesus Christ, sinners like me can approach the Lord God with confidence.
The second observation is that believers today should not take the privilege to draw near to God through Christ for granted, but to be humbled by the privilege and the holiness of the Lord God. Also, to be careful to not minimize or trivialize the holiness of God and to always remember that He is worthy of our awe and reverence!
Corresponding Bible Reading: Exodus 19:1-21:36
Listen closely to the instruction from the Lord:
Then the Lord said to Moses, “I will come to you in a thick cloud, Moses, so the people themselves can hear me when I speak with you. Then they will always trust you.”
Moses told the Lord what the people had said. Then the Lord told Moses, “Go down and prepare the people for my arrival. Consecrate them today and tomorrow, and have them wash their clothing. Be sure they are ready on the third day, for on that day the Lord will come down on Mount Sinai as all the people watch. Mark off a boundary all around the mountain. Warn the people, ‘Be careful! Do not go up on the mountain or even touch its boundaries. Anyone who touches the mountain will certainly be put to death. No hand may touch the person or animal that crosses the boundary; instead, stone them or shoot them with arrows. They must be put to death.’ However, when the ram’s horn sounds a long blast, then the people may go up on the mountain.” (Exodus 19:9-13 NLT).
As I read these instructions this morning, I wrote in my study notes, “Wow!” I stand amazed at the holiness of the Lord. And His holiness brings two things to mind. The first is that I am extremely grateful that through Jesus Christ, sinners like me can approach the Lord God with confidence.
The second observation is that believers today should not take the privilege to draw near to God through Christ for granted, but to be humbled by the privilege and the holiness of the Lord God. Also, to be careful to not minimize or trivialize the holiness of God and to always remember that He is worthy of our awe and reverence!
Corresponding Bible Reading: Exodus 19:1-21:36
Sunday, February 7, 2010
Daily Manna
One of the most fascinating aspects of the Exodus story is that the Lord provided daily manna for the children of Israel for 40 years. (By the way, manna is described in the Bible as “a flaky substance as fine as frost blanketed the ground” – the original “frosted flakes.”) This miraculous provision of food for Israel was a reminder to them and us that the Lord will not only provide for those who trust in Him, but that He is incredibly patient.
The newly freed nation of Israel arrived in the wilderness of Sin one month after leaving Egyptian slavery. Instead of trusting that the Lord who had delivered them would also provide for them, they complained about their condition and the spiritual leadership of Moses and Aaron. They complained, “If only the Lord had killed us back in Egypt … There we sat around pots filled with meat and ate all the bread we wanted. But now you have brought us into this wilderness to starve us all to death” (Exodus 16:3 NLT).
In spite of their complaining, the Lord demonstrated tremendous patience and compassion on His people and provided food for the Israelites for 40 years. He also instructed Moses to place some manna in a two-quart jar to serve as a reminder for future believers that the Lord will provide for His people often in spite of themselves!
Corresponding Bible Reading: Exodus 16:1-18:27
The newly freed nation of Israel arrived in the wilderness of Sin one month after leaving Egyptian slavery. Instead of trusting that the Lord who had delivered them would also provide for them, they complained about their condition and the spiritual leadership of Moses and Aaron. They complained, “If only the Lord had killed us back in Egypt … There we sat around pots filled with meat and ate all the bread we wanted. But now you have brought us into this wilderness to starve us all to death” (Exodus 16:3 NLT).
In spite of their complaining, the Lord demonstrated tremendous patience and compassion on His people and provided food for the Israelites for 40 years. He also instructed Moses to place some manna in a two-quart jar to serve as a reminder for future believers that the Lord will provide for His people often in spite of themselves!
Corresponding Bible Reading: Exodus 16:1-18:27
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