Leviticus 12

Leviticus 12

TUESDAY  Reflections

There is some disagreement as to why God had these regulations and specifically the difference between times of being unclean after giving birth to a girl or a boy. Some see this as a holdover which God allowed because the people of the time saw the birth of a girl as more dangerous for a mother than the birth of a boy. One thing is clear it was the mother who was unclean because of the birth and not the child, no matter the sex of the baby.

Many years ago, I read one doctor's reasoning which seemed sound to me, though I do not now know who it was nor the book. His thought was this was God's way of letting the mother recover after the birth of the child. This was especially important in regards to the husband's desire to return to having sexual relations. If the child was a boy, the man would be less likely to hurry to have another child since an heir had been born. With a female child, the man, concerned about getting an heir, might want to try as quickly as possible to have another child and not give the woman enough time to recover before becoming pregnant again. This sounds very pragmatic to me and since so much of the ceremonial law protected the Israelites from physical dangers it is reasonable.   

Lev 12:1-8
(1)  And the LORD spake unto Moses, saying,
(2)  Speak unto the children of Israel, saying, If a woman have conceived seed, and born a man child: then she shall be unclean seven days; according to the days of the separation for her infirmity shall she be unclean.
(3)  And in the eighth day the flesh of his foreskin shall be circumcised.
(4)  And she shall then continue in the blood of her purifying three and thirty days; she shall touch no hallowed thing, nor come into the sanctuary, until the days of her purifying be fulfilled.
(5)  But if she bear a maid child, then she shall be unclean two weeks, as in her separation: and she shall continue in the blood of her purifying threescore and six days.
(6)  And when the days of her purifying are fulfilled, for a son, or for a daughter, she shall bring a lamb of the first year for a burnt offering, and a young pigeon, or a turtledove, for a sin offering, unto the door of the tabernacle of the congregation, unto the priest:
(7)  Who shall offer it before the LORD, and make an atonement for her; and she shall be cleansed from the issue of her blood. This is the law for her that hath born a male or a female.
(8)  And if she be not able to bring a lamb, then she shall bring two turtles, or two young pigeons; the one for the burnt offering, and the other for a sin offering: and the priest shall make an atonement for her, and she shall be clean.

Leviticus11

Dinner anyone?

Leviticus 11

MONDAY  Reflections

Do you remember your parent's telling you, "Don't put that in your mouth!"

Yes, sometimes they said it just because the idea was disgusting to them but at other times it was because there was a real danger if you did it you would get sick or even die. They may have explained it to you. If you were too young to understand they may have said the famous words, "Because I told you so."

Here we see God listing the creatures He wanted the Israelites to avoid eating. Though he said He was showing them the difference between the clean and unclean, in another way He was saying, "because I said so."

Why?

In the times the Israelites lived, they wouldn't have understood the dangers of eating many of these creatures presented. Some of them if prepared and cooked the correct way today we know are okay, but back then there was no way to test temperature or to explain to them the dangers of invisible bacteria.

Besides seeing the history of the Israelites, and people in general, if God had tried to explain invisible creatures they probably would have made gods to them. So what does God do? Just what our parents do, He laid down the law. Don't do this.

We may think we are smarter today, but let's be honest. Look around, are we? Most everyone knows that smoking is bad for you, but people do it anyway. And this is just one example, I could list more, but I think you get the point.

There are some things that even if God explained, we wouldn't obey or we would make some excuse for why we are the exception to the rule. It is what people have done for millennia. And there is that issue of creating more gods (or doctrine) because of the explanations, so God decided in his wisdom, which is greater than ours, that silence is the best option.

What do we do? Trust God to know better than we do. We don't have to worry about the dietary laws in Christianity, but we do have plenty of other areas where we need to trust that God knows best. Don't look for excuses. I believe that all of the commandments God gives the Christian have solid reasons behind them.

At the end of the day, will you choose to trust God, or not? Looking back, in light of modern science,  we can see why God commanded the Israelites to do what they did (I won't take the time to list them all ). We see God's track record as being good. So let's trust Him in the areas He directs us today. 

Lev 11:1-47

(1)  And the LORD spake unto Moses and to Aaron, saying unto them,

(2)  Speak unto the children of Israel, saying, These are the beasts which ye shall eat among all the beasts that are on the earth.

(3)  Whatsoever parteth the hoof, and is clovenfooted, and cheweth the cud, among the beasts, that shall ye eat.

(4)  Nevertheless these shall ye not eat of them that chew the cud, or of them that divide the hoof: as the camel, because he cheweth the cud, but divideth not the hoof; he is unclean unto you.

(5)  And the coney, because he cheweth the cud, but divideth not the hoof; he is unclean unto you.

(6)  And the hare, because he cheweth the cud, but divideth not the hoof; he is unclean unto you.

(7)  And the swine, though he divide the hoof, and be clovenfooted, yet he cheweth not the cud; he is unclean to you.

(8)  Of their flesh shall ye not eat, and their carcase shall ye not touch; they are unclean to you.

(9)  These shall ye eat of all that are in the waters: whatsoever hath fins and scales in the waters, in the seas, and in the rivers, them shall ye eat.

(10)  And all that have not fins and scales in the seas, and in the rivers, of all that move in the waters, and of any living thing which is in the waters, they shall be an abomination unto you:

(11)  They shall be even an abomination unto you; ye shall not eat of their flesh, but ye shall have their carcases in abomination.

(12)  Whatsoever hath no fins nor scales in the waters, that shall be an abomination unto you.

(13)  And these are they which ye shall have in abomination among the fowls; they shall not be eaten, they are an abomination: the eagle, and the ossifrage, and the ospray,

(14)  And the vulture, and the kite after his kind;

(15)  Every raven after his kind;

(16)  And the owl, and the night hawk, and the cuckow, and the hawk after his kind,

(17)  And the little owl, and the cormorant, and the great owl,

(18)  And the swan, and the pelican, and the gier eagle,

(19)  And the stork, the heron after her kind, and the lapwing, and the bat.

(20)  All fowls that creep, going upon all four, shall be an abomination unto you.

(21)  Yet these may ye eat of every flying creeping thing that goeth upon all four, which have legs above their feet, to leap withal upon the earth;

(22)  Even these of them ye may eat; the locust after his kind, and the bald locust after his kind, and the beetle after his kind, and the grasshopper after his kind.

(23)  But all other flying creeping things, which have four feet, shall be an abomination unto you.

(24)  And for these ye shall be unclean: whosoever toucheth the carcase of them shall be unclean until the even.

(25)  And whosoever beareth ought of the carcase of them shall wash his clothes, and be unclean until the even.

(26)  The carcases of every beast which divideth the hoof, and is not clovenfooted, nor cheweth the cud, are unclean unto you: every one that toucheth them shall be unclean.

(27)  And whatsoever goeth upon his paws, among all manner of beasts that go on all four, those are unclean unto you: whoso toucheth their carcase shall be unclean until the even.

(28)  And he that beareth the carcase of them shall wash his clothes, and be unclean until the even: they are unclean unto you.

(29)  These also shall be unclean unto you among the creeping things that creep upon the earth; the weasel, and the mouse, and the tortoise after his kind,

(30)  And the ferret, and the chameleon, and the lizard, and the snail, and the mole.

(31)  These are unclean to you among all that creep: whosoever doth touch them, when they be dead, shall be unclean until the even.

(32)  And upon whatsoever any of them, when they are dead, doth fall, it shall be unclean; whether it be any vessel of wood, or raiment, or skin, or sack, whatsoever vessel it be, wherein any work is done, it must be put into water, and it shall be unclean until the even; so it shall be cleansed.

(33)  And every earthen vessel, whereinto any of them falleth, whatsoever is in it shall be unclean; and ye shall break it.

(34)  Of all meat which may be eaten, that on which such water cometh shall be unclean: and all drink that may be drunk in every such vessel shall be unclean.

(35)  And every thing whereupon any part of their carcase falleth shall be unclean; whether it be oven, or ranges for pots, they shall be broken down: for they are unclean, and shall be unclean unto you.

(36)  Nevertheless a fountain or pit, wherein there is plenty of water, shall be clean: but that which toucheth their carcase shall be unclean.

(37)  And if any part of their carcase fall upon any sowing seed which is to be sown, it shall be clean.

(38)  But if any water be put upon the seed, and any part of their carcase fall thereon, it shall be unclean unto you.

(39)  And if any beast, of which ye may eat, die; he that toucheth the carcase thereof shall be unclean until the even.

(40)  And he that eateth of the carcase of it shall wash his clothes, and be unclean until the even: he also that beareth the carcase of it shall wash his clothes, and be unclean until the even.

(41)  And every creeping thing that creepeth upon the earth shall be an abomination; it shall not be eaten.

(42)  Whatsoever goeth upon the belly, and whatsoever goeth upon all four, or whatsoever hath more feet among all creeping things that creep upon the earth, them ye shall not eat; for they are an abomination.

(43)  Ye shall not make yourselves abominable with any creeping thing that creepeth, neither shall ye make yourselves unclean with them, that ye should be defiled thereby.

(44)  For I am the LORD your God: ye shall therefore sanctify yourselves, and ye shall be holy; for I am holy: neither shall ye defile yourselves with any manner of creeping thing that creepeth upon the earth.

(45)  For I am the LORD that bringeth you up out of the land of Egypt, to be your God: ye shall therefore be holy, for I am holy.

(46)  This is the law of the beasts, and of the fowl, and of every living creature that moveth in the waters, and of every creature that creepeth upon the earth:

(47)  To make a difference between the unclean and the clean, and between the beast that may be eaten and the beast that may not be eaten.

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Isaiah 49

His hands wear name as it were. 

Isaiah 49

SATURDAY  Reflections

Much of this chapter pictures God calling Israel back to himself and reminding them of his faithfulness. However, in this chapter are promises of God reaching out to the Gentiles and bring salvation to the whole earth. This chapter gives a picture of Jesus. Jesus is the light to the Gentiles, the one raised up, the one who feeds the hungry and thirsty, among other works.

The most interesting verse for me is when God says He will put their names on His hands. This reminds me of Jesus’ hands, which now are scarred with the proof of his love for Israel and the world. Truly his hands were marks of love. Those hands tell our names, sinner, rebellious, wicked, and yet he took the symbol of those names on himself for us. 

Isa 49:1-26
(1)  Listen, O isles, unto me; and hearken, ye people, from far; The LORD hath called me from the womb; from the bowels of my mother hath he made mention of my name.
(2)  And he hath made my mouth like a sharp sword; in the shadow of his hand hath he hid me, and made me a polished shaft; in his quiver hath he hid me;
(3)  And said unto me, Thou art my servant, O Israel, in whom I will be glorified.
(4)  Then I said, I have laboured in vain, I have spent my strength for nought, and in vain: yet surely my judgment is with the LORD, and my work with my God.
(5)  And now, saith the LORD that formed me from the womb to be his servant, to bring Jacob again to him, Though Israel be not gathered, yet shall I be glorious in the eyes of the LORD, and my God shall be my strength.
(6)  And he said, It is a light thing that thou shouldest be my servant to raise up the tribes of Jacob, and to restore the preserved of Israel: I will also give thee for a light to the Gentiles, that thou mayest be my salvation unto the end of the earth.
(7)  Thus saith the LORD, the Redeemer of Israel, and his Holy One, to him whom man despiseth, to him whom the nation abhorreth, to a servant of rulers, Kings shall see and arise, princes also shall worship, because of the LORD that is faithful, and the Holy One of Israel, and he shall choose thee.
(8)  Thus saith the LORD, In an acceptable time have I heard thee, and in a day of salvation have I helped thee: and I will preserve thee, and give thee for a covenant of the people, to establish the earth, to cause to inherit the desolate heritages;
(9)  That thou mayest say to the prisoners, Go forth; to them that are in darkness, Shew yourselves. They shall feed in the ways, and their pastures shall be in all high places.
(10)  They shall not hunger nor thirst; neither shall the heat nor sun smite them: for he that hath mercy on them shall lead them, even by the springs of water shall he guide them.
(11)  And I will make all my mountains a way, and my highways shall be exalted.
(12)  Behold, these shall come from far: and, lo, these from the north and from the west; and these from the land of Sinim.
(13)  Sing, O heavens; and be joyful, O earth; and break forth into singing, O mountains: for the LORD hath comforted his people, and will have mercy upon his afflicted.
(14)  But Zion said, The LORD hath forsaken me, and my Lord hath forgotten me.
(15)  Can a woman forget her sucking child, that she should not have compassion on the son of her womb? yea, they may forget, yet will I not forget thee.
(16)  Behold, I have graven thee upon the palms of my hands; thy walls are continually before me.
(17)  Thy children shall make haste; thy destroyers and they that made thee waste shall go forth of thee.
(18)  Lift up thine eyes round about, and behold: all these gather themselves together, and come to thee. As I live, saith the LORD, thou shalt surely clothe thee with them all, as with an ornament, and bind them on thee, as a bride doeth.
(19)  For thy waste and thy desolate places, and the land of thy destruction, shall even now be too narrow by reason of the inhabitants, and they that swallowed thee up shall be far away.
(20)  The children which thou shalt have, after thou hast lost the other, shall say again in thine ears, The place is too strait for me: give place to me that I may dwell.
(21)  Then shalt thou say in thine heart, Who hath begotten me these, seeing I have lost my children, and am desolate, a captive, and removing to and fro? and who hath brought up these? Behold, I was left alone; these, where had they been?
(22)  Thus saith the Lord GOD, Behold, I will lift up mine hand to the Gentiles, and set up my standard to the people: and they shall bring thy sons in their arms, and thy daughters shall be carried upon their shoulders.
(23)  And kings shall be thy nursing fathers, and their queens thy nursing mothers: they shall bow down to thee with their face toward the earth, and lick up the dust of thy feet; and thou shalt know that I am the LORD: for they shall not be ashamed that wait for me.
(24)  Shall the prey be taken from the mighty, or the lawful captive delivered?
(25)  But thus saith the LORD, Even the captives of the mighty shall be taken away, and the prey of the terrible shall be delivered: for I will contend with him that contendeth with thee, and I will save thy children.
(26)  And I will feed them that oppress thee with their own flesh; and they shall be drunken with their own blood, as with sweet wine: and all flesh shall know that I the LORD am thy Saviour and thy Redeemer, the mighty One of Jacob.

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1 Thessalonians 2

What is your goal? 

1 Thessalonians 2

FRIDAY  Reflections

Why did Paul do what he did at Thessalonica? The answer is found in the last part of verse 12, so they would "live lives worthy of God, who calls you into His kingdom and glory." Paul did the ministry he did so that they would live the lives God wanted for them, period. It wasn't about building a fan club or to get rewards, it was to help them live for God. This is the ultimate goal of all Godly ministry.

There are other things to find in this chapter, but for those who work in ministry (and all Christians do in some way) we need to remember why we are doing ministry. 

1Th 2:1-20
(1)  For yourselves, brethren, know our entrance in unto you, that it was not in vain:
(2)  But even after that we had suffered before, and were shamefully entreated, as ye know, at Philippi, we were bold in our God to speak unto you the gospel of God with much contention.
(3)  For our exhortation was not of deceit, nor of uncleanness, nor in guile:
(4)  But as we were allowed of God to be put in trust with the gospel, even so we speak; not as pleasing men, but God, which trieth our hearts.
(5)  For neither at any time used we flattering words, as ye know, nor a cloke of covetousness; God is witness:
(6)  Nor of men sought we glory, neither of you, nor yet of others, when we might have been burdensome, as the apostles of Christ.
(7)  But we were gentle among you, even as a nurse cherisheth her children:
(8)  So being affectionately desirous of you, we were willing to have imparted unto you, not the gospel of God only, but also our own souls, because ye were dear unto us.
(9)  For ye remember, brethren, our labour and travail: for labouring night and day, because we would not be chargeable unto any of you, we preached unto you the gospel of God.
(10)  Ye are witnesses, and God also, how holily and justly and unblameably we behaved ourselves among you that believe:
(11)  As ye know how we exhorted and comforted and charged every one of you, as a father doth his children,
(12)  That ye would walk worthy of God, who hath called you unto his kingdom and glory.
(13)  For this cause also thank we God without ceasing, because, when ye received the word of God which ye heard of us, ye received it not as the word of men, but as it is in truth, the word of God, which effectually worketh also in you that believe.
(14)  For ye, brethren, became followers of the churches of God which in Judaea are in Christ Jesus: for ye also have suffered like things of your own countrymen, even as they have of the Jews:
(15)  Who both killed the Lord Jesus, and their own prophets, and have persecuted us; and they please not God, and are contrary to all men:
(16)  Forbidding us to speak to the Gentiles that they might be saved, to fill up their sins alway: for the wrath is come upon them to the uttermost.
(17)  But we, brethren, being taken from you for a short time in presence, not in heart, endeavoured the more abundantly to see your face with great desire.
(18)  Wherefore we would have come unto you, even I Paul, once and again; but Satan hindered us.
(19)  For what is our hope, or joy, or crown of rejoicing? Are not even ye in the presence of our Lord Jesus Christ at his coming?
(20)  For ye are our glory and joy.

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1 Thessalonians 1

Nearly anyone can be a role model.

1 Thessalonians 1

THURSDAY  Reflections

"I'm not a role model!"

Charles Barkley made this statement 25 years ago. The very fact that I am quoting it today makes the point that yes, he was. We may not like it but we are role models for people around us. No, as Christians, it shouldn't be our goal, but it happens. You and I may never be on the level of an NBA Hall of Famer, but in some ways, we may be more of a role model to those that know us best.

Paul reminded the people in Thessalonica that they had become followers of Paul and Silas and the Lord (1 Thessalonians 1:6). When he says this he didn't give the typical response which I hear today, "Don't follow me follow Christ." Paul understood that people naturally follow people that they look up to. Paul knew he wasn't perfect but understood that he was a role model for Christians and he embraced it (1 Cor. 11:1).

Every Christian is called to be Jesus to the world around them. This doesn't mean that we turn into a parody of Jesus but that we live as he would if he were us, which in some ways He is. This is what God wants, but we have to realize we are also an example to those around us.

1Th 1:1-10

(1)  Paul, and Silvanus, and Timotheus, unto the church of the Thessalonians which is in God the Father and in the Lord Jesus Christ: Grace be unto you, and peace, from God our Father, and the Lord Jesus Christ.

(2)  We give thanks to God always for you all, making mention of you in our prayers;

(3)  Remembering without ceasing your work of faith, and labour of love, and patience of hope in our Lord Jesus Christ, in the sight of God and our Father;

(4)  Knowing, brethren beloved, your election of God.

(5)  For our gospel came not unto you in word only, but also in power, and in the Holy Ghost, and in much assurance; as ye know what manner of men we were among you for your sake.

(6)  And ye became followers of us, and of the Lord, having received the word in much affliction, with joy of the Holy Ghost:

(7)  So that ye were ensamples to all that believe in Macedonia and Achaia.

(8)  For from you sounded out the word of the Lord not only in Macedonia and Achaia, but also in every place your faith to God-ward is spread abroad; so that we need not to speak any thing.

(9)  For they themselves shew of us what manner of entering in we had unto you, and how ye turned to God from idols to serve the living and true God;

(10)  And to wait for his Son from heaven, whom he raised from the dead, even Jesus, which delivered us from the wrath to come.

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