Chronological Bible Blog

Leviticus 14:33-16:34
~ Click here to read today’s Scripture on Bible Gateway ~
~ Listen to today’s Scripture with The ESV Bible ~

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.”

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 God:  Today’s readings in Leviticus about the Day of Atonement reminded me of Phil Wickam’s song “True Love:”

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=SL7Uo__ss7g

Have you received True Love in your life? Click here for the Truest Love of all time!

Please join us in memorizing and meditating on a verse of Scripture today: “This is to be a lasting ordinance for you: Atonement is to be made once a year for all the sins of the Israelites.” Leviticus 16:34 NIV

Prayer Point: Pray that you have received atonement for your sins through your saving faith in Jesus Christ as your Lord and Savior.

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. Download our monthly Small Group study notes for our Chronological Bible readings at this link.

p.s. #2 – Download a schedule of our Chronological Bible readings for the year in PDF format at this link.

p.s. #3 – I would greatly appreciate it if you would pray for this Chronological Bible Blog ministry today! Please also consider partnering with us by financially supporting this ministry. Thank you!

Leviticus 12:1-14:32
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~ Listen to today’s Scripture with The ESV Bible ~

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: Today’s readings remind me of the song “Legacy” by Nicole Nordeman:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Ah1COE39ARs

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

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. Download our monthly Small Group study notes for our Chronological Bible readings at this link.

p.s. #2 – Download a schedule of our Chronological Bible readings for the year in PDF format at this link.

p.s. #3 – I would greatly appreciate it if you would pray for this Chronological Bible Blog ministry today! Please also consider partnering with us by financially supporting this ministry. Thank you!

Leviticus 9:1-11:47
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~ Listen to today’s Scripture with The ESV Bible ~

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?

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

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=VzGAYNKDyIU

Have you been redeemed? Click here for Redemption!

Please join us in memorizing and meditating on a verse of Scripture today: “I am the LORD your God; consecrate yourselves and be holy, because I am holy.” Leviticus 11:44 NIV

Prayer Point: Pray for holiness in your life, through your saving faith in Jesus Christ as your Lord and Savior.

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. Download our monthly Small Group study notes for our Chronological Bible readings at this link.

p.s. #2 – Download a schedule of our Chronological Bible readings for the year in PDF format at this link.

p.s. #3 – I would greatly appreciate it if you would pray for this Chronological Bible Blog ministry today! Please also consider partnering with us by financially supporting this ministry. Thank you!

Leviticus 7:1-8:36
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~ Listen to today’s Scripture with The ESV Bible ~

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.

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:  Our readings in Leviticus chapter 7 today about blood reminded me of the song “Nothing But the Blood of Jesus,” sung here by Phil Wickham:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6qg5DNiKkFY

What has washed away your sins? Click here for the blood of Jesus!

Please join us in memorizing and meditating on a verse of Scripture today: “So Aaron and his sons did everything the LORD commanded through Moses. “ Leviticus 8:36 NIV

Prayer Point: Pray that you do everything that the LORD commanded through Jesus.

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. Download our monthly Small Group study notes for our Chronological Bible readings at this link.

p.s. #2 – Download a schedule of our Chronological Bible readings for the year in PDF format at this link.

p.s. #3 – I would greatly appreciate it if you would pray for this Chronological Bible Blog ministry today! Please also consider partnering with us by financially supporting this ministry. Thank you!

Leviticus 4:1-6:30
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~ Listen to today’s Scripture with The ESV Bible ~

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 flower, 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 flower 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.

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?

Worship Video: Today’s readings reminded me of “Your Love, Oh Lord” by Third Day:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=oP_Q4z0x_Fw

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

Please join us in memorizing and meditating on a verse of Scripture today: “If anyone sins because they do not speak up when they hear a public charge to testify regarding something they have seen or learned about, they will be held responsible.” Leviticus 5:1 NIV

Prayer Point: Pray that you do not sin by not speaking up for Truth.

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. Download our monthly Small Group study notes for our Chronological Bible readings at this link.

p.s. #2 – Download a schedule of our Chronological Bible readings for the year in PDF format at this link.

p.s. #3 – I would greatly appreciate it if you would pray for this Chronological Bible Blog ministry today! Please also consider partnering with us by financially supporting this ministry. Thank you!

Numbers 8:1-9:14; Leviticus 1:1-3:17
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~ Listen to today’s Scripture with The ESV Bible ~

Learning to Love Leviticus! – This upcoming week of readings is what I call mission-critical. We’re beginning our journey through the book of Leviticus! As this is my 10th time leading a crew of people through the Bible in a year, 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 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 – https://bible.org/page.php?page_id=882

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 Leviticus today reminded me this terrific live Tauren Wells “Worship Medley:”

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8sbuR-fLTgg

Have you worshiped God? Click here and worship Him!

Please join us in memorizing and meditating on a verse of Scripture today: “The LORD called to Moses and spoke to him from the tent of meeting.” Leviticus 1:1 NIV

Prayer Point: Pray that you are speaking to and hearing from the LORD every day in prayer. Pray that you are hearing from the LORD every day through his Word. Pray that you are listening and obeying.

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. Download our monthly Small Group study notes for our Chronological Bible readings at this link.

p.s. #2 – Download a schedule of our Chronological Bible readings for the year in PDF format at this link.

p.s. #3 – I would greatly appreciate it if you would pray for this Chronological Bible Blog ministry today! Please also consider partnering with us by financially supporting this ministry. Thank you!

Numbers 7:1-89
~ Click here to read today’s Scripture on Bible Gateway ~
~ Listen to today’s Scripture with The ESV Bible ~

Chapter 7 is the longest chapter in the book of Numbers, and certainly an amazing one.  It is awesome to read about the presentation of offerings for the dedication of the altar over 12 days.  At the end of this chapter we read in verse 89: “Whenever Moses went into the Tabernacle to speak with the LORD, he heard the voice speaking to him from between the two cherubim above the Ark’s cover–the place of atonement–that rests on the Ark of the Covenant. The LORD spoke to him from there.”

Worship Video:  Our readings in Numbers today reminded me of Brandon Heath’s song “Light in Me:”

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=jTc-c7dgmRk

Is the Light in you? Click here for Light!

Please join us in memorizing and meditating on a verse of Scripture today: “When Moses entered the tent of meeting to speak with the LORD, he heard the voice speaking to him from between the two cherubim above the atonement cover on the ark of the covenant law. In this way the LORD spoke to him.” Numbers 7:89 NIV

Prayer Point: Pray that you are speaking to and hearing from the LORD every day in prayer. Pray that you are hearing from the LORD every day through his Word. Pray that you are listening and obeying.

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. Download our monthly Small Group study notes for our Chronological Bible readings at this link.

p.s. #2 – Download a schedule of our Chronological Bible readings for the year in PDF format at this link.

p.s. #3 – I would greatly appreciate it if you would pray for this Chronological Bible Blog ministry today! Please also consider partnering with us by financially supporting this ministry. Thank you!

Exodus 39:32-40:38; Numbers 9:15-23
~ Click here to read today’s Scripture on Bible Gateway ~
~ Listen to today’s Scripture with The ESV Bible ~

Today is the final day of readings from Exodus.  I hope that your reading this past week or so about the Israelites Exodus from Egypt and their emergence as a nation under Moses’ leadership has been a good learning experience for you?  It has been for me – thanks in large measure to the wonderful Comments everyone is posting up each day!  Thanks everyone.  More than anything – I hope that reading about God’s interactions with His covenant people in Egypt, the plagues, the Red Sea, the manna from heaven, the Ten Commandments, and the plans for the Tabernacle has expanded your understanding of who God is and God’s story?  If anyone wants to reflect back on what may have been an interesting learning for you in Exodus this year, please do post up in the Comments section below.

Personally, a couple of learnings for me this year from Exodus that I will share are these – 1.  Moses’ leadership really stood out to me this year as I read through Exodus.  And it was interesting to me that his leadership grew over time.  Early on in Exodus Moses was saying to God to “please don’t choose me to free the Israelites from Egypt – pick someone else” and then by the end of the book Moses has gained enough faith to fast for 40 days on Mt. Sinai and enough confidence to ask God to “show me your glory.”  I think we can see in Moses how God can transform a person’s life completely  – and how God can transform our lives completely – if that person enters into a responsive, faithful, loving and obedient relationship with God.   Point #2 of my learnings this year – my interest and knowledge in some of the intricacies of the tabernacle has grown, which has been wonderful.  Bible.org’s commentary on Exodus chapter 40 titled “The Consecration of the Tabernacle and the Presence of God” is at this link.

 

Worship Video:  Our readings in Exodus 40:34 today about God’s glory filling the tabernacle reminded me of Jeremy Camp’s song “We Give you Glory:”

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-T6yGKhxOG0

Who are you giving glory to these days? Click here and meet true Glory!

Please join us in memorizing and meditating on a verse of Scripture today: “Then the cloud covered the tent of meeting, and the glory of the LORD filled the tabernacle.” Exodus 40:34 NIV

Prayer Point: Pray that the glory of the LORD has filled the tabernacle of your body with His Holy Spirit, through your saving faith in Jesus Christ as your Lord and Savior.

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. Download our monthly Small Group study notes for our Chronological Bible readings at this link.

p.s. #2 – Download a schedule of our Chronological Bible readings for the year in PDF format at this link.

p.s. #3 – I would greatly appreciate it if you would pray for this Chronological Bible Blog ministry today! Please also consider partnering with us by financially supporting this ministry. Thank you!

Exodus 37:1-39:31
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I found Exodus chapter 38 verse 8 intriguing today: “The bronze washbasin and its bronze pedestal were cast from bronze mirrors donated by the women who served at the entrance of the Tabernacle.”  Apparently mirrored glass had not yet been invented in these days, but highly polished bronze gave off a good reflection.  This reminds me of Paul’s writings in First Corinthians 13:12 – “Now we see but a poor reflection as in a mirror; then we shall see face to face. Now I know in part; then I shall know fully, even as I am fully known.” 

Worship Video:  Our readings in Exodus today all the work on the tabernacle items reminded me of Aaron Shust’s song “God of Brilliant Lights:”

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=NAmAniSiT14

Do you work for God? Click here and meet your true and loving Boss!

Please join us in memorizing and meditating on a verse of Scripture today: “The sash was made of finely twisted linen and blue, purple and scarlet yarn—the work of an embroiderer—as the LORD commanded Moses.” Exodus 39:29 NIV

Prayer Point: Pray that you are obeying God in your work and in His will for your life.

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. Download our monthly Small Group study notes for our Chronological Bible readings at this link.

p.s. #2 – Download a schedule of our Chronological Bible readings for the year in PDF format at this link.

p.s. #3 – I would greatly appreciate it if you would pray for this Chronological Bible Blog ministry today! Please also consider partnering with us by financially supporting this ministry. Thank you!

Exodus 35:1-36:38
~ Click here to read today’s Scripture on Bible Gateway ~
~ Listen to today’s Scripture with The ESV Bible ~

Old Testament – The NIV Study Bible commentary today notes that Exodus 35:4 through 39:43 are for the most part repeated from chapters 25 through 28; 30:1-5; and 31:1-11, sometimes verbatim, but with the verbs primarily in the past rather than the future tense and with the topics arranged in different order.  This type of repetition was a common feature of ancient Near Eastern literature and was intended to fix the details of a narrative in the readers mind.  I really like in today’s readings in chapter 35 that people freely brought their offerings for the tabernacle (much of which was likely given to them by the Egyptians as the Exodus from Egypt began, as you’ll recall from Exodus 12:33-36), as we see in verses 20 through 22 – “So all the people left Moses and went to their tents to prepare their gifts. If their hearts were stirred and they desired to do so, they brought to the LORD their offerings of materials for the Tabernacle and its furnishings and for the holy garments. Both men and women came, all whose hearts were willing. Some brought to the LORD their offerings of gold–medallions, earrings, rings from their fingers, and necklaces. They presented gold objects of every kind to the LORD.”

Bible.org’s commentary on Exodus Chapter 35 titled “Concerning Contributions” is at this link.  Bible.org’s commentary on Exodus Chapter 36 titled “The Tabernacle, The Dwelling Place of God” is at this link.

Worship Video:  Today’s readings reminded of Phil Wickham’s song “How Great Is Your Love:”

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=HUSOSrv0y3s

Do you know God’s love? Click here for His great love!

Please join us in memorizing and meditating on a verse of Scripture today: “So Bezalel, Oholiab and every skilled person to whom the LORD has given skill and ability to know how to carry out all the work of constructing the sanctuary are to do the work just as the LORD has commanded.” Exodus 36:1 NIV

Prayer Point: Pray that you are using the skills that God has given you for His Glory, and not your own works.

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. Download our monthly Small Group study notes for our Chronological Bible readings at this link.

p.s. #2 – Download a schedule of our Chronological Bible readings for the year in PDF format at this link.

p.s. #3 – I would greatly appreciate it if you would pray for this Chronological Bible Blog ministry today! Please also consider partnering with us by financially supporting this ministry. Thank you!