Chronological Bible Blog

February 19th Chronological Bible Readings

Leviticus 9:1-11:47
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~ Listen to today's Scripture on ESVBible.org ~

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 God:  Our readings in Leviticus 11:44 today reminded me of the Michael W. Smith song "You Are Holy:"

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=tt9hWMufODY

Do you know our Holy God? Click here for Holiness!

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

p.p.p.s. I would greatly appreciate it if you would pray for this Chronological Bible Blog ministry today. Thanks!

February 18th Chronological Bible Readings

Leviticus 7:1-8:36
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~ Listen to today's Scripture on ESVBible.org ~

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

p.p.p.s. I would greatly appreciate it if you would pray for this Chronological Bible Blog ministry today. Thanks!

February 17th Chronological Bible Readings

Leviticus 4:1-6:30
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~ Listen to today's Scripture on ESVBible.org ~

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 God:  Our readings in Leviticus chapter 4 today about the sin offering reminded me of Kristian Stanfill's song "Jesus Paid it All:"

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

Has Jesus Paid it all for you? Click here and receive His payment in full!

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

p.p.p.s. I would greatly appreciate it if you would pray for this Chronological Bible Blog ministry today. Thanks!

February 16th Chronological Bible Readings

Numbers 8:1-9:14; Leviticus 1:1-3:17
~ Click here to read today's Scripture on BibleGateway.com ~ // Mobile Site Link
~ Listen to today's Scripture on ESVBible.org ~

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 God:  Our readings in Leviticus about the offerings today reminded me of Paul Baloche's song "Offering:"

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=YxuyRyi8ulw

Have you brought an offering? Click here for our true Offering!

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

p.p.p.s. I would greatly appreciate it if you would pray for this Chronological Bible Blog ministry today. Thanks!

February 15th Chronological Bible Readings

Numbers 7:1-89
~ Click here to read today's Scripture on BibleGateway.com ~ // Mobile Site Link
~ Listen to today's Scripture on ESVBible.org ~

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

p.p.p.s. I would greatly appreciate it if you would pray for this Chronological Bible Blog ministry today. Thanks!