Chronological Bible Blog

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
~ Click here to read today's Scripture on BibleGateway.com ~ // Mobile Site Link
~ 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.

The Bible Project: Check out this great video overview of the book of Leviticus from The Bible Project:

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

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!

February 14th Chronological Bible Readings

Exodus 39:32-40:38; Numbers 9:15-23
~ Click here to read today's Scripture on BibleGateway.com ~ // Mobile Site Link
~ Listen to today's Scripture on ESVBible.org ~

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 God:  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.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!