March 3: Leviticus 27:14 – Numbers 1; Psalm 46; Proverbs 10:23; Mark 11:1-11:26

Overview

            Leviticus: The Lord continues to explain the process of dedicating things to him. People may dedicate houses, fields, and they may be redeemed by adding a fifth to the value. A field is valued based on the amount of seed required to plant it and the number of years until the year of jubilee. A field is returned to the owner on the year of jubilee. However, if a person dedicates a field after selling it, it cannot be redeemed and it is not retuned on the year of jubilee but belongs to the priest. It is holy. If a person buys a field then dedicates it, it is like any other field that is dedicated.

            They may not dedicate a firstborn animal because it already belongs to the Lord. An unclean animal may be redeemed by adding a fifth to the value.

            Devoted things, man, beast, or field, may not be sold or redeemed. It is holy to the Lord. A devoted person may not be ransomed, but must be put to death.

            Tithed things are holy to the Lord. They may be redeemed by adding a fifth of the value. A tenth of the animals are counted off and given to the Lord whether it is good or bad. If someone attempts to make a substitute, both become holy and can’t be redeemed.

            Numbers: In the second month of the second year after leaving Egypt, the Lord calls for a census. Every male twenty years old or more who is able to go to war is counted. The Lord specifies who is to help in the census. Each tribe is numbered and the total was 603,505. This did not include the Levites. They were appointed to take care of the tabernacle. They were to pack it up and move it and put it back up when stopped. They were to camp around it so that no wrath would come upon the people. They were the guard around the tabernacle.

            Psalm: God is our help regardless of the problems we face, even in natural disasters. We don’t need to be afraid. Nations threaten peace but God is with us. He will put an end to all war someday and he will be exalted in all nations. Right now, he is with us.

            Proverbs: Fools delight in doing wrong but an understanding person delights in wisdom.

            Mark: Jesus approaches Jerusalem from Bethphage and Bethany, and then stops at the Mount of Olives. He tells his disciples to go and bring a donkey colt from the village. They find it, are questioned, and answer just as he said. They are allowed to take the colt. When they get back, Jesus rides the donkey into Jerusalem and people spread coats and branches on the road for him. The people were shouting, “Hosanna,” and essentially declaring Jesus as king.

            He arrives at the temple, looks around, and goes back to Bethany with the twelve.

            The next day, Jesus sees a fig tree with no leaves on it. He expected to find figs but there were none because it isn’t the season for them, so he placed a curse on it.

            He then went to the temple and chased out those who were making money in the temple. He said they were turning his house of prayer into a den of robbers. The chief priest were upset and wanted to kill him. The people were astonished at his teaching.

            The next day, the tree Jesus cursed had withered to its roots. Peter is astonished. But Jesus says to have faith and you can move mountains as long as you don’t doubt. Ask in prayer, believe, and it will be yours. But when you pray, also forgive so that the Father will forgive you.

What Stood Out

            Leviticus / Numbers: “No one devoted, who is to be devoted for destruction from mankind, shall be ransomed; he shall surely be put to death” (Lev 27:29).

            Psalm: “He makes wars cease to the end of the earth” (Ps 46:9).

            Proverbs: “Doing wrong is like a joke to a fool” (Prov 10:23).

            Mark: “Whatever you ask in prayer, believe that you have received it, and it will be yours” (Mark 11:24).

Insight

            Leviticus / Numbers: The rules for dedicating things to the Lord seem straight forward and easy to understand. However, when it comes to devoted things, there is a huge problem. That is the idea of devoting a person to the Lord and that the person who is devoted must be put to death. Is God inconsistent in his Word? He specifically prohibited sacrifices that the pagan nations made, of people and especially of sons and daughters (Deut 12:30-31). Whether those sons and daughters are children or not, isn’t mentioned. But it should be clear that the Lord never enjoined Israel to make human sacrifices.

            However, he did pronounce judgment upon the people of the nations because of their odious sins and their potential to lead Israel astray after their own gods (Deut 7:1-5). In this sense, a person devoted to destruction was not a sacrifice but a person who had been judged and sentenced to death.[1]This would also apply to Israelite cities where they rejected the Lord and followed after other gods (Deut 13:12-17).[2]

            Another explanation has been given that a person devoted to the Lord would be like Samuel. His mother gave him to the Lord to serve him all his life (1 Sam 1:11).[3]While this makes sense, it doesn’t consider that clear phrase that the person is to be put to death.

            One thing is perfectly clear in all of the concerns with dedicated versus devoted. There was always a penalty for making rash vows. It the person wanted his vow back, he had to redeem it and add a fifth. If he sold a field and then dedicated it, he would never get it back. If a person tried to substitute an animal for one that was taken for a tithe, he would end up giving both.

            One of Solomon’s better points in Ecclesiastics 5:4-7 is his explanation of vows. He says that when you vow, it is serious. God doesn’t appreciate a fool who makes a rash vow then later tries to back out on it. People who make deals with the Lord, “I’ll do this (go to church, give to the poor, etc.) if you will do some particular thing for me,” don’t realize the danger they are facing if they don’t follow through.  

            Psalm: Can you say that you will not fear though everything around you crumbles, physically, emotionally, or politically? This is what the Psalmist is saying. This is written by the “Sons of Korah,” the same as Psalm 44 where the psalmist was dismayed because God was disciplining Israel. Since there were several sons, I imagine either this one learned his lesson or this is one of his brothers. His attitude is 100% different. He recognizes God’s sovereignty over natural disasters or political turmoil and war. The beautiful thing about this is that he isn’t demanding God take care of all the problems now and for him. He is looking to the time when God will bring justice and peace to the whole earth. He is looking for God’s glory, not his own comfort. This is the kind of psalmist I want to be.

            Proverbs: Some people simply delight in doing wrong. There is something haywire in them. It seems that sin isn’t just in them but it is a horrendous evil that gives them delight in opposing God. That’s sad. However, there is always hope for them thought Jesus and his shed blood for our sins. When we turn to him in repentance and obedience, we cross over from that foolishness to become a person with understanding. It is then that we begin to delight in true wisdom, knowing God.

            Mark: On the heels of Jesus’ triumphant entry into Jerusalem, he does an amazing thing. He curses a fig tree that doesn’t have any fruit on it. However, it was not the season for figs. Jesus is omniscient because he is God. So you may ask, why he even looked for figs if it wasn’t the season. No one else would have. Why would he place a curse the tree? The only explanation is that he is going to use it as an object lesson.

            One explanation is that the fig tree represents the nation of Israel. It had lots of show (leaves) but no fruit. The religious system had all the trappings of the way to come to God but their traditions diverted the way. When Jesus enters the temple and finds all the people making money off the system instead of praying to God, it is an indication of the depth of the problem. So cursing the tree is a representation of what is going to happen to the religious system that is not producing fruit when Jesus came. It will be destroyed and that is what happened in AD 70 when the temple was destroyed. The system could no longer work because the most important part was gone. While that may be an explanation, it requires an allegorical explanation, which is quite a stretch. Nothing in the context reveals this.

            Jesus used the tree to explain the power of prayer and the necessity of faith and forgiveness. Some things are certain. If we don’t ask we won’t receive. If we don’t believe, we won’t receive. If we don’t forgive, we are in trouble with the Lord. I’ll have to admit, though, I’m not at the point of moving literal mountains. On the other hand, I’m not in the need of moving them either.

Application

            My faith in the Lord isn’t dependent upon him moving mountains. Even though they may fall into the heart of the sea, my faith is knowing he is good and that his glory is revealed when he responds to prayer in the way that is best for me and others. That is when he is glorified.

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[1]Adam Clark, Clark’s Commentary, (Seattle: Biblesoft, 2005), Leviticus 27:29.

[2]C. F. Keil and F. Delitzsch, Biblical Commentary on the Old Testament, 10 vols. (Hendrickson Publishers, Inc. 1996), Leviticus 27:28-29, Electronic Database, Biblesoft.

[3]Clark, Leviticus 27:29..

March 2: Leviticus 25:47 – 27:13; Psalm 45; Proverbs 10:22; Mark 10:32-10:52

Overview

            Leviticus: If an Israelite sells himself to a foreigner in the country, the same redemption rights apply as with an Israelite selling himself to a fellow Israelite. The redemption is calculated by the price of a hired servant and the number of years until the year of jubilee.

            The Lord reiterates that he is to be worshiped and not idols. The Sabbaths are to be kept. When Israel walks in the Lord’s statues, he will bless the nation. Rains will come at the right time, food will be plentiful, and there will be peace in the land. They will overwhelm their enemies with only a few warriors. The Lord will dwell with them and he will not abhor them.

            Disobedience of the statutes will bring panic, diseases, and oppression by enemies. The Lord will be against them to break their pride and there will be famine. Wild beast will attack them. The Lord repeats four times that he will repay them sevenfold for their sins.

            The Lord will send them captive to their enemies’ land and their land will have a Sabbath rest. Those who remain will live in fear of their enemies. The ones in the foreign land will rot and perish there. It will be a result of their sins.

            If they confess their sins and repent in humility, the Lord will remember the covenant with Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob. He will not spurn them, abhor them, or utterly destroy them in the foreign lands.

            The Lord then provides regulations for making a vow of dedication to the Lord of people or animals. A person dedicated to the Lord is valued according to his or her age. That amount is paid. If the person making the vow is poor and can’t afford the standard amount, the priest will determine how much the person should pay.

            Animals that are dedicated become an offering the animal cannot be substituted for a different animal. If someone does try to make an exchange, then both become dedicated to the Lord. An unclean animal may not be sacrificed so the value of it must be paid as determined by the priest. The person may redeem the animal by paying the value plus one fifth.

            Psalm: The king is described as a very handsome man who is a mighty warrior for the causes of truth, meekness, and righteousness. Verses 6 and 7 are messianic as the Psalm turns toward God and not the king. It continues with a description of a wedding, instructions for the bride, description of the bride, and the bride’s entrance. The king’s future is described.

            Proverbs: The Lord makes a person rich and when he does it, sorrows do not accompany it.

            Mark: As Jesus and his disciples walk toward Jerusalem, Jesus tells again of his impending death in more detail. He also says he will be raised after three days. James and John ask that they will sit on Jesus’ right and left in his kingdom. He asks them if they are able to go through what he is about to go through and they answer they can. He agrees they will but, the positions of left and right are already determined. The other ten disciples heard it and were upset. Jesus reminds them all that to be great in the kingdom they need to be slaves unlike the Gentiles who lord it over others. He points to himself being a ransom for many rather than coming to be served.

            When they pass through Jericho, a blind beggar hears that Jesus is passing by. He cries out for the Son of David to have mercy on him. People try to silence him but Jesus calls for him and the crowd’s tune changes. Jesus asks what he wants. He wants his sight. Jesus heals him and tells him to go his way, but he follows Jesus.

What Stood Out

            Leviticus: “I will continue striking you, sevenfold for your sins” (Lev 26:21).

            Psalm: “Hear, O daughter, and consider, and incline your ear: forget your people and your father's house” (Ps 45:10).

            Proverbs: “It is the blessing of the Lord that makes rich, And He adds no sorrow to it” (Prov 10:22 NASU).

            Mark: “And throwing off his cloak, he sprang up and came to Jesus” (Mark 10:50).

Insight

            Leviticus: People are very stubborn, especially when it comes to sin. The Lord called Israel stiff-necked several time (Ex 32:9; 33:3, 5; 34:9). When it comes time to reiterate his statues with their blessings for obedience and curses for disobedience, it isn’t remarkable that he spends four times as much time describing punishment for disobedience than he does blessings for obedience. Four times, he tells the people that he will repay them sevenfold for their sins. Each punishment is detailed and explicit. When they undergo these disciplines and punishments, they should understand why it is happening. That is why the psalmist in yesterday’s reading in Psalm 44 appeared to be so arrogant. He was complaining because God was doing the very thing that he had promised to do if the nation sinned.

            Today’s society should pay careful attention to the way God laid out his promises. The blessings are short and sweet. He didn’t have to say it four different ways to convey the concept of his blessings. On the other hand, he knew the people to be stiff-necked so he essentially repeated his punishments four different ways. When we set boundaries for our children, we should do it in the same way. Tell them the rewards for obedience but quadruple the time spent explaining the consequences if hey disobey. That would probably offend child physiologists.

            The problem is that our tolerant society believes we are basically good instead of basically sinful. They believe that emphasizing the negative consequences of bad behavior instead of only dangling rewards is poor motivation. On the contrary, God’s example is based on knowing our sinful hearts and he does both, but puts more emphasis on the consequences of bad behavior.

            However, God also tells us of the rewards for repentance. It is having him dwell with us. While he dwelled in the tabernacle with Israel, we now have the promise of eternal life and the Holy Spirit living in us. The world system can’t compete with that!

            Psalm: While this Psalm was probably written for a wedding for a king, it is also very symbolic and applicable to the Bride of Christ. Psalm 45:6-7 is quoted in the book of Hebrews and is specifically attributed to Jesus (Heb 1:8-9). This makes it easy to attribute the rest of the verses to either the Church as the Bride of Christ or to Jesus. One thing that stands out is that the bride is now leaving her father’s house. She is told to forget her people and her father’s house because the king is now her lord (Ps 45:10-11).

            This is exactly what we must do when we come to Christ. We must forget our old life of sin and our allegiance to the evils of this world. We are now coming into a new life where Jesus is Lord. We must bow before him. Jesus will have many sons who replace the fathers. Instead of the Church being built on the patriarchs, the whole Church becomes a royal priesthood (1 Peter 2:9-10). Jesus will be praised forever and ever.

            Proverbs: It’s easy to look at Proverbs and find prosperity gospel verses. But this really isn’t one. Yes, the Lord does make people rich. After all, he is in control and gives us the ability to become rich (Deut 8:18). This Proverb affirms it. When he is the one that provides riches, and we acknowledge that he is the one who has done it, then we will not have the sorrows over it as do those who wish to get rich by their own desires (1 Tim 6:9-10).

            Mark: The blind man who heard Jesus was passing by had great faith. His first demonstration of faith was his knowledge of who Jesus is. He calls out to him, “Son of David.” Just how does a blind man in Jericho know that Jesus is the Son of David? Obviously, he had to hear that from someone else. A few days ago, we read that Jesus asked who the people said he was. Their answers were odd, Elijah or John the Baptist raised from the dead. Neither of these would have qualified him as the Son of David. So somewhere between Jesus’ time in Caesarea Philippi (Mark 8:27) and his way to Jerusalem, people are becoming more aware of who Jesus is and that he is a descendent of David. People are talking about Jesus and this blind man, Bartimaeus, has been listening. He’s heard about the healings and miracles that Jesus has done.

            When he calls out to Jesus, people try to shush him. His response is to yell even louder. Like now, some people don’t call on Jesus because they don’t want to trouble him. Other try to keep people with faith quiet. A person with faith is going to call on Jesus and no one can stop him.

            When Jesus calls, Bartimaeus does something no self-preserving blind man would do. He throws off his cloak. His cloak could very well be the only thing he owns as poverty and blindness usually go together. It is what keeps him warm at night wherever he is. Being blind, led through a crowd to Jesus and if he remained blind, it may be impossible for him to find it again. But he doesn’t care because he has heard the Messiah call for him. Do we react with the same abandon when Jesus calls? Do we trust that life after coming to Jesus will be different, not necessarily physically, but spiritually?

            Bartimaeus most likely had assurance that Jesus would heal him before he tossed his coat. Yet, his faith is still in Jesus working a miracle. He doesn’t yet know that Jesus is his eternal Savior as well as his healer. Jesus does heal him. But Jesus tells him to “go his way” (Mark 10:52). A continued demonstration of his faith is that his way was to follow Jesus.

            He didn’t have a perfect faith because he didn’t know everything about Jesus. But he had enough faith. He puts many of us to shame by immediately following Jesus instead of going back to his old way of life.

Application

            I need to pay attention to God’s promises. I love his promises for eternal life. I don’t like his promises for discipline. However, I probably should pay more attention to them so that I don’t have to undergo discipline for my stubbornness. Thankfully, he also promises restoration when I confess and repent.

March 1: Leviticus 24 – 25:46; Psalm 44:9-25; Proverbs 10:21; Mark 10:13-10:31

Overview

            Leviticus: The Lord continues to explain the nuances of the Law. The high priest must keep the lamp inside the tabernacle burning every night. The people supply the oil. The people also supply the showbread baked exactly the way the Lord describes. The high priest arranges it daily. The priest eat the bread the next day.

            A man blasphemed the Lord during a fight and the people wanted to know what to do. So the Lord had everyone who heard it lay their hands on the his head and the congregation stoned him. This is the penalty for blaspheming the Lord.

            If a person harms another, the penalty is to do the same harm back. If an animal is killed, the person must pay it back. If a person is murdered, then the murder is put to death.

            The land is to be plowed and vines tended for six years but not on the seventh. What grows by itself on the seventh year must not be harvested. Rather than harvesting, the people and animals are to take what they need out of the field.

            Every forty-nine years a year of jubilee is declared on the Day of Atonement. A trumpet is blown and all the land sold during the forty-nine years will be returned to the original owner. The fiftieth year is the same as the seventh with no planting or harvesting. Property sold during the forty-nine years will be valued based on the time remaining to the fiftieth year.

            Doing this will ensure large crops and living securely in the land. If anyone worries about what to eat during the seventh and eighth year, the Lord promises that the sixth year will produce enough for food and seed until the harvest of the ninth year.

            There are some more specifics about selling property during the forty-nine years. Close relatives may buy it back before the jubilee. Houses within walled cities may only be redeemed for one year. After that, they belong to the person who bought it. Houses in villages without walls are treated the same as land. Houses belonging to Levites are also treated the same as land regardless of where they are.

            Israelites are to take care of the poor the same as foreigners or sojourners. They are not to charge interest or make a profit on food sold to them. If they are so poor as to sell themselves to an Israelite, they are to be treated as hired workers, not slaves. They are freed on the year of jubilee. Treating them this way shows that they fear the Lord.

            However, Israelites are permitted to own slaves who are foreigners. These slaves are treated as permanent property being transferred to the next generation.

            Psalm: After boasting in the Lord, the psalmist now turns to complaining about how God has abandoned Israel to their enemies. He goes on for eight verses detailing how God has let them down. He then says that they have been faithful but God has sent these problems. He then asks God to wake up and redeem them.

            Proverbs: When a person is righteous, what he says blesses many people. But fools die when they don’t pay attention.

            Mark: People were bringing children to Jesus so they could be blessed. The disciples tried to stop them but Jesus said to let them come because the kingdom belonged to people who had faith like them.

            A rich young man approached Jesus asking what he must do to have eternal life. Jesus tells him to keep the commandments. He says he has. Jesus looks at him and loves him. He then tells him to sell all he has, give it to the poor, and follow him. The man then sorrowfully turns and leaves.

            Jesus tells his disciple that it hard for rich people to be saved. That really bothers them and asks who can be saved. Jesus replies it is only possible with God. The disciples, still concerned, say they have left everything, so what will they have. Jesus tells them whatever they left in this life, they will have one hundred times over along with persecution, and eternal life. But many who are first here will be last there and vice versa.

What Stood Out

            Leviticus: “I will command my blessing on you in the sixth year, so that it will produce a crop sufficient for three years” (Lev 25:21).

            Psalm: “Awake! Why are you sleeping, O Lord?” (Ps 44:23).

            Proverbs: “Fools die for lack of sense” (Prov 10:21).

            Mark: “Let the children come to me;  do not hinder them” (Mark 10:14).

Insight

            Leviticus: God’s economy is nothing like what we would dream up. Ours is focused on getting what we can and canning what get. We store up and provide for ourselves. We are self-sufficient and never sure about the future. So here comes God and tells people that they can’t plant or harvest every seven years. I know that some farmers used to rotate their fields so that each field would be left fallow for one out of every seven years. However, they didn’t do that all at once like God commanded Israel.

            The mistaken belief is that the land will produce better if it has one year to recharge itself. Yes, he called it a year of solemn rest for the land, but it is a rest unto the Lord (Lev 25:4). But that isn’t the primary purpose of the seventh year. The key is found in Leviticus 25:21. God provided in the sixth year enough to take everyone through to the harvest in the ninth year. He made a promise and his down payment on the promise was an abundant harvest on the sixth year. He then expected his people to trust him and do what he commanded. If the people believed God and were faithful, then God promised continuing prosperity and security. Every seven years they had to renew their faith in God.

            This economy was also self-limiting. We are always trying to get more and bigger, houses, property, money, or whatever. It leads to inflation. Their economy was based on collapsing back to what was first established forty-nine years in the past. Values of property were based not on how much someone was willing to pay but how long it would be before you had to give it back. We are so ingrained in capitalism that we can’t imagine how a society could exist like this. I think it gets back to trusting the Lord because he knows best.

            Psalm: I want to stand back and get away from this psalmist. I want to do this whenever I hear anyone blaming God for his troubles. I don’t want to be in the vicinity when lightning strikes. OK, I know that God doesn’t do that to people who shake their fist in his face and blame him for their problems, but I wouldn’t blame him if he did.

            The “Sons of Korah” wrote this Psalm. Based on the problems Israel is facing, this must have been written quite a while after David and Solomon. It may have even been after the Assyrians took the northern kingdom into captivity (Ps 44:11). I wonder if the psalmist was clueless as to what was going on in the country. How can he say that they had not forgotten God? That is precisely why they were sent into captivity and why their enemies were trouncing them. Maybe the psalmist was one of the few who had remained faithful, but if that were so, he should have been very aware of how far the country had drifted.

            The psalmist is arrogant, calling on God to wake up. This is like a prosperity preacher hitting the wall. He finds out that his wealth is gone and the IRS has caught up with him. Rather than repenting and turning as some have done while in prison, he is still expecting God to rescue him without admitting to his guilt.

            Proverbs: I really hope that what I write is a blessing to others. I know that I don’t always get it right, but somewhere in this I pray people will be fed. If I’m doing a good job, then maybe someone who lacks sense will read this and be helped instead of dying of foolishness.

            Mark: Jesus had a very soft spot in his heart for children. He made comments about how bad it would be for someone who caused a little one to sin (Matt 18:6). He didn’t want anyone to hinder a child from coming to him (Mark 10:14). He took them in his arms and blessed them (Mark 10:16). We need to receive the kingdom of God in the same way as they do.

            They are completely dependent on their parents. A small child will soon perish if their parents are not constantly watching over them. We must feed, clothe, clean, protect from danger, and love children or they will perish. If we don’t realize that God does the same for us, we will perish. We must acknowledge our complete dependence on our heavenly Father. We must allow him to love us and respond to that love in obedience and gratitude. Most of all, we must allow him to cleanse us from all our sins through the blood of Jesus. We can only do that by faith and even that is a gift of God.

            Children believe everything their parents tell them. We must believe everything that our heavenly Father tells us in the Bible. Like little children, we don’t always understand it but we should accept it because we trust him just like a tiny tot trusts his parents.

            Since kids believe all their parents tell them, it is extremely important for us to make sure we teach them correctly. Parents who think they can ignore a child’s spiritual development and let them decide which way is correct when they are older are guilty of hindering their children from coming to Jesus. The ones that decidedly teach another way or that there is no way are even worse. They have put roadblocks in the way of their development. The ones who say what is right but belittle or exasperate their children, or live ungodly lives are just as bad. Because Jesus loves the little children, being parents that hinder their children is not a good place to be.

Application

            I want to be a person who sees God’s gracious hand in all things going on in the world. I want to avoid blaming God when it doesn’t go the way I want. If he disciplines me or my country, I don’t want to have to ask why. I want to know him well enough so that I recognize the why. I need to repent of some of my attitudes about what is going on as well.

February 28/29: Leviticus 22:17 – 23; Psalm 44:1-8; Proverbs 10:19-20; Mark 9:30-10:12

Overview

            Leviticus: The Lord told Moses the regulations for burnt, vow, freewill, and peace offerings. These pertain mainly to the condition of the sacrifice. They must be perfect, without blemish. If they are blind, disabled, mutilated, scabby, or anything else wrong, they must not be offered. The only exception is a bull or lamb with a part that is too small or too long is satisfactory as a freewill offering. However, it isn’t acceptable for a vow offering. It is unacceptable to offer an animal before it is eight days old. It must not be killed on the same day as its mother.

            The commands are provided so that God’s name will not be profaned. He is to be set apart (sanctified) among the people of Israel. He is the one who sanctifies Israel.

            Then the Lord reviews the feast days of Israel. The Sabbath is the first. It is a holy convocation (ESV). No work is to be done.

            The second is the Passover. It starts on the evening of the fourteenth day of the first month. No bread with leaven may be eaten for seven days. The first day is a holy convocation. Food offerings are made for seven days. The seventh day is a holy convocation.

            The third is the Festival of Firstfruits. When the first grain is harvested, a sheaf is brought on the day after the Sabbath and waved before the Lord. A male lamb burnt offering, a food offering of grain, and a drink offering are all required after the sheaf is waved. No one is to eat of the new harvest before this is done.

            The fourth is the Festival of Weeks. Seven weeks after firstfruits, that is fifty days after the Sabbath of the firstfruits, will be a holy convocation with offerings of grain, loaves, seven lambs, one bull and two male lambs (burnt offerings), one male goat (sin offering), two male lambs (peace offerings).

            The fifth is the Feast of Trumpets. It is a day of rest on the first day of the seventh month. Food offerings are presented.

            The sixth is the Day of Atonement on the tenth day of the seventh month. It is a holy convocation, a day to deny (afflict) oneself and present a food offering. If a person doesn’t afflict himself he will be cut off from his people.

            The seventh is the Feast of Booths on the fifteenth day of the seventh month. It lasts for seven days presenting food offerings. It starts with a holy convocation and the eighth day is also a holy convocation with a food offering. During the seven days, the people are to dwell n booths made from tree branches. They are to celebrate, remembering that the Lord brought them out of Egypt and made them dwell in booths.

            Psalm: The Psalmist recounts what he has heard of God’s salvation for Israel. God drove out the people of Canaan, not by the power of Israel. He did it because he loved them. He proclaims that God is their king and that he is still saving them from their enemies. For that reason, they will boast in the Lord and give thanks to him forever.

            Proverbs: The more we talk, the more likely we are to sin. There are times when it is best to keep silent. A righteous person’s speech is valuable but the heart of the wicked isn’t.

            Mark: One more time, Jesus tells his disciples about his impending death and resurrection. One more time, they don’t understand and they were afraid to ask. Jesus asks what they were talking about and they didn’t answer because they were talking about who was greatest. So Jesus explains the greatest is the least and servant of all.

            Jesus also explains that anyone receiving a child in his name receives him and the one who sent him. John diverts the conversation to a person who was casting out demons in Jesus’ name but he was not one of the disciples. John tried to stop the person but Jesus said not to because he would not be able to speak evil about Jesus.

            Jesus then explains the seriousness of tempting believers to sin and the seriousness of ridding sin the keeps us from salvation from our lives. He use hyperbole to say that one must cut out any part of his body that causes him to sin.

            Jesus then teaches about divorce because the Pharisees asked if it was lawful. Jesus explains the original purpose of marriage Genesis. Since God joined man and woman, people shouldn’t cause divorce. He explains that divorce and remarriage to another is adultery.

What Stood Out

            Leviticus: “I am the Lord who sanctifies you” (Lev 22:32).

            Psalm: “For not by their own sword did they win the land, nor did their own arm save them” (Ps 44:3).

            Proverbs: “Whoever restrains his lips is prudent” (Prov 10:19).

            Mark: “For the one who is not against us is for us” (Mark 9:40).

Insight

            Leviticus: It was extremely important for Israel to follow the regulations for all these offerings. They were to do them in this way because the other nations had their own ways. God’s way set the people apart from the other nations. He said, “I am the Lord who sanctifies you” (Lev 22:32). This is one of the compound names of God, Yahweh Mac-caddeshcem.

            This name means, “The LORD Thy Sanctifier.” The word, Mac-caddeshcem, is the verb form of qadosh, to make holy or set apart. “In the Old Testament qadosh has a strongly religious connotation. In one sense the word describes an object or place or day to be ‘holy’ with the meaning of ‘devoted’ or ‘dedicated’ to a particular purpose.” [1]The context is God giving Israel the command to make the sacrifices properly so that his name is not profaned. It signifies their separation (holiness) from the other nations. God separated them; it isn’t something that they did on their own. Therefore, God is their sanctifier. As it relates to us, we have been sanctified by the Holy Spirit. It isn’t anything we can do on our own merits.

            The nations around Israel created their own forms of worship. They thought that their sacrifices could appease their gods and bring them into a relationship with those gods. The Lord sanctifying Israel shows us that our methods of religion are useless. They only profane his name. We must depend on God sanctifying us.

            Unfortunately, Israel morphed from what God intended to trying to establish their righteousness based on their laws and traditions. Paul explains how that relates to us today, “For, being ignorant of the righteousness that comes from God, and seeking to establish their own, they did not submit to God's righteousness. For Christ is the end of the law for righteousness to everyone who believes” (Rom 10:3-4). Jesus is our sanctifier.

            All these festivals were reminders that God was taking care of them. The Passover showed that God saves. The other festivals demonstrated God’s provision for all their needs. When we believe and trust in Jesus to be our Mac-caddeshcem, we know that he is sufficient for all our needs.

            Psalm: The wonder of reading the Old Testament is that we can see all that God has done from the beginning of time. We can see how he worked in the individuals lives of the Jewish patriarchs. This is exactly what the psalmist was doing as he referred to what his fathers had told him. It put life in perspective and makes sure we don’t think too much of ourselves. If we paid more attention to the Old Testament, we would realize that nothing happens because of our own abilities. It only happens because God is working to make sure it happens. We can boast in his sovereignty over all things, but we can’t boast in our own feeble attempts to control our surroundings. The sooner we learn this, the better off we are. Then we will know it is God working through and in us. We will realize along with Paul that God’s grace is sufficient for us, his power is made perfect in our weakness, and we can then boast in our weakness because Christ’s power is resting on us (2 Cor 12:9).

            Proverbs: We should all be careful in the way we speak. Some people talk and can’t seem to stop. They always have to be yammering on and on. The danger is that in doing so, there isn’t much thought going into it. When there isn’t much thought, there is the potential for gossip, slander, and carelessness causing hurt to others. James warns us that only a perfect person does not stumble in what he says (James 3:2). Restraining our tongue doesn’t mean we are perfect. It simply means that we have more opportunity to consider what we say and avoid many sins. When that happens, what we say will be considered valuable, like silver.

            Mark: Have you ever wondered what Jesus meant when he said that anyone who is not against us is for us (Mark 9:40)? Does that mean that a person who doesn’t believe in Jesus but is not actively opposing Christianity is really helping Christianity? It is puzzling for me because Ephesians 2:1-2 indicate that anyone who is not saved is following Satan. In addition, Jesus said that anyone who is not with him is against him and scatters while Jesus gathers (Matt 12:30).

            The context may help understand this because this verse is sandwiched between receiving a child in Jesus’ name and giving a cup of water to a disciple. Both of these have rewards. The person who uses Jesus name properly won’t be able to speak evil of Jesus. On the other hand, the one that is clearly against Jesus is one who causes others to sin.

            As I look at this, it appears that Jesus is talking about people whose hearts are being softened by God. The first person expresses a soft heart by receiving a child in Jesus’ name. I wonder how many people adopted a child from a Christian adoption agency even though they were not Christians. They now have the care of one of these little ones that Jesus had been protecting. I believe God uses that to bring them to a crisis point. They are either softened or hardened. That happened to me when my ex-wife and I adopted a girl from the Holt Adoption Agency. It wasn’t much later that I became a Christian.

            However, the warning is also true for the one that will adopt or be a foster parent but teach or steer the child away from the Lord. That person is hardened and Jesus’ advice is to do everything possible to remove sin or end up in hell. I don’t think Jesus was advocating salvation by works or self mutilation as the statements are clearly hyperbole. If the Lord working through interaction with other Christians, whether children or disciples, doesn’t soften a person, then perhaps this warning will break through his heard heart.

Application

            I need sanctification in my life, always. It isn’t just a one-time deal but a daily dedication to the Lord. Remembering what God has already done for me helps. I must be careful about what I say or write. I pray it helps others rather than causes someone to sin.

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[1]W. E. Vine, Merrill F. Unger, William White, Jr., Vine's Expository Dictionary of Biblical Words, s.v. “OT:6942,” (Thomas Nelson Publishers, 1985), Biblesoft edition.