A List of Do’s and Don’ts”

March 3, 2024

March 3, 2024

Read Leviticus 19, Psalm 63, Galatians 6

Have you heard someone summarize the Bible with the phrase, “The Bible is not a list of Do’s and Don’ts?” They are trying to encourage us not to look at the Bible simply as a book that says, “Don’t do this…. Do this….” On one hand, the Bible is much more complex that a list of rules that we can check off. But there are some passages where it does become a list of commands we need to follow. Leviticus 19 is just one of those passages. As you read through these verses you might start grouping the laws into categories in your mind. Sone laws you can read and find immediate agreement with, “Do not steal, do not lie, Do not deceive one another…” v. 11. Then you might read other verses that cause you pause and question why that is a law. “Do not mate different kinds of animals. Do not plant your field with two kinds of seed. Do not wear clothing woven of two kinds of material” v. 19.

We must remember that there were different types of laws in the Old Testament times. The moral law, the civic laws, and the ceremonial laws for sacrificial systems. Only the moral laws and laws that are repeated in the New Testament are still applicable for Christians today. We no longer have to offer sacrifices because of Jesus ultimate sacrifice on the cross and we are not bound by the civic laws of the nation of Israel because we do not live in that forgone nation. Think of it like moving from California to Georgia. You no longer have to abide by the laws of California if you live in Georgia. We might not understand some of the civic laws in Leviticus 19, but they were most likely to call Israel to live differently than the nations around them. They were to be a “light to the Gentiles.”

Leviticus 19 is a reminder that there are some Scriptures that are black and white. Things that we can easily read and understand. The obedience is the harder part. Knowing what to do and then doing it are two different things.

What else do you see in these chapters? What words and phrases stand out to you?
Add your thoughts below.

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Posted by John Weldon

“Scapegoat”

February 29, 2024

February 29, 2024

Read Leviticus 16, Psalm 60, Galatians 3

Have you ever heard of or used the term “scapegoat?” Today, a scapegoat is a person who is blamed for wrong doings, mistakes, or faults of others. Usually done in a quick manner. Maybe you were somebody else’s scapegoat or maybe you were the one blaming the other person. I’m sure this gets done quite often in a workplace, a school, and most of all between siblings. The term comes from Leviticus 16 from a practice that was done on the Day of Atonement. One time a year Aaron or the high priest would enter the Most Holy place and offer two sacrifices of a goat. “He is to take two male goats for a sin offering and a ram for a burnt offering” v. 5. After using a bull to sacrifice for his own sin the Lord describes these most curious instructions for Aaron to follow. “Then he is to take the two goats and present them before the LORD at the entrance to the Tent of Meeting. 8 He is to cast lots for the two goats—one lot for the LORD and the other for the scapegoat.a 9 Aaron shall bring the goat whose lot falls to the LORD and sacrifice it for a sin offering. 10 But the goat chosen by lot as the scapegoat shall be presented alive before the LORD to be used for making atonement by sending it into the desert as a scapegoat” vv. 7-10. Aaron or the high priest would lay hands on the “scapegoat” and send it away to run into the wilderness which would represent the sins of the people being carried away and removed from their camp. What else do you see in these chapters? What words, phrases, or themes stand out to you?
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Posted by John Weldon

“Skin Rashes, Sores, and White Hairs”

February 26, 2024

February 26, 2024

Read Leviticus 13, Psalm 57, Hebrews 13

Warning: You better not ready Leviticus 13 after you just ate! Skin rashes, sores with white hairs, and raw flesh with swelling are just some of the things you will read about in that important chapter. One of the takeaways from this chapter is that God had a plan to control and treat infectious diseases. The Israelites were to quarantine for a period of time and then have a “checkup” with the priest before they were declared clean again. You might be wondering why did God tell them to see a priest and not a doctor? “When anyone has an infectious skin disease, he must be brought to the priest” v. 6. At this time in history there were no doctors like we have today. Most of the educated people were the priests and their general knowledge was good for examining the needs of the people.

Hebrews 13 is the conclusion of the book of Hebrews. Even though we do not know who wrote the book, we do know that the author had some kind of connection with Timothy because he is mentioned at the end. “I want you to know that our brother Timothy has been released. If he arrives soon, I will come with him to see you. 24 Greet all your leaders and all God’s people. Those from Italy send you their greetings. 25 Grace be with you all” vv. 23-25. The final remarks are aimed at the church and how they should live out their faith. Verse 2 discusses the important topic of hospitality. The author seems to imply that the angel may “test us” from time to time to see how we treat others. “Do not forget to entertain strangers, for by so doing some people have entertained angels without knowing it” v. 2.

The author encourages the readers to remain sexually pure, keep the marriage bed sacred, and to not be carried away by strange teachings. Before the author closes the letter out, he circles back once more to Jesus as the High Priest who has paved the way for us all.  The comparison of the burned offering being taken outside the city is compared Jesus who was crucified also outside the city of Jerusalem. He adds, “Through Jesus, therefore, let us continually offer to God a sacrifice of praise—the fruit of lips that confess his name” v. 15.

What else do you see in these chapters? What words, phrases, or themes stand out to you?
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Posted by John Weldon

“Unclean vs. Sin”

February 25, 2024

February 25, 2024

Read Leviticus 12, Psalm 56, Hebrews 12

As you read Leviticus 12 it is important to note the difference between being ceremonially unclean and committing a sin. There were three types of laws in the Old Testament. The moral law which instructed Israel and everyone else on how to live their lives. The civic laws of the nation of Israel which were only bound to the Israelites and not to other nations. These laws were meant to represent God’s standard before the other nations as a witness to God. The ceremonial laws were the laws that Israel was to observe when they were to come before the Lord to offer a sacrifice or approach the tabernacle or temple. These laws focused on the person remaining clean before the Lord when they came to offer a sacrifice. If an Israelite were to become unclean by touching a dead body, dead animal, or a bodily discharge it would make that person unclean and they would have to take steps to purify themselves before coming in the presence of the Lord or in their community. It didn’t signify that they committed a sin necessarily. If a person was ceremonially unclean and neglected to properly purify themselves, it could possibly lead to sin and exclusion from the community.

Leviticus 12 describes the process of purification that a woman would have to undergo after childbirth. “Say to the Israelites: ‘A woman who becomes pregnant and gives birth to a son will be ceremonially unclean for seven days, just as she is unclean during her monthly period.” v. 2.

As New Testament believers we are not bound to the sacrificial system of the Old Testament. Jesus’ death on the cross for our sins was the payment once for all. However, there might be activities that we participate in today that would not be considered sinful, but they might be akin to the unclean attitude we take when coming before the Lord. We might not want to come in to a church or setting where we set aside time to honor God and his holiness and have a disregard for our own personal cleanliness. We might not want to practice a spiritual discipline like reading the Bible or praying while we are working in certain situations as a sign of respect toward God.

What else do you see in these three chapters? What words, phrases, or themes stick out to you?
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Posted by John Weldon

“Blood”

February 21, 2024

February 21, 2024

Read Leviticus 8, Psalm 52, Hebrews 8

Are you squeamish at the sight of blood or are you the type of person that can handle those war movies, medical shows, or other movies that show a lot of blood? Maybe reading this right now puts an uneasy thought in your mind.  Reading through the various instructions for offering sacrifices in the book of Leviticus has reminded me that living in ancient Israel would have been a very bloody ordeal. In Leviticus 8 we read, “Moses slaughtered the bull and took some of the blood, and with his finger he put it on all the horns of the altar to purify the altar. He poured out the rest of the blood at the base of the altar” v. 15. You may wonder, what’s up with all the blood? Why does God demand a sacrifice such as this? When we back up we are reminded of the tenth plague in Exodus, the plague of the first born that would die unless any Israelite or Egypt put the blood of the lamb over the doorpost of their home. If we go back even further to Genesis 9 we read that God demanded an accounting for someone who took the life of another. “And for your lifeblood I will surely demand an accounting. I will demand an accounting from every animal. And from each man, too, I will demand an accounting for the life of his fellow man. 6 “Whoever sheds the blood of man, by man shall his blood be shed; for in the image of God has God made man.” vv. 5-6. We see already here that the “lifeblood” is used as a system of justice by God.

Fast-forward to the New Testament and of course we god straight to the cross that Jesus shed his blood for us. Jesus blood was shed not just for one person or for one sin, but for the sins of the whole world, once and for all. As you read through the chapters in Leviticus and in Hebrews we are reminded that Jesus is our great high priest and that God brought a new covenant to us through His Son Jesus. “But God found fault with the people and said: ‘The time is coming, declares the Lord, when I will make a new covenant with the house of Israel and with the house of Judah. 9 It will not be like the covenant I made with their forefathers when I took them by the hand to lead them out of Egypt, because they did not remain faithful to my covenant, and I turned away from them,’” vv. 8-9. The blood may be difficult to think about, but without it we would be without hope and doomed to continue the sacrificial system from the Old Testament.

What else do you see in these chapters? What words, phrases, and themes stand out to you?
Add your thoughts below.

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Posted by John Weldon

“Elementary”

February 19, 2024

February 19, 2024

Read Leviticus 6, Psalm 50, Hebrews 6

What do you remember learning in your elementary school years? Shapes, colors, reading, writing, basic math? Maybe you picked up a trade like sewing, gardening, or cooking. I remember learning the basics of music like rhythm, harmony, and playing the annoying little flute like recorder and hurting everyone’s ears.

There are elementary truths we can learn about any subject; this includes the Word of God. We learn that God is Holy, compassionate, good, merciful, gracious, and forgiving. It’s always good to never lose sight of these elementary teaches from the Bible, but at the same time we do not need to stay with just these basic teachings for other deeper teachings in these areas.

In Psalm 50 God speaks boldly here. He tells Israel that He doesn’t need anything from his creation. “I have no need of a bull from your stall or of goats from your pens, 10 for every animal of the forest is mine, and the cattle on a thousand hills” vv. 9-10. Later God rebukes those in Israel who simply recite God’s laws but do not care anything for it. He sees right through their lip service. “What right have you to recite my laws or take my covenant on your lips? 17 You hate my instruction and cast my words behind you” vv. 16-17. There are people in our world today that try to shame righteous Christians by using God’s own words against them. They make a play on their compassion. It’s a no-win solution. If Christians do something they don’t like they cry, “That’s too much you went too far!” Then When Christians do something for the Lord and they don’t like it they cry just the opposite, “You didn’t do enough, you should have done this too!”

In Hebrews 6 the author challenges us to “leave the elementary teachings about Christ and go on to maturity” v. 1. He names some things such as repentance, faith in God, baptism, praying for others, and the resurrection and judgment that is to come. Reading that list made me wonder how many people would see those topics as elementary today. We seem to be stuck on the love of God in the culture we live in today. All the surveys tell us that people are more biblically illiterate than ever before. This is why we must stay in God’s Word and have a steady intake of it in our lives. Have you taken a spiritual inventory of your knowledge from the Word of God? No matter what you would place yourself, novice, beginner, intermediate, or advanced, we all have work to do, and we all have room to grow in our knowledge of God’s Word.

What else do you see in these chapters? What words, phrases, or themes stick out to you?
Add your thoughts below?

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Posted by John Weldon

“The Sin of Silence”

February 18, 2024

February 18, 2024

Read Leviticus 5, Psalm 49, Hebrews 5

Years ago, a show aired called “What Would You Do?” Using hidden cameras, host John Quiñones observed and commented on how ordinary people behaved when they were confronted with dilemmas that require them either to take action or to walk by and mind their own business. The show had a variety of dilemmas that were setup from acts of racism to coworkers cheating and stealing their companies. John Quiñones would question the bystanders after the setup was over and ask them why or why not they got involved.

Here in Leviticus 5 we see a biblical mandate to do what this show put to the test in our culture. “If a person sins because he does not speak up when he hears a public charge to testify regarding something he has seen or learned about, he will be held responsible” v. 1. We see the law called it a sin to know something and yet sit in silence and do nothing. When Cain was confronted by God after killing his brother Abel, Cain responds, “Am I my brother’s keeper?” I think there is some responsibility that Leviticus teaches us to own.

A few verses later we see that we must also carefully consider the promises that we make and keep them to our highest level of intent. “Or if a person thoughtlessly takes an oath to do anything, whether good or evil—in any matter one might carelessly swear about—even though he is unaware of it, in any case when he learns of it he will be guilty” v. 4. The world makes so little of lying compared to other sins they commit, but God says it is a big deal. All these verses tell us we must carefully think through the big and little decisions we make in life. We must own up to our responsibility as children of God and as His representatives.

What else do you see in these chapters? What words, phrases, or themes stand out to you?
Add your thoughts below.

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Posted by John Weldon

“Jesus > Moses”

February 16, 2024

February 16, 2024

Read Leviticus 3, Psalm 47, Hebrews 3

When I was a student pastor or when I was coaching a rec league soccer team, I knew I could always get the students talking by asking some opinion questions. Who is the greatest basketball player of all time… Who is the greatest soccer player of all time, who is the greatest superhero of all time…. This would always kick start a debate between everyone. As a cello player the debate was between Lenard Rose or Yo Yo Ma and Pablo Casals. You probably have people that you consider the greatest (fill in the blank) as well.

When it comes to the greatest person to have ever lived You must go to Jesus of Nazareth. He was a real historical person who lived in the first century AD. (In fact, He is the reason we split time BC/AD). There has been no other person on the planet that has ever had the influence and power to change people’s lives that Jesus the Christ. He did not amass an army, try to conquer any land or territory and yet He alone has changed the world. How many other religions want to claim a piece of Jesus because of his influence? To Buddhist Jesus was one of the 28 Buddhas that have come, To Muslims Jesus was a mighty prophet, and there are many other religions that will try to connect him to their own worldview.

The author of Hebrews is writing to a Jewish audience. His main point in Hebrews 3 is that Jesus is greater than Moses. “For every house is built by someone, but God is the builder of everything. 5 Moses was faithful as a servant in all God’s house, testifying to what would be said in the future. 6 But Christ is faithful as a son over God’s house.” vv. 4-6a. The author of Hebrews was using an analogy that Moses was a servant in God’s house, but Jesus, the Son was the owner of the house.

The rest of Hebrews 3 is the first of four warnings in Hebrews. These warnings are to encourage the believers not to “fall away” in disbelief. “See to it, brothers, that none of you has a sinful, unbelieving heart that turns away from the living God. 13 But encourage one another daily, as long as it is called Today, so that none of you may be hardened by sin’s deceitfulness” vv. 12-13. These verses point out the danger of sin. If we persist in sin or allow it to take hold in our lives it can pull us away from our relationship with the Lord. The good news is that any one of us can turn back to God in one moment. Repentance is a positive word.

If you are searching and really looking for what’s true. If you are trying to decide what is the right worldview, what is the correct religion, let me encourage you to start with Christianity with the original Jesus and his own teachings about himself and reality.

What else do you see in these chapters? What words, phrases, or themes stand out to you?
Add your thoughts below.

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Posted by John Weldon

“Superior”

February 14, 2024

February 14, 2024

Read Leviticus 1, Psalm 45, Hebrews 1

How many words or companies do you know that have the word superior connected to them? There’s Lake Superior, Superior HVAC, Superior Tire, Superior Credit Union, and we could go on forever. Superior as an adjective means greater in quality, quantity, etc. of high or extraordinary worth, merit, etc. The Bible teaches that God is superior. Jesus as God is equally superior to anything else in the world.

As you read Leviticus 1 you will read about the instructions from God to Moses on how to bring a proper offering to God and offer it as a sacrifice. It must be “without defect” v. 3 and meet other specifications. Why? Because God is superior and worthy of our praise and worship. Following the guidelines and doing it as God described makes it into “an aroma pleasing to the Lord” v. 17. The temptation in our times is to minimize God’s character and authority for something else, either ourselves or something created rather than the creator. How do you view God? Is He superior in every way or just some cosmic creator we must “deal” with?

Psalm 45 is a psalm credited to the Sons of Korah. The description calls it a wedding psalm which was sung during royal weddings. It praises the King who is to be married and paints him in a good light. The psalm starts by praising this king of the Jews. The psalm hints at a Jewish king who is more than just an ordinary person. “You love righteousness and hate wickedness; therefore God, your God, has set you above your companions by anointing you with the oil of joy” v. 7. There were 40 kings of Israel and Judah between the northern kingdom and southern. All the kings in the northern kingdom were wicked and described as doing evil in the eyes of the Lord. Only eight of the 20 kings in the southern kingdom of Judah were described as good and that they followed the ways of David and the Lord. This psalm may point to a future king of Israel that loves righteousness and hates wickedness.

The book of Hebrews is a book that compares Jesus to the Old Covenant and how that Jesus is superior to angels, Moses, the priests, and many other Old Testament things. We do not know who the author of Hebrews is. Hebrews 1 tells us that Jesus is superior to the angels because He is the Son of God. Jesus “the name he has inherited is superior to theirs” v. 4. Jesus as the Son is superior because the angels are just servants of God, and they worship Jesus. There is also a quote from Psalm 45 in Hebrews 1. This is confirmation that the psalmist indeed was referring to Jesus as a future righteous king. “But about the Son he says, ‘Your throne, O God, will last for ever and ever, and righteousness will be the sceptre of your kingdom. 9 You have loved righteousness and hated wickedness; therefore God, your God, has set you above your companions by anointing you with the oil of joy’” vv. 8-9.

Take a moment to recognize the superiority of Jesus in your life. Do you view and worship the Lord as you should? Have you slipped away from your view of how superior the Lord is to you and how his greatness affects your life and how you live it for the Lord.

What else do you see in these chapters? What words, phrases, or themes stand out to you?
Add your thoughts below.

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Posted by John Weldon