DId God Really Say…

February 22, 2024

Read Leviticus 9, Psalm 53, Hebrews 9

Have you ever done a “doubletake” before? A doubletake is when you must take a second look at something. Maybe you thought you saw something or someone that you recognized. Maybe it was something unbelievable that you had to take a second look to make sure you weren’t crazy. Doubletake is all about taking a more careful and calculated look at something to see if you can confirm your suspicions. These chapters today remind me in several ways of a double take.

First, Leviticus 9 is a chapter describing when God instructed Moses to present Aaron and the other priests before the Lord and the people. God told them to offer a sacrifice as they began their ministry in the tabernacle as high priest before the Lord. Again, we read about the blood of the bull calf that had to be sprinkled on all four sides of the altar. The process is very similar to how God instructed Moses to ordain Arron and his sons in the previous chapter. At the end of the chapter, we read this majestic scene of God sending down fire and consuming the offering that was made. “Moses and Aaron then went into the Tent of Meeting. When they came out, they blessed the people; and the glory of the LORD appeared to all the people. ²⁴ Fire came out from the presence of the LORD and consumed the burnt offering and the fat portions on the altar. And when all the people saw it, they shouted for joy and fell face down.” vv. 23-24.

As you read Psalm 53 you might be thinking, “This sounds familiar. Haven’t I read this before?” Many will quickly say that Psalm 53 and Psalm 14 are the exact same psalm. For some reason this has caused people to question the Word of God. Keep in mind, that these chapters in Psalms are songs, poems, and writings from people for all types of occasions and purposes. Think about how some songs today are rewritten and sung again by different artists and returned to a different flavor. But if we take a double take at these two psalms you will see that they are not exactly alike after all. Psalm 14 uses the divine name “Yahweh” and Psalm 53 uses the generic name for God “Elohim.” They share the exact same message, and one was apparently rewritten latter to emphasize the Lord in a different way. The later verses vary just slightly as well. The same theme of evildoers that will not prevail and will be brought to justice is present in both psalms.

The author of Hebrews is again comparing Jesus with another part of the Old Testament. In Hebrews 9 the author tells us that Jesus is better than the priest of the Old Testament. The high priest would enter the Most Holy place once a year and offer a sacrifice, but Jesus offered a sacrifice of his own blood. The priest would enter into the most Holy place in the presence of God, but Jesus entered into Heaven, not just a inner room in the Tabernacle. “He did not enter by means of the blood of goats and calves; but he entered the Most Holy Place once for all by his own blood, having obtained eternal redemption” v. 12. The blood sprinkled on the altar in the Old Testament was part of the covenant that God made with Israel. This is the way they would atone for sin and keep God’s covenant. The author of Hebrews states, “In the same way, he sprinkled with the blood both the tabernacle, and everything used in its ceremonies. ²² In fact, the law requires that nearly everything be cleansed with blood, and without the shedding of blood there is no forgiveness” vv. 21-22.

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