May 8, 2010 by Tom Brunson
Israel as a nation was to trust in God for everything. The kings were not to build fortifications and army's of horses and chariots, they were not to make alliances with other kingdoms for defense, and they were not to worship the Canaanite "Baals" to bring rain. By the Covenant provisions they were to keep the covenant, worship God only and trust Him to provide; and in return He promised to bring rain in the proper seasons so the land would produce the food they needed. That doesn't sound too difficult, and God told them it wasn't too difficult (as we'll see in Deuteronomy 30:11) - but then we come to the Sabbath Year required in the Covenant.
Categories: Leviticus |
May 3, 2010 by Tom Brunson
"Two Turtledoves" gets branded into our minds by The Twelve Days of Christmas, yet Leviticus 12 shows the biblical basis for this offering.
Giving birth is a part of human life, and was part of God's directive to mankind even before the fall into sin. Yet Leviticus specifies that after giving birth a woman is considered "unclean" or not pure to participate in Israel's worship at the Tabernacle, until a purification process of specified time and offering was completed. That doesn't seem fair to us, since new birth is a wonderful thing, as is motherhood. Why should a purification ritual be necessary?
Categories: Leviticus |
May 1, 2010 by Tom Brunson
Although we find records of other "moral codes" from other cultures around the time of Moses, the Mosaic Law is unique in several aspects. It begins with the Ten Commandments, and continues with lists of moral and social codes, and then strongly ties to the Sacrificial System of offerings to the Lord. The Mosaic Law formed the "constitution" of Israel, the nation God formed of His chosen people from Abraham, through Isaac, and through Israel (Jacob). It was not given to any other people, and was a great gift to Israel, showing them how to live as God expected.
Categories: Leviticus |
April 30, 2010 by Tom Brunson
The first five books of the Bible - the Pentateuch - work together to present a more complete view of God. Hebrew and church tradition say that Moses wrote these books to the Israelites between Egypt and their entry into the Land. In modern times some have looked at the differences in the way God is presented and suggested that this shows works of different authors. However, God is not one-dimensional, and these books instead each develop different themes needed to give a fuller understanding of God. This really suggests a purposed writing of the five books as a unit. It was a next generation of Israelites that would actually enter the promised Land, and Moses' writings form a legacy of revelation about God that they would need to understand.
Categories: Leviticus |
