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Holy Father; We come before you today, humbled in your presence, requesting your forgiveness of our sins. In our belief, we ask for the inspiration which comes by your Holy Spirit. Join us as we lift our praises in thought and word as we reflect on the words you have given us through your chosen people. Amen.
Response to Leviticus 1:1-3:7
I suppose, if you are like me, we have now begun the least read book of the Bible. However, if you are a devout Jew, the words we read today may reflect your commitment to memory. For me, the words we read today reflect honor, tribute, fellowship, and celebration. Although these laws may seem foreign and odd to many of us on first glance, we must realize that they offered this culture the prescribed way of worship. As one family or tribe of the Israelites will depend on these offerings for their daily sustenance, and given the inherent nutritional value for healthy living these laws provided, these laws defined the call to Holiness and Honor for hundreds of years.
This was a nomadic culture. The livelihood of most was agricultural. It can be assumed through the reading that they dwelt in grasslands. Their sacrifices consisted of sheep, goats, cattle, birds, and grain from their fields. It strikes me through this reading that they were not unlike the Indian tribes of the America's. Both in their tent living, their dependance on the prairie and livestock, and in their sacrifices. Through God's design, they avoided human sacrifice. Through the call to bring their sacrifices to the tabernacle and to follow prescribed ritual, they avoided the dangers found later in judges when everyone did as they saw fit - and eventually lost sight of God's design.
I feel it is also worthy of note that the animals they presented before the Lord were to be the firstfruits, or the best of the flock. Also, note that only male animals were presented for atonement, but male and female were accepted as fellowship offerings. If the people were allowed to just bring the crippled, lame, runts, or dying, the intent on honor would be missing. Through such ritual, it was more the affect these sacrifices were having on the hearts of the individuals doing the presenting and the fellowship bond such sacrifices were causing within the multitude living together in the wilderness.
As I read, I could imagine there were stalls set up within the courtyard for the various types of animals and sacrifices that were being presented. "at the entrance to the tent of meeting" (for atonement offerings or fellowship offerings from the herd, ), "in front of the tent of meeting" (fellowship offerings from the flock), "to the north side of the altar" (for atonement offerings from the sheep or goats, ), "processed by the priest by the altar" (atonement offerings of doves or pigions) "to the east side of the altar" (ashes and unused bird parts), "presented to the priests" (grain offerings, both flour and baked goods)
Did you notice that yeast could be presented as firstfruits, but could not be used upon the altar? As a correlation to Jesus, the sacrifice of the new covenant, His life was lived without sin although He had fellowship with sinners.
As our Priest, Jesus Christ offered no less than Himself up before God as His pleasing sacrifice, according to God's plan. His blood was poured out and his life shed for our atonement. Through the sacriment of Holy communion, we join in the fellowship made available through this sacrifice of His body and His blood. As the Israelites presented their offerings before the Lord, it was assumed that they would be reverent of the Holiness of such sacrifice. Their repentance and request for forgiveness was symbolized in their gift of their very best. If we have nothing more to offer to God in our act of worship than the clothes we wear, and a penitent heart, we should not fail in that regard. Everything we are and hope to be is reliant on His grace and mercy. We must strive to honor his blessing in our lives by giving our best back to Him, lest He remove our blessing from us.
Leviticus 2:13 reminds the people that all their sacrifices should have salt in them. As we offer God our lives, our personality, qualities, and experiences must be transformed by seeking to become more like Christ in His purity. Indeed, within the fellowship of the Kingdom of God, such abilities, personalities, and relationships find new life! As you strive after God, the resulting purity will cause your friends to wonder and perhaps criticize, but there will be an irrisistable draw as you experience a newfound love, joy, peace, and resilience which becomes evident to all who come in contact with you. On January 5th, we read from Matthew 5:13; "You are the salt of the earth. But if the salt loses its saltiness, how can it be made salty again? It is no longer good for anything, except to be thrown out and trampled by men." John speaks of this also in Revelation 3:15-16. Continue to live life, but seek to honor God in all you do. The rewards are fantastic.
Finally, note the nutritional value - and the reference to symbolizm in Leviticus 3:17. You are not to eat any of the fat or any of the blood. Although this was not specifically mentioned elsewhere in the passage, the sacrifice was meant for food and fellowship. For any who think that we are drinking the blood of Jesus Christ when we drink the wine of communion, this would stand in violation of this commandment. Jesus said we are cleansed by His sacrificial blood and we partake in His suffering as our sacrificial atonement. This is a symbolic remembrance of His body and blood shed that we might once again have fellowship with the Father and with one another.
Response to Mark 1:29-2:12
The beginning of this passage, Mark 1:29-31 is also reflected in Matthew 8:14-17 and Luke 4:38-41. You may notice that in Luke's account, Peter is not called to be a disciple until some days after His Mother in Law has been healed. I mention this, to some readers frustration, as I find it strengthens the validity of the Bible in that there are multiple individuals telling the same story with different memories. Through the translations of the original texts, these contradictions have not been changed. For me, this backs up the reality of the historical fact that these things actually happened and were observed and written by more than one person. This is common in scripture. We routinely will find separate accountings of the same things with contradictory facts given. For me, this tells me that the facts in themselves are not so important, but the reflections of the men who write about them are. These were common men, inspired by God with words that can be used for instruction, for correction, and for training in righteousness. I take it as a comfort that none of the Biblical authors claimed "infallibility" although they spoke of the flawless law of God. "Infallibility" is mocked by many outside of the church and has done more to keep people out of the Kingdom than in it. We are welcome to believe with our brains fully intact.
Ok, if you don't understand my feelings on that, my apologies. Leave me a comment and I will try to respond. Let's move on to today's story as told by Mark.
Although many of the people were shocked the words Jesus used associating Himself with God, his powers of healing and of the spiritual realm were his greatest draw. These in themselves tied him into fulfillment of Old Testament prophecy. Isaiah 53:4 states "Surely he took up our infirmities and carried our sorrows." Again, Jesus did not refer to Himself as the Son of God - but claimed equality with God, and referred to himself as the Son of Man. Thus, each time the demons attempted to speak, he quieted them as they could easily lead the people astray through twisting their ideologies. The closest Jesus came to referring to Himself as "Son of God", was in Luke 22:70 when He responded to the elders in some translations by saing "You are right in saying that I am", although other translations claim He said only "you say that I am." The word "Trinity" is not mentioned in the Bible. There are references to; Father, Son, and Holy Spirit, as well as the angel of God and others. However, the Bible never separates the identities of the Godhead, but drives home the fact that there is only One God. Muslims and Christians take note.
Mark mentions in verse 34 that Jesus told the demons to be quiet because they knew Jesus was the Christ. This certainly could be the case if the resulting belief in such a claim would have conflicted with His impending sacrificial death and God's ultimate plan for redemption. It is also quite possible that God desired people to come to understand who he was from their own experience, not just because of what someone or something else said about him.
As we find in Mark 1:35-39, Jesus desired to spend time alone in prayer - just as we who believe we have the Holy Spirit of God within us must still find time to commune with that Spirit in prayer. His passion was to preach, and in reading the gospel accounts of his life it is obvious that the crowds who followed him just to see a sign, without understanding the message were a bother to him.
Although Matthew shared often about Jesus chastisement of the church leaders, Mark shares a compassionate side of Jesus as he wished for the healed leper to go to the priests as a testimony in Mark 1:44. Perhaps those faithful within the Church refused to go and see this heretic with the power to heal and cast out demons as He claimed to be God! Perhaps, the only reason the religious sought him was to find fault with His cultish ideologies. To many, He represented nothing more than a rebel against the traditional Holy law. Mark shares in verse 45 that although Jesus wished to preach in the synagogues of the cities, the pressing of the crowds and his need to be alone in prayer forced him to spend the majority of his time in the country. Can you imagine the heart of this great preacher who had so much good to say and share about God's love as He was only sought after only for his healing powers - and the noise of the resulting throng kep't the masses from hearing? Thank goodness for those four who took the time to record his teachings in the Biblical gospels. Hopefully, freedom of religion worldwide will allow His words to affect the nations through the spreading of the word in print and our individual testimonies and resulting works.
Response to Psalm 35:17-28
I owe David an apology. So often I reflect on his life as that of a warrior. Yet, here was a young man who sought after the Love of the Lord all the days of his life. He sang and wrote poetry and learned of joy and peace through music in his early days as a shepherd. He knew that the joy He felt in the Lord gave him the strength necessary when battle became inevitable. Yet, as we read his poems and Psalms, we can see He hated violence. He called on God to provide for him vindication for the ill will of others as they hunted him down through no fault of his own. He was appalled at the fear of Saul's army as they faced giants as he was confident that God would fight their battles. He expressed frustration when God's hand seemed slow as He experienced the fear and despair of his own life's trials.
Through all of these mixed emotions, his heart could be associated with that of Jesus - and us. We can all connect with these Psalms as we commune with our Almighty God. The difficulty comes in praying for and loving those with whom we are in conflict. Yet, as we will find as we read of David's life and the difficulties he experienced as he was hunted by King Saul, he loved and honored his enemies. He attempted to remain faithful to those he understood to be God's chosen people. Yet today, our understanding is different as we are called to love all mankind - as we understand that God so loved the world - and claims all of creation as His own treasured posession.
It is easy to assume that this Psalm is written while David is on the run from King Saul and his men once again. This man who had once been his friend now desires his death out of his jelousy of God's desire and Samuel's annointing of David as King in his place. David was content to wait to begin his reign as King until Saul's life was ended. He desired peace with Saul. Yet, he was very aware of God's love for him and wished that meant that life would be easy. Spirituality does not offer immunity from the hardships of life.
Response to Proverbs 9:13-18
Proverbs 9 contrasts wisdom and folly. We began with seeing wisdom built on 7 pillars and a call to the sacriment of communion. Jesus is referred to as the cornerstone (Ephesians 2:20, I Peter 2:6-10). In Exodus, we saw the Golden lampstand with the 7 lamps. Revelation 1:20 speaks of the 7 angels and the 7 churches. It is probably ok to consider that the Proverbs 9:1 represents the Kingdom of God - the mansion He is building.
Yesterday we looked at Proverbs 9:12. "If you are wise, you are wise for yourself; if you scoff, you alone will bear it." We are each left with a choice. Will we enter the Kingdom of God, or will we scoff it. The choice is ours.
Today's reading continues this thought regarding our choice. Again, we see the temptress. She calls to the passerby to invest in the pleasures of the world and avoid that salt of purity we spoke of in Leviticus 3:13. She claims there is no need to buy into the sacrificial atonement provided by God for unity with Him. Whoever is simple, live life without God. Unfortunately, as most of us come to find out, there are consequences of that type of lifestyle. By dependance on self, eventually we are left lonely and afraid. When the storms of life - age, disease, tragedy, strike, all hope and joy are gone and one is left alone in the pit of despair. Such is a house that is built upon the sand (the futility of self) without the proper foundation available through the creator of us all.
Until tomorrow;
Rick
Tuesday, February 16, 2010
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