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Creator of all that is, we gather before you as your children requesting your presence, guidance, and inspiration as we study those inspirations you have provided through the writings of our brothers whom you have chosen. Lord, we have come to understand that it is you who makes us Holy. Speak to us, speak through us. We confess before you our unworthiness and ask for your sanctification, cleansing, and acceptance as we offer our response.
Response to Leviticus 11:1-12:8
We could spend a lot of time learning the various nutritional values of the foods mentioned in the laws of Leviticus 11. I shall blog more on the basic premise of such laws and some of the history and further writings that go with their teachings.
Our highlight verse from Tyndale House Publisher's One Year Bible which I have been using comes from Leviticus 11:45; "I am the Lord who brought you up out of Egypt to be your God; therefore be holy, because I am holy." Through his writings, Moses has been following this thread since the beginning of time.
He followed a line of individuals from Adam through Noah. As God spoke to Noah, he brought up this idea of clean and unclean animals. Genesis 7:2-3 "Take with you seven pairs of all clean animals, the male and his mate; and a pair of the animals that are not clean, the male and his mate; and seven pairs of the birds of the air..." Not only was there a designation of clean and unclean, but also the completeness of "seven".
The Israelites got the idea. We are a people set apart as God's chosen out of all the world. Both in our worship, in our diet, the way we talk, and the way we act, and the way we handle our bodies. We are clean. This gave them a strength and a self esteem that was tough to overcome. There was an awareness within the nation that there was something special about them.
Deuteronomy 14:3-21 is the closest companion scripture to Leviticus 11. The laws Moses wrote could very well have represented the livestock and field animals common to the grasslands where the Israelites resided. Perhaps they corresponded to the ritualistic culinary practices of the Egyptians - as the tithe also was represented in Egyptian culture. Dogs and cats and camels were used for different functions and were excluded from clean animals that could be consumed. Sea creatures were a long way off from the grasslands, and as we know today that there are times of the year such delicacies must be avoided, it would not be a surprise to me that these dietary rules carried healthy nutritional values as well. Some of these things were just perceived to be disgusting. Pigs certainly are unclean animals just in their natural habitat compared to other livestock and grassland herding animals.
As odd as these culinary practices may come across to us, they were and are esteemed as a stalwart of faith within Jewish culture. Daniel and his 3 friends put the steward of the King to the test regarding diet for 10 days in Daniel 1:8-16 and God rewarded their faith to the observance of the nation. Part of the punishment prophesied in Hosea 9:3 was that the people would have to eat unclean food. The martyrdoms of Eleazar and the mother with her (seven) sons as reported in II Maccabees 6:18-7:41 all came as they refused to eat pork.
At some point between AD70 and AD131, based on chapter Barnabas 16:3-4, the epistle of Barnabas was written and was used quite extensively in the early church until the 4th century. The author, traditionally thought to be the Barnabas of Acts, considered some of the symbolism of these culinary rules in the religious life.
Barnabas 10:10-11; "And David also receiveth knowledge of the same three decrees, and saith; Blessed is the man who hath not gone in the council of the ungodly--even as the fishes go in darkness into the depths; and hath not stood in the path of sinners--just as they who pretend to fear the Lord sin like swine; and hath not sat on the seat of the destroyers--as the birds that are seated for prey. Ye have now the complete lesson concerning eating.
11) Again Moses saith; Ye shall everything that divideth the hoof and cheweth the cud. What meaneth he? He that receiveth the food knoweth Him that giveth him the food, and being refreshed appeareth
to rejoice in him. Well said he, having regard to the commandment. What then meaneth he? Cleave unto those that fear the Lord, with those who meditate in their heart on the distinction of the word which they have received, with those who tell of the ordinances of the Lord and keep them, with those who know that meditation is a work of gladness and who chew the cud of the word of the Lord. But why that which divideth the hoof? Because the righteous man both walketh in this world, and at the same time looketh for the holy world to come. Ye see how wise a lawgiver Moses was."
I am glad this passage was not listed in our present day Bible as it calls for a separation which is very much a part of the religious culture of that day as well as today. However, understanding the history of the early church, I am well aware that the epistle of Barnabas was part of the sacred writings of those very people who also knew II Timothy 3:16. The contrast of the Barnabas passage with that of Acts 10:9-17 is certainly worthy of note and exemplifies how the blessing of a chosen people is now broadcast to the whole world. Note the difficulty Peter had with the vision given the strength of his Jewish faith;
Acts 10:9-17 "The next day as they were on their journey and coming near the city, Peter went up on the housetop to pray, about the sixth hour. And he became hungry and desired something to eat; but while they were preparing it, he fell into a trance and saw the heaven opened, and something descending, like a great sheet, let down by four corners upon the earth. In it were all kinds of animals and reptiles and birds of the air. And there came a voice to him, 'Rise, Peter; kill and eat.' But Peter said, 'No, Lord; for I have never eaten anything that is common or unclean.' And the voice came to him again a second time, 'What God has cleansed, you must not call common.' This happened three times, and the thing was taken up at once to heaven.
Now while Peter was inwardly perplexed as to what the vision which he had seen might mean, behold, the men that were sent by Cornelius (a centurion of what was known as the Italian Cohort (see verse 1)), having made inquiry for Simon's house, stood before the gate."
The book of Acts represents the ongoing acts of the Apostles following Jesus life as the message Kingdom of God begins to be spread to the Gentiles - to the ends of the earth - and leads us into the letters written to the early church by the 1st century church fathers. It was written by Luke as a testimony of Paul's life as Paul prepared to go to court under the emperor, Nero, who would later have Paul put to a martyr's death.
Before I leave our passage of Leviticus, we must mention our reading of Leviticus 12:1-8 regarding purification of a woman after childbirth. The same terms are used regarding the Holiness and completeness in God; "Unclean", "seven". Notice again that on the eighth day, the male child is circumcised. The birthing week reaches completion and the male child is ceremonially dedicated as chosen of God.
I am sure women are offended that the period of uncleanness is 14 days following the birth of a girl. I completely understand their concern! However, within our culture, notice that as honor and authority has been challenged, morality has suffered. The ceremony and ritual giving male preference represents the importance of leadership and honor - pointing us all to God. Unfortunately, honor and love have battled for far too long. What man requiring the honor of the woman in his life has forgotten the representation of love that God the Father has for man? What woman, or child, refusing to honor the head of the house, according to God's design, has also suffered in her or their honor of God? What man requiring honor from the woman in his life has failed to show that same honor to God? Men, you were not told to make your woman honor you! You were told to love them - gently. Women, you were not told to tell your man how to love you, you were asked to show honor (perhaps this means the demand becomes a request). Remember, Biblical symbolism in this relationship is representative of God's love for all man and His call for honor as life and society works better if we apply those virtues.
Response to Mark 5:21-43
Today's passage begins with a ruler from the synagogue, Jairus, coming to Jesus as his daughter was on her deathbed. This story is reflected in Matthew 9:18-26 and Luke 8:40-56 as well as today's reading in Mark 5:21-43. Before Jesus arrives at the home to raise Jairus daughter from death back to life on earth, we are told of a woman who just touches Jesus garment and is healed from a disease which has plagued her health and finances for years. Both stories exemplify faith and the physical power of God reflected in this man, Jesus as He walked the earth. If you have not seen this video of His life, this is a wonderful place to put it as this is one of the greatest moments within His ministry. This music of this video is "Mary Did You Know" performed by Mark Lowry with video borrowed from the Jesus Film.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_U2G8wsbXBo
Very often, we pray for miracles like this to be done in our own lives, only to feel disappointment when they don't happen. These miracles still happen today, but were an annointing on Jesus ministry on earth. If we pray for miracles, we must remember that they are used by God for His glory. We must pray that His will be done and acknowledge His love for us regardless of the answer to prayer. If we truly believe those words, "thy will be done", we can pray the prayer and then let go and let God. Sometimes, the death or loss of a loved one is the answer and healing has taken place and this should not shake our faith if we truly believe. Many times, continued prayer for healing becomes a burden to the sick who are preparing to go home. For them, nothing could be better. We must be in tune with the will of God our Father and His love for us as well as the desire of the one being prayed for. We must remain humble before Him and avoid putting our Lord to the test. Can your faith be built through times of death as well as times through times of healing? John 11:25-26 records Jesus words regarding this type of faith: "I am the resurrection and the life; he who believes in me, though he die, yet shall he live, and whoever lives and believes in me shall never die. Do you believe this?" II Peter 3:9 says "The Lord is not slow about his promise as some count slowness, but is forbearing toward you, not wishing that any should perish." Know the will of the Lord and walk in it. Stop dictating, and by all means, thank Him for answered prayer!
My health care provider cares as much for the hopeless indigent man on the corner as for the richest oil tycoon. I'll invest my money in His health care plan.
I feel it is important to mention here that Jairus was a ruler in the synagogue, not the temple in Jerusalem. Jairus would not have been present at Jesus speedy trial before the elders. Jesus also had instructed those few in the room not to spread this news. One can imagine that if such news had been verified and presented in Jesus defense, His crucifiction may not have taken place and God's will would not have been done.
Response to Psalm 38:1-22
I have experienced the pain involved with not being faithful. My entire world appeared ready to cave in. There was nothing more important than reconciling that relationship. I was at the mercy of the offended and willing to accept the consequences of my actions as long as they did not include the loss of that relationship.
David was at that point now. He knew that His sin not only affected his relationship with man, but his relationship in love with his Heavenly Father. His prayer petitioned forgiveness for his sin. He humbles himself before God and remembers that he is but a sinner among men. Although he remembers and reminds God of the sin of other men, he separates himself from it in verse 13-14. "I am like a deaf man, who cannot hear, like a mute, who cannot open his mouth; I have become like a man who does not hear, whose mouth can offer no reply."
I have found it fascinating to watch the judgment of our society as they relish the anguish and sorrow our celebrities experience as they suffer the consequences of their sin. How quickly we are to tear down our leaders and heros as we realize they are but men like ourselves. How dare we! Our hope is in God. He is the only one who can save and none of us can escape His knowledge of our humanity. The worst thing we can do is to condemn our fellowman. We read in Matthew 6:12 as Jesus teaches us to pray "Forgive us our debts as we have forgiven our debtors." Mark 11:25 says it this way: "And when you stand praying, if you hold anything against anyone, forgive him, so that your Father in heaven may forgive you your sins. with a footnote (some manuscripts 'if you do not forgive, neither will your Father who is in heaven forgive your sins.') Luke 11:4 states ""Forgive us our sins, for we also forgive everyone who sins against us." Jesus told a parable of how this looks within the Kingdom in Matthew 18:23-35.
As David humbles himself before God in today's Psalm, he is fully aware that those who know of his sin "plot deception all day long" (vs. 12). Through humility, he attempts to ignore such inappropriate behavior from society, "I am like a deaf man, who cannot hear, like a mute, who cannot open his mouth" (vs. 13). Again however, he condemns his fellow man for such behavior instead of requesting forgiveness on their behalf "I wait for you, O Lord; you will answer, O Lord my God. For I said, 'Do not let them gloat or exalt themselves over me when my foot slips.'" I am not ashamed to admit that David's pride and arrogance are splashed throughout scripture. Instead of owning such behavior as appropriate for a religious man, I recognize it confess my own weakness as I see such attributes surfacing realizing "I am about to fall, and my pain is ever with me. I confess my iniquity; I am troubled by my sin." (vs. 17-18)
We finish the Psalm remembering it is God who makes us Holy. He is the Savior, and I am but a sinner amongst brothers.
Response to Proverbs 10:8-9
Did we just talk about gossip and condemnation of our fellowman in the Psalm? This is backed up by today's Proverb. "a chattering fool comes to ruin. The man of integrity (webster: firm adherance to a code of moral values) walks secure.
Honor God, Love your fellowmen.
Until Tomorrow
Rick
Sunday, February 21, 2010
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