February 26, 2010, Leviticus 19:1-20:21, Mark 8:11-38, Psalm 42:1-11, Proverbs 10:17

Our Father, You have called us to be Holy as your children to bring honor to your name. Sometimes, in our guilt and failure, we feel unworthy of your calling.  Convict us we pray with your Love as we share your word together. May our thoughts and words reflect your Love invitinge all men to find the Glory and Power and Majesty that can be theirs in your Name.

Response to Leviticus 19:1-20:21

I know not all of us had the time or patience to read the passage, but I am thrilled you are here anyway! Allow me to reiterate a bit of what we read.  You may have noticed that Levicus 19 reflects the 10 commandments which we read on February 4 from Exodus 20.  Verse 2 reminds us of the reason for the law. "Be holy because I, the Lord your God, am holy."

However, in Leviticus 19:3 we begin the law with respect for parents and observance of the Sabbaths. In fact, in today's reading, except for new material, the commands from Exodus 20 are listed #4, #5, #2, #8, and #9 with the overall focus routinely repeated, "I am the Lord your God."

Verses 5-18 deals with the fellowship offerings and getting along as a society both in worship, and in living in general. Verse 15 suggests treating all persons as equal regardless of income and class.  Verse 18 suggests forgiveness in the heart and finishes with the 2nd commandment as listed in the New Testament. "Love your neighbor as yourself." Jesus quoted this verse as the second great commandment in Matthew 22:37-40.  Leviticus 19:18 is also referenced in Matthew 19:19, Mark 12:31, Luke 6:27-36, Luke 10:27 (story of the Good Samaritan(25-37))), Romans 12:19-21, Romans 13:8-10, Galatians 5:13-15, and James 2:8-10.  Look these passages up on the Bible Gateway tool to the right of this blog.  

Leviticus 19:14 is of particular importance to me. "Do not curse the deaf or put a stumbling block in front of the blind."  This reminds me of child games on the unfortunate among us.  However, when the Bible routinely speaks of God hardening hearts, stopping ears, or not allowing someone to see the light, perhaps there is more to this verse than we realize.  How important is it to believe that God so loved the world, not desiring any to perish, yet allowing - or even causing hard hearts, deaf ears, blind eyes?  As a parent, we are expected to have compassion on a child as we have suffered similar experiences. We are expected to help, knowing the nature of the beast.  I am convinced that this is our call as Children of God to help the children of the world, and not to oppress them. 

Ephesians 2:10 "For we are God's workmanship, created in Christ Jesus to do good works, which God prepared in advance for us to do." and Colossians 1:10 "And we pray this in order that you may live a life worthy of the Lord and may please him in every way: bearing fruit in every good work, growing in the knowledge of God" 

These two verses back up this idea that those of us who have been granted the gift of maturing in the family are meant to raise up the children of the world. Rebellion is common in any family. It is up to us to help our child to see the light.  Do not curse the world or place the stumbling blocks of our human theology either in your own road or that of the unbeliever to keep them, or you from understanding the Love of God.  It is absolutely true that these stumbling blocks have been there since the beginning of time are are even represented within the hearts and minds of the Biblical writers as they shared what they knew of God out of the theologies of their own upbringings. yet, there are treasures hidden everywhere and the Bible itself corrects even their mindsets! If you want a treasure hunt, you found one. Build one another up in Love.

Have you questioned whether Moses was making up some of these laws as He was acting judge over the people? It almost sounds like a recording of some of his acts of office and a constitution for their culture.  There are purity laws in verse 19 and a continuation of ritual, civil, cultural, and agricultural laws for the remainder of chapter 19. Routinely, sections end with our theme of "I am the Lord your God".  The statement mentioned from verse 2 "Be Holy because I the Lord your God am holy" seems to carry throughout the chapter with this theme.

Before we leave chapter 19, I would like to mention Leviticus 19:33. "When an alien lives with you in your land, do not mistreat him.  The alien living with you must be treated as one of your native-born.  Love him as yourself, for you were aliens in Egypt." For those of us outside the Jewish faith who claim adoption into the family, we too are considered aliens.  As treatment of the alien is often joined with that of a widow or orphan, (Exodus 22:21-24, Deuteronomy 10:18-19) I think as children of God, we must be very careful again in how we treat the alien or foreigner among us.  This has everything to do with loving our neighbor as ourself and looking after the poor and needy.  I do not understand how mistreatment of foreigners has been justified by Bible based individuals or institutions.  Perhaps some of you can shed some light on this for me.

A second thought on this reminder that we are but aliens, adoptees into His family, is that we must observe these sacriments and ceremonies that God set up.  Jesus Christ may be our sacrifice, but notice the Jews also do not offer animal sacrifices. Observance of a Sabbath day is only the beginning of our honor to God.  What of all the other religious ceremonial and festival observances required in our Bible? It is good to be disciplined according to our Father's instruction. In so doing, our lights will share in the illumination of God's chosen people. Check out Yom Kippur, Passover, and Hannakuh observances this year! You won't be sorry! Of course this is if you wish to be considered a child of the King.
Leviticus 20 carries warnings against idol worship, detestable worship practices, adultery, and other sexual sins.  It seems to me a catch all and some repitition of laws set out in chapter 18.  Some of these laws certainly could have been used in the condemnation of David's sons Absolom and Amnon (see II Samuel 13 and II Samuel 16:20-23).  Beyond health of man and honor to God and man, I have little commentary to add here and leave this chapter open to your discussion.

Response to Mark 8:11-38

Again, we hear Jesus sigh 'deeply' as this reading opened with the Pharisees asking for a sign from heaven.  Isn't it amazing that his fame had spread throughout the countryside due to his signs and wonders - even to elders and friends of the synagogue - and yet, the people's thirst for more signs and wonders could never be satisfied? 

It appears this was not one of Jesus happier days.  The conversation of Mark 8:11-21 is also shared in Matthew 16:1-10.  Matthew 16:12 claims that the disciples understood Jesus statement in Mark 8:15 to be "that he was not telling them to guard against the yeast used in bread, but against the teaching of the Pharisees and Sadducees." The term "Sadducees" is used in Matthew instead of the term "Herod." It is believed that Herod was a member of the Sadducees. (Another denomination of Judaism if you will). Jesus had concerns with both. Remember his statement from Matthew 23:8, "you have one teacher, and you are all brothers."

Mark 8:19-20 reiterates what we have discussed regarding the feeding of the 5000 and 4000 in that the numbers of baskets picked up was important symbolically.  We have seen 'seven' to represent the completeness of God, and 'twelve' to represent the people of Israel through whom we have received the Bible and through whom Jesus Christ had His nationality and earthly identity.  I am concerned that the New Testament is preached so much without the Old Testament. It is easy to see the Love of Jesus Christ, but without a proper understanding of the Law, it is tough to understand how He fulfilled the law, nor to see how He was a manifestation of the Father's love.

As a Gideon member, (an organization that distributes Bibles worldwide) I handed Bibles out to students on a local college campus.  One student looked at the New Testament I was handing out and said "Wrong Testament" and gave it back to me.  Jesus also held up the importance of the Old Testament and the Law in Matthew 5:17-20; "Do not think that I have come to abolish the Law or the Prophets; I have not come to abolish them but to fulfill them. I tell you the truth, until heaven and earth disappear, not the smallest letter, not the least stroke of a pen, will by any means disappear from the Law until everything is accomplished. Anyone who breaks one of the least of these commandments and teaches others to do the same will be called least in the kingdom of heaven, but whoever practices and teaches these commands will be called great in the kingdom of heaven. For I tell you that unless your righteousness surpasses that of the Pharisees and the teachers of the law, you will certainly not enter the kingdom of heaven.

The teaching of The New Jerusalem in Revelation 21:9-27 is full of the numbers "seven" and "twelve".  Nothing can separate the truth of God's word from Jewish culture, tradition, and history.  Through their scribes, prophets, and law, we have the gospel.  God's plan for salvation was portrayed through everything they were and are.  God is not finished with them yet. The Old Testament and the Law must be understood for the major religious groups on earth to see God the Father through Jesus Christ and understand the oracle.

In Mark 8:22-26, Jesus healed a blind man.  Beside's mention of Jesus visit to Bethsaida, this story is not told in the other gospels.  Jesus took the man out of the village, healed him in private, and told him to go home and to not even return into the village.  The focus of Jesus ministry as told in the remainder of Mark will be much more on who he was including his death and resurrection and teachings about the Kingdom.  There will be only two more mentions of his miracles of healing.

In Mark 8:27-30 (see also Matthew 16:13-20 and Luke 9:18-21) Jesus asks the question "Who do men say that I am?" It seems to me there were strong beliefs of reincarnation in the community as some say "John the Baptist" who had only recently died; others say Elijah, and others refer to other prophets.  Even after everything they had seen, the "Son of God" apparently was still a difficult consideration among the people.  However, Peter spoke up and said "You are the Christ".  Mark and Luke finish their records of the conversation with a call to secrecy, but Matthew alone writes of the blessing Peter received from Jesus for this statement.

Each of the passages just mentioned are followed with Jesus speaking of his death, resurrection, and second coming in very clear terms. Matthew and Mark include Peter's rebuke as Jesus knows the path he must follow that will lead to His death.

We finish with Jesus statement to His disciples then and now found in Mark 8:34-38;  "If anyone would come after me, he must deny himself and take up his cross and follow me. For whoever wants to save his life will lose it, but whoever loses his life for me and for the gospel will save it. What good is it for a man to gain the whole world, yet forfeit his soul? Or what can a man give in exchange for his soul? If anyone is ashamed of me and my words in this adulterous and sinful generation, the Son of Man will be ashamed of him when he comes in his Father's glory with the holy angels." (similar passages found in Matthew 16:21-28, Luke 9:22-27, and John 12:24-26)

Response to Psalm 42:1-11

Wow, can I relate to this Psalm this morning! As a landscaper in Colorado, I am in my offseason. My main source of income is in snow removal.  With the poor economy, work is slow and bills use up my money faster than I can cause it to come in.  I have felt the Lord lay it upon my heart to write this blog, but it takes a lot of time, and there is little comfort in what benefit such a blog will be to me.

And yet, this past week I was able to sing praises to God in the Church choir and pray with the family of God! This coming week I am expecting my first grandchild! There is nothing I want more than to sing praises to God, my Rock and to spend time with you in His word.  At the same time that I despair in the present frustrations of life, I know that my God will bless this work! I know that He will come to my aid! I have confidence in what my eyes cannot see!

Psalm 42:1-2 is our focus verse today; "As the deer pants for streams of water, so my soul pants for you, O God.  My soul thirsts for God, for the living God." If you ask "where is your God, look at your trials?" My trials are my testament to you that I am no different than any man.  Yet, I know my Creator is real and active! I know my Savior carries me and my loved ones in the palm of His hand! I Am's Love gives my life purpose! I will daily praise my Lord and my King!

Response to Proverbs 10:17

What Father does not rebuke his son when he sees him making choices that will lead to ruin and despair? Would anyone truly imagine that such challenge in a brother's life - such attempt to provide long term happiness and contentment does not come from a heart of love? So, why question the fact that so many teachings of honor to God, parents, and family as we have found in the Bible do not stem from our source of Love?  In Him lies true contentment and joy.  If we have Him, we can still participate in life on earth! In fact, we find we can find more fulfillment in every aspect of life if we make our Creator and Redeemer number one in our lives.

Listen to the discipline of our Lord as He speaks to us of true faith in Luke 12:29-32: "And do not set your heart on what you will eat or drink; do not worry about it. For the pagan world runs after all such things, and your Father knows that you need them. But seek his kingdom, and these things will be given to you as well. Do not be afraid, little flock, for your Father has been pleased to give you the kingdom."

Therein lies Hope! Psalm 42:11 "Put your hope in God, for (we) will yet praise Him, (our) Savior and (our) God!

Trust Him today with all your Heart, with all your Soul, and with all your Mind, for that is the First and most wonderful Commandment of all.

"And now, dear children, continue in him, so that when he appears we may be confident and unashamed before him at his coming. If you know that he is righteous, you know that everyone who does what is right has been born of him. How great is the love the Father has lavished on us, that we should be called children of God! And that is what we are! The reason the world does not know us is that it (does) not know him. Dear friends, now we are children of God, and what we will be has not yet been made known. But we know that when he appears, we shall be like him, for we shall see him as he is. Everyone who has this hope in him purifies himself, just as he is pure." I John 2:28-3:3 (NIV)

Until tomorrow

Rick