Posts
Blessed Redeemer; We bow before you with praise and thanksgiving for your love for us. You have called us to be your children, and we pray that you would speak to us today through the thoughts and words we share in your honor. May our offerings be found pleasing in your sight, and may we go forth with singing, applying your discipline and blessings received as we meet the needs of our world.
Response to Leviticus 25:47-27:13
Leviticus 25:47-55 seems fairly self explanatory given the culture of the day. Again, the idea of kinsman redeemer and gleaming of the fields plays well into the story of 'Ruth' which is scheduled in our reading for May 5. Reflecting on this passage, it is apparent that there were foreigners living with the people. Apparently, they could be there long enough to establish a living and become members of society.
As we look for inspiration and application from this passage, I see Levitius 25:55 gives a reason why there were different rules for Israelites and foreigners. "for the Israelites belong to me as servants." Again, as they represented God's chosen people to the surrounding nations, it was important that they were treated like son's of the King, to bring Him honor. As the word redeem is used quite a bit here, both God our Father and Jesus Christ our brother offer redemption for our souls come judgement day.
Leviticus 26:1-13 contrasts with Leviticus 26:14-39 working as prophecy of blessings that would stem from obedience as opposed to cursings which would stem from disobedience. Verse 1-2 reflect the 2nd and 4th commandments of Exodus 20 naming off no idols and sabbath observance. If they would be a people of honor, bringing glory to God, he would protect and establish them in the land. However, if they became dishonorable bringing shame and disgrace to God, He would remove them from the land - yet save a remnant. Both of these things indeed came true. There was tremendous blessings from David's reign as King through the time of his son, Solomon as seen in the 2 books of Samuel. However, through various struggles and cycles of wickedness displayed in the books of the Kings and Chronicles, the people would witness moral decay and eventual removal from the land to Assyria and Babylon. It was during these times of moral decay that the majority of the books of the prophets listed in the Old Testament were written leading up to and into the captivities and the loss of the promised land. The hope of the people rested in God's promise of forgiveness, love, and redemption allowing their eventual return to the promised land and the envisioned splendor.
Notice the use of "seven times over for your sin" again in verse 19, verse 21, and verse 24. Devine and complete judgement and removal from the land - cut off - vomited out, separated from the love and promises of God. The Jewish culture must take solace in the fact these verses claim that their punishment was seven times worse than their sin deserved. Of course, death is not necessarily damnation and the tribulation is felt by those left behind, not by those who were taken. Beyond the days of punishment there would be a remnant - the seed to begin anew and spread the Kingdom into the new lands they were exiled to. Having been sold into slavery, they would eventually be redeemed by their Father.
In Leviticus 26:34, the verb changes from if to an affirmative 'shall'. This land shall enjoy it's sabbath rest when I remove you from it. He cares not only for His people, but also for all of creation. This sabbath rest is mentioned in 2 Chronicles 36:21: "The land enjoyed its sabbath rests; all the time of its desolation it rested, until the seventy years were completed in fulfillment of the word of the Lord spoken by Jeremiah." This prophecy is found in Jeremiah 29:10 "This is what the Lord says: "When seventy years are completed for Babylon, I will come to you and fulfill my gracious promise to bring you back to this place." Again, the use of a multiple of 7. Perhaps we need to be watching for '7's in the modern era to understand God's plan.
Penitence, confession, and service is required for redemption in Leviticus 26:40-45. Check out the similarity of Leviticus 26:41-42 to 2 Chronicles 7:14:
Leviticus 26:41-42: "then when their uncircumcised hearts are humbled and they pay for their sin, I will remember my covenant with Jacob and my covenant with Isaac and my covenant with Abraham, and I will remember the land."
2 Chronicles 7:14: "if my people, who are called by my name, will humble themselves and pray and seek my face and turn from their wicked ways, then will I hear from heaven and will forgive their sin and will heal their land."
Through humbleness, serving our fellow man, and honoring God with our lives, we will draw all men back into the fold. If we will honor His laws and decrees, we will not only experience salvation, but experience the redemption of all of creation. How much is required? Everything!
So, what value does God put on a human being? Without figuring the weight in Silver, Leviticus 27:1-13 would portray the importance of a young man. About the age of choosing a wife and starting a family and beginning a career, God wants you! A man still represents leadership in the family in most cultures. The Mormons send men of this age out for 2 year missions. What a great way to establish honor and spirituality into a young man's life. Dedication instead of recklessness. That is bound to keep their culture strong!
Honor and Purity, two virtues that would help any individual or culture.
Response to Mark 10:32-52
Step by step, Jesus led his followers towards Jerusalem and certain death. The disciples could sense his fear, yet none dared to rebuke him again and could do no more than follow. The crowd sensed the change in the ministry as the healings appeared to have come to an end and Jesus ministry continued to talk of His own demise which was against their beliefs in what the Messiah meant for their liberation. Could it be He was not the promised Messiah after all? To make things worse, His claims were that such a death would be brought about by the very center and leadership of their faith. In their amazement, they failed to hear the message of the resurrection. However, their teacher's, the Sadducees had taught them that there was no such thing. This was indeed, a strange time. The story of Mark 10:32-34 was also told in Matthew 20:17-19 and Luke 18:31-34.
Perhaps in hopes of changing the subject, James and John requested honor in the coming Kingdom. Jesus said they did not know what they were talking about, and we may surmise they were still speaking of their understanding of the coming earthly Kingdom and were not willing to accept an impending death. Without that understanding, how could they realize what they were saying when they said they would be able to drink the cup that He would drink? It seems clear to me that in Mark 10:35-45 and Matthew 20:20-28 that when Jesus talked of His baptism He was speaking of the coming Holy Spirit. The cup he would drink could also refer to receiving the Spirit as we have seen the symbolism of wine - or it could mean taking part in His sufferings.
Those sufferings were real, as we know from the witness of the gospel writers of the approach to Jerusalem. For the sacrificed animal, death was quick, not so with Christ. He knew his fate included severe brutality, mocking, rejection, and loneliness. Following the pain of being pinned to the cross, He would suffer slow torture by hanging, body bruised and torn, leading to death, alone and afraid. We can only surmise His awareness of the Holy Spirit of God within. This was a man, devoted to God, willing to give up His life and fulfill His calling. He knew the scriptures. He knew Isaiah 53 was about Him. He was not naive to Roman torture and He knew there would be no mercy. Unfortunately, He was alone in His understanding and could only hope that His sacrifice would affect His wicked and adulterous generation according to the will and plan of God which even He stated He did not completely comprehend. Yet, step by step, He led the way to glory.
Within this emotional climate built by Mark 10:35-45 and Matthew 20:20-28, we come to the last of the physical healings recorded by Matthew, Mark, and Luke. Instead of the crowd thronging around Jesus bringing their sick, they are much more somber now and tell this beggar to be quiet. Yet, Jesus invites the man to come. The story is the one in today's reading of Mark 10:46-52. It is also told in Matthew 20:29-34 and Luke 18:35-43. Mark is the only one giving a name to the blind man as Bartimaeus and Matthew writes that there were two blind men who together received their sight. When told to go their way, they join the crowd and follow Jesus.
Perhaps the question posed for us today is this. Are we willing to admit that we have more work to do in understanding the will of God regardless of our upbringing and training? Are we willing to acknowledge that this "Son of Man" was following the will of God for our redemption and that His death served that purpose in accordance with the will of God as reflected in the writings of Judaism? Are we willing to serve God with our lives by loving and caring for our fellowman according to the example set by this man Jesus? Will our faith allow us to see God's will more clearly through the earthly ministry of Jesus Christ? Do we believe His will was to bring glory to the One True God, creator of Heaven and earth? Do we believe God's plan of redemption as reflected in the Old Testament writings have been accomplished and that we can come to Him as forgiven and beloved children? Let's talk.
Response to Psalm 45:1-17
Did you notice this sounded like a love song that might be sung at a Royal Wedding? This is the third of many Psalms written by the "Son's of Korah". The first two were Psalm 42 and Psalm 44. Psalm 43 appears to be an extension of Psalm 42. Korah's rebellion against Moses in Numbers 16 ended in his being swallowed up by the earth with Dathan and Abiram. Unlike Dathan and Abiram, Korah's family survived. In I Chronicles 6:33, Heman, the grandson of Samuel, descendant of Korah is chosen by David as one of the music ministers to serve in the tabernacle. I Chronicles 25:5-6 states: "All these were sons of Heman the king's seer. They were given him through the promises of God to exalt him. God gave Heman fourteen sons and three daughters. All these men were under the supervision of their fathers for the music of the temple of the Lord, with cymbals, lyres and harps, for the ministry at the house of God."
Psalm 45:1-9 is an ode to the King. May I suggest you read this three times. First, imagine these servants of King David writing a song to honor their King on his wedding day. On second reading, imagine your honor to the Prince of Peace of Isaiah 9:6 as He rides forth to conquer the evil forces which would undo us in this world (of course if you've been following my blog, you know I refer to ideologies that keep men from peace). Upon a third reading, imagine yourself as the warrior going out to perform your Kings service.
Psalm 45:10-15 is an ode to the bride on her wedding day. On your first reading, imagine these servants of the King David singing this song in honor of their Queen on her wedding day. On second reading, imagine those chosen from the new covenant, claimed by the Prince of Peace to leave this world and be united with Him in paradise. Upon third reading, make it more personable as Jesus Christ and God the Father welcome you individually as their chosen loved one.
Psalm 45:16-17 challenge all of us to take the faith of our fathers and pass the torch on to our children. Seek to honor His truth and challenge our youth to the noble virtues of honor, truth, faith, hope, and love that are ours from our creator, God, and Father. To Him belong all the glory and praise from all the people for ever and ever.
Response to Proverbs 10:22
If you are blessed financially according to this Proverb, I would like to be your friend. It is hoped that the man who is blessed with wealth understands such blessing is from the Lord and uses it accordingly. It is He who owns all wealth. It is He who makes you wealthy.
However, for the rest of us who have not been so lucky to be blessed such as those, the following is also found in the teachings of Jesus in Matthew 6:19-21: "Do not store up for yourselves treasures on earth, where moth and rust destroy, and where thieves break in and steal. But store up for yourselves treasures in heaven, where moth and rust do not destroy, and where thieves do not break in and steal. For where your treasure is, there your heart will be also."
This treasure, if you invest properly, indeed is yours with no strings attached.
May God be with you until we meet again
Rick
Tuesday, March 2, 2010
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)
