3/1- Numbers 7:1-89
3/2- Numbers 8:1-10:36
3/3- Numbers 11:1-13:33
3/4- Numbers 14:1-15:41
3/5- Numbers 16:1-18:32
3/6- Numbers 19:1-21:35
3/7- Numbers 22:1-24:25
3/8- Numbers 25:1-26:34; 1 Chronicles 7:14-19; Numbers
26:35-37; 1 Chronicles 7:20-29; Numbers 26:38-65
3/9- Numbers 27:1-29:40
3/10- Numbers 30:1-31:54
3/11- Numbers 32:1-33:56
3/12- Numbers 34:1-36:13
3/13- Deuteronomy 1:1-3:11
3/14- Deuteronomy 3:12-5:33
3/15- Deuteronomy 6:1-8:20
3/16- Deuteronomy 9:1-11:32
3/17- Deuteronomy 12:1-14:29
3/18- Deuteronomy 15:1-18:22
3/19- Deuteronomy 19:1-22:30
3/20- Deuteronomy 23:1-26:19
3/21- Deuteronomy 27:1-28:68
3/22- Deuteronomy 29:1-31:29
3/23- Psalm 90:1-7; Deuteronomy 31:30-32:52
3/24- Deuteronomy 33:1-34:12; Joshua 1:1-2:24
3/25- Joshua 3:1-6:27
3/26- Joshua 7:1-9:27
3/27- Joshua 10:1-12:24
3/28- Joshua 13:1-15:63
3/29- Joshua 16:1-19:9; 1 Chronicles 4:24-33; Joshua 19:10-31
3/30- Joshua 19:32-21:42; 1 Chronicles 6:54-81; Joshua 21:43-45
3/31- Joshua 22:1-24:33
Saturday, February 28, 2015
Numbers 4:34-6:27
Aaron and his sons are to bless the Israelis: "The Lord bless you and keep you; the Lord make his face shine upon you and be gracious to you; the Lord turn his face toward you and give you peace." (Numbers 6:24-26)
May you, reader, and I be so blessed!
May you, reader, and I be so blessed!
Friday, February 27, 2015
Numbers 3:1-4:33
Yesterday, I read about the Israeli encampment--where all tribes' tents are to be located in relation to the Tent of Meeting, which is at the center. Today, I read about breaking camp, especially those who are responsible for taking care of the various parts and furnishings of the Tent of Meeting and for carrying those same parts and furnishings, whenever the Israelis move from one location to another.
And a lot of it under penalty of death! If they don't handle the sacrifices according to instructions, then die! If they fail to carry the furnishings just so, then die! It seems that fear and death has a lot to do with these people.
God, I thank You for Your Word: "...perfect love casts out fear..." (1 John 4:18)
And a lot of it under penalty of death! If they don't handle the sacrifices according to instructions, then die! If they fail to carry the furnishings just so, then die! It seems that fear and death has a lot to do with these people.
God, I thank You for Your Word: "...perfect love casts out fear..." (1 John 4:18)
Thursday, February 26, 2015
Numbers 1:1-2:34
Accounting! How many men, how many women, how many children--No! How many battle-ready men of age 20 or older are counted. After the census they are commanded to camp in a certain location relative to the Tent of Meeting, which is at the center of the camp. Only the priestly families are not counted. They are to serve the Lord in the Tent of Meeting.
Am I battle-ready? Am I tending the place to which God assigns me? How am I serving the God who promises to be at my center and with me always--to the end of the cosmos?
Am I battle-ready? Am I tending the place to which God assigns me? How am I serving the God who promises to be at my center and with me always--to the end of the cosmos?
Tuesday, February 24, 2015
Leviticus 24:1-25:55
A great discussion in this morning's group gathering centered in the necessity of atonement for sin, the many times that instructions for atoning sacrifices were repeated to the Israeli people (Genesis, Exodus, and Leviticus), the detailed requirements for those atoning sacrifices, and the awesomeness of Jesus Christ's atoning sacrifice on behalf of humanity.
I am having a hard time with Leviticus 25:44-46. "Your male and female slaves are to come from the nations around you; from them you may buy slaves. You may also buy some of the temporary residents living among you and members of their clans born in your country, and they will become your property. You can will them to your children as inherited property and can make them slaves for life, but you must not rule over your fellow Israelites ruthlessly."
I trust the institution of slavery has been abolished by Jesus' teachings, such as:
I am having a hard time with Leviticus 25:44-46. "Your male and female slaves are to come from the nations around you; from them you may buy slaves. You may also buy some of the temporary residents living among you and members of their clans born in your country, and they will become your property. You can will them to your children as inherited property and can make them slaves for life, but you must not rule over your fellow Israelites ruthlessly."
I trust the institution of slavery has been abolished by Jesus' teachings, such as:
- "Then you will know the truth, and the truth will set you free." (John 8:31)
- "Do to others as you would have them do to you." (Luke 6:31)
- "So if the Son sets you free, you will be free indeed." (John 8:36)
- And others...
Monday, February 23, 2015
Leviticus 22:1-23:44
"I am the Lord who makes ________ holy," seems to be the repeated refrain here. I feel more comforted by this, God's proclamation, than by the particulars of the required and prohibited behaviors listed.
I am disregarding many of those required and prohibited behaviors, as do many Christian communities. I suppose God intended them for the Israelis of long ago.
God, if You intend for me to follow all of the scriptures' required and prohibited behaviors today, then show me. I want to yield to Your desires.
I am relying on Jesus' words: "'You shall love the Lord your God with all your heart, and with all your soul, and with all your mind.' This is the greatest and first commandment. And a second is like it: 'You shall love your neighbor as yourself.' On these two commandments hang all the law and the prophets." (Matthew 22:37-40)
I want to BE so in love with You, God, that I cannot help but DO as You desire.
I am disregarding many of those required and prohibited behaviors, as do many Christian communities. I suppose God intended them for the Israelis of long ago.
God, if You intend for me to follow all of the scriptures' required and prohibited behaviors today, then show me. I want to yield to Your desires.
I am relying on Jesus' words: "'You shall love the Lord your God with all your heart, and with all your soul, and with all your mind.' This is the greatest and first commandment. And a second is like it: 'You shall love your neighbor as yourself.' On these two commandments hang all the law and the prophets." (Matthew 22:37-40)
I want to BE so in love with You, God, that I cannot help but DO as You desire.
Sunday, February 22, 2015
Leviticus 19:1-21:24
"Be holy," God says, "because I am holy. I am the Lord. I make you holy."
Right relationships exist among holy people, the priests, the land, the neighbor, and the stranger.
Thank You, God.
Right relationships exist among holy people, the priests, the land, the neighbor, and the stranger.
Thank You, God.
Saturday, February 21, 2015
Leviticus 16:1-18:30
The scripture references atonement in this fashion: Atonement is to be make once a year for all the sins of the Israelites. But I need atonement for sin daily.
The scripture calls anyone to account who sheds blood for any reason, "...because the life of every creature is in its blood." (Leviticus 17:14a) What would happen if everyone had this kind of reverence for life, even the life in the lowliest creature on earth?
The scripture calls anyone to account who sheds blood for any reason, "...because the life of every creature is in its blood." (Leviticus 17:14a) What would happen if everyone had this kind of reverence for life, even the life in the lowliest creature on earth?
Friday, February 20, 2015
Leviticus 13:47-15:33
God intends to live among the people. The people are to honor God's holiness by maintaining ceremonial purity. If they become ceremonially impure ("unclean"), then they dishonor God's presence among them.
Infections and discharges cause ceremonial impurity. Contact with ceremonially impure persons causes ceremonial impurity, and contact with certain objects that have contacted ceremonially impure persons causes ceremonial impurity.
There are a lot of details in all of this--too many details, I suspect, for some people to manage.
Infections and discharges cause ceremonial impurity. Contact with ceremonially impure persons causes ceremonial impurity, and contact with certain objects that have contacted ceremonially impure persons causes ceremonial impurity.
There are a lot of details in all of this--too many details, I suspect, for some people to manage.
Thursday, February 19, 2015
Leviticus 11:1-13:46
I look for reasons behind the rules of clean/unclean animals. Is it unhealthy to eat a rock badger or a pig? Is it more healthy to eat goats and grasshoppers?
Prejudice against female children seems obvious in Leviticus, chapter 12. A mother is ceremonially unclean for 7 days following the birth of a son, but ceremonially unclean for 14 days following the birth of a daughter. (Leviticus 12:1-5) I tend to wonder if the Lord told it to Moses this way or if what is written in the Bible is the way Moses heard it.
In any case I am glad for God's witness in the New Testament, i.e., Galatians 3:28 - "There is neither Jew nor Greek, slave nor free, male nor female, for you are all one in Christ Jesus."
As one who has had eczema from time to time during my life, I sympathize with those who lived under the prescriptions of Leviticus 13:45-46. "The person with such an infectious disease must wear torn clothes, let his hair be unkempt, cover the lower part of his face and cry out, 'Unclean! Unclean!' As long as he has the infection he remains unclean. He must live alone; he must live outside the camp."
How sad.
Leviticus 8:1-10:20
Moses consecrates the priests. The priests must be properly washed, clothed, anointed with oil, and "sacrificed for."
Blood from the ordination sacrifice is rubbed on the priests--their right ear lobes, their right thumbs, and their right big toes. (Leviticus 8:23-24) Concerning this, Matthew Henry observes in his biblical commentary: "...and thus he did (as it were) marry them to the altar, upon which they must all their days give attendance." I'm looking for some other significance to these actions and not finding anything.
What is reported as done in the Bible's book of Leviticus corresponds precisely with what is required as specified in the Bible's book of Exodus. Except...when Nadab and Abihu make an unauthorized offering of incense. Judgment and death follow immediately. (Leviticus 10:2)
What will bring all of these deaths, both animal sacrifices and human deaths, into some sort of coherent perspective for me? Maybe coherency isn't the point...
Blood from the ordination sacrifice is rubbed on the priests--their right ear lobes, their right thumbs, and their right big toes. (Leviticus 8:23-24) Concerning this, Matthew Henry observes in his biblical commentary: "...and thus he did (as it were) marry them to the altar, upon which they must all their days give attendance." I'm looking for some other significance to these actions and not finding anything.
What is reported as done in the Bible's book of Leviticus corresponds precisely with what is required as specified in the Bible's book of Exodus. Except...when Nadab and Abihu make an unauthorized offering of incense. Judgment and death follow immediately. (Leviticus 10:2)
What will bring all of these deaths, both animal sacrifices and human deaths, into some sort of coherent perspective for me? Maybe coherency isn't the point...
Leviticus 5:1-7:38
The sin offering if one is poor...
The burnt offering...
The grain offering...
The guilt offering...
"The fire must be kept burning on the altar continuously; it must not go out." (Leviticus 6:13)
Inferring from the regulation for a continual sacrificial fire, the people must be continually sinning.
The burnt offering...
The grain offering...
The guilt offering...
"The fire must be kept burning on the altar continuously; it must not go out." (Leviticus 6:13)
Inferring from the regulation for a continual sacrificial fire, the people must be continually sinning.
Leviticus 1:1-4:35
The burnt offering...
The grain offering...
The fellowship (peace) offering...
The sin offering...
...a whole lotta burning going on!
The grain offering...
The fellowship (peace) offering...
The sin offering...
...a whole lotta burning going on!
Exodus 39:1-40:38
...and the priest said, "I haven't a thing to wear!"
Scripture reading for 2/15/2015.
Scripture reading for 2/15/2015.
Saturday, February 14, 2015
Exodus 36:8-38:31
Valentine's Day...
As far as I can tell, the tabernacle, the altar, the curtains, the frames, etc., are made precisely according to the instructions previously given. Also an accounting is given (Exodus 38:21-31) of the respective amounts of gold, silver, and bronze to be used in crafting and building everything required.
A lot of time, effort, and expense goes into the apparatus and the personnel necessary to conduct worship as Moses specifies (or as God through Moses specifies). Worship is a valuable enterprise to these wandering descendants of Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob.
God, help me to value worship very highly, too.
As far as I can tell, the tabernacle, the altar, the curtains, the frames, etc., are made precisely according to the instructions previously given. Also an accounting is given (Exodus 38:21-31) of the respective amounts of gold, silver, and bronze to be used in crafting and building everything required.
A lot of time, effort, and expense goes into the apparatus and the personnel necessary to conduct worship as Moses specifies (or as God through Moses specifies). Worship is a valuable enterprise to these wandering descendants of Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob.
God, help me to value worship very highly, too.
Friday, February 13, 2015
Exodus 33:7-36:7
Friday the 13th!
Let's see: At the end of the last reading the Lord was refusing to go forward with the people. In this reading, apparently because God favored Moses, God agrees to accompany the people. God's presence causes Moses' face to be radiant.
One miracle I see is this--that the people who had built an idol of gold and had worshiped it now bring more than enough offerings to build a very elaborate and expensive tabernacle (Exodus 35:4-6).
Talk about a turnaround!
Let's see: At the end of the last reading the Lord was refusing to go forward with the people. In this reading, apparently because God favored Moses, God agrees to accompany the people. God's presence causes Moses' face to be radiant.
One miracle I see is this--that the people who had built an idol of gold and had worshiped it now bring more than enough offerings to build a very elaborate and expensive tabernacle (Exodus 35:4-6).
Talk about a turnaround!
Thursday, February 12, 2015
Exodus 30:1-33:6
Aroma--a distinctive aroma, in fact--plays a part in the worship specified in the Bible's book of Exodus.
It is significant to me that one of the craftsmen who do the work of building the tabernacle is filled with the Spirit of God (Exodus 31:1). God is the giver of both skill and Spirit.
I don't suppose this command was kept for any significant length of time: "Whoever does any work on the Sabbath day must be put to death." (Exodus 31:15b) But who knows? Exodus 32:28 claims that about 3,000 people were put to death on account of an outbreak of idol worship among the Israelites.
The wilderness is a confusing, dangerous place.
It is significant to me that one of the craftsmen who do the work of building the tabernacle is filled with the Spirit of God (Exodus 31:1). God is the giver of both skill and Spirit.
I don't suppose this command was kept for any significant length of time: "Whoever does any work on the Sabbath day must be put to death." (Exodus 31:15b) But who knows? Exodus 32:28 claims that about 3,000 people were put to death on account of an outbreak of idol worship among the Israelites.
The wilderness is a confusing, dangerous place.
Exodus 28:1-29:46
What am I to make of the clothing described here for the men who become priests?
What am I to understand about the consecration of Moses' brother, Aaron, and Aaron's sons as priests?
I do know this: The required daily burnt offering was expensive--two lambs, a measure each of flour, olive oil, and wine.
Of what value is my daily offering?
What am I to understand about the consecration of Moses' brother, Aaron, and Aaron's sons as priests?
I do know this: The required daily burnt offering was expensive--two lambs, a measure each of flour, olive oil, and wine.
Of what value is my daily offering?
Tuesday, February 10, 2015
Exodus 25:1-27:21
The photo is copyrighted and licensed for display here:
By Ruk7 (Own work) [GFDL (http://www.gnu.org/copyleft/fdl.html) or CC BY-SA 3.0 (http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/3.0)], via Wikimedia Commons
The URL for locating the file online is:
http://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File%3AStiftshuette_Modell_Timnapark.jpg
The photograph above is the image of a model of the tabernacle (Exodus 25:8-9) in Timna Park, Israel. Viewing the photo helps me to put pieces of the scripture reading together.
The photo is copyrighted and licensed for display here:
By Lancastermerrin88 (Own work) [GFDL (http://www.gnu.org/copyleft/fdl.html) or CC BY-SA 4.0-3.0-2.5-2.0-1.0 (http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/4.0-3.0-2.5-2.0-1.0)], via Wikimedia Commons
The URL for locating the file online is:
http://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File%3AR%C3%A9plica_del_Arca_de_la_Alianza--5.JPG
The photograph above is the image of a model of the ark of the Testimony. (Exodus 25:10-22) The ark of the Testimony (or Covenant) was to be kept in the tabernacle's Most Holy Place. (Exodus 26:33-34)
Dear God, show the Most Holy Place for me here and now...
Sunday, February 8, 2015
Exodus 19:1-21:36
God offers divine ownership of the people as God's part of their keeping covenant with God: "...you will be my treasured possession." (Exodus 19:5b)
Am I Your treasured possession, God? Am I fully in obedience to You and fully surrendered to Your desires? Am I your priest; are we Your holy nation?
The fear of God is to be with the people to keep them from sinning. (Exodus 20:20) But how did that work out? And besides "...perfect love casts out fear..." (1 John 4:18)
What do I fear? Of whom am I afraid? Is Your love in me, God? Am I loving in the ways You want, God?
Am I Your treasured possession, God? Am I fully in obedience to You and fully surrendered to Your desires? Am I your priest; are we Your holy nation?
The fear of God is to be with the people to keep them from sinning. (Exodus 20:20) But how did that work out? And besides "...perfect love casts out fear..." (1 John 4:18)
What do I fear? Of whom am I afraid? Is Your love in me, God? Am I loving in the ways You want, God?
Saturday, February 7, 2015
Exodus 16:1-18:27
The needs of the people are met--bread, meat, water, defense, and justice.
Moses' needs are met--miracles, Aaron's help, Joshua's assistance, and Jethro's counsel.
Thank you for meeting my needs also, God.
Friday, February 6, 2015
Exodus 13:1-15:27
What are You trying to communicate, God? In the text the Death Angel overtakes all the firstborn of Egypt (Exodus 12:29), then You require the consecration of all Israelite firstborn males (Exodus 13:1-2). Israelite sacrifice, redemption, and consecration are remembered and established by instruction and experience.
Moses takes the bones of Joseph out of Egypt to be buried in the land God promises to the descendants of Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob (Exodus 13:19). There is something to be said here about keeping promises across many generations.
"The Lord will fight for you; you need only to be still." (Exodus 14:14) How often You assure me of the same!
Moses takes the bones of Joseph out of Egypt to be buried in the land God promises to the descendants of Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob (Exodus 13:19). There is something to be said here about keeping promises across many generations.
"The Lord will fight for you; you need only to be still." (Exodus 14:14) How often You assure me of the same!
Thursday, February 5, 2015
Exodus 10:1-12:51
One thing: God brings judgment on all the gods of Egypt. (Genesis 12:12) In this way God impresses on both the Egyptians and the Israelites that God is God and that God is powerful.
Do I proclaim that God is my God while--at the same time--I cling to other "gods?" If so, then what are those "gods?" And how is God bringing judgment upon them?
Do I proclaim that God is my God while--at the same time--I cling to other "gods?" If so, then what are those "gods?" And how is God bringing judgment upon them?
Monday, February 2, 2015
Exodus 1:1-4:17
This is sort of wondering "between the lines": When the Bible says that, because the midwives feared the Lord, God gave them families of their own (Exodus 1:21), I wonder if, long ago, midwives were either single or married and childless women. I wonder if there was a saying something like our "Always a bridesmaid; never a bride!" That is, "Always a midwife; never a mother!"
At Exodus 1:8 the Bible tells us that a new king arose who did not know Joseph. It turned out to be a time for the Egyptian ruler to oppress the Hebrew people. When Moses reacted to that oppression by murdering an Egyptian citizen (Exodus 1:12) he was forced to put some distance between himself and that Pharaoh. It was only after a new ruler came onto the scene (Exodus 2:23) that the way was cleared for Moses to return to Egypt.
Am I waiting for the "right" political circumstances before committing to God's work? Do I know that God is with me in a way similar to God's presence with Moses? God promised, after all, to be with Moses (Exodus 3:12).
At Exodus 1:8 the Bible tells us that a new king arose who did not know Joseph. It turned out to be a time for the Egyptian ruler to oppress the Hebrew people. When Moses reacted to that oppression by murdering an Egyptian citizen (Exodus 1:12) he was forced to put some distance between himself and that Pharaoh. It was only after a new ruler came onto the scene (Exodus 2:23) that the way was cleared for Moses to return to Egypt.
Am I waiting for the "right" political circumstances before committing to God's work? Do I know that God is with me in a way similar to God's presence with Moses? God promised, after all, to be with Moses (Exodus 3:12).
Genesis 47:13-50:26
Catching up today. ..
I notice that Joseph enslaves Egypt for Pharaoh during the famine. His own people will be enslaved by another Pharaoh. Irony, retribution, or...
Then Jacob puts Joseph's younger son first in pronouncing his final blessings. To his dying day Jacob was all about reversing his and others' fortunes...
I notice that Joseph enslaves Egypt for Pharaoh during the famine. His own people will be enslaved by another Pharaoh. Irony, retribution, or...
Then Jacob puts Joseph's younger son first in pronouncing his final blessings. To his dying day Jacob was all about reversing his and others' fortunes...
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