Key Verse
34 And people of all nations came to hear the wisdom of Solomon, and from all the kings of the earth, who had heard of his wisdom. Meditation The goal and gain of wisdom is godliness, life and leadership looking like our Savior. Foolishness trades godliness for fruit of wisdom, exalting wisdom’s results as the destination by elevating good things of the world to ultimate places in our lives. Solomon demonstrated wisdom in kingdom administration (1-19) through both reign (20-28) and reputation (29-34). Portrayed in idealistic ways, Solomon’s wisdom fulfilled God’s covenant promises to Abraham in regards to offspring (20, Genesis 22:17) and extent of rule (21; Genesis 15:18). God is faithful to keep His covenant promises! A reality magnified as Solomon’s story continues. Solomon’s wisdom surpassed all the wisdom of the world (29, 34) but soon his heart sought happiness in harvesting the fruit of wisdom rather than feasting on the source of wisdom, God and His covenant faithfulness. Following the footsteps of Adam and Eve, Solomon traded God as the goal and gain of life when he saw, desired, took, and consumed the fruit of a wise life. The result was ruinous. Jesus is the wisdom of God (1 Corinthians 1:18-25). The treasures of wisdom are hidden in Jesus (Colossians 2:3). God’s covenant faithfulness is revealed through the work of Jesus who was ruined to death on a cross so His people can be restored to abundant life. The love of Jesus satisfies our hearts. Contentedness with Jesus will make us like Jesus, the goal and gain of wisdom! This transformation increases conviction to see the fruit of wisdom as something to be stewarded to advance Jesus' glory in the world. Today’s Reading King Solomon was king over all Israel, 2 and these were his high officials: Azariah the son of Zadok was the priest;3 Elihoreph and Ahijah the sons of Shisha were secretaries; Jehoshaphat the son of Ahilud was recorder; 4 Benaiah the son of Jehoiada was in command of the army; Zadok and Abiathar were priests; 5 Azariah the son of Nathan was over the officers; Zabud the son of Nathan was priest and king's friend; 6 Ahishar was in charge of the palace; and Adoniram the son of Abda was in charge of the forced labor. 7 Solomon had twelve officers over all Israel, who provided food for the king and his household. Each man had to make provision for one month in the year. 8 These were their names: Ben-hur, in the hill country of Ephraim; 9 Ben-deker, in Makaz, Shaalbim, Beth-shemesh, and Elonbeth-hanan; 10 Ben-hesed, in Arubboth (to him belonged Socoh and all the land of Hepher); 11 Ben-abinadab, in all Naphath-dor (he had Taphath the daughter of Solomon as his wife); 12 Baana the son of Ahilud, in Taanach, Megiddo, and all Beth-shean that is beside Zarethan below Jezreel, and from Beth-shean to Abel-meholah, as far as the other side of Jokmeam; 13 Ben-geber, in Ramoth-gilead (he had the villages of Jair the son of Manasseh, which are in Gilead, and he had the region of Argob, which is in Bashan, sixty great cities with walls and bronze bars); 14 Ahinadab the son of Iddo, in Mahanaim;15 Ahimaaz, in Naphtali (he had taken Basemath the daughter of Solomon as his wife); 16 Baana the son of Hushai, in Asher and Bealoth; 17 Jehoshaphat the son of Paruah, in Issachar;18 Shimei the son of Ela, in Benjamin; 19 Geber the son of Uri, in the land of Gilead, the country of Sihon king of the Amorites and of Og king of Bashan. And there was one governor who was over the land. Solomon's Wealth and Wisdom20 Judah and Israel were as many as the sand by the sea. They ate and drank and were happy. 21 Solomon ruled over all the kingdoms from the Euphrates[b] to the land of the Philistines and to the border of Egypt. They brought tribute and served Solomon all the days of his life. 22 Solomon's provision for one day was thirty cors of fine flour and sixty cors of meal, 23 ten fat oxen, and twenty pasture-fed cattle, a hundred sheep, besides deer, gazelles, roebucks, and fattened fowl. 24 For he had dominion over all the region west of the Euphrates from Tiphsah to Gaza, over all the kings west of the Euphrates. And he had peace on all sides around him. 25 And Judah and Israel lived in safety, from Dan even to Beersheba, every man under his vine and under his fig tree, all the days of Solomon. 26 Solomon also had 40,000[e] stalls of horses for his chariots, and 12,000 horsemen. 27 And those officers supplied provisions for King Solomon, and for all who came to King Solomon's table, each one in his month. They let nothing be lacking. 28 Barley also and straw for the horses and swift steeds they brought to the place where it was required, each according to his duty. 29 And God gave Solomon wisdom and understanding beyond measure, and breadth of mind like the sand on the seashore,30 so that Solomon's wisdom surpassed the wisdom of all the people of the east and all the wisdom of Egypt. 31 For he was wiser than all other men, wiser than Ethan the Ezrahite, and Heman, Calcol, and Darda, the sons of Mahol, and his fame was in all the surrounding nations. 32 He also spoke 3,000 proverbs, and his songs were 1,005. 33 He spoke of trees, from the cedar that is in Lebanon to the hyssop that grows out of the wall. He spoke also of beasts, and of birds, and of reptiles, and of fish. 34 And people of all nations came to hear the wisdom of Solomon, and from all the kings of the earth, who had heard of his wisdom. Richly Dwelling -What stands out to you in today’s reading, especially in regards to Solomon’s wisdom that is explained in idealistic ways? -As noted, Solomon eventually trades the fruit of wisdom for God and godly leadership. Where do you identify with this, elevating good things of this world to ultimate places in your heart? -God’s love in Jesus will satisfy your soul, contentedness with Jesus alone as the goal and gain of wisdom and conviction to steward the fruit of wisdom for His kingdom. Where (specifically) do you need to be content with Jesus in your heart and how can you (specifically) steward the fruit of wisdom for His kingdom? Key Verse 34 And people of all nations came to hear the wisdom of Solomon, and from all the kings of the earth, who had heard of his wisdom.
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Key Verses
3 and the priest shall go out of the camp, and the priest shall look. Then, if the case of leprous disease is healed in the leprous person, 4 the priest shall command them to take for him who is to be cleansed two live clean birds and cedarwood and scarlet yarn and hyssop. Meditation God’s sovereign grace cleanses and cures, purifying His people from all unrighteousness. One result should be hearts bursting with thanksgiving and praise. When we meditate on Levitical law concerned with ritual cleansing of lepers, we cannot help but consider Jesus’ ministry to the ten lepers begged who begged for healing (Luke 17:11-19). Jesus commanded them to present themselves to the priests and they were cleansed, cured of their skin disease and capable to re-engage society. Only one healed leper, a foreigner with faith in Jesus, returned to thank Jesus. Praise should overflow from grateful hearts that have been cured and cleansed. The prescribed ritual cleansing for lepers (1-32) and for homes (33-57) was important socially and ceremonially. Socially, skin diseases needed to be addressed. Ceremonially, a holy God cannot fellowship with an unclean people. More than healing of skin, God’s people needed atonement to be cleansed from sin (31). The result of this process would have been personal fellowship with God and thanksgiving from His people. When Jesus healed the ten lepers He was “on His way to Jerusalem” (Luke 17:11) to die for His people, His blood cleansing believers from sin (1 John 1:7-9). Jesus healed lepers to display His authority to offer greater healing, cleansing us from the penalty and power of sin. The detailed response of a cured person in Leviticus 14 challenges us to consider our gratitude level in response to the cleansing and cure Jesus provides. May our hearts have the same posture of obedience by demonstrating thankfulness and praise. Today’s Reading The Lord spoke to Moses, saying, 2 “This shall be the law of the leprous person for the day of his cleansing. He shall be brought to the priest, 3 and the priest shall go out of the camp, and the priest shall look. Then, if the case of leprous disease is healed in the leprous person, 4 the priest shall command them to take for him who is to be cleansed two live clean birds and cedarwood and scarlet yarn and hyssop. 5 And the priest shall command them to kill one of the birds in an earthenware vessel over fresh water. 6 He shall take the live bird with the cedarwood and the scarlet yarn and the hyssop, and dip them and the live bird in the blood of the bird that was killed over the fresh water. 7 And he shall sprinkle it seven times on him who is to be cleansed of the leprous disease. Then he shall pronounce him clean and shall let the living bird go into the open field. 8 And he who is to be cleansed shall wash his clothes and shave off all his hair and bathe himself in water, and he shall be clean. And after that he may come into the camp, but live outside his tent seven days. 9 And on the seventh day he shall shave off all his hair from his head, his beard, and his eyebrows. He shall shave off all his hair, and then he shall wash his clothes and bathe his body in water, and he shall be clean. 10 “And on the eighth day he shall take two male lambs without blemish, and one ewe lamb a year old without blemish, and a grain offering of three tenths of an ephah of fine flour mixed with oil, and one log of oil.11 And the priest who cleanses him shall set the man who is to be cleansed and these things before the Lord, at the entrance of the tent of meeting. 12 And the priest shall take one of the male lambs and offer it for a guilt offering, along with the log of oil, and wave them for a wave offering before the Lord.13 And he shall kill the lamb in the place where they kill the sin offering and the burnt offering, in the place of the sanctuary. For the guilt offering, like the sin offering, belongs to the priest; it is most holy. 14 The priest shall take some of the blood of the guilt offering, and the priest shall put it on the lobe of the right ear of him who is to be cleansed and on the thumb of his right hand and on the big toe of his right foot. 15 Then the priest shall take some of the log of oil and pour it into the palm of his own left hand 16 and dip his right finger in the oil that is in his left hand and sprinkle some oil with his finger seven times before the Lord. 17 And some of the oil that remains in his hand the priest shall put on the lobe of the right ear of him who is to be cleansed and on the thumb of his right hand and on the big toe of his right foot, on top of the blood of the guilt offering. 18 And the rest of the oil that is in the priest's hand he shall put on the head of him who is to be cleansed. Then the priest shall make atonement for him before the Lord. 19 The priest shall offer the sin offering, to make atonement for him who is to be cleansed from his uncleanness. And afterward he shall kill the burnt offering.20 And the priest shall offer the burnt offering and the grain offering on the altar. Thus the priest shall make atonement for him, and he shall be clean. 21 “But if he is poor and cannot afford so much, then he shall take one male lamb for a guilt offering to be waved, to make atonement for him, and a tenth of an ephah of fine flour mixed with oil for a grain offering, and a log of oil; 22 also two turtledoves or two pigeons, whichever he can afford. The one shall be a sin offering and the other a burnt offering. 23 And on the eighth day he shall bring them for his cleansing to the priest, to the entrance of the tent of meeting, before the Lord. 24 And the priest shall take the lamb of the guilt offering and the log of oil, and the priest shall wave them for a wave offering before the Lord. 25 And he shall kill the lamb of the guilt offering. And the priest shall take some of the blood of the guilt offering and put it on the lobe of the right ear of him who is to be cleansed, and on the thumb of his right hand and on the big toe of his right foot.26 And the priest shall pour some of the oil into the palm of his own left hand, 27 and shall sprinkle with his right finger some of the oil that is in his left hand seven times before the Lord. 28 And the priest shall put some of the oil that is in his hand on the lobe of the right ear of him who is to be cleansed and on the thumb of his right hand and on the big toe of his right foot, in the place where the blood of the guilt offering was put. 29 And the rest of the oil that is in the priest's hand he shall put on the head of him who is to be cleansed, to make atonement for him before the Lord.30 And he shall offer, of the turtledoves or pigeons, whichever he can afford, 31 one[e] for a sin offering and the other for a burnt offering, along with a grain offering. And the priest shall make atonement before the Lord for him who is being cleansed. 32 This is the law for him in whom is a case of leprous disease, who cannot afford the offerings for his cleansing.” Laws for Cleansing Houses 33 The Lord spoke to Moses and Aaron, saying, 34 “When you come into the land of Canaan, which I give you for a possession, and I put a case of leprous disease in a house in the land of your possession, 35 then he who owns the house shall come and tell the priest, ‘There seems to me to be some case of disease in my house.’ 36 Then the priest shall command that they empty the house before the priest goes to examine the disease, lest all that is in the house be declared unclean. And afterward the priest shall go in to see the house. 37 And he shall examine the disease. And if the disease is in the walls of the house with greenish or reddish spots, and if it appears to be deeper than the surface, 38 then the priest shall go out of the house to the door of the house and shut up the house seven days. 39 And the priest shall come again on the seventh day, and look. If the disease has spread in the walls of the house, 40 then the priest shall command that they take out the stones in which is the disease and throw them into an unclean place outside the city. 41 And he shall have the inside of the house scraped all around, and the plaster that they scrape off they shall pour out in an unclean place outside the city. 42 Then they shall take other stones and put them in the place of those stones, and he shall take other plaster and plaster the house. 43 “If the disease breaks out again in the house, after he has taken out the stones and scraped the house and plastered it, 44 then the priest shall go and look. And if the disease has spread in the house, it is a persistent leprous disease in the house; it is unclean. 45 And he shall break down the house, its stones and timber and all the plaster of the house, and he shall carry them out of the city to an unclean place.46 Moreover, whoever enters the house while it is shut up shall be unclean until the evening, 47 and whoever sleeps in the house shall wash his clothes, and whoever eats in the house shall wash his clothes. 48 “But if the priest comes and looks, and if the disease has not spread in the house after the house was plastered, then the priest shall pronounce the house clean, for the disease is healed. 49 And for the cleansing of the house he shall take two small birds, with cedarwood and scarlet yarn and hyssop, 50 and shall kill one of the birds in an earthenware vessel over fresh water 51 and shall take the cedarwood and the hyssop and the scarlet yarn, along with the live bird, and dip them in the blood of the bird that was killed and in the fresh water and sprinkle the house seven times. 52 Thus he shall cleanse the house with the blood of the bird and with the fresh water and with the live bird and with the cedarwood and hyssop and scarlet yarn.53 And he shall let the live bird go out of the city into the open country. So he shall make atonement for the house, and it shall be clean.” 54 This is the law for any case of leprous disease: for an itch, 55 for leprous disease in a garment or in a house, 56 and for a swelling or an eruption or a spot, 57 to show when it is unclean and when it is clean. This is the law for leprous disease. Richly Dwelling -Take a moment to thank Jesus for ways His grace has cured you from the curse of sin and cleansed you from the stain of sin. -Why does your heart regularly resist returning to Jesus to give thanks? -Obedience to the Lord is a right response to His grace that gives cleansing and cure. Where do you need to show your gratitude through obedience? Be specific. Key Verses 3 and the priest shall go out of the camp, and the priest shall look. Then, if the case of leprous disease is healed in the leprous person, 4 the priest shall command them to take for him who is to be cleansed two live clean birds and cedarwood and scarlet yarn and hyssop. Key Verse
5 Be exalted, O God, above the heavens! Let your glory be over all the earth! 11 Be exalted, O God, above the heavens! Let your glory be over all the earth! Meditation The finished work of Jesus guarantees God’s covenant faithfulness- Christians are secure in His steadfast love! Jesus resurrected from the grave, leaving the cave behind Him, so Christians can sing from the caves of difficult circumstances knowing our struggles are not the end of the story. God is working everything for His glory. David pleaded for mercy beyond the rock walls surrounding him (1) as He looked to the Lord for refuge (2). The shadow of God’s wings (see Ruth 2:12 & Matthew 23:37) is more secure than the shelter of circumstances (3). God’s steadfast love will save and strengthen us to sing! From the depth of despair David called God the “Most High,” orienting the eyes of his heart beyond what he could see (4). David sang, elevating the Lord above his extreme situation: Be exalted, O God, above the heavens! Let your glory be over all the earth (5, 11)! David’s difficulties did not disappear (6) but he committed his heart to steadfastly trust the Lord (7). David preached to himself, commanding himself to awaken to God’s glory (8). David committed himself to be thankful (9). The sovereign steadfast love of God freed David to sing from the cave- Be exalted, O God, above the heavens! Let your glory be over all the earth (5, 11)! Jesus Christ has defeated death and destroyed the enemy, leaving the cave of the grave so His people can have hope. The caves of our struggles are not the end of the story. God is working everything for His glory. Today’s Reading To the choirmaster: according to Do Not Destroy. A Miktam of David, when he fled from Saul, in the cave. 1 Be merciful to me, O God, be merciful to me, for in you my soul takes refuge; in the shadow of your wings I will take refuge, till the storms of destruction pass by. 2 I cry out to God Most High, to God who fulfills his purpose for me. 3 He will send from heaven and save me; he will put to shame him who tramples on me. Selah God will send out his steadfast love and his faithfulness! 4 My soul is in the midst of lions; I lie down amid fiery beasts— the children of man, whose teeth are spears and arrows, whose tongues are sharp swords. 5 Be exalted, O God, above the heavens! Let your glory be over all the earth! 6 They set a net for my steps; my soul was bowed down. They dug a pit in my way, but they have fallen into it themselves. Selah 7 My heart is steadfast, O God, my heart is steadfast! I will sing and make melody! 8 Awake, my glory! Awake, O harp and lyre! I will awake the dawn! 9 I will give thanks to you, O Lord, among the peoples; I will sing praises to you among the nations.10 For your steadfast love is great to the heavens, your faithfulness to the clouds. 11 Be exalted, O God, above the heavens! Let your glory be over all the earth! Richly Dwelling -Does it sound silly to sing in a cave when you are on the run for your life? Why or why not? -How does seeing God as the “Most High” help lift the eyes of your heart off of your circumstances and place them onto His steadfast love that reaches to the Heavens? -From prison, Paul joins the chorus of this Psalm in Romans 15:9. Practically, how can you- no matter what your circumstances or how great the struggles you face? Key Verse 5 Be exalted, O God, above the heavens! Let your glory be over all the earth! 11 Be exalted, O God, above the heavens! Let your glory be over all the earth! Key Verse
4 What the cutting locust left, the swarming locust has eaten. What the swarming locust left, the hopping locust has eaten, and what the hopping locust left, the destroying locust has eaten. Meditation God promises to crush the curse. The first gospel promise to smash the head of Satan (Genesis 3:15) is reinforced by Paul (Romans 16:20) and helps us navigate the nitty-gritty imagery in today’s reading by reminding us that God wins, satan loses, and the curse will be consumed. The prophet Joel detailed complete devastation caused by devouring locusts. This imagery is lifted from curses found in the Mosaic covenant promised as a consequence for when God’s people rejected God and His word (Deuteronomy 28:38). Joel called Israel to repent and warned of a greater judgement to come if they refused (13-20). Locusts appeared in the eighth plague (Exodus 10) as a sign of judgment, also used in Revelation as imagery of woe after the first trumpet blows (Revelation 9:1-12). In God’s redemptive story, the curse never has the final word. Joel later offers hope from God’s promise to, “restore to you the years that the swarming locust has eaten…” (2:25). Joel pointed to Jesus who took the curse we deserve so believers can feast on God’s covenant blessings. “Christ redeemed us from the curse of the law by becoming a curse for us…” (Galatians 3:13) With Joels’ original audience, we too can experience restoration by repenting from our sin and returning to the Lord with all our heart (1:12-20). John the Baptist ate locusts for lunch (Matthew 3:4) as he “prepared the way” for Jesus who ate the curse for His people. Jesus crushed the curse and smashed the head of satan so believers can feast on God’s faithfulness. Today’s Reading 1 The word of the Lord that came to Joel, the son of Pethuel: An Invasion of Locusts 2 Hear this, you elders; give ear, all inhabitants of the land! Has such a thing happened in your days, or in the days of your fathers? 3 Tell your children of it, and let your children tell their children, and their children to another generation. 4 What the cutting locust left, the swarming locust has eaten. What the swarming locust left, the hopping locust has eaten, and what the hopping locust left, the destroying locust has eaten. 5 Awake, you drunkards, and weep, and wail, all you drinkers of wine, because of the sweet wine, for it is cut off from your mouth. 6 For a nation has come up against my land, powerful and beyond number; its teeth are lions' teeth, and it has the fangs of a lioness. 7 It has laid waste my vine and splintered my fig tree; it has stripped off their bark and thrown it down; their branches are made white. 8 Lament like a virgin wearing sackcloth for the bridegroom of her youth. 9 The grain offering and the drink offering are cut off from the house of the Lord. The priests mourn, the ministers of the Lord. 10 The fields are destroyed, the ground mourns, because the grain is destroyed, the wine dries up, the oil languishes. 11 Be ashamed, O tillers of the soil; wail, O vinedressers, for the wheat and the barley, because the harvest of the field has perished. 12 The vine dries up; the fig tree languishes. Pomegranate, palm, and apple, all the trees of the field are dried up, and gladness dries up from the children of man. A Call to Repentance 13 Put on sackcloth and lament, O priests; wail, O ministers of the altar. Go in, pass the night in sackcloth, O ministers of my God! Because grain offering and drink offering are withheld from the house of your God. 14 Consecrate a fast; call a solemn assembly. Gather the elders and all the inhabitants of the land to the house of the Lord your God, and cry out to the Lord. 15 Alas for the day! For the day of the Lord is near, and as destruction from the Almighty it comes. 16 Is not the food cut off before our eyes, joy and gladness from the house of our God? 17 The seed shrivels under the clods; the storehouses are desolate; the granaries are torn down because the grain has dried up. 18 How the beasts groan! The herds of cattle are perplexed because there is no pasture for them; even the flocks of sheep suffer. 19 To you, O Lord, I call. For fire has devoured the pastures of the wilderness, and flame has burned all the trees of the field. 20 Even the beasts of the field pant for you because the water brooks are dried up, and fire has devoured the pastures of the wilderness. Richly Dwelling -What stands out to you in today’s reading, especially the devastation described in 1:4 and the invitation to repent in 1:12-20? - Where in your life, specifically, do you need to repent and trust God to restore? -Jesus took the covenant curse so you can experience the blessings of God’s covenant faithfulness. Turn to the cross to see where the curse was crushed! Focus on Christ’s work and feast on His faithfulness. Take a moment to ask God’s Spirit to help you see His promise to restore what the locusts have eaten! Key Verse 4 What the cutting locust left, the swarming locust has eaten. What the swarming locust left, the hopping locust has eaten, and what the hopping locust left, the destroying locust has eaten. Key Verse
2 “When a person has on the skin of his body a swelling or an eruption or a spot, and it turns into a case of leprous disease on the skin of his body, then he shall be brought to Aaron the priest or to one of his sons the priests, 3 and the priest shall examine the diseased area on the skin of his body… Meditation Jesus alone can make you clean. Jesus touched lepers (Matthew 8:1-4), an act that should disqualify Him as ceremonially unclean. Jesus also touched a dead child to resurrect her and allowed a woman bleeding for more than a decade to touch Him. Rather than human impurity contaminating Christ, His righteous power cleanses people He contacts. The purpose of Leviticus 13 is to help priests diagnose, deal with, and purify people from skin disease. This section reads like a medical textbook (because it is!), providing seven cases with steps for infected Israelites to cure, cleanse, and re-connect with community. The direction is from love and for purification. Skin disease needed early diagnosis with quick quarantine and treatment before it spread. The person and place needed to be purified and the priest carried out the necessary practices (I am very glad this is no longer a part of pastoral duties!). No person could heal or purify themselves. All infected needed priestly intercession. Jesus’ priestly power healed and purified lepers, (Luke 17:11-19) healing acts pointing to a greater fact: The cross where Christ died deals with a much greater impurity- sin. Leprosy separated people from society and required purification. Sin separates people from God (Isaiah 59:2) and requires purification and cleansing. Jesus became sin, taking our contamination upon Him, to be cut off from life so that in Him all who believe can be cleansed by His blood and reconnected with the Father’s love. In Christ we know, “God is faithful to forgive sin and purify from all unrighteousness.” (1 John 1:9) Today’s Reading The Lord spoke to Moses and Aaron, saying, 2 “When a person has on the skin of his body a swelling or an eruption or a spot, and it turns into a case of leprous disease on the skin of his body, then he shall be brought to Aaron the priest or to one of his sons the priests, 3 and the priest shall examine the diseased area on the skin of his body. And if the hair in the diseased area has turned white and the disease appears to be deeper than the skin of his body, it is a case of leprous disease. When the priest has examined him, he shall pronounce him unclean. 4 But if the spot is white in the skin of his body and appears no deeper than the skin, and the hair in it has not turned white, the priest shall shut up the diseased person for seven days. 5 And the priest shall examine him on the seventh day, and if in his eyes the disease is checked and the disease has not spread in the skin, then the priest shall shut him up for another seven days. 6 And the priest shall examine him again on the seventh day, and if the diseased area has faded and the disease has not spread in the skin, then the priest shall pronounce him clean; it is only an eruption. And he shall wash his clothes and be clean. 7 But if the eruption spreads in the skin, after he has shown himself to the priest for his cleansing, he shall appear again before the priest. 8 And the priest shall look, and if the eruption has spread in the skin, then the priest shall pronounce him unclean; it is a leprous disease. 9 “When a man is afflicted with a leprous disease, he shall be brought to the priest,10 and the priest shall look. And if there is a white swelling in the skin that has turned the hair white, and there is raw flesh in the swelling, 11 it is a chronic leprous disease in the skin of his body, and the priest shall pronounce him unclean. He shall not shut him up, for he is unclean. 12 And if the leprous disease breaks out in the skin, so that the leprous disease covers all the skin of the diseased person from head to foot, so far as the priest can see, 13 then the priest shall look, and if the leprous disease has covered all his body, he shall pronounce him clean of the disease; it has all turned white, and he is clean. 14 But when raw flesh appears on him, he shall be unclean. 15 And the priest shall examine the raw flesh and pronounce him unclean. Raw flesh is unclean, for it is a leprous disease. 16 But if the raw flesh recovers and turns white again, then he shall come to the priest, 17 and the priest shall examine him, and if the disease has turned white, then the priest shall pronounce the diseased person clean; he is clean. 18 “If there is in the skin of one's body a boil and it heals, 19 and in the place of the boil there comes a white swelling or a reddish-white spot, then it shall be shown to the priest. 20 And the priest shall look, and if it appears deeper than the skin and its hair has turned white, then the priest shall pronounce him unclean. It is a case of leprous disease that has broken out in the boil. 21 But if the priest examines it and there is no white hair in it and it is not deeper than the skin, but has faded, then the priest shall shut him up seven days. 22 And if it spreads in the skin, then the priest shall pronounce him unclean; it is a disease. 23 But if the spot remains in one place and does not spread, it is the scar of the boil, and the priest shall pronounce him clean. 24 “Or, when the body has a burn on its skin and the raw flesh of the burn becomes a spot, reddish-white or white, 25 the priest shall examine it, and if the hair in the spot has turned white and it appears deeper than the skin, then it is a leprous disease. It has broken out in the burn, and the priest shall pronounce him unclean; it is a case of leprous disease. 26 But if the priest examines it and there is no white hair in the spot and it is no deeper than the skin, but has faded, the priest shall shut him up seven days, 27 and the priest shall examine him the seventh day. If it is spreading in the skin, then the priest shall pronounce him unclean; it is a case of leprous disease. 28 But if the spot remains in one place and does not spread in the skin, but has faded, it is a swelling from the burn, and the priest shall pronounce him clean, for it is the scar of the burn. 29 “When a man or woman has a disease on the head or the beard, 30 the priest shall examine the disease. And if it appears deeper than the skin, and the hair in it is yellow and thin, then the priest shall pronounce him unclean. It is an itch, a leprous disease of the head or the beard. 31 And if the priest examines the itching disease and it appears no deeper than the skin and there is no black hair in it, then the priest shall shut up the person with the itching disease for seven days, 32 and on the seventh day the priest shall examine the disease. If the itch has not spread, and there is in it no yellow hair, and the itch appears to be no deeper than the skin, 33 then he shall shave himself, but the itch he shall not shave; and the priest shall shut up the person with the itching disease for another seven days. 34 And on the seventh day the priest shall examine the itch, and if the itch has not spread in the skin and it appears to be no deeper than the skin, then the priest shall pronounce him clean. And he shall wash his clothes and be clean. 35 But if the itch spreads in the skin after his cleansing, 36 then the priest shall examine him, and if the itch has spread in the skin, the priest need not seek for the yellow hair; he is unclean. 37 But if in his eyes the itch is unchanged and black hair has grown in it, the itch is healed and he is clean, and the priest shall pronounce him clean. 38 “When a man or a woman has spots on the skin of the body, white spots, 39 the priest shall look, and if the spots on the skin of the body are of a dull white, it is leukoderma that has broken out in the skin; he is clean. 40 “If a man's hair falls out from his head, he is bald; he is clean. 41 And if a man's hair falls out from his forehead, he has baldness of the forehead; he is clean. 42 But if there is on the bald head or the bald forehead a reddish-white diseased area, it is a leprous disease breaking out on his bald head or his bald forehead. 43 Then the priest shall examine him, and if the diseased swelling is reddish-white on his bald head or on his bald forehead, like the appearance of leprous disease in the skin of the body, 44 he is a leprous man, he is unclean. The priest must pronounce him unclean; his disease is on his head. 45 “The leprous person who has the disease shall wear torn clothes and let the hair of his head hang loose, and he shall cover his upper lip and cry out, ‘Unclean, unclean.’ 46 He shall remain unclean as long as he has the disease. He is unclean. He shall live alone. His dwelling shall be outside the camp. 47 “When there is a case of leprous disease in a garment, whether a woolen or a linen garment, 48 in warp or woof of linen or wool, or in a skin or in anything made of skin, 49 if the disease is greenish or reddish in the garment, or in the skin or in the warp or the woof or in any article made of skin, it is a case of leprous disease, and it shall be shown to the priest. 50 And the priest shall examine the disease and shut up that which has the disease for seven days. 51 Then he shall examine the disease on the seventh day. If the disease has spread in the garment, in the warp or the woof, or in the skin, whatever be the use of the skin, the disease is a persistent leprous disease; it is unclean. 52 And he shall burn the garment, or the warp or the woof, the wool or the linen, or any article made of skin that is diseased, for it is a persistent leprous disease. It shall be burned in the fire. 53 “And if the priest examines, and if the disease has not spread in the garment, in the warp or the woof or in any article made of skin, 54 then the priest shall command that they wash the thing in which is the disease, and he shall shut it up for another seven days. 55 And the priest shall examine the diseased thing after it has been washed. And if the appearance of the diseased area has not changed, though the disease has not spread, it is unclean. You shall burn it in the fire, whether the rot is on the back or on the front. 56 “But if the priest examines, and if the diseased area has faded after it has been washed, he shall tear it out of the garment or the skin or the warp or the woof. 57 Then if it appears again in the garment, in the warp or the woof, or in any article made of skin, it is spreading. You shall burn with fire whatever has the disease. 58 But the garment, or the warp or the woof, or any article made of skin from which the disease departs when you have washed it, shall then be washed a second time, and be clean.” 59 This is the law for a case of leprous disease in a garment of wool or linen, either in the warp or the woof, or in any article made of skin, to determine whether it is clean or unclean. Richly Dwelling -This is a difficult chapter to read, ritual law targeting the cleansing from skin disease. Let’s start by being honest with this fact- This chapter is culturally distant from us! But very applicable. For instance, where do you desire to be cleansed and how has your uncleanliness cut you off from people (family, friends, work mates, ect…)? -God promises purification when we agree with the diagnosis and confess our sin. Take a moment to enjoy this promised provision by confessing sin and receiving purification. Jesus makes you clean! -Jesus purified lepers so they could re-connect with society, as these ritual laws prescribe in today’s reading. Where do you need to respond to the cleansing of Christ by reconnecting with people you have been cut off from your sin? Be specific, and ask Jesus to empower you. Key Verse 2 “When a person has on the skin of his body a swelling or an eruption or a spot, and it turns into a case of leprous disease on the skin of his body, then he shall be brought to Aaron the priest or to one of his sons the priests, 3 and the priest shall examine the diseased area on the skin of his body… Key Verse
2 Now when John heard in prison about the deeds of the Christ, he sent word by his disciples 3 and said to him, “Are you the one who is to come, or shall we look for another?” … 28 Come to me, all who labor and are heavy laden, and I will give you rest. Meditation God’s sovereign grace invites us to rest in Jesus, taking a break from our doubts to be renewed in delight. Jesus moved from instructing His disciples to preaching and teaching in cities, interrupted by John’s doubting disciples: Was Jesus the prophet He claimed to be, with John the forerunner of the Messiah in prison? As with Thomas the disciple, Jesus was gentle with John and his questions. Without condemnation, Jesus redirected John’s doubting disciples to the truth of God’s sovereign grace. Jesus explained how He fulfilled messianic prophecies, (4-6) emphasized with a string of partial quotations from Isaiah 29, 35, and 42 to help explain John’s persecution and his role in redemptive history (7-19). Not everyone who heard the good news or saw Jesus’ mighty works would rest in God’s sovereign grace through repentance, (20-24) but God’s sovereign grace does not stop with denunciation. Jesus makes a delightful invitation. Jesus invites the listening crowds (and readers today) to come to Him for rest. Jesus is gentle and lowly of heart. Jesus’ rest is active, taking the yoke of His teaching, not as duty but delight. Jesus ultimately fulfilled OT messianic prophecies through His perfect life and sacrificial, substitutionary, death on the cross (Isaiah 52:13-53:12). Jesus took the damnation resulting from the denunciation of judgement so doubting disciples can discover truth and weary crowds can find rest. Jesus rested in the grave, to resurrect on the third day, so from His work disciples can delight in His teaching, finding rest for our weary souls through obedience to His restorative word. Today’s Reading When Jesus had finished instructing his twelve disciples, he went on from there to teach and preach in their cities. 2 Now when John heard in prison about the deeds of the Christ, he sent word by his disciples 3 and said to him, “Are you the one who is to come, or shall we look for another?” 4 And Jesus answered them, “Go and tell John what you hear and see: 5 the blind receive their sight and the lame walk, lepers are cleansed and the deaf hear, and the dead are raised up, and the poor have good news preached to them. 6 And blessed is the one who is not offended by me.” 7 As they went away, Jesus began to speak to the crowds concerning John: “What did you go out into the wilderness to see? A reed shaken by the wind? 8 What then did you go out to see? A man dressed in soft clothing? Behold, those who wear soft clothing are in kings' houses. 9 What then did you go out to see? A prophet? Yes, I tell you, and more than a prophet. 10 This is he of whom it is written, “‘Behold, I send my messenger before your face, who will prepare your way before you.’ 11 Truly, I say to you, among those born of women there has arisen no one greater than John the Baptist. Yet the one who is least in the kingdom of heaven is greater than he. 12 From the days of John the Baptist until now the kingdom of heaven has suffered violence, and the violent take it by force. 13 For all the Prophets and the Law prophesied until John, 14 and if you are willing to accept it, he is Elijah who is to come. 15 He who has ears to hear, let him hear. 16 “But to what shall I compare this generation? It is like children sitting in the marketplaces and calling to their playmates, 17 “‘We played the flute for you, and you did not dance; we sang a dirge, and you did not mourn.’ 18 For John came neither eating nor drinking, and they say, ‘He has a demon.’ 19 The Son of Man came eating and drinking, and they say, ‘Look at him! A glutton and a drunkard, a friend of tax collectors and sinners!’ Yet wisdom is justified by her deeds.” Woe to Unrepentant Cities 20 Then he began to denounce the cities where most of his mighty works had been done, because they did not repent. 21 “Woe to you, Chorazin! Woe to you, Bethsaida! For if the mighty works done in you had been done in Tyre and Sidon, they would have repented long ago in sackcloth and ashes. 22 But I tell you, it will be more bearable on the day of judgment for Tyre and Sidon than for you.23 And you, Capernaum, will you be exalted to heaven? You will be brought down to Hades. For if the mighty works done in you had been done in Sodom, it would have remained until this day. 24 But I tell you that it will be more tolerable on the day of judgment for the land of Sodom than for you.” Come to Me, and I Will Give You Rest 25 At that time Jesus declared, “I thank you, Father, Lord of heaven and earth, that you have hidden these things from the wise and understanding and revealed them to little children; 26 yes, Father, for such was your gracious will. 27 All things have been handed over to me by my Father, and no one knows the Son except the Father, and no one knows the Father except the Son and anyone to whom the Son chooses to reveal him. 28 Come to me, all who labor and are heavy laden, and I will give you rest. 29 Take my yoke upon you, and learn from me, for I am gentle and lowly in heart, and you will find rest for your souls. 30 For my yoke is easy, and my burden is light.” Richly Dwelling -What stands out to you from today’s reading, especially the gentle compassion of Jesus for doubting disciples and weary crowds? -Where do you look for rest and restoration for your weary soul? How is that working for you? -Jesus offers a solution in Himself, through His work, and by His grace- to come to Him for rest. Where do you need to move from functional doubt to faith, trusting in Jesus and taking up His direction for restoration? Be specific. Key Verse 2 Now when John heard in prison about the deeds of the Christ, he sent word by his disciples 3 and said to him, “Are you the one who is to come, or shall we look for another?” … 28 Come to me, all who labor and are heavy laden, and I will give you rest. |
AuthorPastor Mitchell celebrates twenty-five years of marriage with Lisa and together they have four adventurous children. |