Leviticus 12: Rich in Love

​Key Verse
8 And if she cannot afford a lamb, then she shall take two turtledoves or two pigeons, one for a burnt offering and the other for a sin offering. And the priest shall make atonement for her, and she shall be clean.”
 
MEDITATION
Jesus became poor to make you rich in love. Paul discusses “genuine love” by describing the work of Jesus in economic language: “For you know the grace of our Lord Jesus Christ, that though He was rich, yet for your sake He became poor, so that you by His poverty might become rich.” (2 Corinthians 8:8-9) When the poor in spirit focus their faith on Jesus and His work we become rich in grace and love.
 
Jesus was poor. Shortly after his birth Mary went to the temple to offer a sacrifice “according to the law of the Lord, a pair of turtle doves and two young pigeons” (Luke 2:22-24). Today’s chapter on purification procedures after childbirth is the Old Testament background informing us that this offering is a provision for a poor family who could not afford a lamb for sacrifice (8). Jesus was born into poverty so His people may be born again to find richness in His love.
 
Jesus had no place to rest His head during His ministry (Matthew 8:20). Jesus preached from borrowed boats, multiplied borrowed food, rode into Jerusalem on a borrowed colt, washed the disciples feet with a borrowed towel, and was buried in a borrowed tomb.
 
By faith believers do more than borrow Christ’s righteousness- We become righteous (2 Corinthians 5:21). By the work of Jesus, believers are adopted children who are freely given God’s Spirit, the seal of our eternal inheritance- riches from God’s eternal love (Ephesians 1:11-14). Believers are children adopted into God’s family, rich in love!


 
PASSAGE
The Lord spoke to Moses, saying, 2 “Speak to the people of Israel, saying, If a woman conceives and bears a male child, then she shall be unclean seven days. As at the time of her menstruation, she shall be unclean. 3 And on the eighth day the flesh of his foreskin shall be circumcised. 4 Then she shall continue for thirty-three days in the blood of her purifying. She shall not touch anything holy, nor come into the sanctuary, until the days of her purifying are completed. 5 But if she bears a female child, then she shall be unclean two weeks, as in her menstruation. And she shall continue in the blood of her purifying for sixty-six days.

6 “And when the days of her purifying are completed, whether for a son or for a daughter, she shall bring to the priest at the entrance of the tent of meeting a lamb a year old for a burnt offering, and a pigeon or a turtledove for a sin offering, 7 and he shall offer it before the Lord and make atonement for her. Then she shall be clean from the flow of her blood. This is the law for her who bears a child, either male or female. 8 And if she cannot afford a lamb, then she shall take two turtledoves or two pigeons, one for a burnt offering and the other for a sin offering. And the priest shall make atonement for her, and she shall be clean.


 
Richly Dwelling
-What surprises you about the poverty of Jesus, the One in the form of God who took the form of a servant, obedient to death on a cross so you can know the riches of God’s eternal love?
 
-How does acknowledging our own poverty of righteousness, being poor in spirit, give us faith to receive Christ’s righteousness and discover the richness of His grace?
 
-Have you received the riches of God’s unconditional love in Christ? Why or why not? Jesus became poor to make you rich in love. Open your hands and hearts to receive His eternal blessings!
 
Key Verse
8 And if she cannot afford a lamb, then she shall take two turtledoves or two pigeons, one for a burnt offering and the other for a sin offering. And the priest shall make atonement for her, and she shall be clean.”