 Key Verse
4 You have set up a banner for those who fear you, that they may flee to it from the bow. Selah Meditation “The darkest parts of your story will give birth to the strongest parts of your soul” when your hope is in Jesus and the banner of His gospel promises. Three stanzas offer three perspectives in today’s reading: the nation’s (1-4), God’s (5-8), and the king (9-12). Israel felt rejected, broken, and vulnerable (1). The earth felt like it was shaking under their feet (2). Hard things were happening (3). People were staggering (4), but their hope was under the Lord’s “banner.” “Banner” transitions the worshipper from pain to promises. “Banners” were set up for those who feared the Lord, turning to Him for salvation (Exodus 17:15). “Banner” was a word of hope in judgment (Numbers 21:8), a signal of salvation for all who believe (Isaiah 11:10). The beloved of God will be delivered (5), but not so His enemies (6-9). Jesus says He is the signal of God’s salvation, lifted up “…that whoever believes may be saved” (John 3:14-15). God’s faithfulness is seen when eyes of faith look up from struggles to see Jesus, the banner of His gospel promises. God has not rejected His people (10). Jesus is our banner of hope, the signal of salvation. The situation of Israel described in verses 1-4 point to the work of Jesus as our representative. Jesus was rejected and broken and the earth shook after His death. Hard things happened to Him so hope can dawn in the hearts of all who look to Him for salvation. Jesus is God's gospel banner and He provides a path for people to move from pain to praise! Today’s Reading To the choirmaster: according to Shushan Eduth. A Miktam of David; for instruction; when he strove with Aram-naharaim and with Aram-zobah, and when Joab on his return struck down twelve thousand of Edom in the Valley of Salt. O God, you have rejected us, broken our defenses; you have been angry; oh, restore us. 2 You have made the land to quake; you have torn it open; repair its breaches, for it totters. 3 You have made your people see hard things; you have given us wine to drink that made us stagger. 4 You have set up a banner for those who fear you, that they may flee to it from the bow. Selah 5 That your beloved ones may be delivered, give salvation by your right hand and answer us! 6 God has spoken in his holiness: “With exultation I will divide up Shechem and portion out the Vale of Succoth. 7 Gilead is mine; Manasseh is mine; Ephraim is my helmet; Judah is my scepter. 8 Moab is my washbasin; upon Edom I cast my shoe; over Philistia I shout in triumph.” 9 Who will bring me to the fortified city? Who will lead me to Edom? 10 Have you not rejected us, O God? You do not go forth, O God, with our armies. 11 Oh, grant us help against the foe, for vain is the salvation of man! 12 With God we shall do valiantly; it is he who will tread down our foes. Richly Dwelling -What stands out to you from today’s reading, especially in where you identify with Israel in verse 1-4? -The Lord is gracious to lift a banner for His people, a signal of salvation. Take a moment to pray, asking the Father to turn your eyes from your struggles to Jesus, looking to Jesus alone for salvation and strength. -Jesus says that “whomever” looks to Him can be saved. Do you know someone whose pain and problems are drowning them and they need help seeing the signal of salvation? Pray the Lord will open a door in conversation with this person and call them sometime in the next few days. Key Verse 4 You have set up a banner for those who fear you, that they may flee to it from the bow. Selah
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 Key Verses
2 And he said: “The Lord roars from Zion and utters his voice from Jerusalem…” Meditation Amos was an ordinary man “among the shepherds of Tekoa,” (1) a small town just south of Jerusalem. Amos was vocationally a “dresser of sycamore fig trees” with no formal training in prophetic ministry (7:14). God called ordinary Amos to speak His extra-ordinary word of revelation. Amos is one of the earliest writing prophets, serving during the reign of king Jeroboam II, @ 793-753 BC (1). The strong international economy of Amos’ day provided fertile ground for idolatry and immorality to flourish. The roar of the Lord from Zion was prophetic warning to all who were rejecting God as Lord and King. Ultimately, the words of Amos are targeted at Israel. But God began by speaking to the nations encircling the land (Damascus, Gaza, Tyre, Edom, Ammon, and Moab). The unique messages in Amos 1 follow a formula, “transgressions” against God were named (3, 6, 9, 11, 13) and God’s sovereignty demonstrated by the promise of His just judgment of the nations was proclaimed (4, 7, 10, 12, 14). Today’s reading details the judgement of Israel’s neighbors, a necessary aspect of God’s stated mission is to bless the nations (Genesis 12:1-3). Without prophetic proclamation to repent and return to the Lord the peoples would not know the sovereign grace of the Lord. The good news of the gospel is that Jesus took the judgement our sin deserves so we, including our neighbors, can repent and turn to Him for relationship. The Lion who roared through Amos (2) is the Lamb who took away the sins of the world! Today’s Reading The words of Amos, who was among the shepherds of Tekoa, which he saw concerning Israel in the days of Uzziah king of Judah and in the days of Jeroboam the son of Joash, king of Israel, two years before the earthquake. Judgment on Israel's Neighbors 2 And he said: “The Lord roars from Zion and utters his voice from Jerusalem; the pastures of the shepherds mourn, and the top of Carmel withers.” 3 Thus says the Lord: “For three transgressions of Damascus, and for four, I will not revoke the punishment, because they have threshed Gilead with threshing sledges of iron. 4 So I will send a fire upon the house of Hazael, and it shall devour the strongholds of Ben-hadad. 5 I will break the gate-bar of Damascus, and cut off the inhabitants from the Valley of Aven, and him who holds the scepter from Beth-eden; and the people of Syria shall go into exile to Kir,” says the Lord. 6 Thus says the Lord: “For three transgressions of Gaza, and for four, I will not revoke the punishment, because they carried into exile a whole people to deliver them up to Edom. 7 So I will send a fire upon the wall of Gaza, and it shall devour her strongholds. 8 I will cut off the inhabitants from Ashdod, and him who holds the scepter from Ashkelon; I will turn my hand against Ekron, and the remnant of the Philistines shall perish,” says the Lord God. 9 Thus says the Lord: “For three transgressions of Tyre, and for four, I will not revoke the punishment, because they delivered up a whole people to Edom, and did not remember the covenant of brotherhood. 10 So I will send a fire upon the wall of Tyre, and it shall devour her strongholds.” 11 Thus says the Lord: “For three transgressions of Edom, and for four, I will not revoke the punishment, because he pursued his brother with the sword and cast off all pity, and his anger tore perpetually, and he kept his wrath forever. 12 So I will send a fire upon Teman, and it shall devour the strongholds of Bozrah.” 13 Thus says the Lord: “For three transgressions of the Ammonites, and for four, I will not revoke the punishment, because they have ripped open pregnant women in Gilead, that they might enlarge their border. 14 So I will kindle a fire in the wall of Rabbah, and it shall devour her strongholds, with shouting on the day of battle, with a tempest in the day of the whirlwind; 15 and their king shall go into exile, he and his princes together,” says the Lord. Richly Dwelling -What stands out to you from today’s reading, especially the targeted accusations against the nations and God’s promised judgement? -Judgment is a necessary aspect of God’s mission to bless the nations. The message of judgment should lead to repentance, people turning to the Lord for refuge and forgiveness. The work of the cross is Jesus receiving the judgment we deserve! How do you feel knowing that judgment is central to God’s mission? -Through the work of Jesus all who believe can be forgiven, and this extra-ordinary message should be carried by ordinary people like Amos. Who in your life needs to hear the gospel? Jesus did not come to condemn the world but that the world would be saved through Him. Key Verses 2 And he said: “The Lord roars from Zion and utters his voice from Jerusalem…”  Key Verse
2 “Speak to all the congregation of the people of Israel and say to them, You shall be holy, for I the Lord your God am holy. Meditation A faithful response to God’s grace is obedience to God and His word. Belonging to a holy God precedes living a holy life for God. Today’s reading takes God’s people beyond religious ritual by calling us to live holy lives. The command is rooted in God’s holy character and anchored in relationship. The Lord emphasizes His possession of His people by repeating, “I am the Lord your God” sixteen times. Because Israel belonged to the Lord, their lives should be holy in sabbath ritual, relationship to the poor, moral integrity in relationship to one another, loving neighbors, and living justly. This paradigm carries through all of scripture, quoted by Jesus in His summary of the law (Mark 12: 29-31) and exemplified by Peter in his pastoral leadership: “He who called you is holy, you also be holy in all your conduct, since it is written, ‘You shall be holy, for I am holy.’” (1 Peter 1:15-16). In His holiness, Jesus took the filth of our sin upon Himself so that all who belong to Him can be made holy, knowing God’s love to reflect God’s character through living holy lives. The blood of Jesus purchased a people for Himself- We are the Lord’s possession! With the purpose of living holy lives for God’s glory. Biblical holiness is rooted in God’s character- God is holy! Biblical holiness is a response of hearts regenerated by God’s work- Jesus makes us holy! Biblical holiness is participation in God’s work of resonating His glory throughout the earth (Isaiah 6:3). Today’s Reading And the Lord spoke to Moses, saying, 2 “Speak to all the congregation of the people of Israel and say to them, You shall be holy, for I the Lord your God am holy. 3 Every one of you shall revere his mother and his father, and you shall keep my Sabbaths: I am the Lord your God. 4 Do not turn to idols or make for yourselves any gods of cast metal: I am the Lord your God. 5 “When you offer a sacrifice of peace offerings to the Lord, you shall offer it so that you may be accepted. 6 It shall be eaten the same day you offer it or on the day after, and anything left over until the third day shall be burned up with fire. 7 If it is eaten at all on the third day, it is tainted; it will not be accepted, 8 and everyone who eats it shall bear his iniquity, because he has profaned what is holy to the Lord, and that person shall be cut off from his people. Love Your Neighbor as Yourself 9 “When you reap the harvest of your land, you shall not reap your field right up to its edge, neither shall you gather the gleanings after your harvest. 10 And you shall not strip your vineyard bare, neither shall you gather the fallen grapes of your vineyard. You shall leave them for the poor and for the sojourner: I am the Lord your God. 11 “You shall not steal; you shall not deal falsely; you shall not lie to one another. 12 You shall not swear by my name falsely, and so profane the name of your God: I am the Lord. 13 “You shall not oppress your neighbor or rob him. The wages of a hired worker shall not remain with you all night until the morning. 14 You shall not curse the deaf or put a stumbling block before the blind, but you shall fear your God: I am the Lord. 15 “You shall do no injustice in court. You shall not be partial to the poor or defer to the great, but in righteousness shall you judge your neighbor. 16 You shall not go around as a slanderer among your people, and you shall not stand up against the life of your neighbor: I am the Lord. 17 “You shall not hate your brother in your heart, but you shall reason frankly with your neighbor, lest you incur sin because of him. 18 You shall not take vengeance or bear a grudge against the sons of your own people, but you shall love your neighbor as yourself: I am the Lord. You Shall Keep My Statutes 19 “You shall keep my statutes. You shall not let your cattle breed with a different kind. You shall not sow your field with two kinds of seed, nor shall you wear a garment of cloth made of two kinds of material. 20 “If a man lies sexually with a woman who is a slave, assigned to another man and not yet ransomed or given her freedom, a distinction shall be made. They shall not be put to death, because she was not free; 21 but he shall bring his compensation to the Lord, to the entrance of the tent of meeting, a ram for a guilt offering. 22 And the priest shall make atonement for him with the ram of the guilt offering before the Lord for his sin that he has committed, and he shall be forgiven for the sin that he has committed. 23 “When you come into the land and plant any kind of tree for food, then you shall regard its fruit as forbidden. Three years it shall be forbidden to you; it must not be eaten. 24 And in the fourth year all its fruit shall be holy, an offering of praise to the Lord. 25 But in the fifth year you may eat of its fruit, to increase its yield for you: I am the Lord your God. 26 “You shall not eat any flesh with the blood in it. You shall not interpret omens or tell fortunes. 27 You shall not round off the hair on your temples or mar the edges of your beard. 28 You shall not make any cuts on your body for the dead or tattoo yourselves: I am the Lord. 29 “Do not profane your daughter by making her a prostitute, lest the land fall into prostitution and the land become full of depravity. 30 You shall keep my Sabbaths and reverence my sanctuary: I am the Lord. 31 “Do not turn to mediums or necromancers; do not seek them out, and so make yourselves unclean by them: I am the Lord your God. 32 “You shall stand up before the gray head and honor the face of an old man, and you shall fear your God: I am the Lord. 33 “When a stranger sojourns with you in your land, you shall not do him wrong. 34 You shall treat the stranger who sojourns with you as the native among you, and you shall love him as yourself, for you were strangers in the land of Egypt: I am the Lord your God. 35 “You shall do no wrong in judgment, in measures of length or weight or quantity. 36 You shall have just balances, just weights, a just ephah, and a just hin: I am the Lord your God, who brought you out of the land of Egypt. 37 And you shall observe all my statutes and all my rules, and do them: I am the Lord.” Richly Dwelling -What stands out to you from today’s reading, especially the emphasis of the Lord to proclaim He is the Lord and His people are His possession? -Why is it significant that we belong to a holy God before we live holy lives, that our possession precede our practice? -Where do you need to respond to God’s grace more faithfully, living a holy life marked by obedience to His word and reflecting His character? Be specific. Key Verse 2 “Speak to all the congregation of the people of Israel and say to them, You shall be holy, for I the Lord your God am holy.  Key Verse
14 When he went ashore he saw a great crowd, and he had compassion on them and healed their sick. Meditation Jesus is King and His work compels disciples to worship. Jesus’ work climaxes in His death and resurrection, ultimate revelation that He is king and He will provide for His disciples in everything. In today’s reading, a contrast of two kings sets the table for contrasting messages. King Herod threw a banquet marked with debauchery and death, motivated by sensuality and insecurity (1-12). King Jesus fed multitudes through a miracle and His banquet gives life, satisfaction, and truth (13-21). Kingdoms of this world will dis-order our lives and bring death to our world. King Jesus, motivated by compassion, will satisfy disciples with His steadfast love. Three responses help diagnose how we receive Jesus’ kingdom proclamation and work:
Kings of our world are threatened by the King of the world. Crowds consume the things of Christ but do not gratefully crown Jesus as King. Disciples see Jesus work in storms through His word, discovering Jesus for who He truly is- the Son of God and King of Kings! We must worship Jesus! Jesus calls you to come to Him and hear His word, “Take heart- It is I! Do not be afraid!” Jesus meets us personally and His work reveals His love, care, and compassion so we will worship Him as King. Today’s Reading At that time Herod the tetrarch heard about the fame of Jesus, 2 and he said to his servants, “This is John the Baptist. He has been raised from the dead; that is why these miraculous powers are at work in him.” 3 For Herod had seized John and bound him and put him in prison for the sake of Herodias, his brother Philip's wife, 4 because John had been saying to him, “It is not lawful for you to have her.” 5 And though he wanted to put him to death, he feared the people, because they held him to be a prophet. 6 But when Herod's birthday came, the daughter of Herodias danced before the company and pleased Herod, 7 so that he promised with an oath to give her whatever she might ask. 8 Prompted by her mother, she said, “Give me the head of John the Baptist here on a platter.” 9 And the king was sorry, but because of his oaths and his guests he commanded it to be given. 10 He sent and had John beheaded in the prison, 11 and his head was brought on a platter and given to the girl, and she brought it to her mother. 12 And his disciples came and took the body and buried it, and they went and told Jesus. Jesus Feeds the Five Thousand 13 Now when Jesus heard this, he withdrew from there in a boat to a desolate place by himself. But when the crowds heard it, they followed him on foot from the towns.14 When he went ashore he saw a great crowd, and he had compassion on them and healed their sick. 15 Now when it was evening, the disciples came to him and said, “This is a desolate place, and the day is now over; send the crowds away to go into the villages and buy food for themselves.” 16 But Jesus said, “They need not go away; you give them something to eat.” 17 They said to him, “We have only five loaves here and two fish.” 18 And he said, “Bring them here to me.” 19 Then he ordered the crowds to sit down on the grass, and taking the five loaves and the two fish, he looked up to heaven and said a blessing. Then he broke the loaves and gave them to the disciples, and the disciples gave them to the crowds. 20 And they all ate and were satisfied. And they took up twelve baskets full of the broken pieces left over. 21 And those who ate were about five thousand men, besides women and children. Jesus Walks on the Water 22 Immediately he made the disciples get into the boat and go before him to the other side, while he dismissed the crowds. 23 And after he had dismissed the crowds, he went up on the mountain by himself to pray. When evening came, he was there alone, 24 but the boat by this time was a long way[b] from the land, beaten by the waves, for the wind was against them. 25 And in the fourth watch of the night he came to them, walking on the sea.26 But when the disciples saw him walking on the sea, they were terrified, and said, “It is a ghost!” and they cried out in fear. 27 But immediately Jesus spoke to them, saying, “Take heart; it is I. Do not be afraid.” 28 And Peter answered him, “Lord, if it is you, command me to come to you on the water.” 29 He said, “Come.” So Peter got out of the boat and walked on the water and came to Jesus. 30 But when he saw the wind, he was afraid, and beginning to sink he cried out, “Lord, save me.” 31 Jesus immediately reached out his hand and took hold of him, saying to him, “O you of little faith, why did you doubt?” 32 And when they got into the boat, the wind ceased. 33 And those in the boat worshiped him, saying, “Truly you are the Son of God.” Jesus Heals the Sick in Gennesaret 34 And when they had crossed over, they came to land at Gennesaret. 35 And when the men of that place recognized him, they sent around to all that region and brought to him all who were sick 36 and implored him that they might only touch the fringe of his garment. And as many as touched it were made well. Richly Dwelling -Which of the three responses to God’s word do you most identify with- Herod, the crowd, or the disciples? -What kings of the world do you go to in storms rather than going to King Jesus? How is that working for you? -Where do you need to believe the one key truth from today’s reading, that Christ loves you and He cares for you, desiring to meet you in the storm of life? Be specific Key Verse 14 When he went ashore he saw a great crowd, and he had compassion on them and healed their sick.  Key Verse
1 In the four hundred and eightieth year after the people of Israel came out of the land of Egypt, in the fourth year of Solomon's reign over Israel, in the month of Ziv, which is the second month, he began to build the house of the Lord. Meditation “God makes everything beautiful in His time.” (Ecclesiastes 3:11) In the fullness of His time, God is faithful to fulfill His covenant promises. Today’s reading highlights the new era of Solomon’s building the temple as fulfillment of God’s covenant promises to Abraham and David, conditioned by prescriptions from the Mosaic covenant, and pointing to the new covenant in Jesus Christ. God is faithful to keep His promises! “480 years after the Exodus” is more than a chronological marker. (1) The introduction is evidence that God executed what He promised to Abraham in Genesis 15:17 and emphasized to Moses in Exodus 12:40-41. In real time God fulfills His forever promises. As Solomon began his reign, Israel was at rest (1 Kings 5:3-5), the exact time God prescribed to fulfill His covenant promise to David to rest with His people (2 Samuel 7:10-11). The beautiful details of the temple were extravagant, significant because the average Israelite would never see the inside! Obligations assigned by the Mosaic covenant (11-13) served as direction for future flourishing. Together they shine a light on the beauty of God’s faithfulness to keep His covenant promises to Abraham, Moses, and David. The pinnacle of beauty is seen in the person and work of Jesus, the guarantee of New Covenant promises. In the fullness of time (Galatians 4:4), Jesus came to fulfill every covenant obligation so believers can receive God’s covenant promises. Jesus was the greater temple, (John 2:21) and His people will reflect His beauty when we build our life on the foundation of His covenant love. Today’s Reading In the four hundred and eightieth year after the people of Israel came out of the land of Egypt, in the fourth year of Solomon's reign over Israel, in the month of Ziv, which is the second month, he began to build the house of the Lord. 2 The house that King Solomon built for the Lord was sixty cubits long, twenty cubits wide, and thirty cubits high. 3 The vestibule in front of the nave of the house was twenty cubits long, equal to the width of the house, and ten cubits deep in front of the house. 4 And he made for the house windows with recessed frames. 5 He also built a structure against the wall of the house, running around the walls of the house, both the nave and the inner sanctuary. And he made side chambers all around. 6 The lowest story was five cubits broad, the middle one was six cubits broad, and the third was seven cubits broad. For around the outside of the house he made offsets on the wall in order that the supporting beams should not be inserted into the walls of the house. 7 When the house was built, it was with stone prepared at the quarry, so that neither hammer nor axe nor any tool of iron was heard in the house while it was being built. 8 The entrance for the lowest story was on the south side of the house, and one went up by stairs to the middle story, and from the middle story to the third. 9 So he built the house and finished it, and he made the ceiling of the house of beams and planks of cedar. 10 He built the structure against the whole house, five cubits high, and it was joined to the house with timbers of cedar. 11 Now the word of the Lord came to Solomon, 12 “Concerning this house that you are building, if you will walk in my statutes and obey my rules and keep all my commandments and walk in them, then I will establish my word with you, which I spoke to David your father. 13 And I will dwell among the children of Israel and will not forsake my people Israel.” 14 So Solomon built the house and finished it. 15 He lined the walls of the house on the inside with boards of cedar. From the floor of the house to the walls of the ceiling, he covered them on the inside with wood, and he covered the floor of the house with boards of cypress. 16 He built twenty cubits of the rear of the house with boards of cedar from the floor to the walls, and he built this within as an inner sanctuary, as the Most Holy Place. 17 The house, that is, the nave in front of the inner sanctuary, was forty cubits long. 18 The cedar within the house was carved in the form of gourds and open flowers. All was cedar; no stone was seen. 19 The inner sanctuary he prepared in the innermost part of the house, to set there the ark of the covenant of the Lord. 20 The inner sanctuary was twenty cubits long, twenty cubits wide, and twenty cubits high, and he overlaid it with pure gold. He also overlaid an altar of cedar. 21 And Solomon overlaid the inside of the house with pure gold, and he drew chains of gold across, in front of the inner sanctuary, and overlaid it with gold. 22 And he overlaid the whole house with gold, until all the house was finished. Also the whole altar that belonged to the inner sanctuary he overlaid with gold. 23 In the inner sanctuary he made two cherubim of olivewood, each ten cubits high. 24 Five cubits was the length of one wing of the cherub, and five cubits the length of the other wing of the cherub; it was ten cubits from the tip of one wing to the tip of the other. 25 The other cherub also measured ten cubits; both cherubim had the same measure and the same form. 26 The height of one cherub was ten cubits, and so was that of the other cherub. 27 He put the cherubim in the innermost part of the house. And the wings of the cherubim were spread out so that a wing of one touched the one wall, and a wing of the other cherub touched the other wall; their other wings touched each other in the middle of the house.28 And he overlaid the cherubim with gold. 29 Around all the walls of the house he carved engraved figures of cherubim and palm trees and open flowers, in the inner and outer rooms. 30 The floor of the house he overlaid with gold in the inner and outer rooms. 31 For the entrance to the inner sanctuary he made doors of olivewood; the lintel and the doorposts were five-sided.[h]32 He covered the two doors of olivewood with carvings of cherubim, palm trees, and open flowers. He overlaid them with gold and spread gold on the cherubim and on the palm trees. 33 So also he made for the entrance to the nave doorposts of olivewood, in the form of a square, 34 and two doors of cypress wood. The two leaves of the one door were folding, and the two leaves of the other door were folding. 35 On them he carved cherubim and palm trees and open flowers, and he overlaid them with gold evenly applied on the carved work.36 He built the inner court with three courses of cut stone and one course of cedar beams. 37 In the fourth year the foundation of the house of the Lord was laid, in the month of Ziv. 38 And in the eleventh year, in the month of Bul, which is the eighth month, the house was finished in all its parts, and according to all its specifications. He was seven years in building it. Richly Dwelling - What stands out to you from today’s reading, especially how the chronology of the chapter reveals the character of God? -God is patient, long-suffering in His love and faithful to keep His promises. Do you trust Him to fulfill His promises through Jesus? Why or why not? -How can you root yourself more deeply into the soil of His salvation, nourishing your soul with His patient grace to be more fruitful for His namesake? Be specific. Key Verse In the four hundred and eightieth year after the people of Israel came out of the land of Egypt, in the fourth year of Solomon's reign over Israel, in the month of Ziv, which is the second month, he began to build the house of the Lord.  Key Verse
5 You shall therefore keep my statutes and my rules; if a person does them, he shall live by them: I am the Lord. Meditation God’s eternal love will enrich our lives when we embrace Him and His design for life. Leviticus is contextualized within the historic reality of God’s glorious presence returning to His people through the tabernacle, enabling them to return to relationship (Leviticus 1). Today’s reading helps us see God’s love through His diagnosing how dis-ordered lives harm us and hurt relationship with Him. Covenant relationship with God compels believers to live counter-culturally. God’s presence had returned to His people, so Israel was commanded to not live like the Egyptians or Canaanites who did not know Him (1-3). Those who know God’s love will find life when we walk in God’s ways. (4-5) In Leviticus, if God and His ways were rejected then His people would be cut off from His presence. (29) In the gospel, we know Jesus was cut off in His death so His people can be reunited with God’s eternal love through faith (Galatians 3:13-14). Leviticus forbids God’s people live like the culture in regards to sexual practices. God’s design for human sexuality is woven into the fabric of creation (Genesis 2:21-24) and to reject God’s design is to embrace the culture’s practices. Sexually immoral lives are forbidden. (6-23) God promises blessing to those who embrace Him and His design for human sexuality. (28-30) Grace invites us to enjoy God and His design, welcoming His will. “For this is the will of God, your sanctification: That you abstain from sexual immorality…” (1 Thessalonians 4:3-4). Covenant love leads us to live distinct lives, embracing Jesus and His design from our heart. Today’s Reading And the Lord spoke to Moses, saying, 2 “Speak to the people of Israel and say to them, I am the Lord your God.3 You shall not do as they do in the land of Egypt, where you lived, and you shall not do as they do in the land of Canaan, to which I am bringing you. You shall not walk in their statutes. 4 You shall follow my rules and keep my statutes and walk in them. I am the Lord your God. 5 You shall therefore keep my statutes and my rules; if a person does them, he shall live by them: I am the Lord. 6 “None of you shall approach any one of his close relatives to uncover nakedness. I am the Lord. 7 You shall not uncover the nakedness of your father, which is the nakedness of your mother; she is your mother, you shall not uncover her nakedness. 8 You shall not uncover the nakedness of your father's wife; it is your father's nakedness. 9 You shall not uncover the nakedness of your sister, your father's daughter or your mother's daughter, whether brought up in the family or in another home.10 You shall not uncover the nakedness of your son's daughter or of your daughter's daughter, for their nakedness is your own nakedness. 11 You shall not uncover the nakedness of your father's wife's daughter, brought up in your father's family, since she is your sister. 12 You shall not uncover the nakedness of your father's sister; she is your father's relative. 13 You shall not uncover the nakedness of your mother's sister, for she is your mother's relative. 14 You shall not uncover the nakedness of your father's brother, that is, you shall not approach his wife; she is your aunt. 15 You shall not uncover the nakedness of your daughter-in-law; she is your son's wife, you shall not uncover her nakedness. 16 You shall not uncover the nakedness of your brother's wife; it is your brother's nakedness. 17 You shall not uncover the nakedness of a woman and of her daughter, and you shall not take her son's daughter or her daughter's daughter to uncover her nakedness; they are relatives; it is depravity. 18 And you shall not take a woman as a rival wife to her sister, uncovering her nakedness while her sister is still alive. 19 “You shall not approach a woman to uncover her nakedness while she is in her menstrual uncleanness.20 And you shall not lie sexually with your neighbor's wife and so make yourself unclean with her. 21 You shall not give any of your children to offer them to Molech, and so profane the name of your God: I am the Lord. 22 You shall not lie with a male as with a woman; it is an abomination.23 And you shall not lie with any animal and so make yourself unclean with it, neither shall any woman give herself to an animal to lie with it: it is perversion. 24 “Do not make yourselves unclean by any of these things, for by all these the nations I am driving out before you have become unclean, 25 and the land became unclean, so that I punished its iniquity, and the land vomited out its inhabitants. 26 But you shall keep my statutes and my rules and do none of these abominations, either the native or the stranger who sojourns among you 27 (for the people of the land, who were before you, did all of these abominations, so that the land became unclean), 28 lest the land vomit you out when you make it unclean, as it vomited out the nation that was before you. 29 For everyone who does any of these abominations, the persons who do them shall be cut off from among their people. 30 So keep my charge never to practice any of these abominable customs that were practiced before you, and never to make yourselves unclean by them: I am the Lord your God.” Richly Dwelling -What stands out to you from today’s reading, especially the contextualization of personal relationship (1-3) and the contrast between promised life (4-5) and being cut off (6-28)? -Like the cultures of Egypt and Canaan, the pagan practices of our culture reject God and His design for human sexuality. God’s grace is greater, inviting us to begin again in Him. Where do you need to repent and be restored by God’s grace? -God’s will for us is sanctification, that you look more like Christ and less like our culture. How can you respond to God’s grace by proactively living and loving like Christ? Key Verse 5 You shall therefore keep my statutes and my rules; if a person does them, he shall live by them: I am the Lord. |