Readings for FEBRUARY 20-26

FEBRUARY 20

The three feasts are appointed for the people to celebrate each year; Passover and Feast of Unleavened Bread, including the The "wave offering" done on the Sunday after Passover is called the "Wave Sheaf Offering" barley and represents the firstfruits of the harvest, Feast of Weeks (Harvest or Firstfruits - later called Pentecost, wave offering done with wheat) and Feast of Tabernacles. Prior to the Feast of Tabernacles is the Feast of Trumpets (Rosh Hashanah) and Day of Atonement (Yom Kippur).  These feast and festival days are times of celebration, remembrance, and thanksgiving.  Exodus 23:14 is very specific.  There are three commanded feast and festival days.

In the book The Journey of Jesus From the Manger to the Mansion we used Scripture to place Jesus’ birth during the Feast of Tabernacles. Jesus will return to “tabernacle" with His people again.  We believe there is much biblical evidence to understand that when He returns it will be during the Feast of Tabernacles.  Jesus told us that we would not know the exact day or time of His return but we will know the “season”.  

The Feast of Tabernacles is honored in the month of Tishri. The first day of Tishri is the Feast of Trumpets, Rosh Hashanah, the Jewish New Year. It marks the beginning of the Days of Awe, a 10-day period of repentance that ends with Yom Kippur, the Day of Atonement on Tishri 10. The blowing of the shofar on Tishri 1 signals a call for a spiritual awakening.  It is also a time for repentance before Day of Atonement on Tishri 10.  All sins committed during the previous year are atoned for.  The Feast of Tabernacles begins five days later on Tishri 15.. 

Can we make a connection with Jesus’ return and the Feast of Tabernacles?  What if the two witnesses and other believers in Jesus are testifying and evangelizing in Jerusalem right before the month of Tishri begins? They have 30 days of respite from the Antichrist when he is not allowed to persecute them.  They are speaking out and evangelizing as many people as they can. What if the seventh trumpet sounds On Tishri 1 calling the people to repentance.  This trumpet announces the Days of Awe repenting before  the Day of Atonement on Tishri 10.  On the Day of Atonement, God required that two animals be sacrificed: a bull and a goat.  Two witnesses are sacrificed in Jerusalem.  Their bodies lie in the street for 3 ½ days.  On Tishri 15 the Feast of Tabernacles begins.  Jesus returns to the Mount of Olives at this time with the heavenly host to begin the year long Day of the Lord.  God also required on Day of Atonement that a scapegoat is sent out figuratively carrying the sins of the people.  Jesus is the scapegoat being sent out from God the Father, carrying the sins of the people going throughout the earth as He calls the people to repentance.  Jesus returns to Jerusalem about a year later again during the Feast of Tabernacles., the last day of the year long day of the Lord.  - firestones and hailstones. 

There is a promise given to the Israelites for observing these feast days.  God promises in Exodus 34:24 to drive out the nations and enlarge their territory. This was a specific literal promise.  What does God promise us today for our observance of these feasts?  Does He enlarge our spiritual territory? Does He give us spiritual blessings? ABSOLUTELY!

Honoring the feasts and festivals was not just for the Israelites.  Numbers 9:14 has provisions for anyone who wants to celebrate these days.

All of these feast and festival days were celebrated in anticipation of the coming of the Messiah.  As Believers in Jesus, we should look back on these days and remember with thanksgiving Jesus' fulfillment of the prophecies of all these feast and festival days. Hebrews 10 gives clarification concerning the parallels with Jesus.

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In giving the specifications for the offerings for the three feast days and the festival days, God says, “Each of you must bring a gift in proportion to the way the Lord your God has blessed you”

Wow! If we really contemplated the ways that the Lord has blessed us, how would our offerings back to Him look?

There are several types of offerings listed. Gifts are variable and can be whatever the giver feels in his heart to give. The tithe is not. The tithe is the Old Testament way, a tax so to speak, of ten percent for the support and upkeep of the Levites.  Gifts and offerings are above and beyond the tithe.

It’s intriguing about the scapegoat, being used for the atonement for sin. Is that what we do when we blame someone else for mistakes, problems, sin in our lives? Do we transfer blame to a “scapegoat”?  Jesus is not only our sacrificial lamb, He is our scapegoat as well.

The Lord gives this promise to the Israelites if they will keep His commandments. “God will bless you in all your harvest and in all the work of your hands, and your joy will be complete.” Complete joy…have we claimed this promise today?

FEBRUARY 21

In today's reading there are instructions for the sacrifices and offerings.  The details are recorded when we need to refer back to them, just as the genealogies are there so that we may refer to them if necessary.

SIN OFFERING AND GUILT OFFERING (Leviticus 4-6; Numbers 15:1-12)

Sin offerings and guilt offerings focus on paying for sin.  The sin offerings atoned for sins against God.  The guilt offerings were for sins against others, and included paying damages with interest.  Various animals were offered, depending on the person’s position and income.   The parts of the animal were burned, often with wine poured on them (drink offering).  In some cases, the meat could be eaten by the priests.  Since the priests were full-time tabernacle workers, sacrificed animals were their main source of food.  

BURNT OFFERING (Leviticus 1)

This sacrifice represented complete dedication and surrender to God.  The animal, the best of the flock, bore the worshiper’s sins, and died in his place.  After the blood was sprinkled on the altar, the animal was completely burned.  None of it was roasted for eating. 

GRAIN (MEAL) OFFERING (Leviticus 2)

This offering was given to God in thankfulness.  The people brought fine flour, unleavened cakes, or roasted grain to the priests.  The priests burned a symbolic handful at the altar, and could partake of the rest.  There was very little ceremony involved.

FELLOWSHIP (PEACE) OFFERINGS (Leviticus 3; 7:11-38)

This offering symbolized fellowship and peace with God through shed blood.  After some meat was ceremonially waved toward heaven and given to the priests, worshipers and their guests could share in the feast as a meal with God. 

Today Jews believe that they are saved by God as a nation, not as an individual person.  For this reason we believe that all the sacrifices listed in Scripture were to be done as representative sacrifices for the nation as a whole, or done as a tribe, representing the whole tribe.  If there was an individual need then that would be addressed with the leaders of clans, families, etc. Keep in mind, not all the people did as God commanded them to do concerning the sacrifices and offerings. 

The people needed to offer sacrifices for atonement of sin.  A sin is still a sin but Jesus paid the penalty for the sins. On this side of the cross, we are not required to offer sacrifices because Jesus IS the sacrifice.

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In the requirements for the cereal offerings is the admonition to include the salt of the covenant to the offerings.  Salt is symbolic and yet serves many purposes.  It enhances the flavor of food and it makes a fire burn hotter. We can make multiple applications of salt concerning any covenant.  The salt figuratively empowers the covenant made.

Notice the words, “an aroma pleasing to the Lord” follow most offerings made by fire. Why? Many times in the Bible, especially in the Old Testament we read of sacrifices and burnt offerings given to the Lord, placed on the altar in the temple or tabernacle. God Himself gave the laws regarding these sacrifices to Moses. The Israelite people offered their sacrifices as atonement for sin. It tells us that an offering, without blemish or defect, is an aroma pleasing to the Lord.  But the sacrifices could only cover the sin, not remove the sin. Jesus’ death on the cross gave humanity the opportunity to have their sins removed forever. (see Hebrews 10) The ultimate sacrifice, the perfect sacrifice, the most pleasing of all to the Lord…was Jesus. He willingly became our sacrifice to atone for our sins, an aroma that must have been as sweet perfume to God, the Father.  The aroma pleasing to the Lord is the symbolic destruction of sin.

Romans 12:1
"Therefore I urge you, brothers, in view of God’s mercy, to offer your bodies as living sacrifices, holy  and pleasing to God – this is your spiritual act of worship."

Scripture tells us that we are to present ourselves as a living sacrifice. Is our sacrifice an aroma pleasing to the Lord?  Have we destroyed sin in our lives?  Do we present to him our very best?

II Corinthians 2:14-15
"Now thanks be to God who always leads us in triumph in Christ, and through us diffuses the fragrance of His knowledge in every place. For we are to God the fragrance of Christ."

What a joy to be the fragrance of Christ to God! Do we diffuse the fragrance of His knowledge everywhere we go?  Have we destroyed sin in our lives?  If so, then we are living as an aroma pleasing to the Lord.

FEBRUARY 22

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When instructions are given for the sin offerings, there are provisions for unintentional sins. Many times when we think of sin, we automatically think of the intentional sins, the sins of commission. However, there are consequences for sins of omission and unintentional sins. James addresses this very issue.

James 4:17
Whoever knows what is right but doesn't do it is sinning.

Many times the instructions for sacrifices were to burn such things as fat, kidneys and parts of the liver. These two organs are there for filtering out impurities. Figuratively speaking, the sinful things in our lives at repentance are "burned away". This would be like the "aroma pleasing to the Lord". When we repent, we die to sin.

Interestingly the first animal sacrifice was done by God as a covering for Adam and Eve. Lots of connections with the animal sacrifices "covering" the sin temporarily. But praise God, Jesus covers our sins completely! But He is very clear about what He expects from us. Once we repent, we turn our back on what we were before.

1 Corinthians 6:11
And that is what some of you were. But you were washed, you were sanctified, you were justified in the name of the Lord Jesus Christ and by the Spirit of our God.

To repent means to turn around completely and go the other way....God's way and never come back! The word, repent, in Hebrew word pictures means, "to burn the house". In other words, burn away the sin and things connected with the sin. We are reminded of the voodoo doctor in Haiti who burned his house and  all his voodoo equipment, his livelihood, once he became a believer in Jesus. He truly understood the word repent in the simplest, but most profound form.

How is it for all of us as Believers in Jesus? When we repent, do we "burn the house" on all our sins?

FEBRUARY 23, 2021

Again in today's reading, sins of omission or unintentional sins are mentioned. A sin is a sin whether intentional or unintentional.

Two passages of Scripture, one in the Old Testament and one in the New Testament, seem to have a connection. The one in Leviticus lists one of the many regulations concerning another person's property.

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Leviticus 6:2-4
"If anyone sins and is unfaithful to the LORD by deceiving his neighbor about something entrusted to him or left in his care or stolen, or if he cheats him, or if he finds lost property and lies about it, or if he swears falsely, or if he commits any such sin that people may do--when he thus sins and becomes guilty, he must return what he has stolen or taken by extortion, or what was entrusted to him, or the lost property he found,

Matthew 13:44
"The kingdom of heaven is like treasure hidden in a field. When a man found it, he hid it again, and then in his joy went and sold all he had and bought that field.

The passage in Matthew is a parable that Jesus told. At initial reading it appears to be a good thing that the man found a treasure hidden in a field and was so overjoyed that he sold all he had and bought the field. But if we read this passage in light of the previous one in the Old Testament, it appears as if the man who found the treasure is actually doing a bad thing. First of all the treasure wasn't his to begin with and secondly, he hid it again to keep someone else from finding it (most especially the owner of the field). Most of the parables go much deeper if we really dig.  Contrast this parable with the Pearl of Great Price.  That one has a different meaning altogether.

For more on the parables, see the book Parables to Ponder by Phil and Patti Moore available on Amazon.

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Leviticus 24 mentions that the lamps must be burning continuously outside the curtain of the Testimony in the Tent of Meeting.  A light is to be continuously burning.  Also, there is always to be bread.  Hmm...what spiritual connections can we make here?

God makes provisions for bringing the imperfect as offerings when it is a freewill offering. Freewill offerings are just that over and above the required (such as the required tithe) offerings.

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God gives Moses this beautiful blessing for the Israelites. What a great way to start the day or end the day!

Numbers 6:24-26
"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."

FEBRUARY 24

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God gave specifications that the blemished are not to serve or go near the curtain in the tabernacle. God is a perfectionist! At Jesus’ crucifixion the curtain in the temple was torn from top to bottom. Jesus made a new way for us through Him. Now we have confidence to enter even the Most Holy Place, no matter how "blemished" we may seem.

Mark 15:37-38
With a loud cry, Jesus breathed his last. The curtain of the temple was torn in two from top to bottom.

Hebrews 10:19-20
Therefore, brothers, since we have confidence to enter the Most Holy Place by the blood of Jesus, by a new and living way opened for us through the curtain, that is, his body,

The high priest was to keep himself "clean" in order to serve in the holy place of the tabernacle. Since we as Believers are "tabernacles" for the Holy Spirit, shouldn't that make us want to remove ourselves from anything "unclean" or sinful in order to serve HIM?

Leviticus 22:1
The Lord said to Moses, "Tell Aaron and his sons to treat with respect the sacred offerings..." 

How would we do that today?  How is the money spent coming into our churches today?  Is it spent for sinful purposes? Ex. salaries for gay or lesbian pastors???  Or any pastor who would teach that homosexuality is acceptable or abortion is okay?  Or any other teaching that degrades the truth of God? Would this be treating with respect the sacred offerings?

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The commentary under Year of Jubilee - Lev. 25, we find these words, "One of the most remarkable features of the Jubilee is the concept of redemption...." The commentator mentions it is a "foretaste of even greater spiritual redemption in the era of the Messiah." Wonder if the year of Jesus' crucifixion was a year of Jubilee and/or will His return be in a Jubilee year?

Leviticus 25:10
It shall be a jubilee for you; each one of you is to return to his family property and each to his own clan.

Scripture tells us that there will be a gathering of the nations into the millennium. The descendants of Jacob will inherit their land allotments according to the first covenant made by God to Abraham. (Genesis 15:17-21) What a family reunion that will be!!!

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In addition to the weekly Sabbath for rest and worship, God also commanded that there was to be a rest for the land on each seventh year. But...not to worry. He made sure that they would have enough in the sixth year to more than make up for the fallow seventh year. Only God can make that promise.
Leviticus 25:21
I will send you such a blessing in the sixth year that the land will yield enough for three years.

Isn't that just like God? When we obey Him completely, He blesses us abundantly! 

FEBRUARY 25

The purpose for many of the purification laws are for purely sanitary reasons and much like the dietary laws, they just make good sense.

Moses spent 40 years practicing and maintaining all the laws.  The priests would have had access all this time to Moses and Aaron if they needed clarification on any of the laws.  Praise God, we not only have the written Word of God, we have the Holy Spirit if we need clarification on anything!

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Concerning the regulations for cleansing from childbirth - is this a continuation of the repercussions of the sin of Eve?  Also, in these regulations there is a difference in the time frame for boys and girls.  The woman is considered unclean for one week if she gives birth to a boy and for two weeks if she gives birth to a girl.  Also, the days until her purification are 33 days if she gives birth to a boy and 66 days if she gives birth to a girl.  Wonder why the difference?  Sometimes God's commands may not make sense to us, but they are His commands none-the-less.

Words of wisdom from the Chumash - the woman gives two offerings the burnt offering is to be given to atone for any resentful thoughts she may have had against her husband during her labor pains.  The sin offering atones for the possibility that in her agony during childbirth she may have sworn never to live with her husband again.

The following verses show us another connection between the Old and New Testaments.

Leviticus 12:7-8
"'These are the regulations for the woman who gives birth to a boy or a girl. If she cannot afford a lamb, she is to bring two doves or two young pigeons, one for a burnt offering and the other for a sin offering. In this way the priest will make atonement for her, and she will be clean.'"

Luke 2:22-24
When the time of their purification according to the Law of Moses had been completed, Joseph and Mary took him to Jerusalem to present him to the Lord (as it is written in the Law of the Lord, "Every firstborn male is to be consecrated to the Lord"),and to offer a sacrifice in keeping with what is said in the Law of the Lord: "a pair of doves or two young pigeons."

The atonement offering was given by Mary for her purification after the birth of Jesus. Since they gave either two doves or two pigeons, it meant that Mary and Joseph most likely couldn’t afford a lamb.

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After reading about all the rules and regulations for leprosy cleansing in Leviticus 14, it adds a whole new dimension to the story in Luke about the ten lepers who were healed by Jesus. All Jesus said to them was “Go, show yourselves to the priests.” This may not have been at the temple. It sure involved a whole lot more than just making an appearance.  Take a look at Leviticus 14.

Luke 17:12-14
As he was going into a village, ten men who had leprosy met him. They stood at a distance and called out in a loud voice, "Jesus, Master, have pity on us!" When he saw them, he said, "Go, show yourselves to the priests." And as they went, they were cleansed.

An even greater message for us is found in the last part of verse 14... "And as they went, they were cleansed." The lepers were cleansed, as they went. It truly was an ACT of faith on their part. When Jesus cleanses us from our sins, it is up to us to ACT and remove ourselves from our life of sin. Remember the Hebrew word picture for repent is "to burn the house".

Nine of the men left to go show themselves to the priests, only one remained, however, this man was not a Jew, he was a Gentile.  Therefore, he was not under the same regulations as the other nine were. He wasn't obligated to be ceremonially cleansed.

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When we read the regulations concerning uncleanness when touching a dead body during Passover, we couldn't help but think about Joseph of Arimathea and Nicodemus. Because they would have been considered unclean after touching Jesus' body, they would not be allowed to celebrate Passover at the regular time.

FEBRUARY 26

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Numbers 6 lists the requirements for the Nazarite vow, can be a man or woman. From Scripture we know that there were at least three important Biblical figures that have taken the Nazarite vow. They were Samuel, Samson, and John the Baptist. Others, such as Paul may have taken a temporary Nazarite vow.

Acts 18:18
Paul stayed on in Corinth for some time. Then he left the brothers and sailed for Syria, accompanied by Priscilla and Aquila. Before he sailed, he had his hair cut off at Cenchrea because of a vow he had taken.

Leviticus 27:10a
Don't exchange or substitute animals, a good one for a bad one or a bad one for a good one.

Jesus was quick to demonstrate how dishonest it was to substitute sacrificial animals in the temple area for profit. And they violated this command.

John 2:14-15
And He found in the temple those who sold oxen and sheep and doves, and the money-changers sitting. And when He had made a scourge of small cords, He drove them all out of the temple, also the sheep and the oxen. And He poured out the money-changers' money and overthrew the tables.

Leviticus and Deuteronomy list rules pertaining to vows of dedication.

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Deuteronomy 23:21-23
If you make a vow to the LORD your God, do not be slow to pay it, for the LORD your God will certainly demand it of you and you will be guilty of sin. But if you refrain from making a vow, you will not be guilty. Whatever your lips utter you must be sure to do, because you made your vow freely to the LORD your God with your own mouth.

Judges 11:30-35
And Jephthah made a vow to the LORD: "If you give the Ammonites into my hands, whatever comes out of the door of my house to meet me when I return in triumph from the Ammonites will be the LORD's, and I will sacrifice it as a burnt offering." Then Jephthah went over to fight the Ammonites, and the LORD gave them into his hands. He devastated twenty towns from Aroer to the vicinity of Minnith, as far as Abel Keramim. Thus Israel subdued Ammon. When Jephthah returned to his home in Mizpah, who should come out to meet him but his daughter, dancing to the sound of tambourines! She was an only child. Except for her he had neither son nor daughter. When he saw her, he tore his clothes and cried, "Oh! My daughter! You have made me miserable and wretched, because I have made a vow to the LORD that I cannot break."

There is also a New Testament connection for not fulfilling a vow that has been made.  See Acts 5 for the story of Ananias and Sapphira.

Lessons to be learned here???

Certain mixtures are listed in the laws of separation as forbidden.  While we may not understand why these mixtures are forbidden, it gives us an indication of how God feels about Believers. We are to be set apart as holy, pure, and different from the ways of the world.  God says. "Be holy because I, the Lord your God am holy."  That's telling us that we need to keep ourselves away from unholy living, acting, speaking, thinking, hearing, etc.