June 12, 2011 Leviticus 17-21

We had 6 for Wordlisteners and we discussed Leviticus 17-21.

Leviticus 17: Sacrifices should be brought to the tent of the Lord. This is more detail and in depth to "have no gods before Me". God wants to be the our only God and he wants things done certain ways - to train us in obedience to Him rather than do our own thing. God also says the blood is life, and it should not be eaten.

Leviticus 18: God is about to remind His people of immoral practices that they saw in Egypt and that happened in the land He was giving them. Because of these practices the people are being spewed out, and if we ignore God and practice them we will be spewed out too. We are not to have sex with blood relatives of our blood relatives or relatives through marriage. Furthermore we are not to have sex with blood relatives of those we have had sex with - the example given is two blood related women. Furthermore no relations with a woman during menstruation, and a reminder not to have adultery either - have sex with someone married to someone else. Sex with animals is also prohibited. Then we are informed that sacrificing our children (made in the image of God) is profaning God- I can't help but think of all the rationalizations given for abortion. People who do this defile their land which then spews them out.

Chapter 19: Continues reiterating and giving deeper explanation of the 10 commandments. Honor parents for instance.

Sundry laws are next, don't reap to the corners nor glean, but rather leave for the poor. The wisdom of this is striking. Someone who was poor and in need could go gather what they needed, and probably only what they needed, leaving some for others. Those with too much pride would have to re-think their beliefs or starve. Our more sophisticated solution is to reap everything and glean all and turn it into money that we can send to the poor every month, so they can maintain their pride. The trouble with this system is that the checks are never "enough".

Interestingly we are not to bear a grudge against others, use just weights and measures, etc. We can correct but we are not to hate. Mediums and spiritists are not to be consulted

When entering the land for 3 years don't eat the fruit of planted trees. The fourth year is holy to the Lord, then the fifth year its for eating.

Leviticus 20: Those that sacrifice their children are to be put to death. God will turn His back on those that do, or consult mediums. Those who commit adultery, incest, homosexuals, marries a relative of his wife, or those that have sex with animals or try to, and mediums are to be put to death. Its part of separating the clean from unclean and not profaning the Lord. We should concentrate on His desires rather than our own. His desires are for our good and fulfillment, and yet we don't accept that. We think we know better than God. We are to be set apart, those wanting His way and willing to be obedient to Him are set apart.

Chs 18 and 20 fit the definition of hate speech, but it is important to realize God is perfectly able to execute His judgments, He doesn't need us too. These are reminders that this kind of living and beliefs are un-fulfilling dead ends. They cause great pain and hardship, its the way the Creator made it.

Leviticus 21: Priests are to take their duties seriously. Above family duties. Our relationship to God is to be closer than any other relationship in our lives. If we have an issue, where else should we go but to God? If we have Him in the proper place relationally? It seems harsh, but in a proper relationship to God, all others will fall into place. If they don't seem to, then there might be that the family member or other has some issue that God desires to deal with them about, and any hurt we experience may be us trying to put that relationship ahead of God.

Priests had to be defect free, this clearly points to Jesus who was the perfect high Priest and subsequent sacrifice that these regulations point to.

When we accept Jesus and enter into relationship with Him we are made right with God, and He no longer sees the physical defects that we may have in our earthly bodies.

Our hour being up, we thanked the Lord for His insight into His word, and we'll begin at Ch 22 next time.