September 25, 2024
Please use the comment section on this page to share insights from today’s reading OR your own personal Bible reading.
Reading along with us in Leviticus and Philippians? Here’s today’s reading:
Leviticus 23 (NIV)
The Appointed Festivals
1 The Lord said to Moses, 2“Speak to the Israelites and say to them: ‘These are my appointed festivals, the appointed festivals of the Lord, which you are to proclaim as sacred assemblies.
The Sabbath
3“ ‘There are six days when you may work, but the seventh day is a day of sabbath rest, a day of sacred assembly.……Continue Reading
Leviticus 23
”And you shall do no work on that same day, for it is the Day of Atonement, to make atonement for you before the Lord your God. For any person who is not afflicted in soul on that same day shall be cut off from his people.“
Leviticus 23:28-29 NKJV
Here is this requirement to be “afflicted in soul”. I couldn’t help but make the connection to our study in Ezekiel 9 last night. The people and leaders have been doing great evil in Gods temple in chapter 8 and Gods judgment is executed in chapter 9. He tells an angel to mark for protection “those who sigh and cry over the abominations” done in Jerusalem.
God wants us to feel in our hearts the heaviness of our sin and the cost.
”and the Lord said to him, “Go through the midst of the city, through the midst of Jerusalem, and put a mark on the foreheads of the men who sigh and cry over all the abominations that are done within it.”“
Ezekiel 9:4 NKJV
Leviticus 23
Leviticus 23
God desired for Him to always be on the people’s mind because that is what would be needed to keep the human heart faithful to Him. One of the ways He did this was by organizing their year, recognizing seasons as well as highlighted events. How often He talks about it being a sacred assembly. They were to set it apart to Him. A good way to do that was to instruct that there was to be no work done. God also reenforced that these were to be lasting ordinances wherever the Jews found themselves. God desired that the Jews’ faith in Him would be passed through future generations. The most significant day arguably was the day of atonement, where the people would be made right with God through the High priest entering the Holy of Holies. It is reenforced a few times that they were to deny themselves that day, why? So they would think of God and consider the significance of the day and the sacrifice that was made for them to be made right. But then after this day of sacrifice…a party for seven days. It should cause us to think what we put in place in our lives to make sure we are thinking about God and always putting Him before us. Being in the word and praying on a daily basis is a good way….but what other things could we do….
-Memorize scripture
-Focus on what we are thankful for
-Observe creation as a witness of the Creator
-serve others selflessly
-listen to and sing songs of praise
-mentor, teach or study the Word together with someone
Leviticus, read like the fine print a legal contract, or insurance policy
Leviticus 23 & 24
Leviticus 23