February 5–Numbers 1-3

Readers Notes: The book of Numbers takes its English name from two “numberings” of the nation. A first census was taken at Sinai before the great journey toward the promised land. A second was taken at Moab forty years later. The goal was to determine the number of men available for combat. Very instructive reading! These chapters describe the process and problems faced as the people of God get organized to accomplish the purposes of God.

“Take a census of all the congregation, by their families. . .from twenty years old and upward, whoever is able to go out to war”(1:2-3).

Order and organization are part of God’s nature and character. It is a principle revealed in creation. The change of seasons declares it. Summer. Fall. Winter. Spring. The physical world testifies to a God of order and pattern and process. Our great Creator does not sponsor chaos.

In the first chapters of the book of Numbers, God instructs Moses to “number” the people with particular interest to the men 20 years and older. Not organization for its own sake. Purpose here. Preparation for things to come.

God numbers them by tribe. Each tribe is given an assignment–where they will camp, what place each will take in the line when it becomes necessary to move forward. Authority and submission are principles of God’s government and grace. Much good comes to the believer who realizes how soldier-like his calling is.

We see this same pattern in the New Testament church. Each of us created in Christ with specific gifts for service, all of us assigned places in the body. He organizes us for unity. See 1 Corinthians 12. “Divided we stand, is not something that anyone says,” reminds Manuel Corazzari. As each of us take our place, the church is strong.

Are you willing to be numbered? Will you be counted? Can you be counted on? Are you willing to be assigned a place (and without any consultation as to your preference)? Flesh has a tendency to resist authority of every kind. Do you accept the leaders God places above you and the roles they assign? Part of God’s way with His people is to get us organized as part of a team.

“Now this is the Law of the Jungle–as old and as true as the sky; and the wolf that shall keep it may prosper, but the wolf that shall break it must die. As the creeper that girdles the tree trunk, the Law runneth forward and back. The strength of the pack is the wolf, and the strength of the wolf is the pack”(Rudyard Kipling, The Jungle Book).

February 4–Leviticus 26-27

“If you walk in My statutes and keep My commandments so as to carry them out, then I shall give you rains in their season, so that the land will bear fruit. Indeed, your threshing will last until grape gathering, and grape gathering until sowing time”(26:3-5).

Some of God’s promises to Israel are unique to them (not universally true for all believers in all generations). Even so, the general promise of God’s blessing applies to every nation that walks in accordance with His will. “Then I will make your way prosperous,” says Joshua 1:8.

Americans, rightly rejoice in a legacy of religious liberty. The freedom to worship God according to conscience is a treasure. What this political idea does NOT mean, however (and must never), is that a nation is free from the need for God or the consequences of its God-choices. Freedom of religion does not mean freedom from religion. To ignore God is the most foolish thing a nation can do.

In 1680, Joachim Neander wrote the words of the hymn, “Praise to the Lord, the Almighty”. The words of the third stanza are instructive. “Praise to the Lord, who doth prosper thy work and defend thee; surely His goodness and mercy here daily attend thee; ponder anew what the Almighty can do, if with His love He befriend thee.”

As you read today’s text, consider the promises to Israel for obedience (26:1-13). Consider also the promised penalties for disobedience (26:14-39). Note that many of these blessings and/or curses are revealed psychologically, in courage or anxiety. “You will flee when no one is pursuing you.”

Would you have courage, dear one? A clear conscience and the material assistance of heaven? You must return to God. We all must. Grace does not make obedience unnecessary. Grace makes it possible, and all the blessings that come with it.

“How blessed is the nation whose God is the Lord”(Psalm 33:13).

“God governs in the affairs of men. If a sparrow cannot fall to the ground without his notice, is it probable that an empire can rise without His aid? (Ben Franklin).

February 3–Leviticus 23-25

As God designs the society of Israel, He carefully calendars the celebrations. “The joy of the Lord is your strength,” says Nehemiah to the rebuilders of Jerusalem. In God’s plan, religious joy (a joy that rises from a restored/renewed relationship with Him) is not left to chance or mood. He designates times His people are to rest and remember and rejoice. He commands that we do so!

10 Feasts are listed in today’s reading. 1) Sabbath–the 7th day of every week. 2)Passover–a day in early spring followed by the 3)Feast of Unleavened Bread (7 day celebration). 4)First Fruits–the beginning of Harvest. 5)Weeks–50 days later, which we know as Pentecost. 6)Trumpets –now known as Rosh Hashanah. 7) The Day of Atonement–highest celebration of all. 8)Tabernacles (Booths)–a time for families to build shelters and live outdoors to remember the wilderness journey. 9)The Sabbath year and the 10)Year of Jubilee.

Will you imagine the impact of these joyful celebrations on God’s people? Will you reckon the power of these memories on the children of the camp? With great wisdom, our Lord refuses religion that is narrow or negative. Joy is His wise will for us. With wisdom and kindness, He commands occasions of worship and praise.

Do you know grumpy Christians? Are you one yourself? If so, a significant surrender to God’s gracious government is required. “Rejoice always, again I will say it, rejoice!” says Paul in Philippians 4:4.

If God called you to set aside your sorrow for a definite period of time (a day or a week), if He commanded you to let something be more important than how you feel, would you do it? If He instructed you to put your stress and sorrow on hold, to plan for joy (both in terms of calendar and concentration), would you trust and obey Him?

” I’m trading my sorrows, I’m trading my shame, I’m laying them down for the joy of the Lord” (Evans Darrell Patton).

“Joy is the serious business of Heaven”(C. S. Lewis).

February 2–Leviticus 19-22

“Speak to all the congregation of the sons of Israel and say to them, ‘You shall be holy, for I the Lord your God am holy” (19:2).

Do you believe it possible? Desirable? Can a society be godly? Individual believers, churches and cities and nations? In Scripture, God reveals His will and plan. Humans are to walk in union with His character. Every aspect of life is to be holy.

As the Lord spoke to Moses (Leviticus 19-21), this GREAT VISION became clear. Human life is to receive and reflect the virtues of Heaven. “On earth as it is in heaven,” said our Savior.

Business, government, marriage, agriculture, immigration policy, family life, all are to be ordered by our reverence for God’s character and will. In a godly society, we will be respectful of parents and generous toward the poor and the alien. (Leviticus 19:10 will later be a needed provision for Ruth in her poverty. See Ruth 2.) We will be law-abiding. We will be honest in business. We will be sexually pure. We will love our neighbors. These standards and virtues will be true of us because they are true of Him.

It is the same grand vision reflected in Proverb 3:6. “In all your ways acknowledge Him.” Nothing omitted. The public square and private choice, no part of life compartmentalized from God.

A secular (human-centered) world falls miserably short of this grand dream. This present age focuses on personal liberty and human choice rather than God. The first priority and highest loyalty of this faulty system is self. We are paying a high price for this error. School shootings. Babies sacrificed daily to unrestrained sexual activity. Gender confusion. Anger and disunity and anxiety. “When men do not fear God, they give themselves to evil” (Ray Comfort).

Holy people, living with Him, living like Him. This is God’s plan for the human race! Dear friend, do you believe this godly vision? Will you commit yourself to this kingdom and pray it for yourself and others?

“What a strange kind of salvation do they desire that care not for holiness. . .They would be saved by Christ and yet be out of Christ in a fleshly state. . .They would have their sins forgiven, not that they may walk with God in love, in time to come, but that they may practice their enmity against Him without any fear of punishment”(Walter Marshall, 1692, quoted in Jerry Bridges, The Pursuit of Holiness).

“Discipline yourself for the purpose of godliness” (1 Timothy 4:7).

February 1–Leviticus 16-18:

“This shall be a permanent statute for you. . .for it is on this day that atonement shall be made for you to cleanse you; you will be clean from all your sins before the Lord” (16:29-30).

Leviticus 16 describes the Day of Atonement. Unique day in Israel. Holy. Exacting rules. Deeply symbolic. It was the foundation of Israel’s relationship to God and a beautiful prediction of Christ on the cross. In all of Israel’s history, God was constantly preparing them for the fuller revelation to come in the Savior.

As High Priest, Aaron bathed and dressed in white linen. He was a picture of our Great High Priest, Jesus in His spotless holiness. In preparation, Aaron sacrificed a bull for his own sins and those of his household and carried the blood inside the veil to sprinkle before the throne of God.

Coming out, he took two goats. One was chosen to represent Jehovah. The death of this goat satisfied the demands of God’s holy nature and confessed that God had been offended and ignored, disobeyed and dishonored. The death of this goat was symbolic payment for this debt, the blood carried inside the veil and presented before the Holy One.

Aaron then took the second goat. This goat represented the people. On the head of this scapegoat, Aaron laid his hands and confessed ALL the sins of the nation. ALL of them. The animal was, then, led away into the wilderness, never to be seen again.

Majestic and solemn picture! Did the people feel the relief as their sins were led away? Did they understand the price–the death of the innocent and the intercession of a great High Priest? Do we? Because God so often uses pictures to communicate His promises, I encourage you to mentally create the picture of this lonely goat being led out into the wilderness. Draw an actual picture if it helps you. Your sins have been carried away from you so that you can be (are) clean. Imagine! Understand! Receive! Trust!

“Before the throne of God above I have a strong and perfect plea; a great High Priest, whose name is Love, who ever lives and pleads for me. Because the sinless Savior died, my sinful soul is counted free; for God the Just is satisfied to look on Him and pardon me”(Charitie Lees Bancroft).

“As far as the east is from the west, so far has He removed our transgressions from us”(Psalm 103:12).

January 31–Leviticus 14-15

“He shall live alone; his dwelling shall be outside the camp” (Leviticus 13:46).

“This is the law of the leper in the day of his cleansing” (Leviticus 14:2).

It was a fearful responsibility for the priests. Never to be exercised lightly. When a person had leprosy, in order to protect others from contamination, it was the priest’s duty to EXCLUDE the leprous man from the camp of Israel.

Sadly, as it touches public health, we understand this dreadful necessity. The English word quarantine (Italian, quarantina, “forty days”) comes from the ancient practice of isolating people and animals arriving in a port in order to prevent the spread of infectious diseases.

Leprosy, however, is more than an infectious skin disease. It is also a symbol for sin. As we read Leviticus 14-15, we must ask ourselves, “Are we as diligent and decisive with spiritual disease as we are with physical?” Do we confront gossip or just walk away? Do we grieve over immorality, or say, “It is none of my business”? Like leprosy, sin is not only an issue of personal choice, but also one of public health.

In Revelation 2, Jesus confronts His people with these words, “I have this against you, that you tolerate the woman Jezebel. . .who teaches and leads My bond-servants astray so that they commit acts of immorality” (v. 20, italics mine). Ironic, isn’t it? The world celebrates tolerance. The Savior often regards it as failure.

Thankfully, the priests also had another duty. Their great privilege was to certify when a person was “clean”. If the church is tasked to be unbending with sin (and we are), we are also called to hold up the hope of God’s great mercy! Leprosy was a hopeless condition, but not with God! “Earth has no sorrow that heaven cannot heal” (Thomas Moore).

Two birds declared this hope with beautiful balance and symbolism. See 14:1-9. One bird was sacrificed (picture of Christ on the cross), and the other was allowed to fly away (symbol of new life and freedom that comes to us in Christ).

Friend, do we treat sin like a disease? Are we strong against it? Do we with equally strong voice shout the good news that nothing is incurable for God? We are the people of both quarantine and cure!

“But immorality or any impurity or greed must not even be named among you, as is proper among saints” (Ephesians 5:3).

“Come every soul, by sin oppressed, there’s mercy with the Lord; and He will surely give you rest by trusting in His word” (John Stockton).

January 30–Leviticus 11-13

“Speak to the sons of Israel, saying, ‘These are the creatures which you may eat from all the animals that are on the earth’. . .For I am the Lord your God. Consecrate yourselves, therefore, and be holy for I am holy. And you shall not make yourselves unclean” (Leviticus 11:2,44).

In the New Testament, kosher laws are set aside. After reading today’s text, you may also want to read Acts 10. A vision comes to Peter. He is instructed to eat animals that were formerly forbidden! Given the radical break of this action with God’s previous command, Peter initially refuses. When he ultimately obeys, it begins a new, deeper conversation on an old subject. Not all of God’s instructions are permanent. The kosher laws are a perfect example.

What DOESN’T change is God’s plan for His people to be CLEAN. If holiness is the abiding lesson of Leviticus, purity is the timeless principle. Just like your grandmother said, cleanliness is next to godliness. Clean still matters to God. The shift in the New Testament is how we are cleansed, and from what, NOT that it is necessary! “It is not what enters the mouth that defiles the person, but what comes out of the mouth” (Jesus, Matthew 15:11).

Friend, as you read Leviticus, do you see God’s vision for His people? He desires for you something deeper, more difficult than diet, something higher than rules and taboos. He wants you CLEAN. Free from anger and resentment, from immorality of every kind, from greed and gossip and malice. With a grateful heart will you embrace God’s call for holiness? Will you trust that holiness is possible and necessary and profitable?

“God is holy and He has made holiness the moral condition necessary to the health of the Universe. (The English word derives from Anglo-saxon, halig “whole, well.”) To preserve His creation, God must destroy whatever would destroy it. He hates iniquity as a mother hates the polio or snake that would take the life of her child” (A. W. Tozer).

“Make every effort to live in peace with everyone and to be holy; without holiness no one will see the Lord”(Hebrews 12:14).

“Therefore, having these promises, beloved, let us cleanse ourselves from all defilement of flesh and spirit, perfecting holiness in the fear of God”(2 Corinthians 7:1).

January 29–Leviticus 8-10

“Now Nadab and Abihu, the sons of Aaron. . .offered strange fire before the Lord, which had not been commanded them. And fire came out from the presence of the Lord and consumed them, and they died before the Lord” (10:1-2).

Do we (as New Testament believers) fear God? Should we? Scripture says yes!

Paradox. At times, Scripture tells us, “Do not be afraid.” We are to courageously reject the fear that would cause us to avoid or retreat from God. Even so, we are also told to wisely embrace the fear that would warn us from sin. It is right to fear His discipline, wise to fear His disapproval.

Fear is the beginning of wisdom (Proverbs 9:10). Intuitively, and accurately, we recognize the size, strength and holiness of God. The outcome will always be reverence. Appropriate fear. Remember how carefully and intentionally God taught His people to fear Him at Sinai? Lightning, smoke, the sound of trumpets. See Exodus 19. All were deliberate and gracious efforts to create Godly fear and the obedience that rises from it.

Later, the New Testament will say, “perfect love casts out fear.” See 1 John 4:18. True, but only perfect (fully mature) love does so. Until then, along the gradual road that leads to this mature place, fear continues to contribute by warning and protecting us. “Restraining grace,” John Owen calls it.

As you read today, will you pause and consider the dangerous attitudes and terrifying outcomes of Nadab and Abihu? Why were they so casual with God’s command? Why were they unaware (Eve-like) of the danger of substituting their own innovations for the clearly communicated instructions of God? Why did they not fear?

Dear friends, we are invited into God’s presence, but not without great care. The same Bible that says, “God is love,” also says, “Our God is a consuming fire.” He is both. Always both. We are wise to remember.

” ‘Twas grace that taught my heart to fear” (John Newton).

“So then, my beloved, just as you have always obeyed, not as in my presence only, but now much more in my absence, work out your salvation with fear and trembling”(Philippians 2:12).

“The fear of the Lord is clean, enduring forever. The judgments of the Lord are true. . .by them, your servant is warned” (Psalm 19:9, 11).

January 28–Leviticus 5-7

“So it shall be when he becomes guilty in one of these, that he shall confess that in which he has sinned. He shall also bring his guilt offering to the Lord for his sin which he has committed” (Leviticus 5:5-6).

“Come unto Me, all who are weary and heavy-laden, and I will give you rest”(Matthew 11:28).

The sacrificial system of ancient Israel reveals a permanent pattern of God’s grace. “Draw near!” calls the Great One. “Come to me. Nothing will be solved by your distance or dishonesty.”

In each of the ancient sacrifices we hear this gracious call. Draw near in full surrender (Burnt offering–everything burned up, nothing left). Draw near in gratitude (Grain offering–gratitude for all His creation mercies). Draw near in search of peace (Peace offering–a hunger for union and closeness with the Father). Draw near in search of atonement (Sin offering–the burden of a broken relationship with God, faith that He can and will reconcile you to Himself). Draw near in search of forgiveness (Guilt offering–for a specific sin toward God or man, confessed so that it can be removed).

What a lovely, instructive picture! Even though such sacrifices are no longer required of us (because The LAMB has been slain), the essential invitation remains! Despite our sinfulness and failure, God has made a way. He calls us to draw near. We find mercy when we do.

Friend, as you wake every morning for a quiet time, is God your focus and desire? Have you learned the wisdom of His love, the foolishness of your own independence? Do you seek Him, draw near to find His approval and help?

He calls! Will you draw near?

“Whom have I in heaven but You? And besides You, I desire nothing on earth. My flesh and my heart may fail, but God is the strength of my heart and my portion forever. . .As for me, the nearness of God is my good” (Psalm 73:25-26, 28).

“Draw near to God and He will draw near to you”(James 4:8).

“Therefore let us draw near with confidence to the throne of grace, so that we may receive mercy and find grace to help in time of need” (Hebrews 4:16).

Readers Notes: The Book of Leviticus takes its name from the Levites, the tribe chosen by God to serve as worship leaders in the Tabernacle. It is a book, therefore, concerned with the centrality and meaning of worship. It calls for holiness among the people of God. Often quoted in the New Testament, and by our Lord, this book is alive with relevance for those who would walk in union with God. God bless you, friend, as you read His word.

January 27–Leviticus 1-4

“Speak to the sons of Israel and say to them, ‘When any man of you brings an offering to the Lord, you shall bring your offering from the herd or the flock” (Leviticus 1:2).

Slowly. Beautifully. With unspeakable artistic skill, God is painting a picture. His chosen canvas is the nation of Israel. In their worship (every part of it given with specific instruction), the Father is painting a portrait and prophesy of His Son. The sacrificial system symbolized Christ. Our Lord is the substance for which the sacrificial system was only shadow.

Two primary messages emerge from the sacrificial worship of Israel. Sin is serious to a holy God. It is never inconsequential. Never. It must be addressed. The second, a Savior will come! The death of every animal in the bloody, smoky, holy beauty of ancient Israel’s worship predicted the, “Lamb of God that takes away the sin of the world.”

Each of the offerings predicted an aspect of our Lord. The Burnt Offering spoke of His complete surrender. Everything dedicated, surrendered. Nothing withheld. The Grain Offering spoke of His purity. The fine white flour reminding us that Jesus offered (and we should too) lives that are pure and clean. The Peace Offering pointed to the gentle, solid union of Christ with the Father. Unbroken relationship and loyalty. (This discussion will continue tomorrow as we see the Sin Offering and the Guilt Offering.)

Moderns try in vain to find a reason for worship in self or success. “What did we get out of it?” is a sad and empty question. True worship has a higher purpose. It declares and displays the glorious Son! Friend, do you see Jesus as you worship? Do you seek Him, His face and approval as you gather with others or pray in private? Do you keep your relationship with Him in good repair, your conversation with Him honest? If we fail to see Jesus, how can we expect others to do so?

“When you said,’Seek My face,’ my heart said,’ Your face, O Lord, I shall seek” (Psalm 27:8).

“These therefore came to Philip, who was from Bethsaida of Galilee, and began to ask him, saying, ‘Sir, we wish to see Jesus’ ” (John 12:21).