I love Deuteronomy. It can almost be read like a NT book, packed with emotion, reflecting on the past to learn in the future, and God's character is constantly being defined.
Themes that I am following in the book include:
1)God is good (In what context it is declared, and what response it is to draw out fom the people)
2) Warnings ("Take care" is repeated on almost every page, warning them not to let their heart go against God)
3) Remembering Egypt (How is this to help them live holy, and know their God? Application-how do we view our past: Do we romanticize Our Egypt because it was a time of predictability, or can we remember God's acts in Egypt?)
4) God after the heart (to circle every time the heart is mentioned in Deut is amazing. God reveals that acts are nothing without the heart)
So I am really glad that Deut is the last book of the Pentateuch, because it is my favorite. Please read it, and possibly think about or highlight these themes or others, remembering that it is Moses' last plea to the people to fear, walk, love and serve God, and keep his commands (10v12-13)
Thursday, February 18, 2010
Sunday, February 7, 2010
Leviticus
A summary of Leviticus
The aspects of Leviticus may be summed up as pillars of absolutes within the old and new covenants: There is sin and judgment, need for atonement, a call to devotion, worship and faith, God desiring fellowship with man, a challenge to holiness, and the responsibility of evangelism. IT was God's way of setting apart the Israelites as holy, even in the details-the chapters of clean and unclean reveal that everything is spiritual, nothing is secular. It serves as a foreshadow for the requirements of Christ, in partnership of the book of Hebrews explaining how Christ served as the perfect priest and fulfillment of the statutes of Leviticus.
A seemingly boring book, Leviticus was a great blessing for me to study.
(Part of our assignment requirement)
In view of these truths, what changes do I have to make to my views of God, life, church, society?
God: I think looking at Leviticus has continued to show me the consistencies between the God of the OT and the NT. He is just, he is holy, he wants to dwell with his people, obedience is a sweet aroma to him, etc etc. It is fantastic to see the parallels, as well as to recognize the book of Leviticus as a foreshadow of Christ. Recognizing the offerings makes me realize how desperately God desires fellowship, and how much he hates sin.
Life. I know that I do not live daily in the recognition of the cost of Christ. Also, to recognize how zealous God is for his people, his ability to now dwell within his people. It does not get much more personal than that. To live daily in the truth of recognizing God in me would help me not be so concerned for the unknown, and to express worship more in common conversation.
Church: I kind of envy the thought of all the people gathering at the hub; the tabernacle, and seeing God work. It seems like there was a lot of value commanded of the Israelites to honor each other-especially the poor. No one should feel marginalized in the body.
Another assignment with Leviticus was to make pictures to represent some of the chapters of Leviticus: I used Playdough
1)Nadab and Ibihu are consumed by fire, for disobeying God. Ch 10
2)The year of Jubilee. A year of no work, God would supply enough to eat for 3 years so there would be no need to prepare for the coming year. (Ch 24v8ff)
3)Feast of Weeks. A wave offering, grain offering, seven lambs, one bull, and 2 rams offered, along with a drink offering. No work, watch TV... (23v15-21)
4)Sabbath. Relax, remember the God who saved the Israelites from the slavery of Egypt (23v3)
5)Consecration of the priests. Aaron and his sons are ordained with blood on the ear, right thumb and right toe, possibly to symbolize obedience in listening, doing, and walking. (Ch 8)
The aspects of Leviticus may be summed up as pillars of absolutes within the old and new covenants: There is sin and judgment, need for atonement, a call to devotion, worship and faith, God desiring fellowship with man, a challenge to holiness, and the responsibility of evangelism. IT was God's way of setting apart the Israelites as holy, even in the details-the chapters of clean and unclean reveal that everything is spiritual, nothing is secular. It serves as a foreshadow for the requirements of Christ, in partnership of the book of Hebrews explaining how Christ served as the perfect priest and fulfillment of the statutes of Leviticus.
A seemingly boring book, Leviticus was a great blessing for me to study.
(Part of our assignment requirement)
In view of these truths, what changes do I have to make to my views of God, life, church, society?
God: I think looking at Leviticus has continued to show me the consistencies between the God of the OT and the NT. He is just, he is holy, he wants to dwell with his people, obedience is a sweet aroma to him, etc etc. It is fantastic to see the parallels, as well as to recognize the book of Leviticus as a foreshadow of Christ. Recognizing the offerings makes me realize how desperately God desires fellowship, and how much he hates sin.
Life. I know that I do not live daily in the recognition of the cost of Christ. Also, to recognize how zealous God is for his people, his ability to now dwell within his people. It does not get much more personal than that. To live daily in the truth of recognizing God in me would help me not be so concerned for the unknown, and to express worship more in common conversation.
Church: I kind of envy the thought of all the people gathering at the hub; the tabernacle, and seeing God work. It seems like there was a lot of value commanded of the Israelites to honor each other-especially the poor. No one should feel marginalized in the body.
Another assignment with Leviticus was to make pictures to represent some of the chapters of Leviticus: I used Playdough
1)Nadab and Ibihu are consumed by fire, for disobeying God. Ch 10
2)The year of Jubilee. A year of no work, God would supply enough to eat for 3 years so there would be no need to prepare for the coming year. (Ch 24v8ff)
3)Feast of Weeks. A wave offering, grain offering, seven lambs, one bull, and 2 rams offered, along with a drink offering. No work, watch TV... (23v15-21)
4)Sabbath. Relax, remember the God who saved the Israelites from the slavery of Egypt (23v3)
5)Consecration of the priests. Aaron and his sons are ordained with blood on the ear, right thumb and right toe, possibly to symbolize obedience in listening, doing, and walking. (Ch 8)
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