Inspiring Words Knight Vision

We are starting today with the book of Numbers. We are in chapter one with our word for today which is also the name of the book. מִסְפָּר number, quantity, counted, countable, few. It is used 134 times in the Old Testament, 14 times in our chapter. Our word is used in the sense of inventory, a detailed list of all items in one’s possession or names in a group. Ezra 1:9 And this was מִסְפָּרָ֑ם the number of them: 30 basins of gold, 1,000 basins of silver, 29 censers. Ezra 8:34 The whole was בְּמִסְפָּ֥ר counted and weighed, and the weight of everything was recorded. Nehemiah 7:7-8 מִסְפַּ֕ר The number of the men of the people of Israel: the sons of Parosh, 2,172. Our word is also used in the sense of report, a short account of some news. Judges 7:15 As soon as Gideon heard מִסְפַּ֧ר the telling of the dream and its interpretation, he worshiped. And he returned to the camp of Israel and said, “Arise, for the Lord has given the host of Midian into your hand.” 1 Chronicles 27:24 Joab the son of Zeruiah began to count, but did not finish. Yet wrath came upon Israel for this, and הַמִּסְפָּ֔ר the number was not entered in בְּמִסְפַּ֥ר [literally in the numbering] the chronicles of King David. Job 31:37 I would give him מִסְפַּ֣ר an account of all my steps; like a prince I would approach him. Most of the uses of our word are in the sense to number, the property possessed by a sum or total or indefinite quantity of units or individuals. This is how our word is used 14 times in our chapter today. Numbers 1:1-4 The Lord spoke to Moses in the wilderness of Sinai, in the tent of meeting, on the first day of the second month, in the second year after they had come out of the land of Egypt, saying, “Take a census of all the congregation of the people of Israel, by clans, by fathers' houses, according to בְּמִסְפַּ֣רthe number of names, every male, head by head. From twenty years old and upward, all in Israel who are able to go to war, you and Aaron shall list them, company by company. This first use in our chapter shows the purpose to identify who their fighting men were. If we remember the promise land God would be giving his people who require battle. This purpose is connected to all of the uses in our chapter except one. What is also interesting is the this phrase “the number of names” is also used with our word every time except one. Here are a few examples. Numbers 1:17-18 Moses and Aaron took these men who had been named, and on the first day of the second month, they assembled the whole congregation together, who registered themselves by clans, by fathers' houses, according בְּמִסְפַּ֣ר to the number of names from twenty years old and upward, head by head, as the Lord commanded Moses. So he listed them in the wilderness of Sinai. Numbers 1:20-21 The people of Reuben, Israel's firstborn, their generations, by their clans, by their fathers' houses, according to בְּמִסְפַּ֤ר the number of names, head by head, every male from twenty years old and upward, all who were able to go to war: those listed of the tribe of Reuben were 46,500. Each tribe is then listed with the same phrasing. I’ll close with these two uses of our word from Psalms that reminds us that everything that God creates matters to him. They are truly worth counting. Psalm 147:4-5 He determines מִ֭סְפָּר the number of the stars; he gives to all of them their names. Great is our Lord, and abundant in power; his understanding is beyond מִסְפָּֽר measure. 

We are in chapter twenty-seven of Leviticus with our word for today which will be the last word we look at in the book of Leviticus. We have both the noun and verb forms of our word. מִצְוָה commission, commandment, set of all the commandments, right. This is the noun. It is used 181 times in the Old Testament. Our word is used in the sense of command, an authoritative direction or instruction to do something through speech or writing. We see this of Abraham and David. Genesis 26:4-5 I will multiply your offspring as the stars of heaven and will give to your offspring all these lands. And in your offspring all the nations of the earth shall be blessed, because Abraham obeyed my voice and kept my charge, מִצְוֺתַ֖י my commandments, my statutes, and my laws. 1 Kings 3:14 And if you will walk in my ways, keeping my statutes וּמִצְוֺתַ֔י and my commandments, as your father David walked, then I will lengthen your days. 1 Kings 11:34, 38 Nevertheless, I will not take the whole kingdom out of his hand, but I will make him ruler all the days of his life, for the sake of David my servant whom I chose, who kept מִצְוֺתַ֥י my commandments and my statutes … And if you will listen to all that I command you, and will walk in my ways, and do what is right in my eyes by keeping my statutes וּמִצְוֺתַ֔י and my commandments, as David my servant did, I will be with you and will build you a sure house, as I built for David, and I will give Israel to you.  We also see God’s people fail to do our word. 1 Samuel 13:13 And Samuel said to Saul, “You have done foolishly. You have not kept the מִצְוַ֞ת command of the Lord your God, with which צִוָּ֔ךְ [this is the verb form of our word] he commanded you. For then the Lord would have established your kingdom over Israel forever. 1 Kings 13:21-22 And he cried to the man of God who came from Judah, “Thus says the Lord, ‘Because you have disobeyed the word of the Lord and have not kept הַמִּצְוָ֔ה the command that the Lord your God צִוְּךָ֖[this is the verb form of our word] commanded you, but have come back and have eaten bread and drunk water in the place of which he said to you, “Eat no bread and drink no water,” your body shall not come to the tomb of your fathers.’” As we have seen law or commandments are the quickest and most direct way to communicate one’s will. God doesn’t want us to miss who he is and what he expects. Throughout the book of Leviticus, we see God instructing the priests how to set up and carryout the tabernacle worship. The whole point was for people to connect with God. So it is fitting to conclude the book with our word. Leviticus 27:34 These are הַמִּצְוֺ֗ת the commandments that the Lord צִוָּ֧ה [this is the verb] commanded Moses for the people of Israel on Mount Sinai. Our verb is in the Piel tense which is an intensive showing force behind it. So God is commanding in an intense way his commandments. God’s will for us is good. Romans 12:2 Do not be conformed to this world, but be transformed by the renewal of your mind, that by testing you may discern what is the will of God, what is good and acceptable and perfect. This is why it is to only hurts us and others around us when we ignore it or try to change it. I’ll close with these great passages. Deuteronomy 4:2 You shall not add to the word that I מְצַוֶּ֣ה command you, nor take from it, that you may keep the מִצְוֺת֙ commandments of the Lord your God that I מְצַוֶּ֥ה command you. Revelation 22:18-19 I warn everyone who hears the words of the prophecy of this book: if anyone adds to them, God will add to him the plagues described in this book, and if anyone takes away from the words of the book of this prophecy, God will take away his share in the tree of life and in the holy city, which are described in this book. Psalm 112:1 Praise the Lord! Blessed is the man who fears the Lord, who greatly delights בְּ֝מִצְוֺתָ֗יו in his commandments!

We are in chapter twenty-seven of Leviticus with our word for today. חֲמִישִׁי fifth, a fifth part. It is used 45 times in the Old Testament, 5 times in our chapter. Our word is used in the sense of fifth order, coming next after the fourth and just before the sixth position. Genesis 1:23 And there was evening and there was morning, חֲמִישִֽׁי the fifth day. Our word is also used in the sense fifth, position five in a countable series of things. Nehemiah 6:4-5 And they sent to me four times in this way, and I answered them in the same manner. In the same way Sanballat for חֲמִישִׁ֖ית the fifth time sent his servant to me with an open letter in his hand. We find our word used in the sense of one fifth, one part in five equal parts. Genesis 47:24 And at the harvests you shall give חֲמִישִׁ֖ית a fifth to Pharaoh, and four fifths shall be your own, as seed for the field and as food for yourselves and your households, and as food for your little ones. This is how our word is used 5 times in our chapter today. We have already looked at the word for redeem which connected to our word. We find it in the context of redeeming animals, houses and land. Leviticus 27:13, 15, 19, 27, 31 But if he wishes to redeem it, he shall add חֲמִישִׁת֖וֹ a fifth to the valuation … And if the donor wishes to redeem his house, he shall add a fifth to the valuation price, and it shall be his … And if he who dedicates the field wishes to redeem it, then he shall add חֲמִישִׁ֧ית a fifth to its valuation price, and it shall remain his … if he who dedicates the field wishes to redeem it, then he shall add חֲמִשִׁ֧ית a fifth to its valuation price, and it shall remain his. … And if it is an unclean animal, then he shall buy it back at the valuation, and add חֲמִשִׁת֖וֹ a fifth to it; or, if it is not redeemed, it shall be sold at the valuation … Every tithe of the land, whether of the seed of the land or of the fruit of the trees, is the Lord's; it is holy to the Lord. If a man wishes to redeem some of his tithe, he shall add חֲמִשִׁית֖וֹ a fifth to it. What is interesting is that a person could redeem his tithe in the sense that if he really wanted the land, seed or fruit for himself he could get it back by replacing his tithe with money and add a fifth of its value to his offering. The concept of giving back to God is one that we see throughout the Bible. And as we have seen that without cost we tend to not be invested in our relationship with God and the need that others have for their relationship with God. Jesus said this well. I’ll close with this great reminder. Matthew 6:19-21 Do not lay up for yourselves treasures on earth, where moth and rust destroy and where thieves break in and steal, but lay up for yourselves treasures in heaven, where neither moth nor rust destroys and where thieves do not break in and steal. For where your treasure is, there your heart will be also.

We are in chapter twenty-seven of Leviticus with our word for today. עֵ֫רֶךְ layer, row, provision, equipment, value, estimate. It is used 33 times in the Old Testament, 21 times in our chapter. Our word is used in the sense of arrangement, an orderly grouping considered as a unit, the result of arranging. A good example of this is the setting up of the tabernacle. Exodus 40:4, 23 And you shall bring in the table and עֶרְכּ֑וֹ arrange it … and arranged עֵ֥רֶךְ [not translated probably because seems repetitive. So literally is what needs to be arranged] the bread on it before the Lord, as the Lord had commanded Moses. Most of the uses of our word are in the sense of valuation, assessed price. This is how our word is used 21 times in our chapter. We first see our word in the context of the valuation of people. Leviticus 27:1-3, 8 The Lord spoke to Moses, saying, “Speak to the people of Israel and say to them, If anyone makes a special vow to the Lord בְּעֶרְכְּךָ֥ involving the valuation of persons, then the עֶרְכְּךָ֙ valuation of a male from twenty years old up to sixty years old shall be fifty shekels of silver, according to the shekel of the sanctuary … And if someone is too poor to pay the מֵֽעֶרְכֶּ֔ךָ valuation, then he shall be made to stand before the priest, and the priest shall value him; the priest shall value him according to what the vower can afford. We also see our word used in the valuation of houses and property given to the Lord. Leviticus 27:14-18 When a man dedicates his house as a holy gift to the Lord, the priest shall value it as either good or bad; as the priest values it, so it shall stand. And if the donor wishes to redeem his house, he shall add a fifth to the עֶרְכְּךָ֛ valuation price, and it shall be his. If a man dedicates to the Lord part of the land that is his possession, then the עֶרְכְּךָ֖ valuation shall be in proportion to its seed. A homer of barley seed shall be valued at fifty shekels of silver. If he dedicates his field from the year of jubilee, the כְּעֶרְכְּךָ֖ valuation shall stand, but if he dedicates his field after the jubilee, then the priest shall calculate the price according to the years that remain until the year of jubilee, and a deduction shall be made from the מֵֽעֶרְכֶּֽךָ valuation. We have already looked at our word for redeemed which is closely related to our word for today. The idea in our chapter is part of making a vow is the idea of our commitment to God expressed in a person cost to us. David understood this when he wanted to offer a sacrifice to God and was offered a way to do so that would be inexpensive. 2 Samuel 24:24-25 But the king said to Araunah, “No, but I will buy it from you for a price. I will not offer burnt offerings to the Lord my God that cost me nothing.” So David bought the threshing floor and the oxen for fifty shekels of silver. And David built there an altar to the Lord and offered burnt offerings and peace offerings. So the Lord responded to the plea for the land, and the plague was averted from Israel. There was a sacrifice that had to be made because of David’s sin. The good news is that because of Jesus work on the cross he has already paid this price. And the good news is that God loved us and valued us so much that he was willing to pay the price to forgive us and free us from our sins. I’ll close with this great reminder. John 3:16 For God so loved the world, that he gave his only Son, that whoever believes in him should not perish but have eternal life.

We are moving into chapter twenty-seven of Leviticus with our word for today. נֶ֫דֶר vow. It is used 60 times in the Old Testament. Our word is used in the sense of vow offering, an offering associated with the making of a vow. Numbers 29:39 In addition to מִנִּדְרֵיכֶ֜ם what you vow and your freewill offerings, offer these to the Lord at your appointed festivals: your burnt offerings, grain offerings, drink offerings and fellowship offerings. 1 Samuel 1:21 When her husband Elkanah went up with all his family to offer the annual sacrifice to the Lord and to נִדְרֽוֹ fulfill his vow. Most of the uses of our word are used in the sense of vow, a solemn pledge to do something or to behave in a certain manner. Genesis 28:20-22 וַיִּדַּ֥ר יַעֲקֹ֖ב נֶ֣דֶר [literally and vowed Jacob a vow] Then Jacob made a vow, saying, “If God will be with me and will watch over me on this journey I am taking and will give me food to eat and clothes to wear so that I return safely to my father’s household, then the Lord will be my God and this stone that I have set up as a pillar will be God’s house, and of all that you give me I will give you a tenth.” Notice in the next use of our word that God remembered that Jacob made a vow to him. Genesis 31:13 I am the God of Bethel, where you anointed a pillar and where נָדַ֥רְתָּ לִּ֛י שָׁ֖ם נֶ֑דֶר [literally vow to me you vowed] you made a vow to me. Now leave this land at once and go back to your native land. We find our word used of specific kinds of vows such as a Nazarite one. Numbers 6:1-3, 21 The Lord said to Moses, “Speak to the Israelites and say to them: ‘If a man or woman wants to make a special vow, a vow of dedication to the Lord as a Nazirite, they must abstain from wine and other fermented drink and must not drink vinegar made from wine or other fermented drink … This is the law of the Nazirite who יִדֹּר֒ [this is another form of our word from the same root word] vows offerings to the Lord in accordance with their dedication, in addition to whatever else they can afford. They must נִדְרוֹ֙ אֲשֶׁ֣ר יִדֹּ֔ר [this is literally vow which they vowed] fulfill the vows they have made, according to the law of the Nazirite. This is how our word is used in our chapter today. Leviticus 27:1-8 The Lord spoke to Moses, saying, “Speak to the people of Israel and say to them, If anyone makes a special נֶ֑דֶר vow to the Lord involving the valuation of persons, then the valuation of a male from twenty years old up to sixty years old shall be fifty shekels of silver. So we see this idea of an offering vow is a big part of the opening of our chapter. We will look more into this idea tomorrow when we look at our word for valuation and value. For today well look at the basic idea of a vow as promising to keep your word. We see God taking these vows seriously in that he holds people to what they promise him. Deuteronomy 23:21 If you make a נֶ֙דֶר֙ 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. Psalm 56:12 I am under נְדָרֶ֑יךָ vows to you, my God; I will present my thank offerings to you. Binding ourselves to God is seen as a good thing and part of worship. Psalm 61:8 Then I will ever sing in praise of your name and fulfill נְדָרַ֗י my vows day after day. Keeping our word is a huge priority to God. Ecclesiastes 5:4-7 When you make a נֶ֜דֶרvow to God, do not delay to fulfill it. He has no pleasure in fools; fulfill your תִּדֹּ֖ר [this is another form but from the same root word] vow. It is better not תִדֹּ֑ר to make a vow than to make one and not fulfill it. Do not let your mouth lead you into sin. And do not protest to the temple messenger, “My vow was a mistake.” Why should God be angry at what you say and destroy the work of your hands? Much dreaming and many words are meaningless. Therefore fear God. We see Jesus teaching reaffirming this sermon on the mount. Matthew 5:33-37 Again, you have heard that it was said to the people long ago, ‘Do not break your oath, but fulfill to the Lord the vows you have made.’ But I tell you, do not swear an oath at all: either by heaven, for it is God’s throne; or by the earth, for it is his footstool; or by Jerusalem, for it is the city of the Great King. And do not swear by your head, for you cannot make even one hair white or black. All you need to say is simply ‘Yes’ or ‘No’; anything beyond this comes from the evil one. I’ll close with this great Psalm that identifies this idea of keeping your vows and your word as part of a person God accepts. Psalm 15:1-2, 4 O Lord, who shall sojourn in your tent? Who shall dwell on your holy hill? He who walks blamelessly and does what is right and speaks truth in his heart … who keeps an oath even when it hurts, and does not change their mind.

We are in chapter twenty-six of Leviticus with our word for today which is a phrase made up of three words. הַֽחֻקִּ֣ים וְהַמִּשְׁפָּטִים֮ וְהַתּוֹרֹת֒ the statutes, and rules and laws. Although our phrase is only used this once in our chapter today we find these words together translated in the same way 11 times in the Old Testament. Let’s start with our chapter since it is the first time we find our words together in our phrase in the Bible. Leviticus 26:46 These are הַֽחֻקִּ֣ים וְהַמִּשְׁפָּטִים֮ וְהַתּוֹרֹת֒ the statutes and rules and laws that the Lord made between himself and the people of Israel through Moses on Mount Sinai. This is first of two summaries of the book of Leviticus which is in the second to the last chapter of the book. Our three words interpret all the previous details as guiding the people in their relationship YWHW (reality God, true God). We see our phrase used in the same way through out the Old Testament. We also see our three words together used by David in his last words to his son Solomon. 1 Kings 2:1-3 When David's time to die drew near, he commanded Solomon his son, saying, “I am about to go the way of all the earth. Be strong, and show yourself a man, and keep the charge of the Lord your God, walking in his ways and keeping חֻקֹּתָ֤יו his statutes, his commandments, וּמִשְׁפָּטָ֣יו his rules, and his testimonies, as it is written בְּתוֹרַ֣ת in the Law of Moses, that you may prosper in all that you do and wherever you turn. Notice the benefit of prospering tied to following God’s direction. In our next use of our three words together as the explanation why God allowed Assyria to come in and destroy the tribes of Israel. 2 Kings 17:34, 37 They do not fear the Lord, and they do not follow כְּחֻקֹּתָם֙ וּכְמִשְׁפָּטָ֔ם וְכַתּוֹרָ֣ה the statutes or the rules or the law or the commandment that the Lord commanded the children of Jacob, whom he named Israel … And the statutes and the rules and the law and the commandment that he wrote for you, you shall always be careful to do. You shall not fear other gods, and you shall not forget the covenant that I have made with you … However, they would not listen. In our next use of our three words together they are used as part of Jehoshaphat’s restoring things to where God desired them, in his instructions to the Levites and priests. 2 Chronicles 19:9-10 And he charged them: “Thus you shall do in the fear of the Lord, in faithfulness, and with your whole heart: whenever a case comes to you from your brothers who live in their cities, concerning bloodshed, הַחֻקִּ֨ים וְאֶת־הַמִּשְׁפָּטִ֜ים וְהַתּוֹרָ֤ה [literally we have statutes or rules and law. The translators just rearranged the wording] law or commandment, statutes or rules, then you shall warn them, that they may not incur guilt before the Lord and wrath may not come upon you and your brothers. Thus you shall do, and you will not incur guilt. Our next use is another example of the people not following God’s direction. 2 Chronicles 33:8-9 if only they will be careful to do all that I have commanded them, all הַתּוֹרָ֛ה וְהַֽחֻקִּ֥ים וְהַמִּשְׁפָּטִ֖ים the law, the statutes, and the rules given through Moses.” Manasseh led Judah and the inhabitants of Jerusalem astray, to do more evil than the nations whom the Lord destroyed before the people of Israel. Our next uses show the reforms of Ezra and Nehemiah that focused the people back to God. These passages are great examples of how important godly leadership really is. Ezra 7:10 For Ezra had set his heart to study the תּוֹרַ֥ת Law of the Lord, and to do it and to teach חֹ֥ק וּמִשְׁפָּֽט his statutes and rules in Israel. Nehemiah 9:13 You came down on Mount Sinai and spoke with them from heaven and gave them right מִשְׁפָּטִ֤ים rules and true וְתוֹר֣וֹת laws, good חֻקִּ֥ים statutes and commandments, and you made known to them your holy Sabbath and commanded them commandments and statutes and a law by Moses your servant. I’ll close with this great passage about God’s heart for his people which also has our three words of our phrase in it. God loves his people and wants them to have an amazing blessed life that others can see the benefits of. Deuteronomy 4:6-8 Keep them and do them, for that will be your wisdom and your understanding in the sight of the peoples, who, when they hear all these statutes, will say, ‘Surely this great nation is a wise and understanding people.’ For what great nation is there that has a god so near to it as the Lord our God is to us, whenever we call upon him? And what great nation is there, that has חֻקִּ֥ים וּמִשְׁפָּטִ֖ים statutes and rules so righteous as all הַתּוֹרָ֣ה this law that I set before you today? 

We are in chapter twenty-six of Leviticus with our word for today which is a phrase used for the first time in the Bible in our chapter. לְבָבָם֙ הֶֽעָרֵ֔ל [Literally heart uncircumcised] uncircumcised heart. It is used 4 times in the Old Testament. Let’s look at these uses starting with our chapter since it is used for the first time in the Bible there. Leviticus 26:40-42 But if they confess their iniquity and the iniquity of their fathers in their treachery that they committed against me, and also in walking contrary to me, so that I walked contrary to them and brought them into the land of their enemies—if then their לְבָבָם֙ הֶֽעָרֵ֔ל uncircumcised heart is humbled and they make amends for their iniquity, then I will remember my covenant with Jacob, and I will remember my covenant with Isaac and my covenant with Abraham, and I will remember the land. We have already looked at our word for circumcision which is the cutting around of skin so that there is no longer a covering over. So applied to the heart it means that one’s heart is covered up or hard. One’s heart is not open to God and his will and direction. This is just one of the many ways God describes his people’s rejection and rebellion of Him and his will for his people. The other two uses are in Jeremiah and Ezekiel. Which interestingly enough talk about other people besides God’s people. Jeremiah 9:25-26 Behold, the days are coming, declares the Lord, when I will punish all those who are circumcised merely in the flesh— Egypt, Judah, Edom, the sons of Ammon, Moab, and all who dwell in the desert who cut the corners of their hair, for all these nations are uncircumcised, and all the house of Israel are עַרְלֵי־לֵֽב[this is our phrase with the two words in different order] uncircumcised in heart. Ezekiel 44:6-7, 9 And say to the rebellious house, to the house of Israel, Thus says the Lord God: O house of Israel, enough of all your abominations, in admitting foreigners, עַרְלֵי־לֵב֙[this is our phrase with the two words in different order] uncircumcised in heart and flesh, to be in my sanctuary, profaning my temple, when you offer to me my food, the fat and the blood. You have broken my covenant, in addition to all your abominations … Thus says the Lord God: No foreigner, עֶ֤רֶל לֵב֙ uncircumcised in heart and flesh, of all the foreigners who are among the people of Israel, shall enter my sanctuary. Notice that it wasn’t just that they were not circumcised physically but also that their hearts were not right before God. Their hearts were hard not open to God. Throughout the Bible we see God caring, loving and wanting all people to come to him. This is definitely identified more clearly in the New Testament. We will talk more about this as we journey through the Bible together. For today I’ll close with our phrase applied to God’s people in a general way describing their resistance toward him from one generation to the next. We see this in the New Testament when Stephen is speaking to the Pharisees right before they stone him to death. Notice how he describes God’s people with the New Testament words translated the same way as our phrase. Acts 7:51-53 You stiff-necked people, uncircumcised in heart and ears, you always resist the Holy Spirit. As your fathers did, so do you. Which of the prophets did your fathers not persecute? And they killed those who announced beforehand the coming of the Righteous One, whom you have now betrayed and murdered, you who received the law as delivered by angels and did not keep it.”

We are in chapter twenty-six of Leviticus with our word for today used for the first time in the Bible in our chapter. גָּאוֹן height, eminence, pride, presumption, exaltation, majesty. It is used 49 times in the Old Testament. Our word is used in the sense of stateliness, impressiveness in scale or proportion. God is the one referred to with our word on several occasions. Exodus 15:7 In the greatness of גְּאוֹנְךָ֖ your majesty you overthrow your adversaries; you send out your fury; it consumes them like stubble. Job 37:4 After it his voice roars; he thunders with גְּאוֹנ֑וֹ his majestic voice, and he does not restrain the lightnings when his voice is heard. Isaiah 2:10 Enter into the rock and hide in the dust from before the terror of the Lord, and from the splendor of גְּאֹנֽוֹ his majesty. People and nations are also referred to with our word. Psalm 47:4 He chose our heritage for us, the גְּא֨וֹן pride of Jacob whom he loves. Isaiah 13:19 And Babylon, the glory of kingdoms, the splendor and גְּא֣וֹן pomp of the Chaldeans, will be like Sodom and Gomorrah when God overthrew them. Our word is also used in the sense of pride, unreasonable and inordinate self-esteem. Job 35:12 There they cry out, but he does not answer, because of the גְּא֣וֹן pride of evil men. Psalm 59:12 For the sin of their mouths, the words of their lips, let them be trapped בִגְאוֹנָ֑ם in their pride. Zechariah 10:11 The גְּא֣וֹן pride of Assyria shall be laid low, and the scepter of Egypt shall depart. This is how our word is used in our chapter. Leviticus 26:19-20 And I will break the גְּא֣וֹן pride of your power, and I will make your heavens like iron and your earth like bronze. And your strength shall be spent in vain, for your land shall not yield its increase, and the trees of the land shall not yield their fruit. As we saw yesterday God disciplined his people in three different ways. The point was to brake their pride so they would stop straying away from Him. The best and safest place to be is close to God. Sin separates us from God but the good news is that because of what Christ has accomplished on the cross we can be close to God again. If we are prideful we are not open to seeing our sin the way God does and repenting from it. We see this throughout the Bible. Here is a great New Testament example. James 4:6-10 But he gives more grace. Therefore it says, “God opposes the proud but gives grace to the humble.” Submit yourselves therefore to God. Resist the devil, and he will flee from you. Draw near to God, and he will draw near to you. Cleanse your hands, you sinners, and purify your hearts, you double-minded. Be wretched and mourn and weep. Let your laughter be turned to mourning and your joy to gloom. Humble yourselves before the Lord, and he will exalt you. I’ll close with this great reminder and use of our word. Proverbs 16:18 גָּא֑וֹן Pride goes before destruction, and a haughty spirit before a fall.

We are in chapter twenty-six of Leviticus with our word for today used for the first time in the Bible in our chapter. יָסַר instruct, chastise, rebuke, discipline, admonish, correct. It is used 40 times in the Old Testament, 3 times in our chapter. Our word is used in the sense to teach, to impart skills or knowledge to. Psalm 16:7 I bless the Lord who gives me counsel; in the night also my heart יִסְּר֥וּנִי instructs me. Isaiah 28:26 For he is rightly וְיִסְּר֥וֹ instructed; his God teaches him. Our word is used most of the time in the sense to discipline, to be corrected. Here is a good example. Deuteronomy 8:5 Know then in your heart that, as a man יְיַסֵּ֥ר disciplines his son, the Lord your God מְיַסְּרֶֽךָּ disciplines you. Deuteronomy 21:18 If a man has a stubborn and rebellious son who will not obey the voice of his father or the voice of his mother, וְיִסְּר֣וּ and, though they discipline him, will not listen to them. This is how our word is used 3 times in our chapter. Leviticus 26:18-19, 23-24, 27-28 And if in spite of this you will not listen to me, then I will לְיַסְּרָ֣ה discipline you again sevenfold for your sins, and I will break the pride of your power, and I will make your heavens like iron and your earth like bronze … And if by תִוָּסְר֖וּ this discipline you are not turned to me but walk contrary to me, then I also will walk contrary to you, and I myself will strike you sevenfold for your sins … But if in spite of this you will not listen to me, but walk contrary to me, then I will walk contrary to you in fury, וְיִסַּרְתִּ֤י and I myself will discipline you sevenfold for your sins. Three consequences of their sin land not yield crops, wild beasts will destroy livestock, the sword and finally allow enemies to completely destroy them and settle in their land. Why all of this punishment for their sins? So that the people will listen to God which is stated twice and turn to me said once. The purpose behind why God disciplines his people is so that we will be out of danger and close to him. This is consistent throughout the Bible. This New Testament passage in Hebrews is a good example. Hebrews 12:7-11 It is for discipline that you have to endure. God is treating you as sons. For what son is there whom his father does not discipline? If you are left without discipline, in which all have participated, then you are illegitimate children and not sons. Besides this, we have had earthly fathers who disciplined us and we respected them. Shall we not much more be subject to the Father of spirits and live? For they disciplined us for a short time as it seemed best to them, but he disciplines us for our good, that we may share his holiness. For the moment all discipline seems painful rather than pleasant, but later it yields the peaceful fruit of righteousness to those who have been trained by it. I’ll close with this great Proverb and use of our word. Notice the desired end result of discipline delight to your heart. Proverbs 29:17 יַסֵּ֣ר Discipline your son, and he will give you rest; he will give delight to your heart.

We are in chapter twenty-six of Leviticus with our word for today used for the first time in the Bible in our chapter. גָּעַל loathe, unpleasant, fail, abhor, defile. It is used 10 times in the Old Testament, 5 times in our chapter. We find our word used once in the sense to be defiled, to be made unclean. 2 Samuel 1:21 For there the shield of the mighty נִגְעַל֙ was defiled, the shield of Saul, not anointed with oil. Our word is also used in the sense of failing. Job 21:10 Their bull breeds without יַגְעִ֑ל fail; their cow calves and does not miscarry. All the other uses of our word are used in the sense to abhor, to find repugnant. Ezekiel 16:44-45 Behold, everyone who uses proverbs will use this proverb about you: ‘Like mother, like daughter.’ You are the daughter of your mother, who גֹּעֶ֥לֶת loathed her husband and her children; and you are the sister of your sisters, who גָּֽעֲ֙לוּ֙ loathed their husbands and their children. Your mother was a Hittite and your father an Amorite. Jeremiah 14:19 Have you utterly rejected Judah? Does your soul גָּעֲלָ֣ה loathe Zion? Why have you struck us down so that there is no healing for us? This is how our word is used 5 times in our chapter. Leviticus 26:11-12, 14-15, 30, 43-44 I will make my dwelling among you, and my soul shall not תִגְעַ֥ל abhor you. And I will walk among you and will be your God, and you shall be my people … But if you will not listen to me and will not do all these commandments, if you spurn my statutes, and if your soul תִּגְעַ֣ל abhors my rules, so that you will not do all my commandments, but break my covenant … And I will destroy your high places and cut down your incense altars and cast your dead bodies upon the dead bodies of your idols, and my soul will וְגָעֲלָ֥ה abhor you … But the land shall be abandoned by them and enjoy its Sabbaths while it lies desolate without them, and they shall make amends for their iniquity, because they spurned my rules and their soul גָּעֲלָ֥ה abhorred my statutes. Yet for all that, when they are in the land of their enemies, I will not spurn them, neither will גְעַלְתִּים֙ I abhor them so as to destroy them utterly and break my covenant with them, for I am the Lord their God. Did you notice that 4 out of the 5 times our word is used in our chapter it is with the word soul. One time God is seen not abhorring his people and then another time he is. The difference is their following his instruction. God is struggling with loving his people who are or will be acting unlovable. Then the other two times what the people abhorred from inside of their souls were God’s rules and statutes. God cares about not just obedience but our heart behind it. Because our actions show what is in our hearts. Jesus made this clear with his analogy of a tree and its fruit. Luke 6:43-45 For no good tree bears bad fruit, nor again does a bad tree bear good fruit, for each tree is known by its own fruit. For figs are not gathered from thornbushes, nor are grapes picked from a bramble bush. The good person out of the good treasure of his heart produces good, and the evil person out of his evil treasure produces evil, for out of the abundance of the heart his mouth speaks. I’ll close with these great reminders. Matthew 22:37-38 And he said to him, “You shall love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your mind. This is the great and first commandment. 1 John 5:3 For this is the love of God, that we keep his commandments. And his commandments are not burdensome. 

We are in chapter twenty-six of Leviticus with our word for today used for the first time in the Bible in our chapter. מָאַס refuse, reject, despise, spurn, show contempt. It is used 74 times in the Old Testament, 3 times in our chapter. Our word is used in the sense to despise, to look down on with contempt. Judges 9:38 Then Zebul said to him, “Where is your mouth now, you who said, ‘Who is Abimelech, that we should serve him?’ Are not these the people whom מָאַ֣סְתָּה you despised? Go out now and fight with them.” Job 5:17 Behold, blessed is the one whom God reproves; therefore תִּמְאָֽסdespise not the discipline of the Almighty. Job 7:16 מָ֭אַסְתִּי I loathe my life; I would not live forever. Leave me alone, for my days are a breath. Our word is also used in the sense to be rejected with contempt. Isaiah 54:6 For the Lord has called you like a wife deserted and grieved in spirit, like a wife of youth when תִמָּאֵ֖ס she is cast off, says your God. Jeremiah 6:30 נִמְאָ֔ס Rejected silver they are called, for the Lord מָאַ֥סhas rejected them.” Our word is used the most often in the sense to reject with contempt, to spurn. A lot of time our word is used when the people are rejecting God. 1 Samuel 8:7 And the Lord said to Samuel, “Obey the voice of the people in all that they say to you, for they have not מָאָ֔סוּ rejected you, but מָאֲס֖וּ they have rejected me from being king over them. This is how our word is used 3 times in our chapter today. Leviticus 26:14-16 But if you will not listen to me and will not do all these commandments, if תִּמְאָ֔סוּ you spurn my statutes, and if your soul abhors my rules, so that you will not do all my commandments, but break my covenant, then I will do this to you: I will visit you with panic, with wasting disease and fever that consume the eyes and make the heart ache. And you shall sow your seed in vain, for your enemies shall eat it. As we have seen several times that sin steals and obedience enriches. And that there are consequences to both obedience and disobedience. God is warning the people to not spurn his instruction or these consequences will come on them. We see this throughout the Bible. I’ll close with this Psalm that Jesus later identifies as applying to himself who was definitely rejected and spurned by us who he came to save. Psalm 118:22-23 The stone that the builders rejected has become the cornerstone. This is the Lord's doing; it is marvelous in our eyes. Matthew 21:37-42 Finally he sent his son to them, saying, ‘They will respect my son.’ But when the tenants saw the son, they said to themselves, ‘This is the heir. Come, let us kill him and have his inheritance.’ And they took him and threw him out of the vineyard and killed him. When therefore the owner of the vineyard comes, what will he do to those tenants?” They said to him, “He will put those wretches to a miserable death and let out the vineyard to other tenants who will give him the fruits in their seasons.” Jesus said to them, “Have you never read in the Scriptures: “‘The stone that the builders rejected has become the cornerstone; this was the Lord's doing, and it is marvelous in our eyes’?

We are in chapter twenty-six of Leviticus with our word for today which is a phrase. מֹטֹ֣ת עֻלְּכֶ֔ם bars of your yoke. It is used twice in the Old Testament. The two words that make up our phrase are מוֹטָה used 12 times in the Old Testament and עֹל used 40 times in the Old Testament. Let’s look at the first word in our phrase. מוֹטָה yoke, carrying pole. This word is used in the sense yoke bar, a bar that forms the part of the structure of a yoke. Even though this word is used without the other word in our phrase it is usually translated similarly to our phrase. Jeremiah 27:2 Thus the Lord said to me: “Make yourself straps וּמֹט֑וֹת and yoke-bars, and put them on your neck. Ezekiel 30:18 At Tehaphnehes the day shall be dark, when I break there מֹט֣וֹת the yoke bars of Egypt, and her proud might shall come to an end in her. The other word in our phrase עֹל is used in the sense yoke, stable-gear that joins two draft animals at the neck so they can work together as a team. Deuteronomy 21:3 And the elders of the city that is nearest to the slain man shall take a heifer that has never been worked and that has not pulled בְּעֹֽל in a yoke. 1 Samuel 6:7 Now then, take and prepare a new cart and two milk cows on which there has never come a עֹ֑ל yoke, וַאֲסַרְתֶּ֤ם [this is a different word that means to tie up but is translated yoke in ESV that we are using] and yoke the cows to the cart, but take their calves home, away from them. It is also used in the sense of placing a heavy burden on someone. 1 Kings 12:4 Your father עֻלֵּ֑נוּ made our yoke heavy. Now therefore lighten the hard service of your father and his heavy וּמֵעֻלּ֧וֹ yoke on us, and we will serve you. We have both of our words in our phrase used in the same section of scripture when Jeremiah is dealing with the false prophets. Jeremiah 28:10-13 Then the prophet Hananiah took הַמּוֹטָ֔ה the yoke-bars from the neck of Jeremiah the prophet and broke them. And Hananiah spoke in the presence of all the people, saying, “Thus says the Lord: Even so will I break the עֹ֣ל yoke of Nebuchadnezzar king of Babylon from the neck of all the nations within two years.” But Jeremiah the prophet went his way. Sometime after the prophet Hananiah had broken הַמּוֹטָ֔ה the yoke-bars from off the neck of Jeremiah the prophet, the word of the Lord came to Jeremiah: “Go, tell Hananiah, ‘Thus says the Lord: You have broken wooden מוֹטֹ֥ת bars, but you have made in their place מֹט֥וֹת bars of iron. Let’s look at the two uses of our phrase. Ezekiel 34:27 And they shall know that I am the Lord, when I break מֹט֣וֹת עֻלָּ֔ם the bars of their yoke, and deliver them from the hand of those who enslaved them. This is how our phrase is used in our chapter today. Leviticus 26:13 I am the Lord your God, who brought you out of the land of Egypt, that you should not be their slaves. And I have broken מֹטֹ֣ת עֻלְּכֶ֔ם the bars of your yoke and made you walk erect. I’ll close with two more uses of one of the words in our phrase that shows God’s heart to free us from what enslaves us. And Jesus quoting from the Old Testament that highlights a big part of what his mission and ministry was all about. Isaiah 58:6, 9 Is not this the fast that I choose: to loose the bonds of wickedness, to undo the straps of the מוֹטָ֑ה yoke, to let the oppressed go free, and to break every מוֹטָ֖ה yoke? … Then you shall call, and the Lord will answer; you shall cry, and he will say, ‘Here I am.’ If you take away the מוֹטָ֔ה yoke from your midst. Luke 4:16-21 And he came to Nazareth, where he had been brought up. And as was his custom, he went to the synagogue on the Sabbath day, and he stood up to read. And the scroll of the prophet Isaiah was given to him. He unrolled the scroll and found the place where it was written, “The Spirit of the Lord is upon me, because he has anointed me to proclaim good news to the poor. He has sent me to proclaim liberty to the captives and recovering of sight to the blind, to set at liberty those who are oppressed, to proclaim the year of the Lord's favor.” And he rolled up the scroll and gave it back to the attendant and sat down. And the eyes of all in the synagogue were fixed on him. And he began to say to them, “Today this Scripture has been fulfilled in your hearing.” 

We are in chapter twenty-six of Leviticus with our word for today. הָלַךְ go, walk, behave, come. It is used 1,548 times in the Old Testament, 8 times in our chapter today. We find our word used most of the time in the Old Testament and in our chapter in the sense to live or behave in a specific manner. Our word is also used in the sense to go about, to go or travel to or among many different places. Our word is used in both of these senses in our chapter today. Let’s look at our word in our chapter. Leviticus 26:11-12 I will make my dwelling among you, and my soul shall not abhor you. וְהִתְהַלַּכְתִּי֙ And I will walk among you and will be your God, and you shall be my people. In this sense we find God being the one who is walking in the sense of traveling to be with his people. This is the idea of closeness. But we also see our word used to describe distance because of sin. Notice in the rest of our uses in our chapter how the people’s behavior determines how close God is to them. Leviticus 26:3-4, 21, 23-24, 27-28, 40-42 If תֵּלֵ֑כוּ you walk in my statutes and observe my commandments and do them, then I will give you your rains in their season, and the land shall yield its increase, and the trees of the field shall yield their fruit … Then if תֵּֽלְכ֤וּ you walk contrary to me and will not listen to me, I will continue striking you, sevenfold for your sins … And if by this discipline you are not turned to me וַהֲלַכְתֶּ֥ם but walk contrary to me, וְהָלַכְתִּ֧י then I also will walk contrary to you, and I myself will strike you sevenfold for your sins … But if in spite of this you will not listen to me, וַהֲלַכְתֶּ֥ם but walk contrary to me, וְהָלַכְתִּ֥י then I will walk contrary to you in fury, and I myself will discipline you sevenfold for your sins … But if they confess their iniquity and the iniquity of their fathers in their treachery that they committed against me, and also in הָֽלְכ֥וּ walking contrary to me, so that I אֵלֵ֤ךְ walked contrary to them and brought them into the land of their enemies—if then their uncircumcised heart is humbled and they make amends for their iniquity, then I will remember my covenant with Jacob, and I will remember my covenant with Isaac and my covenant with Abraham, and I will remember the land. This reminds us of Jesus crying over Jerusalem because the people’s rejection of God. Luke 13:34 O Jerusalem, Jerusalem, the city that kills the prophets and stones those who are sent to it! How often would I have gathered your children together as a hen gathers her brood under her wings, and you were not willing! The good news is that if we draw near to God by humbly submitting to his will for our lives then he will be close to us. I’ll close with this great passage. James 4:6-8 Therefore it says, “God opposes the proud but gives grace to the humble.” Submit yourselves therefore to God. Resist the devil, and he will flee from you. Draw near to God, and he will draw near to you. Cleanse your hands, you sinners, and purify your hearts, you double-minded. 

We are in chapter twenty-six of Leviticus with our word for today. רָדַף pursue, follow after, chase, persecute, put to fight. It is used 143 times in the Old Testament, 7 times in our chapter today. We see our word used in the sense to persecute, to cause to suffer, whether physically or emotionally. We see this a lot when David cries out to God for help against his enemies in Psalm 119. Psalm 119:84, 86, 157, 161 How long must your servant endure? When will you judge those who בְרֹדְפַ֣יpersecute me? … All your commandments are sure; they רְדָפ֣וּנִיpersecute me with falsehood; help me! … Many are רֹדְפַ֣י my persecutors and my adversaries, but I do not swerve from your testimonies … Princes רְדָפ֣וּנִי persecute me without cause, but my heart stands in awe of your words. Our word is also used in the sense to pursue, to follow in or as if in pursuit. 1 Samuel 23:25-28 When Saul heard that, וַיִּרְדֹּ֥ף he pursued after David in the wilderness of Maon. And David was hurrying to get away from Saul. As Saul and his men were closing in on David and his men to capture them,  a messenger came to Saul, saying, “Hurry and come, for the Philistines have made a raid against the land.” So Saul returned מִרְדֹף֙from pursuing after David and went against the Philistines. Therefore that place was called the Rock of Escape. This is how our word is used 7 times in our chapter today. Leviticus 26:7-8, 17, 36-37 וּרְדַפְתֶּ֖ם You shall chase your enemies, and they shall fall before you by the sword. Five of you וְרָדְפוּ֙shall chase a hundred, and a hundred of you יִרְדֹּ֑פוּshall chase ten thousand, and your enemies shall fall before you by the sword … I will set my face against you, and you shall be struck down before your enemies. Those who hate you shall rule over you, and you shall flee when none רֹדֵ֥ף pursues you … And as for those of you who are left, I will send faintness into their hearts in the lands of their enemies. The sound of a driven leaf וְרָדַ֣ף shall put them to flight, and they shall flee as one flees from the sword, and they shall fall when none רֹדֵֽף pursues. They shall stumble over one another, as if to escape a sword, though none וְרֹדֵ֣ף pursues. And you shall have no power to stand before your enemies. Did you catch this? They will have no strength to stand before their enemies. In our chapter we see the contrast of obeying God and disobeying God. Both of these have consequences. Obedience brings confidence in God’s power at work for the benefit of his people. We see this throughout the Bible. David understood this. Psalm 28:7 The Lord is my strength and my shield; in him my heart trusts, and I am helped; my heart exults, and with my song I give thanks to him. Psalm 46:1 God is our refuge and strength, a very present help in trouble. Psalm 73:26 My flesh and my heart may fail, but God is the strength of my heart and my portion forever. We also see this in the New Testament. Romans 8:31 If God is for us, who can be against us? Ephesians 1:19-20 and what is the immeasurable greatness of his power toward us who believe, according to the working of his great might that he worked in Christ when he raised him from the dead and seated him at his right hand in the heavenly places. I’ll close with this great proverb that sums this up nicely. Proverbs 28:1 The wicked flee when no one pursues, but the righteous are bold as a lion.

We are moving into chapter twenty-six of Leviticus with our word for today. נָשַׂג collect, reach, be sufficient, produce, appear, overtake, last. It is used 49 times in the Old Testament. Our word is used in the sense to overtake, to catch up with and possibly overtake. Genesis 31:25 And Laban וַיַּשֵּׂ֥ג overtook Jacob. Now Jacob had pitched his tent in the hill country, and Laban with his kinsmen pitched tents in the hill country of Gilead. Our word is used in the sense to reach a point in time, or a certain state or level. We see this translated as attaining like with Jacob referring to the years of his life. Genesis 47:8-9 And Pharaoh said to Jacob, “How many are the days of the years of your life?” And Jacob said to Pharaoh, “The days of the years of my sojourning are 130 years. Few and evil have been the days of the years of my life, and they have not הִשִּׂ֗יגוּattained to the days of the years of the life of my fathers in the days of their sojourning.” It is also translated as rich in the sense of reaching a point of abundance. Leviticus 25:26, 47, 49  If a man has no one to redeem it וְהִשִּׂ֣יגָה and then himself becomes prosperous … If a stranger or sojourner with you תַשִּׂ֗יג becomes rich … Or if he הִשִּׂ֥יגָה grows rich he may redeem himself. This is how our word is used twice in our chapter today. Leviticus 26:3-5 If you walk in my statutes and observe my commandments and do them, then I will give you your rains in their season, and the land shall yield its increase, and the trees of the field shall yield their fruit. Your threshing shall וְהִשִּׂ֨יג last to the time of the grape harvest, and the grape harvest shall יַשִּׂ֣יג last to the time for sowing. And you shall eat your bread to the full and dwell in your land securely. I like how our word is translated in our chapter what the people need will last. They will have an abundance of what they need because they listened to God. As we have seen sin steals and obedience enriches. This is a consistent theme throughout the Bible that blessings come from following God’s direction. 2 Corinthians 9:6, 8, 10-11 The point is this: whoever sows sparingly will also reap sparingly, and whoever sows bountifully will also reap bountifully … And God is able to make all grace abound to you, so that having all sufficiency in all things at all times, you may abound in every good work … He who supplies seed to the sower and bread for food will supply and multiply your seed for sowing and increase the harvest of your righteousness. You will be enriched in every way to be generous in every way, which through us will produce thanksgiving to God. Did you see the promise of sowing generously will bring generous results so we can always be generous? And earlier in this New Testament book we have. 2 Corinthians 8:3-5 For they gave according to their means, as I can testify, and beyond their means, of their own accord, begging us earnestly for the favor of taking part in the relief of the saints— and this, not as we expected, but they gave themselves first to the Lord and then by the will of God to us. Did you catch that the people gave themselves first to the Lord then to the needs of their fellow believers? When we follow God’s direction we always have more than we need. I’ll close with this great Psalm that makes this point very well. Psalm 1:1-3 Blessed is the man who walks not in the counsel of the wicked, nor stands in the way of sinners, nor sits in the seat of scoffers; but his delight is in the law of the Lord, and on his law he meditates day and night. He is like a tree planted by streams of water that yields its fruit in its season, and its leaf does not wither. In all that he does, he prospers.

We are in chapter twenty-five of Leviticus with our word for today. נִמְכַּ֗ר sell oneself. It is used 3 times in the Old Testament. The basic tense of the root word is מָכַר sell, betray to others, sell off, be sold. It is used 79 times in the Old Testament. Our word is in the Nif’al tense which shows reflexive action so sell becomes sell oneself. Let’s look at our uses. We see it in the context of a thief who cannot make restitution for his crime. Exodus 22:1-3 If a man steals an ox or a sheep, and kills it or sells it, he shall repay five oxen for an ox, and four sheep for a sheep. If a thief is found breaking in and is struck so that he dies, there shall be no bloodguilt for him, but if the sun has risen on him, there shall be bloodguilt for him. He shall surely pay. If he has nothing, וְנִמְכַּ֖ר[literally sell himself since this is his only option] then he shall be sold for his theft. We find our word also used in the context of the Jubilee. Leviticus 25:39-43, 47-49. If your brother becomes poor beside you וְנִמְכַּר and sells himself to you, you shall not make him serve as a slave: he shall be with you as a hired worker and as a sojourner. He shall serve with you until the year of the jubilee. Then he shall go out from you, he and his children with him, and go back to his own clan and return to the possession of his fathers. For they are my servants, whom I brought out of the land of Egypt; they shall not be sold as slaves. You shall not rule over him ruthlessly but shall fear your God … If a stranger or sojourner with you becomes rich, and your brother beside him becomes poor וְנִמְכַּ֗רand sells himself to the stranger or sojourner with you or to a member of the stranger's clan, then after he is sold he may be redeemed. One of his brothers may redeem him, or his uncle or his cousin may redeem him, or a close relative from his clan may redeem him. Or if he grows rich he may redeem himself. A poor brother who became the slave of a fellow Israelite could be expected to be treated like a hired worker and not a slave. His master was to treat him and his family with kindness; for the Hebrews were once slaves in Egypt, and the Lord graciously delivered them. How could an Israelite enslave a brother whom the Lord had set free? An Israelite slave was to serve only six years and go free at the Sabbath Year; but if the Year of Jubilee came first, he was a free man. At the end of this chapter God says this. Leviticus 25:53-55 For it is to me that the people of Israel are servants. They are my servants whom I brought out of the land of Egypt: I am the Lord your God. Did you catch that? God is saying that regardless of one’s position or occupation God’s people are His servants. This is also seen in the New Testament church. Because of Christ everyone is a brother regardless of position because both servants and masters belong to God. Ephesians 6:5-9 Bondservants, obey your earthly masters with fear and trembling, with a sincere heart, as you would Christ, not by the way of eye-service, as people-pleasers, but as bondservants of Christ, doing the will of God from the heart, rendering service with a good will as to the Lord and not to man, knowing that whatever good anyone does, this he will receive back from the Lord, whether he is a bondservant or is free. Masters, do the same to them, and stop your threatening, knowing that he who is both their Master and yours is in heaven, and that there is no partiality with him. I’ll close with these great passages that show God’s heart on treating each other like brothers regardless of one’s position or occupation. 1 Corinthians 7:20-24 Each one should remain in the condition in which he was called. Were you a bondservant when called? Do not be concerned about it. (But if you can gain your freedom, avail yourself of the opportunity.) For he who was called in the Lord as a bondservant is a freedman of the Lord. Likewise he who was free when called is a bondservant of Christ. You were bought with a price; do not become bondservants of men. So, brothers, in whatever condition each was called, there let him remain with God. 

We are in chapter twenty-five of Leviticus with our word for today which is a phrase used for the first time in the Bible in our chapter. נֶ֣שֶׁךְ וְתַרְבִּ֔ית interest or profit, interest and profit. It is used 3 times in the Old Testament. We find our phrase used in a list of behaviors that identify someone who is living a life according to God’s will and direction. Ezekiel 18:15-17 he does not eat upon the mountains or lift up his eyes to the idols of the house of Israel, does not defile his neighbor's wife, does not oppress anyone, exacts no pledge, commits no robbery, but gives his bread to the hungry and covers the naked with a garment, withholds his hand from iniquity, takes נֶ֤שֶׁךְ וְתַרְבִּית֙ no interest or profit, obeys my rules, and walks in my statutes; he shall not die for his father's iniquity; he shall surely live. Then later in the book of Ezekiel we find our phrase used again. But this time it is part of a list identifying people who have forgotten the YHWH God. Ezekiel 22:11-12 One commits abomination with his neighbor's wife; another lewdly defiles his daughter-in-law; another in you violates his sister, his father's daughter. In you they take bribes to shed blood; you take נֶ֧שֶׁךְ וְתַרְבִּ֣ית interest and profit and make gain of your neighbors by extortion; but me you have forgotten, declares the Lord God. Our phrase is also used in the context of the year of Jubilee. Leviticus 25:35-38 If your brother becomes poor and cannot maintain himself with you, you shall support him as though he were a stranger and a sojourner, and he shall live with you. Take no נֶ֣שֶׁךְ וְתַרְבִּ֔ית interest from him or profit, but fear your God, that your brother may live beside you. You shall not lend him your money at בְּנֶ֑שֶׁךְ וּבְמַרְבִּ֖ית [this phrase has both of the same root words as our phrase just in different forms] interest, nor give him your food for profit. I am the Lord your God, who brought you out of the land of Egypt to give you the land of Canaan, and to be your God.A bankrupt brother in debt could expect his “brother” Israelites to assist him with an interest-free loan; for the Israelites were to treat one another compassionately, like members of the same family. Since any debt incurred would be remitted during the Year of Jubilee, assisting others was truly an act of faith. However, the Lord had been so good to Israel in redeeming the nation from Egypt, allowing them to spoil the Egyptians and giving Israel the land of Canaan, that no Israelite should want to exploit his fellow Israelite. Jesus said to these words when he sent out the twelve. Matthew 10:8 Freely you have received, freely give. The early church was quick to pick up this principle and put it into practice in helping widows and other needy believers. I’ll close with these great passages. Acts 2:44–47; 4:34–37. And all who believed were together and had all things in common. And they were selling their possessions and belongings and distributing the proceeds to all, as any had need. And day by day, attending the temple together and breaking bread in their homes, they received their food with glad and generous hearts, praising God and having favor with all the people. And the Lord added to their number day by day those who were being saved … There was not a needy person among them, for as many as were owners of lands or houses sold them and brought the proceeds of what was sold and laid it at the apostles' feet, and it was distributed to each as any had need. Thus Joseph, who was also called by the apostles Barnabas (which means son of encouragement), a Levite, a native of Cyprus, sold a field that belonged to him and brought the money and laid it at the apostles' feet.

We are in chapter twenty-five of Leviticus with our word for today. גְּאֻלָּה right and obligation of repurchase, repurchase, deliverance, redemption. It is used 14 times in the Old Testament, 9 times in our chapter. Our word is used in the sense of redemption, the act of purchasing back something previously sold, buyback. Let’s look at a few in our chapter since it has the most uses in the Bible. Leviticus 25:23-28, 31 The land shall not be sold in perpetuity, for the land is mine. For you are strangers and sojourners with me. And in all the country you possess, you shall allow a גְּאֻלָּ֖הredemption of the land. “If your brother becomes poor and sells part of his property, then his nearest redeemer shall come and redeem what his brother has sold. If a man has no one to redeem it and then himself becomes prosperous and finds sufficient means to גְאֻלָּתֽוֹ redeem it, let him calculate the years since he sold it and pay back the balance to the man to whom he sold it, and then return to his property. But if he does not have sufficient means to recover it, then what he sold shall remain in the hand of the buyer until the year of jubilee. In the jubilee it shall be released, and he shall return to his property. If a man sells a dwelling house in a walled city, he may גְּאֻלָּת֔וֹ redeem it within a year of its sale. For a full year he shall have the right of גְאֻלָּתֽוֹ redemption … But the houses of the villages that have no wall around them shall be classified with the fields of the land. They may be גְּאֻלָּה֙ redeemed, and they shall be released in the jubilee. Any property that was sold since the last Year of Jubilee would revert to its original owner, for the Lord wanted His land to remain with the tribes, clans, and families to which it had been allotted. For parents to care for their families, they had to have land to cultivate, and the private ownership of property gave stability to the economy. The Lord owned the land and only loaned it to His people. He wanted them to have a sense of proprietorship and responsibility in caring for His property. People usually take care of what they themselves own. Whenever a piece of land was sold, the proximity of the next Year of Jubilee determined the price, for this determined how much produce the new owner could get from the soil. Since the buyer knew full well that the land would eventually revert back to the original owner, he certainly wasn’t going to pay more for the land than what he would be able to get out of it. These laws made it impossible for ruthless wealthy real estate speculators to accumulate vast land holdings and thus upset the economy. Even the poorest Israelite family received its land back, and by working the land, they could gain enough wealth to meet their needs and perhaps the needs of others. The Year of Jubilee provided a new beginning for the released slaves and the landowners, and this kept poverty and inequality to a minimum. The people were not to oppress one another, but remember that the land was God’s and they were only His tenants. Like the announcement of the Year of Jubilee, the Gospel is good news to us, because our debts have been paid and are completely forgiven. Just as the debtors and slaves were set free to enjoy Jubilee, we are set free when we trust in Christ to save us. Salvation through faith in Jesus Christ is a “Jubilee” experience, for it restores broken families and lost blessings and brings “times of refreshing. I’ll close with this great passage. Acts 3:19–21 Repent therefore, and turn back, that your sins may be blotted out, that times of refreshing may come from the presence of the Lord, and that he may send the Christ appointed for you, Jesus, whom heaven must receive until the time for restoring all the things about which God spoke by the mouth of his holy prophets long ago.

We are in chapter twenty-five of Leviticus with our word for today. בֶּ֫טַח confidence, security, safety. It is used 42 times in the Old Testament. Our word is used in the sense of security, freedom from anxiety or fear. God is the one that provides this. Psalm 4:8 In peace I will both lie down and sleep; for you alone, O Lord, make me dwell לָ֝בֶ֗טַחin safety. Psalm 16:9-10 Therefore my heart is glad, and my whole being rejoices; my flesh also dwells לָבֶֽטַחsecure. For you will not abandon my soul to Sheol, or let your holy one see corruption. This is how our word is used twice in our chapter today. Leviticus 25:18-22 Therefore you shall do my statutes and keep my rules and perform them, and then you will dwell in the land לָבֶֽטַח securely. The land will yield its fruit, and you will eat your fill and dwell לָבֶ֖טַח in it securely. And if you say, ‘What shall we eat in the seventh year, if we may not sow or gather in our crop?’ I will command my blessing on you in the sixth year, so that it will produce a crop sufficient for three years. When you sow in the eighth year, you will be eating some of the old crop; you shall eat the old until the ninth year, when its crop arrives. Did you catch the condition to God’s promise of security in the land? It is none other than trusting God which is expressed in following his direction. This theme of faith in God seen in our actions is consistent throughout the Bible. The Holy Spirit speaking through James says it well. James 2:17-18, 22-24 So also faith by itself, if it does not have works, is dead. But someone will say, “You have faith and I have works.” Show me your faith apart from your works, and I will show you my faith by my works … You see that faith was active along with his works, and faith was completed by his works; and the Scripture was fulfilled that says, “Abraham believed God, and it was counted to him as righteousness”—and he was called a friend of God. You see that a person is justified by works and not by faith alone. This is exactly what our chapter is showing connecting God’s promise of security to the people’s trust in God seen in their actions. They literally will have to trust God and not farm the land instead believe that God will provide in those three years. That’s faith in action. That is trust. Unfortunately, there is no evidence that the people ever did this. On the contrary God had to kick them out of the land so that all the years that they failed to give the land rest would finally get that rest because they were not there any longer. 2 Chronicles 36:20-21 He took into exile in Babylon those who had escaped from the sword, and they became servants to him and to his sons until the establishment of the kingdom of Persia, to fulfill the word of the Lord by the mouth of Jeremiah, until the land had enjoyed its Sabbaths. All the days that it lay desolate it kept Sabbath, to fulfill seventy years. The good news is that because of Jesus our faith can be considered righteousness just like the examples James gives us in chapter two of Abraham and Rahab. And if our belief is true it will express itself in action just like those same examples. I’ll close with this great reminder. James 2:26 For as the body apart from the spirit is dead, so also faith apart from works is dead.

We are moving into chapter twenty-five of Leviticus with our word for today. יוֹבֵל ram, year of remission, jubilee year. It is used 27 times in the Old Testament. Our word is used in the sense of ram horn, the horn of a ram, often used as a trumpet. A couple of good examples are Moses calling the people to meet God on the mountain and Joshua with the battle of Jericho. Exodus 19:13 When הַיֹּבֵ֔ל the trumpet sounds a long blast, they shall come up to the mountain. Joshua 6:4-6, 8, 13 Seven priests shall bear seven הַיּֽוֹבְלִים֙ trumpets of rams' horns before the ark. On the seventh day you shall march around the city seven times, and the priests shall blow the trumpets. And when they make a long blast with הַיּוֹבֵ֗ל the ram's horn, when you hear the sound of the trumpet, then all the people shall shout with a great shout, and the wall of the city will fall down flat, and the people shall go up, everyone straight before him.” So Joshua the son of Nun called the priests and said to them, “Take up the ark of the covenant and let seven priests bear seven יוֹבְלִ֔ים trumpets of rams' horns before the ark of the Lord.” … And just as Joshua had commanded the people, the seven priests bearing the seven הַיּֽוֹבְלִים֙ trumpets of rams' horns before the Lord went forward, blowing the trumpets, with the ark of the covenant of the Lord following them … And the seven priests bearing the seven הַיֹּבְלִ֗ים trumpets of rams' horns before the ark of the Lord walked on, and they blew the trumpets continually. And the armed men were walking before them, and the rear guard was walking after the ark of the Lord, while the trumpets blew continually. Most of the uses of our word are used in the sense of jubilee year, a designation of the 50th year when property and other obligations were remitted to their original owners. This is how our word is used 14 times in our chapter. Let’s look at some of them. Leviticus 25:10-17 And you shall consecrate the fiftieth year, and proclaim liberty throughout the land to all its inhabitants. It shall be a יוֹבֵ֥ל jubilee for you, when each of you shall return to his property and each of you shall return to his clan. That fiftieth year shall be a יוֹבֵ֣ל jubilee for you; in it you shall neither sow nor reap what grows of itself nor gather the grapes from the undressed vines. For it is a יוֹבֵ֣ל jubilee. It shall be holy to you. You may eat the produce of the field. “In this year of הַיּוֹבֵ֖ל jubilee each of you shall return to his property. And if you make a sale to your neighbor or buy from your neighbor, you shall not wrong one another. You shall pay your neighbor according to the number of years after הַיּוֹבֵ֔ל the jubilee, and he shall sell to you according to the number of years for crops. If the years are many, you shall increase the price, and if the years are few, you shall reduce the price, for it is the number of the crops that he is selling to you. You shall not wrong one another, but you shall fear your God, for I am the Lord your God. I find it interesting that even in a celebration of God and all that he had done for his people, God still has to spell out in detail instructions so that people would not be taken advantage of. This is quite a contrast that God’s heart is for rest and restoration for his people and his people tend to take advantage and exploit each other. God’s grace and patience on us is truly amazing. He works in practical ways to help us take time away from work to reflect on his goodness and to restore back to us what our sin and others sin caused to be taken away from us. I’ll close with this great contrast between how the evil one wants to influence us and God’s son. This practical God is able to really be there for us and help us because of what Jesus did on the cross for us. John 10:10-11 The thief comes only to steal and kill and destroy. I came that they may have life and have it abundantly. I am the good shepherd. The good shepherd lays down his life for the sheep. 

We are in chapter twenty-four of Leviticus with our word for today which is a phrase. נֶ֖פֶשׁ תַּ֥חַת נָֽפֶשׁ life for life. It is used 5 times in the Old Testament. We see our phrase used in the context of the court judicial system in Israel. We see it in the context of injuring a child in the womb. Exodus 21:22-25 When men strive together and hit a pregnant woman, so that her children come out, but there is no harm, the one who hit her shall surely be fined, as the woman's husband shall impose on him, and he shall pay as the judges determine. But if there is harm, then you shall pay נֶ֖פֶשׁ תַּ֥חַת נָֽפֶשׁ life for life, eye for eye, tooth for tooth, hand for hand, foot for foot, burn for burn, wound for wound, stripe for stripe. We see it used in the context of the capital crime of blaspheming God. This is how our phrase is used in our chapter. Leviticus 24:17-20 Whoever takes a human life shall surely be put to death. Whoever takes an animal's life shall make it good, נֶ֖פֶשׁ תַּ֥חַת נָֽפֶשׁ life for life. If anyone injures his neighbor, as he has done it shall be done to him, fracture for fracture, eye for eye, tooth for tooth; whatever injury he has given a person shall be given to him. We find our word used of God carrying out justice on a king who was operating outside of God’s direction. 1 Kings 20:39-42 And as the king passed, he cried to the king and said, “Your servant went out into the midst of the battle, and behold, a soldier turned and brought a man to me and said, ‘Guard this man; if by any means he is missing, נַפְשְׁךָ֙ תַּ֣חַת נַפְשׁ֔וֹ your life shall be for his life, or else you shall pay a talent of silver.’ And as your servant was busy here and there, he was gone.” The king of Israel said to him, “So shall your judgment be; you yourself have decided it.” Then he hurried to take the bandage away from his eyes, and the king of Israel recognized him as one of the prophets. And he said to him, “Thus says the Lord, ‘Because you have let go out of your hand the man whom I had devoted to destruction, therefore נַפְשְׁךָ֙ תַּ֣חַת נַפְשׁ֔וֹ your life shall be for his life, and your people for his people.’” We also see our phrase used in a different form translated the same way. It is used in the context of how to deal with a false witness. Deuteronomy 19:18-21 The judges shall inquire diligently, and if the witness is a false witness and has accused his brother falsely, then you shall do to him as he had meant to do to his brother. So you shall purge the evil from your midst. And the rest shall hear and fear, and shall never again commit any such evil among you. Your eye shall not pity. It shall be נֶ֣פֶשׁ בְּנֶ֗פֶשׁ life for life, eye for eye, tooth for tooth, hand for hand, foot for foot. This use and the use in our chapter reminds us of God’s character of wanting to keep people from over reacting when responding to criminal actions. We have looked at this several times already in our journey through the Bible so far. The good news is that regardless of if we have committed criminal actions (all of us have committed sinful actions) God offers us forgiveness and life through his Son’s death on the cross for us. Jesus gave up his life to save our life and give us real life. I’ll close with these great reminders. Mark 10:45 For even the Son of Man came not to be served but to serve, and to give his life as a ransom for many. John 5:26 For as the Father has life in himself, so he has granted the Son also to have life in himself. 2 Corinthians 2:14-16 But thanks be to God, who in Christ always leads us in triumphal procession, and through us spreads the fragrance of the knowledge of him everywhere. For we are the aroma of Christ to God among those who are being saved and among those who are perishing, to one a fragrance from death to death, to the other a fragrance from life to life.

We are moving into chapter twenty-four of Leviticus with our word for today. נָקַב bore through, fix, establish, denote, mark, slander. It is used 19 times in the Old Testament. Our word is used in the sense to be designated, to be given an assignment to a post or be assigned a task to. Numbers 1:17 Moses and Aaron took these men who נִקְּב֖וּ had been named. 2 Chronicles 31:19 And for the sons of Aaron, the priests, who were in the fields of common land belonging to their cities, there were men in the several cities who נִקְּב֖וּ were designated by name to distribute portions to every male among the priests and to everyone among the Levites who was enrolled. Our word is also used in the sense to pierce, to cut or make a way through. Isaiah 36:6 Behold, you are trusting in Egypt, that broken reed of a staff, וּנְקָבָ֑הּ which will pierce the hand of any man who leans on it. Such is Pharaoh king of Egypt to all who trust in him. 2 Kings 12:9 Then Jehoiada the priest took a chest וַיִּקֹּ֥ב and bored a hole in the lid of it and set it beside the altar on the right side as one entered the house of the Lord. And the priests who guarded the threshold put in it all the money that was brought into the house of the Lord. We find our word used in the sense to designate, to assign a name or title to. Genesis 30:28 נָקְבָ֧ה Name your wages, and I will give it. Isaiah 62:2 The nations shall see your righteousness, and all the kings your glory, and you shall be called by a new name that the mouth of the Lord יִקֳּבֶֽנּוּ will give. Our word is also used in the sense to blaspheme, to speak of in an irreverent or impious manner. This is how our word is used 3 times in our chapter. Leviticus 24:10-11, 15-16 And the Israelite woman's son and a man of Israel fought in the camp, and the Israelite woman's son וַ֠יִּקֹּב blasphemed the Name, and cursed. Then they brought him to Moses. His mother's name was Shelomith, the daughter of Dibri, of the tribe of Dan … And speak to the people of Israel, saying, Whoever curses his God shall bear his sin. Whoever וְנֹקֵ֤ב blasphemes the name of the Lord shall surely be put to death. All the congregation shall stone him. The sojourner as well as the native, בְּנָקְבוֹ when he blasphemes the Name, shall be put to death. This reminds us of Jesus words about blaspheming the Holy Spirit. Matthew 12:31-32 Therefore I tell you, every sin and blasphemy will be forgiven people, but the blasphemy against the Spirit will not be forgiven. And whoever speaks a word against the Son of Man will be forgiven, but whoever speaks against the Holy Spirit will not be forgiven, either in this age or in the age to come. What is going on here is that Jesus is accused of casting out demons by the power of demons. His answer is that he is the strong man who overpowers the evil one and is therefore able to cast out his demons. He is warning of having such an evil heart as to accuse Jesus of doing this amazing miracle to free this man from what was keeping him from seeing and hearing. Only a hard heart would attribute this great work to that of the devil. Jesus then talks about the heart being like fruit. Matthew 12:33-37 Either make the tree good and its fruit good, or make the tree bad and its fruit bad, for the tree is known by its fruit. You brood of vipers! How can you speak good, when you are evil? For out of the abundance of the heart the mouth speaks. The good person out of his good treasure brings forth good, and the evil person out of his evil treasure brings forth evil. I tell you, on the day of judgment people will give account for every careless word they speak, for by your words you will be justified, and by your words you will be condemned.” This is why it is critical that we guard our heart because it is where our words come from and where we connect to God. I’ll close with this great reminder. Proverbs 4:23 Keep your heart with all vigilance, for from it flow the springs of life.

We are in chapter twenty-three of Leviticus with our word for today used for the first time in the Bible in our chapter today. תְּרוּעָה war cry, alarm for war, signal, shout for joy, tumult, loud noise, trumpet blast. It is used 36 times in the Old Testament. Our word is used the most in the sense to shout, a loud utterance, often in protest or opposition. Joshua 6:20 So the people shouted, and the trumpets were blown. As soon as the people heard the sound of the trumpet, the people shouted a great תְּרוּעָ֣ה shout, and the wall fell down flat, so that the people went up into the city, every man straight before him, and they captured the city. Ezra 3:11 And they sang responsively, praising and giving thanks to the Lord, “For he is good, for his steadfast love endures forever toward Israel.” And all the people shouted with a great תְרוּעָה֙ shout when they praised the Lord, because the foundation of the house of the Lord was laid. 1 Samuel 4:5-6 As soon as the ark of the covenant of the Lord came into the camp, all Israel gave a mighty תְּרוּעָ֣ה shout, so that the earth resounded. And when the Philistines heard the noise of the הַתְּרוּעָ֔ה shouting, they said, “What does this great הַתְּרוּעָ֧ה shouting in the camp of the Hebrews mean?” Our word is also used in the sense of a trumpet blast, the sharp sound of a shofar or rudimentary trumpet. Leviticus 25:9 Then you shall sound the תְּרוּעָה֙ loud שׁוֹפַ֤ר [this is a different word for shofar or trumpet] trumpet on the tenth day of the seventh month. On the Day of Atonement you shall sound the trumpet throughout all your land. This is how our word is used in our chapter today. Leviticus 23:23-24 And the Lord spoke to Moses, saying, “Speak to the people of Israel, saying, In the seventh month, on the first day of the month, you shall observe a day of solemn rest, a memorial proclaimed תְּרוּעָ֖ה [the word for trumpet is not in the original but supplied because of the context] with blast of trumpets, a holy convocation. This sets the tone for this feast which leads us into another way our word is used. We also find our word used in the context of joyful worship to God. I’ll close with these great passages from Psalms. Psalm 27:6 And now my head shall be lifted up above my enemies all around me, and I will offer in his tent sacrifices תְרוּעָ֑ה with shouts of joy; I will sing and make melody to the Lord. Psalm 33:3 Sing to him a new song; play skillfully on the strings, בִּתְרוּעָֽה with loud shouts. Psalm 150:5 Praise him with sounding cymbals; praise him תְרוּעָֽה with loud clashing cymbals!

In our chapter God is laying out the feasts his people are to observe. We have already looked at all of these previously as they have come up in earlier chapters. What we have been looking at in this chapter 23 of Leviticus is some of these feasts are specifically referred to as being “to YWHW”. The last couple days we have looked at the phrases Sabbath to YWHW and Passover to YWHW. Let’s look at the last phrase to YWHW in our chapter. We are in chapter twenty-three of Leviticus with our word for today which is a phrase. בִּכּוּרִ֖ים לַֽיהוָֽה first fruits to the LORD or to YHWH. It is used 2 times in the Old Testament. We find our phrase used in the context of the grain offering. Leviticus 2:14-15 If you offer a grain offering בִּכּוּרִ֖ים לַיהוָ֑ה of firstfruits to the Lord, you shall offer for the grain offering of your firstfruits fresh ears, roasted with fire, crushed new grain. And you shall put oil on it and lay frankincense on it; it is a grain offering. The other use that is in our chapter for today is in the context of the feast of weeks. Leviticus 23:15-17 You shall count seven full weeks from the day after the Sabbath, from the day that you brought the sheaf of the wave offering. You shall count fifty days to the day after the seventh Sabbath. Then you shall present a grain offering of new grain to the Lord. You shall bring from your dwelling places two loaves of bread to be waved, made of two tenths of an ephah. They shall be of fine flour, and they shall be baked with leaven, בִּכּוּרִ֖ים לַֽיהוָֽה as firstfruits to the Lord. The Holy Spirit connects this feast and offering to Jesus himself in the context of conquering death. I’ll close with this great passage. 1 Corinthians 15:20-26 But in fact Christ has been raised from the dead, the firstfruits of those who have fallen asleep. For as by a man came death, by a man has come also the resurrection of the dead. For as in Adam all die, so also in Christ shall all be made alive. But each in his own order: Christ the firstfruits, then at his coming those who belong to Christ. Then comes the end, when he delivers the kingdom to God the Father after destroying every rule and every authority and power. For he must reign until he has put all his enemies under his feet. The last enemy to be destroyed is death. 

We are in chapter twenty-three of Leviticus with our word for today which is a phrase. פֶּ֖סַח לַיהוָֽה Passover to the LORD or to YHWH. It is used 11 times in the Old Testament. Let’s start in our chapter. Leviticus 23:5-7 In the first month, on the fourteenth day of the month at twilight, is the פֶּ֖סַח לַיהוָֽה [literally Passover to YHWH] Lord's Passover. And on the fifteenth day of the same month is the Feast of Unleavened Bread to the Lord; for seven days you shall eat unleavened bread. Our phrase shows us that circumcision was required to participate. Exodus 12:48 If a stranger shall sojourn with you and would keep the פֶסַח֮ לַיהוָה֒ Passover to the Lord, let all his males be circumcised. Then he may come near and keep it; he shall be as a native of the land. But no uncircumcised person shall eat of it. We also see an exception to the unclean rule so that Passover could be observed. Numbers 9:10 If any one of you or of your descendants is unclean through touching a dead body, or is on a long journey, he shall still keep the פֶ֙סַח֙ לַֽיהוָ֔ה Passover to the Lord. We also see the rules for offerings to be brought for the Passover were to be equally applied to native and foreign born Israelites. Numbers 9:14 And if a stranger sojourns among you and would keep the פֶ֙סַח֙ לַֽיהוָ֔ה Passover to the Lord, according to the statute of the Passover and according to its rule, so shall he do. You shall have one statute, both for the sojourner and for the native. God gives the people the date of when this feast was to be observed. Numbers 28:16 On the fourteenth day of the first month is the פֶּ֖סַח לַיהוָֽה Lord's Passover. Deuteronomy 16:1 Observe the month of Abib and keep the פֶּ֔סַח לַיהוָ֖הPassover to the Lord your God, for in the month of Abib the Lord your God brought you out of Egypt by night. We later see this feast reinstated after years of neglect by God’s people. 2 Kings 23:21 And the king commanded all the people, “Keep the פֶ֔סַח לַֽיהוָ֖ה Passover to the Lord your God, as it is written in this Book of the Covenant. 2 Chronicles 30:1, 5 Hezekiah sent to all Israel and Judah, and wrote letters also to Ephraim and Manasseh, that they should come to the house of the Lord at Jerusalem to keep the פֶּ֔סַח לַיהוָ֖ה Passover to the Lord, the God of Israel … So they decreed to make a proclamation throughout all Israel, from Beersheba to Dan, that the people should come and keep the פֶּ֛סַח לַיהוָ֥ה Passover to the Lord, the God of Israel, at Jerusalem, for they had not kept it as often as prescribed. 2 Chronicles 35:1 Josiah kept a פֶּ֖סַח לַיהוָ֑ה Passover to the Lord in Jerusalem. And they slaughtered the Passover lamb on the fourteenth day of the first month. Just like the Sabbath that we saw yesterday was for the benefit of the people even though our phrase identifies it as belonging to YWHW. Here the Passover as well points to it belonging to YWHW and at the same time it is for our benefit. We see this idea throughout the Bible that God knows what is best for us his people. The lamb that was slain as part of this feast points to Christ who died in our place for our sins. Jesus himself institutes the Lord’s supper or communion during the context of the Passover meal to make this very point. I’ll close with these great reminders. 1 Corinthians 11:23-25 For I received from the Lord what I also delivered to you, that the Lord Jesus on the night when he was betrayed took bread, and when he had given thanks, he broke it, and said, “This is my body, which is for you. Do this in remembrance of me.” In the same way also he took the cup, after supper, saying, “This cup is the new covenant in my blood. Do this, as often as you drink it, in remembrance of me.” 1 Corinthians 5:7-8 For Christ, our Passover lamb, has been sacrificed. Let us therefore celebrate the festival, not with the old leaven, the leaven of malice and evil, but with the unleavened bread of sincerity and truth.

We are in chapter twenty-three of Leviticus with our word for today which is a phrase. שַׁבָּ֥ת הִוא֙ לַֽיהוָ֔ה It is a Sabbath to the LORD or to YHWH. It is used 8 times in the Old Testament in 4 different forms, twice in our chapter. Let’s start in our chapter since it is used twice. Leviticus 23:3, 37-38 Six days shall work be done, but on the seventh day is a Sabbath of solemn rest, a holy convocation. You shall do no work. שַׁבָּ֥ת הִוא֙ לַֽיהוָ֔ה It is a Sabbath to the Lord in all your dwelling places … These are the appointed feasts of the Lord, which you shall proclaim as times of holy convocation, for presenting to the Lord food offerings, burnt offerings and grain offerings, sacrifices and drink offerings, each on its proper day, besides the שַׁבְּתֹ֣ת יְהוָ֑ה [literally Sabbath of YHWH] Lord's Sabbaths and besides your gifts and besides all your vow offerings and besides all your freewill offerings, which you give to the Lord. Exodus 16:23, 25 Tomorrow is a day of solemn rest, a שַׁבַּת־קֹ֛דֶשׁ לַֽיהוָ֖ה [literally Sabbath holy to the Lord] holy Sabbath to the Lord; bake what you will bake and boil what you will boil, and all that is left over lay aside to be kept till the morning … Moses said, “Eat it today, for today is a שַׁבָּ֥ת הַיּ֖וֹם לַיהוָ֑ה [literally Sabbath day to the Lord] Sabbath to the Lord; today you will not find it in the field. Exodus 20:8-10 Remember the Sabbath day, to keep it holy. Six days you shall labor, and do all your work, but the seventh day is a שַׁבָּ֣ת לַיהוָ֣ה [this is our phrase without the pronoun it] Sabbath to the Lord your God. On it you shall not do any work, you, or your son, or your daughter, your male servant, or your female servant, or your livestock, or the sojourner who is within your gates. This is also repeated in Deuteronomy 5:14. Leviticus 25:1-4 The Lord spoke to Moses on Mount Sinai, saying, “Speak to the people of Israel and say to them, When you come into the land that I give you, the land shall keep a שַׁבָּ֖ת לַיהוָֽה Sabbath to the Lord. For six years you shall sow your field, and for six years you shall prune your vineyard and gather in its fruits, but in the seventh year there shall be a Sabbath of solemn rest for the land, a שַׁבָּ֖ת לַיהוָ֑ה Sabbath to the Lord. You shall not sow your field or prune your vineyard. We have already looked at our words for Sabbath, Seventh day, and solemn rest. The common theme in all of these is not doing regular work but resting so that you can connect with God. This is why our phrase stresses that this time belongs to YHWH the true, living, reality God. And Jesus helps us understand this in the New Testament as being the best thing for us because God created it not to become another day of work disguised as religious work. The sabbath was made for man not man for the sabbath. When we stop to rest, reflect on how much God loves us and all he has done for us this changes everything. If we ever wondered how God’s people are to spend the time God assigned them for himself. This Psalm literally tells us. If we remember from previous references of the Psalms the titles of the Psalms are literally scripture itself. So, Psalm 92 specifically says that this Psalm is a song for the Sabbath לְי֣וֹם הַשַּׁבָּֽת This title is the first verse in the original Hebrew of this Psalm. I’ll close with this great example of how we can praise God on this special day. Today as God’s people in the church we gather on Sunday since this was the day our Lord Jesus rose from the dead. Psalm 92:1-5, 12-15 It is good to give thanks to the Lord, to sing praises to your name, O Most High; to declare your steadfast love in the morning, and your faithfulness by night, to the music of the lute and the harp, to the melody of the lyre. For you, O Lord, have made me glad by your work; at the works of your hands I sing for joy. How great are your works, O Lord! Your thoughts are very deep! … The righteous flourish like the palm tree and grow like a cedar in Lebanon. They are planted in the house of the Lord; they flourish in the courts of our God. They still bear fruit in old age; they are ever full of sap and green, to declare that the Lord is upright; he is my rock, and there is no unrighteousness in him.

We are in chapter twenty-three of Leviticus with our word for today. מוֹעֵד place for meeting, assembly point, appointed time, place, appointed festival. It is used 223 times in the Old Testament, 6 times in our chapter. Our word is used most of the time in the sense of the tent of meeting, the mobile sanctuary of the Lord that existed before the Israelites conquered the Promised Land. Exodus 30:36 You shall beat some of it very small, and put part of it before the testimony in מוֹעֵ֔ד the tent of meeting where I shall meet with you. It shall be most holy for you. Leviticus 1:1 The Lord called Moses and spoke to him from the מוֹעֵ֖ד tent of meeting, saying. Our word is also used in the sense of a festival that occurs at an appointed time. This is how our word is used 6 times in our chapter. Leviticus 23:1-2, 4, 37, 44 The Lord spoke to Moses, saying, “Speak to the people of Israel and say to them, These are מוֹעֲדֵ֣י the appointed feasts of the Lord that you shall proclaim as holy convocations; they are מוֹעֲדָֽי my appointed feasts … These are מוֹעֲדֵ֣י the appointed feasts of the Lord, the holy convocations, which you shall proclaim בְּמוֹעֲדָֽם at the time appointed for them … These are מוֹעֲדֵ֣י the appointed feasts of the Lord, which you shall proclaim as times of holy convocation, for presenting to the Lord food offerings, burnt offerings and grain offerings, sacrifices and drink offerings, each on its proper day … Thus Moses declared to the people of Israel מֹעֲדֵ֖י the appointed feasts of the Lord. Why would God set up these feasts? We tend to work too much instead of rely on God and celebrate what he has and will be doing. Our relationship with God is designed by Him to be positive celebration. Psalm 42:5 Why, my soul, are you downcast? Why so disturbed within me? Put your hope in God, for I will yet praise him, my Savior and my God. 2 Corinthians 1:18-20 But as surely as God is faithful, our message to you is not “Yes” and “No.” For the Son of God, Jesus Christ, who was preached among you by us—by me and Silas and Timothy—was not “Yes” and “No,” but in him it has always been “Yes.” For no matter how many promises God has made, they are “Yes” in Christ. And so through him the “Amen” is spoken by us to the glory of God. Our relationship with God is a positive celebration if we are in Christ. This is because God has taken away our sin, guilt, and shame by Christ death in our place. This is why I think Jesus’ first miracle was in the context of a celebration. Jesus turned water into wine so the celebration could continue. Jesus points ahead looking forward to when we are all together with him when he comes back. During the Passover when he institutes the Lord's supper Jesus says this. Matthew 26:29 I tell you I will not drink again of this fruit of the vine until that day when I drink it new with you in my Father's kingdom. I’ll close with these great reminders of our relationship with God being a positive celebration even in this fallen messed up world. Ecclesiastes 3:22; 9:7, 9 So I saw that there is nothing better than that a man should rejoice in his work, for that is his lot. Who can bring him to see what will be after him? ... Go, eat your bread with joy, and drink your wine with a merry heart, for God has already approved what you do ... Enjoy life with the wife whom you love, all the days of your vain life that he has given you under the sun, because that is your portion in life and in your toil at which you toil under the sun.

We are moving into chapter twenty-three of Leviticus with our word for today. מִקְרָא summons, assembly, convocation, reading, recitation. It is used 23 times in the Old Testament, 11 times in our chapter. Our word is used in the sense of summon, a call to appear in person at a given place and time. Numbers 10:2 Make two silver trumpets. Of hammered work you shall make them, and you shall use them לְמִקְרָ֣א for summoning the congregation and for breaking camp. We also see our word used in the sense of a public reading. Nehemiah 8:8 They read from the book, from the Law of God, clearly, and they gave the sense, so that the people understood the בַּמִּקְרָֽא reading. Most of the uses of our word are used in the sense of assembly. We have two uses of our word without the word holy next to it. Isaiah 1:13 Bring no more vain offerings; incense is an abomination to me. New moon and Sabbath and the calling of מִקְרָ֔אconvocations— I cannot endure iniquity and solemn assembly. Isaiah 4:5 Then the Lord will create over the whole site of Mount Zion and over her מִקְרָאֶ֗הָ assemblies a cloud by day, and smoke and the shining of a flaming fire by night; for over all the glory there will be a canopy. Even both of these uses still refer to this idea of a holy assembly or holy convocation. All the other 19 uses of our word have the word holy next to our word. This is the sense of gathering together to worship God. Exodus 12:16 On the first day you shall hold a מִקְרָא־קֹ֔דֶשׁ holy assembly, and on the seventh day a מִקְרָא־קֹ֖דֶשׁ holy assembly. No work shall be done on those days. But what everyone needs to eat, that alone may be prepared by you. Numbers 28:18 On the first day there shall be a מִקְרָא־קֹ֑דֶשׁ holy convocation. You shall not do any ordinary work. This is how our word is used 11 times in our chapter today. Leviticus 23:1-2, 4, 7-8, 24 The Lord spoke to Moses, saying, “Speak to the people of Israel and say to them, These are the appointed feasts of the Lord that you shall proclaim as מִקְרָאֵ֣י קֹ֑דֶשׁholy convocations; they are my appointed feasts … These are the appointed feasts of the Lord, the מִקְרָא־קֹ֔דֶשׁ holy convocations, which you shall proclaim at the time appointed for them … On the first day you shall have a מִקְרָא־קֹ֖דֶשׁ holy convocation; you shall not do any ordinary work. But you shall present a food offering to the Lord for seven days. On the seventh day is a מִקְרָא־קֹ֔דֶשׁ holy convocation; you shall not do any ordinary work … you shall observe a day of solemn rest, a memorial proclaimed with blast of trumpets, a מִקְרָא־קֹֽדֶשׁ holy convocation. From just a few of these examples we can see that the people were to make sure to set aside time to attend these gatherings. Also that they were not to do their regular work during this time instead it was to be a time of solemn rest to remember all that God had done for them. And they were to bring offerings to the Lord. We will look more into these specific holy gatherings in the days to come. For today I’ll close with these great verses about our gatherings as God’s people today in the church. Hebrews 10:24-25 And let us consider how to stir up one another to love and good works, not neglecting to meet together, as is the habit of some, but encouraging one another, and all the more as you see the Day drawing near. Hebrews 13:15-17 Through him then let us continually offer up a sacrifice of praise to God, that is, the fruit of lips that acknowledge his name. Do not neglect to do good and to share what you have, for such sacrifices are pleasing to God. Obey your leaders and submit to them, for they are keeping watch over your souls, as those who will have to give an account. Let them do this with joy and not with groaning, for that would be of no advantage to you.

We are in chapter twenty-two of Leviticus with our word for today which is a phrase. לֶ֥חֶם אֱלֹהֵיכֶ֖ם bread of your God. It is used 3 times in the Old Testament. Let’s look at them. Leviticus 21:8, 17 You shall sanctify him, for he offers the לֶ֥חֶם אֱלֹהֶ֖יךָ bread of your God. He shall be holy to you, for I, the Lord, who sanctify you, am holy … Speak to Aaron, saying, None of your offspring throughout their generations who has a blemish may approach to offer לֶ֥חֶם אֱלֹהָֽיו the bread of his God. From this context and the context in our chapter today we see that this was a figurative way to say that they were offering sacrifices to God not just bread. This is clear from the context of our chapter today. Leviticus 22:24-25 Any animal that has its testicles bruised or crushed or torn or cut you shall not offer to the Lord; you shall not do it within your land, neither shall you offer as the לֶ֥חֶם אֱלֹהֵיכֶ֖םbread of your God any such animals gotten from a foreigner. Since there is a blemish in them, because of their mutilation, they will not be accepted for you.” This is interesting to me that God would use our phrase instead of just saying offering sacrifice like he has in several other places. I think this is because of what we have looked at before with this whole idea of sacrificing animals to God. We know that God doesn’t want or need animals to eat because of what he has said in this Psalm. Psalm 50:10-15 For every beast of the forest is mine, the cattle on a thousand hills. I know all the birds of the hills, and all that moves in the field is mine. “If I were hungry, I would not tell you, for the world and its fullness are mine. Do I eat the flesh of bulls or drink the blood of goats? Offer to God a sacrifice of thanksgiving, and perform your vows to the Most High, and call upon me in the day of trouble; I will deliver you, and you shall glorify me.  What is going on is that people feel distant from God because of their guilt just like Adam and Eve did when they hid from God. When people feel guilty they try to find ways to pay for their sin or offer a sacrifice to whatever or whoever they think can help them with their guilt or improve their life. Because of our fallen nature and tendencies to do these things God met people where they were at and regulated this by setting up this sacrificial system. This also served to point toward Christ who would become our perfect sacrifice for our sins and clean our conscience. I’ll close with these great passages. 1 Peter 3:18, 21 For Christ also suffered[b] once for sins, the righteous for the unrighteous, that he might bring us to God, being put to death in the flesh but made alive in the spirit … Baptism, which corresponds to this, now saves you, not as a removal of dirt from the body but as an appeal to God for a good conscience, through the resurrection of Jesus Christ. Hebrews 9:9-14 According to this arrangement, gifts and sacrifices are offered that cannot perfect the conscience of the worshiper, but deal only with food and drink and various washings, regulations for the body imposed until the time of reformation. But when Christ appeared as a high priest of the good things that have come, then through the greater and more perfect tent (not made with hands, that is, not of this creation) he entered once for all into the holy places, not by means of the blood of goats and calves but by means of his own blood, thus securing an eternal redemption. For if the blood of goats and bulls, and the sprinkling of defiled persons with the ashes of a heifer, sanctify[f] for the purification of the flesh, how much more will the blood of Christ, who through the eternal Spirit offered himself without blemish to God, purify our conscience from dead works to serve the living God.

We are in chapter twenty-two of Leviticus with our word for today. תָּמִים complete, sound, unscathed, intact, blameless, without defect or blemish, perfect. It is used 91 times in the Old Testament. Most of the time our word is used in the sense of unblemished, free from physical or moral defects. Almost all the uses in this sense refer to the sacrifices as part of the tabernacle and temple worship. Exodus 12:5 Your lamb shall be תָמִ֛ים without blemish, a male a year old. You may take it from the sheep or from the goats. Our word is also used in the sense of blameless, free of guilt, not subject to blame. Good examples of this are Noah and David who as we know were not perfect because they were sinners like us but that their life was more characterized by godliness than wickedness. Genesis 6:9 These are the generations of Noah. Noah was a righteous man, תָּמִ֥ים blameless in his generation. Noah walked with God. 2 Samuel 22:23-24 For all his rules were before me, and from his statutes I did not turn aside. I was תָמִ֖ים blameless before him, and I kept myself from guilt. Our word is also used in the sense of perfect, being complete of its kind and without defect or blemish. Good examples of this are God’s work and his word. Deuteronomy 32:4 The Rock, his work is תָּמִ֣ים perfect, for all his ways are justice. A God of faithfulness and without iniquity, just and upright is he. Psalm 19:7 The law of the Lord is תְּ֭מִימָה perfect, reviving the soul; the testimony of the Lord is sure, making wise the simple. This is how our word is used in our chapter today. Leviticus 22:20-22 You shall not offer anything that has a blemish, for it will not be acceptable for you. And when anyone offers a sacrifice of peace offerings to the Lord to fulfill a vow or as a freewill offering from the herd or from the flock, to be accepted it must be תָּמִ֤ים perfect; there shall be no blemish in it. Animals blind or disabled or mutilated or having a discharge or an itch or scabs you shall not offer to the Lord or give them to the Lord as a food offering on the altar. This of course reminds us of Jesus the only perfect sacrifice that could take the place for our sins that separated us from God. I’ll close with these great passages. Revelation 5:2-5, 8-9 And I saw a mighty angel proclaiming with a loud voice, “Who is worthy to open the scroll and break its seals?” And no one in heaven or on earth or under the earth was able to open the scroll or to look into it, and I began to weep loudly because no one was found worthy to open the scroll or to look into it. And one of the elders said to me, “Weep no more; behold, the Lion of the tribe of Judah, the Root of David, has conquered, so that he can open the scroll and its seven seals.” … And when he had taken the scroll, the four living creatures and the twenty-four elders fell down before the Lamb, each holding a harp, and golden bowls full of incense, which are the prayers of the saints. And they sang a new song, saying, “Worthy are you to take the scroll and to open its seals, for you were slain, and by your blood you ransomed people for God from every tribe and language and people and nation. John 1:29 The next day he saw Jesus coming toward him, and said, “Behold, the Lamb of God, who takes away the sin of the world! 1 Peter 1:17-19 And if you call on him as Father who judges impartially according to each one's deeds, conduct yourselves with fear throughout the time of your exile, knowing that you were ransomed from the futile ways inherited from your forefathers, not with perishable things such as silver or gold, but with the precious blood of Christ, like that of a lamb without blemish or spot. 

We are moving into chapter twenty-two of Leviticus with our word for today. נָזַר consecrate oneself to God, desert, deal respectfully, hold oneself back from, proclaim a decree for abstinence, separate, live as a Nazirite. It is used 10 times in the Old Testament. Our word is used in the sense of to fast, to abstain from certain foods. Zechariah 7:2-5 Now the people of Bethel had sent Sharezer and Regem-melech and their men to entreat the favor of the Lord, saying to the priests of the house of the Lord of hosts and the prophets, “Should I weep and הִנָּזֵ֕ר abstain in the fifth month, as I have done for so many years?” Then the word of the Lord of hosts came to me: “Say to all the people of the land and the priests, ‘When you fasted and mourned in the fifth month and in the seventh, for these seventy years, was it for me that you fasted? We also find our word used in the sense to dissociate, to discontinue an association or relation, go different ways. Ezekiel 14:7 For any one of the house of Israel, or of the strangers who sojourn in Israel, who וְיִנָּזֵ֣ר separates himself from me, taking his idols into his heart and putting the stumbling block of his iniquity before his face, and yet comes to a prophet to consult me through him, I the Lord will answer him myself. Our word is used most of the time to keep separate, to cause to remain separated from something. Leviticus 15:31 Thus you shall keep the people of Israel וְהִזַּרְתֶּ֥ם separate from their uncleanness, lest they die in their uncleanness by defiling my tabernacle that is in their midst. Numbers 6:2-3 Speak to the people of Israel and say to them, When either a man or a woman makes a special vow, the vow of a Nazirite, לְהַזִּ֖יר to separate himself to the Lord, יַזִּ֔יר he shall separate himself from wine and strong drink. He shall drink no vinegar made from wine or strong drink and shall not drink any juice of grapes or eat grapes, fresh or dried. This is how our word is used in our chapter today. Leviticus 22:1-3 And the Lord spoke to Moses, saying, “Speak to Aaron and his sons וְיִנָּֽזְרוּ֙ so that they abstain from the holy things of the people of Israel, which they dedicate to me, so that they do not profane my holy name: I am the Lord. Say to them, ‘If any one of all your offspring throughout your generations approaches the holy things that the people of Israel dedicate to the Lord, while he has an uncleanness, that person shall be cut off from my presence: I am the Lord. God is teaching about holiness with these rules of uncleanness for his leaders. If the leader will respect God and take him at his word, then most of the people will be influenced in a good way. One of the ways devotion in leaders is seen is when the leader does not have all the answers but choses to continue to serve God anyway. And in the process the leader becomes more like God himself who is making him holy. Another use of our word shows how this works in the negative direction of becoming what or who you devote yourself to. Hosea 9:10 Like grapes in the wilderness, I found Israel. Like the first fruit on the fig tree in its first season, I saw your fathers. But they came to Baal-peor וַיִּנָּֽזְרוּ֙ and consecrated themselves to the thing of shame, and became detestable like the thing they loved. The good news is that we can chose to follow Christ and become like him because of the salvation and transformation he works in us. I’ll close with these great passages. Romans 7:21-25 So I find it to be a law that when I want to do right, evil lies close at hand. For I delight in the law of God, in my inner being, but I see in my members another law waging war against the law of my mind and making me captive to the law of sin that dwells in my members. Wretched man that I am! Who will deliver me from this body of death? hanks be to God through Jesus Christ our Lord! Romans 8:28-29 And we know that for those who love God all things work together for good, for those who are called according to his purpose. For those whom he foreknew he also predestined to be conformed to the image of his Son, in order that he might be the firstborn among many brothers.

We are in chapter twenty-one of Leviticus with our word for today. מִשְׁחָה anointing, part, portion. It is used 21 times in the Old Testament, twice in our chapter. Our word is used in the sense of anointing, the act of applying oil usually to the head especially in order to dedicate a person or object to a particular service or function. Our word is identified as connected to the special oil that was used exclusively for the priests. Exodus 25:6 oil for the lamps, spices for הַמִּשְׁחָ֔ה the anointing oil and for the fragrant incense. Exodus 30:25, 31 And you shall make of these a sacred מִשְׁחַת anointing oil blended as by the perfumer; it shall be a holy מִשְׁחַת anointing oil … And you shall say to the people of Israel, ‘This shall be my holy מִשְׁחַת anointing oil throughout your generations. Exodus 37:29 He made the holy הַמִּשְׁחָה֙ anointing oil also, and the pure fragrant incense, blended as by the perfumer. Our word is used for the consecration of holy items used in the tabernacle worship. Exodus 40:9 Then you shall take הַמִּשְׁחָ֔ה the anointing oil and anoint the tabernacle and all that is in it, and consecrate it and all its furniture, so that it may become holy. Leviticus 8:10 Then Moses took הַמִּשְׁחָ֔ה the anointing oil and anointed the tabernacle and all that was in it, and consecrated them. Our word is also seen in the consecration of the priests themselves. Exodus 29:7 You shall take הַמִּשְׁחָ֔ה the anointing oil and pour it on his head and anoint him. Leviticus 8:12 And he poured some of הַמִּשְׁחָ֔ה the anointing oil on Aaron's head and anointed him to consecrate him. This is exactly how our word is used twice in our chapter today. Leviticus 21:10, 12 The priest who is chief among his brothers, on whose head הַמִּשְׁחָה֙ the anointing oil is poured and who has been consecrated to wear the garments, shall not let the hair of his head hang loose nor tear his clothes … He shall not go out of the sanctuary, lest he profane the sanctuary of his God, for the consecration of the מִשְׁחַ֧ת anointing oil of his God is on him: I am the Lord. This oil was so special that they only wore it when they were performing their sacrificial service. Earlier in Leviticus the consequence was not just profaning God’s sanctuary. Leviticus 10:7 And do not go outside the entrance of the tent of meeting, lest you die, for the מִשְׁחַ֥ת anointing oil of the Lord is upon you.” And they did according to the word of Moses. This stresses this whole idea of holiness, being set apart for a specific purpose. One of the things God was doing in teaching about holiness was pointing to his son. One of the names connected to the son of God is the Christ. This is the New Testament Greek word for our Hebrew word used in our chapter. Matthew 16:15-16 He said to them, “But who do you say that I am?” Simon Peter replied, “You are the Christ, the Son of the living God.” And Jesus answered him, “Blessed are you, Simon Bar-Jonah! For flesh and blood has not revealed this to you, but my Father who is in heaven. John 4:25-26 The woman said to him, “I know that Messiah is coming (he who is called Christ). When he comes, he will tell us all things.” Jesus said to her, “I who speak to you am he.” I’ll close with this great reminder of Jesus ministry as the chosen one to accomplish God’s purpose of salvation and freedom from sin, identified as good news for us. Luke 4:16-21 And he came to Nazareth, where he had been brought up. And as was his custom, he went to the synagogue on the Sabbath day, and he stood up to read. And the scroll of the prophet Isaiah was given to him. He unrolled the scroll and found the place where it was written, “The Spirit of the Lord is upon me, because he has anointed me to proclaim good news to the poor. He has sent me to proclaim liberty to the captives and recovering of sight to the blind, to set at liberty those who are oppressed, to proclaim the year of the Lord's favor.” And he rolled up the scroll and gave it back to the attendant and sat down. And the eyes of all in the synagogue were fixed on him. And he began to say to them, “Today this Scripture has been fulfilled in your hearing.”

We are in chapter twenty-one of Leviticus with our word for today. מוּם spot, blemish, injury. It is used 21 times in the Old Testament, 5 times in our chapter. Our word is used in the sense of injury. Proverbs 9:7 Whoever corrects a scoffer gets himself abuse, and he who reproves a wicked man incurs מוּמֽוֹ injury. Leviticus 24:19-20 If anyone מ֖וּם injures his neighbor, as he has done it shall be done to him, fracture for fracture, eye for eye, tooth for tooth; whatever מוּם֙injury he has given a person shall be given to him. We also see our word used to describe perfection in the sense of not having any injury or blemish. Song of Solomon 4:7 You are altogether beautiful, my love; there is no וּמ֖וּם flaw in you. 2 Samuel 14:25 Now in all Israel there was no one so much to be praised for his handsome appearance as Absalom. From the sole of his foot to the crown of his head there was no מֽוּם blemish in him. Daniel 1:3-4  Then the king commanded Ashpenaz, his chief eunuch, to bring some of the people of Israel, both of the royal family and of the nobility, youths without מְאוּם blemish, of good appearance and skillful in all wisdom, endowed with knowledge, understanding learning, and competent to stand in the king's palace, and to teach them the literature and language of the Chaldeans. This is how our word is used 5 times in our chapter today. Leviticus 21:16-23 And the Lord spoke to Moses, saying, “Speak to Aaron, saying, None of your offspring throughout their generations who has a מ֔וּם blemish may approach to offer the bread of his God. For no one who has a מ֖וּם blemish shall draw near, a man blind or lame, or one who has a mutilated face or a limb too long, or a man who has an injured foot or an injured hand, or a hunchback or a dwarf or a man with a defect in his sight or an itching disease or scabs or crushed testicles. No man of the offspring of Aaron the priest who has a מ֣וּם blemish shall come near to offer the Lord's food offerings; since he has a מ֗וּם blemish, he shall not come near to offer the bread of his God. He may eat the bread of his God, both of the most holy and of the holy things, but he shall not go through the veil or approach the altar, because he has a מ֣וּם blemish, that he may not profane my sanctuaries, for I am the Lord who sanctifies them.” It is interesting that the priest himself had to be without injury or blemish because we also find this same thing when it comes to the sacrifice itself. Our word is used in the context of an animal to be offered in sacrifice. Leviticus 22:20-21 You shall not offer anything that has a מ֖וּם blemish, for it will not be acceptable for you. And when anyone offers a sacrifice of peace offerings to the Lord to fulfill a vow or as a freewill offering from the herd or from the flock, to be accepted it must be perfect; there shall be no מ֖וּם blemish in it. Deuteronomy 15:21 But if it has any מ֗וּם blemish, if it is lame or blind or has any serious מ֣וּם blemish whatever, you shall not sacrifice it to the Lord your God. Deuteronomy 17:1 You shall not sacrifice to the Lord your God an ox or a sheep in which is a מ֔וּם blemish, any defect whatever, for that is an abomination to the Lord your God. Not only will God not accept such a sacrifice but did you catch the wording here? God calls this an abomination to Him to do such a thing. Wow! That is one of the strongest words available. This seems extreme to us because we are used to sin whereas God can not look at it. This reminds us and reemphasizes for us how great God’s love and mercy on us is. He allowed his only son who was perfect in that he never sinned while on this earth where he was tempted like we are. He became sin for us. I’ll close with these great reminders. 2 Corinthians 5:18-19, 21 All this is from God, who through Christ reconciled us to himself and gave us the ministry of reconciliation; that is, in Christ God was reconciling the world to himself, not counting their trespasses against them … For our sake he made him to be sin who knew no sin, so that in him we might become the righteousness of God. Ephesians 5:25-27 Husbands, love your wives, as Christ loved the church and gave himself up for her, that he might sanctify her, having cleansed her by the washing of water with the word, so that he might present the church to himself in splendor, without spot or wrinkle or any such thing, that she might be holy and without blemish.

We are in chapter twenty-one of Leviticus with our word for today. לָקַח take, grasp, seize, accept, receive, fetch, to take a wife. It is used 965 times in the Old Testament. Most of the uses of our word are used in the basic sense to take. Here is a good example. Exodus 16:33 And Moses said to Aaron, קַ֚ח “Take a jar, and put an omer of manna in it, and place it before the Lord to be kept throughout your generations.” It is used 75 times in the sense to take a wife, to marry. Genesis 11:29 Haran died in the presence of his father Terah in the land of his kindred, in Ur of the Chaldeans. And Abram and Nahor וַיִּקַּ֨ח took wives. The name of Abram's wife was Sarai, and the name of Nahor's wife, Milcah, the daughter of Haran the father of Milcah and Iscah. Genesis 24:37 My master made me swear, saying, ‘You shall not תִקַּ֤ח take a wife for my son from the daughters of the Canaanites, in whose land I dwell. This is how our word is used in our passage today. Leviticus 21:1, 7-9 And the Lord said to Moses, “Speak to the priests, the sons of Aaron, and say to them … They shall not יִקָּ֔חוּ marry a prostitute or a woman who has been defiled, neither shall they יִקָּ֑חוּ marry a woman divorced from her husband, for the priest is holy to his God. You shall sanctify him, for he offers the bread of your God. He shall be holy to you, for I, the Lord, who sanctify you, am holy. The priests were forbidden to marry prostitutes and divorcees. In the pagan religions, there were temple prostitutes serving with the priests, but prostitution was forbidden in Israel. Deuteronomy 23:17 None of the daughters of Israel shall be a cult prostitute, and none of the sons of Israel shall be a cult prostitute. When you read the qualifications for pastors, elders and deacons in 1 Timothy 3 and Titus 1, you can’t help but see that a church officer’s wife and family are an important part of his ministry. 1 Timothy 3:2, 4-5, 11-12 Therefore an overseer must be above reproach, the husband of one wife … He must manage his own household well, with all dignity keeping his children submissive, for if someone does not know how to manage his own household, how will he care for God's church? … Their wives likewise must be dignified, not slanderers, but sober-minded, faithful in all things. Let deacons each be the husband of one wife, managing their children and their own households well. All believers must be careful in choosing spouses. I’ll close with these great reminders. 1 Corinthians 7:39 A wife is bound to her husband as long as he lives. But if her husband dies, she is free to be married to whom she wishes, only in the Lord. 2 Corinthians 6:14–18 Do not be unequally yoked with unbelievers. For what partnership has righteousness with lawlessness? Or what fellowship has light with darkness? What accord has Christ with Belial?  Or what portion does a believer share with an unbeliever? What agreement has the temple of God with idols? For we are the temple of the living God; as God said, “I will make my dwelling among them and walk among them, and I will be their God, and they shall be my people. Therefore go out from their midst, and be separate from them, says the Lord, and touch no unclean thing; then I will welcome you, and I will be a father to you, and you shall be sons and daughters to me, says the Lord Almighty.”

We are in chapter twenty-one of Leviticus with our word for today with both the verb and noun forms. שָׂרַט inflict a wound on oneself; injure oneself grievously, incise, scratch, be lacerated, make incisions, tattoo. This is the verb. It is used 3 times in the Old Testament. The other passage it is used in the Old Testament besides our chapter has both of the other uses in it. Zechariah 12:2-3 Behold, I am about to make Jerusalem a cup of staggering to all the surrounding peoples. The siege of Jerusalem will also be against Judah. On that day I will make Jerusalem a heavy stone for all the peoples. All who lift it שָׂר֣וֹט יִשָּׂרֵ֑טוּ [our word is used twice as the verb first as an infinitive then as a passive tense so literally to injure will be injured. Using the word twice shows emphasis] will surely hurt themselves. And all the nations of the earth will gather against it. Then the noun form of our word is שָׂרֶ֫טֶת individual cuts, incisions. It is used just this one time in the Old Testament in our chapter. Leviticus 21:1, 4-6 And the Lord said to Moses, “Speak to the priests, the sons of Aaron, and say to them, No one shall make himself unclean for the dead among his people … He shall not make himself unclean as a husband among his people and so profane himself. They shall not make bald patches on their heads, nor shave off the edges of their beards, nor יִשְׂרְט֖וּ שָׂרָֽטֶת [our same root word is used twice first the verb form then the noun so literally cut cuts] make any cuts on their body. They shall be holy to their God and not profane the name of their God. For they offer the Lord's food offerings, the bread of their God; therefore they shall be holy. There was only one high priest, but since his sons served with him, they were also ordained and required to meet the qualifications given by the Lord. Other Israelites in the camp could plan weddings and funerals pretty much as they pleased, but God told the priests how to express their grief. During Bible times, expressing grief was an art form practiced by people who were specialists in mourning (Gen. 50:7–11; 2 Chron. 35:25; Mark 5:38). While God expected the priests to show sorrow at the death of a loved one, He also expected them to act like the servants of God. The Lord even regulated the manner of their grief as we see in our chapter. These forbidden practices were the customs of the pagan peoples around Israel, and God’s people aren’t supposed to “grieve as others do who have no hope” (1 Thessalonians 4:13). Even in our grief, we must seek to glorify God. Any priest who shaved his head and his beard and who cut his body was acting like the heathen and thereby profaning God’s name and defiling God’s altar. A good example of this was when Elijah confronted the prophets of Baal. These pagans did these things to get their gods attention. 1 Kings18:28 And they cried aloud and cut themselves after their custom with swords and lances, until the blood gushed out upon them. A priest who acted like his pagan neighbors would encourage God’s people to disobey God’s law and follow his bad example. It was indeed a privilege for him to know God and serve at God’s altar. To disobey God would mean dishonoring God’s name and defiling God’s altar and sacrifices. Whenever we are called by God to sacrifice for his kingdom work it is important that we focus on the privileges of ministry and not on the burdens and sacrifices. Jesus Christ is not a hard taskmaster. No priest should have complained because of these restrictions. After all, he was serving the Lord and the Lord’s people, a privilege well worth any sacrifices he might have to make. I’ll close with these great passages. The first reminds that following Jesus is not burdensome and the second one reminds us all regardless if we are in leadership or not that being in Christ involves sacrificing. But that sacrifice comes from a grateful response to God’s mercy on us. 1 John 5:3 For this is the love of God, that we keep his commandments. And his commandments are not burdensome. Romans 12:1-3 I appeal to you therefore, brothers,  by the mercies of God, to present your bodies as a living sacrifice, holy and acceptable to God, which is your spiritual worship. Do not be conformed to this world, but be transformed by the renewal of your mind, that by testing you may discern what is the will of God, what is good and acceptable and perfect.

We are moving into chapter twenty-one of Leviticus with our word for today. נֶ֫פֶשׁ throat, neck, breath, living being, life, soul, dead soul. It is used 751 times in the Old Testament. While most of the time our word is used in the sense of a living soul it can also mean someone who is dead. It is used in the sense of a corpse, the dead body of a human being 9 times in the Old Testament. Each time it is used in this sense it is identified as the cause of someone’s becoming unclean. Numbers 19:11 Whoever touches the dead body of any נֶ֣פֶשׁ person shall be unclean seven days. Some of these instructions were definitely for health reasons which the next verse gives context toward this view. Numbers 19:12 He shall cleanse himself with the water on the third day and on the seventh day, and so be clean. But if he does not cleanse himself on the third day and on the seventh day, he will not become clean. But what is interesting is the next verse which gives more meaning to this idea of just being unclean from a health perspective. Numbers 19:13 Whoever touches a dead בְּנֶפֶשׁ֩ person, the body of anyone who has died, and does not cleanse himself, defiles the tabernacle of the Lord, and that person shall be cut off from Israel; because the water for impurity was not thrown on him, he shall be unclean. His uncleanness is still on him. This shows us that there is more going on here than just good hygiene. God is teaching the people about holiness. We don’t always understand nor do we have to the reasons why something is considered by God to not meet the standard. He is the one who loves us and knows what is best for us because he knows everything. If for no other reasons than that it teaches us to trust him even when we don’t have all the information. This was especially true of the priests who served God as part of the tabernacle worship. This is how our word is used in our chapter today. Leviticus 21:1-3 And the Lord said to Moses, “Speak to the priests, the sons of Aaron, and say to them, No one shall make himself unclean לְנֶ֥פֶשׁ for the dead among his people, except for his closest relatives, his mother, his father, his son, his daughter, his brother, or his virgin sister (who is near to him because she has had no husband; for her he may make himself unclean). The spiritual leaders in the nation of Israel were the priests.They were in charge of the sanctuary of God; they taught the people the Word of God; they offered the sacrifices on God’s altar; when called upon, they determined the will of God for the people. Apart from the ministry of the priests, Israel had no way to approach God. The priests had to meet the qualifications God gave for the priesthood, and they had to serve Him according to His directions. In their personal conduct, physical characteristics, and professional concerns, they had to meet God’s approval. Anyone who touched a dead body, or even went into a tent where somebody had died, was defiled for a week, and defilement would prevent the priest from serving the people. Therefore, the priests could defile themselves only for their parents, their children, and their brothers and unmarried sisters, but all other deceased were off-limits for them. Spiritual leaders are required to sacrifice to fulfill their calling to God. We see this throughout the Bible. In the church we see these qualifications for leadership which I will close with. The important thing to keep in mind is that all of God’s standards especially for leaders are put in place so that everyone will benefit. 1 Timothy 3:1-7 The saying is trustworthy: If anyone aspires to the office of overseer, he desires a noble task. Therefore an overseer must be above reproach, the husband of one wife, sober-minded, self-controlled, respectable, hospitable, able to teach, not a drunkard, not violent but gentle, not quarrelsome, not a lover of money. He must manage his own household well, with all dignity keeping his children submissive, for if someone does not know how to manage his own household, how will he care for God's church? He must not be a recent convert, or he may become puffed up with conceit and fall into the condemnation of the devil. Moreover, he must be well thought of by outsiders, so that he may not fall into disgrace, into a snare of the devil.

We are in chapter twenty of Leviticus with our word for today which is a phrase used for the first time in the Bible in our chapter. יִרְגְּמֻ֥הוּ בָאָֽבֶן shall stone him with stones. It is used 6 times in the Old Testament, twice in our chapter. Let’s start with our chapter since it is the first time it is used in the Bible. Leviticus 20:1-2, 27 The Lord spoke to Moses, saying, “Say to the people of Israel, Any one of the people of Israel or of the strangers who sojourn in Israel who gives any of his children to Molech shall surely be put to death. The people of the land יִרְגְּמֻ֥הוּ בָאָֽבֶן shall stone him with stones … A man or a woman who is a medium or a necromancer shall surely be put to death. They בָּאֶ֛בֶן יִרְגְּמ֥וּ [this is our phrase just with the two words reversed so it is literally with stones shall be stoned] shall be stoned with stones; their blood shall be upon them.” The method of how these capital offenses were to be punished are clearly spelled out with our phrase. Here are other capital crimes that utilize our phrase. Leviticus 24:23 So Moses spoke to the people of Israel, and they brought out of the camp the one who had cursed וַיִּרְגְּמ֥וּ אֹת֖וֹ אָ֑בֶן [this is our phrase with the pronoun inserted in the middle probably for emphasis him being the one who cursed God] and stoned him with stones. Thus the people of Israel did as the Lord commanded Moses. Here is an example of breaking the sabbath. Numbers 15:35-36 And the Lord said to Moses, “The man shall be put to death; all the congregation רָג֨וֹם אֹת֤וֹ בָֽאֲבָנִים֙ shall stone him with stones outside the camp.” And all the congregation brought him outside the camp וַיִּרְגְּמ֥וּ אֹת֛וֹ בָּאֲבָנִ֖ים and stoned him to death with stones, as the Lord commanded Moses. Here is an example of a person influencing others to serve other gods. Deuteronomy 13:10 וּסְקַלְתּ֥וֹ בָאֲבָנִ֖ים [this is a different verb to stone than in our phrase with our same noun with stones] You shall stone him to death with stones, because he sought to draw you away from the Lord your God, who brought you out of the land of Egypt, out of the house of slavery. We see this practice continuing on beyond Moses who God originally communicated this to. Here we see Joshua instructing this to be done to Achan because of his sin against God that affected the entire camp. Joshua 7:25 And Joshua said, “Why did you bring trouble on us? The Lord brings trouble on you today.” And all Israel וַיִּסְקְל֥וּ אֹתָ֖ם בָּאֲבָנִֽים[this again is a different verb to stone than in our phrase with our same noun with stones] stoned him with stones. They burned them with fire and stoned them with stones. Our next example is how this capital punishment was corrupted to get rid of an innocent man who was in the way. 1 Kings 21:13-15 And the two worthless men came in and sat opposite him. And the worthless men brought a charge against Naboth in the presence of the people, saying, “Naboth cursed God and the king.” So they took him outside the city וַיִּסְקְלֻ֥הוּ בָאֲבָנִ֖ים[this again is a different verb to stone than in our phrase with our same noun with stones] and stoned him to death with stones. Then they sent to Jezebel, saying, “Naboth has been stoned; he is dead.” As soon as Jezebel heard that Naboth had been stoned and was dead, Jezebel said to Ahab, “Arise, take possession of the vineyard of Naboth the Jezreelite, which he refused to give you for money, for Naboth is not alive, but dead.” The next use is of the people who grumbled so much about being in the wilderness that they wanted to kill Moses and Aaron. Numbers 14:10 Then all the congregation said לִרְגּ֥וֹם אֹתָ֖ם בָּאֲבָנִ֑ים [again this is our phrase with the pronoun in the middle] to stone them with stones. But the glory of the Lord appeared at the tent of meeting to all the people of Israel. This reminds me of what happened in the New Testament when the people also were going against God in their attempts to kill God’s spokesman sharing truth. I’ll close with this example. Notice how Jesus welcomes him to himself. Acts 7:54-60 Now when they heard these things they were enraged, and they ground their teeth at him. But he, full of the Holy Spirit, gazed into heaven and saw the glory of God, and Jesus standing at the right hand of God. And he said, “Behold, I see the heavens opened, and the Son of Man standing at the right hand of God.” But they cried out with a loud voice and stopped their ears and rushed together at him. Then they cast him out of the city and stoned him. And the witnesses laid down their garments at the feet of a young man named Saul. And as they were stoning Stephen, he called out, “Lord Jesus, receive my spirit.” And falling to his knees he cried out with a loud voice, “Lord, do not hold this sin against them.” And when he had said this, he fell asleep.

We are in chapter twenty of Leviticus with our word for today which is a phrase. מֽוֹת־יוּמַ֥ת will be put to death. Our phrase is the same word next to each other as an infinitive and then as a causative imperfect ongoing tense. So literally to die will be dying or caused to die. This is for emphasis. It is used 29 times in the Old Testament, 8 times in our chapter. Let’s look at all the uses in our chapter since it has the most in the Bible. Exodus chapter 21 also uses our phrase 4 times. Leviticus 20:2, 10-16 Say to the people of Israel, Any one of the people of Israel or of the strangers who sojourn in Israel who gives any of his children to Molech מ֣וֹת יוּמָ֑ת shall surely be put to death. The people of the land shall stone him with stones … For anyone who curses his father or his mother מ֣וֹת יוּמָ֑ת shall surely be put to death; he has cursed his father or his mother; his blood is upon him. If a man commits adultery with the wife of his neighbor, both the adulterer and the adulteress מֽוֹת־יוּמַ֥ת shall surely be put to death. If a man lies with his father's wife, he has uncovered his father's nakedness; both of them מֽוֹת־יוּמְת֥וּ shall surely be put to death; their blood is upon them. If a man lies with his daughter-in-law, both of them מ֥וֹת יוּמְת֖וּ shall surely be put to death; they have committed perversion; their blood is upon them. If a man lies with a male as with a woman, both of them have committed an abomination; מ֥וֹת יוּמָ֖תוּ they shall surely be put to death; their blood is upon them. If a man takes a woman and her mother also, it is depravity; he and they shall be burned with fire, that there may be no depravity among you. If a man lies with an animal, he shall surely be put to death, and you shall kill the animal. If a woman approaches any animal and lies with it, you shall kill the woman and the animal; מ֥וֹת יוּמָ֖תוּ they shall surely be put to death; their blood is upon them … A man or a woman who is a medium or a necromancer מ֣וֹת יוּמָ֑תוּ shall surely be put to death. They shall be stoned with stones; their blood shall be upon them. Fifteen offenses in Israel were capital crimes: striking or cursing a parent (Exodus 21:15, 17); breaking the Sabbath (Exodus 31:14); blaspheming God (Leviticus 24:10–16); engaging in occult practices (Exodus 22:18); prophesying falsely (Deuteronomy 13:1–5); adultery (Leviticus 20:10); rape (Deuteronomy 22:25); sexual immorality before marriage (Deuteronomy 22:13-21); incest (Leviticus 20:11–12); homosexuality (Leviticus 20:13); bestiality (Leviticus 20:15–16); kidnapping (Exodus 21:16); idolatry (Leviticus 20:1–5); false witness in a case involving a capital crime (Deuteronomy 19:16–21); killing a human intentionally (Exodus 21:12). The people of Israel were the covenant people of God. Therefore, the Law of God was the law of the land. There isn’t a crime in the above list that would merit capital punishment in most nations today, including murder. But the biblical view of law is different from the modern view. God gave His law to restrain sin, not to reform sinners; the penalties He imposed were for the purpose of upholding His law, not improving the offenders. However, this doesn’t mean that Christians today should lobby for the death penalty for all these offenses. While we want to do what we can to see just laws enforced justly, our main task is winning people to Christ and our weapons are spiritual. The good news is that it is God’s spirit that transforms and changes us from the inside out. I’ll close with these great passages. 2 Corinthians 10:1-5 By the humility and gentleness of Christ, I appeal to you—I, Paul, who am “timid” when face to face with you, but “bold” toward you when away! I beg you that when I come I may not have to be as bold as I expect to be toward some people who think that we live by the standards of this world. For though we live in the world, we do not wage war as the world does. The weapons we fight with are not the weapons of the world. On the contrary, they have divine power to demolish strongholds. We demolish arguments and every pretension that sets itself up against the knowledge of God, and we take captive every thought to make it obedient to Christ. Acts 6:4 And will give our attention to prayer and the ministry of the word. Ephesians 6:10-18 Finally, be strong in the Lord and in his mighty power. Put on the full armor of God, so that you can take your stand against the devil’s schemes. For our struggle is not against flesh and blood, but against the rulers, against the authorities, against the powers of this dark world and against the spiritual forces of evil in the heavenly realms. 

We are in chapter twenty of Leviticus with our word for today which is a phrase. לִזְנ֛וֹת אַחֲרֵ֥י in whoring after, go whoring after. It is used 3 times in the Old Testament, twice in our chapter. We’ll start in our chapter since it is the first time it is used in the Bible. Leviticus 20:4-7 And if the people of the land do at all close their eyes to that man when he gives one of his children to Molech, and do not put him to death, then I will set my face against that man and against his clan and will cut them off from among their people, him and all who follow him לִזְנ֛וֹת אַחֲרֵ֥י in whoring after Molech. If a person turns to mediums and necromancers, לִזְנ֖וֹת אַחֲרֵיהֶ֑ם whoring after them, I will set my face against that person and will cut him off from among his people. Consecrate yourselves, therefore, and be holy, for I am the Lord your God. We have seen for several days know this great evil of sacrificing children to Molech. Here notice that this was so bad that God’s judgment was not only on those who practiced such horrific acts but even to those who would ignore them instead of making sure that God’s capital punishment was carried out. Our phrase is used to describe what this action was it was the ultimate unfaithfulness to God. It is also used in seeking out mediums and necromancers which we have looked at these words previously. Instead of connecting with the true living God his people left God and turned away from him. He describes just how the pain of the unfaithfulness of his people felt in Ezekiel. Ezekiel 6:9 Then those of you who escape will remember me among the nations where they are carried captive, how I have been broken over לִבָּ֣ם הַזּוֹנֶ֗ה [this is a different phrase than ours but very similar in meaning] their whoring heart that has departed from me and over their eyes that הַזֹּנ֕וֹת אַחֲרֵ֖י [this is basically our phrase just without the preposition in our phrase and with the article instead. It is translated the same way] go whoring after their idols. And they will be loathsome in their own sight for the evils that they have committed, for all their abominations. God’s answer to all of this unfaithfulness was in verse 7 of our chapter today. Leviticus 20:7 Consecrate yourselves, therefore, and be holy, for I am the Lord your God. And it gets better if we look at the next verse. Leviticus 20:8 Keep my statutes and do them; I am the Lord who sanctifies you. This theme of God making us like himself is seen throughout the Bible. Holiness is the best thing for us and our loved ones around us. And the good news is that God is the one that makes us holy if we let him work in us. I’ll close with this great encouragement from the book of Hebrews and 1 John. Hebrews 12:12-15 Therefore lift your drooping hands and strengthen your weak knees, and make straight paths for your feet, so that what is lame may not be put out of joint but rather be healed. Strive for peace with everyone, and for the holiness without which no one will see the Lord. See to it that no one fails to obtain the grace of God; that no “root of bitterness” springs up and causes trouble, and by it many become defiled. 1 John 1:7-9 But if we walk in the light, as he is in the light, we have fellowship with one another, and the blood of Jesus his Son cleanses us from all sin. If we say we have no sin, we deceive ourselves, and the truth is not in us. If we confess our sins, he is faithful and just to forgive us our sins and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness. 

We are in chapter twenty of Leviticus with our word for today which is a phrase. שֵׁ֥ם קָדְשִֽׁי my holy name. It is used 13 times in the Old Testament. We’ll start with our chapter since it is the first time it is used in the Bible. Our phrase is used in the sense of profaning or defiling. Leviticus 20:3 I myself will set my face against that man and will cut him off from among his people, because he has given one of his children to Molech, to make my sanctuary unclean and to profane שֵׁ֥ם קָדְשִֽׁי my holy name. Over the last few days we have looked at this great evil of children sacrifice as part of the worship of Molech. Again God uses the strongest words available to condemn this practice. Yesterday we saw how this made God’s sanctuary unclean today we see it profaning God’s name. We looked at this word for profane a week ago. A couple of chapters later we see our phrased used in the same way in relation to profaning. Leviticus 22:1-2 And the Lord spoke to Moses, saying, “Speak to Aaron and his sons so that they abstain from the holy things of the people of Israel, which they dedicate to me, so that they do not profane שֵׁ֣ם קָדְשִׁ֑יmy holy name: I am the Lord.  God’s name is to be respected by the priests by following his directions not to perform their duties if they are unclean. We will look more into this when we get into this chapter. This warning to the priests is reemphasized at the end of the chapter. Leviticus 22:31-33 So you shall keep my commandments and do them: I am the Lord. And you shall not profane שֵׁ֣ם קָדְשִׁ֔י my holy name, that I may be sanctified among the people of Israel. I am the Lord who sanctifies you, who brought you out of the land of Egypt to be your God: I am the Lord.” Another way our phrase is used along with profaning is in Ezekiel this time by the use of idols. Ezekiel 20:39 As for you, O house of Israel, thus says the Lord God: Go serve every one of you his idols, now and hereafter, if you will not listen to me; but שֵׁ֤ם קָדְשִׁי֙ my holy name you shall no more profane with your gifts and your idols. It is also given as the reason for God sending his own people’s into exile. Ezekiel 36:20-23 But when they came to the nations, wherever they came, they profaned שֵׁ֣ם קָדְשִׁ֑יmy holy name, in that people said of them, ‘These are the people of the Lord, and yet they had to go out of his land.’ But I had concern for שֵׁ֣ם קָדְשִׁ֑יmy holy name, which the house of Israel had profaned among the nations to which they came. Therefore say to the house of Israel, Thus says the Lord God: It is not for your sake, O house of Israel, that I am about to act, but for the sake of לְשֵׁם־קָדְשִׁי֙my holy name, which you have profaned among the nations to which you came. And I will vindicate the וְקִדַּשְׁתִּ֞י אֶת־שְׁמִ֣י הַגָּד֗וֹל[here we have a variation of our phrase with the word holy first and then the word great after name. Literally it is my holiness my name the great] holiness of my great name, which has been profaned among the nations, and which you have profaned among them. And the nations will know that I am the Lord, declares the Lord God, when through you I vindicate my holiness before their eyes. Did you see what God is doing here? He is the only one that is concerned about his reputation. Since the people’s sins were so great the surrounding nations noticed and it reflected negatively on God. So he acted by sending them into exile so his name would be seen as holy. This is how God showed concern for his holy name whereas the people did not instead the profaned or defiled it. Then God does something amazing he solves this problem of uncleanness and sin that people then and now struggle with. Ezekiel 36:24-27 I will sprinkle clean water on you, and you shall be clean from all your uncleannesses, and from all your idols I will cleanse you. And I will give you a new heart, and a new spirit I will put within you. And I will remove the heart of stone from your flesh and give you a heart of flesh. And I will put my Spirit within you, and cause you to walk in my statutes and be careful to obey my rules. This is a prediction of what God was going to do in sending his Spirit to live inside of us because of Christ work on the cross. I’ll close with these great New Testament passages that tie this all together. Hebrews 8:10 For this is the covenant that I will make with the house of Israel after those days, declares the Lord: I will put my laws into their minds, and write them on their hearts, and I will be their God, and they shall be my people. Romans 8:9-11 You, however, are not in the flesh but in the Spirit, if in fact the Spirit of God dwells in you. Anyone who does not have the Spirit of Christ does not belong to him. But if Christ is in you, although the body is dead because of sin, the Spirit is life because of righteousness. If the Spirit of him who raised Jesus from the dead dwells in you, he who raised Christ Jesus from the dead will also give life to your mortal bodies through his Spirit who dwells in you.

We are in moving into chapter twenty of Leviticus with our word for today. מִקְדָּשׁ sanctuary, sacred place. It is used 75 times in the Old Testament. Our word is used in the sense of a holy place, a place considered holy or consecrated, often with reference to the tabernacle or temple. Exodus 25:8 And let them make me a מִקְדָּ֑שׁ sanctuary, that I may dwell in their midst. 1 Chronicles 22:19 Now set your mind and heart to seek the Lord your God. Arise and build מִקְדַּשׁ֙ the sanctuary of the Lord God, so that the ark of the covenant of the Lord and the holy vessels of God may be brought into a house built for the name of the Lord. 1 Chronicles 28:10 Be careful now, for the Lord has chosen you to build a house לַמִּקְדָּ֖שׁ for the sanctuary; be strong and do it. We also see our word used in the context of corruption or defilement of our word. 2 Chronicles 26:18 and they withstood King Uzziah and said to him, “It is not for you, Uzziah, to burn incense to the Lord, but for the priests, the sons of Aaron, who are consecrated to burn incense. Go out of הַמִּקְדָּשׁ֙ the sanctuary, for you have done wrong, and it will bring you no honor from the Lord God.” Ezekiel 23:38-39 Moreover, this they have done to me: they have defiled מִקְדָּשִׁי֙ my sanctuary on the same day and profaned my Sabbaths. For when they had slaughtered their children in sacrifice to their idols, on the same day they came into מִקְדָּשִׁ֛י my sanctuary to profane it. And behold, this is what they did in my house. This is how our word is used in our chapter. Leviticus 20:3 I myself will set my face against that man and will cut him off from among his people, because he has given one of his children to Molech, to make מִקְדָּשִׁ֔י my sanctuary unclean and to profane my holy name. The good news is that God can and wants to clean us from our sin. Isaiah 1:18 “Come now, let us reason together, says the Lord: though your sins are like scarlet, they shall be as white as snow; though they are red like crimson, they shall become like wool. This is what Jesus accomplished for us. 1 John 1:7-9 But if we walk in the light, as he is in the light, we have fellowship with one another, and the blood of Jesus his Son cleanses us from all sin. If we say we have no sin, we deceive ourselves, and the truth is not in us. If we confess our sins, he is faithful and just to forgive us our sins and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness. And more good news is that wherever God is becomes his sanctuary because of his presence. Because of this the Psalmist praises God. We can meet God in nature that he has made and worship him. Psalm 68:32-35 O kingdoms of the earth, sing to God; sing praises to the Lord, to him who rides in the heavens, the ancient heavens; behold, he sends out his voice, his mighty voice. Ascribe power to God, whose majesty is over Israel, and whose power is in the skies. Awesome is God מִֽמִּקְדָּ֫שֶׁ֥יךָ from his sanctuary; the God of Israel—he is the one who gives power and strength to his people. Blessed be God! And we can meet God in places of worship where God’s people gather and worship him. I’ll close with these great Psalms that show us how we are changed when we worship God in his presence. Psalm 73:13, 16-17 All in vain have I kept my heart clean and washed my hands in innocence … But when I thought how to understand this, it seemed to me a wearisome task, until I went into the מִקְדְּשֵׁי sanctuary of God; then I discerned their end. Psalm 96:4-6 For great is the Lord, and greatly to be praised; he is to be feared above all gods. For all the gods of the peoples are worthless idols, but the Lord made the heavens. Splendor and majesty are before him; strength and beauty are בְּמִקְדָּשֽׁוֹ in his sanctuary.

We are in chapter twenty of Leviticus with our word for today which is a phrase. פָּנַי֙ בָּאִ֣ישׁ my face against that man. It is used 3 times in the Old Testament, twice in our chapter. Let’s look at our 3 uses. Leviticus 20:3-6 I myself will set פָּנַי֙ בָּאִ֣ישׁ my face against that man and will cut him off from among his people, because he has given one of his children to Molech, to make my sanctuary unclean and to profane my holy name. And if the people of the land do at all close their eyes to that man when he gives one of his children to Molech, and do not put him to death, then I will set פָּנַ֛י בָּאִ֥ישׁ my face against that man and against his clan and will cut them off from among their people, him and all who follow him in whoring after Molech. “If a person turns to mediums and necromancers, whoring after them, I will set פָּנַי֙ בַּנֶּ֣פֶשׁ [this has a different word so instead of man it is soul so literally my face against that soul] my face against that person and will cut him off from among his people. The reason God is taking this strong action against this person is because of their horrific evil. We have looked at this yesterday and on a few other occasions. Our third use of our phrase is also in the context of great evil. Ezekiel 14:6-8 Therefore say to the house of Israel, Thus says the Lord God: Repent and turn away from your idols, and turn away your faces from all your abominations. For any one of the house of Israel, or of the strangers who sojourn in Israel, who separates himself from me, taking his idols into his heart and putting the stumbling block of his iniquity before his face, and yet comes to a prophet to consult me through him, I the Lord will answer him myself. And I will set פָנַ֜י בָּאִ֣ישׁ my face against that man; I will make him a sign and a byword and cut him off from the midst of my people, and you shall know that I am the Lord. Did you notice the specific reason God gives why he takes this action? Because they are the ones who have separated themselves from God because of their worship of idols. Notice how this is phrased “taking his idols into his heart.” God takes his relationship with us personally. This is why Jesus calls us to love God with all of our heart, soul, mind and strength. Because our sin has separated us from God when Jesus died on the cross and took our sin on himself God had to turn his face against his own son. This is why Jesus cried out from the cross, “my God my God why have you forsaken me?!” The good news is that because of Christ God is for us when we turn from our sin and accept the salvation God offers us. I’ll close with this great passage. Romans 8:31-34 What then shall we say to these things? If God is for us, who can be against us? He who did not spare his own Son but gave him up for us all, how will he not also with him graciously give us all things? Who shall bring any charge against God's elect? It is God who justifies. Who is to condemn? Christ Jesus is the one who died—more than that, who was raised—who is at the right hand of God, who indeed is interceding for us.

We are in moving into chapter twenty of Leviticus with our word for today. נָתַן give, hand down, set, place, lay, put. It is used 2,010 times in the Old Testament, 4 times in our chapter. This is the word used for the very common word to give, transfer possession. This is how our word is used 4 times in our chapter. Leviticus 20:1-5 The Lord spoke to Moses, saying, “Say to the people of Israel, Any one of the people of Israel or of the strangers who sojourn in Israel who יִתֵּ֧ן gives any of his children to Molech shall surely be put to death. The people of the land shall stone him with stones. I myself will set my face against that man and will cut him off from among his people, because he נָתַ֣ן has given one of his children to Molech, to make my sanctuary unclean and to profane my holy name. And if the people of the land do at all close their eyes to that man when בְּתִתּ֥וֹ he gives one of his children to Molech, and do not put him to death, then I will set my face against that man and against his clan and will cut them off from among their people, him and all who follow him in whoring after Molech. Other translations like the NIV translate our word give as sacrifice. They do this because of the context and what Molech was all about. This is exactly what was going on it was giving over one’s child as a sacrifice to Molech. We have already looked at the words Molech and sacrifice previously. We have also seen that this practice was condemned by God with the strongest words that exist. And that it was the farthest thing from who God is and what God desires. It was evil whereas God is good. The other way our word is used in our chapter shows this extreme difference between Molech and YHWH. Leviticus 20:24 But I said to you, “You will possess their land; I will אֶתְּנֶ֤נָּה give it to you as an inheritance, a land flowing with milk and honey.” I am the Lord your God, who has set you apart from the nations. Did you notice the difference. The false god Molek who is really just about being influenced by demons as we have seen, takes. He demands sacrifice. But God the true YWHW reality God gives. He is the one gives to his people. In the Old Testament the promise was the land. Now God gives us eternal life because God gave his own son to be the sacrifice for our sins. I’ll close with these great passages. Genesis 22:7-8 Isaac spoke up and said to his father Abraham, “Father?” “Yes, my son?” Abraham replied. “The fire and wood are here,” Isaac said, “but where is the lamb for the burnt offering?” Abraham answered, “God himself will provide the lamb for the burnt offering, my son.” John 3:16-17 For God so loved the world that he gave his one and only Son, that whoever believes in him shall not perish but have eternal life. For God did not send his Son into the world to condemn the world, but to save the world through him. 1 John 2:2 He is the propitiation for our sins, and not for ours only but also for the sins of the whole world. 1 John 4:10 In this is love, not that we have loved God but that he loved us and sent his Son to be the propitiation for our sins. Romans 3:23-26 for all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God, and are justified by his grace as a gift, through the redemption that is in Christ Jesus, whom God put forward as a propitiation by his blood, to be received by faith. This was to show God's righteousness, because in his divine forbearance he had passed over former sins. It was to show his righteousness at the present time, so that he might be just and the justifier of the one who has faith in Jesus.

We are in chapter nineteen of Leviticus with our word for today which is a phrase. אֲנִי֙ יְהוָ֣ה אֱלֹֽהֵיכֶ֔ם I am YWHW your God or I am the LORD your God. It is used 34 times in the Old Testament, 8 times in our chapter. Let’s start with our chapter sense our phrase is used the most of all the chapters of the Bible. Leviticus 19:2-4 Speak to the entire assembly of Israel and say to them: ‘Be holy because אֲנִ֖י יְהוָ֥ה אֱלֹהֵיכֶֽם I, the Lord your God, am holy. “‘Each of you must respect your mother and father, and you must observe my Sabbaths. אֲנִ֖י יְהוָ֥ה אֱלֹהֵיכֶֽם I am the Lord your God. “‘Do not turn to idols or make metal gods for yourselves. אֲנִ֖י יְהוָ֥ה אֱלֹהֵיכֶֽם I am the Lord your God. Leviticus 19:10, 25, 31 Do not go over your vineyard a second time or pick up the grapes that have fallen. Leave them for the poor and the foreigner. אֲנִ֖י יְהוָ֥ה אֱלֹהֵיכֶֽם I am the Lord your God … But in the fifth year you may eat its fruit. In this way your harvest will be increased. אֲנִ֖י יְהוָ֥ה אֱלֹהֵיכֶֽם I am the Lord your God … Do not turn to mediums or seek out spiritists, for you will be defiled by them. אֲנִ֖י יְהוָ֥ה אֱלֹהֵיכֶֽם I am the Lord your God. Leviticus 19:34, 36-37 The foreigner residing among you must be treated as your native-born. Love them as yourself, for you were foreigners in Egypt. אֲנִ֖י יְהוָ֥ה אֱלֹהֵיכֶֽם I am the Lord your God …  Use honest scales and honest weights, an honest ephah and an honest hin.  אֲנִי֙ יְהוָ֣ה אֱלֹֽהֵיכֶ֔ם I am the Lord your God, who brought you out of Egypt. “‘Keep all my decrees and all my laws and follow them. אֲנִ֖י יְהוָֽה I am the Lord.’” From this chapter and other uses we can see clearly that our phrase is used for the reason why his people are to do all of the instructions he is giving them. And the emphasis of YWHW is not just that God is the ever-existing reality God in that what he says is reality because of his power but that he uses his power to bless, enrich and benefit his people. The example of his power used to save his people from slavery in Egypt is repeat to make this point. Another way God makes this point is this summary idea of being holy which he starts our chapter with. Because God is different set apart from everyone and every being that exists. One of these ways is that he uses his power for goodness not corruption. God makes everything better. And not only that he is also the only one that can take evil and bring good out of it. This theme of God using his power for our good is seen throughout the Bible. I’ll close with these great New Testament examples. Romans 8:28, 31-35, 37-39 And we know that in all things God works for the good of those who love him, who have been called according to his purpose … If God is for us, who can be against us? He who did not spare his own Son, but gave him up for us all—how will he not also, along with him, graciously give us all things? Who will bring any charge against those whom God has chosen? It is God who justifies. Who then is the one who condemns? No one. Christ Jesus who died—more than that, who was raised to life—is at the right hand of God and is also interceding for us. Who shall separate us from the love of Christ? Shall trouble or hardship or persecution or famine or nakedness or danger or sword? … No, in all these things we are more than conquerors through him who loved us. For I am convinced that neither death nor life, neither angels nor demons, neither the present nor the future, nor any powers, neither height nor depth, nor anything else in all creation, will be able to separate us from the love of God that is in Christ Jesus our Lord.

We are in chapter nineteen of Leviticus with our word for today. צֶ֫דֶק accuracy, what is correct, right thing, what is honest, equity, righteous, righteousness. It is used 119 times in the Old Testament, 5 times in our chapter. Our word is used in the sense of honesty. Psalm 52:3 You love evil more than good, and lying more than speaking what is צֶ֣דֶק right. Most of the time our word is used in the sense of righteousness, adherence to what is required according to a standard. A good example of this is the introduction of the book of Proverbs where the writer connects wisdom to our word today. Proverbs 1:3 The proverbs of Solomon, son of David, king of Israel: To know wisdom and instruction, to understand words of insight, to receive instruction in wise dealing, in צֶ֥דֶק righteousness, justice, and equity; to give prudence to the simple, knowledge and discretion to the youth. This is how our word is used 5 times in our chapter today. Leviticus 19:15, 35-36 You shall do no injustice in court. You shall not be partial to the poor or defer to the great, but בְּצֶ֖דֶק in righteousness shall you judge your neighbor … You shall do no wrong in judgment, in measures of length or weight or quantity. You shall have צֶ֣דֶק just balances, צֶ֗דֶק just weights, a צֶ֛דֶק just ephah, and a צֶ֖דֶק just hin: I am the Lord your God, who brought you out of the land of Egypt. As with other areas of our chapter these are very practical ways not to wrong one’s neighbor or fellow citizen. It is also gives more detail how to follow God’s earlier commandment not to lie, bear false witness, and steal. This is also emphasized later in Deuteronomy. Deuteronomy 25:13-16 You shall not have in your bag two kinds of weights, a large and a small. You shall not have in your house two kinds of measures, a large and a small. A full וָצֶ֙דֶק֙and fair weight you shall have, a full וָצֶ֖דֶקand fair measure you shall have, that your days may be long in the land that the Lord your God is giving you. For all who do such things, all who act dishonestly, are an abomination to the Lord your God. This is interesting that even though people may justify that having a weight or measure that allows one to cheat someone else in smaller portions is ok. God certainly does not agree. He calls this an abomination. In all of God’s people’s dealings they need to be above board open and honest. The reason why God demands this from his people we will look at with our phrase for tomorrow. I’ll close with these great words from Jesus that help us understand God’s teaching on dealing fairly and justly with others. Matthew 7:12 So whatever you wish that others would do to you, do also to them, for this is the Law and the Prophets.

We are in chapter nineteen of Leviticus with our word for today. גֵּר stranger, foreigner, sojourner. It is used 92 times in the Old Testament, 4 times in our chapter. We find our word used in the sense of a person who comes from a foreign country who does not owe allegiance to your country, frequently of someone who does not speak one’s native tongue. A good example of this is Abram and Moses. Gensis 23:4 I am a גֵּר sojourner וְתוֹשָׁ֥ב [This is a different word altogether] and foreigner among you; give me property among you for a burying place, that I may bury my dead out of my sight. Exodus 2:22 She gave birth to a son, and he called his name Gershom, for he said, “I have been a גֵּ֣ר sojourner in a נָכְרִיָּֽה [This is a different word altogether] foreign land.” God knows that because of our sinful nature we tend to take advantage of people who are not like us. This is why he instructs his people in this way. Exodus 12:48-49 If a יָג֨וּר [This is a different word but shares the same root word as our word] stranger shall גֵּ֗ר sojourn with you and would keep the Passover to the Lord, let all his males be circumcised. Then he may come near and keep it; he shall be as a native of the land. But no uncircumcised person shall eat of it. There shall be one law for the native וְלַגֵּ֖ר and for the stranger who הַגָּ֥ר [This is a different word but shares the same root word as our word]  sojourns among you. This is the sense of how our word is used 4 times in our chapter. Leviticus 19:10 And you shall not strip your vineyard bare, neither shall you gather the fallen grapes of your vineyard. You shall leave them for the poor וְלַגֵּר֙ and for the sojourner: I am the Lord your God. Leviticus 19:33-34 When a יָג֧וּר [This is a different word but shares the same root word as our word] stranger גֵּ֖ר sojourns with you in your land, you shall not do him wrong. You shall treat הַגֵּ֣ר the stranger who הַגָּ֣ר [again different word with same root word as our word] sojourns with you as the native among you, and you shall love him as yourself, for גֵרִ֥ים you were strangers in the land of Egypt: I am the Lord your God. Did you catch God’s reasoning behind this teaching? Because that is how they also started out as strangers in another country they need to remember this and let it encourage their kindness. This is emphasized specifically by God. Exodus 23:9 You shall not oppress a וְגֵ֖ר sojourner. You know the heart of a הַגֵּ֔ר sojourner, for you were גֵרִ֥ים sojourners in the land of Egypt. This theme of God loving all people regardless of where they came from is seen throughout the Bible. I’ll close with some New Testament examples. Ephesians 2:11-13 Therefore remember that at one time you Gentiles in the flesh, called “the uncircumcision” by what is called the circumcision, which is made in the flesh by hands— remember that you were at that time separated from Christ, alienated from the commonwealth of Israel and strangers to the covenants of promise, having no hope and without God in the world. But now in Christ Jesus you who once were far off have been brought near by the blood of Christ. Luke 13:29-30 And people will come from east and west, and from north and south, and recline at table in the kingdom of God. And behold, some are last who will be first, and some are first who will be last.” Revelation 7:9-10 After this I looked, and behold, a great multitude that no one could number, from every nation, from all tribes and peoples and languages, standing before the throne and before the Lamb, clothed in white robes, with palm branches in their hands, and crying out with a loud voice, “Salvation belongs to our God who sits on the throne, and to the Lamb!” John 3:16 For God so loved the world, that he gave his only Son, that whoever believes in him should not perish but have eternal life.

We are in chapter nineteen of Leviticus with our word for today. הָדַר honor, be honored, boast, swell, be large. It is used 6 times in the Old Testament, twice in our chapter. Our word is used in the sense to be or become partial, showing favoritism for any reason. Exodus 23:2-3 You shall not fall in with the many to do evil, nor shall you bear witness in a lawsuit, siding with the many, so as to pervert justice, nor תֶהְדַּ֖ר shall you be partial to a poor man in his lawsuit. It is also used in the sense to be respected, to be shown respect or esteem. Lamentations 5:12 Princes are hung up by their hands; no נֶהְדָּֽרוּ respect is shown to the elders. Both of these senses are how our word is used twice in our chapter today. Leviticus 19:15, 32 You shall do no injustice in court. You shall not be partial to the poor or תֶהְדַּ֖ר defer to the great, but in righteousness shall you judge your neighbor … You shall stand up before the gray head וְהָדַרְתָּ֖ and honor the face of an old man, and you shall fear your God: I am the Lord. Both of these themes of favoritism and respect are seen throughout the Bible. Here are some New Testament examples. James 2:1, 9 My brothers and sisters, believers in our glorious Lord Jesus Christ must not show favoritism … But if you show favoritism, you sin and are convicted by the law as lawbreakers. Romans 13:7 Pay to all what is owed to them: taxes to whom taxes are owed, revenue to whom revenue is owed, respect to whom respect is owed, honor to whom honor is owed. Our word is also used in the sense to be glorious, to be characterized by grandeur. Isaiah 63:1 Who is this who comes from Edom, in crimsoned garments from Bozrah, he who הָד֣וּר is splendid in his apparel, marching in the greatness of his strength? “It is I, speaking in righteousness, mighty to save.” Our word is also used in the sense to exalt or praise. Proverbs 25:6-7 Do not תִּתְהַדַּ֥ר put yourself forward in the king's presence or stand in the place of the great, for it is better to be told, “Come up here,” than to be put lower in the presence of a noble. We find Jesus quoting this Proverb in his parable about humility which I will close with. Luke 14:7-11 Now he told a parable to those who were invited, when he noticed how they chose the places of honor, saying to them, “When you are invited by someone to a wedding feast, do not sit down in a place of honor, lest someone more distinguished than you be invited by him, and he who invited you both will come and say to you, ‘Give your place to this person,’ and then you will begin with shame to take the lowest place. But when you are invited, go and sit in the lowest place, so that when your host comes he may say to you, ‘Friend, move up higher.’ Then you will be honored in the presence of all who sit at table with you. For everyone who exalts himself will be humbled, and he who humbles himself will be exalted.”

We are in chapter nineteen of Leviticus with our word for today used for the first time in the Bible. יִדְּעֹנִי spirit of divination, soothsayer, necromancer. It is used 11 times in the Old Testament. Our word for today is always found right next to our word from yesterday since they are very similar in meaning. Our word is used in the sense of necromancer, one who practices divination by conjuring up the dead. Let’s start with our chapter since it is the first time it is used in the Bible. Leviticus 19:31 Do not turn to mediums or הַיִּדְּעֹנִ֔ים necromancers; do not seek them out, and so make yourselves unclean by them: I am the Lord your God. Probably the best example of what this looks like is when Saul asks for help to contact Samuel who had already died. 1 Samuel 28:3-18 Now Samuel had died, and all Israel had mourned for him and buried him in Ramah, his own city. And Saul had put the mediums and הַיִּדְּעֹנִ֖ים the necromancers out of the land. The Philistines assembled and came and encamped at Shunem. And Saul gathered all Israel, and they encamped at Gilboa. When Saul saw the army of the Philistines, he was afraid, and his heart trembled greatly. And when Saul inquired of the Lord, the Lord did not answer him, either by dreams, or by Urim, or by prophets. Then Saul said to his servants, “Seek out for me a woman who is a medium, that I may go to her and inquire of her.” And his servants said to him, “Behold, there is a medium at En-dor.” So Saul disguised himself and put on other garments and went, he and two men with him. And they came to the woman by night. And he said, “Divine for me by a spirit and bring up for me whomever I shall name to you.” The woman said to him, “Surely you know what Saul has done, how he has cut off the mediums and הַיִּדְּעֹנִ֖י the necromancers from the land. Why then are you laying a trap for my life to bring about my death?” But Saul swore to her by the Lord, “As the Lord lives, no punishment shall come upon you for this thing.” Then the woman said, “Whom shall I bring up for you?” He said, “Bring up Samuel for me.” When the woman saw Samuel, she cried out with a loud voice. And the woman said to Saul, “Why have you deceived me? You are Saul.” The king said to her, “Do not be afraid. What do you see?” And the woman said to Saul, “I see a god coming up out of the earth.” He said to her, “What is his appearance?” And she said, “An old man is coming up, and he is wrapped in a robe.” And Saul knew that it was Samuel, and he bowed with his face to the ground and paid homage. Then Samuel said to Saul, “Why have you disturbed me by bringing me up?” Saul answered, “I am in great distress, for the Philistines are warring against me, and God has turned away from me and answers me no more, either by prophets or by dreams. Therefore I have summoned you to tell me what I shall do.” And Samuel said, “Why then do you ask me, since the Lord has turned from you and become your enemy? The Lord has done to you as he spoke by me, for the Lord has torn the kingdom out of your hand and given it to your neighbor, David. Because you did not obey the voice of the Lord and did not carry out his fierce wrath against Amalek, therefore the Lord has done this thing to you this day. Did you notice that Saul didn’t get the answer he wanted. Instead, he got the same answer from Samuel that he had told him while he was alive. It was because of Saul’s sin that the kingdom would be torn away from him. But because Saul didn’t like what God said through Samuel, he tired to go around what God said to get a better outcome. Saul just made everything worse because Samuel continued to share that he and his sons would die while the Philistines would take over the land. Again God never said not to do these things because there is nothing to them. He warns us not to be involved in them because they make everything worse. The good news is that God is more powerful than any dead spirit that a medium or necromancer can conjure up. And God always brings goodness when he connects and communicates with us. I’ll close with this great passage of what happened in Ephesus when these sorts of things were exposed and Jesus was glorified. Acts 19:17-20 And this became known to all the residents of Ephesus, both Jews and Greeks. And fear fell upon them all, and the name of the Lord Jesus was extolled. Also many of those who were now believers came, confessing and divulging their practices. And a number of those who had practiced magic arts brought their books together and burned them in the sight of all. And they counted the value of them and found it came to fifty thousand pieces of silver. So the word of the Lord continued to increase and prevail mightily.

We are in chapter nineteen of Leviticus with our word for today used for the first time in the Bible. אוֹב spirit of the dead, necromancer, ghost, skin-bottle, soothsayer. It is used 16 times in the Old Testament. Our word is used in the sense of a ghost, the spirit of the dead raised by necromancy. 1 Samuel 28:8 So Saul disguised himself and put on other garments and went, he and two men with him. And they came to the woman by night. And he said, “Divine for me by a הָאֹב֥וֹת spirit and bring up for me whomever I shall name to you.” Isaiah 29:4 And you will be brought low; from the earth you shall speak, and from the dust your speech will be bowed down; your voice shall come from the ground like the voice of a כְּא֤וֹב ghost, and from the dust your speech shall whisper. Most of the time our word is used in the sense of a medium, someone who serves as an intermediary between the living and the dead. This is how our word is used in our chapter today which is also the first time it is used in the Bible. Leviticus 19:31 Do not turn to הָאֹבֹת֙ mediums or necromancers; do not seek them out, and so make yourselves unclean by them: I am the Lord your God. God, throughout the rest of the Bible, clearly condemns such practices because of how dangerous and deadly it is to his people. Leviticus 20:6, 27 If a person turns to הָֽאֹבֹת֙ mediums and necromancers, whoring after them, I will set my face against that person and will cut him off from among his people … A man or a woman who is a א֛וֹב medium or a necromancer shall surely be put to death. They shall be stoned with stones; their blood shall be upon them. God specifically identifies Saul’s failure and death to participating in this practice. 1 Chronicles 10:13-14 So Saul died for his breach of faith. He broke faith with the Lord in that he did not keep the command of the Lord, and also consulted a בָּא֖וֹב medium, seeking guidance. He did not seek guidance from the Lord. Therefore the Lord put him to death and turned the kingdom over to David the son of Jesse. God points out how ridiculous it is for people to ask for help from dead people instead of asking the living God. Isaiah 8:19 And when they say to you, “Inquire of הָאֹבוֹת֙ the mediums and the necromancers who chirp and mutter,” should not a people inquire of their God? Should they inquire of the dead on behalf of the living? I’ll close with another use of our word that emphasizes what we saw yesterday with all the evil activity around our word for today and yesterday’s word. In fact, this evil is so bad, as we have seen, this was why God drove out the people before them from the land. Deuteronomy 18:9-11 When you come into the land that the Lord your God is giving you, you shall not learn to follow the abominable practices of those nations. There shall not be found among you anyone who burns his son or his daughter as an offering, anyone who practices divination or tells fortunes or interprets omens, or a sorcerer or a charmer or a אוֹב֙ medium or a necromancer or one who inquires of the dead, for whoever does these things is an abomination to the Lord. And because of these abominations the Lord your God is driving them out before you. 

We are in chapter nineteen of Leviticus with our word for today. נָחַשׁ seek and give omens, foretell. It is used 11 times in the Old Testament. Our word is used in the sense of to divine, to find something out by practicing divination. A good example of this is when Joseph was second in command of Egypt and part of his not revealing who he was yet to his brothers he acted like a powerful ruler who would use our word. Genesis 44:4-5, 15 Now Joseph said to his steward, “Up, follow after the men, and when you overtake them, say to them, ‘Why have you repaid evil for good? Is it not from this that my lord drinks, and by this that he נַחֵ֥שׁ יְנַחֵ֖שׁ [This is our word used twice so literally divines by divination] practices divination? You have done evil in doing this.’” … Joseph said to them, “What deed is this that you have done? Do you not know that a man like me can indeed נַחֵ֧שׁ יְנַחֵ֛שׁ [This again, is our word used twice so literally divines by divination] practice divination?” We know Joseph never did this. And later we will see why because he understood that God calls us to let him reveal himself to us as his creatures. We also see our word with Laban who actually did this. Genesis 30:27 But Laban said to him, “If I have found favor in your sight, נִחַ֕שְׁתִּי I have learned by divination that the Lord has blessed me because of you. Notice that it worked. God never says don’t do this because there is nothing to it. No, he says don’t do this because there is more to it than anyone realizes. It brings great evil with it. Let’s look at our chapter where God specifically condemns it. Leviticus 19:26 You shall not eat any flesh with the blood in it. You shall not תְנַחֲשׁ֖וּ interpret omens or tell fortunes. This is the idea of rejecting God’s revealed word and opening oneself up to evil to learn the future. Notice the evil activity around our word. 2 Kings 17:17 And they burned their sons and their daughters as offerings and used divination וַיְנַחֵ֑שׁוּ and omens and sold themselves to do evil in the sight of the Lord, provoking him to anger. 2 Kings 21:6 And he burned his son as an offering and used fortune-telling וְנִחֵ֔שׁ and omens and dealt with mediums and with necromancers. He did much evil in the sight of the Lord, provoking him to anger. 2 Chronicles 33:6 And he burned his sons as an offering in the Valley of the Son of Hinnom, and used fortune-telling וְנִחֵשׁ֙ and omens and sorcery, and dealt with mediums and with necromancers. He did much evil in the sight of the Lord, provoking him to anger. This is why God condemns such practice because it opens one up to all sorts of demonic and evil influence. Contrast this with Joseph when asked to interpret Pharo’s dreams. Notice who he gives the credit to and that he is not seeking to know the future but rather responding to what God was doing in revealing himself and the future of Egypt to Joseph. We see the same thing with Daniel. I’ll close with both of these great examples of humbly waiting for God to reveal himself and always giving him the glory. Genesis 41:15-16 And Pharaoh said to Joseph, “I have had a dream, and there is no one who can interpret it. I have heard it said of you that when you hear a dream you can interpret it.” Joseph answered Pharaoh, “It is not in me; God will give Pharaoh a favorable answer.” Joseph was not going around God’s revealed word he was responding to God revealing himself. Daniel 2:27-28 Daniel answered the king and said, “No wise men, enchanters, magicians, or astrologers can show to the king the mystery that the king has asked, but there is a God in heaven who reveals mysteries, and he has made known to King Nebuchadnezzar what will be in the latter days.