Today's Scripture
TODAY’S READING SCHEDULE: Leviticus 11-12; Hebrews 10
Leviticus 12:1-8
12 The Lord spoke to Moses, saying, 2 “Speak to the people of Israel, saying, If a woman conceives and bears a male child, then she shall be unclean seven days. As at the time of her menstruation, she shall be unclean. 3 And on the eighth day the flesh of his foreskin shall be circumcised. 4 Then she shall continue for thirty-three days in the blood of her purifying. She shall not touch anything holy, nor come into the sanctuary, until the days of her purifying are completed. 5 But if she bears a female child, then she shall be unclean two weeks, as in her menstruation. And she shall continue in the blood of her purifying for sixty-six days.
6 “And when the days of her purifying are completed, whether for a son or for a daughter, she shall bring to the priest at the entrance of the tent of meeting a lamb a year old for a burnt offering, and a pigeon or a turtledove for a sin offering, 7 and he shall offer it before the Lord and make atonement for her. Then she shall be clean from the flow of her blood. This is the law for her who bears a child, either male or female. 8 And if she cannot afford a lamb, then she shall take two turtledoves or two pigeons,[c] one for a burnt offering and the other for a sin offering. And the priest shall make atonement for her, and she shall be clean.”
Hebrews 10: 1-10
10 For since the law has but a shadow of the good things to come instead of the true form of these realities, it can never, by the same sacrifices that are continually offered every year, make perfect those who draw near. 2 Otherwise, would they not have ceased to be offered, since the worshipers, having once been cleansed, would no longer have any consciousness of sins? 3 But in these sacrifices there is a reminder of sins every year. 4 For it is impossible for the blood of bulls and goats to take away sins.
5 Consequently, when Christ[a] came into the world, he said,
“Sacrifices and offerings you have not desired,
but a body have you prepared for me;
6 in burnt offerings and sin offerings
you have taken no pleasure.
7 Then I said, ‘Behold, I have come to do your will, O God,
as it is written of me in the scroll of the book.’”
8 When he said above, “You have neither desired nor taken pleasure in sacrifices and offerings and burnt offerings and sin offerings” (these are offered according to the law), 9 then he added, “Behold, I have come to do your will.” He does away with the first in order to establish the second. 10 And by that will we have been sanctified through the offering of the body of Jesus Christ once for all.
What do these passages say? Contributed by Stephanie Dickenson
- Leviticus 12 describes the proper way for a woman to abide by the Hebrew Law after a natural bodily process – childbirth. In order to abide by the Law she was restricted from coming in contact with others – lest they become unclean
- During her time of “separation” she was in a time of purification. In Israel there are ruins that have a chamber apart from the main living quarters of the home. This room is thought to be the place set aside for women during their times of “purification.”
- Leviticus is a book of Laws such as this that dictate proper conduct that distinguishes the Hebrew people from Gentiles.
- When a person brought animals to be sacrificed this did not do away with their “sin” or their need to be cleansed. It was a reminder of their human condition. Humans are separated from God by worldly deeds, even ones that God created for and in us. We ever in debt to God.
- Hebrews 10 reminds the new Christians that the Law was only a partial understanding of God’s Good Will. The Law was given to turn human will toward a righteousness that blossomed from a heart desiring to be obedient to God.
- No one came close to being perfectly obedient until Jesus demonstrated submission to God’s will.
It is so hard to comprehend that it was Father God’s Will that Jesus suffer as a perfect and ultimate sacrificial Lamb for the sins of us all. It was an act that during His suffering completely removed Him from communion with God. This sense of abandonment was the most terrifying part of His redemptive actions.
What Do the Passages Mean to Me/Us?
God spells L-O-V-E like this: O-B-E-Y. I passed on a regretful renegade gene onto my daughter Fran. She is the sweetest big–hearted – young – woman – renegade you’ll ever meet. Larry likes to recall something she’d say to him: “Daddy, when you talk to me like that it makes me want to do just the opposite of what you tell me to do!!” Even the best of us couldn’t / can’t carry out the letter of the Law.
God sent His humble son Jesus. Jesus was human. He grew up like other Hebrew children and learned to obey His earthly parents. This prepared his human spirit to obey His eternal heart inclination. “Behold I have come to do Your Will, O God.”
Jesus’ example gives me courage and inspiration each day that in small ways I can yield to God’s Will even if I don’t understand why. I look at Leviticus and think – that’s a lot to ask of women – to separate themselves because of a natural bodily process. But who am I to argue with God’s purposes? What if a woman considered God’s Will for her life more closely during her time – set apart. What if she delighted in doing God’s Will, no matter what the request might require?
What good would God accomplish through our lives and actions if we set apart time to purify our hearts and desire to “do Your Will, O God?
Prayer
Oh Lord Jesus, how great and marvelous was Your unwavering obedience to Your Father. Send your willing Spirit to us and let us not be too proud to follow in Your footsteps. For You ARE the Way, the Truth, and The Life.
Amen
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