Respect your father and your mother, honor the Sabbath, and don't make idols or images. I am the LORD your God.
It is interesting that in this text, God repeats his commandment about honoring father and mother just before he commands no other gods except for him. Honoring father and mother is the only commandment with a promise. If you honor father and mother, things will go well with you.
An idol is something that draws worship or priority over the LORD. In ancient times this took the form of molten images or cast objects that received worship in Yahweh's place. The golden calf is a good example of that kind of worship. In our days, however, not very many people worship molten images. A contemporary example of idolatry is games in the NFL or the Superbowl. If the Superbowl takes priority over going to church and confessing your sins on a Sunday, the Superbowl is indeed a modern day idol. It seems that Americans don't even feel guilty about this important commandment. They even fashion hit shows such as American Idol where people go all out to be seen as important and the crowd, you and I, encourage them by giving hotty approval to them. This is seen ad deplorable to a holy god. God cares about our motivations even more than the actions we take.
Daily Prayer: Father I do find myself in these compramising positions. Even though I know better, I don't call it idolary even though it is. Father forgive me. Father, in addition to forgiving me and setting me back on the path, change my heart so that with you as my all-in-all will find no worldly competition. In your holy name I pray Amen.
Monday, January 31, 2011
Saturday, January 29, 2011
Blood is required for atonement (Leviticus 17: 11)
Life is in the blood, and I have given you the blood of animals to sacrifice in place of your own.
Chapter 17 of Leviticus has concentration on the holiness of God. The reason forgiveness of sins is necessary is because God desires to dwell with those who are holy. God makes a special point of insisting that life is in the blood. Previously we learned that the scape goat was a sin bearer for the transgressions of Israel corporately. Now we learn on a individual level the shedding of blood of the sacrifices is the atonement for the individual's trespasses. Hence book has atonement value: the blood shed by the offer, who thereby was cleansed of his sin.
From the New Testament we learn that the Jews kept up this practice - even Jews who has become Christians. Some Jews, indded, were scandalized by the fact that Christians of Gentile background did eat blood, so the Counsil at Jerusalem (Acts 15) laid down a prohibitation against it.
Daily Prayer: Lord, in my day I realize that we are no longer under the Law as in earlier days. Our only law now is to love you with all our strength and our mind and to love our neighbor as ourself against which there is no law. In Jesus name I pray Amen.
Chapter 17 of Leviticus has concentration on the holiness of God. The reason forgiveness of sins is necessary is because God desires to dwell with those who are holy. God makes a special point of insisting that life is in the blood. Previously we learned that the scape goat was a sin bearer for the transgressions of Israel corporately. Now we learn on a individual level the shedding of blood of the sacrifices is the atonement for the individual's trespasses. Hence book has atonement value: the blood shed by the offer, who thereby was cleansed of his sin.
From the New Testament we learn that the Jews kept up this practice - even Jews who has become Christians. Some Jews, indded, were scandalized by the fact that Christians of Gentile background did eat blood, so the Counsil at Jerusalem (Acts 15) laid down a prohibitation against it.
Daily Prayer: Lord, in my day I realize that we are no longer under the Law as in earlier days. Our only law now is to love you with all our strength and our mind and to love our neighbor as ourself against which there is no law. In Jesus name I pray Amen.
Friday, January 28, 2011
The Day of Atonement (Leviticus 16: 3, 5, 7- 8)
Before entering the most holy place, you must offer a bull as a sacrifice for your sins and a ram as a sacrifice to please me. Then the community of Israel will bring you a ram and two goats, both of them males. The goats are to be used as sacrifices for sin, and the ram is to be used as a sacrifice to please me. Then you will lead the two goats into my presence from of the sacred tent, where I will show you which goat will be sacrifeced to me and which one will be sent into the desert of the demon Azazel.
This is the origin of the term we still use today called "scapegoat." A scapegoat is one which bears the iniquity of another. This practice began with the Jewish time of atonement called by them to be the festival of Yom Kippur. This is another prefigure of times to come. In later times, God will send his Son to be the sin bearer for all people who come to him by faith. Atonement is the practice of making right all the wrongs so that people can be restored to God.
Daily Prayer: Father, certainly I am sinful and deserve you wrath and your punishment. Thank you Father, for sending Your Son to take away my sins and the sins of the world. No greater love is there than this as one who lays down his life for his friends. In Jesus name I pray Amen.
This is the origin of the term we still use today called "scapegoat." A scapegoat is one which bears the iniquity of another. This practice began with the Jewish time of atonement called by them to be the festival of Yom Kippur. This is another prefigure of times to come. In later times, God will send his Son to be the sin bearer for all people who come to him by faith. Atonement is the practice of making right all the wrongs so that people can be restored to God.
Daily Prayer: Father, certainly I am sinful and deserve you wrath and your punishment. Thank you Father, for sending Your Son to take away my sins and the sins of the world. No greater love is there than this as one who lays down his life for his friends. In Jesus name I pray Amen.
Thursday, January 27, 2011
The Sin of Nadab and Abihu (Exodus 10: 1-2)
Nadab and Abihu were two of Aaron's sons, but they disobeyed the LORD by burning incense to him on a fire pay, when they were not supposed to. Suddenly the LORD sent fiery flames and burned them to death.
Prior to their sin, the sons of Aaron had witnessed their father Aaron bringing a sin sacrifice for the people where God consumed it by fire. They knew the power of God and the holiness of God, yet on their own with only their own authority decided to offer incense with no permission and treated God's sacred things as common. God will never be treated as common and he will make a vivid point to those who are an affront to his holiness. He didn't even give them a chance to say sorry or repent. It didn't matter that they were sons of the high priest Aaron. In God's view, even Aaron was guilty of not disciplining his sons so God handled the matter and made it a public lesson to his people.
Daily Prayer: Father, you are holy and we your people need to treat you as holy. Forgive me and teach me how I may honor you in my life and in my worship. In your holy name I pray Amen.
Prior to their sin, the sons of Aaron had witnessed their father Aaron bringing a sin sacrifice for the people where God consumed it by fire. They knew the power of God and the holiness of God, yet on their own with only their own authority decided to offer incense with no permission and treated God's sacred things as common. God will never be treated as common and he will make a vivid point to those who are an affront to his holiness. He didn't even give them a chance to say sorry or repent. It didn't matter that they were sons of the high priest Aaron. In God's view, even Aaron was guilty of not disciplining his sons so God handled the matter and made it a public lesson to his people.
Daily Prayer: Father, you are holy and we your people need to treat you as holy. Forgive me and teach me how I may honor you in my life and in my worship. In your holy name I pray Amen.
Wednesday, January 26, 2011
Do Not Take Thoughtless Oaths (Leviticus 5: 4 - 6)
If anyone thoughtlessly takes an oath to do anything, whether good or evil (in any matter one might carelessly swear about) even though they are unaware of it, but then they learn of it and realize their guilt - when anyone becomes aware that they are guilty in any of these matters, they must confess in what way they have sinned. As a penalty for the sin they have committed, they must bring to the LORD a female lamb or goat from the flock as a sin offering; and the priest shall make atonement for them for their sin.
The taking of rash oaths was something that Jesus also criticized (cf. Mt 5:36); he, for his part, exhorted people to sincerity - to tell the truth at all times, avoiding any need to back up one's words by oath; "Let what you say be simply, 'Yes' or 'No"; anthing more than this comes from evil."
In order to atone for sins one first needed to declare oneself guilty of them. This practice of humble acknowledgment of personal faults seems to have applied to all sin offerings (cf. Num 5:7). It was said down that that form of acknowledgment of guilt should take place on Yom Kippur, the day of atonement.
Daily Prayer: Father I do confess that I am a sinner and fall short of the holiness required from you. I am thankful that you sent your son Jesus Christ to become righteousness for me by my faith and belief in him. Now, I can come to you as a son as I do today bringing all my cares to you because you care for me. In Jesus name I pray Amen.
The taking of rash oaths was something that Jesus also criticized (cf. Mt 5:36); he, for his part, exhorted people to sincerity - to tell the truth at all times, avoiding any need to back up one's words by oath; "Let what you say be simply, 'Yes' or 'No"; anthing more than this comes from evil."
In order to atone for sins one first needed to declare oneself guilty of them. This practice of humble acknowledgment of personal faults seems to have applied to all sin offerings (cf. Num 5:7). It was said down that that form of acknowledgment of guilt should take place on Yom Kippur, the day of atonement.
Daily Prayer: Father I do confess that I am a sinner and fall short of the holiness required from you. I am thankful that you sent your son Jesus Christ to become righteousness for me by my faith and belief in him. Now, I can come to you as a son as I do today bringing all my cares to you because you care for me. In Jesus name I pray Amen.
Tuesday, January 25, 2011
The Tent of Meeting is erected (Exodus 40: 1-2; 12-14)
The LORD said to Moses:
Set up my tent on the first day of the year and put the chest with the Ten Commandments behind the inside curtain of the tent. Bring Aaron and his sons to the entrance of the the tent and have them wash themselves. Dress Aaron in the priestly clothes, then use the sacred olive oil to ordain him and dedicate him to me as my priest. Put the priestly robes on Aaron's sons and ordain them in the same way, so they and their descendants will always be my priests.
In these verses, we have the beginning of worship as it was understood in the Old Testament. In the beginning, there were no temples, but a tent where the Israelites met and held worship and offered sacrifices to cover their sins. We also have the beginning of the priesthood beginning with Moses' brother Aaron. The sons that proceeded from Aaron who himself was from the Tribe of Levi were the priestly line. Everything in the tent of meeting was consecrated which means it was set apart os holy to God. The Aaronic priesthood will now continue until the coming of Jesus Christ the Savior who will replace this priesthood because he will be the high priest in those days.
Daily Prayer: Lord, it is good to remember how worship began in those days, because it shows your heart for the worship we offer. Consecration is good because it helps us to understand holiness and we your people are to be holy. In Jesus name I pray Amen.
Set up my tent on the first day of the year and put the chest with the Ten Commandments behind the inside curtain of the tent. Bring Aaron and his sons to the entrance of the the tent and have them wash themselves. Dress Aaron in the priestly clothes, then use the sacred olive oil to ordain him and dedicate him to me as my priest. Put the priestly robes on Aaron's sons and ordain them in the same way, so they and their descendants will always be my priests.
In these verses, we have the beginning of worship as it was understood in the Old Testament. In the beginning, there were no temples, but a tent where the Israelites met and held worship and offered sacrifices to cover their sins. We also have the beginning of the priesthood beginning with Moses' brother Aaron. The sons that proceeded from Aaron who himself was from the Tribe of Levi were the priestly line. Everything in the tent of meeting was consecrated which means it was set apart os holy to God. The Aaronic priesthood will now continue until the coming of Jesus Christ the Savior who will replace this priesthood because he will be the high priest in those days.
Daily Prayer: Lord, it is good to remember how worship began in those days, because it shows your heart for the worship we offer. Consecration is good because it helps us to understand holiness and we your people are to be holy. In Jesus name I pray Amen.
Monday, January 24, 2011
The Lord Changed His Mind...(Exodus 32: 13 - 14)
Rememer the solemn promise you made to Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob. You promised that someday they would have as many descendants as there are stars in the sky and that you would give them land. So though the LORD had threatened to destroy the people, he changed his mind and let them live.
The setting is that Moses was on Mount Sinai receiving the law from God. After Moses had been away from his camp and his people for an extended time, they made a calf of gold to worship because they were like sheep without a shepherd. In God's anger, he threatens to extinguish these chosen people and give their rights to another. Then Moses gives Old Testament instruction on how to pray. He brings to the mind of God the word of God. He doesn't come to God with human persuasiveness, but with God's very words. After he spoke them to God, he relented and let his people live. I and you also need to bring to bear God's word in our prayers.
To seek the power of God, we must bring the word of God so that our prayers are his will and will be accomplished.
Daily Prayer: Father your words are true and must be repeated. Jesus also teaches us to pray and effective prayer brings you and your words to bear. I know you hear all prayers, but it is indeed good to repeat and remember your words, because this is what you have promised to me. In your holy name I pray Amen.
The setting is that Moses was on Mount Sinai receiving the law from God. After Moses had been away from his camp and his people for an extended time, they made a calf of gold to worship because they were like sheep without a shepherd. In God's anger, he threatens to extinguish these chosen people and give their rights to another. Then Moses gives Old Testament instruction on how to pray. He brings to the mind of God the word of God. He doesn't come to God with human persuasiveness, but with God's very words. After he spoke them to God, he relented and let his people live. I and you also need to bring to bear God's word in our prayers.
To seek the power of God, we must bring the word of God so that our prayers are his will and will be accomplished.
Daily Prayer: Father your words are true and must be repeated. Jesus also teaches us to pray and effective prayer brings you and your words to bear. I know you hear all prayers, but it is indeed good to repeat and remember your words, because this is what you have promised to me. In your holy name I pray Amen.
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)
Posts
