A Boomer in the Pew

Bible in a Year Series: Understanding Israel's Ordained Sacrificial System

Day #44 - This post is part of a year-long series where we are reading chronologically through the Bible.  Click here to learn more.  You are most welcome to join along at any time.

Today's text from the ESV Study Bible: Leviticus 1-4.

We have now stepped into the book of Leviticus in our chronological reading of the Bible.

The book of Leviticus was given to Moses, at the foot of Mount Sinai, less than a month after the tabernacle was constructed, and serves as a guide book as to how Holy God will deal with sin, and impurity to that he can live amongst his people.

As we journey through this book, we must remind ourselves that "the wages of sin is death".  Further, death came to all with the fall of man.  Yet, as we have learned, God has chosen a people, and has set in place a plan of redemption from Eden's demise.

As such, God has put into place a sacrificial system whereby something other than yourself (a bull, a lamb, a goat, etc) might give its live as an atonement for your sin, and the death you deserve.

In the beginning chapters, we will find 5 different types of sacrifices described:

• the burnt offering
• the grain offering
• the peace offering
• the sin offering
• the guilt offering

It is also important to understand that God has also given Israel the priests who are intercessors between God and the penitent, and have also been given holy roles in this process of atonement.

For the Christian, the sacrificial system has been fulfilled in Christ.  Nonetheless, someone might argue,  why then should we read the book of Leviticus?  Here is an explanation from my ESV Study Bible:

"What do these legislative texts of Leviticus have to do with the church today? At this point, only a broad picture may be presented, and it will be painted in three brushstrokes, merely offering examples of the value of Leviticus for the Christian believer. First, the sacrificial system of Leviticus has ceased for the people of God; it has been fulfilled in the coming of Christ (cf. Heb. 9:1–14, 24–28; 10:1–14). Yet studying these laws is important because they enable the reader to understand how the work of Christ saves people, since the sacrifices point to different aspects of the meaning of Christ's sacrifice of himself.

Second, the festal calendar of Israel enumerated in Leviticus (Lev. 23:1–44) has strongly shaped the Christian church's traditional calendar. The three main national pilgrim feasts of Israel are the Feast of Unleavened Bread, the Feast of Harvest, and the Feast of Booths. For those churches that follow the traditional calendar, these celebrations find their climax in Good Friday, Easter, and Pentecost. To fully understand the Christian celebrations, one must see their initial purpose in the OT. At the same time, some aspects of the legislation in Leviticus (such as the laws regulating clean and unclean foods) had the goal of separating Israel from the other nations. Although this separation has been done away with in the Christian era, these laws still teach the people of God to be morally clean (see note on 11:1–47).

Third, the entire Levitical Holiness Code (chs. 17–27) deals with sanctification, i.e., the idea of holiness affecting how one lives in the covenant community. The NT applies to Christians the same principle of life stated in Leviticus 11:44, “be holy, for I am holy” (quoted in 1 Pet. 1:16). In fact, many of the moral requirements reflected in the Holiness Code reveal the kinds of moral conduct that are still either pleasing or displeasing to God (cf., e.g., Lev. 19:11–18, 35–36). On the other hand, several details of the Holiness Code concern more symbolic aspects of holiness that should no longer be followed in the Christian era (such as laws prohibiting garments of two kinds of cloth, 19:19; prohibiting the shaving of the edges of one's beard, 21:5; and excluding people with physical defects from presenting offerings, 21:17–23). Further, the NT envisions a people of God that transcends national boundaries, and thus it dissolves the bond between the specifically theocratic system of government that was OT Israel. Therefore, current civil governments need not replicate the civil laws specific to the Mosaic theocracy (such as capital punishment for adultery in 20:10 or for blasphemy in 24:16, or the Sabbath year and Jubilee year in 25:1–22), although of course all governments must pursue justice (and Leviticus may certainly help Christians develop their notions of justice)."

I am looking forward to what God might teach us in this journey through the book of Leviticus.

Bible in a Year Series: Exodus Concludes with God Dwelling Among His People

Day #43 - This post is part of a year-long series where we are reading chronologically through the Bible.  Click here to learn more.  You are most welcome to join along at any time.

Today's text from the ESV Study Bible: Exodus 39-40.

Today we finish the book of Exodus, and what a spectacular ending it is!

We must remember that the Bible describes God's redemption of man.  Back in Genesis chapter three we wept as we gazed upon the horrid fall of man, and man's eternal separation from God.

Today we witness, in the tabernacle, and later in the temple, in Messiah, and finally in the church, a great foreshadowing of Revelation 21:1-7:

"Then I saw a new heaven and a new earth, for the first heaven and the first earth had passed away, and the sea was no more. And I saw the holy city, new Jerusalem, coming down out of heaven from God, prepared as a bride adorned for her husband. And I heard a loud voice from the throne saying, “Behold, the dwelling place of God is with man. He will dwell with them, and they will be his people, and God himself will be with them as their God. He will wipe away every tear from their eyes, and death shall be no more, neither shall there be mourning, nor crying, nor pain anymore, for the former things have passed away.” And he who was seated on the throne said, “Behold, I am making all things new.” Also he said, “Write this down, for these words are trustworthy and true.” And he said to me, “It is done! I am the Alpha and the Omega, the beginning and the end. To the thirsty I will give from the spring of the water of life without payment. The one who conquers will have this heritage, and I will be his God and he will be my son."

When I read these verses, I feel a great longing to be in the presence of God's dwelling.  I understand that God now dwells in his church, and that the Holy Spirit now dwells in me, God's tabernacle.  But, today at least, this seems to be more head knowledge than heart knowledge.

If the Holy Spirit resides in me, shouldn't that be a significant experience, and relationship?  Please don't misunderstand, to the best of my ability I am saying that I desire more of God. 

When God appeared to Israel, in the glory of his cloud, it certainly made a monumental impact on his people.  Do you think its wrong to desire that God come this close to us, in this day and time?

I not talking about signs and wonders.  I'm talking about God who lives in me, having the best of relationships.  Am I making any sense?

Bible in a Year Series: Construction of God's Tabernacle

Day #42 - This post is part of a year-long series where we are reading chronologically through the Bible.  Click here to learn more.  You are most welcome to join along at any time.

Today's text from the ESV Study Bible: Exodus 36-38.

What a scene this is!

This all started with God's command to remember the Sabbath, but then during the other six days God put in the hearts of the people the desire to contribute the materials, and the skills to build his tabernacle with all its appointments.

Isn't this a scene of how today's church should operate?

Further, is this not a scene of what heaven might be like?  I suspect we won't be sitting around on clouds strumming harps, but joyfully engaged in work that will make heavens economy perfectly hum along.

The other thing that strikes me with these particular passages is the attention to detail.  God gave Moses very specific instructions on how his house should be build, and here we see the instructions repeated through the skillful workers hands.

Consider the skillful details that God commands to keep his universe in careful balance.  Today's pagan minds dream that man controls the ozone layer, and that we, for our own security, must become green.

Certainly we are to be good stewards of what God has given us, but it is God who will determine the future of the ozone layer, not man. A single molecule travels neither this way, or that, without God's willing it so.

Tomorrow we will see God back living amongst his people.  Take some time and dream of what this sight must have looked like.  Can you even begin to imagine how God is going to descend upon his people?

Bible in a Year Series: Does God Ever Change His Mind?

 Day #41 - This post is part of a year-long series where we are reading chronologically through the Bible.  Click here to learn more.  You are most welcome to join along at any time.

Today's text from the ESV Study Bible:  Exodus 33-35.

In today's reading, after yesterday's episode with the golden calf, it seems as if God has decided not to dwell with his people, and is meeting Moses in a tent "far off" from the camp.

Moses, in shocking directness seems to confront God, on behalf of Israel (if you won't forgive, then blot my name from your book!), and winds up back on the mountain for another 40 day fast in the presence of God.

Interestingly, Moses comes back down the mountain with a face shining so brightly, from being in the presence of God, that the people were afraid to go near him. 

Because of this, Moses would veil his face when he was outside of the Tent of Meeting.

I was reading Spurgeon's take on this scene, and he likened the scene to the veils on our own hearts when we don't spend time in the presence of God.

Without a daily diet of God's company, and the Holy Spirit's instruction, then we too will be veiled from the presence, and a proper understanding of God's desires.

In these passages, I also find myself still scratching my head as I view the dialog between God and Moses.  It seems that God was rightfully upset, but through the intercession of Moses, changes his mind?

Does God ever change his mind?  Isn't he immutable?  Yes of course he is immutable, then how are we to  understand this interaction be God and Moses?

Your thoughts?

Bible in a Year Series: Sorrowfully Facing the Golden Calves in my Life

Day #40 - This post is part of a year-long series where we are reading chronologically through the Bible.  Click here to learn more.  You are most welcome to join along at any time.

Today's text from the ESV Study Bible: Exodus 30-32.

As I continue reading of God's design for the tabernacle, it unsettles me to consider my lackadaisical attitude towards God's holiness.

Even as I read these passages, I can feel the struggle in my soul for self-worth as my fallen substitute for God's worth.

Then, to top off my sorrow, I find myself holding these Israelites in contempt for their sinful dancing before the golden calf, when it crosses my mind that I have done this dance many times in my life.  In fact, this dance is a constant struggle in my life.

My golden calf might more resemble security in wealth, pride in my own ability, my family, my possessions, my mind, my Boomer in the Pew blog.  Heck, as John Calvin so correctly nailed it, we are all idol making factories, and I am certainly no less blameworthy.

Now, to be clear, I am not suggesting that I dance before these things as Israel blatantly did, but as I search my heart, and force myself to honestly answer where I have completely place my faith, I am dejected to admit that a portion of my faith is indeed placed in these golden calf-like things.

Then, as I gaze upon this painting, I am mortified to consider that I too have participated in this dance.

Abba, thank you for your long-suffering, merciful patience for one such as me.  Thank you that you desire to teach me as a son, rather than snuff me out as the adversary I sometimes resemble.

Oh my soul...deeply understand these things!

Bible in a Year Series: Aaron's Priesthood, Priestly Garments, and the Foreshadowing of the Christian's Call to Spiritual Priesthood

Day #39 - This post is part of a year-long series where we are reading chronologically through the Bible.  Click here to learn more.  You are most welcome to join along at any time.

Today's text from the ESV Study Bible: Exodus 28-29.

One of the joys of my second journey through the Bible is that I am able to comprehend a little more this time through. 

My first journey could only be described as shock and awe.  I had no idea the things that lie between the covers of this book.

I distinctly remember my quandary, in my post from a year ago, as I contemplated the amazing detail that God provided Moses in the construction of this garment.  

Certainly God is not merely an artful fashion designer, but has in each detail something to teach us.

This year, as I journey through these verses I have sought out the thoughts of A.W. Pink, and C.H. Spurgeon.

A.W. Pink shares with us the archetypes presented in these garments, while C.H. Spurgeon would instruct us that although these outward ceremonies have been abolished, the most important inward meanings still remain.

Here we see God's priest installed into service, ultimately fulfilled in Messiah, our Great High Priest, and now each true Christian, filled with the Holy Spirit, and subsequently now God's tabernacle on earth, called into the service of God as spiritual priests.

As I was reading A.W. Pink's description of the priesthood, he was chiding the church for their intense ignorance on this subject, and calling us all to dig deep to understand all that God has to teach us in the institution of priesthood, and of Aaron's priestly garments.

Once again, I am reminded that we are imprudent to ride a jet ski across the top of God's holy word.  Often we must shut the thing off, don our deep sea diver's suit, and plunge into the depths of God's instruction for us.  Otherwise, we show disrespect to Yahweh, and bring harm to ourselves through our ignorance.

Bible in a Year Series: The Tabernacle as a Symbolic Representation of the Garden of Eden

Day #38 - This post is part of a year-long series where we are reading chronologically through the Bible.  Click here to learn more.  You are most welcome to join along at any time.

Today's text from the ESV Study Bible: Exodus 25-27.

Crossway Publishers, the creators of the ESV Study Bible, have done a very nice job of creating illustrations of the tabernacle, and all its components.  Click these links to view the illustrations:

• The Ark of the Covenant
• The Table for the Bread of the Presence
• The Tabernacle and its Court
• The Tabernacle Tent
• The Golden Lampstand
• The Bronze Alter

Something that also caught my attention from this reading, that I didn't catch the last time through, was that the tabernacle, as the place where God will dwell with his people, is a symbolic representation of the Garden of Eden including the Cherubim attending to its east entrance.

This from the ESV Study Bible notes:

"...there are two important keys to understanding the symbolism of the tabernacle. First, the tabernacle is seen as a tented palace for Israel's divine king. He is enthroned on the ark of the covenant in the innermost Holy of Holies (the Most Holy Place). His royalty is symbolized by the purple of the curtains and his divinity by the blue. The closer items are to the Holy of Holies, the more valuable are the metals (bronze→silver→gold) of which they are made. The other symbolic dimension is Eden. The tabernacle, like the garden of Eden, is where God dwells, and various details of the tabernacle suggest it is a mini-Eden. These parallels include the east-facing entrance guarded by cherubim, the gold, the tree of life (lampstand), and the tree of knowledge (the law). Thus God's dwelling in the tabernacle was a step toward the restoration of paradise, which is to be completed in the new heaven and earth (Revelation 21–22)."

One of the things I desire to better understand this year is to understand that I now have access to the holy of holies, and even more boggling to the mind is that fact that God in fact indwells, through the Holy Spirit, his people. 

In light of this fact, and seeing the great attention given to this place, and the obvious attention to God's holiness, how should that change the way in which I live, and attend to his current holy of holies, that is, my body as a member of the body of Christ?

Have you given this much thought?  If so, how has it changed the way in which you live?