Deuteronomy 12-15 Worship God's Way, So Things Go Well With You

Deuteronomy 12-15 Worship God's Way, So Things Go Well With You

Psalm 29:1-2 Worthy Worship

Ps 29:1 Ascribe to Yahweh, you sons of the mighty, ascribe to Yahweh glory and strength. 2 Ascribe to Yahweh the glory due to his name. Worship Yahweh in holy array-adornment/beauty of holiness.

Observations: 29:1 As David witnesses the majesty of a thunderstorm (see rest of the psalm), he calls upon the sons of the mighty to praise God. Ascribe is sometimes translated “give,” but has the connotation of credit or attribute. Glory (power/importance) and might are His.

29:2 "Holy array" is sometimes translated beauty of holiness. Most contexts of worship emphasize the holiness of the worshiper in approaching God (see Leviticus below).

Application: We can't properly worship God dressed in our sins.

Prayer: Glorious God, You are majestic in power and might, nothing can compare to You in heaven or earth. May I give You the glory that comes from a holy life, which You make possible. Amen.

Proverbs 8:1-7 What's the Way to Go? Listen!

8:1 “Doesn't wisdom cry out? Doesn't understanding raise her voice? 2 On the top of high places by the way, where the paths meet, she stands. 3 Beside the gates, at the entry of the city, at the entry doors, she cries aloud: 4 "To you men, I call! I send my voice to the sons of mankind. 5 You simple/naive, understand prudence. You fools, be of an understanding heart. 6 Hear, for I will speak excellent things. The opening of my lips is for right things. 7 For my mouth speaks truth. Wickedness is an abomination to my lips.”

Observation: “Simple” or naïve comes from the root that means spacious or open, as in open-minded (=empty headed). These are folks who haven't developed Biblical prejudices about what's right and wrong. A “prejudice” is a pre-judging of what you will and won't do, based upon God's revelation of what's wise and foolish. Simple.

Application: God has spoken, not stuttered. Are you listening?

Prayer: Spirit of Truth, thanks that you make Truth accessible. Guide me in the good paths.  Amen.

Deuteronomy 12-15 The next fourteen chapters contain specific stipulations that flow, more or less, from the Ten Commandments. They aren't as directly applicable to the modern audience as were the previous chapters (make sure you didn't miss them), but the principles are still the path to blessing today.

Chapter 12 Worship God's Way, So Things Go Well With You

Asherah

12:1 These are the statutes and the ordinances which you shall observe to do in the land which Yahweh, the God of your fathers, has given you to possess it, all the days that you live on the earth. 2 You shall surely destroy all the places in which the nations that you shall dispossess served their gods, on the high mountains, and on the hills, and under every green tree: 3 and you shall break down their altars, and dash in pieces their pillars, and burn their Asherim with fire; and you shall cut down the engraved images of their gods; and you shall destroy their name out of that place.

Asherah Poles

4 You must not worship Yahweh your God their way. 5 But you are to seek the place which Yahweh your God shall choose, and there you must go 7...rejoice in all...in which Yahweh your God has blessed you. 8 You shall not do...whatever is right in your own eyes; 12 You shall rejoice before Yahweh your God...13 Take heed that you don`t offer your burnt offerings in every place that you see; 14 but in the place which Yahweh shall choose...15 you may kill and eat flesh within all your gates, after all the desire of your soul, according to the blessing of Yahweh 16 Only you shall not eat the blood; you shall pour it out on the earth as water. 17 You may not eat within your gates the tithe...18 but you shall eat them before Yahweh your God in the place which Yahweh your God shall choose...19 Take heed that you don`t forsake the Levite...21 If the place which Yahweh your God shall choose, to put His name there, be too far from you, then you shall kill of your herd and of your flock, which Yahweh has given you, as I have commanded you; and you may eat within your gates, after all the desire of your soul. 25 You shall not eat blood; that it may go well with you, and with your children after you, when you shall do that which is right in the eyes of Yahweh. 26 Only your holy things which you have, and your vows, you shall take, and go to the place which Yahweh shall choose: 28 Observe and hear all these words which I command you, that it may go well with you, and with your children after you forever, when you do that which is good and right in the eyes of Yahweh your God. 30 take heed that you not be ensnared to follow...and do not inquire after their gods, saying, How do these nations serve their gods? even so will I do likewise. 31 You shall not do so to Yahweh your God: for every abomination to Yahweh, which He hates, have they done to their gods; for even their sons and their daughters do they burn in the fire to their gods. 32 Whatever thing I command you, that shall you observe to do: you shall not add to, nor diminish it.

Observations: Having no other gods before Yahweh (first commandment) extends to worshiping Him exclusively in the manner He specified, in the place He chooses (mentioned six times in this chapter).

12:2-3 Pure worship involves destroying all traces of other gods, and not even learning about them, so as not to be ensnared by them (Dt 12:30-31).

12:8 They must not do what's right in their eyes, but only what's right in Yahweh's eyes (12:25).

12:7,15 On the positive side, they could rejoice in what Yahweh had given them, as long as they did it as Yahweh specified, exclude the blood, and include the Levites. From years of eating corn flakes (manna), and only sacrificial meat (apparently), they could now eat meat whenever they wished (repeated three times).

12:21,28 God does care about our desires, and specifies that these commands are given so things will go well with us (2x).

Application: Learn what pleases God, and do it His way if you want to enjoy life.

Prayer: God, thanks for blessing me, and being concerned about my desires, may I be more concerned about pleasing You than myself. Amen.

Chapter 13 False Prophets Encourage False Worship

13:1 If there arise in the midst of you a prophet, or a dreamer of dreams, and he give you a sign or a wonder, 2 and the sign or the wonder happens...saying, Let us go after other gods, which you have not known, and let us serve them; 3 you shall not listen to the words of that prophet, or to that dreamer of dreams: for Yahweh your God proves/tests you, to know whether you love Yahweh your God with all your heart and with all your soul. 4 You shall walk after Yahweh your God, and fear Him, and keep His commandments, and obey His voice, and you shall serve Him, and cleave to Him. 5 That prophet, or that dreamer of dreams, shall be put to death, because he has spoken rebellion against Yahweh your God, who brought you out of the land of Egypt, and redeemed you out of the house of bondage, to draw you aside out of the way which Yahweh your God commanded you to walk in. So shall you put away the evil from the midst of you. 6 If your brother, son, daughter, wife or your friend, who is as your own soul, entice you secretly, saying, "Let us go and serve other gods," 7 of the gods of the peoples who are round about you, 8 you shall not consent, nor listen, neither pity him, spare, or conceal him: 9 but you shall surely kill him; your hand shall be first on him to put him to death, and afterward the hand of all the people. 11 All Israel shall hear, and fear, and shall not do any more such wickedness as this is in the midst of you.

12 If you hear concerning one of your cities: 13 Certain base fellows/children of Belial, are gone out from the midst of you, and have drawn away the inhabitants of their city, saying, Let us go and serve other gods, 14 then shall you inquire, search, ask diligently; and, if it be truth, and certain, that such abomination is done in the midst of you, 15 you shall surely strike the inhabitants of that city with the edge of the sword, destroying it utterly, and all that is therein and the cattle of it, with the edge of the sword. 16 You shall gather all the spoil into the midst of the street, and shall burn the city, and all the spoil of it every whit, to Yahweh your God: and it shall be a heap forever; it shall not be built again. 17 There shall cleave nothing of the devoted thing to your hand; that Yahweh may turn from the fierceness of His anger, and show you mercy, and have compassion on you, and multiply you, as He has sworn to your fathers; 18 when you shall listen to the voice of Yahweh your God, to keep all His commandments which I command you this day, to do that which is right in the eyes of Yahweh your God.

Observations: Instructions in this chapter dealing with not bowing down to or serving false gods are somewhat related to the second commandment (Dt 5:8-9), although images are only inferred in burning the spoil of the city, which would have been silver and gold.

13:2-5 False prophets can do signs and wonders to deceive God's people. Any prophecy that isn't in accord with God's word is satanic, and the prophet should be killed (13:5) to remove evil from the midst. Those who seek wonders rather than the word, wander out of the way of God to follow Satan.

Mt 12:39 "An evil and adulterous generation seeks after a sign, but no sign will be given it but the sign of Jonah the prophet.”

13:4 A good description of what it means to walk with God. Use as a checklist for starters.

13:8 Discriminatory allegiance requires not just avoiding evil, but eliminating it, regardless of human relationships. No pity.

13:12-18 God is serious about His people avoiding sources of contamination, to the extent that the entire city, including its stuff must be totally destroyed if the people have turned aside from following Yahweh. 13:13 “base fellows” is equally translated “children of Belial (KJV),” which better fits the context.

Application: Walking with God goes beyond reading His word, it involves obeying it, including identifying and eliminating whatever or whoever would deceive or dissuade us from loyalty to Him.

Prayer: God, protect and deliver me from evil influences by my allegiance and obedience to You. Amen.

Chapter 14 Food For A Holy People

14:1 You are the children of Yahweh your God: you shall not cut yourselves, nor make any baldness between your eyes for the dead. 2 For you are a holy people to Yahweh your God, and Yahweh has chosen you to be a people for His own possession, above all peoples who are on the face of the earth. 3 You shall not eat any abominable thing. 4 These are the animals which you may eat...6 Every animal that parts the hoof, and has the hoof cloven in two, [and] chews the cud 7 these you shall not eat ...8... doesn`t part the hoof but doesn`t chew the cud, he is unclean to you: of their flesh you shall not eat, and their carcasses you shall not touch. 9 These you may eat of all that are in the waters: fins and scales you may eat; 19 All winged creeping things are unclean to you: they shall not be eaten. 20 Of all clean birds you may eat. 21 You shall not eat of anything that dies of itself: you may give or sell it to a foreigner: for you are a holy people to Yahweh your God. You shall not boil a kid in its mother`s milk. 22 You shall surely tithe all the increase..23...and the firstborn of your herd and of your flock; that you may learn to fear Yahweh your God always. 24 If...the place is too far from you, which Yahweh your God shall choose, to set His name there, when Yahweh your God shall bless you; 25 then shall you turn it into money, and bind up the money in your hand, and shall go to the place which Yahweh your God shall choose: 26 and you shall bestow the money for whatever your soul desires, for oxen, or for sheep, or for wine, or for strong drink, or for whatever your soul asks of you; and you shall eat there before Yahweh your God, and you shall rejoice, you and your household. 27 The Levite who is within your gates, you shall not forsake him; for he has no portion nor inheritance with you. 28 At the end of every three years you shall bring forth all the tithe of your increase in the same year, and shall lay it up within your gates: 29 and the Levite, because he has no portion nor inheritance with you, and the sojourner, and the fatherless, and the widow, who are within your gates, shall come, and shall eat and be satisfied; that Yahweh your God may bless you in all the work of your hand which you do.

Observations: This chapter develops the third commandment to not bear the name of Yahweh lightly, or to no effect. God's people should be holy, or separate/distinct from those around them, because of their obedience. In this case the dietary laws separated them from the pagans.

14:22-29 It looks like one tithed (10%) of their increase in a feast at Jerusalem for two years, and then the third year they celebrated God's goodness in their hometown. If Jerusalem was too far to take your animals and stuff, you could sell them in your hometown, and then buy an equivalent amount in Jerusalem.

Application: Being God's holy people should be noticeable in all areas of our life, from eating to giving (haircuts might count as well).

Prayer: God, I recognize that all Your commands are for my benefit, especially in protecting me from self-will. Amen.

Chapter 15 Sabbath Year and Poor Israelites

15:1 At the end of every seven years you shall make a release. 2 This is the manner of the release: every creditor shall release that which he has lent to his neighbor; he shall not exact it of his neighbor and his brother; because Yahweh`s release has been proclaimed. 3 Of a foreigner you may exact it: but whatever of your is with your brother your hand shall release. 4 However there shall be no poor with you; (for Yahweh will surely bless you in the land which Yahweh your God gives you for an inheritance to possess it;) 5 if only you diligently listen to the voice of Yahweh your God, to observe to do all this commandment which I command you this day. 6 For Yahweh your God will bless you, as he promised you: and you shall lend to many nations, but you shall not borrow; and you shall rule over many nations, but they shall not rule over you. 7 If there be with you a poor man, one of your brothers, within any of your gates in your land which Yahweh your God gives you, you shall not harden your heart, nor shut your hand from your poor brother; 8 but you shall surely open your hand to him, and shall surely lend him sufficient for his need [in that] which he wants. 9 Beware that there not be a base thought in your heart, saying, The seventh year, the year of release, is at hand; and your eye be evil against your poor brother, and you give him nothing; and he cry to Yahweh against you, and it be sin to you. 10 You shall surely give him, and your heart shall not be grieved when you give to him; because that for this thing Yahweh your God will bless you in all your work, and in all that you put your hand to. 11 For the poor will never cease out of the land...12 If your brother, a Hebrew man, or woman, be sold to you, and serve you six years; then in the seventh year you shall let him go free from you. 13 When you let him go free from you, you shall not let him go empty: 14 you shall furnish him liberally out of your flock, and out of your threshing floor, and out of your winepress; as Yahweh your God has blessed you, you shall give to him. 15 You shall remember that you were a bondservant in the land of Egypt, and Yahweh your God redeemed you: therefore I command you this thing today. 16 It shall be, if he tell you, I will not go out from you; because he loves you and your house, because he is well with you; 17 then you shall take an awl, and thrust it through his ear to the door, and he shall be your servant forever. Also to your maid-servant you shall do likewise. 18 It shall not seem hard to you, when you let him go free from you; for to the double of the hire of a hireling has he served you six years: and Yahweh your God will bless you in all that you do. 19 All the firstborn males that are born of your herd and of your flock you shall sanctify to Yahweh your God: you shall do no work with the firstborn of your herd, nor shear the firstborn of your flock. 20 You shall eat it before Yahweh your God year by year in the place which Yahweh shall choose, you and your household. 21 If it have any blemish, [as if it be] lame or blind, any ill blemish whatever, you shall not sacrifice it to Yahweh your God. 22 You shall eat it within your gates: the unclean and the clean [shall eat it] alike, as the gazelle, and as the hart. 23 Only you shall not eat its blood; you shall pour it out on the ground as water.

Observations: This chapter, and most of the next, flow indirectly from the fourth commandment, regarding the Sabbath.

15:4 The poor in the Promised Land, and the Sabbath year are Israel specific, although the principles of generosity and stewardship are applicable today; God still loves a cheerful giver.

15:10 God is not just concerned about our doing the right thing, but obeying with the right attitude. That's what merits His blessing.

Application: Do you view material blessings as a stewardship you manage for God, or as your “stuff” for self-gratification?

Prayer: Giver of all good gifts, guide me in using Your resources for Your purposes. Amen.

Digging Deeper:

God in a nutshell: God wants us to worship Him exclusively, in response to His revelation (words and works), which He requires us to know, value and do. He is concerned about us both internally and externally, wanting even sanctified/holy motives in our actions. He wants us to enjoy His blessings, and use them in a way that benefits ourselves, others, and ultimately Him.

Us in a nutshell: We need aggressive discriminatory allegiance to God to please Him and maintain the purity/holiness He requires. Being loyal to Him will result in not being loyal to those who don't worship Him. (He is the better choice.)

Where to Go for More:

Truthbase.net

Giving God What He Wants (Parts 1&2)

Deuteronomy complete text

Chapter 12

12:1 These are the statutes and the ordinances which you shall observe to do in the land which Yahweh, the God of your fathers, has given you to possess it, all the days that you live on the earth. 2 You shall surely destroy all the places in which the nations that you shall dispossess served their gods, on the high mountains, and on the hills, and under every green tree: 3 and you shall break down their altars, and dash in pieces their pillars, and burn their Asherim with fire; and you shall cut down the engraved images of their gods; and you shall destroy their name out of that place. 4 You shall not do so to Yahweh your God. 5 But to the place which Yahweh your God shall choose out of all your tribes, to put His name there, even to His habitation shall you seek, and there you shall come; 6 and there you shall bring your burnt offerings, and your sacrifices, and your tithes, and the heave-offering of your hand, and your vows, and your freewill-offerings, and the firstborn of your herd and of your flock: 7 and there you shall eat before Yahweh your God, and you shall rejoice in all that you put your hand to, you and your households, in which Yahweh your God has blessed you. 8 You shall not do after all the things that we do here this day, every man whatever is right in his own eyes; 9 for you haven`t yet come to the rest and to the inheritance, which Yahweh your God gives you. 10 But when you go over the Jordan, and dwell in the land which Yahweh your God causes you to inherit, and He gives you rest from all your enemies round about, so that you dwell in safety; 11 then it shall happen that to the place which Yahweh your God shall choose, to cause His name to dwell there, there shall you bring all that I command you: your burnt offerings, and your sacrifices, your tithes, and the heave-offering of your hand, and all your choice vows which you vow to Yahweh. 12 You shall rejoice before Yahweh your God, you, and your sons, and your daughters, and your men-servants, and your maidservants, and the Levite who is within your gates, because he has no portion nor inheritance with you. 13 Take heed to yourself that you don`t offer your burnt offerings in every place that you see; 14 but in the place which Yahweh shall choose in one of your tribes, there you shall offer your burnt offerings, and there you shall do all that I command you. 15 Notwithstanding, you may kill and eat flesh within all your gates, after all the desire of your soul, according to the blessing of Yahweh your God which He has given you: the unclean and the clean may eat of it, as of the gazelle, and as of the hart. 16 Only you shall not eat the blood; you shall pour it out on the earth as water. 17 You may not eat within your gates the tithe of your grain, or of your new wine, or of your oil, or the firstborn of your herd or of your flock, nor any of your vows which you vow, nor your freewill-offerings, nor the heave-offering of your hand; 18 but you shall eat them before Yahweh your God in the place which Yahweh your God shall choose, you, and your son, and your daughter, and your manservant, and your maid-servant, and the Levite who is within your gates: and you shall rejoice before Yahweh your God in all that you put your hand to. 19 Take heed to yourself that you don`t forsake the Levite as long as you live in your land. 20 When Yahweh your God shall enlarge your border, as He has promised you, and you shall say, I will eat flesh, because your soul desires to eat flesh; you may eat flesh, after all the desire of your soul. 21 If the place which Yahweh your God shall choose, to put His name there, be too far from you, then you shall kill of your herd and of your flock, which Yahweh has given you, as I have commanded you; and you may eat within your gates, after all the desire of your soul. 22 Even as the gazelle and as the hart is eaten, so you shall eat of it: the unclean and the clean may eat of it alike. 23 Only be sure that you don`t eat the blood: for the blood is the life; and you shall not eat the life with the flesh. 24 You shall not eat it; you shall pour it out on the earth as water. 25 You shall not eat it; that it may go well with you, and with your children after you, when you shall do that which is right in the eyes of Yahweh. 26 Only your holy things which you have, and your vows, you shall take, and go to the place which Yahweh shall choose: 27 and you shall offer your burnt offerings, the flesh and the blood, on the altar of Yahweh your God; and the blood of your sacrifices shall be poured out on the altar of Yahweh your God; and you shall eat the flesh. 28 Observe and hear all these words which I command you, that it may go well with you, and with your children after you forever, when you do that which is good and right in the eyes of Yahweh your God. 29 When Yahweh your God shall cut off the nations from before you, where you go in to dispossess them, and you dispossess them, and dwell in their land; 30 take heed to yourself that you not be ensnared to follow them, after that they are destroyed from before you; and that you not inquire after their gods, saying, How do these nations serve their gods? even so will I do likewise. 31 You shall not do so to Yahweh your God: for every abomination to Yahweh, which He hates, have they done to their gods; for even their sons and their daughters do they burn in the fire to their gods. 32 Whatever thing I command you, that shall you observe to do: you shall not add thereto, nor diminish from it.

Chapter 13

13:1 If there arise in the midst of you a prophet, or a dreamer of dreams, and he give you a sign or a wonder, 2 and the sign or the wonder come to pass, whereof he spoke to you, saying, Let us go after other gods, which you have not known, and let us serve them; 3 you shall not listen to the words of that prophet, or to that dreamer of dreams: for Yahweh your God proves you, to know whether you love Yahweh your God with all your heart and with all your soul. 4 You shall walk after Yahweh your God, and fear Him, and keep His commandments, and obey His voice, and you shall serve Him, and cleave to Him. 5 That prophet, or that dreamer of dreams, shall be put to death, because he has spoken rebellion against Yahweh your God, who brought you out of the land of Egypt, and redeemed you out of the house of bondage, to draw you aside out of the way which Yahweh your God commanded you to walk in. So shall you put away the evil from the midst of you. 6 If your brother, the son of your mother, or your son, or your daughter, or the wife of your bosom, or your friend, who is as your own soul, entice you secretly, saying, Let us go and serve other gods, which you have not known, you, nor your fathers; 7 of the gods of the peoples who are round about you, near to you, or far off from you, from the one end of the earth even to the other end of the earth; 8 you shall not consent to him, nor listen to him; neither shall your eye pity him, neither shall you spare, neither shall you conceal him: 9 but you shall surely kill him; your hand shall be first on him to put him to death, and afterwards the hand of all the people. 10 You shall stone him to death with stones, because he has sought to draw you away from Yahweh your God, who brought you out of the land of Egypt, out of the house of bondage. 11 All Israel shall hear, and fear, and shall not do any more such wickedness as this is in the midst of you. 12 If you shall hear tell concerning one of your cities, which Yahweh your God gives you to dwell there, saying, 13 Certain base fellows are gone out from the midst of you, and have drawn away the inhabitants of their city, saying, Let us go and serve other gods, which you have not known; 14 then shall you inquire, and make search, and ask diligently; and, behold, if it be truth, and the thing certain, that such abomination is done in the midst of you, 15 you shall surely strike the inhabitants of that city with the edge of the sword, destroying it utterly, and all that is therein and the cattle of it, with the edge of the sword. 16 You shall gather all the spoil of it into the midst of the street of it, and shall burn with fire the city, and all the spoil of it every whit, to Yahweh your God: and it shall be a heap forever; it shall not be built again. 17 There shall cleave nothing of the devoted thing to your hand; that Yahweh may turn from the fierceness of His anger, and show you mercy, and have compassion on you, and multiply you, as He has sworn to your fathers; 18 when you shall listen to the voice of Yahweh your God, to keep all His commandments which I command you this day, to do that which is right in the eyes of Yahweh your God.

Chapter 14

14:1 You are the children of Yahweh your God: you shall not cut yourselves, nor make any baldness between your eyes for the dead. 2 For you are a holy people to Yahweh your God, and Yahweh has chosen you to be a people for His own possession, above all peoples who are on the face of the earth. 3 You shall not eat any abominable thing. 4 These are the animals which you may eat: the ox, the sheep, and the goat, 5 the hart, and the gazelle, and the roebuck, and the wild goat, and the gazelle, and the antelope, and the chamois. 6 Every animal that parts the hoof, and has the hoof cloven in two, [and] chews the cud, among the animals, that may you eat. 7 Nevertheless these you shall not eat of them that chew the cud, or of those who have the hoof cloven: the camel, and the hare, and the rabbit; because they chew the cud but don`t part the hoof, they are unclean to you. 8 The pig, because he doesn`t part the hoof but doesn`t chew the cud, he is unclean to you: of their flesh you shall not eat, and their carcasses you shall not touch. 9 These you may eat of all that are in the waters: whatever has fins and scales may you eat; 10 and whatever doesn`t have fins and scales you shall not eat; it is unclean to you. 11 Of all clean birds you may eat. 12 But these are they of which you shall not eat: the eagle, and the gier-eagle, and the ospray, 13 and the red kite, and the falcon, and the kite after its kind, 14 and every raven after its kind, 15 and the ostrich, and the night-hawk, and the sea-mew, and the hawk after its kind, 16 the little owl, and the great owl, and the horned owl, 17 and the pelican, and the vulture, and the cormorant, 18 and the stork, and the heron after its kind, and the hoopoe, and the bat. 19 All winged creeping things are unclean to you: they shall not be eaten. 20 Of all clean birds you may eat. 21 You shall not eat of anything that dies of itself: you may give it to the sojourner who is within your gates, that he may eat it; or you may sell it to a foreigner: for you are a holy people to Yahweh your God. You shall not boil a kid in its mother`s milk. 22 You shall surely tithe all the increase of your seed, that which comes forth from the field year by year. 23 You shall eat before Yahweh your God, in the place which he shall choose, to cause his name to dwell there, the tithe of your grain, of your new wine, and of your oil, and the firstborn of your herd and of your flock; that you may learn to fear Yahweh your God always. 24 If the way be too long for you, so that you are not able to carry it, because the place is too far from you, which Yahweh your God shall choose, to set His name there, when Yahweh your God shall bless you; 25 then shall you turn it into money, and bind up the money in your hand, and shall go to the place which Yahweh your God shall choose: 26 and you shall bestow the money for whatever your soul desires, for oxen, or for sheep, or for wine, or for strong drink, or for whatever your soul asks of you; and you shall eat there before Yahweh your God, and you shall rejoice, you and your household. 27 The Levite who is within your gates, you shall not forsake him; for he has no portion nor inheritance with you. 28 At the end of every three years you shall bring forth all the tithe of your increase in the same year, and shall lay it up within your gates: 29 and the Levite, because he has no portion nor inheritance with you, and the sojourner, and the fatherless, and the widow, who are within your gates, shall come, and shall eat and be satisfied; that Yahweh your God may bless you in all the work of your hand which you do.

Chapter 15

15:1 At the end of every seven years you shall make a release. 2 This is the manner of the release: every creditor shall release that which he has lent to his neighbor; he shall not exact it of his neighbor and his brother; because Yahweh`s release has been proclaimed. 3 Of a foreigner you may exact it: but whatever of your is with your brother your hand shall release. 4 However there shall be no poor with you; (for Yahweh will surely bless you in the land which Yahweh your God gives you for an inheritance to possess it;) 5 if only you diligently listen to the voice of Yahweh your God, to observe to do all this commandment which I command you this day. 6 For Yahweh your God will bless you, as He promised you: and you shall lend to many nations, but you shall not borrow; and you shall rule over many nations, but they shall not rule over you. 7 If there be with you a poor man, one of your brothers, within any of your gates in your land which Yahweh your God gives you, you shall not harden your heart, nor shut your hand from your poor brother; 8 but you shall surely open your hand to him, and shall surely lend him sufficient for his need [in that] which he wants. 9 Beware that there not be a base thought in your heart, saying, The seventh year, the year of release, is at hand; and your eye be evil against your poor brother, and you give him nothing; and he cry to Yahweh against you, and it be sin to you. 10 You shall surely give him, and your heart shall not be grieved when you give to him; because that for this thing Yahweh your God will bless you in all your work, and in all that you put your hand to. 11 For the poor will never cease out of the land: therefore I command you, saying, You shall surely open your hand to your brother, to your needy, and to your poor, in your land. 12 If your brother, a Hebrew man, or a Hebrew woman, be sold to you, and serve you six years; then in the seventh year you shall let him go free from you. 13 When you let him go free from you, you shall not let him go empty: 14 you shall furnish him liberally out of your flock, and out of your threshing floor, and out of your winepress; as Yahweh your God has blessed you, you shall give to him. 15 You shall remember that you were a bondservant in the land of Egypt, and Yahweh your God redeemed you: therefore I command you this thing today. 16 It shall be, if he tell you, I will not go out from you; because he loves you and your house, because he is well with you; 17 then you shall take an awl, and thrust it through his ear to the door, and he shall be your servant forever. Also to your maid-servant you shall do likewise. 18 It shall not seem hard to you, when you let him go free from you; for to the double of the hire of a hireling has he served you six years: and Yahweh your God will bless you in all that you do. 19 All the firstborn males that are born of your herd and of your flock you shall sanctify to Yahweh your God: you shall do no work with the firstborn of your herd, nor shear the firstborn of your flock. 20 You shall eat it before Yahweh your God year by year in the place which Yahweh shall choose, you and your household. 21 If it have any blemish, [as if it be] lame or blind, any ill blemish whatever, you shall not sacrifice it to Yahweh your God. 22 You shall eat it within your gates: the unclean and the clean [shall eat it] alike, as the gazelle, and as the hart. 23 Only you shall not eat its blood; you shall pour it out on the ground as water.

Leviticus 16 & 26 Atonement, Blessings, Cursing

Leviticus 16 & 26 Atonement, Blessings, Cursings 

© 2011 WF Cobb Truthbase.net  Audio will be posted in a few days

I. The Day of Atonement Covered Sin so people could have a relationship with God to serve Him

A. It did not pay the death penalty (Scapegoat driven out into the wilderness). It did not cleanse the conscience.

Heb 10:1 For the law, having a shadow of the good things to come..can never with these same sacrifices, which they offer continually year by year, make those who approach perfect. 2 For then would they not have ceased to be offered? For the worshipers, once purified, would have had no more consciousness of sins 4 For it is not possible that the blood of bulls and goats could take away sins. (Rm 11:27)

B. Adam lost glory; holiness, intimate fellowship with God in the Garden; got mortality/work. Covered with blood sacrifice, but no glory.

Israel redeemed by Passover blood, had faith Ex 14 1Cor 10; forgiveness; manna & fellowship, but could lose benefits by disobedience.

Ex 32:33 (gold calf) "Whoever has sinned against Me, I will blot him out of My book. in the day when I visit for punishment, I will visit punishment upon them for their sin." 35 So the LORD plagued the people because of what they did with the calf which Aaron made.

Num 14:19 Pardon the iniquity of this people, acc to the greatness of Your mercy, just as You have forgiven this people, from Egypt even until now." 20 "I have pardoned, according to your word; 22 have not heeded My voice 23...they certainly shall not see the land.

C. Lev 16:21 Aaron shall lay both his hands on the head of the live go-goat, confess over it all the iniquities of the children of Israel, and all their transgressions, concerning all their sins, putting them on the head of the goat, and shall send it away into the wilderness

Machzor: (10x) “For the sin which we have committed before Thee by: denying and lying, bribery; scoffing, slander; in commerce; in eating and drinking; usurious interest; pride; idle gossip; wanton looks; haughty eyes, effrontery; For all these, O God of forgiveness, forgive us, pardon us, grant us atonement.” Lk 7:8-9 don't say:“We have Abraham as our father..”

D. Lev 16:30 For on that day the priest shall make atonement for you, to cleanse you, that you may be clean from all your sins before the LORD.31 It is a sabbath of solemn rest for you, and you shall afflict/humble/occupied with (Piel) your souls. It is a statute forever.

II. Blessing or Cursing of a Redeemed and Forgiven People: Choose your Consequences

Lev 26:3 ' If you walk in My statutes and keep My commandments, and perform them, 4 then I will give you rain, produce, fruit, vintage, bread, safely, peace, unafraid; no evil beasts, no sword, chase your enemies 5/100; 100/10k; 9 'I will look on you favorably and make you fruitful, multiply you and confirm My covenant with you. 11 I will set My tabernacle among you, and My soul shall not abhor you. 12 I will walk among you and be your God, and you shall be My people. 13 I am the LORD your God, who brought you out of the land of Egypt, that you should not be their slaves; I have broken the bands of your yoke and made you walk upright.

14 ' But if you do not obey Me, and do not observe all these commandments, 15 and if you despise My statutes, or if your soul abhors My judgments, so that you do not perform all My commandments, but break My covenant, 16 I also will do this to you...(five levels) 40 ' But if they confess their iniquity...with their unfaithfulness in which they were unfaithful to Me, and that they also have walked contrary to Me, 41 and that I also have walked contrary to them and have brought them into the land of their enemies; if their uncircumcised hearts are humbled, and they accept their guilt --- 42 then I will remember My covenant 44 Yet for all that, when they are in the land of their enemies, I will not cast them away, nor shall I abhor them, to utterly destroy them and break My covenant with them; for I am the LORD their God. 45 But for their sake I will remember the covenant of their ancestors, whom I brought out of the land of Egypt in the sight of the nations, that I might be their God: I am the LORD.' " 46 These are the statutes and judgments and laws which the LORD made between Himself and the children of Israel on Mount Sinai by the hand of Moses. (Heb 8:13 aging)

Heb 6:7 For the earth which drinks in the rain that often comes upon it, and bears herbs useful for those by whom it is cultivated, receives blessing from God;8 but if it bears thorns and briers, it is rejected and near to being cursed, whose end is to be burned. (Jn 15:6; 1Cor 3:15)

III. The Blessing of a Cleansed Conscience and the Service that should Follow

Heb 9:13 For if the blood of bulls and goats and the ashes of a heifer, sprinkling the unclean, sanctifies for the purifying of the flesh,14 how much more shall the blood of Christ, who thru the eternal Spirit offered Himself without spot to God, cleanse your conscience from dead works to serve the living God?15 And for this reason He is the Mediator of the new covenant, by means of death, for the redemption of the transgressions under the first covenant, that those who are called may receive the promise of the eternal inheritance.

Jer 31:33 this is the covenant that I will make with the house of Israel (them Heb 10:16) after those days, says the LORD: I will put My law in their minds, and write it on their hearts; and I will be their God, and they shall be My people.34...they all shall know Me, from the least of them to the greatest of them, says the LORD. For I will forgive their iniquity, and their sin I will remember no more."

Heb 10:19 Therefore, brethren, having boldness to enter the Holiest by the blood of Jesus, 20 by a new and living way which He consecrated for us, thru the veil, that is, His flesh, 21 and having a High Priest over the house of God, 22 let us draw near with a true heart in full assurance of faith, having our hearts sprinkled from an evil conscience and our bodies washed with pure water. 23 Let us hold fast the confession of our hope without wavering, for He who promised is faithful.24 And let us consider one another in order to stir up love and good works, 25 not forsaking the assembling of ourselves together, as is the manner of some, but exhorting one another, and so much the more as you see the Day approaching. 26-39 If we sin willfully after we have rec'd knowledge of the Truth...

Questions for Reflection/Discussion/Response:

1. How much thought/affliction should a NT believer give to their “soul” as did Israel on the Day of Atonement (Lev 16:31)?

2. Why would God write the law on Israel's heart in the New Covenant (Jer 31:33) if it has no value post-Christ? How is the law on your heart?

3. Does God bless all or curse any redeemed, faith-exercising, pardoned, and forgiven believers? Is it all milk and honey? Heb 10:26-39

4. What happens if NT believers don't faithfully follow in obedience (cx Israel) after they are redeemed? See Heb 10:26-39 (next week).

5. What is the relationship between having a “cleansed conscience” and serving God in faith, hope, and love? How do you do that?

Leviticus 16-17 Day of Atonement and the Goat God

Psalm 18:1-27 Why Should God Save You?

18:1 “I will love You, O Yahweh, my strength. 2 The Yahweh is my rock and my fortress and my deliverer; My God, my strength, in whom I will trust; My shield and the horn of my salvation, my stronghold. 3 I will call upon the Yahweh, Who is worthy to be praised; So shall I be saved/delivered from my enemies. 4 The pangs of death surrounded me...6 In my distress I called upon the Yahweh...He heard my voice from His temple, And my cry came before Him, even to His ears. 7 Then the earth shook and trembled...16 He sent from above, He took me; He drew me out of many waters. 17 He delivered me from my strong enemy, From those who hated me, For they were too strong for me. 18 They confronted me in the day of my calamity, But the Yahweh was my support. 19 He also brought me out into a broad place; He delivered me BECAUSE He delighted in me. 20 The Yahweh rewarded me according to my righteousness; According to the cleanness of my hands He has recompensed me. 21 For I have kept the ways of the Yahweh, and have not wickedly departed from my God. 23 I was also blameless before Him, and I kept myself from my iniquity. 24 Therefore Yahweh has recompensed me according to my righteousness, according to the cleanness of my hands in His sight. 25 With the merciful You will show Yourself merciful; With a blameless man You will show Yourself blameless; 26 With the pure You will show Yourself pure; and with the devious You will show Yourself shrewd. 27 For You will save the humble people, but will bring down haughty looks.

Observation: We can only scratch the surface of this Psalm, magnificent in its imagery and message. In overwhelming trouble, David calls, God delivers, from the hand of Saul and enemies more mighty than he. The basis of David's appeal is his righteousness. There are over a dozen aspects of it in Psalm 18:20-27. Can you find them?

Application: Does God delight in you? Why or why not? What can you do about it?

Prayer: O Yahweh, You are my trustworthy, Strength, Rock, Fortress, Shield, Stronghold, Savior, Deliverer, Support, and fire breathing, earth shaking Rescuer and Recompenser. I'd be crazy not to trust you. Amen.

Proverbs 5:15-17 Refreshing Water

5:15 “Drink water out of your own cistern, running water out of your own well. 16 Should your springs overflow in the streets, streams of water in the public squares? 17 Let them be for yourself alone, not for strangers with you.“

Observations: 5:15-17 One of the purposes of Proverbs is to give wisdom that protects the reader from the things that lead to death rather than the abundant life. Here the author advocates fidelity and enjoyment with one's spouse, rather than infidelity with strangers.

Proverbs 2:12 “To deliver you from the way of evil...16 To deliver you from the immoral woman, from the seductress who flatters with her words...18 For her house leads down to death...19 None who go to her return, nor do they regain the paths of life.”

Application: A mutually satisfying marriage bed safeguards the marriage from temptation and destruction.

Prayer: Lord thanks that You are concerned about my desires; You not only created them, but also the wise way to satisfy them. Amen.

Leviticus 16-17 Day of Atonement and the Goat God

Leviticus 16 Yom Kippur, the Day of Atonement

16:1 "Yahweh spoke to Moses, after the death of the two sons of Aaron, when they drew near before Yahweh, and died; 2 and Yahweh said to Moses, Speak to Aaron your brother, that he doesn`t come at all times into the holy place within the veil, before the mercy seat which is on the ark; that he not die: for I will appear in the cloud on the mercy seat. 3 Herewith shall Aaron come into the holy place: with a young bull for a sin offering, and a ram for a burnt offering. 4 He shall put on the holy linen coat...6 Aaron shall present the bull of the sin-offering, which is for himself, and make atonement for himself, and for his house. 7 He shall take the two goats, and set them before Yahweh at the door of the tent of meeting. 8 Aaron shall cast lots on the two goats; one lot for Yahweh, and the other lot for Azazel (Go Goat). 9 Aaron shall present the goat on which the lot fell for Yahweh, and offer him for a sin-offering. 10 But the goat, on which the lot fell for Azazel/Scapegoat, shall be set alive before Yahweh, to make atonement for him, to send him away for Azazel/Scapegoat into the wilderness. 11...shall kill the bull of the sin-offering which is for himself: 12 and he shall take a censer full of coals of fire from off the altar before Yahweh, and his hands full of sweet incense beaten small, and bring it within the veil: 13 and he shall put the incense on the fire before Yahweh, that the cloud of the incense may cover the mercy seat that is on the testimony, that he not die: 14 and he shall take of the blood of the bull, and sprinkle it with his finger on the mercy seat on the east; and before the mercy seat shall he sprinkle of the blood with his finger seven times. 15 Then shall he kill the goat of the sin-offering, that is for the people, and bring his blood within the veil, and do with his blood as he did with the blood of the bull, and sprinkle it on the mercy seat, and before the mercy seat: 16 and he shall make atonement for the holy place, because of the uncleanness of the children of Israel, and because of their transgressions, even all their sins: and so shall he do for the tent of meeting, that dwells with them in the midst of their uncleanness.

20 When he has made an end of atoning for the holy place, and the tent of meeting, and the altar, he shall present the live goat: 21 and Aaron shall lay both his hands on the head of the live goat, and confess over him all the iniquities of the children of Israel, and all their transgressions, even all their sins; and he shall put them on the head of the goat, and shall send him away by the hand of a man who is in readiness into the wilderness: 22 and the goat shall bear on him all their iniquities to a solitary land: and he shall let go the goat in the wilderness....24 and he shall bathe his flesh in water in a holy place, and put on his garments, and come forth, and offer his burnt offering and the burnt offering of the people, and make atonement for himself and for the people.

27 The bull of the sin-offering, and the goat of the sin-offering, whose blood was brought in to make atonement in the holy place, shall be carried forth outside of the camp; and they shall burn in the fire their skins, and their flesh, and their dung.

29 It shall be a statute forever to you: in the seventh month, on the tenth day of the month, you shall afflict/humbe your souls, and shall do no manner of work, the home-born, or the stranger who sojourns among you: 30 for on this day shall atonement be made for you, to cleanse you; from all your sins shall you be clean before Yahweh. 31 It is a Sabbath of solemn rest to you, and you shall afflict/humble your souls; it is a statute forever. 34 This shall be an everlasting statute to you, to make atonement for the children of Israel because of all their sins once in the year. He did as Yahweh commanded Moses."

Observations: This is the annual Day of Atonement (Yom Kippur), six months after the Passover, when sins and transgressions (omission and commission) not covered by the sacrifices in Leviticus 1-7 (ie, willful and/or unknown sins) were atoned for.

16:6 Aaron first presented the bull for his own sins, before sacrificing it in 16:11. Only then he was able to do the priestly work for the people.

16:8 The totally unique feature of this sacrifice was the selection of one goat for sacrifice to Yahweh, and the other for being a scapegoat (“azazel” = literally “goat” and “go away/remove”). In Jewish apocryphal literature Azazel was a chief demon, but the goat is not sacrificed to a devil, for that would be an abomination. Sins would be confessed over the head of the scapegoat, who would carry the nation's sins into the wilderness. Although not specified in the Scriptures, they tied a white ribbon on Yahweh's goat, and a red ribbon on the scapegoat. According to the Talmud (rabbinical interpretation), when the scapegoat was pushed over a cliff (an extra-Biblical innovation to prevent it from wandering back into camp) the ribbon changed color from red to white. This signified the acceptance of the sacrifice and indicated that Yahweh had forgiven their sins. Astonishingly, the Talmud records that forty years (a generation's span) before the AD 70 destruction of the temple (AD 30, the year of Christ's crucifixion) the ribbon no longer changed color! See Digging Deeper for more.

16:14 This is the only day of the year anyone was allowed into the Holy of Holies.

16:22 It's significant that the scapegoat was not sacrificed. Hebrews 10:4 tells us “it is impossible for the blood of bulls and goats to take away sins.” The sacrifices merely covered over the offenses. Since a human sinned, a human has to die. The fact that goat was not killed showed that sin hadn't been dealt the death blow, but needed to be removed from the presence of God in the midst of His people.

16:24 After presenting the sin-offering (and a quick bath and clothes change) whole burnt-offerings (symbol of complete dedication) were offered for the priest and then the people. It doesn't stop at forgiveness, God wants complete dedication.

16:29 “Afflict/humble” is the intensive intentional form of the verb that means “to be occupied or busy with.” Reflection on one's sins and shortcomings is a good idea, so we can identify problems and implement solutions. To wallow in the same mud year after year is to waste one's life.

Hebrews 7:25 Therefore he is also able to save to the uttermost those who draw near to God through him, seeing that he lives forever to make intercession for them. 26 For such a high priest was fitting for us: holy, guiltless, undefiled, separated from sinners, and made higher than the heavens; 27 who doesn't need, like those high priests, to offer up sacrifices daily, first for his own sins, and then for the sins of the people. For he did this once for all, when he offered up himself.

Application: We can only approach God on His terms, as He has specified, especially in the service of others. It doesn't stop at forgiveness, God wants complete dedication (16:24).

Prayer: Holy God, I praise You for being a merciful and just God, who provides His people with means of forgiveness and cleansing so we can have a wholly dedicated relationship with You. Amen.

Leviticus 17 Goat Worship and Blood

17:1 "Yahweh spoke to Moses, saying, 2 Speak to Aaron, and to his sons, and to all the children of Israel, and tell them: This is the thing which Yahweh has commanded, saying, 3 Whatever man there be of the house of Israel, who kills an ox, or lamb, or goat, in the camp, or who kills it outside of the camp, 4 and hasn`t brought it to the door of the tent of meeting, to offer it as an offering to Yahweh before the tent of Yahweh: blood shall be imputed to that man; he has shed blood; and that man shall be cut off from among his people: 5 To the end that the children of Israel may bring their sacrifices, which they sacrifice in the open field, even that they may bring them to Yahweh, to the door of the tent of meeting, to the priest, and sacrifice them for sacrifices of peace-offerings to Yahweh. 6 The priest shall sprinkle the blood on the altar of Yahweh at the door of the tent of meeting, and burn the fat for a sweet savor to Yahweh. 7 They shall no more sacrifice their sacrifices to the goat demons (NASB), after which they play the prostitute. This shall be a statute forever to them throughout their generations. 8 You shall tell them, Whatever man there be of the house of Israel, or of the strangers who sojourn among them, who offers a burnt offering or sacrifice, 9 and doesn`t bring it to the door of the tent of meeting, to sacrifice it to Yahweh; that man shall be cut off from his people. 10 Whatever man there be of the house of Israel, or of the strangers who sojourn among them, who eats any manner of blood, I will set my face against that soul who eats blood, and will cut him off from among his people.

11 For the life of the flesh is in the blood; and I have given it to you on the altar to make atonement for your souls: for it is the blood that makes atonement by reason of the life. 12 Therefore I said to the children of Israel, No soul of you shall eat blood, neither shall any stranger who sojourns among you eat blood. 13 Whatever man there be of the children of Israel, or of the strangers who sojourn among them, who takes in hunting any animal or bird that may be eaten; he shall pour out the blood of it, and cover it with dust. 14 For as to the life of all flesh, the blood of it is [all one] with the life of it: therefore I said to the children of Israel, You shall eat the blood of no manner of flesh; for the life of all flesh is the blood of it: whoever eats it shall be cut off..."

Observations: 17:4 It looks like any sacrificable animal had to have its blood and fat presented to Yahweh. Present doesn't necessarily mean sacrifice (16:6). Some commentators view this as a prohibition against eating meat apart for sacrifices (they did have manna) until they reached the promised land, where the prohibition was lifted (Dt 12:20). In any event the instruction seems to be designed to prevent defiling idol worship (17:7).

17:7 From the Go Goat to the worship of Goats? The deity of the city of Mendez in Northern Egypt, near where the pre-Exodus Israelites resided, was the Ram God, whose name was “Ba of the Lord of Djedet.” Ba was the enduring essence or soul in Egyptian thought, represented by a ram. Djedet was the pillar or backbone or other such part of Osiris. He was responsible for fertility. The KJV translates saiyr as “goat or kid” 52 times and as “devil or satyr” twice each.

17:11 This verse explains the essence of the sacrificial system. Disobedience and rebellion were punishable by death. Presenting the blood, in which was the life, demonstrated the worshiper was offering a life to cover or atone for his sin.

1 John 2:2 And he is the atoning sacrifice for our sins, and not for ours only, but also for the whole world. 1 John 4:10 In this is love, not that we loved God, but that he loved us, and sent his Son as the atoning sacrifice for our sins.

Application: Whether eating blood or offering sacrifices improperly or being cozy with demons, a redeemed person forfeits fellowship and blessing by disobedience.

Prayer: Gracious God, thank You for accepting the blood of another as the substitute for my sin, so I could be forgiven and rightly related to You. Amen.

Digging Deeper:

The Mystery of the Red Ribbon and the Black Rock

The rabbinical commentaries in the Talmud would not want to present the Day of Atonement as ineffective, for doing so would undermine the Scriptures. Nor would they want to lend any credence to the efficacy of Christ's death. But from both the Jerusalem and Babylonian Talmud we have the quotes below. Check out the elaboration in the link above, and additional background in the Jewish Encyclopedia below.

We read in the Jerusalem Talmud (Rabbinical Commentary):

"Forty years before the destruction of the Temple, the western light went out, the crimson thread remained crimson, and the lot for the Lord always came up in the left hand. They would close the gates of the Temple by night and get up in the morning and find them wide open" (Jacob Neusner, The Yerushalmi, p.156-157). [The Temple was destroyed in 70 CE]

A similar passage in the Babylonian Talmud states:

"Our rabbis taught: During the last forty years before the destruction of the Temple the lot ['For the Lord'] did not come up in the right hand; nor did the crimson-colored strap become white; nor did the western most light shine; and the doors of the Hekel [Temple] would open by themselves" (Soncino version, Yoma 39b).

http://www.3dbibleproject.com/en/temple/details/evidence.htm

Yoma, a treatise in the Mishnah, in the Tosefta, and in both Talmudim, treating of the divine service on the Day of Atonement:
Ch. vi.: regarding the ten stations in the journey from Jerusalem to the mountain-top from which the animal was thrown down; how it was thrown; how color-signals were used to make it known in Jerusalem and in the Temple that Azazel's goat had reached the wilderness; how to the door of the Hekal was tied a red ribbon, which turned white when the goat had arrived in the wilderness (§§ 4-8).
http://www.jewishencyclopedia.com/view.jsp?artid=77&letter=Y#ixzz1aTysDBUp

God in a nutshell: God graciously offers sinners (those who live independently of Him) a means to get back in His good graces, but only on His terms. He is concerned with more than our forgiveness, but with our blessing, which requires purity, hence the whole burnt-offering (complete dedication) is required.

Us in a nutshell: Failure to follow God's revelation get us in trouble in the first place, so God offers a corrective, requiring explicit and specific obedience. When we submit our will to His, we get forgiven. But it doesn't end there (sin-offering); we need to totally dedicate ourselves to purity and separation from defilement (whole burnt-offering) or we will be separated or cut off from blessing.

Where to Go for More:

Truthbase.net

Leviticus 16-17 (complete text)

Leviticus 16

16:1 Yahweh spoke to Moses, after the death of the two sons of Aaron, when they drew near before Yahweh, and died; 2 and Yahweh said to Moses, Speak to Aaron your brother, that he doesn`t come at all times into the holy place within the veil, before the mercy seat which is on the ark; that he not die: for I will appear in the cloud on the mercy seat. 3 Herewith shall Aaron come into the holy place: with a young bull for a sin offering, and a ram for a burnt offering. 4 He shall put on the holy linen coat, and he shall have the linen breeches on his flesh, and shall be girded with the linen sash, and with the linen mitre shall he be attired: they are the holy garments; and he shall bathe his flesh in water, and put them on. 5 He shall take of the congregation of the children of Israel two male goats for a sin-offering, and one ram for a burnt offering. 6 Aaron shall present the bull of the sin-offering, which is for himself, and make atonement for himself, and for his house. 7 He shall take the two goats, and set them before Yahweh at the door of the tent of meeting. 8 Aaron shall cast lots on the two goats; one lot for Yahweh, and the other lot for Azazel. 9 Aaron shall present the goat on which the lot fell for Yahweh, and offer him for a sin-offering. 10 But the goat, on which the lot fell for Azazel, shall be set alive before Yahweh, to make atonement for him, to send him away for Azazel into the wilderness. 11 Aaron shall present the bull of the sin-offering, which is for himself, and shall make atonement for himself, and for his house, and shall kill the bull of the sin-offering which is for himself: 12 and he shall take a censer full of coals of fire from off the altar before Yahweh, and his hands full of sweet incense beaten small, and bring it within the veil: 13 and he shall put the incense on the fire before Yahweh, that the cloud of the incense may cover the mercy seat that is on the testimony, that he not die: 14 and he shall take of the blood of the bull, and sprinkle it with his finger on the mercy seat on the east; and before the mercy seat shall he sprinkle of the blood with his finger seven times. 15 Then shall he kill the goat of the sin-offering, that is for the people, and bring his blood within the veil, and do with his blood as he did with the blood of the bull, and sprinkle it on the mercy seat, and before the mercy seat: 16 and he shall make atonement for the holy place, because of the uncleanness of the children of Israel, and because of their transgressions, even all their sins: and so shall he do for the tent of meeting, that dwells with them in the midst of their uncleanness. 17 There shall be no man in the tent of meeting when he goes in to make atonement in the holy place, until he come out, and have made atonement for himself, and for his household, and for all the assembly of Israel. 18 He shall go out to the altar that is before Yahweh, and make atonement for it, and shall take of the blood of the bull, and of the blood of the goat, and put it on the horns of the altar round about. 19 He shall sprinkle of the blood on it with his finger seven times, and cleanse it, and make it holy from the uncleanness of the children of Israel. 20 When he has made an end of atoning for the holy place, and the tent of meeting, and the altar, he shall present the live goat: 21 and Aaron shall lay both his hands on the head of the live goat, and confess over him all the iniquities of the children of Israel, and all their transgressions, even all their sins; and he shall put them on the head of the goat, and shall send him away by the hand of a man who is in readiness into the wilderness: 22 and the goat shall bear on him all their iniquities to a solitary land: and he shall let go the goat in the wilderness. 23 Aaron shall come into the tent of meeting, and shall put off the linen garments, which he put on when he went into the holy place, and shall leave them there: 24 and he shall bathe his flesh in water in a holy place, and put on his garments, and come forth, and offer his burnt offering and the burnt offering of the people, and make atonement for himself and for the people. 25 The fat of the sin-offering shall he burn on the altar. 26 He who lets go the goat for Azazel shall wash his clothes, and bathe his flesh in water, and afterward he shall come into the camp. 27 The bull of the sin-offering, and the goat of the sin-offering, whose blood was brought in to make atonement in the holy place, shall be carried forth outside of the camp; and they shall burn in the fire their skins, and their flesh, and their dung. 28 He who burns them shall wash his clothes, and bathe his flesh in water, and afterward he shall come into the camp. 29 It shall be a statute forever to you: in the seventh month, on the tenth day of the month, you shall afflict your souls, and shall do no manner of work, the home-born, or the stranger who sojourns among you: 30 for on this day shall atonement be made for you, to cleanse you; from all your sins shall you be clean before Yahweh. 31 It is a Sabbath of solemn rest to you, and you shall afflict your souls; it is a statute forever. 32 The priest, who shall be anointed and who shall be consecrated to be priest in his father`s place, shall make the atonement, and shall put on the linen garments, even the holy garments: 33 and he shall make atonement for the holy sanctuary; and he shall make atonement for the tent of meeting and for the altar; and he shall make atonement for the priests and for all the people of the assembly. 34 This shall be an everlasting statute to you, to make atonement for the children of Israel because of all their sins once in the year. He did as Yahweh commanded Moses.

Leviticus 17

17:1 Yahweh spoke to Moses, saying, 2 Speak to Aaron, and to his sons, and to all the children of Israel, and tell them: This is the thing which Yahweh has commanded, saying, 3 Whatever man there be of the house of Israel, who kills an ox, or lamb, or goat, in the camp, or who kills it outside of the camp, 4 and hasn`t brought it to the door of the tent of meeting, to offer it as an offering to Yahweh before the tent of Yahweh: blood shall be imputed to that man; he has shed blood; and that man shall be cut off from among his people: 5 To the end that the children of Israel may bring their sacrifices, which they sacrifice in the open field, even that they may bring them to Yahweh, to the door of the tent of meeting, to the priest, and sacrifice them for sacrifices of peace-offerings to Yahweh. 6 The priest shall sprinkle the blood on the altar of Yahweh at the door of the tent of meeting, and burn the fat for a sweet savor to Yahweh. 7 They shall no more sacrifice their sacrifices to the male goats, after which they play the prostitute. This shall be a statute forever to them throughout their generations. 8 You shall tell them, Whatever man there be of the house of Israel, or of the strangers who sojourn among them, who offers a burnt offering or sacrifice, 9 and doesn`t bring it to the door of the tent of meeting, to sacrifice it to Yahweh; that man shall be cut off from his people. 10 Whatever man there be of the house of Israel, or of the strangers who sojourn among them, who eats any manner of blood, I will set my face against that soul who eats blood, and will cut him off from among his people. 11 For the life of the flesh is in the blood; and I have given it to you on the altar to make atonement for your souls: for it is the blood that makes atonement by reason of the life. 12 Therefore I said to the children of Israel, No soul of you shall eat blood, neither shall any stranger who sojourns among you eat blood. 13 Whatever man there be of the children of Israel, or of the strangers who sojourn among them, who takes in hunting any animal or bird that may be eaten; he shall pour out the blood of it, and cover it with dust. 14 For as to the life of all flesh, the blood of it is [all one] with the life of it: therefore I said to the children of Israel, You shall eat the blood of no manner of flesh; for the life of all flesh is the blood of it: whoever eats it shall be cut off. 15 Every soul who eats that which dies of itself, or that which is torn of animals, whether he be home-born or a sojourner, he shall wash his clothes, and bathe himself in water, and be unclean until the even: then shall he be clean. 16 But if he doesn`t wash them, nor bathe his flesh, then he shall bear his iniquity.

Exodus 25-28 Architecture and Fashion

Psalm 14:1-4 Seek God

14:1 “The fool has said in his heart, "There is no God." They are corrupt. They have done abominable works. There is none who does good. 2 Yahweh looked down from heaven on the children of men, to see if there were any who did understand, who did seek after God. 3 They have all gone aside. They have together become corrupt. There is none who does good, no, not one. 4 Have all the workers of iniquity no knowledge, who eat up my people as they eat bread, and don't call on Yahweh?”

Observation: Unless you are a self-caused being, it is more reasonable to believe in a Creator than not. Thus it is foolish to choose the unreasonable. (See 7 QUESTIONS in sidebar and outlines on Truthbase.net in Resources below.)

14:3 “gone aside” and “become corrupt” points to the move away from what's right. We're either headed uphill or sliding downward.

14:4 Note that this is not a blanket condemnation of humanity, but of a group of evil doers who oppress God's people (see rest of the Psalm).

Application: Don't live like a practical atheist. Seek God, do good, call on Him.

Jeremiah 29:13 You shall seek me, and find me, when you shall search for me with all your heart.

Prayer: God, thanks that you promised I will find You when I seek You wholeheartedly. Amen.

Proverbs 4:14-16 Avoiding the Paths to Sin

4:14 “Don’t enter into the path of the wicked. Don’t walk in the way of evil men. 15 Avoid it, and don’t pass by it. Turn from it, and pass on. 16 For they don’t sleep, unless they do evil. Their sleep is taken away, unless they make someone fall.“

Observations: 4:14-16 If you don't walk down the path toward sin, you can't enter or fall in its traps. Therefore, don't follow the ways of the wicked, or you'll become wicked. The wise person will take preventative action to identify and avoid the entry points on the expressway to evil. If they find themselves near it or are caught unawares, they will turn from it and pass by it. The wicked actively do their master's will, compelled to make others like themselves. Don't even go near them

Application: Identify the entrance or trigger points for sin (temptation) and avoid at all costs.

Prayer: God, give me insight into the paths to sin that I might be tempted by, and give me the grace to flee. Amen.

Exodus 25-29 Lots of architectural and fashion details (see pictures), which are elaborated later in the book. Some people devote more time than is wise speculating on the symbolism. We'll spend our time on the things God specifically states He wants us to believe and do. The Tabernacle was a portable temple (tent) which lead Israel into the Promised Land. Eventually Solomon built a more permanent temple in Jerusalem.

Exodus 25 The Tabernacle

25:1 Yahweh spoke to Moses, saying, 2 "Speak to the children of Israel, that they take an offering for me. From everyone whose heart makes him willing you shall take my offering. 8 Let them make me a sanctuary, that I may dwell among them.10 "They shall make an ark 11 You shall overlay it with pure gold. Inside and outside...16 You shall put the testimony which I shall give you into the ark. 17 You shall make a mercy seat of pure gold...18 You shall make two cherubim of hammered gold...20 The cherubim shall spread out their wings upward, covering the mercy seat with their wings, with their faces toward one another. 22 There I will meet with you, and I will tell you from above the mercy seat, from between the two cherubim which are on the ark of the testimony, all that I command you for the children of Israel. 23 "You shall make a table 24 overlay it with pure gold 28 You shall make the poles of acacia wood, and overlay them with gold, that the table may be carried with them. 29 You shall make its dishes, its spoons, its ladles, and its bowls to pour out offerings with. Of pure gold shall you make them. 30 You shall set bread of the presence on the table before me always. 31 "You shall make a lampstand...40 See that you make them after their pattern, which has been shown to you on the mountain."

Exodus 26 Mercy Seat

26:1 "Moreover you shall make the tent 30 You shall set up the tent according to the way that it was shown to you on the mountain. 31 "You shall make a veil...with cherubim. The work of the skillful workman shall it be made. 33...and the veil shall separate the holy place from the most holy for you. 34 You shall put the mercy seat on the ark of the testimony in the most holy place. 35 You shall set the table outside the veil, and the lampstand..."

Observations: 25:2 Giving for the tabernacle was a free-will response to God. They had the gold because they obeyed God in asking the Egyptians for it.

2Cor 9:7 Let each man give according as he has determined in his heart; not grudgingly, or under compulsion; for God loves a cheerful giver.

25:10 Note the order of importance, first place goes to the ark that would contain the testimony or covenant. The mercy seat, where they sprinkled the blood of certain sacrifices, was placed between the law and God. When He looked down upon the law and and saw that it was violated (rebellion punishable by death) He would see the blood covering over (atoning for) their sin until Christ could pay the actual penalty.

Hebrews 10:4 For it is impossible that the blood of bulls and goats should take away sins.

25:30-1 The table on which was placed the bread, was followed by the lampstand, and then the tent/tabernacle itself in chapter 26.
The lampstand contained a talent of gold (75 pounds) worth over two million US dollars today. There is not a specific explanation of the meaning of the tabernacle table of bread and the lamp in Scripture, although bread and lampstands are mentioned. Decent explanations might be that the table of bread symbolized fellowship with God, since covenants were initiated and renewed with a meal. The covenant served as the basis of Israel being a light to the nations, a light resulting from their pure relationship with God, which was never to go out.
25:40; 26:30 Everything had gold rings, through which went gold covered poles to carry them. All had to be made as God showed Moses. Heb 9:23 says these are copies of the originals in the heavens.

26:33 The most holy place, in which was the ark of the covenant covered with the mercy seat, was separated, by a veil, from the holy place containing the table, bread, and lampstand.

Application: God gives to us so we can give to him.

See: Five part series outlining Faithfulness with our Treasure/Money on Truthbase.net.

Prayer: Lord, thanks that by Your mercy, I have a new heart. May I honor You with all my responses to Your goodness to me.  Amen.

Exodus 27 Altar, Court, and Tent of Meeting

The Arch of Titus in Rome. The Jewish captives can be seen in Rome carrying the pure golden Menorah from the Second Temple in Jerusalem together with other holy vessels from the Temple.

27:1 "You shall make the altar of acacia wood...2...overlay it with brass. 3 You shall make its pots to take away its ashes, its shovels, its basins, its flesh hooks, and its fire pans: all its vessels you shall make of brass. 9 You shall make the court of the tent...20 You shall command the children of Israel, that they bring to you pure olive oil beaten for the light, to cause a lamp to burn continually. 21 In the tent of meeting, outside the veil which is before the testimony, Aaron and his sons shall keep it in order from evening to morning before Yahweh: it shall be a statute forever throughout their generations on the behalf of the children of Israel.

Exodus 28 Holy to Yahweh

28:1 "Bring Aaron your brother, and his sons with him, near to you from among the children of Israel, that he may minister to me in the priest`s office, even Aaron, Nadab and Abihu, Eleazar and Ithamar, Aaron`s sons. 2 You shall make holy garments for Aaron your brother, for glory and for beauty. 3 You shall speak to all who are wise-hearted, whom I have filled with the spirit of wisdom, that they make Aaron`s garments to sanctify him, that he may minister to me in the priest`s office.

4 These are the garments which they shall make: a breastplate, and an ephod, and a robe, and a coat of checker work, a turban, and a sash 9 take two onyx stones, and engrave on them the names of the children of Israel: 12 put the two stones on the shoulder-pieces of the ephod...and Aaron shall bear their names before Yahweh on his two shoulders for a memorial. 15 "You shall make a breastplate of judgment 17 set in four rows of stones: 21 according to the names of the children of Israel, twelve....like the engravings of a signet 29 Aaron shall bear the names of the children of Israel in the breastplate of judgment on his heart, when he goes in to the holy place, for a memorial before Yahweh continually. 30 You shall put in the breastplate of judgment the Urim and the Thummim...31 "You shall make the robe of the ephod all of blue. 33 On its hem you shall make pomegranates and bells of gold 35 It shall be on Aaron to minister: and the sound of it shall be heard when he goes in to the holy place before Yahweh, and when he comes out, that he not die. 36 "You shall make a plate of pure gold, and engrave on it, like the engravings of a signet, `HOLY TO YAHWEH. 38 It shall be on Aaron`s forehead, and Aaron shall bear the iniquity of the holy things, which the children of Israel shall make holy in all their holy gifts; and it shall be always on his forehead, that they may be accepted before Yahweh. 40 "You shall make coats for Aaron`s sons, and you shall make sashes for them and headbands shall you make for them, for glory and for beauty. 41 You shall put them on Aaron your brother, and on his sons with him, and shall anoint them, and consecrate them, and sanctify them, that they may minister to me in the priest`s office. 42 You shall make them linen breeches to cover the flesh of their nakedness; from the loins even to the thighs they shall reach.

Observations: 27:2 A gold altar for incense was in the holy place, at the entrance to the holy of holies (Exodus 30). A brass altar was outside the holy place in the courtyard, where sin offerings were made.
28:3 Here's an example where wisdom is artistic, knowing what to make (right objective) and the skill to execute the design (means of attaining the objective).
28:36 It might not be a bad idea to impress on our brain "Holy to Yahweh," that way good actions might follow.

Application: We approach God on the basis of the sacrifice that paid for our sin (brass altar) in covenantal obedient fellowship (bread) and purity (oil), maintaining our witness. Only then can we offer prayers that are a pleasing sweet aroma (altar of incense) to Him.

Prayer: Holy God, I praise You for making an intimate relationship with You possible, may I live in Your presence continually.  Amen.

Digging Deeper:

God in a nutshell: God not only guides by general principles, but sometimes has something very specific in mind for us to do. God gives to us (usually through obedience) so we have all we need to do His will. God is only intimate with those who are holy, and He makes provision for our holiness.

Us in a nutshell: We should consider ourselves privileged to be invited into a relationship with God, and do whatever it takes to be in His presence. If we don't keep holiness in the forefront of our thinking, we'll default into defilement.