The Lord is awe-inspiring, fearsome, fascinating, intriguing, majestic, and full of splendor: breathtaking! Here is what I saw of him today and what came to my heart and mind in Leviticus 15:31,
"You must keep the Israelites separate from things that make them unclean, so they will not die in their uncleanness for defiling my dwelling place, which is among them."
There were unique responsibilities the Israelites had as the people of God. Because God chose them and decided to dwell among them, with his locus being the tabernacle (and eventually the temple in Solomon's day), it had its impact on what was expected from them.
For the first time ever, God had determined to make his presence among sinful and fallen mankind. The last time God dwelt among man was in the garden of Eden prior to their rebellion against him resulting in Adam and Eve being sent out from his presence.
In my mind, what made this possible was the coming of the Messiah who would satisfy God's forbearance in dwelling among sinful man, "God presented Christ as a sacrifice of atonement, through the shedding of his blood—to be received by faith. He did this to demonstrate his righteousness, because in his forbearance he had left the sins committed beforehand unpunished..." Romans 3:25.
Yet, in spite of this, there were some expectations God had of the Israelites as he dwelt among them as we read in Leviticus.
I am reminded we have expectations of us as God's children today. God dwells within each believer through the Holy Spirit and we are exhorted to make choices in light of that presence. "As obedient children, do not conform to the evil desires you had when you lived in ignorance. But just as he who called you is holy, so be holy in all you do; for it is written: 'Be holy, because I am holy.'" 1 Peter 1:14-16.
Peter quotes Leviticus 11:44-45 in his passage. There we read in regard to diet, "I am the Lord your God; consecrate yourselves and be holy, because I am holy. Do not make yourselves unclean by any creature that moves along the ground. I am the Lord, who brought you up out of Egypt to be your God; therefore be holy, because I am holy." Or, possibly Leviticus 19:2, where the Lord tells Moses, "Speak to the entire assembly of Israel and say to them: 'Be holy because I, the Lord your God, am holy.'"
"You must keep the Israelites separate from things that make them unclean, so they will not die in their uncleanness for defiling my dwelling place, which is among them."
There were unique responsibilities the Israelites had as the people of God. Because God chose them and decided to dwell among them, with his locus being the tabernacle (and eventually the temple in Solomon's day), it had its impact on what was expected from them.
For the first time ever, God had determined to make his presence among sinful and fallen mankind. The last time God dwelt among man was in the garden of Eden prior to their rebellion against him resulting in Adam and Eve being sent out from his presence.
In my mind, what made this possible was the coming of the Messiah who would satisfy God's forbearance in dwelling among sinful man, "God presented Christ as a sacrifice of atonement, through the shedding of his blood—to be received by faith. He did this to demonstrate his righteousness, because in his forbearance he had left the sins committed beforehand unpunished..." Romans 3:25.
Yet, in spite of this, there were some expectations God had of the Israelites as he dwelt among them as we read in Leviticus.
I am reminded we have expectations of us as God's children today. God dwells within each believer through the Holy Spirit and we are exhorted to make choices in light of that presence. "As obedient children, do not conform to the evil desires you had when you lived in ignorance. But just as he who called you is holy, so be holy in all you do; for it is written: 'Be holy, because I am holy.'" 1 Peter 1:14-16.
Peter quotes Leviticus 11:44-45 in his passage. There we read in regard to diet, "I am the Lord your God; consecrate yourselves and be holy, because I am holy. Do not make yourselves unclean by any creature that moves along the ground. I am the Lord, who brought you up out of Egypt to be your God; therefore be holy, because I am holy." Or, possibly Leviticus 19:2, where the Lord tells Moses, "Speak to the entire assembly of Israel and say to them: 'Be holy because I, the Lord your God, am holy.'"
I am also reminded of my many failures in this regard...
Anything of the Lord capture your heart from Scripture today? Share what moved you about him from your Bible reading today. I'd love to hear from you!
If you have someone you would like to receive these ruminations, send me their email address. I'm happy to add them to the list. If you are receiving this and would like to be removed from the list, just reply and let me know.
Anything of the Lord capture your heart from Scripture today? Share what moved you about him from your Bible reading today. I'd love to hear from you!
If you have someone you would like to receive these ruminations, send me their email address. I'm happy to add them to the list. If you are receiving this and would like to be removed from the list, just reply and let me know.
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