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 17:3-7,
"Any Israelite who sacrifices an ox, a lamb or a goat in the camp or outside of it instead of bringing it to the entrance to the tent of meeting to present it as an offering to the Lord in front of the tabernacle of the Lord—that person shall be considered guilty of bloodshed; they have shed blood and must be cut off from their people. This is so the Israelites will bring to the Lord the sacrifices they are now making in the open fields. They must bring them to the priest, that is, to the Lord, at the entrance to the tent of meeting and sacrifice them as fellowship offerings. The priest is to splash the blood against the altar of the Lord at the entrance to the tent of meeting and burn the fat as an aroma pleasing to the Lord. They must no longer offer any of their sacrifices to the goat idols to whom they prostitute themselves."
The last sentence in the above passage indicates the Israelites were at that time currently sacrificing offerings to these "goat" idols (the NIV footnotes "goat idols" as possibly "demons"). This command comes from the Lord as he instructs Moses in the law the Israelites were to keep as their part of the bargain in God's covenant with them.
Those who failed to heed these laws would be "held responsible", verse 16. They would be considered guilty of bloodshed, verse 4, and to be cut off from their people, verses 4, 9 and 14. Those who continued to engage in these sacrifices were considered to be prostituting themselves, verse 7. The Lord said he would set his face against those who ate blood, disobeying his laws given in this chapter and that he himself would cut them off from the people, verse10.
As we continue to read of Israel's history following the giving of the law by the Lord, we see they failed miserably in keeping it. Certainly a part of that failure had to do with a certain lack of fear and reverence for the Lord.
So it is today. People comport themselves in a manner that communicates not just a lack of fear and reverence for the Lord, but an incredible disregard for him. While some may fail to recognize an accounting we will all have to give for ourselves, all will stand in his presence and do just that, "We will all stand before God's judgment seat. It is written: 'As surely as I live,' says the Lord, 'every knee will bow before me; every tongue will acknowledge God.' So then, each of us will give an account of ourselves to God." Romans 14:10-12.
"Any Israelite who sacrifices an ox, a lamb or a goat in the camp or outside of it instead of bringing it to the entrance to the tent of meeting to present it as an offering to the Lord in front of the tabernacle of the Lord—that person shall be considered guilty of bloodshed; they have shed blood and must be cut off from their people. This is so the Israelites will bring to the Lord the sacrifices they are now making in the open fields. They must bring them to the priest, that is, to the Lord, at the entrance to the tent of meeting and sacrifice them as fellowship offerings. The priest is to splash the blood against the altar of the Lord at the entrance to the tent of meeting and burn the fat as an aroma pleasing to the Lord. They must no longer offer any of their sacrifices to the goat idols to whom they prostitute themselves."
The last sentence in the above passage indicates the Israelites were at that time currently sacrificing offerings to these "goat" idols (the NIV footnotes "goat idols" as possibly "demons"). This command comes from the Lord as he instructs Moses in the law the Israelites were to keep as their part of the bargain in God's covenant with them.
Those who failed to heed these laws would be "held responsible", verse 16. They would be considered guilty of bloodshed, verse 4, and to be cut off from their people, verses 4, 9 and 14. Those who continued to engage in these sacrifices were considered to be prostituting themselves, verse 7. The Lord said he would set his face against those who ate blood, disobeying his laws given in this chapter and that he himself would cut them off from the people, verse10.
As we continue to read of Israel's history following the giving of the law by the Lord, we see they failed miserably in keeping it. Certainly a part of that failure had to do with a certain lack of fear and reverence for the Lord.
So it is today. People comport themselves in a manner that communicates not just a lack of fear and reverence for the Lord, but an incredible disregard for him. While some may fail to recognize an accounting we will all have to give for ourselves, all will stand in his presence and do just that, "We will all stand before God's judgment seat. It is written: 'As surely as I live,' says the Lord, 'every knee will bow before me; every tongue will acknowledge God.' So then, each of us will give an account of ourselves to God." Romans 14:10-12.
Sobering, isn't it?!
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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