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 Numbers 8:5-6,
"The Lord said to Moses: 'Take the Levites from among all the Israelites and make them ceremonially clean.'"
At the inauguration of the Levites to the service of the Lord, they required a rite of purification. A baptism of sprinkled water ("the water of cleansing"), shaving, clothes washing and offerings were prescribed by the Lord for this purpose.
It is thought the "water of cleansing" was probably from the bronze basin for washing that we read of in Exodus 30:17-21. The basin was to hold water that the priests used for their hands and feet "so that they will not die", Exodus 30:20, 21. They were to use this water to purify themselves whenever they entered the tabernacle or approached the altar to present offerings.
The recognition of needing a ceremonial cleansing speaks of our sinful condition and estrangement from the Lord. Both the Aaronic priests and the Levitical priesthood were unacceptable before the Lord without this ceremonial "cleansing".
We too need a "cleansing" when we come to Jesus Christ in faith. Paul told Titus, "When the kindness and love of God our Savior appeared, he saved us, not because of righteous things we had done, but because of his mercy. He saved us through the washing of rebirth and renewal by the Holy Spirit, whom he poured out on us generously through Jesus Christ our Savior, so that, having been justified by his grace, we might become heirs having the hope of eternal life."
Jesus Christ said in Revelation 22:12-14, "Look, I am coming soon! My reward is with me, and I will give to each person according to what they have done. I am the Alpha and the Omega, the First and the Last, the Beginning and the End. Blessed are those who wash their robes, that they may have the right to the tree of life and may go through the gates into the city."
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.
"The Lord said to Moses: 'Take the Levites from among all the Israelites and make them ceremonially clean.'"
At the inauguration of the Levites to the service of the Lord, they required a rite of purification. A baptism of sprinkled water ("the water of cleansing"), shaving, clothes washing and offerings were prescribed by the Lord for this purpose.
It is thought the "water of cleansing" was probably from the bronze basin for washing that we read of in Exodus 30:17-21. The basin was to hold water that the priests used for their hands and feet "so that they will not die", Exodus 30:20, 21. They were to use this water to purify themselves whenever they entered the tabernacle or approached the altar to present offerings.
The recognition of needing a ceremonial cleansing speaks of our sinful condition and estrangement from the Lord. Both the Aaronic priests and the Levitical priesthood were unacceptable before the Lord without this ceremonial "cleansing".
We too need a "cleansing" when we come to Jesus Christ in faith. Paul told Titus, "When the kindness and love of God our Savior appeared, he saved us, not because of righteous things we had done, but because of his mercy. He saved us through the washing of rebirth and renewal by the Holy Spirit, whom he poured out on us generously through Jesus Christ our Savior, so that, having been justified by his grace, we might become heirs having the hope of eternal life."
Jesus Christ said in Revelation 22:12-14, "Look, I am coming soon! My reward is with me, and I will give to each person according to what they have done. I am the Alpha and the Omega, the First and the Last, the Beginning and the End. Blessed are those who wash their robes, that they may have the right to the tree of life and may go through the gates into the city."
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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