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Day 35 – Thru the Bible
Today we continue in Leviticus and the Psalms.
Leviticus 16 – Here at the center of Leviticus we find a key ceremony – the Day of Atonement. Not every Israelite would have addressed their sins and ritual impurity properly. As a result, these things remained and defiled the camp and the Lord’s holy dwelling. He therefore provides the Day of Atonement to cleanse the tabernacle and the camp so He can remain among His people.
The ceremony consisted of three rites: purification offerings to cleanse the tabernacle (16:11–19), the scapegoat to bear the Israelites’ sins out of the camp (vv. 20–22), and burnt offerings to emphasize the atonement made that day (vv. 23–24).
How do we see Jesus fulfill all three of these things on our behalf? Hint: regarding purification offerings read Hebrews 9:12-24. As the scapegoat bearing our sins read Hebrews 9:28; Isaiah 53:11–12. As our atonement/ propitiation read Romans 3:25; 1 John 2:2.
What has Jesus accomplished for us and our ability to approach God the Father? Hint: Hebrews 10:19–22.
Leviticus 17 – The Israelites are restricted from eating meat that still has the blood in it. The blood represented the animal’s life, and all life belongs to the Lord. The Israelites were not free to use it as they wished. But the Lord did allow them to use it for a specific purpose: “I have given it for you on the altar to make atonement for your souls” (v. 11).
Atonement is the Lord’s gracious gift, one He grants to sinful people. While we usually think of sacrifice as that which the Israelites gave to God, here He turns this idea on its head: sacrificial atonement is something He mercifully and lovingly grants to them, allowing the lifeblood of the sacrifice to ransom the lifeblood of the guilty person.
How is this same mercy and love demonstrated supremely in the sacrificial death of Jesus, the ultimate ransom for our guilty? Hint: Mark 10:45; Romans 5:8.
What is the natural response to this unconstitutional love we’ve been shown? Hint: Romans 5:11; 6:1–14.
Leviticus 18 – This chapter deals with sexual purity. Obedience was not meant to merit relationship with God, but to acknowledge that they already belonged, body and soul, to the holy Lord who had redeemed them and provided the ways best for them.
As we’ve just looked at all Jesus has done for us, how does this encourage us to flee things such as sexual immorality? Hint: 1 Corinthians 6:15–20.
Psalm 35 – As we echo David’s prayer, we will be diverted from personal vengeance (Rom. 12:17–21). Surrendering all vengeance to Christ means that we are prepared to suffer, if that is how Christ chooses to defeat our enemies (Psalm 35:19–25; John 15:25; Rom. 12:15). Our constant prayer is that all our enemies would be conquered by conversion.
The truth is the curses David pronounces really should fall on us – our sin deserves cursing. But we know these curses have fallen on our Savior, Jesus, instead. He substituted Himself in our place, so that the Father can truly say to our souls, “I am your salvation!” (Psalm 35:3).
How does the truth of this Psalm point you to worship Jesus?
What other thoughts or questions does today’s reading bring up?
Some of these notes are from the ESV Gospel Transformation Bible study notes. We highly recommend this study Bible.
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