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Day 37 – Thru the Bible
Today we continue in Leviticus and the Psalms.
Leviticus 21 – This section emphasizes that priests are held to higher standards than other Israelites. This is no surprise. The priests served in the holy place of the holy Lord and therefore had to show extra care in terms of their ritual purity (so as not to defile the Lord’s holy precincts). What is more, as the Israelites’ spiritual leaders, the priests were to be models of moral purity and show Israel how to be a holy people.
As part of the New Covenant, all believers are described as a royal priesthood (1 Peter 2:9). Do all the requirements of priesthood make you uncomfortable?
How does this point you back to Jesus?
Leviticus 22 – The first part of this chapter finishes out the requirements for the priests started in chapter 21.
Verses 17 on focuses on offering the proper animals in the proper way in order for them to be accepted. By following God’s sacrificial laws, the Israelites acknowledged He was their holy and redeeming King and were assured He would accept them with favor.
In the New Testament how do we see Jesus as the ultimate unblemished sacrifice? Hint: Hebrews 9:14; 1 Peter 1:19.
What result do we receive because of Jesus sacrifice alone? Hint: John 14:6; Ephesians 5:25–27; Hebrews 10:19–22.
Leviticus 23 – This chapter focuses on the Lord’s holy times. Each such occasion provided a reminder to the Israelites of who the Lord is or what He had done on their behalf. The weekly Sabbath reminded them He was their covenant King, the Lord of creation (v. 3; Exodus 20:8–11; 31:12–17), while the annual festivals reminded them of his redemption and provision (Leviticus 23:4–43). These reminders were meant to strengthen them in faithful obedience to the Lord (Deuteronomy 8:11–14) and in their covenant love to one another (Deuteronomy 16:9–12).
The Lord’s Supper is to function in the same way for believers today. It is done in remembrance of Jesus, as a regular proclamation that he is our redeeming King (Luke 22:19–20; 1 Corinthians 11:23–26). In this way it serves as a meal that strengthens our faith in him with the good news of the gospel and propels us to love our covenant brothers and sisters for whom He died (1 Corinthians 10:16–17).
In what specific ways does the Lord’s Supper remind you of all you have received through Jesus?
Psalm 37 – Despite the temporary success of “evildoers,” dependence on God will bring eternal reward (vv. 1–2, 7–11). Rather than “fretting,” David prescribes meekness just as Jesus did in the third beatitude (v. 22; Matt. 5:5; James 1:20; Rom. 12:21).
We also see that generosity is one of the marks of those who trust God. In the New Testament, our motivation for generosity comes into full bloom as we see the generosity of God himself.
For the eternal second person of the triune God came to earth, becoming poor in the incarnation so that we might become rich (2 Cor. 8:9).
How does this lavish generosity of God in the gospel become the supreme motivation for believers today to likewise be radically generous?
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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