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Day 39 – Thru the Bible
Today we finish Leviticus (Well done!) and continue the Psalms.
Video – Torah: Leviticus
How does this video help you understand the purposes of Leviticus better?
Leviticus 26 – In the ancient Near East, covenant documents often had blessings and curses near the end. This emphasizes that the laws of Leviticus were considered part of the covenant between Israel and the Lord.
The Lord’s desire is that His people experience His blessing, which they did by obeying His laws. Such obedience was NOT to earn relationship with Him, but was the proper response to their redeeming covenant King.
We see both blessings and cursings but even the worst of discipline identified in the cursings was NOT intended as a final rejection, but as a means of turning God’s children back to Him.
In the New Covenant, Jesus takes on Himself the curses that our rebellion deserves, thereby making a way for us to experience forever the blessing of knowing and abiding with the Lord (Galatians 3:8–14). Jesus also exhorts us to keep our relationship with God at the center of our lives, trusting that our heavenly Father will meet our physical needs (Matt. 6:19–34) as well our eternal ones. This we can do, by knowing and remembering that the Lord loves His children and will care for them, body and soul.
Under the New Covenant, what is the work we are called to do? Hint: John 6:28-29.
Leviticus 27 – This chapter contains further laws relating to the jubilee year and to redemption. It deals with voluntary gifts as well as required gifts. People often promised voluntary gifts to ensure that they thanked the Lord appropriately for answering prayer or providing a blessing. They were also to give required gifts, such as the tithe, to thank the Lord for his provision as well as to acknowledge that He was the King worthy of their tribute.
Under the New Covenant, how do we know God has already blessed us because of the finished work of Jesus? Hint: Ephesians 1:3.
How do we know Jesus is the One worthy of any tribute we can bring? Hint: Philippians 2:9–11; 3:7–11).
In reading through all of these requirements, how does it point you to Jesus in thankfulness that He is the One who has fulfilled all of these requirements on our behalf?
Psalm 39 – When self-righteous anger is extinguished, the believer is able to confess his sin of scorn, wait in hope for God’s justice, cry for peace, and pray for God’s smile.
This Psalm is the cry of one who suddenly feels the futility and shortness of his own time on earth. Indeed, the fall in Genesis 3 did introduce a futility and frustration into our earthly lives.
In the gospel, however, we are promised that this earthly life is not all we have.
What do those who are in Christ stand to inherit? Hint: Matthew 5:5; 25:34.
Knowing our time here is temporary, how does this encourage you to live today and look forward to an eternity with 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.
Videos produced by www.TheGospelProject.com.
All links you need to be a part of this are here – Thru the Bible in 2018.