Prohibition, Paradox and Provision: Lev. 20-22.

Leviticus chapter 20 further elucidates some of the principles in chapter 18. Of note, in Leviticus 20:1-6, God holds us accountable if we don’t intervene when we know of child sacrifice to Molech.

      [When I get to the Chronicles and the lives of Josiah and Jeremiah, I’ll take more time on those subjects. I’ll need to flex my exegetic and hermeneutic muscles for them first.]

I enjoyed verses 7 and 8.

:7-8 Sanctify vdq qadash yourself and be holy vwdq qadowsh because He is the LORD hwhy Y@hovah our God Myhla 'elohiym. Keep His statutes and do them, for He is the LORD hwhy Y@hovah who sanctifies vdq qadash us.

   These verses illustrate one of the wonderful paradoxes of God’s ways. God tells his people to [sanctify, hallow, dedicate, be holy, prepare, consecrate, be appointed, be bidden, purify] themselves. He says to be holy and to keep and do His statutes. In turn, He sanctifies them. But indeed, isn’t it He who sanctifies us in the first place?

20:26 says we are to be holy vwdq qadowsh unto God, for He is vwdq qadowsh and has separated us ldb badal (in the sense of being set apart) from other people, that we should be His.

Leviticus 21 has special rules for the sons of Aaron, as they are the ones who will be God’s priests. There are a lot of verses about which of the sons of Aaron can't make offerings.

      When I applied for the Coast Guard academy, I read in the application that you would be ineligible if you had disfiguring acne. I thought it strange. Then my wise little sister said, “Maybe because it would scare the people you are trying to rescue.” Um, ok. Maybe that goes for the priests, too? Or not.

      Since the priests were devoted to God, they were, in a sense, sacrificed/offered to Him. Just as sacrifices must be without disfigurement (see Lev. 22), so should the ministering priests be in optimal spiritual and physical condition.

      The blemished weren’t kicked out of the priesthood, but they weren’t to make the offerings. They still retained the benefits of eating the bread of God, both the most holy and the holy (20:22).

      I encourage you to think about that. How? Think about God’s holiness tempered with His mercy strengthened by His promise, fueled by trust in Him. The Levites weren’t meant to eat road kill (22:7); God’s intent was to provide both the holy and most holy bread for them. Is there a similar provision for us as believers?

The verse that came to mind was:
 John 6:35 And Jesus said unto them, I am the bread of life: he that cometh to me shall never hunger; and he that believeth on me shall never thirst.
Thank God that the most holy of bread is available to us. To me. To you.

          Here's something nifty from:

Lev. 22:26-28 And the LORD spake unto Moses, saying, When a bullock, or a sheep, or a goat, is brought forth, then it shall be seven days under the dam; and from the eighth day and thenceforth it shall be accepted for an offering made by fire unto the LORD. And whether it be cow or ewe, ye shall not kill it and her young both in one day.

I think this section has both animal husbandry and spiritual implications. Any thoughts out there?

Blessings,

exodus15