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Blended Reading Plan from Back to the Bible
Index to Blended Readings
Today's Reading Leviticus 26-27; Revelation 4
King James Version with Web Encyclopedia links: <Leviticus 26; <Leviticus 27; Revelation 4
Leviticus 26 and 27
Leviticus 26 is divided into two sections The first dealing with the reward for obedience (v.1-13)and the second is the punishment for disobedience. God reminded them (how quickly they forgot) not to make and worship idols, and to observe the Sabbaths (14.46). Please note that every promise in the Bible may not apply to us. We have to look at the passage, the historical situations, we have to look at little words before the promise such as IF, BUT, THEN, etc.. In today's passage we have the word IF. We tend to look at promises and say that's for me without looking at the prepositions or how the verse is related to passage. So in verse 3, IF ..then in verse 4 I will.... What it boils down in the Christian life at times are situations where God says "If you obey... then....." This section then says if you obey, you will have rain, abundant crops, prosperity, peace, conquer your enemies, etc...
We like this section.
The other section dealing with punishment, as humans, we don't want to deal with judgment and punishment. Notice the word again IF..., But IF...God will, logically bring the opposite of the promises above, that is, drought, famine, poverty, enemies invading, war and so on.
It is true that we are under the new Covenant where we are saved unconditionally but there are spiritual laws which when broken have consequences. Paul said in Galatians 6.7 "Do not be deceived. God is not mocked. A man sows what he reaps, from that nature will reapdestruction; the one who sows to please the Spirit, from the Spirit will reap eternal life." A very good historical example of this happened constantly in the book of Judges, when the Israelites, sinned, God punished them, they repented, God forgave them and the cycle repeats itself. Do not think because we are Christians that when we sin we can get away with it. In Hebrews 12.5-6, the author spoke about God disciplining His children because He loves them. There is no secret formula in the successful Christian life other than trusting and obeying just like the old hymn said "Trust and obey for there is no other way, to be happy in Jesus but to trust and obey."
We are almost done with Leviticus! Leviticus 27 speaks about redeeming what is the Lord. This chapter deals with vows made to the Lord. This meant that male and female servants (v.1-8), animals (v. 9-13), houses (v.14), land (v. 16-25) were voluntarily given to God. However sometimes, the people reneged on their vows. There was a penalty they had to pay if they wanted to redeem (buy it back with a price) what they had promised to God. Remember what you promise God, He expects you to keep that promise and He will hold you to that promise.
Leviticus is an interesting book, dealing primarily with the Holiness of God. He expected the Israelites to be holy. To approach a Holy God, you have to have a spirit of humility and a repentant heart to reconcile, and to give restitution where it is needed. God made a way for the Israelites to approached Him via the sacrificial system, the areas of moral conduct, and the Feast days. We also have a way to God today and it is through Jesus Christ. Let us continually strive to seek for God and be holy because "God made him who had no sin to be sin; so that in him we are might become the righteousness of God." 2Cor 5.21 Because of the cross, we are sinners have been made righteous.
Leviticus 26 with Commentaries, verse by verse
Leviticus 27 with Commentaries, verse by verse
Deffinbaugh on Leviticus 26
Deffinbaugh on Leviticus 27
Stedman on Leviticus 26
Stedman on Leviticus 27
Peter Pett Commentary on Leviticus
Links to Commentaries and other References - Old Testament
Revelation 4 with Commentaries, verse by verse
Revelation 4
Revelation 4 is a description of the throne room of heaven. Even with the the vision of the throne room that John saw, it is still hard to imagine with the five senses what was there. There are a lot of symbolisms in this chapter, that we would have difficulty visualizing and imagining what John saw. There were four living creatures that constantly say ‘Holy, holy, holy is the Lord God almighty, who was, and is, and is to come. We came across the phrase ‘holy, holy, holy’ in Isaiah 6 when Isaiah had a vision of God seated on a throne. In the Isaiah’s account there were seraphs repeating the phrase ‘holy, holy, holy’ A description of these four creatures appeared before in Ezekiel 1. In that passage, each of the four creatures had four face, human in front, lion on the right, ox on the left and eagle, behind.
The main emphasis in this chapter is that of WORSHIP from the praise of ‘holy, holy, holy’ to ‘You are worthy, our Lord and God to receive glory and honor and power, for you created all things, and by your will they were created and have their being.’ Take some time, in a quiet place and meditate on this vision of the throne room that John saw.
Guzik on Revelation 4
Series in Revelation by J, Hampton Keathley III
Stedman on Revelation
Precept Austin on Revelation
Links to Commentaries and other References - Revelation
Bible Study Tools
Jesus Saves
How to Become a Christian
This Posting is NOT a commentary of the passages read today but it is a devotional. Please send a comment if something spoke to you today from the passages, links or thoughts that I have shared with you.
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