1 Peter 4

"In regard to these, they think it strange that you do not run with them in the same flood of dissipation, speaking evil of you." v.4

Read chapter 4
It's crazy today if you wait to have sex before you're married.  It's weird if you don't drink alcohol on a regular basis.  It's strange if you don't know all the latest Hollywood gossip or don't know famous actors or musicians.  Crazy that it's strange not to plunge into sin.  Shouldn't it be the other way around?  That those that sin are the weird ones and not those that do good.  Yet that is the flow of this world, against The Way.  I remember when I first became a Christian when I was 17 and still in high school and turned from partying that I had friends that made it their aim to get me to smoke or drink with them, to bring back the old and "fun" (to the world) me.  How sad that this pressure and feeling out of the norm draws believers to dive in to this flood of dissipation, making sin a light thing or not even recognized:/
How have you gone with this flow?  What makes it hard?  

1 Peter 3

"Wives, likewise, be submissive to your own husbands, that even if some do not obey the word, they, without a word, may be won by the conduct of their wives...Husbands, likewise, dwell with them with understanding, giving honor to the wife, as to the weaker vessel, and as being heirs together of the grace of life, that your prayers may not be hindered." vv.1,7

Read chapter 3
This chapter can be hard for women today to take.  A lot will read the first verse of this chapter and stop reading because upset at the words, but never keep reading to see that there is a command for husbands too that's not always easy for them to take either.  The feminist movement is distilled in all women today that we should be stronger than men, that we should have authority over men, that we can demand respect, etc.  
Well one thing I like to point out in this passage first is that it says "wives" not "women."  When it talks about submissiveness and how a woman should carry herself it's in the marriage relationship of wives and husbands, not all women towards all men.  The word submission has taken on a picture of a husband beating their wife with whip screaming submit.  That is not at all what it means, but a "humble obedience" (definition from Dictionary.com).  Submission here gives a reason for obedience; that of winning them for Christ.
I asked by boyfriend if verse seven is something that is hard for men and it was interesting how he responded.  What about you?  If you're a wife or a female, is it hard for you to submit to your husband (or the thought of to your future husband) in humble obedience?  Husbands or males, how is verse seven a challenge for you to carry out with your wife (or future wife)?  How do you picture that playing out in life?

1 Peter 2

" as newborn babes, desire the pure milk of the word, that you may grow thereby,  if indeed you have tasted that the Lord is gracious." vv.2-3

Read chapter 2
All babies need and want for the first few months of their lives are milk, whether from the breast or formula, and this goes on for many months or years slowly adding or substituting harder foods.  There have been 8 babies born in the past 10 months in the small community of 150 people where I live.   All of them are breast fed and can be an easy or hard thing for both the mom and the baby.  But all of them have learned the best and most comfortable way to get and give the nutrition they desire and need.  
So to us and the pure milk of God's Word.  We shouldn't  start getting know God and His ways by reading other books and studies about Him but by His pure word, His pure truth.  This is also something our souls crave and most of us don't realize that's what we're craving, time in God's Word and soaking in His truth.  Once you have a taste of Him you can't help but crave more.  Taste and see that the Lord is good!

1 Peter 1

"Though now you do not see Him, yet believing, you rejoice with joy inexpressible and full of glory,  receiving the end of your faith—the salvation of your souls." vv.8-9

Read chapter 1
The letter of 1 Peter we see was written to believing Jews during the time of Christ and the Acts period till the dispersion (v.1) that took place in Acts 8.  These were a company of believers who believed by sight.  They saw all the miracles that took place either by Christ and or the apostles and among other believing men and woman.  Yet after the change of dispensation and those outward signs coming to a halt, the believers are now being encouraged to press on despite not seeing but believing by faith.  We see in verse six that this was a cause for their grieving, a loss of their glorious gifts that will return at the return of Christ.
What does it mean "the end of your faith"?  Other English translations say "outcome" or "goal" or "purpose".  It is the object to which our faith is directed, the thing we believed for.  We receive in the present life, the object of all this trusting without sight and that purpose being the salvation of our souls.
How do you find it hard to believe by faith and not by sight?  Can you imagine the struggle of having believed by sight and then having it taken away and still try to believe?

Leviticus 27

“Speak to the children of Israel, and say to them: ‘When a man consecrates by a vow certain persons to the Lord, according to your valuation,  if your valuation is of a male from twenty years old up to sixty years old, then your valuation shall be fifty shekels of silver, according to the shekel of the sanctuary.  If it is a female, then your valuation shall be thirty shekels" vv.2-4

Read chapter 27.
How much are you worth?  According to this chapter I'm worth 30 shekels (possibly 900 gold coins but weight and value of a shekel isn't exact or certain).  Now that's not really what this chapter is talking about of what we're worth in money, but the redemption price of a person vowing themselves or dedicating their children to the Lord for service to God.  Samuel is an example of this that we see in scripture in 1 Samuel 1 of his mother Hannah giving him to serve in the temple all his life so probably paid the valuation of 5 shekels of silver (v.6).  While people could dedicate themselves to serve God only Levites could serve as priests.  How was this value set?  A lot probably had to do with the heavy labor and therefore men between the ages of 20-60 is the highest value, as women, young children or the elderly aren't naturally as strong as men in this age range.  We know that women are worth far more than rubies (Proverbs 31:10).  How do you understand your worth to the Lord?  

Leviticus 26

"But if you do not obey Me, and do not observe all these commandments,

and if you despise My statutes, or if your soul abhors My judgments, so that you do not perform all My commandments, but break My covenant,

I also will do this to you:...But if they confess their iniquity and the iniquity of their fathers, with their unfaithfulness in which they were unfaithful to Me, and that they also have walked contrary to Me."  vv. 14-16, 40

Read chapter 26.

The amazing promises of blessings if the Israelites obey God's commandments are followed by various calamities for disobedience.  This isn't just doing something wrong, but has to do with the soul, heart and mind rebelling against God: "despise My statutes" and "soul abhors My judgments." The one condition from escape from these calamities to restoration is confessing their iniquities; confessing that they messed up and that their fathers messed up.  That seems simple enough, easier than having to do some crazy intense work.  Yet, why is that so hard sometimes to admit you messed up?  Pride.  The other crazy thing that confuses me a bit is that they were warned to not rebel or else those calamities would happen yet they did it any way.  Makes me think how we have recorded in scripture of the tribulation time and crazy to think that people will fall to the deception that we're clearly told about.  Yet how often too do we know consequences of our sins yet we still commit them?  What would it take for you to not give in to that sin anymore?

Leviticus 25

"And you shall count seven sabbaths of years for yourself, seven times seven years; and the time of the seven sabbaths of years shall be to you forty-nine years...And you shall consecrate the fiftieth year, and proclaim liberty throughout all the land to all its inhabitants. It shall be a Jubilee for you; and each of you shall return to his possession, and each of you shall return to his family.  That fiftieth year shall be a Jubilee to you; in it you shall neither sow nor reap what grows of its own accord, nor gather the grapes of your untended vine.  For it is the Jubilee; it shall be holy to you; you shall eat its produce from the field."  vv.7-12

Read chapter 25. 

"The word jubilee signifies a peculiarly animated sound of the silver trumpets. This sound was to be made on the evening of the great day of atonement; for the proclamation of gospel liberty and salvation results from the sacrifice of the Redeemer" (Matthew Henry's Concise Commentary). What a cool way to give land rest and rejuvenation while it also still provides.  Every seven years the land would have rest for one year so that meant in the sixth year one would harvest enough for two years.  Then seven times of these seven years (7 x 7 = 49) would be the year of Jubilee and would be another year of rest for the land, so that last set of seven would be followed by two years of rest, the seventh year plus the Jubilee year.  The year of Jubilee was more than just rest for the land but a year of freedom.  No longer was the slave enslaved, no longer was debt held against someone.  People returned to their families and regained possessions that were once theirs.  This was probably done for preserving families, genealogies, and tribes, and preserve the land originally given in dispersion of the Israelites.  I don't think the Israelites ever made it to the year of Jubilee because of sin and turning from the Law:(  What do you imagine the year of Jubilee like in the hearts and minds of people?

Leviticus 24

"‘Whoever kills any man shall surely be put to death.  Whoever kills an animal shall make it good, animal for animal. ‘If a man causes disfigurement of his neighbor, as he has done, so shall it be done to him— fracture for fracture, eye for eye, tooth for tooth; as he has caused disfigurement of a man, so shall it be done to him.  And whoever kills an animal shall restore it; but whoever kills a man shall be put to death.  You shall have the same law for the stranger and for one from your own country; for I am the Lord your God.’” vv.17-22

Read chapter 24.

Do two wrongs make a right?  We were all taught growing up that they don't, so why does scripture seem to say different?  I one time was a juror for a case of a guy that got his tooth knocked out in a fight and we had to determine if it was intentional or an accident.  The case went on for three days, a lot of the jurors didn't want to see a young guy punished for fight.  I remember thinking of this verse "tooth for tooth" and the consequences of our actions whether done intentionally or not.  

As in the case with blaspheming we read earlier in this chapter, there is no difference to be made between and Israelite and a non-Israelite in matters of murder or injury of someone's body.  This may be brought up here to show the difference of the judicial law of penalty verses the illegal way of taking someones life or judging what one thinks of bodily harm they deserve.  How do you try to take matters into your own hands and judgment?  When do you see someone try to make two wrongs a right?  What's the correct response to this in today's culture?

Leviticus 23

"‘These are the feasts of the Lord, holy convocations which you shall proclaim at their appointed times.  On the fourteenth day of the first month at twilight is the Lord’s Passover...‘The fifteenth day of this seventh month shall be the Feast of Tabernacles for seven days to the Lord."  vv.4-5,34

Read chapter 23.
In the U.S there are 11 Federal holidays with many many many other holidays observed by different religions, diversities and agencies each year.  In scripture we also see many holidays or feast set by the Lord (*note Christmas is not one of them).  There are six Feasts listed in this chapter (seven if you count the weekly Sabbath).  Each has it's specifics for reason and how to observe that holiday. Just like many holidays celebrated to day, the Israelites were to do no customary work on these holidays.  They range from the first month to the seventh month of the Hebrew calendar.  The first of the feasts mentioned is the Passover about redemption and the last is the feast of Tabernacles about rest.  In order to have rest you need redemption.  These feasts are not commanded to be celebrated today by believers, and some couldn't be as they were specific to Israel and not gentile believers.  We may celebrate our own holidays for what God has done as remembrance to us.  How have you seen holidays that were created to honor God change its focus to something other than?

Leviticus 22

"You shall not profane My holy name, but I will be hallowed among the children of Israel. I am the Lord who sanctifies you, who brought you out of the land of Egypt, to be your God: I am the Lord.”  vv.32-33

Read chapter 22.

"In this chapter we have divers laws concerning the priests and sacrifices, all for preserving the honor of the sanctuary. Let us recollect with gratitude that our great High Priest cannot be hindered by any thing from the discharge of his office. Let us also remember, that the Lord requires us to reverence his name, his truths, his ordinances, and commandments" (Matthew Henry's Concise Commentary).  

The word hallowed means "treated as holy" or "sanctified" which in turns means set apart.  The Lord God was to be set apart and above all other gods.  And Israel in turn was to be a holy, set apart nation from all other peoples to God.  God dealt with Israel in special and specific way that He didn't with any other nation and therefore says "I am the Lord who sanctifies you."  It's not just meaning of "different" but of honor of being set apart for a specific reason.  We learn that this specific set apart is to honor God as we read in 1 Peter 1 to not conform to former lust but to be holy because He is holy (1 Peter 1:16).  How can you live set apart for God in your life?  How do you honor God as holy?

Leviticus 21

"‘They shall not make any bald place on their heads, nor shall they shave the edges of their beards nor make any cuttings in their flesh." v.5

Read chapter 21.
This chapter is talking specifically to the priests and their conduct since they are the ones presenting the offerings to God at the altar.  Making bald places on their heads, shaving the edges of their beard and cutting their flesh were all signs of morning when someone died, yet the priest were not to mourn in this way as many Israelites and other nations did.  We see the Lord tell Ezekiel not to mourn these ways when his wife dies.  Why do you think these rituals were done for the dead?  These were probably superstitious marks and trying to find someway to express the hurt of their heart.  We see this today in the common method of cutting to deal with depression among so many youth.  But cutting isn't a "new" thing but obviously practiced over many many centuries.  Now this isn't to say that the priests and Israelites can't mourn, but to not do it in disfiguring their body and for superstition or seeking comfort in a form not Godly.  They were to have hope in the resurrection and understanding of God's justice.  How do you mourn for the dead or deal with depression?

Leviticus 20

"And if the people of the land should in any way hide their eyes from the man, when he gives some of his descendants to Molech, and they do not kill him,  then I will set My face against that man and against his family; and I will cut him off from his people, and all who prostitute themselves with him to commit harlotry with Molech."  vv.4-5

Read chapter 20.

Molech, meaning king, was a fire-god of the children of Ammon.  "Fire-gods appear to have been common to all the Canaanite, Syrian and Arab tribes, who worshipped the destructive element under an outward symbol, with the most inhuman rites" (Smith's Bible Dictionary).  We see in these verses 4 and 5 that people would give their children to Molech, a most abominable act.  How parents could even think to do that to their kids and also breaking the covenant with God in exchange for that hideous act is no wonder for the severe punishment by God.  The sad thing too seems to be in the phrase that people would "hide their eyes" from the man who would do this act.  Not wanting to confront a brother in the truth, afraid of what to say or of the response that would come out of it, justification of why not, etc. the excuses could be numerous.  The same happens today when believers "hide their eyes" from acts other believers do that are sin.  The punishment for one that does this today may not be being cut off by God but can sure feel like they cut themselves off from Him.  When have you "hid your eyes" to sin?

Leviticus 19

"‘You shall not eat anything with the blood, nor shall you practice divination or soothsaying.  You shall not shave around the sides of your head, nor shall you disfigure the edges of your beard.  You shall not make any cuttings in your flesh for the dead, nor tattoo any marks on you: I am the Lord." vv.26-28

Read chapter 19.
Should Christians today have tattoos?  This used to be an absolute "No" in Christianity and now is more of a "Yes" and still a debatable topic.  We have to remember to not take verses out of context and here we're still reading about the Law to the Israelites, and one that is no longer commanded by God for them or anyone to uphold.  (Sure there are many things in the law that are good practices and morals to live by.)  With specifically looking at tattooing we have to understand the culture of tattooing then.  Tattoos were a sign of ownership: the slave had imprinted the initials of his master, the soldier the initials of his general and the worshiper the image or name of his deity.  Yet God didn't want the Israelites to do this and follow the patterns of the other nations and other gods by an image or sign of Him on their bodies.  They were already to have phylacteries to have on their foreheads and hand that the words of the Lord would be upon his mouth (Exodus 13).    Tattoos today may still have these meanings in the past but also many other reasons.  I do have a tattoo of an ichthus and it is a mark I wanted to have as a way to talk about the Lord to others wondering what it means.  I remember someone telling me that God forbids tattoos and I broke down crying thinking I was a horrible person, but as I searched scripture and my heart in this matter I understand God's decree in this matter.  Yet no matter what you believe about tattoos let it be by our words and actions that people know the God we believe and worship and not just by any marking on our body!

Leviticus 18

"The nakedness of your father or the nakedness of your mother you shall not uncover. She is your mother; you shall not uncover her nakedness." v.7

Read chapter 18.
This chapter speaks of the laws against sexual immorality including incest, brutal lusts, covetousness, sodomotry, and sex with animals; all of which were done by other nations and what the Lord was commanding not only Israel to not do but any stranger who dwelt among them (v.26).  The phrase "uncover nakedness" used throughout this chapter means more than just taking off someones clothes and leaving them buck naked, rather it seems to be a "nicer" phrase then saying any of these wicked acts of sex.  This also then gives light to what happened with Noah and Ham after the flood in Genesis 9 where it says that Ham saw his father's nakedness ("saw" could mean possibly that he looked upon his mother lustfully and performed his own act of sex with himself).  I know this is gross to think of but how sad that these acts are still practiced today by so many, even among believers.  This wasn't just something that went away when the law of Israel was no more, but something the Lord said was an abomination before the law was put in place and still afterwards in words in the New Testament. How do you deal or respond to someone you know (or don't know) that practices/practiced these things?

Leviticus 17

"For the life of the flesh is in the blood, and I have given it to you upon the altar to make atonement for your souls; for it is the blood that makes atonement for the soul.’" v.11

Read chapter 17.
How would you describe the soul?  The Hebrew word for soul is nephesh and occurs 9 times in this chapter yet in 4 different English words: Person, life, soul, no one (vv.10-15 NKJV).  So for example in this verse 11 should read "for the soul of the flesh is in the blood."  This chapter speaks of the blood of dead animals and people which shows that they are mortal and subject to death for the soul is in the blood; THE SOUL DIES.  In Ezekiel 18:4 we also read that the soul that sins dies.  This makes sense as God alone is immortal (1 Timothy 6) and not something Israel believed.  It wasn't until Plato and his theories intermixing with Christianity for the idea of the immortal soul.  Do you agree or disagree?  What else have you learned to describe the soul separate from the spirit?  

Leviticus 16

"Then Aaron shall cast lots for the two goats: one lot for the Lord and the other lot for the scapegoat.  And Aaron shall bring the goat on which the Lord’s lot fell, and offer it as a sin offering.  But the goat on which the lot fell to be the scapegoat shall be presented alive before the Lord, to make atonement upon it, and to let it go as the scapegoat into the wilderness." vv.8-10

Read chapter 16.
The day of atonement was to be done one a year (v.34).  Two goats were to be brought to the altar one to be killed and the other to be set free.  By the Urim an the Thummim that was in the holy garments of the priest that performed these duties they would cast the lot to see which goat was to the Lord as a sin offering and which goat would be set free.  It's cool to see how both these goats are a type of Christ.  Christ like the goat slaughtered for the sin offering was an example of Christ crucifixion on the cross dying for our sin.  The scapegoat is also a type of Christ in that Aaron would lay his hands on the goat and pronounce all the iniquities of the children of Israel so that the goat would bear them and be set free into the wilderness taking the sins away out of the land of Israel.  So too Christ resurrected is alive, who bore all our sins.  Where there's atonement, or reconciliation, there must be forgiveness.  We too are like the live scapegoat being set free to life everlasting.

Leviticus 15

"‘If any man has an emission of semen, then he shall wash all his body in water, and be unclean until evening...If a woman has a discharge, and the discharge from her body is blood, she shall be set apart seven days; and whoever touches her shall be unclean until evening." vv.16,19

Read chapter 15.
As awkward as it can be to write a devotional about men and women's secretions it seems like it something not talked about much among believers and therefore I thought I'd point this scripture out regarding it.  This chapter discusses two diseases and three natural secretions.  These two specific verses (16 & 19) seem uncontrollable by accident of night dream or in sex for men and the monthly period of a woman, yet they are still unclean and there is a command concerning them.  These bodily functions are absolutely essential to our lives, and there is nothing wrong with them.  We are shown how even things we can't control can separate us from fellowship with God and the purification not only from outside influence but also that from within.  The woman was not to be put outside the camp as in the case of the leper during her seven day time set apart, but was to be set apart from sexual intercourse with her husband or bleeding on things that others could come in contact with.  It seems to show a respect for woman during this time of tenderness and self control in a marriage during this monthly time.  Whether semen or blood the result is washing to be "clean."  Praise the Lord we are washed by His blood and forgiveness and clean and spotless in His eyes.  What do you struggle with in understanding these areas of daily life in regards to impurity/purity?

Leviticus 14

“When you have come into the land of Canaan, which I give you as a possession, and I put the leprous plague in a house in the land of your possession...And the priest shall come again on the seventh day and look; and indeed if the plague has spread on the walls of the house,  then the priest shall command that they take away the stones in which is the plague, and they shall cast them into an unclean place outside the city.  And he shall cause the house to be scraped inside, all around, and the dust that they scrape off they shall pour out in an unclean place outside the city.  Then they shall take other stones and put them in the place of those stones, and he shall take other mortar and plaster the house."  vv.34, 39-42

Read chapter 14.
Leprosy in a house seems strange.  Yet leprosy in the scripture isn't what we think of as leprosy today.  It's hard to tell what exactly this is but from verse 39 we know that this leprous plague is from the Lord.  This wasn't because the owner didn't keep his house clean but a supernatural plague.  Most likely God would do this because of sin of the owner of the home.  At this point in time the Israelites were still traveling and living in tents so this wasn't something that was happening yet but when they settled in the land of Canaan and built their homes.  
I like the metaphor that can be taken from the house being our body.  It starts with the priest examining the house and finds leprosy, comes back seven days later and has spread all over the walls, so the house is to be scraped out and replace with new stones, mortar and plaster.  So sin in our lives, a little sin can spread fast and corrupt the whole body.  When getting sin out it may hurt as if being scraped with a sharp chisel but then not just being left empty holes in the house or in our hearts but replacing it with good.  What "leprosy" do you have in your "house"?

Leviticus 13

“When a man has on the skin of his body a swelling, a scab, or a bright spot, and it becomes on the skin of his body like a leprous sore, then he shall be brought to Aaron the priest or to one of his sons the priests." v.2

Read chapter 13.
In this chapter we read of two different kinds of leprosy: on a person and on a garment.  Aaron or one of the priests were to be the ones to inspect and declare what is to be done.  This is the priest's job.  There's not a difference between church and state.  The priest held the duties of a doctor and an inspection service (i.e. building inspector).  This wasn't necessarily extra schooling they had to do, but were given instructions by God to tell what is okay verses an infectious disease verses a plague, etc.  And then by what means to handle and cure.  This isn't a job we see today of priests or anyone having all these different jobs, although I'm sure there are some that seem like it;)  It seems like a lot to handle but with God given wisdom and instruction it's possible.  What are other ways you've seen separation of ministry jobs change from the past to today?

Leviticus 12

"‘If a woman has conceived, and borne a male child, then she shall be unclean seven days...And if she is not able to bring a lamb, then she may bring two turtledoves or two young pigeons—one as a burnt offering and the other as a sin offering." vv.2,8

Read chapter 12.
This is a very short chapter about the ritual after childbirth of either a son or daughter.  It makes you wonder why there is a difference between the two sexes.  Just because the male child born the mother is unclean for one week verses two weeks if it's a female child, doesn't mean that the male is better or "above" the female.  It could be because of the male child having to be circumcised on the 8th day and therefore would need to be clean to come to the temple to undergo the surgery where the female doesn't.  
The other cool thing we learn from this chapter is a key to understand the family class Jesus was born in to.  His mother Mary offered two turtledoves (Luke 2:22-24) and therefore shows that they were from a poorer class not able to provide a lamb.  
Even the youngest of life need to present offerings.  How do you understand being born in or to sin?

Leviticus 11

“You may eat any animal that has a split hoof completely divided and that chews the cud.  There are some that only chew the cud or only have a split hoof, but you must not eat them.  The camel…the coney…the rabbit…the pig.”  vv.3-7

Read chapter 11.

I always wondered what is cud?  It's an animal that partially digest their food, and then regurgitates it from their first stomach and chew it.  These commands about what animals are clean and unclean to eat were for Israel specifically and not one we need to adhere to today.  Pork is one of the number one meats eaten today all over the world, but this isn't making God mad.  I'm a rare one in the world that doesn't like bacon or really any pork products so I like to joke with this verse out of context as to why I don't eat it;)  God made the clean and the unclean animals so it's not like the unclean were a result from the fall.  So what's the reason then for calling some animals unclean for eating?  Well one thing was to keep the Israelites as a separate people from other nations, especially as others worshiped certain animals.  It also was to show distinction between common and holy to be observed by the Israelites.  Also food is a temptation for man since the fall and the command to not eat of the tree of the knowledge of good and evil.  So here continuing to test and practice obedience to God's command in food appealing to the senses.  Today we have liberty to eat what we want but we have to be careful in that freedom too as to self-control and whatever we do whether we eat or drink that it would bring glory to God.  How may your eating habits bring dishonor or glory to God?

Leviticus 10

“Aaron’s sons Nadab and Abihu stood their censers, put fire in them and added incense; and they offered unauthorized fire before the Lord, contrary to his command.  So fire came out from the presence of the Lord and consumed them, and they died before the Lord.”  vv.1-2

Read chapter 10.

We find out that Aaron had four sons: Nadab, Abihu, Eleazar and Ithamar.  And here in this chapter we see the death of two of them shortly after they had just gone through their week long ordination.  There is thought that they were drunk from wine of the drink offering and therefor were intoxicated while performing the priestly service.  Shows how alcohol can effect our discernment and affect of service.  

What does "strange fire" mean?  It's referring to other fire than what the Lord commanded them to use on the altar that we just read of in chapter 9 verse 24 and also see in chapter 6 of the fire they were to use.   They used their own kindling thinking it to be the same or just as good as what God provided.  Their own thinking and justification led to their disobedience and sin.  Death seems like a harsh punishment for this disobedience but it is God's righteous judgment.  It may have seem innocent but we know that anything apart from faith (taking God at His word) is sin (Romans 14:23).  

How often does it happen today still that people assume they know what pleases the Lord because perhaps it pleases them but they aren't taking heed to God's words?  All worship that is not kindled by the Holy Spirit is "strange."  

Leviticus 9

“So Aaron came to the altar and slaughtered the calf as a sin offering for himself…Aaron then brought the offering that was for the people…Then Aaron lifted his hands toward the people and blessed them.  And having sacrificed the sin offering, the burnt offering, and the fellowship offering, he stepped down.”  vv.8,15,22

Read chapter 9.

Now we see the offerings commanded put into practice by the high priest.  This was the first priestly benediction done by Aaron and one that was continued through the priest's ministry on the altar.  Lifting up the hands was a usual rite of blessing and one we still see done today by ministers in all denominations.

First Aaron offers the sin offering for himself and the offerings for the people. So to we must deal with our own sin first before others, but also that we are to help others in their sin.  The last offering Aaron did that day after the sin and burnt offering is the fellowship offering, dealing with his sins, others sins and then the joy of communion with God and others.  What step in dealing with your sins, other's sins and fellowship are you lacking in?

Leviticus 8

“Then Moses brought Aaron and his sons forward and washed them with water…Do not leave the entrance to the Tent of Meeting for seven days, until the days of your ordination are completed, for your ordination will last seven days.”  vv.6,33

Read chapter 8.

This chapter describes the ordination of Aaron and his sons.  Aaron and his sons who were all to become the high priest are washed with water to signify the cleansing and purification of sins to minister before the Lord, just was we are washed by the blood of Jesus to draw near to Him (Hebrews 10:22).   This ordination lasted seven days and the offerings were to be done each of the seven days.  There were not to leave the Tent of Meeting during this time to go about other work or rest but fully devoted to this position and consecration they were taking on.  Just like some feasts lasted a week so this ordination.  This wasn't seven times to be complete but a continual building to that completion through the week to be ordained.  Just like Philippians 1:6 "being confident of this very thing, that He who has begun a good work in you will complete it until the day of Jesus Christ," where Christ began a good work in us and at the commemoration of the day of Jesus when He returns to make us complete, so the Lord made sure the full work was done to Aaron and his four sons at the commemoration of them as priest to minister to the people.  

Have you let Christ blood wash you that you may go directly to Him?  Has the good work begun in you?  What completion in yourself do you wait and long for?

Leviticus 7

"This is the law of the sacrifice of peace offerings which he shall offer to the Lord:...the flesh of the sacrifice of his peace offering for thanksgiving shall be eaten the same day it is offered. He shall not leave any of it until morning.  But if the sacrifice of his offering is a vow or a voluntary offering, it shall be eaten the same day that he offers his sacrifice; but on the next day the remainder of it also may be eaten;  the remainder of the flesh of the sacrifice on the third day must be burned with fire."  vv.11, 15-17

Read chapter 7.
The peace offering is the last offerings mentioned after dealing with the sin offerings.  Perhaps to show the repentance and forgiveness must come first before true union with God.  The peace offering was like a shared meal with the priests, the offerer and God.  Certain parts were for the priests, the thigh and the breast and unleavened cake, for the offerer and his family, the meat and leavened bread, and for God, the fat.  There is a time limit set for when all of the offering must be eaten.  This could be due to no spoiling and causing uncleanness, also to not save for a banquet or other type of meal making the sacred sacrifice less meaningful and therefore not holy, set apart.  Whatever was not eat was to be burned and if anything was left it would not be accepted to the Lord.  I wonder how big of meals the offerings ended up being?  I couldn't imagine eating a Thanksgiving feast like we have today every day.  The cool thing about the peace offering can either be a have to or a vow or voluntary offering.  One thing I try to practice more is hospitality and offering meals for others more often, I just don't make them clean their plates if they don't want to.

Leviticus 6

"And the priest shall put on his linen garment, and his linen trousers he shall put on his body, and take up the ashes of the burnt offering which the fire has consumed on the altar, and he shall put them beside the altar.  Then he shall take off his garments, put on other garments, and carry the ashes outside the camp to a clean place." vv.10-11 

Read chapter 6.
The priest officiating at the altar was to wear sacred garments for the sacred task.  We see in Exodus 29 the different parts of the priestly wear.  Notice that they are to change when done doing this service and not something they parade around town in.  Ministering at the altar with all the burnt offerings and the fire that was constantly burning and carrying of the ashes is a hot job.  I surely would be sweating a ton, but again we see the Lord providing these special garments for this specific task.  In Ezekiel 44:18 it says, "They shall have linen turbans on their heads and linen trousers on their bodies; they shall not clothe themselves with anything that causes sweat."  These linen garments most likely protected them from the heat and allowed cooling of the body.  I need to find me clothes like that;)  A lot of people put on their "Sunday best" when they go to church or anything "religious" thinking they have to look good in front of God.  Well that's awesome but should we then dress well all the time as please to His eyes and not man's?  I love sometimes dressing up as if I'm going on a date with God, but also some of my best dates with God are in my pajamas.  Yes the priest were required to wear these garments a certain times and we aren't given a command to wear certain things at worship time, but how do you treat service to the Lord with what you wear?

Leviticus 5

" ‘And it shall be, when he is guilty in any of these matters, that he shall confess that he has sinned in that thing; and he shall bring his trespass offering to the Lord for his sin which he has committed, a female from the flock, a lamb or a kid of the goats as a sin offering...If he is not able to bring a lamb, then he shall bring to the Lord, for his trespass which he has committed, two turtledoves or two young pigeons: one as a sin offering and the other as a burnt offering...But if he is not able to bring two turtledoves or two young pigeons, then he who sinned shall bring for his offering one-tenth of an ephah of fine flour as a sin offering." vv.5-7,11

Read chapter 5.
There is one exception to offerings and that is poverty.  There is still an offering required for the poorer but the same forgiveness is received.  No matter an offering of a lamb, goat, turtledoves, pigeons, or fine flour the result is the same, they're all forgiven even if it was the same sin.  This doesn't mean that if one can afford a lamb they can offer a pigeon, it's still giving the bests to the Lord just as the fat that was divided from the animal in chapter four and given for the Lord alone because it was the best part.  How often today too do we say that certain sins need certain payment to be forgiven?  How often do people put sins on different levels or forgiveness on levels to be forgiven?  Christ died for ALL and forgave ALL.  Not only for those that are good, or not too bad, but even the "worse" in mans eyes. This was taught in the law even before Christ died for us, that forgiveness was and is to all. It's one thing to say and the other thing to believe or think in you mind.  What makes that hard for you to always believe?

Leviticus 4

“Speak to the children of Israel, saying: ‘If a person sins unintentionally against any of the commandments of the Lord in anythingwhich ought not to be done, and does any of them...‘Now if the whole congregation of Israel sins unintentionally, and the thing is hidden from the eyes of the assembly, and they have done something against any of the commandments of the Lord in anything which should not be done, and are guilty...‘When a ruler has sinned, and done something unintentionally...‘If anyone of the common people sins unintentionally." vv.2,13,22,27

Read chapter 4.
Can you sin without knowing?  Yes you can and in this chapter talks about the sin offering for unintentional sins.  We see that even if one did it in ignorance they were still guilty once it was brought to light.  There are more than just a handful of sins and definitely not an offering for every sin that there is or the work of the priests and the altar could never keep up, it seems that this sin offering was kind of a "blanket" offering.  This unintentional sin is not just by a single person but also for the whole congregation, rulers, common people.  We have to remember that even those we look to in leadership in Christianity error and also a whole community can follow a way of error and be at fault.  We should always take it to the Lord to know what His judgments are at setting things right.  When have you sinned unintentionally and realized your guilt afterwards and what did you do about it?  Luckily today we don't need to offer sacrifices for sins known or unknown because Christ has already paid that debt no matter the sin, but it is still good to ask the Lord for help in that area of sin.

Leviticus 3

"Then he shall offer from the sacrifice of the peace offering an offering made by fire to the Lord. The fat that covers the entrails and all the fat that is on the entrails...you shall eat neither fat nor blood." v.3, 17

Read chapter 3.
Everyone always says the fat is the best part.  And it was and why the fat, the best, is to be given to the Lord.  When an animal was sacrificed to the Lord the sacrificer was given instructions to cut the fat off certain parts of the innards and the priests would then burn it on the altar. This showed the choice or the best animal, with the fat in those parts showed that the animal was well fed and taken care of.  This doesn't meant that they weren't allowed to eat any kind of fat, but that spoken of in the specific animals spoken here.  The Israelites were not to eat the fat or the blood.  These two things were holy, set apart, to God and to be seen as a distinction of common and sacred things.  This chapter describes the peace offering and ultimately the blood that Christ shed on the cross for us was the peace offering giving us union with God.  What sacred things have been made common in today's society?

Leviticus 2

"‘No grain offering which you bring to the Lord shall be made with leaven, for you shall burn no leaven nor any honey in any offering to the Lord made by fire.  As for the offering of the firstfruits, you shall offer them to the Lord, but they shall not be burned on the altar for a sweet aroma.  And every offering of your grain offering you shall season with salt; you shall not allow the salt of the covenant of your God to be lacking from your grain offering. With all your offerings you shall offer salt." vv.11-13

Read chapter 2.

Next we have the chapter about the grain offering, the type of bread that was to be offered as a memorial.  This bread is to have no leaven or honey.  This could be partly as a reminder of their deliverance from Egypt of making haste and not putting any leaven the dough during the passover.  Honey is the cause for fermentation (leaven) so was no to be in the dough either.  In the warm climates of the East leavened bread soon spoils, and hence it was regarded as the emblem of hypocrisy or corruption.  Leaven is also used as an example by Christ of doctrines to be careful from (ex. Matthew 16:12).  As leaven and honey were forbidden, salt was prescribed.  Salt prevents fermentation.  Salt is required in all the offerings.  Christianity and all religious services must be season with grace (Mark 9:49, Colossians 4:6).  When the Arabs make a covenant together, they put salt on the blade of a sword, from whence every one puts a little into his mouth. This constitutes them blood relations, and they remain faithful to each other even when in danger of life (Ritter, Erd. 14:960). Hence the expression “a covenant of salt,” which also occurs in Numbers 18:19, and 2Chronicles 13:5, denotes an perpetually binding alliance, an everlasting covenant.  Christ is our grain offering, without sin and the binding covenant between us and God.  What leaven or honey do you need to rid in your life?  Where do you need to use more salt (grace or loyalty) in your life?