"And he shall skin the burnt offering and cut it into its pieces. The sons of Aaron the priest shall put fire on the altar, and lay the wood in order on the fire." vv.6-7
Read chapter 1.
Now we get into the book about offerings. There are many different types of offerings in the book of Leviticus and other parts of scripture, all a type pointing to Christ as THE offering He was for us. One thing I noticed about this first chapter describing the burnt offering was he person offering, sacrificer, is the one doing the killing while the priest receives the blood. The offerer was to offer of his own free will. This ritual of religion was to be done in love and desire. Also, the purpose of cutting it into pieces was to show that the whole body of the animal was without blemish, checking even the insides and not just outward appearance. Ultimately this is a type of Christ, who was without sin to die for us because of His love and desire for us. What do you sacrifice in your life out of desire and love for Christ?
Thursday, April 30, 2015
Tuesday, April 28, 2015
Psalm 41
"Blessed be the Lord God of Israel from everlasting to everlasting!
Amen and Amen." v.13
Read chapter 41.
This is the last psalm of the first book of psalms. David ends it by calling blessing of the Lord God of Israel, Yahweh Elohim of Israel. How can a man bless the Lord? Here the word is used for extolling or lifting up. He indeed deserves all exaltation and there's no extolling to high for our Lord God!
"From everlasting to everlasting" is more than just a time but a purposeful outflow of God's character and work. It is always good and praiseworthy and as I like to say "to infinity and beyond!"
Amen is repeated here as a sure emphasized truth that has been set forth in this psalm and this first book of psalms. Everything we read in scripture is true. We need to read and learn and understand. We can learn so many things from truth, why would we go without it! How can you extol the Lord God today?
Amen and Amen." v.13
Read chapter 41.
This is the last psalm of the first book of psalms. David ends it by calling blessing of the Lord God of Israel, Yahweh Elohim of Israel. How can a man bless the Lord? Here the word is used for extolling or lifting up. He indeed deserves all exaltation and there's no extolling to high for our Lord God!
"From everlasting to everlasting" is more than just a time but a purposeful outflow of God's character and work. It is always good and praiseworthy and as I like to say "to infinity and beyond!"
Amen is repeated here as a sure emphasized truth that has been set forth in this psalm and this first book of psalms. Everything we read in scripture is true. We need to read and learn and understand. We can learn so many things from truth, why would we go without it! How can you extol the Lord God today?
Monday, April 27, 2015
Psalm 40
"I waited patiently for the Lord;
And He inclined to me,
And heard my cry.
2 He also brought me up out of a horrible pit,
Out of the miry clay,
And set my feet upon a rock,
And established my steps.
3 He has put a new song in my mouth—
Praise to our God;
Many will see it and fear,
And will trust in the Lord." vv.1-3
Read chapter 40.
This is one of my favorite psalms as these verses were given to me when I first became a believer after a bad accident. Although this psalm is David talking about what was going on in his life with the Lord, it is true of us and God's promise. David's promise was that he'd be king and waited patiently as Saul and other enemies appeared to stand in the way of that. God founded him as king, "set his feet upon a rock," as he waited and cried out to the Lord. The mess of sin that entangles, the horrible pit, the miry clay God saved David from is also what God saved us from too when we were stuck in a pit of sin that we could not get out of on our own. We may not be established as kings yet but He has put a new song in us. All have been saved by God out of their pit know this song and praise to God and He is continually our song of praise. Many who see this transforming in life of a believer come to revere and fear the One True God. Is the song of praise to God playing right now in your life? Why or why not?
And He inclined to me,
And heard my cry.
2 He also brought me up out of a horrible pit,
Out of the miry clay,
And set my feet upon a rock,
And established my steps.
3 He has put a new song in my mouth—
Praise to our God;
Many will see it and fear,
And will trust in the Lord." vv.1-3
Read chapter 40.
This is one of my favorite psalms as these verses were given to me when I first became a believer after a bad accident. Although this psalm is David talking about what was going on in his life with the Lord, it is true of us and God's promise. David's promise was that he'd be king and waited patiently as Saul and other enemies appeared to stand in the way of that. God founded him as king, "set his feet upon a rock," as he waited and cried out to the Lord. The mess of sin that entangles, the horrible pit, the miry clay God saved David from is also what God saved us from too when we were stuck in a pit of sin that we could not get out of on our own. We may not be established as kings yet but He has put a new song in us. All have been saved by God out of their pit know this song and praise to God and He is continually our song of praise. Many who see this transforming in life of a believer come to revere and fear the One True God. Is the song of praise to God playing right now in your life? Why or why not?
Sunday, April 26, 2015
Psalm 39
"My heart was hot within me;
"While I was musing, the fire burned.
Then I spoke with my tongue:
"While I was musing, the fire burned.
Then I spoke with my tongue:
4 “Lord, make me to know my end,
And what is the measure of my days,
That I may know how frail I am.
5 Indeed, You have made my days as handbreadths,
And my age is as nothing before You;
Certainly every man at his best state is but vapor. Selah" vv.3-5
And what is the measure of my days,
That I may know how frail I am.
5 Indeed, You have made my days as handbreadths,
And my age is as nothing before You;
Certainly every man at his best state is but vapor. Selah" vv.3-5
Read chapter 39.
In this psalm David seems to be bottling up inside of him. To keep himself from sinning he was silent and still and didn't even say anything (v.2). He is gazing into the fire, similar to how one can be mesmerized by the fire and cause you to think and contemplate many things in life. Yet David keeping to himself burned inside him and he could no longer hold in his frustration. How often do we try to keep stuff in only to be burning inside of us no matter if it's a good thing or bad. He doesn't explode though on his enemies but goes to talk to God. He's still dealing with his enemies and wonders if he's at the point of death. How different we might act if we would know the day and time we would die. Our life is short, a handbreadth which is average about six inches, a short measurement. So what might you be keeping in that is burning to come out? How would you live differently if you knew how many days you had left in this life?
Saturday, April 25, 2015
Psalm 38
"There is no soundness in my flesh because of Your anger, nor any health in my bones because of my sin.
4 For my iniquities have gone over my head; like a heavy burden they are too heavy for me." vv.3-4
Read chapter 38.
This psalm is a petition from David when he is facing wrath not only from his enemies but from God also because of his sin. It's hard to tell which sin exactly David is referring to here, it could be the sexual sin that happened with Bathsheba and the murder of Uriah. We see here that the Lord's wrath has caused David to become very ill as he describes the pain and disease all over his body. We have to realize that God was dealing with man in a different way then as He is today in this dispensation of grace. During this time with David, God showed favor towards those that obeyed Him and punished those that disobeyed. This is NOT how God is working today. God is working strictly in grace in this dispensation, showing undeserved favor to the godly and ungodly. Today we see a believer and a nonbeliever commit the same sin and can have the same results or see that nothing happens to the nonbeliever from the sin but the believer suffers something. This isn't from what God decides but the precessions of sin and free will of man. God still showed His grace and lovingkindness to David by hearing his prayer. When we suffer from a disease it could be the result of our choices or someone else or just this fallen world, but God can still heal. How have you seen results of sin affect ones health?
4 For my iniquities have gone over my head; like a heavy burden they are too heavy for me." vv.3-4
Read chapter 38.
This psalm is a petition from David when he is facing wrath not only from his enemies but from God also because of his sin. It's hard to tell which sin exactly David is referring to here, it could be the sexual sin that happened with Bathsheba and the murder of Uriah. We see here that the Lord's wrath has caused David to become very ill as he describes the pain and disease all over his body. We have to realize that God was dealing with man in a different way then as He is today in this dispensation of grace. During this time with David, God showed favor towards those that obeyed Him and punished those that disobeyed. This is NOT how God is working today. God is working strictly in grace in this dispensation, showing undeserved favor to the godly and ungodly. Today we see a believer and a nonbeliever commit the same sin and can have the same results or see that nothing happens to the nonbeliever from the sin but the believer suffers something. This isn't from what God decides but the precessions of sin and free will of man. God still showed His grace and lovingkindness to David by hearing his prayer. When we suffer from a disease it could be the result of our choices or someone else or just this fallen world, but God can still heal. How have you seen results of sin affect ones health?
Friday, April 24, 2015
Psalm 37
"Do not fret because of evildoers, nor be envious of the workers of iniquity...Delight yourself also in the Lord, and He shall give you the desires of your heart." vv.1,4
Read chapter 37.
When I first became a believer I thought being a Christian was about following certain rules I had to follow. I'd become envious of my old life and wanted to still partake in that thinking it was more fun. I struggled giving up certain sins because I enjoyed them too much. Many in our culture today buy into the lies of what we see on tv, in movies and the way of this world of the attractiveness of sin that that's what is really fun and will make you happy and that you're missing out if you don't partake. This is such a lie! We are not to be envious of evildoers and find the true joy that being with Christ means and is. This verse also tells us not to fret of evildoers. How often do we live in fear of men than fear of the Lord? Yes we need to be smart and protect ourselves from evil but to not let it consume us and hinder us from living free in Christ.
I love verse four and pray not that my selfish desire would be granted but that His desire would become my desires and not the other way around. This will come as we delight ourselves in the Lord. The first meaning I found of definition of the word delight is "a high degree of pleasure or enjoyment" (dictionary.com). Can you say you delight in the Lord? What are desires of your heart? Can you tell if they're of the Lord or of selfish means (even if something good)?
Read chapter 37.
When I first became a believer I thought being a Christian was about following certain rules I had to follow. I'd become envious of my old life and wanted to still partake in that thinking it was more fun. I struggled giving up certain sins because I enjoyed them too much. Many in our culture today buy into the lies of what we see on tv, in movies and the way of this world of the attractiveness of sin that that's what is really fun and will make you happy and that you're missing out if you don't partake. This is such a lie! We are not to be envious of evildoers and find the true joy that being with Christ means and is. This verse also tells us not to fret of evildoers. How often do we live in fear of men than fear of the Lord? Yes we need to be smart and protect ourselves from evil but to not let it consume us and hinder us from living free in Christ.
I love verse four and pray not that my selfish desire would be granted but that His desire would become my desires and not the other way around. This will come as we delight ourselves in the Lord. The first meaning I found of definition of the word delight is "a high degree of pleasure or enjoyment" (dictionary.com). Can you say you delight in the Lord? What are desires of your heart? Can you tell if they're of the Lord or of selfish means (even if something good)?
Thursday, April 23, 2015
Psalm 36
"Your mercy, O Lord, is in the heavens; Your faithfulness reaches to the clouds.
6 Your righteousness is like the great mountains; Your judgments are a great deep;
O Lord, You preserve man and beast." vv.5-6
Read chapter 36.
Does anyone else start singing the Third Day song when they read these verse? His mercy, His faithfulness, His righteousness and His judgments all display God's love. It is high as the heavens, reaches all the way to the clouds, is wide as a great mountain and deep as the ocean. I can get so dazed staring at all these different things in an awe I can't grasp and seems to be the same with the Lord's love. It's just like the verse in the New Testament that says "grasp how wide and long and high and deep is the love of Christ" (Ephesians 3:18). Because of this great love of His we are preserved. Man's wickedness could easily be stopped by God cutting man out of the picture, but He loves us rich in undeserved favor and His promises. How do you grasp/ experience/ understand this 4-dimensional reach of love?
6 Your righteousness is like the great mountains; Your judgments are a great deep;
O Lord, You preserve man and beast." vv.5-6
Read chapter 36.
Does anyone else start singing the Third Day song when they read these verse? His mercy, His faithfulness, His righteousness and His judgments all display God's love. It is high as the heavens, reaches all the way to the clouds, is wide as a great mountain and deep as the ocean. I can get so dazed staring at all these different things in an awe I can't grasp and seems to be the same with the Lord's love. It's just like the verse in the New Testament that says "grasp how wide and long and high and deep is the love of Christ" (Ephesians 3:18). Because of this great love of His we are preserved. Man's wickedness could easily be stopped by God cutting man out of the picture, but He loves us rich in undeserved favor and His promises. How do you grasp/ experience/ understand this 4-dimensional reach of love?
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