By this the Holy Spirit indicates that the way into the holy places is not yet opened as long as the first section is still standing (which is symbolic for the present age).

Hebrews 9

By this the Holy Spirit indicates that the way into the holy places is not yet opened as long as the first section is still standing (which is symbolic for the present age). Hebrews 9:8-9

I continue my study of Hebrews, assisted by the commentary Christ Centered Exposition: Exalting Jesus in Hebrews. My focus this morning is Hebrews 9:1-10, specifically on the text of 9:6-10, leaning on my commentary for its observations on the second division entitled "The End of Mediated Access to God".  Here, my commentary focuses on how the work of the high priest during the period of the First Covenant to atone for sins of the people was incomplete - it needed ongoing repetition - every year on the Day of Atonement. As a starting point, the commentary describes the pervasive nature of humanity's sinful nature, including sins of commission (intentionally doing wrong), omission (not doing what God seeks for us to do), and "sins committed in ignorance or unintentionally."  The commentary then points to how in v8-9 the Holy Spirit was pointing to a new way that allowed direct access to God, not relying on a mediator.  It shares: "the Holy Spirit was indicating something through the architecture of the tabernacle: even he was crying out for the day when the final sacrifice would come. As long as there was a curtain between the holy place and the most holy place, the people were not fully in the presence of God. They could not draw near to God with confidence. Thus, the veil between the most holy place and the holy place indicated incompleteness and an inability to approach God." Of course, when Jesus declared that "it is finished" (John 19:30) on the cross, believers in Him, could access God directly as Jesus became the once and for all, final sacrifice for the sins of the people, eliminating the need for repetitive sacrifices tearing down the veil that separated the people from God.  The commentary wraps by describing how Christ's sacrifice on the cross also did something else critical for us: it provided a means for not just ritual and external cleansing of sin, but it provided inner cleansing by giving us God in our hearts.  Praise God!

Comment and discuss this post.

My Prayer: Lord Jesus, thank You for the work You did on the cross, giving me access to You directly and for working in my heart!  I am grateful!  But I also know that I am undeserving.  My sin is great and it continues...daily.  Please forgive me Jesus and help me overcome and turn from my sin towards You.  Help me love You with all of my heart, soul, and mind and love others as You love me.  Help me grow in my faith.  Give Lisa and myself wisdom and strength.  Please heal Lisa of her cancer and from the side effects of chemo.  Help us lead Zach and Dustin to You Jesus and for them to choose You as their Lord and Savior.  Please provide Godly friends and spouses to Zach and Dustin.  Help me serve You, my family, my church, and others.  Help me understand, be obedient to, and apply Your message for me today and every day.

You shall therefore be holy, for I am holy.

Leviticus 12

 You shall therefore be holy, for I am holy. Leviticus 11:45

This morning, I continued my study of Leviticus using the Christ-Centered Exposition series commentary for this book - continuing chapter twelve - God Rules from Our Birth - covering Leviticus 12:1-8, looking specifically at the first theme - God States the Stipulations of His Covenant.  Here, the commentary focuses on the relationship believers have with God - we should honor and obey God's commands out of love for Him.  The commentary uses the analogy of a friend or loved one who tells us something either they don't want us to do when around them, and out of respect and love for our friend and family member, we avoid the thing, even when the thing we are to avoid is not sinful.  That is what we do because of the relationship we have. Similarly, in Leviticus 12, while childbirth is not sinful, God did command mothers to be cleansed and purified before resuming worship in the tabernacle. Other ceremonial laws in the Old Testament, such as the foods God commanded the Israelites to eat and not eat, work similarly.  The commentary summarizes how this works by stating: "[w]e obey God's law because we have a relationship with Him and we love Him. His laws are stipulations of His covenant." While the ceremonial laws from the Old Testament no longer apply with Jesus and the New Covenant He makes with us, the moral laws do and when God commands us to do something or to not do something, we are to honor and obey God because we love Him and because He is God.

Comment and discuss this post here.

My Prayer: Lord Jesus, You are an amazing God who loves me, forgives my sin, brings about obedience, and gives me life to the full now and for eternity - thank You Jesus!  I am not deserving of how You love me or for any of the blessings You pour out for me.  I worry and I have other sins.  Please forgive me Jesus and help me overcome and turn from my sin towards You.  Help me love You with all of my heart, soul, and mind and love others as You love me.  Help me grow in my faith.  Give Lisa and myself wisdom and strength.  Please heal Lisa of her cancer and from the side effects of chemo.  Help us lead Zach and Dustin to You Jesus and for them to choose You as their Lord and Savior.  Please provide Godly friends and spouses to Zach and Dustin.  Help me serve You, my family, my church, and others.  Help me understand, be obedient to, and apply Your message for me today and every day.

Now therefore, if you will indeed obey my voice and keep my covenant, you shall be my treasured possession among all peoples, for all the earth is mine; and you shall be to me a kingdom of priests and a holy nation.’ These are the words that you shall speak to the people of Israel.”...Then he took the Book of the Covenant and read it in the hearing of the people. And they said, “All that the Lord has spoken we will do, and we will be obedient.”

 Leviticus 5-6

Now therefore, if you will indeed obey my voice and keep my covenant, you shall be my treasured possession among all peoples, for all the earth is mine; and you shall be to me a kingdom of priests and a holy nation.’ These are the words that you shall speak to the people of Israel.”...Then he took the Book of the Covenant and read it in the hearing of the people. And they said, “All that the Lord has spoken we will do, and we will be obedient.” Exodus 19:5-6, 24:7

This morning, I continued my study of Leviticus using the Christ-Centered Exposition series commentary for this book - starting chapter six - When We Are Guilty - covering Leviticus 5:14-6:7, looking specifically at the theme - We Are Guilty When We Violate Our Covenant Relationship with God. Here, the commentary describes the restitution offering, which as part of the Old Testament sacrificial system, includes "provisions for reparations, or restitution, to be made against whom we sin." See v5:16 where "restitution" is described, and v6:4-5 where we are instructed to "restore" or compensate those we've sinned against. As the commentary starts to unpack the chapter theme - When We Are Guilty - it starts by looking at the covenant God makes with His people, first in the Old Testament, and then ultimately with Jesus Christ with the Second Covenant.  The commentary urges us to look the covenant God establishes with the Israelites at Mount Sinai as written in Exodus 19 and 24.  The commentary then states that in the context of the covenant we make with God - as established in the Old Testament with the Ten Commandments in Exodus 20 and superseded with the Second Covenant - when we sin, regardless of the nature of our sin, it is sin nonetheless and we are being unfaithful to God and we are breaking the covenant we have with God. Of course, as I have been posting recently, although sin separates us from God, He provides a path for atonement, reconciliation and forgiveness.

Comment and discuss this post here.

My Prayer: Lord Jesus, You are an amazing God in that although we are unfaithful - as believers - to You and the covenant we establish with You, You are full of grace and compassion and provide a path for atonement, reconciliation, and forgiveness.  Thank You Jesus!  I am not deserving of such grace and compassion.  My sin continues, including worry, etc. Please forgive me Jesus!  Help me overcome and turn from my sin towards You.  Help me love You with all of my heart, soul, and mind and love others as You love me.  Help me grow in my faith.  Give Lisa and myself wisdom and strength.  Please heal Lisa of her cancer and from the side effects of chemo.  Help us lead Zach and Dustin to Your Jesus and for them to choose You as their Lord and Savior.  Please provide Godly friends and spouses to Zach and Dustin.  Help me serve You, my family, my church, and others.  Help me understand, be obedient to, and apply Your message for me today and every day.

You shall season all your grain offerings with salt. You shall not let the salt of the covenant with your God be missing from your grain offering; with all your offerings you shall offer salt.

Leviticus 2

You shall season all your grain offerings with salt. You shall not let the salt of the covenant with your God be missing from your grain offering; with all your offerings you shall offer salt. Leviticus 2:13

This morning, I continued my study of Leviticus using the Christ-Centered Exposition series commentary for this book - looking at chapter two - Giving to God in Worship - covering 2:1-16, looking specifically at the theme We Express Communion with God which focuses on v2:13.  Here, my commentary focuses on the covenant relationship established with Abraham in Genesis 15:13-14, with the Israelites in Exodus 19:5-6, and then ultimately the covenant relationship established with Jesus. The grain offering described in Leviticus 2 expresses our desire to be in communion with God. The commentary describes how salt represents both a preservative and a covenant and that God sought to have His children preserve the covenant relationship He established. The grain offering is also described in two parts, one as a memorial portion, and the remainder offered to Aaron and the priests.  Finally, my commentary writes how a memorial portion emphasizes how we are to remember all God has done, who He is, how we all need atonement for sin, and how God provides a path for atonement of sin. 

Comment and discuss this post here.

My Prayer: Lord Jesus, You are an amazing God who loves me and You established a covenant with me and Your promises offer hope, strength and peace - regardless of the circumstances.  Thank You Jesus!  Yet I am not deserving of how You bless me and love me.  My sin of worry, harshness towards others, etc. continues.  Please forgive me Jesus.  Help me overcome and turn from my sin towards You.  Help me love You with all of my heart, soul, and mind and love others as You love me.  Help me grow in my faith.  Give Lisa and myself wisdom and strength.  Please heal Lisa of her cancer and from the side effects of chemo.  Help us lead Zach and Dustin to You Jesus and for them to choose You as their Lord and Savior.  Please provide Godly friends and spouses to Zach and Dustin.  Help me serve You, my family, my church, and others.  Help me understand, be obedient to, and apply Your message for me today and every day.

[Ahaziah] followed the ways of the house of Ahab and did evil in the eyes of the Lord, as the house of Ahab had done, for he was related by marriage to Ahab’s family.

2 Kings 8-10, 2 Chronicles 21-22 

[Ahaziah] followed the ways of the house of Ahab and did evil in the eyes of the Lord, as the house of Ahab had done, for he was related by marriage to Ahab’s family. 2 Kings 8:27

 

Day 161 of my chronological study of the Bible with The Daily Bible® - In Chronological Order (NIV®) (available by purchase through Amazon - author F. LaGard Smith) continues with a study of the violent deaths among the houses of both King Ahab (Joram, Jehu, and royal family) of Israel and King Ahaziah (including royal family members) of Judah.

The Bible is filled with stories of how evil and wicked people meet their end.  Believers are not immune to violence and tragedy (see John 16:33, the stories of Stephen, and other martyrs).  We must also understand that tragedy is part of life since The Fall when God promised difficulties for Adam and his descendants.

John Piper provides this very useful post to share his view on why God is "so harsh in the Old Testament but more forgiving in the New".  Piper writes:

"So I think there is an intention that the Old Testament look bleak, sin look horrible, God look just, and that there be much less mercy, proportionate to what you see in the three years of the ministry of Jesus. And that's intentional. This is what God's heart is to the world right now. Come!

And then the New Testament closes with another Old Testament. The Book of Revelation is horrific! So we're in a window right now.

So if people are watching this right now, they should feel, 'I'm in a window of mercy, and I should embrace it so that I can escape the wrath when it comes again'".

My Prayer: Lord Jesus, You are an awesome God who loves me and You have never left me or forsaken me - thank You Jesus!  I am not deserving of Your love.  I sin...daily.  Please forgive me for my worry and other sins.  Help me overcome and turn from my sin towards You.  Help me love You with all of my heart, soul, and mind and love others as You love me.  Help me grow in my faith.  Give Lisa and myself wisdom and strength.  Please heal Lisa of her cancer and from the side effects of chemo.  Help us lead Zach and Dustin to You Jesus and for them to choose You as their Lord and Savior.  Please provide Godly friends and spouses to Zach and Dustin.  Help me serve You, my family, my church, and others.  Help me understand, be obedient to, and apply Your message for me today and every day.

“So be strong, act like a man, and observe what the Lord your God requires: Walk in obedience to him, and keep his decrees and commands, his laws and regulations, as written in the Law of Moses."

1 Kings 1-2; 2:1-10, 12; 2 Samuel 23:1-7, 1 Chronicles 29:23-25, and 29:28-30

“So be strong, act like a man, and observe what the Lord your God requires: Walk in obedience to him, and keep his decrees and commands, his laws and regulations, as written in the Law of Moses." 2 Kings 2:2-3

Day 129 of my chronological study of the Bible with The Daily Bible® - In Chronological Order (NIV®) (available by purchase through Amazon - author F. LaGard Smith) moves from a study of Psalms to Solomon's rise to the throne after David's passing - this transition of power is not without incident as one of David's sons - Adonijah - attempts a coup which ultimately proves unsuccessful.

While noteworthy, Solomon's grace and compassion towards his brother Adonijah (1 Kings 1:49-53) is not my focus for today's post. Prior to his death, David imparts his final words to Solomon with an emphasis on how obedience to God will result on fulfillment of God's promise to David (2 Kings 2:3-4).  I am reminded of God's many promises and in particular the Second Covenant - this is the gift of grace and compassion of Jesus Christ - the greatest gift of all time.  

John Piper has this excellent summary of what the Second Covenant means - part 1 and part 2 - drawing on Hebrews 8:6-13.

 

My Prayer: Lord Jesus, You are the Messiah, King of kings, Lord of lords, and You are sovereign over all.  You came to rescue me and to nail my sins and the sin of all humanity to the cross.  You offer salvation to me and to all.  I am grateful for such an incredible gift but I am undeserving.  I see first my own comfort and earthly desires often before You.  Please forgive me Jesus and help me overcome and turn from my sin towards You.  Help me love You with all of my heart, soul, and mind and love others as You love me.  Help me grow in my faith.  Give Lisa and myself wisdom and strength.  Thank You for healing Lisa from her cancer but please continue to keep her well from this cancer and from the side effects of chemo.  Help us lead Zach and Dustin to You Jesus and for them to choose You as their Lord and Savior.  Please provide Godly friends and spouses to Zach and Dustin.  Help me serve You, my family, my church, and others.  Help me understand, be obedient to, and apply Your message for me today and every day.

Come, all you who are thirsty, come to the waters; and you who have no money, come, buy and eat! Come, buy wine and milk without money and without cost. Why spend money on what is not bread, and your labor on what does not satisfy? Listen, listen to me, and eat what is good, and you will delight in the richest of fare. Give ear and come to me; listen, that you may live. I will make an everlasting covenant with you, my faithful love promised to David.

2 Samuel 6-9 and 1 Chronicles 16-17

Come, all you who are thirsty, come to the waters; and you who have no money, come, buy and eat!  Come, buy wine and milk without money and without cost. Why spend money on what is not bread,  and your labor on what does not satisfy? Listen, listen to me, and eat what is good, and you will delight in the richest of fare. Give ear and come to me; listen, that you may live. I will make an everlasting covenant with you, my faithful love promised to David. Isaiah 55:1-3

Day 97 of my chronological study of the Bible with The Daily Bible® - In Chronological Order (NIV®) (available by purchase through Amazon - author F. LaGard Smith) focuses on David's efforts to establish regular worship of the Lord, Michal''s rebuke of David for his exuberant (rightly so!) celebration following the return of the ark to Jerusalem, and David's honoring of Mephibosheth (Jonathan's son and only surviving member of Saul's family). Today's reading also includes the Davidic Covenant.

John Piper has this excellent post on how we must remember that God makes these covenants not just for those to whom the covenant is originally made (i.e. Noah, Abraham, Moses, David, etc.), but for all of His children (believers). "The point of this invitation is that the very sovereignty and wisdom and love of God which assured David of an eternal kingdom can also assure you of God's eternal kindness as a part of that kingdom".  Piper uses Isaiah 55:1-3 to illustrate his point:

Come, all you who are thirsty, come to the waters; and you who have no money, come, buy and eat!  Come, buy wine and milk without money and without cost. Why spend money on what is not bread,  and your labor on what does not satisfy? Listen, listen to me, and eat what is good, and you will delight in the richest of fare. Give ear and come to me; listen, that you may live. I will make an everlasting covenant with you, my faithful love promised to David. Isaiah 55:1-3

My Prayer: Lord Jesus, You are an awesome God who loves me and who feeds me, sustains me, protects me, teaches me, rebukes/corrects me, encourages me, etc.  You bless me and provide for me as no other can - You are the one true God and I am grateful that You have adopted me into Your family.  Thank You Jesus!  I am not deserving of such love.  I sin...daily.  Please forgive me Jesus and help me overcome and turn from my sin towards You.  Help me love You with all of my heart, soul and mind and love others as You love me.  Help me grow in my faith.  Give Lisa and myself wisdom and strength.  Please heal Lisa of her cancer and from the side effects of chemo.  Help us lead Zach and Dustin to You Jesus and for them to choose You as their Lord and Savior.  Please provide Godly friends and spouses to Zach and Dustin.  Help me serve You, my family, my church, and others.  Help me understand, be obedient to, and apply Your message for me today and every day.

For I will forgive their wickedness and will remember their sins no more.

Hebrews 8

For I will forgive their wickedness and will remember their sins no more. v12

Referencing Jeremiah 31:31-34, the author or Hebrews focuses on the "obsolete" and "outdated" nature of the First Covenant and how the New Covenant, based on Jesus' blood, is superior because it it is based on better promises (v6).  After the Israelites escaped Egypt, they suffered from a continuous