March 13 Bible Reading:
Leviticus 14-15
Psalm 73
Luke 9
**Click to read Christine Miller’s Bible study for today.
Boker tov! Good morning! Yes, the Hebrew phrase, “Boker tov,” means “good morning,” but as we’ve learned, the Hebrew word tov is much richer than just “good.”
I really do hope your day will fulfill the action for which it was specially fitted and the reason for which YHVH made it exist. He does have an intended purpose for this day.
Now I realize that the world is a little crazy right now, with coronavirus, canceled events, and shortages of food and toilet paper. 🙂 If I were superstitious, I would even point out that today is Friday the 13th.
But that is how the Gentiles, the Nations, think. We are not to think the same way they do! We are to be a set-apart people, holy, distinguishing “between holy and unholy, and between unclean and clean” (Leviticus 10:11).
Today’s Bible reading had a lot of good advice for this. Here are some things I noticed, which I’m sure you also saw as you were reading.
Just like in yesterday’s reading, the priests are learning how to teach when things are unclean and they they are clean (Leviticus 14:57). The purpose is very clear, for YHVH told them,
“Thus you shall separate the children of Israel from their uncleanness, lest they die in their uncleanness when they defile My tabernacle that is among them” (Leviticus 15:31).
The closer you get to the presence of YHVH, the cleaner you must be.
In fact, if anyone unclean enters His dwelling place, that person will die!
There are so many pictures here, and I feel as if I cannot even scratch the surface. Christine does a wonderful job of explaining how this instruction teaches us about Messiah Yeshua and His sacrifice atones for our sin. She also explains that the life of the flesh is in the blood, which explains why when a person loses bodily fluids such as blood or semen, which also carries life, it is like death to them.
Blood is also used to consecrate something that was once unclean and to bring it into usefulness and purpose again.
“The atonement for cleansing from leprosy ceremony is linked by common theme to the consecration ceremony of Aaron and his sons recorded in Levitcus 8! As I was puzzling what the connection was, and why they are linked, from God’s perspective, I realized there is one other instance in Scripture where the blood of the sacrifice flowed onto the right ear, right hand, and right foot – Yeshua when He was on the cross. His own blood from the crown of thorns flowed onto His right ear, and His own blood from the nails in His hands and feet flowed onto His right thumb and right big toe.”
It is because of His blood shed for us that can have useful and purposeful days!
“For we are His workmanship, created in Messiah Yeshua for good works, which God prepared beforehand that we should walk in them” (Ephesians 2:10).
When the world is dire, we are not to hunker down in fear. We are to look for the “good works” that He prepared beforehand for us to do! Today! Yes, our mighty Creator knew that this day with all its chaos would come, and He has a plan that includes you doing His good Torah.
Yes, we should watch out for unclean bodily fluids, wash our clothes and hands, and quarantine ourselves if we become unclean. But otherwise, we should be out caring for the elderly and those who have no help (James 1:27).
“But do not forget to do good and to share, for with such sacrifices God is well pleased” (Hebrews 13:6).
We should take our focus off the scary things happening and put it on the dwelling place of the Most High, as we read today in Psalm 73.
“Behold, these are the ungodly,
Who are always at ease;
They increase in riches.
Surely I have cleansed my heart in vain,
And washed my hands in innocence.
For all day long I have been plagued,
And chastened every morning…When I thought how to understand this,
It was too painful for me—
Until I went into the sanctuary of God…” (Psalm 73:12-14, 16-17).
Going into His presence always changes our perspective. It gets our eyes off evil men and their schemes. It stops our anxious thoughts. It gives us our purpose.
“But it is good for me to draw near to God;
I have put my trust in YHVH God,
That I may declare all Your works” (Psalm 73:28).
There are a lot of people surrounding us who need comfort, healing, and deliverance. It is for this reason we have been given power (dunamis) and authority (exousia), as we read today in Luke.
“Then [Yeshua] called His twelve disciples together and gave them power and authority over all demons, and to cure diseases. He sent them to preach the kingdom of God and to heal the sick” (Luke 9:1-2).
THIS is what we are to focus on TODAY.
We don’t need to worry about our provision (Luke 9:3). We don’t need to worry if people will listen to us or think we are crazy (Luke 9:4-5). Just as He fed Elijah and cared for His prophets of old (Luke 9:8), He will care for us also.
He was able to feed 5000 with only five loaves and two fish (Luke 9:13-17).
And even if we were to be required to suffer for Him, because of our unashamed obedience to Him as Messiah and to His words as our life and instruction, we will lose nothing (Luke 9:22-26).
He is our Messiah, our anointed Prince, the coming King of Kings (Luke 9:20). He will rule this world, and we are to fix our eyes on Him.
“This is My beloved Son. Hear Him!” (Luke 9:35).
No demon is too powerful for Him or unable to be cast out (Luke 9:37-42).
“Then a dispute arose among them as to which of them would be greatest. And Yeshua, perceiving the thought of their heart, took a little child and set him by Him, and said to them, ‘Whoever receives this little child in My name receives Me; and whoever receives Me receives Him who sent Me. For he who is least among you all will be great'” (Luke 9:46-48).
It’s not about how great we are, or our own fame and glory as His power flows through us. It’s all about Him. We are to be like little children, humble and gracious to others, receiving the weakest in His name.
And it’s not about condemning the wicked either. Yes, we are to stay separate ourselves from uncleanness and iniquity and idolatry. But trying to figure out when and how He will bring down that wicked? That’s not our job — it’s His!
“And as they went, they entered a village of the Samaritans, to prepare for Him. But they did not receive Him… And when His disciples James and John saw this, they said, ‘Master, do You want us to command fire to come down from heaven and consume them, just as Elijah did?’
“But He turned and rebuked them, and said, ‘You do not know what manner of spirit you are of. For the Son of Man did not come to destroy men’s lives but to save them‘” (Luke 9:52-56).
Yes, we know He is soon coming again, this time as a Judge and King. Our world is in grave danger, at risk of destruction.
But we do not know if today is the day. It could be. It might not be.
“But, beloved, do not forget this one thing, that with YHVH one day is as a thousand years, and a thousand years as one day. YHVH is not slack concerning His promise, as some count slackness, but is longsuffering toward us, not willing that any should perish but that all should come to repentance” (2 Peter 3:8-9).
Our job is to be like our Master, to save lives, not to destroy them. We are to declare His works, preach the kingdom of God, and to relieve the suffering of those around usjoy. And these things will bring us joy!
Your day has usefulness and function. It is a good day. Fill it with as many of those good, useful, and functional kingdom jobs as you can!
Unless otherwise noted, all Scripture in this blog post taken from the New King James Version®. Copyright © 1982 by Thomas Nelson. Used by permission. All rights reserved.
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