2019-01-04
Good Morning Dear Ones,
Our rather lengthy segment of these “Knowing God” messages called “Christ and Believers” is just that, because it’s the most important aspect of our faith in Him. Our relationship with Him matters tremendously, because it has a major impact on whether we gain eternal life. Therefore, I have been urged by the Holy Spirit to continue supplying supporting Scriptures to the book of Colossians. The issue of ritual uncleanliness comes up many times in the first five books of Moses. For example, LV 11: 29 tells us moles, rats, mice, and lizards must be considered unclean, particularly if one touches a dead one until that evening. To avoid this problem, it was necessary for the Jews to keep their homes clean. These rules about ritual cleanliness should be known, so that in his life, one could distinguish what was clean and what wasn’t. The idea behind the rules of the Kosher regime was to keep the people in the best health possible.
One of the most important of the rules was to remember to observe the Sabbath and keep it holy. Compliance with the observance meant not doing any work on that seventh day, because God created the world in six days and didn’t work on the seventh [EX 20: 8-11]. However, there were times when the people and even, Jesus, Himself, weren’t perfect in keeping the “no work” observance on the Sabbath. The Pharisees complained that one day He and His disciples were hungry. They picked wheat heads while walking through a field. At that time, Jesus reminded them that David and his men, while so hungry, went into the temple and ate bread that was meant for the priests. The Lord concluded that Sabbath was made for humans and not the other way around [MK 2: 23-28]. In ancient times, man only saw the black and white of a situation in which we today see the shades of gray. I’m reminded of RO 7: 6, which makes the distinction between “serving in the way of the written law and serving in the way of the Spirit.”
1 CH 23: 30; 2 CH 31: 2-3; and NE 10: 32-33 all deal with the organization necessary to the Levites, so that each one knew exactly what his duties were. The system of various types of sacrifices outlined in these passages required such an organization. Further organization was required for provision of materials needed for these sacrifices and for godly tasks, such as offering the Lord praise and glory at the beginning of each morning. After the first dyaspora [scattering and temporary loss of nationhood] ended in 444 BC, the Jews were able to return to Israel. Three groups under the separate leadership of Ezra, Zerubbabel, and Nehemiah returned at different times. The subject of provision for the Temple workers, so that they could do their tasks for God was partly seen to by King Hezekiah, who gave animals from his own flocks for the sacrifices. Others provided annually an ounce of silver to pay the expenses of the Temple. Still others provided food for the Levites to eat. There were gatekeepers, those who kept careful records (some of which are in 1 CH 24), treasurers, singers, musicians [1 CH 25] and officials. In addition, there were Temple guards [1 CH 26] and many other Levite duties were assigned. In 1 CH 28, we find David’s instructions for the Temple. Gifts were to be given for the Temple []. In reading both Kings and Chronicles, we often find mention of God’s will that all the Pagan altars, especially those to the god, Baal, and his wife, Ashara, should be destroyed all over Israel. We also find in reading about the history of the ancient Jewish kingdoms of Judah in the south and Israel in the north that all 19 kings in Israel didn’t obey this clear command, while only some in the south, like David, Hezekiah, and Josiah did obey it in Judah. Under King Hezekiah, there were reforms made to the religious life. The people were to give their fair share of offerings to which the Levite priests were entitled. Within the Levite community, all males after the age of 30 had daily responsibilities in the Temple. This included their dependents, as needed. Anyone who has read Judah’s history knows that God favored King Hezekiah with healing and protection from Judah’s enemies.
PRAYER: O Lord, we acknowledge that your commands to the Jews were necessary at the time they were given. Keeping the Sabbath and making it holy is particularly important for its eternal nature. We must not forget You are our one and only God, Who sent His Son to the cross for us, and Whose love for us is unconditional. These things mean that we must keep You close to our hearts and must not forget that You should always come first. David had the good grace to realize he sinned in the matter of Bathsheba, Uriah, and in other matters. His beautiful words of confession are ones we should all read and understand [PS 51: 10-13]. While flawed as all humans are, he was “a man after Your own heart” [1 SAM 13: 14; AC 13: 22]. You knew David would eventually obey Your commands. The name, Israel, means “he struggles with God.” We mention this truth in our prayer, because mankind today is still sinful by nature. This is what makes it even more important than ever that once we are baptized we willingly take on the task of discovering our own sins, confessing them before You, stopping the attitude or behaviors associated with these sins, and reaching out to others for Your Son. Our relationship with You becomes so uncomplicated and sweet when we: 1) know what pleases You and what doesn’t through study of Your word and prayer; 2) we comply with Your wishes; 3) serve You all the days of our lives; 4) have both a vertical and horizontal relationship with You and for You; 5) witness to our faith with those who will see and listen by example and by our words. We acknowledge the great blessing You gave us by the sacrifice of our Lord Jesus on the cross and His resurrection. In His mighty name, we pray. Amen.
NEXT WEEK: Next week I am commanded to discuss more about our High Priest, Jesus Christ, and what He did for us. There are times when discussing our sins can be emotionally embarrassing or even painful. I am by no means perfect. The lure of being impatient, prideful, destructively angry, taking the easy way out of a situation, and so on is still with me every day. But I have learned that it’s important to think first and then, to act. When I don’t do this, I get tripped up into these and other sins, especially by wrongdoers with evil motives. However, the Lord is with me all the time, and He has blessed me with help in learning how to avoid this wrongful behavior. Long ago, someone who loved me discussed how meeting wrongful behavior with the same doesn’t solve problems. Being patient, caring, and loving works much better. There have been times when it either didn’t work at all or took a long time to work, but it is still worth taking this advice. I know the Lord sends people like this advisor into my life at the exact time I most need them. This is only one out of many things He has done for me. So, when we are reminded to be “joyful always, pray at all times, and be thankful in all circumstances” [1 THESS 4: 16-18], we should take that advice seriously. My experience has been that when we do, we are blessed beyond measure. Praise and thanks be to Him!
Grace Be With You Always,
Lynn
JS 24: 15
© Lynn Johnson 2018. All Rights Reserved.
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