Study from Leviticus 8 – 10; Passage for Reflection: Leviticus 10: 19 – 20 … NIV 19 Aaron replied to Moses, "Today they sacrificed their sin offering and their burnt offering before the LORD, but such things as this have happened to me. Would the LORD have been pleased if I had eaten the sin offering today?" 20 When Moses heard this, he was satisfied.
My Journal for Today: Okay, in my trek through the Bible this year, Dr. F. LaGard Smith, my devotional book author and shepherd, is merciful in letting me jump all the way to Leviticus 8 – 10 to reflect on the impact of THE LAW in the life of Old Covenant believers; and how observance of God’s Law will impact the life of a New Covenant believer such as myself (or prayerfully, you who might be reading what I’m journaling).
So, as you read this passage today, going back a bit into the context of Leviticus, Chapters 8 – 10 (linked) [Yeah, I know that’s a lot to ask us from us “Get to the point” Christians to read], you’ll see that God has made a very impactful lesson upon the family of Aaron, Moses’ brother, as well as God’s people. Aaron’s two sons, who had been anointed and consecrated for the Priesthood, thought they could actually add to God’s Law by doing extra things which God had not specified to be part of the designated rituals of sacrifice. And we really don’t know what the motivation was for their deviation from God’s instructions; but whether it was drunkenness or maybe selfishness to be blessed extra for doing more than God asked, … no matter, they did more – on their own – than God asked them to do; and ZAP, they were dead.
Then we read on to today’s focus passage where the other sons of Aaron didn’t do what they were supposed to do; and then we read of God sparing those sons when Aaron came forward and took the responsibility for the sins of the Sons, asking God for the same deliverance God had given Aaron when, years before, he had fashioned the golden calf for idol worship when Moses was on the mountain receiving God’s Law.
So, what does it all mean for you and me? Well, it means that God’s Law is God’s Law; and we cannot take it on our own to add or detract from God’s Law as it is given to us for our benefit; and so that the observance of God’s truth (i.e., from His word – the entire Bible) is given to Christians today so that we will obey it faithfully. But these stories also indicate that God is as much – or maybe even more so – interested in our heart as we live our lives; and that He is our God of mercy, especially for those who discern the truth, and have a heart to confess their sins and be made right in God’s eyes, by acknowledging and yielding to the saving grace which Christ – and only from His sacrifice – offers to believers who know their sinfulness which is covered by the blood of the Lamb of God.
Yes, just as in the Old Covenant, we are to know and observe God’s Law with a heart of obedience; BUT the New Covenant is even stronger for us to be obedient to the commandments which come from the Living Sacrifice, Whose blood was shed in remission for all the sins of all people who come to Him, confessing their sin, and claiming the grace which is His gift of salvation for all sinners who believe in Him and receive His cleansing and saving gift.
Oh, how I pray that we are doing all we can to know and discern God’s truth; and to have obedient hearts which are focused on being “living sacrifices” before our New Covenant Tabernacle, Who is Jesus, the Christ.
My Prayer for Today: Lord, how I praise Your Holy Name for THE sacrifice which has brought You into my heart to Tabernacle with me forever. Amen
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