Day 46: Set Apart for God

 Today's readings: Exodus 30-31, Leviticus 22, and Psalm 115.

I. In Exodus chapter 30, a command to make the Altar of Incense is given (30:1-10), then an annual tax of half a shekel for maintaining the Tabernacle is outlined (30:11-16), followed by the Bronze Laver for purification (30:17-21), and finally, anointing oil and incense to be used for consecration (30:22-38).

We see in the beginning of the next chapter an extraordinary calling by God of specific craftsmen, Bezalel and Oholiab, for constructing what God has commanded (31:1-11). I say that this is "extraordinary" because it's rather unusual to have the actual names of craftsmen from so long ago to survive to this day. The benefactors are almost always named, but usually not those who labored to build a precious item. 

The Sabbath Law is next given, with observance being a sign of the covenant between God and His people (31:12-17).

Finally, the two stone tablets with the Ten Commandments "written with the finger of God" were given to Moses (31:18). Interestingly, the Ignatius Bible notes this as to perhaps why there were two tablets:

Based on parallels with Near Eastern treaties, where both parties kept the records of the stipulations, it is possible that the two tablets of the Law were duplicate copies of the covenant agreement. If so, each tablet has a full listing of the Ten Commandments, one for Yahweh and the other for Israel (CCC 2056-58). (p. 164)

II.  In Leviticus chapter 22, "Aaronic priests must handle sacred foods properly," and acceptable offerings to God must be "without blemish" (p. 212).

III. Psalm 115 is one of praise for God, while idolatry is strongly condemned. Israel is called on to trust in God (115:9-11), and the impotence of worthless idols is mocked (115:4-8).

That's it for today!

Day 45: Pray for Priests

 Today's readings: Exodus 29, Leviticus 21, and Psalm 119:121-176.

I. In today's reading from Exodus chapter 29, the ordination of priests in the Old Testament is outlined. As the Ignatius Bible notes:

Moses will be the head celebrant who performs the induction ceremony over the course of seven days (29:35). During the week, Aaron and his four sons will be washed with water (29:4), clothed with priestly vestments (29:5-9), anointed with oil (29:7), and sanctified by a series of animal and cereal offerings (29:10-34). These actions are meant to transfer them from the profane world into the realm of holy service. Set apart in this way, the priests will be held to a higher standard of moral and ceremonial purity than the laity of Israel (Lev 10:8-11; 21:1-7) (CCC 1539-41). (p. 161)

II. In Leviticus chapter 21, strict requirements, as well as standards of conduct and living, are placed upon priests of the Old Testament to keep them in holiness before the Lord. As these priests are considered to foreshadow those of the New Covenant, though the specifics differ, they too are called to uphold high moral standards in service to the Lord. Sadly, though, some fall into grave sin, like many of us among the laity. 

The BIY Companion, Vol 1, notes:

The priests of the New Covenant are ordained to lead the people in worship. They are called to be intercessors. Priests are called to be holy and live in a certain way. While we have heard of the grave sins of some priests, every priest - like every disciple of Christ - fails in many small ways to honor the Lord. At times, every Christian fails to live up to the call to be holy as the Lord God is holy. (p. 98)

III. The final verses are given for Psalm 119. In this portion of the longest psalm, the same central theme continues: a deep love for God’s law, combined with a plea for deliverance and perseverance.

Let my supplication come before you;

    deliver me according to your word. (119:170)

That's all for today!

Day 44: Priestly Garments

 Today's readings: Exodus 27-28, Leviticus 20, and Psalm 119: 57-120.

I. Exodus continues with instructions from God on how the Altar of Burnt Offering is to be constructed (27:1-8), the Court and all its hangings are to be made (27:9-19), and the oil to be used for the Lampstand, which is to be tended by Aaron and his sons" (27:20-21). In the next chapter, the priestly vestments are outlined, including the ornate Breastplate of Judgement worn by Aaron, the high priest (28:15-30).

II. In Leviticus chapter 20, a list of offenses is given, all calling for the death penalty according to God's Law. They include child sacrifice (a truly abominable crime), cursing one's parents, adultery, incest, homosexual relations, bestiality, and sorcery. Seems rather harsh on the one hand, but some of these crimes are so monstrous (like child sacrifice) as to warrant such a consequence.

III. In Psalm 119:57-120, the Psalmist continues with a deeply personal section, it seems, focusing on total devotion to God’s law, repentance, and a holy fear of the Lord. It reflects a soul that has chosen God as its “portion” and is striving to live faithfully.

That's all for today!

Day 43: The Ark of the Covenant

 Today's readings: Exodus 25-26, Leviticus 19, and Psalm 119:1-56.

I. In Exodus chapter 25, God commands Moses to collect from the Israelites offerings for the Tabernacle that He will instruct him to build. Then a description of the Ark of the Covenant, containing the Ten Commandments or covenant within, the Table for the Bread of the Presence, and finally, the Lampstand.

What stands out to me is the following:

• The Israelites are essentially nomadic at this time, which is why each item is described as having poles to carry it when they move around. 
• They had no Temple at that time, so the Tabernacle stood in for what they would build later.
• The descriptions of the Tabernacle and furnishings probably sounded a bit familiar to the Israelites, coming from the pagan practices they were used to. Only, all this is to take what may seem familiar and redirect them to the One True God.
• God has no need of gold or fine furnishings; all this is to take what man considers worthy of precious value and use it to honor the One True God as well as redirect them to Him. As beautiful as the Tabernacle may have seemed to them, the Temple later, and even our finest cathedrals and churches today, pale in comparison to the majesty of God's own handiwork in Creation (Mt 6:28-30).
• The mercy seat on the Ark sounds almost like a throne to me for the Most High God.

In chapter 26, God gives specific details on how the Israelites are to construct the Tabernacle and install a curtain or veil, shielding the Holy of Holies where the Ark resides, from the rest of the tent.

II. In Leviticus chapter 19, God gives instructions to Moses on how the Israelites are to live in holiness in their daily lives. In their relations with their families and neighbors, as well as their relations with God. Then, a shortened version of the Ten Commandments and instructions previously given to Moses are recalled. As the Ignatius Bible notes:

In these ways, Israel is called to "love" others - not only their kin (19:18) but also non-Israelites who dwell among them. (p. 207)

III. Psalm 119:1-56, we are given the first third of a very long psalm that is one of wisdom and praise for God's law. 

That's it for this Holy Saturday and tomorrow is Easter or Pascha - Christ is truly Risen!

Day 42: Moral Laws

 Today's readings: Exodus 24, Leviticus 17-18, and Psalm 78.

I. In Exodus chapter 24, we find that God and Israel are spiritually bonded together, with the latter consecrated to service for the former, renouncing all other gods. It ends with Moses going up Mt. Sinai to commune with God, where he remained for "forty days and forty nights" (24:18).

II. In Leviticus chapter 17, we have laws on the proper handling of animal blood. As the Ignatius Bible notes:

Sacrificial animals processed for food (oxen, sheep, goats) may not be slaughtered outside the Tabernacle; they must be offered to the Lord, and their blood applied to the altar, before any meat can be eaten (17:1-9). Wild animals hunted as game (deer, gazelle, quails) can be eaten as food so long as their blood is first poured on the ground and covered (17:10-16). These precepts are enjoined not only on Israelites but also on sojourners - people of other ethnic backgrounds who dwell among the covenant people... (p. 205)

Black pudding, like the British or Irish enjoy eating, would have horrified the Israelites and been against what God commanded of them (17:10-12).

In Leviticus chapter 18, it begins with God telling Moses that Israel will not live as they do in Egypt and Canaan, but will instead follow His commands on proper behavior. This starts with a list of prohibitions against sexual immorality, from family relations to women who are not one's wife, to homosexual activities. Probably one of the best on this list, not a sexual perversion in itself as I see it, is a command to not sacrifice one's child to the demon god Molech (18:21). How anyone could do that with their child boggles the mind.

We find different types of laws in the Old Testament, some of which we see foreshadowings of future things under Christ, and others which are still binding upon us today. As the BIY Companion, Vol 1, notes:

There are three kinds of laws in the Old Testament: laws that govern society, particularly the kingdom of Israel; laws regarding proper worship; and laws regarding morality. Since neither the kingdom of Israel (as constituted in the Old Testament) nor the Temple exist any longer, the first two types of laws are no longer necessary. The moral law, however, retains its force. (p. 92)

III.  Psalm 78 is one of remembrance. As the Ignatius Bible notes:

It reviews biblical history from the Exodus to the election of David, highlighting a recurring pattern: (1) the Lord performs "glorious deeds" for his people (78:4); (2) his people prove faithless (78:22...) and rebellious (78:8...); (3) the Lord's anger is provoked (78:21...); and yest (4) the Lord forgives and offers his people another chance for blessing (78:38). Readers are challenged to learn from the mistakes of past generations, lest they forget the works of God and forsake his covenant (78:7-8...). The psalm follows the canonical story of the Pentateuch and Historical Books and at several points echoes the Song of Moses in Deut 32:1-43. (p. 896)

You know, with some changes to the details, this psalm and the notes here sound a lot like Christian history...

That's it for today!

Day 41: The Day of Atonement

Today's readings: Exodus 23, Leviticus 16, and Psalm 77.

I. Toda's reading in Genesis begins with laws concerning justice, prohibiting bearing false witness, bribes against the poor, refusing help to enemies in times of need, favoring the poor solely because they are poor, accepting bribes, and oppressing strangers (23:1-9). 

Seems rather odd, but farmland is to be given a sabbatical year after 6 years of growing crops, and of course, all persons and animals must rest on the Sabbath Day each week. Finally, no other god should ever be mentioned (23:10-13). The second and third are part of the Ten Commandments, while the first, I understand, makes sense from an agricultural point of view. I'm not a farmer, but I've heard that they leave their fields fallow for a period to avoid overusing the soil.

Next, three annual feasts are listed: Unleavened Bread, First Fruits (later Pentecost), and Ingathering (later Booths or Tabernacles) (23:14-19).

Finally, the Israelites are promised the conquest of Canaan if they will listen to Him, and they are warned not to befriend them or worship their false gods (23:20-33).

II. In Leviticus chapter 16, the holiest day of the year for Jews is explained, the Day of Atonement or Yom Kippur. As the Ignatius Bible notes:

It is the holiest day of the liturgical year - a day of cleansing for the sanctuary, purging it of all the uncleanness accumulated throughout the year (16:16, 19), and a day of cleansing for the people, removing from the camp all the sins committed throughout the year (16:22, 30).

[...] According to the NT, the ministries of Yom Kippur foreshadow the atoning work of Christ: Jesus is the heavenly high priest (Heb 5:1-6); he entered the heavenly sanctuary signified by the Tabernacle (Heb 8:1-5); he offered his own blood for atonement rather than the blood of bulls and goats (Heb 9:6-14); his sacrifice, made once for all rather than once every year, is sufficient to take away all the sins of the world committed throughout history (Heb 9:24-26; 10:12-14) (CCC 614, 1540). (pp. 202-203)

III. Psalm 77 is one of lament. It goes from grief (77:1-10) to remembrance of God's past mighty deeds (77:11-20), so possible hope from the Psalmist?

That's all for today - Have a good Palm Sunday!!!

Day 40: Laws of Justice

 Today's readings: Exodus 22, Leviticus 15, and Psalm 76.

I. Today's reading in Genesis begins with laws of restitution, a sensible thing in any community for justice and to avoid bloodfeuds (22:1-17). As the Ignatius Bible notes:

Compensation must be made for property that is stolen (animals), destroyed (crops), or lost (borrowed goods), and for persons that are violated (unmarried virgins). (p. 153)

The restitution for unmarried virgins, I'm sure, would be objectionable to many today, but for the time was actually quite just. 

For crimes like sorcery, bestiality, and idolatry, the penalty was death (22:18-20). All three of these were abominations to God, and those who committed such offenses were not shown mercy.

Those who are most helpless in society and the stranger are protected in the next verses, with promises of divine vengeance on anyone who oppresses them (22:21-27).

Cursing God or those who are "a ruler of your people" is forbidden (22:28).

Finally, "Israel must consecrate to Yahweh all first-born sons" (p. 154; 22:29-30) and refrain from eating meat that had been "torn by beasts in the fields," which is unclean (22:31).

II. In Leviticus chapter 15, covers bodily discharges from men and also women, including menstrual cycles or other bloody discharges. Rather detailed and exacting for mostly private matters by today's standards, at least.

The BIY Companion, Vol 1, comments:

Leviticus 15 speaks of bodily emissions. There are rules about these emissions because the body is sacred, and some of these particular emissions refer to life and relationships. Though we are no longer bound by the ritual laws of the Old Covenant, we still need to treat these things with respect. In these rules, God shows his just heart. He reveals that he is a just God who seeks to form a just people. Sacred things must be treated as sacred. (p. 88)

III. Psalm 76 is a song of Zion. Certainly one that is filled with joy and praise for God, and all that He has done for Israel. As the Ignatius Bible notes:

It is a victory hymn in which God is hailed as the Awesome One of Jerusalem (76:7, 12), the Warrior who triumphs over all foes (76:3-6), and the Savior who rescues the oppressed (76:7-9). The historical backdrop may be David's conquest of Zion, followed by his transfer of the Ark of the Covenant there (2 Sam 5-6). (p. 894)

That's all for today!