READING FOR AUGUST 7, 2024: LEVITICUS 1, LUKE 2, PSALM 77:10-20                              LEVITICUS 1    Atonement offered to God on behalf of His imperfect people:

Offer a male bull/goat/sheep with no defect; at the doorway of the tent of meeting that he may be accepted before the LORD. Lay a hand on the head so that it may be accepted for him to make atonement on his behalf. (vs. 3-4)	He shall the slaughter the bull/ goat/sheep before the Lord; and Aaron’s sons the priests shall offer up the blood and sprinkle the blood around on the altar.  (vs. 5)	Then Aaron’s sons the priests shall arrange the pieces, withthe head and the suet (hard fat around the loins and kidneys), on the wood which is on the fire that is on the altar. (vs. 7-8)
Its entrails, however, and its legs he shall wash with water. (vs.9a)	The priest shall offer all of it up in smoke on the altar as a burnt offering by fire as a soothing aroma to the Lord. (vs. 9b)	If his offering is a turtledove or young dove, the priest shall bring it to the altar and pinch off its head and offer it up in smoke on the altar. (vs. 14-15a)
Its blood is to be drained out on the side of the altar. (vs. 15b)	He shall also remove its craw (pouch) with its feathers and throw it beside the altar east-ward, to the place of the fatty ashes. (vs. 16)	He shall tear it by its wings but not sever it. The priest shall offer it up in smoke on the altar, on the wood on the fire as a burnt offering. (vs. 17)

READING FOR AUGUST 7, 2024 CONTINUED: LUKE 2, PSALM 77:10-20                                   LUKE 2 Caesar Augustus was the first emperor of Rome, easily the most powerful person, humanly speaking, on earth. Yet God orchestrated his desire to hold a worldwide census as the means to move Joseph and Mary from Nazareth to Bethlehem to be registered so Jesus could fulfill the ancient prophecy: “But as for you, Bethlehem Ephrathah, too little to be among the clans of Judah, from you One will come forth for Me to be ruler in Israel. His times of coming forth are from long ago, from the days of eternity” (Micah 5: 2). Notice Mary was betrothed and pregnant. No doubt being still unmarried in a small town where people could see and count to 9 would have created difficulties for Mary and Jesus socially. Augustus’s census took away that embarrassment. Finally, notice Jesus was called Mary’s firstborn, not only child as held by Catholic Theology.

Once again, heavenly beings encountered working men, shepherds, doing their jobs. (Want to meet frightening angels? Do some hard work.)  What was this good news (or Gospel) that brought such great joy to all people? The Lord, the Christ (Messiah), the Savior came to earth as a baby. This baby would eventually grow up, die, and rise again to atone for our sins, making the burnt sacrifices in Leviticus obsolete. Instead of giving angels the task to share this more complete good news, JESUS TOLD US TO DO IT. It’s clear from the details they gave,the angels expected the shepherds to leave immediately to see Jesus. They did and told others!

The rest of the chapter provides intriguing glimpses into Jesus’s childhood. Mary and Joseph were faithful in facilitating Jesus meeting His circumcision, purification, and yearly Passover commitments. The family’s sacrifice of birds indicates they were poor (Lev.12:8). The family was rich, though, in the many friends and family who traveled the 80 miles with them to Passover each year. (Sounds fun). We see an elderly widow and elderly man who both had a passion for God and prayer, which was rewarded by seeing God the Son in person. They serve as a model for many of us, as do Mary and Joseph for young parents, as does Jesus for children through His obedience and interest in spirituality. Let’s engage kids more deeply in the Bible.

PSALM 77:10-20 Verse 1 reads it is only in Asaph’s perception while grieving that God’s attribute of faithfulness has changed—not the reality. To give himself more perspective he consciously recalls the larger record of God, going back seemingly to the Exodus. He doesn’t review history in a merely academic way, but with thanksgiving for what it confirms about God’s character. Notice he asserts no God is like Israel’s God.  How would he know that without some knowledge of other belief systems? Confidence in the truth of Christianity is strengthened by honestly comparing it to other views. Notice how graphically Asaph’s recollection is of the Exodus. Let’s allow the Holy Spirit to enhance our recollection of God’s work beyond bare data to give ourselves a renewed sense of God’s faithfulness for today.