READING GUIDE FOR SEPTEMBER 11, 2024: LEVITICUS 26, ACTS 3, PSALM 94:12-23                LEVITICUS 26 There is an overall structure to this chapter that, if we keep it in mind, might help us understand God’s message to Israel and to us: 1} commands from God (vs. 1-2); 2) reason for the commands and our obedience to them (vs. 2); 3) blessings for obedience (vs. 3-10); 4) highest blessing (vs.11-12);  5) curses for disobedience (vs. 13-39);  6) hope through repentance (vs. 40-45); and 7) Conclusion (vs 46). 

1. God’s Commands (vs. 1-2). God gave three specific commands that perhaps represent all of His other commands: 1) don’t create idols, which means making anything other than God our ultimate purpose; 2) keep the Sabbaths, which means intentionally and regularly setting aside significant time from regular work to rest and honor God; and  3) revere God’s sanctuary, which includes both valuing God’s presence and God’s holiness (from the word “sanctus” meaning set apart or holy).
2. Why Obey God’s Commands (vs.2). Divine Command Theory: “For I am the Lord.”  
3. Blessings for Obedience (vs. 3-10). Obeying God commands generally brings benefits either by being naturally in conformance with God’s creational order or by God’s active intervention in natural and human affairs. These blessings include optimal climate, domestic and international peace, and security and safety from infestation and animal predators. 
4. Highest Blessing (vs. 11-12). Continually living in the presence of God.
5. Curses for Disobedience (vs.13-39). Breakdown will occur in the physical, spiritual, social, economic, and national security domains. If as a result of these setbacks disobedience continues, disfunction in these areas will increase. If as a result of this second wave of setbacks, disobedience continues, this disfunction will expand to subsequent generations.  Disfunction will keep intensifying with continual disobedience until complete breakdown occurs exemplified by cannibalism, genocide, and mass deportation. This last curse was experienced in the Assyrian and Babylonian exiles. 
6. Hope through Repentance (vs.40-45). When repentance is made for current sins and even the sins of preceding generations, restoration will happen. In fact, God will never forget His covenant with Israel no matter how great the punishment becomes. Jesus is the ultimate fulfillment of this covenant.
7. Conclusion (vs. 46). God made all these commands through Moses on Mount Sinai. No wonder he stayed on the mountain that long. Looking back, we see how God followed through on these blessings and curses throughout the history of Israel. We see that God sent John the Baptist preaching repentance and hope that is now possible in Jesus. Finally, we see that God’s presence is always available through the indwelling of the Holy Spirit first sent in Acts 2 and available to all who believe.    

ACTS 3 Peter has been the top spokesperson so far for Jesus in the days since the resurrection. John may have been the disciple whom Jesus loved and the writer of a gospel, three epistles, and Revelation. Pretty accomplished spiritual leaders. What was part of their secret? We see they had a regular time of prayer each day—seemingly joining other believers. Although they were enroute to a time of prayer, they still allowed themselves to be delayed by a person in need. Ever wonder how to deal with people asking for money? Here they looked intently at 

READING GUIDE FOR SEPTEMBER 11, 2024 CONTINUED:  ACTS 3, PSALM 94:12-23

the panhandler and asked for his attention in return. That’s unusual in itself.  Then Peter addressed the man’s underlying need that caused his financial problem: his disability. Maybe we aren’t brave enough to tell someone to walk who has never walked before, but perhaps we can take time with those asking for money to see if there is a way to empower the beggar as Peter did, rather than only give money or ignore the person. 

This spectacular healing drew a crowd. Peter took advantage of this opportunity, as he did with the tongues event, to share the Gospel of Jesus. We need to pray for and be ready to seize any opportunity to tell others about Jesus. Peter cleverly tied the man’s healing to having faith in Jesus, although he doesn’t clarify if it was Peter’s faith or the man’s. Peter made some essential points that all of us need to be certain we understand. First all of us are born sinners and need to repent. Those who claim most people are innately good are not expressing the Gospel! Since Peter was speaking to a devout Jewish audience, he stressed that all the prophets spoke about Jesus being sent from heaven to die for our sins. In this case Peter quoted from Deuteronomy 18:18-19: “I will raise up for them a prophet from among their countrymen like you, and I will put My words in his mouth, and he shall speak to them everything that I command him. And it shall come about that whoever does not listen to My words which he speaks in My name, I Myself will require it of him. Here are Peter’s final points: the prophets said Jesus would come. Jesus came to wipe out the sins of the people. He rose, reigns above, and sent His refreshing Spirit to earth. If we don’t listen to Him and receive Him as Savoir and Lord, we will all be judged. 

PSALM 94:12-23 It’s hard to know at the time if we are undergoing God’s discipline (vs.12), so that we can consider it a blessing. Does anyone else feel that way? Maybe it’s easier to identify and express thankfulness in retrospect, after the discipline is over. Olympics athletes might have it easier on that point. Those folks must be disciplined to achieve greatness. How much more when the stakes are far higher: spiritual maturity. Notice that the Psalmist promises a blessing from learning the Bible (vs. 12). Those who stick with it can vouch that it’s true. The Psalmist is confident that God will not abandon His people (vs. 14). How can we know this, especially as our bodies appear to be falling apart with each passing day? Again, this is one of the blessings of studying the Bible. We can be assured that our resurrected body is on order and the constant presence of the Lord will soon be our experience. We can also see the sweep of thousands of years of history to know that God has defeated evil at the cross and will completely secure His victory when He comes again. Plus, he allows us to be on His winning team. In verse 17, the Psalmist explores a thought experiment: Imagine where we would be now if the Lord had not been our helper through life. That’s a great exercise that we should all try. It should lead to overwhelming thanksgivings for the past and utmost hope for the future.