READING GUIDE FOR SEPTEMBER 9, 2024: LEVITICUS 24, ACTS 1, PSALM 93 LEVITICUS 24 We were first introduced to the lampstands in Exodus 25, which we studied on July 16. The lampstand had a stem in the middle with three branches on either side, so it held seven lamps. In Rev. 1:20, it says the seven lampstands symbolize the churches and the seven lamps represent the seven spirits of God always before the throne (Rev.4:15). Thus, combining what we know about the tabernacle being God’s designated spot for his presence (Exodus 25:8) with the lamps in Revelation, this seems to point to the constant presence of the Holy Spirit in the lives of believers (1 Cor. 6:19). This would explain why Aaron made sure the lamp burned throughout the evening, because God’s Spirit will never leave us.
The priests placed twelve loafs on the tabernacle table each Sabbath. In Exodus 25:30, this bread was called the “bread of the Presence,” These 12 loaves, eaten only by the priests, most likely also represented the 12 tribes. Bread in the Bible is often linked to God’s provision: “Moses said, “This is what the Lord has commanded: ‘Fill an omer with it to be kept for generations to come, so that they may see the food I fed you in the wilderness when I brought you out from the land of Egypt’” (Ex. 16:32). We know that Jesus is the bread that represents the ultimate provision for His people:“Jesus said to them, “I am the bread of life; the one who comes to Me will not be hungry” (John 6:36).
It is interesting that the chapter suddenly includes a specific case about blasphemy. We learn that blasphemy rules applied to everyone living within the community regardless of their nationality. We also learn that those who actually witnessed the blasphemy had to lay hands on the offender’s head while the rest of the community stoned him to death. This approach certainly required those who made the charge and all the people to be much more involved in the justice system that we experience today. This likely enhanced the deterrent effect.
The other offences listed all called for punishment proportional to the offence. These laws also applied equally to foreigners living among them. Remember that there are principles we can discern from all this, perhaps related to church discipline, but these punishments cannot be applied today. We are not living in a theocracy, such as Israel was.
A question that could be asked is why the proportional punishment principle, such as an eye for eye, isn’t the standard Jesus demanded in Matthew 5? Some observations from the text. Matthew 5:1-2 infers that Jesus is speaking to His disciples about their personal behavior not suggesting general laws for society. In 5:20, He adds the kind of righteousness that He describes is practiced by those entering the Kingdom of God, a righteousness that exceeds that of scribes and Pharisee. Finally, in verse 48, He says these values represent the Father’s perfect standards, not those of unbelievers (vs. 47-Gentiles), who don’t possess the Holy Spirit.
READING GUIDE FOR SEPTEMBER 9, 2024: LEVITICUS 24, ACTS 1, PSALM 93 Do we ever bemoan the fact that we are not impacting many people? That doesn’t seem to have occurred to Luke. He wrote his gospel for Theophilus and now he is also writing the history of the early church for him. Let’s be faithful in serving, even if only one person might be blessed. Just maybe the Lord will use our service in ways we didn’t first imagine. In verse 2, Luke explains why Jesus was such as good teacher; he was empowered by the Holy Spirit. Luke also gives us a great summary of Jesus’s life between His resurrection and His ascension. It must have been a fantastic 40 days for His disciples. Jesus prepares them well for their upcoming baptism of the Holy Spirit. They still want to know about the restoration of the nation of Israel, but Jesus immediately refocuses their attention back to the Holy Spirit and the evangelistic ministry that the Spirit will empower. That’s His agenda for us, too. Again, the Bible teaches that Jesus will eventually descend from the clouds when He returns. Look up.
The remaining 11 disciples go back to Jerusalem with Jesus’s family and about a hundred other followers for an extended prayer meeting. (Does everyone know about the prayer meetings at 9:00 each Sunday at church?) Out of these prayers and the scriptures they brought to mind came the selection of Matthias to replace Judas. What ever happened to Barsabbas? All we know is he witnessed John the Baptist and Jesus through the resurrection. Not a bad life.
PSALM 93 Who are the most powerful people in the world now? According to one source:
According to Psalm 93, God reigns now as He has from all eternity. The gentlemen above will soon pass from the scene. All that will matter about them is if they have humbled themselves and acknowledged Jesus as their Lord and Savior. As this is being written, Hurricane Debbie is battering the southeast with the “potential for catastrophic flooding.” This is only a puddle, though, compared with God’s might. The Dow Jones just dropped over 1,000 points today. With the uncertainties of the economy, climate change, the election, and wars in Europe and the Middle East, can we be confident about the future? Psalm 93: 5: “Your testimonies are fully confirmed.” God’s testimonies are all recorded in the Bible. It is the antidote to anxiety.
