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March 14

Reading 1 - Leviticus 22

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v. 3 - The concept of ceremonial uncleanness is emphasised in the law. This same phrase was used back ch. 7:20,21 regarding the touching of uncleanness causing a rift between the people and God. Although the details of these laws are somewhat unsavoury, the spiritual meaning is clear - isn't it? We must desire to keep ourselves from uncleanness before God - the uncleanness of man - that which we have constant contact with in these days of modern communications - but also we learn that if we fall we are 'unclean until the even' - God does not hold it against us in the long term if our attitude is right. The punishment however for lack of attention to the detail of his law is 'to be cut off from his presence'. Ex.33:14,15, Ps.16:11, Ps.51:11, Matt.25:41, 2Thess.1:9.
Peter Cresswell
v.10-16 - Here, and throughout our readings of the laws and practices of the Children of Israel, we see the priests being separated to God, and this separateness is so often emphasised in laws, as in today's chapter. Even at this stage, God had, as it were, chosen out a remnant even of His chosen people. It is with the priests, not the people, that we should try to relate as we draw lessons for our own attitudes and behaviour.
Peter Cresswell
22:1 - 9 This demonstrates that being a 'son of Aaron' of itself is not sufficient to allow one to eat of the holy things. As well as being a 'son of Aaron' the priest had to be ritually clean as well. The counterpart in our lives is that we cannot rely on the fact that we are 'in Christ' as sufficient basis for claiming holiness. Once in Christ we must work at remaining holy. This is dealt with in Romans 6:12 for example.
Peter Forbes
:21 The word 'accomplish' 06381 is the word 'separate' in Numbers 6:2 where we learn about the Nazarite vow. The man who makes a vow submits his own will to the will of his God - he is no longer his own, he is separated from his own will to do the will of God.
Peter Forbes
:25 That the bread of a 'stranger's hand' could not be offered as a sacrifice is not to indicate that the stranger is in some way inferior to the Jew. Rather it is to teach that servant of God was to offer his own things to God not the things which belong to others.
Peter Forbes
THE BALANCE

There is a balance we need to achieve in our Christian walk between rejoicing in the joy of the Lord, and in humbleness and repentance as we acknowledge our sins.

There are many Christians who go all out in joy and praise to their Savior but who neglect to become sober, confessing and repenting of sin. And in the same way there are others for whom living in Christ appears to be miserable. They spend all their time dwelling on their sin and how far they fall short of the glory of God. We need to achieve a balance so that we do not neglect one at the expense of the other.

The overall picture of the feasts of the LORD that were given to Israel, help us to see the balance we need and to get it into perspective. The Passover, the Feast of Weeks, and the Feast of Tabernacles were all times of rejoicing and celebration. At Passover they celebrated their freedom from Egypt for seven days. At the Feast of Weeks they celebrated a special day giving thanks for the harvest and the blessings God had given them. And at the Feast of Tabernacles they celebrated God's care in the wilderness for seven days. So in total there were 11 days of celebration commanded to be kept by God. On the other hand, the Day of Atonement was a single day when the people were to deny themselves, confess and repent of their sins.

So let's get the balance right in our lives. Let's rejoice and praise 92% more than we dwell on our sin.
Robert Prins

Reading 2 - Psalms 125-127

To Listen
125 v. 1 - I can't resist the temptation to continue the Zion theme here. Here is the promise of God - that Zion might go right through to the end of time. We have seen in the past how Christ is Zion and we are born in him. We also see ourselves collectively as the bride of Rev.21:1,2 prepared and adorned for the marriage. It is all so inextricably linked with God's overall plan. It is also described here as a rock - something - indeed the only thing - in which we can put absolute trust. Ps.62:2,6, 118:8,9, 147:11, 132:13,14, Isa.12:6, 14:32, 51:11,16, 52:1.
Peter Cresswell
127v.1 - We do well to remember this as a basic principle of all things. Whatever we build, unless it has God's approval, it will come to nothing. We work not in our own strength but by the power of God. This has to be true of everyone, as there is no other power in the earth whereby we might live. What makes those of faith different is that they recognise it and give God the glory, rather than take it for themselves.
Peter Cresswell

Psalm 125 v2 As the mountains are round Jerusalem actually describes the geographical situation as it is today. Jerusalem, whilst being high, is surrounded by higher hills. Of course this will change when (Isaiah 2:2) And it shall come to pass in the last days, that the mountain of the LORD'S house shall be established in the top of the mountains, and shall be exalted above the hills; and all nations shall flow unto it. But the psalmist was able to take comfort just by looking at his surroundings. This is looking to see how our surroundings can help us to have confidence in God.

Psalm 126 This Psalm contrasts markedly with Psalm 137 where the Psalmist is lamenting the captivity. Truly the resurrection morning will be like this Psalm. Pray God that we will have mouths filled with laughter. Of course entry into the kingdom is not a matter of chance. Our life style now will determine whether we will be welcomed into the kingdom.

Psalm 127 The linking of children (v3) and the Lord building the house (v1) shows that this Psalm is a comment on the promise of 2 Samuel 7. Whilst David wanted to build God a house He told David that He would build David a house - this house was to be a house of people. We, if we are baptised, are part of this house of David.
Peter Forbes

125:2 Jerusalem, whilst on a hill, is actually surrounded by a number of hills which are all higher than it - so the imagery is clearly based on the geographical situation of Jerusalem.

126:5-6 The deliverance required trust in the future. Israel had been delivered by God but now were required to trust that God would bless their harvest.

127:1 The 'house' that the Lord was to build was not a physical building. It is the 'Church of the living God' 1Timothy 3:15.
Peter Forbes

Reading 3 - Luke 5

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v.5 - Here Peter agrees to do something for Jesus that makes no logical sense in human terms - just because Jesus said so. Quite a lesson in itself isn't it? Ps.127:1,2, Luke 6:46-48, John 15:14. Remember Naaman - 2Kings 5:10-14.
Peter Cresswell
v.14 A regular feature of the gospels is that Jesus did not want those who had been healed to spread that abroad. Matthew 8:4 9:30 12:16 16:20 Mark 1:44 3:12 5:43 7:36 8:30 Luke 8:56 His desire was that people would come to him because of his word and not just for the miracles [or the bread].
Peter Forbes
v.20 In saying 'thy sins be forgiven thee' we have the first of only two occasions when Jesus said this. We might think it was a common feature in Jesus' preaching but it was not. Can you find the other occasion [you will also find parallel accounts of this event but there is one other different occasion]
Peter Forbes
5:1 Whilst there were occasions when the multitude only came for the 'loaves and the fishes' (John 6:26) we have an occasion here when the multitude actually came for the word of God. This desire became less marked as Jesus' ministry developed and the impact of his message became clearer. We must take care that as we grow in Christ our desire to serve him lessens as we grow in appreciation of the force of the message.
Peter Forbes
KEEPING FOCUSED

Even when we try to limit the amount of things we do, our lives can still get crowded in with pressures, people and deadlines, leaving us stressed, loosing control and our minds in a whir. But at times like this let us take heart in the fact that Jesus has been through it all before us - and overcome it. He was tempted in all points like we are, yet without sin.

It is here, in Luke 5, that we get a glimpse as to how he did it. Jesus was under pressure by people to preach to them and to heal all their sick. He barely would have had a moment to himself and he was crowded - mobbed almost - by all the people. More and more people were coming all the time and the pressure on him must have been intense. It is verse 16 that tells us how he coped. "But Jesus often withdrew to lonely places and prayed." That is such a wonderful idea! Why is it that we find it so hard to be motivated to do it ourselves? All we need to do is to take a walk, a bike ride, a drive or whatever, to be alone and to focus our minds on God. Then we need to pray. Talk to him. Tell him our needs, worries, pressures, and above all to praise him for his countless blessings.

Try it today. Make it a habit.
Robert Prins