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Leviticus 21-23
Priests and Feasts
of Israel
Psalm 19:1-14 Star On Stage
1.“The heavens declare the glory of God...4.In them He has set a tent for the sun...7.Yahweh's law is perfect, restoring the soul. Yahweh's testimony is sure, making wise the simple.8.Yahweh's precepts are right, rejoicing the heart. Yahweh's commandment is pure, enlightening the eyes.9.The fear of Yahweh is clean, enduring forever. Yahweh's ordinances are true, and righteous altogether.10.More to be desired are they than gold, yes, than much fine gold; sweeter...11.Moreover in/by them is your servant warned. In keeping them there is great reward.12.Who can discern his errors? Forgive me from hidden errors.13.Keep back Your servant also from presumptuous sins. Let them not have dominion over me. Then I will be upright. I will be blameless and innocent of great transgression.14.Let the words of my mouth and the meditation of my heart be pleasing in Your sight, Yahweh, my rock, and my redeemer."Observation
19:1-14.The key to correctly interpreting Psalm 19 is to recognize the parallelism of “in them” between verses 4 and 11. In the heavens the stage is set for the star (sun) to shine and reflect well on the Creator. In the laws/Revelation of Yahweh the stage is set for the star performer (you) to shine and reflect well on Him.
Note the view of David toward the law, and all the benefits of having an intimate relationship with God's Word.
Application
Meditation (19:14) is thinking thru implications for applications. (Cf Joshua 1:8). That's how the benefits of the Revelation become a reality in your life.Prayer
My Creator and Director, may I live and act within the purposes You've planned for me, so that I may be pleasing in Your sight. Amen.
Proverbs 5:21 "He sees you when you're sleeping, He knows when you're awake..."
21.“For the ways of man are before the eyes of Yahweh. He examines all his paths.Observation
5:21-21.No, we're not talking about Santa Claus, but about the All-Seeing Omniscient One, who watches over His children, and lets the rebellious reap the reward of their wickedness. Note how Proverbs teaches wisdom (and the fear of the Lord); it gives us a view of reality, and the consequences of our actions, so we'll take the right path. (Unlike Cain). Unfortunately, some would rather believe in folklore.
Application
Memorize Proverbs 5:21 and be ready to explain why you do what you do.
Prayer
All-Seeing God and Judge of the universe, help me walk the paths of freedom today. Amen.
Leviticus 21-23 Priests and Feasts of Israel
Two chapters stress the spotless service required by God. Then chapter 23 gives the calendar of the Seven Feasts. Note that no liturgy is specified, although the ritual sacrifices were. Still no mention of singing.
Leviticus 21 A Holy God Requires Spotless Priests and Sacrifices
1.Yahweh said to Moses, Speak to the priests, the sons of Aaron, no one shall defile himself for the dead among his people;2.except for his relatives, that are near to him7.They shall not take a woman that is a prostitute, or profane; neither shall they take a woman put away from her husband: for he is holy to his God.8.You shall sanctify him therefore; for he offers the bread of your God: he shall be holy to you: for I Yahweh, who sanctify you, am holy.16.Yahweh spoke to Moses, saying,17.Speak to Aaron, saying, Whoever he be of your seed throughout their generations that has a blemish, let him not approach to offer the bread of his God.22.He shall eat the bread of his God, both of the most holy, and of the holy:23.only he shall not go in to the veil, nor come near to the altar, because he has a blemish; that he not profane my sanctuaries: for I am Yahweh who sanctifies them.Observation
21:1-23.Blamelessness, both spiritual and physical, was required. Any descendant who had a physical defect could eat the holy offerings, but not offer them, to emphasize the need for absolute purity.
Leviticus 22 A Holy God Requires Perfect Sacrifices
1.Yahweh spoke to Moses, saying,2.Speak to Aaron and to his sons, that they separate themselves from the holy things of the children of Israel, which they make holy to me, and that they not profane my holy name: I am Yahweh.3.Tell them, Whoever he be of all your seed throughout your generations, that approaches to the holy things, which the children of Israel make holy to Yahweh, having his uncleanness on him, that soul shall be cut off from before me: I am Yahweh.20.But whatever has a blemish, that shall you not offer: for it shall not be acceptable for you.21.it shall be perfect to be accepted;31.Therefore shall you keep my commandments, and do them: I am Yahweh32.You shall not profane my holy name; but I will be made holy among the children of Israel: I am Yahweh who makes you holy,33.who brought you out of the land of Egypt, to be your God: I am Yahweh.Observation
22:1-33.Fortunately God's people don't have to be perfect, just forgiven and cleansed.
Application
We can't expect God's blessing when we make Him Lord of the Leftovers.
Prayer
Holy God, thank You that I can be acceptable in Your presence. May I only offer You my best, acknowledging Your supremacy. Amen.
Leviticus 23 Festivals and Feasts
1.Yahweh spoke to Moses, saying,2.Speak to the children of Israel, and tell them, The set feasts of Yahweh, which you shall proclaim to be holy convocations, even these are my set feasts."3.Six days shall work be done: but on the seventh day is a Sabbath of solemn rest, a holy convocation; you shall do no manner of work: it is a Sabbath to Yahweh in all your dwellings.5.In the first month, on the fourteenth day of the month, is Yahweh`s Passover.6.On the fifteenth day of the same month is the feast of unleavened bread to Yahweh: seven days you shall eat unleavened bread.7.In the first day you shall have a holy convocation: you shall do no servile work.8.But you shall offer an offering made by fire to Yahweh seven days: the seventh day is a holy convocation; you shall do no servile work.9.Yahweh spoke to Moses, saying,10.Speak to the children of Israel, and tell them, When you are come into the land which I give to you, and shall reap the harvest of it, then you shall bring the sheaf of the first-fruits of your harvest to the priest:12.In the day when you wave the sheaf, you shall offer a he-lamb without blemish a year old for a burnt offering to Yahweh.14.You shall eat neither bread, nor parched grain, nor fresh ears, until this same day, until you have brought the offering of your God: it is a statute forever throughout your generations in all your dwellings.15.You shall count...from the wave-offering; seven Sabbaths16....fifty days; and you shall offer a new meal-offering to Yahweh.18.You shall present with the bread seven lambs without blemish a year old, and one young bull, and two rams: they shall be a burnt offering to Yahweh, with their meal-offering, and their drink-offerings, even an offering made by fire, of a sweet savor to Yahweh.19.You shall offer one male goat for a sin-offering, and two he-lambs a year old for a sacrifice of peace-offerings.20.The priest shall wave them with the bread of the first-fruits for a wave-offering before Yahweh, with the two lambs: they shall be holy to Yahweh for the priest.21.You shall make proclamation on the same day; there shall be a holy convocation to you; you shall do no servile work: it is a statute forever in all your dwellings throughout your generations.22.When you reap the harvest of your land, you shall not wholly reap the corners of your field, neither shall you gather the gleaning of your harvest: you shall leave them for the poor, and for the sojourner: I am Yahweh your God.23.Yahweh spoke to Moses, saying,24.Speak to the children of Israel, saying, In the seventh month, on the first day of the month, shall be a solemn rest to you, a memorial of blowing of trumpets, a holy convocation.25.You shall do no servile work; and you shall offer an offering made by fire to Yahweh.26.Yahweh spoke to Moses, saying,27.However on the tenth day of this seventh month is the day of atonement: it shall be a holy convocation to you, and you shall afflict your souls; and you shall offer an offering made by fire to Yahweh.28.You shall do no manner of work in that same day; for it is a day of atonement, to make atonement for you before Yahweh your God.29.For whatever soul it be who shall not be afflicted in that same day; he shall be cut off from his people.30.Whatever soul it be who does any manner of work in that same day, that soul will I destroy from among his people.31.You shall do no manner of work: it is a statute forever throughout your generations in all your dwellings.32.It shall be to you a Sabbath of solemn rest, and you shall afflict your souls: in the ninth day of the month at even, from even to even, shall you keep your Sabbath. 33.Yahweh spoke to Moses, saying,34.Speak to the children of Israel, saying, On the fifteenth day of this seventh month is the feast of tents for seven days to Yahweh.35.On the first day shall be a holy convocation: you shall do no servile work.36.Seven days you shall offer an offering made by fire to Yahweh: on the eighth day shall be a holy convocation to you; and you shall offer an offering made by fire to Yahweh: it is a solemn assembly; you shall do no servile work.37.These are the set feasts of Yahweh, which you shall proclaim to be holy convocations, to offer an offering made by fire to Yahweh, a burnt offering, and a meal-offering, a sacrifice, and drink offerings, each on its own day;38.besides the Sabbaths of Yahweh, and besides your gifts, and besides all your vows, and besides all your freewill -offerings, which you give to Yahweh.39.However on the fifteenth day of the seventh month, when you have gathered in the fruits of the land, you shall keep the feast of Yahweh seven days: on the first day shall be a solemn rest, and on the eighth day shall be a solemn rest.40.You shall take on the first day the fruit of goodly trees, branches of palm-trees, and boughs of thick trees, and willows of the brook; and you shall rejoice before Yahweh your God seven days.41.You shall keep it a feast to Yahweh seven days in the year: it is a statute forever throughout your generations; you shall keep it in the seventh month.42.You shall dwell in booths seven days; all who are home-born in Israel shall dwell in booths;43.that your generations may know that I made the children of Israel to dwell in booths, when I brought them out of the land of Egypt: I am Yahweh your God.44.Moses declared to the children of Israel the set feasts of Yahweh.
Observations
23:1-2.This chapter gives a calendar of the mandated festivals at this time in Jewish history. Purim and Hanukkah were added later. The “when” and “how” are specified, but not the “why.” The translation is pretty wooden, but you'll get the idea. One general principle that emerges is that life is not all work and no worship. Theologian John Hammett noted: “Americans tend to worship their work, work at their play, and play at their worship.”
23:3-3. Sabbath. Other Sabbaths were every seven years, and every seven times seven years. The seventh month was also significant, containing three feasts.
23:5-8. Passover-Unleavened Bread/Pesah. Passover starts the year and the experience of Israel as God's redeemed people. When originally specified in Ex 12-13, the reason was to remember how God delivered so they would keep the law as they awaited fulfillment of God's promises. See 1Cor 5:6-8.
Exodus 13:8 "You shall tell your son in that day, saying, 'It is because of that which YAHWEH did for me when I came forth out of Egypt.'9 It shall be for a sign to you on your hand, and for a memorial between your eyes, that the law of YAHWEH may be in your mouth; for with a strong hand YAHWEH has brought you out of Egypt. 10 You shall therefore keep this ordinance in its season from year to year."
23:15-22.
Pentecost-Harvest/Shabuoth. “Pentecost” comes from the Greek word for “fifty” since it was celebrated 50 days from First-fruits. Rabbinical interpretation considers it to commemorate the giving of the Torah or Law. Since the timing coincided with the harvest, the comment about gleaning is appropriate. In the NT the Holy Spirit descended on the day of Pentecost.
23:23-25.
Trumpets/Rosh Hashana. The Shofar or ram's horn was sounded at the beginning of every month. In Lev 25:9-10 the blowing of trumpets marked the year of Jubilee, a new start. In rabbinical interpretation, the Feast of trumpets is also considered a memorial of Creation, and viewed as the beginning of the New Year (cx Passover). Here it heralds the Day of Atonement ten days later, so also in rabbinical interpretation it is a call to regather and repent. Isaiah 18:3 and 27:13 point to a future regathering and repentance.
23:26-32.
Day of Atonement/Yom Kippur. This is the most solemn day of the year, the only one in which the High Priest could enter the Holy of Holies to sprinkle blood on the mercy seat for all sins. Joel 2:11-15 indicates the repentance that should accompany it. See notes on Lev 16, when God first instituted it.
23:33-44.
Tents/Booths/Tabernacles/Sukkot. Booths was a joyful memorial (commanded to rejoice 23:40) of the time the nation dwelt in booths after the Exodus. In the future it will include all nations. Zech 14:16-21
23:39-41.
First-fruits/Shavuot. Giving God the first part of the harvest recognized His ownership and provision, and expressed faith that the rest of the harvest would come in. Note the emphasis on not even eating until you give God His due. See 1Cor 15:23 for NT usage of first-fruits.
Application
We should regularly set aside time to reflect on what God has done in our lives from the beginning of our relationship with Him. As we follow Him we should see progressive holiness follow our redemption as we enjoy His blessings.
Prayer
Great and Good God, when I think about where I was, and what You've done since we met, all I can do is say thanks, and seek to obediently please You. Amen.
Digging Deeper
God in a nutshell: God is frighteningly holy; worship and life must be on His, and only on His, terms. He mandates memorials to keep us mindful of His work and provision in our lives.Us in a nutshell: We are blessed far beyond what we could ever deserve, but we must still do what God says to be blessed, or we will be cut off from blessings. Because we tend to forget our history in preoccupation with daily living, we need to take a break and reflect on God's blessings and our receipt of them.