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Day 35 – A Year in the Bible – Leviticus 16-18
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LEVITICUS 16 – SIN OFFERING, ATONEMENT, SCAPTEGOAT

Speak Unto Aaron that He Come Not into the Holy Place
And the LORD spake unto Moses after the death of the two sons of Aaron, when they offered before the LORD, and died; and the LORD said unto Moses, Speak unto Aaron thy brother, that he come not at all times into the holy place within the vail before the mercy seat, which is upon the ark; that he die not: for I will appear in the cloud upon the mercy seat. – Leviticus 16:1-2 

Aaron Offered the Sin Offering and Made an Atonement for Himself and His House
Thus shall Aaron come into the holy place: with a young bullock for a sin offering, and a ram for a burnt offering. He shall put on the holy linen coat, and he shall have the linen breeches upon his flesh, and shall be girded with a linen girdle, and with the linen mitre shall he be attired: these are holy garments; therefore shall he wash his flesh in water, and so put them on. And he shall take of the congregation of the children of Israel two kids of the goats for a sin offering, and one ram for a burnt offering. And Aaron shall offer his bullock of the sin offering, which is for himself, and make an atonement for himself, and for his house. – Leviticus 16:3-6 

The Goat on Which the Lot Fell Will be the Scapegoat
And he shall take the two goats, and present them before the LORD at the door of the tabernacle of the congregation. And Aaron shall cast lots upon the two goats; one lot for the LORD, and the other lot for the scapegoat. And Aaron shall bring the goat upon which the LORD’s lot fell, and offer him for a sin offering. But the goat, on which the lot fell to be the scapegoat, shall be presented alive before the LORD, to make an atonement with him, and to let him go for a scapegoat into the wilderness. – Leviticus 16:7-10 

“cast lots” – This was done by the Urim and Thummim. The Septuagint reads: “Aaron shall cast lots on the goats, one lot, For the Lord, and one lot, For escape.” The priest, standing before the two goats, would put his hands into the pocket and take a lot in each one. The lot in his right hand was for the goat before him, on the right, and the one in his left hand was for the goat on the left.

“two goats” – According to tradition, the two goats were to be the same in size, color, and value, and as nearly alike as possible. Both were presented to the Lord by the high priest and then the lots were cast to determine which one should die and which should live (Lev. 16:8-10,15-22).

“scapegoat” – Hebrew: aza'zel (H5799), fromez (H5795), goat, and ‘azal (H235), “to go away,” meaning the goat of departure. Used in Lev. 16:8,10,26. We must depend on this simple meaning for a true understanding of this chapter.

One Goat Shall Bear the Iniquities; One Goat Shall be Let Go in the Wilderness
and Aaron shall lay both his hands upon the head of the live goat, and confess over him all the iniquities of the children of Israel, and all their transgressions in all their sins, putting them upon the head of the goat, and shall send him away by the hand of a fit man into the wilderness: and the goat shall bear upon him all their iniquities unto a land not inhabited: and he shall let go the goat in the wilderness. – Leviticus 16:21-22

The two goats represented and completed one atonement for sin. The goat which died typified the death of Christ and the one which lived typified His resurrection. They represented the same idea as the two birds, one of which was killed and the other turned loose in the open fields. When the goat was led into the wilderness atonement was complete; the sins transferred figuratively on the goat were already atoned for, and the blood was sprinkled before the Lord. No other sacrifice could be allowed for sin after this on the day of atonement, signifying that when Christ died and entered into heaven there was no more sacrifice for sin.

The scapegoat did not die to atone for sins; he completed the atonement in that he took sins away, typifying the removal of them by the resurrection of Christ.

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LEVITICUS 17 – COMMANDS AND WORSHIP

And the LORD spake unto Moses, saying, Speak unto Aaron, and unto his sons, and unto all the children of Israel, and say unto them; This is the thing which the LORD hath commanded, saying, What man soever there be of the house of Israel, that killeth an ox, or lamb, or goat, in the camp, or that killeth it out of the camp, and bringeth it not unto the door of the tabernacle of the congregation, to offer an offering unto the LORD before the tabernacle of the LORD; blood shall be imputed unto that man; he hath shed blood; and that man shall be cut off from among his people: to the end that the children of Israel may bring their sacrifices, which they offer in the open field, even that they may bring them unto the LORD, unto the door of the tabernacle of the congregation, unto the priest, and offer them for peace offerings unto the LORD. And the priest shall sprinkle the blood upon the altar of the LORD at the door of the tabernacle of the congregation, and burn the fat for a sweet savour unto the LORD. And they shall no more offer their sacrifices unto devils, after whom they have gone a whoring. This shall be a statute for ever unto them throughout their generations. – Leviticus‬ ‭17‬:‭1‬-‭7‬ ‭

And thou shalt say unto them, Whatsoever man there be of the house of Israel, or of the strangers which sojourn among you, that offereth a burnt offering or sacrifice, And bringeth it not unto the door of the tabernacle of the congregation, to offer it unto the LORD; even that man shall be cut off from among his people. – Leviticus 17:8-9

Seven Commands–One Place of Worship
1, Speak to Aaron, his sons, and all Israel saying: This is what God commands (Lev. 17:1).
2. Whoever kills an animal in sacrifice outside the camp and does not bring it to the tabernacle to offer it to Jehovah, shall die (Lev. 17:2-4).
3. Israel shall bring all sacrifices to the priests at the tabernacle and offer them for peace offerings to Jehovah (Lev. 17:5).
4. The priest shall sprinkle the blood on the brazen altar and burn the fat on it as a sweet savor to the Lord (Lev. 17:6).
5. Israel shall no longer offer sacrifices to devils (Lev. 17:7).
6. This shall be a statute to them forever.
7. Any Israelite or Gentile in Israel who offers a sacrifice and does not bring it to the tabernacle and offer it to the Lord, shall die (Lev. 17:8-9).

The Blood
For the life of the flesh is in the blood: and I have given it to you upon the altar to make an atonement for your souls: for it is the blood that maketh an atonement for the soul. – Leviticus 17:11

Life is in the Blood. Thank You for Your blood, Jesus. Your Blood is LIFE to me. Your Blood made atonement for me. Your Blood heals, delivers, cleanses, saves.

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LEVITICUS 18 – PRACTICAL HOLINESS

Do Not Practice the Customs and Ways of the Land
And the LORD spake unto Moses, saying, Speak unto the children of Israel, and say unto them, I am the LORD your God. After the doings of the land of Egypt, wherein ye dwelt, shall ye not do: and after the doings of the land of Canaan, whither I bring you, shall ye not do: neither shall ye walk in their ordinances. Ye shall do my judgments, and keep mine ordinances, to walk therein: I am the LORD your God. Ye shall therefore keep my statutes, and my judgments: which if a man do, he shall live in them: I am the LORD. – Leviticus 18:1-5

Five commands–obedience to God’s laws:
1. Say to Israel: I am the Lord your God.
2. Do not practice the customs and ways of the land of Egypt (Lev. 18:3).
3. Do not follow the customs and ways of the peoples of Canaan.
4. Do not obey the laws of the Canaanites.
5. Keep My ordinances, statutes and judgments which, “if a man do, he shall live in them,” that is, live again in the resurrection by obeying them (Lev. 18:4-5).

Do Not Approach Your Kin to Uncover their Nakedness
None of you shall approach to any that is near of kin to him, to uncover their nakedness: I am the LORD. – Leviticus‬ ‭18‬:‭6‬

Twenty Commands about Incest
Do Not Lie with:
1. any near kin (Lev. 18:6)
2. father (Lev. 18:7; cp. Gen. 19:31-38)
3. mother (Lev. 18:7)
4. father’s wife (Lev. 18:8; 20:11; Dt. 27:20; cp. Gen. 35:22; 2Sam. 16:20-23; 1Ki. 2:17; 2Cor. 5:1-5)
5. sister (Lev. 18:9)
6. father’s daughter (Lev. 18:9; cp. Gen. 20:12; 2Sam. 13:12,16,20; Ezek. 22:11)
7. mother’s daughter (Lev. 18:9)
8. son’s daughter (Lev. 18:10)
9. daughter’s daughter (Lev. 18:10)
10. father’s wife’s daughter (Lev. 18:11)
11. father’s sister (Lev. 18:12; Ex. 6:20)
12. mother’s sister (Lev. 18:13)
13. father’s brother (Lev. 18:14)
14. father’s brother’s wife (Lev. 18:14)
15. daughter-in-law (Lev. 18:15)
16. brother’s wife (Lev. 18:16). Such relationship was unlawful unless the brother had no children at death. It was then COMMANDED that a brother bring up seed to his brother’s name (Dt. 25:5; Mt. 22:24-30)
17. a woman and her daughter (Lev. 18:17)
18. her son’s daughter (Lev. 18:17)
19. her daughter’s daughter (Lev. 18:17)
20. wife and her sister (Lev. 18:18). This was to avoid such trouble as that which Jacob had with Rachel and Leah ((Gen. 29:15–Gen 30:24)
(Lists from Dake Bible Notes)

Day 34 – A Year in the Bible – Leviticus 13-15
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LEVITICUS 13 – UNCLEAN, UNCLEAN

Defiled
And the leper in whom the plague is, his clothes shall be rent, and his head bare, and he shall put a covering upon his upper lip, and shall cry, Unclean, unclean. All the days wherein the plague shall be in him he shall be defiled; he is unclean: he shall dwell alone; without the camp shall his habitation be.– Leviticus 13:45-46

Today’s reading in Leviticus would be easy to bypass. It is a lot of instructions about leprosy and skin diseases. God had to instruct the Israelites because they had never lived outside of captivity or in a wilderness. They didn’t have modern medicines, antibiotics, emergency rooms like we do. They couldn’t look up their symptoms on WebMD. If they caught a disease and someone didn’t deal with it and them aggressively, it could be tragic for the whole nation. God had to set up their government, and He also had to teach them many things, including cleanliness.

We know that God put these instructions in the Bible, which means they are eternal, so also for us today. To find the spiritual application, we must look below the surface as the priests had to look below the surface to see if a disease had defiled the body. That being said, we don’t have to look too far.

If something is on the surface, it can be dealt with quickly—a little quarantine. Serious problems can cause deeper issues if left unattended. The problem is we can’t always see that it is happening.  Uncleanliness (sin) on the surface of our lives – whether in body, mind, or spirit – shouldn’t be left to grow and fester. Sin not dealt with will threaten our eternal lives and touch everything and everyone around us, much like the effects of leprosy.  What kinds of things? Well, to name a few – jealousy, competition, gossip, bitterness, anger, lust. The list goes on and on, but these types of sins are not easily seen in their beginnings.

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LEVITICUS 14 – ATONEMENT

Atonement
And the remnant of the oil that is in the priest’s hand he shall pour upon the head of him that is to be cleansed: and the priest shall make an atonement for him before the Lord.

And the priest shall offer the burnt offering and the meat offering upon the altar: and the priest shall make an atonement for him, and he shall be clean.

And the rest of the oil that is in the priest’s hand he shall put upon the head of him that is to be cleansed, to make an atonement for him before the Lord.

Even such as he is able to get, the one for a sin offering, and the other for a burnt offering, with the meat offering: and the priest shall make an atonement for him that is to be cleansed before the Lord.

But he shall let go the living bird out of the city into the open fields, and make an atonement for the house: and it shall be clean. – Leviticus 14:18, 20, 29, 31, 53

We are still reading all about cleansing, purifying, skin diseases (leprosy), and mildew! JESUS can take care of all of these and has taken care of all of these. JESUS made our atonement on the Cross of Calvary. He did it all. He said, It is finished. We have the tremendous privilege and ability to be made right by Jesus by believing in Him and confessing Him and following Him. His blood cleanses us, heals us, and makes us whole. From what? Sickness and disease, oppression and possession, things like insecurities, doubts, fears, regret, shame, and an eternal death and life in hell. Jesus paid it all.

To Teach When it is Unclean and When it is Clean
This is the law for all manner of plague of leprosy, and scall, and for the leprosy of a garment, and of a house, and for a rising, and for a scab, and for a bright spot: to teach when it is unclean, and when it is clean: this is the law of leprosy. – Leviticus 14:54-57

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LEVITICUS 15 – SEPARATION

A Running Issue
And the LORD spake unto Moses and to Aaron, saying, Speak unto the children of Israel, and say unto them, When any man hath a running issue out of his flesh, because of his issue he is unclean. And this shall be his uncleanness in his issue: whether his flesh run with his issue, or his flesh be stopped from his issue, it is his uncleanness. – Leviticus‬ ‭15‬:‭1‬-‭3‬ ‭

An Issue of Blood
And if a woman have an issue of her blood many days out of the time of her separation, or if it run beyond the time of her separation; all the days of the issue of her uncleanness shall be as the days of her separation: she shall be unclean. Every bed whereon she lieth all the days of her issue shall be unto her as the bed of her separation: and whatsoever she sitteth upon shall be unclean, as the uncleanness of her separation. And whosoever toucheth those things shall be unclean, and shall wash his clothes, and bathe himself in water, and be unclean until the even. But if she be cleansed of her issue, then she shall number to herself seven days, and after that she shall be clean. – Leviticus 15:25-28

This passage makes me think about the woman with the issue of blood (found in Matthew 9:20-22, Mark 5:25-34, and Luke 8:43-48).  She had 12 years of continuous bleeding and so 12 years of separation and uncleanness. Imagine what she was going through and her desperation as she went through the crowd to touch the hem of Jesus’ garment. She had to have touched others because, according to scripture, there were many pressing in. She couldn’t have been proclaiming “unclean,” as was the law. She went for it. Had she not been healed, perhaps she would have been killed by those she “defiled” that day. This woman took a great risk. Her risk shows us how strong her desperation was but even more how strong her faith was. She was poor and needy, yet Jesus met her there!

Why Separate them?
Thus shall ye separate the children of Israel from their uncleanness; that they die not in their uncleanness, when they defile my tabernacle that is among them. – Leviticus 15:31

The children of Israel had to be separated when they were unclean because God dwelt in the tabernacle that was among them. Sin cannot be in the presence of the Almighty God. If a person is in sin in His Presence, they die as Aaron’s sons died. Moses and the Israelites took so much care when they went before the Lord. Have we become too flippant about that? If we carry the Spirit of God within us everywhere we go, if we are the Temple and God resides in us, should we not consider the state of our hearts?  Can God live where unholiness and sin abides? Teach me, Holy Ghost!!!

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Reveal the hidden sins in my life today, Father, that I might deal with them now and live a clean and holy life. Help me, Holy Ghost, to yield to all You are doing in and through me. In the precious Name of Jesus! Amen!

Day 33 – A Year in the Bible – Leviticus 11-12

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LEVITICUS 11 – HOLINESS

Be Holy For I Am Holy
For I am the Lord your God: ye shall therefore sanctify yourselves, and ye shall be holy; for I am holy: neither shall ye defile yourselves with any manner of creeping thing that creepeth upon the earth. For I am the Lord that bringeth you up out of the land of Egypt, to be your God: ye shall therefore be holy, for I am holy. – Leviticus‬ ‭11:44-45‬

The theme of Leviticus is holiness. The word “holy” is in Leviticus more than any other Bible book. God wanted the children of Israel to be clean and holy in every area of their lives. He wants the same from His children today.  In the New Testament, God removed many of the dietary restrictions. However, God did not remove the spiritual principle of  being pure, living a clean life, and being set apart for the Lord. Those principles are as binding today as they were in the days of Moses. We still should distinguish ourselves from the world by eating, drinking, and dressing in ways that honor God. We should not participate in the things of the world that are ungodly and morally impure. But even more than the way we act, we should live with a heart that is pure through and through. That would be a heart of love, a heart that knows Jesus and seeks each day to follow Him and look more and more like Him. Living a life that is holy and pleasing to God is the only way to live in true peace.

Sanctify – to make holy; set apart as sacred; to purify or free from sin

Thirty-three Commands–the Clean and Unclean Things
1. You shall eat whatever divides the hoof, is cloven-footed and chews the cud (Lev. 11:1-3).
2. Others (as described in Lev. 11:4-7) you shall not eat.
3. Do not touch their carcasses (Lev. 11:8).
4. You shall eat whatever has fins and scales of all that are in the waters (Lev. 11:9).
5. Other water creatures you shall not eat (Lev. 11:10-12).
6. These (named in Lev. 11:13-19) are the fowls you shall not eat.
7. All fowls that creep on all four legs shall be an abomination to you (Lev. 11:20).
8. These (described in Lev. 11:21-22) you may eat of flying, creeping things.
9. All other flying, creeping things shall be an abomination to you (Lev. 11:23).
10. Whoever touches any carcass of them shall be unclean (Lev. 11:24).
11. Whoever bears a carcass of them shall wash his clothes and be unclean until the evening (Lev. 11:25).
12. The carcasses of animals which divide the hoof, are not clovenfooted and do not chew the cud shall be unclean (Lev. 11:26).
13. Whatever goes upon his paws shall be unclean to you (Lev. 11:27).
14. Whoever touches an unclean animal shall be unclean until evening (Lev. 11:26-27).
15. Whoever carries a carcass of one shall wash his clothes and be unclean until evening (Lev. 11:28).
16. These (described in Lev. 11:29-30) of the creeping things shall be unclean to you.
17. Whoever touches a carcass of one of them shall be unclean until evening (Lev. 11:31).
18. Anything upon which such a carcass falls shall be unclean (Lev. 11:32).
19. Any non-earthen vessel touched by such a carcass shall be put in water and be unclean until evening (Lev. 11:32).
20. Any earthen vessel that one touches shall be broken (Lev. 11:33).
21. Any meat on which such water falls shall be unclean (Lev. 11:34).
22. All drink that may be in any such vessel shall be unclean (Lev. 11:34).
23. Any oven, range, or pot on which an unclean carcass falls shall be broken down (Lev. 11:35).
24. Any pit or fountain of water that has plenty of water shall not be unclean if such a carcass falls into it (Lev. 11:36).
25. Seeds on which a carcass falls shall be clean, unless water has been put on them (Lev. 11:37-38).
26. If one touches any clean beast that has died of itself he shall be unclean until the evening (Lev. 11:39).
27. One who eats of such shall wash his clothes and be unclean until the evening (Lev. 11:40).
28. One who carries such a carcass shall wash his clothes and be unclean until evening (Lev. 11:40).
29. You shall not eat any creeping thing (as described in Lev. 11:41-42).
30. Every such creeping thing shall be an abomination to you (Lev. 11:41-42).
31. Do not make yourselves abominable or unclean by them (Lev. 11:43-44).
32. Do not defile yourselves with any of them (Lev. 11:44-45).
33. You shall sanctify (set apart) yourselves from them and be holy.

Four Unclean Animals
– Camel (Dt. 14:7)
– Coney (possibly the hyrax, Lev. 11:5; Dt. 14:7; note, Prov. 30:24)
– Hare (Lev. 11:6; Dt. 14:7). After nibbling and partially chewing its food the hare stores it in its cheeks to be chewed more fully a second time before swallowing (Lev. 11:6). This is chewing the cud.
– Swine (Lev. 11:7; Dt. 14:8)

Twenty Unclean Fowls
1. The eagle. Hebrew: nesher (H5404), from nashar, “to lacerate, cut, tear to pieces.” The eagle tears the flesh of its victims (Dt. 14:12).
2. The ossifrage, the lammergeier, or bearded vulture (Lev. 11:13; Dt. 14:12).
3. The ospray (or osprey), often called the fish hawk (Lev. 11:13; Dt. 14:12)
4. The vulture, the black kite (Lev. 11:14; Dt. 14:13)
5. The kite, the red kite, remarkable for its piercing eyesight (Lev. 11:14; Dt. 14:13; cp. Job 28:7)
6. The raven, including the crow, rook, jackdaw, and magpie (Lev. 11:15; Dt. 14:14)
7. The owl (the ostrich, according to some interpreters) (Lev. 11:16; Dt. 14:15)
8. The night hawk, common owl (Lev. 11:16; Dt. 14:15)
9. The cuckow, sea gull (Lev. 11:16; Dt. 14:15)
10. The hawk, common hawk (Lev. 11:16; Dt. 14:15)
11. The little owl, bittern, night raven (Lev. 11:17; Dt. 14:16)
12. The cormorant, a sea fowl that dives underwater for its prey (Lev. 11:17; Dt. 14:17)
13. The great owl, the ibis, the sacred bird of Egypt (Lev. 11:17; Dt. 14:16)
14. The swan, perhaps the flamingo of that country (Lev. 11:18; Dt. 14:16)
15. The pelican (Lev. 11:18; Dt. 14:17; note, Ps. 102:6)
16. The gier eagle, Egyptian vulture (Lev. 11:18; Dt. 14:17)
17. The stork (Lev. 11:19; Dt. 14:18)
18. The heron, plover, crane (Lev. 11:19; Dt. 14:18)
19. The lapwing, a member of the plover family (Lev. 11:19; Dt. 14:18)
20. The bat (Lev. 11:19; Dt. 14:18)

Four Clean Flying Creeping Things
– Locust, the food of John (Mt. 3:4)
– Bald locust, now unknown
– Beetle, thought to be a species of grasshopper
– Grasshopper

Eight unclean creeping things (Lev. 11:29-30):
1. Weasel
2. Mouse
3. Tortoise
4. Ferret
5. Chameleon
6. Lizard
7. Snail
8. Mole

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LEVITICUS 12 – THE LAW FOR HER THAT HATH BORN A MALE OR FEMALE

And the LORD spake unto Moses, saying, Speak unto the children of Israel, saying, If a woman have conceived seed, and born a man child: then she shall be unclean seven days; according to the days of the separation for her infirmity shall she be unclean. And in the eighth day the flesh of his foreskin shall be circumcised. And she shall then continue in the blood of her purifying three and thirty days; she shall touch no hallowed thing, nor come into the sanctuary, until the days of her purifying be fulfilled. But if she bear a maid child, then she shall be unclean two weeks, as in her separation: and she shall continue in the blood of her purifying threescore and six days. And when the days of her purifying are fulfilled, for a son, or for a daughter, she shall bring a lamb of the first year for a burnt offering, and a young pigeon, or a turtledove, for a sin offering, unto the door of the tabernacle of the congregation, unto the priest: who shall offer it before the LORD, and make an atonement for her; and she shall be cleansed from the issue of her blood. This is the law for her that hath born a male or a female. And if she be not able to bring a lamb, then she shall bring two turtles, or two young pigeons; the one for the burnt offering, and the other for a sin offering: and the priest shall make an atonement for her, and she shall be clean. – Leviticus‬ ‭12‬:‭1‬-‭8‬ ‭

Seven Commands–the Purification of Women
1. If a woman gives birth to a male, she shall be unclean seven days.
2. On the eighth day the child shall be circumcised (Lev. 12:3).
3. She shall continue in purification for 33 more days (40 days total, Lev. 12:4).
4. She shall not touch any hallowed thing or come into the sanctuary until her purification ends.
5. If she gives birth to a female, she shall be unclean for two weeks, then continue in purification for 66 more days (80 days total, Lev. 12:5).
6. When the days of purification are over, the woman shall bring a lamb ($80) and a young pigeon or turtledove ($4) to the priest at the door of the tabernacle which he shall offer before God to make atonement for her; and she shall be cleansed from her issue of blood (Lev. 12:6-7).
7. If she is unable to bring a lamb and a turtledove, she shall bring two pigeons ($8), one for a burnt offering, and the other for a sin offering; the priest shall make an atonement for her, and she shall be pronounced clean (Lev. 12:8).
(Lists from Dake Bible Notes)

Day 32 – A Year in the Bible – Leviticus 8-10

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LEVITICUS 8 – MOSES CONSECRATES AARON AND HIS SONS

Anointing
And Moses took the anointing oil, and anointed the tabernacle and all that was therein, and sanctified them. And he sprinkled thereof upon the altar seven times, and anointed the altar and all his vessels, both the laver and his foot, to sanctify them. And he poured of the anointing oil upon Aaron’s head, and anointed him, to sanctify him. – Leviticus 8:10-12

Consecration
And ye shall not go out of the door of the tabernacle of the congregation in seven days, until the days of your consecration be at an end: for seven days shall he consecrate you. As he hath done this day, so the LORD hath commanded to do, to make an atonement for you. Therefore shall ye abide at the door of the tabernacle of the congregation day and night seven days, and keep the charge of the LORD, that ye die not: for so I am commanded. So Aaron and his sons did all things which the LORD commanded by the hand of Moses. – Leviticus 8:33-36

Aaron and his sons were consecrated and anointed publicly–before all Israel–so that all would know they were chosen ministers.

Forty-Four Acts of Moses Consecrating the Priests

Moses brought them to God (8:1-5)
– Moses gathered Israel (8:3-5)
– Moses spoke to Israel (8:5)

Moses washed them in water (8:6)
– Moses brought Aaron and sons (8:6)
– Moses washed them in water.

Moses clothed them (Lev. 8:7-9,13)
– Moses put the coat upon Aaron (8:7)
– Moses girded Aaron with the girdle (belt)
– Moses clothed Aaron with the robe
– Moses put the ephod upon Aaron
– Moses put the breastplate upon Aaron (8:8)
– Moses put the Urim and the Thummim in the breastplate
– Moses put the mitre upon Aaron’s head (8:9)
– Moses put the golden plate, the holy crown upon the mitre
– Moses put coats upon them (8:13)
– Moses girded them with girdles (belts)
– Moses put bonnets (turbans) on them.

Moses anointed them (Lev. 8:10-12)
– Moses anointed w/oil, sanctified tabernacle & furnishing (8:10)
– Moses sprinkled blood on brazen altar seven times (8:11)
– Moses anointed the altar and his vessels
– Moses anointed the laver and his foot
– Moses poured the anointing oil on Aaron (8:12)
– Moses brought Aaron’s sons before him

Offering of Sacrifices to God (Lev. 8:14-30)
– Moses brought bullock for sin offering for Aaron and sons (8:14)
– Moses slaughtered the bullock (8:15)
– Moses took the blood and put it on the horns of the brazen altar
– Moses poured the remainder of the blood at the base of altar
– Moses burned parts commanded on the brazen altar (8:16)
– Moses burned rest of the bullock outside the camp (8:17)
– Moses brought ram for burnt offering for Aaron and sons (8:18).
– Moses slaughtered the ram (8:19)
– Moses sprinkled the blood on the brazen altar round about
– Moses cut the ram in pieces (8:20)
– Moses burned the head, fat, and other parts on brazen altar
– Moses washed the inwards and legs (8:21)
– Moses burned the rest of the ram on the altar
– Moses brought 2nd ram for consecration of Aaron & sons (8:22)
– Moses slaughterd the ram (8:23)
– Moses put some of its blood on right ear, right thumb, great toe of Aaron’s right foot
– Moses put blood on ears, thumbs, great toes of Aaron’s sons (8:24)
– Moses sprinkled the blood on the brazen altar
– Moses took certain parts of the ram with meat offerings and put them upon the hands of Aaron and his sons, waving them for a wave offering (8:25-27)
– Moses took them off their hands and burned them on the brazen altar (8:28)
– Moses took the breast and waved it before the Lord as his (Moses’) part (8:29)
– Moses took anointing oil and blood and sprinkled them upon Aaron, his sons and their garments and sanctified them (8:30)

Their Communion with God (Lev. 8:31-32)
– Moses commanded Aaron and sons to boil flesh on brazen altar (8:31)
– Moses commanded Aaron and sons to eat flesh w/meat offering
– Moses commanded Aaron and sons to burn leftover flesh and bread (8:32)

Their Separation and service (Lev. 8:33-36)
– Moses commanded Aaron and sons not to leave tabernacle for seven days, until consecration was ended, lest they die (8:33-36)
(Dake Bible notes)

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LEVITICUS 9 – THE EIGHTH DAY

And it came to pass on the eighth day, that Moses called Aaron and his sons, and the elders of Israel; – Leviticus 9:1

Four Commands — the First Ministry of Priests
1. Take a young calf for a sin offering and a ram for a burnt offering, both without blemish, and offer them before God for Aaron and his sons (9:1-2)

2. Speak to Israel to take a kid for a sin offering; a calf and lamb (both of the first year, w/o blemish) for a burnt offering; a bullock and a ram for peace offerings; and a meat offering mingled with oil, and offer them before God for themselves (9:3-4)

3. To Aaron: go to brazen altar and offer your sin offering, and your burnt offering, and make atonement for yourself (9:7)

4. Offer the people’s offering and make atonement for them
(Dake Bible notes)

All the Congregation Drew Near
And they brought that which Moses commanded before the tabernacle of the congregation: and all the congregation drew near and stood before the LORD. – Leviticus 9:5

The Glory of the LORD Shall Appear Unto You
And Moses said, This is the thing which the LORD commanded that ye should do: and the glory of the LORD shall appear unto you. – Leviticus 9:6

Glory of God
And Moses and Aaron went into the tabernacle of the congregation, and came out, and blessed the people: and the glory of the Lord appeared unto all the people. And there came a fire out from before the Lord, and consumed upon the altar the burnt offering and the fat: which when all the people saw, they shouted, and fell on their faces. – Leviticus 9:23-24

When the Glory of the Lord appears, you will fall on your face before Him.

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LEVITICUS 10 – I WILL BE SANCTIFIED IN THEM THAT COME NIGH ME

Strange Fire
And Nadab and Abihu, the sons of Aaron, took either of them his censer, and put fire therein, and put incense thereon, and offered strange fire before the Lord, which he commanded them not. And there went out fire from the Lord, and devoured them, and they died before the Lord. Then Moses said unto Aaron, This is it that the Lord spake, saying, I will be sanctified in them that come nigh me, and before all the people I will be glorified. And Aaron held his peace. – Leviticus 10:1-3

Five Sins of Nadab and Abihu
1. They did what was not commanded in ministry.
2. They offered “strange fire” (of their own making, not the fire of the altar) before God (10:1)
3. They offered incense at the wrong time and place.
4. They failed to sanctify themselves before God and the congregation who were in a state of religious ecstacy (10:3; 9:24)
5. They got drunk and tried to carry on holy services in this condition (10:3,9)
(Dake Bible notes)

These men died because they did something they were not instructed to do. It was disobedience. What is strange fire? A fire offered in your own way or for your own purposes. It is something offered in disobedience. God’s instructions are to be followed exactly.

Drinking
Do not drink wine nor strong drink, thou, nor thy sons with thee, when ye go into the tabernacle of the congregation, lest ye die: it shall be a statute for ever throughout your generations: And that ye may put difference between holy and unholy, and between unclean and clean; And that ye may teach the children of Israel all the statutes which the Lord hath spoken unto them by the hand of Moses. – Leviticus 10:9-11

Here are good reasons not to drink – that you can distinguish in you life and before the people between what is holy and what is unholy; what is clean and what is unclean. And that you can teach the Lord’s laws to others.

If I Had Eaten the Offering, Should It Have Been Accepted?
And Moses diligently sought the goat of the sin offering, and, behold, it was burnt: and he was angry with Eleazar and Ithamar, the sons of Aaron which were left alive, saying, Wherefore have ye not eaten the sin offering in the holy place, seeing it is most holy, and God hath given it you to bear the iniquity of the congregation, to make atonement for them before the LORD? Behold, the blood of it was not brought in within the holy place: ye should indeed have eaten it in the holy place, as I commanded. And Aaron said unto Moses, Behold, this day have they offered their sin offering and their burnt offering before the LORD; and such things have befallen me: and if I had eaten the sin offering to day, should it have been accepted in the sight of the LORD? And when Moses heard that, he was content. – Leviticus 10:16-20

Moses was angry when he found that the portion of the people’s sin offering that the priests should have eaten had been burnt instead. Aaron replied that because of the terrible happenings that day, his two younger sons thought it would be more acceptable to God for them to burn their portion in sorrow than to eat it in joy. Moses was satisfied with Aaron’s answer.

Day 31 – A Year in the Bible – Leviticus 4-7

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LEVITICUS 4 – The Sin Offering
And the LORD spake unto Moses, saying, Speak unto the children of Israel, saying, If a soul shall sin through ignorance against any of the commandments of the LORD concerning things which ought not to be done, and shall do against any of them: – Leviticus 4:1-2

Bring the Offering – he shall bring his offering, a kid of the goats, a male without blemish: – Leviticus 4:23

Confess the Sin – And it shall be, when he shall be guilty in one of these things, that he shall confess that he hath sinned in that thing: – Leviticus 5:5

Lay Hand Upon the Head of the Offering – And he shall lay his hand upon the head of the sin offering, and slay the sin offering in the place of the burnt offering. –  Leviticus 4:29

Priest Shall Make an Atonement – and he shall lay his hand upon the head of the goat, and kill it in the place where they kill the burnt offering before the LORD: it is a sin offering. And the priest shall take of the blood of the sin offering with his finger, and put it upon the horns of the altar of burnt offering, and shall pour out his blood at the bottom of the altar of burnt offering. And he shall burn all his fat upon the altar, as the fat of the sacrifice of peace offerings: and the priest shall make an atonement for him as concerning his sin, and it shall be forgiven him. – Leviticus 4:24-26

LEVITICUS 5 – The Trespass Offering

Reparations
And the LORD spake unto Moses, saying, If a soul commit a trespass, and sin through ignorance, in the holy things of the LORD; then he shall bring for his trespass unto the LORD a ram without blemish out of the flocks, with thy estimation by shekels of silver, after the shekel of the sanctuary, for a trespass offering: – Leviticus 5:14-15

The trespass offering was about making reparations. It showed the Children of Israel (and shows us) the seriousness of sinning against God and others, even if accidentally. A sacrifice was to be made to God and restitution was made to the one trespassed against.

LEVITICUS 6 – THE FIRE SHALL EVER BE BURNING

A Sweet Aroma to the LORD
The fire shall ever be burning upon the altar; it shall never go out. – Leviticus 6:13

In this passage, we read about the fire on the altar never going out and burning continually. A plume of smoke rose from the altar day and night. The children of Israel could always smell the burning of the wood and the sacrifices. It was a sweet aroma to the Lord, but it was also a sweet smell of sacrifice to the Lord that reminded them of God who saved them and the one true and living God they worshiped and served.

Our prayers in Revelation are compared to the smoke of sacrifice mixed with the atoning work of Jesus and rising as a sweet-smelling sacrifice to God. Shouldn’t we be preparing for that day even now by keeping the FIRE burning through worship, prayer, and knowing our God!!!

And another angel came and stood at the altar, having a golden censer; and there was given unto him much incense, that he should offer it with the prayers of all saints upon the golden altar which was before the throne. And the smoke of the incense, which came with the prayers of the saints, ascended up before God out of the angel’s hand. – Revelation 8:3-4

LEVITICUS 7 – PREPARE YOUR HEART FOR THE GLORY (PT. 1)

Wave Offering
And the LORD spake unto Moses, saying, Speak unto the children of Israel, saying, He that offereth the sacrifice of his peace offerings unto the LORD shall bring his oblation unto the LORD of the sacrifice of his peace offerings. His own hands shall bring the offerings of the LORD made by fire, the fat with the breast, it shall he bring, that the breast may be waved for a wave offering before the LORD. – Leviticus 7:28-30

Separate and Sanctify: given to God as a show of servitude, peace and commitment. Wave offerings also served to symbolically separate and sanctify the tribe of Levi as servants of God when Aaron, the Head Priest, is commanded to lift and wave each Levite before the altar.

Heave Offering
And the priest shall burn the fat upon the altar: but the breast shall be Aaron’s and his sons’. And the right shoulder shall ye give unto the priest for an heave offering of the sacrifices of your peace offerings. – Leviticus 7:31-32

Raised and Lowered in Dedication to God: a separated portion of the peace offering that was raised and lowered in dedication to God and that afterward was reserved for the priest’s use.

Wave and Heave Offering Taken Off the Peace Offering
He among the sons of Aaron, that offereth the blood of the peace offerings, and the fat, shall have the right shoulder for his part. For the wave breast and the heave shoulder have I taken of the children of Israel from off the sacrifices of their peace offerings, and have given them unto Aaron the priest and unto his sons by a statute for ever from among the children of Israel. – Leviticus 7:33-34

Offerings, Consecrations, Sacrifices
This is the law of the burnt offering, of the meat offering, and of the sin offering, and of the trespass offering, and of the consecrations, and of the sacrifice of the peace offerings; which the LORD commanded Moses in mount Sinai, in the day that he commanded the children of Israel to offer their oblations unto the LORD, in the wilderness of Sinai. – Leviticus 7:37-38

Day 30 – A Year in the Bible – Leviticus 1-3

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LEVITICUS 1 – BURNT OFFERINGS

And the LORD called unto Moses, and spake unto him out of the tabernacle of the congregation, saying, Speak unto the children of Israel, and say unto them, If any man of you bring an offering unto the LORD, ye shall bring your offering of the cattle, even of the herd, and of the flock. – Leviticus‬ ‭1‬:‭1‬-‭2‬ ‭

I. Offerings (Lev. 1:1–Lev. 6:7)
1. Sweet savor offerings (Lev. 1:1–Lev. 3:17)
i. Burnt offerings
A. Bullock
B. Sheep and goats
C. Turtledoves and pigeons

If his offering be a burnt sacrifice of the herd, let him offer a male without blemish: he shall offer it of his own voluntary will at the door of the tabernacle of the congregation before the LORD. – Leviticus 1:3

And if his offering be of the flocks, namely, of the sheep, or of the goats, for a burnt sacrifice; he shall bring it a male without blemish. – Leviticus 1:10

And if the burnt sacrifice for his offering to the LORD be of fowls, then he shall bring his offering of turtledoves, or of young pigeons. – Leviticus 1:14

and he shall cleave it with the wings thereof, but shall not divide it asunder: and the priest shall burn it upon the altar, upon the wood that is upon the fire: it is a burnt sacrifice, an offering made by fire, of a sweet savour unto the LORD. Leviticus 1:17‬

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LEVITICUS 2 – MEAT OFFERINGS

And when any will offer a meat offering unto the LORD, his offering shall be of fine flour; and he shall pour oil upon it, and put frankincense thereon: and he shall bring it to Aaron’s sons the priests: and he shall take thereout his handful of the flour thereof, and of the oil thereof, with all the frankincense thereof; and the priest shall burn the memorial of it upon the altar, to be an offering made by fire, of a sweet savour unto the LORD: – Leviticus‬ ‭2‬:‭1‬-‭2‬ ‭

ii. Meat offerings (Lev. 2; 6:14)
A. Fine flour
B. Unleavened baked cakes
C. Unleavened baked pan cakes
D. Unleavened frying pan cakes
E. Priest’s portion
F. No leaven or honey to be used in any offering by fire
G. Firstfruits not to be burned
H. Salt used in all offerings
I. Offering of firstfruits

A Remnant Goes to the Priests
And the remnant of the grain offering shall be Aaron’s and his sons’: it is a thing most holy of the offerings of the Lord made by fire. – Leviticus 2:3

Remnant – A remaining, usually a small part; a fragment or scrap; leftover

Salt of the Covenant
And every oblation of thy grain offering shalt thou season with salt; neither shalt thou suffer the salt of the covenant of thy God to be lacking from thy grain offering: with all thine offerings thou shalt offer salt. – Leviticus 2:13

What is the Salt of the Covenant? My Bible note says that this most likely means that the covenant is perpetual because salt was used as a preservative.

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LEVITICUS 3 – PEACE OFFERINGS

And if his oblation be a sacrifice of peace offering, if he offer it of the herd; whether it be a male or female, he shall offer it without blemish before the LORD. – Leviticus‬ ‭3‬:‭1‬ ‭

iii. Peace offerings (Lev. 3; 7:11)
A. Cattle
B. Peace offerings: lambs
C. Peace offerings: goats

Perpetual Statute – No Fat or Blood
And the priest shall burn them upon the altar: it is the food of the offering made by fire for a sweet savour: all the fat is the Lord’s. It shall be a perpetual statute for your generations throughout all your dwellings, that ye eat neither fat nor blood. – Leviticus 3:16-17

God does not forbid eating all fat. There is though a specific type of fat that HE wants us to avoid.

Leviticus 1:8 –  And the priests, Aaron’s sons, shall lay the parts, the head, and the fat, in order upon the wood that is on the fire which is upon the altar.

If you look at the Hebrew word translated as fat from this verse, it is “peder.” According to Strong’s Dictionary this means – “from an unused root meaning to be greasy; suet. The term “peder” was only used three times in the OT and it was consistently used in relation to animal sacrfices. “Peder” means greasy and it refers to the HARD FAT in the animal, usually located around the kidneys, loins, and liver. This is all supported by the following verses:

Leviticus 9:10 – But the fat, and the kidneys, and the caul above the liver of the sin offering, he burnt upon the altar; as the Lord commanded Moses.

Leviticus 3:4 – And the two kidneys, and the fat that is on them, which is by the flanks, and the caul above the liver, with the kidneys, it shall he take away.

All of the fats and organs God speaks of have the purpose of either holding, filtering, and/or storing waste products and toxins that can be harmful to the body.

Caul above the Liver – the liver-net, or stomach-net, which commences at the division between the right and left lobes of the liver, and stretches on the one side across the stomach, and on the other to the regions of the kidney.

God knows their purpose because He created them and so He knows that they are unfit for human consumption.

Day 29 – A Year in the Bible – Exodus 35-40

EXODUS 35 – INSTRUCTIONS, SABBATH, OFFERINGS

Instructions and the Sabbath
And Moses gathered all the congregation of the children of Israel together, and said unto them, These are the words which the LORD hath commanded, that ye should do them. Six days shall work be done, but on the seventh day there shall be to you an holy day, a sabbath of rest to the LORD: whosoever doeth work therein shall be put to death. Ye shall kindle no fire throughout your habitations upon the sabbath day. – Exodus 35:1-3

Moses has spent 80 days in the mount with God and now gives them instructions he received concerning the priesthood and the building of the tabernacle. But before those instructions Moses reminds the children of Israel of the Sabbath and the consequences of breaking these laws even while building the tabernacle.

Stirred to Give Willingly
The children of Israel brought a willing offering unto the LORD, every man and woman, whose heart made them willing to bring for all manner of work, which the LORD had commanded to be made by the hand of Moses. – Exodus 35:29 

Eighteen Kinds of Offerings
1. Bracelets
2. Earrings
3. Rings
4. Tablets
5. Gold jewelry
6. Blue thread (Ex. 35:23)
7. Purple thread (Ex. 35:27; 28:17-21)
8. Scarlet thread
9. Fine linen
10. Goats’ hair
11. Red rams skins
12. Badger skins
13. Silver (Ex. 35:24)
14. Brass
15. Shittim wood
16. Onyx and other stones
17. Spices of various kinds (Ex. 35:28)
18. Olive oil

Filled with the Spirit – In Wisdom, Understanding, Knowledge, and Workmanship
And Moses said unto the children of Israel, See, the LORD hath called by name Bezaleel the son of Uri, the son of Hur, of the tribe of Judah; and he hath filled him with the spirit of God, in wisdom, in understanding, and in knowledge, and in all manner of workmanship; and to devise curious works, to work in gold, and in silver, and in brass, and in the cutting of stones, to set them, and in carving of wood, to make any manner of cunning work. And he hath put in his heart that he may teach, both he, and Aholiab, the son of Ahisamach, of the tribe of Dan. Them hath he filled with wisdom of heart, to work all manner of work, of the engraver, and of the cunning workman, and of the embroiderer, in blue, and in purple, in scarlet, and in fine linen, and of the weaver, even of them that do any work, and of those that devise cunning work. – Exodus 35:30-35 

Five acts of God in relation to Bezaleel:
1. God called Bezaleel.
2. God filled him with the Spirit, wisdom, understanding, and knowledge, for all manner of workmanship in gold, silver, brass, precious stones, wood, embroidery, and weaving (Ex. 35:30-35).
3. God gave him the gift of teaching (Ex. 35:34).
4. God gave him Aholiab as helper.
5. God filled both with wisdom and ability for the work of the tabernacle (Ex. 35:35).

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EXODUS 36 – THE PEOPLE WERE RESTRAINED FROM BRINGING MORE OFFERINGS

The Stuff They Had was Sufficient
And they spake unto Moses, saying, The people bring much more than enough for the service of the work, which the LORD commanded to make. And Moses gave commandment, and they caused it to be proclaimed throughout the camp, saying, Let neither man nor woman make any more work for the offering of the sanctuary. So the people were restrained from bringing. For the stuff they had was sufficient for all the work to make it, and too much. – Exodus 36:5-7

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EXODUS 37 – BEZALEEL MADE…

– Ark of shittim wood
– Mercy Seat
– Cherubims for the Mercy Seat
– Table of shittim wood
– Candlestick
– Four Bowls
– Knop
– Seven Lamps
– Talent of Pure Gold
– Incense altar
– Crown of gold
– Holy Anointing oil
– Pure incense of sweet spices

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EXODUS 38 – OBEDIENCE

Bezaleel also made …

– Altar of Burnt Offering
– Laver of Brass
– Court

Obedience to God’s Commands
And Bezaleel the son of Uri, the son of Hur, of the tribe of Judah, made all that the Lord commanded Moses. – Exodus 38:22

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EXODUS 39 – AS THE LORD COMMANDED MOSES

Holy Garments for Aaron
And of the blue, and purple, and scarlet, they made cloths of service, to do service in the holy place, and made the holy garments for Aaron; as the LORD commanded Moses. And he made the ephod of gold, blue, and purple, and scarlet, and fine twined linen. And they did beat the gold into thin plates, and cut it into wires, to work it in the blue, and in the purple, and in the scarlet, and in the fine linen, with cunning work. They made shoulderpieces for it, to couple it together: by the two edges was it coupled together. And the curious girdle of his ephod, that was upon it, was of the same, according to the work thereof; of gold, blue, and purple, and scarlet, and fine twined linen; as the LORD commanded Moses. – Exodus 39:1-5

Stones of Memorial
And they wrought onyx stones inclosed in ouches of gold, graven, as signets are graven, with the names of the children of Israel. And he put them on the shoulders of the ephod, that they should be stones for a memorial to the children of Israel; as the LORD commanded Moses. – Exodus 39:6-7

Breastplate of Cunning Work
And he made the breastplate of cunning work, like the work of the ephod; of gold, blue, and purple, and scarlet, and fine twined linen. It was foursquare; they made the breastplate double: a span was the length thereof, and a span the breadth thereof, being doubled. And they set in it four rows of stones: the first row was a sardius, a topaz, and a carbuncle: this was the first row. And the second row, an emerald, a sapphire, and a diamond. And the third row, a ligure, an agate, and an amethyst. And the fourth row, a beryl, an onyx, and a jasper: they were inclosed in ouches of gold in their inclosings. And the stones were according to the names of the children of Israel, twelve, according to their names, like the engravings of a signet, every one with his name, according to the twelve tribes. And they made upon the breastplate chains at the ends, of wreathen work of pure gold. And they made two ouches of gold, and two gold rings; and put the two rings in the two ends of the breastplate. And they put the two wreathen chains of gold in the two rings on the ends of the breastplate. And the two ends of the two wreathen chains they fastened in the two ouches, and put them on the shoulderpieces of the ephod, before it. And they made two rings of gold, and put them on the two ends of the breastplate, upon the border of it, which was on the side of the ephod inward. And they made two other golden rings, and put them on the two sides of the ephod underneath, toward the forepart of it, over against the other coupling thereof, above the curious girdle of the ephod. And they did bind the breastplate by his rings unto the rings of the ephod with a lace of blue, that it might be above the curious girdle of the ephod, and that the breastplate might not be loosed from the ephod; as the LORD commanded Moses.- Exodus 39:8-21

The Robe of the Ephod
And he made the robe of the ephod of woven work, all of blue. And there was an hole in the midst of the robe, as the hole of an habergeon, with a band round about the hole, that it should not rend. And they made upon the hems of the robe pomegranates of blue, and purple, and scarlet, and twined linen. And they made bells of pure gold, and put the bells between the pomegranates upon the hem of the robe, round about between the pomegranates; A bell and a pomegranate, a bell and a pomegranate, round about the hem of the robe to minister in; as the LORD commanded Moses. – Exodus 39:22-26

Coats, Mitre, Bonnets, Breeches, Girdles
And they made coats of fine linen of woven work for Aaron, and for his sons, And a mitre of fine linen, and goodly bonnets of fine linen, and linen breeches of fine twined linen, And a girdle of fine twined linen, and blue, and purple, and scarlet, of needlework; as the LORD commanded Moses. – Exodus 39:2-29

Plate of the Holy Crown
And they made the plate of the holy crown of pure gold, and wrote upon it a writing, like to the engravings of a signet, HOLINESS TO THE LORD. And they tied unto it a lace of blue, to fasten it on high upon the mitre; as the LORD commanded Moses. – Exodus 39:30-31

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EXODUS 40 – BECOMING A LEVITE

Become – to come, change, or grow to be; to be suitable or necessary to the dignity, situation, or responsibility of.

Becoming a Levite
And thou shalt put upon Aaron the holy garments, and anoint him, and sanctify him; that he may minister unto me in the priest’s office. And thou shalt bring his sons, and clothe them with coats: And thou shalt anoint them, as thou didst anoint their father, that they may minister unto me in the priest’s office: for their anointing shall surely be an everlasting priesthood throughout their generations. Thus did Moses: according to all that the Lord commanded him, so did he. – Exodus 40:13-16

Aaron was a Levite.

Day 28 – A Year in the Bible – Exodus 32-34

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EXODUS 32 – THE GOLDEN CALF

When the People Saw that Moses Delayed
And when the people saw that Moses delayed to come down out of the mount, the people gathered themselves together unto Aaron, and said unto him, Up, make us gods, which shall go before us; for as for this Moses, the man that brought us up out of the land of Egypt, we wot not what is become of him – Exodus 32:1

Fourteen Steps in Aaron’s Backsliding
1. He listened to the people in their criticism of Moses (Ex. 32:1).
2. Went along with the seditious mob for fear of being unpopular (Ex. 32:1,22).
3. Agreed with them to make an idol (Ex. 32:2).
4. Received gold from the people to make an idol (Ex. 32:4).
5. Made a golden calf to worship.
6. Built an altar before it (Ex. 32:5).
7. Made a proclamation of a feast to it, calling it Jehovah.
8. Sacrificed to it (Ex. 32:6).
9. Sanctioned licentious eating, drinking, singing, dancing, honoring the idol (Ex. 32:6,19).
10. Worshiped the calf (Ex. 32:8).
11. Claimed the calf was God who led them out of Egypt.
12. Laid the blame of sin upon others (Ex. 32:21-23).
13. Lied about making the calf (Ex. 32:24).
14. Exposed the whole nation to the wrath of God and their enemies (Ex. 32:11-14,25).
(Taken from Dake Study Bible Notes)

Play
And they rose up early on the morrow, and offered burnt offerings, and brought peace offerings; and the people sat down to eat and to drink, and rose up to play. – Exodus 32:6

Play – from the Hebrew: tsachaq (H6711), “to laugh outright in merriment or scorn; to sport; mock; play the whore.” It is translated “play.”

Singing and Dancing
And when Joshua heard the noise of the people as they shouted, he said unto Moses, There is a noise of war in the camp. And he said, It is not the voice of them that shout for mastery, neither is it the voice of them that cry for being overcome: but the noise of them that sing do I hear. And it came to pass, as soon as he came nigh unto the camp, that he saw the calf, and the dancing: and Moses’ anger waxed hot, and he cast the tables out of his hands, and brake them beneath the mount. – Exodus‬ ‭32‬:‭17‬-‭19‬ ‭

Six Religious Activities of Israel
1. Making preparation for worship (Ex. 32:1-4)
2. Proclamation of worship (Ex. 32:5)
3. Gathering for worship (Ex. 32:6)
4. Offerings burnt and peace offerings
5. Eating and drinking the sacrifices and drink offerings
6. Singing, dancing, shouting (Ex. 32:17-19)
(Taken from Dake Study Bible Notes)

Some of these activities could be lawfully carried on in worship to God, but not to idols. This shows that outward manifestations of worship, sacrifices of gold and other valuables, shouting, dancing, and singing in themselves are no proof of a spiritual experience with God.

Repentance
And it came to pass on the morrow, that Moses said unto the people, Ye have sinned a great sin: and now I will go up unto the LORD; peradventure I shall make an atonement for your sin. And Moses returned unto the LORD, and said, Oh, this people have sinned a great sin, and have made them gods of gold. Yet now, if thou wilt forgive their sin–; and if not, blot me, I pray thee, out of thy book which thou hast written. And the LORD said unto Moses, Whosoever hath sinned against me, him will I blot out of my book. Therefore now go, lead the people unto the place of which I have spoken unto thee: behold, mine Angel shall go before thee: nevertheless in the day when I visit I will visit their sin upon them. And the LORD plagued the people, because they made the calf, which Aaron made. – Exodus‬ ‭32‬:‭30‬-‭35‬ ‭

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EXODUS 33 – IF THY PRESENCE GO NOT WITH ME

If I have Found Grace in Thy Sight
And the Lord spake unto Moses face to face, as a man speaketh unto his friend. And he turned again into the camp: but his servant Joshua, the son of Nun, a young man, departed not out of the tabernacle. And Moses said unto the Lord, See, thou sayest unto me, Bring up this people: and thou hast not let me know whom thou wilt send with me. Yet thou hast said, I know thee by name, and thou hast also found grace in my sight. Now therefore, I pray thee, if I have found grace in thy sight, shew me now thy way, that I may know thee, that I may find grace in thy sight: and consider that this nation is thy people. And he said, My presence shall go with thee, and I will give thee rest. And he said unto him, If thy presence go not with me, carry us not up hence. For wherein shall it be known here that I and thy people have found grace in thy sight? is it not that thou goest with us? so shall we be separated, I and thy people, from all the people that are upon the face of the earth. – Exodus 33:11-16

Oh God, You know me by name, and You have extended grace to me over and over. Oh Lord, if I have found favor in Your sight today, will You extend Your grace once more and teach me Your ways? Will You tell me what You would have me to know so that I may know more about You, Lord? I want to know You, and I want to know Your ways and continue to find grace in Your sight. God, I am lonely in this place, and I need You to go with me. If not You, who will go with me? Oh Lord, draw me close to You and help me through this day. Give me FIRE and help me to live a HOLY life and a life free of regret and offense.

And God says to me as He said to Moses – My Presence shall go with thee (Melissa), and I will give thee (Melissa) rest.

Thank You, Father. I love You, my Good, Good Father, and Your beautiful Son Jesus. I adore You, wise and comforting Holy Ghost. Thank You for teaching me Your ways this morning through prayer and Your Word and Your still small voice. Thank You for Your rest.

I Beseech Thee, Shew Me Thy Glory
And the LORD said unto Moses, I will do this thing also that thou hast spoken: for thou hast found grace in my sight, and I know thee by name. And he said, I beseech thee, shew me thy glory. And he said, I will make all my goodness pass before thee, and I will proclaim the name of the LORD before thee; and will be gracious to whom I will be gracious, and will shew mercy on whom I will shew mercy. And he said, Thou canst not see my face: for there shall no man see me, and live. And the LORD said, Behold, there is a place by me, and thou shalt stand upon a rock: and it shall come to pass, while my glory passeth by, that I will put thee in a clift of the rock, and will cover thee with my hand while I pass by: and I will take away mine hand, and thou shalt see my back parts: but my face shall not be seen. – Exodus 33:17-23

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EXODUS 34 – THE LORD PASSED BY BEFORE HIM

God Reveals Himself
And the Lord descended in the cloud, and stood with him there, and proclaimed the name of the Lord. And the Lord passed by before him, and proclaimed, The Lord, The Lord God, merciful and gracious, longsuffering, and abundant in goodness and truth, Keeping mercy for thousands, forgiving iniquity and transgression and sin, and that will by no means clear the guilty; visiting the iniquity of the fathers upon the children, and upon the children’s children, unto the third and to the fourth generation. – Exodus 34:5-7

I have never seen something in today’s passages of Exodus. The Lord stood with Moses, and the Lord proclaimed His Name and who He was to Moses…and so to us. Yes, we should declare His Names back to Him and this dying world, but first, He has declared them to us. He is the Lord God, Merciful, Gracious, Longsuffering, abundant in Goodness, abundant in Truth, Forgiving, Just.

Proclaim – to announce or declare officially or formally; to make known publicly or openly

God Warns
Take heed to thyself, lest thou make a covenant with the inhabitants of the land whither thou goest, lest it be for a snare in the midst of thee: – Exodus 34:12

God instructs the children of Israel to be careful entering into new lands; to be careful not to come into agreements with the inhabitants of the land in ways that might change their beliefs of the laws God gave them. This is a good warning for us as well. We should be careful when establishing core relationships. Whether it sounds “politically correct” or not, those we spend the most time with have the most influence on us…whether that group is a work group, a social group, or family.

Heed – to give careful attention to
Snare – anything serving to entrap or entangle; a device for capturing small game; to catch or involve by trickery or wile.

God’s Presence Changes Us
And it came to pass, when Moses came down from mount Sinai with the two tables of testimony in Moses’ hand, when he came down from the mount, that Moses wist not that the skin of his face shone while he talked with him. And when Aaron and all the children of Israel saw Moses, behold, the skin of his face shone; and they were afraid to come nigh him. – Exodus 34:29-30

God was concerned that the Israelites would spend time with the inhabitants of the land and be changed. In the same type of way, when we spend time with others, we are changed. When we spend time in the Presence of God, we are changed. He changes us, and the people around us can see the change, just like the children of Israel could see Moses face shining with the Glory of God. There is only one way we can truly be carriers of the Light and that is to spend time in the Presence of the Light of the World. His Name is Jesus!

Day 27 – A Year in the Bible – Exodus 30-31

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EXODUS 30 – COMMANDS

An Altar to Burn Incense Upon
And thou shalt make an altar to burn incense upon: of shittim wood shalt thou make it. – Exodus 30:1

Fifteen Commands–the Altar of Incense
1. Make an altar to burn incense upon.
2. Make it of shittim wood.
3. Make it 25 in. square (Ex. 30:2).
4. Height: 4 ft. 2 in.
5. Make four horns of the same size and shape for the four corners.
6. Overlay it with pure gold–the top, sides, and horns (Ex. 30:3).
7. Make a crown of gold around it.
8. Make four gold rings for the four corners to be placed under the crown for staves to carry it (Ex. 30:4).
9. Make two staves of shittim wood (Ex. 30:5).
10. Overlay them with gold.
11. Put the altar before the veil in the holy place opposite the ark of the testimony on the other side of the veil (Ex. 30:6).
12. Aaron shall burn sweet incense upon it every morning and evening when he prepares the lamps (Ex. 30:7-8).
13. The incense shall burn perpetually like the lamps, day and night.
14. Do not offer strange incense, any burnt sacrifice, or meat offering upon it; do not pour any drink offering on it (Ex. 30:9).
15. Aaron shall make an atonement upon its four horns once a year with the blood of the sin offering (Ex. 30:10).
(Taken from Dake Study Bible Notes)

The Ransom for Souls (Atonement Money)
When thou tamest the sum of the children of Israel after their number, then shall they give every man a ransom for his soul unto the Lord, when thou numberest them; that there be no plague among them, when thou numberest them. – Exodus 30:12

Five commands–atonement money:
1. Charge every man a ransom.
2. When he registers each shall give an half shekel as an offering to God (Ex. 30:13).
3. Every man twenty years old and older shall pay the registration tax (Ex. 30:14).
4. The rich shall not give more; the poor shall not give less than an half shekel (Ex. 30:15).
5. Use the money in the tabernacle service (Ex. 30:16).
(Taken from Dake Study Bible Notes)

The Brasen Laver
Thou shalt also make a laver of brass, and his foot also of brass, to wash withal: and thou shalt put it between the tabernacle of the congregation and the altar, and thou shalt put water therein. – Exodus 30:18

‬Five Commands–the Laver of Brass
1. Make a laver and its base of brass.
2. Put it between the tabernacle door and the brazen altar.
3. Put water in it so Aaron and his sons can wash their hands and feet when they minister in the tabernacle and offer sacrifices (Ex. 30:19-20).
4. If they fail to wash their hands and feet while ministering they shall die (Ex. 30:20-21).
5. This shall be a statute forever for all priests (Ex. 30:21).
(Taken from Dake Study Bible Notes)

The Holy Anointing Oil
and thou shalt make it an oil of holy ointment, an ointment compound after the art of the apothecary: it shall be an holy anointing oil. – Exodus‬ ‭30‬:‭25

Five Commands–the Holy Anointing Oil
1. Make holy anointing oil of: pure myrrh, 19 1/2 lbs.; sweet cinnamon, 9 3/4 lbs.; sweet calamus, 9 3/4 lbs.; cassia, 19 1/2 lbs.; and olive oil, 6 qts. (Ex. 30:22-25).
2. Anoint the tabernacle, ark, table of showbread and its vessels, the candlestick and its vessels, altar of incense, the brazen altar and its vessels, the laver and its foot, and sanctify them to be most holy (Ex. 30:26-29).
3. Anoint Aaron and sons and consecrate them to be ministers (Ex. 30:30).
4. The holy anointing oil is not to be poured on the flesh of any man (other than priests, Ex. 30:30; Ps. 133:2),
5. No man is to make any oil like it to be used in Israel (Ex. 30:31-32). Whoever makes any like it or puts it on a stranger shall die (Ex. 30:33).
(Taken from Dake Study Bible Notes)

The Holy Incense
And the LORD said unto Moses, Take unto thee sweet spices, stacte, and onycha, and galbanum; these sweet spices with pure frankincense: of each shall there be a like weight: And thou shalt make it a perfume, a confection after the art of the apothecary, tempered together, pure and holy: – Exodus 30:34-35

Four Commands–the Holy Incense
1. Take four sweet spices: stacte, onycha, galbanum, and pure frankincense, of equal weight to make incense or holy perfume (Ex. 30:34-35)
2. Beat some of it very small and put on the altar of incense before the ark of the testimony (Ex. 30:36)
3. Do not make any like it for your own use (Ex. 30:37)
4. Anyone making any like it for his own use shall die (Ex. 30:38)(Taken from Dake Study Bible Notes)
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EXODUS 31 – COMMANDED TO REST

Filled with the Spirit of God
And I have filled him with the spirit of God, in wisdom, and in understanding, and in knowledge, and in all manner of workmanship, To devise cunning works, to work in gold, and in silver, and in brass, And in cutting of stones, to set them, and in carving of timber, to work in all manner of workmanship. And I, behold, I have given with him Aholiab, the son of Ahisamach, of the tribe of Dan: and in the hearts of all that are wise hearted I have put wisdom, that they may make all that I have commanded thee. – Exodus 31:3-6

This is another scripture where the Spirit of God fills the people with wisdom, understanding, knowledge and ability. The scripture says to devise cunning works and do all kinds of crafts and “workmanship.”

Cunning – skill employed in a shrewd or sly manner, craftiness; showing or made with ingenuity. Artfully subtle.

The Sabbath
Speak thou also unto the children of Israel, saying, Verily my sabbaths ye shall keep: for it is a sign between me and you throughout your generations; that ye may know that I am the Lord that doth sanctify you. Ye shall keep the sabbath therefore; for it is holy unto you: every one that defileth it shall surely be put to death: for whosoever doeth any work therein, that soul shall be cut off from among his people. Six days may work be done; but in the seventh is the sabbath of rest, holy to the Lord: whosoever doeth any work in the sabbath day, he shall surely be put to death. Wherefore the children of Israel shall keep the sabbath, to observe the sabbath throughout their generations, for a perpetual covenant. Exodus 31:13-16

God instituted observing the Sabbath as a sign between Himself and each child. It is a part of His never-ending covenant, and we should honor our part of that perpetual covenant.

Perpetual – continuing or enduring forever; everlasting
Covenant – a solemn agreement, usually formal, between two or more persons to do or not do something. In the Bible a covenant is the conditional promises made to humanity by God, as revealed in Scripture. The agreement between God and the ancient Israelites, in which God promised to protect them if they kept His law and were faithful to Him.

It is a sign between me and the children of Israel for ever: for in six days the Lord made heaven and earth, and on the seventh day he rested, and was refreshed. – Exodus 31:17

God created us in His likeness. He was busy with creation for six days and on the seventh He rested. Why? For rest and refreshment. If God had a need for rest and refreshment, and His Son Jesus had a need for rest and refreshment – shouldn’t we? Lord, help us to understand this command to rest!

The Finger of God
And he gave unto Moses, when he had made an end of communing with him upon Mount Sinai, two tablets of testimony, tables of stone, written with the finger of God. – Exodus 31:18

Day 26 – A Year in the Bible – Exodus 27-29

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EXODUS 27 –

Pure Oil
And thou shalt command the children of Israel, that they bring thee pure oil olive beaten for the light, to cause the lamp to burn always. – Exodus 27:20

There was a pure oil that burned and brought Light that was to never go out. Oil the symbol of the Holy Ghost. God charges us to remain faithful and diligent to “keep the lamp burning.” As those who are to be reflections of His light (light-bearers), we are only able to do God’s work through the power and strength granted by the Holy Ghost, who lives within and fills them.

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EXODUS 28 – SANCTIFY THEM THAT THEY MAY MINISTER UNTO ME

Holy Garments – that He (Aaron) May Minister Unto Me
And thou shalt make holy garments for Aaron thy brother for glory and for beauty. And thou shalt speak unto all that are wise hearted, whom I have filled with the spirit of wisdom, that they may make Aaron’s garments to consecrate him, that he may minister unto me in the priest’s office. And these are the garments which they shall make; a breastplate, and an ephod, and a robe, and a broidered coat, a mitre, and a girdle: and they shall make holy garments for Aaron thy brother, and his sons, that he may minister unto me in the priest’s office. – Exodus 28:2-4

I love how the artisans are said to be “filled with the spirit of Wisdom.” Artistic ability of any kind is a gift from God, as is Wisdom. Expressions of art through things like needlework and sculpting were some of the earliest gifts that we read about in the Bible, and crafts such as these done as unto the Lord or for the Kingdom purposes is using your skills with wisdom. I imagine an artist would do their best work filled with the Holy Ghost? Don’t I do my best work, whether in an occupation or crafting, if I am filled with the Holy Ghost and anointed for that purpose? This passage was a great encouragement to me.

He Shall Bear the Names of the Children of Israel on His Shoulders 
And thou shalt take two onyx stones, and grave on them the names of the children of Israel: six of their names on one stone, and the other six names of the rest on the other stone, according to their birth. With the work of an engraver in stone, like the engravings of a signet, shalt thou engrave the two stones with the names of the children of Israel: thou shalt make them to be set in ouches of gold. And thou shalt put the two stones upon the shoulders of the ephod for stones of memorial unto the children of Israel: and Aaron shall bear their names before the LORD upon his two shoulders for a memorial. – Exodus 28:9-12

He Shall Bear the Judgment of the Children of Israel On His Heart
And Aaron shall bear the names of the children of Israel in the breastplate of judgment upon his heart, when he goeth in unto the holy place, for a memorial before the LORD continually. And thou shalt put in the breastplate of judgment the Urim and the Thummim; and they shall be upon Aaron’s heart, when he goeth in before the LORD: and Aaron shall bear the judgment of the children of Israel upon his heart before the LORD continually. – Exodus 28:29-30

HOLINESS TO THE Lord Shall Be Always Upon Aaron’s Forehead
And it shall be upon Aaron to minister: and his sound shall be heard when he goeth in unto the holy place before the LORD, and when he cometh out, that he die not. And thou shalt make a plate of pure gold, and grave upon it, like the engravings of a signet, HOLINESS TO THE Lord. And thou shalt put it on a blue lace, that it may be upon the mitre; upon the forefront of the mitre it shall be. And it shall be upon Aaron’s forehead, that Aaron may bear the iniquity of the holy things, which the children of Israel shall hallow in all their holy gifts; and it shall be always upon his forehead, that they may be accepted before the LORD. – Exodus 28:35-38

The words “HOLINESS TO THE LORD” actually have the same connotation as belonging to the Lord. Set apart for the Lord.

Everyone knows who Aaron is by the words he wears fastened to the front of his turban. They know Who he belongs to. He stands out. If I am part of the royal priesthood (and I am), shouldn’t I stand out too? Shouldn’t everyone know whose I am and what I am about not necessarily by Words on my forehead but by the way I live my life?

Anoint, Consecrate, Sanctify Them, that They May Minister Unto Me
And for Aaron’s sons thou shalt make coats, and thou shalt make for them girdles, and bonnets shalt thou make for them, for glory and for beauty. And thou shalt put them upon Aaron thy brother, and his sons with him; and shalt anoint them, and consecrate them, and sanctify them, that they may minister unto me in the priest’s office. – Exodus 28:40-41

Anoint – to rub, sprinkle on, or smear with a liquid; to dedicate to the service of God
Consecrate – to make or declare sacred; set apart or dedicate
Sanctify – to make holy; set apart as sacred; purify; render legitimate or binding

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EXODUS 29 – SANCTIFIED BY MY GLORY

I Am the LORD Their God
This shall be a continual burnt offering throughout your generations at the door of the tabernacle of the congregation before the LORD: where I will meet you, to speak there unto thee. And there I will meet with the children of Israel, and the tabernacle shall be sanctified by my glory. And I will sanctify the tabernacle of the congregation, and the altar: I will sanctify also both Aaron and his sons, to minister to me in the priest’s office. And I will dwell among the children of Israel, and will be their God. And they shall know that I am the LORD their God, that brought them forth out of the land of Egypt, that I may dwell among them: I am the LORD their God. – Exodus 29:42-46

God wanted to dwell among His children. He wanted to be their God. His tabernacle was right at the center of all they did…and yet even so, they kept running back to idols. I think about that personally. The Holy Ghost resides in me, and so He is in the center of all I do and hears all I say; every word I type here goes through His eyes and heart. Are there areas of my life that I allow some of the world to enter in? Am I making idols of things and people right in front of His face? How sad that must make Him.