Solitary Place

Complaining is deformative both personally and collectively, complaining does not please the LORD. In Numbers 11 the Israelites complained which arouses the LORDs anger which burned against the people both who complained that manna from heaven was not enough to satisfy them and those who yielded to craving in the consumption of quail that the LORD provided. Numbers 11:1 (NKJV) "Now when the people complained, it displeased the LORD; for the LORD heard it, and His anger was aroused. So the fire of the LORD burned among them, and consumed some in the outskirts of the camp." Complaining displeases the LORD. I often think about my own behaviors and whether they demonstrate my faith or lack thereof and how I must operate in the opposite spirit. What I mean by this is when I'm afraid operating in the opposite spirit is courage, when I'm in pain or troubled emotionally operating in the opposite spirit is lament, in the face of difficulty with the temptation to complain about...

In serving and worshipping the LORD there is no room for half-heartedness or lukewarmness as Jesus admonished the Laodicean church in Revelation chapter 3. With whatever my hand finds to do I choose to do it with all my might, out of conviction for righteousness through living consecrated to a holy God deserving of all glory, honor and praise. There is something significant about complete total unreserved dedication and commitment to God, equally important is the willingness of our heart to fully yield, surrender, and submit obediently to the authority of the Father giving everything within our being for His glory. For the Israelites the people of the tribe of Levi were to be a consecrated people dedicated to the LORD as a priesthood in the service of worship as commanded by the LORD.  Numbers 8:16 (NIV) "They are the Israelites who are to be given wholly to me." I am reminded of a sweet time during my early adult years when I sensed a calling to set apart a year of my life t...

With 89 verses in today's reading and lots of repetition there is again a deep emphasis on the theme of consecration or dedication offerings to the LORD by the 12 Israelite tribes. After Moses and the Levites assembled the Tabernacle to consecrate its furnishings to the LORD he anointed it with anointing oil - there is symbolism throughout scripture including this passage that anointing with oil represents the blessing presence of God, this is one of the reasons that a year ago before my wife and I moved into our first home in Vermont I assembled a group of men and we consecrated the home anointing the door posts with oil and filled the home with faith-filled prayer. Anointing symbolizes God's blessing on what he has provided. For the 12 tribes they each offered a gift of a 3.25 lb. silver plate and 1.75 lb. silver bowl both filled with fine flour and olive oil, a 4 oz gold dish filled with incense, a young bull, six male goats, six male lambs, two oxen, and six rams for four s...

Numbers chapter 6 outlines what a Nazirite vow is and how it is a period of consecration and dedication to the LORD which is paired with abstaining from grapes, grape juice, wine, raisins, or anything that comes from the grapevine including its seeds and skin, fermented drinks- including vinegar, and no razor must be used on their head. Ceremonially, after the period of the Nazirite vow dedication to the LORD is complete the hair from the Nazirite's head is to be cut off to symbolize their voluntary dedication. This passage seems to draw a direct connection between dedication, consecration and devotion which means to be set apart which is an open voluntary call for men and women of God. Numbers 6:2-3 (NIV) "If a man or woman wants to make a special vow, a vow of dedication to the LORD as a Nazirite, they must abstain from wine and other fermented drink and must not drink vinegar made from wine or other fermented drink." Similar to fasting, where a person is refraining fro...

Interestingly we are left in Numbers 2 with the LORD's command to Moses not to count the tribe of Levi in the census. Chapters 3 and 4 Moses is then commanded to count or number the Levites and in doing so God substitutes the consecration of the firstborn of all the Israelites for the tribe of Levi. In chapter 4 the LORD gives Moses instruction on how to split up the work and care for the tabernacle into three clans which were sons of Levi: Gershon (Gershonites), Kohath (Kohathites) and Merari (Merarites). One interesting phrase that is repeated over four times for each of the clans is the age of service in work at the tabernacle or tent of meeting, it is important to note that when something is important in scripture it is repeated, this is God's way of reiterating strong emphasis in the written literature tradition of both the old and new testaments.  Numbers 4:3(23)(30)(35) (NIV) "Count all the men from thirty to fifty years of age who come to serve in the work at the t...

The first two chapters in the book of Numbers are about the census and division arrangement of the tribal camps, one concept I have found fascinating is the concept of mediator between God and Man, specifically in today's reading through the tribe of Levi. Throughout the book of Job there are instances where Job bemoans that there is no mediator between man and God to make a just case for man's righteousness or innocence before a holy, just and good Creator God.  Job 9:2,33 (NIV) "[H]ow can mere mortals prove their innocence before God? If only there were someone to mediate between us" Job is primarily concerned with sin, he acknowledges the sinless character of God knowing there is a large gap between purity and impurity, Job wrestles with the reality that mortal man cannot be pure or righteous - which is true, apart from a redemptive mediator. Job speaks about this heavenly mediator giving a glimmer or prophetic hope many hundreds of years before Jesus the Messiah w...

The last two chapters of Leviticus are both sobering and hopeful, God outlines to Moses the punishment for disobedience and reward for obedience while emphasizing total devotion - the irrevocable giving over of things or persons to the LORD.  Leviticus 26:40,42 (KJV) "If the shall confess their iniquity, and the iniquity of their fathers, with their trespass which they trespassed against me, and that also they have walked contrary unto me; Then will I remember my covenant with Jacob, and also my covenant with Isaac, and also my covenant with Abraham will I remember; and I will remember the land." There are strong crossover references to confession of sin (iniquity) as it relates to salvation in this Levitical passage and Romans 10:9-10 "If you declare with your mouth, "Jesus is Lord," and believe in your heart that God raised him from the dead, you will be saved. For it is with your heart that you believe and are justified, and it is with your mouth that you pr...

The passages in today's reading covers a lot of ground: how a blasphemer was punished, Jubilee year economics including inflationary and deflationary pricing, debt management and prohibition of charging interest and how slavery is to be conducted. Earlier this week I was thinking about foul language and how it should have no place in a Christian's vocabulary, especially a Spirit-filled believer who is experiencing ongoing sanctification through the renewing of their mind each day by the power of the Holy Spirit and the washing of the word of God. In the English language there are four categories of objectionable words: swearing, cursing, obscenity and vulgarity. There are instances of both godly and ungodly cursing in scripture but today I want to focus on the first biblical instance of blasphemy. Leviticus 24:10 (NKJV) "And the Israelite woman's son blasphemed the name of the LORD and cursed; so they brought him to Moses." In this case the man who blasphemed or m...

Leviticus 22:1 (NIV) "The LORD said to Moses, "Tell Aaron and his sons to treat with respect the sacred offerings the Israelites consecrate to me, so they will not profane my holy name. I am the LORD." Chapter 22 of Leviticus primarily focuses on unacceptable sacrifices, quality of offering to be consecrated to the LORD is of utmost importance. For believers today in thinking about sacrifices to the LORD, animal blood sacrifice is not part of the Christian ritual, neither is human sacrifice - though Paul in his letter to the Romans talks and urges living sacrifices which takes the form of worship, similar to yesterday's Psalm regarding giving thank offerings up to the LORD. Romans 12:1-2 (NIV) "Therefore, I urge you, brothers and sisters, in view of God's mercy, to offer your bodies as a living sacrifice, holy and pleasing to God - this is your true and proper worship. Do not conform to the pattern of this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mi...

Leviticus 19 is a chapter that contains various laws, many reiterations or variants of the original moral law found within the decalogue with consistent emphasis on holiness because the LORD God of the Israelites is holy. Much of the instruction in this chapter have implications that impact interpersonal relationships between different people within society which has significant crossover today in modern civility and societal order, here are just a few excerpts: 19:9-10 "When you reap the harvest of your land, do not reap to the very edges of your field or gather the gleanings of your harvest. Do not go over your vineyard a second time or pick up the grapes that have fallen. Leave them for the poor and foreigner." 19:14 "Do not curse the deaf or put a stumbling block in front of the blind..." 19:15 "Do not pervert justice; do not show partiality to the poor or favoritism to the great, but judge your neighbor fairly." 19:35-36 "Do not use dishonest sta...

Leviticus chapter 16 introduces the theology of atonement through the instatement of Yom Kippur as an annual day of atonement. The word atonement in Hebrew is 'kaphar' which means to cover or to make reconciliation, in the sacrificial system of Mosaic law the blood of animal sacrifice was sufficient to cover the sin of the people of Israel. The blood of a bull and goat on the day of atonement was a lasting ordinance a day of cleansing from sin, a forgiveness in an old testament sense. Leviticus 16:30 (NIV) "...on this day of atonement will be made for you, to cleanse you. Then, before the LORD, you will be clean from all your sins." Blood cleanses. The author of the book of Hebrews writes, "without the shedding of blood there is no forgiveness," atonement is the restoring of relationship with God through the blood of a sacrifice. Cleansing blood atones through opening wide the door of redemption, the beauty of the story of God's glory is that the old sac...

If yesterday's post had a dermatology or mold evaluation tone to it then today's reading will have a clinical dermatology treatment and mold remediation themes, along with best practices for sexual relations as it relates to uncleanness. While it is tempting to rapidly skim through the reading and write-off the majority of Leviticus as antiquated or for the Jews of the time and not for Christians today, we must remember: these cleansing ritual sacrifices and prescription by the LORD to Moses for his people is for good. Paul writes to the Roman church emphasizing the primary takeaway of the entire book of Leviticus: Romans 12:1-2 (NIV) "Therefore, I urge you, brothers and sisters, in view of God's mercy, to offer your bodies as a living sacrifice, holy and pleasing to God - this is your true and proper worship. Do not conform to the pattern of this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind. Then you will be able to test and approve what God's will is - ...

The passages in today's chronological reading plan of the Bible is on Mosaic Law specifics regarding clean and unclean food, purification after childbirth and regulations for skin diseases and molds. The regulations about defiling skin diseases has an interesting dermatology tone to the law especially as it relates to the color of the lesion or the color/presence of a hair growing in a lesion. The bit that stood out to me most this morning was what the LORD said to Moses after outlining the clean and unclean food in chapter 11. Leviticus 11:44-45 (NIV) "I am the LORD your God; consecrate yourselves and be holy, because I am holy... I am the LORD, who brought you up out of Egypt to be your God; therefore be holy, because I am holy." The God we love as Christians is holy, as He is holy we must be holy by consecrating ourselves to Him through obedience and faith. Consecration means to be set apart, often contextually this means to be set apart from the world or the culture w...

The holiness of God and man's approach in worship through obedience of the proper way of worshipping God is underscored in Leviticus 10 with the death of Nadab and Abihu. The fire offered to the LORD was unauthorized, in Hebrew the word zarah which translates as, to turn aside, to be a foreigner, strange, profane or to commit adultery. The New Living Translation includes terminology of disobedience by offering the 'wrong kind' of fire contrary to the commands of God. What Moses says to Aaron next is crucial to understanding why the fire of God consumed Nadab and Abihu and has grave implications for Christians today in our approach before the LORD in worship and knowing His character. Leviticus 10:3 (NIV) "Among those who approach me I will be proved holy; in the sight of all the people I will be honored." It is no surprise that Aaron remains silent to this word from the LORD, his silence is an acknowledgement that God's wrath is just and to mourn the loss of h...

 Leviticus 5:1 (NIV) "If anyone sins because they do not speak up when they hear a public charge to testify regarding something they have seen or learned about, they will be held responsible." I think about what this verse means for Christians today, especially as it relates to knowing and living the truth. How often we hear in conversations in our churches and certainly online propagation of false doctrines or unbiblical worldly concepts and we sit idle and quiet. Men and women of God in the face of deception we must speak up to defend the gospel and the word with the truth. Jesus came to earth for many reasons, chiefly to testify to the truth - if we are to be like Jesus more and more every day then we ought to boldly speak up and testify to the truth and not shrink back to properly defend the gospel of grace. As men and women filled with the Holy Spirit and the word we should pray for increasing spiritual discernment to understand the ways and deceptions that subvert the t...

Having never really done a deep dive or thought intentionally about the symbolic and ritual context for the book of Leviticus as a western Christian I am excited for all that God will reveal to me through this book. Right off the bat there are interesting things the LORD is showing me in each chapter, for the sake of time I'll dive into chapter 3. Leviticus 3:16 (NIV) "The priest shall burn them on the altar as a food offering, a pleasing aroma. All the fat is the LORD's." Initially my human thoughts jump to trimming beef ribeye for steak night dinners, digging deeper into the etymology I crossed over to BibleHub and pulled up the Hebrew translation of this verse. Heleb is the Hebrew word for fat which translates to richest or choice part - this is interesting to me because I remember an old YouTube chef cooking show who would reiterate that fat is where the flavor is. In context with the passage the declaration is that all the fat is the LORD's, there is no exce...

In todays reading Moses and Aaron put together all the constructed pieces of the tabernacle just as God instructed, for visual learners I found this resource last year to be helpful in better understanding what the tabernacle may have looked like in 3D. One theme that stands out is obedience. Moses relayed to the Israelites instruction from God and their response was obedience, obedience to gather and present offerings of dyed goat skins, gold, silver and bronze; obedience to hewn acacia wood precisely according to the measurements that God outlined; obedience to assemble the tabernacle in all it's detail exactly as God said. The result is awesome: the glory of the LORD fills the tabernacle - God was physically present with His obedient people. Exodus 40:34 (NIV) "Then the cloud covered the tent of meeting, and the glory of the LORD filled the tabernacle." Understanding that God is omnipresent we know throughout scripture that God is always with us, though it seems that ...

In God's instruction to Moses for building the tabernacle he includes by name the men who he fills with his spirit, skill and ability to carry out all the work of the construction.  Exodus 36:1 (NIV) "So Bezalel, Oholiab and every skilled person to whom the LORD has given skill and ability to know how to carry out all the work of constructing the sanctuary are to do the work just as the LORD has commanded." This is significant for the believer today in the 21st century and is consistent with how the LORD has functioned with His Holy Spirit since the beginning of time. When God's spirit fills a person he or she has the ability to do great things because of empowerment that comes from the spirit of God. God uses willing people to complete His mission and great plans, we see this consistently throughout scripture and even more interesting is how God uses unlikely but faithful people to do great acts for the kingdom of God. In the case of Bezalel and Oholiab, these men we...

The span of scripture from Exodus 33-35 is deeply profound in both Moses interaction and experience with the direct presence and goodness of God as well as a revelation of God's character to us through his word. Chapter 33 begins with God's anger stirred against the Israelites because just in the last chapter Moses has just come down from Mount Sinai after 40 days to find the Israelites running wild and fallen into idolatry to which God commands the Levites to kill 3,000 of the sinful idolaters and then strikes the rest of the camp with a plague. After this God says he will not go with the Israelites into the promised land because of their 'stiff-necked' behavior and in fact says he might destroy them because of their stiff-neckedness. Moses continues to have a deeply personal and close relationship with God and enters his presence to talk with God, Moses petitions that God remember the Israelites as His chosen people.  While in the presence of God, Moses is revealed to...

When I think about repentance and the frequency of repentance it is understood in scripture that repentance is ongoing - not that there is cyclic repentance for the same sin over and over again, rather that ongoing sanctification by the consecrating work of the Holy Spirit means that we are more and more sensitive to sin resulting in less time between sin and verbal confession/repentance of sin. When you are walking on a path and you are going the wrong way the re-direction is the turning point, and as it relates to sin, rebellion and pride, repentance is a step toward freedom that begins in faith and humility. The permanence of repentance is a peculiar thing to contemplate as it relates to sin cycles.  In the Exodus story the LORD and Moses are high on the mount Sinai for 40 days and nights where details for the tabernacle and priestly wares are given, all while the corrupt people of Israel have erected a false god - what God tells Moses upon this discovery is unfortunately all to...

 Consecrated means to be set apart for a purpose. After receiving instruction on building the tabernacle, God outlines the priestly garments and the process of consecration - the act of being set apart or dedication. As seen in Exodus 29 the consecration of the Levitical priests involves purification rituals, holiness and obedience to the instruction from the LORD is crucial, for when obedience is the act of deeds and heart the LORD is pleased and the LORD is near. This is promised in scripture: Exodus 29:42,45-46 "There I will meet you and speak to you; then I will dwell among the Israelites and be their God. They will know that I am the LORD their God, who brought them out of Egypt so that I might dwell among them. I am the LORD their God." This promise of God to His people is deeply profound - draw near to God by consecrating oneself from the rest of the world. Humbly approach the LORD in proper worship posture and purity of heart, for God wants  to be near His people and ...

In years past I have found all the specifics of the tabernacle, the altar and lampstand building instructions to be uninteresting. Reading through Exodus 25-27 this morning I noticed a repeated phrase which I have found important and very interesting as it has significant implications in how  I am to live surrendered and trust in the sovereignty of the LORDs will and ways because God's thoughts are higher than mine! Exodus 26:30 "Set up the tabernacle according to the plan shown you on the mountain." Exodus 27:8 "It is to be made just as you were shown on the mountain." I believe this is significant because it is the command of obedience paired with revelation: here's the how, now do it! The beautiful thing about the construction is that the LORD provides everything for the Israelites, they are completely reliant on the plan, materials and skill from God each step of the way. God lays out in detail the exact parameters of the construction, the materials God ...

 Exodus 23:2 (NIV) "Do not follow the crowd in doing wrong." I was watching NHL hockey with my wife the other night and the teams that were playing began getting frustrated and consequently began playing unfairly and fighting. When penalties are given it's not indicative of cheating per se, though you would be hard pressed to find a definition making the distinction between a cheating scandal and a game misconduct or penalty. Often penalties can be properly called by the official referees, though at times it seems the calls are made incorrectly - it's ultimately the best judgment of the ref on the ice at the time and sometimes after the time the rule infraction was witnessed, many times to the great dismay of those in attendance of the hockey game even when the hockey players admit guilt in some instances. Fighting is an entirely different scenario. In just the past 3 years I have noticed a marked increase of violence in the NHL though I'm told that "original...

 The experience at Mount Sinai was one of awe, fear and trembling for Moses, Aaron and the Israelites especially with the promise that God makes to His chosen people: Exodus 19:5-6 "Now if you obey me fully and keep my covenant, then out of all nations you will be my treasured possession... you will be for me a kingdom of priests and a holy nation." Full obedience. This is a conscious act of the will, a drive and desire to do what God is blessing. God instructs his people to wash their clothes and abstain from sex as Moses consecrates them. Consecration is to be set apart, it is a purification process on a spiritual level, a humbling of one's spirit and obedience to the LORD through acknowledgement of the holiness and righteousness of God. Exodus 19:18-19 "Mount Sinai was covered with smoke, because the LORD descended on it in fire. The smoke billowed up from it like smoke from a furnace, and the whole mountain (and all the people) trembled violently." How often...

 The Israelites are out of Egypt but Egypt is not out of the Israelites, for they continue to wish for their enslaved lives in Egypt eating their fill of meat and food under an oppressive authoritarian ruler, even dying at the hand of the LORD by a plague seemed to them better than life in the Sinai desert. Now the LORD hears the Israelites grumbling and provides manna and quail with gathering instructions including expiration - the stiff-necked people paid no attention to Moses, really the instruction from God. Moses becomes angry with the Israelites, this will be important later.  Again, God's instruction for gathering food is specific in practice and purpose, the Israelites in Exodus 16:27 continue to refuse to keep the LORDs commands. This is due to deep seeded rebellion in their hearts which are far from trusting in the LORD - despite all their witnessing of the mighty hand of God freeing them from the oppressive slavery in Egypt, their faith was small because they forgot...

Imagine the terror of the Israelites in their fear of being overtaken and being rounded up marched back to enslavement in Egypt. Immediately after tasting freedom in the face of danger, fear crept in. Moses boldly and authoritatively declares: Exodus 14:13-14 “Do not be afraid. Stand firm and you will see the deliverance the LORD will bring you today. The LORD will fight for you; you only need to be still.” How comforting is that phrase: Do not be afraid. Faith in the LORDs mighty hand brings instant peace to one’s spirit, especially in the face of your enemies and destruction. How often we let our circumstances dictate our faith and out of pride we rise up to take matters into our own hands operating in our own strength instead of properly trembling at the word of God and trusting in His perfect timing.  Faith is believing where there is evidence, big faith requires big evidence. The Israelites experienced the mighty hand of God before their very eyes, there is no denying His powe...

Today I think about Pharaoh’s hardened heart - specifically the description of his unyielding heart and his lack of fear of the word of the LORD. The hardness of heart against God is rooted in a pride and rebellion, all ultimately the persistent resolve of Pharaoh’s human ambition and thirst for power and sovereignty above God. This is a fearful place to be.  When the LORD speaks clearly and directly it is our responsibility and freely willing obligation as image-bearers and God-fearers to obey without hesitation and yield to the words and calling of God. Obedience first requires humility which compels us to live in a way that pleases God for whom all glory, honor and praise is rightly due. O LORD this day I pray that I might live and lead moment by moment in a cautious and reverent fear of you, yielding to your Holy Spirit’s leading. LORD not my will, but LORD let your will be done in my heart and life for your glory alone.  Psalm 33:18-22 “But the eyes of the LORD are on tho...

 As I reflect on the state of mind the Israelites must’ve been in enslaved to the Egyptian Pharaoh’s forced labor it would have been a despairing and seemingly futile future lacking any hope in the goodness of God. In Exodus 4 Moses performs the miracles God gave him to perform at the burning bush for the Israelites. The result: they believed and worshipped God. But after commanding to Pharaoh that God’s people be let go and the first denial followed with increased brick quotas and no straw supplied, the faith of the Israelites wavers and they speak judgement on Moses and Aaron out of fear. I am reminded of Psalm 32 this morning and how David writes that safety and protection is found for the faithful righteous who intercede in prayer to the Almighty. Psalm 32:6-7 (NIV) “Therefore let all the faithful pray to you while you may be found; surely the rising of the mighty waters will not reach them. You are my hiding place; you will protect me from trouble and surround me with songs of...