Pastor Billington's Blog

Leviticus 15

Uncleanness was a big deal both physically and spiritually. Jesus, with the way he treated those who were unclean, shows us that there is a revolution coming.

Matthew 9:20-22 (WEB) “Behold, a woman who had a discharge of blood for twelve years came behind him, and touched the fringe of his garment; for she said within herself, ‘If I just touch his garment, I will be made well.’ But Jesus, turning around and seeing her, said, ‘Daughter, cheer up! Your faith has made you well.”’ And the woman was made well from that hour.”

He is the revolution! We are all unclean because of our sin, but His death on the cross makes us ceremonially clean before God.

Hebrews 9:14 (WEB) “how much more will the blood of Christ, who through the eternal Spirit offered himself without defect to God, cleanse your conscience from dead works to serve the living God?”

The healing of the woman with the issue of blood reveals the spiritual cleansing that takes place when we believe, as well as foreshadows the physical healing that will take place for all of us in the resurrection.

1 Corinthians 15:42-43 (WEB) “So also is the resurrection of the dead. The body is sown perishable; it is raised imperishable. It is sown in dishonor; it is raised in glory. It is sown in weakness; it is raised in power.”

Thought for the day: Thanks be to God for His indescribable gift!

1 Corinthians 15:56-58 (WEB) “The sting of death is sin, and the power of sin is the law. But thanks be to God, who gives us the victory through our Lord Jesus Christ. Therefore, my beloved brothers, be steadfast, immovable, always abounding in the Lord’s work, because you know that your labor is not in vain in the Lord.”

Leviticus 14

There is a procedure that must be followed when a leper is pronounced clean, and it is detailed here. This examination and sacrifice are important parts of the process, which is why Jesus told the leper He healed to show himself to the priest!

Mark 1:42-44 (WEB) “When he had said this, immediately the leprosy departed from him and he was made clean. He strictly warned him and immediately sent him out, and said to him, ‘See that you say nothing to anybody, but go show yourself to the priest and offer for your cleansing the things which Moses commanded, for a testimony to them.’ “

With mold being recognized as such a big deal in houses today, maybe Scripture was way ahead of its time. Perhaps God knows something we don’t!

Thought for the day: While we may not understand all the laws God gave Israel, perhaps we should recognize that there were good reasons for them. We just might not have all the resources we need to figure them out!

Romans 11:33 (WEB) “Oh the depth of the riches both of the wisdom and the knowledge of God! How unsearchable are his judgements, and his ways past tracing out!”

Leviticus 13

The priests were charged with making determinations about blood, discharge, burns, boils, sores, infections, mold and mildew. Any determination they made was based on patient examination and evidence. And it wasn’t all doom and gloom! In addition to being declared unclean, you could also be declared clean and brought back into the fellowship of the congregation. Is there perhaps a lesson for us here? We can see leprosy as a substitute for sin. When we make determinations about others who we believe are engaging in sin, we need to make sure that our evaluations are based on facts and done with the proper attitude. Sometimes we determine that we need to stay away from them to protect ourselves. Sometimes we decide that we need to stay away to help them understand the consequences of their actions. The purpose of any type of avoidance is to help lead the person engaging in sin to repentance.

Thought for the day: Reconciliation is always the goal in relationships.

2 Corinthians 2:6-8 (WEB) “This punishment which was inflicted by the many is sufficient for such a one; so that, on the contrary, you should rather forgive him and comfort him, lest by any means such a one should be swallowed up with his excessive sorrow. Therefore I beg you to confirm your love towards him.”

Leviticus 12

While there is certainly a religious component present in the following chapters, there is a practical one as well. In an age where medical knowledge was limited and tests for bacteria and viruses were nonexistent, how did one deal with blood, discharge, burns, boils, sores and infections? In this chapter we see that a loss of blood and the ongoing drainage makes a new mother ceremonially unclean. After a specified number of days an offering is made, and the mother is declared clean. The purification time difference for the birth of males and females could be because of circumcision. It may count towards the cleansing process in some way.

Thought for the day: Would you believe that circumcision is still relevant? We aren’t born into a relationship with God. That happens when we believe! But there’s also a spiritual circumcision that takes place when we are saved.

Colossians 2:11 (WEB) “In him you were also circumcised with a circumcision not made with hands, in the putting off of the body of the sins of the flesh, in the circumcision of Christ.”

Leviticus 11

This chapter explains which creatures were considered clean and which were considered unclean. Many have tried to provide a rationale for why some animals are placed in one category or another. Some claim hygiene is a factor, some believe that a deviation from established norms makes an animal unclean, while others think that the use of some animals in Canaanite ritual customs was a component. While the rationale is debated, the purpose is dedication and holiness. By keeping the distinctions between clean and unclean animals the worshipper is reminded that there are distinctions between clean and unclean in the moral realm as well. By following God in both the physical and spiritual realms the worshipper shows their devotion to Him.

Thought for the day: Even though we don’t need to follow the same dietary distinctions as the Israelites, we still have moral laws that God calls us to follow. By obeying them we show our dedication to Him!

1 Peter 1:15 (WEB) “but just as he who called you is holy, you yourselves also be holy in all of your behavior”

Leviticus 10

Two priests decided to “improve” on or ignore God’s instructions. Alcohol may have been involved (Leviticus 10:8-9). God makes an example of them. The people are allowed to grieve, but the priests aren’t. Their work is too important. God does grant them some leeway though. Even though they were technically disobedient when they didn’t eat the sin offering, it wasn’t out of willful disobedience. It was out of grief.

Thought for the day: Serving the Lord is serious business. If we take our status as a kingdom of priests to heart, then we need to understand that there are certain responsibilities that go along with it. Those responsibilities are even greater for those in a teaching capacity.

1 Peter 2:9 (WEB) “But you are a chosen race, a royal priesthood, a holy nation, a people for God’s own possession, that you may proclaim the excellence of him who called you out of darkness into his marvelous light.”

James 3:1 (WEB) “Let not many of you be teachers, my brothers, knowing that we will receive heavier judgement.”

Leviticus 9

The first tabernacle service is blessed by God! The miraculous burning of the animals on the altar shows that He accepts both the priests and the people, and the people respond with profound worship!

Thought for the day: There seem to be particular time periods in Scripture during which the miraculous is more evident. However, just because we treat something as commonplace today, doesn’t mean that it isn’t miraculous too! We should always respond with profound worship when God works in someone’s life.

Luke 15:10 (WEB) “Even so, I tell you, there is joy in the presence of the angels of God over one sinner repenting.”

Leviticus 8

The consecration (making holy) of the priests is the fulfillment of the commands in Exodus 28-29, as exhibited by the repetition of “as/which the Lord commanded.” This is repeated seven times in the passage, quite possibly because seven represents perfection or completion. The idea of completion is also present by the oil being sprinkled seven times on the altar. The threefold placement of the blood on the right ear, thumb, and toe of the priest also symbolizes complete dedication and purification.

The neat thing about Jesus is that He is both offering and priest; both sacrifice and sacrificer. He is our great High Priest, and He is the one offering Himself for us. He didn’t need to be consecrated, because He was already holy! But various events in His life could be seen as His ordination: His baptism (Mark 1:9-11), His transfiguration (Matthew 17:1-6), or even His anointing (Matthew 26:6-13). The sinless gave Himself for the sinner so that we could be holy!

Hebrews 7:26-27 (WEB) “For such a high priest was fitting for us: holy, guiltless, undefiled, separated from sinners, and made higher than the heavens; who doesn’t need, like those high priests, to offer up sacrifices daily, first for his own sins, and then for the sins of the people. For he did this once for all, when he offered up himself.”

Thought for the day: “As the Lord commanded.” Good words to live our own lives by.

John 14:15 (WEB) “If you love me, keep my commandments.”

Leviticus 7

Chapter seven has continued instructions regarding the procedure for the trespass and peace offerings, as well as some additional comments about the other offerings. There are three specific situations specified for peace offerings: for a “confession” (the literal translation of the Hebrew word translated “thanksgiving”), when fulfilling a vow, and as a freewill offering (which would mostly likely be a praise or thanksgiving offering). We are also reminded of the prohibition against eating fat and blood.

There are also guidelines here for what the priests receive as their portion from the peace offering, as well some new information regarding the burnt offering. If the priest offers a burnt offering for a member of the congregation, the priest gets to keep the skin. That means there is something being provided for the priesthood with every offering!

Thought for the day: Even today those who work in the church are supposed to receive compensation.

1 Timothy 5:17-18 (WEB) “Let the elders who rule well be counted worthy of double honor, especially those who labor in the word and in teaching. For the Scripture says, ‘You shall not muzzle the ox when it treads out the grain.’ And, ‘The laborer is worthy of his wages.’ “