Prayer Request: Please continue your prayers for my friend Amy and her husband Josh. This will probably be the last time I will remind you, but their need for prayer will be heavy this whole year. I talked to her last week, and they are reacting in the same way that Job did when he lost his loved ones. They are worshiping. Zoe's name meant "Life" and they are secure in the faith that she is living eternally with her Father in Heaven. They are using her short life to share with others about how they, too can have Eternal Life with Him. They are an example of how we must use God's strength when we have none of our own. Thank you for continuing to lift them up.
Chapter 14
This chapter starts by naming the animals that are to be used for meat, and those that are not. The clean and unclean animals. I know that we are under a new Covenant since Christ's resurrection, but something I've noticed about God's commandments is that they are practical as well as moral. For example, there are practical reasons that we should not lie, When you do, you become less trustworthy, lose friends, and earn a reputation that could hurt you for years to come.
I think that there is a practical side to the labels of "clean" vs "unclean" animals, too. The clean animals were herbivores and also had digestive systems that filtered out impurities. Studies have shown that these meats have the most nutrients, are more completely and easily digested, and have the lowest occurrences of environmental toxins. These animals were meant to be eaten. Others were meant to be scavengers. God's Word is so complex and complete, that His guidelines are much more than a set of rigid rules. Although it is no longer sinful to stray from this diet, it's in our best physical interest to stay close to it.
verse 24 For those who live far away from the place of worship, they are allowed to exchange their offerings for money, bring that to the Tabernacle, and buy something else to offer when they get there. This is the system that was running amok by the time Jesus entered the scene.
Chapter 15
I think that verses 4-5 are ironically placed at the beginning of the chapter. Here it says that they will never have poor among them. All they have to do is follow God's commandments. Then the rest of the chapter is about how to deal with the poor among them.
Verses 7-11 are the guidelines for treatment of a poor "brother." Verse 9--If the Sabbath year is close, a man might not want to give as freely, because the debt might not have to be fully repaid. But God is saying in verse 10 that it's not about who gave and who received. It's not about debt and repayment. You are brothers. Open your hand and give generously, for I am the one who is keeping score. "...because for this thing the Lord your God will bless you in all your work and in all your undertakings."
Last year (2008) I got bitten by the charity bug and raised $500 for Heifer International, and this year I hope to triple that amount for various causes. Verse 11 might just become my theme verse for this purpose. We all should remember this.
Verse 12-19 The idea of servitude within the nation of Israel started as a way to get a kinsman back on his feet. In a way they were serving each other. There are many non-Christians out there who slander the Bible for allowing slavery, but when explained in this way, it was much more charitable that leaving someone to their own poverty.
Next time: Deuteronomy 16-18
These chapters are mostly a review of the laws that were given in Leviticus and Numbers. But I want to know what new thing did you learn about God this time around?
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