SCRIPTURE: Leviticus 7
OBSERVATION/APPLICATION:
1. I am the true vine, and my Father is the gardener. He cuts off every branch in me that bears no fruit, while every branch that does bear fruit he prunes so that it will be even more fruitful. You are already clean because of the word I have spoken to you. [John 15:1-3] Jesus shows us that what really matters is that we are pruned. Pruning (cutting off, dealing with sin) is painful but necessary. Jesus came to restore us to holiness, health and happiness – the life we were created for. But unless we allow Him to ‘clean’ us, we will miss out on the life we’re really looking for.
2. At first glance, all this talk about sacrifice, clean and unclean, and being cut off from the people can be unsettling. To our ‘modern’ mind, it seems barbaric. We need to be careful that we do not miss the underlying meaning and value of these words because of our ‘modern’ sensitivities. If we assume the best we might discover good reasons for these regulations.
3. God uses the system of sacrifice to not only keep the people continually aware of their sin, guilt, and dependence on Him but also to provide for the priests. Not sure why only the males could eat this food, what about their families? These offerings were expressions of thankfulness and fellowship. It was something to be enjoyed, not just endured.
4. The idea of clean and unclean points to the problem of sin. Though not always clear why some foods are clean or unclean, God uses this as symbols of our need to discern what is good and not good. There was also a health factor. Many unclean things (meat sitting for 3 days) posed a health hazard. In this world where sickness and death are a reality, God also uses the laws of clean and unclean to guard His people against health hazards.
5. Jesus has declared all food clean [Mark 7:19], but that does not mean that all food is good for us. We still need to be discerning about gluttony, over-indulgence, waste and greed. These are spiritual health hazards. Fasting from certain foods can be a good way to remind ourselves that there are healthy and unhealthy ways to eat, to live.
6. Today I am going to fast until supper time, then I will eat a simple meal as a symbolic fellowship meal with the Lord, an expression of thankfulness.
PRAYER:
Lord, too much of anything is a health hazard (except You). Prune me of stuff that keeps me from You. Make me clean in You!
Do this and live, that is what the Master said is a song that keeps ringing in my ears as I read this chapter. The various offerings showed the offerer’s relationship to his God. Then as today, I need to live in fellowship with my Lord and that is only possible if I am reconciled to God in Christ Jesus.
How do I show my love for You, O Lord? What are my peace offerings of this day? Thank You for Christ’s blood that I may freely give. All what I have is Thine. Thank You for the forgiveness of my sins so that I may live this day in joy and gratitude as the peace offerings denoted for Your people then.
It is neat to see that the priests’ needs were fully supplied also through the offerings of the people – without grumbling. It was an act of worship, which the people could not omit. How do I observe acts of worship this day and for God’s priests so that they too may ably do His work without worldly worries? Help me each day anew, Lord, to worship You and live for You. Impress upon my heart what needs to be done, by Your Word to me, Your leading me by Your Spirit. Help me always to live with an attitude of gratitude for all the benefits I have received from You. May I too freely give.
Come to the Savior now,
He gently calleth thee;
In true repentance bow,
Before Him bend the knee;
He waiteth to bestow
Salvation, peace, and love,
True joy on earth below,
A home in Heav’n above.