Leviticus 24:1-25:46 ~ Mark 10:13-31 ~ Psalm 44:9-26 ~ Proverbs 10:20-21
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Old Testament - We begin month 3 of our One Year Bible readings today! Whoo-hoo! Congratulations! Today in Leviticus chapter 24 we read the well known law of retaliation from verses 19 & 20: "Anyone who injures another person must be dealt with according to the injury inflicted-- fracture for fracture, eye for eye, tooth for tooth. Whatever anyone does to hurt another person must be paid back in kind." I've read commentaries that say that this law of retaliation was actually compassionate for its time - in that it limited what one person could to another person in a very lawless age. If you lost an eye, you could take an eye - but you could not kill in return, for example. So, I see the logic behind saying that the law of retaliation limited punishments.... but, I also think we would do well to remember Jesus' words in the Sermon on the Mount where he quotes from Leviticus 24 verse 20 in Matthew chapter 5 verse 38 & 39: ""“You have heard that it was said, ‘Eye for eye, and tooth for tooth.’ But I tell you, Do not resist an evil person. If someone strikes you on the right cheek, turn to him the other also." Jesus teaches that there is a higher law of love that is better than the law of retaliation. Commentary on Leviticus chapter 24 titled "The Lamp, the Loaves and The Loudmouth" :) is at Bible.org at this link. Commentary on Leviticus chapter 25 is at this link and at this link.
Well, I learned something new! This is pretty awesome - the Liberty Bell in Philadelphia is so named because this statement from Leviticus chapter 25 verse 10 is written on the bell: "Proclaim Liberty throughout all the land unto all the inhabitants thereof." (which you won't be able to see in this photo below - I believe the inscription is around the top of the bell, where you'll see 2 lines near the top)
In Leviticus 25 verses 9 & 10 today we read: "Then on the Day of Atonement of the fiftieth year, blow the trumpets loud and long throughout the land. This year will be set apart as holy, a time to proclaim release for all who live there. It will be a jubilee year for you, when each of you returns to the lands that belonged to your ancestors and rejoins your clan."
New Testament - Today in Mark chapter 10 we read about the Rich Man. I have heard plenty of sermons on this passage of scripture and read a bunch of commentaries. The message is probably not that every Christian needs to sell all they have, give to the poor, and you'll have treasure in heaven. However... this could be the message for some of us. Basically, the message is probably more along the lines of what in your life are you holding on so tight to, that you need to let go of? What are you worshiping? What are you letting stand in the way of your relationship with Jesus? And what must you let go of? What's your "camel" that's holding you back? It might be money or material possessions. It could be an addiction. It could be status. It could be anger. It could be lust. I don't know what it is for you - that's between you and Jesus. But, can you let your "camel" go, so that you won't be like this big guy here trying to get through the eye of a needle... :)
Psalms - Every time I read Psalm 44 verse 23 it reminds me of one of the amazing aspects of the Psalms - that the Psalms are people like us speaking to God - and in all sorts of emotional ways: "Wake up, O Lord! Why do you sleep? Get up! Do not reject us forever." This type of verse reminds me that it's okay for us to not always talk to God in our "church voice." It's okay to get a little bit passionate in our prayers to God. I think God would prefer us to be real with him - where we are right now or at any given moment - rather than try to put on any special facades for God. If ever you feel like you are at a loss for words for what you might want to say to God - how you might be needing to pray to God - surf through the Psalms... you'll very likely find voice for what you are trying to say.
Proverbs - Proverbs chapter 10 verses 20 & 21 are interesting - they are both about the words that come out of the mouths of the godly - "sterling silver" & "good advice". I pray that each one of us would grow more and more in our relationship with the God, so that our words are indeed like sterling silver and that we give good advice.
Worship God: My Leviticus reflections above, and particularly that eye photo, reminded me of the song "Open the Eyes of My Heart." Here's Michael W. Smith's live version.
Are the eyes of your heart opened? Click here and open your eyes!
Please join us in memorizing and meditating on a verse of Scripture this week: "Remain in me, and I will remain in you. No branch can bear fruit by itself; it must remain in the vine. Neither can you bear fruit unless you remain in me." John 15:4 NIV
Comments from You & Questions of the Day: What is your take on the Rich Man / Rich Young Ruler? Why do you think Jesus said he should sell all he had and give to the poor? Are there areas in your life where Jesus has asked you to give up something? Maybe something material or maybe something more like an addiction or obsession, etc.? Have you obeyed Jesus in this regard? Was it a blessing to obey Jesus? Also, what verses or insights stand out to you in today's readings? Please post up by clicking on the "Comments" link below!
God bless,
Mike
There is an ancient law that relates to the 'law of retaliation'. In Genesis 9:6, God said to Noah and his sons, "Whoever sheds man's blood, By man his blood shall be shed; For in the image of God He made man." As a reference, we could refer to that as the 'law of bloodshed'. From there, we could refer back to Genesis 4:10, where God asked Cain, "What have you done? The voice of your brother's blood cries out to Me from the ground."
Posted by: Nik | March 01, 2009 at 11:50 AM
What struck me when listening to the Levitical laws was that as a society in general, we tend to hold to most of these today either legally or sinfully in the sense that revenge is still a dish served up hot for many people who think nothing of it. However, when it comes to the sin of homosexuality, suddenly everybody is against the Law, i.e. they accept 99% of it as being wise or moral, but not this particular one - I find that interesting. I think it's again a case of selective reasoning where scripture is concerned, yet if you're going to pick and choose those parts of scripture to hold to, you may as well dump the lot. That's not to say that we practice all of the Law any longer because we don't, being under Grace, however, the essence of it still holds forever, because Jesus said nothing would pass away from the Law before He returned.
Blessings, Romayne
Posted by: Romayne | March 01, 2009 at 01:38 PM
Today is my 43rd B-day and I feel so blessed that I've found this blog. I have never made it through the entire bible - but feel confident that I will with the help of Jesus and this site.
The comments regarding what are we holding onto is addressed in a wonderful bible study by Beth Moore called, "Breaking Free" that I highly recommend.
Posted by: Julie | March 01, 2009 at 08:14 PM
Bless the troubled for they need it most
Bless the needy with the compassion of those who
recognize their own blessings
Posted by: Cyber Rainbow | March 03, 2009 at 02:51 PM