February 22nd readings

~ Click on this link for today's readings ~
Leviticus 13:1-59 ~ Mark 6:1-29
Psalm 39:1-13 ~ Proverbs 10:10

Old Testament - Today in Leviticus chapter 13 we read about contagious skin diseases and mildew.  Quite a chapter. It does make sense to me that this level of detail is given by God on these topics.  These instructions were health instructions for the community of Israel as a whole.  Zondervan's commentary notes that "the ceremonially unclean were excluded from the camp (the area around the tabernacle and courtyard), where the Israelites lived in tents.  Later, no unclean persons were allowed in the temple area, where they could mingle with others."  I look at this from the standpoint that they did not have medicines back then to heal people of these contagious diseases - and as such, the only way to keep the diseases from spreading to the entire population was to isolate the sick.  I know this doesn't sound compassionate on the surface... but was there a better option at that time?  In the New Testament we read about Jesus curing people of leprosy, which was a couple of thousand of years later.  It's obvious that skin diseases were a major issue in Moses' day and through Jesus' day - as was mildew during Israel's rainy season of October through March - particularly along the coast and by the Sea of Galilee where it is very humid.  Matthew Henry's Concise Commentary on Leviticus chapter 13 begins at this link and you'll see a few "Next Commentary" links at the bottom of each page to take you through the chapter.

On a side note, leprosy, or Hansen's disease, is still in existence in our world today, though at much lower incidence rates than ever before.  It is a sad disease to learn about...  I did a google image search on the word leprosy and was pretty shocked by the pictures.  The World Health Organization's website says this - "Today, diagnosis and treatment of leprosy is easy. Essential work is being carried out to integrate leprosy services into existing, general health services. This is especially important for communities at risk for leprosy, which are often the poorest of the poor and under-served. Full control of leprosy has eluded mainly in some parts of Angola, Brazil, India, Madagascar, Mozambique, Nepal, and United Republic of Tanzania."  More info on leprosy in our world today is at the World Health Organization's website at this link.

All of a sudden now these 3 verses about Jesus and leprosy in Matthew chapter 8 verses 1 through 3 really stand out to me... - "When Jesus came down from the mountainside, large crowds followed him. A man with leprosy came and knelt before him and said, “Lord, if you are willing, you can make me clean.”  Jesus reached out his hand and touched the man. “I am willing,” he said. “Be clean!” Immediately he was cured of his leprosy."

New Testament - Today we read in Mark Chapter 6 verse 4– “Then Jesus told them, "A prophet is honored everywhere except in his own hometown and among his relatives and his own family.” This verse reminds me that sometimes when we really move forward in our faith, our friends (“hometown” from the verse above) and our relatives can sometimes not understand what is going on with us. I think there are phases of our walk with God where really it becomes very personal – between us and God – and through that process God will transform us. And our friends and relatives sometimes may not appreciate our change for various reasons – just as Jesus’ friends and relatives did not appreciate his ministry in this verse. I hope that this verse can be of comfort to you if by chance you are having challenges reconciling your faith and your changed heart with your friends & relatives expectations of who you were in the past. Know that you are on the right path. As long as you are staying focused on God and his will for your life, you may have to accept some loss of “honor” (per the verse above) in your status with your friends and relatives. You may not seem to be as “cool” or “fun” as you once were in your friends’ eyes. But – if in God’s eyes you are loving Him with all of your heart and you are loving your neighbors as yourself, then you are eternally cool and fun in the Kingdom of Heaven. And that’s where it really counts. Where are you seeking “honor” in your life today? In the eyes of your friends and relatives – or in God’s eyes?

An image for verses 18 & 19 - "John kept telling Herod, "It is illegal for you to marry your brother's wife." Herodias was enraged and wanted John killed in revenge, but without Herod's approval she was powerless." -

Psalms - Today we read in Psalm 39 verse 5 – “My life is no longer than the width of my hand. An entire lifetime is just a moment to you; human existence is but a breath." This verse is a powerful verse for each of us to meditate upon.

I love verse 7 of this Psalm - "And so, Lord, where do I put my hope? My only hope is in you."  Is this true of your life today?  Are you putting your hope anywhere else? 

Proverbs - Proverbs chapter 10 verse 10 today tells us - "People who wink at wrong cause trouble, but a bold reproof promotes peace."  This is a great reminder that in the long run it is so much better - more peaceful - to stand up to an injustice or wrong.  We should not let things slide.  I think this can apply to our own lives as well.  If we know we ourselves are doing something wrong, we should not just "wink" at our wrong.  But we must reproof it and confess it and let Jesus heal it.

Comments from You & Question of the Day - Back to Psalm 39 verse 5 above - how does this verse speak to you? Do you feel like life moves fast sometimes? If so, how are you spending your time? Are you being intentional about how you invest your time? Are you being intentional about your work? Your friends? Your finances? Volunteering? Serving others? Loving others? Watching TV – or not watching TV? (Have I gone off on my “Kill Your Television” soap-box yet this year? :) I’ll save it for a future post...)  Do you think life really is “but a breath”?   Are you spending your breath wisely? With your breath are you constantly loving God with all your heart and loving your neighbor as yourself?  Also, what verses or insights stand out to you in today's readings?  Please post up by clicking on the "Comments" link below!

Grace,
Mike

Comments

[Anka]

Still meditating on lev 12:I wonder if women and men truly are equal before God.Women are separated monthly from God's presence during their period,called unclean and shut out for a longer period after child birth esp if the baby's female.Now if we trace the part Eve played in the fall of man we see Adam was told before Eve appeared not to eat of the forbidden fruit and was with her when the serpent spoke.The curse of tilling the ground...women also till the ground but men don't ever give birth..The curse seems harder on women...Wonder why.Today's reading on Leventicus really out of my league,there are infectious skin diseases that don't fit the description of the unclean sores...and Lev 13:12 "If the disease breaks out all over his skin and, so far as the priest can see, it covers all the skin of the infected person from head to foot, 13 the priest is to examine him, and if the disease has covered his whole body, he shall pronounce that person clean. Since it has all turned white, he is clean...just doesn't make sense to me...the whole body's diseased and he's clean?Does any one have any insight on why this is so?
God bless you all

[Anka]

Mark 6:13..annointing with oil.I often wondered about annointing oil,there are people who feel any prayers for the sick should be accompanied by annointing with oil.Jesus from what I searched didn't use oil,he didn't even say the disciples should (or shouldn't),it just says they did it.Some people told me the Holy Spirit works through the oil but I found no scripture backing that up
{Is any one of you sick? He should call the elders of the church to pray over him and anoint him with oil in the name of the Lord. 15And the prayer offered in faith will make the sick person well; the Lord will raise him up. If he has sinned, he will be forgiven.
James 5:14-15}it says the prayer(not the oil)offered in faith..so what's the point of the oil...Jesus didn't use it,other miracles by the disciples were done without the oil..
"I will put a muzzle on my mouth as long as the wicked are in my presence."Hmmm,my mouth seems to behave better when I'm with believers cos most times we're talking about the things of the Lord...at other times,I find my self struggling not to join in criticising,gossiping along with unbelievers..for example,it's so easy to say how corrupt the authorities are,the boss etc when that's all you hear in the office all day(and I really need a muzzle then)compared to when I meet with my prayer partners and instead of using words that certainly don't have any good report in them,we pray about the authorities...I have to admit though it's so much easier for me to criticise...the verse really reminded me to zip:)
God bless you all

[stef stevenson]

yes :-) the older i get the faster life seems to go..as a child days were warm and endless you could spend an entire afternon sitting in the sun stroking the cat but now one seems to scarcely catch your breath and youre on to the next thing....my aim for this year is to learn to discern Gods real purpose for my life, to learn how to say no when asked to do something that might appear to be a good thing but id really just be cluttering and filling my life with deeds that might be taking the time i should be using for something else God wants me to do as a priority...im finding this really hard as it feels wrong to say no to someone.

[Micah Girl]

Hi, Anka

It's important to keep any issue in a larger biblical contexts. In the bible, men and women are both equal in God's sight and have been since the beginning. Together, man & woman, reflect the image of God (Genesis 1:26-27),and God makes no distinction and shows no preference between male and female in Christ (Galatians 3:26-28), the priesthood of believers includes both genders(1 Peter 2:5,9), and both women and men have access to God through our high priest, Jesus, (1 Timothy 2:5).

That said, I do wonder at the whys and hows of the Levitical regulations. But then I remember that Jesus Himself ministered to unclean women, such as the one we read about yesterday who had been bleeding and considered unclean for years.

Also, the pain of childbirth is physically harder on the woman, and yet she also has the privilege of birthing the baby, which to me, as a mom, seems fair. Also, Jesus Himself entered the world through a woman's womb. Pretty cool.

Micah Girl

[Luciano Del Monte (Luch)]

What does Psalm 39:4 mean to me? A LOT. "LORD, remind me how brief my time on earth will be. Remind me that my days are numbered, and that my life is fleeing away." Just yesterday I accompanied my wife to her third of 8 chemotherapy treatments for breast cancer. Walking through the chemo waiting room I was overwhelmed by the number of women 10 to 20 years younger than my wife who were wearing little caps or 'coverings' over their heads, as my wife does due to the radical loss of hair. This experience everytime we go for treatments reminds my wife and I to keep investing ourselves in the values and relationships that will go beyond our brief lifetime. Psalm 39:5 says, "Human existence is but a breath." I was so overwhelmed I left the building and walked around the hospital praying and was reminded again of James 4:14 "How do youi know what will happen tomorrow? For your life is like the morning fog--it's here a little while, then it's gone. What you ought to say is, "If the Lord wants us to, we will live and do this or that."

I'm sure there are other OYB readers who have experienced something similar to us,or are presently experiencing, and you could affirm how horrible life without God and His perspective could be!!!

[Anka]

Hi Micah,maybe I'll get a different perspective on child birth after I've gone through it:)but I've watched a lot of mothers go through the process and it truly is labour:)We all have an equal chance to God through Jesus...but in view of our own share of the curse,alot of forced breaks from God's presence cos of the very things that mark our feminity and also,in 1cor 14:34 it says we are to remain silent in church as well!

[Anka]

I recently saw a video with Nick Vujicic,a young man born without limbs to a couple who've been christians all their lives.He has a site-lifewithoutlimbs.org,he talked alot about how uses everything for our good and honestly,(coming from a guy without limbs who realises he'll never be able to hold his wife's hand or embrace his kids who's 21years old and dreams of life the way anyone his age would)hearing him say that really struck a cord.He said God gave him the strength to go on each day and he's actually a motivational speaker now.

[Vance Brown]

LEPROSY -- makes me think of the helplessness of the human state. In one way or another, we all have "leprosy" of the spirit or soul, and we need the salvation that only Christ can give.

~~~

THANK GOD that the Lord Jesus has authority over sin, sickness, Satan, disease, and all other authority.

MAY WE KNOW THE LORD INTIMATELY, and allow Jesus to cleanse us thoroughly -- INSIDE AND OUT.

Luke 5 (NKJV)
12
And it happened when He was in a certain city, that behold, a man who was full of leprosy saw Jesus; and he fell on his face and implored Him, saying, “Lord, if You are willing, You can make me clean.”
13
Then He put out His hand and touched him, saying, “I am willing; be cleansed.” Immediately the leprosy left him.
14
And He charged him to tell no one, “But go and show yourself to the priest, and make an offering for your cleansing, as a testimony to them, just as Moses commanded.”
15
However, the report went around concerning Him all the more; and great multitudes came together to hear, and to be healed by Him of their infirmities. 16
So He Himself often withdrew into the wilderness and prayed.

~~~

Matthew 8 (NKJV)
1
When He had come down from the mountain, great multitudes followed Him.
2
And behold, a leper came and worshiped Him, saying, “Lord, if You are willing, You can make me clean.”
3
Then Jesus put out His hand and touched him, saying, “I am willing; be cleansed.” Immediately his leprosy was cleansed.
4
And Jesus said to him, “See that you tell no one; but go your way, show yourself to the priest, and offer the gift that Moses commanded, as a testimony to them.”

5
Now when Jesus had entered Capernaum, a centurion came to Him, pleading with Him, 6
saying, “Lord, my servant is lying at home paralyzed, dreadfully tormented.”
7
And Jesus said to him, “I will come and heal him.”

13
Then Jesus said to the centurion, “Go your way; and as you have believed, so let it be done for you.” And his servant was healed that same hour.

14
Now when Jesus had come into Peter’s house, He saw his wife’s mother lying sick with a fever.
15
So He touched her hand, and the fever left her. And she arose and served them.

16
When evening had come, they brought to Him many who were demon-possessed. And He cast out the spirits with a word, and healed all who were sick,
17
that it might be fulfilled which was spoken by Isaiah the prophet, saying:

“ He Himself took our infirmities And bore our sicknesses.”[Isaiah 53:4]

VANCE

[Stacey]

Mike's questions remind me of Psalm 90 "teach us to number our days aright" and Lamentations 3:21-25 about how God's compassion and mercy on us is new every day. Enjoy it! No matter what happened yesterday, today is a day of full and complete grace and hope.
With regards to the dietary and health laws, keep in mind that these people lived a simpler life. There were far less people than there are now and thousands of years have passed. There are so many more germs and variants now. Many of the diseases that we encounter are do to the effects of pollution. Many are even self inflicted that have to do with us polluting our own bodies through sinful practices. But God has not left us just with the treatments of thousands of years ago. He has given skilled craftsman in the health industry. He has given so many cures and treatments and laid on the hearts of so many of His own people answers to some of the worst of diseases.
Yet we all know that death is 100%. We are only made completely whole in the next life. He does have an exact day where He will take us home to heaven. Until that day, we are to live each day here on earth to the max. My heart does go out to Luch and his wife as their days are filled with treatments. Days like these do not seem to be living life to the max. However, these are truly the kinds of days that do teach us how precious is the gift of life... how precious our Lord and Savior... and how much we need and depend on Him. May God bless you, and your dear wife, and keep you. May His face shine upon you and be gracious unto you. And from Heb 13:20: May the God of peace, who through the blood of the eternal covenant brought back from the dead our Lord Jesus, that great Shepherd of the sheep, equip you with everything good for doing his will, and may he work in us what is pleasing to him, through Jesus Christ, to whom be glory for ever and ever. Amen.

[beryl]

to Luch and wife,
u are where God wants u 2 b. U can live life 2 the max doing something 4 those other patients. May the Lord grant u healing.
I have breast cancer right now, I am going 4 an op. Praying about what tracts 2 take, knowing there will be people there that don't know yet that God loves them or what to do about it if they do know. I have a good chance against cancer but death is inevitable, todays psalm is right on track. The death of Gods children is precious in His sight. He also sends healing. God is in control. Praise Him 4 being merciful. god bless u

[John]

Anka,

Ravi Zacharais had a great answer to the issue of women's curse in Genesis three in one of his college session Q&A's. A women had started reading the Bible, got to Genesis 3, and quit. She wanted no part of a Gode "like that".

First off - Ravi said what other options are there?
Atheism - Gives no value to the life. It just is, and then it is over.
Other religions (non-Christian or non-judaic) - upon examination - all are very harsh, denigrating toward women, or at best non-commital towards women.

Go back to Bible, Ravi said, and keep reading, and notice not only what "Micah Girl" mentioned, but how God used women of the Bible greatly. Pharoah's daughter, Sarah, Rebecca, Rachel, Esther, Rahab, Mary, Mary Magdalene, Martha and Mary, wealthy wives of rulers who may have financed Jesus' ministry, and others I am sure I forgot. Woman play an integral part in God's Plan. Women in no ohter belief system have integral parts in the scope of life and hereafter like these women had in the Bible.

A man is to love his wife as Christ loves his Church (the Body). What higher command can there be for a man as a way to perceive his mate?

They are equals, but there is an order to things. Being silent in church, at that time because of the way seating was arranged, did not mean they did not express opinions.

The God of Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob lifts up the role of a woman more than any other belief system.

That is Ravi's answer and I am paraphrasing. It got a standing ovation, and I left out some details - as it was 9 minutes long. I have found nothing in my readings that contradict his answer.
======================================================
I am not sure of the "monthly period" as I don't think we have gotten to that yet. But the 40 or 80 days separation, back in those days was focused mainly on not going to the sanctuary. It was not banishment from camp like leprosy. Maybe the depression (post-partem???) needed to be gotten over , or the attitude for worship may not have been the best. [I am just speculating here so forgive me.] I guess we just have to trust God that He had his reasons.

[John]

Anka,

Leviticus 13 is not about cures for disease, but about recognition and measures to keep it from spreading in the camp.

The White was not disease, the "raw flesh" around white indicated the disease.

On a spiritual note, in O.T. and New, the diseases represent "sin". there is great patience in determining if person is unclean. Just like God has patience with sinners.

If it ends up being clean, it is like mankind reduced to "bottom" and comes to Christ. He is cleansed.

If not he is banished, and says "unclean", just like mankind will be banished and separated from God if he does not repent.

The garments fine or cheap, must be taken care of because "sin" contaminates everything it touches. Our raiment is nothing but filthy rags in God's sight. (paraphrased from Zech. 3) If garment is cleansed (by Christ) then it is "clean ( a righteous garment).

This is really rough and quick from reading commentaries by J. Vernon Mcgee and David Jeremiah. So if anyone wants to add, correct, or comment please do so :) I realize it is pretty sketchy.

[Ramona]

Leviticus 13:1-59

The Hebrew word translated in the NLT text, “appears,” appears ten times in the thirteenth chapter,

4758
מראה
mar'eh
BDB Definition:
1) sight, appearance, vision
1a) sight, phenomenon, spectacle, appearance, vision
1b) what is seen
1c) a vision (supernatural)
1d) sight, vision (power of seeing)

Each of the ten times this word appears it has to do with discerning the truth about a “skin” disease or “sin.” Something can “appear” to be something but upon close examination, and not just over a short period of time, and with stated guidelines, the dis-ease is identified. Appearance and actuality are two separate things.

In this passage, the focus is something that “breaks out” on the skin, on the surface, looking like a “skin” disease and to insure that no one is tagged wrongly, close observation is needful. But there is another type of appearance, that of one that seems healthy and holy, but in actuality the disease, though not on the surface, has permeated the inside where the eyes of the priests cannot see.

Be honest in your judgment and do not decide at a glance (superficially and by appearances); but judge fairly and righteously. (John 7:24 AMP)

Woe unto you, scribes and Pharisees, hypocrites! for ye are like unto whited sepulchers, which indeed appear beautiful outward, but are within full of dead men's bones, and of all uncleanness. Even so ye also outwardly appear righteous unto men, but within ye are full of hypocrisy and iniquity. (Matthew 23:27-28 KJV)

Grace and peace,
Ramona

[Bald Man]

Anka,
A Jewish blogger, the Velveteen Rabbi (Rachel), shared some good thoughts on this portion of Torah (Lev. 12). I provided a link yesterday, but want to repeat it in case you don't pop over to my blog:

http://coryaldrich.blogs.com/baldman/2006/02/one_year_bible__17.html

[Luciano Del Monte (Luch)]

stacey and beryl

thanks so much for your kind and caring words. Women have come 'out of the wood work' so to speak just to encourage and identify with us. I think for us 2 Corinthians 1:3-4 are appropriate and applicable. "All praise to the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ. He is the source of every mercy and the God who comforts ohers. When others are troubled we will be able to give them the same comfort God has given us." Selah!!

Have a good night!!!

[John]

Cory,

It is fine to point out a different viewpoint, especiallly from a person whose religion is the source and reason we have the Old Testament.

However, people need to be aware of the traditional Jewish (religion) view of Genesis.

The Jewish religion, and Rachel can correct me if I am wrong, differs from most Christian perspectives, regarding the story of Adam and Eve.

They believe the story in Eden was given as an example of what not to do in life. That Adam and Eve screwed up, and don't you do the same. They do not believe in the "fall of man", "original sin", "doctrine of deparavity", or whatever your doctrinal name for Apple, serpent, Adam and Eve experiance in Eden.

"Judaism completely rejects the doctrine of original sin."
http://www.jewfaq.org/cgi-bin/search.cgi?Keywords=SIN

"The yetzer tov is the moral conscience....The yetzer ra is usually conceived as the selfish nature, the desire to satisfy personal needs (food, shelter, sex, etc.) without regard for the moral consequences of fulfilling those desires.... People have the ability to choose which impulse to follow: the yetzer tov or the yetzer ra. That is the heart of the Jewish understanding of free will. The Talmud notes that all people are descended from Adam, so no one can blame his own wickedness on his ancestry. On the contrary, we all have the ability to make our own choices, and we will all be held responsible for the choices we make."

http://www.jewfaq.org/human.htm#Yetzer

This site jives with my study of Genesis from a "torah commentary".

Bottom Line: This doctrinal difference makes a difference in viewing Leviticus which is clear if you read bible.org and compare the comments to Rachel's blog entry.

I have no problem with the reference, but I believe this should be made clear for those not familiar with Judaism's view of the Garden.

[Nicole]

We are merely moving shadows, and all our busy rushing ends in nothing. Psalm 39:6
Isn't it interesting to see that even back then people get busy with things that are not important? That sure was a verse that spoke to me today! And that is something I need to work on. :)
As for Jesus not being accepted in Nazareth, this has happened to me. I had some great friends before I became a Christian. They just didn't believe in the importance of Jesus, our Savior. Now that I am very involved with church and became a believer, they have stepped back from me. They say that respect what I believe and are open to listen to it, but do not respond. But on the bright side, I have made new friends. So God never leaves us alone.
Luch and Beryl, you are in my prayers. Your strength is amazing and know that God never gives you more than you can handle. :)
Nicole

[Bald Man]

John,
Fair point... but then we should probably also go so far as to say that not all Christians hold to the doctrine known as "original sin."