February 28th readings

~ Click on this link for today's readings ~
Leviticus 22:17-23:44 ~ Mark 9:30-10:12
Psalm 44:1-8 ~ Proverbs 10:19

Old Testament - Today in Leviticus chapter 23 we read about the Appointed Festivals.  Zondervan's NIV Study Bible has a great chart summarizing the Old Testament Feasts and Other Sacred Days, which is significantly paraphrased below with just Name & Purpose -

1. Sabbath - Rest for people and animals
2. Sabbath Year - Rest for land.
3. Year of Jubilee - Help for poor; stabilize society.
4. Passover - Remember Israel's deliverance from Egypt.
5. Unleavened Bread - Remember how the Lord brought the Israelites out of Egypt in haste.
6. Firstfruits - Recognize the Lord's bounty in the land.
7. Weeks (Pentecost or Harvest) - Show joy and thankfulness for the Lord's blessing of harvest.
8. Trumpets (Rosh Hashanah-New Year's Day) - Present Israel before the Lord for his favor.
9. Day of Atonement (Yom Kippur) - Atone for the sins of priests and people and purify the Holy Place.
10. Tabernacles (Booths or Ingathering) - Memorialize the journey from Egypt to Canaan; give thanks for the productivity of Canaan.
11. Sacred Assembly - Commemorate the closing of the cycle of feasts.
12. Purim - Remind the Israelites of their national deliverance in the time of Esther.
13. Hanukkah (Feast of Dedication or Festival of Lights) - Commemorated the purification of the temple and altar in the Maccabean period.
14.  New moons were also often special feast days.
(Above is from Zondervan's "NIV Study Bible” pp. 176-177)  Bible.org's commentary on Leviticus chapter 23 is at this link.  Below is a Jewish calendar, which includes many of the feasts and sacred days listed above -

New Testament - Mark chapter 9 verses 33-35 always stand out to me and I personally always need to be reminded of Jesus' teaching here in the last sentence - "Jesus asked them, "What were you discussing out on the road?"  But they didn't answer, because they had been arguing about which of them was the greatest. He sat down and called the twelve disciples over to him. Then he said, "Anyone who wants to be the first must take last place and be the servant of everyone else."  How are you doing on this last sentence?  Are you taking last place?  Are you the servant of everyone else?  Do you think this last sentence applies to Jesus' life?  Do you think we should model how Jesus lived his life?

I came across an artistic image I liked a lot, below, which applies to verses 36 & 37... except of course that the child is wearing very modern day clothes - keep in mind it is art! :) -  "Then he put a little child among them. Taking the child in his arms, he said to them, "Anyone who welcomes a little child like this on my behalf welcomes me, and anyone who welcomes me welcomes my Father who sent me." Bible.org's commentary on today's readings in Mark chapter 9 &10 is at this link. 

Psalms - Psalm 44 verse 3 is a wise statement about where the Israelites and our true strength and victory in life comes from - "They did not conquer the land with their swords; it was not their own strength that gave them victory. It was by your mighty power that they succeeded; it was because you favored them and smiled on them."

Proverbs - Proverbs chapter 10 verse 19 tells us - "Don't talk too much, for it fosters sin. Be sensible and turn off the flow!" This is a wonderful reminder that we should listen at least twice as much as we talk!  That's why we have 2 ears and one mouth...  :)

Comments from You & Question of the Day -  Based on Psalm 44:3 above - as you look back on your life and at the good things that have happened to you, do you think that these things occurred because of your own power or work alone?  Or, do you think it is possible that God's hand was blessing your life through all of those good things - even if maybe you did not notice God was there at the time?  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

[Stacey]

With regards to Ps 44:3 "They did not conquer the land with their swords; it was not their own strength that gave them victory. It was by your mighty power that they succeeded; it was because you favored them and smiled on them."

It is so good to remember to look to the Lord for His smile and His favor in life. This Psalm shows the fulfillment of the Aaronic blessing said over the people time and time again. Remember that these were the same people called hard hearted and rebellious. In the midst of all of their rebellion and sin, God told Aaron to bless them with this blessing from Numbers 6:22 Then the LORD said to Moses, "Instruct Aaron and his sons to bless the people of Israel with this special blessing: May the LORD bless you and protect you.May the LORD smile on you and be gracious to you.May the LORD show you his favor and give you his peace.'

27This is how Aaron and his sons will designate the Israelites as my people,and I myself will bless them."

I am thinking this morning about how important it is for us to pray for blessing for our families and communities. Even though those around us may seem hard hearted and rebellious, will you take up the challenge to pray this blessing over them daily as I am committed now to do? For I want to see victory in my family and my community. I want very much to see the changes manifested when God shows them favor and smiles upon them.

[Richard C]

I believe in the relationship of prayer and living. For years I thought that I was the master of my own destiny and that all that happened to me was...well because of me. Is that not how we are trained these days? Take control of your life! I got so distorted in my thinking that I blamed all the bad in my life at the foot of my Lord. "How could you allow this to happen! Just leave me alone!" It was at this time I noticed that through his grace he granted me this request. He left me alone... My life was a mess and mistakes were many. All my low points in life were the result of answered prayers. He let me walk alone and man did I fall! Needless to say, even when bad things happen I no longer ask Him to leave me alone, but beg him to pick me up! Human pride is sometimes unavoidable when interacting with other humans...but it has no place in a relationship with Christ Jesus.

Your in Christ

[Micah Girl]

I am looking for a lenten discipline to take up. Does anyone have any suggestions?

Thanks,
Micah Girl

[Micah Girl]

I am looking for a lenten discipline to take up...perhaps a special prayer time like the Divine Hours or some kind of special Lectio Divina. Does anyone have any suggestions?

Thanks,
Micah Girl

[Ramona]

Leviticus 22:17-23:44

Twice in today’s reading God opens up His ordinances and the blessings that come along with following His commands, to those who are not his people, "Give Aaron and his sons and all the Israelites these instructions, which apply to those who are Israelites by birth as well as to the foreigners living among you.” (22:18) In the 22nd verse of chapter 23 foreigners are included with the poor as benefactors of the grain deliberately left in the field. God has always allowed for those who were not His people to benefit from the “crumbs” from those who were and are His people as we read Saturday in the Gospel reading (Mark 7:28) What a mighty God we serve!!

What I really like about today’s reading is that it shows how our God is a God who loves parties. He want’s His people to not only reverence and obey Him He wants them to have a good time in doing it. There are lots of “feasts” and sacred assemblies, food and more food. God wants us to celebrate Him and who we are in Him. So Christian, please don’t walk around with a long face, shout Hallelujah from time to time because we serve a God that enjoys our enjoyment of all the things He has done for us.

Grace and peace,
Ramona

[Anka]

Hi Micah,what do you mean by lenten disciple?
Bless you,Anka

[Bald Man]

Micah Girl,
I'll ditto the Divine Hour suggestion. There is a volume that focuses on Lent, and my friend even found it at Barnes & Noble.

As for on-line resources, check out the Grace Lent Blog (http://www.freshworship.org/zine/lent06.php).

[Micah Girl]

Anka--
By Lenten discipline I mean something that I start doing for the 40 days of Lent like a special kind of prayer or specific bible readings, rather than something I give up for 40 days, like chocolate.

Bald Man:-) Thanks for the link to that blog--it looks like it will be really interesting.

Micah Girl

[Bald Man]

Found another one that's a PDF:

Nails & Thorns: Lent meditations 2006 (http://www.trac.org.my/view_file.cfm?fileid=5)

HT: Sivin Kit (http://sivinkit.net/archives/001829.html)