Thank you for your patience yesterday when I had computer problems and couldn't complete the Bible study. I've been having troubles with my laptop lately and I think it may have a virus and I'm trying to decide whether to take it to the computer guys or just splurge on a new one because this one is pretty old and outdated. But in the meantime it seems to be working right now after yet another restart so we'll move on into Chapter 23.
Chapter 23 discusses the seven appointed holy days the Israelites are to observe. We've seen these mentioned before in the Old Testament and in Chapter 23 the Lord mentions them all together in one place as a reminder to observe these days and regard them as holy in their hearts. Today we'll look at the first two.
"The Lord said to Moses, 'Speak to the Israelites and say to them: 'These are My appointed festivals, the appointed festivals of the Lord, which you are to proclaim as sacred assemblies. There are six days when you may work, but the seventh day is a day of sabbath rest, a day of sacred assembly. You are not to do any work; wherever you live, it is a sabbath to the Lord.'" (Leviticus 23:1-3) The Sabbath is a weekly holy day to be observed by the Lord's people no matter where they are in the world. They are to regard the seventh day as holy not only while they are in Israel. While traveling or while living in some other nation, the seventh day is a day to think about the Lord and to assemble together with other believers to honor Him. They are not to go to their jobs on the Sabbath but are to devote that day to the Lord.
"These are the Lord's appointed festivals, the sacred assemblies you are to proclaim at their appointed times. The Lord's Passover begins at twilight on the fourteenth day of the first month. On the fifteenth day of that month the Lord's Festival of Unleavened Bread begins; for seven days you must eat bread without yeast. On the first day hold a sacred assembly and do no regular work. For seven days present a food offering to the Lord. And on the seventh day hold a sacred assembly and do no regular work." (Leviticus 23:4-8) Passover commemorates the night the death angel "passed over" the homes of the Israelites where the blood of the lamb was painted on the doorposts. The seven days of eating unleavened bread represents the unleavened bread the Israelites ate on that first Passover (no yeast was added because there wasn't time for bread to rise) and the bread they ate for the first week after being delivered from Egypt (because adding yeast to the dough would have caused it to spoil faster on the journey).
Are there things you do to commemorate times when the Lord delivered you from trouble or times when He did a great thing in your life that changed your circumstances? There are days that stand out in my memory as days holy to the Lord.
For example, August 30 is a special day to me each year, for it was on August 30, 1992 that I came to faith in Christ. There are other days that are special to me, days when situations that looked hopeless suddenly turned a corner. There are days when the Lord spoke to my spirit and said, "I'm about to answer this prayer you've prayed for so long." Other times He answered a prayer right on the spot when I was in desperate need for deliverance now. I may not always remember the date or the day of the week when the Lord came through for me in a mighty way, but the events of those days are etched so deeply into my mind that every time I think of them I can't help but honor the Lord in my heart.
Today let's all think back over our lives and think about the times the Lord made a way for us when it looked like no way was possible. Let's think about the day He saved our souls. Whether or not you recall the dates or the days of the week these things happened, thank Him for His mighty deeds on your behalf and remember-----He's still the same God. He hasn't retired from the mighty deeds business. He is still the God who makes a way in the wilderness and causes streams of refreshment to spring forth in the wasteland. (Isaiah 43:19)
No comments:
Post a Comment