Today I finished the Book of Leviticus, which means I've now read four books of the Bible - Genesis, Job, Exodus, and Leviticus. I started reading the Bible seven and a half months ago, and I'm proud of myself for continuing with it all this time. This has been something I've wanted to do for several years, and I'm glad that I've finally started this journey.
In these last chapters of Leviticus, the chapter that sticks out to me most is Leviticus 22 - particularly the section entitled "Unacceptable Sacrifices." Y'all know that I keep up with an additional commentary website along with my readings, and I've kept repeating what that commentary says in my posts here on A Coffee Date with God - that Christians need not be bound by Mosaic law. And though I've struggled somewhat with accepting that thought due to the fact that I haven't read any of the New Testament, I'm still reading with that idea in mind.
But even though Believers don't necessarily need to worry with Mosaic law, the introspective side of me is convinced that there are plenty of lessons to be learned from the Israelites. There are still relevant messages within the laws and rules and regulations that God gave to the Israelites. And in Leviticus 22 I happened upon a lesson all on my own. This lesson isn't necessarily new news. I've known it pretty much my whole life, but one of the reasons I'm reading the Bible is to understand the religious teachings I've been fed all growing up for myself. I want to see where they are located in God's Word; I want to read Biblical stories and understand their messages first hand. I want to, in a sense, discover them for myself. (Or I guess "rediscover" might be a more literal way to put it.)
Monday, September 28, 2015
Monday, September 14, 2015
Leviticus 16-18
I was excited when I got to the Book of Leviticus because it's been quoted a lot lately - particularly in relation to homosexuality and gay marriage just recently becoming legal nationwide. If y'all remember, one of the big reasons I'm reading the Bible is because I'm tired of not having my own opinion on my religion. I've been told long enough what to think based on what other people believe the Bible says, but I think it's about time I find out for myself. So with a lot of references to this particular book - and even more specifically, to Leviticus 18 - I was excited to really get my own handle on what the Bible says on this matter.
But first, Leviticus 16, which describes the Day of Atonement. Basically, it's a ritual performed once a year to make atonement for all the sins of the Israelites. After a little more research, I realized that this day is known as Yom Kippur for Jews nowadays. I have a handful of Jewish friends, so whenever Jewish holidays come around, I'm happy for them, but that's been the end of it. I've never really known these holidays' significances. But now I see why Yom Kippur is such a big deal. Reading the Bible is not just teaching me about my own religion, but it's giving me some enlightenment into the religion of so many others.
But first, Leviticus 16, which describes the Day of Atonement. Basically, it's a ritual performed once a year to make atonement for all the sins of the Israelites. After a little more research, I realized that this day is known as Yom Kippur for Jews nowadays. I have a handful of Jewish friends, so whenever Jewish holidays come around, I'm happy for them, but that's been the end of it. I've never really known these holidays' significances. But now I see why Yom Kippur is such a big deal. Reading the Bible is not just teaching me about my own religion, but it's giving me some enlightenment into the religion of so many others.
Thursday, September 10, 2015
Leviticus 1-15
This may seem like a lot to cover in one post (and I guess it is because that's over half of the book of Leviticus), but I promise it's not. Everything up until this point is all rules and regulations and sacrifices for the Israelites, and it's all incredibly repetitive.
The first seven chapters cover the different sacrifices the Israelites have to give depending on what they've done. We've got a burnt offering, a food offering, a fellowship/peace offering, a sin offering, and a guilt offering. And the priest must be used for all of them. No more making sacrifices on your own. And as I was reading the details of these sacrifices, the argument the commentary I use makes about Believers not having to obey the Law of Moses anymore starts to make more sense. Part of some of these offerings is eating. There are 7 billion people on this planet. If we still had to do these sacrifices, our priests would literally eat themselves to death. Like, the rules are clear; the food cannot be stored and hoarded and eaten whenever you want. You got one day. The impracticality of Mosaic Law alone is enough to suggest that Believers don't really need to worry about it.
The first seven chapters cover the different sacrifices the Israelites have to give depending on what they've done. We've got a burnt offering, a food offering, a fellowship/peace offering, a sin offering, and a guilt offering. And the priest must be used for all of them. No more making sacrifices on your own. And as I was reading the details of these sacrifices, the argument the commentary I use makes about Believers not having to obey the Law of Moses anymore starts to make more sense. Part of some of these offerings is eating. There are 7 billion people on this planet. If we still had to do these sacrifices, our priests would literally eat themselves to death. Like, the rules are clear; the food cannot be stored and hoarded and eaten whenever you want. You got one day. The impracticality of Mosaic Law alone is enough to suggest that Believers don't really need to worry about it.
Monday, September 7, 2015
Exodus 25-40
Um, hello! How long has it been?! I actually finished these chapters back in July, but I'm only just now deciding to discuss them. I've now completed three books in the Bible, and I've decided that I like taking a few days after finishing a book to not continue reading but to relax and give myself time to reflect on the message before moving on. (And it also gives me time to catch up on blogging in case I've gotten behind.) So that's exactly what I did. But a few days turned into a few weeks, and now here we are nearly two months later. Awkward...
But I've kinda put off blogging about these chapters for one reason, and that reason is.... these chapters, all in all, are pretty darn boring. I hate saying that about the Bible, but like, it's true. I'm just being honest. The vast majority of these chapters are simply God giving instructions to Moses about building the Tabernacle and how to make Aaron and his sons priests. And then it's all repeated when Moses (and a bunch of other people) actually follow through with God's instructions.
But I've kinda put off blogging about these chapters for one reason, and that reason is.... these chapters, all in all, are pretty darn boring. I hate saying that about the Bible, but like, it's true. I'm just being honest. The vast majority of these chapters are simply God giving instructions to Moses about building the Tabernacle and how to make Aaron and his sons priests. And then it's all repeated when Moses (and a bunch of other people) actually follow through with God's instructions.
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