Today the ‘purity laws’ refer to purification after childbirth.  They may seem outrageous, but perhaps if we try and separate them from the connotations we may have about what it meant to be ‘unclean’, they will seem less outrageous, and reveal more of the gracious character of God.  If you were ‘unclean’ you were essentially not in a fit state to take part in worship.  In this sense we could perhaps view this passage as God’s protection of the vulnerable, and his providence of time to recuperate before taking part in active worship.  The sin offering to be given afterwards then would be to

The next five chapters in Leviticus detail what are often referred to as ‘purity laws’, and this particular chapter relates to ‘clean’ and ‘unclean’ animals.  Although the distinctions might be difficult to understand, they certainly do not refer to regrets God had in certain aspects of His creation.  Diet was just going to be one of the many ways that God was going to set apart His people from the general population.  If you’ve ever had a vegetarian or a vegan friend for dinner, then as their host you will completely understand that their lifestyle requires your menu to be different, and t

Little speculation for the causes and roots of Nadab and Abihu’s disobedience will be offered in today’s reflection, except that the ‘unauthorised fire’ was in fact disobedience and did not glorify God.  This passage should challenge us that our intentions in our service and offerings of worship should always be to glorify God, and not to diminish His holiness.  Verses 6-7 may seem incredibly harsh as Aaron and his family are prohibited from grieving, but even in his grief Aaron was to learn to put service first.  He was to set an example to all of Israel that portrayed his accepta

In today’s passage we read about Aaron’s first day in office.  The assembly of Israel has been waiting in great anticipation for Aaron and his sons to emerge from the tent of meeting after the required period of ordination (8: 35).  To say that Aaron’s first day was a ‘baptism of fire’ would be a slight understatement!  Moses, Aaron and the congregation are informed that ‘today, the Lord will appear to you’ (v.4).  How much do we seek an encounter with God in our worship, and our obedience?  The Israelites were to prepare to encounter their God, the object of their worship, not from a dista

This week we move on from the different sacrifices, to the ‘manual of priesthood’ that was to be given to Aaron and his sons.  In today’s passage imagine yourself part of the congregation of Israel, assembling at the entrance to the tent of meeting (v.

Saturday & Sunday, 19th & 20th September - Leviticus 1-7

True thankfulness is accompanied by true obedience in today's passage.  There is no diminishing of standards for an offering of thanksgiving compared with any other offering.  This sacrifice was to be given whole heartedly by the Israelites.  In fact if they were to let standards slip in any way in this offering it might‘not be accepted’,  the bringer might still ‘bear his iniquity’ (v.18.), and further still an Israelite might have been ‘cut off from his people’(v.20.).

What does God reveal about himself in today’s passage?  More of His faithfulness, more of His goodness, and further: the fact that God provides abundantly for those who serve Him.  The priests were allowed to eat a significant proportion of the animal sacrifices.  In fact one commentator suggests that the priests could not have lived on mere sporadic occasional offerings of the Israelites, and were not intended to do so.  The offerings needed to be regular.  It is an interesting interpretation and application to consider that this passage teaches us something about how we should financially

Well done, you are half way through the week, still accessing these reflections, and nearing the end of instructions regarding different kinds of sacrifices.  You might well read today’s passage and think ‘thank goodness for that!’.  I trust that you are finding the goodness and faithfulness of God in these chapters, and I hope that you see how clearly they point to Jesus Christ on the cross.  Today’s passage is no exception.  The crucial point we can take from today’s passage is the blood of the sin offering was not taken lightly.  It was significant to God where the bloo