Today’s reading is Leviticus 25:47-27:13, Mark 10:32-52, Psalm 45:1-17, Proverbs 10:22.  Today we find a section of scripture which we can define as an If You, Then I Principal.  The book of Leviticus is the written form of the law so that the Levites, the priests of God and the rulers/leaders of the day, could lead well the people of God.  Twenty-five chapters have laid out the story, the restrictions, the requirements, and the expectations while God ultimately knew the people could not comply with these standards, at least not for very long.  So, as God gave these restrictions and requirements, He also included the remedy to come.  He knew the people would fail, just as we all fail in keeping the law.  Paul worded it perfectly when he said,

¹⁴ So the trouble is not with the law, for it is spiritual and good. The trouble is with me, for I am all too human, a slave to sin. ¹⁵ I don’t really understand myself, for I want to do what is right, but I don’t do it. Instead, I do what I hate.¹⁶ But if I know that what I am doing is wrong, this shows that I agree that the law is good. ¹⁷ So I am not the one doing wrong; it is sin living in me that does it.

¹⁸ And I know that nothing good lives in me, that is, in my sinful nature.^[d] I want to do what is right, but I can’t. ¹⁹ I want to do what is good, but I don’t. I don’t want to do what is wrong, but I do it anyway. ²⁰ But if I do what I don’t want to do, I am not really the one doing wrong; it is sin living in me that does it.

²¹ I have discovered this principle of life—that when I want to do what is right, I inevitably do what is wrong. ²² I love God’s law with all my heart. ²³ But there is another power^[e] within me that is at war with my mind. This power makes me a slave to the sin that is still within me. ²⁴ Oh, what a miserable person I am! Who will free me from this life that is dominated by sin and death? ²⁵ Thank God! The answer is in Jesus Christ our Lord.

                                                                                Romans 7:14-25

I am thankful that the Holy Spirit reveals to us the presence of Jesus, the Remedy, throughout the Old Testament.  Though the law of the Old Testament is confusing and overwhelming at times, its purpose now to is show us our sin, to point out our weakness and inability to keep the law.  And then to show us the intricate design of the Remedy God intended from the beginning.  I find myself continually grateful that we are on this side of the cross and resurrection.

⁶ But now we have been released from the law, for we died to it and are no longer captive to its power. Now we can serve God, not in the old way of obeying the letter of the law, but in the new way of living in the Spirit.

                                                                                                 Romans 7:6

We are released from the law.  That does not mean we do not keep the law of God’s Word.  We are given power to keep it in a grace-filled, mercy-filled way.  It is no longer about what we do or don’t do, but about Who we trust to change us.  It is about our good deeds becoming a gift to the One who saved us, not as a means of being saved.  We are now free to act like children.

¹² But to all who believed him and accepted him, he gave the right to become children of God.

                                                                                          John 1:12

As children of God, we are still required to obey Him, not just rest in our freedom of being His child.  We obey Him because we love Him.  We obey Him because we trust that He knows what is best.  There are things I see that my 5 year old son does not understand.  We teach him to obey us because we are his parents, even if he doesn’t understand everything about the command.  When he doesn’t obey us, we, too, have to sometimes utilize an If You, Then I Principal.  If you obey, then I may give a privilege or reward.  If you don’t obey, then I may give you a punishment.  But the If You, Then I Principal has nothing to do with how we feel about him, with how we love him.  We love him, period.  Just because he is our son.  But we would not be very good parents if we didn’t care about how he behaved.  It is our duty to teach him to obey so that he can receive the blessings of obedience.

Leviticus 26 not only highlights the If You, Then I Principal, it also highlights the truth that there is blessing in obedience.  Let’s look at some of the specifics.

³ “If you follow my decrees and are careful to obey my commands, ⁴ I will send you the seasonal rains … ⁶ “I will give you peace in the land, and you will be able to sleep with no cause for fear. I will rid the land of wild animals and keep your enemies out of your land. ⁷ In fact, you will chase down your enemies and slaughter them with your swords. ⁸ Five of you will chase a hundred, and a hundred of you will chase ten thousand! All your enemies will fall beneath your sword.

⁹ “I will look favorably upon you, making you fertile and multiplying your people. And I will fulfill my covenant with you.

Let’s look at verse 9 again.  If you obey, I will make you fertile and multiply your people.  That language is a nod toward the command of the covenant from the very beginning, “Be fruitful and multiply.”  God said that to Adam, to Noah, and to Jacob.  It is a sign of His covenant.  But our covenant with God is a bit whop-sided.  We can’t hold up our end without His help.  And He lovingly offers to help us.

These are samples of the blessings that come with the obedience.  But there is the other side of the If You, Then I Principal.

¹⁴ “However, if you do not listen to me or obey all these commands, ¹⁵ and if you break my covenant by rejecting my decrees, treating my regulations with contempt, and refusing to obey my commands, ¹⁶ I will punish you…

God is a good Father.  He wants to give us the blessings of obedience.  But He will punish us if we don’t obey.  He may bring on a punishment or simply let the consequences be our punishment.  But lest we think He is somehow unjust or unkind to do so, let’s fast forward a bit in the passage.  After He lays out all of the punishments, which occur in layers and increase in severity, we see the reason behind it all.

⁴⁰ “But at last my people will confess their sins and the sins of their ancestors for betraying me and being hostile toward me. ⁴¹ When I have turned their hostility back on them and brought them to the land of their enemies, then at last their stubborn hearts will be humbled, and they will pay for their sins.⁴² Then I will remember my covenant with Jacob and my covenant with Isaac and my covenant with Abraham …

⁴⁴ “But despite all this, I will not utterly reject or despise them while they are in exile in the land of their enemies. I will not cancel my covenant with them by wiping them out, for I am the Lord their God.

The If You, Then I Principal is establish for restoration.  The punishment is meant to restore and redeem.  As a good father punishes a wayward son, for the betterment of the life of that son, so our Good Father loves us too much to allow us to wander too long in the wilderness of sin.  Let’s not forget, though, that it is far above what is expected that God offers us blessing in our obedience.  If He was simply a judge we would not get reward and blessing for obedience.  We would simply have the expectation of keeping the law and if we did not we would suffer punishment.  But our God, in His love, punishes us when we are wrong in order to restore relationship.  He also blesses our obedience with good things.  And finally, He Himself offers us the Remedy.

Today’s reading includes Leviticus 9:7-10:20, Mark 4:26-5:20, Psalm 37:30-40, Proverbs 10:6-7.

Today, my thoughts are on something useful and valuable which is at the same time, dangerous and costly.  My thoughts are on the purpose of fire.  We have been studying the offerings required of God’s people before Jesus and it involved fire.  It seems to me there are good fires and bad fires.  There are holy fires and unholy fires.  When God first appeared to Moses, He appeared to him in flames of fire from the burning bush.  (Exodus 3:2).  The bush did not burn up–it was a perpetual fire.  Exodus 13:21-22 tells us that throughout the time God was leading the people through the wilderness, He led them by a pillar of cloud during the day and by a pillar of fire at night—once again, a perpetual fire.  (Exodus 12:21-22)

Then came the law and all of its requirements.  One of the requirements involved the tending of the fire.  It, too, was to be a perpetual fire.  Leviticus 6:13 said:

“The fire must be kept burning on the altar continuously; it must not go out.”

Three different times in chapter six, God says to keep the fire going. (verses 9, 12, and 13) Three times.  What does that tell us?  It is holy.  It is to be a perpetual and holy fire, which represents a perpetual and holy God.

In the previous chapters, we have been hearing the instructions to the priests concerning the offerings.  They were taking notes, learning the ropes.  But today we see the time had come.  It was time to implement what had been instructed.  Aaron did as instructed, and he prepared the sacrifices first.  He slaughtered the calf for himself as a sin offering, then an animal for the burnt offering, then he, as the high priest, presented the people’s goat for their sin.  A literal scape-goat.  Then, another burnt offering, then the grain offering.  Then, he slaughtered the bull and the ram for the people’s peace offering.  After following all of the instructions to a “t”, he raised his hands and blessed the people. Then they presented all of these to the Lord and he and Moses went into the Tabernacle.  When they came back out, they blessed the people again. Then we see a wonderful account.  The glory of the Lord appeared to the whole community.  Fire—good, holy fire—“blazed forth from the Lord’s presence and consumed the burnt offering and the fat on the altar.  When the people saw this, they shouted with joy and fell down on the ground.” 

God Himself started the fire for the sacrifice.  God Himself initiated the only way for the people to get right with God.  This fire represented God’s presence, and they could not let the fire go out. Just as the pillar of fire which led them through the darkest times of their wilderness journey was a perpetual fire, so the holy fire God sent could not be allowed to go out.  The priests must keep this fire going, day in and day out.

“God is a consuming fire”

                                                                                                    Deuteronomy 4:24

Shekinah glory is a term that the Jews use to describe God’s ongoing presence.  In the Encyclopedia Judaica the “Shekinah” is defined as “the Divine Presence, the numinous immanence of God in the world,…a revelation of the holy in the midst of the profane….” (Volume 14, pp. 1349-1351).

Though the current form of the word commonly used by Jewish people was not in the Bible, according to the folks at patheos.com, an early form of the word was in the Bible.

The work Shekinah is from the Hebrew word “shekinot” and actually is in the Bible where God is said to “settle in” or “dwell with.”  This word means where God is dwelling, settling or where His Divine Presence is.  This glory is seen when God’s glory filled the Temple and even in the wilderness where He was a light during the night and the Shekinah cloud of His glory shaded Israel in the scorching sun of the desert.  His presence was manifested by the intense light that filled the Tabernacle, the Temple in Jerusalem and even in the Transfiguration on the Mount where Jesus shone brighter than the sun when He spoke with Moses and Elijah ….”

It was this Shekinah glory which Moses longed for when he boldly said to the Lord, “Show me your glory.”  And it was this Shekinah glory that was so marvelous, so wonderful, so bright and white and pure, that Moses could not handle the full glory.

Moses said, “Please show me your glory.”  And he said, “I will make all my goodness pass before you and will proclaim before you my name ‘The Lord.’ And I will be gracious to whom I will be gracious, and will show mercy on whom I will show mercy.  But,” he said, “you cannot see my face, for man shall not see me and live.”  And the Lord said, “Behold, there is a place by me where you shall stand on the rock, and while my glory passes by I will put you in a cleft of the rock, and I will cover you with my hand until I have passed by.  Then I will take away my hand, and you shall see my back, but my face shall not be seen.”

                                                                                           Exodus 33:18-23

It was not until Jesus died and rose again that we were given the opportunity to have eyes to see His glory and feet to walk boldly to the Throne of God.  And even still, we will not be able to fully understand or comprehend the full Shekinah glory until we stand before Him, clothed with the finely woven linen given to us by our Bridegroom.  At that time, we will finally see Him face to face.

12For now we see only a reflection as in a mirror; then we shall see face to face. Now I know in part; then I shall know fully, even as I am fully known.

        1 Corinthians 13:12

The Shekinah glory was visible when God rained down as fire at the altar of burnt offering. This was a reminder and symbol of the ongoing presence of God and was meant to remind the Israelites that salvation is only from the Lord. The atonement made at the burnt offering could only be made through Him, who is perpetually with us and for us.  Remember in Biblical times, pre-electricity days, the only “light in the darkness” was fire.

12When Jesus spoke again to the people, he said, “I am the light of the world. Whoever follows me will never walk in darkness, but will have the light of life.”

John 8:12

And what are we to do with this light—this holy fire—which is the Presence of God in our souls?  We are to let our light—our fire, our Jesus—shine for all to see.

¹⁴ “You are the light of the world. A town built on a hill cannot be hidden. ¹⁵ Neither do people light a lamp and put it under a bowl. Instead they put it on its stand, and it gives light to everyone in the house.

                                                                                         Matthew 5: 13-15

Today, remember that the holy fire of the perpetual presence of God is what will light your lamp with the holy fire.  Don’t hide that light, that holy fire.  Let it shine so others may see a way in the darkness, and feel the warmth of His Presence.

Hey, friends!  I hope you are still reading God’s Word each day and listening to the whispers the Holy Spirit has for you.  Keep going!  Here is the list of scripture reading for the month of February.  If you get behind, no worries.  Just pick back up and start on the current date.  Or you can quickly catch up by listening to it on the Bible App as you go about your day.

February 1:  Exodus 13:17-15:18, Matthew 21:23-46, Psalm 26:1-12, Proverbs 6:16-19

February 2:  Exodus 15:19-17:7, Matthew 22:1-33, Psalm 27:1-6, Proverbs 6:20-26

February 3:  Exodus 17:8-19:15, Matthew 22:34-23:12, Psalm 27:7-14, Proverbs 6:27-35

February 4:  Exodus 19:16-21:21, Matthew 23:13-39, Psalm 28:1-9, Proverbs 7:1-5

February 5:  Exodus 21:22-23:13, Matthew 24:1-28, Psalm 29:1-11, Proverbs 7:6-23

February 6:  Exodus 23:14-25:40, Matthew 24:29-51, Psalm 30:1-12, Proverbs 7:24-27

February 7:  Exodus 26:1-27:21, Matthew 25:1-30, Psalm 31:1-8, Proverbs 8:1-11

February 8:  Exodus 28:1-43, Matthew 25:31-26:13, Psalm 31:9-18, Proverbs 8:12-13

February 9:  Exodus 29:1-30:10, Matthew 26:14-46, Psalm 31:19-24, Proverbs 8:14-26

February 10:  Exodus 30:11-31:18, Matthew 26:47-68, Psalm 32:1-11, Proverbs 8:27-32

February 11:  Exodus 32:1-33:23, Matthew 26:69-27:14, Psalm 33:1-11, Proverbs 8:33-36

February 12:  Exodus 34:1-35:9, Matthew 27:15-31, Psalm 33:12-22, Proverbs 9:1-6

February 13:  Exodus 35:10-36:38, Matthew 27:32-66, Psalm 34:1-10, Proverbs 9:7-8

February 14:  Exodus 37:1-38:31, Matthew 28:1-20, Psalm 34:11-22, Proverbs 9:9-10

February 15:  Exodus 39:1-40:38, Mark 1:1-28, Psalm 35:1-16, Proverbs 9:11-12

February 16:  Leviticus 1:1-3:17, Mark 1:29-2:12, Psalm 35:17-28, Proverbs 9:13-18

February 17:  Leviticus 4:1-5:19, Mark 2:13-3:6, Psalm 36:1-12, Proverbs 10:1-2

February 18:  Leviticus 6:1-7:27, Mark 3:7-30, Psalm 37:1-11, Proverbs 10:3-4

February 19:  Leviticus 7:28-9:6, Mark 3:31-4:25, Psalm 37:12-29, Proverbs 10:5

February 20:  Leviticus 9:7-10:20, Mark 4:26-5:20, Psalm 37:30-40, Proverbs 10:6-7

February 21:  Leviticus 11:1-12:8, Mark 5:21-43, Psalm 38:1-22, Proverbs 10:8-9

February 22:  Leviticus 13:1-59, Mark 6:1-29, Psalm 39:1-13, Proverbs 10:10

February 23:  Leviticus 14:1-57, Mark 6:30-56, Psalm 40:1-10, Proverbs 10:11-12

February 24:  Leviticus 15:1-16:28, Mark 7:1-23, Psalm 40:11-17, Proverbs 10:13-14

February 25:  Leviticus 16:29-18:30, Mark 7:24-8:10, Psalm 41:1-13, Proverbs 10:15-16

February 26:  Leviticus 19:1-20:21, Mark 8:11-38, Psalm 42:1-11, Proverbs 10:17

February 27:  Leviticus 20:22-22:16, Mark 9:1-29, Psalm 43:1-5, Proverbs 10:18

February 28:  Leviticus 22:17-23:44, Mark 9:30-10:12, Psalm 44:1-8, Proverbs 10:19

Our reading today includes Genesis 3:1-4:26, Matthew 2:13-36, Psalm 2:1-12, and Proverbs 1:7-9.

In today’s reading we move from the beauty of creation to the tragedy of the fall.

How quickly things change.

Adam and Eve were supreme in the garden but once their pride was pricked by Satan’s simple question, the process of the fall was in place.  “Did God really say…”  (Genesis 3:1) How many tragic falls have subsequently occurred with that same little question.  Did God really say to remain pure?  Did God really say to be faithful?  Did God really say not to gossip?  The questions go on and on.  The answer is in His Word.  Find out what God really did say and stick with that truth.  I do warn you not to separate single verses from its context, but I also encourage you to find out for yourself what God did really say.

Adam and Eve tried their own methods of covering their nakedness, their shame.  They tried to cover it up with the insufficient covering of fig leaves. There are many references to sitting under a fig tree throughout the Bible.  According to the NIV study Bible, the covering of a fig tree is a “proverbial picture of peace, security, and contentment”.  Adam and Eve were trying desperately to cover up their sin and to go back to the peace, security, and contentment they had experienced before the fall.  But, as is still the truth today, our own efforts in this arena will never achieve what our hearts long for.  But, even in their fallen state, God did not leave Adam and Eve in their sin, nor in their own insufficient covering.

The tragedy of the fall is followed immediately by the gracious, all-sufficient covering of God the Father.

After Adam and Eve sinned, the Lord sought them out and said, “Where are you?”  Of course He knew where they were, but they needed to be aware of where they had ended up. The Lord Himself made clothes for them to cover their shame.  This was foreshadowing of the ultimate covering that would come … the covering of the Blood of Jesus.

It is important to note that the covering God provided was not mere fig leaves.  His covering was animal skin.  It was protective, it was warm, it truly covered their nakedness and was not easily moved by the outward elements.  This was the first recorded sacrifice.  This system of shedding the blood of an animal to cover sin began with the first sin.  God did not wait to begin His plan of redemption.  This plan of sacrifice was set in place and would be established for a season until the Ultimate Plan of the Ultimate Sacrifice came through His Son, Jesus.

The number symbolism in scripture is always fascinating to me and the number 7 is always symbolic of completion and perfection.  It is interesting and revealing to note that the span of the covering up of sin to the first prophesy of the true, all-sufficient covering to come is in a mere 7 verses.  Seven verses reveal the sin, the punishment, the removing of the cover up and the prophetic revelation of the divine sin covering to come.  The very first prophesy of the coming Savior is found in Genesis 3: 15, the seventh verse from God’s question, “Where are you?”

So the Lord God said to the serpent [Satan, who had tricked Eve], ‘Because you have done this, ‘Cursed are you above all the livestock and all the wild animals!  You will crawl on your belly and you will eat dust all the days of your life.  [Here comes the first prophesy!]  And I will put enmity between you and the woman, and between your offspring and hers; he [Eve’s future offspring, Jesus!] will crush your head, and you will strike his heel.’”                                            

                                                                      (Genesis 3: 14; author emphasis added)

You see, Jesus would use His anointed feet to spiritually stomp Satan’s headship, forever giving victory to all who believe!

And so I must ask: Where are you?  Stop to think about it for a moment.  Do you even know?  God does.  If you are not sure, ask Him.  He may reveal some things that you didn’t realize about yourself.  But with that realization, He will also offer you the perfect, holy covering.