Book of Leviticus #18

Chapter 26:14-46 must be taken seriously by anyone who wishes to take God seriously. It presents a sobering account of the extent to which God is prepared to go in order to save us. Ultimately, though, for those who like pharaoh harden their hearts and refuse his mercy, there remains one ultimate and eternal outcome: hell.

Curses are the counterpart of blessings. But God is a loving God and his desire is for all mankind to be saved. When faced with the prospect of an eternity in hell, the worst temporal curse is an act of mercy. God's love is complete and unending, and therefore the curses in this Chapter should not be seen as a sign of a hateful God, but rather as an expression of his love when he is speaking to a wayward, obstinate, rebellious child.

In this lecture, we cover the curses of Leviticus Chapter 26. We will see that these curses are all-encompassing, that they are comprehensive, covering every aspect of our lives.

God wants us to understand that there is not one aspect of our lives that escapes his scrutiny, his judgment, and his love

Book of Leviticus #17

Leviticus 26:3-13 tells the Israelites that if they walk in the Lord's statutes and observe his commandments then the Lord will bless them. What is the extent of these blessings and what do they mean today for us?

This same truth is taught in the New Testament albeit in a different way. In addition to the teaching on the last judgment in Matthew 25:31-46, the Lord tells us that the name of the elect will be entered into the Book of Life (Rev 3:5; 13:8; 17:8; 20:12). Indeed, the consequences of what man does during his earthly life will follow him beyond the grave (Rev 14:13).

In this lecture, we begin by asking a simple question: What is a blessing? What does it mean to bless and what does it mean when God blesses us? Next, we consider the blessings listed in this chapter and map them back to various areas of our lives. What emerges is an all-encompassing movement of grace from God to man when Man is faithful to the Covenant. Indeed, God is not content to bless us partially, but he wishes to bless us so that we may attain everlasting life.

Therefore, no matter how far or deep we may move from the Lord, no matter the depth of our sins, he is always ready to bless us, provided we are willing to repent with sincerity and humility. And this is a great blessing we received from the Cross.

Book of Leviticus #16

In Leviticus 23:4 God instructs the people to keep the feasts at their appointed time. Therefore, the people had to preserve their spiritual heritage and pass it on.

1. Passover came in the Spring, the month of Nissan (March-April) at the time of the Barley harvest.
2. It was immediately followed by the seven days Feast of Unleavened Bread and the beginning of the feast of First Fruits in the same week.
3. Fifty days later (Pentecost), the Israelite commemorated the Feast of Weeks (Shabuoth), right at the time of the early summer wheat harvest.
4. Three more festivals came together in the fall during the harvest of summer fruits and olives:
5. New Year’s (Rosh Hashannah) on Tishri 1,
6. Yom Kippur (Day of Atonement (Tishri 10), and
7. The Feast of Tabernacles (Succoth) or In gathering beginning on Tishri 15.

Thus the entire liturgical cycle of Israel was one of remembrance, renewal, thanksgiving for the things to come, and thanksgiving for the things given.

If God took care to instruct the Jews on their liturgical year, how much does He care to see us today follow the Liturgical year with all its appointed feast days?

Is there true joy apart from the liturgical year?