Leviticus 7:28-9:6
Aaron was to be the first High Priest of Israel, an office that would remain in his lineage (the High Priests would be appointed from the sons of Aaron). Leviticus 7:28-38 speaks of the portion of the sacrifice given to Aaron and his sons; here it mentions the breast and the right thigh.
In Leviticus 8 we read of Aaron and his sons set apart for the priesthood. Moses called Aaron and his sons, as well as the entire congregation to meet at the door of the tabernacle of meeting. Moses began by washing them with water (Leviticus 8:6; Ephesians 5:26). He then clothed Aaron with holy garments and gave him the Urim and the Thummim (literally “lights and perfections”). We’re not certain as to the details on the Urim and the Thummim, but all we know for certain is that they were used to determine the will of the Lord (see also Numbers 27:21; 1 Samuel 28:6; Ezra 2:3). (Got Questions Article)
Moses then anointed Aaron and his sons with the anointing oil; we read in:
Leviticus 8:12 (NKJV) “And he poured some of the anointing oil on Aaron’s head and anointed him, to consecrate him.”
Pastor Chuck Smith said, “To consecrate something was to set it apart for God’s exclusive use. As priests of God, we too should be consecrated to Him (1 Peter 2:9).”
Warren Wiersbe said, “In the Old Testament, God’s people had a priesthood, but in the New Testament, God’s people are a priesthood (1 Peter 2:5, 9). What made the priests acceptable to God? Water (Leviticus 8:6), oil (Leviticus 8:10–12), blood (Leviticus 8:14–29), and garments (Leviticus 8:7–9). We have been washed (Leviticus 1 Corinthians 6:11), anointed by the Spirit (Leviticus 1 John 2:20, 27), redeemed by Christ’s blood (1 Peter 1:18 ff.), and dressed in His righteousness (Isaiah 61:10).”
As Aaron was anointed I’m reminded of the visual description in Psalm 133 that presents Aaron as drenched – or at least dripping with oil:
Psalm 133:2 (NKJV) “It is like the precious oil upon the head, running down on the beard, the beard of Aaron, running down on the edge of his garments.”
Moses next brought the sons of Aaron and clothed them in holy garments. He brought the bull, they all laid their hands on it (transferring sin) and it was killed as a sin offering on their behalf; after that there was the burnt offering, followed with the ram of consecration…we read in:
Leviticus 8:23–24 (NKJV) “…and Moses killed it. Also he took some of its blood and put it on the tip of Aaron’s right ear, on the thumb of his right hand, and on the big toe of his right foot. 24 Then he brought Aaron’s sons. And Moses put some of the blood on the tips of their right ears, on the thumbs of their right hands, and on the big toes of their right feet. And Moses sprinkled the blood all around on the altar.”
Another visual of how our we need to cleanse and consecrate ourselves in all areas of life, in all that we hear, all that we do, and everywhere we go (our ears, our hands, our feet) (Romans 12:1).
We get a glimpse of the great grace we need to serve the Lord, especially as His representatives; a high and holy calling. If Aaron and/or his sons took this lightly, they would be gambling with their lives (Leviticus 8:35). This was a special day in the nation, and God in His grace was about to “appear” to them, He had made a way to be near them.
Mark 3:31-4:25
As Jesus is busy about His Father’s business, His mother and brothers were looking for Him, calling for Him. There’s no doubt that Jesus was a perfect Son to His mom, and an amazing brother to His siblings, but it appears that His family (at that point) did not understand the nature of His ministry, and they were calling Him away from His Father’s calling. Jesus teaches us about priorities and the true family of God:
Mark 3:33–35 (NKJV) “But He answered them, saying, ‘Who is My mother, or My brothers?’ 34 And He looked around in a circle at those who sat about Him, and said, ‘Here are My mother and My brothers! 35 For whoever does the will of God is My brother and My sister and mother.’”
It’s not that Jesus was disowning His biological family, He loved them, would reach out to them, and some of them would eventually come around, but this simply reveals to us “the way it is” in the Kingdom and Family of God. Jesus would later say in:
Matthew 10:37–39 (NKJV) “He who loves father or mother more than Me is not worthy of Me. And he who loves son or daughter more than Me is not worthy of Me. 38 And he who does not take his cross and follow after Me is not worthy of Me. 39 He who finds his life will lose it, and he who loses his life for My sake will find it.”
Jesus eventually reached a point in His ministry when He began to teach in parables. Matthew’s version provides the full quote and explanation from Isaiah 6:9-10. The parables were earthly stories with heavenly meanings, they were intended to make the spiritual truths easier to comprehend. Jesus desperately wanted to reach them, but spiritual truths require spiritual perception.
The Parable of the Sower, the Seed, and the Soils reveals the fact that the condition of the heart is our most important part. Jesus (the Sower) teaches us His Word (scatters the Seed). The question is, what’s the condition of my heart (my Soil)? Is it hard? Is it shallow? Is it crowded? Or is it soft-soil, good-ground, open and receptive – even hungry for the Word of God?
O Lord, help me…let my heart be right in Your sight.
We are to take heed not only HOW we hear (Luke 8:18), but WHAT we hear (Mark 3:24). The teachers, podcasts, books, TV shows, and videos, we take in will determine the way we see the world and make our judgments. You are what you eat. Jesus wants it to be healthy and Biblical, spot-on accurate, for the same measurement we use will be measured back to us (Matthew 7:2).
Psalm 37:12-29
The wicked plot their plans and swing their swords; they’re sometimes rich by “borrowing and not repaying,” and they attack us in many ways. But, we read here in Psalm 37:13 that his day is coming. Their sword will enter their own heart, their bows shall be broken (Psalm 37:15). We don’t say it arrogantly, but we can say it accurately, one day the wicked will perish:
Psalm 37:20 (NKJV) “But the wicked shall perish; and the enemies of the LORD, like the splendor of the meadows, shall vanish. Into smoke they shall vanish away.”
The saved, on the other hand, are blessed. God will protect us; God knows us personally and has an inheritance for us – eternally (Psalm 37:18). God gives us His goodness and is willing to guide us step-by-step, and lift us up when we fall.
Psalm 37:23–24 (NKJV) “The steps of a good man are ordered by the LORD, and He delights in his way. 24 Though he fall, he shall not be utterly cast down; for the LORD upholds him with His hand.”
As I get older Psalm 37:25 resonates deeply:
Psalm 37:25 (NKJV) “I have been young, and now am old; yet I have not seen the righteous forsaken, nor his descendants begging bread.”
Indeed God is faithful, He has never, ever forsaken me, or my family. He never will (Hebrews 13:5).
God is good, He will protect, direct, and perfect. May we abide in Him, depart from evil, and have that heart to do good (Psalm 37:27)
Proverbs 10:5
Proverbs 10:5 (NKJV) “He who gathers in summer is a wise son; he who sleeps in harvest is a son who causes shame.”
May God give us grace to work hard and (if possible) save for a rainy day, after all, there’s a time to work and a time to play. If we “sleep” during the harvest, we’ll eventually suffer shame.
We can easily couple verses 4 and 5 together – the consequences of laziness and the benefits of diligence, and hard work.
We also read this principle back in Proverbs 6:11 – the contrast between working hard, or hardly working. The slack son will experience poverty and shame, while the diligent one experiences riches and reaps in a harvest.
You might even want to take this passage and apply it to the Spiritual harvest. Am I doing my part?
John 4:34–35 (NKJV) “Jesus said to them, ‘My food is to do the will of Him who sent Me, and to finish His work. 35 Do you not say, ‘There are still four months and then comes the harvest’? Behold, I say to you, lift up your eyes and look at the fields, for they are already white for harvest!’’”
If you have any questions or comments on today’s reading, or you’d like to share something the Lord showed you, feel free to leave a reply below. I’d love to hear from you as we grow forward in 2021.