Highlights In Today's Reading:
Today we read about the laws of cleansing, recompense, jealousy; the Nazarite vow; why the threefold blessing of the Lord. The Lord bestows an abundant blessing on all who dedicate their lives inwardly and outwardly to Him.
The Lord provided a threefold blessing for His people — protection, loving favor, peace, and all their physical needs. But before they could receive the blessing, the priests had to pray as God had directed.
Ye shall bless the children of Israel, saying unto them, The Lord bless thee, and keep thee: the Lord make His face shine upon thee, and be gracious unto thee: the Lord lift up His countenance upon thee, and give thee peace. And they shall put My name upon the children of Israel; and I will bless them (6:23-27).
One of the great privileges of Aaron, the high priest, was to be the intercessor of blessing between God and the people (Deut. 21:5). He not only represented the people to God, but he was also the representative of God to the people.
For God to command Aaron to offer this prayer revealed not only His desire to supply the Israelites needs but also the necessity for Aaron to pray and be obedient in order for His people to receive His blessings. It also gave assurance that, when the blessing was pronounced, it would be given because God had promised it.
Two of the great blessings of the Christian are prayer and the assurance He (Jesus) is able also to save them to the uttermost (completely, without exception) that come unto God by Him, seeing He ever liveth to make intercession for them. . . . Who needeth not daily, as those high priests, to offer up sacrifice, first for His own sins, and then for the people's: for this He did once, when He offered up Himself (Heb. 7:25,27). The constant intercession of Christ is the great evidence of continuance of His love and care — not only to keep us from the pitfalls of Satan but to perfect His will in us.
Who shall separate us from the love of Christ? shall tribulation, or distress, or persecution, or famine, or nakedness, or peril, or sword? . . . Nay, in all these things we are more than conquerors through Him that loved us. For I am persuaded, that neither death, nor life, nor angels, nor principalities, nor powers, nor things present, nor things to come, Nor height, nor depth, nor any other creature, shall be able to separate us from the love of God, which is in Christ Jesus our Lord (Rom. 8:35,37-39).
Thought for Today:
What or who is keeping you from giving the Lord His rightful place in your life? Our Lord expects us to reflect His character, not the world's.
Christ Revealed:
Nazarite is a Hebrew term meaning “dedication by separation” (Num. 6:1-8). Jesus dedicated Himself to do only the will of His Father, even unto death: Thy will be done (Matt. 26:39,42).
Word Studies:
5:2 an issue = discharge; 5:3 defile =unclean; 5:7 recompense =repay; 5:12 a trespass =an act of unfaithfulness; 5:13 close =undetected; taken with the manner =caught in the act; 5:22 into thy bowels =the body; 6:12 consecrate =dededicate; 6:14 blemish =defect; 6:15 unleavened =yeast free; 6:19 sodden =boiled, roasted; 6:20 wave =gesture of offering before the Lord.
Prayer Needs:
Pray for Radio Sri Lanka International Shortwave Broadcasts sponsored by Roy Doerksen • Bible Pathway Printer: Ambrose Printing Staff, Nashville TN • Government Officials: Rep. Gresham Barrett (SC), Sen. Judd Gregg (NH), Rep. Nick Lampson (TX), and Rep. Richard Neal (MA) • Country: Belarus (10 million) in northeastern Europe • Major languages: Belarussian and Russian • Religious freedom • 48% Orthodox; 22% Roman Catholic; 1.1% Jewish; 1% Protestant; .2% Muslim; 27.7% Agnostic/Atheist/Other • Prayer Suggestion: Pray that God will move His people to give faithfully to His work (Mal. 3:8-10).
Optional Reading: Luke 1
Memory Verse for the Week: Matthew 5:7-8