April 8

Leviticus 11-12; Psalm 13-14; Proverbs 26; 1 Thessalonians 5

Daily Catechism

QUESTION 67: WHAT IS FORBIDDEN IN THE FOURTH COMMANDMENT?
Answer: The fourth commandment forbids dishonoring the Lord’s Day by actions or thoughts that divert the soul from spiritual refreshment, or deprive the body of renewed energy or distract the mind from its special Sabbath focus on the Lord.
Scripture: Ezekiel 22:26; 23:38; Jeremiah 17:21; Nehemiah 13:15, 17; Acts 20:7; Mark 2:23-28; Romans 14:5-6.

Leviticus 11

This chapter is exclusively related to the determination of what animals are clean or unclean primarily in order to prescribe what can be eaten and what cannot.  There is also a prohibition from touching dead animals that makes one unclean for a prescribed period.  All of this creates a sense of attention to what they were doing with their eating and with their bodies in general.  These animals and the eating of their flesh would later be declared acceptable by God (Acts 10:12-15) and there would indeed be nothing unclean of itself (Rom 14:14, 20).   Jesus would even explain that it is not what enters a man’s stomach that makes him unclean but it is what leaves his mouth (Mark 7:18-20).  Today all food is good and I can honor God by giving thanks for his provision (1 Tim 4:4-5; Rom 14:6).  So like other ceremonial laws and rituals it appears that these instructions in Leviticus too were not due to an intrinsic problem with the animal but merely something to separate and display a need for self control and holiness as directed by God.  I must be willing to take God at his Word for the sake of his Word and not for my assessment of the matter at hand.  If he says to not eat an apple it does not matter that it appears to be good for food and a delight to the eyes.  This is for not.  I must take God at his Word and distrust my own understanding.

Leviticus 12

This chapter ties immediately to Luke chapter 2 (Luke 2:22, 39).  The 40 day period after childbirth (7+33) means that they would have arrived at the temple to present their first born child to the Lord.  At that time they met Simeon, as described in Luke 2, about 40 days after the birth of Christ.  They would have perhaps been paying the redemption price according to the law since the first born are required to be redeemed (Ex 13:2, 12-13, 15; Num 18:15).  It could be that the redemption price was not paid, as it is not mentioned, but that they devoted Jesus to the service of God as Samuel was by his mother who left him there at the temple.  Originally the redemption price for all the first born of Israel was reduced by the number of Levite were being devoted to service at the tabernacle (Num 3:45-47).  Similarly here Jesus may have been excluded due to his…well, due to the fact that he was the tabernacle of God. 

Psalm 13

The Lord may leave me to my own miserable thoughts and reflections and emotional valleys for a time, but if I trust in his steadfast love despite my own emotions and circumstances I know that I will yet again rejoice.  My heart can rejoice in his salvation that does not depend upon my emotions or my perceptions, but upon the person and work of Christ. 

Psalm 14

Paul cites this Psalm in Romans 3 as part of his argument to establish that no human being can possibly be justified by the law.  The law has only the power to condemn the guilty and here we learn that all are guilty.  This moves toward the doctrine of total depravity that until we are justified in new birth by the Holy Spirit we are among those who “do not do good”.  Romans 14:23 also attests to the fact that without faith in the living God, nothing we do can be anything but sin, since our actions must be done in relation to faith that we are honoring God in obedience.

Proverbs 26

I pity the fool!  So clearly there are times when the right thing to do with a fool is answer him and times when the right thing to do is to ignore him…may the Lord guide me (Prov 26:4-5).  The Lord takes us dogs and teaches us to feast on Christ rather than on our own vomit (Prov 26:11).  I should not look in the mirror if I am looking for someone wise to emulate (Prov 26:12).  Here Solomon gives some Biblical credence to the Indian concept of Karma (Prov 26:27), though at the hand of the Lord and not a mystical power. 

1 Thessalonians 5

Here Paul asserts that the Day of the Lord should not be a surprise to me in a big way since I should be eagerly awaiting the coming of the bridegroom (Rom 8:23; Gal 5:5; Heb 9:28).  I think of the burning lamps of the virgins (Matt 25:1-4).  I am to remain sober and awake and I am to be doing battle…why else would I be dressing up in armor (1 Thess 5:8)?  I should be grateful and honor those who labor in the ministry.  I should spur the idle on to seek God hotly.  I should encourage those who are losing steam or are weary.  I should be helping those who are weak of faith or who otherwise need some patient help.  There are not circumstances under which I should not be rejoicing and praying and giving thanks.  This is huge and requires a trust in the goodness and the sovereignty of God (Rom 8:28-29; Jer 32:40-41).  Paul closes by indicating that our sanctification will come just as the Lord is faithful.  We are told to abstain from every form of evil.  The Lord will enable us to walk worthy of our calling!

Soli Deo Gloria!