February 17

Today's Reading

Leviticus. Notice that the blood from sin and guilt offerings was used in the Holy Place, which was the outer room in the Tabernacle (the inner room or "Holy of Holies" was where only the High Priest went and only on the Day of Atonement). This is comparable to the room which Zechariah entered in the Jerusalem Temple when he met the angel that told him that he and Elizabeth would have a son (John the Baptist). The priests entered the Holy Place regularly to bring the sacrifices.

The blood of sin and guilt offerings was sprinkled seven times before the curtain that separated the two rooms. That curtain -- or veil -- was what tore in half from top to bottom as Christ died on the cross. Seven is the number representing completeness in Scripture (7 days = 1 complete week). The seven sprinkles represented a "complete" covering by the blood. (Without the shedding of blood, there is no remission -- Hebrews 9:22). Then a dab of blood was smeared on the horns of the incense altar to "cover" it. Finally, the rest was poured out to run off to a designated place.

Today's Leviticus passage rounds out with a few ways people could become guilty and need a sin or guilt offering. Questions?

Mark. Each of these accounts from Jesus' life and ministry have great significance. However, I love what it tells us about Jesus' call of Levi (Matthew). Matthew followed Jesus, then immediately invited Jesus to his house and threw a big party, bringing all his sinner friends to meet the Master. Now, that's the work of the Gospel!

Did you see that Jesus was followed by "many" disreputable sinners? We have no evidence that they all started acting saintly at the moment they started following Him. In fact, it's likely that some of the, never fully devoted their lives to Him. Still, He welcomed them. What does that say about those we allow to be close to us?

Psalms. We have a worship song we sing that comes from the second stanza (v. 5-9) of today's reading. I was spoken to by the first verse: "Sin whispers to the wicked, deep within their hearts." Romans 7 describes the person who has truly received Christ as "I delight to do the law of God in my inner man." What a contrast!

Proverbs. Riches are truly deceitful. The lure to get them, even by sinful means, is great. They don't last, however.

I hope you enjoy today's reading like I did. What are your thoughts?