Author: Beth Duncan

Leviticus 24:1-2 The LORD said to Moses, “Command the Israelites to bring you clear oil of pressed olives for the light so that the lamps may be kept burning continually.”
God wants us to shine His light continually. That requires continued vigilance on our parts. There is so much darkness in this world, it’s easy to lose sight of the good, to allow the darkness to dim our light if we aren’t careful. Guard your light so that it doesn’t fade.
Leviticus 24:8 “This bread is to be set out before the LORD regularly, Sabbath after Sabbath, on behalf of the Israelites, as a lasting covenant.”
God also wants continuous fellowship with us. He wants it to be fresh and flavorful. Again, it takes a measure of diligence to keep the relationship vibrant and alive instead of stale. Maybe that means connecting with Him in a new way, showing our love in a different format. Don’t be afraid to shake things up. He wants our best selves, not the stale leftovers.
Leviticus 24:9 “It belongs to Aaron and his sons, who are to eat it in the sanctuary area, because it is the most holy part of their perpetual share of the food offerings presented to the LORD.”
Lord, Thank You for this day, for this scripture, for all that I am learning through my reading of Your word and related commentary. Thank You for fellowship with You and for the ability to shine Your light for others. Draw me closer. Amen.
Leviticus 24:23 Then Moses spoke to the Israelites….
Have a blessed day.

Leviticus 23:1-2 The LORD said to Moses, “Speak to the Israelites and say to them….”
This morning I went searching for commentary that might tell me how the Israelites felt upon receiving Leviticus. Were they relieved to know exactly what God expected of them? Did they chafe against the restrictions? What I found was eye opening for me. 
Leviticus 23:9-10 The LORD said to Moses, “Speak to the Israelites and say to them….”
One source described Leviticus as establishing a new normal in that this marks the first time since Eden where God was living WITH man. I had NEVER considered the book in this light before. I truly want to spend some time pondering the potential implications of that revelation. 
Leviticus 23:23-24 The LORD said to Moses, “Say to the Israelites….”
Lord, Thank You for this day, for this scripture, for this insight. Thank You that I am excited to ponder the implications of today’s revelation. Thank You that You want, that You have always wanted, a close relationship with Your people. You are holy, Lord, and we are so fallibly human. Thank You for showing us the way back to You, for sending Your Son so that we will always have a path to You. Help me never to take that gift for granted. Draw me closer. Amen.
Leviticus 23:44 So Moses announced to the Israelites the appointed festivals of the LORD.
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Leviticus 21:1 The LORD said to Moses, “Speak to the priests, the sons of Aaron, and say to them: ‘A priest must not….’”
I used to do an assignment with my students called “Where are you going? Where have you been?” It was designed to have them look back at their lives thus far and look forward at where they are headed. Leviticus continues to strike me as a similar exercise but with God delineating for the Israelites how they should act differently from the Egyptians (looking back) and from the Canaanites (looking forward). God wanted them to remember that they were a people set apart by Him and for Him.
Leviticus 21:5 “‘Priests must not….’”
And I continue to find myself incredibly grateful for the redemptive work of Christ, who tore the veil separating us from God, because of whom we now have an open invitation to sit at the foot of His thrown. After 21 chapters of rules and regulations, I am even more grateful that just little ole me, with my problems, my shortcomings, my fears, can walk right up to His throne any time. What a gift. Thank You, Jesus.
Leviticus 21:17 “Say to Aaron: ‘For the generations to come none of your descendants who has a defect may come near to offer the food of his God.’”
Lord, Thank You for this day, for this scripture, for this reminder of the privilege of my close relationship with You, a relationship available to all who seek You. Help me never to take that relationship for granted. Help me to spend time with You, in You, daily. Draw me closer. Amen.
Leviticus 21:So Moses told this to Aaron and his sons and to all the Israelites.
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Leviticus 20:22 Keep all my decrees and laws and follow them, so that the land where I am bringing you to live may not vomit you out.
Commentary says, “Sometimes we think what God mostly wants is our obedience….What God really wants is us….” As a parent, this rings true in so many ways. I want what’s best for my children. I want them to behave and to do their best. But it plucks my nerves to see my child going through the motions, doing the bare minimum in the way of obedience. God knows that, sees that, too.
Leviticus 20:23 You must not live according to the customs of the nations I am going to drive out before you. Because they did these things, I abhorred them.
God knows our hearts. He knows when we are just going through the motions. He knows when we are putting on a show for Him. And He understands how much we miss out on when we separate ourselves from Him in that way. He wants all of us because He loves us so deeply.
Leviticus 20:24 …I am the LORD your God, who has set you apart from the nations.
Lord, Thank You for this day, for this scripture, for loving us so much that You want our whole hearts and not just our obedience. Help us to give ourselves wholeheartedly to You, to hold nothing back. Draw us closer. Amen.
Leviticus 20:26 You are to be holy to me because I, the LORD, am holy, and I have set you apart from the nations to be my own.
Have a blessed day.

Leviticus 19:4 “‘Do not turn to idols or make metal gods for yourself. I am the LORD your God.’”
Commentary states, “Israel had significant trouble with the worship of idols until the Babylonian captivity (some 800 years from the time of Leviticus).” That fact just blows my mind as they are struggling with this issue even while Moses is receiving the Ten Commandments. Yet God lovingly continues to insist, “I am your God. I love you, and I will continue to remind you who you are and how you should act in Me.”
Leviticus 19:19 “‘Keep my decrees.’”
Lord, Thank You for loving me, for claiming me, for reminding me that as your dearly beloved, there are certain expectations of my behavior. Just like the Israelites, I become muddled and forgetful, falling into behaviors I know are unacceptable. Lovingly remind me of my identity in You.
Leviticus 19:36b …”’I am the LORD your God, who brought you out of Egypt.’”
Lord, Thank You for this day, for this scripture, for Your love. Guide me in the ways that I should go. Remind me who I am. Help me to focus on You. Draw me closer. Amen.
Leviticus 19:37 “‘Keep all My decrees and all my laws and follow them. I am the LORD.’”
Have a blessed day.

Leviticus 18:1-2 The LORD said to Moses, “Speak to the Israelites and say to them: ‘I am the LORD your God.’”
Commentary states that at that time, Israel was “the only kingdom that specifically recognized Yahweh as their King and Covenant God.” They had just left hundreds of years of slavery in Egypt, and they were headed to Canaan, and God wanted to be sure they knew how to act as His people. The golden calf incident showed that they clearly needed a refresher.
Leviticus 18:3 ‘“You must not do as they do in Egypt, where you used to live, and you must not do as they do in the land of Canaan, where I am bringing you. Do not follow their practices.’”
At this point, I feel like a bit of a broken record, but the whole of Leviticus seems to be God saying to the Israelites, “This is who You are in me. You need to reclaim that identity. You need to live that truth. The world will try to pull You from me. You MUST know who you are in Me so that You don’t let that happen.” I know that I, personally, can definitely benefit from that same message today. Thank You, Jesus.
Leviticus 18:4 “‘You must obey my laws and be careful to follow my decrees. I am the LORD your God.’”
Lord, Thank You for this day, for this scripture, for this reminder of my identity in You. Help me to never forget that I am Your deeply loved child. Draw me closer. Amen.
Leviticus 18:5 “‘Keep my decrees and laws, for the person who obeys them will live by them. I am the LORD.’”
Have a blessed day.

Leviticus 17:1 The LORD said to Moses….

These chapters still seem to be about establishing the Israelites identity in God. He wants them to put aside pagan ways and be in relationship with only Him. The human side of me wants to sigh and roll my eyes, wondering when in the world they will finally get it.

Leviticus 17:2a …”Speak to Aaron, his sons, and all the people of Israel…”

But deep inside, I recognize myself and my own actions in the fickle Israelites. When I am left to wait and hope, I worry and fret, seeking assurance from man when God seems silent. Jesus, help me.

Leviticus 17:2b “Tell them: ‘This is what the LORD has commanded.”

Lord, Thank You for this day, for this scripture, for this reminder that I need to root myself deeply in You. It’s easy to judge the Israelites, but in the stillness of my heart, I see I need to build the same sense of identity in You to keep me steady in the waiting. Help me define myself only in You. Draw me closer. Amen.

Leviticus 17:5 “This rule is so people will bring their sacrifices, which they have been sacrificing in the open fields, to the LORD.”

Have a blessed day.

Leviticus 16:2 The LORD said to Moses: “Tell your brother Aaron that he is not to come whenever he chooses into the Most Holy Place ….”
I feel the sting of Aaron’s separation from God. He was only allowed in God’s presence once a year, and stringent preparations had to be completed first. Then I think with some guilt on my own open invitation to the foot of my Savior’s throne. Jesus finished the work of atonement, leaving me with unrestricted access to God.
Leviticus 16:34a. “This is to be a lasting ordinance for you….”
That access is a gift, but do I treat it as such? That’s where the aforementioned guilt comes in. Do I treat my open communication with God as the sacred gift it is? I don’t have to wait for a once-a-year invitation. I don’t have to go through atonement rituals. I can and do sit at His feet every morning in earnest conversation. What a precious gift. Thank You, Jesus.
Leviticus 16:34b “…Atonement is to be made once a year for all the sins of the Israelites.”
Lord, Thank You for this day, for this scripture, for this reminder that my relationship with You is a gift. Thank You for sitting with me every morning, for drawing me closer, for helping me understand more of You. Help me never to lose sight of what a precious gift this time with You is. Amen.
Leviticus 16:34c And it was done, as the LORD commanded Moses.
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Leviticus 15:2 “Speak to the Israelites and say to them: ‘When any man has an unusual discharge, such a discharge is unclean.’”
Commentary was very helpful in my quest to understand today’s scripture. There was a distinction that discharge of this kind from man or woman didn’t make them sinful, only unclean. Semen and menstruation specifically “were so regarded…because the two are connected with symbols of life and redemption.”
Leviticus 15:16 “‘When a man has an emission of semen, he must bathe his whole body with water, and he will be unclean till evening.’”
Background in commentary also mentioned that “…in the ancient world it was common to worship the gods by having sex with temple prostitutes.” This scripture helped remind the Israelites that this behavior was not proper worship for the one true God. 
Leviticus 15:18 “When a man has sexual relations with a woman and there is emission of semen, both of them must bathe with water, and they will be unclean till evening.”
Lord, Thank You for this day, for this scripture, for this opportunity to learn more about You and the Israelites. Thank You that we understand basic hygiene and proper church etiquette, that You know our hearts. Thank You for the rich diversity of Your word and the layers of knowledge and understanding that I gain as I continue to study it. Draw me closer. Amen.
Acts 15:8 “God, who knows the heart, showed that He accepted them by giving the Holy Spirit to them, just as He did to us.
Have a blessed day.