Author: Beth Duncan

Leviticus 13:2 “When anyone has a swelling or a rash or a shiny spot on their skin that may be a defiling skin disease, they must be brought to a Aaron the priest….”
This chapter causes me great conflict. I see the public health aspect of the inspection and isolation of those with contagious skin diseases. In light of the fact that at their heart, all of Leviticus’s rules seem to be aimed at keeping the Jewish people healthy so they could stay in communion with God, that isolation makes sense.
Leviticus 13:9 “When anyone has a defiling skin disease, they must be brought to the priest.”
But humans usually take things too far. And by the time Jesus walked among them, lepers had become a living parable of what sin does to a person. “…many Jews thought two things about a leper: You are the walking dead and you deserve this because this is the punishment of God against you.” Such attitudes, both then and now, can be incredibly dangerous.
Leviticus 13:45 Anyone with such a defiling disease must wear torn clothes, let their hair be unkempt, cover the lower part of their face and cry out, “Unclean! Unclean!”
Lord, Thank You for this day, for this scripture, for Your overwhelming love and mercy. You gave us laws to allow us communion with You. You gave us Jesus to show us perfect love, grace, and mercy. Help us to love You and love others with that same depth of compassion as Jesus exemplified. Draw us closer. Amen.
Leviticus 13:46 As long as they have disease they remain unclean. They must live alone; they must live outside the camp.
Have a blessed day. 

Leviticus 12:2 …A women who becomes pregnant and gives birth to a son will be ceremonially unclean for seven days, just as she is unclean during her monthly period.
Many of the things that I have read about Leviticus talks about how the laws in this book helped the Jewish people to be healthier than other cultures, allowing them to live longer lives. Commentary on Leviticus 12 suggests similar benefits from the imposed isolation of mother and child after birth. There was also mention of the benefit of the bonding time that that isolation allows the new family.
Leviticus 12:3 On the eighth day the boy is to be circumcised.
There are wide opinions, however, about the requirement for the sin offering at the end of the days of purification. One source says the sin offering was required because God wanted all to remember “that with every birth another sinner was brought into the world.” Another source very clearly delineates evidence as to why the sin offering is required simply because of the issuance of blood during birth. Quite a range of opinions on the matter.
Leviticus 12:4 Then the women must wait thirty-three days to be purified from her bleeding….
Lord, Thank You for this day, for this scripture, for Your desire to have Your people healthy and in communion with You. Continue to give me wisdom and understanding as I seek a closer relationship with You through Your word. Draw me closer. Amen.
Leviticus 12:5 If she gives birth to a daughter, for two weeks the woman will be unclean, as during her period. Then she must wait sixty-six days to be purified from her bleeding.
Have a blessed day.

Leviticus 11:43a Do not defile yourselves by any of these creatures….
Once again with this chapter I was struck with the thought that there are So. Many. Rules. Commentary, however, reminded me that “God was not making up new rules for Israel….God was simply codifying what was already in the traditions of Israel.” They had been slaves in Egypt for hundreds of years. He wanted to remind them of what to do so that He could be in relationship with them.
Leviticus 11:43b … Do not make yourselves unclean by means of them or be made unclean by them.
Leviticus 11:44-45 reminds them of the fact that God is holy, and for Him to be able to be in relationship with them, they have to be holy as well. Suddenly, all those rules and regulations become a loving reminder from their God, a God of relationship. He wants to be with them. Following these rules will allow them that opportunity. 
Leviticus 11:44 I am the LORD your God; consecrate yourselves and be holy, because I am holy….
Lord, Thank You for this day, for this scripture, for this reminder that You love us deeply and want to be in relationship with us. Help us to be ever mindful of Leviticus 10:3 in our relationship with You—to regard You as holy and to seek to glorify You when we come near. Draw us closer. Amen.
Leviticus 11:45 I am the LORD, who brought you out of Egypt to be your God; therefore be holy, because I am holy.
Have a blessed day.

Leviticus 10:1 Aaron’s sons Nadab and Abihu took their censers, put fire in them and added incense; and they offered unauthorized fire before the LORD, contrary to His command.
When I read the beginning of this chapter, my first thought was that I am so glad that we CAN approach God on our own because of Jesus’s sacrifice. But commentary gave me pause with the comment: “Whatever their exact motivation, it wasn’t holiness unto the LORD.”
Leviticus 10:2 So fire came out from the presence of the LORD and consumed them, and they died before the LORD.
Yes, we can approach God without the aid of intercessors, but the purpose must be to glorify God, to draw closer to Him. You might wonder what other purpose there could be, or like me, you might instantly be put in mind of people who try to use God as a weapon, people who try to put God in their back pocket, people who claim intimate knowledge of the mind of God and condemn and judge in His name because of it. Glory to God does not come from such behavior.
Leviticus 10:3a And Moses said to Aaron, “This is what the LORD spoke, saying: ‘By those who come near Me I must be regarded as holy; And before all the people I must be glorified.’” 
Lord, Thank You for this day, for this scripture, for this reminder that we CAN come to You but that our hearts must be in the right place, our purpose must be pure—we must regard You as holy and seek to glorify You. Draw us closer. Help us shine Your light. Amen.
Leviticus 10:3b So Aaron held his peace.
Have a blessed day.

Leviticus 8:22 He then presented the other ram, the ram for the ordination, and Aaron and his sons laid their hands on its head.
Commentary explained verses 23-24 in the following way: “They should hear differently because the blood was on their ear. They should work differently because the blood was on their thumb. They should walk differently because the blood was on their toe.” This idea really struck me and put me in mind of the mindfulness and intentionality I wrote about yesterday.
Leviticus 8:23 Moses slaughtered the ram and took some of its blood and put it on the lobe of Aaron’s right ear, on the thumb of His right hand and on the big toe of his right foot.
My relationship with Christ should change me in the best possible way. It should cause me to think of my life, my interactions, in terms of His will—What would Jesus do? How would Jesus act in this situation?How can I walk in such a way that others can see Him, His love, through me? 
Leviticus 8:24a Moses also brought Aaron’s sons forward and put some of the blood on the lobes of their right ears, on the thumbs of their right hands and on the big toes of their right feet….
Lord, Thank You for this day, for this scripture, for this perspective. Help me to live differently because of my relationship with You. Help me to be mindful and intentional and to listen, work, and walk in Your love. Draw me closer. Amen.
Leviticus 8:24b … Then he splashed blood against the sides of the altar.
Have a blessed day. 

Leviticus 7:1 “‘These are the regulations for the guilt offering, which is most holy….’”
These verses, to me, speak to intentionality and mindfulness. Paying attention. Being aware. Cultivating purposeful and deliberate practices instead of mindlessly going through the motions. Intentionality and mindfulness are important practices today when it comes to our relationship with our Savior.
Leviticus 7:11 “‘These are the regulations for the fellowship offering anyone may present to the LORD….’”
I used to have an index card on my desk at school which said: My goal for today…to abide with Christ. Even that little physical reminder helped me to remember to be intentional about staying mindful of His presence. It is so easy for the world’s noise and chaos to creep in if we don’t remain mindfully vigilant. 
Leviticus 7:37 These, then, are the regulations for the burnt offering, the grain offering, the sin offering, the guilt offering, the ordination offering and the fellowship offering…..
Lord, Thank You for this day, for this scripture, for this reminder of the importance of being intentional and mindful when it comes to our relationship with You. Help us to abide in You today and every day, Lord. Keep us mindful. Draw us closer. Amen.
Leviticus 7:38 … which the LORD gave Moses at Mount Sinai in the Desert of Sinai on the day He commanded the Israelites to bring their offerings to the LORD.
Have a blessed day.