Good morning! Happy Valentine’s Day, for those who are celebrating. We have a distinctly unromantic reading today from Numbers 5, and then Numbers 6 introduces us to a class of people called the Nazirites.
Category: Daily Bible
Numbers 3-4
Good morning! Today’s passage (Numbers 3-4) gives much more detailed instructions about the organization of the Levites, to accompany the description of the other tribes in yesterday’s reading.
Numbers 1-2
Good morning! Today we start the book of Numbers, which (despite its title) actually holds some interesting narratives alongside lists of people, tribes and instructions. The Hebrew name for this book is more suggestive, meaning something like, “Into the Wilderness”. This book begins at Mount Sinai and ends near the Jordan River entry into Canaan, after almost four decades of wandering in the wilderness (a trip that would not have taken nearly as long if they had been going directly). Along the way we are treated to stories of miracles, more grumbling in the wilderness, divine judgment, and other fodder for reflection. I’m looking forward to it—certainly more than Leviticus! 🙂
Leviticus 26-27
Good morning! We close out Leviticus today in chapters 26-27 with an extended discussion of the consequences for following or breaking the covenant, then an encore discussion of offerings.
Leviticus 24-25
Good morning! Leviticus 24 and 25 are almost the end of this book. They show us how Levitical theology informs criminal punishment and property practices.
Leviticus 21-23
Good morning! In case you’re counting, there are just two more days of Leviticus after today! (I just checked.) This has been fun, but we’re ready to move on, right? Soon enough, I promise. Today in Leviticus 21-23, we hear more about the role of priests, separating lay people from clergy, and then read about the main Hebrew festivals appointed throughout the year.
Leviticus 19-20
Good morning! Today’s reading of chapters 19-20 continues what’s called the “holiness code” in Leviticus. Yesterday’s reflection ran long, so let me keep this one to the point.
Leviticus 16-18
Good morning! Today’s passage (Leviticus 16-18) begins with a description of an annual atonement ritual, then continues to describe divine laws for the Hebrews to follow. In so doing, Leviticus lays the groundwork to justify later violence against non-Hebrews who break these laws. It proceeds from the assumption (shared by the entire sacrificial system) that violence against creature or human being is appropriate and God-blessed so long as it upholds a distinction between the righteous “us” and the sinful “them”.
Leviticus 14-15
Good morning! This section of Leviticus is where we earn our merit badges! Passages like today’s in Leviticus 14-15 have me wondering about the wisdom of reading the entire Bible in a year. Thankfully, modern medicine has advanced significantly beyond these ancient treatments for skin and reproductive system disorders. I read with curiosity for how other cultures might have treated similar situations, and how these remedies might have indirectly helped the health of the whole people.
Leviticus 12-13
Good morning! Today in Leviticus 12-13 we hear about birth practices for mothers of newborns, and then a variety of interventions prescribed for skin and mold diseases. While this is perhaps interesting from a medical point of view, I find little here that is resonant of the Divine and much here that makes me grateful for modern medicine!
Pastor Oby Ballinger 