Category: Hiding His Word

Leviticus on Leprosy (and the desires of my heart)

Melissa LynneLeave a comment

Leviticus 13 recounts God’s laws concerning leprosy. Leprosy, or Hansen’s Disease is a need dear to my heart.

Let me explain … While God has allowed me to go to Africa twice to work alongside and support the vision of other ministries, my earliest prayer to go to Africa was because I desired to go love and minister to those trapped by the bondages that come with Hansen’s.

The door has not opened in that area and it has been so long ago that I prayed those prayers. There is a tendency to think we have missed it. There is a tendency to just quit talking about it. In fact most of you don’t know this about me…but now you do. And you should know also that deep in my heart I do still believe, in God’s timing, I will be involved in some way in this very specific Gospel work. We do tend to forget…but God…He reminds me every single 2/22 when we come to this passage!!!

Leprosy or Hansen’s Disease

Tens of thousands of people in our world still suffer from leprosy. This bacterial infection not only affects the skin and destroys nerves, but it also brings incredible, unbearable shame for many who get sick.

Because the disease affects the nervous system, the areas of a person’s body affected with leprosy become numb to many things that ordinarily cause pain. When people suffering from leprosy no longer feel pain, they easily injure themselves. These injuries can become infected, resulting in tissue loss. Ultimately, people with leprosy can lose portions of their fingers, toes and even limbs.

The social stigma can be devastating—perhaps even worse than the disease itself. In their time of need, men, women and even children may be expelled from their homes and shunned by their community when leprosy is discovered on their bodies. Sometimes even those that do not have this disease are ostracized and required to live separated because a member of their family is diagnosed.

Leprosy can be cured without permanent damage if medical help is sought immediately. Unfortunately, the shame and social stigma surrounding the disease can cause leprosy to be viewed not as a curable disease but as a curse. In remote places and among the poor, diagnosis and treatment often come too late.

It is found in parts of Angola, Brazil, India, Mozambique, Nepal, and Tanzania and is still prevalent in some countries such as Madagascar, Nigeria, DR Congo, South Sudan and Burkina Faso.

Look at the Pictures

I highly suggest that you google “leprosy” and look through some of the images to see the effects of this disease that we read about today in scripture. It will give you a picture of not only of the potential affects of the diagnosis but also why precautions that seem so harsh to those of us in the modern western world had to be made in Bible times to prevent the disease from spreading.

Read the Scriptures

Once you have seen the pictures and read in Leviticus 13 the laws regarding leprosy suddenly scriptures like Matthew 8:1-4 really come to life. At least it did for me…

“When he was come down from the mountain, great multitudes followed him. And, behold, there came a leper and worshipped him, saying, Lord, if thou wilt, thou canst make me clean. And Jesus put forth his hand, and touched him, saying, I will; be thou clean. And immediately his leprosy was cleansed. And Jesus saith unto him, See thou tell no man; but go thy way, shew thyself to the priest, and offer the gift that Moses commanded, for a testimony unto them.”

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Do You Ever Tremble?

Melissa LynneLeave a comment

For all those things hath mine hand made, and all those things have been, saith the Lord: but to this man will I look, even to him that is poor and of a contrite spirit, and trembleth at my word. ~ ‭‭Isaiah‬ ‭66:2‬ ‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬

To whom will God look?

• The poor.

• The one that is of a contrite spirit.

Contrite – having sincere remorse; filled with a sense of guilt and desire for atonement

• The one that trembles at His Word!!!

Tremble – to shake involuntarily with quick, short movements, as from fear, excitement, weakness, or cold; quake; quiver. To be troubled with fear or apprehension.

This verse of scripture has been on my heart for a while. It makes me wonder when was the last time we trembled? When was the last time I truly trembled — at His Word?

Sacrifices and Offerings of the Old Testament (and how they apply to you and me)

Melissa LynneLeave a comment

And the Lord called unto Moses, and spake unto him out of the tabernacle of the congregation, saying, Speak unto the children of Israel, and say unto them, If any man of you bring an offering unto the Lord, ye shall bring your offering of the cattle, even of the herd, and of the flock. ~ Leviticus‬ ‭1:1-2‬‬

Is anyone out there reading the One Year Bible? If you are, you know that for the last few days we have been reading in Leviticus 1-5 about the 5 major Old Testament sacrifices/offerings. Hard reading to stay engaged in but I hope you didn’t skip what God laid out for us. I found it all absolutely fascinating.

I also think it is important to know about these offerings since they are mentioned throughout the Old Testament and provided a way for the Israelites to get into and keep a right relationship with God. These sacrifices provide us with a description of the sacrifice Jesus Christ made for us. They also show us a pattern for our own approach to God.

1. Burnt Offering – Leviticus 1 – Voluntary act of worship. Atonement for unintentional sin in general; expression of devotion, commitment and surrender to God. Bull, ram or male bird is offered – only offering to be totally consumed on the altar with nothing eaten by men. First offering mentioned by name in the Bible (Genesis 8:20) Most common offering mentioned in Bible. (197 times)

2. Meat Offering – Leviticus 2 – Voluntary act of worship; recognition of God’s goodness and provisions; devotion to God. It was a sweet savor to the Lord. Indicates a living sacrifice. Grain, fine flour, olive oil, incense, baked bread, salt offered – accompanied burnt and fellowship offering. Only offering made without the shedding of blood and without an animal sacrifice.

3. Peace Offering – Leviticus 3 – Voluntary act of worship; thanksgiving and fellowship as it included a communal meal. It was the only offering in which the offerer could eat of the meat of the sacrifice. Any animal without defect from herd or flock offered.

4. Sin Offering – Leviticus 4 – Mandatory atonement for specific unintentional sin; confession of sin; forgiveness of sin; cleansing from defilement. Dealt with the sinner and the problem of sin. Indicates payment for the sin nature. Required offering and not a sweet savor. Young bull for high priest & congregation offered. Male goat for leader. Female goat or lamb for common person. Dove or pigeon for the poor. Tenth of an ephah of fine flour for the very poor.

5. Trespass Offering – Leviticus 5 – Mandatory atonement for unintentional sin requiring restitution; cleansing from defilement; make restitution. Required offering; not a sweet savor. Dealt with particular sins. Indicates the forgiveness of committed sins. Pay 20% fine. Ram or lamb offered.
Other offerings are mentioned in the Mosaic Law. However, each of those offerings will come under one of the five major offerings.

How the offerings point to the sacrifice of Jesus Christ for us:

Burnt Offering – Jesus Christ surrendered Himself entirely to God being fully consumed in His commitment (Philippians 2:6-8)
Meat Offering – Jesus gave Himself as a living sacrifice. He continually did the will of the Father (John 4:34)
Peace Offering  – Christ made peace with God on the behalf of man (Ephesians 2:13-14)
Sin Offering  – Jesus atoned for our fallen sin nature on the cross. He satisfied the wrath of God (Isaiah 53:10-11; Hebrews 9:26)
Trepass Offering – Jesus Christ paid for our individual sins by His death on the cross (Hebrews 10:12)

How the offerings point to the way we approach God:

Trepass Offering  – We realize the guilt of our sins and our need for forgiveness of our sins in Jesus Christ (1 John 2:2)
Sin Offering – We need a power that can even conquer our sin nature or else we will lose our salvation as soon as we gain it (2 Corinthians 5:21)
Peace Offering – We find that through the cross of Jesus Christ, He opened the way for true fellowship with God (1 John 1:3)
Meat Offering – Through His obedient life, Christ shows us the way to be a living sacrifice for God (Romans 12:1)
Burnt Offering – We find the greatest blessing in being fully consumed in our commitment to God (Philippians 2:17)

Receiving Correction Prepares the Way

Melissa LynneLeave a comment

Today’s passages in the One Year Bible spoke to me of correction and preparation: Correction that leads to wisdom and preparation that makes way for the Glory of God.

Correction

“He that reproveth a scorner getteth to himself shame: and he that rebuketh a wicked man getteth himself a blot. Reprove not a scorner, lest he hate thee: rebuke a wise man, and he will love thee. Give instruction to a wise man, and he will be yet wiser: teach a just man, and he will increase in learning. The fear of the Lord is the beginning of wisdom: and the knowledge of the holy is understanding. For by me thy days shall be multiplied, and the years of thy life shall be increased. If thou be wise, thou shalt be wise for thyself: but if thou scornest, thou alone shalt bear it.” ~ Proverbs 9:7-12

Our lives are built daily by improvements, adjustments, and corrections. Some are major and easy to notice. Other seem insignificant but are just as essential. These changes are progressive and little by little they add up and enrich our lives. In my mind’s eye, I see it as a stone wall of protection.

It is a priceless blessing to have a person or a group of people in your life who will consistently point you in the right direction and help you to stay faithful to the Word of God.  Correction is not always pleasant. Sometimes it hurts. But it will not only build you up but it will also shape your life.

Not everyone embraces correction (or rebuke). We tend to get defensive and reject it. We get offended and see it as a personal attack. At times we make up our minds ahead of time and then fail to pause to take advantage of good counsel, and those God has provided in our lives for that purpose – our pastors, our teachers, our mentors, etc.  Sometimes we meet their correction with mockery or disrespect. Sometimes we see those that yield to correction as weak.

One of my prayers is for the Lord to give me wisdom, but according to all I have read in the Bible those who seek and obtain wisdom must also embrace Godly correction. Accepting it should never be seen as shameful or weak. Why? Because it is a powerful key to open the door to God’s will. If you are continuously learning and open your heart to the God-provided critique that always lines up with the Word of God, I believe you will find the wisdom you seek, and you will live life strong in the Lord and the power of His might!

Preparation

Along with correction and wisdom, the scriptures passages for today in Exodus and Mark spoke of preparing for the Glory of God. I believe they go hand in hand because preparation for the perfect Glory of God will not be completed without some form of correction by God through His servants, through His Word, or by Him directly. We must have His guidance every step of the way just as Moses did and we stay in places of prayer and the Word as Jesus did. I think we will find that receiving correction is a great part in preparing the way!

Exodus

So Moses finished the work. Then a cloud covered the tent of the congregation, and the glory of the LORD filled the tabernacle. ~ Exodus 40:33-34

Mark

As it is written in the prophets, Behold, I send my messenger before thy face, which shall prepare thy way before thee. The voice of one crying in the wilderness, Prepare ye the way of the Lord, make his paths straight. Mark 1:2-3

And it came to pass in those days, that Jesus came from Nazareth of Galilee, and was baptized of John in Jordan. And straightway coming up out of the water, he saw the heavens opened, and the Spirit like a dove descending upon him: and there came a voice from heaven, saying, Thou art my beloved Son, in whom I am well pleased. And immediately the Spirit driveth him into the wilderness. And he was there in the wilderness forty days, tempted of Satan; and was with the wild beasts; and the angels ministered unto him. Mark 1:9-13

Prayer

Father, Help me to prepare for Your Glory and Your Glory alone!!! Teach me and show me the necessary details of each step of the process. Teach me through Your Word, Your servants, and through Your own Voice. Lord, surround me with those who will challenge me to stay grounded in truth. Give me a heart that is open Godly correction. Holy Ghost, help me to yield as You correct me of anything and in whatever ways necessary to line my life with You and Your Word. In Jesus Name I ask. Amen!

Complete Daily Scripture Passages were: Exodus 39:1-40:38; Mark 1:1-28; Psalm 35:1-16; Proverbs 9:11-12

Love, Instruction, and the Fear of the Lord

Melissa LynneLeave a comment

Throughout today’s reading of the One Year Bible, three themes stuck out to me:

1. Love
2. Instruction (teaching)
3. The fear of the Lord.

Exodus

In our passage in Exodus God had instructed Moses regarding the building of His Tabernacle. Moses instructed Bezaleel and Bezaleel carried out those instructions precisely.

And Bezaleel the son of Uri, the son of Hur, of the tribe of Judah, made all that the LORD commanded Moses. ~ Exodus 38:22

Matthew

In Matthew, Mary Magdalene and other women are at the tomb. There was a great earthquake as the angel rolled away the stone and the Bible says that the men keeping watch were so fearful that they fell over like dead men.

And, behold, there was a great earthquake: for the angel of the Lord descended from heaven, and came and rolled back the stone from the door, and sat upon it. 3 His countenance was like lightning, and his raiment white as snow: 4 and for fear of him the keepers did shake, and became as dead men. ~ Matthew 28:2-3

(On a side note – 5 years ago today our area had an earthquake. I felt it and I wonder did those in the surrounding regions feel this earthquake? Did everyone talk about it like we did 5 years ago? Surely they had to…they were people just like you and me)

Later these men went to report to the elder all that had happened, and they were both paid and instructed to tell another story. The Bible says that they did as they were “taught.” Instruction (teaching) can be used for both good and evil purposes.

(This was a passage of scripture that I have never really seen or maybe better to say I never paid attention to it before)

Now when they were going, behold, some of the watch came into the city, and shewed unto the chief priests all the things that were done. 12 And when they were assembled with the elders, and had taken counsel, they gave large money unto the soldiers, 13 saying, Say ye, His disciples came by night, and stole him away while we slept. 14 And if this come to the governor’s ears, we will persuade him, and secure you. 15 So they took the money, and did as they were taught: and this saying is commonly reported among the Jews until this day. ~ Matthew 28:11-15

At the end of the book of Matthew, we read of Jesus giving the disciples what we call the Great Commission. To go, baptize, and teach!

And Jesus came and spake unto them, saying, All power is given unto me in heaven and in earth. 19 Go ye therefore, and teach all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Ghost: 20 teaching them to observe all things whatsoever I have commanded you: and, lo, I am with you alway, even unto the end of the world. Amen. ~ Matthew 28:18-20

Psalms

Psalm 34:1 says, Come, ye children, hearken unto me: I will teach you the fear of the LORD. And the Psalmist then goes on to teach us.

Proverbs

The Scripture reading ended today with this verse –

The fear of the LORD is the beginning of wisdom: and the knowledge of the holy is understanding. ~ Proverbs 9:10

The GREATEST LOVE

It is Valentine’s Day, and I am taken back now to the passage in Matthew because it was the story of the Resurrection of our Lord and the story of the Greatest Love. It is the story of Jesus… Rabonni – our Master and Teacher! What faithful love He has shown through His life, death, burial, resurrection but even so today as He continues to sit at the right hand of the Father praying for you and for me.

Thank you Father for weaving these Scriptures together to teach us Your Word and speak to our heart.

He reminds us today that to make it through this day and these days ahead – walk the path He is lighting for you – in His Love, in obedience to His teaching, and in the fear of the Lord.