Friday, February 15, 2008

Leviticus 18-19; Psalm 29; Acts 19

Leviticus 18 - Laws regarding Sexual Relations
  • Introduction: Do not do as they did in Egypt, or do in Canaan. This list of laws is to prevent God's people from taking on the lifestyle of pagans.
  • My ordinances you shall observe and my statutes you shall keep...I am the LORD your God.
  • Prohibited: sexual relations with family members; aunts; uncles; in-laws; rival sisters
  • Prohibitions re menstruating women; kinsman's wife; child sacrificed to Molech; males with males; animals
  • Results of misbehavior: The land is defiled and will vomit out its inhabitants
  • This has happened to other people, and it will happen to you
Leviticus 19 - Ritual and Moral Holiness
  • I am the LORD -- repeated in verses 2, 4, 9, 12, 13, 16, 18, 25, 28, 39, 31, 32, 33, 37. Just in case they forget the authority behind these commandments.
  • Positive commands: You shall be holy, for I am holy
  • Honor your parents; keep my sabbaths; turn from idols
  • Sacrifice of well-being must be eaten on same day; burn the leftovers. To not do this is to profane what is holy.
  • Leave gleanings of harvest for the poor
  • Do not steal nor lie nor swear nor defraud your neighbor nor hold back wages nor be cruel to the disabled
  • Do not show partiality either to the poor or the rich nor slander nor profit by your neighbor's blood
  • Do not hate a relative nor take vengeance nor bear a grudge
  • Love your neighbor as yourself.
  • Keep my statutes.
  • Do not mix animals nor sown seeds nor clothing fabrics
  • Guilt offering required if a man sleeps with a female slave
  • When you plant new trees, do not eat fruit until the 5th year. The 4th year's fruit will be "set apart for rejoicing in the LORD."
  • Do not eat anything with its blood nor practice witchcraft nor round off the hair on your temples nor mar the edges of your beards nor gash your flesh for the dead nor tattoo. How odd that hair prohibitions would be grouped with practicing witchcraft. More study needed on this: Maybe there was some connection.
  • Keep my sabbaths and reverence my sanctuary.
  • Do not turn to mediums or wizards
  • Rise before the aged; defer to the old
  • Do not oppress the alien - you were once an alien
  • Do not cheat - Keep honest balances, weights, ephah and hin
  • Keep all my statues and ordinances
Psalm 29
The voice of the LORD
  • Thunders
  • Breaks the cedars
  • Flashes forth flames of fire
  • Shakes the wilderness
  • Causes the oaks to whirl
May the LORD
  • Give strength to his people
  • Bless his people with peace
Acts 19 - Paul in Ephesus
  • Twelve recipients of John's baptism are re-baptized
  • Paul lays his hands on them and they speak in tongues and prophesy
  • Speaks in synagogue for three months, but message is rejected
  • Leaves synagogue, taking disciples with him, and begins lecturing daily in lecture hall of Tyrannus
  • In two years all the residents of Asia hear the word of the Lord
  • Humorous scene: Sons of Sceva, a Jewish high priest, try to exorcise evil spirits, but the spirits don't recognize them
  • The man with the evil spirit attacks them, and the sons of Sceva flee
  • As a result, magicians burn their books -- a value of 50,000 coins
  • Paul sends Timothy and Erastus to Macedonia on his behalf
  • Threatened by Paul's preaching, Demetrius and fellow silversmiths start a riot
  • Mob quieted by town clerk: Take your case to court, if you have one

No comments: