- This is to the end that the people of Israel may bring their sacrifices that they sacrifice in the open field, that they may bring them to the Lord, to the priest at the entrance of the tent of meeting, and sacrifice them as sacrifices of peace offerings to the Lord. Leviticus 17:5 – To understand the significance of what’s being said here we must understand what was the normal in their culture at this time. Sacrifices prior to the Tent of Meeting were done in altars wherever they wanted to make one. Pagan worshippers had altars everywhere out in nature. Yet now the Lord is calling His people to change how they sacrifice. Instead of sacrificing wherever and whenever they wanted to, now they had a central location they must go to in order to offer their sacrifice. God had a distinct way He wanted His sacrifices being given, and was commanding His people to do away with handling their sacrifices however they desired to. How different is this from Christianity today? People want to handle their life with God however they see works best for them. Church is optional, serving is optional, and evangelism is optional. This is often the mantra of many in the church today, yet like with the Israelites, God has a way He expects worship of Him to be done. As God told the Israelites to do away with handling their life with Him however they felt was right, so is God calling us to do away with the mindset that we get to choose how we worship Him. Let’s make an effort to worship the Lord how He says He is to be worshipped, not just how we think we want to worship Him. I love you, but Jesus loves you more – Mac – Daily DEVO 3219
- Leviticus 17 Daily DEVO And you shall say to them, Any one of the house of Israel, or of the strangers who sojourn among them, who offers a burnt offering or sacrifice Leviticus 17:8 – We see this phrase that’s stuck in the commas a few times in this chapter. This “or of the strangers who sojourn among them.” The laws given were to be for those who were with them as well. The strangers who didn’t follow God were not suppose to be the ones giving the directions on how the group should follow God. How often though do we see in a group the person who isn’t a follower of Jesus setting the tone of how the group is going to talk, act, relate with each other, and even how they will see God. As followers of Jesus we need to change that narrative. We know what’s true and right and we need to set the tone in the groups we are in. Don’t let someone who isn’t a follower of Jesus dictate how you worship and obey God. You set the example and you set the tone of the group. Be the light not hidden under a basket. I love you, but Jesus loves you more – Mac – Daily DEVO 899
- If any one of the house of Israel kills an ox or a lamb or a goat in the camp, or kills it outside the camp, and does not bring it to the entrance of the tent of meeting to offer it as a gift to the Lord in front of the tabernacle of the Lord, bloodguilt shall be imputed to that man. He has shed blood, and that man shall be cut off from among his people. Leviticus 17:3-4 – In the days of Abraham the people would set up altars wherever they wanted and sacrifice there whenever they felt like it. This was normal practice and accepted by God, but it also led to some serious idolatry. God, aware of that, changed how things were to be done. Instead of just anyone offering anywhere they want, sacrifices were now to be brought to the tabernacle. In order for them to remain distant from idolatry, God made a change in how things were done. Is there a change in how you do things that needs to be made so you remain distant from your sin struggles? Maybe changing how you handle your phone late at night. Maybe changing who you do life with. Maybe changing what you fill you free time with. Changing how things were done in our passage had the purpose of helping the people not return to their sin. What changes could be made in your story that would help you no longer return to the sins you have dwelt in for too long? I love you, but Jesus loves you more – Mac – Daily DEVO 1940
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