LEVITICUS 11-20

Today is Sunday, and I love Sundays!  I'm looking forward to seeing what God is going to do at Church today.  I am reading in Leviticus again today.  I'm reading ten chapters a day and then writing about things that seem to speak to me as I read them.  In Exodus, we have the law given and explained.  In Leviticus, we see the details of the law.  Let me show you a few things:

1) CLEAN & UNCLEAN- In chapter 11, we have "unclean" mentioned 31 times and "abomination" mentioned 11 times.  God is giving us the details of what is acceptable and what is not acceptable in His sight.  So that which is wrong, God calls "unclean" or "uncleanness" or "an abomination"; that which is right, God calls "clean" or "cleansed" or cleansing".  These terms you will see for the next ten chapters.  They cover all sorts of things.  In chapter 11 it covers the animals that are for food or not for food.  Those that are clean, and those that are not clean.  Chapter 12 covers when a woman is clean who had a boy or girl child.  (forty-one days for a male child, compared to 50 days for a girl child)  Chapter 13 gives us the details about leprosy and when one is clean or unclean. Chapter 14 tells how a leper who is clean gets prounced clean by the priest.  Chapter 15, tells about "running issues" and when one is unclean, and when they will be clean.  Chapter 16, tells about how the sacrifices are to be carried out.  Chapter 17 tells about where a sacrifice is to be done, and what is to be done with the blood of the sacrifice.  Chatper 18 tells us the different relatives and relationships not to have with someone who we are related to by blood or marriage.  It is called "uncovering their nakedness", but the idea is that there is not to be sexual relationships between people related to each other.  Chatper 19 tells how we are to behave in general society, like "thou shalt not curse the deaf" and such as "thou shalt not go up and down as a talebearer among thy people"  (these all would be helpful to our society as well)  Then, chapter 20, tells us that penalty for those who break the laws of sexual relationship spelled out in chapter 18.  Usually the penalty is death, but not always.  So, you see.... Leviticus is about the fine print... the details of the law.

2) ABOMINATION-  Abomination is a strong word.  In Leviticus 18:22 it says:  "Thou shalt not lie with mankind, as with womankind:  it is abomination."  and in 20:13 we read:  "If a man also lie with mankind, as he lieth with a woman, both of them have committed an abomination:  they shall surely be put to death; their blood shall be upon them."  So here we see exaltly what God thinks about sodomy, about homosexuality.  God is against it, and so should we be.

There are a lot of repeatitive phrases like "I am the LORD";  in chapters 18-20.  But, we will finish with the insights I have already shared.  I hope you have a blessed day.  Don't get bogged down in the details, just read them and go on.  God will explain what is important for us.  May God grant you a great day! Enjoy your Church today.

Pastor Mike Mutchler