February 21
Lev 11:1-12:8 | PS 38:1-22 | Prov 10:8-9 | Mark 5:21-43
As we continue through the book of Leviticus and read the many laws (there were 613 laws given), we need to understand that God was setting up a theocracy with Himself as King. His laws were good. His laws are good. Some were moral, some health, some ceremonial, etc. Some make sense on face value, others are more difficult to understand. These laws were handed down to the Israelites. Most of us are Gentile, and therefore the moral laws still very much apply, but we are not under the ceremonial and other laws specific to the Israelites. This was God establishing relationship with His people. Religion is different than relationship. Religion often changes that which God specifically states. Leviticus 11 covers the kosher laws, those items deemed clean and unclean for eating. Notice that most of these are not generally eaten now by either Jewish or Gentile, except for pork, shellfish and certain other fish. There is a verse stated in Exodus 23:19, nothing to do with the kosher laws, “You must not cook a young goat in its mother’s milk.” The religious leaders applied this to the kosher list and as a result have separated dairy and meat. Understand this principle applied to a fertility rite carried out by the surrounding pagan nations and was a warning not to adopt or integrate God’s ways with pagan ways. Religion has focused on this law, not part of God’s kosher laws, and has resulted in requiring separate sinks, separate plates, separate utensils, etc. Religion cannot improve on what God states. Religion is of man and moves one’s eyes from following God to following man made rules. Religion elevates pride as one is seen as a rule follower. There is a book written which shows that the kosher laws helped the Jewish people avoid many of the common diseases prevalent in that day.
In Leviticus 12:1-8 we read the laws concerning purification after childbirth. There are no shortage of reasons used to explain the difference in the number of days after giving birth to a male or female. When I inquired of my Orthodox Jewish patients whether or not this was still being followed, the answer was “no”. Man made rules in Halachic law, those written by the rabbis, now dictates that after birth, whether boy or girl, one counts off seven days after the flow of blood stops, then they immerse in the mikvah and are deemed clean. This is religion. It is nowhere stated in God’s law that this law was to be changed.
As Christians we are not under law, as we read in Romans 6:14, “Sin is no longer your master, for you no longer live under the requirements of the law. Instead, you live under the freedom of God’s grace.” But understand the moral law still very much applies to us. Jesus issued many commands that are clearly stated in the Gospel accounts and Jesus did not tell us to do what feels right, but to take these commands seriously as we read in Matthew 28:19-20, “Therefore, go and make disciples of all the nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and the Son and the Holy Spirit. Teach these new disciples to obey all the commands I have given you. And be sure of this: I am with you always, even to the end of the age.” We must beware in our own denominations, our own congregations, our own personal walks that we don’t become religious by following man’s rules or our own rules which make sense to us. We need to stay biblically literate and God focused. We need to be in relationship, not religion. God’s word is indeed perfect and relevant.
Messages from Pastor Lloyd Pulley: