Leviticus 24 – 25 and My Brother-in-Law Don

Leviticus 24 – 25

Since oil is traditionally a type of the Holy Spirit, it is no surprise that the priests were to make sure the lamp that stood in the Tabernacle burned continually. It was never to be allowed to go out.

The Lord offered a lot of incentive not to commit blasphemy. Anyone who did this was to be taken outside the camp where those who heard the curse were to lay hands on his head. Then the entire community was to stone him to death. A few crimes resulted in death, but the punishment for crimes where people were injured was not so severe. It could really be summed up with the words: “anyone who injures another person must be dealt with according to the injury inflicted – a fracture for a fracture, an eye for an eye, a tooth for a tooth.”

I am saddened when I think of how God’s name and Jesus’ name are used rather flippantly, even by those who profess to love the Lord. Imagine how God must feel.

In chapter 25, God introduces the idea of a Sabbath rest for the land. During the seventh year, they were not to plant crops or prune vineyards or harvest crops. On top of that, there was the year of the Jubilee. This was to begin on the Day of Atonement in the fiftieth year. Except for the fact that they could eat whatever the land produced on its own, the land was to be treated as in the Sabbath year.

Property that had been purchased between was to be returned to the seller and the price could depend on how many years to Jubilee, i.e., land was not to be sold on a permanent basis. This did not apply to someone who sold a house inside a walled town; the seller only had a year in which to buy it back.

Land sold by the Levites within the towns allotted to them could always be bought back at any time. If not bought back before the Jubilee, it was to be returned at that time.

Israelites who sold themselves into slavery were to be treated fairly, as a hired worker or temporary resident. If still a slave during the Year of Jubilee, they were to be set free at that time. This did not apply to foreigners.

The reason for this, as stated in Lev 25:55: “For the people of Israel belong to me. They are my servants whom I brought out of the land of Egypt. I am the Lord your God.”

Tomorrow, it’s Leviticus 26 – 27 and the next day, we begin Numbers.

My Brother-in-Law, Don

Mark’s brother, Don, was knocked out by a tree he was felling. Fortunately, my sister-in-law Rose was home for President’s Day. He was taken to the ER where they discovered he had a few small broken bones. They did have him stay the night in the hospital. Thanks to all of you for praying for him.

My sister-in-lay, Joyce (Mark’s sister) is having surgery this week. They will be removing large polyp they found when they were checking her after breast cancer surgery. Please keep her in your prayers.

Until next time…