DAY 52 Read Leviticus 14 and 15.
Today's reading has more of the sanctuary laws, giving particular attention to the ceremonies for cleansing any defilement.
Memory gem: "Purge me with hyssop, and I shall be clean: wash me, and I shall be whiter than snow" (Psalm 51:7).
Thought for today:
"Now," says Dr. F.B. Meyer, "I contend that Jesus...is all through the Book, the Book of God. He is in every chapter and every verse, from the beginning to the end. In fact, every incident and subject in the Bible is either about Jesus or somehow makes a road to Him."
That is especially true of the so-called ceremonial law of the Old Testament. It is just full of types and ceremonies, sacrifices and priests, which are really a picture and prophecy of Jesus. And, in view of what our Saviour accomplished on Calvary's cross, it seems clear to me that we should make a distinction between the Ten Commandments, or moral law, and what is called the ceremonial law. The Ten Commandments, sometimes called the Decalogue, constitute in principle God's holy law which is unchangeable. It is the very foundation of His holy throne. It is the righteous expression of His character. And since that is so, we believe it is as eternal as the everlasting God Himself.
While the moral law of God is eternal in character, it would not be true to say that the rites and ceremonies which He gave to Israel as a nation are eternal. Many of the offerings,the feast days, even the priesthood itself were typical of the redemptive work of Christ; and they all met their glorious fulfillment in the offering of our Saviour on Calvary's cross. This is what was meant by the apostle Paul when he wrote that Christ "abolished in his flesh the enmity, even the law of commandments contained in ordinances" (Ephesians 2:15).
What did Jesus do with this law of ordinances? We read in Colossians 2:14: "Blotting out the handwriting of ordinances that was against us, which was contrary to us, and took it out of the way, nailing it to his cross."
Every sacrificed lamb of the ancient Israelite ritual pointed forward to Jesus. He was the reality that the rites foreshadowed.
Today's reading has more of the sanctuary laws, giving particular attention to the ceremonies for cleansing any defilement.
Memory gem: "Purge me with hyssop, and I shall be clean: wash me, and I shall be whiter than snow" (Psalm 51:7).
Thought for today:
"Now," says Dr. F.B. Meyer, "I contend that Jesus...is all through the Book, the Book of God. He is in every chapter and every verse, from the beginning to the end. In fact, every incident and subject in the Bible is either about Jesus or somehow makes a road to Him."
That is especially true of the so-called ceremonial law of the Old Testament. It is just full of types and ceremonies, sacrifices and priests, which are really a picture and prophecy of Jesus. And, in view of what our Saviour accomplished on Calvary's cross, it seems clear to me that we should make a distinction between the Ten Commandments, or moral law, and what is called the ceremonial law. The Ten Commandments, sometimes called the Decalogue, constitute in principle God's holy law which is unchangeable. It is the very foundation of His holy throne. It is the righteous expression of His character. And since that is so, we believe it is as eternal as the everlasting God Himself.
While the moral law of God is eternal in character, it would not be true to say that the rites and ceremonies which He gave to Israel as a nation are eternal. Many of the offerings,the feast days, even the priesthood itself were typical of the redemptive work of Christ; and they all met their glorious fulfillment in the offering of our Saviour on Calvary's cross. This is what was meant by the apostle Paul when he wrote that Christ "abolished in his flesh the enmity, even the law of commandments contained in ordinances" (Ephesians 2:15).
What did Jesus do with this law of ordinances? We read in Colossians 2:14: "Blotting out the handwriting of ordinances that was against us, which was contrary to us, and took it out of the way, nailing it to his cross."
Every sacrificed lamb of the ancient Israelite ritual pointed forward to Jesus. He was the reality that the rites foreshadowed.
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