April 27 ▪ Day 117

Scripture Readings

Proverbs 16:16
Leviticus 10–12
Acts 14
Psalms 117

Verse Focus (Proverbs 16:16)

How much better to get wisdom than gold,
     to get insight rather than silver!

Meditation

Proverbs 16:16 tell us, “How much better to get wisdom than gold, to get insight rather than silver!” We have heard this message before, even if it wasn’t phrased exactly like this. One of the first proverbs we looked at, back on January 8th (Day 8), was Proverbs 3:13-14, which talks about how wisdom is more profitable than silver and gives better returns than gold. Indeed, this is a message that the Bible communicates to us over and over, in different ways — God is more important than money.

Obviously, we have trouble with this concept, otherwise the Bible wouldn’t repeat this message again and again. 🙂

Perhaps, though, much of the value in today’s proverb is in how succinct it is. I find the words stick in my mind. Different phrasing resonates differently. Some words just impact us more, even when the topic is the same. So perhaps today’s proverb will be the one to resonate and continue to resonate in your heart and mind.

Father God, thank you for reminding us, again and again, that seeking you — seeking wisdom — is one of the best uses of our time. May your Holy Spirit impress the truth of this proverb on our hearts! In Jesus’ name, Amen.

Leviticus 10 tells us about how Nadab and Abihu, Aaron’s two eldest sons, were killed for offering “unauthorized” or “strange” fire before the LORD. I hadn’t realized how closely this happened after their ordination! Moses tells Aaron and his remaining younger sons, Eleazar and Ithamar, that they must not show signs of visible mourning “for the anointing oil of the LORD is upon you (v. 7).” Aaron’s cousins carry the bodies of Nadab and Abihu out of the Tabernacle, while Aaron, Eleazar, and Ithamar continue to serve in the tent of meeting.

The description of what happened to Nadab and Abihu is pretty terse, so it’s difficult to understand what actually happened. Exodus 30 tells about the proper procedure for burning incense before the LORD. It was the duty of the high priest, so Nadab and Abihu were being presumptuous in handling this responsibility. Also, incense was only meant to be burned on the altar of incense, so by putting fire into their own censers they were violating how things were supposed to be done. Additionally, the incense that was used in the Tabernacle was a special formula, and they apparently did not use the consecrated incense. The most damning aspect of their actions was that they were deliberately creating their own method to honor God — it was not done in ignorance, but out of arrogance.

Leviticus 10 tells us that priests are not to drink alcoholic beverages while they are serving in the Tabernacle. Verses 10 and 11 are significant in what they tell us about the role of the priests: “You are to distinguish between the holy and the common, and between the unclean and the clean, and you are to teach the people of Israel all the statutes that the LORD has spoken to them by Moses.” We also learn that the priests actually eat of the sin offerings as a means of bearing the iniquity of the congregations, and making atonement for them (v. 17). It is not the slaughter of the animals that makes atonement, but it is the priests’ activity in actually consuming a portion of the sin offering. This is different concept of atonement than how I was previously understanding what happened in the Old Testament sacrifices.

I also note that verse 14 answers my earlier question about what the women in priestly families were allowed to eat. They were allowed to eat of the priests’ portion of the people’s fellowship sacrifices (the breast or the right thigh), so long as it was consumed in a ceremonially clean place.

Leviticus 11 details clean and unclean animals. The Israelites were only to eat clean animals; unclean animals were not to be eaten. If you had to touch the dead body of an unclean animal, you would become unclean until evening. Although not clearly specified in Scripture, the tradition is that most unclean animals are fine to touch while they are living — thus, if the Israelites wanted to have cats and dogs as pets, that would be fine. They could not eat cats or dogs, and if their pet died, they would become unclean for a day while they took care of the carcass. Similarly, camels were fine for transportation. Pigs, on the other hand, were considered unclean even for Jews to touch.

The rules governing clean and unclean could be complex. If an unclean animal died and fell onto something you owned, what you owned would become either temporarily or permanently unclean. Some things could just be washed and they would be fine. Other things — such as clay pots, ovens, and stoves — must be destroyed.

Verse 44 gives the reason for all these rules about cleanness. “For I am the LORD your God. Consecrate yourselves therefore, and be holy, for I am holy.”

Leviticus 12 details the rituals for purification after childbirth. The feminist in me is somewhat outraged that a mother would be considered unclean longer for a girl than for a boy. However, a modern-day mother interpreted this passage quite differently than I did, commenting on how grateful the new mother would be to have a longer time to rest after the birth of a girl before she took up her other duties again.

The Bible makes a distinction between males and females for many things, although when the creation story is told the Scripture makes a special point of saying that both male and female were created in the image of God. The genders are different in how they are gifted and what they are responsible to do, but they are of equal value as a reflection of the Creator.

As a woman, I will be paid less than a man will be paid for doing the same job. This kind of discrimination is unjust. If the work were something that I could do less well because, perhaps, I had less upper body strength than most men have, only then would it be appropriate to pay me less because I was actually doing less. But most discrimination that women face is unjust discrimination. And since we face so much unjust discrimination, it’s hard for me to read instances of discrimination in the Bible. I’m not calling Leviticus unjust; I’m simply trying to say that the situations where females are treated differently than males triggers a response in me — a response coming from the many experiences of unjust discrimination. The challenge for me is to realize that not all discrimination against women is unjust discrimination. And here, I would say that the Bible is making a distinction because recognizing differences between men and women is important.

In the last verse of Leviticus 12, the Scripture speaks of making atonement for the new mother in order that she may once again be considered clean. Again, this is something that feels outrageous — how can a natural process be considered unclean? It is one of the things that we will struggle with as we read through Leviticus. In the chapters to come, we will read about many things that might make one unclean. And over the years, I have come to somewhat realize that it is my understanding of what it means to be “clean” or “unclean” that is flawed. We were born with original sin; we are all unclean in our hearts. So to have the body be declared “unclean” isn’t more damning than we are already. And all the ritual purity that can be achieved through the law doesn’t really come close to making one holy before God. We only stand before God now because Jesus makes us clean.

Acts 14 records the story of the second half of Paul’s first missionary journey. When they get to Iconium they, of course, go to the Jewish synagogue to declare the good news. So even though they said in Antioch in Pisidia that they would now go to the Gentiles, Barnabas and Paul are not abandoning their Jewish brethren. As the Scripture tells us in the very first verse, “A great number of both Jews and Greeks believed.”

They stayed in Iconium “for a long time (v. 3),” but the city was quite “divided (v. 4).” When the discord rose to the level of potential violence, then Barnabas and Paul moved on to Lystra. Their time in Lystra was also quite tumultuous. At one point, the crowds tried to worship them for an act of healing; later, the crowds swung in the other direction at the urging of Jews from Antioch and Iconium and so Paul was stoned. They supposed Paul was dead, but he “rose up (v. 20)” and the next day he and Barnabas went on to Derbe.

Verse 21 tells us that after they had made “many disciples” in Derbe, they returned to Lystra, Iconium, and Antioch in Pisidia to strengthen the disciples there. As they encouraged the disciples to “continue in the faith (v. 22),” they also taught them that it is “through many tribulations we must enter the kingdom of God (v. 22).” Eventually, Paul and Barnabas made their way to the coast, and then sailed back to their home congregation in Antioch.

I find myself struck by Paul and Barnabas’ actions in this chapter. They tried to avoid violence if they could, and when the opposition did become violent they moved on — but they did not let threats of violence stop them from returning to nurture the believers in these same cities. In fact, we see here a concern not just to share the good news, but to build up those who have believed.

I am also struck by their message that through many tribulations we must enter the kingdom of God. While I understand that we do go through trials and tribulations in this life, somehow I hadn’t been thinking that such difficulties were intrinsic to the gospel message. I also ponder the word “through” — it is through these tribulations that we enter the kingdom of God. We don’t go around the tribulations (well, we try sometimes!). Rather, we live through them, and continue on the path.

Psalm 117 is notable for being the shortest chapter in the entire Bible. Thus, obviously, it is also the shortest psalm. That makes this one a great psalm to memorize! Such accomplishment — you’ve memorized an entire psalm! 🙂

Coincidentally, Psalm 117 is also the very middle chapter in the Bible, with 594 chapters preceding it and 594 chapters following it. The topic is like the gospel in brief: everyone should praise the LORD; He loves us and is faithful — praise Him! Amen, hallelujah!

Father God, I’m so grateful that you do love us and that your love is steadfast and faithful. The message of Acts today is a bit sobering, as we consider that it will be through tribulations that we enter your kingdom. Keep us strong in you; and, by your grace, keep us faithful when we encounter trials. Help us also to learn from your Word, especially from books and chapters like Leviticus that seem so alien. Help us to understand the deeper truths of your holiness and purity. In Jesus’ name, Amen.