CONTINUALLY

Today’s Reading: Leviticus 24

Click scripture link to read online or HERE to listen online (then click the symbol of the audio speaker above the scripture portion on the right-hand side).

A rebuilt olive press from Bible times. This was discovered amidst the ruins of Hazor, about 10 kilometres north of the Sea of Galilee. Hazor is mentioned in several Old Testament books such as Joshua and Judges.

GOOGLE MAPS – To see where Reynold took the photo, click HERE.

Key Verse: Leviticus 24:2

Command the children of Israel that they bring to you pure oil of pressed olives for the light, to make the lamps burn continually.

The word “continually” is repeated four times here. The emphasis is obvious. Oil is a symbol for the Spirit of God, as is fire which produces light. By this light we see the Show-bread on the table and the Altar of Incense, both of which are in the Holy Place in the Tabernacle (see extra photos below). To keep God’s Light shining brightly in our lives, we must have a daily fresh supply of Oil. This can only be experienced by a fresh daily life of prayer, the source of the Oil, and the study of Holy Scripture, the Bread. Our praise and worship in the midst of our prayer and study is like the Altar of Incense, a sweet fragrance ascending to God.

The man taken in blasphemy is punished by death. Jesus died in our place, so that we, like the thief who hung beside Jesus and repented, could be forgiven and have eternal life. Thank God for the age of grace, which Jesus began. We rely continually upon that grace. I remember some sermons which my Dad preached. One was on 1 John 1:1-10. Click on it and read with me. Dad particularly pointed out that, in the original Greek, the verb “cleanses” is in a tense meaning the cleansing is continually happening, non-stop. Dad taught Greek and this truth burned its way into my understanding.

PRAYER FOR TODAY:

Lord God, as the Apostle John wrote, I can never claim to be sinless. I’m totally dependent on the continuous cleansing in the Blood of Your Sacrifice. May I ever be conscious of my sin, and may I hide Your Word in my heart continually “that I might not sin against You” (Psalm 119:11). Through the grace Jesus gives, I pray, Amen!

100 PERSONAL WORDS:

I also remember that after school one day, when I was 10 or 11, I walked into a classroom at Annesley College in Ottawa and watched my Dad write the Greek lesson for the next morning on the blackboard. I knew that the original language in which the New Testament was written was Greek, and, therefore, an understanding of Greek was important. When I attended Bible College, I signed up for two years of Greek study. Unfortunately, I don’t remember much. The reason? I rely on a lexicon (like this online version here) which enables me to work in English and find all the shades of meaning from the Greek. One day, on live national television, I was being translated into Greek by the Host of our Greek language TV series, and I mentioned the word “cartoon.” I was amazed to hear my interpreter, Bazil Zetas, say, “Mickey Mouse.” It stopped me in my tracks. I turned to him and said, “Did you just say Mickey Mouse?” “Yes,” he said, “That’s Greek for cartoon.” We had a good laugh. Bazil arranged for Reynold’s photographic trip through Greece, so that when our readings speak of Greece, beginning in January, we’ll have some great pictures on the blog for you.

Yours for light as we eat of the Bread of God’s Word, and as we offer the incense of prayer and worship,

David

P.S. Below are pictures from the replica of the Tabernacle which was on display at the Crossroads Centre during the Summer of 2012.

The High Priest in front of the Golden Lampstand in the Holy Place, where fresh daily oil kept the light burning continually.

The High Priest performing his duties in the Tabernacle. Pictured are the Table of Showbread, the Golden Lampstand, and the Ark of the Covenant.