THROUGH THE BIBLE IN THREE YEARS THROUGH THE BIBLE IN THREE YEARS

THROUGH THE BIBLE IN THREE YEARS

This program of daily devotions is designed to take you through the Bible in three years. It is our desire to help you gain a better general understanding of God's Word.

Please understand that in a study this brief, we will be concerned with only the major emphases and context of the Scriptures.

Each day a devotion for one or two chapters is posted, beginning with chapter one of Genesis and going through chapter twenty-two of Revelation. You are free to print each page as it appears. If you miss a day, you may contact us and request that devotion. Please send your request, along with $.50 (p&h) for each page to:

Bruce McGee,Pastor
205 Adams
Columbia, LA 71418

We have a great friend in Gary Godard. He has set up an archive page. To view ALL the prior devotions by Scripture, just clik

HERE


Bro. Bruce's commentary for the book of Genesis is
now available in hard copy for $7.50. Just mail your request for COMMENTARY ON GENESIS to the address above.

LEVITICUS
CHAPTER 21

Priests of the Lord are a daily witness to the world about God and how He directs
us to live. Now friends, someone may say that this section deals only with the Jewish
priests of that day. But again, let me call your attention to Revelation 1:6.
When you and I were saved, we were baptized by God's Holy Spirit and sanctified as
PRIESTS! This section of God's Holy Word ought to apply to EVERY
Christian today!

1 And the LORD said unto Moses, Speak unto the priests the sons of Aaron, and say unto them, There shall none be defiled for the dead among his people: 2 But for his kin, that is near unto him, that is, for his mother, and for his father, and for his son, and for his daughter, and for his brother, 3 And for his sister a virgin, that is nigh unto him, which hath had no husband; for her may he be defiled. 4 But he shall not defile himself, being a chief man among his people, to profane himself. 5 They shall not make baldness upon their head, neither shall they shave off the corner of their beard, nor make any cuttings in their flesh. 6 They shall be holy unto their God, and not profane the name of their God: for the offerings of the LORD made by fire, and the bread of their God, they do offer: therefore they shall be holy.

Some religions teach abasing one's self when mourning for a loved one. God does not
teach that. To make cuts in your body, or to put ashes on your face is to "defile" one's self,
and to profane God. To mourn for someone, we do not have to do such things.
God is the GIVER of life; and He is the TAKER of it too.
There are some special people to us (verses 2-3). God is merciful and understands
if we are very broken-hearted over their loss.
God is not insensitive and totally legalistic. He is compassionate, and has loving concern.
However, God gives us (His priests) greater grace. And we can even show patience in our grief.
That's because we do not have the sorrow that lost people have. We have HOPE in
our Lord Jesus Christ (1Thessalonians 4:13).

7 They shall not take a wife that is a whore, or profane; neither shall they take a woman put away from her husband: for he is holy unto his God. 8 Thou shalt sanctify him therefore; for he offereth the bread of thy God: he shall be holy unto thee: for I the LORD, which sanctify you, am holy.

One very sad fact about many Christians today is that they marry outside the church family,
and therefore the marry outside of God's will. Perhaps it is the reason that the divorce rate
in the church is about the SAME as the divorce rate in the world.
Just because something feels right, doesn't mean we should do it. A Christian has feelings,
but must live by God's Word.
A Christian should not marry an non-Christian. God tells us that is HIS HEART on this matter.

9 And the daughter of any priest, if she profane herself by playing the whore, she profaneth her father: she shall be burnt with fire.

Notice the penalty for this act! What an AWFUL penalty. Does that speak to us about how awful is
this sin? When the child of a Christian is sexually promiscuous then that child is refusing
to listen to God's Word! That is not only dishonoring parents as "priests" of God; but it is also
dishonoring God!
For those who have the Word of God and the will of God constantly around them to be so rebellious,
means their heart is terribly calloused and their spirits awfully self-centered.
How many good Christian parents have been genuinely BROKEN by this very thing!!!

10 And he that is the high priest among his brethren, upon whose head the anointing oil was poured, and that is consecrated to put on the garments, shall not uncover his head, nor rend his clothes; 11 Neither shall he go in to any dead body, nor defile himself for his father, or for his mother; 12 Neither shall he go out of the sanctuary, nor profane the sanctuary of his God; for the crown of the anointing oil of his God is upon him: I am the LORD.

Notice that this law is prescribed for the HIGH PRIEST. If perhaps he were infected by some disease
he could be destroyed. This would require time to sanctify a new priest, and some very
important ceremonial things may have to wait. It was a great privilege to be the High Priest, however,
it was also a great responsibility.

13 And he shall take a wife in her virginity. 14 A widow, or a divorced woman, or profane, or an harlot, these shall he not take: but he shall take a virgin of his own people to wife. 15 Neither shall he profane his seed among his people: for I the LORD do sanctify him.

The High Priest was restricted to a wife of Israel who was a virgin (verses 13-14). If he took a wife
from anywhere else, he would be "profaning" his children. Since God directed the people to be
pure in marital relations, it would hardly be allowable for the priest to do otherwise.

16 And the LORD spake unto Moses, saying, 17 Speak unto Aaron, saying, Whosoever he be of thy seed in their generations that hath any blemish, let him not approach to offer the bread of his God. 18 For whatsoever man he be that hath a blemish, he shall not approach: a blind man, or a lame, or he that hath a flat nose, or any thing superfluous, 19 Or a man that is brokenfooted, or brokenhanded, 20 Or crookbackt, or a dwarf, or that hath a blemish in his eye, or be scurvy, or scabbed, or hath his stones broken; 21 No man that hath a blemish of the seed of Aaron the priest shall come nigh to offer the offerings of the LORD made by fire: he hath a blemish; he shall not come nigh to offer the bread of his God. 22 He shall eat the bread of his God, both of the most holy, and of the holy. 23 Only he shall not go in unto the vail, nor come nigh unto the altar, because he hath a blemish; that he profane not my sanctuaries: for I the LORD do sanctify them. 24 And Moses told it unto Aaron, and to his sons, and unto all the children of Israel.

It is GOD Who calls, ordains and sanctifies His people for their particular services (verse 23).
If a man had a "blemish" (as explained in verses 18-20), he was excluded from making offerings of both
"fire" and of "bread" (verse 21).
If God wants able people, He will "sanctify" able people. If a priest was born with or received
a blemish, he still would partake of the holy bread, but he could not offer it.
He could be a recipient of sacrifices, but he could not offer them.
Thank God, He has taken away these restrictions in Christ Jesus.

" But now in Christ Jesus ye who sometimes were far off are made nigh by the blood of Christ.
For he is our peace, who hath made both one, and hath broken down the middle wall of partition between us;
Having abolished in his flesh the enmity, even the law of commandments contained in ordinances; for to make
in himself of twain one new man, so making peace; And that he might reconcile both unto God in one body by
the cross, having slain the enmity thereby: And came and preached peace to you which were afar off, and to
them that were nigh. For through him we both have access by one Spirit unto the Father.
"
(Ephesians 2:13-18)

Please continue to follow along with us in Bible study.