For a full description of the (Y4) reading plan, see the “About” page.
Lev. 20
Much of this chapter is a repeat of chapter 18’s contents. The biggest distinction I see between the two passages is the addition of some penalty details here. I am curious as to whether that is the primary reason for the repeat or if there is some other reason. One thing I am fairly certain of is that all these acts that God declared immoral were standard practice among all the nations. Another thing that occurs to me is that there are a lot more ways to get a sexual relationship wrong than there are to get one right. Which somehow makes me think that sexual intimacy is the closest physical representation of our spiritual intimacy with God, for which there is only one right relationship, that being through Jesus Christ.
That thought actually takes me to Paul’s teaching in 1 Corinthians 6. There he notes that, as man and woman become one flesh through the intimate act of sex, so we become one spirit with God when we join ourselves to Him through Christ. This, Paul said, is what makes immorality so grievous, especially within the Church. He wrote, “Flee immorality. Every other sin that a man commits is outside the body, but the immoral man sins against his own body.” (1 Cor. 6:18). He went on to say that our bodies are the temple of the Holy Spirit, bought with a price and no longer our own. “…therefore, glorify God in your body” (1 Cor. 6:20b), because, as we see in Leviticus, doing otherwise results in separation and death.
Ps. 25
“The secret of the LORD is for those who fear Him, and He will make them know His covenant.” (Ps. 25:14). That speaks of the mystery of the Gospel to me. God’s covenant for redemption is Jesus Christ. Is this a secret? No, in the sense that God has told us since the beginning of time about His plan. But yes, in the sense that He has told it in a way that is not clear by our own understanding. This is by design, as that path to redemption starts with a humble heart; with repentance. That comes only when we recognize God for who He is; when we fear Him. Only then does He give us understanding to know His Way.
Ecc. 3
I’m not at all certain as to the Preacher’s point here. What I’m getting from it at the moment, though, is something to the effect of, “Enjoy the journey, whatever it brings, because there is no profit in the outcome.” The caveat to that statement is what he said yesterday in chapter 2, that there is no enjoyment without God. That’s why he said, “I know that there is nothing better for them than to rejoice and to do good in one’s lifetime” (Ecc. 3:12). In other words, live to please God because that is the only real value in life. Ultimately, it doesn’t matter so much what we do with our life as it does how we live it.