Lectionary for 4/20/08

Today's Bible readings are Leviticus 20.1-16 ( http://www.gnpcb.org/esv/search/?q=Lev.+20.1-16 ), Leviticus 20.22-27 ( http://www.gnpcb.org/esv/search/?q=Lev.+20.22-27 ), and Luke 11.37-54 ( http://www.gnpcb.org/esv/search/?q=Luke+11.37-54 ).

 

In Leviticus we see the words of society, while in Luke we see the best.  Both are examples of one pendulum, swinging back and forth, bringing destruction with it.  Let's see where we are.

 

Leviticus - man does what he thinks is right and is condemned by God.  Sinful people follow their sinful ideas, make sacrifices of their chldren to pagan gods, have illicit relationships within their families, and generally go their own way.  They have exalted themselves to the throne, to the judgment seat of what is good and practical, and will receive destruction in return for it.  Rather than hear God's voice as a bellowing thunderclap which shouts condemnation, I hope we can see God shaking his head, mourning that the people who have fallen into sin have fallen so effectively that they cannot be righteous even if they wanted to be.  He weeps over man who has blinded himself to the goodness and mercy of God, running rather on a straight course to self-destruction.

 

Luke - people who know what God has commanded are zealous to be redeemed from the curse by keeping the minutiae of God's commands.  These are the most respectable people in society.  They are striving to do what God has commanded, and to teach others to do so as well.  They are scrupulous to a fault, as they have considered the details of God's commands as what is important, rather than the character of God which led to those commands.  These people are condemned as well, and they are just as effective at bringing others into God's condemnation as the people in Leviticus.

 

Let us look not to keeping the Law or to freedom from the Law for our salvation.  Let us look to Jesus, the author and finisher of our salvation.  In him we will find all the riches of God's character.  In him we will find the gracious provision of true freedom, found in being redeemed from the curse of sin, in the ability to desire godliness, in the assurance of eternal life and blessing, in the understanding of God's blessed and perfect commands.  No matter what we try, if we seek to earn salvation, we will be like the man in Leviticus or Luke.  Let us rather look to the Lord of life.