The revchristruelsen’s Podcast

Flooding In

Text for discussion: Leviticus 22. 

 

The Holiness of God floods in and overwhelms our uncleanness.  God purifies us and makes us right with Himself through the all availing sacrifice of His Son.  Without this, we are unclean, unworthy, unacceptable.  We are beggars, fully dependent on God to meet the requirements.  

Engraving: Gustave Dore's depiction of Moses and the Commandments (public domain).

The hymn: Savior Again, To Thy Dear Name We Raise (public domain).

When You're Just Not Good Enough

Text for discussion: Leviticus 21.  

 

The priests in the tabernacle had a heavy burden of holiness to bear.  This chapter describes how difficult it was to hold to the requirements; in their position, many of us would surely be disqualified.  God has sent a greater high priest and the covenant He has made with us was inaugurated in His blood!  

Hymn: Not All the Blood of Beasts

Engraving: Moses and the Ten Commandments engraved by Dore.  

Darkness is as Light to Him

Text for discussion: Leviticus 20.  

In this world we face Fallenness and the perils of evil and tragedy.  Yet, Christ has won full victory over them all.  In the times to come, He will bring all evil to naught fully and finally.  

The hymn: Be Still My Soul (public domain). 

The painting: Christ Carrying the Cross by Titian, painted around 1506/7. (public domain).

Without Corruption

Text for discussion:  Leviticus 19.  

The chapter opens with the fact that God is Holy and ends with the declaration to Israel that He is the Lord their God.  Written in this chapter are a number of statutes for their benefit, but can apply even to modern situations.  In the modern world we know that there are countless statutes at all levels, impossible to follow and keep, let alone living up to the perfection that the Law of old required.  We have a peace offering, our Savior Jesus Christ has done all things well, and has made full restitution for us.  

Hymn: Praise My Soul the King of Heaven, I Bind Unto Myself Today (public domain).  

Photo:  X-ray of the the Shroud of Turin.  Public domain.  (Not without some controversy, the shroud is an amazing artifact, considered to be of the burial cloths of Christ).  

Different than the World

Text: Leviticus 18.  

 

Leviticus 18 covers heavy topics.  The major point is that there were practices in Egypt in Canaan that God did not want His own people to carry on.  He wanted them to be different.  He had set this people apart for Himself.  They would be different from the people of the world, from the pagan societies.  

The hymn: Lord of Glory, You Have Bought Us  (public domain)

Picture: represenation of Moses and the Ten Commandments, by Dore.  Public domain.  

 

The Paradox of God's Will (Luke 10, revisited)

Text for discussion: Luke 10.  

 

This week in church life we celebrate the Ascension of Christ.  The opening readings are the readings we are using this week, and the prayers are for students and teachers at the end of the school year.  

The message is about Luke 10: There are many paradoxes to the way God operates in this world.  The rich and powerful will struggle to see God’s Work in this world, and indeed may willfully disobey it.  They may succeed on this earth, but eternity is a different thing than earthly success.  It is the meek, the innocent, the poor in spirit for whom God’s Kingdom and ways will most clearly come into focus.  When we set aside worldly attitudes, different priorities come into focus.

The Power of Blood

Leviticus 17.  

 

Throughout Scripture, the idea that the life is in the blood is consistent.  We have been ultimately saved through the blood of Christ.  

Hymns: Lamb of God, Pure and Holy, and Jesus, Savior, Pilot Me 

Photo: The Lewis Chessmen.  Viking art.  Public domain by xennex. 

 

Send Out the Goat

Text for discussion: Leviticus 16 

These days, G.O.A.T. has been used as an acronym to indicate the "greatest of all time."  Because of His atoning work, Jesus is the g.o.a.t but He also is serving the function of the goat-an atoning function.  

 

The hymn:  The King of Love My Shepherd Is - public domain.  

Painting: Christ in the Wilderness by Ivan Kramskoy, 1872.  Public domain.  

Salt and Life: Luke 14 Revisited

Text: Luke 14.  

 

This week is an opportunity for the listener to catch up, and for me to complete research on a future podcast.  

This is an episode from January 19 of this year entitled: Salt and Life 

Jesus was constantly being scrutinized by the Pharisees.  For us, following Him will not be easy.  It may put us at odds with family and friends.  It may mean persecution.  Being salt is not easy.  What does this mean?  

 

The hymn: Savior Again, To Thy Dear Name we Raise

Painting: Christ Weeping over Jerusalem by Ary Scheffer, 1849.  Public domain.  

The Best Way to Save a Life

Text for discussion: Leviticus 15.  

 

In ancient times as well as more modern times, infection can lead to worsening disease and death.  In the U.S. Civil War, often amputation saved lives, as drastic as it seemed.  Many returned home because of it, not in spite of it.  The sinful nature needs a cure too-and it turns out the remedy was also a drastic one.  

The hymn:  Holy, Holy, Holy

The image: surgical instruments.  Creator: War Dept. US Sanitary Commission, 1861-1865.  (Public domain).