February 8, 2026 - Leviticus 23-24

God continues to instruct Israel regarding the Sabbath, the Passover, and various feasts and festivals:  The Feast of Firstfruits, The Feast of Weeks, The Feast of Trumpets, another word on the Day of Atonement, and The Feast of Booths.  God also continues to instruct regarding the Tabernacle and its furnishings – the lamps and the bread – and also gives laws concerning blasphemy and how to mete out justice.  One of the best known biblical phrases is found here:  “eye for eye and tooth for tooth.”  So often, these words are used to justify revenge upon one’s enemies.  A famous politician once warned, “If they bring a knife to the fight, we bring a gun.”  That is, if they come against us, we will come against them ten-fold or with overwhelming force.  Now, that might be a good policy in making war; I mean, it seems wise to try to overwhelm one’s enemy early in order to shorten the war and its losses.  In human relationships, and certainly in Israel and in the church, this is a terrible way to act toward others.  The “eye for an eye” rule does not require an absolute one for one retribution, and it certainly does not allow for indiscriminate and inhumane treatment of those who might hurt us.  The law, instead, demands a proportionate rather than a disproportionate response.  That is, one might spend life in prison for murder but it would be inappropriate to hand that same sentence to someone caught shoplifting.  God requires of us action and response that is right and just.  For our hymn selection, these words from the prophet Micah:

With what shall I come before the LORD,

      and bow myself before God on high?

 Shall I come before him with burnt offerings,

      with calves a year old?

 Will the LORD be pleased with thousands of rams,

      with ten thousands of rivers of oil?

 Shall I give my firstborn for my transgression,

      the fruit of my body for the sin of my soul?

He has told you, O man, what is good;

      and what does the LORD require of you

but to do justice, and to love kindness,

      and to walk humbly with your God? ­  --Micah 6:6-8