January 29, 2024 - Leviticus 1-4

Leviticus begins, “The Lord called Moses and spoke to him from the tent of meeting” (1:1).  In pulling up Leviticus on my computer screen I accidentally did a word search for “meeting.”  Oh my, it came up over and over again.  This is a reminder that the tabernacle was really “the tent of meeting,” that is, the place that the Lord met with Israel.  It is good to know that God desires to meet with his people and, indeed, does so.  And this although Israel had been so inconsistent in her obedience and faithfulness.  At the tent of meeting, though, God, in his mercy, received Israel’s offerings:  the burnt offering (given when calling upon the Lord), the grain offering (a reminder of God’s provisions), the peace offering (communion with God), and the sin and guilt offerings for sins committed.  How great was the Lord’s kindness to Israel and how great is his kindness to us that he communes with us and forgives us.

“But when the kindness and love of God our Savior appeared, 5 he saved us, not because of righteous things we had done, but because of his mercy. He saved us through the washing of rebirth and renewal by the Holy Spirit, 6 whom he poured out on us generously through Jesus Christ our Savior, 7 so that, having been justified by his grace, we might become heirs having the hope of eternal life” (Titus 3:4-7).  Writing about David’s kindness to Mephibosheth, a songwriter puts it like this:

This world fills my heart not with pleasure,

But hunger and much anxious care.

What joy, in the midst of my suff’ring,

My Christ came and saved me from there

"Where are you,” came the sweetest voice

“I love you, I’ll care for your need!

Come, enjoy this feast at My table here.

I have covered your poor crippled feet.”   --A new song.  Of the author I can find only “R. H.; Z. M.”

How much greater is God’s kindness to us!