You never forget a first impression. When you first meet Elijah, you notice his confidence in the Lord: “And Elijah the Tishbite, of the inhabitants of Gilead, said to Ahab, ‘As the LORD God of Israel lives, before whom I stand, there shall not be dew nor rain...
Before investigating the sin offering, it is important to understand how the two non-sweet aroma offerings differ. The sin offering was demanded for the offense of sin, but the trespass offering was required for the damages of sin. The sin offering deals with the...
The trespass offering is the final Levitical sacrifice required of an Israelite. This offering illustrates the primary aspect of the work of the cross. The Hebrew word for trespass is “asham,” meaning guilt. It addresses the question of how a man may be forgiven for...
A believer living in the Church Age might well ask, “What practical value is there in studying the five Jewish offerings of Leviticus?” The answer to this question is that we might grow in our appreciation of Christ whose person and work are symbolized in the...
The first offering mentioned is the burnt offering. The Hebrew word ‘ôlâh translated “burnt offering” means “to ascend.” The whole offering was to be completely burned up, with the ensuing smoke ascending to God as a sweet aroma. There had been burnt offerings earlier...
Leviticus 1-5 describe five Old Testament offerings observed by the nation of Israel. Each offering had a different purpose. Three of them - the burnt, meal, and peace offerings - were voluntary to express dedication and gratitude to God for His care and provision....
The main categories of offerings display Christ’s saving work on the sinner’s behalf. The first three offerings are characterized as a sweet-smelling savor to the Almighty. They emphasize the Father’s special appreciation of the Son, apart from a direct contemplation...
God considers ministry (service) a high priority. The Old and New Testaments speak at length about it. The common Old Testament Hebrew words for ministry, “Shareth” and “Abodah” mainly referred to the ministry of a select priestly class, officially appointed to carry...
The Lord had acted in power to bring the people of Israel out of slavery in Egypt, the iron furnace (Deut. 4:20). They had crossed through the Red Sea, drank water from the rock, eaten manna from heaven, and eventually made their way to Mount Sinai to receive the...
Immediately after the Lord Jesus had changed water into wine, we read, “This beginning of signs Jesus did in Cana of Galilee and manifested His glory; and His disciples believed in Him” (John 2:11). The very next story is of Jesus “cleansing the temple.”1 “Now...
If you knew you were going to die tomorrow, what would you say to your family? I am sure you would use the time to say important things. You might prepare them for life without you, warning them of the dangers ahead, and assuring them of your love. When my wife Susan...
Paul’s epistle to the Ephesians is best understood to be a general letter to all assemblies, rather than specifically to one local church. It was probably intended to be widely circulated. The letter is certainly applicable to every believer and lays out important...
“In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and theWord was God. He was in the beginning with God.” (John 1:1-2) “And the Word became flesh and dwelt among us, and we beheld His glory, the glory as of the only begotten of the Father, full of grace and...
Each Lord’s Day, assemblies of Christians all around the world will be gathered together unto the Lord Jesus Christ, to remember Him in His death and to worship both Father and Son for their unspeakable Gift. In so doing, the New Testament pattern for the gatherings...
As Abraham was sitting at his tent door in the heat of the day, the pre-incarnate Son of God suddenly appeared along with two angels (Gen. 18:1-2). Recognizing the significance of the occasion, Abraham ran to greet them, extending to them the eastern hospitality...
“Love never fails. But whether there are prophecies, they will fail; whether there are tongues, they will cease; whether there is knowledge, it will vanish away. For we know in part and we prophesy in part. But when that which is perfect has come, then that which is...
Preaching the gospel is a sacred stewardship and Scripture sets a high standard for those who undertake this ministry. First Thessalonians 2 teaches that fruitfulness in ministry is directly proportional to the preacher’s character. Paul and Silas suffered physical...
Excitement is building as the eyes of the world will soon be focused on the athletes as they gather in Paris for the XXXIII Summer Olympics. Some athletes, particularly those on the US Men’s and Women’s 4 x 100 relay teams, will not want to repeat the disaster of the...
As I was driving up the north shore of Lake Superior in Minnesota, I saw a green road sign pointing to a scenic overlook off the highway. I had driven past that sign for years, but never stopped to see the view. I would even tell others that I saw the sign, yet I...
Some time ago while working as an engineer a co-worker asked me, “In light of all the science available, how can an intelligent person like you buy into the creation myth?” He was referring to my belief in the literal biblical account of six twenty-four-hour periods...