Leviticus - Brain Block

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TransformedinChrist

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Some of the scriptures I am having a hard time understanding and I'm wrestling with because I don't fully understand. I have a hard time when I don't understand, I start to avoid because the nagging frustrating gets to me.

I am currently in Leviticus 23 Chapter.

Some of the questions - as I do questions along with the bible study I am unsure how to answer and I can't really connect or picture it in my mind [to process it].

1. How does God view the relationship between the normal work cycle and the special days of festival giving thanks to God [vv. 1-25]? Are you taking adequate time to focus properly on God?

2. How much of a distinction does God make between workdays and worship days [vv. 3, 7-8, 21, 30-31]? How much distinction do you make?

3. How generous does God expect you to be in your worship of him [vv. 10, 14, 17, 20]? Are you as generous as you ought to be?

4. Why does God view his people's sacrifices as "pleasing aroma" [v. 18]? Do you enjoy raising up a pleasing aroma to God through your worship?

5. Can you name the festivals God set and what was celebrated [chap. 23; see Ex. 23:14-17; 34:18-26; Nm 28-29; Dt. 16:1-17; Ezk. 45:18-25]?

6. How does the New Testament use these festivals [see Jn 19:31-37; Acts 2:1, 1 Co 5:7-8; 15:23]?

I just have been struggling so much with understanding - I am at a mental block. If there is any mistakes I apologize ahead of time.

There are a few more questions but I will post them later.
 
Hmm sounds like an intense Bible study.
Well since I kind of presume anyone that isn't Jewish/Israeli was never under the (Old) Covenant or raised under it (are you circumcised? or your family?) we have a hard time understanding the way of life God wanted his Chosen people to live without having experienced it.

There may be a Jewish community near you that still observe the rules and statutes and festivals laid down in Leviticus. If there are, reach out and talk to them maybe? I am sure some people on here have.
 
Lanolin said:
Hmm sounds like an intense Bible study.
Well since I kind of presume anyone that isn't Jewish/Israeli was never under the (Old) Covenant or raised under it (are you circumcised? or your family?) we have a hard time understanding the way of life God wanted his Chosen people to live without having experienced it.

There may be a Jewish community near you that still observe the rules and statutes and festivals laid down in Leviticus. If there are, reach out and talk to them maybe? I am sure some people on here have.
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I am sure Christians here have studied the Old Testament [not like we throw it out if we don't understand it]. Old is just as much needed as the New. I want to understand it in Christian context biblically [I do understand it was for Israel the Jewish People].
 
The whole of the OT (law and prophets) point us to Christ, and that should be our goal as we study them...

Luke 24:25-27 ESV
And he said to them, "O foolish ones, and slow of heart to believe all that the prophets have spoken! [26] Was it not necessary that the Christ should suffer these things and enter into his glory?" [27] And beginning with Moses and all the Prophets, he interpreted to them in all the Scriptures the things concerning himself.
 
crossnote said:
The whole of the OT (law and prophets) point us to Christ, and that should be our goal as we study them...

Luke 24:25-27 ESV
And he said to them, "O foolish ones, and slow of heart to believe all that the prophets have spoken! [26] Was it not necessary that the Christ should suffer these things and enter into his glory?" [27] And beginning with Moses and all the Prophets, he interpreted to them in all the Scriptures the things concerning himself.
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That's what I thought. So many Christians think it ONLY pertains to Jews. It doesn't. Which is why I would like help with my questions ❤️
 
Maybe this would help...

Colossians 2:9,16-17,20-22 ESV
For in him the whole fullness of deity dwells bodily, [16] Therefore let no one pass judgment on you in questions of food and drink, or with regard to a festival or a new moon or a Sabbath. [17] These are a shadow of the things to come, but the substance belongs to Christ. [20] If with Christ you died to the elemental spirits of the world, why, as if you were still alive in the world, do you submit to regulations- [21] "Do not handle, Do not taste, Do not touch" [22] ( referring to things that all perish as they are used)-according to human precepts and teachings?

But if someone insists on following the festivals etc., don't let them think it will draw them closer to Jesus.
 
crossnote said:
Maybe this would help...

Colossians 2:9,16-17,20-22 ESV
For in him the whole fullness of deity dwells bodily, [16] Therefore let no one pass judgment on you in questions of food and drink, or with regard to a festival or a new moon or a Sabbath. [17] These are a shadow of the things to come, but the substance belongs to Christ. [20] If with Christ you died to the elemental spirits of the world, why, as if you were still alive in the world, do you submit to regulations- [21] "Do not handle, Do not taste, Do not touch" [22] ( referring to things that all perish as they are used)-according to human precepts and teachings?

But if someone insists on following the festivals etc., don't let them think it will draw them closer to Jesus.
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Nope we know we don't follow the festivals or feasts (Gentiles who are born again in Jesus Christ).
 
TransformedinChrist said:
Some of the scriptures I am having a hard time understanding and I'm wrestling with because I don't fully understand. I have a hard time when I don't understand, I start to avoid because the nagging frustrating gets to me.

I am currently in Leviticus 23 Chapter.

Some of the questions - as I do questions along with the bible study I am unsure how to answer and I can't really connect or picture it in my mind [to process it].

1. How does God view the relationship between the normal work cycle and the special days of festival giving thanks to God [vv. 1-25]? Are you taking adequate time to focus properly on God? God's view of our relationship and the special days of festival is gratitude. If we can take the time to give thanks to (festivals) or church, we are diligent to give our thanksgiving to God for all things each and every morning.

2. How much of a distinction does God make between workdays and worship days [vv. 3, 7-8, 21, 30-31]? How much distinction do you make?
God is very adamant about the Sabbath in verse 3. The other 6 days, do your work, housekeeping, raise your children, office, warehouse, IT, medical, etc...In verses 7-8, 21 and 30-31 the unleavened bread and holy convocation is in the mix as God stresses solemn rest. That one day of rest allows us to get refreshed for our labor ahead.

3. How generous does God expect you to be in your worship of him [vv. 10, 14, 17, 20]? Are you as generous as you ought to be? God loves to inhabit the praises and worship of His people. He sees when His people give full reverence to Him, but no matter how much our honest hearts, we cannot give our full generosity back to God. It's a continued work in progress. We all can do more, but our loving God understands.

4. Why does God view his people's sacrifices as "pleasing aroma" [v. 18]? Do you enjoy raising up a pleasing aroma to God through your worship? Our sacrifice to the Lord should be enjoyable, though we struggle many times it should be enjoyable. After all, God is our God and the pleasing aroma is Christ in us.

5. Can you name the festivals God set and what was celebrated [chap. 23; see Ex. 23:14-17; 34:18-26; Nm 28-29; Dt. 16:1-17; Ezk. 45:18-25]? In Leviticus the festivals in this order were A Day of The Passover, The Seven Days of Unleavened Bread, One Day of the First Fruits, A Day of The Festival of Weeks (Pentecost), A Day of The Festival of Trumpets, A Day of Atonement, and the Seven Days of Tabernacle.
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Hello, TransformedinChrist;

Please click to expand what I highlighted in blue.

6. How does the New Testament use these festivals [see Jn 19:31-37; Acts 2:1, 1 Co 5:7-8; 15:23]?

In John 19-31-37/Leviticus 23:5 After Jesus died on the cross He was the Lamb for the Passover - God's deliverance of the firstborn in Egypt and freedom of the Hebrews.

In Acts 2:1/Leviticus 23:15-22 references 50 days after Passover the Festival of Weeks was held. At the same time, 50 days after the Resurrection the Holy Spirit descended as our Helper.

In 1 Cor 5:7-8/Leviticus 23:6-8 the Seven Days of Unleavened Bread or the Festival rids the old self of wickedness of the past but the new self of a Godly life or a new Way of living.

In 1 Cor 15:23/Leviticus 23:9-14 refers to the Christ when He returns, the First Fruits being us who will belong and be provided by God.

I just have been struggling so much with understanding - I am at a mental block. If there is any mistakes I apologize ahead of time. There are a few more questions but I will post them later. 😎👍

There is a lot more to cover. Let's ask our other brothers and sisters to add to your thread, TransformedinChrist.

If you feel like a mental block, I'd like to think of it as being a Spiritual Stone. We're all in the same boat learning and growing for Christ.

God bless you, TransformedinChrist and your daughters.
 
TransformedinChrist said:
Some of the scriptures I am having a hard time understanding and I'm wrestling with because I don't fully understand. I have a hard time when I don't understand, I start to avoid because the nagging frustrating gets to me.

I am currently in Leviticus 23 Chapter.

Some of the questions - as I do questions along with the bible study I am unsure how to answer and I can't really connect or picture it in my mind [to process it].

1. How does God view the relationship between the normal work cycle and the special days of festival giving thanks to God [vv. 1-25]? Are you taking adequate time to focus properly on God?

2. How much of a distinction does God make between workdays and worship days [vv. 3, 7-8, 21, 30-31]? How much distinction do you make?

3. How generous does God expect you to be in your worship of him [vv. 10, 14, 17, 20]? Are you as generous as you ought to be?

4. Why does God view his people's sacrifices as "pleasing aroma" [v. 18]? Do you enjoy raising up a pleasing aroma to God through your worship?

5. Can you name the festivals God set and what was celebrated [chap. 23; see Ex. 23:14-17; 34:18-26; Nm 28-29; Dt. 16:1-17; Ezk. 45:18-25]?

6. How does the New Testament use these festivals [see Jn 19:31-37; Acts 2:1, 1 Co 5:7-8; 15:23]?

I just have been struggling so much with understanding - I am at a mental block. If there is any mistakes I apologize ahead of time.

There are a few more questions but I will post them later.
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1. YES! Always have.
It may help your understanding to realize that the purpose of the "feast days" was to give a prophetic picture of all future time.
Each feast has a fulfillment found in time. I believe most all of those have been fulfilled. The fact is......we are no longer to observe days and seasons because Christ has fulfilled them.(Colossians 2:16-17).

2. The distinction I make is that I worship on Sunday as was directed by the 1st church.
The Sabbath was not a feast day. To Me, it does not matter what day you give the Lord to worship Him and in fact we can and should do it every day.

3. YES.
"Generous" is a tricky word. When applied to the worship of God we (I) must be total and focused on Christ.

4. "Sweet Savor/pleasing aroma". The importance of a sacrifice’s aroma is not the smell but what the smell represents—the substitutionary atonement for sin. The animals sacrifices of the Old Test. was a picture of their coming Messiah.

5. Not unless I read them from the Scriptures. I do know that there are 11. Heck........I carry a drivers license so that when the police find me they know where to take me home to.

6. You will not like this but there are two reasons why we are not bound by the command in Leviticus or the other commands to keep Jewish customs and feasts.
#1. The commands were given to the Jewish people. They do not apply to Gentiles and they do not apply to the church today.
#2. The second reason why we do not keep the Jewish regulations and feasts is that they are no longer required to be kept.

We can keep them if we desire, and we can ignore them if we desire. Colossians 2:16-17.......
"Therefore no one is to act as your judge in regard to food or drink or in respect to a festival or a new moon or a Sabbath day — things which are a mere shadow of what is to come; but the substance belongs to Christ."

Paul makes it clear that we are not required to observe the Mosaic law, feasts or customs. We have freedom in Jesus Christ to keep the laws or not keep the laws. It is our choice. We decide.
 
Cosia said:
I hope not. We would be very grateful for your input Major
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Yea........NOW you remember!

61aacc74cb1d8c3142165c21163bb32c.jpg
 
Hello TransformedinChrist, unfortunately, I don't have time to answer your questions right now, but I believe that you will find the linked article below useful. BTW, I have found www.gotquestions.org to be a GREAT place to quickly find answers to most of my questions about God/the Bible/the faith, and I've found it to be a great place to begin a more extensive study as well.

www.gotquestions.org

How did Jesus fulfill the meanings of the Jewish feasts? | GotQuestions.org

How did Jesus fulfill the meanings of the Jewish feasts? Is Jesus the fulfillment of the feasts Jews observe?
www.gotquestions.org

I hope to be able to return to this discussion this evening (Dv).

God bless you!!

~Deuteronomy
 
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