Reflections: 12-9-2007

All Scripture citations are taken from New Living Translation, Second Edition (www.newlivingtranslation.com)

• Leviticus 17
  

  Prohibitions for eating blood are given here in this chapter.
  

  
  

• Leviticus 18
  

  Many sexual practices are explicitly forbidden by the LORD, shown in this chapter. These include sex between family members, with animals, and with the same gender.
  

  
  

  • Do not defile yourselves in any of these ways, for the people I am driving out before you have defiled themselves in all these ways. (v. 24)
    
    • This is the primary intention why these sexual practices are forbidden. God does not approve these as done by the native Canaanites. Think about the present situation today about people having done these forbidden activities, and reflect on what God thinks about these.
      

• Psalms 59
  

  This psalm is in remembrance of the time when Saul sent soldiers to David's house in order to arrest him.
  

  
  

  • They have set an ambush for me. Fierce enemies are out there waiting, LORD, though I have not sinned or offended them. (v. 3)
    
    • The psalmist, attributed to David, have not sinned or offended them or against the LORD. These enemies have no justifiable reason for ambushing him. That is why this psalm calls for God to protect him against them.
      

      
      

  • Don't kill them, for my people soon forget such lessons; stagger them with your power, and bring them to their knees, O Lord our shield. (v. 11)
    
    • The idea here is for God's judgment to be prolonged in order for the people to understand such lessons. Justice met upon them with swiftness might be quickly forgotten.
      

• Luke 2
  

  In this chapter, we have a glimpse of Jesus' birth and childhood. During his birth, shepherds near the area, whom the angels have announced his birth, came to visit His birthplace, which is a mere manger. Also in this chapter, Jesus was presented to the temple with Mary following the Law of Moses regarding the consecration of a male firstborn. As if the angels announcing His birth and the power of God demonstrated through a former mute priest Zechariah were not enough, two contemporary prophets, Simeon and Anna, were praising God for the fulfilment of the coming of the Deliverer. Later this chapter, Jesus story of having lost then later was found in the Temple discussing with the religious teachers was also told.