Today's Readings and Stuff -- Friday, 16 February 2018

Late and short today. 

Wife and I had been "volunteered" to go "watch" her nephew's kids today.  An "in-service day" for teachers at their school, mom is working part-time, and dad worked last night until midnight or so and needs to sleep.  So we rolled out of the sack at 06:30, did all the morning stuff, and headed out, getting back just a bit ago.
The temp outside is about 22° lower than it was 24 hours ago, and snow is in the forecast.  Mid-50's yesterday, snow likely tonight and/or tomorrow.  That is many things, but fun is not one of them. 


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The Old Testament reading for the day is chapters 3 and 4 of the book of Leviticus.
Pay attention here, these are the very words of the Lord.
And, note as well the proviso that some of these are specifically noted as being appropriate only for seeking forgiveness for unintentional sins, sins out of ignorance or unwitting.  NOT for deliberate willful rejection of the Lord and of His commandments.

Leviticus 3

1  And if his oblation be a sacrifice of peace offering, if he offer it of the herd; whether it be a male or female, he shall offer it without blemish before the Lord.

2  And he shall lay his hand upon the head of his offering, and kill it at the door of the tabernacle of the congregation: and Aaron's sons the priests shall sprinkle the blood upon the altar round about.

3  And he shall offer of the sacrifice of the peace offering an offering made by fire unto the Lord; the fat that covereth the inwards, and all the fat that is upon the inwards

4  And the two kidneys, and the fat that is on them, which is by the flanks, and the caul above the liver, with the kidneys, it shall he take away

5  And Aaron's sons shall burn it on the altar upon the burnt sacrifice, which is upon the wood that is on the fire: it is an offering made by fire, of a sweet savour unto the Lord.

6  And if his offering for a sacrifice of peace offering unto the Lord be of the flock; male or female, he shall offer it without blemish.

7  If he offer a lamb for his offering, then shall he offer it before the Lord.

8  And he shall lay his hand upon the head of his offering, and kill it before the tabernacle of the congregation: and Aaron's sons shall sprinkle the blood thereof round about upon the altar.

9  And he shall offer of the sacrifice of the peace offering an offering made by fire unto the Lord; the fat thereof, and the whole rump, it shall he take off hard by the backbone; and the fat that covereth the inwards, and all the fat that is upon the inwards,

10  And the two kidneys, and the fat that is upon them, which is by the flanks, and the caul above the liver, with the kidneys, it shall he take away.

11  And the priest shall burn it upon the altar: it is the food of the offering made by fire unto the Lord.

12  And if his offering be a goat, then he shall offer it before the Lord.

13  And he shall lay his hand upon the head of it, and kill it before the tabernacle of the congregation: and the sons of Aaron shall sprinkle the blood thereof upon the altar round about.

14  And he shall offer thereof his offering, even an offering made by fire unto the Lord; the fat that covereth the inwards, and all the fat that is upon the inwards,

15  And the two kidneys, and the fat that is upon them, which is by the flanks, and the caul above the liver, with the kidneys, it shall he take away.

16  And the priest shall burn them upon the altar: it is the food of the offering made by fire for a sweet savour: all the fat is the Lord's.

17  It shall be a perpetual statute for your generations throughout all your dwellings, that ye eat neither fat nor blood.

Leviticus 4

1  And the Lord spake unto Moses, saying,

2  Speak unto the children of Israel, saying, If a soul shall sin through ignorance against any of the commandments of the Lord concerning things which ought not to be done, and shall do against any of them:

3  If the priest that is anointed do sin according to the sin of the people; then let him bring for his sin, which he hath sinned, a young bullock without blemish unto the Lord for a sin offering.

4  And he shall bring the bullock unto the door of the tabernacle of the congregation before the Lord; and shall lay his hand upon the bullock's head, and kill the bullock before the Lord.

5  And the priest that is anointed shall take of the bullock's blood, and bring it to the tabernacle of the congregation:

6  And the priest shall dip his finger in the blood, and sprinkle of the blood seven times before the Lord, before the veil of the sanctuary.

7  And the priest shall put some of the blood upon the horns of the altar of sweet incense before the Lord, which is in the tabernacle of the congregation; and shall pour all the blood of the bullock at the bottom of the altar of the burnt offering, which is at the door of the tabernacle of the congregation.

8  And he shall take off from it all the fat of the bullock for the sin offering; the fat that covereth the inwards, and all the fat that is upon the inwards,

9  And the two kidneys, and the fat that is upon them, which is by the flanks, and the caul above the liver, with the kidneys, it shall he take away,

10  As it was taken off from the bullock of the sacrifice of peace offerings: and the priest shall burn them upon the altar of the burnt offering.

11  And the skin of the bullock, and all his flesh, with his head, and with his legs, and his inwards, and his dung,

12  Even the whole bullock shall he carry forth without the camp unto a clean place, where the ashes are poured out, and burn him on the wood with fire: where the ashes are poured out shall he be burnt\

13  And if the whole congregation of Israel sin through ignorance, and the thing be hid from the eyes of the assembly, and they have done somewhat against any of the commandments of the Lord concerning things which should not be done, and are guilty;

14  When the sin, which they have sinned against it, is known, then the congregation shall offer a young bullock for the sin, and bring him before the tabernacle of the congregation.

15  And the elders of the congregation shall lay their hands upon the head of the bullock before the Lord: and the bullock shall be killed before the Lord.

16  And the priest that is anointed shall bring of the bullock's blood to the tabernacle of the congregation:

17  And the priest shall dip his finger in some of the blood, and sprinkle it seven times before the Lord, even before the veil.

18  And he shall put some of the blood upon the horns of the altar which is before the Lord, that is in the tabernacle of the congregation, and shall pour out all the blood at the bottom of the altar of the burnt offering, which is at the door of the tabernacle of the congregation.

19  And he shall take all his fat from him, and burn it upon the altar.

20  And he shall do with the bullock as he did with the bullock for a sin offering, so shall he do with this: and the priest shall make an atonement for them, and it shall be forgiven them.

21  And he shall carry forth the bullock without the camp, and burn him as he burned the first bullock: it is a sin offering for the congregation.

22  When a ruler hath sinned, and done somewhat through ignorance against any of the commandments of the Lord his God concerning things which should not be done, and is guilty;

23  Or if his sin, wherein he hath sinned, come to his knowledge; he shall bring his offering, a kid of the goats, a male without blemish:

24  And he shall lay his hand upon the head of the goat, and kill it in the place where they kill the burnt offering before the Lord: it is a sin offering.

25  And the priest shall take of the blood of the sin offering with his finger, and put it upon the horns of the altar of burnt offering, and shall pour out his blood at the bottom of the altar of burnt offering.

26  And he shall burn all his fat upon the altar, as the fat of the sacrifice of peace offerings: and the priest shall make an atonement for him as concerning his sin, and it shall be forgiven him.

27  And if any one of the common people sin through ignorance, while he doeth somewhat against any of the commandments of the Lord concerning things which ought not to be done, and be guilty;

28  Or if his sin, which he hath sinned, come to his knowledge: then he shall bring his offering, a kid of the goats, a female without blemish, for his sin which he hath sinned.

29  And he shall lay his hand upon the head of the sin offering, and slay the sin offering in the place of the burnt offering.

30  And the priest shall take of the blood thereof with his finger, and put it upon the horns of the altar of burnt offering, and shall pour out all the blood thereof at the bottom of the altar.

31  And he shall take away all the fat thereof, as the fat is taken away from off the sacrifice of peace offerings; and the priest shall burn it upon the altar for a sweet savour unto the Lord; and the priest shall make an atonement for him, and it shall be forgiven him.

32  And if he bring a lamb for a sin offering, he shall bring it a female without blemish.

33  And he shall lay his hand upon the head of the sin offering, and slay it for a sin offering in the place where they kill the burnt offering.

34  And the priest shall take of the blood of the sin offering with his finger, and put it upon the horns of the altar of burnt offering, and shall pour out all the blood thereof at the bottom of the altar:

35  And he shall take away all the fat thereof, as the fat of the lamb is taken away from the sacrifice of the peace offerings; and the priest shall burn them upon the altar, according to the offerings made by fire unto the Lord: and the priest shall make an atonement for his sin that he hath committed, and it shall be forgiven him.

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Psalm 35

A Psalm of David.

 

1  Plead my cause, O Lord, with them that strive with me: fight against them that fight against me.

2  Take hold of shield and buckler, and stand up for mine help.

3  Draw out also the spear, and stop the way against them that persecute me: say unto my soul, I am thy salvation.

4  Let them be confounded and put to shame that seek after my soul: let them be turned back and brought to confusion that devise my hurt.

5  Let them be as chaff before the wind: and let the angel of the Lord chase them.

6  Let their way be dark and slippery: and let the angel of the Lord persecute them.dark

7  For without cause have they hid for me their net in a pit, which without cause they have digged for my soul.

8  Let destruction come upon him at unawares; and let his net that he hath hid catch himself: into that very destruction let him fall.

9  And my soul shall be joyful in the Lord: it shall rejoice in his salvation.

10  All my bones shall say, Lord, who is like unto thee, which deliverest the poor from him that is too strong for him, yea, the poor and the needy from him that spoileth him?

11  False witnesses did rise up; they laid to my charge things that I knew not.

12  They rewarded me evil for good to the spoiling of my soul

13  But as for me, when they were sick, my clothing was sackcloth: I humbled my soul with fasting; and my prayer returned into mine own bosom

14I   behaved myself as though he had been my friend or brother: I bowed down heavily, as one that mourneth for his mother.behaved myself

15  But in mine adversity they rejoiced, and gathered themselves together: yea, the abjects gathered themselves together against me, and I knew it not; they did tear me, and ceased not

16  With hypocritical mockers in feasts, they gnashed upon me with their teeth.

17  Lord, how long wilt thou look on? rescue my soul from their destructions, my darling from the lions.

18  I will give thee thanks in the great congregation: I will praise thee among much people

19  Let not them that are mine enemies wrongfully rejoice over me: neither let them wink with the eye that hate me without a cause

20  For they speak not peace: but they devise deceitful matters against them that are quiet in the land.

21  Yea, they opened their mouth wide against me, and said, Aha, aha, our eye hath seen it.

22  This thou hast seen, O Lord: keep not silence: O Lord, be not far from me.

23  Stir up thyself, and awake to my judgment, even unto my cause, my God and my Lord.

24  Judge me, O Lord my God, according to thy righteousness; and let them not rejoice over me.

25  Let them not say in their hearts, Ah, so would we have it: let them not say, We have swallowed him up.

26  Let them be ashamed and brought to confusion together that rejoice at mine hurt: let them be clothed with shame and dishonour that magnify themselves against me.

27  Let them shout for joy, and be glad, that favour my righteous cause: yea, let them say continually, Let the Lord be magnified, which hath pleasure in the prosperity of his servant.

28  And my tongue shall speak of thy righteousness and of thy praise all the day long.

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Mark 7

 1  Then came together unto him the Pharisees, and certain of the scribes, which came from Jerusalem.

2  And when they saw some of his disciples eat bread with defiled, that is to say, with unwashen, hands, they found fault.

3  For the Pharisees, and all the Jews, except they wash their hands oft, eat not, holding the tradition of the elders.

4  And when they come from the market, except they wash, they eat not. And many other things there be, which they have received to hold, as the washing of cups, and pots, brasen vessels, and of tables.

5  Then the Pharisees and scribes asked him, Why walk not thy disciples according to the tradition of the elders, but eat bread with unwashen hands?

6  He answered and said unto them, Well hath Esaias prophesied of you hypocrites, as it is written, This people honoureth me with their lips, but their heart is far from me.

7   Howbeit in vain do they worship me, teaching for doctrines the commandments of men.

8   For laying aside the commandment of God, ye hold the tradition of men, as the washing of pots and cups: and many other such like things ye do.

9  And he said unto them, Full well ye reject the commandment of God, that ye may keep your own tradition.

10  For Moses said, Honour thy father and thy mother; and, Whoso curseth father or mother, let him die the death:

11  But ye say, If a man shall say to his father or mother, It is Corban, that is to say, a gift, by whatsoever thou mightest be profited by me; he shall be free.

12  And ye suffer him no more to do ought for his father or his mother;

13  Making the word of God of none effect through your tradition, which ye have delivered: and many such like things do ye.

14  And when he had called all the people unto him, he said unto them, Hearken unto me every one of you, and understand:

15  There is nothing from without a man, that entering into him can defile him: but the things which come out of him, those are they that defile the man.

16   If any man have ears to hear, let him hear.

17  And when he was entered into the house from the people, his disciples asked him concerning the parable.

18  And he saith unto them, Are ye so without understanding also? Do ye not perceive, that whatsoever thing from without entereth into the man, it cannot defile him;

19   Because it entereth not into his heart, but into the belly, and goeth out into the draught, purging all meats?

20   And he said, That which cometh out of the man, that defileth the man.

21   For from within, out of the heart of men, proceed evil thoughts, adulteries, fornications, murders,

22   Thefts, covetousness, wickedness, deceit, lasciviousness, an evil eye, blasphemy, pride, foolishness:

23   All these evil things come from within, and defile the man.

24  And from thence he arose, and went into the borders of Tyre and Sidon, and entered into an house, and would have no man know it: but he could not be hid.

25  For a certain woman, whose young daughter had an unclean spirit, heard of him, and came and fell at his feet:

26  The woman was a Greek, a Syrophenician by nation; and she besought him that he would cast forth the devil out of her daughter.

27  But Jesus said unto her, Let the children first be filled: for it is not meet to take the children's bread, and to cast it unto the dogs.

28  And she answered and said unto him, Yes, Lord: yet the dogs under the table eat of the children's crumbs.

29  And he said unto her, For this saying go thy way; the devil is gone out of thy daughter.

30  And when she was come to her house, she found the devil gone out, and her daughter laid upon the bed.

31  And again, departing from the coasts of Tyre and Sidon, he came unto the sea of Galilee, through the midst of the coasts of Decapolis.

32  And they bring unto him one that was deaf, and had an impediment in his speech; and they beseech him to put his hand upon him.

33  And he took him aside from the multitude, and put his fingers into his ears, and he spit, and touched his tongue;

34  And looking up to heaven, he sighed, and saith unto him, Ephphatha, that is, Be opened.

35  And straightway his ears were opened, and the string of his tongue was loosed, and he spake plain.

36  And he charged them that they should tell no man: but the more he charged them, so much the more a great deal they published it;

37  And were beyond measure astonished, saying, He hath done all things well: he maketh both the deaf to hear, and the dumb to speak.