Thoughts on the readings for March 19th (Leviticus 27, Psalms 140, 141, 142, Luke 10)

Leviticus 27 speaks of laws against rash voluntary vows. Verses 1-8 tell of the vows of males and females. There was a scale in the price for the penalty to be paid for the breaking of a vow; the value of the penalty was not a reflection, of the worth of the offerer, nor of the capacity for service (that is the strength) of the offerer. Verses 9 to13 covers the vowing of domestic animals - clean and unclean. Since vows were made by owners and not animals penalties were imposed on the offerer. Exchange was only permitted if a superior animal was exchanged for the lesser beast. Any redemption for the substituted animal was allowed provided a penalty, or fine, of an additional one fifth was added. The vowing of unclean animals was not permitted. Verses 14-25 tell about the vowing of fields and houses. In the case of a person seeking the redemption of a house that had been vowed there was a penalty to be paid of one fifth more than the priest's valuation. Vowed land was valued in terms of the number of years until the Jubilee - a higher valuation would be expected for land vowed just after the Jubilee. These rules were put in place since all fields outside the city precincts were restored to the original owners in the Year of Jubilee. Verses 26 to27 tells of the redemption of all firstborns - whether human or animal. Verses 28 to 29 tells us that there could be no redemption for any devoted person, or animal. Verses 30 to 34 speak about tithes, which were holy and could only be redeemed by paying a penalty equal to one fifth of the priest's valuation. Psalm 140 was written by David. In this song he calls on the LORD to deliver him from evil men. Those who had arrogantly plotted David's downfall were doomed to failure, since the Almighty has hearkened to the humble plea from God's faithful anointed king. Those who had slandered David would, by way of a metaphor, be cast into the pits which they had created for David. Yahweh's help for His servant, David, brought forth praise and thanksgiving for David's deliverance. Our LORD always upholds the cause of those poor and needy children whose trust is in their God; and He will give the kingdom to them. In Psalm 141 David prays for his Sovereign to heed his voice, like our God delighted in the aroma of the evening Burnt Offering. David asks Yahweh to keep him humble and his lips free from sin and guile. Verse 5 is similar to thought in the Proverbs that says, "faithful are the wounds of a friend". Verses 6-7 speak of the treacheries which were all too common in the nation of Israel. Verse 8 declares the writer's stedfast love for the right and true paths of the LORD. The Psalm concludes with a plea from David to be preserved; and for the wicked to be ensnared in their own nets. Psalm 142 is another from the pen of David. It is a Maschil ie "an engraving"; a lesson cut deeply for teaching vital lessons. David made to his LORD an impassioned plea for mercy. In the king's extremity when all his associates had seemingly forgotten him David cast himself upon Yahweh's faithfulness and loving kindness; and he found in his God a secure place for refuge. The Psalm finishes in verse 7 with David's confidence in being delivered from the prison of despondency. Luke 10 says that the Lord Jesus appoints seventy emissaries to spread the gospel message. These men were sent out two by two so as to support each other. Although they carry the message only within the confines of the land it was symbolic of the Gospel being taken to all the nations from Israel (compare Genesis 10 and Deuteronomy 32 verse 8). Once again these ambassadors were to take the minimum of provisions and to rely on faithful help. Any person scorning them would bare their condemnation. Three such Galilean cities are named and their inexcusable behaviour cataloged. The seventy returned to Jesus with triumphant tales. Christ indicates that their reports were a token of the triumph of Christ's kingdom over those of this world (compare with Revelation 11 verse 15). The Lord then reveals that the Father's will can only be understood by those receiving the kingdom message with a child-like trust. Let us take great heed to that lesson. The parable of the Good Samaritan, which is unique in Luke, portrays the perils and pitiful attitudes of those who should have understood their role among God's people. Instead it is the Samaritan, whose care was evident for the man who had fallen among thieves. Jesus is the Samaritan of the parable and he will recompense those who have taken care of the Father's people. The oil and wine was the healing balm of the Gospel message. The chapter concludes with a disagreement between Martha and Mary about what is most necessary. Both the roles of these two sisters are essential, but the most important of all is to sit at our Lord's feet and to learn from Jesus. Penned by Warwick Rosser and his team, produced by Christadelphianvideo.org See more Thoughts from the Christadelphian Dialy Bible Reading Planner (By R.Roberts) here... https://christadelphianvideo.org/thoughts-on-the-readings-for-march-19th-leviticus-27-psalms-140-141-142-luke-10/?feed_id=87940&_unique_id=67d91380d85ee