Day 55 Chronological Bible Study Timeline. Map. Go to today’s Bible reading (use your browser arrow to return): Leviticus 24–25
Discipline, Fairness, and Grace
Parents, teachers, employers, and other organizational leaders need to exercise discipline, but they want to do it right. The consequences of misbehavior must be fair, just, and equal for everyone. They want to discourage fighting between children or squabbles between employees. Losses of property or respect need compensation or restoration. When do we express discipline or grace?
Discipline usually follows when someone breaks the rules, or their behavior is otherwise unacceptable. Children might suffer the removal of privileges for not keeping their rooms clean, not doing their homework, or fighting with another child. Employees might get fired for not showing up on time, doing shoddy work, or causing dissension.
Shining the Light, Living the Example
In today's Bible reading, God has more rules for the Israelite priests, and these also have symbolic significance. First, the LORD instructs Aaron, the high priest, to keep the lamps in the tabernacle burning all night with olive oil. This symbolizes God's continual presence in the tabernacle and is a great comfort!
Today, Jesus dwells (or tabernacles) within us who have received him as the Savior of our souls (John 1:12-14). Like the Menorah, Jesus’ light is present in every one of his followers (John 12:46; 2Corinthians 4:6; Ephesians 5:8). This is comforting, but also challenging; we need to be lights to our world, showing them God's love through our good works and drawing them to him (John 8:12; Matthew 5:14-16).Maintain Your Fellowship
A second duty of the priests was to replace the twelve cakes of flatbread on the small golden table. God instructed them to do this every week. The table of bread was a symbol of God's presence and their fellowship with him (Exodus 25:30).If we have a relationship with God, he is with us. In John 6:35 (NLT), Jesus said, “I am the bread of life. Whoever comes to me will never go hungry, and whoever believes in me will never be thirsty.” Praise the LORD, he offers us spiritual life, but he also wants our fellowship with him and our brothers and sisters in Christ (1 John 1:3).
Maintain Respect
After the dedication of the priests and tabernacle, there was an incident of gross disrespect for God. One Israelite man born from a mixed relationship got into a fight with another Israelite man. He cursed God and blasphemed (meaning to pierce or smear) his name. We don't know what he said, but apparently, it was a curse smearing God's character because God told Moses to have him stoned to death.
God's very name is sacred. How holy is it to us? Do we curse using his name? He takes that seriously. However, the punishment God's people carried out on the blaspheming Israelite is unique to them—they were a theocratic society. The LORD was their Sovereign. He doesn't suggest that we should kill someone who profanes the LORD's name or that we should be killed if we do the same.
Even so, the LORD may punish Christians for cursing, using his holy name. We shouldn't pierce his reputation by saying anything evil about God, even in anger. He's good. In the name of Jesus, God forgives our sins, saves us from hell, and gives us spiritual life and blessings.
In principle, those who act in rebellion against authorities deserve the strictest discipline. They may lose significant privileges, be dismissed or even expelled — whatever applies best to the situation. We shouldn't tolerate disrespect.
Fair Compensation for Wrongs
How do we make corrections with fairness and equality? It's an old precept but may still be of some use to us: “An eye for an eye and a tooth for a tooth” Basically, this is the concept of fair compensation (Leviticus 24:17-22).
We aren't a theocratic society, but to a degree, we can apply this principle by making the punishment fit the crime. Rule or law violations not worthy of capital punishment must still have fair penalties, and always consider what is best for all involved.
The goal is for the offender to learn a lesson and change his ways, not to render excessive punishment. The right discipline administered with an even hand usually stops fighting.
Later in Jewish history, Jesus would give a different perspective on their law (Matthew 5:38-42). The focus of Jesus’ sermon on the mount is not justice but grace. Grace means not resisting an enemy, seeking to live peaceably, lessening offenses with kindness, humility, selflessness, and leaving the final judgment with God (Romans 12:17-21).
We need to pray for direction from God and determine our actions by the circumstances.
Stewards of God's grace
Fourth, not only should we shine our lights, maintain a relationship with God and his followers, and act with fairness; we should also help those who are poor or otherwise disadvantaged. Israel's year of Jubilee gives us some helpful insights.
Every fifty years, the Israelites would celebrate the Year of Jubilee. God instructed landowners and masters to return land mortgaged to them, and forgive the debt of their slaves (indentured servants), and release them. They were even to give the slaves sufficient means to make a new start. And because God declared it a Sabbath year, he instructed the owners and laborers to give the land rest from working it. It was a year of grand celebration!
The Year of Jubilee for the Israelites is like a Christian Jubilee. By Jesus' sacrifice, he redeems us and gives us freedom from sin's slavery to serve our God (Romans 6:17-18, NIV). Whether rich or poor, spiritually speaking, we're all the same.How should we Christians treat the poor today, especially those of the faith? God forgives our debts and gives us freedom, so we need to remember the poor, liberally providing for their needs and giving them a hand upL(uke 4:18-19, Galatians 2:10, and Galatians 5:13-14).
We're not to think of ourselves, but serve one another. We are stewards of God's grace.
Discussion
Before exercising any discipline or punishment, what principles might we learn from the priests?
How do we balance exercising fair discipline or compensation with showing God’s grace?
Focus Verse
Micah 6:8 (NIV) “He has showed you, O man, what is good. And what does the LORD require of you? To act justly and to love mercy and to walk humbly with your God.”
Write a private prayer response to today’s Bible study
Please send your comments to me
Looking Ahead: We know the consequences of our sin, so we need to learn to make the right choice. Find out how to do this in our Next Lesson.
Back to top of page
Return to Chronological Bible Studies main page
Go to Scriptures main page
Go to Topics main page
Go to Home pagere-edited 3-1-23
COPYRIGHT @ 2019, MASTER'S TOUCH BIBLE STUDIES