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Scripture Reading    : Lev 27

Theme                        : Vow

If you have ever found it difficult or impossible to fulfill a promise, the message of this chapter is for you.

In a moment of extreme joy or trial, a Jew might make a vow to God, offering to give Him something valuable in return for His blessing. (See Judg. 11:29–40; Jonah 2:9.) The vow might involve people (vv. 1–8), animals (vv. 9–13, 26–27), property (vv. 14–25), or produce (vv. 30–33).

Praying the Scripture

1. It seems strange that this book should end with a chapter on vows rather than with an account of a special demonstration of God’s glory and holiness. But our promises to God must be as inviolable as His covenant with us. “Do not be rash with your mouth, and let not your heart utter anything hastily before God” (Ecc. 5:2). “It is a snare for a man to devote rashly something as holy, and afterward to reconsider his vows” (Prov. 20:25).
2. The major lesson of this chapter is that God expects us to keep our commitments to Him and be honest in all our dealings with Him. We must not try to negotiate “a better deal” or to escape responsibilities. It’s good to give money to the Lord, but giving money isn’t always an acceptable way to express our devotion to God. That money might be a substitute for the service we ought to be rendering to the Lord. What Samuel said to King Saul needs to be heard today: “Behold, to obey is better than sacrifice, and to hearken than the fat of rams” (1 Sam. 15:22).
3. Finally, we need to remember that Jesus Christ paid with His own life the redemption price for sinners, and we weren’t worth it. He redeemed us not with silver and gold but with His own precious blood (1 Peter 1:18–19). Any sacrifice we make for Him is nothing compared to the sacrifice He made for us.

^[1] Warren W. Wiersbe, With the Word Bible Commentary (Nashville: Thomas Nelson, 1991), Le 27:1.

经文：利27章

主题：许愿

如果你曾发现自己很难遵守，或甚至不可能遵守承诺，本篇章的信息就是给你的。

在一时极度的兴奋或试炼下，一个犹太人可能会向神许愿，承诺献给神一些有价值的东西，以换取祂的祝福。（见士11:29-40；拿2:9）。这誓言可能包括了人（1-8节）、动物（9-13，26-27节）、产业（14-25节）或农作物（30-33节）。

就算这人不能履行誓言，他不得反悔，也不得以较廉价的东西作为替代；他必须给祭司所估定的价值以外加上五分之一。本章告知祭司要如何估定价值，以确保所归给耶和华是妥当的，因为这笔钱是用在圣所的事工上。“估值”这词共出现19次。

话并不低贱；轻易许下的承诺可以是非常昂贵的。因此当处在极度的喜乐或悲伤时，我们理当小心，免得向神做出无法遵守的承诺。（见箴20:25；传5:4-5）是的，你可以以同等的价值赎回承诺，但切让神来估定这诺言的价值。

Scripture Reading    : Lev 26

Theme                        : Obey and Trust

Covenant(1–13).

Chastening(14–39).

God’s covenant included both blessing and chastening, for God will not share His goodness with rebellious children. Enjoying the gifts while insulting the Giver is both selfish and idolatrous. We should obey God, not to “deserve” His blessings or even to avoid His chastenings, but to show our love to Him and our desire to please His heart. 

Confession(40–46).

Praying the Scripture

1. In Leviticus 26, to obey God is to “walk in His statutes” (v. 3), but to disobey Him is to “walk contrary” to the Lord and despise His statutes (vv. 15, 21, 23–24, 27–28, 40–41). The word translated “contrary” means “a hostile meeting with the intention of fighting.” If I’m walking one direction and God is walking another, I’m moving away from His presence; and God isn’t about to change His direction! If I continue to walk contrary to Him, I’m going to have serious problems; for “can two walk together, except they be agreed?” (Amos 3:3) Let’s pray that we will walk with Him.
2. “For whom the Lord loves He chastens, and scourges every son whom He receives” (Heb. 12:6; see Prov. 3:11–12). Israel’s special relationship to Jehovah brought with it the obligation to obey His voice and glorify His name. “You only have I known [chosen] of all the families of the earth: therefore I will punish you for all your iniquities” (Amos 3:2). Privilege brings with it responsibility, and no nation has enjoyed more spiritual privileges from the Lord than the people of God. Let’s thank God for his love.
3. Even in the worst situations, however, there is always hope; for the Lord is “merciful and gracious, long-suffering, and abundant in goodness and truth, keeping mercy for thousands, forgiving iniquity and transgression and sin” (Ex. 34:6–7). His covenant with His people never changes; and if we confess our sins and repent, He will forgive and restore (Lev. 26:40; 1 Kings 8:33–34; Neh. 9:2; 1 John 1:9).

^[1] Warren W. Wiersbe, With the Word Bible Commentary (Nashville: Thomas Nelson, 1991), Le 26:1.

经文：利26章

主题：信靠顺服

所立的约(1–13)

神在本章用了“所立的约”这词约有8次。这提醒会众他们与神特殊的关系，和其中所包含的责任。如果他们遵守神立约的条件，他们将得以留在应许之地，并享受神的祝福。今天，​​神没应许新约下的百姓应予世俗上的成功，但祂答应要与我们同在，并满足我们一切所需。

管教(14–39)

神的约包括祝福和惩罚，因为神不会与叛逆的孩子分享自己的善良。享受礼物的同时，却侮辱那位赐下礼物的既自私又盲目。我们必须顺服神，目的不是为了得到“应得”的祝福，也不是为了避开神的管教。我们顺服是为了表明对神的爱，并乐意讨祂的喜悦。

认罪(40–46)

一位满有恩典的神总是要我们与祂和好。这就是祂管教我们背后的用心和爱意（来12:1-13）。人可以违背向神所的愿（15节），但神却从不违背祂对子民所赐下的应许（44节）。神能不记念我们的罪，但却牢记自己所立的约！这不能成为我们犯罪的借口，而是要鼓励罪人悔改，归向耶和华。

Scripture Reading    : Lev 25-26

Theme                        : The Land and Jubilee

Resources.

Rest.

There was also an ecological purpose behind these laws, for obedience to them would grant rest to the land, to the beasts who helped work the land, and to the people. Along with the weekly Sabbath, the two events reminded Israel that rest and work go together and that people and God-given resources must not be exploited.

Riches.

There was an economic purpose, for God had a concern for the poor and afflicted (vv. 25, 35, 39, 47). Had Israel obeyed the law of the Year of Jubilee, it would have helped to balance the economy, and the rich would have had difficulty exploiting the poor.

Responsibility.

Praying the Scripture

1. The focus in chapters 25 and 26 is on Israel in their land. In fact, the word “land” is used thirty-nine times in these two chapters. The Lord’s statement in verse 2 (“When you enter the land I am going to give you”) must have been a great encouragement to Moses, especially after Israel failed to claim their inheritance at Kadesh-Barnea and had to wander in the wilderness (Num. 13–14). God not only gave His people their land and their food, but He also gave them special “times” to observe so that the land would not be ravaged and spoiled. God is concerned about ecology and the way we treat His creation. Like the ancient Jews, we today are but stewards of God’s gifts; we must be careful not to abuse or waste them.
2. We have no biblical evidence that the Jews ever celebrated the Sabbath Year, in fact, the Bible indicates that they didn’t: “To fulfil the word of the Lord by the mouth of Jeremiah, until the land had enjoyed her sabbaths: for as long as she lay desolate she kept sabbath, to fulfil threescore and ten years” (2 Chron. 36:21). God sent Israel into Babylonian exile for seventy years in order to give the land the rest it needed (Jer. 25:8–11; 29:10). This suggests that for nearly 500 years, the Jews had disobeyed God’s law concerning the Sabbath Year.

^[1] Warren W. Wiersbe, With the Word Bible Commentary (Nashville: Thomas Nelson, 1991), Le 25:1.

经文：利25-26章

主题：土地与禧 年

资源

安息年（1-7节）和禧年（8-55节，jubal之意为“吹角”）是基于两个主张：“地是我的”（23节）和“以色列人是我的仆人”（42节；55节）。地是属于神的；我们只是祂的管家。我们必须明智地使用祂的资源，为祂的荣耀而行，因为在未来之日，我们必须为所经管的一切作交代（路16:1 FF）。

休息

这些法律背后也有生态意义；若能遵守这些律法，土地、耕耘的兽禽和工人都能得到休息。随着每周的安息日，这两件事都提醒以色列人安息与工作是并齐的，而他们也不能剥削工人和神所赐予的资源。

 财富

这也包含了经济效应的目的，因为神关心困苦贫乏的人（vv.25，35，39，47）。如果以色列遵守禧年的律法，这将有助于经济的平衡，而富人也不能轻易剥削穷人了。

责任

但最重要的就是属灵的含义；这律法提醒他们耶和华就是土地和百姓的主，而以色列有义务在一切事上信靠耶和华。他们不得在第49和50年播种，必须等待第51个年头的收成。这是需要信心的（18-22节）！

Scripture Reading    : Lev 24

Theme                        : In the Presence of the Lord

In this chapter, the Lord gave Moses instructions concerning three holy things: the holy oil for the lampstand (Lev. 24:1–4), the holy bread for the table (vv. 5–9), and the holy name of the Lord, which all the people were to honor (vv. 10–23). Three important responsibilities “before the Lord” (vv. 3, 6, 8) are given in this chapter.

Providing the oil(1–4).

Only God and the priests saw the light, but the lamps had to be kept shining, for there was no other source of light in the Holy of Holies. The purest olive oil had to be used, supplied by the people themselves. Do we today, as God’s people, help the light of the church to keep shining continually (Rev. 1:20)?

Presenting the bread(5–9).

Twelve loaves were put on the table each Sabbath, and then the old loaves were given to the priests to eat. They were a reminder that God fed the twelve tribes both physically and spiritually, and that they in turn were to feed the world the truth about the Lord.

Protecting the name(10–23).

Praying the Scripture

1. Since there were no windows in the tabernacle, it was necessary to have light in the holy place so the priests could see as they ministered there. Every morning and evening, when the high priest burned incense on the golden altar, he was to care for the lights on the lampstand to make sure they would continue to burn. The commandment in Leviticus 24:1–4 emphasized two essentials: (1) the people of Israel had to provide the olive oil regularly, and (2) it had to be pure beaten olive oil (Ex. 27:20–21). Is your light shining continuously among your family, friends and neighbors?
2. Not only were the people to bring the pure olive oil for the lamp, but also they were to bring the fine flour out of which twelve loaves of bread were baked each week. These were put on the golden table each Sabbath. What did this symbolize? Only the priests (the tribe of Levi) were allowed in the holy place, but the other tribes were represented there in two ways: by the jewels on the high priest’s garments (Ex. 28:6–21), and by the twelve loaves on the table. The table was called “the table of shewbread” (Num. 4:7), and the loaves were called “shewbread” (Ex. 25:30), which can be translated “bread of presence.” God was present with His people and they were in His presence in the tabernacle.

^[1] Warren W. Wiersbe, With the Word Bible Commentary (Nashville: Thomas Nelson, 1991), Le 24:1.

经文：利24章

主题：在耶和华面前

在本篇章节里，耶和华给予摩西关于三件圣物的指示：点精金灯台的圣油（利24:1-4）、精金桌子的圣饼（5-9节），还有众百姓当尊荣的圣名（10-23节）。这里也讲述“在耶和华面前”须行的三个重要职责（vv.3，6，8）。

奉献圣油(1–4)

只有神和祭司才能看见油灯，但灯仍必须持续点燃，因至圣所里再无其它光源的存在。祭司必须用最纯净的橄榄油点灯，而油必须由百姓奉献。今天，作为神的子民的我们是否在帮助教会的亮光持续照耀呢（启1:20）？ 

献上圣饼(5–9)

祭司每逢安息日都要在精金桌子摆上12个饼，而旧的饼要给祭司们为食。这是要提醒他们神喂养了十二支派的物质和灵性需要，而他们也要依次以主的真相喂养世界。

Scripture Reading    : Lev 23

Theme                        : Jewish Festivals

The Sabbath (Lev. 23:1–3)

Sabbath was an important day for the Jewish people, and they were expected to honor it. To dishonor it meant death (Num. 15:32–36

Passover: Christ died for our sins (Lev. 23:4–5)

Passover is Israel’s feast of deliverance and the key passage is Exodus 12. The innocent lamb died for the firstborn; because the blood of the lamb was applied to the door by faith, the firstborn sons were safe. This was “the Lord’s passover” and the only means of deliverance that He provided that awesome night when the death angel visited Egypt. To reject the blood of the lamb was to accept judgment and death.

Unleavened Bread: separation from sin (Lev. 23:6–8)

For seven days following Passover, the Jews ate only unleavened bread with their meals, and they carefully cleansed all the yeast out of their homes (Ex. 12:15–20). Leaven depicts sin. Thus the putting away of leaven illustrates the cleansing of one’s life after he or she has been saved through faith in the blood (2 Cor. 6:14–7:1).

Firstfruits: Christ raised from the dead (Lev. 23:9–14)

The day after the Sabbath that followed Passover, which would be the first day of the week, the priest took the first sheaf of barley from the field and waved it as an offering before the Lord. It was a token that the first and the best belonged to God, and it was done before Israel reaped the harvest for themselves (Ex. 23:19; Neh. 10:34–37; Prov. 3:9). It was also an expression of gratitude to the Lord for giving the harvest and supplying their daily bread.

Pentecost: birthday of the church (Lev. 23:15–21)

This special day was also called “the Feast of Weeks,” because it was celebrated seven weeks after firstfruits. The word “Pentecost” means “fiftieth,” and since the feast was held seven weeks after firstfruits, it too was on the first day of the week, the Lord’s Day. Each Lord’s Day commemorates the resurrection of Christ, the coming of the Spirit, and the birth of the church。

Trumpets: the calling of God’s people (Lev. 23:23–25)

The Feast of Trumpets was held on the first day of the seventh month and ushered in the new civil year (Rosh Hashanah, “the head of the year”). The sacrifices for the Feast of Trumpets are listed in Numbers 29:1–6. The Hebrew word for “seven” comes from a root word that means “to be full, to be satisfied.

The Day of Atonement: forgiveness (Lev. 23:20–32)

Note here the emphasis on the people afflicting their souls (fasting, praying, confessing sin) and abstaining from all work. This is also a prophetic message to the Day of Atonement. After Israel is gathered to her land, the Jews will see their rejected Messiah, repent of their sins (Zech. 12:10–13:1), and be cleansed.

Tabernacles: the joy of the Lord (Lev. 23:33–44)

经文：利23章

主题：犹太人的节日

安息日(利 23:1–3)

安息日对犹太人来说是一个必须遵守的重要日子。不遵守此日将带来死亡（民15:32-36）。

逾越节：基督为我们的罪钉死 (利23:4–5)

逾越节是以色列获得拯救的盛宴，而《出埃及记》12章就是其重点经文。无辜的羔羊为长子代死；由于百姓凭着信心将羔羊的血涂抹在门上，长子因此得以保全。这是“耶和华的逾越节”，是耶和华在死亡的使者来到埃及的那可怕夜晚所给予的唯一救赎。拒绝羔羊的血同等于承受审判与死亡。

无酵饼：与罪隔绝 (利23:6–8)

在为期七天的逾越节里，犹太人只能以无酵饼为食，也必须把家中所有的酵母仔细地清洗除掉（出12:15-20）。酵象征罪。因此，除去酵勾画的是一人藉着信心在基督的宝血里得救后，洁净自己的生命（林后6:14-7:1）。

初熟的庄稼：基督从死里复活 (利23:9–14)

逾越节后第一个安息日的次日，就是一周的初日，祭司要将初熟的庄稼一捆在耶和华面前摇一摇献给耶和华。以色列人在为自己收割庄稼前先把初熟之物献上给耶和华，以表示初熟和佳物都归于祂（出23:19；尼10:34-37；箴3:9）。这也是他们向主在庄稼收成和每日饮食上的供应所表达的感恩之意。

五旬节：教会的生日 (利 23:15–21)

这个特殊的日子，也被称为“七七节”，因为这是在献禾捆为摇祭的第七个安息日后所庆祝的。“五旬节”这词的意思是“五十”；既然这日是在献上初熟之物的七周后举行，所以这日也是一周的初日，即主日。所以，我们每个主日都纪念基督复活、圣灵降临和教会的诞生。

吹角：神子民的呼召 (利23:23–25)

吹角日是在第七个月的第一天举行，并迎来新的一年（犹太新年，“头年”）。吹角日的献祭已在民数记29:1-6列出。希伯来文的“七”来自“充足、满足”的根词。

赎罪日：饶恕 (利23:20–32)

注意这里强调百姓们要刻苦己心（禁食、祷告、认罪），也不可做任何工作。这也是对赎罪日所做出的预言。以色列回到她的土地后，犹太人将目睹自己是如何拒绝弥赛亚、为自己的罪悔改（亚12:10-13:1），并得洁净。

住棚节：神的喜悦 (利23:33–44)

Scripture Reading    : Lev 22

Theme                        : Fear of the Lord

The chapter begins and ends with the solemn admonition, “You shall not profane My holy name” (vv. 1, 32). In chapter 21, God warned the priests not to be defiled by the unclean things; now He warns them not to defile the clean things.

Defective serving(1–9).

It was dangerous for the priests to serve God if they knew they were unclean. They were insulting God, who knows all things, and deceiving the people who depended on them to present their offerings. The prophet Isaiah advised, “Be clean, you who bear the vessels of the Lord” (Isa. 52:11).

Defective sharing(10–16).

The priests fed their families from the sacrifices the people brought, and that holy food could not be given to outsiders, not even a house guest. It is good to be generous, but not if our generosity dishonors God’s gifts (Matt. 7:6). 

Defective sacrificing(17–33).

Praying the Scripture

1. Bible tells us to sanctify the Lord in our hearts (1Pe 3:15). How can we sanctify the Lord in our hearts by offering defective sacrifices to Him? How many times we give the Lord or the church what we do not want. We give the church things we do not want and have no use of them. There is nothing wrong about the idea of not wasting anything including food, clothing and materials things etc. But the Lord should deserve our best not what we do not want. The problem is heart issue. Let’s pray that we give our very best not the very least or the bare minimum to the Lord. In order to safeguard ourselves from this sin, we make sure we give over and above what is required in the Bible. Let’s sanctify the Lord in our hearts.
2. Do we remember Nadab and Abihu who offered strange fire before the Lord? What about Ananias and Sapphira who lied to the Holy Spirit in the church? Let’s not take our service to the Lord lightly. As Ecclesiastes warns us, “Guard your steps when you go to the house of God (Ecc 5:1). Let’s pray that we have the right fear of the Lord to worship Him.

^[1] Warren W. Wiersbe, With the Word Bible Commentary (Nashville: Thomas Nelson, 1991), Le 22:1.

经文：利 22章

主题： 敬畏耶和华

本章开头和结尾，都严肃告诫“不可亵渎我（耶和华）的圣名”（1、32节）。在第21章中，神警告祭司不得被不洁净之物玷污；现在，祂警告他们不要玷污圣洁之物。

有缺陷的侍奉（1-9）

祭司如果知道自己不洁净但仍事奉神，这是很危险的。他们是在侮辱那无所不知的神，也在欺骗依赖他们为自己献祭的百姓。先知以赛亚告诫说：“你们扛抬耶和华器皿的人哪，务要自洁”（赛52:11）。

有缺陷的分享（10-16）

祭司当以百姓所带来的祭物喂养自己的家，但外人和寄居在祭司家中的人都不得吃这圣物。为人慷慨是好，但我们不可玷污神所赐的礼（太7:6）。

有缺陷的祭牲（17-33）

神配的我们把最好的献给他。既然祭物所勾画的是将来的救世主，这些祭牲就必须是完美的。我们如此轻易献上自己所不要的东西啊！请默想玛拉基书1:6-8。

Scripture Reading    : Lev 21

Theme                        : The Requirements for Leaders

Privilege always brings responsibility. If the nation was to be sanctified, the spiritual leaders had to set the example. God had a word for the priests (1–9), the high priest (10–15), and those who could not be priests (16–24). Note the admonitions in this chapter.

“Don’t defile yourself!”(1, 3, 4, 11).

Anyone who touched a dead body was ceremonially unclean, so the priests had to be extra careful. They were expected to mourn, but not like the hopeless pagans (v. 5; see also 1 Thess. 4:13–18).

“Don’t profane God’s name!”(6).

If we adopt pagan practices, people think we are worshiping pagan gods, and we dishonor the name of the Lord. “Hallowed be Your name” is the first petition in the Lord’s Prayer (Matt. 6:9).

“Don’t profane My sanctuary!”(12, 23).

A defiled or disqualified priest would profane God’s holy sanctuary, and God would have to judge. Holy men must minister in holy courts.

“Don’t profane your posterity!”(15).

Praying the Scripture

1. Chapter 21 is the instruction given to the priests. They are to keep themselves from being defiled. In the New Testament, the Bible also gives us the requirement for leaders: an overseer must be above reproach, the husband of one wife, sober-minded, self-controlled, respectable, hospitable, able to teach, not a drunkard, not violent but gentle, not quarrelsome, not a lover of money. He must manage his own household well, with all dignity keeping his children submissive, for if someone does not know how to manage his own household, how will he care for God’s church? He must not be a recent convert, or he may become puffed up with conceit and fall into the condemnation of the devil. (1Ti 3:2-6). Let’s pray for our leadership that they adhere to these requirements.
2. These qualities are not meant for the leadership only because the leadership is to set the example for the whole church to follow. Peter 5:2-3 instructs the church leaders to be the examples to the flock. So the qualities are meant for the whole church to follow not only for the leadership. Let’s pray that these qualities become our aims and that we work toward them as part of our sanctification.

^[1] Warren W. Wiersbe, With the Word Bible Commentary(Nashville: Thomas Nelson, 1991), Le 21:1.

经文：利 21章

主题：对带领者的要求

特权总与责任并肩而来。倘若一个国家要成圣，她的带领者就须以身作则。神对祭司（1-9）、大祭司（10-15）和那些不能成为祭司的（16-24）皆有吩咐。请留意这篇章中的告诫。

不要沾染自己！（1,3,4,11）

凡触摸死尸的便在礼仪上为不洁净，所以祭司必须要格外小心。他们可以悲哀哭泣，却不能像无盼望的异教徒一样（5节；亦见帖前4:13-18）。

不可亵渎神的名！（6）

我们若行事像外邦人一样，别人可能误以为我们敬拜的是异教的神，从而亵渎了神的名。“愿人都尊你的名为圣”是主祷文里的第一个求告（太6:9）。

 不可亵渎神的圣所（12,23）

一个被玷污或不合格的祭司会亵渎神的至圣所，而神必审判。圣洁的人必在圣洁的院子里侍奉。

不可辱没儿女（15）

祭司是如此的特别；他必须迎娶处女为妻，以向国家确保他的头生的确是亚伦的后裔。凡有先天缺陷的儿子都不得在圣殿里侍奉，但他们仍可接受献祭的份。祭司所献的祭物是纯全无残疾的，所以他自己也需如此（利22:20-25）。神希望今日的仆人也是无可指责的（提前3:2，10）。