Thoughts on the readings for March 12th (Leviticus 20, Psalm 119-129-176, Luke 3)

Leviticus 20 speaks of penalties for depraved practices. I will quote brother Martin’s book, page 220 –
“Leviticus 20 takes up the heathen practices condemned in chapter 18, and attaches the penalties to be applied for those guilty of such depravities. It is curious that chapter 20 does not immediately follow chapter 18. One suggestion is that chapter 19, with its “royal law”, comes between to demonstrate “the more excitement way” to avoid such unholy behaviour.”
The abominable practices with exhortations to avoid them. Verses 1-5 offering children unto Molech
Verses 6, 27 people with familiar spirits and wizards
Verses 7-8 exhortation to manifest God’s holiness
Verse 9 dishonouring parents
Verse 10 adultery
Verse 11 affair with father’s wife
Verse 12 affair with
daughter-in-law
Verse 13 homosexuality
Verse 14 bigamy within the same family
Verse 15 sexual depravity with animals (Men)
Verse 16 sexual depravity with animals (Women)
Verse 17 incest
Verse 18 intimacy during menstrual period
Verses 19-21 illicit relations with close relatives
Verses 22-24 exhortations to reject practices of the Canaanites

We conclude our comments on Psalm 119. And we must remember that this was written principally for the Messiah – our Lord Jesus Christ
(Romans 15 verses 4-5). It was written for his sake and to guide him, in the first place. We see his mind, his attitudes in every verse. We follow him who was the Lamb of God, being led by his Father (the Great Shepherd of Israel Psalm 80). Stanzas 17-22 and alphabet letters 17-22 are provided for our contemplation. Just a few verses for us to slowly read aloud; and pause and ponder – verses 129-132
verses 137-140
Verse 142; verses 145-149
Verses 159-160
verses 163-166 and
Verses 174-176. Reflect upon these and think about the incomparable Christ Jesus. Try to apply these principles in your own life. Verse 176 is curious and some have said that it is not Messianic. But it tells us Messiah’s mind. He is teaching us that without the guiding Word of His Father he too would have failed to walk the path chosen for him.

Luke 3 begins with all the supposed somebodies of the age. To none of them does Yahweh reveal Himself but to a nobody in the wilderness. Yet what a message was the LORD’s word. It declares the insignificance of human flesh. By contrast it announces that the transforming power inherent in God’s Word to cause weak, frail and dependent humans to acknowledgment their sinfulness by repenting and aligning themselves in baptism with the forgiveness offered to them on that condition. John’s message came from Isaiah 40 verses1-8, see Peter’s comments in 1 Peter 1 verses 17-25. All those who were considered as the baser classes of society responded to the message of John the Baptist. The self important stood self condemned by their rejection of God’s offer. Jesus, likewise, acknowledges that there is nothing in human nature worthy of perpetuating. Our Lord, would through his perfect life, submit in obedience to death; and being raised to immortality and by this he would declare God’s righteousness. So Jesus submits to baptism and asks the same of all disciples. Our Lord Jesus’ genealogy is provided back to Adam, and hence to God also. He is not only Son of Man through his mother whose genealogy is here given through Nathan, David’s son – but just as vital Jesus is the Son of God. And it is for this reason our Lord was enabled to overcome sin: see Hebrews 1.