Justin Houtz

Leviticus 4, Psalms 1-2, Proverbs 19, Colossians 2

DateVersionReading Plan
@April 1, 2024ESV (2016)M’Cheyne Plan 2024

Leviticus 4

Leviticus 4:11–12 (ESV) 11 But the skin of the bull and all its flesh, with its head, its legs, its entrails, and its dung— 12 all the rest of the bull—he shall carry outside the camp to a clean place, to the ash heap, and shall burn it up on a fire of wood. On the ash heap it shall be burned up.

The LORD gave Moses instructions as to what was to be burned on the altar along with what was to be carried to a clean place outside the camp to be burned on an ash heap. The sin offering was somewhat unique in this regard as the CSB Study Notes describes:

A distinguishing feature of the sin offering was that the bull’s remaining parts were taken to a ceremonially clean place outside the camp (also Day of Atonement, 16:27) where they were burned. But the burnt offering required the burning of the whole animal on the altar (except the hide). The disposal site for the bull’s remaining parts had to be ritually clean, unpolluted by unclean persons or defiled by human refuse (Lev. 13:46; Num. 5:3; Deut. 23:10, 13).

Psalms 1-2

Psalm 1:1–2 (ESV) 1 Blessed is the man who walks not in the counsel of the wicked, nor stands in the way of sinners, nor sits in the seat of scoffers; 2 but his delight is in the law of the LORD, and on his law he meditates day and night.

The psalms open with a powerful admonition for Godly living. The groundwork is set with what is avoided by the blessed man. To be in the company and counsel of the wicked fosters only waywardness. Rather, the blessed man delights in the law of the LORD and shows his devotion by meditating on it day and night. It is a delight that blooms in the hearts vivified by the Spirit, joyfully obedient to God’s Word out of a desire for sustained intimacy with Him..

Proverbs 19

Proverbs 19:14 (ESV) 14 House and wealth are inherited from fathers, but a prudent wife is from the LORD.

This hit particularly hard as I continue to think on whether I am to be married. Much of what I have is to be attributed to my upbringing, a path no doubt ordained and guided by the Lord. It is all a work of His grace—what He has provided in Himself and through the work He has done in me—that has sustained me in singleness. What a blessing it would be to have such a wife of prudence, but this is entirely within God’s will and timing.

Colossians 2

Colossians 2:13–14 (ESV) 13 And you, who were dead in your trespasses and the uncircumcision of your flesh, God made alive together with him, having forgiven us all our trespasses, 14 by canceling the record of debt that stood against us with its legal demands. This he set aside, nailing it to the cross.

John Owen once said, “There is no death of sin without the death of Christ.” It is by His death on the cross that we are made alive. Everything is forgiven, every debt cancelled, nailed the cross with our Lord. We no longer have the impossible task of perfectly achieving the legal demands that stood against us because everything was fulfilled in Christ. Praise be to God that He sent His Son to be and do all that we could not and that by His sacrifice we are given new life in Him.

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