Leviticus 7, Psalms 7–8, Proverbs 22, 1 Thessalonians 1

Leviticus 7

Leviticus 7:17–18 (ESV) 17 But what remains of the flesh of the sacrifice on the third day shall be burned up with fire. 18 If any of the flesh of the sacrifice of his peace offering is eaten on the third day, he who offers it shall not be accepted, neither shall it be credited to him. It is tainted, and he who eats of it shall bear his iniquity.

The vow and freewill offerings were to be eaten on the day of its sacrifice and what remained was to be eaten on the next day. However, if any remained to the third day, it was tainted and needed to be burned and not eaten. Anyone who ate of the remains on the third day was to be cut and bear his iniquity. Quoting John Reid, the Believer’s Bible Commentary posits an explanation: “This shows that communion with God must be fresh and not too far removed from the work of the altar.”

Psalms 7–8

Psalm 7:11 (ESV) 11 God is a righteous judge, and a God who feels indignation every day.

This particular sentiment of David speaks of how we serve a God who is both righteous and feeling. He is not a God far away but rather a God at hand, feeling every day the indignation of His rational creatures as it clashes against His perfect holiness. For followers of Christ, this should elicit a healthy sorrow and repentance of sin, walking toward Him in obedience with the aim to honor Him in every thought, word and deed.

Proverbs 22

Proverbs 22:17–18 (ESV) 17 Incline your ear, and hear the words of the wise, and apply your heart to my knowledge, 18 for it will be pleasant if you keep them within you, if all of them are ready on your lips.

It will be pleasant for those who hear and apply the words of the wise to their heart. We are to incline our ear and eagerly strive to hear the wisdom our Lord provides. As we pour into Him and pursue Him in earnest, He graciously endows us with such understanding. Our objective is to be so filled with His wisdom, so saturated in His Word, that the truth of our Lord is ever ready on our lips.

1 Thessalonians 1

1 Thessalonians 1:2–3 (ESV) 2 We give thanks to God always for all of you, constantly mentioning you in our prayers, 3 remembering before our God and Father your work of faith and labor of love and steadfastness of hope in our Lord Jesus Christ.

In a heartfelt address, Paul gives thanks to God for the Thessalonian church and that their faith continued to grow in his absence. Worth noting is the wording around the efforts made by the church, using strong verbiage of “work”, “labor” and “steadfastness”. This denotes an active disposition of the church, to be motivated toward achieving an enduring faith in Christ despite persecution. This should be for us as well, on mission to share the gospel and build the church come whatever opposition the world and enemy may bring.

Carson on Psalm 7

David’s conviction is grounded neither in some impersonal force (“right wins out in the end”) nor in some Pollyanna-like optimism (“I’m sure it will turn out all right”), but in the righteousness of God: “I will give thanks to the LORD because of his righteousness and will sing praise to the name of the LORD Most High” (7:17). David is not blind to the injustices of the world, but he lives in a theistic universe where right will finally prevail because God is just.

It is refreshing to read this and how David models well the acknowledgement of God’s ultimate justice. He does not sing praise to any earthly justice but to the name of the LORD and gives thanks to Him because of His righteousness. In the final analysis, it is God’s justice alone that will stand.

Justin Houtz