The Park Forum

Links for today’s readings:

Read: Leviticus 10 Listen: (3:25) Read: Acts 7 Listen: (8:49)

Scripture Focus: Leviticus 10.1, 19-20

1 …they offered unauthorized fire before the Lord, contrary to his command. 2 So fire came out from the presence of the Lord and consumed them, and they died before the Lord.

Reflection: Much Given, Much Expected

By John Tillman

Some twist the deaths of Nadab and Abihu to condemn actions they want to condemn.

For example, some use it to critique any innovation or change in modern liturgies or worship, some point to 10.9 to try to make this a passage supporting teetotalism, etc. But this passage is not here for us to use to condemn our pet peeves or support our moral preferences.

In scripture, the simplest answer is usually the best, and the simplest explanation of what happened to them is not some secret hinted-at sin, but simply willful disobedience by those who should know better.

They go before the Lord, together, when only one is supposed to enter. They go before the Lord in place of Aaron, their father. In place of fire from the altar, they use fire from another source. Scripture emphasizes this “strange” or “unauthorized” fire as the main reason for their deaths. They do all this knowingly and willfully.

They had just been through (and we have just read) an extraordinarily long and complex ritual training which included warnings that this exact thing could happen. (Exodus 19.22)  Nevertheless, they ignored all they had just learned, and did things in an unauthorized way.

All sin falls under the same spiritual punishment, but not all sins bring the same severity of consequences in our earthly lives. Willful, purposeful sin is treated differently in scripture than just “being sinful” or committing “unknowing” sins. Anytime we know what is right, yet knowingly, purposefully do something else, we exponentially multiply our commitment to sin and rebellion against God.

The severity of the penalty Abihu and Nadab suffer is related to the level of knowledge and revelation they had and the level of position and responsibility they were given. Jesus said to the Pharisees, “If you were blind, you would not be guilty of sin; but now that you claim you can see, your guilt remains.” (John 9.41) To whom much is given, much is expected. (Luke 12.47-48)

If Abihu and Nadab were given much, how much more have we been given?

We serve a greater High Priest, who offered greater sacrifice, for a greater temple, so we bear a greater responsibility.

We, as priests under Jesus Christ, have been given more than they.
May we knowingly obey rather than knowingly rebel.
May we minister in ways that honor all that we have been given in Jesus.

Divine Hours Prayer: A Reading

Then he went into the Temple and began driving out those who were busy trading, saying to them, “According to scripture, ‘my house shall be a house of prayer’ but you have turned it into ‘a bandit’s den.’” — Luke 19.45-46

– Divine Hours prayers from The Divine Hours: Prayers for Springtime by Phyllis Tickle.

Read more: Wandering Sin

“Wandering” or “unintentional” sins must be dealt with once one becomes aware of them, otherwise, they become “rebellious” sins.

Read more: Much Demanded

God judges those with little lightly and those with much heavily. This should be sobering to us who are greatly privileged.

Links for today’s readings:

Read: Leviticus 5 Listen: (3:35) Read: Acts 2 Listen: (6:35)

Scripture Focus: Leviticus 5:4-5

4 or if anyone thoughtlessly takes an oath to do anything, whether good or evil (in any matter one might carelessly swear about) even though they are unaware of it, but then they learn of it and realize their guilt— 5 when anyone becomes aware that they are guilty in any of these matters, they must confess in what way they have sinned.

Reflection: Awareness is the Signal

By Erin Newton

Ignorance is bliss—but ignorance doesn’t erase guilt. Leviticus 5 addresses two types of ignorance: doing something wrong unintentionally and doing something wrong through haphazard agreements or careless actions.

The story of Watergate is a well-known historical event about political corruption, named after the hotel where political operatives broke into the opposing party’s headquarters and planted recording machines to eavesdrop on their competition. What is less known is the story of Chuck Colson. Colson was Special Counsel to President Nixon during this time. According to his memoir, when the truth about the Watergate scandal was uncovered, Colson felt the Spirit’s conviction to confess to his participation in some of the illegal actions. His previous cavalier disregard for what was right was abruptly interrupted by awareness. He confessed, was convicted, and spent seven months in prison.

The story shocked the world. Who would admit to such a thing? Especially someone with so much power to get away with it. Who wouldn’t fight back? Yet, when someone does something wrong and confesses (such as Colson’s no contest plea), it is a moment of integrity.

Leviticus 5 highlights the reality that people are creatures of impulse, rash decision-making, and limited knowledge. We are gullible, ignorant, self-centered, distracted, and so easily duped. But such shortcomings are not swept aside. Ignorance is not a valid biblical excuse for error.

Awareness, offering, and making amends in our relationship with God are necessary. It is more than an apology or admitting an error was made. Verse 5 (and our character) hinges on the word “when.”  There is an expectation that awareness will come. How? By knowing truth, seeking wisdom, looking inward, and assessing outward. We are not meant to pursue and guard ignorance.

Plausible deniability is not a virtue God desires.

How do we become aware of our own ignorance? By being present, here and now, with your own life, your relationships and commitments. What are you tied to and invested in? Do you really know that person? That organization? That community? Where have you been and where are you trying to go? Look at your own history and past involvements. Keenly observe the direction you are headed (and with whom).

Where the Spirit convicts, admit errors and make amends.

In each of these areas, awareness is the path to freedom. The difficulty is that awareness demands an action, a correction, a confession.

Divine Hours Prayer: The Refrain for the Morning Lessons

Blessed are they which do hunger and thirst after righteousness: for they shall be filled. — Matthew 5.6 (KJV)

– Divine Hours prayers from The Divine Hours: Prayers for Springtime by Phyllis Tickle.

Read more: Jesus, Our Restorer

Jesus not only rebuked Peter, telling him to put his sword back in its place, he put Malchus’s ear back in its place, healing him with a touch.

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Links for today’s readings:

Read: Leviticus 4 Listen: (5:17) Read: Acts 1 Listen: (3:58)

Scripture Focus: Leviticus 4.1-3; 13-15

1 The Lord said to Moses, 2 “Say to the Israelites: ‘When anyone sins unintentionally and does what is forbidden in any of the Lord’s commands— 3 “ ‘If the anointed priest sins, bringing guilt on the people, he must bring to the Lord a young bull without defect as a sin offering for the sin he has committed.

13 “ ‘If the whole Israelite community sins unintentionally and does what is forbidden in any of the Lord’s commands, even though the community is unaware of the matter, when they realize their guilt 14 and the sin they committed becomes known, the assembly must bring a young bull as a sin offering and present it before the tent of meeting. 15 The elders of the community are to lay their hands on the bull’s head before the Lord, and the bull shall be slaughtered before the Lord.

Reflection: Wandering Sin

By John Tillman

“Unintentional” in this text comes from a root word meaning “wandering off,” similar to a sheep or other animal. The described sacrifices are not intended for willful, intentional acts of rebellion. “Wandering” or “unintentional” sins must be dealt with once one becomes aware of them, otherwise, they become “rebellious” sins.

The offerings for sin teach us that sins done by individuals affect all people and sins done by the community affect all individuals. The priest’s sin brings “guilt on all the people.” The community’s sin requires all individuals, represented by “the elders of the community,” to confess responsibility by placing their hands on the sacrifice. Adam’s individual sin affects us collectively. Our forefathers’ individual and communal sins affect us today. Our individual and collective sins affect our neighbors and will affect our children’s children.

Sin is not solely an individual matter, not solely a communal matter, not solely about earthly justice or penalties, and not solely about spiritual victories or theology.

Some sins more drastically affect our lives and others’ lives. These distinctions matter for earthly justice. It matters whether you call someone a fool or whether you murder them. (Matthew 5.21-22) It matters whether you look at someone lustfully or if you sexually violate them. (Matthew 5.27-29)

However, even “smaller” sins of contempt or verbal abuse or lustful eyes are bigger than we think. Your heart and the hearts of any who witness or experience these actions will be hardened and changed for the worse with every instance. The compounding interest of our individual investments in contempt has netted a world with the f-bomb frequently found on political tee-shirts, signs, and stickers. The algorithmically driven feeds of entertainment have learned from our wandering eyes and clicking fingers to normalize porn-adjacent content.

We don’t get to say, “I didn’t intend this” or “I didn’t do that.” (Matthew 23.29-35) We are connected to these sins and must confess them.

Ask the Holy Spirit to reveal unintentional “wandering” sins to you. Confess the collective sins of people you lead or of people who lead you and bring guilt on all their followers. Confess the unintentional sinful effects of things you have said, done, purchased, acquired, voted for, or condoned.

We have a better sacrifice than a bull and a better priest than Aaron. Lay your hands on him in faith and repentance and rejoice in his forgiveness. Do not allow wandering sins to become rebellious ones.

Divine Hours Prayer: The Refrain for the Morning Lessons

Purge me from my sin, and I shall be pure; wash me, and I shall be clean indeed. — Psalm 51.8

– Divine Hours prayers from The Divine Hours: Prayers for Springtime by Phyllis Tickle.

Read more: Jesus, Our Grain Offering

Jesus is the bread, the grain, of life. He has offered himself for us and to us.

Read more: Jesus, Our Burnt Offering

The head of a family brought a burnt offering…God offered Jesus as a lamb on our behalf, to bring us into his family.