Sh’mini/Eighth
Leviticus 9:1-11:47
2 Samuel 6:1-7:17
In this ‘small’ space we can’t begin to unpack all that is here…for that matter it could take a lifetime to even begin, so here are a few crumbs I offer you, to add to whatever you too may see in these verses.
It’s funny I really don’t even want to write anything at the moment, so as not to imply in any way that one thought is more important than the other; this is just an offering. Where do we begin? Fire coming from the altar of God and killing a few priests…? I believe our focus is the foundational way God sees His people: a holy nation and a royal priesthood; not just a priestly class to do everything. Behavior rules and food regulations aren’t for control or imposed limits; but rather something the Lord sees as an important part of how His holy people live and interact with Him: just as He is holy. It’s so easy to make personal ‘adjustments’ out of convenience; or just thinking we know better; which of course is so ridiculous and costly to those who partake of this behavior (again like fire consuming some of the ‘smarter’ priests).
Now let’s jump over to the haftorah (2Sam 6:1-7:17), I’m going to give you a short version of what I felt the Lord gave me as an insight into the death of Uzzah. Have you ever wondered why the Lord smote him and right on the spot! Seems pretty sever for a guy just trying to do his job! But was it his job? Here is a little ‘tidbit’ from Jewish lore: the priests didn’t really carry the ark; it carried them. Take a minute to consider the implications of that for them and us. Here is kind of an example for us: let’s say you pray for someone and they get healed; did you heal them? No, of course not, but you probably got the hug from the healed person! It, so to speak; “looked like you carried the ark; but it carried you”. So Uzzah being a full-fledged card carrying priest knew that, and could it be that when the oxen stumbled and caused the cart to wobble…he was protecting either David’s (representing leadership) reputation for choosing the cart; or just reputation of the cart company (representing denominations or theologies)… Do you ever find yourself in a situation where you might have to ignore a scripture or two to defend a leader, denomination, or theology…or your own behavior? Oh, I almost forgot; we are Christians and don’t do that kind of thing; all of our denominations and theologies line up perfectly with the word of God…well maybe not!
Let’s take an opportunity this week to ‘keep our hands in our pockets’ and not worry if the oxen stumble a bit, and see if God Himself can look after His Church and us. by john eisner
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