Categoria: News

The last Sunday service of the year went off well. I led the service and Sacha, Erica and Fabio led the worship backed up by Rogerio, Netinho and Rogaciano. Pastor Rafael preached on Simeon from Luke 2. It was a good service.

QPR drew 1 x 1 away to Norwich at the weekend, with Norwich getting the equalizer in the 89th minute unfortunately.

One of the young married men from church, Perlânio, who is an interpreter for the deaf, fell off the roof of his bungalow house and was taken to hospital in an ambulance and x-rayed, but gratefully he has not broken anything and is just shaken up with cuts and bruises. Please pray for his recovery and for him to be able to get a job which he needs badly.

Happy New Year!

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The last Sunday service of the year went off well. I led the service and Sacha, Erica and Fabio led the worship backed up by Rogerio, Netinho and Rogaciano. Pastor Rafael preached on Simeon from Luke 2. It was a good service.

QPR drew 1 x 1 away to Norwich at the weekend, with Norwich getting the equalizer in the 89th minute unfortunately.

One of the young married men from church, Perlânio, who is an interpreter for the deaf, fell off the roof of his bungalow house and was taken to hospital in an ambulance and x-rayed, but gratefully he has not broken anything and is just shaken up with cuts and bruises. Please pray for his recovery and for him to be able to get a job which he needs badly.

Happy New Year!

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Now we start the book of Numbers which covers nearly 40 years of Israelite history, as opposed to the previous book of Leviticus which covered just one month. And chapter 1 starts on the first day of the second month of the second year after the Israelites came out of Egypt, when God told Moses to conduct a census counting all the men 20 years old or over who were apt to serve in the army.

Moses and Aaron conducted the census with the help of 12 tribal leaders and came up with the following results for each respective tribe: The tribe of Reuben (46,500), the tribe of Simeon (59,300), the tribe of Gad (45,650), the tribe of Judah (74,600), the tribe of Issachar (54,400), the tribe of Zebulun (57,400), the tribe of Joseph (40,500), the tribe of Manasseh (32,200), the tribe of Benjamin (35,400), the tribe of Dan (62,700), the tribe of Asher (41,500) and the tribe of Naphtali (53,400). This made a total of 603,550 fighting men and does not include women, girls, boys under 20, old people and sick people.

People from the tribe of Levi were not counted in the census as they had an exclusive job to take care of and transport the Tabernacle and nobody else was allowed to get near it under the penalty of death. The Levites had to camp around the Tabernacle to protect it.

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Now we start the book of Numbers which covers nearly 40 years of Israelite history, as opposed to the previous book of Leviticus which covered just one month. And chapter 1 starts on the first day of the second month of the second year after the Israelites came out of Egypt, when God told Moses to conduct a census counting all the men 20 years old or over who were apt to serve in the army.

Moses and Aaron conducted the census with the help of 12 tribal leaders and came up with the following results for each respective tribe: The tribe of Reuben (46,500), the tribe of Simeon (59,300), the tribe of Gad (45,650), the tribe of Judah (74,600), the tribe of Issachar (54,400), the tribe of Zebulun (57,400), the tribe of Joseph (40,500), the tribe of Manasseh (32,200), the tribe of Benjamin (35,400), the tribe of Dan (62,700), the tribe of Asher (41,500) and the tribe of Naphtali (53,400). This made a total of 603,550 fighting men and does not include women, girls, boys under 20, old people and sick people.

People from the tribe of Levi were not counted in the census as they had an exclusive job to take care of and transport the Tabernacle and nobody else was allowed to get near it under the penalty of death. The Levites had to camp around the Tabernacle to protect it.

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Now we start the book of Numbers which covers nearly 40 years of Israelite history, as opposed to the previous book of Leviticus which covered just one month. And chapter 1 starts on the first day of the second month of the second year after the Israelites came out of Egypt, when God told Moses to conduct a census counting all the men 20 years old or over who were apt to serve in the army.

Moses and Aaron conducted the census with the help of 12 tribal leaders and came up with the following results for each respective tribe: The tribe of Reuben (46,500), the tribe of Simeon (59,300), the tribe of Gad (45,650), the tribe of Judah (74,600), the tribe of Issachar (54,400), the tribe of Zebulun (57,400), the tribe of Joseph (40,500), the tribe of Manasseh (32,200), the tribe of Benjamin (35,400), the tribe of Dan (62,700), the tribe of Asher (41,500) and the tribe of Naphtali (53,400). This made a total of 603,550 fighting men and does not include women, girls, boys under 20, old people and sick people.

People from the tribe of Levi were not counted in the census as they had an exclusive job to take care of and transport the Tabernacle and nobody else was allowed to get near it under the penalty of death. The Levites had to camp around the Tabernacle to protect it.

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This week has seen more end-of-year parties with the different ministry groups at our church. On Thursday it was the turn of our team from the Pastor Frank Dyer School who celebrated a year of blessings at the school.

On Friday our Married Couples’ Fellowship had a nice meal together in the evening along with much fun and fellowship. 

Yesterday the youth spent a relaxing fun day at Green Pastures starting at 8 am and going right through the day.

I have been listening to the Great Kiskadee sing outside my office window. I also heard the Caatinga Cacholote and saw a number of Glittering-bellied Emerald Hummingbirds.

I am pleased to have completed my résumés of the book of Leviticus. This means that with the 50 chapters of Genesis + 40 of Exodus + 27 of Leviticus I am managing to keep up my average of just over 1 chapter a day as I started this venture on 23.09.2024. 

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This week has seen more end-of-year parties with the different ministry groups at our church. On Thursday it was the turn of our team from the Pastor Frank Dyer School who celebrated a year of blessings at the school.

On Friday our Married Couples’ Fellowship had a nice meal together in the evening along with much fun and fellowship. 

Yesterday the youth spent a relaxing fun day at Green Pastures starting at 8 am and going right through the day.

I have been listening to the Great Kiskadee sing outside my office window. I also heard the Caatinga Cacholote and saw a number of Glittering-bellied Emerald Hummingbirds.

I am pleased to have completed my résumés of the book of Leviticus. This means that with the 50 chapters of Genesis + 40 of Exodus + 27 of Leviticus I am managing to keep up my average of just over 1 chapter a day as I started this venture on 23.09.2024. 

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Staunch atheists have been known to cry to God when faced by death. So too people make vows to God under extenuating circumstances and then sometimes once delivered want to go back on their vow. But vows of people, property or animals are serious before God and can only be taken back or redeemed when done properly. This chapter thus gives detailed instructions of the redeemable value of people such as a man between 20 and 60 @ 50 shekels whereas a woman of the same age was only valued at 30 shekels. 

If a person vows an animal that animal cannot be substituted for another of inferior quality to pay the vow, and any questions of relevant values will be refereed by the priest. So too the priest will be judge of vowed houses and if a person vows his house and redeems it he will pay a 20% additional fine. So too the priest will act as judge regarding vowed land with the judge adjudicating respective values taking into consideration the proximity of the year of Jubilee. 

It was finally reminded that firstborn animals were automatically the Lord’s as were the tithe of farming and livestock produce.  

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Staunch atheists have been known to cry to God when faced by death. So too people make vows to God under extenuating circumstances and then sometimes once delivered want to go back on their vow. But vows of people, property or animals are serious before God and can only be taken back or redeemed when done properly. This chapter thus gives detailed instructions of the redeemable value of people such as a man between 20 and 60 @ 50 shekels whereas a woman of the same age was only valued at 30 shekels. 

If a person vows an animal that animal cannot be substituted for another of inferior quality to pay the vow, and any questions of relevant values will be refereed by the priest. So too the priest will be judge of vowed houses and if a person vows his house and redeems it he will pay a 20% additional fine. So too the priest will act as judge regarding vowed land with the judge adjudicating respective values taking into consideration the proximity of the year of Jubilee. 

It was finally reminded that firstborn animals were automatically the Lord’s as were the tithe of farming and livestock produce.  

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Now God says that if the Israelites refrain from idolatry, observe the sabbath, and obey his decrees and commands then they will receive regular rains, abundant harvests, peace, protection from wild beasts, security, protection from enemies, and fertility, and he would walk amongst them as their God.

However if they disobey God and abandon the covenant then exactly the opposite will happen. They will experience famine, disease and defeat by their enemies, and if they continue stubbornly to disobey then things will steadily get worse for them and they will even end up eating their own children out of desperation! The Israelites’ enemies will end up dominating their land and many will go into exile.  

Yet God still called his people to repent of their evil ways so that he could renew the covenant of Abraham, Isaac and Jacob and restore peace and prosperity to Israel.

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Now God says that if the Israelites refrain from idolatry, observe the sabbath, and obey his decrees and commands then they will receive regular rains, abundant harvests, peace, protection from wild beasts, security, protection from enemies, and fertility, and he would walk amongst them as their God.

However if they disobey God and abandon the covenant then exactly the opposite will happen. They will experience famine, disease and defeat by their enemies, and if they continue stubbornly to disobey then things will steadily get worse for them and they will even end up eating their own children out of desperation! The Israelites’ enemies will end up dominating their land and many will go into exile.  

Yet God still called his people to repent of their evil ways so that he could renew the covenant of Abraham, Isaac and Jacob and restore peace and prosperity to Israel.

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Now God says that if the Israelites refrain from idolatry, observe the sabbath, and obey his decrees and commands then they will receive regular rains, abundant harvests, peace, protection from wild beasts, security, protection from enemies, and fertility, and he would walk amongst them as their God.

However if they disobey God and abandon the covenant then exactly the opposite will happen. They will experience famine, disease and defeat by their enemies, and if they continue stubbornly to disobey then things will steadily get worse for them and they will even end up eating their own children out of desperation! The Israelites’ enemies will end up dominating their land and many will go into exile.  

Yet God still called his people to repent of their evil ways so that he could renew the covenant of Abraham, Isaac and Jacob and restore peace and prosperity to Israel.

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This chapter starts by saying that every 7th year will be a year of rest for the land and the livestock. Every 7th year was a farming sabbatical.

Then it says that every 50th year will be a year of Jubilee (the year after 7 times 7 years) when all leased land was to be returned to its original owners because Canaan was divided up into sections and distributed by casting lots for each family. This Jubilee system was excellent for avoiding an accumulation of wealth by a few. The year of Jubilee was also a year of rest for farmers, land and livestock with no planting or harvesting.

The trumpets sound announcing the year of Jubilee – a year of liberty for all and a year of redemption of lost property in previous years. 

Laws concerning houses were decreed in a further example of late intromissions in the text. For some reason the rules for houses in walled cities were different to those affecting houses in non-walled villages. In walled cities if a house was sold it could be redeemed during one year, but after this year of grace the house would become the permanent property of the buyer and would not be subject to the law of return in the year of Jubilee. However in the villages the Jubilee rules apply. In the case of Levites their houses are always redeemable and are to be returned in the Jubilee. 

It then says that if a person slips into poverty then those that are better off are to help him out. They are not to sell him food for a profit or lend him money with interest. And if a poor Israelite sells himself because of his great need he should not be treat as a slave but as a hired worker to be freed in the year of Jubilee. Slave were to be bought from other nations but Israelites were not to be slaves. 

If an Israelite became impoverished and sold himself to a foreigner in Canaan he could be redeemed based on his value linked to the number of years to the next Jubilee, but if he was not redeemed he would be freed at the Jubilee. 

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This chapter starts by saying that every 7th year will be a year of rest for the land and the livestock. Every 7th year was a farming sabbatical.

Then it says that every 50th year will be a year of Jubilee (the year after 7 times 7 years) when all leased land was to be returned to its original owners because Canaan was divided up into sections and distributed by casting lots for each family. This Jubilee system was excellent for avoiding an accumulation of wealth by a few. The year of Jubilee was also a year of rest for farmers, land and livestock with no planting or harvesting.

The trumpets sound announcing the year of Jubilee – a year of liberty for all and a year of redemption of lost property in previous years. 

Laws concerning houses were decreed in a further example of late intromissions in the text. For some reason the rules for houses in walled cities were different to those affecting houses in non-walled villages. In walled cities if a house was sold it could be redeemed during one year, but after this year of grace the house would become the permanent property of the buyer and would not be subject to the law of return in the year of Jubilee. However in the villages the Jubilee rules apply. In the case of Levites their houses are always redeemable and are to be returned in the Jubilee. 

It then says that if a person slips into poverty then those that are better off are to help him out. They are not to sell him food for a profit or lend him money with interest. And if a poor Israelite sells himself because of his great need he should not be treat as a slave but as a hired worker to be freed in the year of Jubilee. Slave were to be bought from other nations but Israelites were not to be slaves. 

If an Israelite became impoverished and sold himself to a foreigner in Canaan he could be redeemed based on his value linked to the number of years to the next Jubilee, but if he was not redeemed he would be freed at the Jubilee. 

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With temperatures of a high of 37 degrees, and a low in the middle of the night of 23 degrees, dreaming of a white Christmas is just never on the cards, but it was Christmas day!

We had a nice Christmas lunch together as a family, and then gathered round the Christmas tree so that we could give our children, grandchildren, son-in-laws and girlfriends their Christmas gifts. We had a lovely time together.

I hate to have to give the news that the QPR players ate too much turkey on Christmas Day so that on Boxing Day they lost 3 x 0 in their international match against Swansea! I asked Liz to pray for QPR at half-time but she refused which didn’t help. QPR have slipped down to 16th place in the Championship with this result. 😓 

I have just eaten a dish of Red Mombins which a young man, Neto, from the church brought round to us from his mother’s tree. Delicious! 😋

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With temperatures of a high of 37 degrees, and a low in the middle of the night of 23 degrees, dreaming of a white Christmas is just never on the cards, but it was Christmas day!

We had a nice Christmas lunch together as a family, and then gathered round the Christmas tree so that we could give our children, grandchildren, son-in-laws and girlfriends their Christmas gifts. We had a lovely time together.

I hate to have to give the news that the QPR players ate too much turkey on Christmas Day so that on Boxing Day they lost 3 x 0 in their international match against Swansea! I asked Liz to pray for QPR at half-time but she refused which didn’t help. QPR have slipped down to 16th place in the Championship with this result. 😓 

I have just eaten a dish of Red Mombins which a young man, Neto, from the church brought round to us from his mother’s tree. Delicious! 😋

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God commanded the people to bring olive oil for the golden lampstand to be burning every evening and through the night. The priests were to light them every evening and dress them the following morning. The ensuing light was a symbol of the enlightenment of the Holy Spirit. Then too every sabbath 12 loaves were to be placed on the golden table for the priests. 

Then a fight broke out in which one of the men blasphemed the name of the Lord and God said to Moses that anyone who blasphemes the name of the Lord must be put to death. So the people took the man outside the camp and stoned him to death.

God set out the principle of lex talionis with “an eye for an eye and a tooth for a tooth” – which states that punishment should be proportionate to the offense. 

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God commanded the people to bring olive oil for the golden lampstand to be burning every evening and through the night. The priests were to light them every evening and dress them the following morning. The ensuing light was a symbol of the enlightenment of the Holy Spirit. Then too every sabbath 12 loaves were to be placed on the golden table for the priests. 

Then a fight broke out in which one of the men blasphemed the name of the Lord and God said to Moses that anyone who blasphemes the name of the Lord must be put to death. So the people took the man outside the camp and stoned him to death.

God set out the principle of lex talionis with “an eye for an eye and a tooth for a tooth” – which states that punishment should be proportionate to the offense. 

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This chapter lays out the annual religious calendar for the Israelites describing their 7 annual feasts or sacred assemblies. However the chapter starts by reminding them of the day of rest on the sabbath which is itself a day of sacred assembly.

The first annual feast is that of the Passover and Feast of Unleavened Bread commemorating the deliverance from Egypt. It starts at twilight on the 14th day of the first month with the Passover and on the 15th day the Feast of Unleavened Bread commences and lasts for 7 days. 

Next comes the Feast of the Sheaf of the Firstfruits when the Israelites were to bring sheafs of the firstfruits of their harvest to the priest. This Feast was interwoven with the feasts previously mentioned. The priest waves the sheaf on the day after the sabbath and then sacrifices a lamb as a burnt offering together with 4.4 litres of fine flour mixed with oil, plus a drink offering of a litre of wine.

Following this comes the Feast of Weeks also known as Pentecost, which was celebrated 50 days after the previous feast. On the 50th day the Feast of Pentecost was celebrated in mammoth style! No less than 7 lambs, 1 bull and 2 rams were offered as burnt offerings, and 1 male goat was offered as a sin offering plus 2 male lambs were offered as a peace offering making a total of 13 animals slaughtered. Pentecost was a very big feast!

Next came the Feast of Trumpets on the 1st day of the 7th month which was a holiday heralded by the blast of trumpets.

Then on the 10th day of the 7th month was the all important day of Atonement with prayer and fasting, being observed as a sabbath, when the High Priest entered the Holy of Holies to sacrifice for his own sins and the sins of the people. 

Finally came the Feast of Tabernacles or booths which were temporary structures covered by the foliage of trees and bushes and in which the people stayed for the feast from the 15th day of the 7th month for 7 days to remind them of their wilderness travels. On the 1st day was a day of rest as was the 8th day and on each of the 8 days the people were to bring food offerings. 

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This chapter lays out the annual religious calendar for the Israelites describing their 7 annual feasts or sacred assemblies. However the chapter starts by reminding them of the day of rest on the sabbath which is itself a day of sacred assembly.

The first annual feast is that of the Passover and Feast of Unleavened Bread commemorating the deliverance from Egypt. It starts at twilight on the 14th day of the first month with the Passover and on the 15th day the Feast of Unleavened Bread commences and lasts for 7 days. 

Next comes the Feast of the Sheaf of the Firstfruits when the Israelites were to bring sheafs of the firstfruits of their harvest to the priest. This Feast was interwoven with the feasts previously mentioned. The priest waves the sheaf on the day after the sabbath and then sacrifices a lamb as a burnt offering together with 4.4 litres of fine flour mixed with oil, plus a drink offering of a litre of wine.

Following this comes the Feast of Weeks also known as Pentecost, which was celebrated 50 days after the previous feast. On the 50th day the Feast of Pentecost was celebrated in mammoth style! No less than 7 lambs, 1 bull and 2 rams were offered as burnt offerings, and 1 male goat was offered as a sin offering plus 2 male lambs were offered as a peace offering making a total of 13 animals slaughtered. Pentecost was a very big feast!

Next came the Feast of Trumpets on the 1st day of the 7th month which was a holiday heralded by the blast of trumpets.

Then on the 10th day of the 7th month was the all important day of Atonement with prayer and fasting, being observed as a sabbath, when the High Priest entered the Holy of Holies to sacrifice for his own sins and the sins of the people. 

Finally came the Feast of Tabernacles or booths which were temporary structures covered by the foliage of trees and bushes and in which the people stayed for the feast from the 15th day of the 7th month for 7 days to remind them of their wilderness travels. On the 1st day was a day of rest as was the 8th day and on each of the 8 days the people were to bring food offerings. 

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This chapter lays out the annual religious calendar for the Israelites describing their 7 annual feasts or sacred assemblies. However the chapter starts by reminding them of the day of rest on the sabbath which is itself a day of sacred assembly.

The first annual feast is that of the Passover and Feast of Unleavened Bread commemorating the deliverance from Egypt. It starts at twilight on the 14th day of the first month with the Passover and on the 15th day the Feast of Unleavened Bread commences and lasts for 7 days. 

Next comes the Feast of the Sheaf of the Firstfruits when the Israelites were to bring sheafs of the firstfruits of their harvest to the priest. This Feast was interwoven with the feasts previously mentioned. The priest waves the sheaf on the day after the sabbath and then sacrifices a lamb as a burnt offering together with 4.4 litres of fine flour mixed with oil, plus a drink offering of a litre of wine.

Following this comes the Feast of Weeks also known as Pentecost, which was celebrated 50 days after the previous feast. On the 50th day the Feast of Pentecost was celebrated in mammoth style! No less than 7 lambs, 1 bull and 2 rams were offered as burnt offerings, and 1 male goat was offered as a sin offering plus 2 male lambs were offered as a peace offering making a total of 13 animals slaughtered. Pentecost was a very big feast!

Next came the Feast of Trumpets on the 1st day of the 7th month which was a holiday heralded by the blast of trumpets.

Then on the 10th day of the 7th month was the all important day of Atonement with prayer and fasting, being observed as a sabbath, when the High Priest entered the Holy of Holies to sacrifice for his own sins and the sins of the people. 

Finally came the Feast of Tabernacles or booths which were temporary structures covered by the foliage of trees and bushes and in which the people stayed for the feast from the 15th day of the 7th month for 7 days to remind them of their wilderness travels. On the 1st day was a day of rest as was the 8th day and on each of the 8 days the people were to bring food offerings. 

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This chapter firstly deals with how consecrated food in the tabernacle must be administered. Such food, derived from the people’s sacrifices, could only be consumed by the priests their families. However if the priest bought a slave he could also partake, but if a daughter married a non-priest she would loose her right to the sacred food. Nevertheless, if she got divorced or became a childless widow and returned home to her father then she could eat again of her father’s food.

It was also stressed that the priests and their families had to be ceremonially clean to be able to partake of the tabernacle’s sacred food. Such uncleanliness was classified as anyone with a skin disease, a bodily discharge, had touched a corpse, had had sex, had touched creepy crawlies or eaten something found dead. Such unclean people would need to bathe and would be unclean until the evening.

In the case of someone eating sacred food whilst unclean by mistake then he must replace the consumed part plus a 20% fine. 

It was again stressed that any sacrificed animal had to be without defect. No animal which was blind, injured, had warts or sores was fit for sacrifice, but strangely a stunted or deformed cow or sheep would be alright as a freewill offering, though it would not be able to fulfill a vow. Animals were not fit for slaughter prior to being 8 days old but mother and offspring should not be killed on the same day. 

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This chapter firstly deals with how consecrated food in the tabernacle must be administered. Such food, derived from the people’s sacrifices, could only be consumed by the priests their families. However if the priest bought a slave he could also partake, but if a daughter married a non-priest she would loose her right to the sacred food. Nevertheless, if she got divorced or became a childless widow and returned home to her father then she could eat again of her father’s food.

It was also stressed that the priests and their families had to be ceremonially clean to be able to partake of the tabernacle’s sacred food. Such uncleanliness was classified as anyone with a skin disease, a bodily discharge, had touched a corpse, had had sex, had touched creepy crawlies or eaten something found dead. Such unclean people would need to bathe and would be unclean until the evening.

In the case of someone eating sacred food whilst unclean by mistake then he must replace the consumed part plus a 20% fine. 

It was again stressed that any sacrificed animal had to be without defect. No animal which was blind, injured, had warts or sores was fit for sacrifice, but strangely a stunted or deformed cow or sheep would be alright as a freewill offering, though it would not be able to fulfill a vow. Animals were not fit for slaughter prior to being 8 days old but mother and offspring should not be killed on the same day. 

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Ipueira is a small town in the state of Rio Grande do Norte where we have been trying to plant a church for over 10 years. On Monday I had an excellent meeting with Deacon Dedé (leader) and his co-worker Chico planning our action for 2025. Please pray for this work.

A road accident in Teófilo Otoni, where Peniel Chapel had the centre of their mission in years gone by, has seen 41 people killed in what constitutes the worst road accident in Brazil in 17 years!

Last night’s (Christmas Eve) main Christmas service was a carol service with the Christmas play ‘Jesus Cried’ which I wrote. The theme of the hour-long musical play was Jesus crying in the manger, Jesus crying over Jerusalem and Jesus crying about Lazarus’s death. Our drama group did very well indeed. It was an excellent performance with a powerful message.

After the service we had a traditional family Brazilian Christmas supper which was very nice. A Happy Christmas to everyone!

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Ipueira is a small town in the state of Rio Grande do Norte where we have been trying to plant a church for over 10 years. On Monday I had an excellent meeting with Deacon Dedé (leader) and his co-worker Chico planning our action for 2025. Please pray for this work.

A road accident in Teófilo Otoni, where Peniel Chapel had the centre of their mission in years gone by, has seen 41 people killed in what constitutes the worst road accident in Brazil in 17 years!

Last night’s (Christmas Eve) main Christmas service was a carol service with the Christmas play ‘Jesus Cried’ which I wrote. The theme of the hour-long musical play was Jesus crying in the manger, Jesus crying over Jerusalem and Jesus crying about Lazarus’s death. Our drama group did very well indeed. It was an excellent performance with a powerful message.

After the service we had a traditional family Brazilian Christmas supper which was very nice. A Happy Christmas to everyone!

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This chapter lays out the holiness standards required of priests and the high priest. Priests could only go to the wake of close relatives but the high priest could not even go to these as entering a place where there is a dead body would make him ceremonially unclean. Priests could not shave their heads, trim their beards or cut themselves when mourning. Priests could not marry divorcees or prostitutes, and if a priest’s daughter got involved in prostitution she would have to be burnt alive! 

The high priest must not have his hair in a mess or wear torn clothes (signs of mourning), and he must marry a virgin. He cannot marry a divorcee, a widow or a prostitute. 

The sons of Aaron with disabilities such as those who were blind, lame, disfigured, deformed, had a crippled hand or foot, was a hunchback, dwarf, or who had an eye defect, festering or running sores, or damaged testicles, could not exercise the priesthood. They could eat food from the tabernacle but could not exercise the priesthood.  

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This chapter lays out the holiness standards required of priests and the high priest. Priests could only go to the wake of close relatives but the high priest could not even go to these as entering a place where there is a dead body would make him ceremonially unclean. Priests could not shave their heads, trim their beards or cut themselves when mourning. Priests could not marry divorcees or prostitutes, and if a priest’s daughter got involved in prostitution she would have to be burnt alive! 

The high priest must not have his hair in a mess or wear torn clothes (signs of mourning), and he must marry a virgin. He cannot marry a divorcee, a widow or a prostitute. 

The sons of Aaron with disabilities such as those who were blind, lame, disfigured, deformed, had a crippled hand or foot, was a hunchback, dwarf, or who had an eye defect, festering or running sores, or damaged testicles, could not exercise the priesthood. They could eat food from the tabernacle but could not exercise the priesthood.  

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This chapter lays out the holiness standards required of priests and the high priest. Priests could only go to the wake of close relatives but the high priest could not even go to these as entering a place where there is a dead body would make him ceremonially unclean. Priests could not shave their heads, trim their beards or cut themselves when mourning. Priests could not marry divorcees or prostitutes, and if a priest’s daughter got involved in prostitution she would have to be burnt alive! 

The high priest must not have his hair in a mess or wear torn clothes (signs of mourning), and he must marry a virgin. He cannot marry a divorcee, a widow or a prostitute. 

The sons of Aaron with disabilities such as those who were blind, lame, disfigured, deformed, had a crippled hand or foot, was a hunchback, dwarf, or who had an eye defect, festering or running sores, or damaged testicles, could not exercise the priesthood. They could eat food from the tabernacle but could not exercise the priesthood.  

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God said to Moses that any Israelite, or any foreigner living in Israel, must be stoned to death by the community if they sacrifice any of their children to the Canaanite god Molech. God would also excommunicate anyone who failed to report any such practice. People who resort to mediums and spiritists will also be excommunicated. The chapter then goes on to say:

If anyone curses his parents they must be put to death. So too if a man commits adultery with another man’s wife both of them must die. If a man has sex with his father’s wife both of them must be killed. So too if a man has sex with his daughter-in-law both must die. Those practicing homosexual sex will also be put to death but if a man marries a woman and her mother then they shall be burnt alive! Anyone who has sex with an animal must be put to death and the animal must have the same fate! (a bit hard on the animal!)

If a man has sex with his sister they will be excommunicated, and so too excommunication will be applied to a couple who have sex whilst the woman has a period. Sex was also banned with an aunt as was sex between a man and his sister-in-law. The chapter draws to an end stressing that Israelites are required to be people set apart from the customs of other nations and must touch nothing unclean, seeking to be holy as God is holy, and stoning to death anyone who is a medium or a spiritist.

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God said to Moses that any Israelite, or any foreigner living in Israel, must be stoned to death by the community if they sacrifice any of their children to the Canaanite god Molech. God would also excommunicate anyone who failed to report any such practice. People who resort to mediums and spiritists will also be excommunicated. The chapter then goes on to say:

If anyone curses his parents they must be put to death. So too if a man commits adultery with another man’s wife both of them must die. If a man has sex with his father’s wife both of them must be killed. So too if a man has sex with his daughter-in-law both must die. Those practicing homosexual sex will also be put to death but if a man marries a woman and her mother then they shall be burnt alive! Anyone who has sex with an animal must be put to death and the animal must have the same fate! (a bit hard on the animal!)

If a man has sex with his sister they will be excommunicated, and so too excommunication will be applied to a couple who have sex whilst the woman has a period. Sex was also banned with an aunt as was sex between a man and his sister-in-law. The chapter draws to an end stressing that Israelites are required to be people set apart from the customs of other nations and must touch nothing unclean, seeking to be holy as God is holy, and stoning to death anyone who is a medium or a spiritist.

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This chapter starts by exhorting the people to be holy as the Lord is holy, before giving examples of how this could be done. It starts by requiring respect for parents and the need for sabbath day observance before going on to say: do not practice idolatry, carry out the fellowship/peace offering correctly, at harvest time leave the left-overs for the poor, don’t steal, don’t lie, don’t deceive, don’t swear by God’s name, don’t defraud, don’t hold back workers’ wages, don’t ill-treat the deaf and blind, don’t pervert justice, don’t spread malicious gossip, don’t endanger your neighbour’s life, don’t hate your brother, rebuke your neighbour frankly, don’t harbour grudges but love your neighbour as yourself, don’t interbreed different races of cattle, don’t plant two crops in the same field, and don’t wear clothes made from two kinds of material. 

If a man has sex with a slave girl engaged to another man he must be punished and must offer a ram as a guilt offering. Newly planted fruit trees must only be picked in the 4th year and given to God, and then the fruit can be the owner’s from the 5th year onwards.

It was also stressed to not eat meat with blood in it, don’t practice divination or sorcery, don’t cut your hair on the sides of your head or trim your beard, don’t carry out pagan mourning practices like cutting the body or tattooing yourself, don’t make your daughter a prostitute, observe the sabbath and reverence God’s house, don’t resort to mediums or spiritists, stand up for the aged and respect the elderly, treat foreigners kindly, and use honest scales and measurements. These are God’s decrees for his people to follow.

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This chapter starts by exhorting the people to be holy as the Lord is holy, before giving examples of how this could be done. It starts by requiring respect for parents and the need for sabbath day observance before going on to say: do not practice idolatry, carry out the fellowship/peace offering correctly, at harvest time leave the left-overs for the poor, don’t steal, don’t lie, don’t deceive, don’t swear by God’s name, don’t defraud, don’t hold back workers’ wages, don’t ill-treat the deaf and blind, don’t pervert justice, don’t spread malicious gossip, don’t endanger your neighbour’s life, don’t hate your brother, rebuke your neighbour frankly, don’t harbour grudges but love your neighbour as yourself, don’t interbreed different races of cattle, don’t plant two crops in the same field, and don’t wear clothes made from two kinds of material. 

If a man has sex with a slave girl engaged to another man he must be punished and must offer a ram as a guilt offering. Newly planted fruit trees must only be picked in the 4th year and given to God, and then the fruit can be the owner’s from the 5th year onwards.

It was also stressed to not eat meat with blood in it, don’t practice divination or sorcery, don’t cut your hair on the sides of your head or trim your beard, don’t carry out pagan mourning practices like cutting the body or tattooing yourself, don’t make your daughter a prostitute, observe the sabbath and reverence God’s house, don’t resort to mediums or spiritists, stand up for the aged and respect the elderly, treat foreigners kindly, and use honest scales and measurements. These are God’s decrees for his people to follow.

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This chapter starts by exhorting the people to be holy as the Lord is holy, before giving examples of how this could be done. It starts by requiring respect for parents and the need for sabbath day observance before going on to say: do not practice idolatry, carry out the fellowship/peace offering correctly, at harvest time leave the left-overs for the poor, don’t steal, don’t lie, don’t deceive, don’t swear by God’s name, don’t defraud, don’t hold back workers’ wages, don’t ill-treat the deaf and blind, don’t pervert justice, don’t spread malicious gossip, don’t endanger your neighbour’s life, don’t hate your brother, rebuke your neighbour frankly, don’t harbour grudges but love your neighbour as yourself, don’t interbreed different races of cattle, don’t plant two crops in the same field, and don’t wear clothes made from two kinds of material. 

If a man has sex with a slave girl engaged to another man he must be punished and must offer a ram as a guilt offering. Newly planted fruit trees must only be picked in the 4th year and given to God, and then the fruit can be the owner’s from the 5th year onwards.

It was also stressed to not eat meat with blood in it, don’t practice divination or sorcery, don’t cut your hair on the sides of your head or trim your beard, don’t carry out pagan mourning practices like cutting the body or tattooing yourself, don’t make your daughter a prostitute, observe the sabbath and reverence God’s house, don’t resort to mediums or spiritists, stand up for the aged and respect the elderly, treat foreigners kindly, and use honest scales and measurements. These are God’s decrees for his people to follow.

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This chapter gives a list of unlawful sexual relations as practiced by Egyptians and Canaanites but banned for Israelites. The list starts by prohibiting sex with close relatives and then says: do not have sex with your mother, do not have sex with your father’s wife, do not have sex with your sister, do not have sex with your granddaughter, do not have sex with your niece, do not have sex with your aunt, do not have sex with your daughter-in-law, do not have sex with your sister-in-law, do not have sex with both a woman and her daughter, do not take your sister-in-law as a rival wife, do not have sex with a woman who has a period, do not have sex with your neighbour’s wife, do not sacrifice your children, do not have same-sex relations, and do not have sex with animals. Anyone who practices these things will be excommunicated. 

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Some of the Israelites were offering sacrifices to goat idols or demons so God prohibited sacrifices outside the tabernacle which would be punishable by excommunication. The same punishment would be given to those who eat blood. Any hunted game must have its blood drained and then covered by earth. And anyone who eats an animal killed or torn by a wild animal must wash his clothes and bathe being unclean until the evening. 

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Some of the Israelites were offering sacrifices to goat idols or demons so God prohibited sacrifices outside the tabernacle which would be punishable by excommunication. The same punishment would be given to those who eat blood. Any hunted game must have its blood drained and then covered by earth. And anyone who eats an animal killed or torn by a wild animal must wash his clothes and bathe being unclean until the evening. 

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The Day of Atonement (Yom Kippur) was to be celebrated with a fasting holiday, on the 10th day of the 7th month, and it was to be an annual atonement for the sins of the people. The sacrifices and ceremony were to be carried out by Aaron the high priest, though it was stressed that he needed to be very cautious about how and when he entered in to the Holy of Holies. 

First of all on this day Aaron was to bring a bull, a ram and 2 male goats, and wash himself prior to dressing with his full priestly regalia. He was then to sacrifice the bull for his sin and that of his household. He would then cast lots over the 2 goats resulting in one being sacrificed as a sin offering and the other being released as a scapegoat. Aaron was to take burning coals before the Lord, put incense on the fire and sprinkle the bull’s blood seven times before the atonement cover.

Aaron shall then atone for the Holy of Holies and the Tabernacle using the goat’s blood and in so doing he will atone for himself, his household and the whole community of Israel. He will then lay both hands on the head of the live goat before sending it into the desert where it will symbolically carry everyone’s sin.

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The Day of Atonement (Yom Kippur) was to be celebrated with a fasting holiday, on the 10th day of the 7th month, and it was to be an annual atonement for the sins of the people. The sacrifices and ceremony were to be carried out by Aaron the high priest, though it was stressed that he needed to be very cautious about how and when he entered in to the Holy of Holies. 

First of all on this day Aaron was to bring a bull, a ram and 2 male goats, and wash himself prior to dressing with his full priestly regalia. He was then to sacrifice the bull for his sin and that of his household. He would then cast lots over the 2 goats resulting in one being sacrificed as a sin offering and the other being released as a scapegoat. Aaron was to take burning coals before the Lord, put incense on the fire and sprinkle the bull’s blood seven times before the atonement cover.

Aaron shall then atone for the Holy of Holies and the Tabernacle using the goat’s blood and in so doing he will atone for himself, his household and the whole community of Israel. He will then lay both hands on the head of the live goat before sending it into the desert where it will symbolically carry everyone’s sin.

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The Day of Atonement (Yom Kippur) was to be celebrated with a fasting holiday, on the 10th day of the 7th month, and it was to be an annual atonement for the sins of the people. The sacrifices and ceremony were to be carried out by Aaron the high priest, though it was stressed that he needed to be very cautious about how and when he entered in to the Holy of Holies. 

First of all on this day Aaron was to bring a bull, a ram and 2 male goats, and wash himself prior to dressing with his full priestly regalia. He was then to sacrifice the bull for his sin and that of his household. He would then cast lots over the 2 goats resulting in one being sacrificed as a sin offering and the other being released as a scapegoat. Aaron was to take burning coals before the Lord, put incense on the fire and sprinkle the bull’s blood seven times before the atonement cover.

Aaron shall then atone for the Holy of Holies and the Tabernacle using the goat’s blood and in so doing he will atone for himself, his household and the whole community of Israel. He will then lay both hands on the head of the live goat before sending it into the desert where it will symbolically carry everyone’s sin.

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Please pray for a young man at our Campina Grande Bible College called Guilherme Santos who is stepping out in faith on a trip to Itaporanga helping the local pastor there. May the Lord bless and use him.

QPR beat Preston North End at home, coming from behind to win 2 x 1. This means we have rocketed up to 14th spot in the Championship out of 24! Happy Christmas! 😃

A terrible thing happened on Saturday in our state capital Joao Pessoa on the coast. A nanny threw the 2-year-old girl she was supposed to be caring for off a very high block of flats and then threw herself.

On Saturday evening the Green Pastures church held a joyful end-of-year fellowship party with over 40 people present. The sisters organized a lovely barbecue for everyone and they all really enjoyed it.

Yesterday morning I had the joy of baptizing 10 people together with my co-pastor Rafael. The service was held at Green Pastures and was followed by a lovely fellowship breakfast for the over 100 people present. The 10 baptized were received into fellowship in the evening service in Patos.

Last night’s nativity play in our main Sunday service was lovely. Of special joy for us was to see our granddaughter Amanda as the star of Bethlehem. She did very well as did all the children. The play was followed by an excellent Christmas message from Bible College graduate Murilo. It was a very good service.

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Please pray for a young man at our Campina Grande Bible College called Guilherme Santos who is stepping out in faith on a trip to Itaporanga helping the local pastor there. May the Lord bless and use him.

QPR beat Preston North End at home, coming from behind to win 2 x 1. This means we have rocketed up to 14th spot in the Championship out of 24! Happy Christmas! 😃

A terrible thing happened on Saturday in our state capital Joao Pessoa on the coast. A nanny threw the 2-year-old girl she was supposed to be caring for off a very high block of flats and then threw herself.

On Saturday evening the Green Pastures church held a joyful end-of-year fellowship party with over 40 people present. The sisters organized a lovely barbecue for everyone and they all really enjoyed it.

Yesterday morning I had the joy of baptizing 10 people together with my co-pastor Rafael. The service was held at Green Pastures and was followed by a lovely fellowship breakfast for the over 100 people present. The 10 baptized were received into fellowship in the evening service in Patos.

Last night’s nativity play in our main Sunday service was lovely. Of special joy for us was to see our granddaughter Amanda as the star of Bethlehem. She did very well as did all the children. The play was followed by an excellent Christmas message from Bible College graduate Murilo. It was a very good service.

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Yesterday morning Liz and I went to the extremely poor borough of Patos called Serrote Liso where we distributed lots of Christmas Hampers to the very poor. It was as always a very moving morning and just goes to show how we should always say grace when we eat because we don’t know how the other half survives! We gave a hamper to a beautiful 15-year-old mother and her 5 month old little boy. We gave hampers to people who live in mud huts and consider themselves well off if they have a donkey or even have the “luxury” of having a cart too! We gave a hamper to a young couple who are backslidden and have been to our church. They were blessed by their hamper and promised to be in church tomorrow. Please pray for them to come back to the Lord.

Yesterday afternoon Liz and I had an excellent online meeting with Deputy Leader Pastor Wostenes and his wife Gleydice. It was a very productive and blessed meeting.

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Yesterday morning Liz and I went to the extremely poor borough of Patos called Serrote Liso where we distributed lots of Christmas Hampers to the very poor. It was as always a very moving morning and just goes to show how we should always say grace when we eat because we don’t know how the other half survives! We gave a hamper to a beautiful 15-year-old mother and her 5 month old little boy. We gave hampers to people who live in mud huts and consider themselves well off if they have a donkey or even have the “luxury” of having a cart too! We gave a hamper to a young couple who are backslidden and have been to our church. They were blessed by their hamper and promised to be in church tomorrow. Please pray for them to come back to the Lord.

Yesterday afternoon Liz and I had an excellent online meeting with Deputy Leader Pastor Wostenes and his wife Gleydice. It was a very productive and blessed meeting.

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Yesterday morning Liz and I went to the extremely poor borough of Patos called Serrote Liso where we distributed lots of Christmas Hampers to the very poor. It was as always a very moving morning and just goes to show how we should always say grace when we eat because we don’t know how the other half survives! We gave a hamper to a beautiful 15-year-old mother and her 5 month old little boy. We gave hampers to people who live in mud huts and consider themselves well off if they have a donkey or even have the “luxury” of having a cart too! We gave a hamper to a young couple who are backslidden and have been to our church. They were blessed by their hamper and promised to be in church tomorrow. Please pray for them to come back to the Lord.

Yesterday afternoon Liz and I had an excellent online meeting with Deputy Leader Pastor Wostenes and his wife Gleydice. It was a very productive and blessed meeting.

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In this chapter it says that male discharges render a man unclean. Many commentators identify the problem here as gonorrhea and anywhere the man lies or sits will become unclean, and just touching such locations would render the person as unclean. In that case the contaminated person would need to wash his clothes and bathe, and he or she would be classified as unclean until the evening. A similar cleansing process would be necessary if someone touches the man with a discharge or if he spits on someone. If the unclean man just touches a clay pot then it has to be broken! But when the man is cured of his discharge he goes through seven days of ceremonial cleansing, washes his clothes and bathes before taking 2 doves or pigeons to the priest as sacrifices.

When a man has an emission of semen he must bathe his whole body and he will remain unclean until the evening. The same applies to a couple that have sex.

In the case of a woman’s menstruation she will be classed as unclean for 7 days and anyone that just touches her will be unclean until the evening. Where she lies or sits will be unclean and anyone that touches such objects will be unclean until evening. If a couple have sex when the woman has a period then the man will be unclean for a week.

In the case of a woman having a discharge other than menstruation the woman will be unclean for as long as it continues, and once cured she will offer 2 doves/pigeons as sacrificial atonement. 

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In this chapter it says that male discharges render a man unclean. Many commentators identify the problem here as gonorrhea and anywhere the man lies or sits will become unclean, and just touching such locations would render the person as unclean. In that case the contaminated person would need to wash his clothes and bathe, and he or she would be classified as unclean until the evening. A similar cleansing process would be necessary if someone touches the man with a discharge or if he spits on someone. If the unclean man just touches a clay pot then it has to be broken! But when the man is cured of his discharge he goes through seven days of ceremonial cleansing, washes his clothes and bathes before taking 2 doves or pigeons to the priest as sacrifices.

When a man has an emission of semen he must bathe his whole body and he will remain unclean until the evening. The same applies to a couple that have sex.

In the case of a woman’s menstruation she will be classed as unclean for 7 days and anyone that just touches her will be unclean until the evening. Where she lies or sits will be unclean and anyone that touches such objects will be unclean until evening. If a couple have sex when the woman has a period then the man will be unclean for a week.

In the case of a woman having a discharge other than menstruation the woman will be unclean for as long as it continues, and once cured she will offer 2 doves/pigeons as sacrificial atonement. 

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If a person is reported to have recovered from their skin disease then a priest should go outside the camp to check. With the person’s cure confirmed the priest will require 2 live birds together with cedar wood, scarlet yarn and hyssop so as to confirm the cleansing. The priest will kill one bird over fresh water and dip the other bird and other ingredients in the dead bird’s blood. The priest will then sprinkle the blood mixture on the cured person 7 times, pronouncing him clean, and release the live bird into the wild. Then the person shaves off all his hair, washes his clothes and bathes, but stays outside of his tent for 7 days.

On the 8th day he must go to the tabernacle taking 2 male lambs and 1 ewe lamb, together with fine flour and oil, to offer as sacrifices before God. The priest should put some blood from the guilt offering on the right ear, right thumb and right big toe of the person being cleansed, before putting oil on the person in the same places. If the person is poor their cleansing sacrifices can be replaced with one lamb plus 2 doves or pigeons. Their sacrifices will make atonement before the Lord on behalf of the one being cleansed.

Finally the cleansing of dreaded mildew is prescribed when a priest goes to an affected house for inspection. If he sees that the mildew is greenish and reddish going deep then he will have the house shut up for 7 days. He then will re-inspect and scrape and remove stones as necessary (this is clearly a later addition to the text as the Israelites were living in tents) but if this doesn’t fix it the house is unclean and must be destroyed. However if a house clears up the mildew returning it to normal and clean then the same 2-bird ritual will be carried out as a cleansing right seen earlier in the chapter, killing one bird and releasing the other one into the wild. It is a beautiful symbol of freedom and new life away from uncleanliness. 

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If a person is reported to have recovered from their skin disease then a priest should go outside the camp to check. With the person’s cure confirmed the priest will require 2 live birds together with cedar wood, scarlet yarn and hyssop so as to confirm the cleansing. The priest will kill one bird over fresh water and dip the other bird and other ingredients in the dead bird’s blood. The priest will then sprinkle the blood mixture on the cured person 7 times, pronouncing him clean, and release the live bird into the wild. Then the person shaves off all his hair, washes his clothes and bathes, but stays outside of his tent for 7 days.

On the 8th day he must go to the tabernacle taking 2 male lambs and 1 ewe lamb, together with fine flour and oil, to offer as sacrifices before God. The priest should put some blood from the guilt offering on the right ear, right thumb and right big toe of the person being cleansed, before putting oil on the person in the same places. If the person is poor their cleansing sacrifices can be replaced with one lamb plus 2 doves or pigeons. Their sacrifices will make atonement before the Lord on behalf of the one being cleansed.

Finally the cleansing of dreaded mildew is prescribed when a priest goes to an affected house for inspection. If he sees that the mildew is greenish and reddish going deep then he will have the house shut up for 7 days. He then will re-inspect and scrape and remove stones as necessary (this is clearly a later addition to the text as the Israelites were living in tents) but if this doesn’t fix it the house is unclean and must be destroyed. However if a house clears up the mildew returning it to normal and clean then the same 2-bird ritual will be carried out as a cleansing right seen earlier in the chapter, killing one bird and releasing the other one into the wild. It is a beautiful symbol of freedom and new life away from uncleanliness. 

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At the time that Leviticus was written the matter of skin diseases was clearly a great concern as can be seen by the dedication of two long chapters to them. I am sure dermatologists must be delighted. It is also interesting to note that it is the priests who coordinate the skin disease control. It was previously mistakenly thought that this chapter was a discussion of leprosy as can be seen in older translations such as that of Almeida Revista e Atualizada in Portuguese. However as G. J. Wenham points out this is incorrect, as the more modern translations reflect such as NIV. So in this chapter 21 different cases of skin diseases are distinguished as are 3 cases of “diseased” garments with mildew. 

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At the time that Leviticus was written the matter of skin diseases was clearly a great concern as can be seen by the dedication of two long chapters to them. I am sure dermatologists must be delighted. It is also interesting to note that it is the priests who coordinate the skin disease control. It was previously mistakenly thought that this chapter was a discussion of leprosy as can be seen in older translations such as that of Almeida Revista e Atualizada in Portuguese. However as G. J. Wenham points out this is incorrect, as the more modern translations reflect such as NIV. So in this chapter 21 different cases of skin diseases are distinguished as are 3 cases of “diseased” garments with mildew. 

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