Today's Reading - March 7, 2010

NUMBERS 8:1-9:23
MARK 13:14-37
PSALM 50:1-23
PROVERBS 10:29-30

Question of the day: What does Jesus want us to do while waiting for him to return?

Jesus says to be on guard and stay alert. What he wants is for us to be following his teachings so that when he returns, he will find us obeying what he has commanded. This means not only following the rules but also going out of our way to love others and treating others with the love that Christ taught us.

Today's Reading - March 6, 2010

Numbers 6:1-7:89
Mark 12:38-13:13
Psalm 49:1-20
Proverbs 10:27-28

Question of the day: What is a Nazirite?

A Nazirite refers to one who took the vow separating themselves for the Lord. The term "nazirite" comes from the Hebrew word nazir meaning "consecrated" or "separated". This vow required the man or woman to:

• Abstain from wine, wine vinegar, grapes raisins, and according to some - alcohol and vinegar from alcohol
• Refrain from cutting the hair on one's head
• Avoid corpses and graves, even those of family members, and any structure which contains such

After following these requirements for a designated period of time (which would be specified in the individual's vow, and not to be less than 30 days), the person would immerse in a Mikvah and make three offerings, a lamb as a burnt offering, an ewe as a sin offering, and a ram as a peace offering in addition to a basket of unleavened bread, grain offerings and drink offerings, which accompanied the peace offering.

Today's Reading - March 5, 2010

NUMBERS 4:1-5:31
MARK 12:18-37
PSALM 48:1-14
PROVERBS 10:26

Question of the day: With all that stuff in it, wouldn't the water for the jealousy offering automatically make the wife sick, whether or not she were guilty?

The water itself wouldn't make the woman sick, although Jewish history tells us that many women, guilty or not, would not drink the water for fear that it would make them sick. As time passed, it also became a popular belief that the husband of the wayward wife would suffer the same fate if he had been unfaithful. Over time, this caused the demise of the jealousy offering.

Today's Reading - March 4, 2010

NUMBERS 2:1-3:51
MARK 11:27-12:17
PSALM 47:1-9
PROVERBS 10:24-25

Question of the day: How did the Levites get chosen to receive special duties for God?

When Moses returned from Mount Sinai after receiving the Ten Commandments from the Lord, he discovered that the people had created a golden calf to worship, turning their back on the Lord. Moses called out, "Whoever is for the Lord, come to me!" And the Levites rallied around him. Later, Moses said to them, "You have been set apart to the Lord today, for you were against your own sons and brothers, and he has blessed you this day."

Today's Reading - March 3, 2010

LEVITICUS 27:14-NUMBERS 1:1-54
MARK 11:1-26
PSALM 46:1-11
PROVERBS 10:23

Question of the day: Why did the Lord want the Israelites counted? Didn't he know?

God, being omniscient, certainly knew the number of Israelites. The Lord wanted Moses and Joshua to know how many warriors he had at his disposal for the coming battles against the Canaanites.

Today's Reading - March 2, 2010

LEVITICUS 25:47-27:13
MARK 10:32-52
PSALM 45:1-17
PROVERBS 10:22

Question of the day: What is the Year of Jubilee?

The Year of the Jubilee occurred every fifty years. During the Year of Jubilee, land that had sold between Jews returned to it's original owner, people who had sold themselves into slavery were freed and debts between Jews were forgiven.

Today's Reading - March 1, 2010

LEVITICUS 25:47-27:13
MARK 10:32-52
PSALM 45:1-17
PROVERBS 10:22

Question of the day: In Leviticus 24:20 it says to repay a fracture for a fracture. Who was to administer that punishment?

The leaders of the tribe were to administer the punishment. These verses were meant to limit the punishment and retribution that normally occurred when men took justice into their own hands.