Shine Like Stars
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Shine Like Stars
Old Made New, Pt. 15: Lev. 24
Pastor Tim Brisson
Intro
Intro
Sanctuary light
Leviticus 24 (NRSV)
1 The Lord spoke to Moses, saying: 2 Command the people of Israel to bring you pure oil of beaten olives for the lamp, that a light may be kept burning regularly.
3 Aaron shall set it up in the tent of meeting, outside the curtain of the covenant, to burn from evening to morning before the Lord regularly; it shall be a statute forever throughout your generations. 4 He shall set up the lamps on the lampstand of pure gold before the Lord regularly.
Chapter 24 begins with the notification that Moses received another revelation from God, which he was to pass on to Israel. This was not just something told to them (as in 23:2, 10, 24, 34, 44; 25:2); it was commanded of them (24:1-2). Just as the festivals were to be permanent reminders to Israel of God’s acts and provision, so a light was to burn perpetually, day and night, in the sanctuary in Yahweh’s presence. The Lord commanded this to be a permanent regulation. The law was practically a word-for-word repetition of Exod 27:20-21: There Moses was told that he would pass these regulations on to the people, and here he did so.
The oil was pressed from olives and was to be especially pure—something not necessary for the oil used with sacrifices (e.g., 2:1) or in anointing (e.g., 8:2). It was used in the Tabernacle’s golden lamp, which was in front of the veil separating the two inner parts of the sanctuary (4:6; 16:2; Exod 25:31-39; 37:17-24; 40:25-26). Since the flame burned at all times (Exod 30:7-8; 1 Sam 3:3), it needed pure oil to lessen the smoke and soot (Milgrom 2001:2086; see Exod 27:20). Aaron and the priests had to care for the lamp as a perpetual task, while the job of the people was to provide the oil.
Why? Why light?
Why? Why light?
LIGHT AND DARKNESS A symbolic theme of ethical dualism present from the beginning of the Old Testament and developed throughout the Bible.
Biblical Relevance
Light and darkness together describe the opposite ends of a good-evil dualism that pervades biblical symbolic language. The specific referent of light or darkness in a particular text must be assessed based on its context, but the essential meaning of the dualism remains true throughout both Old and New Testaments.
Light and Darkness in the Old Testament
At the heart of Old Testament’s symbolic use of light and darkness is the connection the text makes between light and the personal presence of God, and darkness as all that opposes God. This link begins as early as Gen 1:2, where God creates light to serve as a boundary to darkness. Here light is not only instantly linked to God’s presence but also institutes time and order over the chaos of the formless void (Walton, “Creation,” 59). God creates a functioning, orderly environment for people, and the creation of stars gives humanity seasons and cycles of time by which to order their lives (Gen 1). The link of light with the Creator also acts as a symbolic tie between light and life. If light symbolizes God’s presence, and God is the author of life, then surely where God is, life abounds (Gen 1:3 and following; Job 3:16; 33:28; Psa 56:13).
It is clear from the outset that the duality of light and darkness, good and evil, is not an equal duality but one in which God is unquestionably sovereign over the opposition (Hamilton, Handbook, 25–26). For example, darkness is bound by God’s words alone at creation, making clear His absolute preeminence over darkness (Gen 1:2–3). In this uneven duality, darkness becomes synonymous with all that opposes God or characterizes those who oppose God. Evil, the forces of evil, and the consequences of evil thus dwell together under this symbolic umbrella. Foolishness, opposition to God’s people, and deliberate sin result in judgment and condemnation.
The Old Testament poetic and prophetic texts also develop the light and darkness dualism. For example, Prov 6:23 equates “walking in the light” with walking according to God’s plans, purposes, and character (see also Isa 2:5; 9:2). The Old Testament also links light to concepts of wisdom, understanding, and righteousness. These concepts are defined in terms of a person’s deliberate alignment with God’s plans, purposes, and character (Waltke, The Book of Proverbs, 6–9).
Thus, light is the sphere of God’s presence, and life within that sphere evidences those qualities that reflect His character (Brueggeman, Life of Faith, 40–43).
If God’s presence is light and life, then opposition to Him brings darkness and death (Deut 28:28; Job 18:5; 38:4–15; Psa 49:18–19; Jer 13:16; Amos 5:18). If condemnation and death are spoken of as darkness (Job 10:22), then salvation from these evils is also spoken in terms of light (Psa 27:1). Thus also God Himself (His presence) becomes a light leading a person out of darkness, toward salvation (Psa 18:28; 43:3; Isa 10:17; 42:16; Mic 7:8).
Psalm 27:1 (NRSV)
1 The Lord is my light and my salvation; whom shall I fear?
The Lord is the stronghold of my life; of whom shall I be afraid?
The tone of confidence that pervades these passages demonstrates that there is no doubt that God’s presence as light will conquer and even eliminate the darkness. Old Testament prophecies of the ultimate restoration of God’s people are full of the language of light and dawn (e.g., Isa 60:1–3; Ezek 43:2, 5).
Isaiah 60:1–3 (NRSV)
1 Arise, shine; for your light has come, and the glory of the Lord has risen upon you.
2 For darkness shall cover the earth, and thick darkness the peoples;
but the Lord will arise upon you, and his glory will appear over you.
3 Nations shall come to your light, and kings to the brightness of your dawn.
Light is associated with justice when the Lord says, “A law will go forth from me, and my justice for a light to the peoples” (Is 51:4).
Isaiah 51:4 (NRSV)
4 Listen to me, my people, and give heed to me, my nation;
for a teaching will go out from me, and my justice for a light to the peoples.
Justice means trouble for evildoers: “The light of Israel will become a fire, and his Holy One a flame; and it will burn and devour his thorns and briers in one day” (Is 10:17). God’s light in that act of justice is a consuming fire.
Sometimes judgment on Israel is expressed as a withdrawal of light:
Isaiah 13:10 (NRSV)
10 For the stars of the heavens and their constellations will not give their light;
the sun will be dark at its rising, and the moon will not shed its light.
Sometimes light is connected with good behavior: “The path of the righteous is like the light of dawn, which shines brighter and brighter until full day” (Prv 4:18).
Proverbs 4:18 (NRSV)
18 But the path of the righteous is like the light of dawn, which shines brighter and brighter until full day.
New Testament
The association of God with light is recurrent in the NT. The apostle John wrote that “God is light and in him is no darkness at all” (1 Jn 1:5).
5 This is the message we have heard from him and proclaim to you, that God is light and in him there is no darkness at all.
Patton funeral today
14 “You are the light of the world. A city built on a hill cannot be hid. 15 No one after lighting a lamp puts it under the bushel basket, but on the lampstand, and it gives light to all in the house. 16 In the same way, let your light shine before others, so that they may see your good works and give glory to your Father in heaven.
Of course we are not the world’s light in the same sense as he is. When light refers to Christ, there is a reference to him as Savior and not merely one who reveals great truths. When believers are called the light of the world, there is clearly no saving significance in the description. They do not accomplish the world’s salvation. But they do point it out.
You are to be a sanctuary light wherever you go
when Jesus is in you, you should light up
It is their function as redeemed people to live as redeemed people. They are to show the quality of life proper to the people of God and in this way act as light to the people of the world. They are to let their light shine before the world in such a way that people will see their good deeds and so come to praise God (not, be it noted, those who do the deeds, Mt. 5:16).
It is important for those in this position to make full use of the light they have. It is tragedy when the light that is in them is darkness (Mt 6:23; Lk 11:35).
Luke 11:33–36 (NRSV)
33 “No one after lighting a lamp puts it in a cellar, but on the lampstand so that those who enter may see the light. 34 Your eye is the lamp of your body. If your eye is healthy, your whole body is full of light; but if it is not healthy, your body is full of darkness.
35 Therefore consider whether the light in you is not darkness. 36 If then your whole body is full of light, with no part of it in darkness, it will be as full of light as when a lamp gives you light with its rays.”
jeepers creepers what are you putting in those peepers
If we ignore the illumination he brings us and live like those in the dark, then indeed we are in deep darkness. We are worse than others because we know what light is and what it can mean to us, and have turned away from it. But we need not do this.
12 the night is far gone, the day is near. Let us then lay aside the works of darkness and put on the armor of light;
The apostle James referred to God as “the Father of lights” (Jas 1:17).
17 Every generous act of giving, with every perfect gift, is from above, coming down from the Father of lights, with whom there is no variation or shadow due to change.
Simple, but not easy; a price had to be paid. It meant destruction of self-centeredness. I must turn in all things to the Father of Light who presides over us all. Big Book of AA, pg. 14
Step 10
Step 10
Step 10: "Continued to take personal inventory and when we were wrong promptly admitted it."
35 Therefore consider whether the light in you is not darkness.
Examen Prayer
Examen Prayer
The Examen: A Daily Prayer
St. Ignatius Loyola's Examen is an opportunity for peaceful daily reflective prayer. It invites us to find the movement of God in all the people and events of our day. The Examen is simply a set of introspective prompts for you to follow or adapt to your own character and spirit.
Video
Video
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8QvBTj23ON4&list=WL&index=2