Let's read the Bible together in the next year. Today our passages are Leviticus 11:1–12:8; Mark 5:21-43; Psalm 38:1-22; and Proverbs 10:8-9. The readings are the Contemporary English Version.
Leviticus 11-12:8 (Contemporary English Version)
Leviticus 11
Clean and Unclean Animals
(Deuteronomy 14.3-21)
1The LORD told Moses and Aaron 2to say to the community of Israel: You may eat 3any animal that has divided hoofs and chews the cud. a<="" value="[a]" >[] 4-8But you must not eat animals such as camels, rock badgers, and rabbits that chew the cud but don't have divided hoofs. And you must not eat pigs--they have divided hoofs, but don't chew the cud. All of these animals are unclean, [b<="">] and you are forbidden even to touch their dead bodies. 9-12You may eat anything that lives in water and has fins and scales. But it would be disgusting for you to eat anything else that lives in water, and you must not even touch their dead bodies.
13-19Eagles, vultures, buzzards, crows, ostriches, hawks, sea gulls, owls, pelicans, storks, herons, hoopoes, [c<="">]and bats are also disgusting, and you are forbidden to eat any of them. 20-23The only winged insects you may eat are locusts, grasshoppers, and crickets. All other winged insects that crawl are too disgusting for you to eat.
24-28Don't even touch the dead bodies of animals that have divided hoofs but don't chew the cud. And don't touch the dead bodies of animals that have paws. If you do, you must wash your clothes, but you are still unclean until evening.
29-30Moles, rats, mice, and all kinds of lizards are unclean. 31Anyone who touches their dead bodies or anything touched by their dead bodies becomes unclean until evening. 32If something made of wood, cloth, or leather touches one of their dead bodies, it must be washed, but it is still unclean until evening. 33If any of these animals is found dead in a clay pot, the pot must be broken to pieces, and everything in it becomes unclean. 34If you pour water from this pot on any food, that food becomes unclean, and anything drinkable in the pot becomes unclean.
35If the dead body of one of these animals touches anything else, including ovens and stoves, that thing becomes unclean and must be destroyed. 36A spring or a cistern where one of these dead animals is found is still clean, but anyone who touches the animal becomes unclean. 37If the dead body of one of these animals is found lying on seeds that have been set aside for planting, the seeds remain clean. 38But seeds that are soaking in water become unclean, if the dead animal is found in the water.
39If an animal that may be eaten happens to die, and you touch it, you become unclean until evening. 40If you eat any of its meat or carry its body away, you must wash your clothes, but you are still unclean until evening.
41-42Don't eat any of those disgusting little creatures that crawl or walk close to the ground. 43If you eat any of them, you will become just as disgusting and unclean as they are. 44I am the LORD your God, and you must dedicate yourselves to me and be holy, just as I am holy. Don't become disgusting by eating any of these unclean creatures. 45I brought you out of Egypt so that I could be your God. Now you must become holy, because I am holy!
46-47I have given these laws so that you will know what animals, birds, and fish are clean and may be eaten, and which ones are unclean and may not be eaten.
13-19Eagles, vultures, buzzards, crows, ostriches, hawks, sea gulls, owls, pelicans, storks, herons, hoopoes, [c<="">]and bats are also disgusting, and you are forbidden to eat any of them. 20-23The only winged insects you may eat are locusts, grasshoppers, and crickets. All other winged insects that crawl are too disgusting for you to eat.
24-28Don't even touch the dead bodies of animals that have divided hoofs but don't chew the cud. And don't touch the dead bodies of animals that have paws. If you do, you must wash your clothes, but you are still unclean until evening.
29-30Moles, rats, mice, and all kinds of lizards are unclean. 31Anyone who touches their dead bodies or anything touched by their dead bodies becomes unclean until evening. 32If something made of wood, cloth, or leather touches one of their dead bodies, it must be washed, but it is still unclean until evening. 33If any of these animals is found dead in a clay pot, the pot must be broken to pieces, and everything in it becomes unclean. 34If you pour water from this pot on any food, that food becomes unclean, and anything drinkable in the pot becomes unclean.
35If the dead body of one of these animals touches anything else, including ovens and stoves, that thing becomes unclean and must be destroyed. 36A spring or a cistern where one of these dead animals is found is still clean, but anyone who touches the animal becomes unclean. 37If the dead body of one of these animals is found lying on seeds that have been set aside for planting, the seeds remain clean. 38But seeds that are soaking in water become unclean, if the dead animal is found in the water.
39If an animal that may be eaten happens to die, and you touch it, you become unclean until evening. 40If you eat any of its meat or carry its body away, you must wash your clothes, but you are still unclean until evening.
41-42Don't eat any of those disgusting little creatures that crawl or walk close to the ground. 43If you eat any of them, you will become just as disgusting and unclean as they are. 44I am the LORD your God, and you must dedicate yourselves to me and be holy, just as I am holy. Don't become disgusting by eating any of these unclean creatures. 45I brought you out of Egypt so that I could be your God. Now you must become holy, because I am holy!
46-47I have given these laws so that you will know what animals, birds, and fish are clean and may be eaten, and which ones are unclean and may not be eaten.
Leviticus 12
What Women Must Do after Giving Birth
1The LORD told Moses 2to say to the community of Israel: If a woman gives birth to a son, she is unclean for seven days, just as she is during her monthly period. 3Her son must be circumcised on the eighth day, 4but her loss of blood keeps her from being completely clean for another thirty-three days. During this time she must not touch anything holy or go to the place of worship. 5Any woman who gives birth to a daughter is unclean for two weeks, just as she is during her period. And she won't be completely clean for another sixty-six days.
6When the mother has completed her time of cleansing, she must come to the front of the sacred tent and bring to the priest a year-old lamb as a sacrifice to please me [d<="">] and a dove or a pigeon as a sacrifice for sin. 7After the priest offers the sacrifices to me, the mother will become completely clean from her loss of blood, whether her child is a boy or a girl. 8If she cannot afford a lamb, she can offer two doves or two pigeons, one as a sacrifice to please me and the other as a sacrifice for sin. Footnotes:- Leviticus 11:3 chews the cud: Some animals that eat grass and leaves have more than one stomach and chew their food a second time after it has been partly digested in the first stomach. This partly digested food is called the " cud."
- Leviticus 11:4 unclean: In the Old Testament " clean" and " unclean" refer to whatever makes a person, animal, or object acceptable or unacceptable to God. For example, a person became unclean by eating certain foods, touching certain objects, and having certain kinds of diseases or bodily discharges.
- Leviticus 11:13 Eagles. . . hoopoes: Some of the birds in this list are difficult to identify.
- Leviticus 12:6 sacrifice to please me: See the note at 1.1-3.
6When the mother has completed her time of cleansing, she must come to the front of the sacred tent and bring to the priest a year-old lamb as a sacrifice to please me [d<="">] and a dove or a pigeon as a sacrifice for sin. 7After the priest offers the sacrifices to me, the mother will become completely clean from her loss of blood, whether her child is a boy or a girl. 8If she cannot afford a lamb, she can offer two doves or two pigeons, one as a sacrifice to please me and the other as a sacrifice for sin.
Footnotes:
- Leviticus 11:3 chews the cud: Some animals that eat grass and leaves have more than one stomach and chew their food a second time after it has been partly digested in the first stomach. This partly digested food is called the " cud."
- Leviticus 11:4 unclean: In the Old Testament " clean" and " unclean" refer to whatever makes a person, animal, or object acceptable or unacceptable to God. For example, a person became unclean by eating certain foods, touching certain objects, and having certain kinds of diseases or bodily discharges.
- Leviticus 11:13 Eagles. . . hoopoes: Some of the birds in this list are difficult to identify.
- Leviticus 12:6 sacrifice to please me: See the note at 1.1-3.
Mark 5:21-43 (Contemporary English Version)
A Dying Girl and a Sick Woman
(Matthew 9.18-26; Luke 8.40-56)
21Once again Jesus got into the boat and crossed Lake Galilee. a<="" value="[a]" >[] Then as he stood on the shore, a large crowd gathered around him. 22The person in charge of the Jewish meeting place was also there. His name was Jairus, and when he saw Jesus, he went over to him. He knelt at Jesus' feet 23and started begging him for help. He said, "My daughter is about to die! Please come and touch her, so she will get well and live." 24Jesus went with Jairus. Many people followed along and kept crowding around. 25In the crowd was a woman who had been bleeding for twelve years. 26She had gone to many doctors, and they had not done anything except cause her a lot of pain. She had paid them all the money she had. But instead of getting better, she only got worse.
27The woman had heard about Jesus, so she came up behind him in the crowd and barely touched his clothes. 28She had said to herself, "If I can just touch his clothes, I will get well." 29As soon as she touched them, her bleeding stopped, and she knew she was well.
30At that moment Jesus felt power go out from him. He turned to the crowd and asked, "Who touched my clothes?"
31His disciples said to him, "Look at all these people crowding around you! How can you ask who touched you?" 32But Jesus turned to see who had touched him.
33The woman knew what had happened to her. She came shaking with fear and knelt down in front of Jesus. Then she told him the whole story.
34Jesus said to the woman, "You are now well because of your faith. May God give you peace! You are healed, and you will no longer be in pain."
35While Jesus was still speaking, some men came from Jairus' home and said, "Your daughter has died! Why bother the teacher anymore?"
36Jesus heard [b<="">] what they said, and he said to Jairus, "Don't worry. Just have faith!"
37Jesus did not let anyone go with him except Peter and the two brothers, James and John. 38They went home with Jairus and saw the people crying and making a lot of noise. [c<="">] 39Then Jesus went inside and said to them, "Why are you crying and carrying on like this? The child isn't dead. She is just asleep." 40But the people laughed at him.
After Jesus had sent them all out of the house, he took the girl's father and mother and his three disciples and went to where she was. 41-42He took the twelve-year-old girl by the hand and said, "Talitha, koum!" [d<="">] which means, "Little girl, get up!" The girl got right up and started walking around.
Everyone was greatly surprised. 43But Jesus ordered them not to tell anyone what had happened. Then he said, "Give her something to eat."
Footnotes:
27The woman had heard about Jesus, so she came up behind him in the crowd and barely touched his clothes. 28She had said to herself, "If I can just touch his clothes, I will get well." 29As soon as she touched them, her bleeding stopped, and she knew she was well.
30At that moment Jesus felt power go out from him. He turned to the crowd and asked, "Who touched my clothes?"
31His disciples said to him, "Look at all these people crowding around you! How can you ask who touched you?" 32But Jesus turned to see who had touched him.
33The woman knew what had happened to her. She came shaking with fear and knelt down in front of Jesus. Then she told him the whole story.
34Jesus said to the woman, "You are now well because of your faith. May God give you peace! You are healed, and you will no longer be in pain."
35While Jesus was still speaking, some men came from Jairus' home and said, "Your daughter has died! Why bother the teacher anymore?"
36Jesus heard [b<="">] what they said, and he said to Jairus, "Don't worry. Just have faith!"
37Jesus did not let anyone go with him except Peter and the two brothers, James and John. 38They went home with Jairus and saw the people crying and making a lot of noise. [c<="">] 39Then Jesus went inside and said to them, "Why are you crying and carrying on like this? The child isn't dead. She is just asleep." 40But the people laughed at him.
After Jesus had sent them all out of the house, he took the girl's father and mother and his three disciples and went to where she was. 41-42He took the twelve-year-old girl by the hand and said, "Talitha, koum!" [d<="">] which means, "Little girl, get up!" The girl got right up and started walking around.
Everyone was greatly surprised. 43But Jesus ordered them not to tell anyone what had happened. Then he said, "Give her something to eat."
Footnotes:
Psalm 38:1-22 (Contemporary English Version)
Psalm 38
(A psalm by David to be used when an offering is made.)
A Prayer in Times of Trouble
1When you are angry, LORD, please don't punish me
or even correct me.
2You shot me with your arrows,
and you struck me
with your hand.
3My body hurts all over
because of your anger.
Even my bones are in pain,
and my sins 4are so heavy
that I am crushed.
5Because of my foolishness,
I am covered with sores
that stink and spread.
6My body is twisted and bent,
and I groan all day long.
7Fever has my back in flames,
and I hurt all over.
8I am worn out and weak,
moaning and in distress.
9You, Lord, know every one
of my deepest desires,
and my noisy groans
are no secret to you.
10My heart is beating fast.
I feel weak all over,
and my eyes are red.
11Because of my sickness,
no friends or neighbors
will come near me.
12All who want me dead
set traps to catch me,
and those who want
to harm and destroy me
plan and plot all day.
13I am not able to hear
or speak a word;
14I am completely deaf
and can't make a sound.
15I trust you, LORD God,
and you will do something.
16I said, "Don't let them laugh
or brag because I slip."
17I am about to collapse
from constant pain.
18I told you my sins,
and I am sorry for them.
19Many deadly and powerful
enemies hate me,
20and they repay evil for good
because I try to do right.
21You are the LORD God!
Stay nearby
and don't desert me.
22You are the one who saves me.
Please hurry and help.
or even correct me.
2You shot me with your arrows,
and you struck me
with your hand.
3My body hurts all over
because of your anger.
Even my bones are in pain,
and my sins 4are so heavy
that I am crushed.
5Because of my foolishness,
I am covered with sores
that stink and spread.
6My body is twisted and bent,
and I groan all day long.
7Fever has my back in flames,
and I hurt all over.
8I am worn out and weak,
moaning and in distress.
9You, Lord, know every one
of my deepest desires,
and my noisy groans
are no secret to you.
10My heart is beating fast.
I feel weak all over,
and my eyes are red.
11Because of my sickness,
no friends or neighbors
will come near me.
12All who want me dead
set traps to catch me,
and those who want
to harm and destroy me
plan and plot all day.
13I am not able to hear
or speak a word;
14I am completely deaf
and can't make a sound.
15I trust you, LORD God,
and you will do something.
16I said, "Don't let them laugh
or brag because I slip."
17I am about to collapse
from constant pain.
18I told you my sins,
and I am sorry for them.
19Many deadly and powerful
enemies hate me,
20and they repay evil for good
because I try to do right.
21You are the LORD God!
Stay nearby
and don't desert me.
22You are the one who saves me.
Please hurry and help.
Proverbs 10:8-9 (Contemporary English Version)
8If you have good sense,
you will listen and obey;
if all you do is talk,
you will destroy yourself.
9You will be safe,
if you always do right,
but you will get caught,
if you are dishonest.
you will listen and obey;
if all you do is talk,
you will destroy yourself.
9You will be safe,
if you always do right,
but you will get caught,
if you are dishonest.
Thought for the Day
“In the Law there are many commands, such as, 'Be faithful in marriage. Do not murder. Do not steal. Do not want what belongs to others.' But all of these are summed up in the command that says, 'Love others as much as you love yourself.' No one who loves others will harm them. So love is all that the Law demands.” (Romans 13:9-10 - Contemporary English Version) There are people who pull verses out of context in order to support their own political agenda. And they use those verses to condemn folks they don't like. Of course, according to Paul, scripture can be summed up in one command, "Love others as much as you love yourself."
Quote for the Day
French novelist, poet, critic, editor and co-founder and president of Oulipo (Ouvroir de littérature potentielle), Raymond Queneau wrote, “We have gotten away from this double aspect of either putting the character back into historical events or of making a historical event of his very life.”
A Joke for Today
At the pre-birth class for couples who'd already had at least one child the instructor raised the question of how to break the news to an older child.
"Some parents tell the older child, 'We love you so much that we decided to bring another child into our family.'
"But think about that for a second. Ladies, what if your husband came home one day and said, 'Honey, I love you so much I decided to bring home another wife.'?"
One of the women spoke up right away, "Does she cook?"
A Prayer Request
As Christians, we can offer specific daily prayers for our community, nation and world. Below is the need that we're laying before God today.
That all American accept the results of the Presidential election.
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