https://esv.literalword.com/?q=leviticus+27
Observations from today’s readings and today’s S-WOD, Saturday, 15 March 2025:
Listen to this teaching from Dr. J. Vernon McGee on Leviticus 27: https://www.blueletterbible.org/audio_video/popPlayer.cfm?id=4199&rel=mcgee_j_vernon/Lev
Leviticus 27:2-8 – “Speak to the people of Israel and say to them, If anyone makes a special vow to the LORD involving the valuation of persons, then the valuation of a male from twenty years old up to sixty years old shall be fifty shekels of silver, according to the shekel of the sanctuary. If the person is a female, the valuation shall be thirty shekels. If the person is from five years old up to twenty years old, the valuation shall be for a male twenty shekels, and for a female ten shekels. If the person is from a month old up to five years old, the valuation shall be for a male five shekels of silver, and for a female the valuation shall be three shekels of silver. And if the person is sixty years old or over, then the valuation for a male shall be fifteen shekels, and for a female ten shekels. And if someone is too poor to pay the valuation, then he shall be made to stand before the priest, and the priest shall value him; the priest shall value him according to what the vower can afford.”
A shekel was believed to be the value of a worker for an entire month. Males were more expensive to dedicate than females, based not on their value or worth in the eyes of God, but rather on the person’s ability to work in an agricultural society and on how many years that person could work. A male aged 20 – 60 was seen as someone who could perform the best labor, therefore resulting in the highest price. Those over 60 and under 20 could do some work, but not as much, generally speaking. Those 5 years old and under required the lowest payment, as they would have been unable to work much or at all. While they have different roles and responsibilities, men and women have equal value in the eyes of God (see Gen 1:27 and Galatians 3:28)
Leviticus 27:12, 17 – …and the priest shall value it as either good or bad; as the priest values it, so it shall be. 13 But if he wishes to redeem it, he shall add a fifth to the valuation…. If he dedicates his field from the year of jubilee, the valuation shall stand….
God sets the value of the object, not markets based on shifting social values.
Leviticus 27:30 – Every tithe of the land, whether of the seed of the land or of the fruit of the trees, is the LORD’s; it is holy to the LORD.
Tithing was not optional.
Leviticus 27:34 — These are the commandments that the Lord commanded Moses for the people of Israel on Mount Sinai.
Thoughts from David Platt — “Thus ends this book of laws and commandments. Leviticus 27:34 is the last verse in Leviticus, and as I reflect on it, I am so overwhelmed by the goodness of God in giving His commandments. I was thinking just this morning about God’s grace in giving His word…. What nation has a God like this who gives laws and commands for our good, who does not leave us in the dark on how to experience good, how to experience life?
God is gracious in giving us His Word. His commandments are just and right. His commands are for our good.
When you see the book of Leviticus, don’t [just] see a book. I hope that your conclusion after even walking through some of… the book of Leviticus that you don’t walk away thinking, “Oh, these commands from God are hard and they’re stiff and they’re not helpful,” that you would see, “No, these are good and they’re gracious and they’re wonderful.” Yes, they’re serious, but they’re serious because God is serious about our good. Oh, God help us to see this.
You and I have been given commands from God for our good. The laws of God are not for our bad, they’re for us to experience life that God has spoken to us, that He’s graciously given us these commands, not so that we have to obey them, because we want to obey them, because we know that in obeying them we have life, true life. God, we praise you for your goodness toward us. We praise you for your word. God, we praise you for your laws. We love them in a Psalm 119 kind of way.
We love your laws. We want to meditate on them. God, we pray that that would be the desire of our hearts more and more and more and more. Help us not to be a people- I pray this in my own life, I pray this for people who are listening right now. God, help us not to dread your commands, to certainly ignore your commands through not opening up, reading, listening to your word. Help us to love them. God, help us to meditate on them like they’re life to us, like they are our delight in a Psalm 1 kind of way.
God, help us to exalt your commands, desire them, and obey them. They’re so good. God, you know what is best for our lives. You know what is best for our families. God, you know what is best for our churches. You know what is best for our plans and dreams and ambitions in this world. Overall, you know what is best. You are all-wise and you have not hidden that which is wisdom from us. You’ve given it to us in your word. You have provided commands, rules, statutes for us. We thank you and we pray. Help us to have a right perspective of them and help us to do them just as this was the command over and over again to your people in the Old Testament. ‘Hear these commands and do them. Hear these commands and do them.’
God, we pray you’d help us to do them. Help us as we read commands, even specific instructions in the New Testament, new covenant. Help us to do them and in the process to experience life with you in them. Thank you for your word, for the book of Leviticus and for your laws. Lord, help us to glorify you through obedience to your word, to your laws. For our good and for your glory, we pray these things in Jesus’ name. Amen.”
“Cross” Fit S-WOD (Spiritual Workout of the Day) – 15 March 2025: Pray that God will help you praise His word and obey it with love, joy, and peace.
Defenders Bible Reading Plan 