Contemplative Bible Reading

Leviticus 16:29 (New Living Translation)

“On the tenth day of the appointed month in early autumn, you must deny yourselves. Neither native-born Israelites nor foreigners living among you may do any kind of work. This is a permanent law for you…”

Here is part of the old law the God gave to the people. There are those two words as the end of the first sentence: deny yourselves.

Okay, so what is that mean old God taking away from people this time? No fun, huh?

“you may do any kind of work”

Wait a minute. This must be an error in translation. Should read something like, “You may not rest” or “You may not play” or something like that. God is telling the people to rest. That is a commandment.

Easy enough, right? Wrong. We gotta’ work folks. Let’s get to it. Rest? No.

And that is what the people did. They disobeyed the command to take it easy one day.

We are an odd lot. How does God tolerate us? Thank you Lord for your grace and forgiveness. I can’t seem to do the things that are best for myself.