Metaphysical Bible Interpretation of Leviticus Chapter 23
Metaphysically Interpreting Leviticus 23:1-2
23:1And Jehovah spake unto Moses, saying, 23:2Speak unto the children of Israel, and say unto them, The set feasts of Jehovah, which ye shall proclaim to be holy convocations, even these are my set feasts.
Metaphysically Interpreting Leviticus 23:3-8
23:3Six days shall work be done: but on the seventh day is a sabbath of solemn rest, a holy convocation; ye shall do no manner of work: it is a sabbath unto Jehovah in all your dwellings.
23:4These are the set feasts of Jehovah, even holy convocations, which ye shall proclaim in their appointed season. 23:5In the first month, on the fourteenth day of the month at even, is Jehovah's passover. 23:6And on the fifteenth day of the same month is the feast of unleavened bread unto Jehovah: seven days ye shall eat unleavened bread. 23:7In the first day ye shall have a holy convocation: ye shall do no servile work. 23:8But ye shall offer an offering made by fire unto Jehovah seven days: in the seventh day is a holy convocation; ye shall do no servile work.
Metaphysically Interpreting Leviticus 23:9-14
23:9And Jehovah spake unto Moses, saying, 23:10Speak unto the children of Israel, and say unto them, When ye are come into the land which I give unto you, and shall reap the harvest thereof, then ye shall bring the sheaf of the first-fruits of your harvest unto the priest: 23:11and he shall wave the sheaf before Jehovah, to be accepted for you: on the morrow after the sabbath the priest shall wave it. 23:12And in the day when ye wave the sheaf, ye shall offer a he-lamb without blemish a year old for a burnt-offering unto Jehovah. 23:13And the meal-offering thereof shall be two tenth parts of an ephah of fine flour mingled with oil, an offering made by fire unto Jehovah for a sweet savor; and the drink-offering thereof shall be of wine, the fourth part of a hin. 23:14And ye shall eat neither bread, nor parched grain, nor fresh ears, until this selfsame day, until ye have brought the oblation of your God: it is a statute for ever throughout your generations in all your dwellings.
Metaphysically Interpreting Leviticus 23:15-22
23:15And ye shall count unto you from the morrow after the sabbath, from the day that ye brought the sheaf of the wave-offering; seven sabbaths shall there be complete: 23:16even unto the morrow after the seventh sabbath shall ye number fifty days; and ye shall offer a new meal-offering unto Jehovah. 23:17Ye shall bring out of your habitations two wave-loaves of two tenth parts of an ephah: they shall be of fine flour, they shall be baken with leaven, for first-fruits unto Jehovah. 23:18And ye shall present with the bread seven lambs without blemish a year old, and one young bullock, and two rams: they shall be a burnt-offering unto Jehovah, with their meal-offering, and their drink-offerings, even an offering made by fire, of a sweet savor unto Jehovah. 23:19And ye shall offer one he-goat for a sin-offering, and two he-lambs a year old for a sacrifice of peace-offerings. 23:20And the priest shall wave them with the bread of the first-fruits for a wave-offering before Jehovah, with the two lambs: they shall be holy to Jehovah for the priest. 23:21And ye shall make proclamation on the selfsame day; there shall be a holy convocation unto you; ye shall do no servile work: it is a statute for ever in all your dwellings throughout your generations.
23:22And when ye reap the harvest of your land, thou shalt not wholly reap the corners of thy field, neither shalt thou gather the gleaning of thy harvest: thou shalt leave them for the poor, and for the sojourner: I am Jehovah your God.
Metaphysically Interpreting Leviticus 23:23-25
23:23And Jehovah spake unto Moses, saying, 23:24Speak unto the children of Israel, saying, In the seventh month, on the first day of the month, shall be a solemn rest unto you, a memorial of blowing of trumpets, a holy convocation. 23:25Ye shall do no servile work; and ye shall offer an offering made by fire unto Jehovah.
Metaphysically Interpreting Leviticus 23:26-32
23:26And Jehovah spake unto Moses, saying, 23:27Howbeit on the tenth day of this seventh month is the day of atonement: it shall be a holy convocation unto you, and ye shall afflict your souls; and ye shall offer an offering made by fire unto Jehovah. 23:28And ye shall do no manner of work in that same day; for it is a day of atonement, to make atonement for you before Jehovah your God. 23:29For whatsoever soul it be that shall not be afflicted in that same day; he shall be cut off from his people. 23:30And whatsoever soul it be that doeth any manner of work in that same day, that soul will I destroy from among his people. 23:31Ye shall do no manner of work: it is a statute for ever throughout your generations in all your dwellings. 23:32It shall be unto you a sabbath of solemn rest, and ye shall afflict your souls: in the ninth day of the month at even, from even unto even, shall ye keep your sabbath.
Metaphysically Interpreting Leviticus 23:33-44
23:33And Jehovah spake unto Moses, saying, 23:34Speak unto the children of Israel, saying, On the fifteenth day of this seventh month is the feast of tabernacles for seven days unto Jehovah. 23:35On the first day shall be a holy convocation: ye shall do no servile work. 23:36Seven days ye shall offer an offering made by fire unto Jehovah: on the eighth day shall be a holy convocation unto you; and ye shall offer an offering made by fire unto Jehovah: it is a solemn assembly; ye shall do no servile work.
23:37These are the set feasts of Jehovah, which ye shall proclaim to be holy convocations, to offer an offering made by fire unto Jehovah, a burnt-offering, and a meal-offering, a sacrifice, and drink-offerings, each on its own day; 23:38besides the sabbaths of Jehovah, and besides your gifts, and besides all your vows, and besides all your freewill-offerings, which ye give unto Jehovah.
23:39Howbeit on the fifteenth day of the seventh month, when ye have gathered in the fruits of the land, ye shall keep the feast of Jehovah seven days: on the first day shall be a solemn rest, and on the eighth day shall be a solemn rest. 23:40And ye shall take you on the first day the fruit of goodly trees, branches of palm-trees, and boughs of thick trees, and willows of the brook; and ye shall rejoice before Jehovah your God seven days. 23:41And ye shall keep it a feast unto Jehovah seven days in the year: it is a statute for ever throughout your generations; ye shall keep it in the seventh month. 23:42Ye shall dwell in booths seven days; all that are home-born in Israel shall dwell in booths; 23:43that your generations may know that I made the children of Israel to dwell in booths, when I brought them out of the land of Egypt: I am Jehovah your God.
23:44And Moses declared unto the children of Israel the set feasts of Jehovah.
May 8, 1921: Leviticus 23:39-43
What is the central idea in this lesson? The central idea is that after man has worked, either mentally or physically, there should be a season of rest. During this time he should realize that what he has accomplished is part of the great universal plan; then there will be satisfaction and rejoicing.
What is the metaphysical meaning of living in booths? Booths represent temporary abiding places, as contrasted with permanent houses, or places of abode. When man comes out of Egypt (mental bondage), into the light of freedom, he should keep green in memory, by thought and act, the idea of liberty. The tendency of youth to camp in the woods is a natural recurrence of this innate desire for freedom from the restraints of fixed thoughts.
February 3, 1946: Leviticus 23:39-44
Does joy or gladness have a rightful place in the consciousness of the one who is devoted to the divine law? Yes. The “joy of the Lord” or the sense of well-being that comes to the one who keeps the divine law is as essential a part of the consciousness of the Christ as is exaltation, awe, or reverence.
Are set times for rejoicing advisable, or is it better to develop a habit of joyousness and be consistently cheerful? The latter practice is the better, for in time joy and gladness thus become part of our consciousness.
In our communion with nature is faith of practical benefit to us? The habit of seeing God in nature and of having faith in God's unfailing power to express the good is an invaluable asset to us. The uplift of spirit that comes to us when we commune with nature harmonizes with and increases the physical benefit that we receive at such times.
When does joy contribute nothing of value to life? When it is found in materiality or sensuality without thought of God. To find joy in such things is to fail in learning to live.
Of what state of mind and body is joy a natural expression? Of a sane mind in a sound body.
What is the metaphysical significance of feasts? They signify appropriation or the laying hold of divine potentialities. To eat is to appropriate substance, and all substance is in essence spiritual.
What is the end of all endeavors to keep the divine law? Conscious union with the Spirit of God. Whatever helps to effect this union increases “the joy of the Lord” in the citadel of the inner life.
Transcribed by Lloyd Kinder on 01-26-2014
