This week we continue with our fourth installment in our series featuring excerpts from the Journals of Jim Elliot. Today we share his entries from April 22-25, 1948. Next week we will conclude our series.
APRIL 22 Leviticus 22 “I am Jehovah” is repeated nine times in this chapter. It makes a difference who says a command whether or not it should be obeyed. Lord, give me to fear Thee for Thy great Name’s sake. Verse 23 states that a perfect offering not only has nothing lacking in all its parts, but there is nothing superfluous, either. Christ was this in a moral sense.
APRIL 24 Leviticus 23 I’ve been thinking of the priests a little this morning. Somehow I find it difficult to understand the picture the Lord has here laid out. Father, Jesus promised Thy Holy Spirit would lead me into all truth. May He show me the truth of Leviticus. I want to get it from Thee for myself. The Israelite gave offerings to the priest, not as a gift to the priest but as if he were actually giving to God. Much of it was used for the priest’s own sustenance, though. So in my giving should be this attitude, not as giving to men for their pay in the field, but as giving directly to the Lord. Jehovah accepted or rejected a gift, not the priest. This made Aaron’s family live by faith-since they could keep no meat after the second day.
APRIL 25 Leviticus 24 I’m impressed with the recurrence of the word pure—pure olive oil, pure candlestick, pure table, pure frankincense. The oil and incense are God’s supply; the table and candlestick (though also from Him) I am responsible for. These are suggestive of the witness and fellowship. Lord, keep mine pure!
**Excerpt taken from Journals of Jim Elliot, pg 52.