Old Testament – Confident.Faith

Numbers 3–4

The Duties of the Levites; the Ransom of the Levites; Assignments for the Tent

Today we commemorate Philemon and Onesimus. Onesimus was a slave, owned by Philemon, who ran away from his master. Somehow, Onesimus came into contact with Paul while Paul was in prison. At the urging of Paul, and with an accompanying letter, Onesimus returned to his master. In his letter, Paul urged Philemon to receive Onesimus as a beloved brother, instead of as a runaway slave, as one might expect; however, Paul also, notably, did not command or ask Philemon to free Onesimus.

Today we commemorate Valentine, Martyr. Executed under Emperor Claudius on account of his refusal to renounce the Christian faith, Valentine has long been remembered in the Western Church as an example for all Christians. Today, Valentine’s Day continues to celebrate Valentine, and the tradition of exchanging written expressions of love derives from a note with words of encouragement that Valentine wrote for one of the children of his jailer. Even the irregularity of the shape of the piece of paper on which Valentine wrote his note has carried forward, after a fashion, into modern commemorations on Valentine’s Day.

Leviticus 27 — Numbers 2

Laws for Vows; Enrollment of Israel; Camp Arrangement of Israel

Leviticus 24–26

Law for Blasphemy; Lex Talionis; Laws for Servants and Slaves; Blessings and Curses

Leviticus 21–23

Laws for Priests; Laws for Festivals