Day 46

V From the Exodus to the Crossing into Canaan - 1462-1422 B.C. ~ cont.

(1462 - 982 480 years of 1 Kings 6:1)

B. Time spent at Sinai (sometimes called Horeb) ~ cont.

21. Law about sacrifice - Day of Atonement - Leviticus 16:1-34

22. Necessity of blood sacrifice - Leviticus 17:1-16

23. Various offerings described - Sacrifice system and priest's duties - Leviticus 7:37-38

a. Burnt offering - Leviticus 1:1-17; 6:8-13

And he shall pluck away his crop with his feathers, and cast it beside the altar on the east part, by the place of the ashes:  (Leviticus 1:16)

I know, this appears an odd verse.  :-D {laugh}  We raise chickens, meat and egg layers.  The comment about plucking out the crop triggered my inquisitiveness.

When we butcher, we remove the crop, but skin the chickens (much easier) than the process of scalding, plucking, etc. So what is a crop and what is it for?

crop - H4760 - Apparently feminine passive causative participle of H7200; something conspicuous, that is, the craw of a bird (from its prominence).

Only used once in scripture.  Hmmm...dictionary.com

Also called craw, Zoology

1. a pouch in the esophagus of many birds, in which food is held for later digestion or for regurgitation to nestlings.
2. a chamber or pouch in the forgut of arthropods and annelids for holding and partly crushing food.

I was pondering upon the function of the crop or craw and how applicable that function is for a Christian.  To take in the nourishment of the Word.  While we may not be able to digest it all at once, it should be there for future edification, either for ourselves or for others (ex: parents to children).  Daily.  Just as we feed our physical bodies day by day, so too, we must nourish our spiritual bodies.

Father exhorts us to study...which made me think of this verse::

2Ti 2:15  Study to shew thyself approved unto God, a workman that needeth not to be ashamed, rightly dividing the word of truth.

study - G4704 - From G4710; to use speed, that is, to make effort, be prompt or earnest.

• From G4692; “speed”, that is, (by implication) despatch, eagerness, earnestness.

The word study is used only 3x in Scripture and each time it is a different word.  G4704 is used 11x in the NT.  Some intriguing translations, forward, endeavor, labor, diligence.  Here are a few which were a blessing:

Let us labor to enter into that rest, lest any man fall after the same example of unbelief.  Hebrews 4:11

Wherefore the rather, brethren, give diligence to make your calling and election sure: for if ye do these things, ye shall never fall:  (2 Peter 1:10)

The other example in the NT of study is:

1Th 4:11  And that ye study to be quiet, and to do your own business, and to work with your own hands, as we commanded you;

G5389 - Middle voice from a compound of G5384 and G5092; to be fond of honor, that is, emulous (eager or earnest to do something.

Used only 3x - I liked this one:

Yea, so have I strived to preach the gospel, not where Christ was named, lest I should build  upon another man's foundation:  (Romans15:20)

But as it is written, To whom he was not spoken of, they shall see: and they that have not heard shall understand.  (Romans 15:21)

We can not give that which we have not partaken, be encouraged dearly beloved saints of the Most High God to avail yourselves of the opportunity to fill your 'crop' full of the Word of God.  Ruminate upon it, study it, ingest it continually throughout the day that you may be more and more sanctified by HIS word, but also, that you will be able to 'regurgitate' it to others who are in need of a pleasant word of comfort.