Before we walk through our next book in the Bible, I want to say thank you. Thank you for reading these articles as we journey through God’s word. Thank you for sharing your thoughts as I have met some of you in Area 57 or on city walks (on warmer days). I am encouraged by hearing how these have helped you make connections in the Bible! So now – we come to the Book of Leviticus.
Leviticus: [ li-vit-i-kuhs ]/ noun --- laws relating to the priests and Levites and to the forms of Jewish ceremonial observance.
The author of this book is Moses. We find more than fifty occasions where Leviticus states a similar phrase, “The LORD spoke to Moses” (Leviticus 1:1; 4:1; 6:1). The New Testament also refers to Moses as the author of passages from Leviticus (Matthew 8:4; Luke 2:22; Hebrews 8:5).
Overview: As a reminder, we enter the Book of Leviticus after the Israelites had been held captive in Egypt for 400 years, their concept of God had been distorted by the polytheistic, pagan Egyptians. The tabernacle had been built and commandments had been given to the people. They have been redeemed by God, now they are given laws to guide and protect them in a pagan world. The purpose of Leviticus is to provide instruction and laws to guide a sinful, yet redeemed people in their relationship with the holy God.
Two main themes in this text are sin and holiness, people’s sin and God’s holiness respectively. In chapters 1–7, we see the outline for offerings that are required of both the common people and the priesthood. Next, chapters 8–10 describe the consecration of Aaron and his sons to the priesthood, in order that they may minister to the people and for the people to God. We see the teaching that sin must be atoned for through the offering of proper sacrifices. In chapters 11-15, we read about God addressing different types of uncleanliness, the things that will keep people from being set apart and able to approach God. Some topics covered in these chapters are diets (clean and unclean foods to be consumed), childbirth, and diseases which are to be carefully regulated. In chapter 16, we read about the Day of Atonement when an annual sacrifice is made for the cumulative sin of the people. A key teaching is the people of God are to guard their personal, moral, and social living, in contrast to the then-current practices of the pagan world around them. These are God’s specific guidelines to His people for practical holiness. Various feasts were instituted in the people’s worship of God, convened, and practiced according to God’s laws. Blessings or curses would accompany either the keeping or neglect of God’s commandments (chapter 26). Vows to the Lord are covered in chapter 27.
SO WHAT? The overall application of this text could be stated as sanctification (a gradual growing righteousness) leading to holiness (set apart, righteous living). As we come to faith, as we are redeemed by faith through Jesus alone, we then look to the law, the commands, and the word of God in how we pursue holiness (Eph. 2:8-9; 1 John 5:1-4). As we pursue a holy life, looking to the perfect God, we will gradually grow in our right living (sanctification) as God works in us (Phil. 2:12-13). We must have this right understanding and order of thought: God alone is perfect, yet came to redeem sinners and then transform them by His grace to “be holy as He is holy” (Lev. 19:2; Matt. 5:48; 1 Peter 1:15-16) to His delight (Psalm 147:11; Zeph. 3:17).
God takes His holiness very seriously, and so should we. The trend in today’s postmodern church, and Christian, is to create God in our own image, giving attributes we would like Him to have instead of the ones His Word describes. God’s utter holiness, His transcendent splendor, and His “unapproachable light” (1 Timothy 6:16) are not to be foreign concepts to Christians. We are called to walk in the Light and to put away the darkness in our lives so that we may be pleasing in His sight. A holy God cannot tolerate blatant, unashamed sin in His people and His holiness requires Him to punish it. As we see the foreshadow of sacrifice and substitution in Leviticus, we are reminded of the substitutionary sacrifice of Jesus on behalf of sinners. The sacrifice of Jesus on the cross was the substitute for our sins which was done once for all in order that we would be made holy (Hebrews 10:10). Through faith in Jesus, we can now stand before a God of utter holiness without fear because He sees in us the righteousness of Christ. Praise God! Now in this new life of faith, may we reflect our heavenly Father’s character to the world around us as we live a life different and set apart joyfully.
Next month, we will look at the Book of Numbers – a historical look at Israel’s early days and the account of God’s faithfulness to His people, discipline in their rebellion, and delight in their obedience.
