Bible in a Year: Leviticus

Monday - Leviticus 1-7

Last week we talked about how most Christians are mistaken in their understanding that the Book of Exodus covers the 40 year journey of the Hebrews through the desert from Egypt to Israel. In truth, Exodus only covers about a year’s time period. The last part of the book talks about building the tabernacle. Leviticus is a continuation of that train of thought. When most people think of Leviticus, they think it’s a book telling the priests what to do. But it’s really not. It’s all about what the laity should do to worship God. Leviticus tells the laity what offering to bring, when to bring it and exactly what the priest will do. One important note, in almost all of Leviticus, it is God that is speaking directly to the people.

Tuesday - Leviticus 8-10

These chapters talk about the consecration of the priests. The congregation witnessed the consecration and it was symbolic in many ways. God did the consecrating, the priests were responsible for anointing and washing themselves, but God cleansed them through this process of confession. This section deals directly with sin and the men whose job it was to remain sinless. In order to offer sacrifices, the priest has to first be cleansed of their sins. This had to happen every time they entered into God’s house. It’s hard to teach God’s Word when your preoccupied with sin. Chapter 10 talks about the consequences of sin through Aaron’s sons. They frivolously presented their own sacrifice which led to their death. This is another reminder of the danger of Cain’s sacrifice. When we think we can achieve salvation through our own power or knowledge, that is when we truly turn away from God.

Wednesday - Leviticus 11-15

“We are to be imitators of Jesus.” That’s something we quite often say. That is the same thought behind the purity laws found in Leviticus. If God regulates the kinds of sacrifices (cattle, sheep, goats, deer, etc.) then men should be imitators of God in what they eat. In the New Testament we find where the dietary laws are done away with and it is our actions and words that matter, not what goes into our bodies. In understanding the purity laws, keep a couple of things in mind. Many diseases are caused by contact with bodily fluids or touch and there are two different kinds of being “unclean”. The first is a moral transgression. (You do something wrong). The second is ritual defilement. You didn’t do something wrong, but may be a health risk.

Thursday - Leviticus 16

Chapter 16 is the most important chapter in Leviticus. It talks about the annual “Day of Atonement.” In the ritual, one lamb was sacrificed. This lamb took away the sins of the people. The other lamb, the “scapegoat” was released into the desert and bore the guilt of the people. The lamb that was slain represented the judgement of sin that resulted in death. The scapegoat symbolized the removal of the judgement. This chapter illustrates the holiness of God and the sinfulness of man. Christians practice a form of the rituals of the Day of Atonement during Lent when we give something up in order to honor God. It’s important to note that nothing a person does forgives sin. That is God alone. Jesus was our atoning sacrifice.

Friday - Leviticus 17-27

Starting in this chapter, we see a major shift from ceremonial holiness (the right foods, the proper dress, the pleasing sacrifices, etc.) to personal morality. In the preceding chapters, most of the discussion has been about corporate sins. Sins that are committed as a nation. Now the focus becomes personal. There is a lot of discussion about how to keep pure in an impure world. The basic foundation of any successful society is the sanctity of marriage. In Chapter 23 we see another shift in focus, this time to the importance of the yearly Feasts. The Feasts are very important in Hebrew history and something that Jesus observed as well. Each Feast has spiritual meaning and are a time of corporate worship. We talked about the seven feasts last year and what they mean to the Hebrews. Four of the seven Feasts occur in the spring of the year.

They are:

* "Passover",

* "Unleavened Bread",

* "First Fruits", and

* “Shavuot” (also known as “Pentecost”).

These four Spring Feasts are summed up in only 19 verses of Scripture. They are Leviticus 23:4–22.

The three final feasts, in the fall of the year. They are:

* Rush Hashanah

* Yom Kippur (Also known as the “Day of Atonement”)

* Sukkot (also known as “Tabernacles”)

Year of Jubilee

The Israelites were to observe the year of jubilee every fiftieth year, the year following seven seven-year periods. On the Day of Atonement of that year a priest was to blow the ram’s horn (shophar) to announce the beginning of the jubilee year. The use of the ram’s horn was significant. With this horn God announced His descent on Mt. Sinai, called Israel to be His people, received them into His covenant, united them to Himself, and began to bless them. The year began on the Day of Atonement “. . . to show that it was only with the full forgiveness of sins that the blessed liberty of the children of God could possibly commence.” No sowing or reaping was to take place, as during the sabbatical years. God promised to provide for His people as they rested in response to His gracious promise.