Leviticus

Leviticus


What do you see in this book that tells you about the original reader? The wash basins had just been filled with water; curtains had just been hung in the courtyard; "So at last Moses finished the work. Then the cloud covered the Tabernacle . . ." Exodus 40: 30-34. The Israelites are now at the foot of Mt. Sinai and God called Moses up on the mountain to receive the law. SourceView words it very well; "It was a vital time to train them to listen, obey, and to learn to function as a people without the influences of other nations and their ways . . . God gave these instruction so they could build their lives and their nation on strong foundations.

What do you see in this book that tells you about the author? Like Genesis and Exodus, the authorship has always been believed to be Moses written around 1440 BC. "Then the Lord said to Moses;" resounds throughout the entire book so it makes total sense that with Moses’ credentials of literacy and knowledge, this book would naturally follow Genesis and Exodus.

Main themes, repeated ideas, and main idea: The main themes were, I believe, the laws God laid down for all the Israelites would need to know in order to be holy "because I, the Lord your God is holy." This with accompanying promises; "If you follow my decrees and are careful to obey my commands... the land will yield its crops. . . your will live in peace . . . all your enemies will fall beneath your sword. Leviticus 26: 3-6. Repeated ideas are obedience to the laws just as they were given with specific sacrifices given, banishment or even death ordered for disobedience. For me, the main idea is the heart-rending dream of God; "I will live among you, and I will not despise you. I will walk among you [Garden of Eden before the fall?]; I will be your God, and you will be my people . . . I broke the yoke of slavery from your neck so you can walk with your heads held high."

What is the primary reason this book was written? I believe this book was written to give Israel an identity that had long been lost after 400+ years of slavery. To make her into a nation in which "all other nations will be blessed." The laws and ordinances and Tabernacle offerings and sacrifices were all for this end. After Aaron’s sons had offered strange fire to God and were burned to death, Moses said to Aaron, "This is what the Lord meant when he said, ‘I will display my holiness through those who come near me. I will display my glory before all the people.’" Leviticus 10:3.

What does this book show about the character and nature of God? One of the delights this book held for me that I noticed right away, was that God is a God of order! The beauty, the orderliness, the functionality, the movability, and the work ability of the Tabernacle was perfect. It was the fitting stage for Part 2, The Law. Now the offerings and sacrifices the Israelites would make had a stage, a place. The written law could be read and reflected upon. It would continually realign infringements that crept into the camp. God was safeguarding His people for the purpose of blessing them. Again, SourceView says it well in reviewing the remarks Moses makes to the people: "to purify you" Leviticus 8:24; "to make you right with God" Leviticus 9:7; "so the glory of the Lord may appear to you." Leviticus 9:5.

Personal application: It is a wonderful thing to be 65 years old. This book that was "what you got through to get to Judges," is altogether different for me as I get older but more than that, as I attend this remarkable class. The heart of God shows through more clearly as we listen to Moses with his first listeners "the following instructions to the entire community of Israel." While we are now under the Second Covenant, this First Covenant is our teacher. I feel this deeply as I read these laws of life and limb. They remind me that I am called to a Holy Nation. I was meant to "walk with my head held high." I weep for joy for the laws of God that are no longer dictated from tablets of stone, but by the power of the Spirit of God indwelling in us throughThe Final Sacrifice.

Point of Passion: God has strived with humanity a long, long time as far as earth time goes. Again, these books are showing me God’s passion to have a people. His first plan was to bless the world through one nation. Yet the very founder of that nation, Abraham, ends up being the founder of a second nation that was grafted on to the first, a nation who claims, not blood, but faith. For every passion we will ever express for the Lord, we need Abraham’s faith. Faith to sacrifice our Isaac’s on the alter of burnt offering. This book is a reminder of that. Is it ever! Salvation has come to us through much blood, and while Isaac’s blood was spared, Jesus’ blood was not. We were bought with a price. Sacrifice is with us still.

Cindy Patrick
DBS Fall Quarter 2013