Let us Begin Leviticus (Feb16)

What, if anything, comes to mind when you hear the word 'Leviticus?'  Certainly not light farmiliar reading!  This book centers itself on God's law for the priesthood, sacrifice, and feasts. Leviticus shows us, His plan for the Israelites for Holiness or being Holy.  Holy with respect to being set apart or set aside for God. 

Remember that we are to keep the Sabbath Holy?  This means to keep it set aside for God. 

Several Holy things are described as being set aside for God: various sacrifices, articles of clothing, objects and other protocols for worship, festivals, public health measures for the community, and other regulations are included in Leviticus as an expression of God's care, concern, and love for his holy servant people.

Here we read the phrase, "an aroma pleasing to the Lord."  This may point us to Christ, God's Perfect Servant, for in Ephesians 5:1-2-NIV where we are advised to "Be imitators of God, therefore, as dearly loved children and live a life of love, just as Christ loved us and gave himself up for us as a fragrant offering and sacrifice to God."  Imitating God, just like proclaiming God, is certainly a work of the Spirit and not of the flesh.

In contrast to the constant payment for ransom for life commanded by God in Exodus 30, half a sanctuary shekel; here we learn of proportionate redemption from sin, via the sin offering which is variable depending on the one committing the sin and the characteristics of the sin itself.

Christ calls us to be Christlike, a royal priesthood.  In view of that calling, we benefit from reading and discussing Leviticus.  Again, the law does not redeem us, Christ did that work completely, fully, perfectly, and eternally.  On the other hand, the law does give us a measuring device and shows us our sin and makes us aware of same.

Thoughts:

How do you set aside time, talents, treasure for the Lord?

What things point you to Christ?

What attributes of God do you consider reading these commands?

Pray for the Spirit to guide you and give you an extra measure of grace to discern God's wisdom written in the law


In Christ


David P