Leviticus

The SoureView insights section tells us Leviticus was written to the Israelites'. I also believe Leviticus was written to the Israelites' because the whole book is full of rules that show them how to live with God, one another and as a society as they build a nation. In the first chapter God tells Moses to give these instructions “…to the people of Israel.”(Leviticus 1:2) He says the same thing again throughout the book that the laws and contents are for “…the people of Israel.”(Leviticus 4:2)

Internally within Leviticus there is outstanding evidence that Moses is the author. One example is the number of times it tells us the “Lord said to Moses.”(Leviticus 4:1, 5:14)  Nelson’s complete book of Bible maps and charts says God imparted the laws directly to Moses “Fifty-six times in the twenty-seven  chapters…”

I believe the main theme of Leviticus is Gods holiness and how we, his chosen people, can be made holy and in remain in communion with Him. “You must be holy because I, the Lord, am holy. I have set you apart from all other people to be my very own.”(Leviticus 20:26) Gods’ heart in building the people of Israel up in His holiness is so they will be an example of holiness before all people. (Leviticus 10:3)

“It has been said it took God only one night to get Israel out of Egypt, but it took forty years to get Egypt out of Israel.”(Nelson’s complete book of Bible maps and charts) The Israelites' have been slaves for four hundred years and God see there need to learn the basics of governing, and living as a nation. God is setting a new standard of living for them when He tells them “…do not act like the people of Egypt, where you used to live, or the people of Canaan, where I am taking you. (Leviticus 18:3) There problem is that God has called them to be priest, but they are far from this. God is going to teach them how this calling can become a reality. Again God tells them to “…keep the decrees and regulations…” and to “…not live according to the customs of the people I am driving out before you.”(Leviticus 20:22) These rules and standards are set out from the Lord to the Israelites because God is going to entrusts them with a great land and wants them to be prepared with the correct world view, identity and rules before they take the promise land.

This book shows the merciful character of God and the holy nature of God. An illustration of God merciful character is shown in the story of Aaron and his sons in Leviticus ten. The chapter starts out with two of Aarons sons disobeying the Lord, resulting in their death.(Leviticus 10:1-2) Then Aaron's other two sons were told to make a piece offering to the Lord for their deceased brothers sin, and they too, disobeyed.(Leviticus 10:12-18) But instead of also killing them, the Lord (who perfectly laid out law and rules) is full of compassion and understanding. He spares Aaron's sons’ lives and shows He is full of mercy. God’s holiness is a huge theme and God himself says twice: “Be holy because I… am holy.”(Leviticus 19:2, 20:26)

In Leviticus there is a powerful call to be holy and sanctified people. This reveals a need for a perfect atonement for our sins to come: Jesus! In Leviticus God requires animal sacrifices be made to provide a covering of sin.(Leviticus 4:35, 4:2) The Lord tells the Israelites' that to atone for their sins they must put their hand on the animals head and he will “…accept its death in your place to purify you, making you right with him.”(Leviticus 1:4) This shows that blood must be shed for atonement of our sins and the New Testament says “…blood confirms the covenant God has made with you.”(Hebrews 9:20)  

Leviticus speaks deeply to my heart the reality of Gods desire to be so near to me. He dosent want anything to come between us and He will always have a plan for me to stay in right, intimate fellowship with Him. In Leviticus it says we will be purified of our sins, making us “…right with the Lord.”(Leviticus 5:13) I feel like I have fresh insight into this idea that I can be holy and right with the Lord! How amazing! What other god invites me to be like him in holiness? ONLY JESUS! I think I will be meditating on this idea of holiness that Leviticus communicates for the rest of my life.

Leviticus has a powerful message of Gods desire to set us completely free in an “…open field to fly away.”(Leviticus 14:7) This message of ultimate freedom unto intimacy with Jesus would be transforming news to oppressed women living in bondage. My favorite illustration of this is when God tells Moses how to perform a purification ceremony for people who have been healed of skin disease.(Numbers 14:1-7) In the ceremony two live birds are brought to the priest who then slaughters one bird over a clay pot of fresh water and then sprinkles the fresh water and blood mixture over the healed person. Once the person is purified the priest …”will release the live bird in the open field to fly away.”(Numbers 14:7) This is just such a powerful imagery of God not just healing us but going above that to completely set us free to fly!