In today’s video we’re going to, survey and briefly summarize the Book of Leviticus.
Then afterwards, as always, I’ll share some helpful resources, so stick around until the end.
Moses was the author of the Book of Leviticus.
As for the date of writing, the Book of Leviticus was written between 1440 and 1400 B.C.
As for the purpose of writing: Because the Israelites had been held captive in Egypt
for 400 years, the concept of God had been distorted by the polytheistic, pagan Egyptians.
The purpose of Leviticus is to provide instruction and laws to guide a sinful, yet redeemed people
in their relationship with a holy God.
There is an emphasis in Leviticus on the need for personal holiness in response to a holy
God.
Sin must be atoned for through the offering of proper sacrifices (chapters 8-10).
Other topics covered in the book are diets (clean and unclean foods), childbirth, and
diseases which are carefully regulated (chapters 11-15).
Chapter 16 describes the Day of Atonement when an annual sacrifice is made for the cumulative
sin of the people.
Furthermore, the people of God are to be circumspect in their personal, moral, and social living,
in contrast to the then-current practices of the heathen roundabout them (chapters 17-22).
Some Key Verses:
Leviticus 1:4, "He is to lay his hand on the head of the burnt offering, and it will be
accepted on his behalf to make atonement for him."
Leviticus 17:11, "For the life of a creature is in the blood, and I have given it to you
to make atonement for yourselves on the altar; it is the blood that makes atonement for one’s
life."
Leviticus 19:18, "'Do not seek revenge or bear a grudge against one of your people,
but love your neighbor as yourself.
I am the LORD."
As for a brief summary, chapters 1–7 outline the offerings required of both the laity and
the priesthood.
Chapters 8–10 describe the consecration of Aaron and his sons to the priesthood.
Chapters 11–16 are the prescriptions for various types of uncleanness.
The final 10 chapters are God’s 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.
The primary theme of Leviticus is holiness.
God’s demand for holiness in His people is based on His own holy nature.
A corresponding theme is that of atonement.
Holiness must be maintained before God, and holiness can only be attained through a proper
atonement.
As for foreshadowings, much of the ritualistic practices of worship picture in many ways
the person and work of our Savior, the Lord Jesus Christ.
Hebrews 10 tells us that the Mosaic Law is “only a shadow of the good things that are
coming” by which is meant that the daily sacrifices offered by the priests for the
sin of the people were a representation of the ultimate Sacrifice—Jesus Christ, whose
sacrifice would be once for all time for those who would believe in Him.
The holiness imparted temporarily by the Law would one day be replaced by the absolute
attainment of holiness when Christians exchanged their sin for the righteousness of Christ
(2 Corinthians 5:21).
As for practical application, god takes His holiness very seriously, and so should we.
The trend in the postmodern church is to create God in our own image, giving Him the 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” are foreign
concepts to many 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.
We dare not be flippant in our attitudes toward sin or God’s loathing of it, nor should
we make light of it in any way.
Praise the Lord that because of Jesus’ death on our behalf, we no longer have to offer
animal sacrifices.
Leviticus is all about substitution.
The death of the animals was a substitute penalty for those who have sinned.
In the same way, but infinitely better, the sacrifice of Jesus on the cross was the substitute
for our sins.
Now we can stand before a God of utter holiness without fear because He sees in us the righteousness
of Christ.
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