There are some books of the Bible that are overlooked. perhaps, they are, in fact, difficult to understand in our context. Or, as some reviewers have complained, “There’s too much blood in the book.” Someone might even dare to utter out loud what some secretly whisper: “My God, Leviticus is a bit boring, don’t you think?” On the subject of seemingly obscure biblical texts, I always remember how a friend put it ironically: that they could get us into trouble when you get to heaven and Habakkuk asks him, “Well, what did you think of my book?” As neglected as the book of Habakkuk may be, there is another book in the Bible that takes the all-time prize for neglected reading: the book that the Hebrews named for its words that repeat throughout its contents, “And God called.”
We call this third book of the Bible, composed by Moses upon receiving the Word of God, “Leviticus”. Leviticus as the name of the book comes from the Latin meaning the book of Levites. Now, there is some justification for naming Moses’ third entry in the Pentateuch like that. Leviticus is unquestionably replete with the origin and responsibilities of the Levitical line and its role in the life of Israel. However, the book of Leviticus is much more than simply a record of Aaron’s priestly line. hrase “And God called Moses to tell Israel” may be a long title but it serves as the division of this remarkable book of the Bible.
So why should we read Leviticus? Although I could name a few more, let me give you three main reasons why every believer should become familiar with God’s Word in Leviticus.
Why read Leviticus? Reason #1: Leviticus is the Word of God
Reason number one why every believer should read Leviticus: It is the Word of God, which would be enough, but it is also the Word of God for us. Leviticus teaches us that God is the initiator with his people and not the other way around. With an Exodus behind them and the Promised Land ahead, the children of Israel needed to learn about life with God; that is, to live as a people under the direct government of God.
We have mentioned the recurring phrase that defines this book. The Hebrew, Vayikra, which means “and called” teaches us much about the message of Leviticus. Occurring 56 times in 27 chapters, the recurring use of “And God called” undoubtedly shows us the truth that God has a message for us. He is looking for us. He wants us to know truth from error, so that we can live for God, not for ourselves, or be slaves to the lower instincts of unbridled impulses. Israel would enter the Promised Land and there, among the wayward tribes of Canaan, they would witness inhumanity born of self-saturated wickedness.
The tribes of Canaan were not National Geographic images of people pursuing their own quiet lives away from God. Because there is no such thing. The idea of a serene utopia seemingly made possible by God’s freedom, living innocent lives to the soundtrack of John Lennon’s “Imagine” is not just a pagan concept but a decidedly wrong reading of history. The tribes of the peoples of Canaan had passed from the atheism of their ancestors to a true culture of death. Life without God always hurts and enslaves the most vulnerable in society. Thus, Israel would witness a distorted idea of worship that included, among other unimaginable atrocities, the sacrifice of children to the Devil’s fiery and furious deity, the god Moloch. Women were recruited for the most horrific and public abuse in the name of religion. The sins of the Canaanites were so reprehensible that their presence had literally polluted the ground they walked on.
The People of God should (and should) live for the glory of God. “Holiness to the Lord,” the theme of Leviticus, is not a legalistic mantra uttered among a repressive religious society as in “The Handmaid’s Tale,” but rather a divinely revealed and therefore divinely achieved transformative manner. of life that recognizes human sin, offers a blood sacrifice (not “his” blood, but God’s, through the sacrifice of animals that would one day become the sacrifice of the Son of God for sin); and justice is not ours; leading lives of worship, purity, and honor.
The book of Leviticus was not invented by Moses. The book of Leviticus is God’s call to Moses to instruct his people on how to relate to him and to each other. So ultimately we need to read Leviticus because it is the Word of the Lord to us. Jesus stated that he was taught throughout all the books of Moses, which includes Leviticus. As we read Leviticus, we are reading God’s Word as God’s plan began to unfold in its ancient beginnings.
At this very moment, God is calling you. You are listening?
Why read Leviticus? Reason #2: Leviticus teaches the gospel of Jesus Christ
Reason number two why every believer should read Leviticus: Leviticus introduces fundamental theological truths that are repeated, expanded, and clarified throughout the rest of the Bible. The book of Leviticus could be divided into three parts: God calls his people to holiness and worship by introducing five sacrifices; God calls his people to holiness by introducing the requirement of a mediator: the office of priest; and God calls his people to holiness in daily life, with the world around them and with each other. Throughout the 27 chapters of Leviticus in these three main sections, we see the introduction of biblical themes that become more and more definite and perfectly clear, as time passes and the Scripture is completed.
sin and holiness
The main theme in the book of Leviticus is the matter of holiness to the Lord. Holiness to the Lord must be expressed in our relationship with God, by addressing sin and receiving God’s atonement that leads to gratitude and worship. Holiness comes to us in our relationship with God through mediation: the priesthood. Strict regulations are given regarding the manner in which the five offerings (or “groups” of offerings, because other types of offerings are named but fall into one of these five main offerings) are presented: The burnt offering (Leviticus 1) The meat offering (Leviticus 2) The Peace Offering (Leviticus 3) The Sin Offering (Leviticus 4) The Trespass Offering (Leviticus 5) The offerings represent the sinfulness of humanity, the grace of God in providing a way of salvation, and precisely how to receive God’s salvation, and then live with God, with our neighbor and with ourselves.
Judgment and Atonement
Leviticus in context with the comprehensive unfolding of God’s Plan, from Paradise Lost to Paradise Regained, calls us to a vital lesson on how to read the Scriptures. I am not referring to how to pronounce difficult words or how to use the art and science of elocution in the public reading of the Scriptures. As important as that is for public worship, I want to say that we need to read Scriptur e through the interpretive lens that God provides us. The New Testament quotes repeatedly from Leviticus; and Jesus more than anyone. The old phrase, “The Old Testament is the hidden New Testament and the New Testament is the revealed Old Testament” is certainly appropriate for reading Leviticus.
Why read Leviticus? Reason #3: Leviticus instructs us in Christ for an abundant life
Jesus said that he did not come to abolish the law but to fulfill it. In fact, Jesus Christ has fulfilled all of these laws about sacrifice, holiness, and, through the power of the Holy Ghost, how to live lives pleasing to God and encouraging one another. It is important to note that none of the laws were abolished. The laws were fulfilled. Theologians sometimes speak of three categories of biblical laws: (1) there are theocratic laws that governed Israel when the new nation was a theocracy (ie, Almighty. God ruling directly); (2) there are ceremonial laws that govern the priesthood; and (3) there are moral laws, the Decalogue or Ten Commandments. I have also used these categories to help others understand biblical law. However, it is crucial to allow Scripture to speak without the imposition of categories. While subjective truth is just as valid as objective truth, in interpreting the texts we must ask ourselves: in the unfolding history of God’s plan of salvation, did God ever abrogate his commandments? dream that led him to see that all foods are fit to eat if the provision of God’s grace is recognized. However, is this in conflict with Jesus’ proclamation that He did not come to abolish the Law but to fulfill it? What we are left with is really this: all of God’s laws continue, with severe punishments. The question is this, will you pay for the violations of sins or will someone else? Will you fulfill the obligations of the law or will someone else? These laws are all fulfilled by Jesus and that he is our holiness —our righteousness that we need before a holy God—; and he is our sacrifice, his punishment for our sins. The cross of our Lord Jesus Christ is the full expression of the entire book of Leviticus. The sins of the world were placed on the Lamb of God who offered himself as a sacrifice for our sins. His perfect life then becomes ours when we trust him.
Finally, with hearts freed from the chains of original sin and minds renewed by the power of the Holy Spirit, we can live lives of joy and freedom.
Leviticus is truly one of the most exciting books in the Bible.
Leviticus is God’s Holy Word that teaches us to seek holiness as unto the Lord, setting ourselves and our communities apart from practices that diminish humanity around us—practices born of a denial of God’s rightful rule (Romans 1). Furthermore, Leviticus is the Word of God that lays the foundation for the gospel of Jesus Christ. 1. We are saved by the grace of God, not by our works. 2. We are all sinners and fall short of the glory of God. 3. There is no hope for us apart from God’s plan of salvation. 4. That plan centers, not on your son’s sacrifice, but on God the Father sacrificing his Son. Because God himself assumes the sacrifice for our sins. Furthermore, we need a Mediator, an order of priests so consecrated to God that only they approach Almighty God on our behalf.
Jesus Christ is that high priest typified in the Old Testament priesthood. He is our justice. All that the Law of God requires, Christ Jesus possesses. To repent and receive Jesus Christ is to receive forgiveness of sins through the substitutionary atonement of the Lamb of God,…