Making Sense out of Leviticus #12

Today's reading: Leviticus 22-23.

Chapter 22 can seem very strange and foreign to us, but if we take it as a whole, there are some points to receive. The first part of it is a continuation of the instructions in chapter 21. It is addressing the actions and attitudes the priests (and some other people as well) have toward the required and free will offerings of the sacrifices. The main point is that what the LORD requires is perfection in an offering, and nothing "unclean" or deformed in any way could be the proper sacrifice. All of this had to do with the Old Covenant's emphasis on ceremonial cleanliness and perfection as defined earlier by the regulations for offerers and sacrifices.

Jesus is and was the perfect sacrifice in every way. He became all that would ever be needed in reference to every sacrifice, burnt, grain, fellowship, sin or trespass. He was the perfect lamb, slain for all the needs of man and the earth itself. These regulations in Leviticus lay the foundation "shadows" of understanding for us.

The second part of the chapter concerns itself with what was unacceptable in the way of sacrifices. The point is the same - foundation stones for what is now our redeemer. He was perfect in every way.

In the Old Covenant, man was responsible to interact with God by bringing the sacrifices for the offerings. His faith was in the bringing and in the obedience. In the New Covenant, God Himself has become through Jesus our Lord, the perfect, forever sacrifice. So our faith's action is to receive that and trust Him for all He is to become in us. The Old was concerned with man's bringing. The New is concerned with acceptance of what God has brought, given and released. Our obedience is the fruit of our faith. Paul in Romans refers to it as "the obedience of faith."

Chapter 23 is the list of all the celebrations the Lord required of the Israelites during the year. Each year's time was marked by their rejoicing in the "feasts" of the LORD in remembering all He is and what He has done. There are eight feasts listed: The Sabbath, The Passover, The Feast of Unleavened Bread, The Feast of the First Fruits, The Feast of Pentecost, The Feast of Trumpets, The Day of Atonement and the Feast of Tabernacles.  Each of these are distinctive pictures of the completed work of our Lord Jesus Christ, and are worth the time to study in depth. Many do not count the Sabbath as one, since it was weekly, not just yearly. However, in this chapter the Sabbath is the first one listed. In Biblical typology the number seven (7) is completeness/perfection and the number eight (8) is abundance. Please notice as you read through this chapter how many times both numbers are used. The last feast of the year was celebrated for 8 days, the 8th day being the "high" or most important day of the feast. "On the last and greatest day of the festival, Jesus stood and said in a loud voice, 'Let anyone who is thirsty come to me and drink. Whoever believes in me, as Scripture has said, rivers of living water will flow from within them.'" John 7:37-38 NIV

All of these are pictures of the completed and abundant work of Jesus Christ for us and given to us. Everything the Father did of old for us is intended to "...teach us, so that through the endurance taught in the Scriptures and the encouragement they provide we might have hope." Romans 15:4 NIV

The provision of our God is abundant and wonderful in every way!

Tomorrow's reading: Leviticus 24-25.


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