Making Sense out of Leviticus #2

Today’s reading: Leviticus 1-3.

Leviticus is really just an continuation of Exodus. It is addressed to Moses and contains  more material attributed to God as the speaker than any other book in the Bible.  It contains the guidelines for a relationship with God in matters of worship, celebrations and holy living. What can be seen, is the over arching desire of God to have relationship with His people. He chose to live among them, dialogue with them, provide for them, protect them and talk with them. He was giving them revelation that would later unfold as the work of His Begotten Son, Jesus. So everything has meaning, then more meaning, and then more meaning beyond that. 

So as you read, allow the Holy Spirit to unfold matters for you. These posts will not attempt to do it all for anyone. These are just encouragements and ways of thinking that might help in “seeing” the book in a fresh way. 

Remember as you read that God our Father is not trying to produce a “How-to” book at all. You will not find little goodies to apply to your life. If you do, then it is a special unfolding just for you. This book is tough on Americans, where the church is obsessed with application. This book is about watching the thought patterns of Almighty God. He is sharing Himself with us. So the call is not to apply but to listen and receive. Much will seem foreign, yet all is symbolic of what we have been given in Jesus our Lord. He has accomplished and completed each one of these sacrificial expressions. 

You might want to also read Isaiah 53 where most (I believe all) of the sacrifices are mentioned as the work of the Suffering Servant, Jesus Christ. This passage is good to have that in your mind as you move through the descriptions here in Leviticus. 

Leviticus 1 is concerned with the Burnt Offering. It had many expressions, some personal and some corporate. The lamb that was on the altar every morning and evening is a Burnt offering, always covering the corporate body of Israelites. The one described here is one brought by an individual. 

All requirements of offerings are based on a sliding scale. The rich provide bulls, the very poor provide birds, etc... The Lord never requires of us what He has not already given to us. It is a good principle to remember. 

The Burnt Offering is the only one that was completely burned up -- all offered -- all dedicated -- all burned. There seems to have been an expiatory nature assumed - that of covering, provision, protection and identity with God. It was an offering of dedication - Romans 12:1 “...offer your bodies as a living sacrifice...” echoes this offering. “Jesus gave it all, All to Him I owe.”

Chapter 2 concerns itself with the Grain Offering. Part of it was burned on the altar with oil and frankincense, and the remainder given to the priest. Again, the understanding arises of God being our total provision. 

No yeast or honey was allowed, but it was always to be offered with salt. The Covenant of Salt to the Levites is explained in Numbers 18:19. We are deeply involved in this Covenant in Jesus Christ. He provides for His own. 

Chapter 3 is about the Fellowship Offering. Our Father, from the beginning, desired and made a way for fellowship with God and man to exist and to be deeply involved in one another’s lives. Part of this offering was burned, the remainder given to the offering priest to enjoy with his family and friends. As we read with openness these OT scriptures, we find the Lord loves to have celebrations with His people. He provides for them and loves to participate in them. Fellowship, Fellowship, Fellowship!

I pray this opens an old dry passage just a bit - to see that it is certainly not dry and not old either, but alive and worth every moment in exposure. 

Tomorrow’s reading: Leviticus 4 & 5.