Leviticus

If you asked many Christians why they have not read through the entire Bible the answer might be “Leviticus.”  The third book in the Bible is difficult to read through because it is mainly comprised of laws, religious offerings and sacrifices, and health instructions.  Ironically this was the first book studied by a Jewish child.[1]

​Meditation
Leviticus 17:11—For the life of a creature is in the blood, and I have appointed it to you to make atonement on the altar for your lives, since it is the lifeblood that makes atonement.
 
Did you know that Dr. Samuel H. Kellogg, Dr. Albert C. Dudley and J. Vernon McGee (all Bible experts), regarded Leviticus as the most important book of the Bible![2]  Despite the challenge of reading the 27 chapters, there are many great reasons why we should read and study it.  First and foremost, the overall theme of this book is sanctification.  The Hebrew word qodesh, which means holy, appears 87 times.  Leviticus firmly establishes the holiness of God, who sets the standard for us.  “You must not profane My holy name; I must be treated as holy among the Israelites.  I am Yahweh who sets you apart” (22:32).  “You are to be holy to Me because I, Yahweh, am holy, and I have set you apart from the nations to be Mine” (20:26).  Scott Fillmer notes, “The theological holiness code developed in Leviticus is still used today.”[3] Charles Spurgeon once taught, "If I had my choice of all the blessings I can conceive of I would choose perfect conformity to the Lord Jesus, or, in one word, holiness."
             
Second, Leviticus clearly communicates the importance of offerings and sacrifices.  The word blood appears at least 82 times, offering at least 304 times and sacrifice 50 times.  Why is this important?  Because, in the Old Testament sacrifices were the means to forgiveness for intentional and unintentional sins.  “The lifeblood that makes the atonement.” One could not be sanctified without cleansing achieved through sacrificial offerings.  This profoundly foreshadows the coming of God’s Son, Jesus, who became the substitutionary sacrifice for the world.   Once Jesus died for our sins, no longer was the shedding of an animal’s blood necessary or appropriate.  

Third, Leviticus establishes how imperative worship is to God.  The book contains detailed instructions regarding priestly ministry. Furthermore, it is the definitive revelation of the character of God.

Fourth, Moses provides God’s rules for healthy and law-abiding living with blessings that follow obedience and with warnings for the devastating consequences of sinful conduct.  
            
Yes, it may be a struggle to read, but if you haven’t perused this middle book of the Torah give it your attention and trust that the Holy Spirit might just surprise you!  
 
Inspiration
The understanding of the Bible only comes from the indwelling of the Holy Spirit making the universe of the Bible real to us.—Oswald Chambers in Studies in the Sermon on the Mount
 
©2020 Daniel York ARR.  Reveration is the weekly devotional ministry of First Cause.  If you would like to receive these devotionals go to www.firstcause.org and click on the “Click here to receive weekly devotionals” box.  Unlimited permission to copy this devotional without altering text or profiteering is allowed subject to inclusion of this copyright notice.      
 
Ecclesiastes 12:10-The Teacher sought to find delightful sayings and to accurately write words of truth.  (Holman CSB)
 

[1] https://bible.org/seriespage/1-learning-love-leviticus
[2] http://www.khouse.org/articles/2002/425/
[3]https://medium.com/@scottfillmer/5-reasons-why-we-should-still-read-the-book-of-leviticus-today-36c0a33e7305