Chronological Bible Study – Feb 13

Key Themes (Leviticus)

The book of Leviticus is the third book of the Bible and serves as a detailed manual for the Israelites on how to live in holiness and maintain a proper relationship with God. It contains instructions on worship, sacrifices, rituals, and ethical behavior, with a strong emphasis on holiness and the distinct identity of God’s people. Leviticus is foundational for understanding the covenant relationship between God and Israel and the requirements for approaching a holy God. The key themes include:

1. Holiness: The central theme of Leviticus is the holiness of God and the call for the Israelites to be holy as He is holy. The book emphasizes that holiness involves being set apart for God, both in worship and in daily life. This theme is expressed through various laws and rituals designed to make the people aware of God’s holiness and their need to live in a way that reflects His character.
2. Sacrifices and Atonement: Leviticus provides detailed instructions on the system of sacrifices, which were essential for maintaining a right relationship with God. The sacrifices, including burnt offerings, sin offerings, and guilt offerings, were a means of atonement for sin, allowing the Israelites to seek forgiveness and purification. This theme highlights the seriousness of sin and the need for atonement to restore fellowship with God.
3. The Role of the Priesthood: The book outlines the role of the priests, particularly the descendants of Aaron, in leading the people in worship and offering sacrifices. The priests are responsible for mediating between God and the people, ensuring that worship is conducted according to God’s commands. This theme emphasizes the importance of the priesthood in maintaining the holiness of the community and facilitating access to God.
4. Purity and Cleanliness: Leviticus includes extensive regulations on purity, covering areas such as food, skin diseases, bodily discharges, and contact with the dead. These laws distinguish between what is clean and unclean, reflecting the need for the Israelites to be ritually pure in order to approach a holy God. This theme underscores the idea that holiness involves both moral and ritual purity, and that impurity must be dealt with to maintain a relationship with God.
5. Ethical Living: Beyond ritual laws, Leviticus also provides ethical instructions that govern the Israelites’ social behavior. The book includes laws on justice, fairness, and compassion, particularly in dealing with the poor, the stranger, and the vulnerable. The famous commandment to “love your neighbor as yourself” (Leviticus 19:18) is found here, highlighting the connection between holiness and ethical living.
6. The Day of Atonement (Yom Kippur): A significant event described in Leviticus is the Day of Atonement, a yearly ritual where the high priest makes atonement for the sins of the entire community. This day is marked by the offering of sacrifices and the symbolic transfer of sins onto a scapegoat, which is then sent into the wilderness. This theme emphasizes the importance of communal atonement and the idea that God provides a way for His people to be reconciled to Him.
7. God’s Presence Among His People: Leviticus underscores the idea that God dwells among His people, particularly in the Tabernacle, and that His presence requires the people to live according to His standards. The laws and rituals are given to ensure that the Israelites can maintain a relationship with a holy God and experience His presence in their midst. This theme reinforces the concept that God’s presence is both a blessing and a responsibility, requiring careful observance of His commands.
8. Covenant Relationship: Throughout Leviticus, the laws and rituals are presented within the context of the covenant relationship between God and Israel. The book reiterates that the Israelites are God’s chosen people, set apart to be holy and to reflect His character to the nations. This theme emphasizes the ongoing nature of the covenant and the obligations that come with being God’s people.

The book of Leviticus is a profound exploration of what it means to live in covenant relationship with a holy God. It provides a detailed framework for worship, atonement, and ethical living, all centered on the concept of holiness. Through its instructions on sacrifices, purity, and the priesthood, Leviticus lays the foundation for understanding how God’s people are to approach Him and live in a way that reflects His holiness in every aspect of life.

What I Noticed Today (Leviticus 1-4)

Leviticus means “relating to the Levites.” The book deals with the duties of the priests, service in the tabernacle, and laws regarding worship, ceremonial cleansing, moral laws, and holy days. Because of the extent of these regulations, Leviticus is often referred to as the book of the law.

There is a lot of important imagery here that often gets lost in the details of the sacrifices themselves.

Leviticus 1

Leviticus 1 deals with the burnt offering, the first of five offerings to the Lord. The burnt offering was voluntary, always a male from the livestock (bull, sheep or goat) or a bird (usually a dove).

In verses 1-2, the Lord spoke to Moses from inside the tent of meeting, giving him instructions to the Israelites who bring offerings.

In verses 3-9, instructions regarding an offering from a herd

• An individual would bring the unblemished animal to the priest and lay their hand on the animal’s head as the animal was slaughtered. The lifeblood of an animal was required to make atonement for the individual. The laying on of the hand was symbolically transferring the individual’s sin to the animal. This is a picture of Christ’s bloodshed on the cross, making atonement for our sins.
• If an individual didn’t have a bull, a sheep, or a goat from a flock, was an acceptable sacrifice.
• If the individual was poor, a turtledove or pigeon could be used as a sacrifice.

Leviticus 2

Leviticus 2 deals with the grain offering, which was also voluntary. It was offered in recognition of God being the source of their provision. The grain could be offered whole, ground into fine flour, or baked. A portion would be dedicated as holy to God, and the remainder given to the priest.

• If the grain offering were fine flour, the priest would pour oil and frankincense on it and take a portion and burn it on the fire as a pleasing aroma to the Lord. The remainder would be the priest’s.
• If the grain offering was baked, it must be made with fine flour and oil and must be unleavened. A portion will be broken off and burned as a pleasing aroma to the Lord, and the remainder will belong to the priest.
• No leaven may be used for a grain offering, and all-grain offerings must be seasoned with salt.
• If the grain offering is of firstfruits, it must be freshly crushed heads of grain, roasted on a fire. It will have oil and frankincense poured on it and burned as a fire offering to the Lord.

Leviticus 3

Leviticus 3 deals with the fellowship (sometimes called peace) offering, which was voluntary. There were three kinds of fellowship offerings; thanksgiving, vow, and fellowship (more in chapter 7). The fellowship offering signified communion between the individual and God. It was the only offering in which the individual ate the offering with the priests. Livestock in the form of a bull, lamb, or goat was used for fellowship offerings.

• An individual would bring the unblemished animal to the priest and lay their hand on the animal’s head as the animal was slaughtered. Blood was sprinkled on all sides of the altar. The fat and the entrails will be burned on the altar along with the liver and kidneys as a pleasing aroma to the Lord.
• If an individual didn’t have a bull, a lamb from a flock was an acceptable fellowship.
• If the individual offered a goat, it could be used as a fellowship offering.
• All of the fat belongs to the Lord. You are not to eat the fat or the blood.

Some thoughts for additional consideration:

• How much better might we be today if we dealt with our sin in prayer, recognized God as the great provider, and spent time in fellowship with Him?!

Leviticus 4

Leviticus 4 deals with the laws surrounding the sin offering. The sin offering was for unintentional sin or sins of ignorance. There was no provision for a sacrifice to cover intentional sin!

The law covers first the priest who sins, then the nation who sins, a leader who sins, and finally, the common people who sin.

In verses 3-12, the Lord provides instructions for the priest who sins unintentionally.

• When the anointed priest (high priest) sinned unintentionally bringing guilt on the people, he is to bring an unblemished bull as a sin offering.
• In front of the tent of meeting, he is to lay hands on the bull’s head and slaughter it.
• Then he is to sprinkle some of the blood seven times before the Lord in front of the sanctuary veil.
• He must then apply some of the blood to the horns of the altar of incense.
• He must then pour out the rest of the blood at the base of the altar of burnt offering.
• The fat, liver, and kidneys must be burned as a fellowship offering to the Lord.
• The rest of the bull is to be taken outside the camp to a ceremonially clean place and burned on a wood fire.

In verses 13-21, the Lord provides instructions for the nation for their unintentional sin.

• When the assembly sinned unintentionally, they must present a young bull as a sin offering.
• The elders must lay hands on the bull’s head, and it must be slaughtered before the Lord.
• The anointed priest will sprinkle some of the bull’s blood seven times before the tent of meeting.
• Then the priest is to apply some of the blood to the horns of the altar before the Lord.
• The rest of the blood is to be poured out at the base of the altar of burnt offering.
• The fat must be burned on the altar of burnt offering.
• The rest of the bull must be burned outside the camp in a ceremonially clean place like the first bull.
• In this way, the priest will make atonement for the sins of the assembly.

In verses 22-26, the Lord provides instructions for a leader who sins unintentionally.

• When a leader sins unintentionally, he is to bring an unblemished male goat as a sin offering.
• He is to lay his hands on the goat’s head, and it is to be slaughtered.
• The priest must take some of the blood and apply it to the horns of the altar of burnt offering.
• The rest of the blood must be poured out at the base of the altar of burnt offering.
• The fat must be burned on the altar of burnt offering.
• In this way, the priest will make atonement for the sins of the leader.

In verses 27-35, the Lord provides instructions for the common man who sins unintentionally.

• When a common man sins unintentionally, he is to bring an unblemished female goat or a lamb as a sin offering.
• He is to lay his hands on the goat’s head, and it is to be slaughtered.
• The priest must take some of the blood and apply it to the horns of the altar of burnt offering.
• The rest of the blood must be poured out at the base of the altar of burnt offering.
• The fat must be burned on the altar of burnt offering as a pleasing aroma to the Lord.
• In this way, the priest will make atonement for the sins of the man.

What did you notice in your study today? Feel free to visit the website and leave a question or a comment.

Tomorrow: Day 45 Leviticus 5-7