DAILY BIBLE READING

Feb 15: Lev 8-10
Feb 16: Lev 11-13
Feb 17: Lev 14-15
Feb 18: Lev 16-18
Feb 19: Lev 19-21
Feb 20: Lev 22-23
Feb 21: Lev 24-25
Feb 22: Lev 26-27

NOTES ON LEVITICUS 8-25

·         Leviticus is one of those places easy to stumble – if not quit – when you’re reading through the Bible.  I’d rather warn you about that than have it take you by surprise.

·         Leviticus gets its name from the Levites, who were descended from Levi.  Among the twelve sons of Jacob, only Levi’s descendants did not receive a land inheritance in the Promised Land.  Their honor was to have the Lord as their inheritance. Their privilege was to serve God and the temple as their vocation. 

·         This book, then, is primarily about the moral and ritual life of the people.  The theme of the book (see devotions below) is in 19:1, “Be holy, for I am holy.”  The book’s goal is to reveal the character of God, which is to be on display among his chosen people.

·         But what does holiness look like for humans?  It looks like

o   An awareness of the cost of sin – and so Leviticus includes sacrifices for sin.

o   Installation and preparation of the priests, because leaders in worship must be especially aware of their special role and influence.

o   Differentiation between what is pure and impure, touching every area of life from childbirth to health to sexual relations. 

o   Instructions about festivals, because they need regular reminders of their identity

o   Very practical instructions about what pleases God in personal and public life.

o   Consequences of obedience and disobedience.

·         Don’t feel guilty if you find yourself reading Leviticus quickly or if your mind wanders.  In many chapters you won’t find anything at all that feels at first glance inspirational or practical.  Keep plugging along, and grasp this point if you grasp nothing else – God’s people aren’t supposed to look like, think like, or act like, the world around them.  They are to be “holy” – set apart, different, special.

DEVOTIONS

One of the purposes of reading the Bible is to dispel our myths and assumptions about faith.

For example, we often think that if we could just see God do a miracle or two, our faith would be stronger and we would follow him fully.  Apparently not.  Read Exodus and Numbers and see how those who saw the most dramatic series of miracles in the Bible still did not trust or obey.

Or we think God has left too many gray areas.  If we just knew exactly what he wanted, we would do it.  Wrong again.  Read Leviticus and see how detailed were God’s laws.  Still his people didn’t obey.

Then we grumble because bad things happen to good people and good things happen to bad people.  If only faith had visible rewards and sin had immediate consequences, we would be more faithful.  The children of Israel experienced more tangible results of righteousness and wickedness than we do, and it didn’t help.

That’s why I say the entire Old Testament is just a setup for grace.  The bottom line is we cannot and do not desire God and follow God by nature.  Even when we decide to try really, really hard, we blow it.  What we need is not more visible evidence, not more exact instruction.  We need a Savior.

God came through for us in Jesus, who fulfilled the law and satisfied all that was necessary for God to forgive us.  We are so overwhelmed by his loving pardon that our response is one of gratitude.  We strive to do what is right so that we can show our thanks.

All that brings us right back to Leviticus.  For all its seemingly mundane detail for worship, festivals, laws, punishments, and more, the message of Leviticus is summarized in the words, “Be holy, for I am holy.”  To be holy is to be separate, set apart.  (The New Testament parallel word is “sanctified.”)

Leviticus is about learning that we don’t take our cues from the world about how to live.  (It’s a lesson we still have to learn.)  Our behavior, our worship, our trust, and our priorities should set us apart.  God is not of this world; neither should we be.