Leviticus

Date Written: 1445-1444 B.C.

Author: Moses

Setting: At the foot of Mount Sinai. God is teaching the Israelites how to live as holy people.

Key People: Moses, Aaron, Nadab, Abihu, Eleazar, Ithamar

Purpose: A handbook for the priests & Levites outlining their duties in worship & a guidebook of holy living for the Hebrews.

Key Verses: Be holy because I, the Lord your God am holy. 19:2

Consecrate yourselves & be holy because I am the Lord your God. Keep My decrees & follow them. I am the Lord, who makes you holy. 20:7-8

Chapter Outline:

1-7 Sacrifice

8-10 Priesthood

11-15 Clean & Unclean

16 Day of Atonement

17-27 Laws for Daily Life

Importance of reading Leviticus:

• God provided specific directions for the kind of worship that would be pleasing to Him. These instructions teach us about the nature of God & can help us develop a right attitude toward worship. Through the offerings we learn of the seriousness of sin & the importance of bringing our sins to God for forgiveness.
• God gave clear standards for living a holy life to the Israelites. They were to be separate & distinct from the pagan nations around them. In the same way, all believers should be separated from sin & dedicated to God. God still wants to remove sin from the lives of His people.
• We read in Leviticus: There are 5 kinds of offerings that fulfill 2 main purposes – one to show praise, thankfulness & devotion & the other for atonement, the cover & removal of guilt & sin. Animal offerings showed that the person was giving their life to God by means of the life of the animal. What we can learn from this: The sacrifices were for worship & forgiveness of sin. Through them we learn about the cost of sin. God’s system says that a life must be given for a life. In the OT, an animal’s life was given to save the life of a person. But this was only a temporary way until Jesus’ death paid the penalty of sin for us forever.
• We read in Leviticus: 7 feasts were designated religious & national holidays. They were often celebrated in family settings. These events teach us a lot about worshiping God in both celebration & quiet dedication. What we can learn from this: God’s rules about worship set up an orderly, regular pattern of fellowship with Him. They allowed times for celebration & thanksgiving as well as for reverence & rededication. Our worship should show our deep devotion to Him.
• What we read: Civil rules for handling food, disease & sex were taught. In these physical principles, many spiritual principles were suggested. Israel was to be different from the surrounding nations. God was preserving Israel from disease & community health problems. What we can learn: We are to be different morally & spiritually from the unbelievers around us. Principles for healthy living are as important today as in Moses’ time. A healthy environment & a healthy body make our service to God more effective.
• What we read: Holy means separated or devoted. God removed His people from Egypt, now He was removing Egypt from the people. He was showing them how to exchange Egyptian ways of living & thinking for His ways. What we can learn: We must devote every area of life to God. He desires absolute obedience in motives as well as practices. Though we don’t observe all the worship practices of Israel, we are to have the same spirit of preparation & devotion.
• What we read: The Levites & priests instructed the people in their worship. They were the ministers of their day. They also regulated the moral, civil & ceremonial laws & supervised the health, justice & welfare of the nation. What we can learn: The Levites were servants who showed Israel the way to God. They provide the historical backdrop for Christ, who is our High Priest & yet our servant. God’s true servants care for all the needs of their people.

Things to think about as you read Leviticus:

• What have you learned about God & His attitude toward sin? What have you learned about the occult & about the types of sexual sin? How severely were these sins to be dealt with? What does this tell you about how God feels regarding these sins & their consequences?
• Jesus told the Jews that the Scriptures, the OT, testified of Him. Think about how Jesus & His work are foreshadowed in Leviticus.
• What have you learned about holiness? If you want to be holy, how will you live your life? Are there any changes you need to make? Are you willing? If not, why?

Link to Teaching Video: https://youtu.be/LVPvURtVeIY?si=M43BdPeEROh-7x8V

Blessings,

Nichole Henson, MSW

Fullness of Joy Ministry