Many who try to read through the Bible hit a roadblock at Leviticus. Most preachers and teachers avoid the book too, making Leviticus one of the most under appreciated books in the Bible. That is, until you get to know it better and to value its resplendent theme of holiness.
It’s helpful to know the background of this book. In the sunbaked wilderness of Sinai, Moses wanted to tell the children of Israel why they were there and how they should live.
His explanation began in Exodus and continued into Leviticus, where the heart of the matter was revealed.
God had chosen Israel as a distinct people to bless the nations, but they were required to be holy.
Leviticus concerns the responsibilities and duties of the Levites in their role as intermediaries between the people and God.
The necessary instructions on how to worship – ceremonies, rituals, sacrifices, washings, offerings, and festivals – are all here, all of them symbols, items, occasions, and events portraying aspects of God’s holiness, of human holiness, and of the Holy One to com – the Lord Jesus.
I wasn’t easy to teach the Israelites about God’s holiness, nor do we learn those lessons quickly. Even though we have God’s Spirit within us, we must often be reminded of His nearness.
We need to cultivate a sense of His presence and cleanse ourselves from all filthiness of the flesh and spirit, perfecting holiness in the fear of God.
That’s the theme of Leviticus, and it’s a message well worth studying.
Key Thought:
God expects His people to reflect His holiness, not just in rituals but in reality.
Key Verse:
“For I am the Lord your God: ye shall therefore sanctify yourselves, and ye shall be holy; for I am holy: neither shall ye defile yourselves with any manner of creeping thing that creepeth upon the earth.” (Lev 11:44).
Key Actions:
Whenever sin occurs in life, we should confess it promptly, consecrate ourselves anew, and remain committed to personal holiness.