Chapter 40: Leviticus – a Bible favourite

There was a preacher named David Pawson who was well respected by many as an excellent Bible teacher, who died recently and, when asked what his favourite book of the Bible was, answered that it was the book he was studying at the time. I confess to being a little naughty for, if asked, I might be tempted to say it is Leviticus, knowing for some it is their least favourite (and read), yet given it is so relevant to the central themes of this book: the Priests of the Bible, I am happy to make it my current favourite. In preparing this chapter and again spoilt for choice when it comes to actual content, I found a number of commentators point out that those keen to study the Bible, starting from the beginning, give up when they get to Leviticus. Pawson, whose videos on Leviticus have also provided an important source for this chapter, has suggested three reasons why many struggle when it comes to Leviticus:

1. Boring – there are hardly any stories in it, and is why someone embarking on reading the Bible from cover to cover may well come unstuck when he/she gets to Leviticus.
2. Unfamiliar – Leviticus applies to a culture whose norms are a lot different from that of twenty first century Gentiles, and some of the rules laid down appear baffling and irrelevant.
3. Irrelevant – as it is to do with the Law of Moses which supposedly this doesn’t apply to Christians who supposedly are not beholden to keep the non-moral aspects of the Law.

Another commentator has listed the following themes as to why Leviticus merits study:

1. Holiness of God – interestingly the word “holy” is used over seventy times in this Book, more than in any other Book of the Bible. Holiness is a key, maybe the most important theme in the whole Bible, and one we do well to follow. After all, we are told: “Follow peace with all men, and holiness, without which no man shall see the Lord” Hebrews 12:14.
2. Sinfulness of man – while the Book is about not polluting clean things and profaning holy things, it recognises the sinfulness of man, while telling man how he can relate to God.
3. Fullness of Christ – the Book points to Christ and His once and for all sacrifice for mankind.
4. Godliness of life – this Book is concerned about every aspect of our life and while a lot of the content may not apply to us today, many of its principles do and we do well to apply them.

The point of this chapter is NOT to provide an in-depth exposition of the contents of the Book of Leviticus, which would merit a whole book, but rather to place on record why this Book is important as it helps to provide us with a better of understanding of the subject of Priests of the Bible.

By the time we get to Leviticus in our journey through the Bible, we will have already picked up a lot regarding Priests, which has helped inform Part 2 and especially Part 1 of this Book, for example:

• The Law
• The Covenant
• The Aaronic Priesthood
• The Levites
• The Tabernacle
• Israel

But there is more and is why a study of Leviticus matters. There is no one prescribed way to break down the book but what follows is one way and is offered because it reflects a beautiful symmetry, and right at the centre is the Day of Atonement pointing to Christ who is both Priest and Sacrifice.

PART 1: JUSTIFICATION – the Way to God (chs. 1-15)

Offerings and Sacrifices (chs. 1-7)

• The Burnt Offering (ch. 1)
• The Grain Offering (ch. 2)
• The Fellowship Offering (ch. 3)
• The Sin Offering (4:1;5:13)
• The Guilt Offering (5:14;6:7)
• Additional Regulations for the Offerings (6:8;7:38)

Priesthood (chs. 8-10)

• The Ordination of Aaron and His Sons (ch. 8)
• The Ministry of the Priests (ch. 9)
• The Death of Nadab and Abihu and Attendant Regulations (ch. 10)

Unclean and Clean (chs. 11-15)

• Clean and Unclean Food (ch. 11)
• Purification After Childbirth (ch. 12)
• Regulations for Skin Diseases (13:1-46)
• Regulations for Mildew (13:47-59)
• Cleansing from Skin Diseases (14:1-32)
• Cleansing from Mildew (14:33-57)
• Discharges That Cause Uncleanness (ch. 15)

DAY OF ATONEMENT (ch. 16)

PART 2: SANCTIFICATION – Walk with God

Common and Holy (chs. 17-22)

• Eating Blood Prohibited (ch. 17)
• Unlawful Sexual Relations (ch. 18)
• Various Laws for Holy Living (ch. 19)
• Punishments for Sin (ch. 20)
• Regulations for Priests (21:1;22:16)
• Acceptable and Unacceptable Sacrifices (22:17-33)

Worship (chs. 23-25)

• The Annual Feasts (ch. 23)
• Rules for Oil and Bread in the Tabernacle (24:1-9)
• Punishment for Blasphemy (24:10-23)
• The Sabbath and Jubilee Years (ch. 25)

Sanctions and Vows (chs. 26-27)

• Covenant Blessings and Curses (ch. 26)
• Regulations for Offerings Vowed to the Lord (ch. 27)

Leviticus is the third of the five books of Moses (Torah, Law), where God spoke to Moses (90% of Leviticus is about God speaking) over a one-month period while Israel was camped around Mount Sinai and unlike most of the rest of the Old Testament it focuses on one Tribe – the LEVITes.

The Book of Exodus ends with the words: “Then a cloud covered the tent of the congregation, and the glory of the Lord filled the tabernacle. And Moses was not able to enter into the tent of the congregation, because the cloud abode thereon, and the glory of the Lord filled the tabernacle. And when the cloud was taken up from over the tabernacle, the children of Israel went onward in all their journeys: But if the cloud were not taken up, then they journeyed not till the day that it was taken up. For the cloud of the Lord was upon the tabernacle by day, and fire was on it by night, in the sight of all the house of Israel, throughout all their journeys” Exodus 40:34-38.

The Book of Leviticus recounting to happenings no more than a month later begins with the words: “And the Lord called unto Moses, and spake unto him out of the tabernacle of the congregation, saying, Speak unto the children of Israel, and say unto them, If any man of you bring an offering unto the Lord, ye shall bring your offering of the cattle, even of the herd, and of the flock” Leviticus 1:1-2.

We end Exodus with the glory of the Lord filling the Tabernacle such that no-one could enter. This is in contrast to the Lord speaking from the Tabernacle at the start of Leviticus, laying down the rules whereby priests were able to function, specifically through the prescribed sacrifices and offerings, but nevertheless was an invitation to come in, although restrictions included only the Priests being able to enter the Holy Place and only the High Priest, and only on one day, the Day of Atonement, being able to enter the Most Holy Place (or Holy of Holies). Much that is significant concerning the Tabernacle is discussed in Chapter 5, but it is no overstatement to say the Tabernacle, its detailed construction, its contents, and what took place inside it was the central feature of Jewish life and represented something that God had always intended for His creation when placing Adam and Eve in the Garden of Eden, only to expel them due to their sin, which was to dwell in their midst. It is significant that when we reflect on the layout of the Camp, right at the centre was the Tabernacle and right at the centre of that was the Ark of Covenant where in a sense was where God dwelt, and is so important in the life of Israel between Exodus and Exile that we devoted a chapter (6) to it.   

If there is one verse that encapsulates what the Book of Leviticus is all about, it is the imperative that the people of God be holy: “And ye shall be holy unto me: for I the Lord am holy, and have severed you from other people, that ye should be mine” (20:26). While the distinction made in Leviticus between common and holy, clean and unclean, may be hard for the modern mind to fathom, it was necessary for the nation that was to be God’s special people that they be set apart (which is the meaning of holiness) from other nations and these baffling rules would reinforce what was required.

If we needed a solemn reminder of the consequences of approaching God in an inappropriate way then what happened to Nadab and Abihu, the sons of Aaron, illustrates what happens. They “took either of them his censer, and put fire therein, and put incense thereon, and offered strange fire before the Lord, which he commanded them not. And there went out fire from the Lord, and devoured them, and they died before the Lord. Then Moses said unto Aaron, This is it that the Lord spake, saying, I will be sanctified in them that come nigh me, and before all the people I will be glorified. And Aaron held his peace” (10:1-3). It is worth noting the higher standards that priests were required to adhere to, for example those who weren’t priests could mourn but not Aaron.

If there is one important image that reflects the Gospel message it is the Scapegoat (pictured on the front cover) that was released into the wilderness on the Day of Atonement by the High Priest after carrying out his other duties. He had earlier drawn lots concerning two goats and where the other goat was offered as an atoning sacrifice. “And Aaron shall lay both his hands upon the head of the live goat, and confess over him all the iniquities of the children of Israel, and all their transgressions in all their sins, putting them upon the head of the goat, and shall send him away by the hand of a fit man into the wilderness: And the goat shall bear upon him all their iniquities unto a land not inhabited: and he shall let go the goat in the wilderness (16:21,22). This beautifully helps us to look forward to the coming of Jesus who died outside the city in order to atone for our sins. Jesus (the Scapegoat that went into the wilderness depicts Him) is the example we are exhorted to follow.

When it comes to offerings and sacrifices (see Chapter 3, Figure x) and feasts (see Chapter 3, Figure y) there is much that can be said and constructively applied as still significant for our times. Given the importance and so much that could be said on the subject, it is covered in the next chapter.    

If there is a teaching in Leviticus that is of practical significance for our own times it is concerning the treatment of the foreigner: “And if a stranger sojourn with thee in your land, ye shall not vex him.  But the stranger that dwelleth with you shall be unto you as one born among you, and thou shalt love him as thyself; for ye were strangers in the land of Egypt: I am the Lord your God” (19:33,34).

Back to this book, the Book of Leviticus provides the setting in which priests operated and played a prominent role joining the chosen people of YHWH with YHWH Himself and His perfect will, and at the heart of this is the Day of Atonement, whereby sinful man can come to a holy God. This is not just a central feature of Leviticus but of the whole Bible and why I make Leviticus my favourite.