Overview of the book of Leviticus
They were free! The Israelites were now at the foot of Mount Sini. The Tabernacle was in the middle of the camp. It was where the presence of the Lord dwelt.
If you have read through the Bible, you are on a roll once you have finished Exodus until you get to Leviticus! You start to lose interest because you don’t understand why all the sacrifices? Why all the laws and rituals?
God’s holiness is emphasized in the book of Leviticus. Leviticus was written to the Israelites. The rules were a standard God had for them to live. The principles within the book help us today. God is the same God.
Here is an outline of Leviticus,
1. Instructions about sacrifices 1-7
2. Instructions about Priest 8-10
3. Instructions about Ritual Purity 11-15
4. Instructions about the Day of Atonement 16
5. Instructions for Holy Living 17-27
Bible Overview (2012)
The holiness of God and the sinfulness of humanity can be seen in the book of Leviticus.
“Filled with rules and regulations for sacrifices, priestly duties, various types of impurity, the celebration of festivals, Leviticus underscores God’s holiness —and the need for holy living among his people, …..Leviticus precepts are specific to the time and culture in which they were given.
To benefit from these, we must look at the principles behind the regulations …..one aid to understanding Leviticus is to view the first seventeen chapters as primarily about how the Israelites should worship God. Offerings …. Are prescribed for various situations in which sinful people need atonement. The consecration of priests … includes the recounting of an incident in which priests commit sacrilege. The final ten chapters relate mainly to how God’s chosen people are to deal with one another.” (Horton, 2006)
In his supremacy and sovereignty, God instructs us how to worship Him. He provides a way for the Israelites to deal with their sins until Christ comes and deals with our sins once and for all.
“He has no need, like those high priests, to offer sacrifices daily, first for his own sins and then for those of the people, since he did this once for all when he offered up himself.” Hebrews 7: 27 ESV
In the end, God calls the Israelites and us to live holy.
“For I am the Lord who brought you up out of the land of Egypt to be your God. You shall therefore be holy, for I am holy.” I Peter 1:15-16 ESV
God has a standard for worship, the redemption of sins, and holy living. Leviticus lays a foundation of what God wanted for Israel as a nation, and they are principles for us as followers of Christ.
Reference
Bible Overview (2012) Henderson Rose Publishing
The Portable Seminary (2006) David Horton editor
