Life in the Presence of God: Leviticus in the Pentatuech (manuscript)

Introduction:

What is the main goal of the message?

To show that Leviticus answers mankind’s greatest need of living how to live life in the presence of God.

How are you going to accomplish this?

By showing that mankind was created to live by and in the presence of God, but God banished mankind from his presence he sinned against God. Because God is holy and just, he banished mankind from his presence. Leviticus shows how the banished mankind can now enter and live in the presence of God without being consumed.

(1) You are created to live in the presence of God

(2) You are cast out of God’s presence because of sin

(3) You are called to live in God’s presence without being obliterated

Why should it matter to your hearers?

Living in the presence of God will not matter unless we understand what it means to live in his presence. To live in the presence of God means:

(1) To be in harmonious, perfect relationship with God in the realm of life.

(2) To be a creature whose very being is holy before the Creator

Anyone who is in God’s presence as an unholy being would be immediately killed.

Illustration: Imagine a trip to outer space, where there is no oxygen. How long do you think you would last without oxygen, if you were released into outer space in that way?

Business Insider reported that you would last 15 seconds.

[https://www.businessinsider.com/how-long-human-survive-outer-space-without-spacesuit-2017-5]

For a person to be in God’s presence and not be holy, would be immediate and certain death. Hebrews 12:29 “for our God is a consuming fire.”

Because of this truth, Leviticus is helpful in answering, “How do we live in the presence of God?”

Points:

(1) You are created to live in the presence of God

Mankind was created for God [God’s presence] - Genesis 1:26-27; 2:7.

Who is God? [need to establish “holy”; “just”; “love” in provision, present]

1:26, “And God said, Let us make...” God makes man, but man is not God. This means that God is distinct or separate from his creation. God is holy.

“…and let them have dominion over the fish of the sea...” God provides all things necessary for man to live. God is gracious.

2:17, “…in the day that thou eatest…thou shalt surely die...” God is just.

Who is man?

1:26 - Image-bearer

1:26 - Priestlike figure:

In Image reflects God. In that he is created, reflects creation.

2:15 - “the verbs used to describe Adam’s work in 2:15, translated most accurately as ‘to worship and obey’…are used together elsewhere in the Pentateuch only to describe the duties of the Levites pertaining to the tabernacle (Numb. 3:7-8; 8:26, 18:5-6).

Adam is the original priestlike figure.

Adam is to worship and obey God.

The Garden in Eden is a type of original Temple.

Genesis 2:15 - Put him there. Commanded/Conversed with Man.

The Garden is the inner sanctuary, the holy of holies, the original Temple where God’s presence dwelt with mankind.

To live, worship, obey God in the Garden was to live in God’s presence.

It is God’s presence that made life special.

Ill: Traveling to Scottsdale. Arriving at an empty hotel vs. arriving home to the presence of wife. OR

One of the joys of the covenant of marriage is that you get to live in the same habitation. Though this has been denigrated by the “living together before marriage” sin, living in the same habitation is still sub-consciously viewed as a big deal. For example if one person cheats, usually a separation of co-habitation ensues.

App: You are created for covenant, harmonious, holy living in the presence of God. Until this is true about you, you are restless and empty.

Illustration: Joe Rogan interview of Elon Musk.

J.R. - “Do you think there is a meaning to life.”

E.M. - “The meaning of life is to understand the nature of the universe and figure out what the meaning of life is....”

J.R. - “When you keep going with that, where does it go?”

E.M. - “I don’t know. That’s why…If I knew, it would be case closed. We can die now.”

J.R. - “The problem I always have. Do I want there to be a meaning to this? Because it gives a sense of purpose to finite life forms.”

(2) You are cast out from God’s presence because of sin.

Genesis 3:8 “And they heard the sound of the Lord God walking in the garden in the cool of the day, and the man and his wife hid themselves from the presence of the Lord God among the trees of the garden.”

Mankind is driven from that which he was created for - God’s presence (the realm of life) - Genesis 3:22-24.

Ill: Fish out of water but still breathing, though labored

Progressively worsens - Genesis 4:16.

Mankind is stained with sin, while God remains holy.

The history of Genesis reveals that this sin nature is passed along to all subsequent generations.

But in the midst of these generations, God does graciously reveal his presence and has a people. You have key figures like Noah, Abraham, Isaac, Jacob (Genesis 28:14-17) and Joseph (Genesis 39:3, 23).

Exodus

God’s presence is needed, but God’s presence for unholy people is dangerous.

Why does God deliver his people from Egypt/Pharaoh? Exodus 19:4. To bring them to his presence; so that they might worship him. Mount on fire introduction.

A Type of New Garden of Eden

They are brought to the Mount of God as a New kind of Garden in Eden. This is a type of new creation.

Theological Dilemma

Exodus 19:18-21. [God’s descent. Moses Mediator. Warning to people.]

Exodus 33:15 - God’s presence is so important that Moses is willing to be accursed so that God’s presence would not be taken from Israel.

A Mobile Type of Garden of Eden

It is here that the Tabernacle Pattern is given. This is the place where the consuming fire of God’s holy presence would descend to. Further warnings are given to Israel.

Theological Dilemma: How do you live with God, who is a consuming fire?

Verse in Exodus 40:35 where Moses cannot enter in...

App:

The holy God is a consuming fire.

Do you revere God for Who He actually is or for who you think He is?

The holy God wants to dwell with those cast out of His presence.

Before you say that God is unloving, have you considered all He has done to make relationship possible?

We must deal with the reality of our own sinfulness, our unholiness.

Has your understanding of sinfulness gone from head to heart? Do you feel the weight of your sinfulness?

The most hardened people can be brought to feelings of brokenness in the face of God. Consider the Philippian Jailor hardened by life. Consider the Apostle Paul hardened by religion.

(3) You are called to live in God’s presence without being obliterated

The book of Leviticus is the only book that completely takes place while they are at Mt. Sinai.

The book of Leviticus answers, in greatest detail, “How can God’s people live in the presence of the holy God.”

Morales “The primary theme and theology of Leviticus (and of the Pentateuch as a whole) is YHWH’s opening a way for humanity to dwell in the divine presence.” [p. 23]

Ill: Fish back into water but ph.balance not quite right.

Leviticus 1:4 “4 He shall lay his hand on the head of the burnt offering, and it shall be accepted for him to make atonement for him.”

Atonement: to cover, make amends, pacify

Is there a way to cover our sin so that God’s presence could dwell with us?

Leviticus 16:29-30. Atonement = “At-One-Ment” - The heart of Leviticus

What is the goal here? Worship. So that we might fulfill that for which we were created — to worship the holy God in his presence and thereby know, feel, and enjoy fullness of life.

Particular applications:

What should I believe/do because of this scripture?

To skip Leviticus is to miss the substance of what Jesus’ fulfilled. Romans 3:25, Hebrews 9:5, 5:11 (reconciliation)

“I like the finished product, but I don’t care about the process.”

“I like gift but not the thought.”

“I like the words but not the meaning of the words.”

Like skipping the Hobbit.

To skip Leviticus is to miss the weight of God’s holiness.

To skip Leviticus is to miss the cost of human sinfulness.

To skip Leviticus is to miss the reality of your limitations.

To skip Leviticus is to be tempted towards irreverent worship.

To skip Leviticus is to miss our gracious God’s hospitality. ROMANS 15.

You are called to live in God’s presence, and God has made a way.

Conclusion:

Leviticus is central to the Pentateuch. Leviticus is central to the atoning work of our great High Priest Jesus Christ.