Leviticus - Propitiation
Notes
Transcript
Leviticus 17:1-7
Propitiation is an ancient term and one that has fallen out of use in the modern era. In fact it is a term that comes from the worship of pagan people.
Propitiation. Turning away of anger by the offering of a gift. The word was often used by the pagans in antiquity, for they thought of their gods as unpredictable beings, liable to become angry with their worshipers for any trifle. When disaster struck it was often thought that a god was angry and was therefore punishing his worshipers. The remedy was to offer a sacrifice without delay. A well-chosen offering would appease the god and put him in a good mood again. This process was called propitiation. Baker Encyclopedia of the Bible
In fact consider what an offering is. What is a sacrifice? A sacrifice is something I give up here in the physical world to produce a Spiritual connection or result.
It demonstrates a Spiritual Reality whether stated or not, or a Spirituality Stated or not.
I acknowledge that we are Children of a materialistic culture and if we are honest we can carry some very anti spiritual realities that views everything through some mechanical means to a mechanical end.
Our Culture rejects a spiritual interference in the physical world.
But when we read Scripture we are not allowed to simply believe that Physical things belong here and Spiritual things belong over there. In fact there is a messy reality where these two live intertwined.
Job opens with Satan confronting God on the person of Job. In response God says you can do anything but kill him.
A storm comes and kills Children.
Marauders take his animals
His body breaks out in sores
These are very physical responses to a spiritual source.
Angels clamped the jaws of Daniels lions shut
Elisha’s angel army stood watch over him.
Demons slowed the prayers of Daniel.
We see demonic activity in the seas during Jesus ministry.
And Kamikaze pigs took one for the team when they threw Legion in the Sea.
Paul just comes out and says it in Col 1.16
For by him were all things created, that are in heaven, and that are in earth, visible and invisible, whether they be thrones, or dominions, or principalities, or powers: all things were created by him, and for him:
So when you and I come to Worship we have no reason to reject the idea that it is not only a physical thing but also makes a spiritual difference.
You are a human which according to Genesis means you are both Body and Soul.
A physical reality and a Spiritual reality. I watched a “Christian movie with my kids Friday night. The protagonist says, “you are a soul, you have a body.” That is not a Bible idea. You are both Body and Soul. You leave your body you cease to be the thing God made you. This is why Thessalonians goes to length to describe the redemption of your body. Because your not you when your hangry and your not you with a soul alone.
We are a body and soul approaching God who is a Spirit who receives physical worship as a spiritual ministry.
At that time the Lord separated the tribe of Levi, to bear the ark of the covenant of the Lord, to stand before the Lord to minister unto him, and to bless in his name, unto this day.
You will note our text in verse 4.
And bringeth it not unto the door of the tabernacle of the congregation, to offer an offering unto the Lord before the tabernacle of the Lord; blood shall be imputed unto that man; he hath shed blood; and that man shall be cut off from among his people:
“unto the Lord”
God stresses in the first 6 verses that Man is not to bring an offering that was offered in a different place to the tabernacle. In other words dont bring your outside offering here and expect it to be accepted by God.
Why is God making a distinction?
He is Certifying the newly established Tabernacle.
Sacrifices were given before the Tabernacle.
Noah
Abraham
Cain
Able
Moses
All gave sacrifices to God. God is now funneling all that worship to the design of his tabernacle.
Ending the Worship of Evil Spirits -7
Understand Scripture is going to push against a materialistic read on Scripture. Moses and the Holy Spirit agree that worship of false god’s was a real evil spirit receiving that worship.
These fallen angels that we ignore in our material world are still hard at work to spread their blindness.
You can still see them at work in Religious expression today. When you spot a religious devotion to a cause you can begin to see the deception circling it.
We don’t call it BAAL today. WE call it GIA and worship it with a false science. Leading nations to bow their knee to it as we reject the God’s claim to creation and announce the lie of Global Warming.
Paul believed what Moses said,
But I say, that the things which the Gentiles sacrifice, they sacrifice to devils, and not to God: and I would not that ye should have fellowship with devils. Ye cannot drink the cup of the Lord, and the cup of devils: ye cannot be partakers of the Lord’s table, and of the table of devils.
NO, no I know that you are far more enlightened and we’d never reject actual reality to say that there are more than two genders,
Our culture is to enlightened to change all of our language and force pronouns to suit a demonic lie. A demonic lie like I can be a boy or a girl and then carve up a perfectly healthy body to reflect whatever sick idea I have. It is a wicked notion that the thing that matters most about me is the physical presentation. I must be defined by my genitalia and who I am in bed with. This is demonic.
Here we catch this Spirit to Physical motion again.
What I believe in my soul affects the way I behave in a physical world. God receives my physical operation as a truth about who I am and what I think about HIM.
This is why Scripture could command…
For they were departed from Rephidim, and were come to the desert of Sinai, and had pitched in the wilderness; and there Israel camped before the mount.
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.
Speak unto all the congregation of the children of Israel, and say unto them, Ye shall be holy: for I the Lord your God am holy.
Sanctify yourselves therefore, and be ye holy: for I am the Lord your God.
Thou shalt sanctify him therefore; for he offereth the bread of thy God: he shall be holy unto thee: for I the Lord, which sanctify you, am holy.
Because it is written, Be ye holy; for I am holy.
Notice what is building In this passage leads to Moses saying multiple times in the book of Leviticus “be ye holy for I am holy.”
What is building in Lev is the argument that is quickly outlined over the next several chapters up to the announcement of chapter 21 be ye holy.
God deals with three primary subjects.
care for the poor
sexual integrity
True Justice
Laws of holiness that were based on our understanding of ritual purity point to Moral purity.
A pure heart will lead to a pure live. Therefore a pure life is the best representation of a pure heart.
A polluted heart brings a love for polluted things.
You can see these spelled out…
SEXUAL PURITY
Incest 18.1-18
Adultery
Child Sacrifice
Homosexuality
Beastiality
Defilements: These corrupt us morally. These actions leave us defiled and scared by participation in this caliber of sin.
These were also used in Idolatry so your relationship to these say something about your commitment and devotion to him alone.
Notice:
Scripture doesn’t treat mankind as victims of sin. But, acknowledges our participation. You sin because your love your sin and refuse to leave it.
Kindness to the Poor
Providing for the need 19.10
God’ plan was to leave food in the field available to the industry of the individuals who had a need. You don’t find a lot of people sticking money out of an open car door to people who are merely waiting on it.
Don’t Steal
Dont defraud
Help the Handicapped
Don’t gossip.
each of these chapters are pushing this reality.
What I believe in my soul affects the way I behave in a physical world. God receives my physical operation as a truth about who I am and what I think about HIM.
I can hear someone right now!!!
Wait Preacher, God knows my heart. They’ll even attempt To grasp at a verse…
“Man looketh on the outward appearance but GOD LOOKETH UPON THE HEART.”
I don’t think that verse means what you think it means.
The context of that vers was someon who looked at the outward and said, “WOW, He’s impressive.” God said actually I can see the inner man of the heart and if you could see him you’d know he isn’t that great.
God seeing your heart was not about allowing your lack of holiness to slide.
If you wonder this works. (Illustrate)
Ye shall fear every man his mother, and his father, and keep my sabbaths: I am the Lord your God.
Respect you Father and Mother.
Keep my Sabbath
Wait what do those have to do with each other. The same way that Respect for the Sabbath demonstrated a care and dependence on God and his Will. So respect for parents is a demonstration of whether or not you wish to put him first.
Someone could hear the way you discuss your church and know if God is first in your life.
So the way you speak of your parents will tell others how important God is to you.
God is not interest in you simply know HE is HOLY. he wants that to reality to fuel your holiness.
That leads us to one big question- HOW does one become HOLY?
ONLY ONE WAY:
Paul, a servant of Jesus Christ, called to be an apostle, separated unto the gospel of God,
It is through the transfer of Christ Holiness to us.
For the wrath of God is revealed from heaven against all ungodliness and unrighteousness of men, who hold the truth in unrighteousness; Because that which may be known of God is manifest in them; for God hath shewed it unto them. For the invisible things of him from the creation of the world are clearly seen, being understood by the things that are made, even his eternal power and Godhead; so that they are without excuse: Because that, when they knew God, they glorified him not as God, neither were thankful; but became vain in their imaginations, and their foolish heart was darkened. Professing themselves to be wise, they became fools, And changed the glory of the uncorruptible God into an image made like to corruptible man, and to birds, and fourfooted beasts, and creeping things. Wherefore God also gave them up to uncleanness through the lusts of their own hearts, to dishonour their own bodies between themselves: Who changed the truth of God into a lie, and worshipped and served the creature more than the Creator, who is blessed for ever. Amen.
For this cause God gave them up unto vile affections: for even their women did change the natural use into that which is against nature:
How did God bring about holiness where the culture is being swept into paganism.
For all have sinned, and come short of the glory of God; Being justified freely by his grace through the redemption that is in Christ Jesus: Whom God hath set forth to be a propitiation through faith in his blood, to declare his righteousness for the remission of sins that are past, through the forbearance of God; To declare, I say, at this time his righteousness: that he might be just, and the justifier of him which believeth in Jesus.
There is that word propitiation again. Paul uses this phrase because he is explaining the difference in the way a pagan worships a false god - or evil spirit. It is through constantly propitiating to keep the God happy. and to keep the crops coming it. Or prevent them from a loss or pain or sickness.
Paul says, God has provided the propitiation for you. Jesus has already removed the curse, removed the anger, removed the control of sin.
You are now free to live in the beauty of a Holy life that puts his Holiness and his Worship first. And where you get to live its demonstration not in some compliance to a rule. But as a shinning light showing off the reality of a heart that loves him, by living out his holiness for all to adore him more.
We live in holiness not out of a fear of being struck with a plague. Christ has powered a peach that allows His holiness to be given by the Holy.
What I believe in my soul affects the way I behave in a physical world. God receives my physical operation as a truth about who I am and what I think about HIM.