Why Leviticus?
Called Out • Sermon • Submitted • Presented
0 ratings
· 9 viewsNotes
Transcript
“Called Out”
“Called Out”
Vayikra — “And He [God] called”
1 Then the Lord called to Moses and spoke to him from the tent of meeting
To call means to cry out with a loud, clear voice.
35 times the phrase “The Lord spoke to Moses” (or other variants) is recorded in Leviticus.
The laws, the instructions, the regulations are all recorded because God is speaking directly to His people.
To call out also invokes the idea of calling from one reality into another.
In the case of Leviticus, and for us as Christians, God is calling His people out of how they lived and into a new life, a holy life.
I. All Scripture is Profitable
I. All Scripture is Profitable
16 All Scripture is inspired by God and profitable for teaching, for reproof, for correction, for training in righteousness; 17 so that the man of God may be adequate, equipped for every good work.
Addressing how we are supposed to live for the good and edification of others, in other words with others in mind, Paul explains that the Scriptures (primarily the OT) were given for our instruction.
4 For whatever was written in earlier times was written for our instruction, so that through perseverance and the encouragement of the Scriptures we might have hope. 5 Now may the God who gives perseverance and encouragement grant you to be of the same mind with one another according to Christ Jesus, 6 so that with one accord you may with one voice glorify the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ.
As Paul left the church in Ephesus, he summarized his ministry, stating he had not refrained from:
declaring anything that was profitable
how he taught publicly (Acts 20:20) of repentance toward God and faith in Jesus Christ (Acts 20:21)
how he declared what was of chief importance: the gospel (Acts 20:24)
how he was innocent of anyone’s reaction to the gospel (Acts 20:26), because had declared the whole purpose of God (Acts 20:27).
27 “For I did not shrink from declaring to you the whole purpose of God.
II. Leviticus is a Key
II. Leviticus is a Key
1. To the Christian Faith
1. To the Christian Faith
Concepts like sacrifice, substitution, atonement, forgiveness, and acceptance find their roots in the book of Leviticus.
2. To the Christian Life
2. To the Christian Life
You cannot properly understand yourself as a “saint” or “a holy priesthood” without understanding Leviticus.
2 To the church of God which is at Corinth, to those who have been sanctified in Christ Jesus, saints by calling, with all who in every place call on the name of our Lord Jesus Christ, their Lord and ours:
9 But you are a chosen race, a royal priesthood, a holy nation, a people for God’s own possession, so that you may proclaim the excellencies of Him who has called you out of darkness into His marvelous light;
3. Understanding significant portions of the NT
3. Understanding significant portions of the NT
You cannot properly study the book of Hebrews without having an understanding of Leviticus.
1 God, after He spoke long ago to the fathers in the prophets in many portions and in many ways, 2 in these last days has spoken to us in His Son
III. Leviticus Helps Us Understand:
III. Leviticus Helps Us Understand:
1. The Presence of God
1. The Presence of God
Exodus ends with God dwelling in the center of His people:
34 Then the cloud covered the tent of meeting, and the glory of the Lord filled the tabernacle. 35 Moses was not able to enter the tent of meeting because the cloud had settled on it, and the glory of the Lord filled the tabernacle. 36 Throughout all their journeys whenever the cloud was taken up from over the tabernacle, the sons of Israel would set out; 37 but if the cloud was not taken up, then they did not set out until the day when it was taken up. 38 For throughout all their journeys, the cloud of the Lord was on the tabernacle by day, and there was fire in it by night, in the sight of all the house of Israel.
1 Then the Lord called to Moses and spoke to him from the tent of meeting
The holy God — who made the heavens and the earth; who covenanted with Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob; who rescued His people from Egypt — is dwelling in the midst of His people.
Throughout this entire book, the people of Israel are camped in one place in the wilderness.
They on not on a journey or pilgrimage toward God
They are not attempting to find God
They are not attempting to earn favor from God
God has come to them.
14 And the Word became flesh, and dwelt [tabernacled] among us, and we saw His glory, glory as of the only begotten from the Father, full of grace and truth.
God has come to them and invaded “their” space, just as He desires to invade “our” space.
God desires to and will be involved in every aspect of life, from the extraordinary to the mundane.
2. The Holiness of God
2. The Holiness of God
Occurrences of words or themes:
“Holy”, “Sanctify”, “Holiness”, etc. occurs 152 times in Leviticus (20% of OT occurrences)
“Unclean” occurs 132 times (50% of OT occurrences)
“Clean” occurs 74 times (35%)
Not just any god has come to dwell among the Israelites. He is a perfectly holy God.
Holiness characterizes God Himself, and all that belongs to Him
Holiness is intrinsic to God’s character
How could a holy God dwell in the midst of a sinful people?
The people had to become holy themselves
Holiness is not just acquired by ritual action or moral behavior. Two things are required:
The divine act
The human act
Only those whom God called (invited) to holiness can become holy
Only those who respond in obedience to the call of grace (invitation) can be declared holy
Just as God called to Israel inviting them to be holy, so God has in these last days called to us as Christians through His Son, Jesus Christ, inviting us to holiness.
3. The Worship of God
3. The Worship of God
The first 17 chapters of Leviticus are devoted to sacrifice
Three parties were involved with every sacrifice
God
A priest
The worshipper
God has established a covenant between Himself and Israel.
Within the covenant was life and order.
Outside the covenant was death and disorder.
Sacrifice is the main focus because sacrifice, or more specifically sacrificial blood, was required for cleansing and sanctification.
When someone became unclean, they had to be “reborn” into the covenant community by the blood of a sacrifice.
Holiness or sanctification is not obtained by ritualistic action. It is obtained because God grants it.
Many times in Leviticus it says, “the priest shall make atonement for him and he will be forgiven.”
Completion of the rituals is not enough in itself. Only God can grant forgiveness.
4. The Covenant of God
4. The Covenant of God
Six main parts of a covenant/treaty
Title naming the author of the treaty (I am the Lord your God)
Historical setting explaining the background for the treaty (who brought you out of the land of Egypt)
Stipulations (Be holy)
Document clause — how the treaty was written down and the importance of reading it regularly (cut out two stone tablets, and I will write … the words Ex. 34:1; you shall read this law in front of all Israel in their hearing Deut. 31:11)
Blessings and curses for obedience or disobedience to the treaty (Lev. 26; Deut. 28)
God list — a list of gods who witnessed the treaty
Three important features of the law in light of the covenant
God gave His law to Israel after He had redeemed them from Egypt, not as a means for securing their redemption.
8 But God demonstrates His own love toward us, in that while we were yet sinners, Christ died for us.
Being saved and the call to be holy did not mean freedom to live however one desired. There is freedom, but only within the boundaries God has established.
2 “You only have I chosen among all the families of the earth; Therefore I will punish you for all your iniquities.”
God pledged Himself to Israel for eternity. The covenant will stand.
