Stuck In The Grand Canyon

Leviticus? Really?

Years ago a good friend asked me, “What are you reading for your personal devotions these days?” When I told him the book of Leviticus, he laughed and then asked me, “No, really—what are you reading?”

Well, he was even more incredulous when I assured him it was the truth. Leviticus is pretty much the speed bump of reading through the Bible. Many people do well with Genesis and Exodus. But then, about two chapters in to Leviticus, and the plan goes awry.

So, why in the world would I decide, “Hey I know—let’s do a sermon series through Leviticus!”

There are many answers I could give, but the best answer I think is found in a song recorded by one of my favorite Christian singers, Susan Ashton, written by Wayne Kirkpatrick.

I've seen You calm the waters raging in the rivers of my mind Your spirit blows a breeze into my soul And I've felt the fire that warms the heart Knowing that it comes from You Then I've let it turn as cold as a stone

Sometimes I feel like I'm as close as your shadow and Sometimes I feel like I'm looking up at You from the bottom of

The Grand Canyon so small and so far From the Grand Canyon, with a hole in my heart And I'm a long way from where I know I need to be When there's a Grand Canyon between You and me.

I've had the faith that gave me strength for moving any mountainside I've felt the solid ground beneath my feet But I've had the bread of idleness while drinking from a well of doubt And it shakes the core of all I believe

Ever feel distant from God?

I believe that if any follower of the Lord is honest, they’ll admit that there have been, and likely still are, times of spiritual dryness, times of lackluster in their fervor for Christ, times of feeling distant from God.

So, what’s the answer?

Being rightly related to God & walking with Him....

Sometimes I feel like I'm as close as your shadow and Sometimes I feel like I'm looking up at You from the bottom of

Sometimes I feel like I'm as close as your shadow and Sometimes I feel like I'm looking up at You from the bottom of The Grand Canyon so small and so far From the Grand Canyon, with a hole in my heart And I'm a long way from where I know I need to be When there's a Grand Canyon between You and me.

The Grand Canyon so small and so far From the Grand Canyon, with a hole in my heart And I'm a long way from where I know I need to be When there's a Grand Canyon between You and me.

I've had the faith that gave me strength for moving any mountainside I've felt the solid ground beneath my feet But I've had the bread of idleness while drinking from a well of doubt And it shakes the core of all I believe

I've had the faith that gave me strength for moving any mountainside I've felt the solid ground beneath my feet But I've had the bread of idleness while drinking from a well of doubt And it shakes the core of all I believe

What’s the Answer?

Leviticus is all about coming close to God to worship Him, and to walk with him in holiness.

The New International Version Leviticus

God wanted his people to live holy lives and be set apart from other nations. So he gave the Israelites laws and instructions regarding holiness in life and worship. Moses recorded these laws on stone tablets for the people of God as a permanent reminder for them to be faithful.

In fact, the very structure of the book points us to this very solution.

And that, I believe, is why it’s good to get this book off the shelf from time to time and blow the dust off and see what God has to say about walking with Him, being close to Him. Because in a sense, that’s what Leviticus talks about.

Author: Moses

Audience: God’s chosen people, Israelites

Date: 1448 and 1406 BC

Theme: The Israelites receive instructions from God concerning how to live as God’s holy people.

Leviticus

The Way TO God: Sacrifice (1:1 - 10:30)

The Walk With God: Sanctification (11:1 - 27:34)

The Walk With God: Sanctification (11:1 - 27:34)

The Way TO God (1:1 - 10:30)

The Way To God: Sacrifice (1:1 - 10:30)

Sacrifices

Priests

The Walk WITH God (11:1 - 27:30)

The Way to God: Through Sacrifice/Offering (1:1 - 10:30)

We start with 1:1-2

The New International Version Chapter 1

The LORD called to Mosesa and spoke to him from the tent of meeting.b He said, 2 “Speak to the Israelites and say to them: ‘When anyone among you brings an offering to the LORD,c bring as your offering an animal from either the herd or the flock.

The New International Version Chapter 1

The LORD called to Mosesa and spoke to him from the tent of meeting.b He said, 2 “Speak to the Israelites and say to them: ‘When anyone among you brings an offering to the LORD,c bring as your offering an animal from either the herd or the flock.

The New International Version Chapter 1

Speak to the Israelites and say to them: ‘When anyone among you brings an offering to the LORD,c bring as your offering an animal from either the herd or the flock.

“The Lord called to Moses and spoke to him from the tent of meeting. He said, “Speak to the Israelites and say to them: ‘When anyone among you brings an offering to the Lord, bring as your offering an animal from either the herd or the flock.” (, NIV)

The idea here is kind of, “when you come before the Lord, bring an offering...” And when you do, bring an offering of an animal to be slain.... from the herd or from the flock.”

The New International Version Chapter 1

bring as your offering an animal from either the herd or the flock

Don’t misunderstand this. It isn’t OUR sacrifice that gets us into the presence of God, it’s the sacrifice of the Lamb, of the goat, of the ox. In other words, substitutionary death on our behalf.

Don’t misunderstand this. It isn’t OUR sacrifice that gets us into the presence of God, it’s the sacrifice of the Lamb, of the goat, of the ox. In other words, substitutionary death.

But these various kinds of sacrifices here in 1:1 - 10:30 described basic various aspects of coming to God—through the sacrifice of an innocent animal.

Let’s take in a brief survey of these five kinds of offerings/sacrifices Israel is told to bring.

The Burnt Offering (1:3-17)

These offerings speak of total dedication to the Lord.

The fellowship (“peace,” KJV) offering has to do with communion with God,

and the sin offering and the guilt (“trespass,” KJV) offerings deal with cleansing from God.

Each of these offerings met a specific need in the life of the worshiper and also expressed some truth about the person and work of Jesus Christ, God’s perfect sacrifice.

1:3-9, Burnt Offering from the Herd

1:10-13. Burnt Offering from the Flock

1:14-17, Burnt Offering of Birds

Note in these passages on burnt offerings, the totality of the animal is consumed, given over to the Lord.

When worshipers wanted to express commitment to God, they brought the burnt offering, and possibly along with it the grain or meal (“meat,” KJV) offering and the drink offering (see ).

These offerings speak of total dedication to the Lord.

The burnt offerings were the offering/sacrifice Paul had in mind in

“Therefore, I urge you, brothers and sisters, in view of God’s mercy, to offer your bodies as a living sacrifice, holy and pleasing to God—this is your true and proper worship. Do not conform to the pattern of this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind. Then you will be able to test and approve what God’s will is—his good, pleasing and perfect will.” (, NIV)

See how begins with the word “therefore,” indicating that what he says next is based on what ideas were stated just before.

Interestingly enough, there is kind of a “therefore” in the first verse of Leviticus. Read , , and then ,. Note the uninterrupted transition from one book to the other. Remember that the previous accomplishments included the facilitating of the temple, as well as… things being set up for the atoning sacrifices.

And then you get to first words of Leviticus, and.... BAM!

LESSON: When you come to the Lord, come with no reservations, come to him with all your hopes pinned to Him, and with a heart totally given over.

RESULT: note that at the end of each of the various kinds of burnt offerings the same phrase shows up: “an aroma pleasing to the Lord.”

Grain Offering (2:1-16)

Be Holy 1. Commitment to God (Lev. 1–2; 6:8–23)

the meal offering was not presented alone; it accompanied one of the sacrifices that involved the shedding of blood. Our hard work can never purchase salvation or earn the blessing of God; for apart from the shedding of blood, there is no forgiveness of sin (Heb. 9:22).6 But those who have been saved by faith in the shed blood of Christ may dedicate to the Lord what He has enabled them to produce.

Fellowship Offering (3:1-17)

Be Holy 2. Communion with God (Lev. 3; 7:11–38)

There are several distinctive features about the peace offering or fellowship offering that should be noted. For one thing, the offerer could bring a female animal, something not permitted for the other animal sacrifices. If the offering was not in fulfillment of a vow, the sacrifice could have some defects and still be accepted (Lev. 22:23). After all, it was basically going to be used as food for the priests and the offerer’s family; and those defects wouldn’t matter.

Be Holy 2. Communion with God (Lev. 3; 7:11–38)

the fellowship offering is the only offering that was shared with the worshipers. After the priest had completed the sacrifice, a large portion of the meat went to him; the rest went to the offerer, who could then enjoy a feast with his family and friends. Since the Jews didn’t often slaughter their precious animals for meat, a dinner of beef or lamb would be a special occasion

Be Holy 2. Communion with God (Lev. 3; 7:11–38)

In the East, to eat with people is to make them your friends and allies. It means the end of hostilities, as with Jacob and his father-in-law Laban (Gen. 31:54), or the sealing of friendship, as with Israel and Jethro and his people (Ex. 18:12). In the church today, the Lord’s Supper, or Eucharist, is a simple meal that shows the unity of God’s family (1 Cor. 10:16–18; 11:18–34). That’s why it’s called “the Communion.”

Be Holy 2. Communion with God (Lev. 3; 7:11–38)

The peace offering meal, however, meant more than the enjoyment of good food and fellowship with loved ones. It was also an expression of joyful thanksgiving that the worshiper was at peace with God and in communion with God

Be Holy 2. Communion with God (Lev. 3; 7:11–38)

He might be giving thanks for some unexpected blessing God sent him (Lev. 7:11–15); or perhaps he had made a vow to God, and God had answered his prayers; or maybe he was just thankful to God for everything God did for him and wanted to let everybody know (vv. 16–18). The fellowship offering emphasized the fact that the forgiveness of sins resulted in communion with God and with God’s people.

Sin Offering (4:1 - 5:13)

Note that an offering was needed even for sins of ignorance, unintentional sins.

J. Vernon McGee

Thru the Bible with J. Vernon McGee Sins of Ignorance

Sins of ignorance reveal the underlying truth that man is a sinner by nature

Be Holy 3. Cleansing from God (Lev. 4–5; 6:1–7, 24–30; 7:1–10)

Note that while the fat of the sacrifice was burned on the altar, the body of the sacrifice was burned in a clean place outside the camp (vv. 8–12, 21). Why? For one thing, it made a distinction between the sin offering and the burnt offering so that the worshipers wouldn’t be confused as they watched. But even more, it reminded the people that the sins of the high priest and the whole congregation would pollute the whole camp; and the sin offering was too holy to remain in an unholy camp. Finally, according to Hebrews 13:10–13, this was a picture of our Lord Jesus Christ who died “outside the city gate … outside the camp” as our sin offering (vv. 12–13, NIV).

The result of this ritual was forgiveness (Lev. 4:20, 26, 31, 35; see 5:10, 13; 6:7). As I mentioned before, even though the sacrifice of animals can’t take away sin or change the human heart, the sacrifices pointed to the perfect Sacrifice, Jesus Christ (Heb. 10:1–15). He is our sin offering (Isa. 53:4–6, 12; Matt. 26:28; 2 Cor. 5:21; 1 Peter 2:24).

Guilt Offering (5:14 - 6:7)

The guilt (“trespass”, KJV) offerings emphasize the fact there has been an invasion of the rights of both God and man. Two kinds of sin: sins against “the holy things of of the Lord,” (5:15), and against one’s neighbor (6:1-7). Harm to others is the feature which requires that reparation had to be performed.

The trespass offering illustrates the solemn fact that it is a very costly thing for people to commit sin and for God to cleanse sin. Our sins hurt God and hurt others. True repentance will always bring with it a desire for restitution. We will want to make things right with God and with those whom we’ve sinned against.

The trespass offering illustrates the solemn fact that it is a very costly thing for people to commit sin and for God to cleanse sin. Our sins hurt God and hurt others. True repentance will always bring with it a desire for restitution. We will want to make things right with God and with those whom we’ve sinned against.

The Good News

Be Holy 3. Cleansing from God (Lev. 4–5; 6:1–7, 24–30; 7:1–10)

The trespass offering illustrates the solemn fact that it is a very costly thing for people to commit sin and for God to cleanse sin. Our sins hurt God and hurt others. True repentance will always bring with it a desire for restitution. We will want to make things right with God and with those whom we’ve sinned against.

Be Holy 3. Cleansing from God (Lev. 4–5; 6:1–7, 24–30; 7:1–10)

Jesus provides all that we need. He is our burnt offering, and we must yield ourselves wholly to Him. He is our meal offering, the seed crushed and put through the fire, that we might have the bread of life; and we must feed upon Him. He is our drink offering who poured Himself out in sacrifice and service, and we must pour ourselves out for Him and for others. He is our fellowship offering, making life a joyful feast instead of a painful famine. He is our sin offering and our guilt offering, for He bore our sins on His body (1 Peter 2:24) and paid the full price for our sins (1:18–19).

The nation of Israel had six different sacrifices they offered in order to have right relationship with God, but Jesus Christ offered one sacrifice for sins forever ( says) and took care of our sin problem completely.

You know, we started out today reciting the lyrics of a song about someone who confessed, sometimes they just felt distant from God, like they were at the bottom of the Grand Canyon. And that will happen sometimes because, well, because we’re human living in an imperfect world.

But how good to know that Jesus died for your sins and paid your debit in full. How wise of God to launch a book about coming before God to worship Him with the word pictures of God’s atonement for our sins and our response to that.

John ch. 7 tells of a woman at a banquet where Jesus was the guest of honor. The host had failed to have servants available to wash the feet of the guests. Then a “sinful” woman with a very expensive jar of perfume comes quietly in, and begins to wet Jesus’ feet with her tears, wipes his feet dry with her long hair, kisses them, then pours the perfume on his fee.

The “religious” types there began to grumble about this, and Jesus tells the story of how it’s the man who has been forgiven much who loves much.

Then, he looks at the woman and tells her, “Your sins are forgiven… Your faith has saved you; go in peace.”

The Offerings Today

Let’s take some time to consider how these sacrifices’ spiritual purpose might be fulfilled in our lives today.

I wonder if all that Jesus accomplished for us on the cross is allowed in our hearts to bear fruit. What if we were to close our eyes just now and think of the “mercies” of God, through the Lamb of God, would it move you and me to a spirit of dedication and a giving up of all that we are, all that we have to Him?

Do the blessings of God in our daily life move you and me to pour out to God our praise and worship through lifted hands, songs of praise, and even the first fruits of our earthly wealth?

Do we slow down enough in this hustle-bustle world to take to sit down with friends in Christ and enjoy our common heritage and the love for each that ought to be in our hearts, and in our actions?

In the weeks to come, let’s take time to focus on the goodness of God and His love for us, and let’s live lives of those who are worshippers of God Almighty, made flesh, living among us.