Things You Need to Know... From Leviticus

Matthew 6:9–13 ESV

9 Pray then like this: “Our Father in heaven, hallowed be your name. 10 Your kingdom come, your will be done, on earth as it is in heaven. 11 Give us this day our daily bread, 12 and forgive us our debts, as we also have forgiven our debtors. 13 And lead us not into temptation, but deliver us from evil.

Let’s pray for

A return to everyone coming in person on Sunday mornings

The Davis family and Elenora Joy

That we might love Jesus more each day and seek the Spirit’s power in overcoming temptation.

Sacerdotalism: The separation of the clergy and the laity

In Exodus, Israel was redeemed and set apart as a nation of priests

Exodus 19:5–6 ESV

5 Now therefore, if you will indeed obey my voice and keep my covenant, you shall be my treasured possession among all peoples, for all the earth is mine; 6 and you shall be to me a kingdom of priests and a holy nation.’ These are the words that you shall speak to the people of Israel.”

Jesus the greater deliverer

Taking Israel out of Egypt; Taking Egypt out of Israel

Genesis: You have been chosen by the one true and living God

Exodus: You have been delivered by the one true and living God

In Leviticus: the duties of priests in worship: the preparation for worship, the public presentation of worship and the personal presentation of worship

Worship which looks forward to the once and for all sacrifice of Jesus. Worship which shows our need for forgiveness and cleansing.

Hebrews 10:1–25 ESV

1 For since the law has but a shadow of the good things to come instead of the true form of these realities, it can never, by the same sacrifices that are continually offered every year, make perfect those who draw near. 2 Otherwise, would they not have ceased to be offered, since the worshipers, having once been cleansed, would no longer have any consciousness of sins? 3 But in these sacrifices there is a reminder of sins every year. 4 For it is impossible for the blood of bulls and goats to take away sins. 5 Consequently, when Christ came into the world, he said, “Sacrifices and offerings you have not desired, but a body have you prepared for me; 6 in burnt offerings and sin offerings you have taken no pleasure. 7 Then I said, ‘Behold, I have come to do your will, O God, as it is written of me in the scroll of the book.’ ” 8 When he said above, “You have neither desired nor taken pleasure in sacrifices and offerings and burnt offerings and sin offerings” (these are offered according to the law), 9 then he added, “Behold, I have come to do your will.” He does away with the first in order to establish the second. 10 And by that will we have been sanctified through the offering of the body of Jesus Christ once for all. 11 And every priest stands daily at his service, offering repeatedly the same sacrifices, which can never take away sins. 12 But when Christ had offered for all time a single sacrifice for sins, he sat down at the right hand of God, 13 waiting from that time until his enemies should be made a footstool for his feet. 14 For by a single offering he has perfected for all time those who are being sanctified. 15 And the Holy Spirit also bears witness to us; for after saying, 16 “This is the covenant that I will make with them after those days, declares the Lord: I will put my laws on their hearts, and write them on their minds,” 17 then he adds, “I will remember their sins and their lawless deeds no more.” 18 Where there is forgiveness of these, there is no longer any offering for sin. 19 Therefore, brothers, since we have confidence to enter the holy places by the blood of Jesus, 20 by the new and living way that he opened for us through the curtain, that is, through his flesh, 21 and since we have a great priest over the house of God, 22 let us draw near with a true heart in full assurance of faith, with our hearts sprinkled clean from an evil conscience and our bodies washed with pure water. 23 Let us hold fast the confession of our hope without wavering, for he who promised is faithful. 24 And let us consider how to stir up one another to love and good works, 25 not neglecting to meet together, as is the habit of some, but encouraging one another, and all the more as you see the Day drawing near.

You might be thinking: this looks awful, this looks tedious and repetitive. Where’s the worship band, where’s the special light machines? Where’s the sitting at home in my pajamas and sipping my coffee? Who in their right mind would want to kills animals in a hot desert?

We look back. We see the beauty of Jesus. We see the precious savior sacrificed and risen and reigning in heaven.

For some reason Leviticus is often spoken of in disparaging terms. Preachers make jokes about Leviticus. But I think Leviticus is one of the most beautiful books in the Bible.

When Moses wrote this he looked back at the false worship of Egypt and forward to the worship of the nation of Israel. But the Holy Spirit also wanted the people of God to look forward to the greater prophet, the greater high priest, the greater sacrifice. The Spirit wants us to see Jesus in all of glory as our great high priest, the bearer of our sin and the savior of our souls.

Voluntary Offerings 1-3 Compulsory Offerings 4-7 Priestly Orders 8-10 Personal Purity 11-15 National Purity 16-20 Priestly Purity 21-23 Future Purity 24-27

Access to God by Sacrifice 1-10 Fellowship with God by Obedience 11-27

(1) There is expected giving and there is voluntary giving

Tithes and offerings

(2) There is personal worship and corporate worship

Hebrews 10:24–25 ESV

24 And let us consider how to stir up one another to love and good works, 25 not neglecting to meet together, as is the habit of some, but encouraging one another, and all the more as you see the Day drawing near.

(3) There is law and there is grace

God graciously reveals his will. God graciously seeks those whose hearts are open to his word and His Spirit.

Charles Spurgeon: Speaking on

1 Peter 2:4 ESV

4 As you come to him, a living stone rejected by men but in the sight of God chosen and precious,

"To whom coming."—1 Peter 2:4.

IN THESE three words you have, first of all, a blessed person mentioned, under the pronoun "whom"—"To whom coming." In the way of salvation we come alone to Jesus Christ. All comings to baptism, comings to confirmation, comings to sacrament are all null and void unless we come to Jesus Christ. That which saves the soul is not coming to a human priest, nor even attending the assemblies of God's saints; it is coming to Jesus Christ, the great exalted Saviour, once slain, but now enthroned in glory. You must get to him, or else you have virtually nothing upon which your soul can rely.

You must obey but you must first come toJesus.

Grace gives genuine faith. The Law tests the genuineness of your faith

Lev 25 - Would you have the faith to do what God required of Israel? After every six years of farming the land, the Israelites were commanded to leave it unplanted for an entire year. In essence, God was asking them to place their source of livelihood completely in his hands. Leaning on his provision alone, they would experience the thrill of living by faith and watching God supply their daily needs. Imagine the excitement of watching farmland suddenly produce double and even triple its normal crop! God was saying to the people, “Just trust me.” God has staked his reputation on the fact that when you obey him, he will follow through on his promises. “In all your ways submit to him, and he will make your paths straight” (Proverbs 3: 6). “But seek first his kingdom and his righteousness, and all these things will be given to you as well” (Matthew 6: 33). Select one of these two verses and make it yours for today. WE LIVE BY FAITH, AND FAITH LIVES BY EXERCISE.

God’s command to let the land rest every seventh year (and again every fiftieth year; see 25: 11) fell on deaf ears. Later, the people would go into captivity in Babylon and spend one year in exile for every sabbatical year they ignored (2   Chronicles 36: 20-21).

(4) Jesus is greater

Heb 1:3; 3:3;

Hebrews 4:14–16 ESV

14 Since then we have a great high priest who has passed through the heavens, Jesus, the Son of God, let us hold fast our confession. 15 For we do not have a high priest who is unable to sympathize with our weaknesses, but one who in every respect has been tempted as we are, yet without sin. 16 Let us then with confidence draw near to the throne of grace, that we may receive mercy and find grace to help in time of need.

Leviticus calls us to take our personal worship seriously, our corporate worship seriously, to understand that you are a priest called to obey the Lord and serve him. You are to continue to offer the sacrifice of praise in addition to tithes and offerings and serving in the church.

But most important, do you see Jesus as more than a savior? Do you see him as our high priest, the one who gave his life but now reigns in heaven and intercedes for you and waits for you to come to him in faith.