26 & 27 Leviticus

26 Leviticus The Promise of God (Using Lunsford, J. (2006). Leviticus 101 (p. 228).

(All you need to do is read the chapter. The promises and curses speak for themselves.)

“Leviticus 26 is the epilogue to the Holiness Code” (Chp 17-26, Heizer)

Leviticus 26 - A promise of blessings or curses. (A bit of picture of Eden, how it should have been)

To receive a promised blessing Israel had to …

If you will, then I will: (Six I will’s) – This is the Good News

1. Worship God alone (vs. 1-2)

2. Walk in His statutes and keep His commandments (vs. 3-13)

If you will not, then I will (25 verses worth of I will)

On the other hand, disobedience brought about … This is the Bad News

1. Terror, sickness, and disease (vs. 14-33)

2. Then the Land (vs.34-39)

As always, God offers a plan of restoration back into a right relationship with HIM.

To enter back into a proper relationship with God Israel had to … (Five I will’s)

1. Confess their sin and change their ways (vs. 40-46)

2. A promise of restoration

27 Leviticus Making and Redeeming Vows (Lunsford, J. (2006). Leviticus 101 (p. 236).

Leviticus 27 (Possible an appendage to, as Chpt.26 seemed to really end the book)

Making a vow with God was to be considered a very serious matter. Though free will in nature the person or persons forming the vow were expected to honor it. No one was commanded to make a vow.

When thou vowest a vow unto God, defer not to pay it; for he hath no pleasure in fools: pay that which thou hast vowed. 5 Better is it that thou shouldest not vow, than that thou shouldest vow and not pay. Ecclesiastes 5:4-5.

A vow is a matter of integrity. It’s a promise to GOD. When a vow was not paid, God required a Sin Offering be given.

Do People make and break vows to God? You tell me. (How many people promise to stop sinning?)

Leviticus 27: Remember, God does not require a vow, thus He provides a means of being released from the vow.

A vow could include …

1. Persons (vs. 1-8) a person is consecrated to GOD

a. The Priest shall value him for the purpose of being redeemed from the vow.

2. Animals (vs. 9-13) an animal is consecrated to GOD

a. Clean animals became HOLY and could not be redeemed.

b. Unclean animals the Priest shall value

c. Redeemed by adding a 5th part to the estimation of an unclean animal

3. Homes (vs. 14-15) a house is consecrated to GOD

a. The Priest shall estimate it

b. Redeemed by adding a 5th part to the estimation

4. Land (vs. 16-25) Land is consecrated to GOD

a. Estimated according to the seed it can produce – probably by the Priest

b. Redeemed by adding a 5th part to the estimation

c. If not redeemed it belongs to the Priest

However, there were items that could not be offered in vows. These included …

1. Firstborn of the beast (vs. 26-29) These already belong to GOD

a. Exodus 13:1-2 And the LORD spake unto Moses, saying, 2 Sanctify unto me all the firstborn, whatsoever openeth the womb among the children of Israel, both of man and of beast: it is mine.

b. Redeemed by adding a 5th part to the estimation

2. Tithes (vs. 30-34)

a. Based upon that concept above, I’d say it would be unwise to vow to tithe. It already belongs to GOD.

b. The tithe is considered Holy unto the LORD.

Everything has value and the priest sets the value.

We have a High Priest, and He too has set a value upon us – a value worth dying for. We are the Pearl of Great Price spoke of by Jesus in Matthew 13:45-46.

The theme throughout the Book of Leviticus has been – “Be ye holy even ask I am holy.”