Christian Message Boards: Leviticus

This is topic Leviticus in forum Bible Topics & Study at Christian Message Boards.

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Posted by jwolf6589 (Member # 8359) on :

I just started an adventure through the third book of the Bible. Prior to the read I read some introductions on the book. I am not interested in learning everything there is to know (why I did not read the material in some of my resources), but just a general understanding of the book which even a basic cursory understanding is lacking among MOST christians. I am adventuring through the book with the NIV translation which is all too often much easier to understand the comprehend. Its not perfect, but its my preferred translation for bible reading. I really like aids that use the visual to connect the reader. Sadly my NIVSB is not as through as my ESVSB which is loaded with color charts, maps, and illustrations. However my NIVSB is written from a Dispensational POV, and my ESVSB is not, so I may tend to ignore some of the notes in my ESVSB.

So what do you like about the book and what has helped you understand it? Please in your reply be considerate and do not post a 5-10 page reply or copy and paste from a website as I will ignore it. Be accurate and to the point. Thank you!

John

Posted by Caretaker (Member # 36) on :

God bless you;

I am providing a link to an online resource and a quote from their introduction to the Book of Leviticus.

This might be a helpful resource in your study, as it can provide an overview and an insight into God's separation/preparation of the Children of Israel, from the Tabernacle in the Wilderness. Leviticus is an important background for the New Testament Book of Hebrews, and is extensively quoted in the NT:

http://www.gcfweb.org/institute/torah/leviticus-a.html

quote:

The book of Leviticus is divided between a laws regarding making sacrifices to God (1-16) and laws regarding personal conduct (17-25). The book concludes with a statement of blessings and curses for keeping the covenant (26) and then the list of regulations for the keeping of vows. The subdivisions in the book are distinguished by the phrase, “Speak to the sons of Israel and say. [1]”
Importance of Leviticus

Leviticus is probably one of the most ignored books in the bible and has derailed many a “read-through the bible” program. The regulations and sacrificial system seems to have very little application to a Christian today. While Christians will leave Leviticus as one of the last books of the bible to study, it is the first book studied by a Jewish child [2]. However, the book of Leviticus has profound meaning for Christians today as well.

* No book of the bible contains more of the direct words of God than Leviticus.
* Leviticus is quoted about 40 different times in the New Testament [3].
* A proper understanding of the book of Hebrews is impossible without an understanding of Leviticus.
* The Christian doctrine of atonement (the idea of transferring our guilt and sin to Christ) is foundational in Leviticus.
* Leviticus gives us a glimpse of the holiness of God.
* Leviticus calls Christians today to a life of holiness before our God.

Purpose

The books Exodus concludes in Exodus 40 with the glory of God filling the Tabernacle. The book of Leviticus begins by God calling to Moses from the Tabernacle. The book of Leviticus defines for this redeemed people how to maintain proper fellowship with their glorious God who now dwells among them.

The nation has also just left Egypt and its culture and religion, and is about to enter into Canaan, where other cultures and religions will be influencing the nation. Leviticus provides stipulations to the people to remain separate (holy) from these cultures and to remain faithful to Yahweh.
Theme

The theme of the book of Leviticus comes from 11:45:

“For I am the LORD who brought you up from the land of Egypt to be your God; thus you shall be holy, for I am holy.”

Holiness is to be separate or sacred; to be set apart for specific purpose. First, God desires Israel to be set apart from the other nations. They should believe, act, and look differently than Egypt and Canaan.

Secondly, God has called Israel to be set apart for a specific purpose. God has called Israel apart to be a kingdom of priests. A priest is an intermediary between God and others. Israel is to be a kingdom which has been set apart to be an intermediary between God and the rest of the world. It was through the nation Israel that God desired to reach the world through his people, and thus fulfill the Abrahamic covenant, which says, “in you all the families of the earth shall be blessed.”

In this book, God establishes specific laws for His people that would set them apart as a kingdom of priests with whom God dwells.

If the entire nation is to be a holy priesthood, then the priests of this nation are called to an even greater level of holiness. So, Leviticus sets out even more stringent requirements for the Levite priests. In Chapters 6-10 and 21-22, God lays out laws of purity for the priests, such as avoiding all dead bodies, limitations on marriage, prohibition on “imperfect” priests, and stringent requirements for the family of priests. To emphasize the seriousness of these stipulations, when they failed this, often they were killed, as were Aaron's sons, Nadab and Abihu (10:1-3)

The theme of the book is the holiness of God and His expectations for holiness amongst His people.