BGCT: DSM: Old Testament Text: Lecture 12: Leviticus

Index/Table of Contents
Old Testament and New Testament
Credits and Copyright

PENTATEUCH

LECTURE 12

LEVITICUS

Students will be able to

1. explain the theme, occasion, and authorship of Leviticus.

2. discuss six prominent subjects which summarize Leviticus.

Content of Lecture

Theme:

Irving L. Jensen describes Leviticus as "God's manual for His people on how to approach Him and live pleasing in His sight." The laws of Leviticus were guideposts which the Israelites needed for life on the wilderness journey and for the settling in Canaan.

The dichotomy, God's holiness and man's sinfulness, is the basic problem confronting all people. The good news in Leviticus is that atonement and cleansing for sin can reconcile people to God.

Occasion:

Leviticus was written while the Israelites were encamped on Mount Sinai (Lev. 7:38; 27:34). God spoke the words of Leviticus during the first month of the second year after the Exodus. Moses probably wrote them down before the wilderness journey recorded in Numbers.

Author:

Leviticus contains fifty-six references that explicitly state that the Lord gave the laws to His people through Moses.

Outline of Leviticus

I. Approaching a Holy God

A. Laws About Sacrifices (1:1-7:38)

1. Five types

Burnt: Symbolizing voluntary devotion of their very being and possessions to God, through complete consumption of sacrifice. (1:1-17)

Grain: Thanking God and offering their lives for His service. (2)

Peace: Participating in the blessings of fellowship with God. (3)

Sin: Being forgiven of unintentional sin. (4:1-5:13)

Guilt: Being forgiven for the sins they committed. This offering required a sacrifice and restitution. (Lev. 5:16).

2. Pattern of ritual

a. Appropriate animal selected

b. Laying on of hands (identification)

c. Expiation (symbolism of blood)

d. Dedication of animal

1) In burnt offering the entire animal was consumed by fire, symbolizing dedication to God.

2) Part of the cereal offering was burned (a part that memorialized the worshiper before God) and the rest was given to the priests (Lev. 2:9-10)

B. Laws about the Consecration of Priests (8-l0)

1. Priests served as mediators

a. In offering sacrifice, the priest represented the worshiper before God.

b. In teaching, the priest represented God before the people (Lev. 10:11).

2. Aaron and his four sons, Nadab, Abihu, Eleasar and Ithamar were the first priests.

3. Along with chapter 21 and 22 these chapters are devoted to the consecration and holy disciplines of their ministry.

II. Living in the Presence of a Holy God

A. Laws about "clean" and "unclean" things (11-15)

1. Food(11)

2. Childbirth (12)

3. Leprosy and Skin Diseases (13-14)

4. Discharges and Secretions (15)

B. Laws about Holiness (l6-25)

1. The Day of Atonement (16)

a. The most important day of Israel's calendar.

b. The idea of atonement for sin reached its highest expression.

c. Sin and burnt offerings were a part of the ritual.

d. The only day that the high priest could enter into the most holy place of the tabernacle.

e. A day of fasting.

f. A day that reminded of the grace of God in forgiving sin.

2. Taboo On Eating and Drinking Blood

3. Laws about Sexuality (18)

4. Civil and Ceremonial Laws (19)

5. Various Laws and Punishments (20)

6. Laws for Priests (21-22)

7. Feasts and calendar (23-25)

a. These were days when the Israelites meditated on who God was and what He had done for them.

b. The sacred calendar

(1) Sabbath -- a weekly reminder of the Lord's rest at the end of creation. A joyful day of worship and strict observance of rest from work.

(2) Passover -- commemorated the final plague on Egypt when the firstborn of the Egyptians died and the Israelites were spared because of the blood smeared on their doorposts.

(3) Feast of Weeks, also called Pentecost --50 days after Passover the grain harvest was celebrated.

(4) Day of Atonement -- a day of mourning over sins and sacrifice. The high priest entered the Holy of Holies only on this day to atone for the people's sins.

(5) Feast of Tabernacles -- a feast of ingathering five days after the Day of Atonement. The people built booths as a reminder of God's provision during the Exodus.

(6) Feast of Trumpets -- New Year celebration in October.

(7) Sabbath Year -- rest for the land from cultivation.

(8) Year of Jubilee -- year of liberty every 49 years. Rest for the soil, reversion of landed property, and redemption of slaves.

III. Covenant Blessing and Curses (26)

IV. Appendix Laws about Vows and Gifts (27)

ASSIGNMENT

Read the biblical account of the Israelites experiencing the Wilderness Wanderings as a result of unbelief (Numbers 12:16-14:12).

Read from text the section on Numbers (Hill and Walton, Chapter 10).

OUTLINE OF LEVITICUS

Discussion Questions:

How did the tabernacle courtyard and ritual emphasize human sinfulness and God's holiness?

How can laws be restrictive or negative in form (you shall not...) but positive in purpose or intent?

Does this limited provision for forgiveness (only for sinning unwittingly) indicate that the sacrificial system was never totally effective in removing sin? (Note Hebrews 10:10) Why was it important that the person who offered the sacrifice confess his sin (note Lev. 5:5)?

What does the emphasis on the Sabbath, Sabbath Year and Year of Jubilee suggest about the importance of scheduled rest and worship? What would be the advantages of having a "Year of Jubilee? Why would it be hard to implement? Does western civilization have a balanced perspective toward the value of renewal and spiritual rest? Do you think it would be valuable for you to spend one day per month in quiet reflection or prayer?

Teacher's Notes:

Leviticus introduces us to many kinds of laws: general or specific; ceremonial, social, or moral; temporal or timeless; punitive or reparative. All the laws of Leviticus were designed by God for His glory and for the good of His people. God's law reveals the corruption of mankind and convicts of sin.

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