LEVITICUS...Here are some notes for your study for Thursday nights. Most notes taken from Marilyn Hickey's SEEING JESUS ENCOUNTER!
AUTHOR AND SETTING: Moses, camped at the foot of Mt. Sinai
PURPOSE: The theme of Leviticus is learning to live in relationship with the holy God Himself. But to obtain holiness man was required to perform sacrifices for the covering of sin.
SEEING JESUS: Jesus is represented in many ways in LEVITICUS: 1) as each of the five sacrifices; 2) as a priest-frequently compared to Aaron, the first High Priest; and 3) as the fulfillment of the feats and festivals.
THEME VERSE: Leviticus 19:2
SEEING JESUS IN LEVITICUS
Jesus told us that Moses was the author of Leviticus when he commanded the cleansed leper to “offer the gift that Moses commanded” (Mat 8:4). This is a reference to Leviticus 13. Moses probably wrote this book while the Israelites were encamped at the foot of Mt. Sinai.
OVERVIEW
Leviticus is not the Hebrew title assigned to this third book of the Pentateuch. The original title is Wayiqra, meaning “he called”, and is the first word of the Hebrew text. The Greek Septuagint called this book LEUITIKON, meaning “that which pertains to the priests”, and from this the Latin Vulgate derived LEVITICUS. The book of Leviticus is especially powerful because it teaches us how to approach God. The New Testament book of Hebrews quotes much from this book.
In this book there are laws that deal with sacrifices. The sacrifice is is the basis for all true worship. Man is guilty and unclean. He needs a sacrifice to free him from the guilt and to cleanse away his defilement. First God got Israel out of Egypt, now God is getting Egypt out of Israel.
SEEING JESUS IN LEVITICUS
Jesus is seen in the five sacrifices, the seven feasts, and the priesthood.
THERE WERE FIVE SACRIFICES
THE WHOLE BURNT OFFERING (lev.1:1-17, 6:8-13) This was an individual expression of devotion, thanksgiving and worship. The burnt offering met the needs of a redeemed people, and it was their approach to the savior. This sacrifice could consist of a bull, sheep, goat, pigeon or turtledove. It speaks to us of Christ's total commitment to give Himself for us.
THE MEAL OFFERING (Leviticus 2: 1-16, 6: 14-23) This was a voluntary offering of Thanksgiving, and it could be offered as fine flour or cooked into bread or wafers. It was something that man had done; grain required man's diligent cultivation. By this act the offerer acknowledged that his benefits came from and through the aid and goodness of God.
THE PEACE OFFERING (Lev.. 3:1-17, 7: 11-38) This was an offering of a consecrated sacrificial animal which the people joyfully ate together. Their celebration declared, “We have peace with God”. The peace offering was food for the priest and worshiper. This sacrifice represents Christ who was the sacrificial victim for our salvation as well as the sources of our spiritual substances.
“AND AS THEY WERE EATING, JESUS TOOK BREAD, AND BLESSED IT, AND BRAKE IT, AND GAVE IT TO THE DISCIPLES, AND SAID, TAKE, EAT; THIS IS MY BODY” MAT 26:26.
By daily feeding on the word of Christ, we live and grow into life eternal, and we experience His peace.
THE SIN OFFERING (Lev. 41-5, 13, 14, 6: 24-30) The sin offering was required because man had sinned. Man's forgiveness involved his repentance and the reliance upon an atonement. When we repent, we have to trust in Christ's atonement. The purpose of the sin offering was to restore the priest, the congregation, the ruler, and the common man. Jesus Christ is our effectual sin offering. We have boldness, therefore, to enter into the holy place by the blood of Jesus.
THE TRESPASS OFFERING (Leviticus 5:14- 6:7: 1-10) The trespass offering had two sections: it was for a trespass against the Lord or a trespass against man. This trespass was always a ram of the flock. Jesus shed his blood that we might be reconciled to God and reconciled to one another when we trespass against each other.
THERE WERE SEVEN FEAST DAYS:
PASSOVER: This was strictly a family feast held in the homes of the people. Aliens, travelers, or hired servants could participate. Originally, the Israelites killed a lamb and applied the blood to the doors of their homes so that the death angel would pass over their houses. Christ is our Passover Lamb. (1 Cor. 5:7). This feast shows the power of the lamb for deliverance from death.
UNLEAVENED BREAD: For seven days no leaven was permitted in the house of the Israelite. Leaven is a symbol of corruption.. That's why Paul told the Corinthians to purge out the old leaven (1 Cor. 5: 1-8). Jesus was without spot and without sin; He had no leaven.
FIRST FRUITS:
This observance involved the bringing of the first sheaves of grain to the priest who would wave it before the Lord and offer burnt offerings with meal and drink offerings. It symbolized that the whole harvest belonged to God. Jesus was the first fruit---He was the first to arise from the dead. Death could not hold him because He was sinless.
PENECOST: This prefigured the ministry of the Holy Spirit. This feast was marked by the offering of raised bread such as we eat daily, and the priest also waved these loaves before the lord. We are reminded of Jesus who came to be among us, providing us with daily bread from heaven for our spiritual sustenance. He then returned to heaven and sent the Holy Spirit to us.
TRUMPETS: The trumpet is often used to symbolize the voice of God. This is symbolic of of the trumpet which will be blown in the return of Jesus Christ.
DAY OF ATONEMENT: The day of atonement was very important. It was nine days after the Hebrew New Year and was the most solemn day of all. It was to be a day of fasting- a day of humbling one's self before God for all of Israel. Israel was a separated people showing forth the complete salvation God provided through Jesus Christ. Jesus is our atonement. Detail instructions were given in Leviticus 16 for the observance of this day.
TABERNACLES: Two weeks after the day of atonement, the Israelite's began a week long celebration known as THE FEAST OF TABERNACLES. During this feast the people dwelt in the fields in tabernacles or booths to celebrate the fact that God had brought them through the wilderness into their own land. It was a joyous time. This celebration allows us to look ahead to Jesus coming back as The One who was pierced for us in the Day of Atonement and as THE ONE WHO will live among us.
THE PRIESTHOOD:
THE PRIESTHOOD: The priesthood was established in Leviticus. Originally God wanted the whole nation to be priests. The priesthood was eventually comprised of the tribe of Levi. Chapter nine shows how the Levites began their ministry and also how they received their instructions and requirements for offering sacrifices for themselves as well as for the people. Following instructions brought God's blessings. They were to distinguish between the clean and the unclean. Jesus is our high priest.
“Seeing then that we have a great high priest, that is passed into the heavens, Jesus the Son of God, let us hold fast our profession. For we have not a high priest that cannot be touched with the feelings of our infirmities; but was in all points tempted like as we are, yet without sin. Let us therefore come boldly unto the throne of grace, that we may obtain mercy, and find grace to help in time of need.” Hebrews (4:14-16)
“But Christ being come an high priest of good things to come, by a greater and more perfect tabernacle, not made with hands, that is to say, not of this building.” (Hebrews 9:11)
Theme Verse: “Speak unto the congregation of the children of Israel, and say unto them, Ye shall be holy: for I the Lord your God AM holy.” Leviticus 19:2
