Walk Through the Bible: People, Places, and Turning Points of the Bible

Read Through the Bible: People, Places, and Turning Points of the BibleOfferings, sacrifices, and holidays of Leviticus

Bibleknowledgeproject.comTaught by Tyler WeidlerReview of last weekElements and layout of the tabernacleGod fills the tabernacleGod fills Solomons templeEzekiels vision of God abandoning the templeDestruction of the templeRebuilding of the temple under EzraGod does not fill the new templeGod fills believers, making us his temple

This week will be a little differentClass will focus more on giving you tools to study Leviticus on your ownLook at outlines and overviews of LeviticusProvide a few templates for where to startDiscuss reasons why you should study LeviticusWhy study Leviticus?Leviticus is hard to read, even harder to make sense of.Leviticus is bloody.Most people, even serious Bible readers, skip Leviticus, or read it just to get done with it.There is not much popular literature about Leviticus, only dense, expert-level stuff.This class will only scratch the surface, barely.The best commentary on the Bible is the Bible.The best commentaries on Leviticus are Exodus, Numbers, and Hebrews.Anybody can study the Bible, with or without being an expertWe need more people to study of Leviticus.

Gods word is worth your studySuch knowledge is too wonderful for me, too lofty for me to attain Psalm 139:6Oh the depth of the riches both of the wisdom and knowledge of God! How unsearchable are his judgments and unfathomable his ways. Romans 11:33,34Gods truth is not always easy to understand, but it is worth studying, and should motivate, not intimidateWhy is Leviticus so bloody? Sacrifices require lots of bloodGod threatens and enforces death against anyone who breaks the law in any way.Read Leviticus 10:1-3Two of Aarons sons (Nadab and Abihu) are killed by fire from God when they get the incense recipe wrong2000 years of Christianity has changed our perspective of GodTo ancient Israel God was viewed from the perspective of obedience, not forgivenessIn most O.T. cases, anytime someone encounters God or an angel, they are surprised to still be aliveAngels always start with fear not.God is holy and omnipotent. His holiness is not compatible with any sin whatsoeverChrist offers forgiveness, and Gods wrath is satisfiedPeople expect God to be loving, forgiving, and to fill their needsA God who requires sacrifices, blood, and rigid obedience is not understood in our cultureLeviticus demonstrates how thoroughly Christ has fulfilled Gods requirementsGods wrath was poured out on Jesus at the cross.Introduction to LeviticusLeviticus is about Levites and priestsLevites are all members of the tribe of LeviPriests are a special line of Levites descended from AaronLevites and priests do not get their own tribal landLevites and priests live off the offerings and tithes of IsraelLevites and priests have special duties related to temple maintenance and offeringsOverview of LeviticusLeviticus was written by Moses, and takes place in the time after God fills the tabernacle.Leviticus is about how to approach GodUses language like clean/unclean, holy/profane

Only way to approach God is through sacrifices and ritual cleansingLeviticus puts extreme emphasis on sacrifices, including the location, the technique, the people involved, and the time and date.

Origin of Levitical systemNumbers 3:11-14The LORD also said to Moses,I have taken the Levites from among the Israelites in place of the first male offspring of every Israelite woman. The Levites are mine,for all the firstborn are mine. When I struck down all the firstborn in Egypt, I set apart for myself every firstborn in Israel, whether human or animal. They are to be mine. I am the LORD.The LORD said to Moses in the Desert of Sinai,Count the Levites by their families and clans. Count every male a month old or more

Origin of Levitical System Cont..Levites are called out by God in place of all the firstborn of IsraelGod set every firstborn apart when he struck down the firstborn of Egypt.This means he passed over the houses of Israel, but he did not give up his claim on the firstborn. The animal sacrifice was not enough.God chooses the tribe of Levi in place of his claim on the firstborn, demonstrating that the animal sacrifice was insufficient.Levites are a substituted in place of the firstborn, who belong to God.Tithing follows this same principle. God demands the firstfruits Origin of Levitical System Cont.Purpose of Levites and priests is to stand between God and Israel and minister to God on Israels behalf.Levites and priests are founded on the principle of standing in the place of others before God.Levites and priests are imperfect substitutes, and must offer animal sacrifices for themselves as well as for others, year after year, continually.The founding of the Levitical system demonstrates that animal sacrifices are not sufficient, yet the system is structured entirely around animal sacrifices.By New Testament times, the system is completely broken downThats why we need JesusAnimal sacrifices do not remove sin, they only remind us of sin, and remind us of the fact that sin is deserving of death. (Hebews 10:1-5)Sinful people are not able to substitute themselves for other sinful peopleJesus is perfect, Jesus is the firstborn of all creation, and Jesus was able to fully substitute himself on behalf of all who believe, once and for all. (Hebrews 10:11-18)

Outline of LeviticusRules for sacrifices (1:1-7:38)

Consecration of priests (8:1-10:20)

Clean and unclean (11:1-15:33)Food, disease, childbirth, leprosy, bodily disordersDay of Atonement (16:1-34)10 day of seventh monthLaws(17:1-25:55)

Punishments and blessings (26:1-27:34)

Read Leviticus 1Read Leviticus 1

Leviticus 1 provides the law for whole burnt offerings.Dont have time (or understanding) to read each of the sacrifices.Provides a reasonable template for studying other offerings.

Two ways to approach LeviticusWhat did it mean in its original context to the Israelites who heard it and read it?

What does it mean to Christians who can interpret it through Christ?

Both angles are important and informative.Leviticus in its original contextIsraels experience with sacrificesPassover in EgyptSacrifice an unblemished ram. Paint its blood on your doorThis will save your firstborn from deathAnimal sacrifice is a substitute for a person.Already stated that this sacrifice was not complete.

Leviticus in its original context; further review of the tabernacleAffirmation of Gods covenant Ex. 24:3-8

When Moses went and told the people all the LORDs words and laws, they responded with one voice, Everything the LORD has said we will do.Moses then wrote down everything the LORD had said.He got up early the next morning and built an altar at the foot of the mountain and set up twelve stone pillars representing the twelve tribes of Israel.Then he sent young Israelite men, and they offered burnt offerings and sacrificed young bulls as fellowship offerings to the LORD.Moses took half of the blood and put it in bowls, and the other half he splashed against the altar.Then he took the Book of the Covenant and read it to the people. They responded, We will do everything the LORD has said; we will obey.Moses then took the blood, sprinkled it on the people and said, This is the blood of the covenant that the LORD has made with you in accordance with all these words.

Leviticus in its original contextGod gave the terms of the covenant with Israel. (Ex. 20-23)Israel accepts the terms, and offers sacrifices.This offering is done to establish the covenant of fellowship with God.Blood is poured into basins, then sprinkled on the people (24:8)This is the blood of the covenantBlood establishes a covenantWhat it means to ChristiansBlood of the covenant is put on all Gods people who agree to the covenant.When Jesus is about to die, he says the same words This is the blood of the covenant which is poured out for many for the forgiveness of sins (Matt 26:28)In the same way, after the supper he took the cup, saying,This cup is the new covenant in my blood, which is poured out for you (Luke 22:20)Jesus established a new covenant for the forgiveness of sins. This contrasts with the original covenant, which was a covenant based on obedience to the 10 commandments.

Day of Atonement (Leviticus 16)Day of Atonement is the most important day on the Jewish calendar (Yom Kippur)10 day of seventh month (Tishrei) Extreme caution and rites for high priestOnly day of the year on which he may enter the Most Holy PlaceRequires two goatsOne is sacrificed, the other is a scapegoatDay of Atonement ScapegoatOne goat is slaughtered, the other is a scapegoatPriest lays hands on scapegoats head and confesses all the sins of the nationGoat is taken far away into the wilderness and let goGoat symbolically takes on the sins of the nation and bears them awayOnce again proves that the sacrificed goat was not enough to remove the problem of sin.Day of Atonement Sacrificed GoatSlaughtered goats blood is sprinkled seven times on the veil before the priest may enterSeven is the number of completeness and perfection, required before the priest can approach GodJesus, as he fulfilled the law to perfection, announced It is finished and the veil was torn.Next WeekJoshua leads Israel into the landLand is conqueredPeriod of the JudgesRuthSamsonSamuel