LEVITICUS. Windows into the Heart of God

LEVITICUS Windows into the Heart of God

LEVITICUS Windows into the Heart of God

Purity Code: Challenge This is difficult to explain. You must be careful. You will have to work hard to be clear. You must be cautious. Misunderstandings are common. The connotation of words will be critical. Most expositors will skip this section.

1 (Uncommon/Pagan) Unclean 7 8 Laws of Sacrifice How do a sinful people live in the presence of holy YHWH? 10 Priesthood How do a sinful people worship? Wash Wait (Common/Secular) Clean 11 Sacrifice Laws of Purification Laws of Holiness How does the holiness of YHWH affect daily life? How can a sinful people make holiness a way of life? Redemption: Vows and Gifts (27:1-34) The regulation of life in the Land. Palestinian Covenant (26:1-46) Hope: Sabbatical and Jubilee Years (25:1-55) Participation: The Tabernacle and Blasphemy (24:1-23) Holy Days: Festivals (23:1-44) Worship: Regulations for Eating Sacrifices (22:1-33) Order: Standards for the Priests (21:1-24) Justice: Capital and Serious Crimes (20:1-27) Neighborliness: A Summary of the Law (19:1-37) 16 17 Intimacy: Sexual Behavior (18:1-30) Blood: Sacrifice and Food (17:1-16) The total removal of all the sin of the nation. The Day of Atonement (16:1-34) (Holiness and the Body) Unclean Discharges (15:1-33) (Holiness and Restoration) Cleansing of Diseases (14:1-57) (Holiness and Contamination) Unclean Diseases (13:1-59) (Holiness and Physical Life) Uncleanness in Childbirth (12:1-8) (Holiness and Mealtime) Unclean Animals (11:1-47) Ordination of Aaron and His Sons (8:1-36) (Consecration of the Ministry) Aaron s First Sacrifices (9:1-24) (Beginning of the Ministry) Judgment of Nadab and Abihu (10:1-20) (Violation of the Ministry) Sacrifice: Instructions for the Priest (6:8-7:38) Whole Burnt Offering: Total Acceptance by God (1:1-17) Grain Offering: Giving First Fruits to God (2:1-16) Peace Offering: Fellowship with God (3:1-17) Sin Offering: Payment for Personal Sin (4:1-5:13) Reparation Offering: Payment for Sin that Damages (5:14-6:7) Sacrifice: Instructions for the People (1:1-6:7) Leviticus A Manual of Sanctification 27 (Spiritual/Sacred) Holy Moses set forth the sacrifices, cleansing, worship, and holiness necessary for a redeemed people to live as a holy priesthood with a holy YHWH dwelling in their midst in order to show the true way of approach to God. Ken Wilson 2017

Purity Code: Context Sacrifices for unintentional sins (1-7) Inauguration of the Priesthood (8-9) Priests must be able to make distinctions (10) Making distinctions in everyday life (11-15) Day of Atonement: Purification of all things (16)

Though, at first sight, the purity laws seem to usher us into an altogether foreign, unfamiliar world, a moments reflection suggests that the territory is not as alien as it seems. Derek Tidball

Purity Code: Not So Strange Horse on a menu in France Dog on a menu in Korea Pork on a menu in Israel Vampire sneeze Wearing shoes in the house in Japan, CZR, or Alaska A man at a baby shower (?) Your mom at your junior high physical Clean floors in Nicaragua Toilet inside the house in Afghanistan

Uncleanness is similar to, though not identical with, our concept of dirt. We do not permit a pile of soil in the living room, not because soil in itself is evil it isn't, and it proves quite useful in the garden! but because soil in the living room is out of place. Dame Mary Douglas

Clean (ט ה ור) Unclean (ט מ א) Normal Pure Natural Hardy Healthy Pristine Sinless Abnormal Impure Unnatural Weak Ill Contaminated Sinful

Clean sinful Clean dirty Clean contagious Clean = Out of Place

Purity: Constantly Aware of Distinctions Cleanse Sanctify Wash/Wait Sacrifice Unclean Water Clean Blood Holy (Uncommon/Pagan) (Common/Secular) (Spiritual/Sacred) Pollute Profane

Purity Code: Picture But when they came to Jesus and found that he was already dead, they did not break his legs. Instead, one of the soldiers pierced Jesus side with a spear, bringing a sudden flow of blood and water. John 19:33-34

Purity Code: Life Lock 1. Food (11) 2. Childbirth (12) 3. Testing Skin Disease & Fungus (13) 40/80 days 8 days 4. Cleansing Skin Disease & Fungus (14) 5. Human Discharges (15) 1/7 days

Purity Code: Purpose Hygienic: keeping healthy Cultic: separation from pagans Arbitrary: simply a test Symbolic: teaching something Cultural: sanctified identity

Purity Code: Purpose About noon the following day as they were on their journey and approaching the city, Peter went up on the roof to pray. He became hungry and wanted something to eat, and while the meal was being prepared, he fell into a trance. He saw heaven opened and something like a large sheet being let down to earth by its four corners. It contained all kinds of four-footed animals, as well as reptiles and birds. Then a voice told him, Get up, Peter. Kill and eat. Acts 10:9-13

Purity Code: Purpose Surely not, Lord! Peter replied. I have never eaten anything impure or unclean. The voice spoke to him a second time, Do not call anything impure that God has made clean. Acts 10:14-15

Purity Code: Purpose While Peter was still thinking about the vision, the Spirit said to him, Simon, three men are looking for you. So get up and go downstairs. Do not hesitate to go with them, for I have sent them. Peter went down and said to the men, I m the one you re looking for. Why have you come? Acts 10:19-21

Purity Code: Purpose The men replied, We have come from Cornelius the centurion. He is a righteous and God-fearing man, who is respected by all the Jewish people. A holy angel told him to ask you to come to his house so that he could hear what you have to say. Then Peter invited the men into the house to be his guests. Acts 10:22-23

Purity Code: Purpose While talking with [Cornelius], Peter went inside and found a large gathering of people. He said to them: You are well aware that it is against our law for a Jew to associate with or visit a Gentile. But God has shown me that I should not call anyone impure or unclean. So when I was sent for, I came without raising any objection. May I ask why you sent for me? Acts 10:27-29

Purity Code: Purpose Then Peter began to speak: I now realize how true it is that God does not show favoritism but accepts from every nation the one who fears him and does what is right. You know the message God sent to the people of Israel, announcing the good news of peace through Jesus Christ, who is Lord of all. Acts 10:34-36

Animals: What You Eat Land Animals (11:2-8) Sea Creatures (11:9-12) Birds (11:13-19) Insects (11:20-23) Contact with Carcasses (11:24-40) Creeping creatures (11:41-43) Twin Motivations: - Because the LORD brought Israel out of Egypt - Because God s people must make distinctions

Animals: What You Eat Cloven-hooved, cud-chewing animals could be eaten. All other mammals were unclean. Only sea creatures with fins and scales could be eaten. Certain birds of prey could not be eaten. Flying insects could not be eaten. Hopping insects could be eaten. Dead animals transmit uncleanness. All dead animals are unclean, except for sacrifices. Uncleanness is temporary and only lasts until evening. Vessels and utensils that contact dead animals are unclean.

Animals: What You Eat God s people were regularly reminded that they must demonstrate holiness in the events of everyday living, especially regarding what they ate.

Application: New Covenant External The days are coming, declares the Lord, when I will make a new covenant with the people of Israel and with the people of Judah. It will not be like the covenant I made with their ancestors when I took them by the hand to lead them out of Egypt, because they broke my covenant, though I was a husband to them, Internal declares the Lord. This is the covenant I will make with the people of Israel after that time, declares the Lord. I will put my law in their minds and write it on their hearts. I will be their God, and they will be my people. Jeremiah 31:31

Animals: What You Eat God s people were regularly reminded that they must demonstrate holiness in the events of everyday living, especially regarding what they ate. Meals can be a reminder.

Application: Everything Matters So whether you eat or drink or whatever you do, do it all for the glory of God. 1 Corinthians 10:31

Childbirth: Creating Life The birth of a son (12:2-4) The birth of a daughter (12:5) Purification and Burnt Offering (12:6-7) Modifications for the poor (12:8)

Childbirth: Creating Life Pregnancy and childbirth are a blessing from God. Uncleanness is a result of the flow of blood and fluid. Only living blood was allowed in the sanctuary. The blood of a sacrificed animal was sanctified. Son: seven days circumcision thirty-three days (40). Daughter: fourteen days sixty-six days (80). After the time a purification an offering is brought. Many explanations for the double time for daughters. Perhaps it allowed more time to grieve not bearing Messiah.

Purification Offering: Defilement Living in this sinful world, one has to deal with contamination, corruption, diseases, and death. And under the Levitical system in Israel these things also rendered a person unclean and defiled the holy place. Allen Ross

Purification Offering: Childbirth When the woman makes the purification offering after childbirth, she is pronounced clean not forgiven. No forgiveness was necessary because there was no sin, no moral impurity. Rabbi Jacob Milgrom

Burnt Offering: Gratitude The woman brought the burnt offering to express her gratitude to God, who delivered her from the dangers of childbirth. Allen Ross

Application: Gracious God The laws for women birthing children were considered necessary and gracious provisions. While the law said that people were obligated to attend a festivals to worship the Lord, women were exempt at times of pregnancy and menstruation an exemption they likely appreciated in such times. Allen Ross

Childbirth: Creating Life God s people were regularly reminded that the Lord is holy and when they experienced natural processes of life they were required to be sanctified back into His presence. We bear the image of God. We are not God.

Decay: Rashes and Mildew Skin diseases and fungus are an evidence of death and decay. The priest examined the rash or infection (Hanson s Disease?). If it was minor they washed and waited for it to go away. If it was contagious they were isolated until healthy. The priest also examined burns and scars the same way. Baldness is fine but a rash on the head makes you unclean. A fungus is clean if gone after washing and waiting seven days. A fungus is unclean if it spreads or does not go away. An unclean fungus must be burned.

Decay: Rashes and Mildew God s people were regularly reminded that bodily diseases and decay or corruption were incompatible with God s holiness. This world is not as it should be.

Application: New Jerusalem I did not see a temple in the city, because the Lord God Almighty and the Lamb are its temple. The city does not need the sun or the moon to shine on it, for the glory of God gives it light, and the Lamb is its lamp. The nations will walk by its light, and the kings of the earth will bring their splendor into it. On no day will its gates ever be shut, for there will be no night there. The glory and honor of the nations will be brought into it. Nothing impure will ever enter it, nor will anyone who does what is shameful or deceitful, but only those whose names are written in the Lamb s book of life. Revelation 21:22-27

Grace: Cleansing Ritual The worshipper brought two birds (scapebird ceremony). The worshipper washed or shaved outside the camp. The worshipper was pronounced clean. The worshipper was allowed in the camp. The worshipper offered a reparation, purification, burnt, and meal offering for atonement. Allowances were made for the poor. The occupants of a newly cleansed house after washing or reconstruction made atonement by the scapebird ceremony.

Application: The World Groans I consider that our present sufferings are not worth comparing with the glory that will be revealed in us. For the creation waits in eager expectation for the children of God to be revealed. For the creation was subjected to frustration, not by its own choice, but by the will of the one who subjected it, in hope that the creation itself will be liberated from its bondage to decay and brought into the freedom and glory of the children of God. Romans 8:18-25

Application: The World Groans We know that the whole creation has been groaning as in the pains of childbirth right up to the present time. Not only so, but we ourselves, who have the firstfruits of the Spirit, groan inwardly as we wait eagerly for our adoption to sonship, the redemption of our bodies. For in this hope we were saved. But hope that is seen is no hope at all. Who hopes for what they already have? But if we hope for what we do not yet have, we wait for it patiently. Romans 8:18-25

Grace: Cleansing Ritual God s people were regularly reminded that the Lord provided a way to enter His holy presence by sacrificial atonement. God has provided a way.

Application: Jesus Paid It All When Jesus came into Peter s house, he saw Peter s mother-in-law lying in bed with a fever. He touched her hand and the fever left her, and she got up and began to wait on him. When evening came, many who were demon-possessed were brought to him, and he drove out the spirits with a word and healed all the sick. This was to fulfill what was spoken through the prophet Isaiah: He took up our infirmities and bore our diseases. Matthew 8:14-17

The Body: Discharges A - Chronic male discharges (15:2-15) B - Transient male discharges (15:16-18) B - Transient female discharges (15:19-24) A - Chronic female discharges (15:25-30)

The Body: Discharges Bodily discharges contaminate anything that contacts them. Chronic male discharges rendered a man unclean. Chronic male discharges required waiting seven days and washing as well as a purification and whole burnt offering. Transient male discharges rendered a man unclean. Transient male discharges required waiting until the evening and washing for purification. Transient female discharges rendered a woman unclean. Transient female discharges required waiting seven days and washing for purification. Chronic female discharges rendered a woman unclean for their duration. Chronic female discharges required waiting seven days and washing as well as a purification and whole burnt offering.

The Body: Discharges The nature of God is so different from our human condition that the two conflict. The law made it clear that bodily functions prevent people from entering the presence of God here or in the world to come. Allen Ross

The Body: Discharges God s people were regularly reminded that because bodily discharges were incompatible with the holiness of God the Lord provided a way for purification and sanctification. Everything in life is spiritual.

Application: Jesus Cleanses A woman who had had a hemorrhage for twelve years, and had endured much at the hands of many physicians, and had spent all that she had and was not helped at all, but rather had grown worse after hearing about Jesus, she came up in the crowd behind Him and touched His cloak. For she thought, If I just touch His garments, I will get well. Immediately the flow of her blood was dried up; and she felt in her body that she was healed of her affliction. Mark 5:25-29 (NASB)

Leviticus: Windows into the Heart of God The Lord provides regular reminders throughout the daily events of life that He is holy and our world is not as it should be.

Application: Holy Spirit I will ask the Father, and He will give you another Helper, that He may be with you forever; that is the Spirit of truth, whom the world cannot receive, because it does not see Him or know Him, but you know Him because He abides with you and will be in you. John 14:16-17 (NASB)

Application: Holy Spirit I have many more things to say to you, but you cannot bear them now. But when He, the Spirit of truth, comes, He will guide you into all the truth; for He will not speak on His own initiative, but whatever He hears, He will speak; and He will disclose to you what is to come. He will glorify Me, for He will take of Mine and will disclose it to you. John 16:12-14 (NASB)

LEVITICUS Windows into the Heart of God