The Land: All Resources Belong to God

• Here we see the voluntary consecrations and tithing.
  • This is not obligatory, as most of the book of Leviticus, but is an expression of love toward God.
• As you read through this chapter write down all the things that are holy to the Lord.

As we finish up this book, what lesson have you learned that you never thought you could learn from the Old Testament book of Leviticus? Is there some new character of Christ you have begun to understand better? Did you learn something new about humans in general? Or did you gain new insight to your own personal life? Take time to reflect on these things today.

Finishing up our spiritual practice of confession: spend some time in prayer and meditation, seek the Spirit’s prompting for any confession God wants you to make – whether to God alone, to a trusted individual, or to a group you may be a part of. Take the things you have reflected on these last two weeks into consideration as you prepare this time of confession. Make this a regular practice in your daily walk with the Lord. We are always failing, so it is always good to keep our hearts in check.

Leviticus 23: The Appointed Feasts. These were set seasons God appointed Israel to observe

• Verses 1-4 set up the rest of the chapter. What do you learn about God in these verses?
• The Passover: Verses 5-14
  • What did we learn in Exodus about where the word Passover came from?
  • Passover is the celebration of Israel’s redemption from death and bondage in Egypt.
    • Write out 1 Corinthians 5:7
  • When is the Passover?
• The Feast of the Unleavened Bread: Verses 6-8
  • This follows immediately after Passover and is often counted as a part of the Passover (which lasted one day) while this feast lasted seven days.
  • This feast speaks of communion with Christ in the blessing of our redemption.
    • Write out 1 Corinthians 5:8
    • Write out 1 Corinthians 11:23-26
    • Write out John 6:51
  • What does this feast start and end with?
• The Feast of the First-Fruits: Verses 9-14
  • The feast marked the beginning of harvest on the “day after Sabbath.”
  • Christ the “first-fruits” of “them that slept” was raised the “morrow after the Sabbath” which is the first day of the week.
    • Write out 1 Corinthians 15:20-23
    • Write out James 1:18
  • When are they to perform this ritual?
• The Feast of Pentecost: Verses 15-22
  • Note that this feast occurred fifty days (the word Pentecost comes from the Greek word meaning “fiftieth”) after the Feast of First-Fruits.
  • After Christ’s resurrection He was on the earth forty days (see Acts 1:3) before He ascended. The disciples waited in the upper room until the day of Pentecost was fully come – ten days – and on the anniversary of this Feast, the Holy Spirit upon them and the church was born.
    • Write out Acts 2:1
    • Write out 1 Corinthians 10:16-17
    • Write out 1 Corinthians 12:13,20
  • Describe what is being said in verses 21 and 22.
• The Feast of Trumpets: Verses 23-25
  • This was New Year’s Day for Israel. It was a special Sabbath in the seventh month. A calling to a holy gathering.
  • Refers to future for Israel:
    • Write out Isaiah 18:3-7
    • Write out Isaiah 27:12-13
    • Read Isaiah 58:1-14, write down important facts here
  • What are the Israelite’s to do on this special day?
• The Day of Atonement: Verses 26-32
  • The greatest day for Israel because on this day her sins were confessed.
  • This followed immediately after the blessing of the trumpets.
  • This is also seen in Leviticus 16
    • Write out Hebrews 9:11-14
  • What are they told to practice?
• The Feast of Tabernacles: Verses 33-44
  • This was the completion of the harvest and was the final religious convocation of the year.
  • It is called “booths” in King James.
  • it looked back on their exodus from Egypt – Leviticus 23:42-43 – and reminded them of their dependence upon the Lord God.
    • Write out Zechariah 14:16-20
  • What happened on the first day?
  • How many days did this feast last?
    • Write out verse 40

Leviticus 24

• Oil, Bread, Sanctuary: Verses 1-9
  • Describe the events of these verses
• The Stoning of a Blasphemer: Verses 10-23
  • Describe what happens when you blaspheme the name of the Lord
  • What other laws are being stated here in regards to killing people/animals?

What did you find new in your quest to know God more? Are you beginning to understand His character more? Do you feel you are growing closer to Him and falling in love with Him more, or are you confused and wonder why people would want to serve this God? It is okay to be skeptical. This can actually help you to want to understand more and allow the Lord to show you His true character and to love you more. How can you take what you have been learning and apply it to your life today?

Today’s reflective question is: “Do I understand, and am I able to accept, the forgiveness God extends to me?”

Living a Lifestyle of Holiness & Punishment for not living a lifestyle of holiness are today’s big take-aways.

Leviticus 19

• Write out Verse 1-2
• In verses 3-4 why must you do these things?
• In verses 5-8 what are they talking about?
• In verses 9-10 what are you told to do?
• Verses 11-18 are a list of things not to do. Do any of these stand out to you, or are they things you see yourself struggling with? Why are you not to do them?
• What is happening in verses 19-22?
• Verses 23-25 give rules on planting fruit. What do you notice here?
• Verses 26-32 give another list of things to not do (and a few to do). What stood out here.
  • write out verse 32
• According to verses 33-37 how are you to treat those you don’t know, who live by you or you connect with in the marketplace?

Leviticus 20

• What is God telling the people in verses 1-5?
• What type of people is God warning against in verses 6-8?
• How are you to treat your parents according to verse 9?
• Verses 10-21 talk about varies immoral sexual acts. What words are used to describe these different acts? What are the punishments God speaks of for committing such acts?
• Write out verse 23

Do you struggle with any of these things God calls unholy? You do not need to post that here – this is for you and the Lord to work through. What is He calling you away from? What are you doing that is dishonoring to Him (especially if you didn’t realize it was dishonoring to Him)? How can we live a holy life in this broken world, is the big question we can ask now. It isn’t easy, but knowing what breaks the Lords heart and what we need to let go of so we can be more like Him is a start.

Today’s reflective question: “Am I willing to experience Godly sorrow for my sin?”

As we take a look at the next section of Leviticus we look at ways that the Israelites were taught to love their neighbor as themselves, speaking of laws of personal holiness. Chapter 17 deals with the Altar, regulations regarding sacrifices and blood and Chapter 18 deals with not following the customs of the other nations in their sexual practices.

Chapter 17 The Regulations Regarding Sacrifices and Blood

• In Leviticus 17:3-9 we find five times the one place of sacrifice is divinely ordained
  • The meaning is clear. There is only one place where God meets sinful man: the cross, which the altar at the door of the tabernacle was a type.
    • Write out Romans 3:23-25
• In Leviticus 17:11 we find the sanctity and meaning of the blood sacrifice
  • Write out Hebrews 9:14
• So in the first part we have the fact – that through the blood of Calvary’s lamb, and nothing else, we find our Way to God.
  • Write out Leviticus 17:16. Think about this in relation to our repentance today.

Leviticus 18 Sexual Prohibitions

• This is to set apart His people concerning sex
  • Write out verse 3-5
• In Verses 1-20 what words are used to describe the various types of sexual intercourse? Example: defiling, shameful, etc…
• Verses 21-23 talk about child sacrifice, homosexuality and sex with animals
  • what words are used here to describe these acts?
• Write out verse 24
• Write out verse 29

We are held to a higher standard as God’s people. What did you learn about the God or even people in this text? Was there something new you learned today? What can you walk away from this lesson with?

Today’s reflective question: “What specific sins do I need to become aware of under the gaze of God?” While sitting in silence, ask God to reveal anything you may not have understood as sin but have done. Ask Him to search your heart and show any way of wickedness that you need to turn from. We all have things, and the Lord graciously reveals them to us when we ask (and even when we don’t ask).

We are going to take a look at the Priests today. First we will see the consecration of the priests, then we will look at the ministry of the priests, and finally the violation of two priests.

Leviticus 8: The Ordination of Aaron and His Sons

• We will see them cleansed: 8:6
• Clothed: 8:7-8 & 8:13
• Crowned: 8:9 & 8:35
  • Write out verse 10
• Anointed: 8:12 & 8:30 (Aaron is anointed before the blood sacrifice and his sons anointed after the blood sacrifice)
  • write out Hebrews 2:11
• We also read about the offerings and the blood of consecration in 8:14-24. Do you see the picture?
  • Write out Hebrews 9:11-15
• Write out Leviticus 8:33 & 35

Leviticus 9: The Beginning of Priestly Service

• In verses 1-4 what is happening? What is the time line you see?
  • Write out verse 5
• In verse 6-11 what is happening?
• In verse 12-14 what are Aaron’s sons doing?
• In verse 15-21 what is Aaron doing?
• What do we see happening in verse 22-24?

Levitcus 10: The Role of Priests in Israel

• According to verse 1, what are the sons of Aaron’s names?
• What did they do?
• What happens in verse 2? What was Moses & Aaron’s response in verse 3?
• What is happening in verse 4-5?
• Verses 6-7 tell us what?
• What rules are given in verses 8-11?
• In verses 12-15 what provisions are given to Aaron and his family?
• Explain what is happening in verses 16-20.

What did you learn today about God and about yourself, or people in general? What is speaking to you in this text? How will you apply this lesson to your life?

Today’s reflective question is: “Am I afraid to examine my life for sin I need to confess? If so, what am I afraid of? How can I let go of this fear?”

Leviticus 4

• Verses 1-35: The Sin Offering
  • The Sin Offering pictures Christ as the sin bearer – “Made sin for us”
    • Write out 2 Corinthians 5:21
  • What jobs does the Priest have in this offering?
  • What kind of aroma are these offerings to the Lord?
  • What type of sin offerings are there (the different communities of people named)?

Leviticus 5

• Verses 1-13: the sin offering continued
  • What kinds of sin make them guilty?
    • write out verse 5
    • write out verse 13
• Verses 14-19 The Trespass or Restitution Offering
  • The Trespass Offerings speak of sins against others and the injury sin does. Restitution taught in the words “make amends”. This offering pictures Christ atoning for the damage of sin.
    • Write out 2 Corinthians 5:19
    • Write out Ephesians 2:1
      • What types of sins are these offerings for?
      • What is the priests job in these sacrifices?

Leviticus 6

• Verses 1-7: the trespass/restitution offering continued
  • What type of sin is being addressed here?
  • What is required of the person who committed the sin?
  • What is the priest to do for this offering?
• Verses 8-30 The Disposal of Offerings
  • In verses 8-13 what is being described?
  • What stands out to you?
  • In verses 14-18 what is being described?
  • What is Aaron and his sons portion?
  • In verses 19-23 what is being described?
  • What spoke to you here?
  • In verses 24-30 what is being described?
    • write out verse 26.

Leviticus 7

What did you learn about God and yourself today? What can you walk away with and apply to your life. You may have to dig deep, but you try and see what God is speaking to you today.

Today’s reflective question: “Have I had any negative experiences that cause me to avoid confession as a corporate discipline? If so, how should I be dealing with those experiences in order to gain a healthy perspective?

Leviticus 1

• Verses 1-2: The Laws Concerning Offerings and Sacrifices
• Verses 3-17: The Burnt Offering –
  • The Burnt offering foreshadows Christ “Offering Himself without spot to God” and pictures Christ on the cross
    • Write out Hebrews 9:14
  • What jobs do the Sons of Aaron have in this offering?
  • What jobs do the person offering the sacrifice have to do?
  • What jobs does the Priest have in this offering?
  • What kind of aroma are these offerings to the Lord?

Leviticus 2

• Verses 1-16: The Meal or Grain Offering
  • The Meal Offering exhibits the manhood of Christ and the life that was offered
    • Write out Hebrews 2:17-18
  • What jobs do the Sons of Aaron have in this offering?
  • What jobs do the person offering the sacrifice have to do?
  • What jobs does the Priest have in this offering?
  • What kind of aroma are these offerings to the Lord?
  • What do Aaron and his sons get to keep?

Leviticus 3

• Verses 1-17: The Peace or Fellowship Offering
  • The Peace Offering speaks of restored communion with God through Christ’s offering. He is our peace. It is a thank offering.
    • Write out Ephesians 2:14
    • Write out Leviticus 7:11-12
  • What jobs do the Sons of Aaron have in this offering?
  • What jobs do the person offering the sacrifice have to do?
  • What jobs does the Priest have in this offering?
  • What kind of aroma are these offerings to the Lord?

In today’s readings what did you learn about God? What can you take away from today’s lessons? Based on the description of each sacrifice, that I wrote, is there anything that you learned about how God works?

Today’s reflective question is: “Do I have a community of relationships in which I can practice the corporate discipline of confession? If not, what should I be doing to develop those relationships?” This is talking about having people, Godly and wise Christians, who you can go and confess where you are struggling, who will tell you truth about what they see in you and what they feel is going good or where you are going off. This requires relationship in order to receive and release information.

The Book

• Leviticus gets its name from the Levites – the priests – and it is God’s plan for the detailed walk, worship and service of the people.
  • In Exodus, God spoke out of the Mount where the people were not allowed.
  • In Leviticus He speaks out of the tabernacle in which He dwells in the midst of His people.

A Transition

• In Genesis we saw the ruin of man – through the fall.
• In Exodus, we saw the redemption and deliverance by blood and the power of God
• In Leviticus we shall see worship and communion on the ground of atonement.
  • Leviticus is called the Book of Atonement: Read Leviticus 16:30-34
    • Write out Leviticus 16:30-31

Its Main Purpose

• Leviticus was written to show Israel how to live in fellowship with God. Above all Israel must be taught the holiness of God and Leviticus reveals this in three ways:
  • The Sacrificial System –
    • Write out Leviticus 17:11 & Hebrews 9:22
  • The Precepts of the Law –
    • Write out Leviticus 18:5
  • The Penalties for Violations –
    • Read Leviticus 26:1-41
      • Write down anything that stands out to you
  • Israel was to be a separated people, just as we are today.

Its Abiding Value

• FIRST:
  • Leviticus is a revelation of the divine character and holiness of God. Gad has not changed.
• SECOND:
  • It emphasizes the exceeding sinfulness of man and his estrangement from God.
• THIRD:
  • It prefigures the redemptive ministry of Christ and how we are restored to fellowship with God.
• FOURTH:
  • It provides a body of civil law for a theocracy which is foundational for civil law today, i.e., land and ownership, marriage and divorce, and other matters we face today.

Its Author

• Moses was the author.
  • The internal evidence is stated no less than fifty six times in Leviticus that the Lord God gave the laws to His people through Moses.
• Jesus ascribes the book and all the Pentateuch to Moses in Luke 24:44
  • Christ also referred to Moses as the author in Matthew 8:2-4
    • Compare these verses with Leviticus 14:1-4. Write down what you see.

Its Theme

The Structure of Leviticus

• It may be divided into two broad divisions:
  • The Way to God – SACRIFICE – Chapters 1-17
  • The Walk with God – SEPARATION – Chapters 18-27

THE CENTRAL THEME IS “FELLOWSHIP”. In the first division is found God’s foundation of fellowship – while the second division shows man’s condition of fellowship. Thus, it is the supreme Old Testament illustration of that New Testament truth expressed in 1 John 1:7. The first section of Leviticus says: “The blood cleanseth us.” The second says: “If we walk in the light.” The whole book says: “If we walk in the light – the blood cleanseth us” and we have fellowship one with another and truly our fellowship is with the Father.

As we walk through this book, which can sometimes feel quite boring, take time to look at it through the lense of Fellowship with God. Go in reading it with a fresh set of eyes. We will work on a new spiritual practice this month. We are going to continue in our times of silence – but I won’t prompt you of that anymore. We are going to add to that the spiritual practice of confession. For the first week we will just begin to self-reflect on why or why not we think we need to confess – I will ask one reflective question each day and then we will begin to put into practice this spiritual formation over the following week. These reflective questions are just between you and the Lord – unless you feel prompted to share.

Todays reflective question: “Am I in danger of undervaluing the essential element of confession within the Christian life?” What importance do you give confession in your walk?

Share any insight you have received from this preview of Leviticus. Did the preview help you want to try and read this text? Are you excited or dreading this book? Anything we can pray for this week for you?