Today’s Reading: Leviticus 1-9; Psalm 56
What is the purpose of the book of Leviticus? It is often tempting to skip over this book full of priestly instructions, but even in this detailed list of rules and how-to’s God makes Himself known to us. We serve a God of details – a very specific God.
By reading through the instructions for the priests of Israel, we better understand the God we serve. We understand that He is a holy God and that He has provided for the atonement of our sins so that we can worship our holy Father and live in a relationship with our holy Creator. Each sacrifice described, each holy day required, teaches us something about the God we serve and what He requires of us.
“For I am the Lord your God. You must consecrate yourselves and be holy, because I am holy….For I, the Lord, am the one who brought you up from the land of Egypt, that I might be your God. Therefore, you must be holy because I am holy.” – Leviticus 11:44-45
GOD CREATED A PROCESS FOR THE ATONEMENT OF THE SINS OF HIS PEOPLE.
The priests were given specific instructions on how to purify the people from their sins and make them right with the Lord so they could be forgiven of their sins. Even when they sinned unintentionally, God required them to respond at the moment in which they became aware of their sin — to respond with a heart of confession (Lev. 4:35; 5:5,13).
When they become aware of their sin, the people must bring a young bull as an offering for their sin and present it before the Tabernacle. – Leviticus 4:14
If the entire community sinned, a young bull was to be sacrificed. If one of Israel’s leaders violated one of God’s commands unknowingly, a male goat with no defects was to be brought to the priest for sacrifice. If a common person was found guilty of sin, they were to bring a female goat with no defects. If what they had to give was a sheep, then a female sheep with no defects could be sacrificed. If they could not afford a sheep, two turtle doves or pigeons would be accepted; if that, too, was out of reach, two quarts of choice flour could be brought before the Lord.
GOD HAS PROVIDED A WAY FOR EVERYONE TO COME TO SALVATION.
All in all, God provided a way for sinners to be made right with him, whether they were blessed with plenty of choice animals or only a small amount of flour. This reflects the compassion of our holy God. We serve a God who offers salvation to everyone — a God who provides a way for us to be made right in His sight.
“Through this process, the priest will purify those who are guilty of any of these sins, making them right with the Lord, and they will be forgiven.” – Leviticus 5:13a
A process was designed for the sake of the admission of guilt and the confession of sin. The moment they realized what they had done or recognized their sinful state, they were to admit their guilt (5:3b). The spilling of blood was required in order for God’s people to be made right in the sight of God.
IT IS THE BLOOD OF JESUS THAT MAKES ATONEMENT FOR OUR SINS TODAY.
He is so rich in kindness and grace that he purchased our freedom with the blood of His Son and forgave our sins. He has showered his kindness on us, along with all wisdom and understanding. – Ephesians 1:7-8
The death of Jesus on the cross makes it possible for us to be in a right relationship with a holy God – a God who requires us to live a holy life. The blood of Jesus was spilled so that we can be freed from the power of sin and filled with the righteousness of God. It is impossible for us to reconcile ourselves to God on our own. Thank God for His generous plan of salvation. Praise the Lord for the blood of Jesus shed for our sins!
For God in all his fullness was pleased to live in Christ, and through him God reconciled everything to himself. He made peace with everything in heaven and on earth by means of Christ’s blood on the cross. – Colossians 1:20
Creator God, thank you for making a way for all of us to live in a right relationship with you. We are unworthy of your gift of salvation and incapable of holiness, yet you fill us with your own righteousness and display your holiness through our lives. We are grateful for your mercy and your grace, and we see it as a privilege to walk in the light you have provided for us today. May we remain humbly willing to confess our sins, daily recognizing all that you provided through the blood of your son, Jesus Christ. Amen.
I will fulfill my vows to you, O God,
and will offer a sacrifice of thanks for your help.
For you have rescued me from death;
you have kept my feet from slipping.
So now I can walk in your presence, O God,
in your life-giving light. – Psalm 56:12-13