The Levites were one of the 12 tribes of Israel; one of Jacob's sons, Levi. While the tribes were set to receive an inheritance in the Promised Land, the inheritance of the Levites was the Lord. They did not receive land like the others. They got 48 cities (Numbers 35:7; Joshua 21:19) to live in and common land around the cities and they were supported by tithes as they served to the Lord. Their service was in lieu of God previously taking the firstborn sons. Within the Levites was the line of Aaron, the first chief priest. The offspring of Aaron were the Levitical priests. All the other Levites served as assistants, teachers, scribes, musicians, officers, moving and assembly crews, those who tended the fire, ash carriers, etc. Their function was to assist the people in their worship of Yahweh and inform the of how to live a holy life.
Consider these facts about Israel as they came to the Mountain of God the previous year:
- God's presence had never resided in their presence nor was an active part of their life (at least as far as they knew).
- There had never been a central place of worship like the tabernacle.
- There was a limited understanding of holiness, loyalty and relationship with the Lord.
- Most of their religious experiences was that of Egyptian (or other) gods.
- There had previously been no structured set of feasts and sacrifices.
- There had been on priests. The firstborn assumed the role of spiritual leader.
- There was only limited understanding of what God expected of them.
The degree to which we ware able to pursue these similar thoughts is only inhibited by our willingness and desire to understand how God defined Himself to His people. After all, holiness wasn't a character trait of God; He is holiness and is the definition of holiness.
Were some watcher or holy one from the bright world above to come among us for a time with the power to diagnose the spiritual ills of church people, there is one entry which I am quite sure would appear on the vast majority of his reports: Definite evidence of chronic spiritual lassitude; level of moral enthusiasm extremely low. (A. W. Tozer)
*Lassitude – weary, exhausted, lethargic
Warren Wiersbe tells the story of visiting a church and hearing:
"We will stand and sing hymn 325," announced the worship leader, " 'Take Time to Be Holy.' We will sing verses one and four."
If I had been sitting with the congregation instead of on the platform, I might have laughed out loud. Imagine a Christian congregation singing "Take Time to Be Holy" and not even taking time to sing the entire song! If we can't take the time (less than four minutes) to sing a song about holiness, we're not likely to take time to devote ourselves to "perfecting holiness in the fear of God"
Facts in Regard to the tabernacle:
- Where man came to God for worship.
- Fellowship offerings
- Where sin was atoned for.
- Sacrifices for sin.
- They were a community
- Judgments; medical conditions, cleanness, etc.
- The most holy place on earth.
- To a lesser degree as one moved further away.
- All the tribes camped around the tabernacle, but some distance away (Numbers 2:2)
- The Levites camped around the tabernacle, putting themselves between God and the people. (Numbers 1:53)
The New Testament quotes the book of Leviticus over 15 times. There are dozens of other references to ideas first seen in Leviticus.
- One of the more prominent may be when Jesus taught, "Therefore you shall be perfect, just as your Father in heaven is perfect." (Matt 5:48).
- Peter remembered this and makes it an important part of his first epistle
He who called you is holy, you also be holy in all your conduct, 16 because it is written, "Be holy, for I am holy." (1 Peter 1:15–16).
- The holy ones, or saints are seen in many places, (Acts 9:13, 32; Rom 8:27; 12:13; Eph 2:19; etc.).
The Lord called to Moses to continue where Exodus left off. Israel is still camped out at the base of Mount Sinai, and they will remain there all through the Book of Leviticus. As we read the Levitical laws, consider Matthew 5:8. What does this say about us? As we study the function of the tabernacle, consider 1 Corinthians 6:19. Does this change the way we understand Leviticus?
Leviticus 1:1-17
Exodus ends with the Shekinah Glory descending on the temple. Leviticus starts picks up with instruction to Moses on the law. The law was the offering of sacrifices to atone for sin. The law couldn't take away sin, but it showed that because of sin, blood had to be shed. The atonement was a covering of sin, it was not a putting away of sin. This was forward looking to Jesus who shed his blood as the perfect sacrifice, once for all, as the perfect priest. Sacrifices had taken place from the time of Adam – skins were used to cover their nakedness. This is the formalizing of those sacrifices. When an offering was made it was to be made willingly.
The Burnt offering
- The First Freewill offering.
- It was an offering of personal commitment, indicating repentance and thankfulness. It was a gift to the Lord. It carried with it an atoning effect from the gift that would 'wipe away' God's wrath.
- One reason was to have a good effect on the Lord and His relationship with the worshiper.
- It was sometimes associated with the peace offering.
- It was also foundational to daily, weekly, monthly and annual festival system.
- When making a sacrifice, you were to place your hand on the head of the sacrifice. This was symbolic of transferring of sin to the innocent animal.
- The one bringing the sacrifice cut the throat, bringing death to the animal.
- God was interested in the heart of the one bringing the sacrifice, not the sacrifice itself. He made provision for anyone, rich or poor.
- A young bull: the animal was slain by the person offering it. Its blood was sprinkled on the altar and at the entrance of the Tent of Meeting by the Aaronic Priests. Then the animal was burned in the fire. The entrails and legs were washed and offered in the fire. This was a soothing aroma to the Lord.
- Sheep or Goat (10-13): There's not much difference here. It is to be slain on the North side of the altar. This seems to be the same as 1:3, at the door.
- Birds: The priest killed the birds. The head was pinched off but not completely removed. This may have been to bleed it and access the crop, or gullet; a preliminary stomach in the neck below the beak. It was to be removed with the feathers and thrown in the ashes. Then the bird is offered up in the fire. Joseph and Mary offered doves in Luke 2:22-22.
- The sacrifice was to be freely given. God wants us to deal with our sin to restore the relationship with Him. He wants our hearts freely given, not out of compulsion.
- The sacrifice was burned completely in the fire. No part was shared with man. It was total surrender.
- The sacrifice came from the herd of the one offering it. It was to cost him something. It was to become personal.
- On commentator told the story of the farmer whose cow gave birth to twins, and he swore he would give one of the calves to God. He didn't decide which one to give to God, until one day one of the calves died. He said to his wife: "Guess what? God's calf died today!"
- The offering was to be without blemish. Man's tendency is to bring what's left or available (or nothing at all), not roadkill, carcasses, sick, lame or damaged.
- See Malachi 1:6-8.
The image of a priest, appearing refined and aloof in his priestly garments quickly disappears and is replaced by the image of a sanctified butcher. These guys had a nasty, smelly job. There was nothing glorious about it.
©2022 Calvary Chapel Sweetwater
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