Christ in all the scriptures Leviticus

 Christ in all the scriptures

Leviticus a call to worship

“Ye also as living stones are built up a spiritual house, an holy priesthood, to offer up spiritual sacrifices acceptable to God through Jesus Christ”-1st Peter 2v5

The title of the book gives a clue to its meaning.   The Hebrew word wayyiqra translates as “He called”; it has been presumed that Leviticus refers to the service of the Levites whom God separated for tabernacle duties, but their role was more administrative, whereas Leviticus is all about priestly service.   It is all about God calling His people to worship.   Indeed the entire 27 chapters could be divided by the phrase “The Lord spake unto Moses” or something similar, and each section is a fresh revelation of truth, of which there are 37.  Leviticus is unique in that most (70%) are the direct words of God to Moses.  In Leviticus God is speaking, He is calling His people to worship and is setting the acceptable standards of approach.   A reading of the book will impress on us that we approach God in His prescribed way and within certain limits.   God is essentially holy, and we are essentially sinful and there is a need for reverence as we approach Him.  Over100 times the word “holy” (quodesh) occurs, and so the emphasis is on sanctification.  Throughout, the remedy for sin is detailed in all its different aspects, and it is no surprise that the remedy is Christ whose one offering for sin is typified in the variety of offerings in Leviticus.   There are two major sections in the book which outline the requirements of approach to God:

Public worship       chapters 1-16

1) The laws of sacrifice  chapters 1-7

2) The Aaronic priesthood  chapters 8-10

3) The laws of ritual cleanliness  chapters 11-15

4) The day of atonement  chapter 16

Private worship      chapters 17-27

5) Personal conduct  chapters 17-20

6) Priestly conduct  chapters 21-22

7) Sabbath and feast days  chapter 23

8) Preparation for service  chapters 24-25

9) Punishments  chapter 26

10) Sanctification of the land  chapter 27

The conjunction “and” (v1) suggests a continuation from Exodus 40.  Wonderful how the scriptures flow from one book to another. That chapter ends with the glory of God descending on the finished tabernacle-Exodus 40v34.  It is from the glory that God calls His people to worship.  He is not calling from the throne of judicial government, His call to worship is from the mercy seat where He dwells, from the blood-sprinkled mercy seat where His justice has been satisfied  There need be no fear in worship or doubt.  Approach is on His terms; the fact that all can approach is amazing, and we should revere the One who calls us. This is the major theme of the book, and it becomes obvious that conduct of life is associated with the offerings of the heart. 

Christ taught in John 4v21-24 that God seeks our worship; that it was from no set place on earth (v21), that it was in spirit (the inward man, the reality of the heart); that it was in truth (according to the truth of His word)-(v24).  Worship is not to be understood as an ACT, but more as an ATTITUDE.  It is to pervade everything that we do. The New Testament oozes with examples of worship, and some are tabulated below.

Paul saw his gospel preaching as worship-Romans 1v9; 15v16

Personal devotion of our bodies to God is worship-Romans 12v1

Giving of material possessions is worship-Philippians 4v18; Hebrews 13v16

The fruit of our lips, continually is worship- Hebrews 13v15

Good works in the community is worship-1st Peter 2v12

Loving your enemies is worship-Matthew 5v45-46

Loving the brethren is worship-John 13v34-35

This is why Israel were redeemed from Egypt's bondage, it was to worship the Lord-Exodus 4v23; 5v1; Acts 7v7.  In each verse the word serve is religious service (worship).  This is why we are saved out of the tyranny of the world; it is to worship Him, revere Him in word and deed.  The way to that is progressive sanctification (setting apart from evil) which is the message of Leviticus, and this will involve every aspect of our lives.