Leviticus and Our Sin (part 2)

Yesterday I briefly wrote on the Seriousness of Sin as observed in the book of Leviticus. Today I want to share with you a second challenge/encouragement.

2. Sin is Costly. Because sin is serious Leviticus also teaches us that it is costly. In other words there is a price to be paid for sin. In Leviticus we find that a persons sin would cost them a beast of the field, a bird of the air, or some grain (in the case of the poor). But beyond the material cost there was the humiliation of a public confession. Not that the sinner would announce to everyone the specifics of his sin (though he probably did to the priest), but just walking that animal to the tabernacle was probably considered a "walk of shame" because everyone knew that you or someone in your house had broken one of God's perfect commandments.

Because we tend to make light of sin we also tend to forget how costly sin is. We often take for granted the sacrifice of Christ, never considering the high price He paid for our salvation. Also, because we tend to make light of sin we often fail to humble ourselves by confessing our sin to God and even more so to others.

Take some time today and consider the cross; consider the high price that Jesus paid for your sin. Take time to humble yourself and confess your sins to God and to others (certainly those you have offended).

Leviticus and Our Sin

For those who are following the Scripture reading plan we are now 8 chapters into the book of Leviticus. In these first eight chapters we read of sin, animal sacrifice, blood, alters, priests, guilt, and much, much more.

As I have been reading there are three truths that have challenged/encouraged me and that I hope might challenge/encourage you as you consider Leviticus.

1. Sin is Serious. In Leviticus God takes the sin of His people very seriously, even the sins that they have committed unknowingly (5:14). In Leviticus we see our Holy God demanding justice for those who would violate His perfect commands. This is important for us to understand, because we live in a culture that treats God's perfect commands and our violation of those perfect commands (sin) as a joke; a punchline on a prime time sitcom. Sin is no joke. Sin is rebellion against God. Sin destroys people, families and churches.

If there is one lesson we must learn from Leviticus it is that sin is serious and we must treat it as such. Where are you prone to make light of sin? What do you find non-offensive (maybe even funny) that God finds offensive? Are you giving more attention to Scripture (where we learn of the perfect commands of our Holy God) or the media (where they treat God's commands as a joke)?

More to come tomorrow....

Leviticus - How Were the Hebrews Distinct?

As we read through Leviticus it is easy to note that there are some strange cultural differences between our world and the world of the ancient Hebrews - ritual purification, animal sacrifice, priestly classes, and temples are for the most part foreign terms and concepts to us. But what seems foreign to us was quite common to the Hebrews and to their world. The Hebrews lived (at this point wandered) in a world filled with various religions - Canaanite religions and there were some similarities regarding things such as ceremonial purification and animal sacrifices. But despite the similarities that might have existed the Hebrew religious system (as described in Leviticus) remained distinct (remember the key word in Leviticus is "Holy") from other ancient Near Eastern religions. Here are a few differences:

-The idea of direct divine revelation and theophany. (the presence of God)
-The concept of strict monotheism. (belief that there is only One True God)
-The understanding of the origin and impact of human sin. (the Genesis account)
-The highly ethical and moral nature of Hebrew religion in contrast to the Canaanite fertility cult.
-The holy and righteous character of Yahweh in contrast to the capricious behavior of the pagan deities.
-The prohibition of human sacrifice.

Hill & Walton. A Survey of the Old Testament, pg. 103

Leviticus

Over the years I have had many conversations about the difficulty of reading through certain portions of the Bible. And it is true that some books are more difficult to read, interpret, and apply than others. This week Meadowview will be reading through what I consider to be one of the more difficult books in the Old Testament - Leviticus. So I thought it might be helpful to provide some insight into the book before we dive in. And since I typically run low on helpful insight I will defer to Andrew E. Hill and John H. Walton's book A Survey of the Old Testament. Here is what they wrote regarding the overall purpose and message of the book:

The central teaching of the book is summarized in the command to "consecrate yourselves and be holy, because I am holy..." (Leviticus 11:44-45). The first part of Leviticus outlines the requisite procedures for worshiping Yahweh (chaps. 1-10), and the second section prescribes how the covenant people of God are to translate the idea of holiness into daily living (chaps. 11-27). Leviticus is basically a manual or handbook on holiness designed to instruct the Hebrew community in holy worship and holy living so that they might enjoy the presence and blessing of God (cf. Leviticus 26:1-13). The laws and instructions were to transform the former Hebrew slaves into a "kingdom of priests and a holy nation" (cf. Exodus 19:6).

Hill & Walton. A Survey of the Old Testament, pg. 104.