Overview of the Bible: Book of Leviticus
Title: Leviticus – the book about
“Levites”, the servicemen of God.
Hebrew: Va’-yikra’ – “And called”
Date of
writing: 1446 – 1444
BC (mostly dictated to Moses)
Date of
Narrative: 1446 –
1444 BC (Tent of meeting – not Tabernacle)
Structure:
A. 1 – 7,
Sacrifices – Holy rights of God
B. 8-10, Priests - Holy people of God, and
story inserted (ch. 10)
C. 11 – 15, Clean-unclean
D. 16, Day of coverings
C’. 17 – 22, Holy-profane (Code of
holiness)
B’. 23 – 25:22, Calendar – Holy days of God,
and story inserted (24:10-16)
A’. 25:23 –
27, Proper rights for men: redemption, obedience, and vows
Main
themes:
Closeness to
God (Lev. 1 – 3)
Holiness of
God and how it should be reflected in/by His people (Lev. 19:2)
The ways
that priests mediate between God and the people.
Main
Characters:
Moses,
Aaron, their sons – Nadab, Abihu, and Eleazar and Ithamar
Reflection
in other parts of the Bible:
Leviticus 1
– 16 follows the Narrative of Gen. 1 – 4.
Any part of
the Bible that mentions the sacrifices, feasts, vows etc. (f. ex. Ps. 51:16-17;
56:11-12; Mic. 6-6-8; John 2 and 7; Acts 2).
Lev. 16 is
an important background from interpretation of Luke 15 – drawing near (v. 1),
animals of the feast (v. 27-29).
Correlation
of Leviticus 23 with the Book of Revelation:
|
Feast |
Lev. 23 |
Revelation |
Theme |
1. |
Sabbath |
:3 |
1 |
Lord’s day |
2. |
Passover |
:4-8 |
2-3 |
Judgement and salvation |
3. |
First fruits |
:9-14 |
4-5 |
Christ’s Ascension (Waving) |
4. |
Pentecost |
:15-22 |
6-7 |
Seals of the Book (the Word) |
5. |
Trumpets |
:23-25 |
8-14 |
Trumpets |
6. |
Atonement |
:26-32 |
15-19:10 |
Chalices of wrath |
7. |
Tabernacles |
:33-44 |
19:11-22:21 |
New World |
Lutheran
teaching:
Eucharistic
services are sacrifices of praise (Ap. XXIV (XII): 25) – based on Lev. 3 and 7.
Lutheran
liturgy has three main parts (Confession-Burnt offering + Service of the
Word-Grain offering + Service of the Sacrament-Peace offering) following the
pattern of Lev. 1 – 3.
Relevancy
of the Book:
The Book of
Leviticus tells us that God pays very close attention to the worship. The
primary purpose of the worship is not for us to feel good, but for us to give
glory to God the way He likes (1 Cor. 14:40).
The Book of
Leviticus shows that someone must die for a sin. The sacrificial system shows
that sins can not be simply excused – the sins should be atoned for (Rom.
6:23). Therefore, any sacrifice – one way or another – points to the ultimate
atonement that the world experienced in Jesus the Messiah (2 Cor. 5:19).
Memory
verses:
19:1-2, And
the LORD
spoke to Moses, saying, “Speak to all the congregation of the people of Israel
and say to them, you [plural] shall be holy, for I the LORD your God am holy”.
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