God is Gracious

So…Leviticus.  

I think there's something to be said about Leviticus.  I know what I've said in the past about it: can't I just skim it?  What point does it serve for the modern disciple of Jesus Christ?  How does it speak to us and should we be concerned with it?  What's the governing principle and purpose we could potentially take away?  Are there any?

Well, the answer to all of those questions is wrapped up in the overarching truth that ALL scripture is God-breathed, profitable and instructional, correctional and beneficial.  (2 Tim. 3:16-17)

In fact, even more overarching - if that's possible - and perhaps more helpful to our theology involving all of scripture is that ALL of the Bible is telling ONE. BIG. STORY.

As post-Acts disciples of Jesus, we understand that the New Testament is a new covenant.  It's exhaustive in defining the true follower of Jesus - how a true disciple should look in light of our salvation by Jesus' death on the cross and resurrection from the dead.  AMAZING GRACE!

But as I heard Jen Wilkin once say in her message at Proclaim Truth 2020: "The Old Testament points toward the New; and the New Testament tips its hat toward the Old." 
What's she saying is, as much as we behold the New Testament, it is just as essential to follow the story of God through the Old.  It is just as impactful, necessary and beneficial to get a sense of God, His purpose, His plan, His ways, in the Old Testament. 
As we tackle the New Testament writings, it is profitable for us to understand the Old as it pertains in continuity and connection!  You can't understand one without the other; there's no way to understand the whole story of scripture if the entire Bible is not taken into consideration.

So…Leviticus.

In Leviticus, there is a familiar theme that I don't think we recognize as we're reading the repetitive statements of "he shall bring his offering," and "and the priest shall burn it on the altar."  The requirements for a "guilt offering," a "sin offering" a "restitution offering," etc., are remarkably similar. 
One must bring the appropriate sacrifice which will be made by the priest at the altar.  The animal of such a sacrifice must have particular qualities.  Parts of the animal will be used for sacrifice (namely the blood which was to be spilled on the altar), parts for burning completely, parts for the priest to use.

But whatever offering was coming for whatever transgression was made, it always required a costly sacrifice. 

I am far from understanding all the implications of Leviticus as it relates to my relationship God and His plans for a better life for mankind. 

I am bewildered at the enormous amount of detail that the LORD speaks to Moses, so the people could be reconciled to Him in a right relationship.  It's truly a lot to digest.

But I'm clear on one thing about the ever-becoming-endearing book of Leviticus in scripture: God is gracious.

God is gracious?

In Leviticus?

Excitedly, I confess that what was once a mundane read in my yearly Bible plan, is now one of my favorite books to work through!

I don't know how better to emphasize the connection of Leviticus to its importance in our lives; our understanding of its pertinence and significance.  I believe its God -breathed scripture and what I'm seeing is the foreshadowing of something much bigger, better, perfect and complete.  Jesus.  Jesus our perfect, ultimate, final sacrifice for sin!

But how does it show us that God is gracious?

Ahh, I am so glad you asked. 
In the book of Leviticus, there are explicit details of ways to break fellowship with God; different forms of sin that replace a harmonious connection to the LORD Almighty with brokenness.  Mentions of intentional and unintentional; guilt and restitution.  Over and over…and over…and over… and over. 
Think about this:

God is holy. Holy, holy, holy, to be exact.  This holiness is a divine and set apartness that separates God from everything else in creation.  As holy, He defines the truth and standard of all things: love, existence, boundaries, relationships, sin, right living, etc.

God is relational.  In the beginning, we see in creation that He set up the perfect place for something with the imprint of His image to subdue - rule and keep.  In this relationship, God set the precedent of relating to Him and doing what is right.  With the intent on "becoming like God, knowing good and evil," man disobeyed the loving, protective Lord, consequently causing a fracture in creation, and all things to fall from perfection to an inherent corruption.  Sad stuff.  Man has never had a perfect relationship with God since.  However, this is the part where we can say,
God is gracious.  Because sin would mark every person ever made (except Jesus the Beloved Son of God), God knew there would be necessary rules of engagement between people.  In Leviticus you can see how He defines and details all the ins and outs of God-loving, God-following people.  It's intense.  So intense, it's impossible.  It's IMPOSSIBLE. Those sacrifices that we talked about above were not things to do - it was God's temporary plan of reconciling a sinful people to Himself.  The repetitive script of the one bringing offering, the priest in his duties, and the forgiveness that would then be granted is God reaching out to humanity for relationship. 
It was a GRACE to understand what separated people from a Holy God.
It was a GRACE to bring a sacrifice to offer for restitution.

It was a GRACE to bow in humility, recognizing how badly we need Him.
It was a GRACE to offer worship in this mode.

It was a GRACE to be forgiven and restored to peace with the LORD.

God is GRACIOUS, even in His holiness and justice, to reach down into humanity giving us a foreshadowing of what was to come: the ultimate sacrifice; the perfect sacrifice; the final sacrifice; the unconditional love; the extended forgiveness of sins once and for all: JESUS CHRIST.

This is why we read the Old Testament.  It's the part of the story without an ending, until you get to the New Testament where Jesus breaches the walls between man and God for one final sacrifice, nullifying all sacrifices from then on, bringing about peace between God and man forever, and re-establishing a connection to all who believe on His name.  WOW!

God. Is. Gracious!

I'm spellbound.  I'm humbled.  I'm in awe.

What are your thoughts?  What do you think about Leviticus?  Maybe the next time you read it, you'll look at it through the lens of the Gospel wherein God tells His story of love, hope and grace.

Much love,

Deeds

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