Roots of Faith

This week we begin a study of the book of Leviticus.

Exodus begins with the children of Israel as slaves, building temples, cities and pyramids for the Pharaoh and ends with the children of Israel building a sanctuary for its God.

The Hebrew name for the book of Leviticus is Va-Yikra - “and he called”. The oldest name for the book was Torath Kohanim - the Instructions of the Priests, or the Priestly Torah.

Israel is called by God to be a Kingdom of Priests (Exodus 19:6). The ancient Israelites were to be part of a theocracy, with God as its King and the people making up a “holy nation”. Christians too, are referred to by this appelative (I Peter 2:5, 9; Revelation 1:6). So then Jews and Christians could stand to study afresh the words of this ancient priestly instruction manual.

The book itself can be divided broadly into two parts; (1) Sacrifices and laws regarding the priestly character of Israel and (2) Holiness and the sanctification of life.

Few modern Bible students really study the book of Leviticus. This is regretable. They find its chapters dealing with the slaughter of animals, the blood and flesh of these sacrifices, bodily discharges and skin diseases and proper handling of situations involving mold in houses to be void of spiritual value. And yet to categorize the contents of the book in this manner truly misses the point of the work.

In ancient times, according to Rabbi Hertz, the Jewish child began the study of Scripture with the book of Leviticus. According to an ancient midrash we learn, “Because little children are pure and the sacrifices are pure, let those who are pure come and occupy themselves with pure things.”

Some skip over Leviticus thinking that it is legalistic, archaic and of no real present worth. And yet God chose to place this priestly document at the heart of His revelation to ancient Israel.

Leviticus conveys concepts for Biblical living. It teaches:
- discernment
- how to distinguish between what is permitted and what is forbidden
- what is holy and what is profane
- what is pure and what is polluted
- it speaks of what is acceptable to eat
- it contains the feasts of the LORD

The Bible contains a great deal about sacrifices, but it also speaks of the fact that obedience is better than sacrifice (1 Samuel 15:22) and that God desires Hesed (loving-kindness) more than sacrifice (Hosea 6:6; cf. Matthew 9:10-13; 12:1-8).

In the messianic age, according to the midrash, all offerings will cease except the thanksgiving offering which will continue forever.

The various sacrifices serve to draw humanity closer to God. but how does one approach God? See Micah 6:6-8

Friedman comments in his work, that the words; repentance, grace and kindness do not occur in Leviticus. It should also be mentioned that except for a couple of possible sections (Leviticus 5:1-6 and 20-26), sacrifice is to “cover” for unintentional sins only.

There are three ways in which the sacrifice was “disposed” of:
(1) the sacrifice was wholly consumed
(2) the priests were paid for their service with the meat of the sacrifice
(3) the offerer was permitted to eat the sacrifice

Reasons for sacrifice vary from thanksgiving, to purification to reparation.

I hope that you will join us as the congregation of Roots of Faith begins its study of Leviticus.

Listen to the service once it is listed on this page and as always, let us know what you think.

Until next week….shalom shalom, Ross

 

 Va-Yikra Introduction [40:15m]: Play Now | Play in Popup | Download

 

 Va-Yikra Torah Reading [34:18m]: Play Now | Play in Popup | Download

 

 Va-Yikra Comments-Questions [41:53m]: Play Now | Play in Popup | Download