COME AND SEE
INTRODUCTION
In the first chapter of the Gospel of John we read about when Jesus began to call His first disciples. One of the first was Philip, who like Andrew and Peter was from the town of Bethsaida.
Philip went out immediately found Nathanael and told Him about Jesus of Nazareth. Nathanael responded to Philip "Nazareth! Can anything good from there?" Philip didn’t argue with Nathanael he just said "come and see." Well Nathanael went with Philip and he really wasn’t expecting too much. However, after meeting Jesus, Nathanael realized that Jesus was much better than he had expected and within minutes was calling Jesus the Son of God. and Nathanael would spend the next three years with Jesus and his life was never the same.
This month we are going to study the book of Leviticus. And when I say to you that it’s a great book and that’s it is going to be a great study. You may feel a little leery like Nathanael did and you might be thinking "Leviticus! Can anything good, can anything practicle, come from there?"
A somewhat cynical analyst has observed: "Leviticus is a dust heap containing a single pearl-you shall love your neighbor as yourself". As casual reading of Leviticus may cause the reader to feel that Leviticus is the epitome of Old Testament irrelevance.
Leviticus is full of ritual and sacrifices, that have not been performed for nearly 2000 years. It goes into great detail describing a priesthood that no longer exists and feasts and Holidays that are no longer observed.
All of these factors is probably why Leviticus is the least read book of the Bible. How many times have we read through this book? Doctor Smith in his survey of the Pentateuch writes:
"The prejudice against it notwithstanding, Leviticus is a Christian book. The Bible of Jesus contained this book. More than 40 New Testament references to Leviticus have been identified. What appears on the surface to be a barren wasteland proves to be a gold mine to those with the patience to plunge its depths.
As we begin our study of Leviticus I invite you, to COME AND SEE. Come and see what treasures God has for us as we study this book.
Today as we survey the book of Leviticus we will discover that Leviticus is in deed, a relevant book for Christians even today and that it is a book abounding in great teachings. Leviticus teaches God’s people about :
I. THE GREAT PROBLEM OF SIN
Let’s talk about sin:
A. What sin is?
The word sin is used 90 times in the book of Leviticus, more than any other book in the Bible and it is used over 4 times as much in Leviticus than in Genesis and Exodus combined. In Exodus, which we studied in May, we find God being concerned with, getting His people out of Egypt. God was concerned with releasing them from he bonds of Egyptian slavery. In the book of Leviticus, which covers a one month period of time after the building of the tabernacle, we find God now concerned with, getting Egypt, out of His people. God was concerned with dealing with His people’s problem of sin. The problem of Sin However, is not something new. Ever since Adam and Eve started the process in the garden, mankind has continually throughout the years, sought to do things their own way, and they have openly rebelled against, and rejected God’s way. Sin is disobedience to God’s laws, to God’s commands. And as Paul says in Romans, we sin, when we fall short, when we don’t measure up to, what God expects us to be, and what God expects us to do.
B. What sin does?
Sin is disobeying God, breaking His Laws. And in many places in the book of Leviticus we read that those who break God’s commands, that those who disobey, that those who are unclean, are to be cut off. This phrase is used 15 times in the book of Leviticus. This terms teaches us that those who are disobedient, that those who sin, are to be separated from God and from God’s people.
That is what sin does, it separates us from God. Our God is a Holy God. Four times in the book of Leviticus (Chs., 10, 19, 20), God tells His people to be Holy because He is Holy. When God’s people sin They become stained, they become impure, and they no longer can approach or stand in God’s presence. The prophet Isaiah, writes in the 59th chapter that "our sins separate us from God and that our sins also hide God’s face from us". Sin separates us from God.
C. Whose problem is it?
It’s everyones problem, Romans 3:23 says that all have sinned... In the book of Leviticus, we see this principle illustrated. In chapter 4 the Lord speaks to Moses and addresses the people’s sin. In doing so God refers to the sins of: the anointed priest, the whole Israelite community, the leaders and all Individual members of the community. It does not matter who we are, or what we do, all are guilty of sinning against God.
II. IN LEVITICUS NOT ONLY DO WE READ ABOUT A GREAT PROBLEM, SIN, BUT WE ALSO DISCOVER GODS GREAT PROVISION OF SACRIFICE.
As God speaks to Moses from the tabernacle, God not only points out to Moses, mans problem of sin, GOD ALSO, tells Moses of the provision that he is instituting to deal with the sins of God’s people.
You see man’s problem of sin must be dealt with, before man can be restored to fellowship with the One True And HOLY God. And God seeing man’s need, God, knowing that man was in no position to do anything about his sin, called from the tabernacle to Moses. And he spoke to Moses informing Moses of His provision for man’s need. And that provision is through offerings and sacrifice. The words offering and sacrifice are used over 90 times in this book and the first 7 chapters deal with the 7 sacrifices that God established.
As we reflect on the Mosaic Sacrificial system we will see many common threads and applications to our own worship of God today. Some of the basic principles of the sacrifices were:
A. A worshiper could never come into the presence of God empty-handed, he always had to bring an offering to the Lord.
B. The Hebrew word translated "offering" means a thing "literally brought near." This word provides a clue to the significance of the sacrificial system. The sacrifices provided the means by which a worshiper could come into the presence of God.
C. In most cases the Israelites were commanded to sacrifice a domestic animal. Now this animal would be much more valuable to the Israelite than a wild animal, because he would be trained and would have served a purpose in the life of the Israelites. The point being that the sacrifice was to be a true sacrifice, and only that which was of value and of cost to the worshiper was to be brought to the Lord.
D. The gift depended on ones financial situation. God cared about those who were poor. And just because they could not afford a sheep, goat or bull God still provided a way for them to sacrifice to Him and worship Him. God allowed the poor to substitute a small birds for the normal requirement of sheep or bulls. This really is a beautiful illustration of the character of God, with God there is no partiality. It’s not the amount of things we give that counts BUT the amount of heart and commitment behind the gift. (THE WIDOWS MITE). E. The worshipper took part in the sacrifice. He had to bring the animal to the tabernacle,and he had to lay his hands on the animal, in doing this he was identifying himself with the animal. The animal would then become a substitute for the worshiper. The animal would take his place and assume the penalty for the worshipers sin. And the penalty for sin is death. And each time an Israelite brought his sacrifice to the altar, he was reminded again and again of the seriousness of sin, of the cost of sin, of the penalty of sin, as he watched the blood pour from the innocent animal, who had taken his place. Hebrews 9 " W/O the shedding of blood there is no forgiveness."
IN LEVITICUS WE READ ABOUT THE GREAT PROBLEM OF SIN AND WE READ ABOUT THE GREAT PROVISION OF SACRIFICE.
III. AND WE ALSO READ ABOUT THE GREAT POWER OF THE PRIESTHOOD.
What the priesthood, which is described in great detail in chapters 8-15, what the priesthood teaches God’s people, is that man CAN approach God, but that they MUST approach God through God’s divinely appointed mediators.
A. God chose Aaron and his sons to be Priests.
[8:1-4] They were the chosen mediators and they were to stand between God and the people.
After Aaron and his sons were called to the tent they were ordained (8:33). The Hebrew word for ordain literally means to "fill the hands". A priest’s life was to be filled with nothing but the Holy things of God.
Aaron and his sons then went through an ordination service which is describe in great detail.
When their ordination was over they immediately began their priestly service. In chapter 9 Aaron first offers a sacrifice for himself and his sons. And then he offers a sacrifice for the people.
[9:22-24] In these verses God places His stamp of approval on Aaron as the High Priest. This was the first time that Aaron ever entered the tabernacle up until this time only Moses was allowed in. Then Aaron after meeting with God, comes out of the tent and pronounces a second blessing on the people. After which the Glory of the Lord appeared to all the people. And fire came out from the presence of the Lord, consuming the offering that was on the altar. This was God’s way of confirming that both the offering and the High Priest were accepted by God. And the people realizing that the sacrificial system That would make provision for their problem of sin, and that would allow them to come into the presence of God was now in place . That had a mediator who would take their sacrifices before the Lord. And when the people saw this great display of God’s love and mercy they with overwhelming joy fell to their knees in praise and worship.
No discussion of the power of the priesthood would be complete without mentioning the great day of atonement, WHICH is discussed in chapter 16. Once a year the High priest was allowed to enter the Holy of Holies in the tabernacle. This was where the ark of the covenant was kept, on which sat two cherubim fashioned out of Gold. And the space between those 2 angels represented the presence of God. The high Priest would enter the Holy of Holies with blood from a sacrificed goat, to atone for the sins of the nation, and of the priesthood. Then the high Priest would leave the tabernacle and place his hands on the head of a live goat, that was waiting outside. He would confess as he laid his hands on the goat, the wickedness and rebellion of the Israelites, He would confess all of their sins, and in so doing was putting their sins on the head of the goat. The goat was then driving out from the camp,into the wilderness carrying with him the sins of the people, this symbolized the removal of their sin.
IV. THE GREAT PRINCIPLE OF HOLINESS
The great principle throughout the book of Leviticus is this "God’s Holiness demands Holiness on the part of those who are His people".
The words Holy and Clean appear over three hundred times in the book of Leviticus. The verse that captures the essence of the book of Leviticus is 19:2 " The lord said to Moses, speak to the entire assembly of Israel, and say to them, `BE HOLY BECAUSE I, THE LORD YOUR GOD, AM HOLY`"
God’s people are to be Holy ,they are to be unstained and clean, they are to be different then the world, they are to be Holy. Did you notice that God did not say they are to try to be Holy, but that they are to BE HOLY, Because He is their God and they are His people.
The principle of Holiness is the basic requirement that God’s people must meet and that they must maintain if the are to approach God.
V. When the Israelites approached God in the prescribed manner. When they practiced the principles of Holiness and cleanliness, When they went to and through their mediator, the Priest with the sacrifice that God had required, They would then enjoy the GREAT PRIVILEGE OF THE PRESENCE OF GOD.
Let’s read Leviticus 9:23-24 again. Now we need to remember that these verses take place after Moses and Aaron had performed all that God had instructed them in regards to establishing both the priesthood and the sacrificial system. As a matter of fact Leviticus 8:36 reads "So Aaron and his sons did everything the Lord had commanded through Moses".
And in so doing they would now enjoy the great privilege of God’s presence. {9:22-24}.
Leviticus!, Can anything good, Can anything worthwhile, Can anything relevant come from this frequently forgotten book. I hope this brief overview has caused you to say yes.
The book of Leviticus is without a doubt full of Great teachings.
And are this teachings relevant to us in the church today? Yes they are. They are a shadow that points to an ultimate
fulfillment in Christ and in the Church. Does mankind and God’s people still struggle with the problem of Sin? They most certainly do. The majority of the world is still lost in sin. And Christians struggle with sin as well. The apostle John in his first letter to the church writes that if any Christian says he is without sin he is a liar. Does God today still make provision for our Sin by sacrifice?
And while we were sinners God demonstrated His love for us in this way. He gave His one and only son to die on a cross for us, while we were still His enemies. And Jesus bore the burden of our sin upon His beaten back. And Jesus carried the penalty of our sin away from us , He took it outside the camp. And our sin has been removed as far as the east is from the west. God provided the ultimate sacrifice for sin Himself in Christ. Is their still a Powerful High Priest for the Christians?
[Hebrews 9:11-13]
Is Holiness still a relevant topic for the Christian, does God still desire His people to be different than the world?
[I Peter 1:15,16] But just as he who called you is Holy, so be Holy in all you do, for it is written Be Holy because I am Holy.
Do Christians today still enjoy the great privilege and promise of the Presence of the Lord?
When Jesus left His disciples to go be with the father. He told them that if they were doing His work that they had a great promise."And surely I am with you always to the very end of the age".
CONCLUSION
In the 10th chapter of Leviticus there is one more lesson for us to learn today. In this chapter we read of the tragic death of 2 of Aarons sons, Nadab and Abihu. They were struck down because they offered to God unauthorized fire. And when they did this they were consumed from fire that shot out from the presence of the Lord. The lesson learned is this, the only way to approach God safely is to do so in the manner God has set forth. God says what He means and God means what he says. And today that way is through Jesus Christ and obedience to His Gospel.
