Foundations: Draw Near. Leviticus 1-8

Foundations: Drawing Near

Leviticus 1-8

Intro: The Pentateuch

Genesis: God, Creator/creation, mankind and marriage, sin and sacrifice, obedience and promise .

Exodus: Disobedience, wickedness, God’s moral law, bondage and deliverance.

Leviticus: God dwells with man, rules and rituals

1. God outlines all offerings to Him and what they are for.(Leviticus 1-7) (5 Mosaic offerings)
   • offerings
     • Unblemished male animal-the worshipper laid their hand on the animal’s head (symbolizing identification and substitution)The animal was killed, blood sprinkled on alter and the entire animal was burned. This was a pleasing aroma to the Lord. Purpose: atonement or being made acceptable before God-general atonement or covering for sin. It expressed complete surrender and devotion in worship to God. It was offered twice daily by priest on behalf of the people.
     • The unblemished mail pictured Christ sinless and spotless. 1peter 1:19.
     • The complete burning pictured Christs total, voluntary and completely to the fathers will. Eph. 5:2
     • Pleasing aroma pictured God’s satisfied with the work of christ which brought reconciliation. Heb. 10:10-14
   • offerings
     • It was a bloodless offering involving agricultural items typically flour from grain mixed with ori, salt and topped with frankincense.
     • Part was put on the alter as a sweet aroma to the Lord the other part went to the priest
     • It must be unleavened and contain no honey but every offering must be seasoned with salt symbolizing purity and permanence.
     • The grain offering had no blood so it did not atone for sin, but it was an offering used t show gratitude. It was a picture of divine blessing and human effort bringing forth provision.
     • THis offering pictured Christ in that the fine flour that Jesus knew no sin. 2 cor. 5:21 The olive oil pictured the anointing of the holy spirit that Jesus received Luke 1:35. The frankincense points to the sweet frgrgrance of obedience. No Leven or honey pointed to the fact Jesus was pure and free from sin. The salt was a picture of the incorruptible and everlasting nature of the covenant.
     • The entire offering pictures Jesus being the Bread of Life.
   • offerings
     • The only voluntary offering where the worshipper could earn part of the offering in a shared meal with family and friends. It is the offering of fellowship.
     • Unblemished male/femail offering. It was accompanied with cakes/wafers or loaves mixed with oil and sometimes frankincense.
     • THe worshipper would lay hands on the animals head, slaughtered and blood sprinkled around the alter. They burned the fat portions. The breast and right thigh went to the priest and the remainder of meat was eaten by the worshipper and their household in a joyful meal within 2 days.
     • The purpose was to express gratitude for Gods deliverance, provision, answered prayer and blessings. They would use this in thanksgiving, or making a vow, free will offering when heart was moved or symbolizing a restored peace between God and people.
     • This offering pictured christ’s sacrificial substitutional death that removed a barrier between man and God to make peace possible. Eph. 2:14-16
     • The meal pictures the communion supper where we celebrate the work of Jesus In our life in a joyful and voluntary nature. . 1 cor. 10:16-17
   • offerings
     • This offering was for purification. It was mandatory sacrifice when a person became aware of unintentional sins or sins of weakness without deliberate intent.
     • A different animal for different people was required. HP, Tribal leader and ordinary person all had different offerings.
     • Then worshipper laid hands on head identifying substitute. The blood took blood and sprinkled on the veil of the holy place for priest and congregation sins and on the horns of alter for sins of an individual.
     • The carcas was taken outside the camp and burned signifying removal of sin for life and community. The innocent animal died int he place of the sinner bearing the penalty of the sin.
     • This offering signified Jesus’ substitutionary death. 1 Peter 2:24, The blood of christ cleanses and removed the barrier of sin between God and man. Jesus suffered outside the gate of the city. Christ sacrifice unlike animals that were temporary, His was once and for all. Heb. 10:10-14
   • offerings
     • This offering is the trespass or restitution offering. A ram without defect
     • The worshipper would confess the sin. Restitution was made for the wrong to the person that was offended plus 20% added to compensation. Hands were laid on the ram, slaughtered and the blood was sprinkled around the alter.
     • Wrongs include: misusing holy things or uncertain of misuse, deliberate wrongs against others including cheating robbery fraud or lying about lost property or false promises.
     • The purpose was forgiveness with making it right. This made restoration possible. This also helped a person dealing with the guilt of wronging someone else.
     • Jesus was the sacrifice. Is. 53:10-11 Christ not only forgives but restores what is broken. HEb. 9:15 col. 2:13-14.

2.  God men to handle His laws and teach/lead them to His people.

The high priest served as a mediator between a holy God and sinful Israel. His primary purpose was to facilitate atonement (forgiveness and reconciliation) so God’s presence could dwell with the people.

• • Ordination

“The Lord spoke to Moses, saying, “Take Aaron and his sons with him, and the garments and the anointing oil and the bull of the sin offering and the two rams and the basket of unleavened bread. And assemble all the congregation at the entrance of the tent of meeting.” And Moses did as the Lord commanded him, and the congregation was assembled at the entrance of the tent of meeting. And Moses said to the congregation, “This is the thing that the Lord has commanded to be done.””

Leviticus 8:1-5 ESV

• • • Public
    • v6

“And Moses brought Aaron and his sons and washed them with water.”

Leviticus 8:6 ESV

• • • v7-9,13

“And he put the coat on him and tied the sash around his waist and clothed him with the robe and put the ephod on him and tied the skillfully woven band of the ephod around him, binding it to him with the band. And he placed the breastpiece on him, and in the breastpiece he put the Urim and the Thummim. And he set the turban on his head, and on the turban, in front, he set the golden plate, the holy crown, as the Lord commanded Moses. And Moses brought Aaron’s sons and clothed them with coats and tied sashes around their waists and bound caps on them, as the Lord commanded Moses.”

Leviticus 8:7-9, 13 ESV

• • • v10-12

“Then Moses took the anointing oil and anointed the tabernacle and all that was in it, and consecrated them. And he sprinkled some of it on the altar seven times, and anointed the altar and all its utensils and the basin and its stand, to consecrate them. And he poured some of the anointing oil on Aaron’s head and anointed him to consecrate him.”

Leviticus 8:10-12 ESV

• • • Sacrifices v14-36

3.  Jesus is the great High Priest.

Jesus is the great high priest and serves as a mediator between a holy God and sinful world. His primary purpose was to facilitate atonement (forgiveness and reconciliation) so God’s presence could dwell with the people. He represents us because He knows us. His sacrifice was once and for all, he intercedes for those who come through him to the father and He mediates the new covenant.

• • Jesus is our High Priest
    • forever-Heb. 7:11-28

“Now if perfection had been attainable through the Levitical priesthood (for under it the people received the law), what further need would there have been for another priest to arise after the order of Melchizedek, rather than one named after the order of Aaron? For when there is a change in the priesthood, there is necessarily a change in the law as well. For the one of whom these things are spoken belonged to another tribe, from which no one has ever served at the altar. For it is evident that our Lord was descended from Judah, and in connection with that tribe Moses said nothing about priests. This becomes even more evident when another priest arises in the likeness of Melchizedek, who has become a priest, not on the basis of a legal requirement concerning bodily descent, but by the power of an indestructible life. For it is witnessed of him, “You are a priest forever, after the order of Melchizedek.” For on the one hand, a former commandment is set aside because of its weakness and uselessness (for the law made nothing perfect); but on the other hand, a better hope is introduced, through which we draw near to God. And it was not without an oath. For those who formerly became priests were made such without an oath, but this one was made a priest with an oath by the one who said to him: “The Lord has sworn and will not change his mind, ‘You are a priest forever.’” This makes Jesus the guarantor of a better covenant. The former priests were many in number, because they were prevented by death from continuing in office, but he holds his priesthood permanently, because he continues forever. Consequently, he is able to save to the uttermost those who draw near to God through him, since he always lives to make intercession for them. For it was indeed fitting that we should have such a high priest, holy, innocent, unstained, separated from sinners, and exalted above the heavens. He has no need, like those high priests, to offer sacrifices daily, first for his own sins and then for those of the people, since he did this once for all when he offered up himself. For the law appoints men in their weakness as high priests, but the word of the oath, which came later than the law, appoints a Son who has been made perfect forever.”

Hebrews 7:11-28 ESV

• • • Forever -Heb. 9:11-14, 10:1-10

“But when Christ appeared as a high priest of the good things that have come, then through the greater and more perfect tent (not made with hands, that is, not of this creation) he entered once for all into the holy places, not by means of the blood of goats and calves but by means of his own blood, thus securing an eternal redemption. For if the blood of goats and bulls, and the sprinkling of defiled persons with the ashes of a heifer, sanctify for the purification of the flesh, how much more will the blood of Christ, who through the eternal Spirit offered himself without blemish to God, purify our conscience from dead works to serve the living God.”

Hebrews 9:11-14 ESV

4.  The believers priesthood.

• Believers priesthood
  • -1 Peter 2:9, Rev. 1:6, 5:10

“But you are a chosen race, a royal priesthood, a holy nation, a people for his own possession, that you may proclaim the excellencies of him who called you out of darkness into his marvelous light.”

1 Peter 2:9 ESV“and from Jesus Christ the faithful witness, the firstborn of the dead, and the ruler of kings on earth. To him who loves us and has freed us from our sins by his blood and made us a kingdom, priests to his God and Father, to him be glory and dominion forever and ever. Amen.”

Revelation 1:5-6 ESV

“And they sang a new song, saying, “Worthy are you to take the scroll and to open its seals, for you were slain, and by your blood you ransomed people for God from every tribe and language and people and nation, and you have made them a kingdom and priests to our God, and they shall reign on the earth.””

Revelation 5:9-10 ESV

• • • -Titus 3:5, Eph. 5:26

“he saved us, not because of works done by us in righteousness, but according to his own mercy, by the washing of regeneration and renewal of the Holy Spirit,”

Titus 3:5 ESV

“that he might sanctify her, having cleansed her by the washing of water with the word,”

Ephesians 5:26 ESV

• • • -1 Peter 1:15-16

“Therefore, preparing your minds for action, and being sober-minded, set your hope fully on the grace that will be brought to you at the revelation of Jesus Christ. As obedient children, do not be conformed to the passions of your former ignorance, but as he who called you is holy, you also be holy in all your conduct, since it is written, “You shall be holy, for I am holy.””

1 Peter 1:13-16 ESV

Why this is important for us today. The emphasis on and holiness in Leviticus remains. Christians must live consecrated lives, avoiding sin and living as ambassadors under the the New Covenant.

*Beauty of the heart of Christ!