Bloody Sacrifices, Obscure Laws and Obtuse Stories—that’s what Leviticus is all about, right? Leviticus appears to be a book of antiquated and outdated laws. If we are honest, Leviticus seems dull and irrelevant to the contemporary Christian and the spiritually curious.

Yet, when we look at Leviticus in context as a continuation of Exodus: the pages begin to turn over with meaning and significance.

We see a God who comes to dwell with His people and literally camp among them.  Those obscure laws are no longer mindless technicalities, but a window into the heart of the lawgiver: YHWH.   Those sacrifices are not simply graphic, gory depictions, but historical evidence of the holiness of God and the richness of worship.

All too often, the virtue of holiness and the severity of sin can be lost in today’s modern world.  We have 3 main hopes as we peer into Leviticus this winter: 

We hope to see the passionate heart of God.
Leviticus is a book that describes in great detail God coming close to his people.  Those “obscure” laws actually reveal the heart of the Law Giver.  Think about it in today’s world, we all embrace the laws ‘do not murder,’ ‘do not steal,’ ‘do not lie under oath.’ Its because as a culture we value life, honesty and the right to possessions.  In the same way, the laws of Leviticus show us the heart of God. 

We hope to see the radical call to Holiness and the Severity of Sin
Leviticus proclaims: “Holy, Holy, Holy is the Lord of Hosts!”  Our greatest need is a deeper understanding of the Holiness of God and the pervasiveness of our sin.  Why?  Only then do we realize how rich, deep, true, and complete the atoning sacrifice of Jesus is on our behalf.   This leads us to our last and most important point.

We hope to understand more of Jesus
Leviticus points to a true and greater sacrifice that is coming.  Jesus says in John 5:46, “If you believed Moses, you would believe me, because he wrote of me.”  Luke himself comments “And beginning with Moses and all the Prophets, he interpreted to them in all the Scriptures the things concerning himself.” 

Leviticus helps us understand more of Jesus.  Without Leviticus, your understanding of Jesus “making a purification for sin” or “becoming a fragrant aroma” – or even the daunting phrase in Hebrews “For if the blood of goats and bulls sanctify the purification of the flesh, how much more will the blood of Christ who through the eternal Spirit offered himself without blemish to God?” – will remain shallow.

We need Leviticus. Especially now.

Brandon Addison