Leviticus explores the dilemma of how a holy God can stay in relationship with a people prone to death and idolatry through rituals and sacrifices.
The book can be divided into three movements: sacrifices and offerings, ordination and consecration, and laws regarding personal and social integrity.
Leviticus follows a pattern of crisis and resolution, where failures in the relationship with God are resolved through acts of atonement and restoration.
Deep dives
The story of Leviticus
Leviticus continues the narrative of Israel's journey, following their idolatrous failure at the golden calf. The book explores the dilemma of how a holy God can stay in relationship with a people prone to death and idolatry. The rituals and sacrifices outlined in Leviticus serve as a means for the people to approach God and maintain their relationship with Him.
The three movements of Leviticus
Leviticus can be divided into three movements. The first movement, chapters 1-7, focuses on the sacrifices and offerings that Israelites used to honor God and seek atonement for their sins. These sacrifices are a central theme and are seen as a way for the people to dedicate themselves to God. The second movement, chapters 8-16, deals with the ordination of priests, the consecration of the tabernacle, and the ritual purity of the people. The third movement, chapters 17-27, explores laws regarding personal and social integrity, emphasizing holiness and justice within the community.
The crisis and resolution pattern
Leviticus follows a pattern of crisis and resolution that is present throughout the biblical story. The crisis occurs when the people fail in their relationship with God, leading to a rupture and the inability to enter into His presence. However, each crisis is resolved through an act of atonement, often involving sacrifices, which restores the relationship and allows God to dwell among the people once again.
Suspension of disbelief and the realness of the narrative
To understand Leviticus, one must engage in a willing suspension of disbelief and approach the narrative on its own terms. The rituals and symbols described in Leviticus may seem absurd or play-acting to modern readers, but to the ancient Israelites, they were very real and represented their actual relationship with God. The story of Leviticus invites readers to trust in the truthfulness of the narrative and to see the world from a different perspective.
The significance of the narrative
The narrative of Leviticus has instructional value for all generations of God's people. It teaches us about the complexities of maintaining a relationship with a holy God and the need for atonement and cleansing. Leviticus serves as a guide for how to approach and relate to God, offering insights into the nature of sacrifice, ritual purity, and justice within the community. By engaging with the narrative and its themes, readers can glean valuable lessons about faith, obedience, and the pursuit of holiness.
Holiness is a word we frequently associate with the Bible, but what does it mean? As we pick up the story from where we left off in Exodus, we find even Moses unable to enter God’s presence—and a whole bunch of laws about situations many of us have never considered. What is going on in the scroll of Leviticus? And why is it important? In this episode, join Tim and Jon as they dive into the first movement of the Leviticus scroll, where we’ll trace the theme of sacrifice.
You can experience the literary themes and movements we’re tracing on the podcast in the BibleProject app, available for Android and iOS.
Show Music
“Defender (Instrumental)” by TENTS
“Synth Groove” by Chase Mackintosh
“Two for Joy” by Foxwood
“Chilldrone” (Artist Unknown)
Show produced by Cooper Peltz. Edited by Dan Gummel and Tyler Bailey. Show notes by Lindsey Ponder. Podcast annotations for the BibleProject app by MacKenzie Buxman and Ashlyn Heise.
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