Leviticus Leads to
Calvary.
The book of Leviticus
is not light reading material; it is serious reading for the sincere person who
is aware of personal need through the conviction of the Holy Spirit in their
heart and mind. Leviticus is a living book of love.
Having read through
the Book of Leviticus, below is my focus on the message it contains:
(1) Highway of Blood Red Truth. (2) Highway that leads to Calvary. (3) Heart of the Lord from Heaven. (4) Holiness of the God of Glory. (5) High Priests with work to do.
This is a record of
the God of Abraham, Isaac and Jacob revealingly speaking to Moses and Moses
urgently and accurately speaking to all the people of Israel. The Lord sees. The
Lord hears. The Lord responds in a rapid relay, with divine means, to bless the
people of His love and choice.
(1) Highway of blood red truth
Serious need existed
so serous action is taken
Serious sin in the
heart of men demands serious action in the heart of God. Leviticus is about
sacrifice, blood, fire, and altars, fur on the animals and feathers on the
pigeons and turtle doves. It is about fear and forgiveness it points to an event
to take place later in Israel. It is a thousand, thousand actions and lessons
that lead to one glorious final sacrifice for sin for ever. Leviticus is a blue
print of a Red Cross!
(2) Highway that leads to
Calvary.
Leviticus points to
the Sacrifice of the Lamb of God at Calvary
Each burnt sacrifice
proceeded by the flashing knife; each burning flaming fire, with the swirling
column of smoke ascending to the heavens speaks of coming Cross at Calvary; not
red with the blood of perfect selected sacrificial animals but crimson with the
spilt Blood of Jesus Christ. Behold the Lamb of God which takes away the sin of
the world. Eternally perfect and selected before the foundation of the world.
The immensity and meticulous fulfilment of the final sacrifice for all human sin
is the work and mission of the adorable Trinity. The saving work of the Father,
the Son and the Holy Spirit.
(3) Heart
of the Lord from Heaven.
Love from above leads
the way forward for all men. The Tabernacle linked the people to the Lord,
designed in heaven and built on earth with great skill by the people. It had the
constant Presence of the Lord in evidence - cloud by day and fire by night. All
the house of Israel could see this throughout their journeys. I will not leave
you; I will not forget or forsake you, revealed the silent signs in the sky. He
took them by the hand as it were and led them all through the sand.
(4) Holiness
of the Lord of Glory.
One of the key words
of Leviticus is holiness. It is the very nature of God. His desire that his
people should be clean and sanctified with the power of holiness is emphasised
continually. He wants His people clean so they can show His glory.
Thousands of
sacrifices are the basis of forgiveness and cleansing. Calvary was the last and
final sacrifice for sin, the gospel is about clean lives. This detailed book of
Moses helps one understand as Christians we must be clean on each level of our
life. Jesus was and He is our Saviour and example in these daily matters.
The fire shall ever
be on the altar it shall never go out.
(5) High-Priests with work to
do.
Their work was urgent
and detailed it was never ending. It was incessant. The Lord set the whole
system in place. Sacrifices and offerings. Burnt offerings. Meat offerings.
Peace offerings. Sin offerings. Trespass offerings. All emphasising that man,
beast, bird, altar, clothing worn, must be clean. We see the purity of priests
and offerings. There is a lack of youth pastors, song leaders, and worship personnel talking about every line
of every song. The music groups and gifted musicians are hard to see through the
ascending smoke of the sacrifices. Entertainment in Leviticus is low key, happy-clappy
it is not!
Sin makes one sigh
not smile, our sin demands serious attention. Cleansing by the blood of
sacrifice is on a different level to clapping shouting whistling and drinking
bottled water.
6) Hard uncompromising
decisions of priest and people.
All had to be in the
right place at the correct time and for prime reason of pleasing the Lord of
Glory. Discipline was demanded of them. Blessing and forgiveness was theirs
because of their obedience to the guidance of the Lord. Feast followed feast.
The
Feast of the Passover.
The Feast of Pentecost.
The Feast of Trumpets.
The Day of Atonement.
The Feast of Tabernacles.
Wherefore,
holy brethren, partakers of the heavenly calling, consider the Apostle and High
Priest of our profession, Christ Jesus;
Page created 1 May 2007