Leviticus
Summary Leviticus is a book that shows the way of grace God Himself provided so that, as the holy God, He would not give up on sinners but continue to dwell among them. It explains how God covers the sins of His people through sacrifices and walks with them.
- Date written
- 1445-1405 BC (traditional)
- Historical period
- Wilderness period
Background
Leviticus is a book explaining what God, who had already saved the people of Israel through the exodus, prepared in order to continue being with them. It shows how the holy God can dwell among sinful people. Leviticus is set in the situation after the covenant was made at Mount Sinai, when God had begun to dwell among Israel through the tabernacle. That God was among His people was a great grace, but at the same time a clear way was needed for dealing with the problem of sin. Leviticus is God’s explanation in answer to exactly this question. The sacrifices and regulations in this book are not a way for people to strive to satisfy God. Rather, they are a system of grace by which God first provided a way to cover sin and allowed His people to come to Him without fear. Leviticus shows both how holy God is and, at the same time, how near He calls sinners to Himself.
Content
Leviticus explains step by step how sinful people can remain in the presence of God. The central question this book raises is not “What must people do?” but “How does God resolve the problem of sin?” The first part explains the meaning of sin and forgiveness through various sacrifices. These sacrifices were not acts by which people proved their own goodness but the way in which God covered sin through the shedding of blood. In particular, the Day of Atonement, the day when the sins of the whole community were cleansed by God’s grace, is the most important scene in Leviticus. The middle part, through the regulations for priests and for purity, shows how God protects and sets apart His people in order to preserve His presence. These are not rules demanding a perfect life but an explanation of the process by which God keeps His people holy. The latter part, centered on the words “You shall be holy!”, shows how God’s holiness should be displayed in everyday life and relationships. This is not a demand that people make themselves holy but the result of the grace God has already given showing itself in the shape of their lives. In the end, Leviticus is not a book teaching what people must do to draw near to God, but a book of grace in which God, refusing to give up on sinners, has provided every way to be with them to the end.