365 Reflections

Hebrews 10:12–14 (ESV) But when Christ had offered for all time a single sacrifice for sins, he sat down at the right hand of God, 13 waiting from that time until his enemies should be made a footstool for his feet. 14 For by a single offering he has perfected for all time those who are being sanctified. Those words are never more wonderful than when you read Leviticus 8-9 and see what was required of the Levitical priesthood in order for the glory of the Lord to appear under the Old Covenant. After 7 days of preparation with cleansing, clothing, offerings and anointing, Aaron is now to prepare the people for the presence of God in Leviticus 9. Leviticus 9:1–4 (ESV) On the eighth day Moses called Aaron and his sons and the elders of Israel, 2 and he said to Aaron, “Take for yourself a bull calf for a sin offering and a ram for a burnt offering, both without blemish, and offer them before the LORD. 3 And say to the people of Israel, ‘Take a male goat for a sin offering, and a ...

The clearest picture of Christ in the offerings has to come from the grain offering. Leviticus 2:1–2  (ESV)   “When anyone brings a grain offering as an offering to the Lord , his offering shall be of fine flour. He shall pour oil on it and put frankincense on it   and bring it to Aaron’s sons the priests. And he shall take from it a handful of the fine flour and oil, with all of its frankincense, and the priest shall burn this as its memorial portion on the altar, a food offering with a pleasing aroma to the Lord . The grain offering also most readily relates the idea that Jesus the true bread from heaven, would come in simplicity and poverty. Grain was the acceptable sin offering in Leviticus 5 for the poorest of the poor. Jesus was born in poverty. He lived a simple life. Yet in Him was the riches of God's glory.  The stipulations of the offering call for frankincense, a fine balsamic resin symbolic of holiness and devotion. God's Son would come with both...

Today we start the book of Leviticus. It is an often avoided piece of literature in the scriptures. The offerings and descriptions of the priestly system is enough to drive anyone far from investing their time in this book. But what a mistake it is to disregard it's powerful presentation of God's truth. We find in the book of Leviticus the means by which a man may come to God. And the first thing that Leviticus is going to tell us is that we come by way of sacrifice. Commentators tell us that the first word in Leviticus (in Hebrew) is a conjunction. It connects its contents to the end of Exodus. At the end of Exodus, Moses has erected the Tent of Meeting (the Tabernacle) and God filled it with His presence and glory. Moses cannot enter the tent because of God's glory - YET - Leviticus opens with they way by which we all may come to God. Leviticus 1:1–2 (ESV)  The LORD called Moses and spoke to him from the tent of meeting, saying, 2 “Speak to the people of Israel and sa...