The book of Leviticus can also be
called as the Book of Laws. This book insists on keeping the body holy as well
as the soul. It teaches that the redeemed ones must be holy because their
redeemer is holy. It shows lessons in hygiene, and sanitation for the care of
the body. It also talks about the five offerings and the eight feasts to be
observed by the Jewish people.
From the beginning of this book
we see how Israel needs to approach God through sacrifice and walk with God by separation.
Pagans bring their sacrifice to the altar of their gods, for they realize that
they cannot do anything about their sin themselves. But all the sacrifices in
this book point to “the Lamb of God, who
takes away the sin of the world” (John
1:29). There can no fellowship between God and the sinner until sin has
been dealt with’ the only way is sacrifice. “Without the shedding of blood there is no forgiveness” (Hebrew 9:22). Five offerings are
described in Leviticus. Gods wants us to understand the awful reality of sin,
so he asks for a sacrifice each day.
1. Burnt
Offering: “Surrender” of Christ for
the world (Leviticus 1).
2. Grain
Offering: “Service” of Christ in
life (Leviticus 2).
3. Fellowship
Offering: “Serenity” of Christ in
life (Leviticus 3).
4. Sin
Offering: “Substitute” of Christ for
sin (Leviticus 4 – 5:13).
5. Guilt
Offering: “Satisfaction” by Christ for
demands of God (Leviticus 5:14 – 6:7).
As New Testament believers, what
we bring is our sin; what Christ brings is the offering and the atonement for
sin.
From Leviticus 8 to 10, we see the duties of the Priests. No one could
bring his or her own sacrifice to God. Each one had to bring it to the priest
and he in turn would offer it to God. God chose one tribe out of the twelve to
care for the Tabernacle. This was the tribe of Levi. One family of Levites,
Aaron’s, should be the priests. The priests had the charge of the sacrifices
and were supported by the tithes of the people. The priest offered the prayers
and praises and sacrifices of the people to God in their behalf. He stood for
them and pleaded their cause. In Leviticus
10, we see the failure of priesthood by Aaron’s sons, Nadab and Abihu, who in
turn were consumed by fire from the Lord.
Animal sacrifices are no longer
necessary because all sacrifices were fulfilled in Christ. Therefore priests
are no longer necessary. Christ himself is the great high priest for humanity (Hebrews 2:17; 4:15). He is the only
mediator between God and humanity. No one else can come between God and
humanity. We approach God through Christ Jesus and him alone (Hebrews 10:12; 7:25; John 14:6).
The sacrifices spoke of the blood
that saved and the feasts spoke of the food that sustains. Five great festivals
are mentioned in Leviticus 23
The feast of the Sabbath (Leviticus 23:1-3): Day of worship and
rest, celebrating the finished work of God in creation (Genesis 2:2-3). Christians celebrate the first day of the week, the
day our Lord arose from the grave (Luke
24:1; Acts 20:7; 1 Corinthians 16:2). Thus we celebrate the finished work
of redemption.
The Feasts of the Passover
(Leviticus 23:4-5) and Unleavened
Bread (Leviticus 23:6): Passover
spoke of redemption and was celebrated every spring time. It lasted for 1 day,
but the Feast of Unleavened Bread that immediately followed lasted 7 days.
Christians celebrate Easter these days.
The feasts of First Fruits
(Leviticus 23:1-14) and Pentecost
(Leviticus 23:15-22): Israel
observer first fruits during the feast of unleavened bread. In the current
calendar it comes on April – May months. This fruits typified Christ’s
resurrection and ours (1 Corinthians
15:20). 50 days later Passover was observed. 50 days after Christ’s
resurrection, the Holy Spirit descended upon the disciples and the Church was
born. Pentecost was the birthday of the Church. Since April 1, 2018 is Easter, Christians
celebrate Pentecost on May 20, 2018.
The feast of Trumpets (Leviticus 23: 23-25): this is the New Year’s
Day (Rosh Hashanah) of Jewish people. They celebrate it in the fall, in
September 2018. This feast points forward to the future gathering of the
dispersed people of Israel (Zechariah
14:16).
Day of Atonement (Leviticus 23:26-32): This followed the
feast of trumpets by 10 days. This was the most solemn day of the year of God’s
chosen people. On this day the sins of the nation were confessed. Jehovah’s
relationship to his people was established. This was the only day in the year
when the high priest was permitted to enter the holy of holies. Jewish people
it this year on September 19-20. For Christians, we can run into God’s presence
at any time for Christ has made the way possible for us (Ephesians 3:12).
Feast of Tabernacles (Leviticus 23:33-36): This was the last
required feast of the year. It is also called feast of Booths or ingathering. Celebrated
in the fall and lasts for a week, it commemorated the time when children of Israel
lived in tents during their wilderness journey from Egypt to the Promised Land,
Israel. This feast recalled them that in spite of their unbelief God was
faithful in caring for them and brought them to their inheritance. It comes on
September 24 to October 1, 2018.
The Sabbatical Year (Leviticus 25:1-7): this was the year of
meditation and devotion. It was a year of Sabbath. Every day was like the Sabbath,
and the minds of the people were kept on the things of the Lord. Last
Sabbatical year was on 2014 and the next one is on 2021.
The year of Jubilee (Leviticus 25:8-55): This was celebrated
every 50th year. It was inaugurated on the day of Atonement with the
blowing of trumpets. As in the Sabbatical year, the land was not cultivated and
all slaves were freed. 2017 was an year of Jubilee.
Seven is a significant number in
Leviticus.
·
Every 7th day was the Sabbath
·
Every 7th year was a sabbatical year
·
Every 7 times 7 years was followed by a year of
Jubilee
·
Pentecost was 7 weeks after Passover
·
In the 7th month were the feasts of trumpet,
tabernacles and atonement
·
Pentecost lasted 7 days
·
Passover also lasted for 7 days
All these feasts and years are
very important to the chosen people. The years which come along the Jubilee and
sabbatical years mark a special importance not only to Israel but to the entire
world. In BC 538 the Jews were allowed to return to the land of Israel from
Babylonia to build their Temple. In BC 333 another Jubilee year, Persian rule
ended and the land was conquered by Alexander the Great. In AD 70, a year
followed the Jubilee, the destruction of Jerusalem and temple happened. In
1517, a catholic priest called Martin Luther was born who challenged the hypocrisy
done by the church and protestant reformation was given birth. In 1867 when the
Jews were facing much persecution from the world, they were freed from Austria
and Hungary. In 1917, Great Britain gave support to Jews for getting back their
native land. In 1967, the famous 6 days war were the Arab nations attacked
Israel and Israel’s win happened in a Jubilee year, in which Jerusalem was
recaptured by Israel. 2017 was the 120th jubilee year for Israel and
guess what, in 2018 the top countries are accepting Jerusalem as the capital of
Israel.
If God can keep his promise for a
chosen nation who did not obey him, how much more he cares for the New
Testament Israel, the people who follow Jesus Christ. We don’t need to follow
any feast of offering as everything had been done and finished by Christ Jesus.
Our only duty is to believe and live for Christ to inherit the blessings God
gave to the chosen nation.
May God enable you to follow Christ,
confess your sins and accept him as your saviour so that you, as a new Israel
will inherit the promises and blessing of Jehovah.
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