Contrary to this common view, I find this book fascinating. I urge you to read this book with a different lens - a lens to seek the ways of our God and to know how He would like us to live, not necessarily in the particular prescriptions of the law set out there but in their underlying principles on HOW to relate to Him and other people, people who like us, are to be treated as God's image-bearers - with dignity, grace, kindness and God's love.
If we put on the God-lens, we will see our God as He is, full of grace and truth .... commanding us to show His grace to the marginalised in society, requiring us to live in integrity and honesty, and modelling what it means to be a covenant keeper, even when the other covenant-party is unfaithful. He remains faithful because He cannot deny Himself (His own character of integrity and faithfulness) - 2 Tim 2:13. Such is the integrity of character that we are to emulate and aim for.
Leviticus, meaning 'pertaining to the Levites' is actually not intended only for the Levites or priests but is God's address (through Moses) to the nation of Israel as they are 'parked' at Mt Sinai just after they have been led out of Egypt by YWYH - Exod 19:2. Here, at Mt. Sinai, YWYH sets out the laws which are to govern this newly constituted 'people of God', set free from the bondage of Pharaoh and beginning their journey to His Promised Land. These are the theocratic laws that will be administered by Moses on behalf of Israel's God-King, laws which will superintend the moral, civil and religious lives of God's own 'first-born son', Israel (Ex 4:22), laws which will help Israel to truly realise and enjoy their special relationship to Him ...as a 'peculiar' or special treasure unto Him above all people, a kingdom of priests and a holy nation (Ex 19:5,6)
These laws are commonly classified under three categories - moral, civil (for governing civil cases) and ceremonial (for priests and worship). Whilst all would readily agree the moral laws are timeless and abiding, most would perceive the civil and ceremonial laws as being no longer applicable at this time and in our society. We do now, have to abide by the civil laws of our country (rather than the Levitical civil laws) and we realise from Hebs chps 8 -10 that the Levitical animal sacrifices and priesthood (we are now all priests under the New Covenant) are superseded by Christ our High Priest, and His atoning work at Calvary.
Yet the New Testament clearly teaches us not to dismiss the Old Testament as irrelevant. On the contrary, Jesus and the NT writers particularly Apostle Paul, constantly referred to the Old Testament (referred to as 'Scripture' in the NT) as points of reference for teaching us about God, godly living and as a source of wisdom. Paul wrote in 2 Tim 3:16,17:
"All scripture is given by inspiration of God, and is profitable for doctrine, for reproof, for correction, for instruction in righteousness that the man of God may be perfect (spiritually mature) thoroughly equipped unto all good works.
The key to making sense of Leviticus for practical godly living is therefore to seek and apply the underlying principles or raison de'tre of these laws in as much as these reflect the character of God, His ways, and how we should live for Him. To help you do this, I highly recommend an excellent commentary on Leviticus by Dr Gordon Wenham. You can download a preview of his commentary, The New International Commentary on the Old Testament: The Book of Leviticus, from the internet. I am not equipped to give you the web link but you can find this preview of the 300+ paged commentary by doing a google search using these words - Gordon Wenham Leviticus. If any of you know the web link please post on this blog to help the others find this preview quickly. Here is the link
You will find in reading Leviticus with the right God-lens that He is full of grace and mercy, concerned for the marginalised - the poor, the orphan, the widow, the clergy (Levites) and the 'stranger' or foreigner in the land ( likely to be homeless, lost and lonely). He has set 'laws' which requires us to leave 'gleanings' of our harvest as it were to those who do not have fields to harvest. And laws which mandates magnanimity of heart, justice and mercy to 'servants' and those indebted to us. He even declared a year of Jubilee when all debts are totally forgiven and all servants/slaves set free. It is not the specific application of these laws that are relevant as we do not harvest fields or have servants/slaves but it is the heart of God that we catch from reading these laws, His heartbeat for faithfulness to Him and mercy, justice and agape love for others.
It is also in the ceremonial laws (in as much as in the moral laws) that we catch a glimpse of how much our God wants us to be 'holy' set apart and consecrated for Him above all others, all else. We also see from the laws that whilst He will not compromise in disciplining His 'son' for repeated disobedience, idolatry and rebellion, He will nevertheless NOT reject them because of His covenant with their forefathers. (Pls read Lev chp 26 thoroughly to see this.) Such is the integrity and faithfulness of our covenant abiding God who shows us what we as His covenant partners, should become.
I will go no further otherwise i will exceed the max allowed in this blog ): I do urge you to read Wenham's commentary, or at least pages 31-37 of the preview of his commentary, available on the net.
Gordon Wenham is an OT scholar and author of several books about the Bible. He read theology at Cambridge University, graduating in 1965 with distinction, and completed his Phd in 1970. He was until 2005, senior professor of Old Testament at the University of Gloucestershire, UK, a post he held for 10 years. He is currently lecturing at Trinity Theological College, Bristol, UK. The New International Commentary series on the Old Testament is an invaluable library resource for all those who are serious about bible study; the series can be purchased at Koorong and is a worth while spiritual investment.
Do tell me in my blog whether you have benefited from reading his commentary. I need to hear from more of you.
Love
A Peggy
Leviticus actually reads like a seemingly common sense instructions that meticulously detail every aspect of how-to daily living of our ancestors, when they exodus out of Egypt to Canaan, the land of milk and honey. Having being enslaved in Egypt for at least 80 years, instructions might have formed strong sense of identity, that the doing could be a huge part of being. Yet, all these doing are, in a way, a transposed manner of how the cultivation of godliness and holiness can be attained. The striking element is that within all the doings and beings, God actually permeates every fabric of our lives, leaving none untouched. Be it laity or clergy, it is equally important to see all roles being played in worship/offering and the daily living.
ReplyDeleteAs Paul mentioned, Take your everyday, ordinary life – sleeping, eating, going-to-work, and walking-around life – and place it before God as an offering… (The Message Romans 12:1)
The laws were as you correctly pointed out, also very clear boundary markers for God's special people, setting them apart from the idolatrous nations around them. These 'markers' would have created a 'strong sense of identity' ( as you put it) both with their God and over against others.
ReplyDeleteA Peggy
do the laws offer any practical wisdom for us today apart from showing us the heartbeat of God? to be more specific, is it possible for us to celebrate jubilee today, for eg, by erasing debts owed to us? (although i think Jesus told us to give, and to lend without expecting repayment? so maybe that's a bad example.)
ReplyDeletethe pages 30-46 aren't available online unfortunately :(
looking forward to seeing u soon Aunty Peggy!
Hey aunty Peggy, finally got a chance to visit your blog. It was a great summary of leviticus, i'll see if I can get around to this book soon.... Also was just wondering where I could find a copy of the current bible reading plan?
ReplyDelete