Tag Archive | Leviticus

Journaling through the Bible Chronologically in 2025, Day 44

Feb13
Day 44.  Reading Leviticus 1 – 4. 

Read the scripture for today. What do you learn about God? Share what you learn with others.

Leviticus 1.

Heads up.

Leviticus begins with blood and gore, the priests, and that massive bronze altar. These chapters detail the first of the sacrifices for Israel as a nation. The place of worship is built, God’s presence abides there, and the priests have been consecrated. God now teaches them how a sinful people may live near and approach a very holy God.  

God defines WHAT can be offered (which animals, which non-animal items, but definitely NO CHILDREN!), HOW each is to be presented, and whether they are for penitence or gratitude.

THE BURNT OFFERING is the first of five offerings explained here. An unblemished male animal from a flock or herd or a pair of pigeons/doves are acceptable choices. The animal was to be burned completely, except for a bull’s hide (given to the priests for leather) and the crops of the birds (thrown into the ash pile). 

The person offering the animal would lay his hands on its head, confessing sin and repentance, before killing it. Priests would sprinkle the blood on the altar as proof of “a death for a life” or atonement. The carcass would then be burned entirely with “a pleasing aroma to the LORD.” (Not the aroma of meat cooking, but of a humble person’s heart seeking cleansing.)

Leviticus 2.

THE GRAIN OFFERING shows the gratitude of the person bringing it. But still, there are guidelines. It can be fine flour or unleavened (and unsweetened) bread, either baked, grilled, or fried, with oil in and on it. A portion of frankincense is also offered with it. The priest will take the incense and a portion of the flour or bread and burn it on the altar, “a pleasing aroma to the LORD.”  The rest of the offering is for food for the priests. 

If it is a “FIRSTFRUITS” grain offering at the beginning of harvest time, it can include honey, oil, fresh ears, and crushed new grain. But it must also be offered with frankincense. This also is food for the priests, except for a memorial portion with the incense to be burned.

Leviticus 3.

THE PEACE OFFERING  is a voluntary, free-will offering given to the LORD. It symbolized the peace and fellowship between a true worshipper and God. It was an offering of reconciliation. It could be either a male or female (unblemished) from the herd or flock. The person would also lay his hands on the head of the beast before killing it. Again, the priest would sprinkle its blood on the altar.

All the animal’s fat would be burned on the altar, including what was on the entrails, kidneys, and the liver. The priests would receive the “breast meat” as their portion, and the rest would be part of a fellowship meal between two or more parties, with a priest officiating, to be eaten on one day.

Verses 16b-17. “ALL FAT IS THE LORD’S.  It shall be a statute forever throughout your generations, in all your dwelling places, that you eat neither fat nor blood.”  (An excellent rule for today!!)

Leviticus 4.

THE SIN OFFERING has several applications;

  • one is for Priests,
  • another for the Whole Congregation,
  • another for a Leader of the Congregation,
  • and another is for any of the Common People of the Congregation.  

In these instances, it is for SIN THAT IS NOT INTENTIONAL, but for something done and then later realized or brought to attention.

1.  A bull is the required offering for a priest or the whole congregation.

The priest (or elders for the congregation) places his hand on its head (symbolizing transferring sin to the animal) and then kills it. Some of the blood is to be brought inside the Tabernacle and sprinkled in front of the veil concealing the Most Holy Place and on the four corners of the Altar of Incense. The rest of the blood will be poured out at the base of the Bronze Alter. 

The fat on the entrails, the kidneys, and the liver of the bull are to be burned on the Bronze Alter.  Everything else of the bull is to be carried outside the camp to clean place, to an ash heap, and burned on a wood fire. 

2.  A male goat is required for a congregation leader offered after the symbolic transfer of sins.

The priest takes some blood and puts a bit on the four corners of the Bronze Alter; the rest is poured out at the base. As with the bull, the fat portions are burned, and the carcass is taken outside the camp.

3.  A female goat or lamb is required for any common people in the congregation. The process is the same as for a leader. 

In all these, “the priest shall make atonement for him for the sin he has committed (unintentionally), and he (they) shall be forgiven.”

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THANK YOU, Lord, for sending your Son, Jesus, the spotless “Lamb of God,” who paid the price for me by dying on the cross … as the “substitute” for my sin.  By HIS sacrificial death, I am forgiven.

#2024GOAL – Reading Through The Bible Chronologically, day 53

Feb22

    Day 52 —  We are in the second month! We’ve been reading for over a 1/12 of a year! Praise God! I hope that it’s become a GOOD habit that will continue. TODAY IS THE LAST READING IN LEVITICUS.

   Day 53 – Leviticus 26 – 27 (Blessings & curses, Vows & valuations)

Leviticus 26 is much like the closing chapters of Deuteronomy. In it, God, through Moses, tells the people how He wants to bless them and WILL bless them in the Promised Land with goodness and plenty if they will obey Him.. 

“If you walk in my statutes and observe my commandments and do them, then I will give you rains in their season, and the land shall yield its increase…. and (you will) dwell in your land securely. I will give peace in the land….”  (Leviticus 26:3, 4a, 5b, 6a)

“I will walk among you and will be your God, and you shall be my People. I am the LORD your God…  And I have broken the bars of your yoke and made you walk erect.”  (Lev. 26:12, 13b)

But…..  God then warns the people of FIVE, increasingly strong waves of discipline He will bring on them if they do NOT obey all His commandments, and instead break His covenant when they get to the Promised Land. (Sadly, if you know Israel’s history, this is exactly what happens.)  

(I too, often disobey and then feel God’s hand of discipline. But it is because God loves me that He disciplines me. Read Hebrews 12:5-9.)

After God lays out these waves of curses, there is another “BUT.”  IF His people will confess their iniquity….  IF their uncircumcised hearts are humbled…. THEN God will remember His Covenant with Jacob, Isaac, and Abraham…  “I will for their sake remember the covenant with their forefathers, whom I brought out of the land of Egypt in the sight of the nations, that I might be their God. I AM the LORD.   

(It reminds me again of 1 John 1:9 – “If we confess our sins, He is faithful and just to forgive us our sins, and to cleans us from all unrighteousness.”) (Because of Jesus)

The last chapter in Leviticus (27) is about vows and the valuations of things. God tells the people through Moses that they should be involved with and help to support the spiritual aspects of living with Him. Their vows and dedications of themselves (paid in shekels), their animals given as gifts, and their tithes of land will all help to support the priesthood once they are in the Promised Land, and will remind them of being the chosen people of the LORD God who redeemed them.

#2024GOAL – Reading Through The Bible Chronologically, day 51

Feb20

    Day 51 —  We are in the second month! We’ve been reading for over a 1/12 of a year! Praise God! I hope that it’s become a GOOD habit that will continue.

   Day 51 – Leviticus 22 – 23  (priesthood holiness, the LORD’s festivals)

As in the previous chapter, Leviticus 22 emphasizes how holy and “clean” the priests are to be before the LORD in relationships, bodily & spiritual living, and even in eating the “holy” offerings that they are allowed to eat.

God says to them, “So you shall keep my commandments and do them: I am the LORD, and you shall not profane my holy name, that I may be sanctified among the people of Israel. I am the LORD who sanctifies you…”  

(There is great responsibility in leadership, especially in His service.)

In chapter 23, God tells Moses to instruct the people about seven festivals.  “These are appointed feasts of the LORD that you shall proclaim as holy convocations: they are my appointed feasts.”  The Sabbath was to be a continuing weekly time of rest.  Passover and Unleavened Bread, were events that they had already begun to celebrate. It was a time to remember how their God had delivered them from Egypt with great power.

Firstfruits was to be celebrated when they were in the land. It was to come shortly after Unleavened Bread. In it, they would dedicate the very first fruits of their agriculture labor by “waving” grain, flour with oil as a food offering before the LORD (as part of the Priest’s sustenance). They were to eat NONE of their harvests before this was first offered to God.

Weeks (or called Pentecost) came 50 days after Unleavened Bread, and would be another offering from the harvest they’d planted in the Promised Land.  First to God, then to themselves. (And as a side note, they were to leave the “corners” of their fields unharvested, so the poor in the land could glean food for their families.)

Trumpets (Rosh HaShana) would come in the fall as a SOLEMN day of rest. It would precede and prepare the people by confession and making thing “right” with their fellows, for the Most Holy Day of Atonement, the one day when the High Priest would carry the blood of the sacrificial goat into the Holy of Holies before the LORD to atone for the sins of the people of Israel. It would be a time of mourning for the people for their sins, confessing sins, and accepting the forgiveness and cleansing that only God can give.

Booths would be a joyous, fun time when the people recalled how God cared for them in the Wilderness. They would erect and live in booths, or make-shift shelters made out of branches and palm fronds, staying outdoors (like camping out for kids) for seven days. And they would also offer food offerings to the LORD (and priests).

These were happy and solemn celebrations, to remember God their deliverer and provider and the One alone who can cover/forgive their sins.

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(Oh, that my heart would so remember, honor, and thank God throughout the year, weekly, daily, and even minute by minute. He truly is all I need for life and godliness.)

#2024GOAL – Reading Through The Bible Chronologically, days 49 & 50

Feb19

   Day 49 & 50 —  We are in the second month! We’ve been reading for a 1/12 of a year! Praise God! I hope that it’s become a GOOD habit that will continue. (SUNDAY’s reading is combined with MONDAY’s)

   Day 49 – Leviticus 16 – 18  (Day of Atonement, Place of Sacrifice, Unlawful sexual relations)

In the middle of Leviticus (chapter16), God tells Moses about the most solemn day of the year. The Day of Atonement, when all Israel was to mourn for their sin.

At that time the High Priest would take the blood of a special sacrifice all the way into the Most Holy Place in the Tabernacle. He would then sprinkle some of the blood on top of the Ark of the Covenant, on the Mercy Seat, the place where God’s “throne” on earth was.

The priest had to be thoroughly washed, and both sin and burnt offerings made for him before approaching the Holy of Holies. Two goats were to be brought. Lots were drawn and one goat was killed. With great fear (I’m sure.) Aaron would carry its blood into the Tent and behind the separating veil and sprinkle it on the Mercy Seat. It would be an atonement (a covering) of the people’s sin, so a Most Holy God could dwell among them.

Then Aaron would lay his hands on the other goat, confessing all the iniquities, transgressions, and sins of the people, symbolically transferring them to the animal. Then it would be driven away into the desert never to be seen again.

These were both pictures of what Jesus accomplished for all who are saved. Our sin was transferred onto Him and He bore God’s wrath for it to his death.  And God remembers our sin no more, removing it as far as the east is from the west.” (Psalm 103:12)

Chapter 17 reinforces that the Tabernacle was the ONLY place animals could be brought as an offering or sacrifice. He also reminds them that the LIFE of all living in is the blood, to be used on the alter to make atonement. NO ONE was to eat any blood…. or else!

In Chapter 18, God gives Moses strict laws prohibiting any abhorrent sexual practices, including adultery, incest of any kind, homosexuality, bestiality, and even child sacrifice. These were the practices (abominations), of the pagan peoples Israel would be destroying in the Promised Land. The LORD’s people were not to be like them.

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Day 50 – Leviticus 19 – 21 (Holy people for a Holy God, prohibitions & punishments, priests)

In chapter 19, God reviews and expands on some of the Ten Commandments.  “You shall be holy, for I, the LORD am holy,” is all encompassing. Parents are to be revered, the Sabbath is to be kept.  To “Love your neighbor as yourself,” covers helping the poor, not stealing, dealing falsely, oppressing, slandering, or taking vengeance on others

Added are the prohibitions about seeking mediums and fortune tellers and cutting or tattooing themselves in pagan worship.  Also respecting elders, being kind to strangers and fair in business practices are commanded.

Chapter 20 covers more serious “no-no’s” like child sacrifice, cursing parents, adultery and homosexuality and bestiality, and the severe punishments that are to be meted out for disobeying.

God continually emphasizes that they are to be His Holy People, separate from the world and pagan nations that they will encounter in the Promised Land. “You shall be holy to me, for I the LORD am holy and have separated you from the peoples that you should be mine.” 20:26

Chapter 21 tells of the even higher standard of holiness that Aaron and the priests are to hold to.  Purity in marriage (only a virgin), dress, and appearance are all requirements.

It reminds me of 1 Peter 2:9 for believing Jews and Gentiles alike.  “You are a chosen race, a royal priesthood, a holy nation, a people for his own possession, that you may proclaim the excellencies of Him who called you out of darkness into His marvelous light.”  (Also Romans 9:24)

#2024GOAL – Reading Through The Bible Chronologically, day 48

Feb17

    Day 48 —  We are in the second month! We’ve been reading for over a 1/12 of a year! Praise God! I hope that it’s become a GOOD habit that will continue.

   Day 48 – Leviticus 14 – 15  (cleansing lepers, homes, men/women)

Yesterday’s reading was about recognizing some “unclean” things that Israel was to avoid. Today’s is about the cleansing process of those things (but not food).

Chapter 14 describes elaborate rituals, washings, and offerings over two weeks to determine if a person is actually recovered/healed from leprosy. It involved an examination of the person (outside the camp) and a collection of two clean birds, cedarwood, scarlet yarn and hyssop for the person (either by his family, or by other priests). (This is what Jesus told the 10 healed lepers to do to begin the process.  “Go show yourselves to the priest”) Luke 17:14

One bird was killed and it’s blood mixed with water in a basis. The cedar & hyssop was tied together by the scarlet yarn and, along with the living bird, dipped into the mix of water and blood. This symbolized  purification. The then released living bird symbolized the person’s release from quarantine. This process reminds me of Titus 3:4-5

After that, the former leper had to wash his clothes, shave all over, and bathe. After another week outside the camp he’d be examined again. If still “clean” he would bring 3 lambs and some flour and oil as an offering. A dab of blood from one lamb killed for the guilt offering would be placed on his right ear, thumb & big toe. Again with the oil. (Provision was made if the person was poor.)

Houses (once in the Promised Land) might need cleansing from mold, fungus, and mildew. There was a ritual for that too involving examinations, waiting periods, scraping & replacing. If it persisted the house would be torn down. If it didn’t, an offering was made and then it would be livable.

This all was a protection for the people against contagious disease and prevalent, dangerous mold/fungus.. Cleansing seemed to always involve water and blood, and makes us look to Jesus.

Chapter 15 tells about what makes men and women temporarily unclean. Bodily fluid discharges, whether during a woman’s monthly period and childbirth, or a man’s seminal release. Also about diseased discharges.  It’s kind of gross to read, but important to keep Israel clean physically and spiritually. And again to show on a greater scale, the absolute HOLINESS and separateness of God, who must be set apart from His sinful chosen people.

Again, this all seems to point to the ultimate cleansing FROM SIN that will come through faith in the sacrificial death & resurrection of Jesus Christ.

#2024GOAL – Reading Through The Bible Chronologically, day 47

Feb16

    Day 47 —  We are in the second month! We’ve been reading for over a 1/12 of a year! Praise God! I hope that it’s become a GOOD habit that will continue.

   Day 47 – Leviticus 11 – 13  (Unclean things, skin disease)

In chapter 10, we read about how two newly-consecrated priests sinned so defiantly, that God burned them up on the spot. God is HOLY and want’s he people to be holy as well. In the next 3-4 chapters God will show what the people must do to be “clean” in His sight.  NOT SINLESS for that is impossible on earth.

First, in chapter 11, God lists the CLEAN and unclean animals on Israel’s menu. Some unclean items are what we as Americans can eat every day – bacon, ham, shrimp, clams, even rabbit. Other things we might distain are okay, like grasshoppers, locusts, crickets. (I ate a grasshopper in Africa, fried in oil. It tasted a bit like crunchy bits of straw.)

Why this detailed list for God’s people? The answer is in 11:44. God is Holy (set apart) and Israel was to be set apart among the nations as well. Chosen by God to represent Him.  Many of the forbidden foods were worshipped & eaten by the pagan nations that they would find and fight in Canaan.

(People have argued the health benefits of this diet as well.)

Chapter 12 talks about another kind of “uncleanness.”  It involves blood. God looks on blood in a different way than most of us do. It’s the LIFE of a creature (the first job of EMTs is to stop the bleeding).  Blood is also used in sacrifice and the atonement for sin (culminating in Jesus’ blood shed for us), and in consecrating people and things to God as holy.

So — not to denigrate women or childbirth in any way in this chapter — God speaks of a woman’s monthly “period” and the flow of blood in childbirth as being “unclean.” He tells Moses the ways she can be “purified” after childbirth and monthly bleeding are with lengths of time and with ritual offerings, depending on their financial statis.

(I’ve always personally believed that it is also a protection from infection and/or bruising etc. (and even abuse) for a woman whose hubby may wish to resume intercourse before she is “back to normal” inside – MY belief, not historically or spiritually stated here.)

Chapter 13, is HARD TO READ, especially for the squeamish.  It’s about the identification and the actions to be taken when leprosy and other skin diseases are found.  It’s pretty graphic and ugly, and the person (or thing) with a contagious skin disease is to be removed from the camp.

But, since leprosy is sometimes a vivid illustration for SIN in human lives, we also need to see to sin’s elimination in ourselves and guard against spread.  I think of 1 John 1:9 and other verses – the believer’s First Aid for the deadly disease of Sin.

“If we confess our sins, He is faithful and just to forgive us our sins and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness.”

“Since we have these promises, beloved, let us cleanse ourselves from every defilement of body and spirit, bringing HOLINESS to completion in the fear of God.”  2 Corinthians 7:1

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Tomorrow’s reading will show the laws for the cleansing of leprosy and the re-introducing of the person back into the camp.”

“In Him we have redemption through His blood, the forgiveness of our trespasses.” Ephesians 1:7

#2024GOAL – Reading Through The Bible Chronologically, day 46

Feb15

    Day 46 —  We are in the second month! We’ve been reading for over a 1/12 of a year! Praise God! I hope that it’s become a GOOD habit that will continue.

   Day 46 – Leviticus 8 – 10  (Consecration of Priests, LORD’s acceptance, sin & death)

In chapter 8 God tells Moses to consecrate Aaron and his four sons to serve in the Holy Tabernacle. They are washed and dressed in the specially designed priestly garments with Aaron also receiving the ephod, jeweled breast piece with the Urim and Thummim inside, the hat, and the golden plate or “holy crown” for his head.

The special anointing oil is used, there are sacrifices of a bull and ram with their blood sprinkled on the holy objects as well as the priests. There is fire for sacrifice and for boiling water and cooking meat, and a command to eat. Aaron and his 4 sons are commanded to stay at the entrance of the Tabernacle, day and night for seven days doing everything God told them.

Chapter 9  tells that on the 8th day Aaron was to offer specific burnt offerings, a peace offering, and a grain offering before the LORD with the elders witnessing it all. Aaron performed all the duties completely, including blessing all the people.  And God was pleased. “…and the glory of the LORD appeared to all the people. And fire came out from before the LORD and consumed the burnt offering. When the people saw it, they shouted and fell on their faces.” (9:23b-24)

But after those great and glorious things, there seems to always follow deep sin.  From highs to lows; mountain tops to valleys of shadow. We should be aware of this in our own lives!

Boldly, brazenly, arrogantly, two of Aaron’s four newly consecrated sons took censers, put “fire” on them and laid “incense” on them and offered UNAUTHORIZED fire before the LORD, which He had NOT commanded.

Immediately, fire – HOLY FIRE – came out from the LORD and consumed them. Living to dead in seconds. SHOCK WAVE!

And then the voice of the LORD boomed forth, “AMONG THOSE WHO ARE NEAR ME I WILL BE SANCTIFIED. AND BEFORE ALL THE PEOPLE, I WILL BE GLORIFIED.”

Moses called for another Levite to carry out their remains, IN THEIR PRIESTLY COATS (which had just been consecrated) out of the camp. Moses then told Aaron and the two remaining sons NOT TO MOURN the deaths of Nadab and Abihu. They were to continue with their duties, a burnt offering and a grain offering, part of which they were to eat inside the courtyard.

Chapter 10: BUT, Aaron, Eleazar and Ithamar could not eat it – disobeying God’s direct LAW (Lev. 6:26).  Moses charged them with this disobedience, but possibly fearing another judgement from God, which would have left no one in succession for the priesthood, he let it go.

What a way to begin their holy service to the LORD. It just proves that they – like we – are sinners, and could easily do far worse than we ever thought possible… given the right nudge.

Praise God for his mercy!

#2024GOAL – Reading Through The Bible Chronologically, day 45

Feb14

    Day 45 —  We are in the second month! We’ve been reading for over a 1/12 of a year! Praise God! I hope that it’s become a GOOD habit that will continue.

   Day 45 – Leviticus 5 – 7  (LAWS requiring penitence, compensation, and restoration)

In chapter 5, God continues to speak to Moses about “rules and regulations” for His own people.  He covers sins of omission, uncleanness, and a person’s financial means and limitations to provide for atonement. (An offering of a female lamb or goat, or two doves/pigeons, or even (2 liters) of fine flour.)

And any who don’t realize they are sinning but are then made aware of it, he should bring in a guilt offering.  God always wants the sinner to COME TO HIM in repentance, NOT to run away from Him.

Leviticus 6:4-5 – “If anyone has sinned and has realized his guilt and will restore what he;

1) took by robbery,

2) or got by oppression,

3) or the deposit that was committed to him,

4) or the lost thing that he found (finders keepers attitude),

5) or anything about which he has sworn falsely —

He shall restore it in full and shall add a fifth (20%) and give it to whom it belongs ON THE DAY he realizes his guilt.”  And also bring an offering to the priest to make atonement. “And he shall be forgiven for any of the things that one may do and thereby  become guilty.” 6:7b

(Doesn’t this remind you of the repentant Zacchaeus?)

An interesting note in verses 6:12-13, is that the fire on the bronze alter should be kept burning continually, day and night. (Perhaps so there would be no delay when the people brought their sacrifices? Or probably it was God showing that a person could come to Him in repentance any time and have their sins atoned for and forgiven.)

The rest of chapter 6 and chapter 7 cover the various offering in detail — grain offerings, sin offerings, guilt offerings, peace offerings, ordination, thanksgiving, vow, and freewill offerings — and which of the animals (or their parts) were to be given to the priests & families to eat.

And again God reminds them what is unclean to the people and which must be atoned for — touching dead bodies or infectious people, eating old meat, fat, or blood.

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All these details in Leviticus may seem tedious today, but I wonder how many of us (Americans) have recently read the Constitution of the United States, or us (Christians) the Apostle’s Creed or the Westminster’s Catechism in detail. OR THE ENTIRE BIBLE for that matter!! It might be a worthwhile way to pass some time.

#2024GOAL – Reading Through The Bible Chronologically, day 43

Feb13

    Day 43 —  We are in the second month! We’ve been reading for over a 1/12 of a year! Praise God! I hope that it’s become a GOOD habit that will continue.

   Day 43 – Leviticus 1 – 4  (LAWS for Offerings – burnt, grain, peace, and sin)

Today begins a new book. We’ll be in Leviticus for ten days. Don’t get discouraged about all the sacrifices and details. There is truth here for us as well as Israel. God is holy and we are not, but he wants a relationship with us.

In chapter 1, God speaks to Moses about offerings and sacrifices. It will be the way a sinful Israel can approach their holy God who is living in their midst. Some of the sacrifices point to the ultimate offering for sin – God’s son, Jesus. Other offerings are for the provision of the Levitical priests whose forever job is taking care of the Tabernacle and the worship of the LORD.

A burnt offering would become a “covering of sin” (atonement) for the giver and would be completely burned on the bronze alter as a “pleasing aroma to the LORD.”

Chapter 2 tells about the grain offering, a voluntary offering of cooked bread, seasoned, but without sugar or leaven. A portion would be burned, with the rest going to the priests for their food.

Chapter 3 covers the peace offering (including the thanksgiving, freewill, and wave offerings) in which part would go to the priest and the rest shared with others before God. It could be animal or grain.  It’s interesting that in verses 16-17, the forever statute was that they would never eat the fat or blood of an animal. The blood represented the “life” that was given (Genesis 9:4), and “All fat is the LORD’s”

And chapter 4, looks at the sin offering, or purification offering. When a priest or the whole congregation who sinned unintentionally in any of the LORD’s commandments and became aware of it, a bull from the herd would be brought, the elders laying their hands on its head, and then sacrificed and a portion of its blood sprinkled inside the Tabernacle before the veil. If a leader of the people sinned, a male goat would be sacrificed, the person laying his hand on its head first. When any of the common people sinned, they would bring a female goat or lamb, put their hand on its head, and the priest would make atonement for their sin and it would be forgiven.  (more details in chapter 5)

Sacrificing animals was not uncommon to these ex-slaves. Egyptians also sacrificed to their gods. But for Israel, it was always in acknowledgment of their sin or need, and God’s holiness and provision.  And they were NEVER to sacrifice children.