In Genesis, we saw God announce His Covenant of Grace to Adam and Eve. His covenant was also given expressly to Noah, Abraham, and Abraham’s descendants. In Exodus, we saw Abraham’s descendants reject a part of that covenant; they did not want to be a kingdom of priests allowing God to speak directly to them. In Leviticus, we see God modifying His Covenant by appointing the tribe of Levi to be the priests and religious leaders for Israel.
Leviticus begins with the offerings God prescribed. These offerings point to different aspects of God’s relationship with His people; each offering was a picture of the results of Christ’s sacrifice on the cross. For example, the atonement offering was made only once a year, but sacrifices for sins were made often. This illustrates separation of sacrifice and atonement from God’s point of view. Christ’s sacrifice on the cross was universal meaning every person’s sins were paid for by His blood, but the atonement is the application of that blood to a person’s sins which is the part each individual must do. Like the Passover feast, after the sacrifice was made and the meat cooked, the blood of the sacrifice had to be
applied to the door posts and header. Christ’s sacrifice without individual application of that blood to my sins accomplishes nothing for me.
- The outline for Leviticus is
- The offerings to be made. Chapters 1-7
- The ordination of the priests. Chapters 8-10
- The obligations of life. Chapters 11-27
Key Verse is “Then Moses said to Aaron, ‘This is what the Lord meant when He said, I will display My holiness through those who come near Me. I will display My glory before all the people’.” Lev. 10:3
(NLT).