Lazada (Eng - NKJV)
3. Leviticus
The book of Leviticus is
the book of fellowship (or communion) and the ceremonial law. In
Exodus God saved His people and formed an alliance with them. In Leviticus, the
principles of approaching God are shown. Therefore Yahuwah [God] speaks primarily out
of the tabernacle of the congregation in this book (chap. 1:1). Leviticus corresponds to the Epistle to the
Hebrews in the New Testament. The subject of Hebrews is the approaching of men
to God as well.
Le·vit·i·cus. the third
book of the Pentateuch in the Bible, containing the laws relating to
priests and Levites: abbrev. Lev or Lv. Origin of Leviticus.
Ecclesiastical Late Latin Leviticus (liber) from Ecclesiastical Greek
Leuitikon (biblion), literally, the Levitical (book). In Hebrew Leviticus is
known formally as Torat Kohanim, “instructions for the priests”
(Mishnah Megillot 1:5). This title defines Leviticus as a prescription for the
proper worship of the God of Israel.
The book of Leviticus
contains a meticulous and often tedious list of rules and regulations. Yet, if
understood properly, the book supplies readers with rich wisdom and practical
instruction. Leviticus opens with the
people of God camped at the foot of Mount Sinai after being delivered from
slavery in Egypt. The glory of the Lord has filled the wilderness tabernacle and
now God tells Moses to teach the people and the priests concerning sacrifices,
offerings, feasts, celebrations, and holy days. Thus, Leviticus is best
explained as a guidebook for instructing God's people about holy living and
worship. Everything from sexual conduct to the handling of food, to
instructions for worship and religious celebrations, is covered in detail in
the book of Leviticus. This is because all aspects of our lives--moral,
physical, and spiritual--are important to God.
The contents of
Leviticus is diverse but unified by the theme of holiness. In the first seven
chapters, we will find the sacrifice and offerings which the people of Israel
should bring to God. They are the expression of fellowship in worship based on
atonement; how to use the altar for the sacrifices and the offerings to God.
Then follow the
dedication of the priests who were the mediators of this fellowship in chaps.
8-10. Moses describes the instructions for the Leviticus Priesthood, since
Israel is to be “a kingdom of priests” (Ex. 19:6). He does this from
the doorway of his tent. Moses consecrates his brother Aaron and his sons who
are the priests.
In chaps. 11-15 the
hindrances to fellowship are dealt with.
Chapter 16 forms the
center of the book: the Great Day of Atonement. This Great Day of Atonement is
declared the once for all offering of Christ in Hebrews 9; Hebrews 10.
Further instructions for
the practical cleanness of the people of Israel follow in chaps. 17-22.
Chap. 23 describes the
seven feasts of Jehovah which have a spiritual as well as a prophetical
signification. Then follow instructions
concerning the tabernacle, the administration of the penal law and about the
Sabbath year as well as the year of Jubilee (chaps. 24-26).
The book closes with an
appendix on vows and sanctified things in chap. 27.
The important feast of Yahuwah [God] that have to be
remember & celebrate forever; for a memorial.
Scripture closes with a
clarion call to everyone living on earth
“Fear [Yahuwah] and give
glory to Him, for the hour of His judgment has come; and worship Him who made
heaven and earth, the sea and springs of water.” (Revelation 14:7, NKJV)
As the Giver and
Sustainer of all life, it is Yahuwah’s right to receive worship from His
created beings. As the receiver of that worship, it is also His right to set
apart certain days as holy days.
Scripture calls these
times for worship “feasts” and “holy convocations.” They are all listed in
Leviticus 23, beginning with the weekly feast, the seventh-day Sabbath.
And Yahuwah spoke to
Moses, saying, “Speak
to the children of Israel, and say to them: ‘The feasts of Yahuwah, which you
shall proclaim to be holy convocations, these are My feasts. Six days shall
work be done, but the seventh day is a Sabbath of solemn rest, a holy
convocation. You shall do no work on it; it is the Sabbath of Yahuwah in all
your dwellings.’ ” (See Leviticus 23:1-3.)
The
weekly Sabbath is not the only time appointed to worship the Creator. In addition to
the seventh-day Sabbath, there are other worship days which are also called
“holy convocations.” Leviticus
23 lists them all:
Passover
Feast
of Unleavened Bread
Wave
Sheaf
Feast
of Weeks (Pentecost)
Feast
of Trumpets
Day
of Atonement
Feast
of Tabernacles
“These are the feasts of [Yahuwah], holy
convocations which you shall proclaim at their appointed times.” (Leviticus
23:4)
No difference is made in
Scripture between the weekly feast, and the yearly feasts.
All are Yahuwah’s appointed times for worship. The word translated
“feast” comes from the Hebrew word mo’ed. Mo’ed or Mo’ada; congregation,
festive gathering; appointment, signal. . . . Since the Jewish festivals
occurred at regular intervals, this word becomes closely identified with them.
. . . Mo’ed is used in a broad sense for all religious assemblies. It
was closely associated with the tabernacle itself. God met Israel there at specific
times for the purpose of revealing His will. It is a common term for the
worshiping assembly of God’s people. (Hebrew-Greek Key Word Study Bible, “Lexical
Aids to the Old Testament,” #4150.)
Many people believe that
it is wrong for Christians to keep the feasts after Yahushua’s death. They argue that keeping the feasts dishonors
and nullifies His death.
The entire Hebrew
economy taught the grand truths of salvation. The blood sacrifices pointed
forward to the ultimate fulfillment in Yahushua as:
The Lamb of Yah which
taketh away the sins of the world. (See John 1:29.)
Yahushua was the great
Anti-type of which the types had been foreshadowing.
Yahushua “was once
offered to bear the sins of many.” (Hebrews 9:28, KJV)
The sacrificial system,
the ceremony requiring blood, was fulfilled at the cross. Thus, the
blood sacrifices pointing forward to it were no longer necessary as all the
types had met their great Anti-type. The annual feasts, however, are much
more than types.
They are anniversaries both commemorating as well as looking forward to important events in salvation history.
They are anniversaries both commemorating as well as looking forward to important events in salvation history.
The feasts, as annual worship days, are
to be observed throughout time and eternity. Like the weekly Sabbath, the yearly
festivals are times appointed for worship. Yahuwah stated that the observance
of the feasts is to “be a statute forever in all your dwellings throughout
your generations.” (See Leviticus 23:14, 21, 31 and 41.) Obedience
to Yahuwah’s direct command does not nullify anything. Yahushua said, “If you love Me,
keep My commandments.” (John 14:15, NKJV) Obedience to the divine law is the greatest way one can honor the
Creator.
Obedience establishes the
law as something of value!
“Do we then make void the law through faith? Certainly not! On
the contrary, we establish the law.” (Romans 3:31, NKJV)
Multitudes of
Christians, who desire to worship Yahuwah, break the divine law by ignoring the
divinely appointed yearly feasts all of which are divine statutes. The
confusion over statute law arises from the fact that Yahuwah communicated it in
private to Moses. The assumption is that since the statutes were not spoken
aloud to the entire encampment when the 10 Commandments were spoken, they were
“just for the Jews.” Statute law, however, is still part of the divine law. At
Sinai, the Israelites heard the voice of Yahuwah speak the 10 Commandment law.
The sound was so overwhelming that, in terror, they begged Moses to ask Yahuwah
to speak to him, and then he could tell them what they needed to know.
Behold, Yahuwah our
Elohim has showed us His glory and His greatness, and we have heard His voice
out of the midst of the fire . . . Now therefore why should we die? For this
great fire will consume us: if we hear the voice of Yahuwah our Elohim any
more, then we shall die. For who is there of all flesh, that has heard the
voice of the living Elohim speaking out of the midst of the fire, as we have,
and lived? You go near, and hear all that Yahuwah our Elohim shall say:
and you speak unto us all that Yahuwah our Elohim shall speak unto
you, and we will hear it, and do it. (See Deuteronomy 5:24-27.)
Yahuwah agreed to the
proposal. His response to the people’s request ties the laws He spoke through
Moses with the law He spoke directly to the people:
O that there were such a heart in them, that they would fear
Me, and keep all My commandments always, that it might be well with them, and
with their children forever! Go say to them, Get you into your tents again. But
as for you, stand here by Me, and I will speak unto you all the commandments,
and the statutes, and the judgments, which you shall teach
them, that they may do them . . . You shall observe to do therefore as Yahuwah
your Elohim has commanded you: you shall not turn aside to the right hand or to
the left. (See Deuteronomy 5:29-32.)
Yahuwah gave unto Moses
the statutes which Moses, in turn, repeated to the people. However, Yahuwah’s
intent was that the statutes be always kept as part of the divine law.
Commandments, statutes
and judgments are frequently linked in Scripture with the admonishment to keep and obey them.
The LAW of Yahuwah is
perfect, converting the soul;
The TESTIMONY of Yahuwah is sure, making wise the simple;
The STATUTES of Yahuwah are right, rejoicing the heart;
The COMMANDMENT of Yahuwah is pure, enlightening the eyes; . . .
The JUDGMENTS of Yahuwah are true and righteous altogether.
More to be desired are they than gold, Yea, than much fine gold; . . .
Moreover by them Your servant is warned,
And in keeping them there is great reward. (See Psalm 19:7-11.)
The TESTIMONY of Yahuwah is sure, making wise the simple;
The STATUTES of Yahuwah are right, rejoicing the heart;
The COMMANDMENT of Yahuwah is pure, enlightening the eyes; . . .
The JUDGMENTS of Yahuwah are true and righteous altogether.
More to be desired are they than gold, Yea, than much fine gold; . . .
Moreover by them Your servant is warned,
And in keeping them there is great reward. (See Psalm 19:7-11.)
The divine law was given
for the good of all peoples. In Scripture, Yahuwah commands everyone
to keep all of His law:
“I gave them My statutes and showed them My judgments, which, if
a man does, he shall live by them. Moreover I also gave them My Sabbaths, to be
a sign between them and Me, that they might know that I am [Yahuwah] who
sanctifies them.
“I am [Yahuwah your Elohim]: Walk in My statutes,
keep My judgments, and do them; hallow My Sabbaths, and they
will be a sign between Me and you, that you may know that I am [Yahuwah
your Elohim].’ ” (Ezekiel 20:11-13, 18-20, NKJV)
The sign between
Yahuwah and His people is the keeping of all of the divine law, which
includes the annual festivals. There can be no separating the 10 Commandments
from the statutes that explain them. They are all the divine Law. The belief that observing the annual feasts dishonors and nullifies Yahushua’s
death on the cross contradicts the clear testimony of Scripture which
repeatedly states that they are to be forever. Moses, under the inspiration of
the Holy Spirit, forcefully stated:
“You shall not add unto the word which I command you, nor take
from it, that you may keep the commandments of [Yahuwah your Elohim] which I
command you.” (Deuteronomy 4:2, NKJV)
Dividing worship days,
saying that the weekly Sabbath must be kept, but not the yearly feasts,
is taking from the divine law. Scripture clearly combines statute law
and the commandments: both are integral parts of the divine law which is
perpetually binding on all peoples throughout all time.
“I know that, whatsoever [Elohim] doeth, it shall be for ever: nothing can be put to it, nor anything taken from it: and [Elohim] doeth
it, that men should fear before Him.” (Ecclesiastes 3:14, KJV)
The happiness of all created beings is
bound up with the keeping of the divine Law. As a loving Father, Yahuwah gave
His law so that His children would be healthy and happy.
“Now this is the commandment, and these are the statutes and
judgments which [Yahuwah your Elohim] has commanded to teach you, that you may
observe them . . . that you may fear [Yahuwah your Elohim], to keep all His
statutes and His commandments which I command you, you and your son and your
grandson, all the days of your life, and that your days may be prolonged.
Therefore hear, O Israel, and be careful to observe it, that it may be well
with you.” (Deuteronomy 6:1-3, NKJV)
As the Creator, Yahuwah
has laid down laws that are for the good and happiness of all His creatures.
Statutory law, which expounds upon the 10 Commandment law, is still to be
observed. Honor your Creator by worshipping Him on ALL of His appointed times:
weekly and annual worship days. Stand for the truth and, by your example of
obedience, show forth the praises of your Redeemer.
“It shall be health to thy navel, and marrow to thy bones.”
(Proverbs 3:6, KJV)
“I will delight myself in thy commandments, which I have loved.
My hands also will I lift up unto thy commandments, which I have loved; and I
will meditate in thy statutes.” (Psalm 119:47, 48, KJV)
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