Lesson OneLEVITICUS 1–7

Sacrifices Pleasing to God

These, then, are the regulations ... which the Lord gave Moses on Mount Sinai in the Desert of Sinai on the day he commanded the Israelites to bring their offerings to the Lord.

LEVITICUS 7:37-38

1. For getting the most from Leviticus, one of the best guidelines is found in 2 Timothy 3:16-17, words that Paul wrote with the Old Testament first in view. He said that all Scripture is of great benefit to (a) teach us, (b) rebuke us, (c) correct us, and (d) train us in righteousness. Paul added that these Scriptures completely equip the person of God "for every good work." As you think seriously about those guidelines, in which of these areas do you especially want to experience the usefulness of Leviticus? Express your desire in a written prayer to God.

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2. In Jeremiah 23:29, God says that His Word is like fire and like a hammer. He can use the Scriptures to burn away unclean thoughts and desires in our hearts. He can also use Scripture, with hammer-like hardness, to crush and crumble our spiritual hardness. From your study of Leviticus, how do you most want to see the "fire-and-hammer" power of God's Word at work in your life? Express this longing in a written prayer to God.

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3. Think about these challenging words of Paul to his younger helper Timothy: "Do your best to present yourself to God as one approved, a worker who does not need to be ashamed and who correctly handles the word of truth" (2 Timothy 2:15). As you study God's word of truth in Leviticus, He calls you to be a "worker." It takes work — concentration and perseverance — to fully appropriate God's blessings for us in this book. Express here your commitment before God to work diligently in this study of Leviticus.

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4. The book of Leviticus is linked strongly with Exodus, the book it follows. What are the most important themes and events, as you understand them, in the book of Exodus?

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For Thought and Discussion: As you launch into a closer look at Leviticus, how would you summarize what you already know about this book? And how would you describe the general impression that most Christians have of Leviticus?

For Further Study: In Exodus 40:34-38, notice the facts and imagery given in that book's concluding paragraph. How might this serve to prepare readers for what is coming in Leviticus?

The Lord called (1:1). In Hebrew tradition, the opening verb "He called" also served as the title for this book. Leviticus continues God's gracious communication to His people.

5. Glance ahead through the pages of Leviticus, and look for a recurring principle or concept in each of the following verses: 11:44-45; 19:2; 20:26; 21:8. What is that principle or concept? Why is it important to God, and why is it important for you and for all of God's people in all ages?

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In Leviticus, God is in the details.

"Precisely because the rituals of Leviticus are so central to Old Testament thinking, they are often obscure to us, because the writers did not need to explain them to their contemporaries. Every Israelite knew why a particular sacrifice was offered on a specific occasion and what a certain gesture meant. For ourselves, every hint in the text must be grasped to understand these things, and a judicious reading between the lines is sometimes required."

6. The first three chapters of Leviticus deal with the three most common types of offerings in Israel. As you read over these chapters, imagine you are living in the time of Moses. Which details in these chapters would be of most interest to you?

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7. In chapter 1, what exactly was a person to offer for a burnt offering, and what exactly was he to do with it? (See verses 2, 3, 5, 10, and 14.)

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For Further Study: The theme of holiness in Leviticus has its foundation in the two earlier books of the Pentateuch. How is God's holiness portrayed in Exodus 3:5 and 15:11? And how is holiness for God's people taught in these passages: Genesis 2:3; Exodus 12:16; 16:23; 20:8-11?

Brings an offering to the Lord (1:2). This phrase represents the central human action presented in these chapters. In Leviticus, God takes the initiative to direct His people in exactly how to come into His presence. It must be according to His instructions, not according to our own ideas.

Lay your hand on the head of the burnt offering (1:4). This symbolizes an acknowledgment that the animal serves as a substitute for the person bringing the offering.

8. From chapter 1 (as well as from 6:8-13), how would you summarize the most significant procedures to be followed by the priests in regard to burnt offerings?

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9. In 1:4, what is given as the purpose for the burnt offering, and what is the significance of this? What does it teach...