Nothing was more important to the nation of Israel in its earliest years than the development of its system of worship. God spoke directly to Moses and Moses wrote down His instructions to be passed along to the peoples. Thus, worship rules or worshiping God would have been established at a very early stage in Israel's history. This argues convincingly for the early writing of these rules at the hand of Moses, probably about 1445 B.C.

In the Old Testament, the Book of Leviticus belongs to the period of Israel's history when the people were encamped at Mount Sinai following their miraculous deliverance from slavery in Egypt. At Mount Sinai Moses received the Ten Commandments and other parts of the Law directly from God. Moses also built and furnished the tabernacle as a place where the people could worship God. - Exodus 40 - Just after the tabernacle was filled with God's glory, Moses received instructions for the people regarding worship of God in this Holy Place. It is these instructions that the Book of Leviticus is important because of its clear teachings on three vital 'Spiritual Truths': Atonement, Sacrifice and Holiness. Without the background of these concepts in Leviticus, we could not understand their later fulfillment in the ministry, life, passion, death and resurrection of the Lord Jesus Christ.

Chapter 16 of Leviticus contains God's instructions for observing the Day of Atonement. On that day the high priest of Israel entered the most sacred place in the tabernacle and offered an animal sacrifice to atone for his own sins. Then he killed another animal and sprinkled it blood on the altar to atone for the sins of the people. This familiar picture to the sacrifice to Jesus on our behalf is found in - Hebrew 7:1-28 - But unlike a human priest, Jesus did not have to offer sacrifices, "first for His own sins and then for the people for this, he did once for all when He offered up Himself." - Heb. 7:26-28 -

Although Old Testament believers were truly forgiven and received genuine atonement through animal sacrifice, the New Testament clearly states that during the Old Testament period God' justice was not served: For it is not possible that the blood of bulls and goats could take away sins. - Heb. 10:4 - Atonement was possible because in Jesus forbearance God had passed over the sins that were previously committed. - Rom. 3:25 - However, God's justice was served in the death of Jesus Christ as substitute who not with the blood of goats and calves but with His own blood Jesus entered the Most Holy Place once and for all, having obtained eternal redemption. And for this reason Jesus is the Mediator of the new covenant. - Heb. 9:11-17 -

The Book of Leviticus instructs the Covenant People to bring many types of sacrifices or offerings to God which a worshiper expressed his love and devotion to God. But a blood offering - presenting the blood of a sacrificed animal to God - the worshiper went beyond the idea of offering his own life to God, since that the Hebrews believed that the life of the flesh is in the blood. - Lev. 17:11 - Again, this familiar teaching assumed deeper meaning in the New Testament when applied to Jesus Christ. He gave His life on our behalf when He shed His blood to take away our sins. 'Look, there is the lamb of God that takes away the sin of the world.' - John 1:29 - Through Him we now have faith in God, who raised Him from the dead and gave Him glory for that very reason - so that we would have faith, hope and love in God.

The basic meaning of 'Holiness' as presented in the Old Testament is that God demands absolute obedience of His peoples and also make it clear that Holiness demanded by God extended to the daily behaviour of His peoples. They were expected to practice love, joy, peace, kindness, honesty, justice and show compassion to all peoples.

Originating in God's nature, Holiness is a unique quality of His character. The Sacred Scripture/Holy Bible emphasizes this divine attribute. "Who is like you, O Lord?" - Ex. 15:11 - "There is none Holy like the Lord" - 1Sam. 2:2 - "Who shall not fear You, O Lord...For You alone are Holy" - Rev. 15:4 - God's high expectations of His peoples flow out of His own nature: "You shall be to me a kingdom of priests and a Holy nation" - Ex. 19:6 - "Sanctify yourselves therefore and be Holy, for I am the Lord your God" - Lev. 20:7 -

Jesus was the very personification of Holiness; He reinforced God's demands for Holiness by insisting that His disciples must have a higher quality of righteousness than of the Scribes and Pharisees. - Matt. 5:20 -

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Sunday, May 24, 2009

I have through years of reading, pondering, reflecting and contemplating, the 3 things that last; FAITH . HOPE . LOVE and I would like to made available my sharing from the many thinkers, authors, scholars and theologians whose ideas and thoughts I have borrowed. God be with them always. Amen!

I STILL HAVE MANY THINGS TO SAY TO YOU BUT THEY WOULD BE TOO MUCH FOR YOU NOW. BUT WHEN THE SPIRIT OF TRUTH COMES, HE WILL LEAD YOU TO THE COMPLETE TRUTH, SINCE HE WILL NOT BE SPEAKING AS FROM HIMSELF, BUT WILL SAY ONLY WHAT HE HAS LEARNT; AND HE WILL TELL YOU OF THE THINGS TO COME.

HE WILL GLORIFY ME, SINCE ALL HE TELLS YOU WILL BE TAKEN FROM WHAT IS MINE. EVERYTHING THE FATHER HAS IS MINE; THAT IS WHY I SAID: ALL HE TELLS YOU WILL BE TAKEN FROM WHAT IS MINE. - JOHN 16:12-15 -