Introduction to Leviticus

The book of Leviticus focus on sin and redemption. Sin causes man to be excluded from the nearness, knowledge and communion with God. Furthermore, the word "holy" appears over 150 times in the course of the 27 chapters - a reminder that we serve a holy God who cannot tolerate sin. The holiness of God shines like a white, fearful light upon the whole book. It is in contrast with that holiness, that the sin of man is seen and understood. Because of His perfect holiness, man in his sin is excluded from His presence. According to the teaching of this book, sin is fundamentally, essentially, wrong done to God.

The whole scheme of worship as set forth in Leviticus serves to place before the mind of humanity; first, the idea of redemption, as existing in the purpose and economy of God; and secondly, that in process of time it would be wrought out into visibility and actuality in the history of man. The supreme value of the book is its revelation to man of the Divine purpose of redemption. The offerings constituted provision for approach. The mediation of the priest was the method for the appropriation of the provision. The laws of separation revealed the conditions upon which such appropriation might be made. The feasts of consecration revealed the benefits of approach. The symbols of ratification were the signs of restored relation. The thought running throughout the whole economy is that of man, who has sinned, and so been excluded from God, being brought back to Him.

The offerings indicated the provision of a method by which man might be brought back into nearness to, knowledge of, and communion with God. The burnt offerings refers to complete devotion; the meal, of established communion; and the peace, of the experience growing therefore. Sin and trespass offerings teach the possibility of the cancelling of sin and the restoration of the soul to God.

The priesthood was that by which it was possible for man to appropriate the provision. No man was permitted to bring his own offering to God. It was necessary that there should be one to stand between the sinner and God, and present the offering.

The nature of redemption, as suggested by this book, can be summed up in three words - substitution, imputation and death. Every sacrifice was that of a life standing in the place of another (substitution). In the ceremonies of this ancient ritual, there were constantly acts which suggested the transference of the guilt of man to the life which stood in his place (imputation). Finally, the one substituted and to whom the guilt was imputed, must die. (death)

Concerning sin, it is a threefold declaration. Sin is unlikeness to God. Sin is distance from God. Sin is wrong done to God. Man is excluded from God, because of the dissimilarity in character between them. Man made in the image and the likeness of God is a being on whom the image is defaced, and in whom the likeness is unrecognizable.

Sin separates man's distance from God in experience.

Sin is wrong done to God. When we remember that other people are also made in the image of God, we will start to realise that wrong done to them is wrong done to God. In Psalm, David said "Against Thee, Thee only have I sinned."

Finally, redemption is founded upon righteousness. Redemption is only possible by blood - that is, life poured out. Redemption is in order to holiness.

Leviticus speaks of the awfulness of sin in the light of the holiness of God, of the plenteous redemption springing from the love of God, and of the possibility of holiness of life, created by communion with God.