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Week 5. Day 1. Leviticus 1-5.

Introduction to Leviticus

Exodus ended on a tension: God had come to dwell amongst his people in the tabernacle, but Moses (and the rest of the sinful people) were not able to enter. God’s people had been freed from slavery in Egypt, but they had not been fully brought home to God. The tabernacle was a new ‘Eden’ but still sin prevented the people from entering.

God’s creation purposes, and his redemption purposes are the same: that humanity might enjoy his presence in his dwelling place. Leviticus shows us how this is possible: through God-given sacrifices (Lev 1-7) and a God-given priest (Lev 8).

Leviticus 1-7 describes 5 main sacrifices. Chapter 9 shows the order of these sacrifices, pointing to the astonishingly gracious purpose of the sacrificial system: to cleanse God’s people to they could enter his presence and feast with him.

One vital concept is ‘atonement’ – literally ‘at-one-ment’ which describes how people can be brought back into good relationship with God, by dealing with the sin that would provoke his just anger.

The key chapter in the book is chapter 16, focussing on the Day of Atonement, when God’s people (represented by the High Priest) are able to enter God’s presence again.

Leviticus 1-5

As you read Lev 1-7 (ch1-5 today, and 6-7 tomorrow), try to get a sense of what it would have been like to experience this sacrificial system week after week, year after year. What message would you learn from it?

What were the requirements for the sacrificial animals (e.g. 1:3)?

What is the result of sacrifice (1:4)?

Note the same language in 4:20, 26, 31, 35; 5:16, 18

Gordon Wenham explains sacrifices like this:

‘In sacrifice it appears that the worshipper identifies himself with the animal he offers. What he does to the animal, he does symbolically to himself. The death of the animal portrays the death of himself.’ (The Book of Leviticus, 111)

NOTE: Days 1-5 of each week contain the scripture reading for that week. Day 6 has just the 'key chapters'. If you want a briefer version of this plan that still takes you through the whole Bible, you could just read the key chapters featured on day 6. Day 7 has the podcast video where we discuss the week's reading.