036 Thursday, February 5, 2009

036 Leviticus 1 – 3; Hebrews 1

God is serious about change. Israel had lived for years in Egypt and now they’re free, but not free to do as they wished. Israel needed to heed what God desired for them. When you read Leviticus you have to keep in mind that the Lord had not yet laid down any boundaries for His people. In order for them to be His people they had to be holy. God gives the provisions on how to live with a holy God. In the first few chapters God instructs them on the different offerings that are to be brought before Him through the priests. These offerings are to acknowledge who God is. The whole burnt offering is perhaps the most solemn of all offerings as it symbolized worship in the full sense. The Peace offering was used to promote peace with God. God is telling His people what He expects from them.

For the New Testament reading we are in the book of Hebrews whose theme is “better.” All that God did in the Mosaic covenant and part of that is in the book of Leviticus is good, but what Christ has done is better. In the O.T. you have to keep sacrificing but now Christ has once and for all died for us and there is no need for any more sacrifices. The book of Hebrews really lifts up the person and work of Christ in relationship to the O.T. God expects us in this day and age to live for Christ with our whole heart. God expects us to change just as He expected His people to change in the book of Leviticus.