Category: Leviticus

Today’s chapter covers the different festivals that the people of Israel observed. Baker’s Evangelical Dictionary of Biblical Theology says about the feasts:

Israel’s festivals were communal and commemorative as well as theological and typological. They were communal in that they drew the nation together for celebration and worship as they recalled the common origin and experience of the people. They were commemorative in that they kept alive the story of what God had done in the exodus and during the sojourn. They were theological in that the observance of the festivals presented the participants with lessons on the reality of sin, judgment, and forgiveness, on the need for thanksgiving to God, and on the importance of trusting God rather than hoarding possessions. They were typological in that they anticipated a greater fulfillment of the symbolism of the feasts. It is not surprising that each of the major feasts is in some way alluded to in the New Testament.

This definition of the feast helps us think about what a rhythm of a God-centered life:

1. Community: God has created us in his image to live for his glory in the context of community with others. We are not meant to do life alone. God has created the church to encourage and challenge each other as we pursue Christ together. In the midst of the chaos of dealing with the Corona Virus and the feelings of isolation it can bring, what are some ways you can maintain a sense of community?
2. Commemorative: What are ways that you can remember the ways God has worked in your life? What are some milestones that should stand out to you  in your spiritual life? Think about the day that you accepted Christ, got to lead someone to Christ, you saw a disciple take steps of obedience. Take time to reflect on how God has been at work in your life and the lives of others.
3. Theological: One of the purposes of the feasts is to remember the truth and the character of God. What are you doing to grow in your love and knowledge of God?
4. Typological: The purpose of the feasts is to point to the finished work of Jesus. When you read the book of Hebrews, you are overwhelmed with how Jesus is the “greater” of everything that is seen in the Old Testament. Everything in our lives should center around Christ. What are you trying to make greater in your own life more than Christ?

By: Graham Withers — Pastoral Ministry Associate

Good morning Jumpstart readers!  Thank you so much for taking the time to obediently read God’s Word and learn what God has for you.  Today’s reading is all about being clean before the Lord. There were stiff penalties if you handled the elements of worship with dirty hands.  This makes me think of Psalm 24:3-5…

Who may ascend into the hill of the Lord?  And who may stand in His holy place? He who has clean hands and a pure heart, who has not lifted up his soul to falsehood and has not sworn deceitfully.  He shall receive a blessing from the Lord and righteousness from the God of his salvation.

What is the correlation between the two?  Clean hands – what we do and Clean heart – who we are on the inside?  Does what we truly believe effect what we do? Jesus said so!

But the things that proceed out of the mouth come from the heart, and those defile the man.  For out of the heart come evil thoughts, murders, adulteries, fornications, thefts, false witness, slanders.  These are the things which defile the man; but to eat with unwashed hands does not defile the man.”  Matthew 5:18-20

So this begs the question – How important is it for me to work on having a clean heart?  Solomon says…

Above all else, guard your heart, for everything you do flows from it.  Proverbs 4:23

So… here’s your assignment for today:

1. Take a few minutes and honestly evaluate your heart.  In what areas does it need a deep cleaning?
2. Pray and ask God to help you – to cleanse you (Psalm 139:24)
3. Take action steps – listen to podcasts about that area – read books on it – ask your accountability partner for help.

By: Tim Parsons — Lead Pastor

As we read Leviticus 21 two things stand out above all others (1) the effects of sin on the world & (2) the callings of servants of the Most High God to be Holy and set apart. 

This passage covers instructions given to the Priests. Priests were some of the biggest servants for God. Their calling was special. They stood as representation for humanity and offered sacrifices for the people before God (Hebrews 5:1). They were called to be separate… to be Holy… they were vital to the people of God.

However, they were human and could not do this job to the standard needed to be sustainable for all humanity. This is why Jesus came. This is why He lived, died, was buried, and rose. He became our representation… our High Priest (Hebrews 4:14-16)… before God. He was set apart to the fullest extent.

When we accept Jesus Christ in our lives we are adopted into the royal priesthood (1 Peter 2:9). We are servants and stewards of Jesus (1 Corinthians 4:1-2). He has put His treasure (the gospel) in jars of clay (us – 2 Corinthians 4:7) and He has called us to live into our new identity – holiness (Romans 12:1-2, 1 Peter 1:13-25) – and be set apart from the world (2 Corinthians 6:17) while loving them and sharing the good news of Jesus with them (Matthew 28:19-20) FOR Jesus we have the righteousness of Christ Jesus (2 Corinthians 5:21).

Jesus, and the gospel, are the lifesource to live out this kind of life. In fact 2 Peter 1:3 reminds us that in Jesus we have all we need to live a godly life.

“As we know Jesus better, his divine power gives us everything we need for a godly life…” (NLT)

I am thankful that though I am called to live Holy and set apart from the world so that they may see my good works and glorify God (Matthew 5:16) that it is not about me, my effort, or my glory but trusting in God and His glory.

1) How have you started to live like the world?

2) How can you be set apart to glorify Jesus this week in your context (work, school, family, friends, etc)?

By: Nick Parsons — Pastoral Ministry Associate: College

When studying scripture, there are some very important clues to observe. One such observation concerns transitions—especially those that indicate purpose or result. For example, the phrase “so that” is sometimes very important. In the NASB, this phrase occurs a few times in Leviticus 20, one of which helps us understand the confusing Laws of this passage. “You are therefore to keep all My statutes and all My ordinances and do them.” Why? “So that [in order that] the land to which I am bringing you to live will not spew you out.” (v. 22)

Leviticus 20 is harsh, especially read through a modern lens. Leviticus 20 conjures visions of hellfire and brimstone preachers calling wrath on those who depart from legalistic righteousness. The chapter starts with a prohibition all people can get behind, do not sacrifice children. Although the more political left-leaning among us might not love the death-penalty associated with child sacrifice, nobody objects. However, once we get down to the sexual sins and the stiff penalties associated, we have some real problems in our modern context. 

For example, it’s easy to understand the offense this chapter brings to the homosexual community, when it seems to pair homosexual acts alongside incest, bestiality, and adultery. This sin listing wasn’t written to accuse modern audiences of anything. Instead, it was a description of the practices of those inhabiting the Promised Land. The Canaanites living in the Land before the conquest did all these things and more (see verse 23). 

The Promised Land was intended to be a return to Eden—it was intended to dwell a holy people, in a holy place, inhabited by their holy God, in His holy Temple. This helps us understand verse 18 of not lying with a menstruating woman, the offense of which seems much less than many other laws in this chapter. More than uncleanness, this prohibition likely stems from the fact that blood was a symbol for life and death and served as a reminder of the Fall in Genesis 3. Genesis 3 records the first shedding of blood and the fact that pain would be multiplied in childbearing. It was not right that a man should introduce the sign of the Abrahamic Covenant (circumcision) into the vivid reminder of the Fall that comes with menstruation. 

In the same way, life of God’s Covenant People should be done inside of what we might call “Garden Principles,” or if you’re feeling word-smithy, “Edenic Indicatives” (which is super-fun to say). In the Garden of Eden, family was represented by one-man and one-woman. They enjoyed each other and were commanded to “Be fruitful and multiply.” Unfortunately, they did not conceive until after the Fall. However, the blueprint was there. Kids were to be raised, literally, walking with the Lord. Questions and future concern were to be brought to Yahweh and not mediums (v. 6). 

Every prohibition we see in Leviticus 20 runs contrary to God’s design. Likewise, since death was a result of the Fall, so death is the result of many crimes presented in this chapter. The cringy-ness of the death penalty for modern audiences is truly a failure to understand what our sin deserves. At every sin, the just result should be death. And yet, God graciously extends mercy in order that we might turn to Him in repentance. Even as we experience the consequences of sin, it should lead us to repentance. 

One main idea jumps out from this chapter. God’s people are separated people (v. 24)—that’s the definition of holiness. Don’t look like the fallen world. Learn from the Garden and live like that. 

By: Tyler Short — Connections Ministry Associate