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An Eye for an Eye?

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Leviticus 24:17 – 27:34

An "eye for an eye" in 24:20 most probably refers to a general application of justice by which the victim of crime or violence would receive restitution, except in the case of taking a human life. A literal eye would not be demanded.

Parts of Chapter 25 are inconceivable to the average American. Imagine a property owner today being told that all property and homes not in a walled city would will be returned to the family owning them fifty years before. But God's command makes spiritual sense—we are sojourners in this world. Our main purpose is to spread the Gospel, serve the Lord, and care for one another. Getting too attached to property and wealth can get in the way.

Chapter 26 describes blessings and curses toward a nation as it honors, or fails to honor, God. God deals with nations as well as individuals. The nation not honoring God would be judged. All nations, as we will see throughout the Bible, are under His authority.

The many rules in Leviticus were meant to demonstrate to God's people how to live, and also that they could not meet all of the demands of the law. They could not make themselves worthy of Him. God wanted them to see their need for His grace. Instead, they turned the rules, meant to bring them to God's mercy, into a false ladder leading up to Him.

However, many laws in the Old Testament are still valid to us today as guides for life. We see how to treat and care for others. We see God's holiness and love. We obey His commandments not because we want to get righteous, but because we are already righteous in His sight through His Son, Jesus. We strive to live the life He describes in response to His love.

Chapter 27 presents a way to devote possessions or persons to the Lord. The person, animal, or property could be dedicated, yet also kept by family or owner by donating a monetary gift of equal value—that value determined by the priests according to God's instruction.

Next time: Details, Details, Details

Priests and Festivals

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Leviticus 21:1 – 24:16

Chapters 21 and 22 refer to regulations for only the priests. A priest with a "defect" could not make an offering probably because his condition made it impossible for him to demonstrate the wholeness of sacrifice and the relationship of the nation with God. These men of Levi were born into the office of priest. They were not unworthy due to sin, but victims of birth and life in an imperfect world.

Why sacrifice animals, especially those who were physically perfect? In our modern Western world the idea of sacrificing innocent animals seems cruel, but their deaths demonstrated some essential truths about the people and God: 1) Sin is serious and must be paid for; 2) Death is the penalty for sin; 3) One sinful life cannot die in the place of another to pay that penalty; 4) Sin causes death and pain; 5) God's love allowed the sacrifice of an animal (perfect and of great value to its owner) to pay for the sins of a human, and thus save the human from eternal separation from God.

There is another picture being painted for the people of Israel in these instructions. Jesus would be called the Lamb of God—the fulfillment of the picture presented in the Old Testament; the last, and necessarily sinless (spotless, without blemish), sacrifice for the sins of the world. He would die because God's love compelled Him to send His own Son to pay the price for all sinners for all time.

In the midst of many instructions, we find an interruption (24:10) which allows us to consider what life was like in this wilderness tent city. The story hints at the fact that life went on here much like anywhere else. It was a noisy, dusty tent city with makeshift streets filled with running, yelling, children. The smell of cooking wafted through the air, and the people were much like we are. Some were congenial and some were just plain angry. Patience and impatience, happiness and sadness, life and death, days and nights, all went on as God trained His people. And, this training was in deadly earnest. Israel was about to move into a land filled with pagan practices and religions—it had to be ready to stand firm in its allegiance to God.

Next time: An Eye for an Eye?

Idols, Justice, Hatred

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Leviticus 19:1 – 20:27

I hope everyone had a wonderful Christmas with family and friends celebrating the birth of Christ!

Today's posting reminds us that our God is unique in His love for His creation. While the ancient religions of Canaan demanded even the death of the innocent, our God taught His people how to love and honor one another and to trust Him as a caring Father.

Welcome back to Dei Break!    

Leviticus 19 includes a general listing of the Ten Commandments as well as other directions from God. Many relate to the way the Israelites were to treat one another and the non-Israelis that lived among them. There are instructions for the treatment of the poor. Others were directed against pagan practices (vs. 27-28). Verse 29 may relate not only to the obvious degradation implied but also to the religious prostitution practiced in surrounding cultures.

Some laws seem very contemporary. Prohibiting dishonest weights, respecting the elderly, treating the immigrant as one born in the country, avoiding gossip, paying wages on time, etc., all apply easily today. Some things about our lives and world are still the same, but at the same time we realize that 3,400 years separate us from these people and the cultures around them.

Chapter 20: Did idols have power? Did they represent gods, or beings, that actually existed? No, but belief in them was real. Several peoples in Canaan worshiped Molech and really did sacrifice infants to their god. Later in Israel's history King Ahaz is said to have offered his children to Molech. The history of the world is dotted with the practice of human sacrifice. No wonder God declared it a capital crime.

Chapter 20 lists other practices that Israel was to avoid, including consulting mediums and spiritists. Today many Christians consult mediums, astrology, or gurus to find inner peace or what might be in the future. The reality, however, is that Jesus said, "I am the way, the truth, and the life…" To meditate on His words and teachings brings us true peace.

Next time: Priests and Festivals

Explanations

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Leviticus 16:1 – 18:30

"The Lord spoke to Moses." God spoke through Moses even to the high priest. He was the mediator between God and the people. Later Jesus would stand as High Priest, Mediator, and Sacrifice.

In today's reading God establishes the annual Day of Atonement. After Good Friday, when Christ became the final sacrifice for sin, the special sacrifice of the Day of Atonement was no longer necessary.

Today, a politician caught in a crime or social embarrassment sometimes receives harsh treatment, and is called a "scapegoat". The term goes all the way back to Moses' time. The scapegoat was a visual aid for God's people. One time a year they could see their sins laid on the scapegoat and driven into the wilderness.

Chapter 17 directs that sacrificial animals only be killed at the Tent of Meeting. This was most likely to keep the people from drifting into pagan worship practices. They had already demonstrated how quickly they could stray into idolatry, and offering sacrifices to God away from the Tent of Meeting could potentially lead to an infiltration of pagan rituals.

This chapter also explains why God prohibited eating blood. "For the life of a creature is in the blood, and I have given it to you to make atonement for yourselves on the altar; it is the blood that makes atonement for one's life." (17:11) Commentators also point out that in some of the surrounding pagan religions, worshippers ate blood to gain its life force. Israel had to understand that practices such as this were against God's law. The first command against eating blood had come many years before in Genesis 9:4.

Chapter 18 begins with a condemnation of the religious practices of both Egypt and Canaan. God's people were not to follow such practices. He also cites example after example of types of marriage and sexual relations that are to be forbidden. 18:21 refers to the Canaanite sacrifice of children to the pagan god, Molech. God insisted that His people hold to a higher standard, regardless of what the world around them accepted or practiced.

Next time: Idols, Justice, Hatred

Clean and Unclean

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Leviticus 12:1 - 15:33

The ceremonial uncleanliness of a woman after childbirth did not have to do with bearing a child. Bearing children in the Old Testament was a great blessing and women who could not have children were even thought to be cursed by God. Commentators agree that these chapters do not necessarily relate to any sin, but to normal functions that resulted in the body's loss of blood or to infectious diseases, and had to do with proper procedures in each of the situations described. The identification and handling of the conditions were practical and the cleanliness ceremonial, guided by priests who also served as what might be called health officers for the nation.

Commentators seem pretty consistent in their acknowledgement that there seems to be no particular reason for the time of separation after the birth of a girl to be longer than that for a boy. Some do point out that the time away from the everyday work of the home may have been welcomed by the mother as a time of rest and bonding with her new child.      

The chapters concerning leprosy can be a little confusing until we learn that the Hebrew word translated here can refer to any one of several kinds of skin infections and can even refer to mildew and other contaminations in the case of a home or other object. Modern doctors can see the symptoms of at least three different kinds of skin infections and diseases in these chapters. As with childbirth, the instructions have to do with physical identification and ceremonial cleansing rather than spiritual unworthiness.

By the time of Jesus, the people assumed that leprosy represented God's curse on the sufferer due to some sin. When Jesus healed lepers He was not only proclaiming that they were welcome in His presence, but because of the Jewish tradition that only God could heal a leper (since He had cursed the victim) Jesus was also declaring His divinity.

Next Time: Explanations

Living Examples

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Leviticus 10:1 - 11:47

Aaron's sons were killed because they had disregarded the precise instructions they were commanded to obey. It was a life and death matter because the nation had to understand that the worship of their God was unique. The text does not explain fully what Nadab and Abihu did but perhaps in their actions they were starting down a path of carelessness that would have led to pagan additions from the surrounding religions, and that would have led the entire nation into idolatry. During this early time in their worship as a nation, God's people would be very vulnerable to outside influence. Of all people, the priests had to be pure examples.

It was probably partly due to the prohibitions about touching dead bodies that Aaron and his two other sons were not allowed to participate in the burial of Nadab and Abihu. Even in later years, high priests were not allowed to participate in funerals of their relatives. One commentator says that if Aaron and his sons had entered mourning at this time by loosening their hair and tearing their clothes it could have led the people to believe that the punishment of the two offenders had been unjust and added confusion to the situation.

Once again the text is unclear as to exactly why certain animals were "clean" and others "unclean". Some commentators point out that many of the instructions seem to relate to limiting bacterial contamination, trichinosis, and other health hazards that we now understand. Other commentators point out that some of the restrictions may have related to the need to be strongly separated from pagan religious practices. Still others say that the restrictions were simply meant to make God's people unique. The latter theory is particularly interesting if we remember that unlike Greek-like Westerners (us), the Jew would never have asked God, "Why?" To the Jew, God's command was enough. In 11:44 it says, "I am the Lord your God; consecrate yourselves and be holy [set aside/different], because I am holy."

Next Time: Clean and Unclean

Not So Odd After All

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Leviticus 7:1 - 9:24

Chapter 7 continues the detailed instruction regarding the offerings. As complicated as they seem, commentators tell us that compared to the sacrificial rituals of other nations of the time, Israel's system was uncomplicated. God's system was different in other ways too. There was no sacrifice for the dead; no human sacrifice; no searching entrails for the will of God; no self mutilation; and no sexual fertility orgies. The system of sacrifice given to the people by God concerned maintaining their covenant relationship with Him and was given out of His love for them. It was to show them a shadow of what would be accomplished in Christ.

Chapter 8 concerns the ordination of the priests. First Moses offered a sin offering to cleanse the priests of sin. Then Moses offered a burnt offering to symbolize their dedication to God. Finally a fellowship offering was brought symbolizing their new fellowship with the Lord. Some commentators say that the blood on the ear lobe of the priests may refer back to Exodus 21 where it was instructed that if a slave submitted to permanent service to his master, his earlobe was to be pierced. Another says that it symbolized the fact that the priest was to listen to God's instructions. Another says that blood on the thumb indicated that the priest would work for God and blood on his toe indicated that he was to walk in the ways of God.

After seven more days and nights at the door of the tent of meeting, Aaron and his sons emerged to begin their duties as priests. After they began their duties, the people began to participate in the offerings prescribed by God.

At the end of today's reading God makes His presence known in a dramatic fashion. Instead of letting the offerings burn in the normal manner, God caused fire to come out from His presence and consume the offering. This was a confirmation to the people that God was pleased, but before many days had passed the people would again break God's covenant.

Next Time: Living Examples

Right and Wrong are Real

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Leviticus 4:1 - 6:30

The word used for "sin" in chapter 4 meant to "miss the mark"; actions in which a person failed to obey God, but without the intent of open rebellion. Chapter 5 begins an account of deliberate actions opposed to God's will.

Chapter 4 reminds us that we sin often in the day to day living of our lives. Sometimes we don't even realize it at the moment, but only later when we stop to contemplate the day. To know from 5:17 that even when we are unaware of a sinful act we are still held accountable reminds us of how hopeless our situations would be if it were not for Jesus' willing sacrifice in our behalf on the cross.

There are implications throughout these chapters about the who, what, and why of the sacrifices. For example, we read that a bull without defect was required for the sin of the priest. Commentaries say that a bull was the most expensive offering demanded. Why? The priests were serving as intermediaries with God. Their lives were to demonstrate to the people how to be in fellowship with God. It was important for them to be obedient.

Chapter 5, verse 11 shows God's love for His people. The gifts brought were to demonstrate the cost of sin, not to bribe the Judge. A man who could afford almost nothing was still welcome at the feet of God, where the gift of forgiveness was received.

In these chapters we also find the command for restitution. A thief was to restore all that he had stolen plus twenty percent. Our country today is beginning to see this as an option in some criminal cases.

Most of Chapter 6 refers back to the offerings mentioned earlier, but with more instructions to the priests as to the formal procedures.

Next time: Not so odd after all

When Fat was Good

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Leviticus 2:1 - 3:17

The nations surrounding the traveling Hebrews also made sacrifices and offerings to their gods, but the reasons were different. The unbelievers thought that they were feeding their gods or bribing them. Their sacrifices sometimes included their own children. God rejected all human sacrifice. In ancient times the great value placed on each human life by God made the religion of Israel unique. The people of God offered sacrifice to Him to dedicate themselves to Him. In sacrifice they demonstrated their dependence upon Him. While the surrounding nations believed their gods to be all too human, with all of the frailties of humans, the people of Israel worshipped a God who was unique in His goodness and His love for all of His creation.

Why no honey or yeast in the grain offering? No one has a concrete answer for this question, but one possibility is that either would cause the offering to spoil quicker, possibly before it could be given. It was probably not because these ingredients were in themselves unholy, since they were included in later types of offerings. Salt, however, was a valued preserver. In ancient times two people would sometimes eat salt as a symbol of their lasting bond.

Setting aside part of the offering for the use of the priests was important because they had no other income. The priests had no land for income and their only job was to serve at the house of God. Paul mentioned this practice when writing to justify the daily support of Christian missionaries in the New Testament.

Why not eat fat or blood? The fat was to be completely given to God. While we are taught to avoid fat as something bad for our health, in ancient times it was the symbol of value, health, and wealth. Sculptors of the pharaohs made them look fat in order to demonstrate their prosperity. In Israel the best (the "fat" of one's life or possessions) was to be given to God. Blood (to the Hebrew the source of life) was valued as the cost of atonement.

Next time: Right and Wrong are Real

Passing through Leviticus

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Leviticus 1:1 – 17

Moses wrote Leviticus as a follow-up to Exodus. The latter emphasized God's deliverance out of Egypt and His care of the people. Leviticus served as a handbook for the priests about how to use of the newly built tabernacle and its contents. As Christians living in the knowledge of Christ's sacrifice for us, we might ask, "Why Leviticus?"

The sacrificial system described in Leviticus demonstrated the truth that sin had to be paid for by a substitute sacrifice. Jesus' sacrifice almost fifteen hundred years later completed the picture begun here. The sacrificial system also expressed to God's people that if He was to dwell among them, they must be set apart, holy, different from all of the other nations. The rituals were constant reminders of these things. The sacrifices allowed the people of the Old Testament to confess their sins and understand the forgiveness of God which would be fulfilled in Christ. The people's faith in God's promise of salvation, even though they lived hundreds of years before Jesus was born, was valid. Salvation was by grace through faith even then (Ephesians 2:8-9).

Chapter one describes the burnt offering. The person offering the sacrifice was involved intimately. He laid his hand on the animal, identifying himself with it, proclaiming that the animal was taking his place. The male animal without defect was very valuable, yet the owner personally killed it and watched as it was completely burned up. Everyone recognized that the sacrifice had to be costly.

Three different possible offerings were allowed so that a person's financial ability to provide an offering would not keep him from participating. The poorest of the people could offer turtledoves or pigeons. In the New Testament we see people purchasing the birds from vendors at the temple. Joseph and Mary offered birds at Jesus' presentation. (Luke 2:24)

Next time: When Fat was Good