Leviticus Archives - He Walks With Us

Water Baptism

And Moses brought Aaron and his sons, and washed them with water.
Leviticus 8:6 (KJV)

Washed – Baptism is frequently thought of as a Christian event. The first form of New Testament baptism is found in the story of John the Baptist. But John wasn’t a Christian, he was a Jew. Why would John practice baptism if baptism was a Christian thing, especially at a time when Christians weren’t yet a people?

Quarantine

All the days wherein the plague shall be in him he shall be defiled; he is unclean: he shall dwell alone; without the camp shall his habitation be.
Leviticus 13:46 (KJV)

Without the camp shall his habitation be – God teaches the method of quarantine when it comes to infectious diseases. He doesn’t say that spiritual people won’t be infected. He doesn’t say that your faith will shield you from diseases. In fact, the ONLY way to completely avoid disease, at least the diseases in Egypt, is to keep the law.

To Sanctify, or Not To Sanctify

All the firstling males that come of thy herd and of thy flock thou shalt sanctify unto the Lord thy God: thou shalt do no work with the firstling of thy bullock, nor shear the firstling of thy sheep.
Deuteronomy 15:19 (KJV)

Only the firstling of the beasts, which should be the Lord’s firstling, no man shall sanctify it; whether it be ox, or sheep: it is the Lord’s.
Leviticus 27:26

So which is it? Should you, or shouldn’t you sanctify the firstling of beasts? If you take these two verses verbatim as they’re written, this is an obvious contradiction in the text. Deuteronomy states that you should sanctify the firstling, but Leviticus states that you should not.

Bread and Salt

And every oblation of thy meat offering shalt thou season with salt; neither shalt thou suffer the salt of the covenant of thy God to be lacking from thy meat offering: with all thine offerings thou shalt offer salt.
Leviticus 2:13 (KJV)

Meat, Salt – So God commands that all “meat” offerings are to be brought with salt. The religious community I belong to presents salt with bread for every public prayer. But this says, “meat”… or does it?

Food isn’t the Focus

Speak unto the children of Israel, and say unto them, Concerning the feasts of the Lord, which ye shall proclaim to be holy convocations, even these are my feasts.
Leviticus 23:2 (KJV)

Feasts – The Lord really loves a good meal, doesn’t he? When reading this, I’m quite impressed by God’s desire for us to partake in meals together. But just after this, He mentions that the 7th day Sabbath is one of these “feasts.” How does that work? There’s no Sabbath instruction about holding a feast.

Serving God the Wrong Way

And Nadab and Abihu, the sons of Aaron, took either of them his censer, and put fire therein, and put incense thereon, and offered strange fire before the Lord, which he commanded them not.
Leviticus 10:1 (KJV)

Which he commanded them not – When you serve the Lord, do you serve Him the way you want to serve Him, or the way He wants to be served? This verse from Leviticus about Aaron’s sons, Nadab and Abihu, show the importance of serving God the way He desires.

Mixed Fibers

Ye shall keep my statutes. Thou shalt not let thy cattle gender with a diverse kind: thou shalt not sow thy field with mingled seed: neither shall a garment mingled of linen and woollen come upon thee.
Leviticus 19:19

Linen and woollen – The command forbids wearing clothing mixed with wool and linen. Period. If our desire is to live in obedience, then I’d assume this is the minimal one should do to keep this law. Sounds fairly easy at this level.

Contradictions

I absolutely love contradictions in the Bible. Yep, you heard me right. When I find a contradiction in Scripture, I know there’s something deeper going on that isn’t visible on the surface.

And almost all things are by the law purged with blood; and without shedding of blood is no remission. (Hebrews 9:22)

But if he be not able to bring two turtledoves, or two young pigeons, then he that sinned shall bring for his offering the tenth part of an ephah of fine flour for a sin offering; he shall put no oil upon it, neither shall he put any frankincense thereon: for it is a sin offering. (Leviticus 5:11)

Continue reading “Contradictions”

Day of Alarm

Speak unto the children of Israel, saying, In the seventh month, in the first day of the month, shall ye have a sabbath, a memorial of blowing of trumpets, an holy convocation.

Leviticus 23:24 (KJV)

Blowing – The holy day in Hebrew is often referred to as Yom Teruah – Day of Sounding. But what sort of sound is going on here? We’re so far removed from the ritual practice of this day that many of us Christians probably wouldn’t realize the trumpet sound if we heard it. Continue reading “Day of Alarm”

Sukkot, the Place

That your generations may know that I made the children of Israel to dwell in booths, when I brought them out of the land of Egypt: I am the Lord your God.

Leviticus 23:43 (KJV)

Booths – When you compare the three holy days; Feast of Unleavened Bread, Pentecost, and Sukkot (Feast of Booths), it’s difficult to understand why Sukkot is among them. In Deuteronomy 16:16 God commands all Israel men to appear before the Lord and bring an offering to the Temple on each of these holy days. These are the pilgrim feasts because all men were required to travel to Jerusalem. Let’s take a look at them. Continue reading “Sukkot, the Place”