April 30, 2014 (Wednesday)
The ancient Israelites had to obey three kinds of laws: moral, civil, and ceremonial. The Book of Leviticus is mainly about ceremonial law, especially as it related to the priests. Purification and holiness were high on the agenda for them.
Three subjects in the book were of special concern to the average person: Sacrifices, Clean and Unclean Foods, and the Day of Atonement.
In the New Testament, you can see how these requirements were being met by Mary and Joseph as they brought sacrifices at her purification after giving birth. You can see how important they were to the Apostle Peter when you read of God’s unbelievable command in a vision that he kill and eat unclean animals.
Perhaps the item of greatest importance to us today is The Day of Atonement, a solemn observance in which emphasized the seriousness of sin and the blessedness of forgiveness.
It was the ceremonial law that Jesus nailed to His cross. We are no longer bound by these laws. The sacrifice of Jesus on the cross fulfilled every ceremony connected with the old sacrificial system. The moral law, however, embodied in the Ten Commandments, still represents the nature of God and His will for us.
What, then, is the devotional thought the the Book of Leviticus suggests? It certainly makes clear that God considers sin a serious matter. We are part of God’s family and we should guard the integrity of our heritage. This book also shows us the glory of God in His provision of forgiveness. The slain sacrifices of Leviticus foreshadow the blood of Calvary’s Lamb that truly takes away the sin of the world. “Yes,” we gladly sing, “Jesus loves me!”