PPic: Oberon Golf Course - Links Pro Am 2006

PGA Chaplain Bible Studies

An Overview of the bible –Study 6 Leviticus and Numbers.

Leviticus

The historical journey towards the Promised Land takes a rest in the book of Leviticus as it describes in some detail the various regulations of worship at the Tabernacle. The fundamental principal behind this book is the holiness of God and how a sinful people can draw near to God. The sacrificial system that Leviticus promotes is established by God as a way of maintaining the covenant relationship that God has established.

In our last study we saw how easy the nation slipped into idolatry and complaining. Leviticus promotes God’s holiness and Israel’s holiness as the people of God. The word holy is used extensively throughout the book and means to be separate or set apart and includes the important principal of God being holy and different to us who are sinners.

The book describes how acceptable worship is practiced through sacrifices for various sins at the tabernacle. Sacrifices are to be offered according to prescribed God’s ways, and not according to our decisions. Sacrifices include various animals, birds and grains.  

Aaron’s and his sons are anointed as the Priests to be responsible for worship and later on the tribe of Levi is set apart to assist them. See Leviticus Chapter 8:1-13, Ch 9, 21, 22:1-9 in regards to Aaron’s sons and Numbers Chapter 3:5-10 in regards to the Levites. This Priestly setting of the book and it rules for worship is where the name of the book Leviticus comes from.
The book of Leviticus uses repetition to develop themes. Some of them are:

1. The holiness of God and Israel – Chapter 11:44-45, 19:1-2, 20:7-8, 20:26.
2. Various offerings given to please God – Chapter 1:9 -13, 2:1-9.
3. Sin offerings for forgiveness and atonement (a word referring to reconciliation where as sin separates) – See Chapter 4: especially verse 20, 5:10, 16:1-6.
4. Worship according to God’s commands Chapter 8:17, 21, 29, 31, 9:8-11.
5. Reasons for being cut off from Israel – Ch 7:21, 15:31, 17:8-9, 20:3-5.
6. I am the Lord – Chapter 19:1,4,10,12,14,28,32.
7. The holiness of the offerings – Chapter 2:3,10, 6:16-17 and 7:6.

There are rules and regulations relating to being unclean before God. In this regard there were animals not to eat in Chapter 11 such as pig, skin diseases in Chapter 13 and various body sexual discharges in Chapters 15.

In Chapter 18 there are various unlawful sexual relations that was widely practised during the Patriarchal years, laws relating to various festivals in Chapter 23, the sabbatical and the Jubilee year in Chapter 25, and the voluntary dedications of possessions and compulsory tithing in Chapter 27.

Chapter 9 includes the interesting account of the first sacrifice at the tent of meeting and the Lord appearing and burning the sacrifices. The people rejoice and fall down in worship. Chapter 18:1-5 has the interesting command to be God’s people and live not like the Egyptians from where they have come from or the Canaanites where they are heading.

Chapter 26 represents a summary of Leviticus laying before the nation the consequences of obedience (verses 1 to 13) and disobedience (verses 14 to 39). The rest of the chapter highlights how the new regulations and their future relates to the covenant God gave to Abraham (verses 40 to 46).

Numbers

The book of numbers details the journey of Israel from Sinai where God spoke to Moses to the border of the Promised Land. A count of Israel is made on two occasions, giving the book its name. Many laws are repeated in Numbers.

The significant chapters for study are Chapters 11 to 16 and 20 to 25 where Israel constantly complain about the hardships of the desert; where the nation challenges Moses’ leadership a number of times (Ch 12, 14 and 16 where their opposition meets a deadly end (Ch 16:31-34) and where the majority of spies sent to preview the Promised Land return but give a false report. The result of unbelief of the 10 spies and the nation meant they would never live to enter the Promised Land, but would die in the desert. (See Ch 14: verses 20 to 25).

On two  occasions 14,700 (Ch 16) and 24,000 (Ch25) die because of rebellion against God. Numbers contains many incidences of war and victory with nations on the way to the Promised Land. The most interesting chapters are Chapters 22 to 24 where King Balak of the Moabites seeks the Prophet Balaam to curse Israel. God appears to Balaam and warns him not to because they are blessed by God.  In these chapters God’s blessing of Israel is told through Balaam and the famous account of his talking donkey. (See Chapter 22).

The book of Numbers is a disappointing account of a nation that found it hard to trust God in the face of the desert, hunger and thirst and the expected battle to enter the Promised Land. In spite of their weakness God continues to be faithful to his promise but it will take some time (40 years) before the next generation will be ready to enter the Promised Land. Our next book is Deuteronomy the last of the first major section of the Old Testament.
 

Read ouR Bi-Monthly Newsletter

Upcoming Events

• Go to Events Page

Site by Limelight Creative