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VAYIKRA
Leviticus 1:1-5:26
Isaiah 43:21-44:23
The book
of Leviticus gives us the accounting of the consecration of the priesthood
(8-9), of the punishment of Nadab and Abihu, by the hand of God, for
offering strange fire (10), and the death of Shelomith’s son, by the hand
of the magistrate, for blasphemy (24). All the rest of the book is taken
up with laws, chiefly the ecclesiastical laws, which God gave to Israel by
Moses. These concern their sacrifices and offerings, their meats and
drinks, and diverse washings, as well as the other rules by which God set
that people apart for Himself, and distinguished them from other nations.
All are shadows of good things to come, which are realized by the good
news of Messiah coming and His redemptive work.
The name
of this book, Leviticus, is from the Septuagint. It contains the laws and
ordinances of the Levitical Priesthood (Hebrews 7:11), and the ministries
associated with it. The Levites were principally in charge of these
activities, both to do their part and to teach the people theirs. We read,
near the end of the book of Exodus about the setting up of the Tabernacle,
which was to be the place of worship. Just as that was framed according to
the instructed pattern, so must the ordinances of worship be. These were
to be administered within the Tabernacle. The instructions were to be
observed to every detail.
The
remaining record of these laws is of use to us, for the strengthening of
our faith in Messiah as the Lamb who was slain from the foundations of the
world. Also, for the increase of our thankfulness to God, that by him we
are freed from the curse of the law. Even though none is righteous, all
have fallen short (Ecclesiastes 7:20;
Isaiah 59:2;
Romans 3:23),
Shaul
(Paul) tells us the law is good, holy, and just (Romans 7). Further, he
tells us that thru the work of the Messiah he, Shaul, now serves the law
of God instead of serving with flesh the law of sin. Therefore Shaul, as
well as all of us who have been called to serve God as His elect, need
fear neither death, nor life, nor angels, nor principalities, nor powers,
nor things to come.... Therefore, nothing shall separate us from the love
of God.
Shavuah
Tov
Rabbi Z
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