Leviticus 1:1-3:17
The book of Leviticus was given to Moses at Mt. Sinai in the one month between Exodus and Numbers (Exodus 40:17; Numbers 1:1). You may have noticed the resemblance to the word Levites (the priest who assisted the sons of Aaron) for it was written primarily for them to practice and preach to the people. The book of Leviticus is rich with imagery of Christ and of the Christian life, especially in our call to holiness (a word found 100 times in this book) (Leviticus 20:7).
In these first three chapters we have the Burnt Offering, the Grain Offering, and the Peace Offering. We have details given here on each of these offerings, and we will be provided with further details in Leviticus chapters 6 and 7.
All the offerings speak of what Jesus has done for us, but in some of them we also have aspects of how we can offer sacrifices to the LORD and even be living sacrifices to God (Romans 12:1).
The Burnt Offering is symbolic of absolute surrender on our part – giving it ALL to God (they burnt everything but the skin). This sacrifice must be pure and of our own free will (Leviticus 1:3). It matters not the “amount” we give (cattle, sheep, goats, or birds), what matters most is that we give our ALL to God.
The Grain Offering is symbolic of service. Consider the grain that needed to be grown (work on our parts) and then given to the priests. You could offer the Grain offering raw or baked in various ways (it would be like pancakes). The priest would burn a pinch on the altar and was allowed to have the rest for himself and his sons to consume (Leviticus 1:2-3).
There was to be no leaven, or honey, with the offerings but there was to be salt and frankincense (Leviticus 2:11, 13, 16).
Warren Weirsbe, “Note that God never wants leaven (a picture of sin [1 Corinthians 5:6–8]) or honey (man’s glory and not God’s [Proverbs 25:27]). But He does want salt, which speaks of purity (Colossians 4:6), and frankincense, which is praise to God. What a privilege it is to build a Christian life that brings glory to God!”
The Peace Offerings is also known as the Fellowship Offering. A portion was to be burnt, a portion would be for the priests, and a portion could be eaten by the one who offered the sacrifice (as long as they were clean). It would be as if you were having a meal with the LORD, fellowship together after having made peace…with Him (Leviticus 7:11-21; Deuteronomy 12:5-12).
For a broad overview of the book of Leviticus, here are a couple of helpful resources.
Mark 1:29-2:12
What a day this was in the life of Christ, ministering all day long, coming home to rest at Peter’s house and yet the labor of love continues. Nothing is too small, Peter’s mother in law is healed of her fever, and nothing is too big, the whole city gathered at the door and Jesus delivered them from everything, even demons.
I believe the key to Christ’s power was His prayer life.
Mark 1:35 (NKJV) “Now in the morning, having risen a long while before daylight, He went out and departed to a solitary place; and there He prayed.
Jesus loved to pray and spend time with His Father (just them, away from the crowd) the fellowship must have been sweet – therein the Father directed Him, and the Spirit empowered Him.
Peter wanted to be Jesus’ manager and start a church in Capernaum, but Jesus had already checked in with His Father, who commanded Him to be a traveling missionary and share the message from town to town.
The leper broke the law of the land in simply speaking to and approaching Jesus in such a way, but the leper had faith, knowing that if Jesus was willing, He could heal him (is this not to be our approach?). Jesus was willing (He healed him) and Jesus was loving (He touched him). Jesus warned him not to tell others for that would hinder His ministry by opening the floodgates to those who were not only ill, but who would come only to be spectators, wanting to see the “show.” I was thinking how different we are from Jesus. If I was used by God to heal someone from an incurable disease I would probably want it chronicled on television, on 20/20, but that’s not Christ’s heart. The Kingdom of God dose not need that kind of advertising in order to accomplish God’s purposes. It’s usually not best to “explode” overnight due to some miracle, it’s probably best to grow gradually, faithfully, and obediently.
I’ve always loved the way these four men brought their friend to Jesus (that’s what friends do – even if they have to make a hole in the roof). Jesus saw THEIR faith and therefore healed the man physically and spiritually (Mark 2:5, 12) (yes, prayer and intercession do make a difference).
Jesus proved to the doubters (He saw their hearts) and the disciples, He is able to forgive sins here on earth – here and now – and then, of course, on and on, and forever and ever.
Are you a believer in Christ? If so, you are forgiven, even here on earth. Wow even now!
Psalm 35:17-28
People can do tons of damage with their tongues. Saul started it all, and it spread like wildfire, they spoke against David – they did not speak peace, the opened their mouths wide against him (some people have big mouths) (Psalm 35:20-21).
David spoke to God about it; he prayed the LORD would vindicate him and defeat his enemies. And God did. David knew God would fight for him and promised to praise Him in the great assembly, publicly he would give God all the glory…all day long (Psalm 35:18, 28)
Proverbs 9:13-18
Another warning against sexual sin. Repeated so we won’t be defeated! May you and I never fall – after all – we can never say we were never warned.
The simple one who’s so open-minded that his brain falls out – falls into sexual sin with the wicked woman who woos him. (Proverbs 9:16)
Sin is sweet for a moment, it’s pleasant even for a season (Proverbs 9:17), but the consequences can be deadly in so many ways – verse 18 tells us that fornicators and adulterers die, sometimes physically and (if that’s your title) always spiritually.
Proverbs 9:18 (NKJV) “But he does not know that the dead are there, that her guests are in the depths of hell.”
1 Corinthians 6:9 (NKJV) “Do you not know that the unrighteous will not inherit the kingdom of God? Do not be deceived. Neither fornicators, nor idolaters, nor adulterers, nor homosexuals, nor sodomites.”
Revelation 21:8 (NKJV) “But the cowardly, unbelieving, abominable, murderers, sexually immoral, sorcerers, idolaters, and all liars shall have their part in the lake which burns with fire and brimstone, which is the second death.”
If you have any questions or comments on today’s reading, or you’d like to share something the Lord showed you, feel free to leave a reply below. I’d love to hear from you as we grow forward in 2021.