Worship

As we journey through the books of Moses in the Old Testament we come to the third book called Leviticus. Many pastors and teachers skip this book altogether because it is filled with procedures and rituals. Leviticus means “Pertaining to the Levites” and is basically a handbook of instructions for the tabernacle priests. Much of the writing makes for tedious reading and requires fortitude to trudge through it; however a careful study through Leviticus will reward the diligent bible student with many gems. A solid understanding of Leviticus when studied alongside the book of Hebrews provides the reader with the whole picture of God’s plan for our salvation. We will discover that we were bought with a price as God’s own Son willingly becomes our eternal sacrifice.
 

There was a time in history when all roads led to Rome. This colloquialism might have been true for that day as it pertained to highways, but it certainly is a falsehood when applied to man’s salvation. There is only one way to get to the Father God spiritually safe and that is through the sacrifice of His One and Only Son, Jesus Christ. If we read the Old Testament from the pretense that God foretold or gave us information about the coming Messiah, then we will begin to see parallels that foreshadow the role of Jesus Christ as The Lamb of God. All sacrifices detailed in the book of Leviticus are snapshots of one final and complete sacrifice that would one day allow men to know God and worship Him.

The book of Leviticus teaches us that the way to God is through sacrifice. The burnt offering was a way to worship out of obedience by offering up a gift completely consumed by fire, which becomes a sweet aroma rising up to God. Listen to the apostle Paul writing under the inspiration of the Holy Spirit in the New Testament book of Ephesians 5:1,2 “Therefore be imitators of God as dear children. And walk in love, as Christ also has loved us and given Himself for us, an offering and a sacrifice to God for a sweet-smelling aroma.” The “burnt offering” is the oldest recorded offering which was performed by Able, Noah and Abraham.

In a “guilt or blood sacrifice”, the blood was to be sprinkled on the mercy seat as a covering from the penalties of the law. The blood was temporary payment or ransom for the sins of the worshipper. Leviticus 17:11 sheds some additional light on the sacrifice, “For the life of the flesh is in the blood, and I have given it to you upon the altar to make atonement for your souls; for it is the blood that makes atonement for the soul.” In the shedding of blood of a sacrificed animal, the power of life is released from the victim. God honors the ransom and gives life back to (redeem) the worshipper in the form of temporary forgiveness of the offenses.

If you just can’t get yourself to read the entire book of Leviticus, then at least try reading chapter sixteen. We will discover that Aaron’s two sons were killed by God because they approached Him in the wrong way, by offering “profane fire”. Now God instructs Aaron on the right way to come to Him and all the sacrifices needed to atone for the sins of the children of Israel. After ceremonial cleansing and sin offering for himself, he can offer the sacrifice for the children of Israel. The High priest was to take two goats from the herd and cast lots for them. The one the Lord’s lot fell on would become the sin offering, while the other goat would become the “scapegoat” and would be led out to the wilderness and be released.

The sin offering was killed and its blood sprinkled over the mercy seat for the sins of the people. This is a picture of God’s Son taking on the sins of the world at the cross and becoming our ransom or payment. The scapegoat was led out into the wilderness where it was freed from the death penalty the law required. This is a picture of the grace and mercy we receive when we choose to accept this free gift that God offers to all men.  Both the Old Testament and the New Testament were sealed with a blood sacrifice. The Old Testament was imperfect and designed to drive us to the mercy seat and sealed with the blood of animals. The New Testament was sealed with the blood of God’s own Son, a perfect and complete sacrifice once and for all!

That’s why Jesus said “This cup is the new covenant in my blood, which is shed for you.” on the night of the Lord’s Supper.  By willingly going to His death and shedding His blood, He paid in full our sin debt and redeemed all humanity. True worship to God is not just what is uttered from our lips, but rather what we do with the rest of our lives.  It’s the song of our lives that is pleasing to God as it rises up as a sweet aroma.