leviticus Part 1 (chs. 1-7)

LEVITICUS SUMMARIZED IN A WORD OF PHRASE: “Holiness”THE BASICS: Who: Moses When: around 1445 BC; 1-month span Where: Mt. Sinai Why: “… because Yahweh is now dwelling among His people in holiness, He provides prescriptions mediated through Moses for the people to remain in relationship with Him” –David MalickTWO QUESTIONS ARISE … God freed His people that they might follow Him in faithful obedience resulting in intimate fellowship and reverential worship So in light of the Suzerain/Vassal Treaty … HowdoIofferappropriateandpleasingtribute(worship)tothisholyGod? HowdoImaintainday-to-dayfellowshipwiththisholyGod?LEVITICUS 1-16 Approaching a Holy God … Standards for honoring God’s holiness in their public worship 17-27 Living with a Holy God … Standards for imitating God’s holiness in their private walk God’s redeemed must honor His holiness in their worship and imitate His holiness in their walk in order to enjoy His ongoing presence and blessing.

LESSON THEME: WhatdoesGodwanttoteachHispeoplethroughthesacrifices? The kind of heart He longs to see within them

The Sacrifices They maintain and restore fellowship between a holy God and His redeemed people who sin They’reefficacious–theyaccomplishwhatGodsaidtheywouldaccomplishforthosewithfaith They’redidactic–theyteachHispeopleaboutatrueworshiper’sheart(1Sam15:22) A heart that’s fully CONSECRATED to Him A heart that rejoices to have COMMUNION with Him A heart that knows it needs CLEANSING from Him

A Consecrated Heart TheBurntOffering(1:1-17;6:8-13) Itwasvoluntary(exceptforpriests&feasts!) It was the very best the worshiper had Itmadeatonement(propitiation1:4) Recognition of sinful status and need of acceptance Itexpressedthefulldevotion,commitmentandsurrenderofatrueworshiper’sheart “Asisthissacrifice,soismylifeuntoYou.” TheGrainOffering(2:1-16;6:14-23;7:9-10) It was voluntary and the very best Notofferedalone,butontopofabloodsacrifice Dedication of the fruit of their hands – service TheDrinkOffering(Numbers15:1-13) It was voluntary

FEBRUARY 21, 2016

Dr. Bill EgnerOld Testament Survey

Notofferedalone,butontopofabloodsacrifice A life “poured out” in devotion to God TheirSignificance Fragrantofferings;Godispleased God can only be approached through blood Onlyserviceofferedafterbloodispleasing Expressunreserveddedicationanddependence A Picture of Christ Withoutspotorblemish(1Peter1:19) Allisgiven;nothingheldback(Hebrews10:10)

Our Consecrated Hearts Do I daily … –offerHimmyverybest…ordoIjustofferHimmyleftovers? –expressmytotalcommitmentandunreservedsurrendertoHimandHiswill?(Romans12:1-2) WhatamIholdingbackformyself? Why?

APPLICATION: God is pleased with a heart that holds nothing back from Him

A Communing Heart ThePeaceOffering(3:1-17;7:11-38) Itwasvoluntaryandtheverybest(asarule) Itcouldbeafemaleoffering Itcouldhavesomeslightdefects(Lev22:23)ifitwasn’tforfulfillingavowtoGod Aportionwassharednotonlywiththepriestsbutwiththeworshiperwhoofferedit It became the communal meal with God following forgiveness and reconciliation ItsSignificance Itwasafragrantoffering;Godispleased In the Ancient Near East, to eat with others was to make them your friends and allies; no more hostility ItwouldbeajoyfulexpressionthattheworshiperisatpeaceandincommunionwithGodaswellaswithHispeople Itwouldalsoexpressjoy,peaceandgratefulnessforspecialmerciesgranted A Picture of Christ JesuspurchasedourreconciliationwithGod(2Cor5:16-21)throughHisself-sacrifice ThroughHimwehavepeaceandfellowshipwithGod(Col1:20)andothers(1John1:5-2:2) We “feast with God” on Christ when we’re in His Word Weofferthesacrificeofpraise(Heb13:15)aswemeditateonHisrichmerciesinourlives

Our Communing Hearts HowlonghasitbeensinceI’veofferedupheartfelt,spontaneouspraisejustfortheprivilegeofbeingincommunion withGod? CouldIseegivingthanksateachmealasapictureofa“peaceoffering”toGod? Do I just step through Communion these days or do I stop to be truly thankful for the peace and fellowship Jesus has boughtme?

God is pleased with a heart that rejoices in His constant companionship

A Cleansed Heart TheSinOffering(4:1-5:13;6:24-30) Non-voluntary; for purifying; “disinfecting” For unintentional or overlooked sins

Sin broke fellowship with God Sinbroughtpollutionintothecamp,defilingthetabernacleofGodaswellasHisland A citizen//brazen altar//Courtyard Nation or High Priest//altar of incense//Holy Place A year of sin//mercy seat//Holy of Holies TheTrespassOffering(5:14-6:17;7:1-10) Not voluntary; for restitution; satisfaction Focused on the damage done by the sin Required repentance and restitution Sin is seen as a debt to be repaid Remorse Responsibility leading to confession Restitution:restorationplusafine(adebt) TheirSignificance Theyarerequired,non-fragrantofferings Sin pollutes more than just the one who sins Sin hurts God and hurts others Sin is costly to commit and to cleanse Sin requires true repentance before restoration The sinner’s remorse The sinner’s responsibility and confession The sinner’s restitution Their Pictures of Christ Heisoursinoffering(2Cor5:21;1Peter2:24) Hediedoutsidethecamp(Heb13:10-13) Hediedtopayourdebt(Rom6:23) He paid it in full “Forbythatoneofferingheperfectedforeverallthosewhomheismakingholy.”(Heb10:14)

Our Cleansed Hearts “The heart of our problem with God is a problem of our heart.” WouldIcharacterizemysinsasdone“inignorance”ordonewith“eyeswideopen?” Have I thanked God lately for the perfect SIN OFFERING of Jesus Whose blood has removed my guilt as far as the eastisfromthewest? Have I thanked God lately for His Son’s perfect TRESPASS OFFERING, that marked the debt of my account “paid in full”forever?

What is God teaching His people through the sacrifices? Cleansing He wants a heart that doesn’t desire to be polluted with sin, but longs to be holy Communion He is pleased with a heart that rejoices in His constant companionship Consecration He is pleased with a heart that holds nothing back from Him

FOR NEXT TIME: ______________________________©2016 by John W. Egner unless otherwise indicated. All rights reserved.

LEVITICUS

1:16:7

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18:127:34

11:117:16

10:110:20

8:18:36

through sacrifice through consecrationand ordination

through established cultural patterns

Approaching God… Living with God…

6:87:38

9:19:24

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