Life from Leviticus? Can you really see the grandeur of Christ in the third book of the Bible? Repetition in Leviticus points to Jesus by magnifying our sin and the holiness of God.
Starting Leviticus
Today’s One Year Bible reading was Leviticus 1:1-3:17. Before reading, I watched The Bible Project’s overview, which got me SO EXCITED about reading Leviticus!!! As opposed to how I’ve felt in the past…
The first few times I tried to read the Bible–Leviticus totally tripped me up.
With the background from that video in mind and my journal in hand, the Lord showed me Jesus in so many beautiful ways I thought I’d share…
Leviticus starts with the point of ALL the sacrifices and offerings:
v. 3 “So you may be accepted by the Lord.”
v. 4 “the Lord will accept its death in your place to purify you, making you right with Him.”
v. 4 “the Lord will accept its death in your place to purify you, making you right with Him.”
Leviticus 1:4
Wow. Substitutionary atonement. Right there. I remember as a young Christian asking how God saved people before Jesus came. And there you see it.
All the sacrifices in the OT point to Jesus.
Repeated Words and Phrases
So many repeated words and phrases emphasize the magnitude of our sin and the magnitude–the depth of the holiness of God–the grandeur of Christ’s sacrifice. Repetition in Leviticus points to Jesus.
No defects v. 3, 10
Slaughter…in the Lord’s presence vv. 5, 11, 3:2, 7, 13
Splatter the blood on all sides of the altar vv. 5, 11, 3:2, 8, 13
Wash internal organs first vv. 9, 13
Special gift, pleasing aroma to the Lord vv. 9, 13, 17, 2:2, 9, 3:5, 16
Drain its blood v.15
Tear bird open without tearing it apart v. 17
Most holy part of gifts to Aaron & sons (priests) presented to Lord vv. 2:3, 10
No yeast 2v4, 5, 11
Season with salt 2v. 13
Special gift presented to the Lord 2:16, 3:3, 9, 14
Peace offering vv.3:1, 3, 9
Internal organs removed vv.3:4, 10, 14
Male or female 3:1, 6
Special gift of food presented to the Lord 3 v. 16
Thank You, Holy Spirit, for leading me to pay attention and write down repeated words and phrases and how You use that to help me see Jesus.
Seeing Jesus in the Repetition
To think, Jesus, of how You had NO DEFECT.
How You were slaughtered in the Lord’s presence.
You had NO need for Your internal organs to be washed, for You are HOLY, without blemish.
You, and You alone, are TRULY a SPECIAL GIFT–Your SACRIFICE–above any other, was a pleasing aroma to the Lord.
Your blood drained.
First, with the 39 lashes–as Your internal organs from Your back were ripped out. Just as the animals kidneys and organs were ripped out.
Your blood drained. Just as the priests drained the animals’ blood.
There was NO sin–as yeast points to sin.
And I think of the Passover and also of the Lord’s Supper.
Yet, You did not allow yeast, which spreads so rapidly, like sin.
How much better bread tastes with yeast. And yet I look at the ill-effects of eating too much. And all the issues today so many have with gluten.
I’m reminded that sin is fun–pleasurable for a season. And yet it leads to death.
You had NO sin.
When You presented the Lord’s Supper, You said, “Take and eat. This is My Body.”
Does the grain offering somehow point to Your Body?
You required salt.
What does salt do?
It’s a preservative and it flavors.
You have called us the salt of the earth–to preserve and flavor–for You–as ambassadors.
The priests could offer birds and tear them open–but not tear them apart.
Just as Your Body was torn, but not torn apart. No bone was broken.
Lord God, blessed Trinity, thank You for this beautiful way You have pointed to Jesus in these verses in Leviticus.