June 29, 2010 Lesson 8 of Leviticus 12:1-13:46

Did the mere fact of being born a Jew give a child a place in the covenant? See 12:3, Note 1 below, and Deut 10:15-16; 30:6. How do the principles illustrated here apply today? Answer: The circumcision associates them with the covenant people. However, like gentiles the Jews too must accept Christ. Or during this period before Christ they must believe in God and make atonement through sacrifice.


From chapter 13 trace some of the parallels that exists between the plague of leprosy and the plague of sin. Answer: Sin makes you unclean and unrighteous to enter the Kingdom of Heaven or sit before God, just as the leprosy does here. The priest sees and judges the sores, just as God will one day judge us.


Notes
12:3. Circumcision had a twofold significance, namely, identification with God’s covenant people, and purification from unfitness for such a role.
12:8 Cf. Luke 2:22-24

June 28, 2010 Lesson 7 of Leviticus 11

What would the distinction between clean and unclean food teach Israel about God and His worship? See v44, 45. Consider the great changes in their habits that the coming of God to dwell among them brought about. Cf. 1 Pet 1:14-16; Eph 4:22-24. Answer: I should teach, or really remind, Israel that God is a Holy God. None may stand before Him that are not holy. We must keep ourselves clean according to His Word. Touching or doing unclean things makes the person unclean.


How did our Lord show that such distinctions are not now binding? What constitutes defilement in God’s sight? Cf. Mark 7:14-23. Answer: God allowed them to be made clean at night. It is what comes out of the man that makes him personally defiled.

Lesson 5 and 6 of Leviticus

June 26, 2010 Lesson 5 of Leviticus 8
Cf. Exod 29:44. The directions for the ceremony were given in Exod 28 and 29; this chapter give the account of it.


What is the order in which the dedication of priests and tabernacle took place? Do you see any significance in this order? Answer: 1) Aaron and sons washed. 2) Aaron was robed and Urim and Thummim were placed in breast plate. From Exod notes: The breast pieces was probably a bag of pouch fastened to the front of the ephod, and called ‘the breast piece of judgment’ because it contained the Urim and Thummim which were used to ascertain the divine will. Cf. Num 27:21; Ezr 2:63. 3) Tabernacle and all in it anointed. 4) Aaron anointed. 5) Sons robed. 6) Sin offering- Aaron and sons laid hands on the head of the bull as it was sacrificed; blood on horns with remaining at the altar base. 7) Burnt offering of the ram. 8) Ordination- second ram sacrificed and blood placed on right ear lobe, thumb, and big toe of Aaron and each of his sons. 9) thigh and fat along with yeast free bread, cake, and wafer were used as wave offering 10) before being burned on altar as the burnt offering. 11) Remaining blood used to sprinkle on Aaron and his sons. 12) they then cooked and ate the meet at the entrance. The one thing that sticks out to me (and makes sense) is that the tabernacle had to be consecrated before Aaron and his sons could be.



In the sacrifice of the ram of ordination (i.e. of dedication to special service), what special use was made of the blood? What symbolic significance does this have? Cf. Rom 6:13. Answer: After reading Rom 6:13 and Pastor Troy’s response it makes sense. I would have to re-iterate what he said in his post, that God wants us to watch how we act in all things we do in the ministry.

June 27, 2010 Lesson 9 of Leviticus 9 and 10.
The tabernacle and priests have been sanctified and dedicated; all was now ready for the normal work of the priesthood to begin.


What was Aaron’s first offering at the start of his ministry? Though pardoned, anointed, and consecrated, he still needed mercy through atoning blood. But when all was duly offered, how did God show his acceptance of his people’s worship? With 9:22a, cf. Num 6:22-27. Answer: The first thing was to seek forgiveness through a sin offering, first for their self then for the people. ON the second part let me first note that the fire came out and burned up the appropriate sacrifice. However, when Aaron’s sons did not present as instructed the same fire came and consumed them (10:2). God shows his acceptance by sharing blessing.


What did Nabab and Abihu do? What happened? Why did God act like this? Answer: The presented “unauthorized fire” to the Lord in sacrifice. They were burned up by the fire and then laid to rest outside the camp. According to the study text it was to inaugurate a new era.


Notes:
10:1. ‘Unauthorized fire’: this may mean fire not taken from the altar, but the central thought is that it was fire which God has not authorized.
10:8-11. It has long been thought that Nadab and Abihu may have been indulging in whine; hence this prohibition.
The significance of 10:16-20 seems to be that Aaron realized that Nadab and Abihu had taken part in the offering of the sin offering and that this rendered it unacceptable and unclean. This is a touching story of Aaron’s full acceptance of God’s verdict on his own sons.

June 25, 2010 Lesson 4 of Leviticus 6:8-7:38

Distinction must be made between public and private offerings. In addition to the private burnt offerings of the people, there was a daily, public burnt offering morning and evening. Cf. Exod 29:38-42. It is this daily sacrifice that is referred to in 6:9, 12, with directions that the fire must not be allowed to go out on the altar.


Neither the sacrifice nor the fire was to fail. What lessons can we learn from that? Cf. Heb 6:11, 12. Answer: Christ’s blood, as the one true sinless lamb holy and righteous, covered us once and for all for our sins. The sacrifice and fire were not to fail because the blood of the sacrifice could only cover so much sin. That is why sacrifices had to be continually done.


7:11-21. In the peace offering the people to God the spontaneous gifts of their love. What were the three kinds of peace offerings which individuals might bring? What about us? Cf. Heb13:15-16. Answer: Thankfulness, vow, and free will. This still goes for us today. We are to live our live in a state of thankfulness, vow our commitment to Him, which is done of our own free will.


Note: A ‘wave offering’ (7:30) means an offering or part offering presented to the Lord by waving it towards him, before receiving it back from him.

June 24, 2010 lesson 3 of Leviticus 4:1-6:7

What is it that distinguishes the sin and guilt offerings from the burnt, meal, and peace offerings? See 4:2, 13, 22, ect. Of what divine provision for our need are we assured here? Cf. Lev 17:11. Answer: The burnt, meal, and peace offerings are offerings of worship. The sin offering is a mandatory offering seeking atonement. Blood is life, and blood sacrifice is needed for atonement. Thanks to Christ sacrifices are no longer needed. It is His blood that atones for our sins.


Notice particularly what was done with the body and with the blood of the sacrifice in the sin offering (4:6, 7, 11,12). How do these solemn ordinances indicate God’s hatred of sin, and suggest some of the fearful results that can arise out of sin? Answer: I am missing the point on this one. I just read Pastor Troy’s response. Although I did note that the blood was on the altar and the flesh was out in the ash heap, I did not make the connection with the works of the flesh. Makes total sense, however.

Note: The sin and guilt offerings have much in common, but the sin offering had reference rather to the person of the offender in his guilt toward God, whereas the guilt offering was an atonement for the offence especially in its relation to man. Hence the sin offering differed for different classes of persons (4:3, 13, 22, 27); and in the guilt offering the guilty party, in addition to his offering, had also to make amends for the wrong done (5:16; 6:4-5).

June 23, 2010 Lesson 2 of Leviticus 2 and 3

The cereal offering represents a blameless life. The purity of its ingredients is emphasized (see 2:1, 11). The worshiper who is not blameless draws near to God with acceptance in the power of an offering possessing the perfection that he lacks. Consider how this offering is fulfilled in Christ. Cf. Heb 7:26; 1 John 2:6. Answer: Christ is the spotless lamb who was sacrificed for our sins. His blood was poured out as a sin offering to cover our sins. Giving us the ability to stand righteous before a righteous and holy God.


The peace offering speaks of communion, based on the blood of atonement (3:1,2) and expressed in a whole burnt offering pleasing to the Lord (3:5). Do you know the heart-satisfaction of such a relation to God. Answer: The NIV uses fellowship offering while the NASB uses peace offering here. I find it interesting how the two seem to be used interchangeably. I can say that once you believe and move into fellowship with God, through Jesus Christ, you do feel that peace, your life is filled with endless joy. When others are feeling life coming down on them, the Christian feels those same stresses but is lifted up through that relationship.

June 22, 2010 Lesson 1 of Leviticus 1

God is now dwelling in the midst of his people, and gives them directions concerning their worship of him and their communion with him. Notice how throughout this book God is the speaker, through Moses.


What are the two outstanding features of the burnt offerings mentioned here? See e.g. Verses 3,9, 10, 13. Answer: They are to be without defect and washed clean.

What significance would the burnt offering have for the person making the offering? See e.g. Verses 4, 9, 13, 17. Answer: The person making the offering is actively involved in the sacrificial process through the priest to God to atone for the person’s sins.