Most people I know who have tried to read the Bible from cover to cover started from the beginning. They get through Genesis, and enjoy most of the Exodus, but lose interest when they get to the book of Leviticus. What is the book all about anyway? It can be summed up in one word – worship.
In the 9th chapter of Leviticus, we read that Moses and Aaron kept the word that God commanded about how to worship Him. “Aaron lifted up his hands towards the people and blessed them… and the glory of the Lord appeared to all the people. And the fire came out… and consumed the burnt offering” (Verses 22, 24). In the next chapter, the fire of the Lord came from heaven again, but this time, instead of consuming the burnt offering, it consumed Nadab and Abihu – Aaron’s sons. Nadab and Abihu did not keep God’s Word. What can we conclude about the Lord from this passage?
If this was an isolated event in Scripture, than any conclusion drawn from Leviticus 9 could be dismissed as speculative at best. But we see throughout Scripture, that God is serious about how He is to be worshipped. Those who did not keep God’s word were dealt with harshly – King Saul, Uzzah, Ananias and Sapphira. And who had the last word about worship and keeping God’s Word? Jesus did.
The apostle John described Jesus as the Son of God, who has eyes like a flame of fire. This Holy One told the individuals in the church at Philadelphia that because some have kept His Word, He intended to make them a pillar in the temple of God. Jesus ends the ultimate worship book with these words, “Blessed is the one who keeps the words of the prophecy of this book” (Revelation 22:7).
Those of you who have tried to read the Bible from cover to cover, and were arrested by the content in the book of Leviticus, please go back and try again. Use this key to unlock the book: God determines what is holy and unholy. He determines what is acceptable and what is an abomination. And don’t forget, the major theme of Leviticus is worship.
Brian L. Spivey
Coffee Rings