Loving Leviticus? Hmmm…these two words don’t seem to be compatible.
Just ask Bible readers – even Christian leaders – and the adjectives that may seem to correspond to the third book of the Bible are “boring, difficult, irrelevant,”
That may be true if you are looking at Leviticus as merely a code of regulations for offering sacrifices, the priesthood, and other seemingly irrelevant commands.
But if you consider the following two passages, you may look at it in a different light.
All Scripture is breathed out by God and profitable for teaching, for reproof, for correction, and for training in righteousness, that the man of God may be complete, equipped for every good work. (2 Timothy 3:16-17, ESV)
“I find my delight in your commandments, which I love…I delight in your law…Oh! How I love your law! It is my meditation all the day” (Psalm 119:47, 70, 97)
Isn’t it right, then, for us to say, “Leviticus is breathed out by God and profitable…(therefore) I find my delight in Leviticus as God’s Word, which I love…I delight in Leviticus…Oh! How I love Leviticus!”?
Of course, this does not happen to us naturally. Leviticus is still a tough book for study, preaching, and application today. But for us to begin enjoying this book, we must have sound strategies and proper approaches in reading this.
Earlier this morning, I told my class in seminary that a good starting point is to read Leviticus in connection with Exodus. Leviticus is not meant to be a separate document. It must be read in light of the story of Exodus.
I found the following charts by Dennis Mock helpful:
Related resource:
Treasuring Christ PH 