Bible in 365 Days

Leviticus 16-18

Leviticus 16

The great Day of Atonement was perhaps the most important of the whole year in the Hebrew economy. On that day provision was made for dealing with the whole question of sin as known and unknown. When considering the sin and trespass offerings, we saw that in each case, in greater or less degree, the element of accountability was conditioned in knowledge. Sin, however, in the sight of God is still sin, even though committed in ignorance. All such must be dealt with.

Careful instructions were given for the observance of the day. It was the one day in the year on which the high priest entered into the Holy of Holies. Every arrangement was intended to impress the mind with the solemnity of approach to God and to emphasize the fact that man as a sinner has no right of access save as he approaches through sacrifice. It is significant that when the priest entered the Holiest of all he did not wear his gorgeous apparel, but was clothed in a garment of simple and pure white linen. Careful instructions, moreover, were given as to the attitude of the people on that day. They were to rest and afflict their souls, which means that the day must be observed as one of solemn fasting and humiliation in which they would remind themselves of the fact of their sin or the provision made for their cleansing and of the consequent right of approach to God in worship.

Leviticus 17

Very definite instructions were given to the priests concerning sacrifices. These provided, first, that all sacrifices must be brought to the door of the Tent of Meeting. This provision at once recognized the unification of the nation around the fact of the divine presence It reminded the people that worship is possible only along divinely ordained lines and in no isolated independence; and so by making offering of sacrifice there, the possibility of offering worship to strange gods was eliminated.

Then followed the strictest instructions forbidding the eating of blood under any conditions. The reason for this prohibition was carefully given. Blood is the seat of life and God has set it apart, and therefore it is the medium of atonement. The most precious and essential thing is human life was thus sealed to the sacred and holy work of perpetual testimony to the only way in which it is possible for sinning man to be reconciled to God, that is, sacrifice as symbolized in the shedding of blood. In order that this truth might perpetually be present to the mind of the people, the blood of beast and fowl was forevermore to be held sacred and under no circumstances to be eaten.

Leviticus 18

At this point in the enunciation of the laws of separation they assume a slightly altered character. So far, the fundamental matters of relationships to God have been the principal note. Now the habits of the life of separation are more particularly dealt with. The enactments here recorded especially recognize the perils which would surround these people on account of the habits and customs of the people by whom they would be surrounded in the land.

In view of these there was first a call to separation in general terms. Jehovah asserted Himself as being their God and distinctly forbade their conforming their actions to the doings either of Egypt or of Canaan, accompanying the commandment with a promise that if they obeyed Him they should live thereby.

Then followed the naming of certain evil practices of the people of these lands, certain abominations which had cursed the whole life of the peoples.

In this connection occurs a most important declaration, explaining the judgment of God upon the people of these lands. It is that the reason for such judgment is to be found in the practice of these abominations with terrible effects produced upon the peoples, so that they were utterly corrupt. All this emphasizes the paramount importance of the insistence on the necessity that the people of God should not be themselves defiled by such practices.