THE BOOK OF LEVITICUS
The whole book of Leviticus
can be divided into sections, each of which answers questions about how men may
approach God.
Chapters 1-7 give detailed
directions about the offering of sacrifice, and answers the question: how may
man present offerings to the Holy God to show adoration, gratitude and
confession of sin?
Chapters 8-10 give directions
for the consecration of those who are to be mediators between man and God in
the ritual of sacrifice. Aaron and his sons were to be set apart to serve God.
The question answered here is: who will mediate between the human and the Holy?
Chapters 11-16 give
directions for the cleansing of what is known to be unclean and therefore
unholy in community life. Directions for purification and avoidance of
unholiness are given. The question answered is: how may what is unholy in the
community be cleansed?
Chapters 17-27 give very many
instructions of all kinds for the furtherance of 'holiness' in the whole life
of the people of God and answer the question: what is holy living?
No matters were outside the
concern of the Holy God, whether relating to sexual behaviour, use of land,
social relationships, contacts with pagan worshippers, physical deformities,
disease, land sales, harvest- t ing and offerings of food to God, or anything
else.