March 4, 2022 - Leviticus 5-7

The law in the United States has come under scrutiny. Pressure for it to be reviewed and changed has been demanded. The police and security have come to be analyzed in almost every situation. Between cell phone cameras and video recordings, we have become a nation constantly under investigation.

The law that God gave to the people of Israel was clearly stated and not up for review. The Lord gave the law to Moses and the priests and religious leaders were to enforce it whenever they were called upon to examine a case.

Today's chapters in Leviticus cite situations where people have committed wrongs either intentionally or unintentionally. Whatever the sin or the severity of that sin, God demanded that the person who had violated the law, had to bear his own guilt.

Whether rich or poor, deliberate or unintended, an offering to remove the guilt was prescribed. The intent was to remove any evil or sin that would block fellowship with God. Therefore, the rituals of purification and the compensation of wrong done to neighbors' property or livestock was written for their instruction and implementation.

Sin was offensive to God, necessitating death. God required a pure and costly offering to atone or cover the sin. The priest was to stir up the fire on the altar so that the sacrifice could be burned. Believers are royal priests today (1 Peter 2:9) and the flame of service to God needs to be blazing to burn the leaven (sin) out of our lives. Paul instructed Timothy "to stir up" the gift within himself (2 Timothy 1:6). Let us offer ourselves as nothing less than "living sacrifices, holy, acceptable" (Romans 12:1) to the Lord and His work.