LEVITICUS by F. D. Starr

Pacific Press Publishing Company · Oakland, California · Apr 20, 1904

FromSigns of the Times, Vol. 30, No. 16.

LEVITICUS.

By F. D. Starr

BY F. D. STARR.

THE Gospel in the book of Leviticus may well be the topic of study for this occasion. This may possibly be a novel idea to some; but what other book in the Bible contains so full an account of those ordinances that were a "shadow of good things to come," as does this book? Where else can we find so full information concerning those sacrifices ordained of God to typify the great Sacrifice offered once for all on Calvary? Truly these divinely-appointed observances that, with the priests of that age, serve unto the example and shadow of heavenly things (Heb. 8:5) are as "a shadow of a great rock in a weary land" (Isa. 32:2). Blessed shadow!

Contrast the significant offerings of Israel with the senseless and cruel sacrifices of the heathen, sacrificing to devils and not to God. 1 Cor. 10:20. Contrast the simple offerings prescribed in the Mosaic ritual with the human sacrifices, so abhorrent to God, that were offered by the Gentiles. See Deut. 12:31.

The central figure in the book of Leviticus seems to be the sublime ceremonies of the great day of atonement, so fully described in chapter 16, also in Lev. 23:26-32. The impressive act of taking two kids of the goats, and choosing one for the Lord's goat, the other for Azazel, or the devil, the sacrificing of the Lord's goat, and sending of the scapegoat into the wilderness, with all the accompanying ceremonies, were well calculated to fill the minds of the observers with awe, and thoughts of the final decisions of the judgment day.

In these services we have clear evidences that they were not of human devising. Who has not heard the question propounded, "Why does not God destroy the devil?" And if we had two animals before us, one to represent Christ and the other the devil, and one of them was to be killed, which one would men say should be put to death? Would not the decided reply be, "Kill the devil's goat"? Surely the animal that represented that arch-fiend, Satan, should be put out of existence, and the one representing the innocent and loving Jesus should, by all means, be allowed to live. That would be human reasoning. But what a failure to comprehend the divine plan of the just suffering for the unjust! No; He who knew no sin was made sin for us and suffered death for the guilty race. But finally, in the proper time, comes the destruction of Satan, the author of sin. Read the antitype of this part of the account in Revelation 20, where the final doom of the devil, the author of sin, the antitypical scapegoat, is described.

The cleansing of the sanctuary, so fully described in Leviticus 16, is a matter of the utmost importance for all believers. The definite time of the cleansing of the heavenly sanctuary is given in Daniel 8:14. In order to understand this subject, due consideration must be given to this account in Leviticus 16, in connection with Hebrews 8 and 9, where we find it stated that it is necessary that the heavenly things themselves should be cleansed. This regularly-appointed day of atonement was understood by the Jews to represent the day of judgment, concerning which Paul says, in Acts 17:31, "He [God] hath appointed a day, in the which He will judge the world in righteousness."

In Leviticus 4, we find directions given concerning the sacrifice to be offered by the priest, the ruler, one of the common people, or for the whole congregation, when a sin of ignorance had been committed. By this it is seen that a sin of ignorance is a sin just the same, and should be confessed when brought to mind. It is the work of the Holy Spirit to bring sin to the notice of the transgressor (John 16:8), and, of course, the Spirit of God worked upon human hearts then the same as now. The Greek term answering to the word "ignorantly," repeatedly used in Leviticus 4, signifies rather, "unwillingly" or "unwittingly." This would be the case of one "overtaken in a fault." Gal. 6:1. Such is the condition of those who are misled by the "deceitfulness of sin." They do not desire to do wrong, but are for the time being deluded to think that wrong is right. In that condition was Paul when he persecuted the saints, for he could afterward say he had lived in all good conscience, and that he did it ignorantly.

In Leviticus full directions are given concerning the plague of leprosy, that acknowledged incurable disease. The leper was to experience complete cleansing from the dread malady. This was considered no less a miracle than raising the dead (see 2 Kings 5:7), and we would judge the same from our Saviour's language in Luke 4:27. It was a matter of faith in the cleansing power of the Author of all these ceremonies by which the leper was to be cleansed. So faith in Christ is shown in these rites of the Levitical law.

Those who imagine that the standard of morals for that age was different from what it is now, may find this supposition corrected by examining such passages as Lev. 19:18, 34: "Thou shalt love thy neighbor as thyself." "The stranger that dwelleth with you shall be unto you as one born among you, and thou shalt love him as thyself." So here we have the Golden Rule taught to the people of that age. The great moral principles of God's government remain ever the same.

The book closes with instruction concerning the tithing system. Lev. 27:30-34. This is God's plan for supporting His work. It was not Jewish, for it antedates the existence of the Jews, being practised by Abraham and Jacob. Gen. 14:20; 28:22. It is not yet obsolete, for it was enjoined by our Saviour. Matt. 23:23; Heb. 7:8.

We close this book with devout gratitude to God that it so distinctly calls the attention to the great Antitype.