Today we’re looking at the very last chapters in Leviticus. Thus far we’ve seen how God has laid out his laws for his people that they might be a holy nation spreading his kingdom to the ends of the earth. Having these laws in hand, the people are now ready to make their journey to the promised land.
As a fitting end to this book, God reminds them once again of the importance of the Sabbath, including observing a Sabbath year in which the land might rest and they might fully trust God for his provision. God then explains the blessings they will receive if they choose to obey his law and the curses if they don’t. The book then closes with God graciously providing a way for the Israelites to redeem those things they have vowed to the Lord.
If you haven’t read the section yet, take a quick look at Chapters 25-27 and then join us for our very last study in the book of Leviticus!
The Sabbath Year – Chapter 25
We’ve already seen in the book of Leviticus how important it was that the people of Israel remember to observe the Sabbath. Repeatedly throughout the text God reminds them, “do not forget to observe the Sabbath!” This was not just so they would take a rest from the busyness of their work. Observing the Sabbath was a sign of their faithfulness to the covenant that God had established. It was a way of declaring their total dependence on God for his provision and remembering all the ways he had faithfully provided for them in the past.
In chapter 25 we learn that not only are the people to observe a Sabbath day of rest every seven days, but they are to observe a Sabbath year of rest every seven years. In this seventh year these agrarian people were to let their lands lie fallow. They were not to sow their seed or bring in the harvest. They were to let the land (and their animals who worked the land) rest. They were permitted to eat of anything that came up naturally, but we learn later on that God would provide enough food in the sixth year to last them for three years (vs. 20-21). To let the land rest for a year and solely trust in God’s gracious provision to see them through, and not their own hard work, was akin to a declaration of faith. They were to put their faith in God to provide for their needs.
Starting in verse 8, we learn that every 50 years the people of God were to have a “Year of Jubilee.” The Year of Jubilee was a year of redemption. We see this redemption occur in three ways. In the 50th year, the people could redeem:
- land that they may have sold in order to provide for their families (vs. 8-10, 24, 28)
- houses in the fields that were sold to provide for families (vs. 31) (houses within walled cities could not be redeemed in the Year of Jubilee)
- people who had hired themselves out as servants in order to provide for their families (39-42)
When a family fell upon hard times they might sell their land, homes, or themselves in order to make ends meet. But in the Year of Jubilee, everything would be returned. Servants would be set free and land and homes would go back to their original owners. This was God’s way of ensuring that the rich did not become too rich and the poor did not stay poor.
At the end of chapter 25 we see some instructions given to the Israelites regarding slavery. When we see the word “slave” we tend to think of the brutal, horrific slavery that America used to practice. But this is not the kind of slavery that is referenced here (in fact verse 43 condemns ruthless slave masters). Jay Sklar (2014) points out that a better translation of the word would be “indentured or permanent servant.” He also provides a helpful analogy for some of the terminology used in this text:
In English, we regularly use commercial language to describe people when the context is commercial, for example, ‘trading’ a player to another team (as one might ‘trade’ a stock), or ‘transferring’ an employee to another location (as one might ‘transfer’ money). We do not use this language because we view the people involved as less than human; we use it because it accurately describes their circumstances in a given commercial context. To say that servants are property (Lev. 25:45) or inherited (25:46) is not to put them on the level of furniture, any more than to say a sports star is ‘traded’ puts him on the level of a stock (p. 308-309).
We need to recognize that we view all talk of slavery a certain way because of the ruthless, inhumane way it was practiced in the United States. But taking on a permanent servant in Biblical times was actually a blessing to the servant and his or her family. The servant was most likely unable to provide for his/herself for one reason or another and needed the protection and provision of their master’s family in order to survive. Whether the servant was a native Israelite or a foreigner, the master was to rule over them graciously and provide for them for as long as they remained a part of their household.
To see how I filled out my table for this section click here.
Blessing and Curses – Chapter 26
As a fitting wrap-up to all of the laws he has just given, God now explains what will happen to the Israelites when they obey and disobey his laws.
In your workbook, there is a table you may have filled out listing the blessings and curses (page 48) . I’ve included my table below to show how the blessings for obedience parallel (and oppose) the curses for disobedience.
The blessings seem wonderful and the curses can seem harsh. Here’s what we need to remember when it comes to thinking about the curses: God is incapable of doing evil. So when it comes to a verse such as verse 29 where it says they will “eat the flesh of your sons,” God will not cause them to do this in his wrath against them. Rather he will give them over to their sinfulness to such an extent that they will do these horrific things out of the wickedness of their own hearts.
We also need to remember God’s purpose in turning against them. He hints at it in verses 18-19 and again in 23. God himself is causing disasters to fall upon them in order to discipline them. He is doing it to get them to repent and return to him. The harsh section on curses is followed by Israel’s greatest hope. They may forget their covenant promises to God but he will not forget his covenant promises to them. He will discipline them to get them to repent but he will not utterly destroy them. All these actions are the actions of a Father who deeply loves his wayward children and does what is best for them.
Redeeming a Vow – Chapter 27
We come to our last chapter in Leviticus. This chapter concerns how the Israelites can redeem people, animals, property, and other things they have vowed to God. God has graciously provided a way for them to redeem the property they had promised to him.
Vows can be a little difficult for us to understand because we generally don’t make vows like the ancient Israelites did. In ancient Israel, when a person wanted God to answer a particular prayer or asked God for something specific they sometimes promised to give God certain things as a thank-you for answering their prayer. This wasn’t a way to coax God into giving them what they wanted – God cannot be coaxed. It was more like saying, “If you give me what I’m praying for, then out of gratitude I will offer you this treasured possession of mine.”
Animals, land, houses, even people could be offered up to God as part of fulfilling a vow. A good example of a child being offered to God as part of a vow can be found in 1 Samuel chapter 1. Hannah prays for a child and vows to give him to God should he answer her prayer. God does and when he is of age, Hannah gives her son, Samuel to the priests to serve God by living and working in the temple.
Sometimes vows were made out of desperation or in haste. But no matter the circumstances of the vow, it was very very important that the person making the vow followed through. God, in his grace, provided a way for a person to redeem that which has been vowed. The redemption would come at a cost and chapter 26 outlines the costs to redeem things that have been vowed.
Some other information worth noting in chapter 27: firstborn animals could not be vowed, they already belonged to the Lord because of how he spared the firstborn during the Passover (vs.26, 27). Things that have been permanently devoted to the Lord cannot be redeemed (Hannah’s son Samuel is an example) (vs. 28). Anyone “devoted to destruction” cannot be redeemed (such as a person guilty of a capital crime or the people of a nation God has instructed them to wipe out) (vs. 29). The people were to tithe 10% of what they had but they could redeem part of their tithe by adding a fifth to it (vs. 30-33).
These conclude the laws given to the people through Moses on Mt. Sinai. The people are now ready to embark on their journey toward the promised land.
To see how I filled out my table for this section click here.
Application – How should it change me?
Who would’ve thought that a book full of laws we no longer follow could impact our lives in such profound ways? Why would we expect anything different from the Word of God?
I hope you walked away from this study changed. Whether you walk away with a deeper appreciation for the law of God, a greater understanding of his holiness, or a greater sense of urgency to live in obedience to him, my prayer is that the Holy Spirit worked in your heart as you read through this tough but important book.
For this very last application, I’m going to share with you the ways God has impacted my heart through my study of Leviticus. I hope he impacted you in some of the same ways!
God is far holier than I had imagined.
It’s hard to read through all the laws on sacrifices and ritual purity, all the laws regarding the high standards the priests had to meet, and all the laws the Israelites themselves had to follow in order to be a holy nation and not think “Wow, this God is holier than I thought!”
In my wildest imagination, I could not have dreamt up all of the requirements necessary in order for a holy God to dwell with his holy people. This is because my concept of God’s holiness was too small.
Thinking through all that was required in order for God to dwell with his people also gives me a greater sense of awe at what Christ accomplished on the cross. I always have access to God. God no longer dwells within an earthly tent, but he dwells within me! And all of this is possible because Christ was the final sacrifice, the Great High Priest, and the scapegoat. What incredible grace!
I am far more sinful than I realize.
Leviticus has also taught me that if my concept of God’s holiness was too small, then my concept of my own sinfulness was far too small as well.
I have found that I have a tendency to underplay the seriousness of my sin. Certainly God doesn’t mind some of my sinfulness. Some of my smaller more insignificant sins shouldn’t matter to God.
But the truth found in Leviticus is that all sin separates us from God. All sin (even the unintentional ones) condemns us to death. All sin has to be paid for with blood. Not only that, but Leviticus has shown me just how seriously we need to take our own holiness. Although I no longer need to worry about ritual purity, moral purity is still of the utmost importance to God and therefore should be of the utmost importance to me. God cares deeply about ridding me of my sinfulness, even if it means disciplining me harshly until I repent and turn back to Him.
Obedience is always worth it.
The message in Leviticus is loud and clear. Obedience leads to life and blessing, disobedience leads to death and destruction. We see this in the blood of the animals that had to pay the price for Israel’s disobedience. We see this in the deaths of Nadab and Abihu who, mere moments after receiving God’s approval, disobeyed God’s specific instructions and paid for it with their lives. We see this in the seemingly harsh penalties that are applied to certain sins, such as sexual immorality. The Israelites needed to stop evil from spreading in the camp which often meant putting evildoers to death. We see this in the blessings and curses outlined in chapter 26. Obeying meant abundant life and blessing. Disobeying led to starvation, death, and exile.
This concept is no less true today. If I want to have an abundant, thriving life full of God’s blessing I must obey God. Jesus said, “I came that they may have life and have it abundantly,” (John 10:10). Elsewhere he says, “I am the resurrection and the life. Whoever believes in me, though he die, yet shall he live.” (John 11:25). The text is clear. Abundant life is only found in Christ and it comes through my obedience to him. He is the way, the truth, and the life (John 14:6). There is no better, happier way to live than in conformity to his will for me.
We represent the King.
The Covenant King of the ancient Israelites still rules and reigns over us today. In Leviticus we see the priests, the King’s earthly ministers, representing the people to God and God to the people. The people themselves then represented God’s holy kingdom to the rest of the watching world. They were to be holy as he is holy and so live in a way that set them apart from the nations around them.
Today, we who make up the church, represent this same King and his same kingdom to the watching world. 1 Peter 2:9 says,
But you are a chosen race, a royal priesthood, a holy nation, a people for his own possession, that you may proclaim the excellencies of him who called you out of darkness into his marvelous light.
Leviticus has reminded me of the importance of living a life that is set apart. I represent the King of Kings to the watching world and if my life doesn’t look different that the world’s than I am misrepresenting my King. God uses his royal priesthood to bring his gospel message to the ends of the earth. He did it in ancient Israel. He still does it today. My life must reflect his holiness.
Closing Remarks
At the beginning of our study, I quoted the New City Catechism that I had been teaching my son. I’m going to quote it again here because it ties together all that we’ve been talking about when it comes to the law of God found in Leviticus.
Q: Can anyone keep the law of God perfectly?
A: Since the fall, no mere human has been able to keep the law of God perfectly.
Q: Since no one can keep the law, what is its purpose?
A: That we may know the holy nature of God, and the sinful nature of our hearts; and thus our need of a Savior.
Leviticus has broadened my knowledge on the holy nature of God and the sinful nature of my heart. It has shown me my need for a Savior and has pointed to how that Savior, Jesus, fulfilled the law and atoned for our sins perfectly.
If, at the end of this study, you can say the same thing, then the laws in Leviticus have fulfilled their purpose.
Congratulations on making it to the end of this study! The question now is: what are you going to study next?
If you’ve fallen behind or want to review some of what we’ve learned in our study of Leviticus, I’ve included links to all the posts in this series below.
Whether you go back and review Leviticus or choose to study something new, don’t stop studying, friends! I hope that studying Leviticus, one of the toughest books of the Bible, has proven to you that studying even the most difficult books bears much fruit. It’s totally worth all the time and effort you put into it.
If you’re interested in completing another one of my Inductive Bible Study workbooks, click this link here to take you to my Printable Resource Library where you can download a workbook on Ruth or James. Check your email for the password.
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Thanks for coming with me on this journey! May God bless all of your studying endeavors!
Works Cited
Sklar, J. (2014). Leviticus: An introduction and commentary. Downers Grove, IL: IVP Academic.
