Avoiding the Book of Leviticus? • We Break It Down For You (Torah Series Ep. 5)

Summary

The video script explores the often-overlooked Book of Leviticus, highlighting its significance in the Bible. It explains how God's pure and powerful presence, likened to the sun, necessitates rituals, priesthood, and purity laws to allow corrupt Israelites to safely dwell near His holiness without destruction. The Day of Atonement ritual, involving sacrificial goats, symbolizes the forgiveness of sins, distinguishing Israel's God as one who provides a clear path to redemption and closeness to His presence, despite human corruption.

Takeaways

• 📜 The Book of Leviticus is often avoided due to its perceived strangeness, but it's central to understanding God's relationship with the Israelites.
• 👨‍👩‍👧 God chose a family to restore the world back into His presence after humans were banished for rebellion.
• ⛺ God's presence dwelled in a tent in the midst of Israel, symbolizing His closeness but also the danger of His intense holiness.
• ☀️ God's presence is likened to the sun, pure and powerful, which can be dangerous to the corrupt and mortal.
• 📖 Leviticus aims to show how Israelites, despite their corruption, can live near God's holiness without being destroyed.
• 🐑 Rituals in Leviticus involve animal sacrifices, serving both as expressions of gratitude and repentance.
• 📅 The book also details sacred days and festivals, which are celebrations that retell the story of God's rescue of Israel and distinguish them from other nations.
• 🧙 Priests are appointed as intermediaries to safely enter God's presence on behalf of the people, with higher standards of living due to their proximity to God's holiness.
• 🛡 Purity laws are a set of rules defining what makes someone 'clean' or 'unclean', crucial for determining who can be in God's presence.
• 🍽️ Dietary laws are part of the purity laws, setting the Israelites apart and reminding them of God's holiness in every aspect of life, including diet.
• 🤲 Purity also extends to moral behavior, with laws addressing social justice, relationships, and sexual integrity to create a morally pure people.
• 🐐 The Day of Atonement is a central ritual where sins of the Israelites are symbolically covered by the blood of a sacrificial goat, and their sins are transferred to another goat, the Scapegoat, which is sent into the wilderness.

Q & A

Why did God banish humans from His presence according to the script?

Humans were banished from God's presence due to their rebellion, but God still desires to be in a relationship with them.

What is the significance of God's presence dwelling in a tent among Israelites?

God's presence dwelling in a tent signifies His desire to be close to His people, but it also creates a problem due to the intensity of His presence being dangerous to those who enter inappropriately.

How is God's presence described in Leviticus, and why is it considered dangerous?

God's presence is described as 'holiness,' akin to the sun, which is pure power and goodness. It is dangerous because mortal and corruptible beings cannot endure such pure power without being destroyed.

What is the purpose of rituals in Leviticus?

Rituals in Leviticus, including animal sacrifices, serve as ways for Israelites to express gratitude or seek forgiveness from God while living near His presence without being destroyed.

What role do priests play in relation to God's presence according to the script?

Priests are appointed as special representatives who can enter God's presence on behalf of others, as being directly in His presence is dangerous.

Why are there higher standards for priests in Leviticus?

Priests have higher standards to live by because they work closely with God's presence, and thus must maintain a higher level of purity and holiness.

What are purity laws and why are they important in Leviticus?

Purity laws are regulations that determine when an Israelite is considered 'clean' or 'unclean'. They are important because being in a pure state allows one to be near God's presence, while being impure does not.

Why are certain animals considered impure according to Leviticus?

While the exact reasons are not clear, avoiding certain animals sets Israel apart and reminds them that God's holiness should affect every part of their lives, including their diet.

What is the significance of the Day of Atonement in Leviticus?

The Day of Atonement is a ritual where the priests symbolically cover or atone for Israel's sins by offering the blood of a goat into God's presence, ensuring the people's forgiveness and safety near His presence.

What is the role of the Scapegoat in the Day of Atonement ritual?

The Scapegoat is the second goat in the ritual where the priest confesses all the sins of Israel onto it, symbolically transferring the sins, and then the goat is cast out into the wilderness, representing the removal of sin.

How does the script view the sacrifices in Leviticus compared to other ancient cultures?

While sacrifices in other ancient cultures were a way to buy favor from unpredictable gods, in Leviticus, God provides a clear and certain way for Israel to know they are forgiven and safe to live near His presence.

Outlines

00:00

📜 Understanding Leviticus: God's Presence and Holiness

This paragraph introduces Leviticus, a book often overlooked due to its complexity. It explains the premise of God's desire to be in relationship with humans, despite their banishment for rebellion. God's presence is likened to the sun, highlighting its purity and power, which can be dangerous to the corruptible. The main theme revolves around how Israelites can live near God's presence without being destroyed, with the book offering three solutions: rituals, priesthood, and purity laws. These are explored across seven sections of the book, with rituals involving animal sacrifices for gratitude or atonement, the priesthood serving as intermediaries to God's presence, and purity laws dictating the state of being 'clean' or 'unclean', essential for proximity to God's holiness.

05:01

🐐 The Rituals and Sacrifices of Leviticus

This paragraph delves deeper into the specifics of the rituals and sacrifices described in Leviticus. It begins with the detailed instructions for animal sacrifices, serving both as expressions of gratitude and atonement. The narrative continues with rituals related to sacred days and festivals, which are celebrations of God's rescue of Israel and their distinction from other nations. The paragraph also discusses the role of priests as representatives who can safely enter God's presence on behalf of the people, and the higher moral standards they must uphold. The concept of purity is further explored, with laws concerning food, skin diseases, contact with the dead, and bodily fluids, emphasizing that while being ritually impure is not sinful, entering God's presence in such a state is inappropriate. The paragraph concludes with the significance of moral purity laws, which are aimed at creating a morally pure society capable of living near God's presence.

Keywords

💡Leviticus

Leviticus is the third book of the Hebrew Bible and the Christian Old Testament. It is central to the video's theme as it discusses the laws and rituals that the Israelites must follow to live in God's presence. The video script addresses the misconceptions about Leviticus being 'weird' and explains its significance in the context of God's holiness and the Israelites' need for purification.

💡Holiness

Holiness in the script refers to God's pure and powerful presence, which is both good and dangerous to mortals due to its intensity. The concept is integral to understanding Leviticus, as it explains why certain rituals, priesthood, and purity laws are necessary to approach God without being destroyed, likening God's presence to the sun.

💡Rituals

Rituals are formal acts or ceremonies with symbolic significance, as discussed in the script. They are one of the three main solutions presented in Leviticus for Israelites to live near God's holiness. The rituals include animal sacrifices for expressing gratitude or seeking atonement and observing sacred days and festivals that retell the story of God's rescue of Israel.

💡Priesthood

The priesthood is a religious institution within the script that involves individuals who are appointed to act as intermediaries between God and the people. Priests are crucial to the theme of Leviticus because they can enter God's presence on behalf of others, thus preventing the direct exposure of the people to the dangerous holiness of God.

💡Purity Laws

Purity Laws in the script are regulations that define what makes something or someone pure or impure in the context of approaching God. They are essential to the video's narrative as they dictate the state of being required for Israelites to be near God's presence, including dietary laws and moral behavior.

💡Animal Sacrifices

Animal sacrifices are a form of ritual mentioned in the script where animals are offered to God as a means of communication or atonement. They are significant to the theme of Leviticus as they serve as a way for Israelites to express gratitude or seek forgiveness, thus maintaining their relationship with God.

💡Sacred Days and Festivals

Sacred Days and Festivals are special times set aside for religious observance, as mentioned in the script. They are part of the rituals in Leviticus and serve to retell and commemorate the story of God's rescue of Israel, setting them apart from other nations.

💡Ordination

Ordination in the script refers to the process of appointing priests to the priesthood. It is relevant to the theme of the priesthood's role in Leviticus, as it explains how individuals are set apart for service in God's presence and the higher standards they must uphold.

💡Impurity

Impurity in the script is a state that prevents one from being near God's presence. It is a key concept in the purity laws of Leviticus, where coming into contact with certain things associated with life and death, such as skin disease or dead bodies, results in a temporary state of impurity that requires purification rituals.

💡Day of Atonement

The Day of Atonement is a significant ritual in the script and the center of the book of Leviticus. It is a day when the priests perform a special sacrifice involving two goats to atone for the sins of the Israelites, symbolizing God's forgiveness and the removal of sin.

💡Scapegoat

The Scapegoat in the script refers to the second goat in the Day of Atonement ritual, upon which the priest confesses the sins of Israel and then sends it into the wilderness. This concept is central to the theme of atonement and forgiveness in Leviticus, illustrating how the sins are symbolically transferred and removed from the people.

Highlights

The book of Leviticus is central to understanding God's relationship with humanity post-banishment.

God's presence is likened to the sun, pure and powerful, yet dangerous to the corruptible.

Leviticus introduces the concept of 'holiness' to describe God's presence, which is both good and perilous.

The book outlines three solutions for Israelites to live near God's holiness without being destroyed: rituals, priesthood, and purity laws.

Rituals in Leviticus involve animal sacrifices for expressing gratitude and seeking atonement.

Priests are appointed as intermediaries to safely approach God's presence on behalf of the people.

Purity laws are designed to maintain a state of 'cleanliness' or 'purity' necessary for proximity to God.

Impure states, such as touching dead bodies or certain animals, require purification rituals to restore purity.

The Day of Atonement is a central ritual where sins are symbolically covered by the blood of a sacrificed goat.

The concept of the 'scapegoat' represents God's removal of Israel's sins, reflecting divine grace.

Ancient sacrifices were a cultural norm for appeasing gods, but Leviticus presents a different approach with a loving and consistent God.

Leviticus provides a revolutionary framework for Israel to confidently approach God despite their sins.

The book's structure is divided into seven sections, each exploring one of the three solutions in detail.

Rituals, priesthood, and purity laws are not arbitrary but are deeply intertwined with Israel's life and relationship with God.

The book of Leviticus is a testament to God's desire to restore a relationship with humanity through a clear and safe approach.

The journey to the promised land, which is the focus of the next book, is predicated on the understandings established in Leviticus.

Transcripts

The book of Leviticus. We know you’ve been avoiding it cause it’s weird. So let’s fix that.

Now remember the story of the Bible began with humans in God’s presence,

but they were banished because of their rebellion.

However, God wants to be in relationship with us, so

He chooses one family that he will use to restore the world back into His presence.

Tim: And so God’s presence comes to dwell in a tent right in the middle of Israel…

Jon … and that’s great!

But it creates a problem: because it’s so intense that Moses can’t go in

and other priests who enter inappropriately… they die.

Well, wait, if God’s presence is good, how is it all of a sudden dangerous for people?

So think of it this way: God’s presence is like the sun -

it’s pure power and goodness.

And when something mortal and corruptible gets close to such pure power it’s destroyed.

And so the word “holiness” is used in Leviticus to describe God’s pure and powerful presence,

which like the sun is both good and dangerous.

So the point of Leviticus is to show how corrupt Israelites can live near God’s goodness

without being destroyed.

Now in the book there are three ways for how this is all going to work out

and these are gonna seem strange to you but just hang in there with us.

Jon: The first one is rituals,

the second is this idea of the priesthood,

and the third is a bunch of purity laws.

Tim: Now, the book is broken up into seven sections

each solution is explored in two sections of the book.

The Rituals are here. The Priests are here. And the Purity Laws go here.

Jon: Now the first solution, rituals, involves a lot of animal sacrifices.

And so Leviticus begins with detailed instructions for how to make these sacrifices.

Some are ways of saying “Thank You” to God

and others are simply ways of saying “I’m Sorry.”

Tim: And here at the end of the book there are some more rituals and these are about observing sacred days and festivals;

they are all celebrations that retell some part of the story of how God rescued Israel

and set them apart from the nations.

Jon: The second solution to the holiness problem has to do with priests.

You see, being directly in God’s presence is really dangerous,

so He appoints priests as special representatives who can go into His presence on behalf of others.

Tim: So in this section we have a story about how the priests are ordained into the priesthood.

And then this other section explains this set of higher standards the priests have to live by,

because they work so closely to God’s presence.

Jon: The third solution in this book is all about Purity Laws,

and this is by far the hardest thing to understand for example in this section

we’re really concerned with knowing whether you’re “clean” or “unclean”.

Tim: Or another way of saying that is being “pure” and “impure”.

Here’s what we need to know to understand this:

when you’re in a pure state you can be near God’s presence,

when you’re in an impure state you can’t.

And so it was really important for Israelites to know what state they’re in at any given moment.

Jon: So the first thing we have is a list of pure and impure animals.

Tim: Yah, this list of animals is divided up by where they live:

so, on the land

in the sea, in the air.

And the text is just not clear about why certain animals are impure

or why touching or eating them makes you impure.

What is clear, however, is that avoiding these creatures will set Israel apart,

and it will remind them that God’s own holiness should affect every part of their lives

including what they eat.

Jon: After the food laws we get a lot of random rules

about things like skin disease, touching dead bodies, what to do with bodily fluids…

Tim: …But they’re not random.

All of these are things that the Israelite’s associated with life and death,

which are sacred things because God is the author of life.

Jon: OK. But simply coming in contact with these things makes you impure?

Tim: They do, but we have to keep in mind that it’s not wrong or sinful to be ritually impure

- you just wait a few days, take a bath, offer a sacrifice, and you’re pure again.

What is inappropriate is entering into God’s presence when you’re in an impure state.

Jon: Now there’s more purity laws over here in this section.

Tim: Yah, these focus on Israel’s moral behavior.

So these are laws about social justice,

healthy relationships, having sexual integrity.

Living by these laws will make Israel into a morally pure people

who can live near God’s presence.

Jon: Those are the three solutions.

Now you’ve probably noticed that they surround the very center of this book,

and it’s here that we find a really important ritual called The Day of Atonement.

Tim: Yah, so Israel’s a big tribe now,

and odds are there’s a lot of sin happening that goes unnoticed that people are not deal with.

And so one time a year the priests would take two goats,

and one of those goats is killed

and its blood is carried right into God’s presence

where it symbolically covers, or atones for, Israel’s sin.

Jon: Yah, that’s kinda weird...

Tim: Well, the meaning of this sacrifice is explained in the next chapter

where God says that the blood of a creature is its life,

and so the goat’s life is offered as a substitute

- it’s receiving God’s punishment for Israel’s sin so that the people don’t have to.

Jon: That leaves the second goat.

Tim: Yeah, the priest puts his hands on it,

and then he confesses all the sins of Israel -

it’s like he’s placing the sins on the goat.

And then that goat gets cast out forever into the wilderness.

It’s called The Scapegoat.

Jon: Yeah, I’ve heard that word before.

Tim: Yeah, it’s this very powerful image of how God is graciously removing Israel’s sin.

Jon: But lets be honest, sacrifices in general it seem so barbaric.

Tim: Well, you have to remember that in the ancient world

sacrifices were the main way of buying favor from the gods.

But the problem was that those same gods they’re unpredictable,

they’re fickle, you never know if they’re gonna ignore you,

or are they going to turn on you.

So it’s in this cultural setting that we see Israel’s God as totally different.

He does get angry about human corruption but it is never arbitrary.

And He loves people,

so He provides this clear way for Israel to know with confidence that they are forgiven,

and that despite their corruption they are safe to live near His presence.

And so that makes the book of Leviticus actually

a revolutionary statement in its day.

Jon: So that’s Leviticus.

But Israel is still at Mt. Sinai in the middle of the wilderness,

they need a place to live.

T: Yes, the land God promised to Abraham,

and so the journey to that land is what the next book of the Bible is all about.