◄ What Does Leviticus 19:2 Mean? ►

Though it is often ridiculed by those that have not read it, or misunderstood by those who do not have spiritual discernment, Leviticus is a book that concentrates on holiness - the holiness of God and the need for the nation of Israel to be holy. "You shall be holy,"  God informed His chosen nation through Moses. "You shall be holy, for I the LORD your God am holy."

From start to finish, Leviticus is a book that points to Christ. He is pictured in the perfect Law of Moses in many ways, and He can be identified in the various sacrificial offerings. The person and work of Christ can also be seen in the holy articles of the Tabernacle, the function of the priesthood, and the feasts of the Lord. The book of Leviticus points to Christ in many ways - for His atoning blood alone takes away the sin of the world.

Jesus is the Second Person of the Trinity, Who was fully and finally revealed to the world through the birth, life, death, and Resurrection of the Lord Jesus Christ. He is the eternal Son of God, Who tabernacled among us, for a season. He is the perfect Word of God made flesh, through Whom the world was made and in Whom is life eternal. He is the eternal Lamb of God, Who takes away the sin of the world. And He is the sinless Son of Man, Who set aside His heavenly glory to become like one of us.

Jesus is the Second Person of the immortal, invisible, almighty, HOLY God. He is the only Member of the Trinity Who was clothed in human flesh, so that sinful men and women might be saved by grace - through faith in His sacrificial work at Calvary.

Throughout the Old Testament, God gradually revealed His character, His attributes, His name, and His redemptive plan for mankind, through the writings of holy men of God and many prophetic voices. But in these last days, God has spoken to us in His Son, Whom He appointed Heir of all things, and through Whom also He made the world.

However, hidden within the pages of the Old Testament, are many concealed references to Christ Jesus. For those with eyes to see and a teachable spirit, we discover many 'types' and pictures of His person, His mission, His atoning work, and His supernatural life. Numerous prophecies give details of His coming to earth as a babe in Bethlehem, His ministry on earth, His sacrificial death, His glorious Resurrection, and His victory over Satan. And Scripture records His coming millennial rule as King of kings and Lord of lords, for He is God's appointed Messiah of Israel and He is the Saviour of the world.

Moses was one such prophetic voice in Scripture, and he was inspired to write the book of Leviticus. He was the man that God chose to become the first great leader of His people. He was God's mouthpiece to Pharaoh and the one who led God's redeemed people out of Egypt, on that first Passover night.

It was Moses through whom the Law was given to God's chosen nation, and it was Moses who instructed His people how to live, if they were to receive God's blessings. It was Moses who warned them what would happen if they disobeyed the Lord's command and Moses was instructed by God to "Speak to all the congregation of the sons of Israel and say to them, 'You shall be holy, for I the LORD your God am holy.'"

Israel was to be set apart from the gentile nations. They were to be a separated nation, a covenanted people, an atypical race that was holy to the Lord. They were to be God's unique nation and a people for His own possession. They were chosen out of all the people groups who live on the face of the earth, to have a relationship with the one and only, holy God.

Israel was to be a holy people unto the Lord their God. They were to be sanctified unto the Lord - a peculiar people unto Himself. They were to be an example of a nation that was consecrated to God. Israel was to be God's earthly light to the pagan nations and an example of a holy community, who honoured the Lord.

They had seen God move before them as pillars of fire and smoke and they had witnessed the mighty miracles that decimated their proud Egyptian overlords. They had made a covenant with the Lord and had promised to do all that the Lord had commanded - which is why God said to Moses, "speak to all the congregation of the sons of Israel and say to them, 'You shall be holy, for I the LORD your God am holy.'"

The call to holiness still stands for the Christian in this dispensation of the grace of God. Like Israel, we are also instructed to be obedient children that are holy unto the Lord. Like them, we are not to be conformed to the lusts of the flesh and pride of life. Like Israel we are also instructed to be holy yourselves also in all our behavior - because it is written, "You shall be holy, for I am holy."

Heavenly Father, thank You for the lessons that Your Church can learn through the history of Israel and for the many types and pictures of Jesus that are hidden within the sacred pages of Scripture. Thank You that like Israel, I have also been called to be holy, because You are holy. It is humbling to realise that as part of Christ's Body, we have also been chosen, in Him, to be kings and priests unto God - to be a chosen people, who tell the world that Jesus died for their sin and rose again, so that by faith in Him we may be holy, as He is holy. Thank You that by faith in Christ, I have been called to be Your very own, and to proclaim the wonderful deeds of Him Who called me out of darkness into His marvellous light. May I live and work from this day forward, to be more like Jesus, and to live a holy life that is separated from this fallen world system. In Jesus' name I pray, AMEN.