Caleb Walker

Included: Manuscript, downloadable PowerPoint, video teaching the lesson, & Devotional

Please click here to download the free PowerPoint for this lesson: https://www.dropbox.com/scl/fi/8p21d1e03oj4kr78c0o3l/Separation-Lev-9-10-Ppnt.pptx?rlkey=hqzatwi6q8nfygefi7ziyd5vv&st=h17czo3n&dl=0

Review: Last week we looked at how (Theme) God makes His presence known when His people work together to obey Him. God’s glory filled the tabernacle and Moses—assisted with his skilled and wise workers—finished the task God gave them to do. Ultimately, Jesus finished the work of bridging the gap between us and the presence of God in the cross and resurrection.

Title: Separation

Text: Leviticus 9:15-10:3

Memory Verse: Leviticus 11:45

Theme: God established a way for sinful people to approach Him.

Introduction: In this week’s lesson we look at Leviticus, a book that intimidates most Bible readers, because it’s filled with arduous and repetitive sacrifices and instructions on holiness; however the doctrine of atonement is shown in Leviticus, and it lays the thorough and clear foundation for our understanding that it is vital and essential that we have a substitute for sin.

Opening Discussion Question (s): We know that big events like a wedding require a lot of preparation. The bigger the occasion, the more the preparation. What big events require the most preparation? I remember my wedding day that it required a lot of work and preparation on my part! Just kidding. It took my wife and her family a lot of preparation. All I had to do was show up and make sure my groomsmen and best man were in the right size suite. How much does the importance of the event affect how much preparation is necessary?

Context:

• After constructing the tabernacle God showed Moses how to worship in two areas: the sacrifices & the Levitical priests.
• The goals God had for His people were twofold: (1) to avoid defilement, (2) to be purified (kipper “purify”) after defilement.
• Chapters 1-3 cover the burnt, grain, and fellowship offerings, “a pleasing aroma to the Lord” (1:9). The whole burnt offering was completely consumed as an offering for an individual’s rebellious offense to God (Ps. 66:13-15; Romans 12:1).
• The sin/purification guilt (reparations) also were to receive atonement for sins (Lev 4:20, 26, 31, 35,; 5:16; 6:7). The first was to take care of sin’s way of spreading and defiling further. The second was to atone for the way rebellious behavior leaves us completely morally bankrupt and empty. These had to be made sincerely from the heart (Isa. 1:11-15; Hos. 6:6, Amos 5:21-24; Mal 1:10). Jesus made the final sacrifice (Heb. 10:10).
• Chapters 8-10 cover the ordaining of Aaronic priests.
• Chapter 10 tells the story of Aaron’s rebellious sons,  Nadab and Abihu, who were careless in the way the did their duties and were punished as a result.
• Chapters 11-15 show how to remain ritually clean.

Main Points:

1. Separated (Leviticus 9:15-21)

“Then he presented the people’s offering and took the goat of the sin offering that was for the people and killed it and offered it as a sin offering, like the first one. ¹⁶ And he presented the burnt offering and offered it according to the rule. ¹⁷ And he presented the grain offering, took a handful of it, and burned it on the altar, besides the burnt offering of the morning. ¹⁸ Then he killed the ox and the ram, the sacrifice of peace offerings for the people. And Aaron’s sons handed him the blood, and he threw it against the sides of the altar. ¹⁹ But the fat pieces of the ox and of the ram, the fat tail and that which covers the entrails and the kidneys and the long lobe of the liver— ²⁰ they put the fat pieces on the breasts, and he burned the fat pieces on the altar, ²¹ but the breasts and the right thigh Aaron waved for a wave offering before the Lord, as Moses commanded.”

• Aaron and his sons went out and selected appropriate sacrificial animals to be offered first for their sins and then the peoples.
• (Lev 2) The grain was the only offering that didn’t involve blood, often given at harvest in gratitude to God.
• The fellowship sacrifice was partly burnt, then eaten as a community out of celebration for God’s covenant.
• The splattered blood consecrated the altar from defilement.

Doctrine: God the Son

Gospel: Isaiah 53:5-6, “But he was pierced for our transgressions; he was crushed for our iniquities; upon him was the chastisement that brought us peace, and with his wounds we are healed. ⁶ All we like sheep have gone astray; we have turned—every one—to his own way; and the Lord has laid on him the iniquity of us all.”

2 Corinthians 5:21, “For our sake he made him to be sin who knew no sin, so that in him we might become the righteousness of God.”

• Fat portions weren’t eaten; the smoke heavily symbolized God’s participation, so the fat was wholly given to Him.
• Breasts were for the priests and thigh was for the priest making the sacrifice.

Discussion: Why did it matter that the people presented their offering in the manner that Moses had commanded?

II. Offering Accepted (Leviticus 9:22-24)

“²² Then Aaron lifted up his hands toward the people and blessed them, and he came down from offering the sin offering and the burnt offering and the peace offerings. ²³ And Moses and Aaron went into the tent of meeting, and when they came out they blessed the people, and the glory of the Lord appeared to all the people. ²⁴ And fire came out from before the Lord and consumed the burnt offering and the pieces of fat on the altar, and when all the people saw it, they shouted and fell on their faces.”

• Lifted hands was a gesture to bless the people and for prayer.
• Aaron came down (4.5 ft high) showing the sacrifices completion visibly.
• The people would have waited with bated breath, as Moses and Aaron went into the tabernacle to see if they would both exit safely, as improper sacrifices were not accepted by God and could result in the priests death. Also, Moses—having formerly met in the previous tent of meeting with God—was now passing on the baton to Aaron’s leadership.
• God’s glory appears, affirming what they’d done and the manner in which they’d honor His holiness (His uniqueness and set apartness).
• The fire coming down showed God’s acceptance of the sacrifice.
• The people fell down and worshiped, the same thing the people did in 2 Chronicles 7:3 at the dedication of Solomon’s temple.

Discussion: In what ways are you most likely to go through routines instead of worshiping sincerely? What can you do to avoid those spiritual traps?

III. Holiness Seen (Leviticus 10:1-3)

“Now Nadab and Abihu, the sons of Aaron, each took his censer and put fire in it and laid incense on it and offered unauthorized^[a] fire before the Lord, which he had not commanded them. ² And fire came out from before the Lord and consumed them, and they died before the Lord. ³ Then Moses said to Aaron, “This is what the Lord has said: ‘Among those who are near me I will be sanctified, and before all the people I will be glorified.’” And Aaron held his peace.”

• The firepan was a utensil made by Bezalel for incense most likely.
• They engaged in illicit worship. The text doesn’t give specifics, but they took liberties where God had been clear.
• They were destroyed by God’s fire, because of willful rebellion against God’s covenant.
• Aaron was told not to mourn, which was codified in Leviticus 15:10-12, as a priest could not touch a dead body or rend his garments (a sign of mourning in this time). God required his priests to take His holiness seriously.
• Aaron’s silence honored God’s command and holiness, as he submitted faithfully.

Discussion: What is the connection between holiness and obedience?

Devotional: “Holiness & Leviticus ”

     The book of Leviticus shows us the holiness of God and the system of having one’s sins atoned for through a clean, pure, proper sacrifice and shows how God’s people worship God through various offerings that express worship, gratitude, and fellowship. The blood sacrifices for sin were essential, and Christ made the final and ultimate sacrifice for our sins as the Lamb of God.

     This book warns us against rebellious behaviors. This book elevates the peace and wonder of having a nurtured and cultivated fellowship with God and the covenant community of believers. Fellowship with God and one another is not a given in the Christian life. It does not just happen without work. We have to love, yield to, serve, and be kind to one another in the covenant community. Fellowship with God and one another is a mutual responsibility we share with one another. Blatant lifestyle choices of repeated sin are not to be looked at lightly. Praise God that He sent His Son, the Lord Jesus, to take the place for the times we hindered fellowship and broke fellowship. All who repent and place their trust in the one-time, sufficient offering of the blood of the Lamb are saved and given a new life of restored fellowship with God and His covenant community nurtured by gratitude and fellowship.

How to Pray:

• Thank You for the sacrifice of Jesus on the cross in my place.
• Show me anything hindering fellowship, and I will repent of it.
• Help me to nurture fellowship with You and other believers.