Leviticus 24-25
An Overview of Chapter 24
Aaron and his sons were responsible for the upkeep of the holy objects in the holy place. The people of Israel were to bring olive oil for the lamp, and the priests would keep the lamp filled with oil so that it could burn continually, checking it day and night. In addition they are to keep 12 baked cakes that were eaten and replaced weekly. They also kept the frankincense on the altar of incense burning.
An account is given of a fight between an Israelite and a man who was half Israelite half Egyptian. During the fight the half breed man blasphemed and cursed the name of God. After this the people took the man into custody and brought him to Moses to see what punishment he deserved. Moses brought the case before the Supreme Beings Court and it was determined that he deserved death. The method was stoning, the witnesses were to lay hands on him and cast the stones themselves.
This event is used as a transition into God’s personal injury laws. They are summed up with the phrase “just as he has done, so it shall be done to him...”
An Overview of Chapter 25
This chapter covers the property laws that will apply when the people enter the land that God has promised them. These laws include a Sabbath for the land every 7th year, with the promise that God will provide a larger harvest in the 6th year so the people can eat. It also includes an extra sabbath for the land every 50 years which means that the land will not be worked for two straight years.
The jubilee year also included a legal provision that returned all land to the original owners. The purpose for this law is to remind us that the land is His, and the Israelites were just pilgrims he allowed to live on it. With this concept in mind the law stated that when land was purchased it was bought at a rate of 1/50th of the total price for every year remaining until the Jubilee year. The land wasn’t really purchased, but instead they were paying for the produce of the land during the time they owned it. In addition at anytime during the time they owned it the original owner or a relative of his could “redeem” it or buy it back.
This law included people as property as well, slaves. The Israelites could be purchased, but more as a contract worker until the year of Jubilee when he is freed. This type of purchase should only happen in extreme cases of poverty, and to help prevent it the Israelites were not to charge interest to other Israelites and they were to take care of the needs of someone who owed them money. If an impoverished Israelite sold himself into slavery he was not to be treated as a slave. This law applied even if a non-Israelite purchased an Israelite. In addition he or his family could buy his way out of slavery - they could “redeem” him at the rate of 1/50th per year until the year of Jubilee. On the other hand a foreigner could be not be redeemed.
Reflection
Notice the continual aspect of the worship that God expected from the priests. Does your worship reach God continually through shining His light day and night, offering the incense of your prayers without ceasing and eating/fellowshipping with God weekly? As a Christian God has set you free from the slavery of sin, but do you return to it? When you return do you remember that you have a kinsman who can redeem you in Jesus Christ?
For Further Study
Compare the description of the lampstand (Exodus 25:31-37, with the description Jesus gives of himself (John 9:5, John 15:1-17).
Aaron and his sons were responsible for the upkeep of the holy objects in the holy place. The people of Israel were to bring olive oil for the lamp, and the priests would keep the lamp filled with oil so that it could burn continually, checking it day and night. In addition they are to keep 12 baked cakes that were eaten and replaced weekly. They also kept the frankincense on the altar of incense burning.
An account is given of a fight between an Israelite and a man who was half Israelite half Egyptian. During the fight the half breed man blasphemed and cursed the name of God. After this the people took the man into custody and brought him to Moses to see what punishment he deserved. Moses brought the case before the Supreme Beings Court and it was determined that he deserved death. The method was stoning, the witnesses were to lay hands on him and cast the stones themselves.
This event is used as a transition into God’s personal injury laws. They are summed up with the phrase “just as he has done, so it shall be done to him...”
An Overview of Chapter 25
This chapter covers the property laws that will apply when the people enter the land that God has promised them. These laws include a Sabbath for the land every 7th year, with the promise that God will provide a larger harvest in the 6th year so the people can eat. It also includes an extra sabbath for the land every 50 years which means that the land will not be worked for two straight years.
The jubilee year also included a legal provision that returned all land to the original owners. The purpose for this law is to remind us that the land is His, and the Israelites were just pilgrims he allowed to live on it. With this concept in mind the law stated that when land was purchased it was bought at a rate of 1/50th of the total price for every year remaining until the Jubilee year. The land wasn’t really purchased, but instead they were paying for the produce of the land during the time they owned it. In addition at anytime during the time they owned it the original owner or a relative of his could “redeem” it or buy it back.
This law included people as property as well, slaves. The Israelites could be purchased, but more as a contract worker until the year of Jubilee when he is freed. This type of purchase should only happen in extreme cases of poverty, and to help prevent it the Israelites were not to charge interest to other Israelites and they were to take care of the needs of someone who owed them money. If an impoverished Israelite sold himself into slavery he was not to be treated as a slave. This law applied even if a non-Israelite purchased an Israelite. In addition he or his family could buy his way out of slavery - they could “redeem” him at the rate of 1/50th per year until the year of Jubilee. On the other hand a foreigner could be not be redeemed.
Reflection
Notice the continual aspect of the worship that God expected from the priests. Does your worship reach God continually through shining His light day and night, offering the incense of your prayers without ceasing and eating/fellowshipping with God weekly? As a Christian God has set you free from the slavery of sin, but do you return to it? When you return do you remember that you have a kinsman who can redeem you in Jesus Christ?
For Further Study
Compare the description of the lampstand (Exodus 25:31-37, with the description Jesus gives of himself (John 9:5, John 15:1-17).
posted by Shaun Sells | 12:02 AM
1 Comments:
Shaun,
I'm very grateful for your faithfulness in these postings and for the insight to God's Word that they give to me. I'll admit that the book of Leviticus is very difficult for me to read as I tend to get bored. Yet, your inquiring thoughts aid me in digging deeper and concentrating further through this reading than any reading of the past. Thanks!
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