The first five Books of the Bible (known as the Pentateuch) have a unifying Theme. “How to know God, how to dwell in His Presence!”
And to know Him in this way … there is a very specific Path to follow, into the very Throne Room of Glory. And it deals with blood … blood which ultimately points to Jesus Christ’s victorious Death on the old rugged Cross!
Leviticus, our Text for this Bible Study Series, pursues that Theme. Accenting WORSHIP in the Presence of the Lord.
So this question nearly asks itself … the point/focus of today’s Lesson … “What is the Central Theme/ Holy Spirit Highlighted Message of Leviticus?”
And the answer is “THE DAY OF ATONMENT!” That’s the Center of the Book, of Leviticus!
True, Chapter 16 (the “Day of Atonement” chapter) is not the mathematical center of Leviticus. But it is the structural center! It is the theological center. If so, that Event (the Day of Atonement) is automatically the “center” of the whole Pentateuch! (Since Leviticus is the very center Book of the Pentateuch, as we saw in our previous Lesson.)
Let me show you two or three ways that Bible Teachers (through the years) have arrived at the conviction of Leviticus 16’s Centrality.
One posits this. The Book alternates between God giving His LAW, and the NARRATIVE that precedes or follows that giving of the Law. Thus we have a sevenfold division of Leviticus … LAW, NARRATIVE, LAW, NARRATIVE, LAW, NARRATIVE, LAW. And (obviously) the center of that litany is the middle NARRATIVE I have underlined … which equates to Leviticus 16, the Day of Atonement Story!
Another writer (a Leviticus scholar) counts 37 “Speeches” of God in the Book. With 18 being one either side of Leviticus 16 … with God’s Words there (in chapter 16) being the Center Speech of them all. Again emphasizing the necessity of the DAY OF ATONMENT! Bloodshed … necessary in knowing/fellowshipping with God!
Yet a third Bible Preacher suggests this similar Pattern. Leviticus chapters 1-7 and 23-27 both contain “Sanctuary Laws.” Then Leviticus chapters 8-10 and 21-22 contain “Priestly Laws.” Then chapters 11-15 and 17-20 contain “Personal Laws.” (Indeed they do.) All that leaves is then Leviticus chapter 16 … at the Center of the whole Corpus! And again … that is the Day of Atonement Chapter!
It is central!
Jesus’ Cross … His shed Blood … His vicarious Death being placed in the Foreground … beginning with the Bible’s first Five Books! Granted: in Type and Symbol and Shadow and Word Pictures … but it is the CROSS OF CALVARY nonetheless!
Wow!
More about the Day of Atonement in a later Lesson, but at least now we are aware of its overarching Influence in both Leviticus and the entire Pentateuch.
— Dr. Mike Bagwell
I am amazed!
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