Here it is, the first of 858 verses in Leviticus: “And the LORD called unto Moses, and spake unto him out of the tabernacle of the congregation, saying …” Leviticus 1:1

And the Lesson this Line of Scripture teaches is stupendous! (Latin: “stupere” meaning “to be wondered at!”)

First of all, let me mention that three verbs are used here; “called” and “spake” and “saying.” (I have underlined them in the verse as it appears above.)

And these are not only three different words (though meaning basically the same thing) in English … but three different verbs (as well) in Hebrew! That is unusual!

And the Speaker here? In each instance the verb has as its Source the same Person, He being God Almighty! The “LORD,” our Text says, Jehovah God!

And once He begins talking … He speaks virtually throughout the rest of Leviticus! The Book’s twenty-seven chapters! Leviticus in specifically written (one can say with accuracy) by God our great Creator and compassionate Redeemer.

Back to verse 1. “And the LORD called unto Moses, and spake unto him out of the tabernacle of the congregation, saying …”

In Hebrew, “called” is “qara.”

“Spake” is “dabar.”

And “saying” is “amar!”

And the “point” of this all?

Leviticus is the Book of the Bible in which God’s perennial desire (to fellowship with His people) comes to fruition. I mean after mankind had so fallen into sin!

This is Fellowship/Communion restored!

This is God and man in harmony, once again.

This is God living in His Tabernacle … then and inviting men and women to come meet Him at His front door, the gate of the Tent where the brazen altar will be placed, where blood will be constantly and systematically shed!

Sinners cleansed … to meet God in sweet Oneness!

But none of this will happen … until God first SPEAKS! Until God tells us HOW to approach Him!

And SPEAK He does … in Leviticus’ very first Line!

Speaks using three different verbs!

Speaks and speaks and speaks … with specifics about meeting Him and staying in fellowship with Him!

Let’s thank the Lord today for that first verse … GOD HAS SPOKEN!

COMMUNION WITH HIM CAN BE RESTORED! AT HIS INSTIGATION … AND WITH OUR COOPERATION/OBEDIENCE!

Amen!

— Dr. Mike Bagwell

By the way, God is till speaking, these thousands of years later! “God hath in these last days spoken unto us BY HIS SON (JESUS), whom he hath appointed heir of all things, by whom also he made the worlds.” Hebrews 1:2

Praise the Lord!

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The Book of Leviticus begins with the Tabernacle completely built, according to God’s precise specifications. BUT … no man has yet entered the Tabernacle!

Remember how Exodus ended: “So Moses finished the work. Then a cloud (Shekinah Glory) covered the tent of the congregation, and the glory of the LORD filled the tabernacle. AND MOSES WAS NOT ABLE TO ENTER INTO THE TENT OF THE CONGREGATION, because the cloud abode thereon, and the glory of the LORD filled the tabernacle.” Exodus 40:33-35

In fact, nobody (no human being) enters that Holy Place until Leviticus chapter 9 … absolutely amazing in a way! (Especially when considering how God “longs” and “seeks” His people, to be in communion/harmony with them.)

Let me show you this epochal “Leviticus” event: “And Moses and Aaron WENT INTO THE TABERNACLE OF THE CONGREGATION (MEETING), and came out, and blessed the people: and the glory of the LORD appeared unto all the people.” Leviticus 9:23

But it took nine chapters of God’s “INSTRUCTIONS, PROCEDURES” for this life-changing entrance to occur, to be made possible!

So … what happens in Leviticus chapters 1-9 … prior to this “going into” the Tabernacle, this Tent of Meeting?

This … Five Offerings, five Sacrifices, five Rituals (involving either grain or animals) must be learned then practiced to prepare man (to cleanse and sanctify humanity) for this Meeting with God! This Dwelling in God’s Presence!

Then (still) Aaron as High Priest (thus the entire institution of the priesthood in/through him) must be consecrated as well!

And these are the things that dominate Leviticus 1-9. (Chapter 10 also relates but in a way we shall discuss later.)

Preparing Israel to come before God!

To worship Him!

To know His Glory!

To walk in His ways, with His “Smile” upon them!

So … get ready.

The upcoming Lessons are going to be a little “technical,” but essential! Because they teach us (even living thousands of years later, and even under a different dispensation) principles for living in God’s Presence, with acceptance and delight!

The Trajectory …

From being barred from God’s Presence … “No man could enter.”

To being a part of the God-human (sweet, indescribable) Communion, that precipitated Creation in the first place! “And they entered in!”

How so?

Blood, bloodshed!

Sin atoned!

God’s Righteousness, Holiness satisfied!

Hallelujah!

— Dr. Mike Bagwell

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In the Book of Leviticus, God is (now) dwelling in His Tabernacle! In fact, that is how the Book of Exodus (Leviticus’ predecessor) ends … “Then a cloud covered the tent of the congregation, and the GLORY OF THE LORD (HIS VERY FACE/PRESENCE) filled the tabernacle.” Exodus 40:34, with the chapter having only 38 verses!

God tabernacling (living amidst) His people!

But the Book of Leviticus also allows the Tabernacle to be called the “tent of the congregation,” insinuating “mankind” meeting with God … in that holy environment! (“Tent of the congregation” in Hebrew literally meaning “Tent of meeting!”)

Next …

Now look at Exodus 40:35 … the third to the last verse in all of Exodus! “And Moses was NOT ABLE TO ENTER into the tent of the congregation, because the cloud abode thereon, and the glory of the LORD filled the tabernacle.” Wow!

The “Tent of Congregation/Meeting” but man (Moses being a representative man) cannot come in! Cannot fellowship/commune with Almighty God!

And here, in broad strokes, is the “drama” of Leviticus. The “plot” of Leviticus. The “storyline” of Leviticus!

Getting man (excluded, due to sin) back into the Presence of God!

God … Who has already descended and walked on earth, in sacred Space! As he had done in Eden, for example! As He had done in Noah’s Ark! As He had done on the Holy Mount!

But HOW is this to be accomplished?

Basically … through blood atonement!

The specifics of which the Book of Leviticus spells out … in great detail!

This is NOT just a Book of rituals and formalities … but rather a Book of Instructions … concerning both establishing and maintaining sweet Harmony with this Holy God of ours.

By the way, God made the First Move!

Psalm 15:1 well sums this thought. “LORD, who shall abide in thy tabernacle? who shall dwell in thy holy hill?”

“Thy Tabernacle” … God’s Dwelling Place!

“To abide” there and “to dwell” there … who can? That is the big Question! The Question the Book of Leviticus so fully answers!

Are you excited?

I sure am!

Amen, more tomorrow morning, the Lord willing.

— Dr. Mike Bagwell

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Genesis 3:8 has “The LORD God walking in the garden in the cool of the day,” that being the Garden of Eden. And just WHY has God come to that pristine spot? To spend some time (an eternal God, mind you) with His creation, with Adam and Eve! Thus fulfilling man’s greatest need!

Then in Exodus 29:45-46 God proclaims: “And I will dwell among the children of Israel, and will be their God. And they shall know that I am the LORD their God, that brought them forth out of the land of Egypt, that I may dwell among them: I am the LORD their God.” God’s “Grand Goal” reiterated! Maybe even amplified, certainly exposited more fully.

Now (finally, some of you may be thinking) we share a Leviticus Text! One that parallels Genesis 3:8 and Exodus 29:45-46 … obviously so!

“And I (the Lord) will set my tabernacle among you: and my soul shall not abhor you. And I will walk among you, and will be your God, and ye shall be my people.” Leviticus 26:11-12

I already have a “Bible Portion” Booklet containing Leviticus 26 (just Leviticus 26 only) to preach in an upcoming Revival Meeting. Every Sermon from one (or more) of those 46 Verses!

Look … the Bible’s first three Books!

Genesis … God with man!

Exodus … God with man!

Leviticus … in much more detail … God with man!

Oh, the New Testament as well, beginning with the Gospels … God (incarnate, Jesus Christ) with man!

And then (after Pentecost … during the Church Age) the Holy Spirit (indeed God) with man, inhabiting Believers!

It is the “Grand Goal” of all history!

It is the “Grand Goal” of all prophecy!

It is the “Grand Goal” of the Heart of God!

And … what about the Book of Revelation? Containing the Bible’s “Final Chapters?” Notice this: “And I (John) heard a great voice out of heaven saying, Behold, the tabernacle of God is with men, and he will dwell with them, and they shall be his people, and God himself shall be with them, and be their God.” Revelation 21:3

Wow!

There’s that Grand Goal once more!

The Passion of God … Jesus expressing it to a Samaritan woman! “But the hour cometh, and now is, when the true worshippers shall worship the Father in spirit and in truth: for the Father seeketh such to worship him.” John 4:23

God Himself … seeking our love and adoration and loyalty and yes … worship! And rightly so. He created us! He has redeemed us! He is our “ALL!”

Oh dear Lord, HOW GREAT THOU ART!

“WORTHY IS THE LAMB!”

— Dr. Mike Bagwell

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If the Book of Leviticus is about fellowship with God, a lifetime (then an eternity) of communion with the Divine … and if that is also the Theme of the Tabernacle … LOOK AT THIS INTERESTING FACT I DISCOVERED SATURDAY. (While flying home from a Revival Meeting.)

Three metals dominate the Old Testament Tabernacle, its construction. They are brass, silver and gold. (Several tons of them!)

The brass is used mostly outside the Holy Place. In the outer court. And brass is the least expensive of the three.

The silver comes into prominence next, of course more valuable than brass, but less than gold! Used in the foundation of the building (the Tent, the Holy Place) proper, for example.

Then the gold, the most precious of them all, is used in the innermost areas of the Tabernacle, where God Himself dwells!

The closer you get to his Face, His Presence … the more significant the metal becomes!

Wow!

And that is, in essence, also the “Plot” of the Book of Leviticus! Its “Trajectory,” its overall “Storyline.”

Getting nearer and nearer to Almighty God, our Creator and Redeemer! The most Valuable (much more than gold) Person (the “Godhead,” Paul says) in all Existence!

Are you satisfied with a life of “brass?” (Usually in the Bible a picture of “judgment,” under the very wrath of God.)

Or are you content even with a life of “silver?” (A picture of “redemption,” being bought by blood atonement! But still with more “God” yet to experience!)

Or do you long to live “closer” to the Almighty, under His Loving Wings? In His “Secret Place?”

Then … “come on in!”

Within the Tent proper … where “gold” (the best earth has to offer, anyway) is ubiquitous! It’s everywhere!

Living in the Presence of God!

And enjoying His Smile!

Basking in His Love and Favor!

No wonder the street of that Heavenly City (New Jerusalem) is gold! (“And the street of the City was PURE GOLD, as it were transparent glass.” Revelation 21:21, where God will abide with us eternally!)

Leviticus … here we come, eager to learn!

— Dr. Mike Bagwell

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