What man lost in Eden, FELLOWSHIP WITH GOD … has been renewed by the time we get to the end of the Leviticus Story. Through the five Offerings (all except one involving Bloodshed) in chapters 1-7 … all the way to the Laws of Purity (living cleanly after the Blood has been appropriated, applied) in chapters 12-27. In other words, from beginning to end! Yes, God fellowshipping again with mankind! With Israel now ready to march toward Zion, Mount Zion!
But in Old Testament terms, the greatest manifestation of GOD’S ABIDING PRESENCE is probably found in the concept of Mount Moriah. Let me show you what I mean …
In our King James Bible the proper noun “Moriah” occurs only twice. Those locations are significant. Leviticus is designed to help the Jewish people learn and maintain the Lessons of Moriah!
First occurrence, God speaking to Abraham … “And he said, Take now thy son, thine only son Isaac, whom thou lovest, and get thee into the land of MORIAH; and offer him there for a burnt offering upon one of the mountains which I will tell thee of.” Genesis 22:2, one of the greatest Pictures of Calvary that we possess, Old Testament wise.
Last occurrence (of only two) … “Then Solomon began to build the house of the LORD at Jerusalem in mount MORIAH, where the LORD appeared unto David his father, in the place that David had prepared in the threshingfloor of Ornan the Jebusite.” 2 Chronicles 3:1, the beginning of the greatest Building every erected! (God’s House, literally, the Place of God and man meeting together!)
And the Book of Leviticus gives us the total Plan, the perfect Will of God, all the Holy Spirit directed Technicalities of the WORSHIP/COMMUNION that is to be offered in that God ordained Place, on Mount Moriah!
By the way, Jesus died just outside the City that was built around Mount Moriah, Jerusalem! Substitutionary Death (a ram caught in a thicket for Isaac in Genesis 22 … and an innocent lamb for a sinning Israelite throughout the Book of Leviticus), Substitutionary Death (certainly in Jesus dying for us old sinners)!
And that vicarious DEATH making possible the overall Goal of the Book of Leviticus … God and man living in sweet, unbroken Fellowship … eternally!
Amen!
— Dr. Mike Bagwell
By the way, “Moriah” in Hebrew means “God sees!” (A blend of the verb “raah” and the Noun “Yah,” God’s very name!) God saw Calvary from Day One! Peter even says, “before the foundation of the world!” 1 Peter 2:20
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