Leviticus | Paula Wiseman

Leviticus and Numbers- the twin road blocks to Bible study. Heavy on details, repetitious and even tedious, they can present a real challenge as you make your way through Scripture.

In Leviticus, the Israelites remain at the foot of Mt. Sinai and receive God's specific instructions on how worship would work from now on. God was undoing years of absorbed Egyptian culture and morality to create a unique people, set apart and obedient to Him. In our age of grace, you might make a good case that we don't need to know anything about Old Testament law. However, here are a couple of things to consider as you work through this law book.

What do the precepts tell you about the character of God?
How do the standards given for the priests apply to us as a "royal priesthood" (1 Peter 2:9)?

Numbers has lists- census, genealogies, campsites and more. If that's not your thing, there are still some goodies in the book of Numbers. Most of these stories are referenced by New Testament writers so they can add to your understanding in other studies.

Chapter 6:24-26 Aaron's blessing
Chapters 11-12 Rebellion in the camp
Chapters 13-14 The spies, the refusal to advance and repercussions
Chapters 16-17 Korah's rebellion
Chapter 20 Moses' lapse at Kadesh
Chapter 21 First victories
Chapter 22-25 Balaam's prophecies and Israel's failure

I admit, Leviticus and Numbers can be tough, but God always blesses your efforts. Ask Him to show you something you can use. He will.

What have you learned or applied from Leviticus or Numbers?

Study Tip: Fly Over

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Welcome back to the blog and a new study tip. I think I have things in hand well enough to get back on schedule. Thank you for your patience!

Next time you begin a new study of a book of the Bible, sit down and read the book through in one sitting. (Okay, Genesis, Psalms, Jeremiah and some of the others may take more than one.) Don’t make any notes- just read it like you would any other pleasure book. Take the pressure off yourself to retain, or to analyze it. Just read it. This does two things for you. First, it makes Bible study less of a chore and more like enjoying time with your Father while you read this wonderful journal He left for you. Second, it gives you context for deeper study.

This quick, overview read is like a view from a helicopter. When you fly over an area, you get an idea of the topography, the roads or waterways, and the landmarks. In a quick read, you get the tone of the book – Job ‘sounds’ different than Jeremiah. You also get the big themes and ideas. If you read the Kings, you see there were good kings and bad kings. In Leviticus, there’s a lot about offerings and feasts. In Luke, the Son of Man is on a mission. In Philippians, there is joy.

I admit, this is a tough one for me. I like the details, and I find myself easily pulled into a word by word examination. However, the overview is critical for a deeper understanding of Scripture, especially how the parts relate to the whole. It may help to read in a different translation than you typically use, especially for the narrative books like the Old Testament histories or Acts or even the Gospels.

Next week, we’ll try a ‘drive-by’ reading to follow the ‘fly-over’.

STT: Leviticus & Numbers

Study Tip: Fly Over