One of the central themes of Leviticus is the presence of God with God’s people. God is the One who delivered His people from enslavement in Egypt and now stands at the center of their identity and direction. God is with them. So, too, in Jesus, God is with us. In fact, one of Jesus’ most memorable titles is Emmanuel, which means “God with us.”.
(Leviticus 1:1; Isaiah 7:14; Matthew 1:23; 1 Corinthians 3:16)
Sermon Outline
“The LORD called to Moses and spoke to him from the tent of meeting…” (Leviticus 1:1)
“‘The virgin will conceive and give birth to a son, and they will call him Immanuel’ (which means ‘God with us’).” (Matthew 1:23)
Introducing Leviticus
- The place of Leviticus in the Hebrew Bible
- The relationship of Leviticus with the Christian New Testament
- The importance of Leviticus for us today
God is Holy
- What does it mean that God is holy?
- The holiness of God reveals God’s greatness
- The holiness of God reveals our need
God Desires to Speak to and Be With His People
- The holy God who desires to speak to us
- The holy God who desires to be with us
Jesus, the Holy God with Us
- The provision and inadequacy of the guidelines in Leviticus
- The provision and adequacy of Jesus as Messiah
DISCUSSION QUESTIONS:
- Answer one of these questions to begin:
- What would you say it require to be truly present with someone?
- When have you felt someone or a group of people were really present with you in a challenging time?
- This week we begin a new preaching series during Lent entitled, “Holy God, Wholly Given: Lent in Leviticus.” This six-week series will not take us through every verse but will explore key themes of Leviticus seen in relation to the life and work of Jesus the Messiah. Whether on your own or with others, begin your study in prayer.
- Background: Leviticus is the third book in the Hebrew Torah, the five books of Moses known as the Pentateuch. Leviticus takes place as God meets with His people at Mount Sinai after the Exodus on their way to the Promised Land. While addressing many detailed topics, Leviticus focuses on what it means for God’s people to live in relationship to God both individually and corporately.
- Read Leviticus 1:1. Why is it significant that God desires to speak and be present with His people?
- How does this theme fit in with the story of God in Genesis (the story of God’s creation of the world and creation of a new people for Himself through Abraham and Sarah) and Exodus (the story of God hearing His people’s cries for deliverance from slavery in Egypt and answering)?
- Now read Isaiah 7:14 and Matthew 1:23. As you think about this opening theme of Leviticus that God desires to speak to and be with His people, how does the promise fulfilled in Jesus amplify that theme?
- Read Matthew 28:20. Paying attention to that final phrase of verse 20, what does it mean to you personally that Jesus is God come near to be with us now and forever?
- What is one thing God speaking to you personally through this week’s study? If you are with a small group, discuss that with one another and then pray about what you shared. If you are on your own, write it down, pray about it, and consider sharing your thoughts with someone this week.
Dig Deeper:
- Join in with Eastbrook’s daily devotional during Lent: eastbrook.org/LeviticusDevo
- Take some time to prayerfully reflect on this past week’s message by going on a walk, journalling, drawing, or talking to a friend. Use some of these texts for further reflection: Leviticus 1:1; Exodus 19; Isaiah 7:14; Matthew 1:23; Matthew 28:20; 1 Corinthians 3:16
- Explore these resources:
- Gordon Wenham, The Book of Leviticus, New International Commentary on the Old Testament (Grand Rapids, MI: Eerdmans, 1979).
- Bible Project Leviticus Bible book overview
- Bible Project Leviticus in the Torah themes series