Approaching God – Lessons from Leviticus

God’s call changed everything for the Israelites. Amid the vast, severe wilderness landscape of the Sinai region, in sun–scorched sorrow and disappointment over a recent national sin – the creation and worship of an idol of smelted jewelry – life abruptly changes. With the first line of Leviticus, “And the Lord called,” God interrupts time and space, regret and reason, futility and hope. He reveals the pattern of the gospel: the holiness of God, the problem of human sin, God’s plan of salvation, His call to holiness through His gracious provision. He shows a way for sinful humans to live in the presence of a holy God.

This call doesn’t just affect the ancient Israelites – Milton shows how Leviticus still speaks to Christ’s followers today. This book of the law points consistently to Jesus, the fullness and fulfilment of every antitype. It reveals to us in stark terms the abhorrence of sin, and the barrier it creates between mankind and God.

Beginning with a helpful overview of Leviticus, and after providing some beneficial information about its title, authorship, time and biblical context, Milton tackles the book in four sections:

Called to Worship (chapters 1–7)

Called to Ministry (chapters 8–10)

Called to Purity (chapters 11–16)

Called to Holiness (chapters 17–27)

Throughout, we see how this call applies not only to the ancient Israelites, but also to us.