Ken Garrison, B.S., M.S., Th.M., Author at Fellowship Church of Winter Springs

Bible Study-31 (Leviticus 25-27)

In the Bible, special occasions are built on periods of seven. This is the reason that the number seven takes on a special meaning. Usually this is interpreted as “divine completion”. Last week we saw the weekly pattern (Shabbat) and the monthly pattern: 1st month – Pesach; 3rd month – Shavuot; and 7th month – Sukkot. Shavuot occurs seven weeks after Pesach. Sukkot occurs seven months after Pesach. The Scripture section this week details the years being numbered in seven year periods for a Shabbat for the land. The land is not tilled but remains fallow in this year. Modern agriculture procedures incorporate this pattern to prevent the depletion of the soil. Finally seven periods of seven years (49 years) brings us to the “year of Jubilee” when the land returns to the family that it was originally allocated to. God declared that He owns the land and that the Israeli’s are “settlers” with Him (Leviticus 25:23). He also promised to walk in their midst (Leviticus 26:12). Because God declared that He owns the land, many today argue that it is sin to attempt to surrender sovereignty over any part of the land.

Leviticus 26 should be understood in relation to the blessing and curses stated in Deuteronomy and the covenant addendum (Deuteronomy 29). The Lord makes bold promises to Israel if they walk in obedience to the covenant. In addition, He gives awesome warnings if Israel rebels against God. There are four levels of discipline listed by the Lord; each becoming more and more severe (Leviticus 26:14-33). The ultimate discipline is dispersion from the land. These are provisions for Israel to occupy the land and do not have implications relative to God’s covenant relationship with Israel. In other words, Israel’s election is eternal without regard to their ability to hold the land of Israel.

Sometimes we get lost in the maze of regulation found in Leviticus. We need to back away and see the broader picture revealed in this book. In Exodus 25, immediately following the consummation of the covenant between God and His people, God instructed Israel to build a “Holy House” for His habitation. God said that He had brought Israel out of Egypt so that He could dwell in their midst (Exodus 29:46). This reveals an eternal purpose of God desiring to dwell in the midst of man. Exodus 40 records God moving into His “house” after Israel had completed it. Immediately following this event, God exhorted Israel to “approach” Him in His house. Basically, He is saying (in Kentucky farmer language) “y’all come to see me”. Five basic steps or approaches are outlined in the beginning chapters of Leviticus. These are usually seen as mechanical sacrifices viewed without symbolic meaning. Actually, these five steps to approach God represent the progressive steps of maturation in the life of a believer proceeding from the sin condition to complete consecration to God.

Following the steps of “approach” to God, we have the discussion of the issue of “clean and unclean” along with the list of prohibited practices. Basically, God is declaring that there are some limitations on the one who approaches. The one who approaches God cannot bring “death” with him. The Holy One of Israel if the “Living God” (Jeremiah 10:10) and will not permit death to be associated with Him in any way. Also there are a number of abominable social practices which God will not allow in His camp. This should speak volumes to America today.

Finally, God outlines the special occasions, His festivals, which reveal insight into the redemption process. We discussed these festivals last week.

With the threat of judgment leading to expulsion from the land, God indicated that, ultimately, He would gather His people back into His land. If Israel repented,

“Then I will remember My covenant with Jacob, and I will remember also My covenant with Isaac, and My covenant with Abraham as well, and I will remember the land”. (Leviticus 26:42)

A more complete statement of God’s intention to bring His people back to the Land after the exile is indicated in Deuteronomy 30:1-6.

The unconditional, eternal nature of God’s covenant with His people Israel is confirmed in spite of their sins leading to expulsion from the land.

“Yet in spite of this, when they are in the land of their enemies, I will not reject them, nor will I so abhor them as to destroy them, breaking My covenant with them, for I am the Lord their God.” (Leviticus 26:44)

Church theologians of the 2nd and 3rd centuries A.D. ignored statements like these concerning Israel. They concluded that God had severed relationship with Israel and had chosen the Church in its place. This is the unscriptural doctrine of “replacement theology” which is still common in Christian thought today.

By Ken Garrison, B.S., M.S., Th.M.

Bible Study-30 (Leviticus 21-24)

This section includes the festivals or times of the Lord (Leviticus 23). I will concentrate on these times in this study. Often these times are referred to as “Jewish” festivals. This is really incorrect. They are the times designated by the Lord and all believers should give careful attention to them.

“Speak to the sons of Israel, and say to them, “The Lord’s appointed times which you shall proclaim as holy convocations – My appointed times are these:…” (Leviticus 23:2)

The festivals of the Lord count days, weeks, months, years and multiple years in cycles based on the number seven. In the Bible, the number seven appears to represent Godly completion. Festivals associated with years and multiple years will be addressed at a later date.

The first festival is counted in days and is the weekly Shabbat.

“For six days work may be done; but on the seventh day there is a sabbath of complete rest, a holy convocation.” (Leviticus 23:3a)

The second series is based on weeks and months. The cycle begins with the first month of the year (spring) and includes Passover, the Feast of Unleavened Bread and Firstfruits.

“In the first month, on the fourteenth day of the month at twilight is the Lord’s Passover. Then on the fifteenth day of the same month there is the Feast of Unleavened Bread to the Lord; for seven days you shall eat unleavened bread.” (Leviticus 23:5-6)

Firstfruits is observed during the week of Unleavened Bread.

“Speak to the sons of Israel, and say to them, “When you enter the land which I am going to give to you and reap its harvest, then you shall bring in the sheaf of the first fruits of your harvest to the priest. And he shall wave the sheaf before the Lord for you to be accepted; on the day after the Sabbath the priest shall wave it. (Leviticus 23:10-11)

From the time of the waving of the Firstfruits offering, Israel was commanded to count seven complete Shabbats (i.e., seven complete weeks) and on the following day observe Shavuot.

“You shall also count for yourselves from the day after the sabbath, from the day when you brought in the sheaf of the wave offering; there shall be seven complete sabbaths. You shall count fifty days to the day after the seventh sabbath; then you shall present a new grain offering to the Lord. You shall bring in from your dwelling places two loaves of bread for a wave offering, made of two-tenths of an ephah; they shall be of a fine flour, baked with leaven as first fruits to the Lord.” (Leviticus 23:15-17)

The next cycle counts months from the first month. The seventh month festivals include Trumpets, Yom Kippur and Sukkot.

“Speak to the sons of Israel, saying, “In the seventh month on the first of the month, you shall have a rest, a reminder by blowing of trumpets, a holy convocation.” (Leviticus 23:24)

“On exactly the tenth day of this seventh month is the day of atonement; it shall be a holy convocation for you, and you shall humble your souls and present an offering by fire to the Lord.” (Leviticus 23:27)

And, “Speak to the sons of Israel saying, “On the fifteenth of this seventh month is the Feast of Booths for seven days to the Lord. “ (Leviticus 23:34)

“On exactly the fifteenth day of the seventh month, when you have gathered in the crops of the land, you shall celebrate the feast of the Lord for seven days, with a rest on the first day and a rest on the eighth day. Now on the first day you shall take for yourselves the foliage of beautiful trees, palm branches and boughs of leafy trees and willows of the brook; and you shall rejoice before the Lord your God for seven days.” (Leviticus 23:39-40)

and, “You shall live in booths for seven days; all the native-born in Israel shall live in booths, so that your generations may know that I had the sons of Israel live in booths when I brought them out from the land of Egypt, I am the Lord your God. (Leviticus 23:42-43)

Interpretation

The weekly festival ending in Shabbat is the easiest to understand. This follows the creation account in Genesis 1 and 2. By resting at the end of the week, we follow the pattern set by God. By doing so we declare that we serve the God of creation.

The festivals that occur in the first, third and seventh months rehearse the plan of redemption that God has implemented. Passover represent redemption purchased. The slain lamb whose blood was sprinkled on the doorpost of the Israelis in Egypt purchased freedom for the inhabitants of that home. 1500 years later, the blood of the Lamb of God was sprinkled on our hearts and we were redeemed. Messiah is our Passover (I Corinthians 5:7). Unleavened bread commemorates the fact that Israel fled Egypt in a hurry when they were freed.

The festivals are built around the agriculture year. Winter grain crops would be about fully grown but not ripened at Passover. A sheaf of grain was waved by the priest as a prayer for a good harvest. This was waved on the morning following the Shabbat after Passover. 2000 years ago as the priest was waving the firstfruit offering, Jesus was raised up from the dead. He represents the firstfruits of the resurrection (I Corinthian 15:20). This obviously points to the hope that many will be raised up in the resurrection.

Following the waving of the firstfruits offering, Israelis count seven complete Shabbats (weeks). On the following day (the 50th day) is the day of Shavuot (weeks). By this time of the year the grain harvest has been completed. Flour from the grain is used to bake two loaves of bread with leaven. In the Temple era these two loaves were waved by the priest like the firstfruits offering had been. This day coincides with the day that God cut a covenant with Israel at Mt. Sinai. On the anniversary of this event, God brought the believers in the upper room into covenant relationship by filling them with the Holy Spirit. Thus Shavuot represent the anniversary of God choosing covenant partners who will be used to accomplish redemption. The first and third month festivals have been fulfilled. Now only the seventh month festival remains to be fulfilled.

The seventh month festivals represent the completion of redemption. The three festivals of Trumpets, Yom Kippur and Sukkot remain unfulfilled at this time. We believe that Trumpets represents the Last Trumpet which will herald the return of Messiah Jesus. We suspect that Yom Kippur represent final judgment by God and that Sukkot represents the New Creation which is the end product of the redemption process.

Thus God’s festivals reveal a picture of the redemption process. As God’s people observe these festivals year by year, the hope for the completion of redemption is renewed in the hearts and minds of His people. I maintain that the Church has done itself a great disservice by ignoring the “times of the Lord”.

By Ken Garrison, B.S., M.S., Th.M.

Bible Study-29 (Leviticus 18-20)

Our continued study in the book of Leviticus brings us to a seemingly unrelated list of activities forbidden by God. We must remember the context in which these statutes were given. God commanded Israel to build a house so He could dwell in the midst of Israel, hence, in the midst of the human community. Once built, His Glory descended onto/into the house. Finally, in the book we call Leviticus He invited Israel (His human host nation) to come to visit (approach) Him. There was a “proper” moral attire that those approaching should conform to. We saw a progression to spiritual maturity outline in chapters 1-8. Later, God distinguished between ritual clean and unclean. It appears that this subject had to do with life and death. Those approaching God could not bring anything associated with death close to Him. Now we will consider moral qualities necessary for those approaching God.
We should note that much of the moral code embraced by Western civilization was defined by God in the Torah. Statutes concerning sexuality was included in the section currently being considered.

The first subject discussed in incest. God declared,

“None of you shall approach any blood relative of his to uncover nakedness; I am the Lord”. (Leviticus 18:6)

A series of specific prohibited relationships were listed. It appears that any relative closer than first cousins are prohibited. Evidently incest was common in Egypt from which Israel had been delivered and also common in the Canaanite culture where they were going. In addition sexual intercourse with a woman during her menstrual cycle was prohibited. In chapter 20 specific penalties are listed for those guilty of incest.

Homosexuality and Bestiality were also prohibited.

“You shall not lie with a male as one lies with a female, it is an abomination. Also you shall not have intercourse with any animal to be defiled with it, not shall any woman stand before an animal to mate with it; it is a perversion.” (Leviticus 18:22-23)

In recent years, American culture (or lack of it) has rejected the prohibition of homosexuality and to a lesser degree bestiality. Today homosexuality is considered to be “politically correct” and is being embraced widely by the American culture.

Another important area of concern is welfare. How does a society provide for the welfare of those unable to provide for themselves which allows the recipient to survive while maintaining personal dignity?

“Now when you reap the harvest of your land, you shall not reap to the very corners of your field, neither shall you gather the gleanings of your harvest. Nor shall you glean your vineyard, nor shall you gather the fallen fruit of your vineyard; you shall leave them for the needy and for the stranger. I am the Lord your God. (Leviticus 19:9-10)

Also special previsions were made for those working on a daily wage:

“You shall not oppress your neighbor, nor rob him. The wages of a hired man are not to remain with you all night until morning.” (Leviticus 19:13)
And,
“You shall not curse a deaf man, nor place a stumbling block before the blind, but you shall revere your God; I am the Lord.” (Leviticus 19:14)

Worship of the false gods of the Canaanites was prohibited. This included the sacrifice of children to Molech. Children were burned in the arms of Molech in an effort to appease this angry god who supposedly had been offended by an individual or by the community. Such a sacrifice supposedly benefited the individual or community so they could return to prosperity. The modern practice of abortion is very nearly the same thing. Children are sacrifices in order for the individual or family to prosper materially.

Finally, a famous rabbi once quoted Leviticus 19:18 as a companion commandment to the great commandment to “Love the Lord your God with all your heart, your soul and your strength”. He said a second commandment was to:

“You shall love your neighbor as yourself; I am the Lord.” (Leviticus 19:18b and Mark 12:31a)

By Ken Garrison, B.S., M.S., Th.M.

Bible Study-28 (Leviticus 16-17)

This week I am going to deal with the subject of Yom Kippur as recorded in Leviticus 16 and 17. We will leave the subject of “clean and unclean” for the moment. Yom Kippur has an extremely important message for all believers.

Yom Kippur occurs on the tenth day of the seventh month. On the tenth day of the first month the Passover Lamb was separated from the flock. It would be slaughtered on the 14th day for the Passover sacrifice. Now exactly seven months later, two goats were taken from the herd and presented to the priest.

“And he shall take from the congregation of the sons of Israel two male goats for a sin offering and one ram for a burnt offering.” (Leviticus 16:5)

After making a sin offering for himself, Aaron, the high priest, presented the two goats before the Lord.

“And he shall take the two goats and present them before the Lord at the doorway of the tent of meeting. And Aaron shall cast lots for the two goats, one lot for the Lord and the other lot for the scapegoat.” (Leviticus 16:7-8)

The goat for the sin offering was slaughtered and the blood sprinkled on the place of covering (the mercy seat) and in front of the mercy seat.

“Then he shall slaughter the goat of the sin offering which is for the people, and bring its blood inside the veil, and do with its blood as he did with the blood of the bull, and sprinkle it on the mercy seat and in front of the mercy seat.” (Leviticus 16:15)

Next he would deal with the scapegoat (goat of removal).

“Then Aaron shall lay both of his hands of the head of the live goat, and confess over it all the iniquities of the sons of Israel, and all their transgressions in regard to all their sins, and he shall lay them on the head of the goat and send it away into the wilderness by the hand of a man who stands in readiness. And the goat shall bear on itself all their iniquities to a solitary land; and he shall release the goat in the wilderness.” (Leviticus 16:21-22)

There are two different types of offering being made. The blood of the goat that was the sin offering provided a covering for the tent of meeting (because it sat in the midst of the impurities of the sons of Israel), as well as providing a covering for the sins of the people. This was for transgressions that had been committed during the year since the previous “day of atonement.” The word for sin is “chatah”. On the other hand, their iniquities (ahon) were confessed over the head of the goat of removal. This refers to the tendency of the sons of Israel to sin. Therefore, they confessed that their sins committed during the past year were covered and that their tendency to sin was being removed from them for the year to come. This was an awesome faith statement. If we are living a crucified life and walking in the Spirit we can believe that not only is our sins being covered but God is removing our tendency toward sin. Some would call this sanctification.

We readily understand that the sins of the people needed to be covered for them to continue to live in relationship with God. But why did the tent of meeting require a covering? Because the tent stood in the midst of the people of Israel, it was considered somewhat defiled and hence needed a covering. As believers we should recognize that the tent of meeting is a type for the church. The invisible church also rest in the midst of God’s people and therefore requires a covering.

One final thought on this subject. The mechanism of atonement is stated in Leviticus 17:11.

“For the life of the flesh is in the blood, and I have given it to you on the altar to make atonement for your souls, for it is the blood by reason of the life that makes atonement.” (Leviticus 17:11)

The currency in the Kingdom of God is life expended. Paul declared that the wages of sin is death. The only covering for our sins is Jesus’ life poured out on the cross. In this manner the Bible declares that all have been justified to life. (Romans 5:18)

By Ken Garrison, B.S., M.S., Th.M.

Bible Study-20 (Exodus 25-27)

As soon as the covenant between God and Israel was consummated, God immediately instructed Israel to build a special house that He could dwell in.

“And let them construct a sanctuary for Me, that I may dwell among them”. (Exodus 25:8)

Later God declared that He had brought Israel out of Egypt for this very purpose.

“And they shall know that I am the Lord their God who brought them out of the land of Egypt, that I might dwell among them; I am the Lord their God.” (Exodus 29:46)

There are many explanations for God bringing Israel out of Egypt but this is His explicitly stated reason. He desires to dwell in the midst of the human community on planet earth. That plan has not changed throughout the ages.

The plans for the tabernacle and its implements are the first revelation of the church that we find in the Bible. Certainly there had already been patterns revealed concerning the Messiah, but the special house foreshadows the real church (in contrast to the institutional church). God instructed Moses to build the tabernacle according to the plan shown him on the mountain.

“And you shall erect the tabernacle according to its plan which you have been shown in the mountain”. (Exodus 26:30)

How did God show a pattern to Moses? Of course, I am speculating at this point, but I believe we get a glimpse of the process by which prophecy comes about. I believe God showed Moses a vision of a future event or situation. In this case I believe that God showed him the New Creation which would be described by the Apostle John (Revelation 21-22). The Most Holy Place of the tabernacle has the same configuration and purpose as the city, New Jerusalem. According to John, the city of New Jerusalem and the redeemed Church are one and the same.

“And one of the seven angels who had the seven bowls full of the seven last plagues came and spoke with me, saying, “Come here, I will show you the bride, the wife of the Lamb.” And he carried me away in the Spirit to a great and high mountain, and showed me the holy city, Jerusalem, coming down out of heaven from God,…” (Revelation 21:9-10)

The city, New Jerusalem, is the dwelling place of the Holy One and the Lamb (Revelation 22:3b). In the original tabernacle, the Most Holy Place was the throne of God. The outer chamber, the Holy Place, was the throne (ministry) of the Messiah. After the death and resurrection of Messiah Jesus, the Lamb’s throne is also located within the Most Holy Place. This is the reason the veil was torn from top to bottom at the death of Messiah Jesus.

The Ark of the Covenant that was constructed for the tabernacle represents the throne of God. The Ark was a relatively small box made of wood and overlaid with gold. The top of the box was similarly constructed. As a part of the gold overlay of the top were two golden “cherubim” (angelic figures). The top was the place of covering. Blood would be sprinkled there for the covering of sin. The Hebrew name for the top is “Hakaporet”, or the covering.

“For the life of the flesh is in the blood, and I have given it to you on the altar to make atonement for your souls; for it is the blood by reason of the life that makes atonement.” (Leviticus 17:11)

One final thought from this section, the Cherubim on the either side of God’s throne were facing one another and looking downward toward (pointing to) the throne of God. The previous reference to the Cherubim was in the “garden account”.

“So He drove the man out; and at the east of the garden of Eden He stationed the cherubim and the flaming sword which turned every direction to guard the way to the tree of life”. (Genesis 3:24)

The former ministry of the Cherubim was to declare that man cannot approach God on his own. Now the Cherubim are declaring the one approach to God. When the tabernacle was completed, the singular approach to God would be: (a) through the camp of Israel, (b) in the Eastern gate of the tabernacle, (c) past the bronze altar (covering for sin), (d) past the laver (cleansing), (e) in the Holy Place (ministry of Messiah) and finally, (f) into the Most Holy Place to the presence of God (the Tree of Life). This is what Jesus was declaring when He said:

“Jesus said to him, “”I am the way, and the truth, and the life, no one comes to the Father but through Me.” (John 14:6)

Today the institutional church separates Jesus the Messiah from the camp of Israel. However, Messiah is an office in Israel. To fruitfully follow the Messiah today, we still need to enter through the camp of Israel. This is the significance of “Hebraic Roots”.
(Copies of my book “Hebraic Roots” are available through the Tzemach Institute for Biblical Studies in Winter Springs, Florida).

Bible Study-31 (Leviticus 25-27)

Bible Study-30 (Leviticus 21-24)

Bible Study-29 (Leviticus 18-20)

Bible Study-28 (Leviticus 16-17)

Bible Study-20 (Exodus 25-27)

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