The Biblical Path of Life

Tag: Leviticus

  • The Law

    “But his delight is in the law of the LORD; and in his law doth he meditate day and night.”
    Psalm 1:2

    We are taught that obeying laws is important and that there are penalties to be paid if we break them. Consider the importance of laws. We are to understand that God has laws. His laws are significant, and obedience is very important to God as we can see throughout His Word, and most notably in the Old Testament. Often we recognize God’s discipline on those who break His laws.

    The first five books in the Old Testament are referred to as “The Law.” Within these books we find the first 2,500 years of history recorded by Moses. The first book, Genesis, begins with the creation, records the ruin of man through sin, but it also reveals the sovereignty of God. The word sovereignty means “supreme in power; possessing supreme dominion; as a sovereign ruler of the universe.” We understand that God is the sovereign God of all who love and obey Him.

    One easy way to remember Genesis and the events within is to recognize:

    Four main events take place:

    • The Creation
    • The Fall
    • The Flood
    • The Tower of Babel  

    Genesis deals mainly with Four People:

    • Abraham
    • Isaac
    • Jacob
    • Joseph

    After about four hundred years, God’s people grew into a nation numbering around two to three million people in Egypt. This is where Exodus (which means “the way out” or “outgoing”) begins. At the culmination of the ten plagues, we see the mighty deliverance of God’s people from a land of bondage. Shortly after this they meet at the foot of Mount Sinai. It was at Mount Sinai that the Law was given (beginning with the Ten Commandments; Exodus 19-20). The Israelites were taught that obedience to God is necessary. They could not be a redeemed, set-apart people unless they obeyed God’s command.

    In Leviticus, God spoke to Moses from the tabernacle instead of Mount Sinai. The people needed to know how to live. God instituted the offerings, the priesthood, a clean lifestyle, and the different feasts. These things were teach the people how to live as a people wholly given to God in every aspect of their lives. Leviticus shows the ability to have fellowship with God when we come to Him as a sanctified people (because He is holy, and we are a sinful people). Leviticus ends with the blessings of obedience and the penalties for disobedience. Only about a month’s time passes during Leviticus.

    The name Numbers comes from a numbering of the people at the beginning of the book and then again at the end. There were two groups of people, an old generation and a new generation. When the twelve spies were sent into the land promised to Abraham, only Joshua and Caleb brought back report that God would allow them to conquer the land. When the Israelites disobeyed God’s command to cross over into the Promised Land, they were disciplined. The old generation would die and not enter because they refused to obey God. Only Joshua and Caleb escaped God’s discipline (wandering in the wilderness for forty years). Fewer than forty years elapse during Numbers where we see God guiding, providing, and protecting His people.

    Deuteronomy begins by looking back to what God had done for His people and then looking forward. The entire book shows the faithfulness of God revealing that God loves His people. Moses warned the people to not forget the words of God’s Law, revealing the blessings for following God’s Law and the curse of God if they failed to obey. Joshua is appointed the new leader of the new generation, and Moses dies.

    After remembering the books of “The Law,” see that they help us understand God and what He expects from His people. We also learn that it is quite impossible to obey every law that God has given us. In the New Testament we gain some insight as to why it is important to know “The Law” of the Old Testament. “24. Wherefore the law was our schoolmaster to bring us unto Christ, that we might be justified by faith. 25. But after that faith is come, we are no longer under a schoolmaster. 26. For ye are all the children of God by faith in Christ Jesus” (Galatians 3:24-26).

    Have you understood “The Law” is a schoolmaster to show the need for Jesus?

    Originally posted at Lighthouse Gospel Beacon

  • The Way to God

    “My little children, these things write I unto you, that ye sin not. And if any man sin, we have an advocate with the Father, Jesus Christ the righteous”
    1 John 2:1

    The following is an excerpt from “The Biblical Path of Life: Year One Quarter Two.”

    “God has revealed himself gradually through the years. Hebrews 1:1-2a: ‘1. God, who at sundry times and in divers manners spake in time past unto the fathers by the prophets, 2a. Hath in these last days spoken unto us by his Son …’ (remember that Hebrews 1:1 refers to the incremental and progressive manner in which God disclosed Himself up until the appearance of the Son. It was fragmentary and piece by piece, sort of like pieces of a puzzle). We see him as the God of creation in Genesis 1. We then see he is a God who cannot look upon sinful man in Genesis 3. We see that there is a limit to his tolerance of sinful man in Genesis 6 (the flood that destroys the world), yet we also see that God shows grace to those who continually seek him (Noah; Genesis 6:8). God then revealed himself to an individual man (Abraham; Genesis 12) and extended that revelation to his descendants (Exodus 3:15). God showed Himself mightily to His people in the ten plagues and the exodus of His people from bondage (Exodus 7–14). He then showed Himself as their provider (in the wilderness; Exodus 15–17). We see He is a God who expects His people to hear His voice and obey Him (Exodus 19–20). Once the people accomplish the great task of building a tabernacle where God’s presence can dwell among His people (Exodus 40), He then reveals just what it takes to become a “clean and forgiven” people in the presence of a sinless, perfect God (Leviticus).

    God has mandated a blood sacrifice for man’s sins since the garden. When man sinned, God shed the blood of an animal to make a covering for man (for he was naked before God; his sins were exposed). When God made the clothes to “cover” Adam and Eve, it was a great picture of what the Old Testament sacrifices did for man. They covered mankind’s sins for a season. Throughout the Old Testament, we see the shedding of blood (from an animal) to cover mankind’s sins. It isn’t until we come to Leviticus that God reveals the intricacies and details of the way it is required. The ritualistic sacrifices (explained in Leviticus) that must be fulfilled, completely and perfectly, are to show us the great sacrifice it would take to cleanse sinful man from his sins. It is to reveal to mankind the impossibility of entering into God’s presence without the perfect sacrifice, only found in Jesus. All throughout the books of the Law we see God gradually reveal Himself to mankind, only a piece at a time, through revelation—only as much as we could handle.”

    “And he (Jesus) is the propitiation for our sins: and not for ours only, but also for the sins of the whole world” (1 John 2:2). The word propitiation means “the means of putting away sin and establishing righteousness not by man’s ability to appease God with an of his offerings, (for man is unable to offer anything to placate God), Jesus is presented as the righteous One; … reconciling us to God, allowing us to be acceptable for fellowship with God (see also Romans 3:25). The propitiation of Christ is very personal – the propitiation for our sins.”

    Have you asked Jesus to be your Advocate with God, the Father?

  • Lesson 4 (Lesson 43): Psalms 73-89: Book 3

    Key Verse

    “Thy way, O God, is in the sanctuary: who is so great a God as our God?”    Psalm 77:13

     

    Read the Key Verse with your class.  Ask your students if they like to go to church.  According to our memory verse, attending church is important to God.  That is how we know the way to live a life pleasing to God.  Help them understand the word sanctuary:  a sacred place dedicated to the things of God.  The church today is a place where we gather to focus upon the things of God and to learn of the things of God.  There is no one (or any thing) greater to place our focus and attention upon than God, our God.

    Summary Today we continue with the second of the Personal Books, Psalms.  Remember that the Psalms is broken up into 5 books.  We will look at book three of the Psalms (chapters 73-89) today, comparing them to the book of Leviticus.  If you remember, the main theme of Leviticus was the tabernacle.  That was the tent set up to hold the things of God and where man was to go to meet God.

    When the tabernacle was completed, God spoke to Moses from the tabernacle instead of Mount Sinai.  Once the people were free from the land of bondage, they needed to know how to live.  There was great emphasis placed on the importance of being a sanctified people – set apart from the world and the things of the world.  The people were to learn how to live as a people wholly given to God, in every aspect of their lives.  Leviticus showed the ability to have fellowship with God when man came to Him as a sanctified people.  (Because He is a Holy God and we are a sinful people.)

    The first eleven Psalms of the third book of the Psalms were written by Asaph (he was one of the Levites David appointed to minister before the Ark of the Covenant with songs in I Chronicles 16:4-5.)  We see him at one point as he struggled with jealousy over the prosperous wicked, until he went to the “sanctuary of God” – then he understood.

    We also reemphasize the importance of learning from history (again), and what happens to those who forsake God.  Through this book of the Psalms, we will learn the importance of God’s house, and the importance of serving Him.  It ends with a praise encouraging us to make God’s faithfulness known to “all generations.”

    Encourage your students to bring their Bibles and use them!

    Emphasis:  We are to learn the importance of not desiring the things of this world, but placing our focus (our heart’s desires) upon the things of God.  The one place we can go to achieve this purpose, is the church (the sanctuary – that place dedicated to the things of God).

     

    Optional Worksheets to be downloaded:

    Lesson 43 – Volume 1 Children’s Worksheet 1

    Lesson 43 – Volume 1 Children’s Reinforcement Worksheet

     

    Ideas for children:

    Stickers always work well with children. Often times I watch Wal-Mart or Oriental Trading Company for specials or deals on things I can use for crafts for Sunday School (i.e. foam sheets, Bible Story scene stickers, crowns, stick on jewels, construction paper, etc.).  I keep a stash and when I need something, I go search in my stash!  Pinterest always has great ideas!

    You could have a coloring sheet that goes with the lesson.

    One idea for today’s lesson:  (See picture below).  For today’s lesson I took a coloring of a church building.  I cut out the windows and doors.  The students were able to glue different colored pieces of small tissue paper to the back to make the windows look stained glass or just colorful.  They then took time to color the church building.  We are to encourage them to understand that the church building is a special place because it is the place God’s people go to meet together to place our attention on God and the things of God.

     

    Mural idea:

    Refer to the wall in your classroom that has become a mural.

    By now your class should be in a groove as to the direction and areas in which they need to focus and work on to improve their Christian lives.  Use this knowledge to help you address specific areas in each lesson that your class can discuss and share as you add new things to your mural.  Continue to watch as your class grows in their knowledge of not only God’s Word, but areas in their lives that can be corrected, drawing them closer to the Lord.

    Have them each add anything else they may have brought to add to the wall.  Encourage everyone to participate.

     

  • Lesson 8 (Lesson 21): Leviticus 21 – 27: The Worship of God

    Key Verse

    “I am crucified with Christ: nevertheless I live; yet not I, but Christ liveth in me: and the life which I now live in the flesh I live by the faith of the Son of God, who loved me, and gave himself for me.”  Galatians 2:20

    Go over the key verse with your class helping them understand it with the following:  “I am crucified with Christ [spiritually by mortifying (putting to death) our worldly and fleshly lusts by the cross of Christ]…”  Now that we have Jesus in our heart, we can no longer live like we once did (like we want).  We live for Jesus because we are given life by faith in “the Son of God” (Jesus) “who loved me, and gave himself for me.”  Notice the “me” makes it a very personal thing.

    Especially help them to learn to put their “wants” in check.  We are not supposed to live our lives doing what we want if we belong to Jesus.  We are supposed to do what He wants us to do!

    Summary:  Once your students understand the foundation of fellowship with God (the last lesson), they need to understand the condition they must be in to be in a relationship with God to fellowship with Him.  God starts with the condition of the priests, then moves on to the condition of their offerings.  We find out today (in the New Testament) that when we belong to Jesus, we are “kings and priests” to Him.  Knowing this, we need to look at what God required of His priests.  They must live a life “set apart”.  They were to be “holy” before God.  Help your students understand that this is required of us.  We must do as our memory verse today tells us.  Put our worldly lusts to death and live a life pleasing to God.

    The book of Leviticus ends with the blessings of obedience, the penalties for disobedience, and with the importance of keeping vows to God.  A warning is given to always keep our promises to God.  (Only about a month’s time passes during the book of Leviticus.)

    Encourage your students to bring their Bibles and use them!

    Emphasis:  To worship God properly, we need to understand that we cannot do what we want to do.  We must do what God wants.  We are “kings and priests” to God.  We have to live our lives “set apart” and pleasing to God so we can offer our lives as a “living sacrifice” (living implies continual – never ending).

     

    Optional Worksheets to be downloaded:

    Lesson 21 – Volume 1 Children’s Worksheet

    Lesson 21 – Volume 1 Children’s Reinforcement Worksheet

     

    Ideas for children:

    Stickers always work well with children. Often times I watch Wal-Mart or Oriental Trading Company for specials or deals on things I can use for crafts for Sunday School (i.e. foam sheets, Bible Story scene stickers, crowns, stick on jewels, construction paper, etc.).  I keep a stash and when I need something, I go search in my stash!  Pinterest always has great ideas!

    You could have a coloring sheet that goes with the lesson.

    One idea for today’s lesson:  (See picture below).  We made a crown.  You can buy precut out crowns (from someplace like Oriental Trading Company), or you can cut them out of gold or silver poster board.  Allow them to decorate them with peel and stick jewels (or for someone who is brave, you could use glue and glitter!).  Fit the to the child’s head size and staple them to hold them together.  Remind them that when we are saved (have asked Jesus into our hearts) we are kings and priests to God.

     

    Mural idea:

    Refer to the wall in your classroom that has become a mural. Today, have them think of ways they can be a “living sacrifice”.  Have them draw a crown (or cut one out of paper) to remind them that they are “kings and priests” to God (if they belong to Him).  We should live our lives pleasing to God knowing that He gave His Son (Jesus), for that honor and privilege.  Have them write down at least one area in their life they will make a concerted effort to improve upon.

    Have them each add anything else they may have brought to add to the wall.  Encourage everyone to participate.

  • Lesson 7 (Lesson 20): Leviticus 1-20: The Way to God

    Key Verse

     “And he (Jesus) is the propitiation for our sins: and not for ours only, but also for the sins of the whole world.”  I John 2:2

    Read today’s memory verse with your class.  Propitiation is a word most children have never heard before.  Help them understand with the following:  Propitiation means an abbreviated definition is the means of putting away sin and establishing righteousness – not by man’s ability to appease God with any of his offerings (for man is unable to offer anything to placate God), . . . Jesus is presented as the righteous One; . . . reconciling us to God, allowing us to be acceptable for fellowship with God (see also Romans 3:25.)  The propitiation of Christ is very personal “the propitiation for our sins”.

    By Jesus’ death, He cleansed us from sin rather than covering it for a time – as in the Old Testament sacrificial system.  God provided his son, Jesus, as the righteous One (I John 2:1).  So, Jesus is the propitiation, made for the whole world (all who would believe), which supplies the method of deliverance from our sin, reconciling us to God, and making us acceptable for fellowship with God. Our students need to know that we are all sinners and God cannot look on sin.  Only Jesus can take that sin away (that propitiation).  Today’s lesson will help us somewhat understand the Old Testament sacrificial system.  Then we can better understand the sacrifice of Jesus.

    Summary:  Once the tabernacle was completed, God spoke to Moses from the tabernacle instead of Mount Sinai.  Now that they were free from the land of bondage, the people needed to know how to live as a sanctified people. God instituted the Offerings (ch. 1-7), the Priesthood (ch. 8-10, 12-22), and a Clean Lifestyle (ch. 11-20.)  They must understand the foundation of a relationship with God on the basis of the propitiation (appeasement from God’s wrath) from a blood sacrifice.  Leviticus shows the ability to have fellowship with God when we come to Him as a sanctified people.  (Because He is a Holy God and we are a sinful people.)  Through these many things, the people were to learn how to live as a people wholly given to God, in every aspect of their lives.

    In the book of Leviticus, “sweet savour” is mentioned 16 times in reference to the offerings God requires of them.  Compare this to what God says in Ephesians 5:2: “And walk in love, as Christ also hath loved us, and hath given himself for us an offering and a sacrifice to God for a sweetsmelling savour.”  Notice that Jesus’ death was a “sweetsmelling savour” to God – once and for all.

    Emphasis:  To understand that the book of Leviticus shows us the importance of the blood sacrifice needed before we could be reconciled to God, enabling us to have a relationship with him.  Leviticus helps us understand why in the New Testament; Jesus had to give His life as the one time only, perfect sacrifice.

    Encourage your students to bring their Bibles and use them!

     

    Optional Worksheets to be downloaded:

    Lesson 20 – Volume 1 Children’s Worksheet 1

    Lesson 20 – Volume 1 Children’s Reinforcement Worksheet

     

    Ideas for children:

    Stickers always work well with children. Often times I watch Wal-Mart or Oriental Trading Company for specials or deals on things I can use for crafts for Sunday School (i.e. foam sheets, Bible Story scene stickers, crowns, stick on jewels, construction paper, etc.).  I keep a stash and when I need something, I go search in my stash!  Pinterest always has great ideas!

    You could have a coloring sheet that goes with the lesson.

    One idea for today’s lesson:  (See picture below). We took a small bag and filled it with potpourri.  We then tied the verse Ephesians 5:2 to the bag.  This was a “sweet smelling” bag to remind us of the “sweet-smelling savor” we learned about in class.  It is to help us remember the importance of living a life pleasing to God after the gift Jesus gave of His life for me.

     

    Mural idea:

    Refer to the wall in your classroom that has become a mural. Today, help them realize just how real sin is.  It is even real in their lives.  Have them think of an area they need to recognize as sin in their life that is not pleasing God (they do not have to share, just acknowledge to themselves).  Help them commit to work on living a clean life before God.  A lot of times, the sin on the inside shows up on the outside (how they dress, hairstyles, makeup, language, etc.).  Have each of them draw a cross on the shape of a heart that has their name on it.  Encourage them to remember that God knows their heart and it is their job to keep Jesus first there.

    Have them each add anything else they may have brought to add to the wall.  Encourage everyone to participate.

  • Lesson 5: The Five Books of the Law: Genesis – Deuteronomy

    Key Verse

    “But his delight is in the law of the LORD; and in his law doth he meditate day and night.” Psalm 1:2

    After reading this verse, think of some laws or rules we are expected to obey.  Should we break the law?  What happens if we do?  Think about why it is important to have laws.  Understand God has laws.  His laws are the most important, and we are to obey them.  Help them understand the memory verse.  Remind your students that obedience is very important to God as we see throughout His Word.  When Adam and Eve disobeyed God, they were disciplined and cast from the Garden of Eden.  Take a few minutes to think of some examples in the bible where people disobeyed God’s commands and were disciplined, or examples of people obeying God’s commands and Him blessing.

    In this lesson we begin to consider God’s Law, and the importance of obedience to God’s Word.  The word Pentateuch means “five books.”  The first 5 books of the Old Testament are also referred to as “the Law.”  Moses recorded these books.  Within these books, we find the first 2500 years of history.  God’s laws are important.  God demanded obedience from his people.  By knowing and understanding God’s commands to His people, we are better able to live as Christians.

    Optional Worksheets to be downloaded:

    Lesson 5 – Volume 1 Children’s Worksheet 1

    Lesson 5 – Volume 1 Children’s Reinforcement Worksheet

     

    Ideas for children:

    • In any lesson, you may want to work on your coloring timeline – especially when it relates to the lesson.
    • Display the poster of the books of the Old Testament (may be downloaded from lesson 4 blog). Review the books of The Law (showing them on the poster).  You may have them draw a picture of their favorite story from the books of The Law.  Review the 3×5 cards if you made them, practicing the divisions.  Focus on putting the books of The Law in order for today’s lesson.
    • Review last week using their hands of the five divisions of the Old Testament if you made them.  Emphasize that the thumb was for the first division.  Today, for Genesis, begin with the thumb.  Hold up your thumb and say, “For Genesis, there are 4 Main Events to remember.”  As you say them, hold up a different finger for each one until all of your fingers are extended when you finish.  They are:  The Creation, The Fall, The Flood, and The Tower of Babel.  When you finish, repeat the process for the 4 Main People:  Abraham, Isaac, Jacob, and Joseph.
    1. For Exodus, use both hands to remember:  10 Plagues, and 10 Commandments.
    2. For Leviticus, remind them that God created them and wants them to be His special people.  In Leviticus, God teaches his people to live as special people belonging to God.
    3. For Numbers, God’s people are counted 2 times (hold up two fingers.)  Also, there were 12 spies sent into the Promised Land.  10 said no, 2 said yes (that they should obey God and could conquer the land.)
    4. For Deuteronomy, the last book in this division, Moses reminds the people they will be blessed if they obey God, and they will be cursed if they do not obey God.  Moses died at the end of this book and Joshua (one of the 2 spies that believed they could conquer the land) was appointed their new leader.
    • You could also find a coloring sheet of one of the events you discussed.

     

    Mural idea: 

    Refer to the wall in your classroom that has become a mural.  For this week, have them each add the picture, news article, poem they have written, picture they may have drawn, etc. of something they believe is relevant to the lessons we have been studying.  Encourage everyone to participate.  Watch as it grows weekly, as they express what God is revealing to them through our study of how the Bible fits into His plan to help us become more like Him.

    Today, have them decorate another puzzle piece (may be downloaded from Lesson 3 blog) with some of God’s “laws” they should obey.  Have them come up with them on their own so they are not all the same.  After they have finished, have them share what they wrote on their puzzle piece as they add it to your wall.