LEVITICUS AT A GLANCE: TO LIVE IN GOD'S PRESENCE

Pr Enos Mwakalindile
Jul 13
5 min read

Updated: Jul 30

Drawing Close to God: Walk in the Leviticus, Look to Christ

“You shall be holy, for I, the LORD your God, am holy.” (Leviticus 19:2)

A large tent-like structure with smoke rising is surrounded by numerous smaller tents in a desert setting. People and animals are scattered throughout.

📜 Leviticus: The Door to Holy Communion and Covenant Life

Leviticus is more than a collection of ancient laws—it is God’s invitation to his people to live in holy fellowship with him. Situated in the middle of the five books of Moses (the Torah), this book holds a unique place as the centerpiece of God’s plan of redemption , focusing our attention on issues of God’s presence, holiness, repentance, and true worship.

Written by Moses, near Mount Sinai, to a generation that had escaped the chains of slavery but had not yet learned to live in the freedom of the covenant. In Leviticus, God gives them a new structure of life—religious, social, and moral—so that they may live as a nation unique among other nations.

The book's name comes from the tribe of Levi, which was chosen for the service of worship. But the message of Levi extends to the entire nation. In it we find answers to profound questions such as: How can sinful man live before a holy God? Can society be built on justice and mercy? What place does sacrifice have in God's plan of grace?

In the light of the New Testament, every sacrifice, every sanctification ceremony, every worship ceremony teaches us about Christ, who is the fulfillment of all of this.

📘 A Journey of Grace, Holiness, and Presence: Leviticus from a Thematic Perspective

Leviticus 1–7: The Way to Approach God through the Covenant Offerings — In a world filled with sin, can man approach God without perishing? The five great offerings teach us that there is a way of grace—through blood, repentance, and faith.

Leviticus 8–10: The Priestly Call: Can Religious Leadership Be Deadly? — Who is qualified to stand between God and the people? Israel’s priests were chosen for their piety and purity. But what happens if they violate that holiness?

Leviticus 11–15: Being Clean: Does God Care About the Body and Ordinary Life? — What does it mean to be clean before God? The theoretical and practical instructions demonstrate that God cares about our bodies, our health, and our communities.

Leviticus 16–17: The Day of Atonement: A Doorway for the Whole Nation — One day a year, the whole nation stood before God for forgiveness. What does this day tell us about the cross of Jesus and eternal mercy?

Leviticus 18–20: Covenant Values: Holiness Is Visible in Family and Community — Can everyday life be worship? These laws show that holiness is not only on the altar, but also in marriage, relationships, and social justice.

Leviticus 21–22: Clean Service: Does Our Worship Represent God? — God teaches us that not all service is inherently holy. There is a call for spiritual excellence, pure worship, and undefiled service.

Leviticus 23–25: Covenant Feasts: Memories That Bring Healing Through Time — God teaches us to celebrate grace. These feasts are not just memories but mercies that intervene in time and initiate the renewal of life.

Leviticus 26–27: Covenant of Faithfulness: The Blessings of Holding on to God or the Danger of Disobeying Him — The end of the book brings us to the threshold of decision: Will you walk in God’s promises faithfully, or will you rebel and reap the consequences?

Leviticus is not just a book of law, but a mirror of God's grace that penetrates into the depths of everyday life—at home, at work, and in the community.

🛡️ Five Fundamentals of Faith Emerge from Leviticus

1. The Holiness of God

God is revealed as distinct, pure, and sovereign over all life. Holiness is not merely a moral quality, but the very nature of God's being . Man is called to receive that holiness through repentance, sacrifice, and a pure life.

2. Sacrifice and Atonement

Sacrifice is not a payment but a sign of grace , aimed at bringing about reconciliation between God and man. Each offering expresses some aspect of man's need before God—and ultimately, it foreshadows Christ, the ultimate Sacrifice.

3. The Presence of God Among the People

Leviticus begins where Exodus ends: God dwells in the Tabernacle. But His presence is not a mere formality; it requires sanctification, reverence, and pure worship. In Christ, we find a new, eternal Tabernacle.

4. A Life of Worship That Pervades All of Life

Worship is not confined to the altar or the tabernacle—it extends to the table, the fields, the marketplace, the home. Everyday things are called holy because God is among his people.

5. Covenant Society

God’s covenant creates a new society—with compassion for the poor, justice for strangers, and purity for all. This is a society that reflects God’s image to the world.

Leviticus teaches us that holiness is not about separating from the world, but living in it in a way that brings glory to God.

✨ Viewing Leviticus Through the Light of Christ: The Mystery of the Lamb of God

In the New Testament, Leviticus shines even brighter when we see Christ as:

The great eternal sacrifice (Hebrews 10)
The spotless High Priest (Hebrews 4–7)
The tabernacle of God and the body of His glory (John 1:14)

Jesus did not abolish the law—he fulfilled it by making it alive in his body, offering the atoning sacrifice, and uniting us to the Father through the Spirit. Therefore, to read Leviticus is to read the mystery of the Lamb of God before he is revealed by name.

🎯 Lesson Objective: Being Built as God's Community Through the Leviticus

Through Leviticus, we learn not only about the ancient sacrifices and laws, but about the heart of God who desires to share life with His people. The goal of this lesson is to help us live as covenant people: sanctified, united, and living for the glory of God in every area of life.

🙏 Liturgical Conclusion: Journeying with God in Holiness

Leviticus teaches us that a holy life is not a burden of law, but an invitation to live close to a God who is pleased with his people. This is an invitation for everyday life to be an altar to his glory—in work, family, community, and leisure.

As a nation of priests, we are called to reflect God's holiness to a world in need of light. And in Christ, we have been given everything we need for a godly life.

🙌 Invitation to the Journey of Grace

Leviticus is not a tomb of the law, but a garden of grace—a place where God speaks, purifies, and invites his people to live in his holiness. Here, every action—eating, dressing, speaking, doing business—becomes part of worship.

Take your daily bread, meditate, talk to others, and allow the Holy Spirit to do the sanctifying work in you. A holy life is not heavy—it is a life filled with the presence of God.

"I will walk among you and be your God, and you will be my people." (Leviticus 26:12)

📖 Every Day in Leviticus: A Reading Plan for a Life of Holy Communion

Over the next 27 days, each day we will examine each chapter of Leviticus from a doctrinal, spiritual, and prophetic perspective. Each day you will encounter: