I can’t tell you how many times I have planned to read the Bible all the way through only to be derailed when I hit the book of Leviticus. What makes the book difficult is the detailed steps of sacrifices, instructions for handling dead bodies, and lists of clean and unclean animals and activities. As Christians, we know we are supposed to read all the parts of the Bible because it is God’s love letter to humanity, but it can be hard to push through.
This year, when I got to Leviticus, I armed myself with some tools. Not only did I make it through the book, but I actually enjoyed it and finished the book with a deeper understanding of its value and importance. Now I want to share those tools with you. These tools are not in any particular order.
Pull Back on Application
It is a pretty modern idea that knowledge is pointless without application. This has brought on a trend of trying to apply every passage we read in the Bible to our lives at this moment. The applications seem to come easily when we are reading Paul’s epistles, but Leviticus is a little harder to apply. Because it contains laws for sacrifices and rituals we don’t practice today, it can seem pointless for us to put in the effort to understand the book.
But our purpose in reading the Word is not application. I’m not saying it doesn’t apply to our lives, but that should not be our focus. We should be reading the Bible to get to know God. As we read through any book of the Bible, we should be looking for clues about God’s character.
In Leviticus, we should be looking specifically for God’s holiness, His mercy, and His grace as He provides a way for Him to dwell among His people.
Consult a Bible Handbook or Study Bible
Because there are many laws that seem so strange to us, a Bible handbook or the notes in a study Bible can be very helpful as you make your way through the book of Leviticus. You could also use a website like blueletterbible.org (also available as a free app) if you don’t have a study Bible or simply want another tool.
You need to find basic information like who wrote the book? When was it written? To whom was it written? What time period does it span? The answers to these questions will hopefully spur other questions and clarify some things as you get into the book. When you come to a confusing passage, use the notes in the handbook or study Bible to find clarification. Often the explanation is simple but foreign to our modern, western culture.
One of the interesting details you can learn from a tool like this is that the title of the book means “things concerning the Levites.” This makes sense as you start reading about the sacrifices and the feasts over which the Levites preside. You can also use these tools for word study, which takes us to the next tip.
Define Your Terms
There are repeated terms in the book of Leviticus that need some context because we might understand them differently today than they were meant when written or translated. There are also words we need to define because they are words we just don’t use in everyday conversation. Understanding these terms can change the way we read the passage.
Many Christians struggle to get through the book of Leviticus. Here are a few tips to help you stay engaged as you tackle this book.
For example, the terms “clean” and “unclean” that show up repeatedly in Leviticus have nothing to do with hygiene or being dirty. Most times they don’t even refer to sinfulness. Instead, they refer to a ritual state. In other words, being “unclean” means the person cannot participate in a ritual. Many of the things that are listed as “unclean” are completely out of the control of the person, so they aren’t related to sin.
Other words to look up include:
Atonement
Holy
Sacrifice
Priest/Priesthood
Purity
Because my goal is always to encourage you to study the Word for yourself, I want to leave these words for you to look up on your own. A great resource is blueletterbible.org. You can do a word study by finding a verse with the word in it, clicking on “tools,” and finding the Strong’s Concordance number. There you will find not only definitions, but also other verses that use the same word in the original language so you can compare how the word was translated and gain a deeper understanding of its overall meaning.
Look for God the Father and Son
Our goal in reading any book of the Bible is to learn who God is. Leviticus is no different. When you read the book of Leviticus, look for God. God was making a way for His people to come to Him.
God cannot be in the presence of sin. Therefore, He cannot dwell among sinful people. But He wants to dwell with us. He wants to take part in our lives. So He created a way for that to happen. Everything in the book of Leviticus is for this purpose. It is Him making a way for His people to come to Him so He can dwell among His people.
When we get to the New Testament, we will see how Christ takes the place of all of the rituals and sacrifices described the book of Leviticus, so the book of Leviticus gives us a glimpse into what Christ has done for us in order to shatter the distance between us and God. The book of Hebrews complements Leviticus by showing us how Christ fulfills the demands of Leviticus.
Sacrifice: Hebrews 7:27, 9:26, 10:12
“He has no need, like those high priests, to offer sacrifices daily, first for his own sins and then for those of the people, since he did this once for all when he offered up himself.”
Hebrews 7:27
Priest: Hebrews 5:5-6, 2:17, 3:14, 4:14
“Therefore he had to be made like his brothers in every respect, so that he might become a merciful and faithful high priest in the service of God, to make propitiation for the sins of the people.”
Hebrews 2:17
Pure: Hebrews 7:26, 9:12
“For it was indeed fitting that we should have such a high priest, holy, innocent, unstained, separated from sinners, and exalted above the heavens.”
Hebrews 7:26
Surrounding Nations
Israel had just spent 400+ years in Egypt surrounded by Egyptian gods and Egyptian rituals and ceremonies. Now they were surrounded by many pagan nations who practiced religious rituals intended to appease their man-made gods. Because we are created to worship, God laid out the rules for His worship so the Israelites would not follow in the practices of those around them. So while many of the laws prohibited things that weren’t wrong in and of themselves, because they were used in ceremonies to false gods, the Israelites were not to participate. Some of the practices of the surrounding nations were definitely contrary to God’s character, like child sacrifices to Molech, and they are specifically called out by God and forbidden of the Israelites.
The goal was for God’s people to look different than other nations. God wanted the surrounding people to notice. Israel didn’t have a pharaoh or a king. Their ruler was God. As a result, they did things differently. God’s people are always supposed to look different than the world because we are set apart.
Note Repetition
The last thing I will mention, though I know this list is not exhaustive, is the most obvious. If God says something once, it is important. If God says the something multiple times, you need to pay attention. When you start to notice a phrase or sentence that is repeated multiple times, I recommend you take note by picking a highlighter color and marking that phrase in that color every time you come across it. (If you are opposed to writing in your Bible, you could print out a copy of the book and mark it up instead or track the instances of the repeated phrase in a journal.) This will give you a visual of the repeated phrases and help you understand why they are there.
An example from my reading includes the repeated phrase “I am the LORD” and “I am the LORD your God.” This phrase appears after every command given in chapter 19. It reminds me of a parent giving instructions to her child and ending each one with “I am your mother” as that is the only explanation needed to compel the child to obey.
I pray these tips will alleviate your fear of the book of Leviticus and help you come away from the book with a renewed sense of awe as you discover more about God. Spending time in the Word should never be approached as a punishment or requirement but should instead be approached with excitement and anticipation. These tips helped me look forward to reading Leviticus and brought me a deeper understanding of its importance.
If you apply these tips to your reading of the book of Leviticus, I would love to know how it goes for you!
I recently published a post about how to read the book of Genesis, so you might be wondering what makes Exodus different from Genesis. While it is true that both books were written by Moses under the inspiration of the Holy Spirit, and it is also true that both books are historical narrative, there is one major difference between the books: Moses was an eye witness to everything in the book of Exodus except for chapter 1 (the events leading up to his birth) and part of chapter 2 (his birth).
By verse 11 in chapter 2, Moses is a grown man, so everything else that happens in the following chapters is told to us from the perspective of experience.
Moses Shares His Experience in Exodus
Moses gave us a first-hand account of committing murder.
He experienced the burning bush that was not consumed.
He heard the voice of God telling him to go back to Egypt.
Moses argued with God about his qualifications.
He witnessed his staff turning into a snake and picked the snake up by the tail.
It was his hand that turned leprous and then was healed.
Moses stood in the throne room of Pharaoh and threatened him with the plagues.
He faced the anger of the Israelites who blamed him for their extra work.
Moses heard the great cry in Egypt when the first-born children died.
He was the vessel God used to part the Red Sea.
He was the one who struck the rock, providing water for the Israelites.
Moses walked up Mt. Sinai and communed with God.
It was Moses who received the Ten Commandments from God Himself.
He heard God’s promise of a land for the Israelites.
He received all of God’s instructions for how His people should live and worship.
Moses pled with God on behalf of the idolatrous Israelites.
He got to see the remnants of God’s glory.
It was his face that shone after spending time with God.
Moses led the Israelites in making everything to God’s specifications.
The fact that Moses was an eye-witness to these things doesn’t affect the credibility of the words (he was, after all, writing what the Holy Spirit told him to write), but it does affect the style of the writing. While Genesis may seem to jump around and miss details, Exodus is told in a more cohesive way. It is easy to follow along with the Israelites as Moses shares the details.
It is incredible to think that Moses experienced the things he wrote down. I often think experiencing just one of the things on that list first hand would be life-changing, and he got to experience all of them. But that is not the point of the book of Exodus.
Exodus Is about God
Even though Moses is giving us a first-hand account, the book of Exodus is not about Moses. It isn’t about the Israelites or the exodus, either. The book of Exodus is about God.
God saved Moses from the Nile river and Pharaoh’s wrath.
God showed up in the burning bush that was not consumed
God gave Moses instructions and encouragement as He called Moses to be the means by which He freed His people from captivity.
God rebuked Moses for questioning His plan.
God made the staff turn into a snake and back into a staff, and He made Moses’ hand leprous only to heal him.
God used the plagues to demonstrate His power above the gods of the Egyptians.
God was patient with Pharaoh, giving him chance after to chance to obey.
God showed his favor to the Israelites by confining the plagues to the Egyptians.
God demonstrated his mercy toward the Israelites, who by faith obeyed His instructions for the passover.
God followed through on His threats to Pharaoh when he refused to submit.
God showed up as a pillar of cloud and fire to guide and protect the Israelites.
God stopped the waters of the Red Sea, allowing the Israelites to pass on dry ground.
God caused the waters to cover and drown the hosts of the Egyptian army.
God turned bitter water into sweet water and brought water from a rock.
God provided food for the Israelites while they wandered in the wilderness.
God met Moses on Mt. Sinai and gave him the Ten Commandments.
God showed mercy to the Israelites when they worshipped the golden calf in sending a plague rather than annihilating them all.
God protected Moses as He passed by him.
God not only gave Moses detailed instructions, but He also empowered workers with supernatural talents to accomplish the tasks.
If you had printed out this post, I would instruct you to draw a big X through the first list. While Moses’ experiences are awe-inspiring, do not let them distract from the goal of the book: to know God. It is important for us to see God’s full character, and the book of Exodus shows us many facets. He is loving, merciful, and gracious, but He is also holy, jealous, and just.
When Proverbs 1:7 tells us the fear of God is the beginning of wisdom, we should not down play or reject the term “fear.” Yes, God is our father and our friend, and we are co-heirs with Christ, but we should never forget that God is holy and requires holiness from us, as well.
The book of Genesis is chock full of amazing history! In it we learn the stories of creation, the flood, the origin of the Jewish nation, the coat of many colors, and so much more. But sometimes these stories can seem disjointed, out of order, or lacking in detail.
Some of the narratives raise questions they never answer, like where did Cain get his wife? Sometimes they seem to speed through the story, like when it relates the birth of all of Jacob’s children in a short chapter. And other sections seem to come out of order or go back to a previously mentioned detail, like in the account of the creation of mankind.
Genesis Is a Historical Narrative
When we read the book of Genesis, it is important to remember that this is not a first-hand account told as the events unfold. The stories of creation, the fall, Noah’s ark, the Tower of Babel, and even the covenant God made with Abraham were passed down from generation to generation orally until Moses wrote them down for the Israelites during their long trek through the wilderness. Moses gave us the necessary information to understand the point of the story, not to know every little detail pertaining to it.
While this doesn’t affect the credibility of the book (Moses was chosen and inspired by the Holy Spirit to write down these exact words), it does affect the style. We have grown accustomed to a narrative style that keeps things in order and explains the details. But can you imagine how long the Bible would be if that is how it was written?
Genesis Is Not a Textbook
It is also important to realize that Genesis is not a history book, nor is it a science textbook. It contains history, and it contains science, but it is not meant to be read for the sake of gaining knowledge. It is interesting, however, that the archaeological community continues to find artifacts that support the historical narrative of Scripture, and the scientific community regularly “discovers” things the Bible has already told us. But that is a topic for another time.
Moses wrote down exactly what God knew we needed to know, and he left out exactly what God knew we didn’t need to know. So, while it can be fun to follow a rabbit trail and do the math to figure out exactly how many years passed from the time of creation to the flood (I’m a nerd, I know), don’t get so wrapped up in the missing information that you can’t learn what God wants to share with you.
Genesis Is about God
When we read the book of Genesis, we need to remember, first and foremost, that the Bible is a book about God. The purpose of the whole Bible, including Genesis, is to teach us who God is. When we read the Bible for that purpose, our perspective changes.
When we read Scripture to discover more about God, it teaches us more about us, too. When we see ourselves in light of who He is, we recognize who we are. While we are God’s image bearers, we are also sinful creatures. This is demonstrated through the people in the stories of Genesis. While it is tempting to put different characters on a pedestal and want to be like them, Scripture doesn’t sugar-coat their stories, and it allows us to see all of the pitfalls and temptations they faced as well as their victories.
So, as you approach the book of Genesis, do so with the intent to know God. What does the story of creation tell you about God? What does the flood teach you about His character? What does His covenant with Abraham tell you about who He is? Our goal should be to fall deeper in love with Him while we read the fascinating stories included in Genesis.
I recently watched a debate on Instagram Live that boiled down to discussing the authority of the Bible and the divinity of Jesus. I’m not sure what made me stop and watch, but I’m glad I did.
One of the participants, let’s call her Jane, made an interesting statement. While discussing the inspiration and inerrancy (no errors) of Scripture, Jane said she loves the Bible, but her god is “bigger than a book.”
This was reminiscent to me of a statement in William P. Young’s book The Shack. One of the characters in his book says, “Nobody wanted God in a box, just in a book. Especially an expensive one bound in leather with gilt edges, or was that guilt edges?” (For a full review of the book The Shack, click here.)
On the surface, these statements sound good. Who wants to worship a god who is limited to a book? But that’s just it—He’s not limited by a book; He makes the book limitless!
Who put God in a book?
First, it’s important that we make something very clear: Man did not put God in a book. God chose the written word as the medium by which we get to know Him. He chose the men who penned His Word. And He chose the very words that were written. He did all of this with us in mind. As our Creator, He knows how best to communicate with us.
As a result, the Bible isn’t an ordinary book. The Bible was written by some 40+ men over a period of 1,600 years, and yet has a common thread woven through its entirety. Its pages contain God’s beautiful love story as He pursues us and gives us the means to participate in a relationship with Him.
This is what the author of Hebrews says about the Bible:
“For the word of God is living and active, sharper than any two-edged sword, piercing to the division of soul and of spirit, of joints and of marrow, and discerning the thoughts and intentions of the heart.”
Hebrews 4:12 ESV
No other book does what the Bible does. And anyone who spends time in the Word can tell you it is life-giving and life-changing.
Why is the Bible different?
What makes the Bible different from other books is the fact that it is inspired by God. It was literally breathed out by God to the men who wrote it down. However, Jane argued that the inspiration the writers of the Bible received was no different than the inspiration an artist feels before he creates a work of art.
While it is true that our only measure of beauty comes from God and, therefore, beauty in art has a shadow of inspiration, it is not the same inspiration of Scripture. Artistic inspiration is not equal to divine inspiration. Art doesn’t speak to everyone. Different types of beauty appeal to different people. But the word of Scripture is universal.
If this is a struggle you have been facing, I urge you to spend time in the Word. Many have set out to disprove Scripture only to be changed by it and embrace it once they really studied it. If you need some direction for Bible study, I invite you to download my free workbook, 6 Steps to Study the Bible on Your Own.
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If you want to know more about how it was determined if a book was inspired and, therefore, it was included in the canon of scripture, I recommend you listen to the second season of Phylicia Masonheimer’s podcast Verity. Click here to check it out. (And when you’re done with season 2, go back and listen to season 1 because it is fire, too!)
How would you define an idol? Having grown up in church, I know all of the stories about the Israelites and their idols: the golden calf, the foreign gods, even Dagon, the idol that bowed down to the Ark of the Covenant (1 Samuel 5). When we think of idols in this context, we would claim not to worship idols.
But idols don’t have to be crafted with our hands. An idol is anything that takes your attention off of God, anything that keeps you from your time with God. In this context, sleep can be an idol, TV can be an idol, and, dare I say it, food can be an idol.
Did you realize your “quiet time” can become an idol, too? It seems contradictory because your “quiet time,” your time in the Word, isn’t taking your focus off of God, right?
Oh, but it can!
It’s all too easy to spend time in the Word just so you can check it off your to-do list, post a pretty Instagram picture with your coffee and your colorful pens, or hit a goal you’ve set for yourself. The motive behind your devotional time can be pulling your focus off of God.
When I allow perfectionism to keep me from the Word because I think I have to have the prettiest space or the right Bible or the perfect pen or the best mug for my coffee, I am making my quiet time an idol.
When the reason for my time in the Word is to reach a goal or check it off a reading plan, I’ve lost focus of the purpose.
When I use my “quiet time” as an excuse not to face my responsibilities, or I wear it as a badge of honor so others can see how spiritual I am, my “quiet time” has become an idol.
Spending time in the Word should be a time of worship when we focus on knowing God more intimately.
So how do I avoid creating an idol out of my devotional time?
Realize that God’s expectation is that you will come to Him as you are. You don’t have to get your ducks in a row, clean up your act, or get your house in order to spend time with Him. Think about it this way: what are your expectations of your kids before they come to you? Do they need to clean up? Do they need to look or act a certain way? Would you reject them if they didn’t? Of course not! If my son wants a hug from me as he’s walking off the baseball field after a grueling double-header in the heat of summer, he gets that hug! Why then do we think God has expectations of us before we come to Him?
If you realize you are distracted and having a hard time focusing on what you’re reading, stop. Figure out what the problem is and fix it, or come back to your reading later in the day when you can be more focused. Minimize distractions as best you can, but be flexible and have grace. While you should have a plan, it shouldn’t be too rigid. You are developing a relationship, not simply trying to be more productive with your time.
Litmus Test
A great question to ask yourself is if you couldn’t tell anyone about your devotional time, would you still do it? I’m not encouraging you to keep your study to yourself—we need community and accountability—but if all of that was stripped away, would you still spend time with Him? If you know your answer to this question is “yes,” then your devotional time is really about your relationship with the Lord.
If your answer right now would be “no,” don’t quit. Giving up won’t solve the problem. Refocus. Repent, ask forgiveness, and realign.
If you need help with your time in the Word and want to learn to study it for yourself so you don’t have to depend on someone else to tell you what it means, download my free 6 Steps to Study the Bible on Your Own Workbook.
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If you would like to read more blog posts like this one, click here.
I recently finished reading through the Bible for the year. And, yes, I’m proud of it! I have read the Bible through four or five times in my lifetime, and one of those times was in 90 days! That was really fast!
Every time I read through the Bible I learn new things, and something different captures my attention. I make new connections and deepen my understanding. And God always shows me something I have missed before.
This time, for example, I fell in love with the book of Daniel. Daniel’s relationship with God, in spite of his surroundings and his circumstances, is incredibly inspiring. Daniel’s prayers are beautiful, and his faith is overwhelming.
There are so many benefits to reading through the Bible:
You get an over-arching picture of the Word of God.
You connect events, characters, and places that you have learned about before as separate stories.
You discover passages that touch your soul in a way you never expected.
You have a daily plan that keeps you showing up to your time with the Lord.
…just to name a few. Every believer should commit to reading through the Bible at least once in her life. You could do it very quickly, say in 90 days, or you could take three years or longer to get through it. It is a commitment you won’t regret keeping!
Though I have thoroughly enjoyed reading through the Bible this year, I won’t be doing it again next year. Here is why:
I love lists, and I found myself battling my tendency to read the passages just to be able to check them off.
I enjoy diving deeper into Scripture, and I found that, by the time I finished my passage for the day, my day and all of its tasks were pushing in on me.
I had to continually check my motives. Why was I doing this? Was it just to be able to say I did it or was I really growing my relationship with God?
Whether I am reading through the Bible, studying a passage on my own, or doing a Bible study and gleaning from someone else’s wisdom, the goal is always to grow a deeper relationship with the Author of this love letter.
If you have not read through the Bible, I encourage you to commit in 2020. There are a plethora of reading plans out there. You can read from Genesis to Revelation. You can read it chronologically, or you can mix it up. Many Bibles come with a reading plan in the back.
If you need accountability, I’d love to provide it. Let me know if you’re making the commitment, and let me cheer you on!
