The Holy Spirit Throughout History #5 : “Be Holy as God is Holy--Leviticus"

Holy = qodesh: to cut. To set apart from the rest; implied: for a specific reason.

  • Qodesh in all its forms is used 130+ times in the 27 chapters in Leviticus.
    • The words Lord and Offering outnumber HOLY, to be clear.
    • But the central, anchoring verse in Leviticus - said in several ways throughout the book - is Leviticus 11:45, “For I am the LORD who brought you up out of the land of Egypt to be your God. You shall therefore be holy, for I am holy.

Our title today is “Be Holy, for God is Holy”

    • No biggie - no pressure, right?
    • As you read Leviticus this week, please understand God takes no pleasure in animal sacrifices. They are a necessary offering so that God can still have people around to be in relationship with.
    • And if you’re thinking of the “pleasing aroma” of sacrifices… it’s not the animal’s death that pleases God, it’s the human’s obedience in sacrifice that pleases the Lord.
  • Isaiah 1… “(2) The children I raised and cared for have rebelled against me…” (4) Oh, what a sinful nation they are—loaded down with a burden of guilt. They are evil people, corrupt children who have rejected the LORD… and turned their backs on him… (11) “What makes you think I want all your sacrifices?” says the LORD. “I am sick of your burnt offerings... I get no pleasure from the blood of bulls and lambs and goats. (12) When you come to worship me, who asked you to parade through my courts with all your ceremony? (13) Stop bringing me your meaningless gifts; the incense of your offerings disgusts me!... (18) Come now, let’s settle this,” says the LORD. “Though your sins are like scarlet, I will make them as white as snow. Though they are red like crimson, I will make them as white as wool.” (NLT)
      • The heart of the repentant, that’s what pleases the Lord. The sorrow-filled child who knows he broke Dad’s heart… that’s what pleases the Lord.