How does "this is what the LORD has commanded" reflect God's authority in Leviticus? Setting the Scene in Leviticus Leviticus repeatedly frames its instructions with the phrase, “This is what the LORD has commanded.” For example: • Leviticus 8:5 — “Moses said to the congregation, ‘This is what the LORD has commanded to be done.’” • Leviticus 9:6 — “Moses said, ‘This is what the LORD has commanded you to do, so that the glory of the LORD may appear to you.’” These verses come during the ordination of Aaron and his sons and the inaugural offerings that follow. Each ritual step, down to the smallest detail, is rooted in a direct command, not human invention. Weight of the Command • God’s words carry inherent authority. When Moses says, “This is what the LORD has commanded,” he reminds Israel that every instruction originates in the Sovereign Creator, not in Moses himself (cf. Deuteronomy 4:2). • The phrase marks a boundary between worship that is acceptable and worship that is self-styled. Nadab and Abihu cross that line in Leviticus 10:1–2 when they offer “unauthorized fire,” and judgment falls immediately. • By grounding worship in divine command, the text teaches that God alone defines what pleases Him (Isaiah 55:8–9). Authority Rooted in Covenant • Israel had pledged, “All that the LORD has spoken we will do” (Exodus 24:7). Leviticus is God’s covenant charter fleshed out in daily life. • Every “commanded” ritual reminds the people that they belong to the LORD who redeemed them from Egypt (Leviticus 26:13). • God’s authority is never arbitrary; it is covenantal love safeguarding the relationship. Obedience Brings Blessing, Disobedience Brings Consequence • Leviticus 26:3–4 — “If you walk in My statutes and keep My commandments and carry them out, then I will give you rains in their season…” • Leviticus 26:14, 18 — “But if you refuse to listen to Me… I will punish you sevenfold for your sins.” • The linkage between command and consequence underscores divine authority over every sphere—spiritual, moral, and even agricultural. Foreshadowing Christ’s Perfect Obedience • Hebrews 10:7 quotes Psalm 40 and applies it to Christ: “Behold, I have come… to do Your will, O God.” • Where Israel’s obedience faltered, Jesus fulfilled every command perfectly, becoming the flawless High Priest and sacrifice foreshadowed in Leviticus (Hebrews 7:26–27). • The authority that demanded perfect obedience is the same authority that provides the perfect, obedient Savior. Living it Out Today • Scripture still speaks with the same divine authority (2 Timothy 3:16). • Our worship, ethics, and daily decisions are safe only when anchored to “what the LORD has commanded,” not personal preference. • Joyful submission to God’s Word parallels the Old Testament pattern: obedience attracts His presence and blessing, while self-willed worship leads to spiritual barrenness. |
    |