What does Leviticus 17:8 teach about obedience to God's commands? Setting the Scene Leviticus 17:8: “Tell them, ‘Any man from the house of Israel or from the foreigners who reside among them who offers a burnt offering or a sacrifice…’” Immediate Observations • God speaks —“Tell them”—revealing that His commands are not suggestions. • The instruction covers “any man…or foreigners,” showing that obedience is universal, not selective. • The subject is worship (“burnt offering or sacrifice”), reminding us that the heart of obedience is how we approach God. What Obedience Means Here • Bring the sacrifice to the place God designates (v. 9). • Follow God’s pattern exactly, no shortcuts, no personal improvisations. • Submit even when the requirement seems inconvenient or repetitive. Why the Precise Requirement? • Holiness of God’s dwelling: The tabernacle was sanctified; to approach elsewhere denied His holiness (Leviticus 10:3). • Unity of worship: One altar prevented idolatrous shrines from springing up (Deuteronomy 12:13-14). • Substitutionary picture: Each sacrifice foreshadowed the perfect offering of Christ (Hebrews 10:1-10). Distorting the picture distorts the gospel. Timeless Principles on Obedience • God defines how He is to be worshiped (John 4:24). • Partial obedience is disobedience (1 Samuel 15:22-23). • Outward acts matter only when they align with God’s revealed will (Micah 6:6-8). • Obedience brings life and fellowship; disobedience brings separation (“cut off,” Leviticus 17:9). Connecting to Today • We no longer bring animal sacrifices, yet we still approach God only through the sacrifice He provided—Jesus (John 14:6; Hebrews 10:19-22). • Gathering with other believers is God’s “designated place” for corporate worship (Hebrews 10:24-25). • Obedience in everyday decisions—finances, relationships, speech—honors the same holy God (Colossians 3:17). Encouragement for Faithful Obedience • God’s commands are protective, not restrictive. • He supplies the grace to obey what He commands (Philippians 2:12-13). • Joy follows obedience (John 15:10-11). • Our obedience testifies to the watching world that we belong to Him (1 Peter 2:9-12). |
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