What does "perpetual statute" in Leviticus 6:18 teach about God's unchanging nature? “Any male among Aaron’s descendants may eat it. It is a permanent portion for the generations to come from the offerings made by fire to the LORD. Whatever touches them shall become holy.” Understanding the Hebrew Phrase • “Permanent portion” comes from the Hebrew ḥuqqat ʿôlām—literally “a perpetual statute.” • ʿÔlām carries the idea of that which is everlasting, stretching beyond the horizon of time. • A statute (ḥuqqāh) is a fixed ordinance, an unalterable decree. What “Perpetual Statute” Reveals about God • Unchanging Character – Malachi 3:6: “Because I, the LORD, do not change…” – Psalm 102:27: “But You remain the same, and Your years will never end.” • Faithful Covenant-Keeper – Numbers 23:19: “Does He speak and not act? Does He promise and not fulfill?” – Romans 11:29: “For God’s gifts and His call are irrevocable.” • Ongoing Holiness Standard – “Whatever touches them shall become holy” (Leviticus 6:18) underscores that God’s holiness never relaxes; He always requires consecration. • Continuity Through Generations – The offering was to be eaten “for the generations to come,” showing that what God institutes endures despite changing human circumstances. From Leviticus to Christ • The sacrificial system pointed ahead to the once-for-all sacrifice of Jesus (Hebrews 10:1–14). • While the ceremonial form has been fulfilled, the moral revelation of God’s holiness and faithfulness stands intact (James 1:17; Hebrews 13:8). Practical Takeaways • God’s commands are never arbitrary; they flow from who He is—eternal, holy, reliable. • Because His nature is fixed, believers can trust every promise He has spoken (2 Corinthians 1:20). • The call to holiness remains perpetual: “Just as He who called you is holy, so be holy in all you do” (1 Peter 1:15). |
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