Leviticus 17:1
Then the LORD said to Moses,
Then

The instructions given at Sinai continue without interruption. Leviticus 17 begins a section that directs Israel’s daily life and worship in light of the holy God who dwells among them.

Exo 32:7 Then the LORD said to Moses, “Go down at once,…
Deu 31:14 Then the LORD said to Moses, “Behold, the time of your death…
Num 27:12 Then the LORD said to Moses, “Go up this mountain…

the LORD

Yahweh speaks as Israel’s covenant God, the One who redeemed them from Egypt and claimed them as His own. His commands establish worship that reflects His holiness and guards His people from the idolatry of the surrounding nations.

Exo 6:2-3 God also told Moses, “I am the LORD.…
Lev 1:1 Then the LORD called to Moses and spoke to him…
Deu 4:35 You were shown these things so that you would know…

said

God’s law came by divine revelation rather than human custom. Moses received the Lord’s commands so that Israel could know how to approach God, remain distinct from pagan worship, and live under His covenant.

Exo 19:9 The LORD said to Moses, “Behold, I will come to you…
Num 11:17 And I will come down and speak with you there,…
Exo 24:12 Then the LORD said to Moses, “Come up to Me on the mountain…

to Moses,

Moses served as the appointed mediator through whom God gave His word to Israel. The commands that follow regulate sacrifices and the handling of blood, directing all worship toward the tabernacle and affirming that atonement comes only through the provision God has made.

Lev 1:1 Then the LORD called to Moses and spoke to him…
Exo 25:1 Then the LORD said to Moses,
Num 15:1 Then the LORD said to Moses,

Persons / Places / Events
1. The LORD (Yahweh)
The covenant God of Israel, who is giving instructions to His people through Moses. Yahweh is central to the account, emphasizing His authority and holiness.

2. Moses
The leader and prophet of Israel, chosen by God to deliver His laws and commandments to the Israelites. Moses acts as the mediator between God and the people.

3. Israelites
The chosen people of God, who are receiving these laws as part of their covenant relationship with Yahweh. They are called to live according to God's statutes.

4. The Tabernacle
While not mentioned directly in this verse, the Tabernacle is the central place of worship and sacrifice for the Israelites, and the context of Leviticus 17 involves regulations concerning sacrifices.

5. The Wilderness
The setting where the Israelites are receiving these laws, highlighting their journey from Egypt to the Promised Land and their dependence on God's guidance.
Teaching Points
God's Authority and Holiness
Recognize that God's instructions are rooted in His authority and holiness. As believers, we are called to respect and adhere to His commands.

The Role of Mediators
Moses serves as a mediator between God and the Israelites. In the New Testament, Jesus is our ultimate mediator, bridging the gap between humanity and God.

The Importance of Obedience
The Israelites were required to follow God's laws precisely. Similarly, Christians are called to live in obedience to God's Word, reflecting His character in our lives.

Community and Worship
The laws given to Israel were meant to shape their community and worship practices. Today, our worship and community life should be guided by biblical principles.

Continuity and Fulfillment
While the sacrificial system is fulfilled in Christ, the principles of holiness, obedience, and worship continue to be relevant for believers.
Bible Study Questions
1. How does understanding God's authority in Leviticus 17:1 influence your view of His commands in your life today?

2. In what ways does Moses' role as a mediator foreshadow the work of Jesus Christ in the New Testament?

3. How can we apply the principle of obedience from Leviticus to our daily walk with Christ?

4. What are some ways our worship practices today can reflect the holiness and reverence that God required of the Israelites?

5. How does the fulfillment of the sacrificial system in Christ impact your understanding of the Old Testament laws and their relevance to your faith journey?
Connections to Other Scriptures
Exodus 20
The giving of the Ten Commandments, which establishes the foundation of Israel's covenant relationship with God, similar to the laws in Leviticus.

Hebrews 9
Discusses the sacrificial system and its fulfillment in Christ, providing a New Testament perspective on the laws given in Leviticus.

Acts 15
The Jerusalem Council, where early Christians discuss the application of Mosaic Law to Gentile believers, reflecting on the ongoing relevance of Old Testament laws.
Features of Christian ServiceW. Clarkson Leviticus 17:1-7
One Place of SacrificeS.R. Aldridge Leviticus 17:1-7
Sanctity of Animal LifeR.A. Redford Leviticus 17:1-9
Grace Before MeatR.M. Edgar Leviticus 17:1-16
Statutes Concerning BloodJ.A. Macdonald Leviticus 17:1-16
People
Aaron, Israelites, Moses
Places
Teman
Topics
Saying, Spake, Speaketh, Spoke
Dictionary of Bible Themes
Leviticus 17:1-5

     8626   worship, places

Library
Influences that Gave Rise to the Priestly Laws and Histories
[Sidenote: Influences in the exile that produced written ceremonial laws] The Babylonian exile gave a great opportunity and incentive to the further development of written law. While the temple stood, the ceremonial rites and customs received constant illustration, and were transmitted directly from father to son in the priestly families. Hence, there was little need of writing them down. But when most of the priests were carried captive to Babylonia, as in 597 B.C., and ten years later the temple
Charles Foster Kent—The Origin & Permanent Value of the Old Testament

Justification.
Christ is represented in the gospel as sustaining to men three classes of relations. 1. Those which are purely governmental. 2. Those which are purely spiritual. 3. Those which unite both these. We shall at present consider him as Christ our justification. I shall show,-- I. What gospel justification is not. There is scarcely any question in theology that has been encumbered with more injurious and technical mysticism than that of justification. Justification is the pronouncing of one just. It may
Charles Grandison Finney—Systematic Theology

After the Scripture.
"In the day that God created man, in the likeness of God created He him."--Gen. v. 1. In the preceding pages we have shown that the translation, "in Our image," actually means, "after Our image." To make anything in an image is no language; it is unthinkable, logically untrue. We now proceed to show how it should be translated, and give our reason for it. We begin with citing some passages from the Old Testament in which occurs the preposition "B" which, in Gen. i. 27, stands before image, where
Abraham Kuyper—The Work of the Holy Spirit

Discourse on Spiritual Food and True Discipleship. Peter's Confession.
(at the Synagogue in Capernaum.) ^D John VI. 22-71. ^d 22 On the morrow [the morrow after Jesus fed the five thousand] the multitude that stood on the other side of the sea [on the east side, opposite Capernaum] saw that there was no other boat there, save one, and that Jesus went not with his disciples into the boat, but that his disciples went away alone 23 (howbeit there came boats from Tiberias nigh unto the place where they ate the bread after that the Lord had given thanks): 24 when the multitude
J. W. McGarvey—The Four-Fold Gospel

Leviticus
The emphasis which modern criticism has very properly laid on the prophetic books and the prophetic element generally in the Old Testament, has had the effect of somewhat diverting popular attention from the priestly contributions to the literature and religion of Israel. From this neglect Leviticus has suffered most. Yet for many reasons it is worthy of close attention; it is the deliberate expression of the priestly mind of Israel at its best, and it thus forms a welcome foil to the unattractive
John Edgar McFadyen—Introduction to the Old Testament

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