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CELEBRATING 25 YEARS
Be holy
because I,
the LORD
your God,
am holy.
Leviticus 19:2
Leviticus:
Holiness for God’s People Today
New from Today in the Word
HE IS RISEN
An Easter Devotional
The book of Leviticus was a priestly manu- The blood of Christ gives us the confidence
al. According to Old Testament scholar J. to approach God directly without the help
Barton Payne, it served a specific purpose: of an earthly mediator (Heb. 10:19–22). This
“God revealed the priestly codes to Mo- access gives every believer the status of
ses in 1445 B.C. at Sinai, immediately after priest. We offer our worship to God as we
the construction of the Tabernacle. The “declare the praises of him who called you
purpose of these was to provide profes- out of darkness into his wonderful light” (1
sional guidance for the priests and a de- Peter 2:9). We present our bodies (i.e., our
tailed liturgy for the house of God.” The lives) to God as a living sacrifice and an
laws found in the book of Leviticus differ act of true worship (Rom. 12:1).
from those found in Deuteronomy primari-
ly in their scope. The laws of Deuteronomy We should not conclude from the Bible’s
were more comprehensive, intended to doctrine of the priesthood of all believers
guide God’s people in their new life in Ca- that the church has no need of designated
naan. The laws of Leviticus were more leaders. In his first epistle Peter describes
technical and related to the priestly rituals all believers as priests, but also describes
associated with Israel’s worship. the responsibilities of the church’s elders.
They serve as the church’s shepherds (1 Pe-
When Christ came, however, an important ter 5:1–2).
theological shift occurred. These Old Tes-
tament laws, which figured so importantly Nor should we conclude that believers no
in the daily life and worship of God’s peo- longer need a High Priest. The writer of
ple, had fulfilled their purpose and were Hebrews assures us that Jesus Christ con-
replaced by a new order. The sacrifices tinues to serve as our heavenly High Priest.
demanded by the Law of Moses ceased to Because He was made like us, Jesus is able
be necessary, since Christ’s sacrifice of to be merciful. Because He was sinless, He
Himself accomplished what the Levitical is able to be faithful (Heb. 2:15). Because He
sacrifices could not (Heb. 10:1). The Levitical was tempted like us in every way, He is
priesthood became obsolete, surpassed able to sympathize with our weaknesses
and replaced by the High Priesthood of Je- (Heb. 4:15). Because He was victorious
sus Christ (Heb. 10:11–14). In the current over temptation, sin, and death, He is able
church age every believer is a priest and to offer redemption. Jesus always lives to
has direct access to the Father’s presence. intercede for us (Heb. 7:25).
www.todayintheword.com
FROM THE EDITORS
by Heather Moffitt
Finding Joy in Complex Truth
This month we are introducing a new writ- Rim loves to spend time with his family, in-
er to our team of Q&A columnists. Dr. Da- cluding watching movie adaptations of
vid Rim has taught at Moody Bible Institute Jane Austen novels.
for thirteen years, and we are delighted
that he will be sharing his insights in theol- For some philosophy and apologetics pro-
ogy and biblical understanding with our fessors, their work is merely an academic
readers on a regular basis. exercise. The mental challenge of working
through questions about the existence of
Dr. Rim teaches courses in philosophy, God or the presence of evil in the world is
apologetics, and philosophical theology. If the goal. Studying and research and teach-
that sounds like intense, challenging mate- ing is about demonstrating winning argu-
rial—it is! At the age of 16, Rim came to ments or even showing off intelligence. For
faith in Christ at a youth retreat. As he Rim, however, his work as a professor is
grew as a Christian, he encountered issues intimately connected with his service to the
in theology and apologetics that fascinat- people of God. He is the teaching pastor at
ed him in their complexity. The more re- a second-generation Korean church, and
search he did, the more he felt the desire his pastoral service and academic work
to teach in these areas. “By God’s grace, I influence each other. “My teaching informs
have this opportunity at Moody to do my preaching, while my preaching keeps
what I love to do!” he said. my teaching more relevant and devotion-
al,” he noted. Rim knows that his students
Rim also appreciates getting to know the stu- need to be trained in theology and apolo-
dents. Everything at Moody is focused on getics to be prepared for their future min-
preparing students to serve the Lord in the istries. They will be in real-life situations
ministries to which they’ve been called, with real questions from real people.
whether it’s teaching a course in philosophy
or worshiping in chapel or supervising a field Today in the Word is also a ministry to real
education placement. “I most enjoy watching people in real-life situations. One reason
students grow during their time here,” Rim the Q&A column began 25 years ago was
said. “Even better than that is to hear back in recognition that you, our readers, have
from them after they’ve left Moody and to questions about biblical and theological
see where God is taking them.” perspectives on issues that you face every
day. We are thankful to have Dr. David
Rim grew up in Baltimore, Maryland. He Rim extend his ministry at Moody Bible In-
met his wife Maria through a blind date— stitute to include the readers of Today in
set up by his mother! “Never discount your the Word, sharing his theological insights
mom’s advice in the dating process!” he and applying the truth of God’s Word to
declared. The blind date led to marriage the questions of life.
and then twin daughters, Rachel and Katie.
1-800-356-6639
VOLUME 24 ISSUE 5
EXECUTIVE EDITOR
Paul B. Currie
MANAGING EDITOR
Heather Moffitt
ASSOCIATE EDITOR
Elena Mafter
Leviticus: Holiness for God’s People Today
CONTRIBUTING EDITORS
Adam Kellogg
John Koessler Rules and regulations—we can look at them as
Kim Pickett
restrictions that prevent us from doing what we
WRITER
Jennifer Michel
want, or we can see them as guidelines that show
1-800-DL MOODY
the world who we are. Leviticus, when we look at
(356-6639) it from a biblical, God-centered perspective, is Is-
www.moodyministries.net
rael’s blueprint for building a lifestyle of holiness.
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Jerry B. Jenkins
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Bervin C. Peterson Today in the Word inquiries to Constituency Response, 820 N. LaSalle Blvd.,
David Schipper Chicago, IL 60610. Scripture taken from the Holy Bible, New International
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Read: Exodus 40:34–38; Tuesday, May 1
Numbers 1:1, 47–54
Understanding Leviticus as Part of the Pentateuch
In an essay, C. S. Lewis described how practice of dividing long books into
he conceived The Chronicles of Narnia: separate scrolls for the sake of ease.
“The Lion all began with a picture of a Moses wrote at the time when the nation
Faun carrying an umbrella and parcels was poised to enter the Promised Land.
in a snowy wood . . . [when] I was about This book (or five books) was meant to
sixteen. Then one day, when I was about shape their understanding of God and
forty, I said to myself: ‘Let’s try to maketheir identity as His people. There was
a story about it.’” no more critical time for
transferring the impor-
What all goes into writ- tant stories of the past for
ing of a good book? How For the Word future generations.
does an author go about of God is alive
gathering his material? and active. Leviticus, whose name
Even with Scripture, we means, “pertaining to
Hebrews 4:12
might wonder how much the Levitical priests,” is
each author allowed a book divided into two
their own intentions to parts: the Priestly Code
shape the books they wrote. They were (chapters 1–16) and the Holiness Code
inspired by the Holy Spirit, but they still (chapters 17–27). It describes the regu-
brought their unique perspectives to the lations for sacrificial worship, which
writing task. was instituted within a year of the
Exodus, just after the completion of the
Moses is generally credited with construction of the tabernacle.
authorship of the first five books of the
Bible. These five books, or the Penta- As we will see this month, this is not an
teuch, were originally composed as a outdated, irrelevant book. Leviticus is a
single book and separated at a much book rich with symbolism and threaded
later date. This probably reflected the with theology.
Leviticus is not a book we often hear taught or Please join us in praying for
preached. We might avoid it for fear of its Steven Mogck, Executive Vice
hard-to-understand passages. What can help President and Chief Operating
us at the beginning of our study is to remem- Officer. May the Lord guide
him and give him wisdom as he
ber that all Scripture is given to teach and
oversees day-to-day business
transform us. Pray for God to move you
operations at Moody.
beyond your reluctance of studying Leviticus
and into a wide-eyed curiosity and eagerness.
One theologian has described the Pentateuch Continuing our prayers for
as “eschatological.” That’s a fancy theological Facilities Maintenance, please
word for saying that the Pentateuch looks lift up Vincent Camera, Andrew
ahead; its perspective is future-oriented. We Franklin, Matthew Morris, and
Paul Heggeland. Thank the Lord
start to see why: something has gone wrong.
for their willingness to use their
The gospel is the good news that God, through
talents to serve Him at Moody.
Jesus, is redeeming the universe and reorder-
ing creation according to its original design.
Leviticus looks forward to the final atonement Continuing our prayers for
sacrifice, Jesus Christ. The writer of Hebrews Moody’s fundraising efforts,
tells us that the sacrificial system was always please pray for Moody’s
an imperfect one. It had been intended as a Planned Giving team—Eric
Beckman, Crystal Davis-
way of pointing forward to Jesus. Do you
Landrum, Emily Ferguson, Mary
doubt sometimes that God forgives your sin?
Lou Fritz, and Stephen Kott—as
Believe not in the power of your confession they assist donors with
but in the effectiveness of His blood! deferred giving options.
We need the light of Scripture to shine in our Caring for the telephone
hearts even as we ask, “Search me, God, and connection of about 600
know my heart; . . . See if there is any offen- employees serving at Moody
sive way in me” (Psalm 139:23–24). Make this is the responsibility of Scott
Schaeffer and Daniel
your prayer every evening when you lie down
Schombert in the Telecommu-
or every morning when you wake up. Accept
nications department. Please
any conviction from the Holy Spirit, and then express gratitude to the Lord
accept His forgiveness when you confess. for their faithful service.
Our life as Christ followers is portrayed in the Will you remember in prayer
New Testament in sacrificial language. We Dr. John Jelinek, Vice President
follow in the footsteps of Christ, hearing the and Dean of Moody
call to present our bodies as “living sacrifices” Theological Seminary? He
provides valuable leadership to
(Rom. 12:1). We are described at “the pleasing
Moody’s seminary campuses in
aroma of Christ” (2 Cor. 2:15). Following Jesus
Chicago, Illinois, and Plymouth,
is a life of sacrifice and unreserved devotion Michigan.
to God. Hold nothing back.
One of the devil’s oldest strategies is to try to Will you ask the Lord to
convince us that God’s plans for us are not give Elizabeth Brown, Vice
good. Have you fallen for that lie? Maybe President and General Counsel,
there’s been suffering and great pain in your discernment as she offers legal
advice to Moody’s education,
life, and you questioned the character of
radio, and publishing
God. May you trust and believe today that He
ministries?
is good, and may that faith lead you into
deeper joy.
Each of us has been infected by sin. We are Keeping our prayers focused
unclean, and without a new birth by which on Moody Radio, let’s lift up
we’re given new spiritual skin, we cannot Moody Radio West Michigan.
draw near to God. Jesus has made a way for As Scott Curtis and Jack
Haveman work hard to create
forgiveness and spiritual rebirth by dying for
a place where listeners can
unclean sinners. “And so Jesus also suffered
turn for truth and hope, ask
outside the city gate to make the people holy God to bless their efforts and
through his own blood” (Heb. 13:12). encourage their hearts.
Principle of Separation
In December 1952, five days of suffo- down. This meant that women were ritu-
cating smog hovered over the city of ally unclean nearly half of every month.
London. In the following weeks, medi- Men were also frequently unclean. Not
cal reports estimated that over 4,000 only was the person with the discharge
people died, and 100,000 people fell unclean, but anything he or she touched
ill. This environmental catastrophe made was unclean: cooking pots, riding sad-
way for new legislative policies, such as dles, beds, chairs.
the Clean Air Act of 1956.
Laid out are strict rules
The book of Leviticus ad- Come out from of separation in order to
dresses its own kind of them and be prevent contamination.
contaminant: the bodily separate. . . . The reason for the sever-
diseases, dysfunctions, Touch no unclean ity of these restrictions
and discharges, all of is explained in verse 31.
thing, and I will
which make a person Contamination is prob-
ceremonially unclean. To- receive you. able; therefore, every
day’s reading brings us 2 Corinthians 6:17 person must keep himself
into the secrecy of one’s from what would make
bedroom and bathroom, him ritually unclean in or-
launching us into the awkward discus- der that he might worship a holy God.
sion of bodily fluids.
Remember the general purpose of the
Semen and menstrual blood are both Pentateuch? Moses wrote to explain to
contaminants. No one entered the tab- the nation of Israel their newfound iden-
ernacle for seven days following men- tity as God’s people. God had chosen
struation or contact with a menstruating to make His dwelling right in their midst,
woman; an emission of semen or contact and in response, they were to endeavor
with it made people unclean until sun- to be holy.
The principle of separation is one that stands Will you pray for Moody
even in the New Testament. (Note today’s key Publishers Operations: Ann
verse.) We’ve been called, not to conformity Hackler, Mattie Hill, Elisabeth
with the world, but to transformed lives of Ireland, and Sandy Kleinhans?
May these employees
holiness. And yet we hold this in tension with
experience the peace of Christ
the compassionate example of Jesus, which we
as they go about their work
have in the Gospels. He kept company with today.
sinners and touched those who were unclean.
Have you experienced the free and freeing Today we commit to praying
forgiveness of God? Or does your conscience for the staff serving in Moody
remain tortured, replaying scenes of your Publishers Fulfillment: Michael
failures and past sins? God’s desire is that you Alcazar, Junico Arroz, Lee
Denton, and Arthur Eastern.
walk in the freedom of His forgiveness. Share
These men work diligently in
with a friend how you’re struggling to receive
the warehouse, servicing
God’s forgiveness, and have that friend pray customer orders.
for you.
Our key verse tells us that it’s Jesus’ blood Dr. Paul Nyquist, Moody’s
that gives us confidence to enter the Most President, requests your
Holy Place. The exclusive and solemn privilege prayers for Moody’s Pastors’
of the high priest granted only once a year is Conference held at our
Chicago campus this week.
now ours to enjoy at any moment of every
May God use Dr. Nyquist and
day. Take time to absorb the grace of God
other keynote speakers to
that has made this possible through Jesus, minister to the pastors in
giving Him praise. attendance.
How serious a matter is sin to you? Are you Will you continue praying for
tempted to treat it casually? In what ways are faculty serving in the Sports
you committed to the practice of regular Ministry Department at
confession? Who is it that you tell when Moody’s Chicago campus?
Praise the Lord for Joseph
you’re struggling and failing? And what are
Harding and Jean Penfound
the evidences of repentance in your life? How
who are helping students
have you put off habits of sin and put on new prepare for a lifetime of
practices of righteousness? serving Jesus.
What would the practice of Jubilee look like MBI—Spokane is Moody Bible
today? What kinds of debts can you cancel Institute’s Undergraduate
for others? Maybe you can forgive some School located in the Pacific
financial obligations. Or maybe you can Northwest. Join us in asking the
Lord to give continued unity to
forgive someone’s offense against you and
MBI—Spokane faculty and
work to restore the relationship. On a larger
administration: Jonathan
scale, how can our churches practice the kind Armstrong, Daniel Churchwell,
of reconciliation in the principle of Jubilee? Jack Lewis, and Wendy Liddell.
Remember the promises of the new covenant, Keeping our prayers focused
which God would establish through Jesus on MBI–Spokane, lift up faculty
(cf. Jeremiah 31). He would, by His Spirit, and administration serving at
perform heart surgery on His people to this campus: Carie Ritz, Floyd
Schneider, and Gerald
transform us from the inside out, thereby
Vreeland. May God use these
securing our loyalty. Praise God for His grace.
individuals to transform
He doesn’t give up, even when we disregard students’ lives and ministries
His goodness and disobey His commands. for His glory.
We are the dwelling place of God. The Thank you for joining us for this
candles that burned in the tabernacle from month’s study of Leviticus. As
evening to morning—that is our flame (Eph. you reflect on the theme of
5:8). The burning incense that perfumed the holiness woven throughout this
book, worship the Lord for His
air—that is our fragrance (2 Cor. 2:14). We are
holiness and praise Him for
a witness to the world of the holy God who
making us holy through the
delights to forgive sin and to show mercy. To sacrifice of His Son.
whom will you tell this good news today?
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