How to Read Leviticus
Many well-intention-ed readers, determined to read the Bible from the
beginning to end, bog down in Leviticus. It’s a law book, a procedural
manual for getting along with a holy and powerful God. Sheer detail can
bore you, especially if you miss the point behind it.
When you read the Bible, careful attention to detail is usually key to understanding. In Leviticus, however, you will get more from looking at the big picture than from studying the details. Some laws we simply don’t understand. But Leviticus as a whole shows what kind of people God wanted the Israelite to be. As you read, keep your mind on the big picture. Try to imagine how these laws affected everyday life. Keep asking yourself: How would these laws make the Israelite different from other people-and why were those differences important to God?
When you read the Bible, careful attention to detail is usually key to understanding. In Leviticus, however, you will get more from looking at the big picture than from studying the details. Some laws we simply don’t understand. But Leviticus as a whole shows what kind of people God wanted the Israelite to be. As you read, keep your mind on the big picture. Try to imagine how these laws affected everyday life. Keep asking yourself: How would these laws make the Israelite different from other people-and why were those differences important to God?
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