Ever struggled to read the book of Leviticus in the Bible? So have many others. But if we skip this book of the Bible, we miss out on a key part of God’s revelation to us! That’s why we offer you three tips for reading Leviticus, so that you might not only be inspired to read it, but also to enjoy it and come to love this part of God’s Word, the Bible.
Leviticus: The Mountain No One Wanted to Climb
Once upon a time there was a mountain that overlooked a breathtakingly beautiful valley. The mountain had a trail up the side, which looked especially steep. The steps were incalculable and the staircase of rock that appeared to wrap around the mountain seemed eternal. The mountain belonged to a range that many hikers enjoyed—but this one mountain was an especially difficult one for hikers to traverse.
Based on the appearance of this mountain alone, many hikers would pass by without even endeavoring to climb it. Some would start, get tired of the monotonous steps, and give up. And so, nearly all had never seen the breathtakingly beautiful valley that could only be seen from the top of that mountain.
Most hikers missed a great wonder because they feared the climb. Such is the experience of readers who never open the book of Leviticus, or faint at the first try at reading it.
Three Tips for Reading Leviticus
We hope that these three tips for reading Leviticus inspire you to scale the mountain—so to speak—and read Leviticus, because you will see and know Jesus Christ in a new way if you do. We hope that the tips provided not only help you enjoy the journey of reading Leviticus but ultimately lead you to behold the glory of Jesus.
Tip #1 for Reading Leviticus: Pray This Verse
Listen to this humble prayer from Psalm 119: “Open my eyes, that I may behold wondrous things out of your law” (Psalm 119:18 ESV). This prayer is a wonderful request to make of God every time we open the Bible, but maybe especially so when we open Leviticus. Notice that this prayer in Psalm 119 asks for fresh wonder over God’s law—which clearly includes Leviticus!
Here are two observations about this prayer found in the Bible. First, there are wonderful things waiting for our discovery in the Bible. Truly, wonderful comforts lie in God’s law: realities, truths, direction, wisdom, and graces. In Leviticus, there are wonders waiting for us to behold.
Second, notice, however, that these wonders are not naturally apparent to us. We could go so far as to say that we are blind to them. Why else would the prayer say, “open my eyes,” unless they are closed by default to the wonders within God’s Word? This prayer reveals our need—we need God’s help to not just understand God’s law, but also to grasp its value and preciousness. And so, we pray!
This is a prayer God delights to answer. Hear this precious promise from Jesus as it relates to your prayer to see wonderful things out of the book of Leviticus: “Therefore I tell you, whatever you ask in prayer, believe that you have received it, and it will be yours” (Mark 11:24 ESV).
To come to a place of wonder over this book of the Bible (or any other), God must open your eyes. Ask him to do this every time you open Leviticus, and he will delight to show you his glory.
Tip #2 for Reading Leviticus: Remember What Leviticus Is About
Unmet expectations quickly lead to disappointment. If you come to the book of Leviticus with the same expectations that you come to other books of the Bible, like the Psalms or Philippians, you will be disappointed.
We must understand Leviticus for what it is.
First, Leviticus is history, meaning rather than dictating how you live your life today, it’s describing God’s law for his people yesterday. You are reading about an old way of God communing with his people. In short, you’re reading about what happened.
Second, Leviticus is foundational to the Bible story. What you are given in Leviticus is a substantial chunk of historical context. God revealed himself progressively over time to the world, beginning with just one family, which grew into a nation called Israel. God determined how his people would relate to him. The way in which God first revealed himself to Israel serves as a shadow of the full redemption he would provide through the person of Jesus. Leviticus gives us somewhat of a manual for understanding the method God set up for relating to his people in the past. In short, Leviticus is about the system God put in place that would ultimately be replaced by Jesus and made sense of by his life and redemptive work.
Third, Leviticus is law. Don’t expect to read prayers, or instruction on how to live the Christian life. Expect to read more of a handbook on an ancient culture—a handbook that’s super necessary to know about since the Savior of the world would come from that culture. And, if we are to understand God’s dealings with his people throughout the whole Old Testament, we have to understand the law he gave them. Knowing God’s law for Israel set forth in Leviticus will make sense of the behavior of biblical characters, and the blessings and judgments given by God throughout the Old Testament.
So, to persevere through Leviticus and not give up the hike through it, remember to keep in mind proper expectations about what you are about to read before you approach it.
Tip #3 for Reading Leviticus: Read Hebrews Alongside Leviticus
Did you know there is another book of the Bible that interprets Leviticus for us? What a gift! In the New Testament we find a letter called “Hebrews” because it was originally written to a Jewish audience by a Jew.
It explains how Jesus fulfills the Old Testament and how he is the full redemption to which the old covenant, or redemptive system, pointed.
This New Testament book of the Bible does a wonderful thing for us; it helps us read the book of Leviticus with Jesus in mind, looking forward to his ministry to us, and his sacrificial death on the cross for all who trust in him. In short, it helps us read Leviticus with hope, seeing the law presented there as only a shadow, pointing to the real redemption awaiting God’s people—God himself come to draw us near to him through the most loving act the world has ever known (John 3:16; Romans 5:8).
Hebrews is a relatively short book of the Bible—12 chapters. You may remember that it was originally a letter, meaning the author expected it to be read in one sitting (albeit a long one!). As you read Leviticus, determine to pause your reading and read Hebrews three times through, on different occasions. This will help keep the message of Hebrews as a backdrop in your mind as you read Leviticus.
To understand Leviticus as an essential part of the whole Bible story, and to enjoy reading it as a hope-filled book that causes us to long for and thus be thankful for Jesus, read it alongside the book of Hebrews.
In addition to this, you may also enjoy reading a Bible with cross-references (a reference Bible) as you read Leviticus. A reference Bible just means it cites related Bible verses in the margins. You will find that looking up the biblical cross references (Hebrews included!) as you read Leviticus may increase your wonder of it as you see how it fits into the Bible story.
Hike That Mountain—Read Leviticus!
Alright, fellow traveler. Faint not at this mountainous book of the Bible before you. Remember that this mountain is unlike others and be sure to calibrate your expectations properly before you begin your hike. Through prayer, depend on the help of the Holy Spirit, your loving guide and companion on this hike, who yearns to set your gaze on the wonders along the way. As you go, pull out the map of Hebrews every so often, to remind you that the point of this journey is to see Jesus, and to help you keep your bearings in the Bible story.
May Leviticus become one of your favorite “hikes,” because of the view you will clearly behold in the end—the glory of Jesus.