Leviticus Chapter 17
In ancient Israel there was a period of time when there was no king ruling over the people. God was their King. The people of Israel listened to the commandments of God and sought to obey Him. God was creating a special relationship with His people. He wanted them to separate themselves from the rest of the world to worship only Him. When we stop and really think about this time in history, we recognize just how precious it was. Yes, God established many laws that pointed out their sin, but it also pointed to their need for God and God alone.
God also established a centralized place where they were to worship Him, the tabernacle. They were not to worship God wherever and however man pleased, but they were to worship Him in the way He required worship of Him to be conducted. This is so contrary to the way humans think – they think that they can come to God in their own way, under their own terms. True worship requires a full surrender of self to God.
Let's Reflect
1. This chapter will cover two laws that God established. The first is that their sacrifices must be brought to the tabernacle. There are a few exceptions that we find in scripture where God allowed a sacrifice to be made elsewhere, but the tabernacle was one centralized location for all Israelites to come and worship God. According to verse 3 what is a man guilty of who kills an animal for sacrifice but does not bring it to the tabernacle?
2. When a man disobeyed this command, he was exiled from the rest of the people. It was important to bring the animal to the tabernacle for proper sacrificial giving. Who was the only man authorized to offer sacrifices to God?
3. Any sacrifice offered outside the boundaries set by God would be considered evil. Verse 7 speaks of a certain animal that was often used in pagan worship. This same animal was one that God commanded to be brought to Him for sacrifice. It mattered to God where you sacrificed an animal and who was being worshipped in that sacrifice. What animal did God speak of in this verse?
4. God also commanded the people not to drink the blood of the animals. Again, this was a pagan type of practice. What was the punishment for any Israelite caught drinking the blood of an animal?
5. According to verses 11 and 14 why did God command them not to eat (drink) the blood of animals?
Devotionals
