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Leviticus - Sandy 2
Sermon Summary
Sandy highlights the importance of drawing near to God through costly and sincere sacrifices that repair our relationship with Him, she encourages us to live with gratitude and repentance, and calls us to celebrate God’s appointed festivals as a way to remember His provision, rest, and community, inviting us to reflect on our own lives, relationships, and how we share God’s abundance.
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Today’s journey through Leviticus invited us to consider the deep meaning behind the ancient sacrifices and festivals, and how they shape our relationship with God and one another. At the heart of these rituals is the invitation to draw near to God, not with fear, but with reverence, gratitude, and honesty. The sacrificial system, with its intricate structure and symbolism, was not merely about ritual compliance, but about relationship—repairing what is broken, expressing gratitude, and celebrating the abundance and presence of God.
We began by reflecting on the “draw near thing”—the offering that allows us to approach God’s holiness. The burnt offering, or olah, was a costly act of total surrender, representing the offerer’s life ascending to God. This was not a mere transaction, but a transformation: the fire consumed the offering, turning it into a pleasing aroma, a symbol of our own need for purging and renewal in God’s presence.
The grain offering, or minah, was a gift of gratitude, a tangible way to say “thank you” for God’s provision. It introduced the covenant of salt, a reminder of God’s enduring faithfulness and the seriousness of our commitments. The peace offering was a communal celebration, a feast of harmony and hospitality, where abundance was shared with family, friends, and the vulnerable—an image of restored relationships and joyful fellowship in God’s presence.
The purification and guilt offerings addressed the reality of sin and its effects. While Christ has dealt with the ultimate problem of sin, we are still called to acknowledge the ways our actions harm others and to make restitution. These offerings remind us that atonement is about repairing relationships—with God and with each other—so that we can live in the fullness of life God intends.
Turning to the festivals, we saw how God structured Israel’s calendar with rhythms of work, rest, celebration, and remembrance. These appointed times—Sabbath, Passover, Unleavened Bread, Firstfruits, Pentecost, Trumpets, Atonement, and Booths—were not just holidays, but holy days, shaping the community’s identity and values. They were times to tell stories, to remember deliverance, to share abundance, and to rejoice together before God. Our own calendars, too, reveal what we value and the stories we live by.
Ultimately, these ancient practices call us to a life of gratitude, confession, celebration, and generosity. They invite us to draw near to God, to repair what is broken, to share what we have, and to remember that our lives are part of a greater story—a story of redemption, abundance, and hope.
Key Takeaways
- 1. Drawing Near Requires Costly Surrender: Approaching God’s holiness is not a casual act; it demands a costly surrender of ourselves. The burnt offering, wholly consumed and ascending to God, reminds us that true worship involves giving our whole selves, not just what is convenient. This surrender is transformative, purging away what is unworthy and making space for new life in God’s presence.
- 2. Gratitude and Covenant Go Hand in Hand: The grain offering teaches that gratitude is not just a feeling but an action, a tangible gift that acknowledges God’s provision. The covenant of salt woven into this offering is a powerful reminder that our relationship with God is enduring, preserving, and serious - gratitude is both a celebration and a commitment to faithfulness.
- 3. Peace with God Overflows into Community: The peace offering was a feast, not just for the offerer but for family, friends, and the marginalised. True peace is not merely the absence of conflict but the presence of harmony, hospitality, and shared abundance. Our worship should lead us to invite others in, to celebrate together, and to ensure no one is left out of God’s goodness.
- 4. Atonement Repairs Relationships, Not Just Rules: The purification and guilt offerings highlight that sin is not just a violation of rules but a rupture in relationships—with God and with others. Making things right involves honest confession, restitution, and a willingness to address the effects of our actions. Christ’s atonement frees us from sin’s power, but we are still called to repair what is broken in our daily lives.
- 5. Our Calendars Reveal Our Values and Stories: God’s appointed festivals were designed to disrupt routine, to call people into rhythms of rest, remembrance, and celebration. The way we structure our time—what we pause for, what we celebrate, whom we include—reveals the stories we live by and the values we hold. We are invited to let God’s story shape our calendars, making space for gratitude, generosity, and community.
Daily Hope Devotionals
Day 1: Drawing Near to God Through Costly Surrender
Scripture:
Leviticus 1:3-9 (NIV)
'“ ‘If the offering is a burnt offering from the herd, you are to offer a male without defect. You must present it at the entrance to the tent of meeting so that it will be acceptable to the Lord. You are to lay your hand on the head of the burnt offering, and it will be accepted on your behalf to make atonement for you. You are to slaughter the young bull before the Lord, and then Aaron’s sons the priests shall bring the blood and splash it against the sides of the altar at the entrance to the tent of meeting. You are to skin the burnt offering and cut it into pieces. The sons of Aaron the priest are to put fire on the altar and arrange wood on the fire. Then Aaron’s sons the priests shall arrange the pieces, including the head and the fat, on the wood that is burning on the altar. You are to wash the internal organs and the legs with water, and the priest is to burn all of it on the altar. It is a burnt offering, a food offering, an aroma pleasing to the Lord. '
https://www.bible.com/bible/111/LEV.1.3-9To draw near to God is to bring our whole selves, surrendering all that we are and have, just as the burnt offering was wholly given and transformed by fire into a pleasing aroma to the Lord. This act of surrender is not about perfection, but about offering ourselves—costly, wholehearted, and without reservation—trusting that God delights in our willingness to come close, even when it costs us something. In this surrender, we acknowledge our need for a representative, for atonement, and for the purging that brings us into true proximity with the source of life.
Reflection:
What is one area of your life that you have been holding back from God? What would it look like to surrender it fully to Him today, trusting that He delights in your costly offering?
Prayer:
Heavenly Father, thank You that You are holy. Show me any area in my life that I have not fully surrendered to You so that I might come closer to You with that sacrifice. Lord Jesus, You gave it all for me, I surrender myself to You right now. I entrust my life into Your hands. Amen
Day 2: Living a Life of Thankfulness and Enduring Covenant
Scripture:
Romans 1:21 (NIV)
'For although they knew God, they neither glorified him as God nor gave thanks to him, but their thinking became futile and their foolish hearts were darkened. '
https://www.bible.com/bible/111/ROM.1.21
Gratitude is not just a feeling but an offering—a gift that acknowledges God’s enduring love and faithfulness, much like the grain offering and the covenant of salt, which remind us of God’s preserving grace and the importance of giving thanks in all circumstances. Even in abundance or in the ordinary, we are invited to bring our “thank you” to God, recognising that thankfulness keeps our hearts close to Him and our lives aligned with His enduring promises.
Reflection:
When was the last time you intentionally paused to thank God for His faithfulness? What is one specific way you can express gratitude to God today, even for something ordinary?
Prayer:
God, thank You for Your enduring love and faithfulness! Thank You Lord for all that You provide for me each day. For the air that I breathe and the clothes I am wearing. Lord You are higher and know far more than I do - thank You for guiding me on the best path. Amen
Day 3: Celebrating Peace and Community in God’s Presence
Scripture:
Psalms 36:7-9 (NIV)
'How priceless is your unfailing love, O God! People take refuge in the shadow of your wings. They feast on the abundance of your house; you give them drink from your river of delights. For with you is the fountain of life; in your light we see light. '
https://www.bible.com/bible/111/PSA.36.7-9Devotional:
God invites us to celebrate together, to feast in His presence, and to share our abundance with others—especially the vulnerable—through acts of hospitality and joyful community, as seen in the peace offering and the festivals. True peace is not just the absence of conflict but the harmony of relationships: with God, with family, and with community, marked by generosity, storytelling, and shared joy.
Reflection:
Who in your life could you invite to share a meal or a moment of celebration this week, especially someone who might feel left out or alone? How can you make space for community and joy in God’s presence?
Prayer:
Holy Spirit, lead me to someone that needs care and community this week. May I be Your hands to care for them and provide the connection in community that they may need. Lord I pray that You would help me to seek those in our community who are isolated and vulnerable so that we can all share in Your abundance. Amen.
Day 4: The Power of Confession, Cleansing, and Restitution
Scripture:
Leviticus 6:4-7 (NIV)
'when they sin in any of these ways and realize their guilt, they must return what they have stolen or taken by extortion, or what was entrusted to them, or the lost property they found, or whatever it was they swore falsely about. They must make restitution in full, add a fifth of the value to it and give it all to the owner on the day they present their guilt offering. And as a penalty they must bring to the priest, that is, to the Lord, their guilt offering, a ram from the flock, one without defect and of the proper value. In this way the priest will make atonement for them before the Lord, and they will be forgiven for any of the things they did that made them guilty.” '
https://www.bible.com/bible/111/LEV.6.4-7
Devotional:
Confession and making things right are essential to repairing relationships—with God and with others. The purification and guilt offerings remind us that while Jesus has dealt with our sin, we are still called to address the effects of our actions, seek forgiveness, and make restitution where needed, so that we can live in restored proximity to God and one another.
Reflection:
Is there someone you need to apologise to or make things right with? What step can you take today to seek forgiveness or offer restitution, trusting God’s grace to restore what is broken?
Prayer:
Lord I'm sorry that I don't always do what is right. Please forgive me. Open my eyes to anyone that You want me to seek forgiveness from, someone that I need to apologise to. I pray for Your grace over that situation and ask that You go before me to bring peace and restoration. Lord, may I have full restitution with You. Amen.
Day 5: Embracing God’s Rhythm of Rest, Celebration, and Storytelling
Scripture:
Leviticus 23:1-3
'The Lord said to Moses, “Speak to the Israelites and say to them: ‘These are my appointed festivals, the appointed festivals of the Lord, which you are to proclaim as sacred assemblies. “ ‘There are six days when you may work, but the seventh day is a day of sabbath rest, a day of sacred assembly. You are not to do any work; wherever you live, it is a sabbath to the Lord.'
https://www.bible.com/bible/111/LEV.23.1-3Devotional:
God’s appointed festivals and holy days are invitations to disrupt our routines, to rest, to remember, and to celebrate His faithfulness together as a community. These rhythms shape our values and stories, reminding us that life with God is meant to be enjoyed, shared, and marked by both solemnity and festivity as we look back on His deliverance and forward to His promises.
Reflection:
How does your calendar reflect what you value most? What is one way you can intentionally set apart time this week to rest, celebrate, or share your story of God’s faithfulness with others?
Prayer:
Gracious God, I thank You that You don't call us to constantly work, but to also take time to rest. I pray You would help me to put aside my busyness and seek real rest, celebration, and community with Your children. Lord, I know that this time is necessary for my health as well as for my relationship with You. May how I spend my time represent my heart for You and Your ways.
Day 6: A Symbol of God’s Ongoing Promise
Scriptures:
Exodus 12:5,7,13
[5] 'The animals you choose must be year-old males without defect, and you may take them from the sheep or the goats. [7] Then they are to take some of the blood and put it on the sides and tops of the doorframes of the houses where they eat the lambs. [13] The blood will be a sign for you on the houses where you are, and when I see the blood, I will pass over you. No destructive plague will touch you when I strike Egypt. '
https://www.bible.com/bible/111/EXO.12.5,7,13
1 Peter 1:19
'but with the precious blood of Christ, a lamb without blemish or defect. '
https://www.bible.com/bible/111/1PE.1.19
Devotional:
The Passover festival is a powerful reminder of God’s deliverance and faithfulness to His people. It’s not just an ancient tradition but a living story that invites us to remember how God rescues, restores, and renews us.
The Passover points forward to the ultimate deliverance through Jesus Christ, who is our true Passover Lamb. Just as the blood of the lamb in Egypt protected God’s people, Jesus’ sacrifice delivers us from sin and death. This festival is a signpost of God’s promise to restore us fully, to bring us into eternal life, and to dwell with us forever in a new garden city.
Reflection:
As you reflect on the Passover festival: How do you remember and tell the story of God’s deliverance in your life? Are you drawing near to God with a heart of gratitude? And how does the promise of ultimate restoration shape your hope today?
Prayer:
Lord Jesus, thank You for being faithful and submitting to death on the cross for me. I am so grateful that through You I am redeemed and saved from sin and death and have eternal life in You! Help me to draw near to You so that I can share my story of hope with others. Amen
Day 7: Holy Sacrifice for Our Holy God
Scripture:
Leviticus 11:45
'I am the Lord, who brought you up out of Egypt to be your God; therefore be holy, because I am holy. '
https://www.bible.com/bible/111/LEV.11.45
The sacrifices in Leviticus show us that God is holy and proximity to Him is dangerous without the proper approach. We have full access to God through our Lord and Saviour, Jesus. However, sin and death can still hamper our closeness to God. God invites us to draw near to Him, but it must be with the right "draw near thing." Our offerings are costly and represent total surrender, reminding us that coming close to God requires reverence and humility.
Reflection:
What is your "draw near thing" today? Are you approaching God with a heart of surrender? What sin do you need to confess to God today?
Prayer:
Lord Jesus, thank You for making a way for me to have a relationship with You and the Father. Holy Spirit, thank You for dwelling in my heart. I pray for there to be nothing between You and I. Open my eyes to anything that is between us Lord. Help me to sacrifice the things that I want to do so that I can surrender my time, my life into Your hands. Amen.
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