I found Leviticus to be an interesting and frustrating book. There were so many rules and specific ways to do things that it was difficult to track and remember them all. My highlighter and sticky notes got a good workout! I have so many questions about what I read in this book of the Bible, but isn’t that what quality literature does? It makes you think and ask questions!
A word that kept appearing was unclean, almost as if there were an obsession with what is clean and what isn’t, who is clean and who isn’t, when you are clean and when you are not. There are many rules about who may be with whom and the punishments for violators. People often quote Leviticus when saying certain things are wrong or bad. Still, as I read the book, I realized that it is only the third in a lengthy compilation of many books, and therefore, the rules should probably not be taken out of a bigger context. I also began to wonder who exactly had written this particular book. I consulted my “Know Your Bible” companion, which made me feel slightly better; as it turns out, it isn’t stated who wrote this book, although it has been contributed to Moses.
Leviticus is about how to worship the Lord, as he told Moses. As it read, the Lord told Moses these laws, and Moses transcribed them. I’d love to believe that Moses didn’t change anything he heard from the Lord to suit the people he knew and loved, but I wonder. I also wonder if the Bible is meant to adapt to times (like more than 2,000 in the future) and if it is intended to be a rule book. I was conflicted with the rules I agreed with and those I opposed. I believe murder is wrong, but I do not condone an eye for an eye justice. I think stealing is bad, but I often wear garments of two different materials. Those are just a few contradictions I encountered as I read Leviticus.
Can I be a Christian and not believe the whole Bible is to be taken as a literal fact and rule? I guess Leviticus is the book that inspires more questions in my mind than answers. I did find a good article about reading the Bible and how to read it; I wonder if others would find it helpful. (https://www.biblestudytools.com/bible-study/topical-studies/should-we-read-all-of-the-bible-literally.html)
Through this exercise of reading and reflecting on the Bible one book at a time, I am learning that I prefer to hear the stories of Jesus in the New Testament, the historical accounts being verified as fact, but I would not count these first three books as my favorites. I am also learning that I cannot possibly hope to understand all of the nuances and intricacies of the Bible without reflection, prayer, and verified outside resources, as well as those who studied theology and are much better educated in the Bible than I am. One outside resource I turn to is https://bibleproject.com/guides/book-of-leviticus/ . I enjoy the quiet time I find for myself where it is just me, my Bible, and often a cup of coffee – it’s a beautiful way to start the day.
Do you have any thoughts for me as I continue to work my way through the Bible? Next up is Numbers. God Bless!
Amanda Renz