THROUGH THE BIBLE - Leviticu..

Welcome to Cornerstone Reformed Baptist Church. Thank you for using and sharing our resources. What you're about to hear is God's Word from one of our teaching elders. We trust that God's Word will inspire, instruct, and bless you. For further teachings or information on our ministry, please visit us on our website at cornerstonerbc.

com. That's cornerstonerbc.com. The Lord spoke to Moses, saying, Command the people of Israel to bring you pure oil from beaten olives for the lamp, that a light may be kept burning regularly. Outside the veil of the testimony in the tent of meeting, Aaron will arrange it from evening to morning before the Lord regularly.

It shall be a statute forever throughout your generations. He shall arrange the lamps on the lampstand of pure gold before the Lord regularly. You shall take the fine flour and bake 12 loaves from it. Two-tenths of an ephah shall be in each loaf, and you shall set them in two piles, six in a pile, on the table of pure gold before the Lord. And you shall put pure frankincense on each pile, that it may go with the bread as a memorial portion, as a food offering to the Lord.

Every Sabbath day Aaron shall arrange it before the Lord regularly. It is from the people of Israel as a covenant forever. And it shall be for Aaron and his sons, and they shall eat it in the holy place, since it is for him a most holy portion out of the Lord's food offerings, a perpetual Jew." Verse 10. Now an Israelite woman's son, whose father was an Egyptian, went out among the people of Israel.

And the Israelite woman's son and a man of Israel fought in the camp. And the Israelite woman's son blasphemed the name and cursed. Then they brought him to Moses. His mother's name was Shalemeth, the daughter of Dibri, of the tribe of Dan. And they put him in custody till the will of the Lord should be clear to them.

Then the Lord spoke to Moses, saying, Bring out of the camp the one who cursed, and let all who heard him lay hands on his head, and let all the congregation stone him. And speak to the people of Israel, saying, Whoever curses his God shall bear his sin. Whoever blasphemes the name of the Lord shall surely be put to death. All the congregation shall stone him, the Sojourner as well as the native. When he blasphemes the name shall he shall be put to death.

Whoever takes a human life shall surely be put to death. Whoever takes an animal's life shall make it good, life for life. If anyone injures his neighbor as he has done, it shall be done to him. Fracture for fracture, eye for eye, tooth for tooth. Whatever injury he has given a person shall be given to him.

21. Whoever kills an animal shall make it good and whoever kills a person shall be put to death. You shall have the same rule for the sojourner. and for the native, for I am the Lord your God. So Moses spoke to the people of Israel, and they brought out of the camp the one who had cursed and stoned him with stones.

Thus the people of Israel did as the Lord commanded." Amen. The grass withers and the flowers fade, but the word of the Lord remains forever. Brothers and sisters, we're continuing our study in the book of Leviticus. Now we're more than three quarters of the way through.

And at first glance, when you look at chapter 24, it may actually look like it may be a little misplaced because it's in the position which is nestled between chapter 23 And, of course, chapter 25. Now, last week, our brother Nelson took us through chapter 23, and the emphasis of that chapter is on the feasts and the festivals for the people of Israel, which came about once a year. Now, for now, Israel is still in the wilderness, so all the 12 tribes are all together in close proximity to one another. But it won't be long, in fact, only in a few decades, when the Lord will give them the conquest of the land of Canaan, And He'll give them the land flowing with milk and honey, the land that was promised to their father Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob. And when they do enter that land, the tribes will be given a parcel of land each, of course, apart from the Levites.

And in that time, the tribes won't be in close proximity to one another as they are now, and then they will look forward to those feasts. Because those feasts would be a reminder of the unity of God's people, and they would come to fix their gaze upon Jerusalem, and they would come to Jerusalem several times a year to enjoy the feasts and the festivals of God as being God's people and celebrate the goodness and the provision of God upon them. These will be exciting times for them moving forward. And of course, now in chapter 25, we're not there yet, obviously, but we'll see next week. The focus of that chapter is not on what occurs once every year, but what happens every seventh year, the Sabbath year, it's called, or even every 49 years, which is the Jubilee year.

So both these chapters, the events that we would have before us in chapters 23 and 25, well those events are reasonably spaced out. But in the chapter before us here, in chapter 24, that's not so. The focus is not what takes place in years, not annually, and it's not the focus that's happening with events that are taking place months apart, but rather daily and weekly activities in the lives of the common Jew. And although being excited about the festivals and the feasts that occur once a year, and that's a good thing, it's of crucial importance also, beloved. that these people know that faithfulness with the regular things in life, with the daily things in life, is of critical importance.

Things that may not be as exciting as the festivals and the feasts, but nonetheless just as important because they pertain to the worship of God. You see, God's people are called to be faithful. called to be faithful with the big things, as well as the small things. Closer to home, that means for us, by God's grace, I hope we're here and I hope the Lord's Day gathering of the saints is a highlight in your life, or in your week, I should say. But let me tell you that the Lord God is to be honoured from Monday to Saturday, just as much as He is honoured here today.

Because in all that we do, we do unto the glory of God. So the chapter before us can be really divided into three sections. The first two are in relation to the activities that go on in the tabernacle. So from verses 2 through 4 speaks about maintaining the tabernacle lighting, and then from verse 5 through 9 speaks of the bread of presence. Then the final section we have an occurrence where the sanctity of Yahweh among his people is defiled through a man born to a Israelite woman but an Egyptian father blasphemes the name of God.

And then we see what the Lord's instruction to the people of Israel is to deal with this such reviling behavior. Now, we're not new to what occurs inside the tabernacle. We've been working our way systematically through the Old Testament. So we've gone through Genesis and Exodus. So in our journeys through Exodus, we've seen what goes on in the tabernacle.

We've seen the construction. We've seen and we've examined together the furnishings that are in the tabernacle itself. And we also have seen, as we've worked our way through the book of Leviticus, the priestly duties that take place daily in the tabernacle. We know that for the most part, we understand and we know that the most holy place is reserved for entrance by the high priest only one day a year, and no one else. But the inner sanctum, which is the most holy place, is not in view here, but rather the outer room of the tabernacle, the room that is twice as big, and other priests are able to come into that room.

And in particular, it is the workings of the two pieces of the three pieces of furniture that are in that room, in particular the golden lampstand and the table of showbread, which is also the bread of presents. Beginning with the first, the lampstand of pure gold, we're told in verse four. Pure, hammered gold. I'm sure many of you have seen pictures of what this lampstand looks like, and there's no need for me to describe it for you once again, but you would remember that there is a trunk in the middle, and there's three branches on each side, and on every branch there's a cup, and that cup is essentially a candle. So the lampstand has seven candles.

And Aaron is the high priest that we're told in our passage who's responsible to maintain this sole or single source of light which illuminates the whole tabernacle. There's no other light source apart from the lampstand. It was to make sure it was lit from evening to morning, we're told. And we're told the lamp was to be kept burning ESV Bible say regularly. You might have other Bible translations that say continually, suggesting like the lamps are lit actually 24 hours a day, seven days a week.

And that's quite possible. And that's where I lean, having said that, because of passages such as Exodus chapter 30, that speaks of Aaron lighting the candles at twilight. Some have suggested that the candles are snuffed in the morning and lit back in the evening. That's a possibility. We can't be sure, 100%, but I lean towards the seven candles, or at least two, or maybe three of the seven candles, being lit throughout the day as well, maybe 24-7, and the rest of the candles lit in the evening when more light is needed.

And the reason why I say that is because if you remember when we're working our way through Exodus, you'd remember how many coats, how many coverings the tabernacle had. You had the linen, and you had two or three different layers of skin as well. not be any room for light to get in. So if there was light that got in, it would be very, very minimum. Either way, the point here is that the people of Israel, verse 2, they're the ones who provide for the oil of the lamps.

And I want you to realize it's beaten, not crushed. You see, beaten oils produce the purest oil. When an olive is ripe, It has a couple of drops of liquid oil in it. If you beat the oil and break the skin, then those drops are the purest and the finest of oil and they drip out. The rest of the oil is extracted from the olive.

when the flesh as a whole with the pit is then grounded in the press. But that oil, once it's gone through the press, is not quite as clean, it's not quite as pure, it's not quite as clear as the pure oil that comes out when the olive is actually beaten and the skin is broken. So the best and the purest, only a few drops per olive, is to be dedicated for the Lord. So automatically we can tell that this would be a costly engagement for the people of Israel. This wasn't the cheapest part of the oil.

It was a costly, costly thing for them to provide the oil for the lamps. They couldn't see inside the tent. Nor did they enjoy the light that was produced by the oil that they were providing for the priests. But they knew. They knew it was for their own benefit.

They knew that this oil would light up. the tabernacle, and in lighting up the tabernacle, it'll illuminate the darkness in that place and enable the priests to see what they're doing, to fulfill their service before Yahweh, and that service, beloved, is on their behalf. That's why they're there. Remember, the priests are mediators between the people of God and God himself. You see, this was an act of worship.

Giving this costly oil was an act of worship. by the people of Israel to their God, and it was for their own benefit. But beyond that, beloved, this was teaching them that Yahweh, the only God of the universe, is worthy and he deserves the very best of what you can give. The best and the purest and the finest that you can give, he is worthy of. The same can be said about the fine flour for the bread of presence.

Fine is, the word fine, he's not speaking so much of the fine grind of the powder, but the quality of the grain needs to be fine grain, the best. Again, it's the congregation in verse seven, we're told, who would be continually providing the flour for the bread of presence, which is cooked and replaced every Sabbath by Aaron, we're told, again, in the tent. Again, this was an act of worship. And as with any act of worship, it ought to be done with a joyful heart. You see, the congregation, once again, they didn't directly enjoy the benefit of what they were given.

They weren't permitted to eat the consecrated bread. You remember, only the priests were permitted to eat that. And they did eat the bread, and they ate the bread in the presence of Yahweh. But the whole congregation, once again, benefited. You see, the 12 big loaves, and they are big loaves, they're made out of about four litres of flour.

So you can imagine, those of us who know how to cook, I'm not one of you, but how big that would be. Every loaf, four litres of flour. That's a good size. And so 12 big loaves were made. Two piles, six on each, represented the 12 tribes of Israel.

And that is the fullness of the people of God. The lay people weren't able to enjoy eating the baked bread with the best flour they provided, but they were, in a way, partakers with the priests, because they're being represented there, because they're all one of the 12 tribes. You see, their priests were mediators. We said that earlier. They were the representatives before Yahweh, and when they ate before the Lord, it was symbolic of the fellowship that God had with all his people.

This was a symbol of the fellowship of God and the peace of God among this people that had been called by His name, a people He'd rescued from the bondage of Egypt and brought them into the wilderness to give them the promised land that would come, a land flowing with milk and honey, that will come. And this was a symbol of that. It was also a symbol of God's provision and his sufficient provision for his people. Because Yahweh is not a God who needs to eat bread. The pagans from around the pagan nations, they would provide food in their shrines and their temples, believing that their false gods would eat that food.

But God is spirit. He's self-sustaining. He doesn't need to eat your bread or mine. So this was a symbol of God's own provision for his people. and his sufficient provision for his people.

The holy God of the universe, beloved, had made a way by virtue of the tabernacle actually being in the midst of these people. The only God of the universe had made a way to dwell among a sinful, undeserving people. The people of Israel were to recognize this. The people of Israel were to see the reality of that truth and acknowledge that that is the greatest privilege to mankind, to know God and to have the privilege of actually dwelling with God, to be known by God and to know God. You see, this is what distinguished Israel from all the nations that surrounded them, Yahweh.

Yahweh was in their midst. And the promise he made to his people is that I will be your God and you will be my people. You see, in the light of that privilege, their provision, whatever the cost was, is a privilege. The message they're being taught is that they should be concerned with what goes on in the tabernacle. They should be concerned with what goes on with the worship of Yahweh.

They should be concerned with what goes on in that place that they don't have access to, and only the priests do, because they know the very presence of that tabernacle in their midst The tribes, the three on the left and the right and the top and south and north, they knew as looking on that tabernacle, that structure, they couldn't peer inside. They knew the very reason they are not being crushed under the weight of the glory and the holiness of God was because whatever God was doing, He was doing so that He would dwell among them. And they were to be concerned with these things. And there's so many applications, beloved, that I can go into, but for the sake of time, I won't. But I do hope that everyone of us is deeply concerned with what goes on when we gather as the saints.

Sure, there's massive differences, and I know you know them, between the tabernacle and what we do now. Of course there is. Old covenant, new covenant. But beloved, it's not only for the elders or for some of the people who organize. I hope, even if you don't have an active role where you do something physically, they're in here.

You're concerned, that you're prayerful. Every time we gather, that you are placing that before the Lord prayerfully and pleading with Him to bless His people and to bring those who are yet lost into his kingdom as a result of our gathering before the Lord. Now of course I've said on many occasions that there's a lot more going on here in this scene than meets the eye. There's a lot more going on than even what the priests are seeing within the tabernacle. Because everything in this tabernacle, as I've said on many occasions, is pointing to something so much greater than itself.

It's pointing towards the final redemption of God's people in Christ Jesus himself. You know, we're not quite there yet in the gospel according to John, but in our study, we're in chapter seven. But when we get to chapter eight, we'll see our Lord cries out and he cries out these beautiful words. He says, I am the light of the world. Whoever follows me will not walk in darkness, but will have the light of life.

And you probably still remember chapter six. It's not that long ago where we spent several months in that chapter. And there our Lord says, I am the bread of life. Whoever comes to me shall not hunger, and whoever believes in me shall never thirst. Beloved, it's so clear that the true, pure light symbolized within the purest oil is the sinless, perfect Christ.

He's the one who was beaten and bruised for his people and now shines the light in our hearts to reveal to us the knowledge of the glory of God. Yes, amen. And the bread that sustains our deepest spiritual desire, is that not Christ also? Do we find satisfaction for our soul in anyone else? Who else?

Who else can give us true intimate reconciliation and relationship with the only God of the universe apart from Christ? Beloved, these were symbolized in the tabernacle. These were symbolized in the tent. But the true bread from heaven who satisfies our deepest longing and the deepest hunger of our soul and also allows us through Him to fellowship with the triune God of the universe, that's Christ. That's Christ.

And very quickly, the last section. From verse 10 to 23, it's a narrative of a man who does the inexcusable. He has an altercation with another man, an Israelite, and then he blasphemes God, we're told. So these people know. He knew that that is a great offense.

The commandments were given in Exodus chapter 20. If you remember, you have these words, you shall not take the name of the Lord your God in vain, for the Lord will not hold him guiltless who takes his name in vain. And again, two chapters later in 22, 28, in 22, 28, my apologies, you shall not revile God is written. So blaspheming and reviling God, cursing God was a great or the greatest of offenses and the people knew it. But what they did not know and what had not yet been stipulated was the punishment deserving of such.

Now, when they back down or back off and they realize what was being given already, and they know that it's written in Exodus 20, 21, whoever curses his father and mother shall be put to death, then you would think that they would know the more serious offense of cursing God would carry at least, at least the death penalty, right? I think they knew. But because this man's father was an Egyptian, I think they wanted to be sure. So they detained him until they heard further. And they did.

And the word came back that there is no distinction. There's no distinction to be given whether native or stranger. If he lives amongst my people, if I'm in their midst, then he's to obey the same law. If I can see him with my eyes, then he's under my law. Life for life is written here.

We're told life for life of an animal, life for life for a human. If a human takes another human being's life, then the death penalty is the just penalty for such. Eye for eye, tooth for tooth. In other words, the penalty must be fitting the crime. And apart from capital offenses, just compensation for the loss incurred would suffice.

We've already considered the principle of this back in Exodus 21, so I'm not gonna go into it this evening. But the penalty for blasphemy, well that comes next. Verse 16, whoever blasphemes the name of the Lord shall surely be put to death. In other words, cursed is the one who curses the Lord. The offender is to be taken outside the camp, the place of the unclean, because in the camp is where cleanliness and wholeness dwells.

Take him to the place where there's only uncleanliness outside the camp. And the witnesses are to lay their hands on his head as though to say that your blood is on your own head and we've seen you, we've testified to your blasphemy. And then all of Israel, all of Israel is to stone the man. What a lesson. What a precedent that was given to the people of Israel in this day.

It's almost a reminder, is it not, of the words of our Lord when Nadab and Abihu were killed by Him. Remember what He said back in Leviticus 10? He says, You see, the problem with the young priests back then was not simply they did the wrong thing. The problem, beloved, is always, always in the heart. It's always a heart issue.

Always. They didn't honour God in their hearts and therefore they did not honour God with their actions and they were disobedient to His word. And beloved, the same can be said about this man who blasphemed God. God was not sanctified in his heart and therefore in time his actions will simply reveal the contents of his heart. A heart that does not sanctify God.

So it was called upon all of Israel to repudiate this horrible crime. and uphold the sanctity of the name of God in their midst. So they picked up stones and they stoned him. And by doing so, that was a declaration that we are on Yahweh's side. You know, in closing, as I was thinking about the occasion of this man who was stoned, and I was thinking about his crime, it really came to me and I thought to myself, is there any of us who are not guilty of the same?

Maybe we haven't blasphemed or reviled God directly with our mouths. But beloved, do you know every time you and I sin, we revile Him in our hearts? Every sin you and I have ever committed is deserving of the same death that this man endured in that day, except eternally under the punishment of God, because that is the wages of sin. Beloved, there has only been one man to walk this earth, who walked the earth without a hint of blasphemy in his mouth. And beyond that, that's not just obedience, but beyond that, he was perfectly righteous, perfectly innocent before God, perfectly good in all that he did, faultless in obedience.

He was the one who came into this world And he was the one, willingly, we said that last week, who was led and dragged out of the camp in the place of the unclean to be hung on the cross. Not because he was a blasphemer, he was considered a blasphemer by those who hung him. And he bore the wrath of blasphemers by God Almighty as well, so that he can be a substitute for people who have reviled God Almighty, who blaspheme God Almighty, for people who have not honoured God as he ought to be honoured. That's you and I, beloved. So as we think this through, it's easy to look back and point the finger and say, that was so wrong.

How horrendous, how horrible. And we can do that. There is place for that, but it's also a place to acknowledge sin where sin is, but it's also a place to be humble and know that we are no better apart from the grace of God. So beloved, Leviticus 24 shows us that the only light of the world is Christ. The only bread of life is Christ.

And the only righteousness of God is Christ. And I pray that in our hearts, we know this. I pray that in our hearts, we give God the honor that he deserves in every facet of our lives. Whether we eat or drink, we do so unto the glory of God. Let's pray.