1. Based on your reading of pages 82-84 in the textbook, discuss problems in the reading of Leviticus
2. Read "Making Sense of Sacrifice" on p. 86 and summarize the meaning of "sacrifice" according to the textbook author.
For example that how you answer the question.
Based on your reading of pages 82-84 in the textbook, discuss problems in the reading of Leviticus
According to Wenham, it is difficult for modern readers to visualize the sacrifices, to take the rituals seriously, and to fully understand the rites and customs of the people described in Leviticus. For example, in Leviticus, we can see the why something happened, what happened, and where did this happen, but not the what was said for this to happen. Trying to fully understand the importance of an event without knowing the words that was being said during the event, can leave a person a little confused. It's almost like trying to figure out the old "Who's on first, What's on second, I Don't Know is on third" routine by Abbot and Castello. Here we get words and some visualization that the bases are loaded, just not a good understanding of what is actually happening. It's kind of the same thing for someone reading the book of Leviticus. We know it is structured around God's holiness and mercy, we're just not completely sure of the relation. One thing I can say about reading Leviticus, it gives us a leg up to understanding the sacrifice that Jesus made when he died on the cross, and because of the rest of the Bible, we can truly see and connect the importance of His sacrifice.
Read "Making Sense of Sacrifice" on p. 86 and summarize the meaning of "sacrifice" according to the textbook author.
The meaning of 'sacrifice' according to Wenham, was an act of generous hospitality, devotion, and penitence. It was God himself who appointed what would be considered an acceptable offering to him. Leviticus, I believe, explains why God chose to set apart the people of Levites (decedents of Levi, one of Jacob's twelve children) by giving an explanation of the types of sacrifices and purpose of the offerings, how to farm, praise, and even how to keep their beards. God's desire has always been to have fellowship with mankind, but our sinful ways got in the way of that (not once or twice but many times). Since God gave the Levitical Law to set a standard of holiness and mercy and to show that we could never meet that standard on our own. Makes sense as to why Jesus Christ had to come to fulfill all the righteous requirements (on our behalf) and to take the punishment of violating that Law (on our behalf). We as sinners can never, without Jesus Christ, reach the standard of holiness.
The answer do not need to be long as along (more than 1 page) as you answer the question correctly.