Dedication (Leviticus 27)
The Book of Leviticus ends on a strange note, talking about valuation of life and property. It seems anticlimactic and tacked on after all of the blessing and curse talk. But it does carry on a couple themes that are important to the book overall: ownership and economy.
In addition to the two main themes of ceremonial and moral holiness, the law as laid out in Leviticus has been concerned throughout with these other two themes. Ownership in the theocracy was always held in recognition that everything is really God’s. And the economy in the theocracy was always about being just and caring towards others, especially the disadvantaged.
So, here at the end of the book we get these themes emphasized. Everything you have is God’s. Leviticus calls on God’s people to give a true ten percent (not a specific selection, but a real random ten), to give generously beyond that to help disadvantaged others, and to make good on their promises to God. And the giving is not merely to support the operation of the temple ceremony. It is about helping make sure that every person in the community is cared for.
We no longer have the temple or apply the legal terms laid out in Leviticus, but the principle remains. Remember everything you have is from God. Use it for His glory. Use it to help others. Use the principle of the Law of Love, which is to say that we need to apply the spirit of what Leviticus was communicating. As God’s people we are to live holy lives that glorify Him and represent Him well to the world.
In addition to the two main themes of ceremonial and moral holiness, the law as laid out in Leviticus has been concerned throughout with these other two themes. Ownership in the theocracy was always held in recognition that everything is really God’s. And the economy in the theocracy was always about being just and caring towards others, especially the disadvantaged.
So, here at the end of the book we get these themes emphasized. Everything you have is God’s. Leviticus calls on God’s people to give a true ten percent (not a specific selection, but a real random ten), to give generously beyond that to help disadvantaged others, and to make good on their promises to God. And the giving is not merely to support the operation of the temple ceremony. It is about helping make sure that every person in the community is cared for.
We no longer have the temple or apply the legal terms laid out in Leviticus, but the principle remains. Remember everything you have is from God. Use it for His glory. Use it to help others. Use the principle of the Law of Love, which is to say that we need to apply the spirit of what Leviticus was communicating. As God’s people we are to live holy lives that glorify Him and represent Him well to the world.
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