Lingering Over Leviticus

This morning I completed reading through the book of Leviticus. I have been pursuing a plan for a number of years which keeps me on track to read through the whole Bible about twice in each year. Sometimes I do more than that, sometimes less.

I always have a hard time with Leviticus. I suppose the initial reason for that was that it seemed so remote from my experience. After all, I have never sacrificed an animal or been involved in any sort of religious service that was nearly so liturgical as what the OT Jews went through. The book became a bit more understandable when I realized that it was essentially an outline of the proper way to approach God. My Presbyterian friends use something they call the "Regulatory Principle" to guide their worship, which I believe originated in the Westminster Confession. Leviticus is something of an expansion of that idea.

Even knowing that, I was still a bit uncomfortable with the book. Then I decided to highlight the times that the word "holy" occurs. It is amazing how often Moses returns to that word. It is easily the key word to the book, and perhaps it is the major reason that I have a hard time getting through Leviticus. While the books speaks of holiness in all sorts of ways I am increasingly convicted about how unholy I am.

I want that realization to do more than slow down my reading. I want it to change my nature. I don't know who first said it, but I remember reading the analysis of one Christian writer that the world is made up of only two groups of people; there are sinners who think themselves saints, and saints who think themselves sinners. If being part of that latter group is the first step toward holiness, then I have made it. I have a feeling I will be lingering over Leviticus more in the future.