Leviticus 16-20

The Day of Atonement:
A description of the Day of Atonement, the most sacred event in the year, appears in Lev. 16 and also in Lev. 23:26-32. Post biblical Judaism referred to this annual observance as "the day" or "the great day." In the New Testament Paul calls it "the Fast" (Acts 27:9). It was observed on the 10th day of the 7th month, Tishri, corresponding to October (Lev. 23:1).

Aaron, the high priest had two sons who were consecrated to serve in the tabernacle with him. They were given very specific instructions about the burning of the incense. Even down to where the fire was to come from. In disobedience to their father, they obtained the fire from another source and they died. God takes his commands very seriously, especially where true worship if concerned. Chapter 16 begins with a description from God through Moses to Aaron concerning the entering into the "Holy of Holies". The chosen priest could only enter into that sacred place where the very presence of God was, on one day each year, there was a penalty of death for disobedience.
The rest of the chapter deals with meticulous instructions from God about the preparation of the tabernacle for the yearly ritual.

The Sanctity of Blood (Lev. 17:1-16)
Any animal killed for food was to be brought to the tabernacle where the blood and fat became a peace offering (v. 5-6). Then the meat could be eaten.
This was commanded to keep them from offering the blood of animals (slaughtered for food) to idols (17:7). We must also remember that the only time they ate meat was during the festivals. This would be a time when they might have visitors in the camp who could influence them in the worship of other gods. These laws were an attempt to atone for their sins and keep them from turning from God to idols.

Laws of Sexual Morality (Lev. 18:1-30)
These are very specific laws to prevent incest, homosexuality, bestiality and adultery. In this chapter there are references made to the past inhabitants of the land, the Egyptians and the Canaanites who practiced these things and a command to the children of God that they should "observe My judgments and keep My ordinances" (18:4).

Moral and Ceremonial Law (19:37)
These laws dealt with everyday life. Many of which are rewrites of the ten commandments. References are made to being holy, avoiding idol worship, the treatment of one's neighbor, lieing, stealing, adultery and prostitution.
These were designed to teach the people how to live peacefully with one another.

Penalties for Breaking the Law (20:1-27)
In the first verse there is a reference to Molech-(an Ammonite deity to whom children or infants were often sacrificed). The punishment for such a sacrifice was stoning. There were very severe punishments assigned to the disobedience to laws; anything from cutting off a hand for stealing, plucking out an eye for viewing the nakedness of another, to death by stoning for adultery. At any rate the people got the message straight from God, so there was no doubt that it was commanded, not requested.

Why is it that we take God's laws so lightly. As Christians we are commanded to obey the very same things that were the children of Israel. They are not requests; they are commandments.
Maybe it's because there are no longer stoning, or the removal of limbs. It sounds pretty harsh, but human nature is such that if you give an inch a mile is taken. If we are willing to admit it, we all know that we need to be held accountable for our actions.

God help us to be the kind of Christians that desire to follow your commands.
Help me personally to be putty in your hands. It is the only way that we can become more like Christ...it is the only way that a lost and dieing world can see God's glory through us!!