Could Leviticus Be Legalistic?

Read through the entire book of Leviticus and you will read the law regarding sin offerings...to the exact details; the consecretion of the priests for service...to the exact details; laws regarding food, purity, childbirth, leprosy, etc...again, each one to the exact, specific detail (or "the letter of the law"); and even more significant, the details often contain penalties if those exact details are not followed exactly!

Today, there is a strong movement away from anything that sets guidelines, standards, or simply the enforcement of any "laws"; all in the name of not being legalistic. Certainly, there is a need to not seek the WORKS in order to add or secure our faith (the believer's eternity was secured on the cross, not because of what we did, but because of what Christ did - Eph 2:8-9, Titus 3:5-6). However, does the term "legalistic" or "legalist" spill off our tongues simply because we do not like the rules or guidelines that are trying to be enforced? Think about it! We seldom define the guidelines we agree with as "legalistic"; but if the school, church, or home expects me to do, dress, or look a way differently than I desire to do, dress, or look - our quick response is to justify our refusal by using the word "legalist".

Why was God so specific about every little detail in the book of Leviticus - did it all really matter? The law has been fulfilled, but our God has not changed! A quick reading of the entire book will reveal something very interesting about the exactness of the law. To aid your quick reading, consider these verses: 11:44-45, 18:2, 18:4, 18:21, 18:30, 19:2-4, 19:10, 19:12, 19:14, 19:25, 19:31-32, 19:34, 19:36, 20:7, 20:24, 21:8, 21:12, 22:33, 23:22, 23:43, 24:22, 25:17, 25:38, 25:55, 26:1, 26:12-13, 26:44-45. Thirty-three times in the midst of the exact details of these laws is this phrase (or one similar): "for I am the Lord".

Do you see? When Paul wrote in Romans 3:20 that "by the law is the knowledge of sin", he was referring to the exact, succinctly detailed law which includes the book of Leviticus. The Old Testament law was not meant to turn man inward, but upward: "for I am the Lord"; and as man turns upward, he sees his own sin in view of the light of the Throne!

When was the last time that we faced the decision to follow or reject the "law" (most often called rules, guidelines, expectations, or standards) of an instituion, camp, college, church, or even our own home...and instead of looking at ourselves and determining that we would not concede, we instead looked upward and remembered that He indeed is the Lord! And then...instead of throwing out the term "legalist", have we considered our own rebellious nature that keeps us looking at ourself instead of looking up! Thirty-three times is certainly enough times to express a point: it is all about HIM, and little to do with us!