Week 17 Study Page - Leviticus 11-27, Ruth (1-4)
Week #17 Study Page
Leviticus 11-27
Ruth (1-4)
Suggested Daily Reading Breakdown
Sunday – Leviticus 11-13
Monday – Leviticus 14-16
Tuesday – Leviticus 17-19
Wednesday – Leviticus 20-22
Thursday - Leviticus 23-25
Friday - Leviticus 26-27
Saturday – Ruth 1-4
Degree of difficulty: 5 out of 10 (explanation:). We chewed up some of the most tedious chapters of Leviticus last week. There are still a couple rough-spots remaining; like the regulations concerning skin diseases, mold, and discharges in chapters 13-15. However i find the remainder of the book to be fairly interesting reading - despite its reputation. As you read through this book of rules for the Israelite community remember to ask why; why does God give them this or that rule. The answer could be different based on the rule, but each of these instructions is important and there for a reason; consider what purpose these rules serve. These rules governed (or at least were supposed to govern) the Israelite people throughout the Old Testament Story. Many of the stories that we read in the Old Testament have these particular rules in the background shaping the way that the story develops. One story where the Levitical law plays a very important role is the book of Ruth, as we'll see below. Ruth is one of my favorite books of the Old Testament; the message is clear, and it is just the right length to be read in 30 minutes.
About the Book(s)
Leviticus
Date of Authorship: Leviticus was written during the Exodus, while God's people were in the wilderness, likely just after the completion and dedication of the Tabernacle in Exodus 40.
Author: Moses is the author of Leviticus
Purpose: The Israelites have a new covenant relationship with God, and now the Lord is sending Moses forth to the nation with instructions for proper worship. Where Exodus ended by emphasizing where to worship God, Leviticus deals with how to worship him. After listing the regulations for the various types of sacrifices that may be offered to God, Leviticus deals with the priesthood and the topics of cleanness and holiness.
Ruth
Date of Authorship: The story of Ruth takes place during the time of the Judges. The events would best be placed in the second half of the 12th century (1150-1100) BC, roughly contemporary to the the Judges Jephthah and Samson. It is clear that the author is recording events that happened in history by certain backwards-looking phrases and the genealogy in chapter 4 which records three generations after the events of this account. Traditional dating would place the authorship of the book between 1011-931 BC, but there really are no clear indicators as to when it was written. The author makes no claim to be a contemporary of the events he is describing, therefore the date of authorship is less important in Ruth than for other books of the Bible.
Author: Traditionally, Samuel is believed to be the author of Ruth. As explained above, there is little evidence for this claim, and the book itself does not name an author. On its face, it seems unlikely that Samuel would be so concerned with the story of David's family because he died before David even ascended to the throne.
Purpose: Ruth is an origin story for the family of David. The heroine of the story is a foreigner (a Moabite) which would probably be a little scandalous the the Israelite ear. However, Ruth's loyalty and servanthood is not the main point of this book, rather it is a key component of this great demonstration of God's provision. Elimelek's family was in danger of being lost and forgotten to history. His descendants, and land were on the brink of disappearing from the earth. Naomi's wisdom, Ruth's loyalty, and Boaz's generosity come together not just to rescue this family, but to - through this family - provide the King after God's own heart, David.
As you Read Notes
Leviticus 11: Dietary Rules
The book of Leviticus contains rules about many aspects of community and personal life. One category of rules concerns diet, specifically the meat of animals in chapter 11. God tells Moses which animals are suitable for eating, and which are not. It is fair to look back at these regulations and consider the health benefit that such eating regulations would have for the Israelite people; many of the restricted animals are more prone to carry food-borne illnesses, especially in ancient Israel where food could not be frozen. However, it must be noted that health is not the purpose expressed by Leviticus - holiness is, see verses 44-47 of chapter 11.
It is interesting to observe that this series of dietary regulations is unique - the first of its kind in the ancient world. While other cultures restricted the use of some meats in their ceremonial sacrifices, these instructions in chapter 11 are the first comprehensive system of dietary restrictions in the ancient world. When we think of the dietary restrictions observed by the Jewish people, the prohibition against the eating of pork often comes first to mind. This would likely have been so for the Israelites as well. Pork was a regular part of the diet in Mesopotamia, and was even considered an acceptable animal of sacrifice in the religious practices of many of their neighbors. It very well may have come as a surprise to the Israelites that pig was now off the menu.
Leviticus 16 Purity and Atonement
The keynote of Leviticus is its resounding "be holy for I am holy" (11:44-45, 19:2, 20:7,26). This particular instruction sums up all of the laws of Leviticus, and the sacrificial practice described therein is designed to compensate for the number of ways which this standard of holiness was transgressed. Why does God make this requirement of the Israelites? So that he could live among them.
God's presence in the Tabernacle, among His people, was an incredible privilege. God desired to dwell among His people, but the nature of who God is, requires that he not tolerate or embrace imperfection and evil. God's holiness is a purity that is entirely good and righteous. If the Israelites are to be the recipients of this incredible gift of his presence they will need to live and behave a certain way. a way which accords to God's character. Possessing this presence of God in their community was akin to the Israelites entering a marriage relationship with God. This spousal imagery is made clear in 20:5 where the worship of another God is said to be "prostitution," a theme that is returned to often through the Old Testament and is applied to the New Testament people of God as well (see James 4:4). as God's spouse they were to live in a manner befitting a resident of His household, thus we have Leviticus.
God anticipated the inability of the Israelites to live in this way perfectly. It would not suffice for Him to ignore these transgressions, because he would then share in Israel's imperfection. Therefore he devises a system of sacrifice in which the sin and impurity of Israel can be dealt with, and his presence can remain among them. The Day of Atonement (Yom Kippur) plays a central role in that sacrificial system. The sacrificial goat and scapegoat cleanse the Israelites of their guilt and impurity making them an acceptable place for the blessing of God's presence.
This command of holiness is not just for the Israelites. It is repeated again to us in the New Testament, in 1st Peter 1: 14-16
14 As obedient children, do not conform to the evil desires you had when you lived in ignorance. 15 But just as he who called you is holy, so be holy in all you do; 16 for it is written: “Be holy, because I am holy.”
Leviticus 19 Rules For When?
I've chosen Leviticus 19 for a discussion of how we (New Testament Christians) are to regard the laws that we read here, because it contains instructions that we are used to treating in wildly different ways. Here, there are a number of instructions that we consider to be essential for Godly behavior like "do not lie" (v.11) there are some rules that we consider to be completely irrelevant like, " do not wear clothing woven of two different kinds of material" (v.19) and some rules that we might disagree about like, "do not... put tattoo marks on yourselves" (v.28). Traditionally, attempts have been made to separate these rules into categories like: Moral laws, civil laws, and ceremonial laws, but these categorizes are not well established in the text and Jesus appears to make no distinction between them when addressing the Law in the gospels.
The New Testament tells us some really important things about the effect that the Gospel (the life and work of Christ) has had upon "the Law"
Christ is the culmination of the law so that there may be righteousness for everyone who believes. (Romans 10:4)
14 Again Jesus called the crowd to him and said, “Listen to me, everyone, and understand this. 15 Nothing outside a person can defile them by going into them. Rather, it is what comes out of a person that defiles them.” [16] 17 After he had left the crowd and entered the house, his disciples asked him about this parable. 18 “Are you so dull?” he asked. “Don’t you see that nothing that enters a person from the outside can defile them? 19 For it doesn’t go into their heart but into their stomach, and then out of the body.” (In saying this, Jesus declared all foods clean.) (Mark 7:14-19)
But, other than Acts 15 (which is worth reading for understanding in this matter) we aren't really told clearly which ones we must obey, and which do not apply to our society, time, and New Testament faith. I invite you to - while reading Leviticus - consider what the purpose and goal of these laws are from God to the Israelite people. I suggest that, instead of combing and categorizing each law as either required or irrelevant, we learn who God is from scripture, and strive to live today in such a way that conforms to that character and truth. This may not be a particularly satisfying answer to "which laws should we obey?," but i think it is the consideration that Scripture encourages us to make.
below is a link to a transcript of a pastor by the name of John Piper responding to a question about obeying Old Testament Law that i have found helpful, there is also the audio there if you'd rather play the sound of him speaking on your computer or phone
https://www.desiringgod.org/interviews/should-we-obey-old-testament-law
Ruth 3 Ruth's Suggestive Approach
Ruth 3 is a very interesting scene in the Bible. Ruth and Boaz have been introduced and Boaz has shown her kindness. as the chapter begins, Naomi instructs Ruth in how she is to, essentially, propose to Boaz so that she might have a home to belong to. Boaz is on the threshing floor, a place for winnowing using the wind that would have been shared by the community. Once you had used the threshing floor, you would sleep next to your grain to claim and protect it until it could be taken back to your land the next day.
Ruth approached quietly, uncovered his feet and lay down. 8 In the middle of the night something startled the man; he turned—and there was a woman lying at his feet! 9 “Who are you?” he asked.“I am your servant Ruth,” she said. “Spread the corner of your garment over me, since you are a guardian-redeemer of our family.” (Ruth 3: 7b-9)
"There are occasions in the Old Testament where the term "feet" is used euphemistically for the sexual organs. The expression "spread the edge of the garment" is likewise used with sexual overtones in a betrothal context in Ezekiel 16:8. The text of Ruth does not suggest a blatant sexual act but is provocative in its ambiguity. Ruth's use of this phrase combined with Boaz's response in the next verse makes clear that she has requested marriage. Naomi had not necessarily advised her to be this bold, but the outcome of marriage was certainly what Naomi had in mind." (The IVP Bible Backgrounds Commentary: Old Testament)
Ruth 4: The Kinsman Redeemer
Aren't you glad that you read Leviticus? think back to this verse that you read earlier in the week (Leviticus 25:25):
25 “‘If one of your fellow Israelites becomes poor and sells some of their property, their nearest relative is to come and redeem what they have sold.
This role of "kinsman redeemer" is the one that Boaz plays in the story of Ruth (see Naomi point this out in Ruth 2:20). He had the right, according to Levitical law, to purchase back the land belonging to Elimelek (Naomi's deceased husband) so that it could be returned to their family. He was in this position because he was the second closest wealthy relative of Elimelek and the first-closest relative yielded his right to redeem the land in chapter 4. This Levitical rule demonstrates both the sense of obligation and the solidarity that are the hallmarks of ancient Israel's communally based society. In this way, the land remained withing the extended family as a sign of their membership in the covenant community.
Ruth is about God's provision (remember that this story ends with the arrival of King David through this family), and we often focus on the role that Ruth's loyalty and Boaz's kindness play within it. However don't forget another important and clearly depicted agent in the deliverance of Elimelek's and Naomi's family - God's law. God's instruction to the Israelites about how they were to live in community (esp. the kinsman redeemer) plays the role of rescuer here and will ultimately provide for the arrival of King David and our Lord Jesus.
Study Questions:
Leviticus 12:8 allows a poor woman to bring a less expensive offering for her purification offering. What does this tell us about God? How can we observe / enact this principle about God today?
In Leviticus 15:31, God explains why the Israelites would be punished for being unclean. What is at the core of these violations according to the verse? Where does the presence / Spirit of God reside today? What does that mean about how we are to conduct ourselves?
Leviticus 18:1-5, contains a relatively long preamble to the regulations concerning sexual purity. What do these verses say about why these laws are particularly important to the Israelites? do we face similar conditions today?
Leviticus 21:16-23 tells us that levites with physical maladies may not enter the holy places of the tabernacle (this seems really harsh and not how we treat people with physical maladies today). But remember that the holy place of the tabernacle contained God's presence and it a sort-of garden-of-Eden type place. What does this instruction to Aaron tell us about physical maladies in the future of the new heaven and new earth that await us in God's kingdom?
Leviticus 25 teaches the Israelites about the year of Jubilee. What does this instruction tell us about God and how people should be treated in society?
In Leviticus 26:11-12, God tells Israelites the greatest reward that they will receive if they obey all of these commands. do you have this goal in your own life and faith?
What good qualities does the Moabite heroine, Ruth, display in her story and how can you display those same qualities in your own life?