No one reads Leviticus. With good reason. It's a bunch of archaic laws that seem to have absolutely no relevancy to today. We're under grace after all.
Or... God is using very concrete examples and principles to ultimately point to Christ and His holiness. Leviticus is all about teaching us to be holy. Although the laws may seem laughable or very odd or downright cruel, they have their purpose. I must ask myself, "Why is this here? Why would God make sure this survived thousands of years to be read by me today, in 2008?"
One particularly odd/cruel example occurs in this chapter. Aaron's sons have just been killed by God for bringing "strange fire" and Moses tells Aaron he is not to mourn. He is to get back to work. What?!?
What if God is being merciful rather than cruel? What if God is showing Aaron how NOT to sink into a pit of devastation and depression? What if God is saying the best way to deal with horrible circumstances is to keep serving Him?
Seems counterintuitive. Our society tells us to get away, take time off, join a therapy group. Yet so often this leads to more depression and self-indulgence. To serve others, even in the worst of times that life can throw at us, may be the best possible reaction.
Do I do this? No. I want to wallow. And I want others to hear my wallowing. But just maybe... God knows what He is talking about.
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