The Book of Leviticus Contains Many Silly Ideas

Silly. http://www.merriam-webster.com... Silly an adjective describing the lack of intellect: Foolishness. I will show there was intellect behind these teachings you have stated and refute your assertion that there was no intellect behind the teachings. I will also show that though the acts behind the statements are not extant for today, the principles still are extant and the Holy God that gave them requires them. The "acts" these statements held required a purpose to met and fulfilled and if that meaning was not fulfilled the "acts" themselves were worthless, even in the time that they were supposed to be dutifully fulfilled. To show that all of the "acts" described required lateral thinking: Gen 17:11 "You are to undergo circumcision , and it will be the sign of the covenant between me and you." Notice the circumcision was a "sign" of the covenant of love. But Israelites did the circumcision but did not do the things of the circumcision. Jer 9:26 For all these nations are really uncircumcised, and even the whole house of Israel is uncircumcised in heart ." We see the Bible writers like Jeremiah understood this even when the "act" was still required. It was worthless if it was not understood to be something that takes place on the inside. The physical "act" was nothing but a representation of what was supposed to occur on the inside. Lateral thinking. All the "acts" and requirements stated in Leviticus have another meaning. Now this is not to condemn anyone in anyway for not understanding this. The Jews for thousands of years have not understood there is more meaning. They did those works of the hands and did not do the work of the heart. It is why so much of the Bible condemns them. Even Christians do not fully understand all of those meanings. But God gave us a system of study to discern these things. All of the acts represent something. All of the commands represent something. Now as Christians, we know the Intent or Spirit behind all of these laws and we do the Spirit or stated another way we perform the truth. Taking just a couple of others starting with the sacrifice. This is an amazing principle. The Jews were surrounded by sacrifice. Just imagine this major bloody event always going on. It all happened at the Temple. Just slaughtering hundreds of animals a day. The priest would put his hand on the sinner and his hand on the sacrifice. http://www.byfaith.co.uk... The website details briefly the general purpose of the sacrifices and feasts. We must understand the difference with all religions and Judeo Christianity. The need for redemption. We are evil and have done wrong. We have all fallen short and offended a Holy God. We all have sat up at night and thought about evil things like, murder, lusting after little children, cheating on our wives, or whatever particular sin encumbers you. We all know it. There is simply no way we can approach a completely Holy God. He is perfectly clean and can touch no unclean thing. We must be "cleansed". The principle today is the same. We are unclean and we need to be cleaned. The sacrifice is what changed. God sacrificed his only begotten son as that "lamb". It was bloody and brutal. Life had to be paid for death. That was pleasing to God, the sacrifice having been made. The pleasing part was the completion of the sacrifice. Not the act but the result. Ps 40:6-8 6 Sacrifice and offering you did not desire, but my ears you have pierced ; burnt offerings and sin offerings you did not require. 7 Then I said, "Here I am, I have come — it is written about me in the scroll. 8 I desire to do your will, O my God; your law is within my heart." We also see the significance in commands like do not have marital relations while the woman is on her period "because they discovered the fountain of life." What this is discussing is the reason they were doing this. They were having relations and disobeying God because they did not want children. God opens or closes the womb. It is the reason most Christianity is against birth control. There are many reasons why they did not want Children one more is below: Gen 38:9-10 But Onan knew that the offspring would not be his; so whenever he lay with his brother's wife[After the brother died and Onan married her], he spilled his semen on the ground to keep from producing offspring for his brother.[It was required that the children would actually be his brothers by law] 10 What he did was wicked in the LORD's sight; so he put him to death also. [Onan's heart was not where God wanted it and his actions showed it] When we do these things we are usually stating or justifying our own hearts desire to be against the Will of God. Notice already so much has been described to have an alternate meaning than what is perceived? This is the reason that the Bible was written. It was to point to the intent of the Law. Realize the Bible has changed and many books they had during that time are not in use anymore as Cannon. However, the best way God could describe to the fallen Israel his character and Will is through example. This allowed them to choose to know Him or choose to reject Him. Gal 3:24 24 This is why the law was our schoolmaster to bring us unto Christ, that we might be justified by faith. The Law was the way to teach Israel and all that followed God during that time. It was the chosen method to reveal the things of the heart. Even when Israel did the "acts", if they did not have their hearts right with God (obedience to the intent of the law) then they were still guilty. Isaiah 1:12 "When you come to appear before me, who has asked this of you, this trampling of my courts? 13 Stop bringing meaningless offerings! Your incense is detestable to me. New Moons, Sabbaths and convocations — I cannot bear your evil assemblies. 14 Your New Moon festivals and your appointed feasts my soul hates. They have become a burden to me; I am weary of bearing them." We see the "acts" of the Law in Leviticus just worked to bring judgment on Israel. We are in the same boat. If we do not get right with God, we will stand before him after death and state, "I did not know". God will state "I gave my laws that you would know and I gave my people as a witness to teach you. You chose not to listen to them or my laws. That was your decision to reject the sacrifice made for all. You counted it foolishness, not Me." I have shown there was massive intellect that placed wisdom behind symbols. To show that we do this today with intellect I can appeal to advertising. http://images.google.com... Though their initial purpose is not apparent we cannot deny that symbolic imagery does have intellect behind them and can not be considered silly.