The Universalist. [volume] (Chicago [Ill.]) 1884-1897, 1888-07-28
Eessnm Sertes ton 1883.
THIRD QUARTER.
STUDIES IN THE OLD TESTAMENT.
THE BOOK OF LEVITIOUS.
(Leviticus j. 1871

ITS CONTENTS.-We have three Lessons
selected from the Book of Leviticus. The
book contains the instruction of Moses to
the priests concerning the ceremonies of re-
ligion and worship to be instituted in con-
neotion with the Tabernacle. 1t contains
the laws of the Mosaic religion, and describes
the ceremonies of private and public worship
including the appointment of religious fes-
rivals and their proper observance. The
Tabernacle having been established, as the
dwelling. place of GoD with Israel, Moses
proceeds to instruct the people in the man
ner of approaching and entering into. and
maintaining communion with their invisible
Ruler. His presence with his people being
represented by symbol, all the ceremonies
of worship were appropriately symbolic of
the relationship and truth to be expressed
and revealed. These instructive, symbolic
ceremonies and their significance are de-
scribed in Leviticus. 1t contains the ritual
of the Hebrew religion. In the Mosaic re-
ligion the Divine omnipresence was made
the creed of the nation, and the conscious
mess of present Divine Ruler in the closest
moral relation with man is prominent in the
Mosaic Revelation. The phenomena of ma
ture and the fortunes of men were ascribed
directly to him, recognition of whose pres
ence and power is sought to be expressed IN
all ceremonies of worship, and declared as
the true basis of religion and government for
mankind.
JEHOVAH was the one supreme Power in
heaven and earth; filling all creation, by
night and day, with his Presence, and con-
trolling all things. Hence, even the phe-
nomena of nature seemed to them zine he
brews) indications of his nearness and d.
rect agency. The thunder was his voice IN
the heavens; he made the grass grow on the
mountains, and gave rain upon the eartn.
The armament showed his handiwork. When
the earth trembled and shook it was at his
approach. And in the same way all human
affairs were considered as under his rule,
and all endowments of men as his bounty.
War and peace, plenty and FAMINE, VICTORY
or defeat, the wisdom that guides, the skill
that executes,s ca me from him. 1t was
great step when such magnificent concep-
ton passed from the bosom of individuals to
the creed of a people; step directly Leading
to its diffusion, through Chris tianity, to all
mankind.-"Hours with the Bibie, GetEae'
ITS NAME.-The book of Leviticns is SO
called because its principal contents de-
scribe the duties of the priests who were of
the tribe of Levi, the fourth son of the patri-
arch of Jacob, or Israel. 1t is the Levitical
book. The name.is adopted from the Latin
version of the Bible, being the Latinized
form of the Greek name in the Septuagint,
or Greek version of the Hebrew Scriptures.
1t is also called "the third book of Noses"
from its original author, and its place in the
Pentateuch. 1t may have been originally con-
tanned in the Book of the Covenant in which
Moses recorded the laws for the government
of the covenant people of COP. as its de-
scribed ceremonies are the ceremonies for the
individual ratification, or perpetual renewal
of the Covenant by the people of Israel.